(no subject)

[evowhisperer]

"Each of your Eggbabies has a built in computer which registers the amount of care-- or lack of care-- it's given. These readings will determine your grade. As you can see the babies exhibit a wide range of emotions and expressions in need. It's your job to fill those needs."   How to: ✦ Leave a comment with your character's name and fandom. Others will reply ✦ Congratulations, the two of you are now in charge of an Eggbaby. You can pretend it's for class or, for those who aren't in school, you can assume the baby is some sort of important mission. It is your job to take care of and keep the baby happy. If you drop the baby, you fail. You can not turn it off. Remember, this is a joint effort. This is a very important assignment that determines if you pass/fail the class or save the world. ✦ You can RNG a number between 1 and 8 to find out what kind of situation you're in. ✦ Good luck! Options: 1. Other plans. You had other plans but now you aren't sure if you can do them because of this baby. Try to convince your partner to do you a favor or else you'll have to drag the baby along with you. 2. Broke baby. Something is seriously wrong with this baby. It won't stop crying no matter what you do and you really wish this thing had an off switch. 3. Lost baby. What do you mean where's the baby? Don't you have it? Wait, you mean, you don't? FU-- WHERE'S THE BABY?! 4. Perfect baby. Your baby never cries. In fact, it doesn't really do much of anything. Wow, this project sure is easy! . . . Dude, it keeps staring at me. 5. Not my baby. This isn't your baby but you're watching it for a friend until they get back from that super important meeting. They've been gone all day and you hope they'll get back soon. 6. Twins. You're taking care of your baby and someone else's baby. (bonus option: you're taking care of another baby and another and another and another. . .) 7. MY BABYYYY! What the hell did you do? Your baby is broken. You've failed your assignment. Maybe you can put it together and no one will ever notice or try to steal someone else's baby. 8. Crack baby. Roll again, combine prompts, or make up your own scenario. ( code。)

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[pineapplesalmon]

[Well. This wasn't what exactly Caesar expected. Nautilus had decided that they needed to be more responsible and had gifted everyone with "Eggbabies', splitting them into couples, and not caring of the couples even matched for sexual orientation or even checking for cases of incest.

It was a bit surprising to find out that he was paired up with his 'twin', but not necessarily a bad thing. They didn't have to pretend to be a couple--they just had to care for the baby. He knew that his other self already had experience with it, as both had been "free babysitters" in their youth for Rex, so he was amenable to working with his 'brother'.

Besides, the guy needed to lighten up. The longer that he was around his other self, the more Caesar realized that Cesar really didn't remember how to break himself from his work. Perhaps the Eggbaby was just the ticket.

He had time to think of how to announce this new bundle of joy to his twin as he walked back to the house, and then through the house to the lab. It needed to be something good. Something that would get his attention.

He figured it out just as he entered the lab, and his pace picked up as he walked towards Cesar.]

Congratulations! You're a father. Nautilus made a baby for you!

[evowhisperer]

*It takes two seconds to look up from the datapad he's reading, three more to frown at the wall and repeat what he just heard in his head, and then .5 to turn and stare in dawning horror at the Caesar Salazar that just walked in with a coccoon-shaped bundle in his arms.*

Did you just say Nautilus made a baby for me?

*Oh no. Oh dear.*

[pineapplesalmon]

[The look on his face was hysterically perfect. Caesar knew that he had Cesar's attention now. The eggbaby took that opportunity to giggle, which was really just excellent timing on its part. It also helped that Caesar was tickling it under the blankets, but that was something else entirely.]

Yup. Baby. And you're going to have to take care of it for the next week.

[He wondered how long he could string him on for.]

[evowhisperer]

*Dios santo, it just laughed like a real baby. That means that it is a real baby, even if it hasn't actually moved yet.*

For the next week? But I don't have time to look after a baby!

*Okay, let's try and be a little less desperate sounding, and a little less borderline whiny this time. Cesar puts the datapad down and tries not to let his gaze keep gravitating to the bundle. (A baby!!)*

I have too much work to do, and our laboratory simply isn't a safe environment to look after an infant. Couldn't we find a caretaker? Or perhaps a better, much more experienced guardian altogether?

*Nope. Sorry, Cesar--you still sound completely, irrevocably, and totally out of your league.

[pineapplesalmon]

[Caesar visibly rolled his eyes. He couldn't help it. His twin was completely freaking out. He was actually starting to feel a little bad about his ruse.]

Well, you're going to have to find time, because nearly everyone else is in the same boat. You're just lucky that I'm going to be your partner for this. This baby has been assigned to us.

As for the lab--this baby isn't mobile, so we won't have to worry about safety. We just have to keep it fed, clean, well-napped, and happy.

[Oh, and the bundle is now cooing. In fact, Caesar's now by Cesar's side and seems to be trying to hand him the bundle. Look, Cesar, it's a baby!]

[evowhisperer]

*With a look far more suited to someone being handed a live EVO spider than a fragile infant, Cesar puts his arms around the bundle. You'd almost think that he's worried that if he holds it too comfortably, it might accidentally seal the deal and tie him permanently to it.*

Then you'll be able to help? We could perhaps share the time required to look after it, and--

*Hold on. There is something wrong here and his big-brother-babysitter senses are tingling like crazy. Looking down at the swaddle-blanket with a suddenly suspicious look, he frees one arm enough to search through the cloth for a face, rocking the baby a little more for a reaction. The baby doesn't twitch throughout it all, and so far, it doesn't even feel like it has any legs to kick, or head to rock back and forth. In fact, it feels more like it's one big--*

This is not a baby.

[pineapplesalmon]

[Caesar is amused and loops an arm around Cesar's shoulders. He's definitely laughing at him on the inside. That had been entirely worth it.]

