Ashwinder - 3 eggs - 2 hatch
Arsinry had just finished cleaning his pets' terrariums, and tanks. Eaket was drinking the newest mix of her blood and pig's. It was now mostly pig blood and there seemed to be no ill effects. Eaket was growing at the proper rate, scales were the correct thickness and hardness, and the appropriate shininess too. Bilger was happily playing with Aku in their tank. The spell for a day and night cycle was not fully working well. Arsinry was still trying to work on it, but for now Aku could be out on the full moon.
"Seeing as it's a tame beast I see no problem with that one being out," Arsiny said in his father's voice and grumbled more as they worked on the two marbles, for the spell.
"Arsinry?" Jazz called knocking on the opened door frame. Arsinry liked leaving it open since it made it easier to talk to Jazz even when they didn't necessarily want her in their room.
"Yep, what ya need?" Arsinry asked as the spell popped showing that it had failed, the marbles had exploded.
"I was just checking in, I heard you and Loki fighting again?" Jazz said. "I just wanted to make sure you're okay."
"It's okay…it's not okay, but it's how mother has become. I was asking for help, or a hint with my spell, and… Well let's just say I shouldn't be doing such magic and not helping animals… threats of destroying them…wanting me to be better." Arsinry said, not fully guarding her tongue.
"Oh? You're trying to do a spell? What kind? I might know a few tricks to get something working temporarily if it's an emergency spell. If you don't mind the offer of my help. I'll talk to Loki about this again. She can't keep threatening your pets. Serious, did Odin do that to her? I'm concerned that's a parenting tactic they even have."
"Don't ask your mother for help, she is expecting, and we don't want to risk hurting the baby," Arsinry said in Loki's voice, looking at Jazz.
"I am perfectly capable of theorizing while pregnant!" Jazz said. "Can I come in?" Arsinry nodded, Jazz joined her on the floor. "So, where are you stuck at?"
"It's s'posed two mimic the sun and moon, along with the moon phase, but the components and the- aren't working right." Arsinry said, as they used magic to show how the spell should work.
"Hmm, that's a complicated one, have you tried mankind a miniature solar system and adding rune magic around it?" Jazz said. "Sometimes Midgard is very jealous of her little quirks and demands specific parameters."
"I would but it wouldn't be able to fit in the tank, and I don't want to risk harm in resizing them again," Arsinry said.
"I think I have a bit of a solution for fitting it in," Jazz said. "We'd need a specific kind of metal? How are you with metal working? We can call in a professional. We'd set it up more like a flat clock on top. Build the magic through the components that way. It'd be kind of complicated."
"I used to get yelled at for being in the forge for too long. Val's sword, the small one in her hair. I made that when I was five years old, I think." Arsinry said.
"Ah," Jazz nodded. "That sounds like it would have been fun. Well, I know a guy. This way we could even put in some stars. What do you think of that?" Arsinry nodded, a smile forming on their face. Jazz placed the order, with Arsinry's specifications. After that they went out to lunch. Loki was still working with Thor on New Asgard by the time they'd gotten back, so they'd settled on the couch to watch a few movies. Arsinry got to pick two out of the three they set out to watch, but Loki came home in the middle of the second one.
"Oh, how are my loves doing?" Loki asked.
"Pretty good," Jazz said, accepting a kiss.
"It's so good to see you two getting along for once," Loki said, patting Arsinry's head.
"We weren't getting along at all," Arsinry said, moving away from Jazz and Loki to pout. Jazz had to cover up a snort and grin.
"Well, I'll take sitting in the same room as good enough," Loki said, settling between them. "Today was the worst."
"What happened?" Jazz asked.
"Nothing, that's the problem, it was just a whole lot of busy work, emphasis on busy and little on work."
"At least you didn't explode six to ten marbles, because your mother wouldn't help." Arsinry said, as he summoned an old leather bound book, with yellowing pages, to work on how the things should look.
"I'm sorry, Arsy, I was expecting this stupid meeting soon," Loki said. "I wasn't trying to- how about I help you now?"
