toontown | Baby Goblin AU

Getting a closer look at the baby really drives home how small she is. Boober almost can't believe something up here can be so small, and... It hurts, thinking of something this little being alone and scared. He supposes maybe she was too new to the world to even understand she was alone, but the way she occasionally moves in her sleep, burrowing closer to Riz... He doubts it.

He feels like he should ask Riz for more information, eventually. He wants more information, because maybe it will help him - somehow - be more useful. But at the same time, he's not sure his heart can take it.

Wanting to take care of others is hardly new to Boober, but this is the first time it's felt like this. It's just that it's going to be more important than ever, while they're looking after her. As much as he talks about his loved ones being unable to care for themselves without him, it's not really the case. They'd get by in their own ways, but she's going to truly rely on them.

Even now, he can feel how that realization has panic creeping in. He's glad that he's still able to keep it at bay enough for her to keep sleeping. His body feels tight, tensing in response to the pressure they're now facing, but that too feels distant. What he says instead of voicing his fears isn't something he has to force out at all. It just comes out.

"We'll keep her so safe. We'll learn how."

"She makes a lot of mess. You'll like that part." Riz's grin is a little thin and tired perhaps, the realisation of how this is their reality now slowly seeping in.

Few people get excited about the laundry aspect of parenting a newborn, but if there ever was a person who would, it's Boober.

"I gotta sit down. If I keep holding her like this my arm is gonna fall off." She isn't exactly heavy --far too light for even a goblin baby-- but Riz's physical strength has never been something to write home about and anyway, even a light weight becomes tiring if you just have to keep holding it.

Riz makes his way over to the couch without even taking off his shoes and flops down on it in simultaneously the most careful and tired manner ever, leaning his head back against the cushions and closing his eyes. Well, until the baby makes a little sound in her sleep, undoubtedly at the change in position and he sits up again, rearranging her in his arms and murmuring soft, soothing sounds under his breath. He is becoming good at those sounds.

He smiles at that, he has to, though his is not very bright, either. This is so scary, and hearing Riz say something so normal is comforting in the face of the fear. He puts a hand on Riz's back in silent thanks, then pushes gently.

Yes, he looks exhausted-- in a different way than usual. He should sit down. Of course, it's not like he'll be able to relax while holding a baby. This is almost immediately proven true, Boober comes over to the couch and kneels down beside it.

"Hon, if you think you can get some rest, maybe you should."

Normally, Boober isn't nearly this gentle in suggesting Riz sleep-- even if over the years, it's become equal parts genuine and teasing; it's not like Riz's habits have improved. But this is an instance where he'd understand completely if Riz refused. It would be hard to sleep with all this on the mind.

"I can hold her, if you show me how to do it best. We'll be okay for a bit."

"No, no, I'm all right." He isn't even that physically tired. Well, he is a bit physically tired, but Riz is always somewhat physically tired, so that is not saying anything. It's more that now that he is here at the apartment, it's really starting to hit just what he got himself into. Technically, he has been in this boat for two days now, but there was so much to arrange and learn then that it hadn't really sank in.

Now that they are sitting down, he might as well give Boober a better look at her. Very carefully he starts to unwrap the blanket around her, giving Boober his first proper and full glimpse of her.

She is... well, she sure is small. That had already been established. And a little lumpy in the manner all babies are. And she is so young, that her ears haven't even really grown in yet, still small and flat against her skull. She is dressed in something that is apparently called a romper --completely new information for Riz, honestly-- though the one she is in is clearly too big for her, hanging loosely on her tiny little body. If she has a tail, it's completely lose in the folds of the blanket and the too big outfit.

"I got a few things for her, but we'll need to get more." A pause. "Not that I know where they even sell that stuff."

He has vague memories of seeing racks of baby outfits while shopping for his own shirts, but it truly is something he never had to even think about before.

"Are her ears alright?" Boober asks, struggling to keep his voice quiet in his surprise-- and concern. It feels almost silly to worry about that specific thing, when surely if there is a problem Riz knows already, at least. But... How are those ears ever going to be like the ones Riz has?

