Post by devilinthedetails on Aug 13, 2022 12:51:56 GMT 10
Series: Winter Tales
Title: Cozy Little Princess
Rating: PG-13 for references to suicide.
Event: Cozy
Words: 580
Summary: Shinko wraps her daughter in a cozy blanket.
Cozy Little Princess
Shinko wrapped little Lian in a lamb’s wool blanket from small, dimpled chin to tiny, peach toes until she was certain her baby was cozy as a bear hibernating in a cave during long winter months. A process that was complicated by the fact that Lian’s tiny, peach-toed feet loved to kick and fail. As did her bite-sized fists. Sometimes in harmony with her toes. Other times performing an independent dance of their own.
“She’s snug as a pig in mud,” Roald commented. A gleam of amusement in his ocean blue eyes. Whether he was amused by the antics of their strong-willed, high-spirited child or by Shinko’s clucking mother hen tendencies, Shinko did not know. Either way, she neither shared nor appreciated his sense of the comical in this regard.
“Not the comparison I would have chosen for our little princess.” Shinko shot her husband a lofty look. Hoping to discourage further witty commentary from him as she rocked her daughter in her arms.
“Our little princess must be burning up.” The humorous twinkle was undimmed in Roald’s eyes. “You do realize it is midsummer, not midwinter, don’t you, my dear?”
“I am aware of what time of year it is.” Shinko clutched her child more tightly to her. Protective of her offspring but also feeling defensive of her impugned judgment and ability as a mother. “But our little princess should be kept warm no matter the season. We don’t want her getting cold and sick.”
Babies should not be allowed to feel cold. That was the teaching in the Yamani Islands. A manner of keeping the lurking specter of disease at bay in infants and newborns.
“No.” Roald bent to kiss her neck. Agreeing and disagreeing with her in one breath as only he could do. “Nor do we want her overheating.”
“She will not overheat.” Shinko leaned into his kiss. Melting into it–into him–like dissolving morning dew on spring grass. “Trust me. I am her mother and your wife. I know what I am talking about. I always do.”
“I would trust you with my life.” Roald kissed her again. “And my child’s. Even if you do have a radically different conception of what constitutes ‘cold’ than I do in this case.”
“‘Radically different’ is an exaggeration.” Shinko stifled a smile. Baiting her husband in her gentle fashion. Because she loved him, and he loved her. What was love but these soft moments of teasing? “And a funny way of saying that I am more cautious than you.”
“You are more cautious indeed.” Roald chuckled. Engaging and indulging in his own teasing. “So cautious you will have our daughter swelter in the summer heat in that blanket.”
“Sweating is good for a baby.” Shinko was serene as a golden-orange koi fish swimming in slow circles around a placid garden pond. “I am her mother. I know what is best for her.”
Even though she had never been a mother before and had few memories of her own mother before that elegant, graceful lady had swallowed poison. Committing suicide on an emperor’s orders. A dignified death but still a dishonor that would haunt Shinko to her own grave so far from the misty mountains of the Yamani Islands that had given birth to her. From the cruel, cut-throat court that had raised her more than her mother had a chance to do.
Some things were just instinctual, Shinko told herself. Like breathing or understanding how to be a mother.
Title: Cozy Little Princess
Rating: PG-13 for references to suicide.
Event: Cozy
Words: 580
Summary: Shinko wraps her daughter in a cozy blanket.
Cozy Little Princess
Shinko wrapped little Lian in a lamb’s wool blanket from small, dimpled chin to tiny, peach toes until she was certain her baby was cozy as a bear hibernating in a cave during long winter months. A process that was complicated by the fact that Lian’s tiny, peach-toed feet loved to kick and fail. As did her bite-sized fists. Sometimes in harmony with her toes. Other times performing an independent dance of their own.
“She’s snug as a pig in mud,” Roald commented. A gleam of amusement in his ocean blue eyes. Whether he was amused by the antics of their strong-willed, high-spirited child or by Shinko’s clucking mother hen tendencies, Shinko did not know. Either way, she neither shared nor appreciated his sense of the comical in this regard.
“Not the comparison I would have chosen for our little princess.” Shinko shot her husband a lofty look. Hoping to discourage further witty commentary from him as she rocked her daughter in her arms.
“Our little princess must be burning up.” The humorous twinkle was undimmed in Roald’s eyes. “You do realize it is midsummer, not midwinter, don’t you, my dear?”
“I am aware of what time of year it is.” Shinko clutched her child more tightly to her. Protective of her offspring but also feeling defensive of her impugned judgment and ability as a mother. “But our little princess should be kept warm no matter the season. We don’t want her getting cold and sick.”
Babies should not be allowed to feel cold. That was the teaching in the Yamani Islands. A manner of keeping the lurking specter of disease at bay in infants and newborns.
“No.” Roald bent to kiss her neck. Agreeing and disagreeing with her in one breath as only he could do. “Nor do we want her overheating.”
“She will not overheat.” Shinko leaned into his kiss. Melting into it–into him–like dissolving morning dew on spring grass. “Trust me. I am her mother and your wife. I know what I am talking about. I always do.”
“I would trust you with my life.” Roald kissed her again. “And my child’s. Even if you do have a radically different conception of what constitutes ‘cold’ than I do in this case.”
“‘Radically different’ is an exaggeration.” Shinko stifled a smile. Baiting her husband in her gentle fashion. Because she loved him, and he loved her. What was love but these soft moments of teasing? “And a funny way of saying that I am more cautious than you.”
“You are more cautious indeed.” Roald chuckled. Engaging and indulging in his own teasing. “So cautious you will have our daughter swelter in the summer heat in that blanket.”
“Sweating is good for a baby.” Shinko was serene as a golden-orange koi fish swimming in slow circles around a placid garden pond. “I am her mother. I know what is best for her.”
Even though she had never been a mother before and had few memories of her own mother before that elegant, graceful lady had swallowed poison. Committing suicide on an emperor’s orders. A dignified death but still a dishonor that would haunt Shinko to her own grave so far from the misty mountains of the Yamani Islands that had given birth to her. From the cruel, cut-throat court that had raised her more than her mother had a chance to do.
Some things were just instinctual, Shinko told herself. Like breathing or understanding how to be a mother.