Mysterious Circumstances (pm to discuss joining)

[slippedhalo]

Officer Dennis Canton watched the little, feisty, purple haired one as she roamed the village grounds outside. She was cute if not odd. But, there were a few unusual looking ones in this new batch. Dennis had just been married last March and was happily plugging away at family attempting with his new wife, Georgia. Still, it didn't make him blind. He still noticed a nice rack or decent pair of legs when he spotted them. This one was younger than the others and seemed high strung but undeniably, had really nice legs and a cute face. If he weren't on the clock he might've tried seeing how well she responded to flirtatious chat. But, his job was to guard her and keep her from harming the town, not talk her up. Still, he didn't hide the fact that he was keeping an eye on her. Dennis wanted her to be aware so she'd stay out of trouble.

 

[Othermoose]

April was unpacking. The queen sized bed was raised about six feet off the ground and had a few shelves and baskets above the headboard so she'd climbed up to put most of their things up there where their most private space would be. Below, was a single bed and a chest of drawers she thought she'd let Caleb use. Across the room was a large closet for hanging clothes the trio could probably share. The room wasnt huge but it would do.

Austin passed her a glass of water. It tasted fresh, like spring water. He then seemed nervous. She raised her eyebrows, "So? What's on your mind." She asked.

Austin shrugged at her deciding to keep silent, but then he berated himself. They'd have to talk about it eventually, so it was better to get it out of the way now. "Marriage and kids and stuff..." He finally croaked. "What the fuck are we going to do? I... I don't want kids, but I don't want anyone knocking you up but... But me." He rasped before a coughing fit. He drank a large sip of his water before looking at April. "I love you, but I... What if we have a kid and... And I'm like my dad?" He forced himself to say, his voice barely audible.

 

[Othermoose]

She sighed, "It's been a bloody awful start!" Kate exclaimed moving to hang clothes in the closet. "I dont know what to tell everyone about such personal decisions being pretty nearly forced upon them. Now, this project wasn't my idea, yet somehow I feel like I should apologize to everyone for bringing us here. And, for being fortunate enough to not have as much to lose as, Natalia or May. I've got you...I hope...I'm not so sure Erik is keen on fatherhood or marriage. Poor Natalia! And, May...what the heck are we going to do about her? Some moments she's fine. Then, I swear it's like some fourteen year old child crying out for attention at exactly the wrong moments to be...what was April's word? Petulant...yes...I want to help her. It's obvious she needs therapy. But, she's got to want it and cooperate or I can't even help and she'll get us into serious shite...Oh, David, this is just so not what I'd been expecting! I just wish it was a bad dream."

David listened to Kate as she vented about the colony. David didn't like the thought of them being the "parents" of the group, but it seemed like they were firmly locked in the role. "There's nothing we can do. We're stuck here, and we've got to make the best of it." David said going over to Kate and hugging her from behind. He gently rubbed her stomach and kissed her neck. "You know you have me Kate. And as your man I'm going to offer some advice. Try to deal with one thing at a time. Erik isn't the family type, but he cares about Natalia. They'll figure something out. Aziz and Yuet seem to be doing better than we are. April and Austin... I hate to admit it but they're good together. Caleb and Jocelyn are odd, but don't seem unbalanced. That just leaves May. And you know that I don't have the first clue about how to deal with moody teenagers. But if you need me to do anything for you, just snap your fingers and it's done. I'm going to make sure you and they little guy are happy. Whatever it takes." David said firmly.

 

[slippedhalo]

Austin shrugged at her deciding to keep silent, but then he berated himself. They'd have to talk about it eventually, so it was better to get it out of the way now. "Marriage and kids and stuff..." He finally croaked. "What the fuck are we going to do? I... I don't want kids, but I don't want anyone knocking you up but... But me." He rasped before a coughing fit. He drank a large sip of his water before looking at April. "I love you, but I... What if we have a kid and... And I'm like my dad?" He forced himself to say, his voice barely audible.

She took her time in answering. Truly thinking on this. "I would prefer an open adoption where we could still have contact with our child, be auntie and uncle or something...to closed adoption or donating eggs and then wondering everytime I see a kid who looks like me...I think, in a few years, with counseling and experience, we'd be ok parents. But, maybe for now we consider open adoption but leave the door open to change our minds throughout a pregnancy and maybe even a few days after the birth of a baby, just in case...If you would marry me." Said April, looking equally as uncertain as Austin.

