Change of Heart [Giraffe]

[semper]

bear Keeni

In my lifetime, I live by the motto "play with your food." I toy around with small children before bringing down the hatchet between their eyes or atop their head. I let them have a little hope, you know? Let them think that I'm just some jolly tan giant playing forest faeries or something. Then, once we're in the woods, that's when the real fun begins.

But this.... this isn't fun at all. I'm trying to give that up for Vicky and our kid, but eating leaves? No! I don't stand for this!

I poke my fork at what I'm sure are poplar leaves and pine needles, moving them around and tearing them apart. I haven't even bothered to try it and I sure as hell don't want to. Why can't I eat meat? Not human, but beef? Or pork? Or is that too fancy and expensive? Well then she should steal it like I did. Boy, that stuff was good. Ten knows how to raise 'em.

A low groan escapes me and I drop my head down onto the table with a loud "thump." Vicky says these pine needles are good for me, but I don't believe it. If that's the case then I might as well just go out and eat a whole damn tree. I'd rather have my hard, chewy jerky.

"Vicky I can't do this. I'm not gonna eat various assortments of tree canopies." I mumble, lifting my head up to look at her. The swell of her belly had gotten really big really fast, and it's almost hard to believe that there's a person inside of her. Kinda... kinda like she ate someone... haha. Hypocrite!

Okay, no, I know she didn't eat anyone. She's carrying our kid, okay: the single person in the world I'm not allowed to eat. Not that I'd want to eat the kid because I'm becoming a softie they're my own flesh and blood, and Vicky's too. To be honest, I never thought I'd have a kid. I've never been careful when getting together with someone and I'm sure I've probably eaten some of my unborn so I'm sure I've kicked off a few things here and there.

But this time it's different. I don't want to leave Vicky or the kid, and, actually, I'm kind of excited. It's a bit nerve-wrecking, though, thinking that I'll soon have to take care of another human being when I've only ever looked after myself. But as my gaze finds Vicky again, I know I want to do this even if I'll be bad at it. I want to give it a try, for the kid's sake. Be the dad my dad never was and actually be there for the kiddo - support them, make them feel loved and wanted. Because really, isn't that what we all want?

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[sbeeg]

[EEDDFF] [AABBEE]

Already feeling like a doting mother, Vicky frowned at Bear as his head slammed against the table. Having taken the long journey from the kitchen to the chair was bad enough and just as she relaxed into it complaints came rising from the other end. Exhausted and flustered, Vicky leaned back in the chair, closing her eyes and trying to find some peace in the ridiculous household that was only bound to get crazier. Her fingers rested on her stomach, which had grown large enough to rest just about anything on. A true little portable table, Vicky was a bit sad that it as only temporary.

Peeking out of one eye, she gazed at her charge. A shaggy, dark haired head that might as well have been a child. Well, he really is a child. Barely out of the Reaping's hands and yet falling into the law's. Eyes peeked out from underneath the mop of hair, disappointed and starved. "Vicky I can't do this. I'm not gonna eat various assortments of tree canopies."

As had become a habit in these long nine months, Vicky's fingers found her temples, pressing against them in some attempt to remove the ache pounding beneath the skin. "They're not trees Bear," she said, trying to remain calm, but mostly just sounding tired. "In fact they grow out of the ground." and it's a hell of a lot cheaper than meat. she thought to herself.

Taking in a deep breath, Vicky's nerves were soothed for the moment and she inched up further, stabbing her own fork into the pitiful looking greens she had tried to fluff up in the bowl to look more appetizing. That hadn't really worked. Truly, all the woman wanted was a good long pull on a bottle of liquor. However, even she had enough since to abstain from drinking. Plus, as long as she couldn't drink she sure as hell wasn't going to watch Bear do it.

Little miseries she could conflict on her poor partner, and how wonderful they did taste. A smile crossed her lips as she chewed the salad scrunching up her nose at the boy across the table. Children. Children having children. At what point did a person become an adult? When they quit canoodling with the rebellious young criminal? When they reached an exact age? Twenty seven years, two months, eight hours and fourteen minutes?

Even carrying her own child, Vicky didn't feel comfortable addressing herself as an adult. She didn't feel like one. More like a girl playing house with a doll and some poor boy she dragged into the game. Shifting in her seat, Vicky started to cramp in her side. No biggie, just too much walking today. Tomorrow she'd rest. Not much she could do anymore but wait anyway.
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[semper]

bear Keeni

Much to my horror, Vicky tells me that these aren't tree leaves - they're leaves that grow out of the ground. "What?" Oh, so now I'm eating ferns. Great. The leaves don't look like ferns though, no - they're more rounded and.... some are even purple. Purple? What the hell? I'm not eating purple leaves! I make a face at the wretched leaves, but at the same time, hunger gnaws at my empty stomach. I want to eat but not these leaves. I want meat, you know, the flesh of my own kind. I want my jerky and dammit, I'm going to get it soon - but not right now. I'm stuck here, staring at the leaves soaking in what I'm pretty sure is vinegar or something. Probably to make me think that it'll make the purple leaves taste better, but I doubt it. My nose scrunches up at the sharp stench of it.