But oh, that jumper... One of the things they'll need to get her is properly fitting clothes. No doubt in his mind there, and oh, the idea of clothes small enough to properly fit her is sweet. Maybe not the kind of sweet to make most people feel all emotional over it, Boober assumes... But he can't help it.

It takes a moment for the part about not knowing where to get baby things to sink in, with that on his mind. But when it does, it doesn't strike Boober as too big of a problem.

"Sklonda will know, though, right?" He imagines that they'll have a lot to ask her about all this, really.

"Huh?" A stab of worry goes through Riz at the question, before he realises what Boober must be referring to and he relaxes with a smile. He can remember asking the exact same thing as a kid. "Cause they are still small? Nah, that's normal. That's what newborn goblin ears look like. Has my mom never showed you my baby pictures?"

Speaking of his mom. "Yeah, probably. Gods, we're gonna have to tell her about this."

Seeing as it is only meant to be a temporary thing, clearly they don't have to tell everybody. But Riz would never not tell his mom. Or the Bad Kids but that can come slightly later when he's got everything sorted.

Boober ducks his head sheepishly, because Sklonda has shown him baby pictures of Riz. He'd just jumped to worry right away-- which hasn't really been as common an occurrence for him, in recent years.

"She's a baby," he says in way of explanation, because that's the thing: It's really easy to worry about someone who is helpless, isn't it? Someone who doesn't know the things to look out for and worry about themselves.

"We will, yeah." It does feel like a strange thing to just tell her. They have a baby, but not a baby that's theirs. It feels like it should be obvious to the people who know them, but again, it's one of those things where silly creatures tend to think a certain way. Even one as smart as Sklonda! "We probably should do that in the morning, if not sooner. There's a lot I need to ask her."

"Yeah, just wait. a couple of weeks and they'll really start sticking out."

Not that they might have a chance to see that. After all, Riz will be looking for her extended family. And he is, if he may say so himself, a pretty good detective. By that time, she might already be safely with them again, and now something they need to be worried about anymore.

"Tomorrow. We can call her tomorrow. There is too much to tell her to handle all of it today."

Or maybe it is less a matter of time, and more a matter of even Riz wanting some rest before taking on that daunting task. Not that Riz really expects there to be trouble. Once he explains the circumstances to his mom, he's certain she'll agree with what he did.

"I've got stuff to take care of her. It's in my bag. Just the basics, but it's enough for now."

Boober simply nods. As much as there's part of him itching to learn as much as he can, just so he has some idea of what they're doing - and what they're in for - waiting also comes as a relief. Today has already been a long day, and for him it only started at noon.

This gives them to adjust, and besides, he knows the other shoe has to drop eventually. The panic he's been able to keep at bay for now won't stay distant forever...

But for now, he leans over to give Riz a soft little kiss on the forehead. He can only imagine what he's been feeling since he found the baby- Though knowing Riz, Boober doubts he's recognized all that much of it. But it doesn't matter.

"Do you need any of it right now, or is she just- she good until she wakes up? I don't..."

"You might as well get it. It's about the time she starts getting hungry and--"

Oh no. Riz just realised something absolutely terrible. Boober has always shown his love and care for people through cooking. And Boober will also absolutely not be able to show his care through cooking because she is a baby, and they don't eat normal food, something which he is probably completely unaware of. Riz isn't actually entirely sure where new fraggles come from --to be fair, he had never bothered to ask because he had never exactly been interested in babies-- but from everything he had seen at the rock, they didn't exactly do the helpless baby thing.

Gods, why must he be the bearer of such bad news.

"Damnit, you are gonna hate hearing this but... you can't cook for her."

"What do you mean, I can't cook for her?" Boober asks, hissing to keep the words quiet in his dismay, and almost dropping the bag he'd already gotten up to bring over.

It's a very upsetting thing to hear! Especially since he does not understand why he wouldn't be able to cook for her-- On the contrary, he was already looking forward to doing just that. A second mouth to feed, even temporarily, was going to be so nice... Besides, it'd be a good way for him to help! Help Riz out and help the baby!

