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 Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:11 pm
The last few days she had felt awful in the earlier hours of the morning before wanting more food later on during the day. It was a rollercoaster that had her worried she had picked up some sort of bug while they were exploring the last island and so Chrysanthe had ventured towards the healing ward to speak with Fran. “I’m what?!” Her voice echoed throughout the halls as she listened to the healer’s report, the revelation making her nearly faint as she sat down on the cot. Obviously it was possible, but she hadn’t thought it would actually happen now.
“Just take it easy, don’t fear and I’ll brew some teas for you.” The healer chuckled as she patted Chrysanthe’s leg. “Get to the kitchen for some food and I’ll send the captain your way if he looks for you down here. You’ll have some talking to do.” Chrysanthe nodded before slowly making her way down towards the lower decks where she had been helping out in the kitchens.
[Chrysanthe 1]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:11 pm
The last few weeks had gone by in a blur. Chrysanthe and Ephrym had explored all of the lower regions of Kahi alongside the crew before deciding it was time to take their haul and head back to Belrea. There were profits to be had and Ephrym had quite a few people awaiting his return. As much as he had been enjoying every private moment with Chrysanthe while exploring the unknown, even Ephrym knew that the time to leave had come. He would remember their picnic under the waterfalls fondly, the extra time spent along the beaches and in a moonlit cove especially, the daring escape from a rampant maokuonu fearfully. He would even remember all of the fun times shared with the natives who were more than willing to trade and teach them some local customs once they realized that Ephrym and his crew weren’t threats. But now that everything was in place for their departure he was nosing about the lower decks looking for Chrysanthe.
“Found you.”
[Ephrym 1]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:11 pm
She was in a panic as she went about cooking, pondering over the news that Fran had given her. It wasn’t the worst thing in the world, at least she hoped, but Chrysanthe wasn’t exactly certain how to share her news. The last couple of days while everyone was busy preparing for their return trip to Belrea the woman had been helping in the kitchens. Mostly it was to take her mind off of everything and to help prepare a few dishes for their return trip, including that applesauce that Ephrym had suggested with the strange new fruits, but it was also to help with her own growing appetite. The first few days she had almost felt nauseous but overall she had just been so hungry. How long had it been now since that first night? Almost three months? Not that they had exactly stopped interacting with each other after that. The very realization made Chrysanthe’s cheeks flush and she nearly dropped her tray of freshly baked cinnamon bread whenever Ephrym appeared behind her.
[Chrysanthe 2]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:11 pm
“Woah there.” Ephrym moved so that he could support Chrysanthe and stop the tray from dropping. “You okay there?” His gaze studied her with concern. He had been expecting to find her in the kitchen in all honesty, especially since she had been there the last two days but for some reason something felt off. She was more jittery than normal and had been a bit distant in the morning whenever he sought her out. Had he offended her somehow?
[Ephrym 2]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:12 pm
“I’m fine.” Chrysanthe replied quickly as she set the tray down on a table to try and hide her shaking hands. For some reason she was so skittish ever since Fran had told her the news. “I just…well you know how you write your captain logs?” She started as she sat down at the table, glancing around to make certain everything was calm since the crew was all on the upper decks. “Do you want to sit?”
[Chrysanthe 3]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:12 pm
“I can sit.” Ephrym frowned thoughtfully as he sat down next to Chrysanthe and took a roll for himself. “And what about my captain logs? Are you going to tease me again?” He asked, his lips pursed in a slight pout. The last adventure they had been on the golden hybrid had teased him about his constant writing while they were traveling but it was the best way to log their journey, even better if he could manage a few notes here and there while they were out and about.
[Ephrym 3]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:12 pm
“Not exactly.” Chrysanthe smiled as she also reached for a roll. “I mean I will always remind you about how you decided to take notes when we were being pursued by a few dangerous creatures, but this time I just wanted to help you with today’s notes.” He had even taken time to slip the small journey from his coat when they were pinned in a crevice by a maokuonu! Thankfully his scribbles didn’t stop them from slipping away later, but she would forever chastise him about the timing. Though of course he had quelled her complaints almost immediately afterwards when they finally found a safe location, their relief spilling into a more intimate moment in the secluded cove. That night…well that one would probably be the one. Chrysanthe closed her eyes at the thought. She had been a bit reckless before then but usually had medical tea or something similar nearby, that time they had been out in the wilderness for almost three days before anyone found them! We did almost die to be fair…that time.
