This> R'ken's torn between looking grouchy and just a little - a very little - pleased. A very little, almost sullenly. But he backshelves the sullen like a good little brownrider who's done his duty, and picks up the off-tune whistling of some choice Harper's tune. He's still got a hold of his klah, of course, and doesn't pause to take any swallows -- he's saving that until he gets up to his weyr. So, pretty much looking as unexpectant as you could like, he keeps moving towards the tunnel up to the higher weyrs.

This> Deinha, meanwhile, is coming out of her weyr with a slightly odd expression of her own. Rather as if she'd just swallowed something that tasted less-than-pleasant. Still, she grins faintly as familiar brownrider is spotted -- even if the man's expression is somewhat odd. "Ken! What's that you're drinking?" One hand is lifted in greeting, then returned to the rather common position at lower back.

This> R'ken brightens, of course, at the familiar voice, lifting his head and grinning for the goldrider. The grin fades just a little, however, and he answers -- with just a touch of a guilty look, "Oh, hey. Drinking?" Him, drinking klah, around a pregnant female? It's automatic to try'n hide the fact. "Oh, this. Well." A pause. "Klah. I know they have some very nice juice, though -- fresh in from the south," he mentions, assuming that she's going that way. Then, "Are you all right?"

This> Deinha shakes her head a bit -- amused, by the looks of it. Certainly, the woman doesn't appear too upset by mention of the forbidden klah. Tone vague, she murmurs, "That might be good," and doesn't sound altogether convinced. "Ah, yes." She frowns a bit, mostly thoughtfully, and comments, "Just feel a little strange. Must be hungry." That's the pregnant goldrider's solution to most feelings, anyway. Sleep, or eat. Perking a bit, she offers, "Were you all finished with that mug of klah, or do you want to join me in looking for something to nibble on?"

This> "Ah-hah. Well, I was half-finished -- going back to my weyr and all that -- but I can always make a detour back to the caverns," R'ken offers, quirking brows and sneaking a concerned look - but then, he worries too much - then moves forward and turns about on a heel, offering his arm. "And food," he adds, "is always good. I only stopped by earlier for a snack," and he adds, playfully hopeful, "but there's always taking a meal." Yes, well. He has got an appetetite and all.

This> Oblivious to sneaked looks, Deinha just looks pleased to have some company. And the arm is rather appreciated, too, no doubt, as she makes her un-graceful way to brownrider's side. "Right you are," she next answers, tone light -- she has to counterbalance her weight somehow, right? "You know, I really wouldn't even want to eat down there with everyone, but...It's not like it's any secret." She's apparently referring to her 'delicate condition,' even as she starts walking.

O'kano hasn't moved much in the last few minutes; he's still sulking around the hearth, fingers tightly wrapped around a cooling mug of klah. The bronzerider shoots a ponderous glance towards the tunnel leading up to the weyrs, indecisive about whether enough time's elapsed for Puo to make a clean escape to his weyr and not emerge for...well, forever. He hasn't ventured up the tunnel for fear of seeing R'ken -- but, as luck would have it, he sees R'ken anyways when the brownrider reenters the caverns. And Puo looks anything but happy about seeing him, or seeing who he's with. Deliberately, the bronzerider looks away and slurps loudly from his beverage, moodily kicking feet up on a nearby chair.

Just shortly after R'ken exited earlier, he returns, though this time he has a waddling Dei on his arm. Waddling. Hah. Oh, the indignity of it all. He's still dangling that mug from his fingers, of course, and is talking to her in an undertone. "What's say we head over that way, for that table--" Not Puo's, at least, whom he firmly doesn't look at, "and you can sit and order?" Beck and call, did Puo say? Aw, Ken'd never go /that/ far. Only-- if she would say frog, he'd probably jump and croak obediantly.

Deinha certainly appreciates the indignity of it. But that doesn't change this fluttery feeling that she should be doing something...which Dei has nicely translated into hunger. Must be it, since she knows she's not /tired/ this time. So, she waddles a bit, 'Ken used for balance -- and, some might say the goldrider was actually trying to /hide/ her pregnant bulk behind the man. As if it would ever work. "Over there?" she asks R'ken quietly. A quick glance about the caverns has already revealed the bronzerider to her, and the half-smile that was forming over that disappears as brownrider suggest somewhere other than Puo's table. "Maybe Puo would be nice and let us sit with him...?" She shoots a bright, yes hopeful, smile at the other father-possibility, and then she frowns a bit at 'Ken, muttering, "Not that he seems to adore you, but ... we can try, can't we?" Frog! Frog!