"I'd be able to do it." It sounds childish, he can't help but think. The disappointment has his voice somewhere between whining and pleading, more than convincing.

Some part of his does recognize that, logically-speaking, it can't be an issue of Riz's faith in his cooking. Boober cooks for Riz all the time-- And that means he's known for years that Riz's standards with food boil down to "not vile." But there's too much going on right now to be logical.

"I know, I know," Riz tries to sound as soothing as he can while pitching his voice low so the baby won't wake up. "You're a great cook. If I had to pick, you know I'd always pick your food."

Which, yes, admittedly, isn't a huge mark of quality when Riz has and will eat food from a literal dumpster, but perhaps Boober will appreciate it for the appeal to sentimentality it is.

"It's not you, it's the baby. Babies don't, uh-- they can't eat regular food. They drink milk. That's what animals actually make milk for, to feed to their babies. And as great as cook as you are, you can't just make milk."

That would require Boober to grow body parts Fraggles don't even have! Frankly, Riz isn't even sure if Boober has nipples, though it is not a question he would've ever posed to himself until now.

He frowns, pouts even, as he carefully sets down Riz's bag. But he's listening, to the explanation so the compliment was successful in at least calming him down enough.

"So, she won't be ready to eat food until after she has her family?" With a hefty sigh, Boober perches sat on the arm of the couch by Riz's feet. It just feels unfair...

"Probably yeah." Riz isn't actually entirely sure how long infant Goblins can only drink milk. He'll need to look that up. But he suspects it's a while, and hopefully, if everything goes according to plan, he'll have found her family by then.

"But-- there is still laundry! And I can show you how to make the bottles. It's kinda like cooking."

That's overselling it, really. If anything, it's kinda like making instant coffee. So, it's probably a good thing Riz has had plenty of experience there.

"There will be more laundry," Boober agrees in a tone that's unenthusiastic, even for him. But... As disappointed as he is, maybe it's for the best. It would be hard to part with the baby if he gets to feed her, and she should be with real parents.

"Sorry, that's..." He takes his hat off for a moment to rub at his eyes. "I guess it's a little silly to be upset about that, out of all of this..."

Only a little, mind!

"A little," Riz agrees because he has never learned to not be bluntly honest. "But it also makes sense with how much you love to cook for people. That's like, your whole thing. It's--"

Riz gets cut off by a grumpy sound rising up from the baby in his arms, not quite a full-chested cry yet but certainly a sound of complaint. He isn't sure if he forgot to keep his voice low and woke her, or if it really just is time for her to eat.

Either way though, he's already learned that if he doesn't jump on this fast, the noise is going to get a lot louder.

"Think you are ready to hold her for a moment? Cause it is way easier to make a bottle for her if I don't also have to hold her."

"Oh, um..."

Boober gulps, even as he's nodding and holding out his arms- Though he keeps moving them. He can't settle on how he thinks he should hold her, nor is he even sure he's ready for this at all. But what other option is there?

"Just, uh. Just make sure it's right, the way I do it. I don't want to hurt her."

"Here, I'll show you," says Riz with all his wisdom from two days of experience.

(but hey, if he had managed to get it right, then Boober, who could be way more nurturing and fussy than him, would also probably get it right.)

Riz gets up off the couch so he can gently place her in Boober's arms, adjusting them as he does so. "Okay, first thing you have to learn is that babies cannot hold up their own heads. So you gotta support it like this, okay? And, uh, once you got that part sorted, it's actually just like holding a loaf of bread. They don't really move around much yet at this age. Apparently it gets harder when they get all wriggly, but that's not a problem yet."

"Okay... Okay, yeah."

Holding her is simultaneously scary and... Strange. He's never had a reason to hold a person this way before; very few people are ever small enough for him to do that to begin with. But despite only being able to hold the baby because she's small, doing this makes him feel strong. As scared as Boober is, there is a peacefulness to this.

