A vaulted chamber.
There are 2 snow white star orchids here. A sigil in the shape of a small, rectangular monolith is on the ground. A long box with a glass top is here, displaying its contents freely. A cheerful toy chest rests here. Unstrung, a small training longbow has been left here.
You see a single exit leading east(open).

Osifer closes the door to the east.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Where's a kiddo?"

Osifer whistles for the little girl.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Heeere kiddo kiddo kiddo."

Ahri waves from by her toy chest, which has been turned over on its side. "Hi Da." she says.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus walks you to Ahri's bedside, where he takes your hand to help you sit down there, all the while speaking to the child nearby.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "What're you doing to that poor chest over there, hon?"

Nahasa eases down to sit, pushing her cloak back to bare her stomach more readily.

Ahri starts to say something about coloured rock stuck at the bottom, but stops and stares at Nahasa. "Mum, are you okay?" she asks.

You say, "I'm fine, sweetpea. Wonderful, actually. Your Da and I have something to tell you."

Abandoning her chest, save for the pincher doll, Ahri stands up and walks over to her bed to stand before Osifer and Nahasa. "What?...Not sick are you?" she asks again.

Crouching down so that he's eye-level with the girl, Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Mum's fine. Really. S'why we're here, though, 'cause we got a little bit to talk about. You wanna' come sit up on the bed with us?"

The girl gives a wary nod and climbs up onto her bed, sitting next to Nahasa and eyes the woman's stomach.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus sits himself down next to Ahri, so that she's between you and him.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well, kiddo. How old're you now? I know you're real proud of telling me."


Ahri holds up her hands and tucks down one finger and a half of a second. "I'ma be nine soon, Da." she says, rolling her eyes.

Osifer gives a wide grin at the self-assured nature of the child, but nods in acknowledgment of her words. "Right-o. I think you're getting pretty mature already, huh?" He puts a massive hand atop Ahri's head, rocking it gently. "I think you can handle knowing a few somethings."

Ahri glances to Osifer, scowling with the toying of her head, then to Nahasa. "Promise Mum's okay?" she says.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus nods, reaching out to offer Ahri a handshake. "Promise." For a moment, he glances up to you, seeming unsure of the word, but soon lowers his eyes back to focus on the child's.

Ahri grasps Osifer's large hand with her small one, and shakes it. "Okay."

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well then. Let's get down to business."

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well, uh... well. Let's see. You know some've the other kids at the, err, the Institute. Don'tcha?"

Ahri nods a few times. "Ah-huh, I have some friends there, and in Attica too." she says.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "And... well. You know what the word 'family' means, right?"

Ahri thinks for a moment, then nods. "Ah-huh. S'like what we are. Parents'n kiddos an' Granda's except not everyone can have a Granda like the Boss."

Osifer scratches at his head a bit and gives a quiet chuckle, eyes momentarily wandering from Ahri to the bed she sits on.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well, kiddo... did you ever think of having another kid like you around? Around the house, I mean. Another part've your family, too."

The girl shrugs and says, "Like, what sort of kid? Takin' in some of the orphans or what?"

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "No, no, I mean like you. And Mum. Family, Ahrz. Blooded family. We could take some orphans in, but they're not related to us by blood like you are. ..You know?"

Ahri looks down to her doll and moves it about some. "Uh....I think so."

Settling a hand upon Ahri's shoulders gently, Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "See, kiddo, there's... a thing. You came from Mum. Mum gave birth to you. You know that much, right?"

Ahri nods, then shakes her head, nods again, then shakes her head once more. "Umm.....maybe?" she says, though remains clearly confused.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "O... okay. We'll start there, then. Um..."

You murmur to Osifer, "She's never asked of it before."

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus pauses for a moment, seeming to mull over thoughts in his head. Then, he nods and reaches over to put his hand on your stomach, shaking Ahri's shoulder gingerly when he does.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "You see this, right..? Mum's usually not looking this way."

