16438/Leading a Country from Bed

Leading a Country from Bed
Date of Scene:	28 November 2023
Location:	Hammer Bay
Synopsis:	Lorna bed ridden and ready to pop meets with Raven and feelings begun to be shared.
Cast of Characters:	Lorna Dane, Raven Darkholme

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Lorna Dane has posed:
    "We're set to induce soon. I'm told it's getting dangerous, for all of us." Lorna repeats what the doctor told her earlier but she knows that Raven's already known, and spoken with other professionals and with the royal physician. "But I'm still scared. Either way. Something about knowing I'll be cut open and that vulnerable." A hand reaches out from under her sheet towards her friend. "I'm asking you to be in the room. For support." The queen says, hiding her request as kindly as she can.

    Lorna is on her back with a few pillows beneath her and her belly is enormously full with the triplets and she's looking towards Raven, her whole body flush and sweaty, like she's been running for hours. Despite her condition claiming that could never be the case.

    Light spills from the windows as the late morning sun shines down. Green hair sticks to her face as she shifts to lie on her side, giving her body some discomfort in places in order to allow some relief in others. "I'm going nuts in here too." She moans.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Even before Lorna's visit with the royal physician, a mutant by the name of Jasmine, Raven was at the palace with Dr. Emily Hathaway from the asteroid. To the blue mutant it was far more important that Lorna have access to both the major healer, and the mutant doctor able to know the medical condition of anyone she touched, as well as replicate any form of medicine required with that touch.

Once the visit was over, the entire conversation reported back to the leader of the Brotherhood, Raven had gone to Lorna's private rooms. She had brought with her some soothing tea, butter cookies made from a local bakery, and some raspberry jam. They may not be the things the Queen was craving, but there was nothing like a butter cookie with a dab of jam.

Sitting on the edge of the bed in a way that allowed her to face Lorna, she offered her hand to the woman for comfort. "If you are being induced, then you will give birth to the triplets naturally," she explained, offering a smile and even scooting a little closer.

"Jasmine will ensure the health of the babies and you, while Hathaway ensures there is little to no pain," she continues. "If you would like... I could be here with you as well."

Lorna Dane has posed:
    "I-" Lorna pauses, holding Raven's hand and looking confused at it, why does it seem MORE blue today, is it because she's SO red?

    Why is she focused on that, she was going to ask Raven a question, and so Lorna looks back to Raven's eyes and takes a deep breath, holds, then sighs with a frown. Forgetting what she wanted to ask. "I think-" She pauses again. "Inducing isn't a C-section." Lorna states a quite knowable fact. "I feel so ... dumb."

    "Oh, right! I thought I'd ask you since ... dad wont be in the room. Mine or theirs. But I wouldn't have it differently. You're the one that's been constant. I want you to stay constant." A squeeze is sent through Lorna's fingers into Raven's hand. "Please?"

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Without prompting, and perhaps a bit more forward than she should be, Raven scoots herself over to sit right beside Lorna, all while still holding the woman's hand. Her other arm slides around the Queen's shoulders so that Lorna can lean right up against her.

"You are not dumb," she offers softly. "You are presently housing three babies in your body, which takes all of your energy including brain power. Give yourself a break."

She gives Lorna a very light one armed hug, then leans to place a single kiss on the top of the woman's head. "Lorna, if you want me by your side for every step of this, from birth to college, I will be here. You are /not/ alone, and will not be alone."

Lorna Dane has posed:
    Lorna's eyes flutter softly at the movements on her bed as Raven adjusts to be closer, then she's hugged, and then she's kissed on her head, and with that, Lorna lets Raven's hand go, and instead wraps up her blue friend with both arms in a heavy and effortful but overall weak hug.

    The queen doesn't pull back, but there's a soft pulsing through her shoulders as her face is pressed into Raven, it takes just a moment for Raven to understand that Lorna is sobbing, and holding as tightly as she can in this moment of weakness.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Instinctively Raven hugs Lorna back, no hesitation, no pause, and rests her head against the other woman's lightly. The hug may be weak, and at an odd angle, but she doesn't seem to care. She caresses Lorna's back lightly and lets her cry.

"You'll be alright Lorna, I promise," she whispers quietly, soothingly, no act or mask in place. Her sincerity is real, and filled with emotion. "I will ensure that everything is perfect and wonderful. I will help you in every way that I can. You are priority above all other things to me."

Lorna Dane has posed:
    Lorna sobs at first out of a sense of family and friendship, but then there's a shift in her pattern and she's shifted to a more sorrowful weaping, with the idea that her life is not anything like she expected it and she cries over a sense of lack of control. But she doesn't say this, not yet, as she pulls away slowly from Raven. "I'm sorry, I know you will, and yet, I'm afraid I'm not who I wanted to be." She says between sobs, a palm shifting to brush at the tears on her cheek, mixing with the constant sweat, and shifting her mess of a hairdo.