O'kano certainly doesn't like he adores R'ken. Oh no he doesn't. In fact, the bronzerider's trying to puzzle out a tactful, inconspicious way to flee, eyeing one exit and then the other. The one leading to the Bowl is soon dismissed -- too cold, -- and Puo's left with the one from which the other two emerged. But that would bring him across R'ken and Deinha's path, and that's not a viable option. So the young man just sits and scowls into his klah, refusing to awknowledge the others' presence and vainly hoping he won't be noticed. Too late.

Ribbit, boing? Ahem. R'ken turns just a trifle indecisive, but being a good brownrider, would never presume to steer Deinha towards any way other than where she'd like to go. Unless he thought it was for her best. This situation, however, he's not entirely sure of. "Adore?" he repeats back, and his face slackens a little in a vague, blank look. "Oh, no, he doesn't adore me." Rueful amusement shifts across his features then comes back and sets up camp. "Well, you can see about sitting with him. I doubt he's in a cheerful mood." Is he ever? Well, Ken doesn't mention that they had a little chit-chat.

"Oh, 'Ken, I'm sorry. Would you rather not?" is Dei's immediate reaction -- get your hopes up, Puo! -- to /that/ expression. And then the amusement has her smiling again, tentatively, and offering a pleased, "Oh, yes, I'll check with him. The man's not terrible, you know. He can be civil." Well, yes, civil when that means emotion-less for the purpose of hurting? But, no, she doesn't mean /that/. She just means what she said: civil. "You go see about some juice, and I'll just ask him about sharing a few chairs, okay?" That said, she lets go of brownrider's arm to walk -- waddle -- toward Puo. Abandon hope!

Even if 'Ken would rather, Puo would certainly rather not. But no one asked him; they could probably figure out what his reply would be, anyways. One not-nice look is slanted after the brownrider, but the displeasure is contained by the time he reluctantly glances towards Deinha. He's heard most of the conversation, of course, and looks more than a bit uncomfortable upon the mention of civility; resigned, he lets out a quiet sigh. Making a scramble for the exit would probably not count as civil.

R'ken turns his back, of course, and mouths 'civil' to himself with a sort of amused headshake. "Right-o." Whether he means that as reply to Deinha or as mildly sarcastic - but aloud-spoken - is hard to say. Of course, seeing as no one but himself say the mouth movements, it's fairly certain that the first will be presumed. With another quick, concerned look over his shoulder at Dei, he then saunters serving table-wards to busy himself with things there.

No, fleeing wouldn't be in Dei's book of civil things to do. And a Lord Holder's son sure ought to know /that/. Unconcerned by either man's lack of eagerness over this latest plan, she simply stops near Puo, one hand coming to rest on the table's surface while the other finds its way to the most typical locale: mid-back. "Puo, would you mind too terribly much if R'ken and I joined you?" Oh, but she doesn't mean /would he mind/. She means /would he do it anyway/. Still, you gotta' feel sorry for the woman who starts out with a negative question, don't you? Maybe? Just a little? Voice dropping to a quieter pitch, she adds, "I haven't seen enough of you lately." Not petulant in the least, she's just making a comment. With a bit of regretfulness, yes.

If Puo wasn't so civil, he'd stick his tongue out at R'ken's back. But since he's such the model of niceness and dignity, he just throws over a bad look or three. Attention transfers back to the goldrider, then, and he grudgingly gives the answer, obviously wishing the opposite. "Suit yourself. Although I'm not staying much longer..." After a long swallow of his klah, O'kano begins a half-guilty reply to the next part. "I've been..." Here, he hesitates to shoot a brief glower towards the brownrider, knowing quite well what R'ken thinks about his excuse: being busy. Right, right. So Puo just leaves his phrase unfinished.

R'ken can't see those looks. This may be a good thing or a bad. Who's to say? Still busying himself with the preparing of juice - for which he even exchanges his quickly drained klah mug for - he then strolls leisurely back towards the table. And he does pick up the pace, so he can set both glasses down and pull out a seat -- /gallant/, that's right. Then, perhaps musing on tact, he wonders of O'kano -- civil, and lacking most hint of dry, "Would you like your klah warmed?" This is a hint, probably, that he'd better stay awhile. Not that such hints can't be overlooked easily.