 

[slippedhalo]

David listened to Kate as she vented about the colony. David didn't like the thought of them being the "parents" of the group, but it seemed like they were firmly locked in the role. "There's nothing we can do. We're stuck here, and we've got to make the best of it." David said going over to Kate and hugging her from behind. He gently rubbed her stomach and kissed her neck. "You know you have me Kate. And as your man I'm going to offer some advice. Try to deal with one thing at a time. Erik isn't the family type, but he cares about Natalia. They'll figure something out. Aziz and Yuet seem to be doing better than we are. April and Austin... I hate to admit it but they're good together. Caleb and Jocelyn are odd, but don't seem unbalanced. That just leaves May. And you know that I don't have the first clue about how to deal with moody teenagers. But if you need me to do anything for you, just snap your fingers and it's done. I'm going to make sure you and they little guy are happy. Whatever it takes." David said firmly.

She smiled, relaxing at his reassurances. "I love you, David." Said Kate. "Have we any ideas for names yet? For our son?" She asked, still blown away by the concept of them being parents yet feeling the baby moving in her womb reminded her this was no abstract, it was indeed happening for real.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

On Mays walk back, she noticed a security guard eyeing her, she then decide she would roam around the town instead of heading inside, she decided she would head to the lake. When she got there, she put her feet in the water, and started to wonder about this strange planet.

 

[slippedhalo]

He had his orders. She was to be watched. Canton followed the one called May, observing her from a distance. When she looked at him he explained, "I'm your security. Until you all have been fully given the ok by The Council we police must keep an eye on you guys. It's for your own safety as much as the colony. I'm Officer Canton. I'll be nearby if you need anything."

 

[SlySparrow0003]

May nodded her understanding, although it now definitely didn't feel very peaceful at the lake now. But she tried to I ignore it as she layed back into the green hill, and let the sunlight warm her face. Or whatever light she thought to herself.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason had finished most of the chores around his place and now just needed to go round up his cattle. He saddled his favorite horse and began the trek out to the back paddock. It took him about an hour and once there about half an hour to round them up. It was pretty easy as they were milk cows and came in pretty easily. His meat cows were grazing elsewhere and getting them in was a pain.

He drove the herd back into the house paddock and began the afternoon milking. Once that was done, he decided to load up the wagon for the BBQ dinner. He grabbed the vegetables, bread, meat and his secret spice rub then packed it all in his wagon along with a jug of fresh lemonade, and some apple lightning. Then he hitched up his team and headed up the hill.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

It was sunset now and May assumed dinner would be serving now or very soon. Although May was considering not eating, it was Aprils territory first, and she didn't think she could handle dinner without feeling the urge to kill April herself, the other ones seemed done with her too, she almost got them locked up as well. May smiled smugly, the peace at the lake was like a whole new world. She say up at stared at the peaceful sunset.

 

[Othermoose]

She took her time in answering. Truly thinking on this. "I would prefer an open adoption where we could still have contact with our child, be auntie and uncle or something...to closed adoption or donating eggs and then wondering everytime I see a kid who looks like me...I think, in a few years, with counseling and experience, we'd be ok parents. But, maybe for now we consider open adoption but leave the door open to change our minds throughout a pregnancy and maybe even a few days after the birth of a baby, just in case...If you would marry me." Said April, looking equally as uncertain as Austin.

Austin stayed quiet, thinking about April's suggestion. Her argument was logical and well thought out, and it sounded like a completely terrible idea to Austin. "That all makes sense, but if you're going to have a kid, I only want it to be mine. But at the same time I'm not ready for kids. I don't know if I'll ever be." Austin said quietly before coughing a few times. He took a sip of water and considered the last thing April had said. "Do you even want to get married? We're not ready for that now, but even if we were married... What's the point? You're mine and I'm yours. Why do we need anyone else to tell us what we already know?" He asked her before a coughing fit hit him again. After a moment he say back up from his coughing fit and finished his water in one swallow. "Do you think they have tobacco here?" He rasped. "I miss smoking."

 

[Othermoose]

She smiled, relaxing at his reassurances. "I love you, David." Said Kate. "Have we any ideas for names yet? For our son?" She asked, still blown away by the concept of them being parents yet feeling the baby moving in her womb reminded her this was no abstract, it was indeed happening for real.