    "I get scared that maybe you'll think I'm using you, and disappear off on your own. Like I'm the reason I'm alone, single, knocked up with three super babies..." Lorna shudders softly and shakes her head, "I know that's not true, but I'm still scared by it."

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Once Lorna pulls away, Raven moves one arm from around her but the other stays there. She looks to Lorna's face, into her eyes, and offers a smile.

"Are we ever who we want to be? Do you think that five years ago I would have believed myself capable of changing as I have?" The smile broadens a little. "You are who you have always been Lorna, nothing has changed that much. Yes, you are have three babies, but you aren't alone."

Leaning over she places a gentle kiss on Lorna's forehead before sitting back. "It's alright to be scared of what comes next. I'd actually be worried if you /weren't/ scared." She pauses a moment, canting her head. "I don't know how you could believe I would think you are using me though. I choose to offer myself, my time, my skills, my friendship..."

Pausing once more, she reaches behind her to the nightstand to collect a soft towel that she uses to wipe away the sweat from Lorna's forehead and face. "I choose to be here because I care a great deal for you Lorna, and perhaps you are single but that isn't your fault. Most men are assholes."

Lorna Dane has posed:
    Lorna lifts her head as the towel is brushed across her face and she shakes her head softly afterwards to work out the feelings in her nose. "See, you're too nice to me, and I'm over here like a damn beached whale." Lorna says with a hand slapping down on her bed behind her, as the rest of the space is filled with her belly and Raven sitting next to her. But she does crack a smile. "Most men ARE assholes." She snerks and closes her eyes softly again to relax in the moment.

    "Were you ever THIS big?" Lorna blurts out in a sudden question as she rests her hand on top of her belly.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Leaning a little closer, Raven whispers, "That is why I prefer woman." Then she sits back and wiggles her brows. The moment last a few seconds before she gets serious again.

"One of my pregnancies was about half that size, but no, never that large," she admits. "I can only imagine the pain you are in, and how uncomfortable you must be."

Lorna Dane has posed:
    Lorna's eyes softly widen and she leans away to get a better look at Raven with a smirk that she couldn't hide. "I knew that, and yet, I totally forgot that." Lorna says with a snicker and then glances back down at her sheet covered self. "I'll spare you the gruesome details, plus you already know them, but would you ever prefer a woman like me?" Lorna asks, actively fishing for a compliment and snickering with a roll of her green eyes as a sign she expects Raven to be honest with her and say no.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Raven reaches over to caress her finger along Lorna's cheek and down under her chin. "I prefer women exactly like you Lorna," she states without pause. "You never believe yourself worthy of affection, but I know the truth far better than you can imagine. You are a wonderful woman. You are powerful and have an inner strength you rarely allow yourself to see."

Lorna Dane has posed:
    "I think that inner strength is being stepped on like my bladder." Lorna says with a smirk as she lifts a hand to take Raven's that was caressing her face. "Heh. You flatterer." Lorna says with a mischievious grin before kissing the back of Raven's hand and fingers.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
One brow lifts to Raven's hairline, and a mischievous smile touches her lips as she says, "Oh my dear Lorna, I have only just begun to flatter and flirt. I will mesmerize you with my with my words and enchant you with my charm... in about four to six week." At the end she laughs, once again revealing that she wears mask that she usually keeps in place to conceal her real thoughts and emotions.

"As for your bladder... I believe with that many babies, they are kicking your bladder, kidneys and spleen."

Lorna Dane has posed:
    Lorna blinks slowly and there's the briefest hint of a pout from the bed-ridden queen with a smile afterwards. "You'll have to fight three hungry mouths in six weeks for ANY of my attention, you're aware?" Lorna says, teasing softly and then rolls again.

    A monumental effort as she makes her way back onto her back, with her belly rising up and she frowns at it feeling like it's towering over her. "Thanks for the reminder." She says with a glum look.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
"You are going to need assistance in the form of nannies, Lorna," Raven states all too knowingly. "Then I can have all the time I want, or reality, at least an hour."

As Lorna lays back, Raven reaches over to run her hand lightly over the swollen baby containing royalty. "You are beautiful, do you know that?" Her touch is very light as she swirls her hand over the belly, half expecting Lorna to tell her to stop it.

Lorna Dane has posed:
    "You think so?" Lorna asks with a single eye popping open towards Raven and then a soft sigh as she closes it again and lays her head farther back as she feels Raven's hand on her and feels her children react to that hand as well. "It's such a wild feeling." She whispers to no one and both of them.

Raven Darkholme has posed:
Adjusting herself, Raven leans to whisper to Lorna's stomach, "You three let your mother rest, she needs at least an hour of you holding still." While talking she continues to lightly rub, feeling out where each baby is and giving each one a pat.

Sitting back up, she looks to Lorna who cannot see her smile softly as she says, "I more than think so, I know so. Again, you are always negative about yourself, but I have always told you the truth as I know it."