pontmercyfriend | I want to wish you well. [For Cameron; dated to mid-January]

Darrow never does seem to let up, not even around the holidays. In fact, it seems to be a yearly tradition for madness to occur around both Halloween and the first week of the new year. Marius supposes he ought to be used to such "traditions" by now, but this past New Year's seems like a lot to just forget about so soon.

Still, he has errands to run, and it does no good to dwell on the past at the moment. Today is his one day off all week, and so he needs to be productive this morning so that he can, in fact, relax a bit for the rest of the day.

He makes his way to one of the department/grocery stores especially popular in Darrow, figuring he might need more than groceries, and he might as well try and get all of his shopping done at once. Or, at least, as much of it as he can. He grabs a cart and begins, plucking items from shelves and waiting his turn at the deli for meats and cheeses. The bread of Darrow will never compare to that of France, but he picks up a loaf anyway. He also grabs a couple of bottles of wine. With this city, it is always good to be prepared.

He's walking past the toy section when he spots a familiar face browsing through various toys. He pulls his cart up short, happy to run into his friend.

"Hello Cameron," Marius says with a wave. He smiles with a bit of a mischievous spark to his grin. "Aren't you a little old to be playing with toys?" He jokes.

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"Maybe a little," Cameron says, sheepish, though that doesn't keep him from smiling. He'd just been shopping when he happened across the toy aisle and stopped. The temptation to bring something home for the little one is just too great to resist, and he thinks Jenny will be pleased if he does so.

Still, they haven't told anyone just yet. They're nearly at the end of the first trimester, and he's bursting with the urge to share, though.

"They're cute, huh? I was thinking of picking one up for... a friend. Friend's kid."

"Adorable," Marius nods in agreement, glancing over at the various toys on display. Some of the stuffed creatures seem mildly terrifying, and he can't look at the Hatchimals without shuddering. (He isn't surprised in the least that Darrow still sells them, though.) But on the whole, the variety of toys available proves charming. There are plenty of toys the makers and sellers of Paris could only dream of, back home. "I can't blame you, really. I kind of want to play with them myself."

"A friend?" He arches an eyebrow at that, curious by the pause in Cameron's sentence. He wonders.

"Well, you've got your work cut out for you, I'd say," he continues. If Cameron has news, he can share it in his own time. Marius won't pry, no matter how much he's tempted to. "What with all the options."

There's absolutely no pressure or need to tell, and yet Cameron can feel himself cracking under the desire to do so. He's been bursting with the news for weeks, dying to tell everyone, and Marius is one of his very best friends. Keeping it to himself won't be easy.

But then, Jenny's already told Olive. It seems only fair he get to tell someone, too.

"I'm thinking something stuffed," he says, "soft. So it'll be safe for a baby, you know?" But that just makes it all the more important that he pick well. This toy will be one of the first his son or daughter gets to hold. He grins and shakes his head. Fuck it. "Jenny's pregnant. We haven't really told anyone yet, but... I'm so excited, man."

Edited 2018-01-01 21:25 (UTC)

"That seems a safe route," Marius says with a nod and an approving smile. Some of the stuffed options, the ones that don't seem like they're staring into one's soul, ready to devour it, are quite cute and cuddly. Indeed, Marius finds the traditional teddy bears to be especially charming.

And then Cameron confirms what Marius was beginning to suspect, and he can't help but break out into a huge grin.

"Congratulations, my friend!" He says, very much delighted for him and Jenny. "That is wonderful news! You both must be so happy!"

He knows, from conversations with them both, actually, that they've been talking about having kids. He's absolutely delighted for both of his friends, and he comes to a decision then and there.

"Pick out whichever toy you'd like, It'll be my treat."

Cameron can't keep himself from grinning like an idiot. It feels good just to say it, to enjoy both his friend's happiness for them and his own delight. He and Jenny have been talking about having kids for almost a year now, and it feels like it's taken forever to get to this point.

"Thank you," he says. "That's really nice of you. Yeah, we're just -- we're over the moon. I mean, we've been hoping it would happen for a while now, and here we are. I still can't quite believe it sometimes."

Marius finds Cameron's happiness is very much contagious; his own grin hardly lessens as they continue their conversation. But truly, he wouldn't stop grinning even if he could. The birth of a child, especially one born to his friends, feels like a small miracle given the recent events of Darrow. He'll cherish every bright spot of hope he can find.

He nods. "You're welcome. It's the least I can do." And he'll certainly have more gifts to offer, once the child has come into the world.

"I'm so glad for you," he tells him. "I can't think of anyone who would make such wonderful parents. I'm sure your child is going to adore you both."

"I hope so," Cameron says, nodding. "I can't imagine any child not loving Jenny." She isn't the obviously maternal type, but there's a warmth and humor to her that delight him every day. He's seen her lately, too, watching children, fondness and hope in her eyes. She has so much love to give, so much to teach a child. "I mean, I might, perhaps, be a tad biased on that point, but... she's going to be wonderful."

"I can't imagine any child not loving Jenny or you," Marius agrees with a smile. Cameron and Jenny seem to him two of the warmest, kindest people he knows. They'll provide a marvelous home for any and all children they have. He thinks he couldn't be happier for them both.

"You'll both be wonderful," he assures him. "I know it."

"Have you thought of names?" He asks, curious. "Or is it too soon?"

"We're still thinking about it," Cameron says, and laughs. "Honestly I think we're still a little bit in shock." If it's a boy, he knows, he'll want to name him after his brother, and he suspects Jenny would be happy with that. For girls, all he can really think is that he'd want to honor his mother somehow. It isn't, he knows, the most inspired way to name babies, but this far from home, there are some reminders that are still welcome.

"That's fair," Marius says with a smile. He imagines such news is the sort of news that takes time getting used to, for both parents involved. He has no experience with expecting a child himself, so he can only imagine how much there must be to think about and consider in preparation for the incoming addition to the family. Still, he can't contain his utter delight for his friends.

"I'm sure you both will come up with the perfect name," he says.

"When is the baby due?"

I want to wish you well. [For Cameron; dated to mid-January]

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