David sighed with thought. "I've had a couple I've been turning over in my head." He said after a moment of thinking. "I've always liked the name Ben. And Tommy could be nice. What about you? What have you come up with?" He asked gently rubbing her belly.

 

[Othermoose]

It was sunset now and May assumed dinner would be serving now or very soon. Although May was considering not eating, it was Aprils territory first, and she didn't think she could handle dinner without feeling the urge to kill April herself, the other ones seemed done with her too, she almost got them locked up as well. May smiled smugly, the peace at the lake was like a whole new world. She say up at stared at the peaceful sunset.

Adrianna was delightfully sore, and very very happy. The moment the ship had been pushed onto the beach her new family came to her. They embraced her and introduced themselves, and after awhile the hugging turned into a wonderful orgy. The other four mermaids were pregnant, and Adrianna was sure she was too. "And if not now, soon." She thought shivering with excitement at the thought of having babies. After all of the mermen had been spent, Bevin had showed her around her new home. They talked and shared a large pile of clams, Bevin even letting her keep all of the pretty pearls. "I want Bevin to be the first to give me a baby." She thought with a smile. All the other mermen had been nice, not to mention attractive, but Adrianna felt certain she wanted Bevin to be the first one to give her a child.

Adrianna had been exploring the various lakes and streams that crisscrossed the islands. The humans had dug various tunnels so that the merfolk could interact with the people in and around the lakes. As Adrianna swam through the lake she saw May standing on a bridge that was built across the lake. She swam up to the bridge and stuck her head up out of the water. "Hello May! It's so good to see you! Where is everyone else? Are you having fun? I love this place! Don't you love it too! This place is great!" Adrianna said happily.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

May laughed a little, it was always great to see some happy sports I'm darker times.ay smiled and calmly said "Well Adrianna, I'm glad your having fun, I can't say it's the same for the rest of us though" she told Adrianna about having to have kids if your with someone, and how she almost got everyone locked up. At the end of her story she sighed and laughed lightheartedly "It's gonna take a while to get settled in, and everyone else is having a hard time. And my presence doesn't seem to help, do I came here, very peaceful, their probobly eating dinner." May said with a small smile.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason crested the hill and waved to the guards as he made his way over to the house.He parked near the back and began to unload the supplies near the large open firepit that had been carefully constructed. It served as both a heat source to sit around, hence the benches, but also a cooking area.

Once everything was in place, he fired up the wood that was already in place and sat back to prepare the vegetables. The corn he left whole and in their husks. They would cook nicely this way. He sliced up onions, peppers, zandav (a native plant that he was told was similar to earths zucchini),garlic and wild pepper leaves. These he threw in a large dish to fry together. He then wrapped potatoes and yams to do in the coals and sliced up more onions to just fry by themselves.

Then he prepared the meat. He had big thick juicy steaks he rubbed all over with his secret spices as well as leaving some plain. He had noticed that Kate was pregnant and it was best to keep some spice out of food for pregnant women. Then washing his hands, he made sure his sausages were all cut into single out of their links and that his patties were ready. Finally after another wash he made a large salad up and placed it on the outdoor table.

By now the fire had died down and he buried the tubers in the coals raking them out evenly, then popped on the large cooking top. He let it heat up then put on the vegetables and the sausages. Soon the backyard was full of the delicious smells of dinner cooking. If this didn't have people coming outside he would begin to wonder.

 

[Othermoose]

May laughed a little, it was always great to see some happy sports I'm darker times.ay smiled and calmly said "Well Adrianna, I'm glad your having fun, I can't say it's the same for the rest of us though" she told Adrianna about having to have kids if your with someone, and how she almost got everyone locked up. At the end of her story she sighed and laughed lightheartedly "It's gonna take a while to get settled in, and everyone else is having a hard time. And my presence doesn't seem to help, do I came here, very peaceful, their probobly eating dinner." May said with a small smile.

"If you're hungry you can eat with me." Adrianna said disappearing under the water. She came up a few moments later with an armful of clams that she deposited on the bridge next to May's feet. "Bevin says these are from Earth, and they don't have any predators here so there's tons of them. They're really good too!" Adrianna said cracking open a shell and slipping the clam meat into her mouth with a smile. "They're good! Try one. You may even find a pearl. Bevin let me keep all the ones he found earlier. He's so nice." Adrianna said happily eating another clam.