It's an Eggbaby. Dana said that they're used to teach high schoolers a bit about what it feels like to be a parent. We're both actually going to be graded on how well we take care of it.

[The eggbaby giggles when its face is uncovered. Isn't it cute, Cesar?]

[evowhisperer]

Graded.

*Say hello to the flattest stare in the history of Salazar stares--the grinning one of the two is about to become very familiar with it.*

Caesar, we're not in school anymore. Besides, we already know what it's like to look after a baby.

*Not that he's treating it much like one anymore. The blanket has almost fallen off by now, exposing the egg's features completely. Awww--poor mechanical monstrosity, it looks uncomfortable. Cartoonish black line-eyes are tilting in an unhappy 'grimace', the mouth is starting to pucker and wobble. Soon, they might even hear faint, sleepy sounds of protest at the cold air...*

[pineapplesalmon]

[Caesar ignores that stare, having expected it, and even pretty much ignores the arguments because he expected those, too.]

And those who get a good grade get special Bending training, hence my interest in doing well.

[He notices the fact that the baby is nearly uncovered, and how it's reacting. But he's not going to save Cesar from himself.]

Oh, and don't drop it. We'll fail if you do.

[He's saying that because he knows this one is a screamer, and it's already unhappy.]

[evowhisperer]

Special bending training?

*Cesar looks back down, twisting the egg baby to examine it from all angles. There are no cracks or marks to indicate where it might be opened, and the surface has a sleek, glassy look. Out of his sight, the baby's face is twisting even more: the rocking back and forth and cold air is only making things even worse.*

What happens if you drop it? It doesn't look fragile.

[pineapplesalmon]

Special bending training.

[Oh dear. That baby is going to scream something fierce when it finally starts. Caesar's ready to catch it if Cesar startles and drops it.]

The exterior will register a harsh fall, and it'll immediately stop working. I doubt we can open it up to look at its components, so I have no idea about its specs yet. I know it charges by contact, but other than that....

[He pauses for a moment in thought, bringing a hand to his chin.]

Although if it's something from Dana's Earth, it probably has some sort of wireless interface that we can tap into. It has to have something for BIOS and software updates. The AI is a little too simplistic for my tastes....

1/2

[evowhisperer]

Perhaps we could give it a few upgrades, *Cesar mumbles distractedly. Right then, of course, is when one of the most piercing shrieks the lab has ever heard rings out, fading only as the egg baby 'draws in another breath'. Cesar has frozen to the spot at the sound, wide-eyed and rigid, taken once again off guard by this unexpectedly realistic development.*

Dios mio, it screams too? *Despair.*

[evowhisperer]

*At least he's learning fast: the blanket is suddenly gathered and wrapped around the egg-shaped bundle, and Cesar gently rocks the two back and forth for all he's worth. The screams keep coming, though they're a little quieter now. Even so, he has to still raise his voice when he calls out,*

Boy, does this bring back memories.

[pineapplesalmon]

[And that's one of Caesar's other reasons for so readily agreeing to this. Memories of a happier time. He could use the reminder.

Although Caesar had gone rigid himself--although not quite as rigid as Cesar, having expected it--he relaxes as Cesar tends to the Eggbaby. He starts to grin again.]

I'm pretty sure Rex was louder than that. At least, that's how I remember it.

[He's moves a bit to the side so he can watch Cesar do what he can to calm it, although the baby is probably going to fuss for a while. Amazing what you can remember when you really need it. Rex hasn't been this young in over ten years from his perspective. ]

[evowhisperer]

That's how I remember it too. That baby always seemed much closer to actually shattering our eardrums than this one just did.

*He winces as the baby lets out another piercing wail, but can't bring himself to really resent it. As painful as the memories it's waking are, they're more sweet than bitter.*

*A few beats pass as the 'baby' fusses, whimpering. Cesar looks down at it, apparently lost in thought. Wait--not lost in thought, he's giving his alternate a sidelong look that has a rather suspicious number of volumes behind it, actually.*

How much do you think Nautilus would appreciate it if we upgraded the baby to an optional setting of complete vocal realism?

[pineapplesalmon]

[Caesar laughs at that suggestion.]

There was nothing in the rules about not altering the baby's abilities and behaviors. I do think optional would be best, especially if it can be switched on prior to having Rex babysit.

[Revenge: the best part of your baby brother growing up that you can subject him to the same things he subjected you to over the course of his childhood.]

Hmm. Perhaps we could make him fussier as well in that alt mode? It'd be more realistic.

[evowhisperer]

I couldn't have said it better myself.

How was it that this egg baby needed to be cleaned again? *Peers down at it, though he doesn't move it this time.*

[pineapplesalmon]

With a damp cloth. [The grin turns more evil.] That means it'll have to sense moisture! We can make it so he doesn't like baths in his alt mode...

[evowhisperer]

Looks like our little brother is about to have one steep learning curve.

*Cesar sits down in the nearest chair, still rocking the almost silent egg-baby in the crook of his left arm.* Do you know yet if we can access the wireless interface with the networks we already have up?

[pineapplesalmon]

Excellent. I'll make sure to set the nanny cam.

[It's official: the elder Salazar brothers are evil incarnate. Rex will never know what hit him.]

No idea. [Caesar grabs another chair and sits near Caesar and the eggbaby.] Dana's Earth is farther ahead than us in terms of technology, but I don't see it being an insurmountable obstacle.

[evowhisperer]

*Rex probably should've seen it coming, in all honesty.*

I'm sure we'll make it work. The technology and overall coding shouldn't be too wildly different, and in the mean time it will be a good opportunity to observe technologies not from our world.

[pineapplesalmon]

Sounds like a plan to me.

[Caesar is a bit proud of himself. For once, he's getting his other self to just have fun. Too bad about Rex, though, but he'd survive.]