Deinha will gladly suit herself, and just pretend 'her' men aren't acting like little boys. "Thank you, Puo. I knew you'd let us share the table..." No, she didn't. But she'll slant a quick, beaming look at R'ken, anyway. Not /quite/ I told you so. As for the last of Puo's words, she starts to interject something about the time R'ken walks up, mouth opened and everything, when her expression changes suddenly. A brief flickering of surprise, then a short, gasping breath is drawn and held, as the hand on the table tightens and pain flashes in blue eyes. Maybe none of them should stay here very long.

"My klah," O'kano informs icily, "is just fine." A pause; he spares a peek down at the mug. "Gone, too." Just like Puo wants to be. "And I should go -- Jharzeth says..." He trails off again as Deinha catches his attention, and concern shadows his tone while he poses a question: "You okay?" Look, Puo isn't /all/ bad. Just mostly.

"A refill, then?" R'ken doesn't do icey. He just does bland. And he can lift an eyebrow, as he's good at, with every intention of ignoring the 'Jharzeth says'. Of course, then his attention wavers -- caught by the gasp and Puo's own inquiry. "Dei?" Of course, he stiffens a little, face tightening as he reaches out to slide a hand beneath her arm. A moment for math-doing. "Maybe we'd better not stay." Quieter, "And if you run /off/, O'kano..." And the threat, of course, trails off.

Deinha is looking rather wide-eyed as the pain stops and held breath is released, and she looks very hesitant to relax her grip on the table, either. "Ah...n-no?" She does abruptly relax tense posture, leaning ever so slightly towards the brownrider -- using support for all its worth, no doubt, as she tries to get over surprise at this sudden turn of events. "I.." She pauses, inhaling and exhaling slowly, then starts again, "No, no, I might be okay." She tilts her head to the side a little, "Could be fake?" This asked hopefully of brownrider, as if experience with fathering would make him the expert on this. And, a moment later, as she finally processes his half-threat, "Oh, no, please don't. Please?" Misunderstanding things a bit, perhaps, and certainly unaware of previous conversation, she offers, "I'm probably fine. You don't have to go." Well, that's sneaky. She just doesn't want him to go, whether she's fine or not. But this seems the safer route for oblivious goldrider.

"No thanks. I'll pass." The frosty quality fades a bit as O'kano distractedly responds to R'ken's question, frowning meantimes at the goldrider with...worry? Surely not. Another small frown appears at the brownrider's gesture -- protection? Concern? -- which Puo takes care to hide, after a moment, behind a light cough. Then comes another glare and the beginnings of a rebellious response, but the latter's cut off as Deinha enters her plea. "Who said I was going anywhere?" Puo's a fine example of a hypocrite, conveniently forgetting that 'Jharzeth wanted something' only seconds before.

"Could be." And cnsidering the look the brownrider's fixing Deinha with, brows furrowed, he's trying to decide if it is. Infirmaries are evil and wicked, and he'd much rather not drag her in needlessly. Then, with a careful frown and a puffed sigh, "But... Well, you are quite near, and-- well, you do know as well as I do what the Healers said." Yes, he's resorted to that. More tactful then, 'It probably wouldn't be a good thing if you water broke in the living caverns.'

"Nobody, I guess," is Dei's distracted response to Puo. But she does offer up a smile, and a quiet, "Good thing, too." Infirmaries /are/ rather horrid, and Dei doesn't want to go there, doesn't want to cause a fuss. "I..umph." More tactful? Not judging by the mortified look that next crosses Deinha's face. "No, no, we wouldn't want that." Though, really, this particular part of the 'we' would rather that not happen it all. It sounds disgraceful. Pulling free of brownrider, she brushes her hair back and considers. "Maybe I -- we -- should ... walk around a bit. It could be.." She trails off, because she doesn't really know /what/ 'it' could be.

O'kano is left in the dark, but he's slowly figuring things out on his own, and to judge from his expression, he doesn't like what he's learning. Another small glower is showered upon R'ken -- /he/ doesn't know what the Healers said. Puo keeps from saying that aloud, though, perfectly aware of the sort of response he'd recieve: 'you would've known if you'd be around.' So the bronzerider stays quiet, playing it safe, and just waits.