After she finished chewing the clam in her mouth, Adrianna looked curiously at May. "Why don't humans want to have babies? I've always wanted to have one. I just never had the chance until now. But not that I can, I'm going to have as many as possible! Is it different for humans? Do humans not like babies?" Adrianna asked not understanding May and the others' dilemma about having kids.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

May popped a clam into her mouth, it felt silky and slimy as she gulped it down. But ate some politely for Adrianna. "Some of us just aren't ready to support a kid, or take on that important role of being a parent, up here they require a lot of work and attention. Most of us love our babies and love them forever, even in death. Some don't..." May trailed off at the memory of her mother, was she okay? Did it matter if she wasn't, does that man beat her? Did her mom mourn her loss? Was there a funeral? Her thoughts were interrupted by Adrianna asking if she was okay. May smiled a small smile.

"Yeah, I'm okay, as I was saying, some aren't ready to be a parent, some shouldn't be at all. Do you like this Bevin?" May asked calmly, trying to change the subject.

 

[slippedhalo]

Austin stayed quiet, thinking about April's suggestion. Her argument was logical and well thought out, and it sounded like a completely terrible idea to Austin. "That all makes sense, but if you're going to have a kid, I only want it to be mine. But at the same time I'm not ready for kids. I don't know if I'll ever be." Austin said quietly before coughing a few times. He took a sip of water and considered the last thing April had said. "Do you even want to get married? We're not ready for that now, but even if we were married... What's the point? You're mine and I'm yours. Why do we need anyone else to tell us what we already know?" He asked her before a coughing fit hit him again. After a moment he say back up from his coughing fit and finished his water in one swallow. "Do you think they have tobacco here?" He rasped. "I miss smoking."

April shrugged about the tobacco. The comment about Austin possibly never being ready to parent was worrying. She admittedly wasn't feeling ready currently but knew someday she would and had imagined herself having a minimum of two kids, maybe more, someday...But, if the man she loved would never want to be a part of that what would that mean for them? Was their relationship hopeless?

Out of the window she spied movement. Soon, delicious scents wafted in from the patio area. "Somebody's barbequing out there." She said. Looking out, she saw who. "Jason is out there cooking."

 

[slippedhalo]

David sighed with thought. "I've had a couple I've been turning over in my head." He said after a moment of thinking. "I've always liked the name Ben. And Tommy could be nice. What about you? What have you come up with?" He asked gently rubbing her belly.

"I like Benjamin. I don't think I'd call him Ben. Full on Benjamin, for me. I also like the names Jasper, Adam, Keegan, Samuel, Merlin, Tobin, Gregory...David. I like David too, but I'd call him Davey. Maybe Benjamin David? Or David Benjamin? I knew a boy named Tommy, he was always saying nasty, filthy things to girls under his breath and used to hide in the shrubs at the back end of the school yard and wank off during recess and lunch time. This started awfully young, pre puberty, and continued through to High School. Then, in 2nd year of the school...you'd call it Sophomore year, he was caught wanking into the lost and found bin by the school librarian. She screamed and he pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the shoulder...Got picked up by police that afternoon and never returned to our school again...Tommy's off the list." Said Kate.

She peered out the window, "Do you smell that?! Steak!"

 

[slippedhalo]

Jocelyn had taken the bed on the left because it got more natural light, with the room's window on the left side of the room. She unpacked her things and hung them to the left inside the closet. When May returned there'd still be plenty of room for her stuff. Jocelyn placed the book she'd been reading from the ship's library (still in the dome, Jason hadn't been told yet about the wonderful library or the R.E. Computers installed there and tablets, plus arm computers...He'd mentioned no internet or computers but with some fiddling between May and Aziz's expertise, perhaps a rudimentary sort of intranet could be possible...) on her pillow beside her freshly washed and dried pajamas to show the bed had been claimed, before leaving the lovey dovey couple dozing up in the top bunk to go find the source of that yummy smell...

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

The sausages were almost done so Jason placed the hamburgers on then on the grill side he gently laid out the steaks. He kept the spiced and the non spiced ones separate and he decided he would have to cook them all medium rare. Sure people might like them done a little more than that, but they could always be thrown back on, but to him that was how a proper steak should be eaten.

Well actually he liked his rare and he actually kept a spiced one back so he could cook it for himself once everyone else's was prepared. He flipped the burgers and stirred the vegetables and moved the onions around, then turned the steaks. Everything was almost ready so he quickly went and got some serving dishes and pilled one high with the sausages and burgers and placed it on the table, then pulled the vegetables off in their container and put it straight on. The cut onions were next and then he arranged the steaks on a large plank and added them. By the time everyone arrived they should have rested enough.

