IT'S A BABY-BONANZA!

[paradisamods]

Good morning, residents! Did you sleep well? You're going to need all the energy you can muster because congratulations: You're parents! Again! The Paradisa Stork has paid some very lucky residents a visit last night, and even moved them to a more kid-friendly environment.

Some of you may already recognize your little bundle of joy and--my, how they've grown! Others will have to get acquainted with their little rugrats. You may not know them, but they certainly know you. By they way? They're bored. And hungry! And they want all the attention you could possibly give them.

It's going to be a long week.

(ooc: Use this as a catch-all post! This will be the only mass post for the Sunny Skies Retreat, so you may use it for any day that you'd like. Feel free to make your own posts and/or sections whenever you'd like!

SECTIONS: BEDROOMS | PLAY ROOM | PETTING ZOO | POOL | GARDENS | THE CASTLE)

Comments

[youfallback]

[On the way down, Jack excitedly moves beside his father, ready for all of the pooltime, but he does at least allow for breakfast. He asks for a ton of blueberries on his waffles and once they're seated, digs in with zero patience.

Once they're all settled, though, Carolina will arrive down in the breakfast area, wearing a long blue maxi dress with a jacket over her shoulders. She'll take the extra seat and offer both kids a grin, while ignoring York as covertly as she can manage.]

[encryptedlock]

[The kids are going to notice before long that Mommy and Daddy aren't talking to each other, but for the moment they're pretty excited to be in a new place. York has a bowl of cereal and some bacon himself (as many as he could grab).]

So I guess we're at the "Sunny Skies Retreat".

I thought we were going to the castle, Daddy.

Yeah, I thought we were there. But we're all here instead, so--it's still a vacation, okay?

[Laura seems to think about this for a few moments and then nods.]

[youfallback]

[Jack digs into his waffles and fruit, nodding at both of his parents excitedly as he chews. Carolina goes to get a bit of fruit, some water, and a couple pieces of toast before returning to the table and starting into her breakfast as well.]

The Castle's on vacation, too, that's why we're here.

[She smiles more softly at Laura.] You're still a princess, even if we're here.

[encryptedlock]

I'm always a princess.

[York has to grin and ruffle her hair playfully. Of course she is. He tries not to think too hard about whether she's really Carolina's daughter or Princess Peach's, but she does seem to have a bit of Carolina's bossy attitude.

Maybe not thinking about it too hard is the best idea here.]

How about we walk around and see everything first? By that time it'll be okay to swim.

[youfallback]

[The bossy attitude is too easy to not forget, in Carolina's mind. As she's finishing up her breakfast, Jack excitedly shouts another yes! and starts pushing back from the table.]

Let everyone finish their breakfast first, Jack.

[encryptedlock]

[Jack pouts, but York slips him a piece of bacon with a wink. He'll be done soon enough, and Laura looks slightly alarmed and shovels the last of her strawberries into her mouth.]

Chew, honey.

Mmm chwin addy.

Without talking. We'll wait for you.

[But once she's done, he'll look to Carolina for confirmation before helping them up.]

Should we check this place out?

[youfallback]

[Carolina notices that slight slip of bacon to their son and barely resists glaring. She does, however, shoot York a sour look. Bacon isn't good for babies, okay.

Still, she does nod at the question.] Then we'll go to the pool after.

[To which Jack joyfully scarfs down that bacon.] Pool! Pool! Pool!

[encryptedlock]

[Pff, he's like three by now. Ish. He can have bacon if he wants to. He'll take Laura's hand once they're ready and starts walking out of the dining area.]

Let's see if we can find a map. Pretty sure the pool's outside.

[They do find a signpost fairly quickly, with signs to "Playroom", "Petting Zoo", and more.]

What do you think?

[youfallback]

[Doesn't matter if he's three-ish or thirty-three-ish, Jack is always going to be her baby. That's just how it works. As they get up, Carolina takes Jack's hand before he tears off and lets him pull her along the hallway. He heads past the sign in the direction to the "Playroom," ready to hurry them through the tour to get to the pool.]

He's deciding.

[encryptedlock]

[York snickers a little as Laura puts on a superior expression and stays near her parents, even though she's clearly just as excited.]

Slow it down, buddy.

[Of course, once they get to the playroom, it's enough to distract any kid.]

Daddy! Can I jump in the balls?

Sure thing, honey.

[And Laura tears off to shriek and jump in the ball pit.]

[youfallback]

[Luckily, Jack is also distracted and scurries after his sister to do the same. He giggles when he re-surfaces and waves over to his parents.] C'mon Daddy!