R'ken actually, for a change, half-turns and glowers back at silent O'kano. But he can't /say/ anything because, well, Puo isn't. Torture, huh? Then, clearing his throat, he turns about to reply to Deinha carefully, "Well, maybe? Like-- a stroll down towards the caverns, and just in case, we'll be near at hand?" Well, he's mildly persistant. And worried-looking.

Deinha stops her fretting long enough to look at Puo. She spots his glare, follows it to brownrider, and sees a return. Even if she's only half-seeing some of the expressions because of R'ken's movements. A sigh follows, "Stop looking at each other like that, would you? 'Ken, Puo's not going to hurt things. Puo, I'm not sure why you're upset. I tried not to bother you with details you didn't want to hear, but, really, I can't help this now." She gestures vaguely toward her extended belly, and continues, "If I'm having .. the baby now, then I'm having the baby. You must realize it'll happen at some point?" The thought of jealousy or simpler feelings of exclusion never crosses the woman's mind as she settles on a shallow, and rather unfair, conclusion: Puo's just annoyed by the 'trouble' she's causing. "A wa--" Here goes another one, and this time goldrider's eyes are squeezed tightly shut, hands fisted at her sides.

Glowering -- that's Puo's specialty, even if it's unaccompanied by various insults. "You don't need two people to go for a walk, do you?" Puo's tone is slightly hopeful as he addresses Deinha, one eyebrow quirked and unhappy, unpleasant expression -- the one that he pulled for the brownrider -- cleared from his countenance. That train of thought ceases momentarily as she reprimands both, and O'kano gifts the woman with an vaguely irritable, unsettled look. The bronzerider doesn't offer to enlighten her on the detailed reasons for glares and glowers -- there's lots, at least on Puo's end -- and opts for an easier reply. "Yeah. I'd realized."

Mildly miffed, "I don't think he's going to hurt things. I think he's an exasperating, and I can only brush off dirty looks for so long. I just leave trying to deck him to other people." R'ken's not acting childish! He really isn't. Er. Well, maybe. It's also just very much him to try and insert some sort of humor in a worrisome situation, though it's a touch dry. Then his brow beetles up, and he decides, trying out this gently firm or firmly gentle notion, "You're going to the infirmary, m'dear. And you," he tells O'kano, "are going to offer support from her other side. I'll let off ordering you as soon as the whole thing's over and done with, if the 'whole thing' /is/ happening now. Dei?" And, of course, he's moving to reach for her arm again. Then, impatiently to Puo, "You promised, now. I won't let you back out on it." If he has to support the goldrider /and/ drag the bronze.

Before the second contraction, Deinha mutters, "I don't guess I /need/ anything much." Which all depends on your definition of 'need.' Laughter certainly doesn't greet the brownrider's comments, either. The unpleasant mood's spreading! "Okay?" is her much meeker answer after the pain subsides. "You know, I didn't think the pain would be /all over/ like this." She smiles weakly, "Guess I was wrong." But she smiles gratefully at R'ken, "At least it comes and goes." Puo receives a quick, confused look. "You promised him?" Yes, that's another smile forming on her lips. Tentative, but there.

"I've been hit at enough, thank you, to last me the rest of my life," O'kano informs the brownrider shortly. "And if I'm so exasperating, then you can just /leave/. No one's forcing you to stay here." Unlike Puo, who basically thinks he's being blackmailed and guilt-tripped into hanging around. Lips draw into a thin line of near-anger as he stands unwillingly and slips around to the other side of the table to take up his indicated place. He can't help put add, "I didn't promise anything." He says that before Deinha's question, and ends up looking down sheepishly at the goldrider. "Um." He fudges. "Sort of."

Deinha doesn't know about blackmailing and guilt-tripping. She just knows Puo's going to be there - here - for a while, from the sound of it. And that's enough to have her smiling brightly up at him -- nevermind earlier preoccupation with trying not to cause a fuss and worrying over what the general populace saw. Look, she's a very pregnant woman flanked by two hunks, and headed down to the infirmary. Think what you will! /She/'s going to have a baby -- or, probably -- and with her two favorite men at her side. What matters? "Ken, what about the .. plans?" Oh, there's that. That matters. "Did you talk to him about that?" She looks away from bronzerider and to her other side, this apparently rather important issue causing her to stop before she's hardly started to waddle-walk away.