Then he started to dig in the cols for the tubers and pulled them out, placing them in the last dish and popping them on the table. He left the corn on the hot plate. It was always better to keep it warm, but he did rake the coals away from the bottom. No need to cook them anymore now. Looking around he surveyed his handiwork. Not a huge cookout but still not bad. Maybe this would show them that this life wasn't going to be all bad. Grinning he threw on his own steak and waited.

 

[Othermoose]

April shrugged about the tobacco. The comment about Austin possibly never being ready to parent was worrying. She admittedly wasn't feeling ready currently but knew someday she would and had imagined herself having a minimum of two kids, maybe more, someday...But, if the man she loved would never want to be a part of that what would that mean for them? Was their relationship hopeless?

Out of the window she spied movement. Soon, delicious scents wafted in from the patio area. "Somebody's barbequing out there." She said. Looking out, she saw who. "Jason is out there cooking."

Austin saw the disappointment in April's face and he walked over and gave her a tight hug. "Give me time." He whispered wishing they actually had time to decide these things. After a moment Austin let go of her, and climbed into their bed. "Not hungry. You go." He rasped before laying his head on the pillow.

 

[Othermoose]

"I like Benjamin. I don't think I'd call him Ben. Full on Benjamin, for me. I also like the names Jasper, Adam, Keegan, Samuel, Merlin, Tobin, Gregory...David. I like David too, but I'd call him Davey. Maybe Benjamin David? Or David Benjamin? I knew a boy named Tommy, he was always saying nasty, filthy things to girls under his breath and used to hide in the shrubs at the back end of the school yard and wank off during recess and lunch time. This started awfully young, pre puberty, and continued through to High School. Then, in 2nd year of the school...you'd call it Sophomore year, he was caught wanking into the lost and found bin by the school librarian. She screamed and he pulled out a knife and stabbed her in the shoulder...Got picked up by police that afternoon and never returned to our school again...Tommy's off the list." Said Kate.

She peered out the window, "Do you smell that?! Steak!"

"I don't want him to be called David. He should have his own name, but I like Benjamin David. Benjamin David Russle." David said, trying out the name. As the smell of food wafted through the window David's stomach rumbled. "We have a few months to worry about names. Lets go eat!" David said happily as he led Kate out of their room.

They walked outside to find Jason had made them a large and delicious looking feast. Recognizing the olive branch the other man was extending to the group David walked over to Jason. "Thank you for making this food for us. We've all had a rough introduction to this place, and I appreciate you doing this for us. Do you need any help setting up?" David said to Jason, shaking his hand.

 

[Othermoose]

May popped a clam into her mouth, it felt silky and slimy as she gulped it down. But ate some politely for Adrianna. "Some of us just aren't ready to support a kid, or take on that important role of being a parent, up here they require a lot of work and attention. Most of us love our babies and love them forever, even in death. Some don't..." May trailed off at the memory of her mother, was she okay? Did it matter if she wasn't, does that man beat her? Did her mom mourn her loss? Was there a funeral? Her thoughts were interrupted by Adrianna asking if she was okay. May smiled a small smile.

"Yeah, I'm okay, as I was saying, some aren't ready to be a parent, some shouldn't be at all. Do you like this Bevin?" May asked calmly, trying to change the subject.

"You think we don't love our children?" Adrianna asked, her voice sounding hurt. "We love out children forever, just like you do, it's just not as big of a deal who makes them. A child is a child and everyone loves them and helps to support and raise them. The mother does the most, but everyone pitches in. Maybe humans should try it too." Adrianna said.

The mermaid's feelings had been hurt. Did all humans assume that merchildren weren't loved, or was it only May? Suddenly Adrianna wasn't hungry anymore. "Um... I've got to go now. You can keep the clams. Maybe you should take them back to the others? They'd probably like them. But I hope things get better for you here May. I'll see you around." Adrianna said before dipping back under the water.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

May could hear the hurt in Adrianna's voice, "No wait! I wasn't talking about mer folks! I was just talking about some of us up here hate our children..." Her words trailing off. She sighed a small sad one, as Adrianna disappeared. May heavily got up. She didn't want to head back yet, not until she could sneak in at night when everyone slept. She claimed up a hill, and watched as the sun finally was out of sight.