Ahri nods and leans over Osifer to get a better look at Nahasa's stomach. "Ah-huh. Mumma's usually real flat like."

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well, you know... she was like this before you came into the world, too."

Ahri frowns. "Why? You PROMISE Mumma's not sick?!"

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Yes. Yes, I promise you, she's fine. ..She's more than fine. Just listen, honey."

His hand gradually running over your stomach as he speaks, Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "See... at one time, you were in here, too. And... somebody put you there. When you were ready to, you came out to see everybody."

The girl gasps and her eyes widen. "I was in -there-!?! How'd I get in there! I know I was littler but not THAT tiny was I?"

Osifer gives a laugh that he quiets for the sake of not embarrassing the little girl, but nods regardless. "Yeah. You were. You started out itty-bitty, kiddo." To measure up 'itty-bitty', he draws his hand back from Ahri's arm and shows her a tiny distance between two claws. "Smaller'n this. And then, gradually... you got bigger, right inside Mum there."

"How'd I get so small?" Ahri asks. "And how'd I get in Mum? In Mumma's -belly-? Mumma doesn't eat people, that's what you do when hongrey."

Osifer lowers his head and covers part of his face for a moment, still making an attempt to disguise his amusement. Finally, when he recovers, he speaks again.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well, it's... it's how all've us start out. Tiny like that. ..And somebody put you in Mum. Because everybody comes into the world like this... for the most part."

Ahri's eyes continue to widen. "Who? And how'd I get put in Mumma's belly?"

You cover your mouth with your hand, hiding an amused grin.

Osifer clears his throat momentarily, then gathers himself to look back into Ahri's face.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well, ah... you ever noticed how Mum and I are different, sweetie? Not just the way we act, but... my voice's deeper than hers. I'm bigger than her. She's prettier than me. And she has a nice butt."

You eye Osifer, giving him the once over.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus shrugs, mouthing out a silent 'sorry' to you as he gives you a wide grin.

Ahri gives a few nods. "Ah-huh. And you have hair on your face and Mumma doesn't. N'Mumma's softer."

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Yeah. Exactly. You know why that is, Ahrzy?"

The girl nods and says, "No."

"Cos you're a boy and Mumma's a girl like me." Ahri finally says.

Osifer gives a quick nod, offering Ahri a smile as if to reward her for her answer.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Yeah. Good girl. See, 'cause I'm a... boy, I guess, I'm different than Mum is. I have... different bits than she does. And you."

Ahri nods. "Ah-huh. Hair on your face an' big hands."

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Yeah. ..Yeah, and other things."

Ahri scratches her head. "Other things?" she asks.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well, uh. Just, suffice it to say, well... 'cause I'm different than Mum in certain ways, I can... 'put' a little boy or a little girl into Mum. That's how you got in her belly, too. She didn't eatcha'. But you were put there by a 'boy'."

Leaning back and scratching her head again, Ahri gives a nod with a blank stare. "..Ooookay."

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "S'there something you're not getting there, kiddo?"

"I don't get why a boy can' put a little boy or girl in Mumma's tum but not a girl. I donno." Ahri says.

Osifer tells you, "..Man, she's not gonna' let me get off easy, is she."

You tell Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus, "Seems not. Sorry love. We -did- let her get this smart though."

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well... uh. I'm a boy. And... I've got something that Mum doesn't have, but she's got something I don't have, too. And because we both got different parts, I can put a baby inside've her."

"If you say so, Da." Ahri says.

"Da?" Ahri asks. "Where do you get the baby?"

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "..Anyhow, there's a -- ..um. ..Wow, I, uh. ..Err."

Nahasa covers her mouth and turns her head to hide her laughter.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well, um... I... this thing that I have, that Mum doesn't have, well. It... it just. It has... babies. ..Sweetie, do you want I oughta' just be completely honest here?"

Osifer tells you, "..You owe me big time."