"Well, it is. Wish it weren't." And R'ken looks worried, but then he's always worried. "It's the norm, I'm sure," he adds hurriedly, then, "Wish you didn't have to do this, lass, but it'll be over quick, I'm sure." Yes, well. He doesn't mention nightmareish day long labors. "I'm not leaving." /That's/ flat. Not now. Not if O'kano /does/ have to be forced into 'being there'. "Anyway. Shall we jaunt? Oh." A pause. A blink. "I was having a hard time getting a 'I'll be there' out of him." Muse. "When you're getting ready, I can always take," drag, "him off to the side, tell him precisely what's going to go on, and see about getting," bullying, "him to take my place? That was he doesn't sulk through the entire thing."

First O'kano gets left out of Healer visits, then he gets left out of planning. Although if he'd been asked, he probably would've run in the other direction as fast as possible. Like he'd like to be doing now. A suspicious glance is shot towards R'ken, then, and he haltingly asks the question, "What are you talking about?" No, wait, he doesn't want to know the answer. An accusitory look is pointed towards Deinha as he adds with acerbity, "It's not very nice to plan things and not tell me."

Deinha nods distractedly at R'ken, then nods again some time later, in response to the suggestion for plans. As Puo objects, though, she quickly looks his way again, surprise registering. That, and something of hurt. And the beginnings of regret, to complicate things further. "I-- you would have liked to know?" Glancing down at her feet -- well, no, she can't actually see those anymore -- the goldrider murmurs, "I didn't think you wanted to be bothered." She sighs, and then she clutches at both men -- arms, shirts, whatever's convenient -- as the third sets in. Sooner this time, to be sure. "We..should go," she mutters, through clenched teeth, "to the infirmary now.. I think." Just as soon as she feels like moving, anyway.

"Look, kids." R'ken's the old one. He can say this. And he doesn't sound condescending, just -- himself. "You two can figure this out post-labor, once you, Dei, have got your strength back. S'bit late to mutter about spilled milk. "Puo?" Gee, civil. "I'll do a quick explanation for you, once we get down there, when the Healers're making sure Dei's comfy. Then you can have the option over what to do. Are we agreed, somewhat?" He, of course, waits for Deinha to make the first step. "We should go, yes. Unless you want carried." That would be entertaining. It's almost a half-serious offer.

O'kano decides not to reply to Deinha's question, and appears almost relieved at R'ken's intervention. It spares him either a false answer or an awkward one. "Fine. Sure. Whatever." Puo really doesn't want to talk about it, which is obvious by his behavior; but then, he really hasn't wanted to talk about it at any other time, either. Avoidance is fast becoming his favorite mannerism. "Yeah. Let's go." If only so that Puo can get out of the caverns -- people might be staring.

Deinha is fine with that, even if it's not as handy as getting things out now. Other 'things' are in need of getting out, at any rate, and they're demanding priority, as it seems. "Agreed." A bit of a smile returns, though, at the semi-offer, and she rolls her eyes as they set out, "If you even /think/ about trying to pick me up, and likely causing us all great damage, I'll .. I'll .. I'll see that you're both incapable of ever possibly having kids again." Maybe she should, anyway. This is not high on her list of things to do, and she can't avoid it, either!

Main Infirmary -- Starmount

Many bright glows line both walls of this large cavern. It is the home of StarMount's Healer Craft. This room is the central Infirmary area, and has access to both a Severe Care Room and a Recovery Room leading from it. It is used for general healing and everyday patient needs. The air here is cool and dry, away from the heat from the outdoors. Many cots are neatly arranged in rows here, with curtains to assure privacy if needed. At any time, people are seen occupying them -an elderly uncle taken sick, an injured Candidate, even children with skinned knees. There is a hearth built into one wall where a fire can be built, and usually there is a happy little blaze in the fireplace, as both the drying and storage rooms are dug deeper underground and will stay cool even with a fire lit here. Along both sides of this room are shelves and cabinets which hold medicinal supplies and equipment, ready for use at any time. You may usually find a Healer here to assist you, at any time.