[Chrysanthe 4]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:12 pm
“Hmm.” Ephrym took a bite and then leaned forward towards Chrysanthe as he tried to figure out her meaning. “Unless you’re talking about how many baked goods you’ve made today or how lovely you look this morning then I’m assuming it’s something about the crew or the cargo? Did something happen while I was above deck?” Even if he was making light of it there was a wariness in his gaze. What was going on with her today?
[Ephrym 4]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:12 pm
“Nope, nothing to do with the crew…well mostly.” Chrysanthe replied as she finished the first roll and reached for a second. “You came from a decent family, right?” She started almost too casually as she started to pluck the second roll apart in her fingers instead of simply eating it. “So family is important to you.” She had a huge family full of close brothers until her existence caused a bit of a stir and divide. Ephrym’s tales about his sister and his nephews always seemed so happy though and she didn’t think there was anything wrong between them. His mother had been upset of course when he took to the ocean, but actually acquiring a ship and talking things over had even smoothed that relationship.
[Chrysanthe 5]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:12 pm
“Family is very important.” His gaze narrowed as he watched Chrysanthe picking apart the roll. “So unless you magically received news about my family from Belrea….are you insinuating that my family will grow soon?” Already his mind was spinning with the possibilities. It wasn’t impossible especially since they had spent so much time together over the past few months, but he was definitely struggling to comprehend the concept of actually having children.
[Ephrym 5]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:12 pm
“Fran checked this morning.” Chrysanthe advised with a small nod. “I haven’t been feeling myself for the last week or so and she wanted to look at me.” Her lips twisted up into a small smile. “I honestly don’t know what to think or how to feel.” Before she would have been devastated at the thought, but now that she had lived in Belrea and grown a family of sorts there at the bakery and with the crew things seemed different. She was actually optimistic about this, as strange as that felt.
[Chrysanthe 6]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:12 pm
“Fran checked.” Ephrym repeated and found himself blinking as if in a daze. He didn’t doubt Chrysanthe, how could he? That would mean that his family was expanding indeed. Thankfully they were on the way back to Belrea where things would be calm for a few months while he sorted out finances and delivered the promised goods from Kahi, but after that he was at a loss. Could children survive in the ocean? They weren’t pirates so surely the dangers would be limited unless Chrysanthe wanted to keep them on land instead of going back out with him to sea. “I definitely think that would be an important entry into the captain’s logs. Day 197 of this journey and I learned I am going to be a father, here’s hoping that my missus doesn’t murder me for this development.”
[Ephrym 6]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:12 pm
“She won’t.” Chrysanthe confirmed with a small laugh. “I just hope you’re okay with this. I’m sorry.” Her gaze darted downwards, fear of ruining what they had with this development gripping her heart. “We should have been more careful, but that one time I simply didn’t think about it.” All she had wanted was to hold Ephrym and to know that they were both alive after escaping such a beast, her fear making her seek comfort in a lover’s arms since they didn’t know what the next moment would bring.
[Chrysanthe 7]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:12 pm
“Chrysanthe.” Ephrym’s expression was gentle as he reached over and gently tugged at Chrysanthe’s chin so that she would look at him. “I’m not upset. If anything you’re the one going through so much with this. I do not regret anything, okay?” His thumb stroked along her jaw comfortingly. “We’ll be fine. If anything this will definitely make our time back home more exciting, right? My family will be delighted and want to give you a medal for being the one to finally tie down their flighty son.” He jested with a chuckle before moving to place a kiss on her forehead. He was going to be a father! How insane was that? Oh the others would have so much fun teasing him when they found out later!
[Ephrym 7]
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Posted: Tue Apr 19, 2022 5:12 pm
Chrysanthe leaned into the touch and slowly nodded her head. “I have a family in Belrea that I’ve been staying with who run that bakery. The owner will gladly help us out if necessary. I don’t even know what to do about children….do we keep them on land or try sailing with them?” She chewed on her bottom lip sheepishly. “I know I signed up for just this trip, but I was hoping to stay on with you….well you know why.” She wasn’t here for only business anymore because Ephrym was much more than just her captain. Finding out that she was pregnant really took the spark out of her today, that much was certain. She didn’t feel like fighting not when the news had her spinning in a fog with no idea of where to go next.
[Chrysanthe 8]
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