Muttering to myself, I lift my head back up and set my elbow on the table, resting my head against my hand. I keep stabbing at the nasty leaves with the fork, intending to damage them more so hopefully I can use the excuse that they're too damaged for me to eat. I doubt she'll buy it, but it's worth a shot because I really don't want to eat these things. I turn my head to look at her. "How the hell can you eat this stuff? It's like eating acid and leaves covered in dirt." I make another face at my bowl, sticking out my tongue and groaning. I can deal with dead bodies at the morgue, but not this. This is horrible, as odd as it sounds. It doesn't taste good, it looks awful, and it smells atrocious. I stab hatefully at the bowl of greens and purples, scowling. "It smells bitter and looks very unappetizing. I mean really, purple leaves? And stems? What is this."

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[sbeeg]

[EEDDFF] [AABBEE]

Every scratch of Bear' fork against his bowl sent pain throbbing through Vicky's temples. She wanted him to stop but he just kept stabbing at the leaves, refusing to actually eat any. Her eyelid started twitching at the noise and if it didn't take so much energy she would have gotten up and slapped him. Could none of her work be appreciated? Customers complained of her sewing, Bear insulted the food, hell even the baby was kicking her. The boy across the table started spouting about purple leaves and acid and a bunch of nonsense when Vicky threw her fork into her bowl, letting the metal clash and screech.

"How about you pretend its a heart or a lung or some other organ," she snapped. Frustration and rage were bubbling inside of her, sweat forming on her brow that she felt too weak to even wipe away. She could feel her face flush red and the mere thought of eating was repulsive. Shoving the bowl away from her, Vicky grabbed the edge of the table feeling as though she'd be sick. Cramps ravaged her middle and the pain was the only thing she could think of- that and the puddle she was now sitting in.

Looking up, her eyes caught Bear's and pain wasn't the strongest emotion anymore. Worry and fear dominated the woman's mind as she tried to think of what to do- what to say. What was she supposed to do?

"Bear," it came out as a breathy whisper seeing as most of her strength was being used to keep from passing out. Another round of cramps shivered through her- not cramps contractions. "It's coming."

Even in the midst of being in labor the one thing Vicky Barci thought would help the situation was a good long swig of liquor. She needed to focus, but so many thoughts ran through her head she wasn't sure which one to grab onto. Booze? Bear? Baby? Gritting her teeth, Vicky leaned onto the table, pulling herself to her feet despite the protest of weak legs and shaky knees. Making sure to keep on hand on the table top to keep from falling over, Vicky stretched one out to Bear across the table. A pale, clammy palm that shook from nerves. "Help me."
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[semper]

bear Keeni

Vicky suddenly snaps at me, snarling about how I should pretend it’s a heart or a lung. Well, first of all, lungs don’t taste great by themselves and hearts are a bit messy. I only eat hearts if I’m really hungry and I mostly just play around with lungs – i.e. use what little sewing skills I have to turn a lung into a bag, make it a sock, or even a hat. Oh, the joys of domestic house activities. I’ve learned that sewing can actually be fun once you get the hang of it, even though no one would really want to buy anything I’ve ever put together. Not many people fancy a scarf made of intestine or pieces of lungs. If Vicky knew what I’d been using her teaching for, I’m sure she’d have a fit.

I stab at some more leaves, pulverizing them and pretending they’re all just oddly shaped and colored carcasses. I judged each entry point as being a clean or messy cut on the skin, then the oozing bitter sauce stuff was the blood that poured out of the wounds. I have to admit, it was pretty entertaining. Stab, stab, ooze, stab. I slowly became more and more interested in pretending to harm people so I jabbed the fork down faster and harder, faster and harder—

”Bear.” I grunt and look up, only to see Vicky’s face completely covered with horror. I quirk up an eyebrow and look at her suspiciously until she explains herself. ”It’s coming.” Well, what’s coming, exactly? My face still holds that confused expression as I watch her. The new year? A payment? New pet? A special package? A j—a special package!

My jaw swings down and I utter a fairly loud ”Oh!” I reach out and grab onto her trembling hand, taking it up tightly in my own. What do I do?! Here Vicky is, cringing and writhing in pain, and I can do nothing but watch and wait. ”What…. what do I do, Vicky? Fuck, I don’t know… do you want anything? My salad or something? Or, um…” I quickly search my head for ideas. ”Do we go anywhere? Oh shit, I don’t even know where to go. What is this? What’s happening?! Is it here already? How do you get it out? Does it just fall out?”

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