R'ken's been fairly quiet through the whole parade down here, except for now and again /almost/ snickering. At the threat. At the whole situation -- this being the /ideal/ birth. He starts, once they enter the infirmary, to draw a deep breath -- then lets it out in a rush. No bellowing. They're probably all in distance of a quiet call. And anyway, Healers patrol their domain like -- well, Healers. "S'time, we're pretty sure," he tells one who comes near to check. "Look, can you - or whoever's going to be the attending Healer, this time around - take care of her for just a sec, so's I can explain something to him?" That'd be O'kano. Then, just incase, "We're doing the water birth, of course."

On the contrary, O'kano hasn't been snickering at all. He doesn't find such threats funny, even if R'ken does. Deinha is released as the Healers emerge, and he takes a step away from her side to peer towards R'ken, brows knitting. "A water birth?" he repeats. "What's that?" Already, Puo's dreading the answer. "And what've I got to do with it?" Can he just cower in a corner, please?
From afar, to (Deinha, O'kano): R'ken finally crumbles and snags cough drops. I really like my lungs where they are. -_- Well, there's always just presuming that 'Healer's doing what he/she/it's supposed to be doing, and that's just that'. I /have/ done Healer a couple times, though. Hum.

Deinha looks nervously back at R'ken and Puo as she leaves with the Healer to prepare. She'll leave question answering to R'ken, now. And the curtained area she is led toward is eyed a bit dolefully. Thank goodness for privacy, but what about hearing what the men are to say? But the next contraction's arrival removes that thought from her mind, as she focuses on dealing with the pain and getting ready to deal with more. She disappears from sight next moment, save for the feet beneath the curtain, which can be seen shuffling about as she does the awkward changing of clothes and whatnot.

R'ken squints after Deinha a little as she's led away, rubbing his hands, then absently shucks the constantly-worn jacket and hunts for some place - a spare cot, likely - to toss it. "It's not as awful as it sounds," he explains to O'kano -- brisk, but still civil. "Well, might sound /odd/... But it makes it /considerably/ easier for her, and presumeably, for the baby." A gesture, indicating a - probably - curtained off area. "There's a pool there." Or a depression in the floor that can be filled quickly, or something built up -- whatever. There's /something/. "The idea of the whole thing is that she gets in the water and has the baby in there. Pretty simple. Following so far? 'Cause now comes the good part -- what you have the option of doing." A pause, of course, to let the bronzerider digest.

"I get it," O'kano affirms, obediently glancing towards the curtained area when it's indicated. There's more than a trace of mistrust in his tone, though, as he waits for the catch -- there's always a catch. He sneaks a look in the direction Deinha went, then shrugs; she's fine, presumably, and in better hands than his. "Oh? What's that?" he questions dubiously. Is one of those options plugging his ears, facing the wall, and la-la-la'ing to himself?

"Well, you can't run screaming from the infirmary. That's not an option." R'ken might not be a /perfect/ mindreader, but he's close enough. A small, wry smile before he goes on to explain, "The option - what I was planning to do, but that I'd think she'd rather have you do - is for someone to be in the water /with/ her. You'd be behind her, see. Just as support, as an anchor, and so forth. And if you don't want to, I don't think she'll be terribly hurt. That you're actually /here/ does a lot, and you're going to hold her hand. You have to experience that," cruel, physical abuse, "once in your life."

O'kano can't? Too bad. As it is, the bronzerider fairly sputters at his choices, eyes widening somewhat. "/What/?" That one word, incredulous, is probably said loud enough to reach Deinha behind her curtain. His first reaction, besides the horrified disbelief, is an immediate answer: "There's no /way/ I'm getting into a tub." Puo emits a small little squeak of sorts. "Why can't she just do it normally?" Is Puo whining? Yes. The next thought that occurs, of course, is the obvious other-choice -- R'ken in the tub. And, if it's possible, Puo likes that even less. "Wait -- /you'd/ be behind her?" Maybe Puo can just have a breakdown and avoid everything.

A quick flurry of voices is heard behind the curtain in response, as well as a short peal of familiar dizzy laughter. Well, Deinha's nerves are in full swing, anyway. She's probably about finished back there, too.

"The reason she isn't doing it just normally - beyond that she'd break your hand, or whatever other body part she got her hand on. It's rather more painful doing it normally. For her. Probably for you, too, as I said." Physically painful. This mental abuse, though... R'ken just shakes his head. "Deep breaths, Puo. Breath deeply. You'll get through this trying experience." Mocking? Well. "Well, yes, if you don't."