[Because he clearly knows who is the bigger goofball and who would better enjoy diving into a ball pit.]

[encryptedlock]

Am I even allowed to?

[York walks over to watch the kids playing, which seems to involve Jack pretending badly to be a shark and Laura shrieking playfully. Hmm, well, conveniently he doesn't see any signs that prohibit adults.]

Geronimo!

[Hey, at least this time it isn't a pile of tribbles. Could be worse.]

[youfallback]

[Carolina actually laughs at that, albeit quietly as she watches them where she's leaning against the wall of the pit. There really aren't any rules prohibiting the adults, but Carolina's not about to get in because she's allergic to fun.

Meanwhile, now that York's in the ball pit, Jack tries to climb up on him to "dunk" him.] Careful, Jack.

[encryptedlock]

It's okay, I've got him.

[He allows himself to be climbed on and makes a few mock-roars as the children try to "conquer the mountain". Of course, they're all laughing within a few moments and York's having actual trouble fighting them off because he's having too much fun.]

[youfallback]

[Carolina watches with a widening grin as they do. It's surprisingly good to see York having a good time as much as the kids, but she keeps that sentiment tucked away.

It's good to see the kids, regardless of her animosity.]

[encryptedlock]

I surrender! Do you want to stay here or keep going so we can get to the pool?

Pool!

[Jack seems to agree, so York makes a show of needing their help to get out of the ball pit so they can continue.]

We can come back here later, too. Whenever you guys want.

[youfallback]

[Jack climbs out and Carolina anchors him and Laura as they work to pull York out of the ball pit. A little impatient, Jack tries to provide some verbal encouragement.] C'mon Daddy! Pool time!

[encryptedlock]

[Of course he doesn't actually have any trouble getting out, but he likes playing along with the kids.]

One more stop first. We gotta see the petting zoo.

[And then that should be a good 20 minutes so they don't get cramps.]

We can see what kind of animals they have, okay?

[Laura nods enthusiastically.]

[youfallback]

[Jack makes a dramatic whining sound and frowns at York before turning his pleading eyes on Carolina. Which of course doesn't work. She gestures with her head toward the petting zoo and Jack nods unenthusiastically.] But there aren't gonna be any red pandas there.

[encryptedlock]

[York looks visibly startled for a second.]

Yeah? You like red pandas, Jack?

They're his favorite.

[There's no way that's a coincidence.]

[youfallback]

[Jack nods, but scuffs his little tiny shoes on the floor.] His name is Georgia. And he's the best red panda ever.

[Referring to a stuffed animal maybe? Carolina frowns suddenly down at Jack before flicking her gaze back up to York. That can't be possible. They'd never figured out a way to jog anyone's memories.]

[encryptedlock]

[Well. York still looks pretty shocked. Maybe even moreso than before.]

I--I bet he is. Well, tell you what. If there aren't any red pandas we can go straight to the pool, okay?

[Maybe they'd bought him a red panda plushie to match Laura's panda?]

[youfallback]

[Jack perks up with a bright smile. He's pretty sure there aren't any red pandas, so it'll mean that they'll get to the pool all that much faster.]

Okay! [And excitedly starts to tug on York's arm again.

Carolina, meanwhile, isn't sure what to think. She knows that she would save York, at the minimum, but this seemed to imply that they still fell back in love somehow.]

[encryptedlock]

[...Yeah, as much as he loves his kids, and he truly does, he still doesn't actually believe he'll ever live to have them for real. She won't save him. She doesn't even like him. They can't change anything, because he sure as hell wasn't able to stop her from turning into the bitter, angry bitch she was now.

But once a year he can forget that he'll never have kids or be a father or get to watch someone he loves grow up. Because there's nothing about these kids that rings as false to him, and it's not just because he's in denial. They're real, and what he feels for them is real, and having a tiny hand pull on his in excitement is about the best possible thing he could ask for.

The petting zoo is outside, but the whole resort isn't too huge so they're able to get to it pretty quickly. It's full of the usual petting zoo fare, which makes Laura pretty excited, but he has a hunch Jack's right about there not being and red pandas.]

[youfallback]

[Jack glances around excitedly for any hint of a red panda, but he's not seeing any of them. Frowning, he leans up against York to look at the otherwise ordinary sheep and goats and such. Carolina moves up to stand on York's other side, glancing over at him for a moment before turning her attention back to the kids.] Laura, we can stay here if you want, Jack and Daddy can go to the pool.