Zèklè

She suggests that being a parent is different from being a brother, and, yes, you suppose that's true. But being a brother is the only thing you know how to do, so you shrug, agreeing but unwilling to add anything more. This is about Iso becoming a Ma, after all, not you becoming a Da.

Or it was, at any rate, until things took a turn for the unexpected (though, really, how did you not see this coming, Zero?), and now you're left stammering and open-mouthed, trying to force a quickly evolving situation into making some amount of sense. As with many of your hairbrained ideas, your plan to have Isopia happily bundled up with a bouncing baby is quickly spiraling out of control. For one thing, she's way more receptive than you would've expected, and you're still half certain this is a terrible idea based on what happened last time.

For another, you're totally not ready to be a Da.

Because, shit, if you're gonna do this (are we really gonna do this?) then that's what you're going to have to be. It seems obvious, now- how could you be expected to suggest someone have a baby and then not step in? All biological necessities aside, you can't waltz in and say, Oh, hey, wanna have a kid? Cool, good luck as a single parent! Even Gaucho hadn't done that - sure, he'd been busy a lot, but he'd always been there, even when you weren't sure he was your Da at all. No, now you've put your hoof in your mouth and there's no going back: you're in this for the long haul, kiddo, so you might as well buckle up and figure out how to put a baby in your best friend without it being the most awkward experience of your life. At least it can't get weirder, you figure... right?

Wrong! Because as you fidget and squirm Isopia's pondering, her quiet and calm voice making the most mind-boggling proposal you have ever heard. For a moment you can only stare, mouth agape, eyes wide, your brain working so hard that your body can't make anything else even begin to function. Does she... does she want you to carry it? To have it in your belly the way Ma's do? Why? How? Of course you'll do it, if she wants you to and can figure out how, it was your idea and you got yourself into this mess- but man, this is not what you signed up for.

You stammer, speechless for a second before finally blurting out the only thing you can: "But- but how would you get the egg in me- or out?!" Because, let's face it, the logistics of egg-laying has always been one of the greater (but by no mean only) mysteries of childbearing to you - and yes, you still believe all babies come from eggs.

And in the sea that's painted black,
Creatures lurk below the deck
But you're a queen and I'm a lionheart