O'kano would probably find physical anguish better than mental to judge from his pained expression; he'd really like to cry right now. He does have enough irritability left to snap, "Shut up." Puo /really/ doesn't like those choices. So, eventually, he just whimpers out a suggestion: "We can just ask Dei what she wants? Maybe -- maybe she won't want another person there at all." That's what Puo's hoping anyways.

R'ken does look passingly sympathetic, for a rare chance. "Whichever, it'll probably go relatively quick. And if not, you'll at least have breaks that you can catch a breath." And the horror if it /would/ be a long birth, right? "She /does/ want us both, else she wouldn't've asked, but we can ask her what she wants -- though if you do that, it's pretty reasonable to just swallow your unease and go with what she says. And.. I'm sorry you're in the spot, Puo." And he is. Almost.

O'kano looks as if he almost regrets that his presence was requested, but that quickly passes as he nods agreement and hurriedly states, "Fine, fine." Just so long as Puo doesn't have to decide. Then, sourly, he remarks, "So am I." But wait -- that's not the end. No, Puo finds the time to be nearly hysterical. "I don't even know if I /want/ kids," he practically wails. "This isn't fair. I don't want to be here. This never happened back in Boll."

Deinha emerges just then, looking hesitant and anxious. Barefoot, dressed just in an oversized blue shirt that drapes pregnant curves and ends around mid-thigh, she hovers at the edges of the curtain, gaze flickering between the two men, darting around the room, and then returning to the men. Or, to one of the men: Puo. She starts to speak, but has to clear her throat and try again, voice raised to reach them, "We're ready." Well, in the basic senses, at least. Then, eyes still on the bronzerider, "So, did you decide t.. anything?" She's breathing very carefully -- probably an indication of more frequent contractions at this point. Could also be that she's doing some last mental/emotional preparations, too.

Of course, the near-wail brings an interesting sort of 'you're going to hurt' look that R'ken, for his measure of sympathy, can't stifle. But he can't deck him! This is a sour point. And there's no bucket of water around. /Unfair/. So he does the next best thing and reaches for O'kano's shoulder to try and shake him. "That's because you didn't have to /grow up/ at Boll. Sometimes, you've got to accept things not all that welcome. It's part of living. And if you care for her -- then, you'll find some way to deal. Throwing a fit isn't part of helping." He speaks low, fairly intense, and then wheels -- oh, she's here. The brownrider smiles, of course. "Good. How're you doing?" Apart from the wail? "And make a quick choice -- who with you in the pool? Better'n trying to let the menfolk but heads." Menfolk. Butt heads. That's just what they're doing. Yeah.

O'kano completely misses the look, of course, because he's in the middle of his hysterics. They're short-lived, though, thanks to R'ken's shaking, which earns the brownrider a reproachful grimace. C'mon, let Puo wallow in self-pity. "It's not fair," the young man repeats once sullenly, sniffing. Whatever else he was about to say is cut off as Deinha appears, who is eyed trepidaciously, and he only offers weakly, "Hey."

Doing her best to ignore their exchange, Deinha presses her lips together in silence. She manages a faint smile for R'ken. She doesn't answer the question for a moment, glancing briefly at the Healer. "I'm getting along." More than ready to have this over with, likely. "Who?" She looks a shade startled by that, and gives Puo a closer look for a long moment. "I..." She gives a frustrated puff and finally makes a face. "I don't.." No, no, make a decision, Deinha. The goldrider sighs, "I guess it's unfair to spring this on you, Puo." Yes, and life's /not/ fair, or lots of things would be different right now. "'Ken's actually known about this idea in advance, at least." Well, yes, they did plan things together. "And I should be fair. Nevermind what I--" Dei, muttering these last few things mostly to herself with an ambivalent tone, cuts off her words and shuts up again. Note that she refuses to actually say, flat out, 'let's have <insert rider's name here> do it.' Or 'I want...'

"Oh, for Faranth's sake," R'ken mutters to Puo, ruefully. Then he spreads his hands and tells Deinha, "I'll do it, Dei. That way we don't have you standing there 'til the little decides to just fall out." That's a fun image. "All right, Dei? All /right/, Puo? You'll be there, and you'll be the one she focuses on, watches, and the like -- which is important in and of itself, too."