Of course, it is a very brief sensation of peacefulness, because she is still fussing-- Being in unfamiliar arms on top of being hungry, more now than before. Or maybe she's just waking up more. Boober isn't sure, but either way it makes him even sadder than he thought it would. She's upset, and he just wants to help her.

"What, um, what helps her feel calm? Should I make those soft sounds you were doing?"

"You can rock her. Or make noises at her. It works sometimes."

And sometimes it's completely useless. Riz wishes he could understand why it works sometimes and didn't other times. Maybe he just needs more input. He had only been taking care of her for two days, after all. Perhaps with more time and data-points, he could finesse his skills to the point of proficiency.

Riz grabs the duffel bag Boober had brought over, and unzips it. At the top of the bag, on top of his personal effects are the few baby things he had already bought, and he quickly puts them out on the table. There is a pack of diapers (though his supervisor had impressed upon him he was definitely going to need more), a few tiny changes of clothing for her, a tiny little hat for her tiny lumpy head, and aha, the bottles and two tins of formula that promised that it was a good choice for infants of all races! The ratio of powder to water changed for different races, and let's just say Riz was glad she was just a little baby goblin and not an Orc. They'd need so many tins of formula if she had been an Orc baby.

"Okay, I need to go boil the water. I'll be back in a moment. Cause it needs to cool down first and then I can add this stuff."

"I'll do my best..."

Oh, he wishes he could watch Riz prepare the formula. He'd love to know how it's done. But for now, hopefully, he can learn how to calm her down. That's good, too--

"Not that I know the first thing about calming down," he mumbles to himself as he rocks her from side to side. Slowly at first, then a little faster- Then right back to slow when that isn't well-received. Except her fussing doesn't lessen.

Make noises at her, huh? Noisiness isn't really his thing, either, but he can try. He coos at her, gentle and drawn-out sounds that don't take long at all to take on a musical quality. The lyric-less singing catches the baby's attention, quieting her just a little.

Riz makes quick work of things in the kitchen. Or as quick a work as he can, in any case.

First there is the water that needs to be boiled. And thankfully Boober has plenty of big pots he uses for his soup-cooking. And that he keeps them clean as a whistle. It means Riz doesn't have to worry about that part as he puts a pot on to boil.

Though really, part of him wonders if this level of cleanliness if even necessary. She is a goblin, right? Albeit a very small one. Does that mean she also has a proper goblin stomach and will be able to handle things that you need to be worried about with other babies? It's something he'll have to ask the proper authorities (his mom) about.

Once the water is boiling, he turns off the stove and sets a timer on his watch. Half an hour and it should be at a drinkable temperature.

Which brings him back to the living room in time to watch Boober as he softly hum-sings to the baby. And for a moment that spot in his chest, the same one that just earlier had roared at the idea of Boober getting too close, heats up with deep affection, a sensation that has him rumbling with a little purr before he catches himself.

Not that he minds purring! He just can't remember ever doing it just at the sight of something unless he was really putting it on.

"How's it going?"

Boober doesn't look up. He doesn't want to risk it, and he doesn't really want to stop looking at the baby, either. She's- She's so sweet, and it's left a wide smile on Boober's face.

Right now, it's hard to remember how nerve-wracking everything else about this situation is. She herself isn't nerve-wracking at all. She's anything but.

"She liked my song," he breathes out, in answer to Riz's question.

"Lucky." Riz walks over, parking his butt on the edge of the coffee table, in between all the baby things, so he can look at her as much as Boober is. "She doesn't like my songs at all. I guess I should've known a Fraggle was going to be better at it."

But while she might not like Riz's songs so much, it does seem to calm her down to listen to him purr, so Riz'll take that. He can even remember listening to his parents' purrs in much the same way.

"There had to be something useful about how musical fraggles are, didn't there?" he chuckles, and while the words are of course directed at Riz, his focus stays on the baby. "I'm glad you like it, little baby. I think you're very special. We'll make sure you get food soon."

He sighs softly, and finally looks up.

"I've never done this before."

"This" being holding someone.

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