Ahri nods. "Yes Da, cos you're not making any sense right now."

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Okay, uh... here. Lookit my hands. I'll, um. I'll show you. Kind of."

Ahri gives Osifer a skeptical look, then nods and looks to his hands.

Nahasa coughs a bit on her stifled laughter, and resorts to biting her lip.

Osifer raises one hand, circling his claws in to make an 'O' shape and curling the rest to somewhat resemble a tunnel beyond the 'O'. "So, uhh... here's Mum, right?" he starts, seeming almost entirely unsure of himself. Then, daringly with his other hand, he protrudes his index claw. "And this... is. This is Da. Okay..?"

You tell Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus, "You put the baby in me. Fair's fair."

You tell Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus, "You're not going to have to give birth."

Osifer tells you, "Gnaaaagrggh."

Ahri's face scrunches up in thought, and she gives a half-hearted nod. "Uhm, okay." she says.

Osifer starts off, still seeming just a bit more than out of it. "And, uhh... so here's Da, and here's Mum, and we're just. We're doin' something. And Da, he has this... this part here," he says, wiggling his pointed claw, "And Mum, she's got this here." And he gently shakes the other hand. Then, gradually, he brings the two closer together. "So Da, he... he, uh. He puts his part. In... Mum's. And, um. Stuff happens and then he sort of puts a baby in Mum like that. ..Possibly."

Ahri stares at Osifer, and grows very silent for a time. Finally, she says, "Da, you don't seem so sure. I don't think you even know."

Osifer twitches spasmodically.

Osifer takes a deep breath, eyes closed to calm himself. Then, when he speaks again, his voice is level and, perhaps, quite a bit more confident. His hands move to illustrate each action he speaks of, claws as his visual tools.

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well, Dad and Mum, they get into something and Dad, his part here, it goes into Mum's part here. And eventually, Dad's part, it puts something into Mum's part. And that something might or might not end up putting a baby in her stomach." Then, abruptly, he sneezes. Somehow, all semblance of composure has gone after it, and his hands fall again. "..So, um. ..She's. She's got a baby in there, honey.""

Ahri blinks and says a kind, but disbelieving "Right."

You say, "Alright sweetpea, let's try this this way."

You say, "You know the bees up in the garden?"

You say, "And the flowers?"

Ahri nods and says, "Ah-huh."

Osifer crosses his arms over his chest loosely and starts to rock himself gently to and fro.

You say, "You know how when spring comes, the trees up there shoot the seeds everywhere, and the sunflowers, and I can plant them to make more plants?"

You say, "Both are needed for a baby. When Da's part brings a seed, not really a seed, but kind of like one, to Mum's part, kinda like an egg, like bird's lay? Well, together, those make a baby in Mum's womb. That's what happens with what Da described. Make a bit more sense?"

Osifer seems to be pouting a bit, muttering something under his breath.

You cover your mouth with your hand, hiding an amused grin.

Ahri thinks for a bit, then says, "Okay. So s'not PUTTING a baby in Mumma but more like when y'mix red an' blue to make purple?"

You suck thoughtfully on your teeth.

You say, "Kind of, yes."

Ahri nods. "Okay. So I'ma have a sister?"

You say, "Maybe, or maybe a brother. We don't get to decide, and we don't know until it comes."

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "..Wait, wait, you knew what siblings were already?"

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "..Why didn't I know that, that would've made this so much easier."

Ahri looks at Osifer. "Ah-huh. Missus Linthi over'in Attica has Talli and Jorum and Nintri, Talli's my favourite but Jorum's okay."

Staring at Ahri for a moment, Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "How come we let you get so smart, huh..?"

The child gives a shrug and says, "Idunno."

Juggernaut Osifer Ryokus says, "Well, uh. Well, there you have it. Between my theatrics and Mum's common sense, you, uh. You're getting a brother or a sister, honey. How's that for you?"

Ahri smiles and hugs Osifer's arm. "I can share." she says.