"Okay." The decision's been taken away from O'kano, and that's all he cares about. Really. A faintly doubtful glance is turned towards R'ken as the bronzerider has second-thoughts -- jealous ones, probably, -- but he doesn't complain, only nodding. "Okay." At least Puo doesn't have to strip. He looks askance of Deinha, inquiring, "Is that okay with you?" What does Puo even want that answer to be?

Another contraction interrupts whatever Dei's first reaction might be, and she pretty well grabs the Healer, paced breathing going somewhat more ragged. (Doesn't Puo have wonderful things to look forward to?) This one's lasting longer, too. Just goes to prove R'ken's point. "Fine!" she chirps between pants. Hard to tell from the strained over-brightness what that means, aside from 'just /do/ something.' Hoo, hoo, hee, hee.

And R'ken, given some sort of direction other than just standing around and trying to decide what to do, putters into action. Oh, no. O'kano doesn't have to strip. He just gets to watch the brownrider, modesty forgetten, do so. Mostly. The cot where he dropped his jacket is quickly further occupied by shirts, boots and socks, and a belt. At least he doesn't go any /further/ than that, right? Right. "Let's go," says -- well, the Healer, patting at the expectant mother. "It'll be much easier when we get you in the water, dearie."

"Great. Great, great, great." No, O'kano doesn't really think it's great, but that's possibly the only response free of unwanted epithets and/or hysterics that he can manage at the moment. Eyes are averted from R'ken -- that's something that Puo does /not/ want to see -- and settle back up Deinha. But that's no good either, what with her contractions and all, so Puo finally stares down at the floor.

Deinha listens to the Healer, and after taking a deeper breath to steady herself, she follows the woman's suggestion and heads behind the curtain and to the waiting pool of water. There, she pauses, turning back to look expectantly at R'ken with a rather calmer expression. Her gaze slides over the bronzerider as well, and something has her summoning a smile. "It'll be okay." Really. She doesn't even sound like she's trying to convince herself.

"It'll be fine," R'ken agrees, simply confident -- sneaking a look at O'kano now and again, to make sure he doesn't seem like he's going to crumple up on the floor, shaking and drooling. Y'know. He's concerned. And, of course, he steps into the water easily and assumes the position. The Healer, puttering and fussing, tells O'kano, "You can sit there and hold her hand. And here, let me help you down to him." That's for Deinha, of course, with a supporting arm.

Does Puo believe that? Not in the least. He trails behind Deinha, though, wearing some sort of mixed expression; he'd probably /like/ to crumple up somewhere. "Fine, fine," he nearly snaps at the Healer -- getting tension out, of course -- and steps over to the indicated place and crumples -- no, sits -- down.

Deinha continues following the Healer's suggestions and guidance. That's what the woman's there for, right? With a pleased smile, she quite gladly does join brownrider in the water, a bit awkwardly and with much use of the Healer's support. Her eyes shut briefly as she sinks in the water, the smile only deepening as she lets out a quiet sound between moan and sigh. Settling down on the pool's floor and back against R'ken's chest, she murmurs, "Oh, that's..." Not for the first time, by any means, her words are cut short with a swift, sharp contraction, but this one has her eyes sparkling. It's different. One hand is flung toward Puo, and she turns her head his way, too. The look on her face, pain and all, includes something quietly triumphant.

"That's a good dearie," coos the Healer, leaning about to keep the eye on things down south. If she can see and reach easily enough, there's no way she's going to get herself all wet. R'ken settles back, puffing quietly, and moves hands about to rest very lightly on Deinha's stomach. The aforementioned Healer's doing more than enough cooing and cajoling. He's here, and that's what counts. And, of course, he darts a look at O'kano and reminds, generally for both of them, "Breath, of course."

O'kano catches the hand because -- well, just like the Healer's there for helping, Puo's there for hand-holding. Even if it might be against his will. He is, however, careful to keep his gaze away from the water -- Pu's the squeamish sort -- and away from R'ken; Pu's also the jealous sort. So the bronzerider just keeps his eyes focused the woman in the pool from his perch by the side and tries his best not to throw up or anything.

Deinha curls her other arm to take hold of one of R'ken's hands. He'll have to suffer any squeezing, too. "Can...'a push?" is asked of the Healer, as Deinha shifts a bit in the water. Her own gaze locks on Puo's; she's determined to make the bronzerider be involved, too. It's not disgusting to her, and she's trying, however unsucessfully, to share that -- it's natural. Right. She gives his hand a little shake. Reproach? Attention-grabbing?