"Don't need it now. Someone better helped," Arsinry said, not looking up.
"Oh, did you ask one of your brothers," Loki asked.
"No, Sephy is out with a butt call, Finny is playing with puppies, and Jorn is traveling, and as if I would ask them to help with my pets," Arsinry said with a smile.
"I'm perfectly capable of helping with magic theory, you know," Jazz said. "Just because I was told to be careful doesn't mean I'm not able to do anything."
"But using too much magic could lead to harm for the baby. And I told Arsy not to ask you for help," Loki said, becoming upset and the potential harm coming to the baby, or Jazz. Jazz sighed, holding her forehead.
"On pain of my pets, she knows I told them." Arsinry said, snapping the book closed and getting up to leave. "Also I didn't ask, it was freely given," they said, going up stairs, and shutting the door.
"Jazz you kno-," Jazz held up her hand to stop Loki from continuing. She looked furious.
"First, I didn't do any magic, nor was I around any magic for any length of time." Jazz said. "Second, threatening you child's pets, or property is abusive behavior, so I'd like to know where you got off thinking that was okay behavior. Third, I seriously want the name of the person who put it in your head that that was anywhere near okay!"
"I- Odin," Loki said. "Is it really-?"
"Yes, it is, I'll be telling your mother about that, It is completely unacceptable behavior and I will not tolerate it in my house!" Jazz informed.
"Grandmother slapped him every time!" Arsinry's voice.
"That's good, but I'm still going to make sure that it gets discussed," Jazz called up to her. "Now, you owe Arsinry an apology." Jazz said. "Loki, seriously, you agreed to let her have them. You helped fill out the paperwork." Jazz rubbed her head. "If you wanted them just the threaten, we need to talk about your anger issues again."
"I- that isn't what I signed those papers for," Loki said. "I just- probably should talk to Dr. Reed again." Jazz nodded. "But you should be more-" Jazz held her hand up, then gently put her hand on his face.
"I am careful," Jazz said. "Always am. I know it might not seem like it, but I know my limitations. I know my weakness. I know when and where to draw the line, and I know when I should toe it. I am not putting myself at any unnecessary risk. I know it's hard to trust that." Her hand dropped down to take Loki's. "But I am being careful. I always will."
"I- I know. I -." Loki said. Then she wrapped him in a hug.
"We'll be alright," Jazz said. "I promise." Then she kissed his forehead.
***Le time skip*** ***Pretty much the next morning*** ***Jazz is at work before…***
Loki was cleaning out the old potion from the house. They had to be burned, and the magic fire had to be kept in check, so no Ashwinders infested the house. More nonsense from the Midgard magic, which was so behind and backward. But it had to be done this way. Loki was just glad, he'd convinced Jazz to stay with her parents till he got the mess sorted. She had not been pleased, but she'd agreed with a sigh.
Loki was trying to think of the best way to apologize to Arsy, as he poured three more potions into the fire, making the colors change and spark. He sighed himself then, annoyance bounding up his brow into a tense headache. He really needed to figure it out. He'd managed a sort of functional peace between them. Though it was tense, mostly resulting in Arsinry leaving the room whenever he entered, but at least they weren't yelling at each other anymore. That was progress. Wasn't it. Well, anyway, he needed some way to extend the metaphorical olive branch. Why that was a saying to get to a peaceful resolution Loki wasn't sure, but who was he to argue. Jazz had used it many times so it must be a very smart thing to say.
Another popping fizzle and the fire went out. Loki growled a curse as he tried to get to work. Another ashwinder scurrying away. How long had he been at this. He'd been thinking too hard. There were several ash trails on the ground. He looked to see how many more potions he'd had, and it turned out that was the last two. He sighed, rubbing his eyes. Better get the ashwinders out of the house now. He'd collected most of them. He sighed. Not sure what to do with them all. So he called the expert on Midgard Magic.
"I don't fucking know what wizards do with Ashwinder," Matthew or one of his Alters or Humuculi or whatever they were said. Loki didn't really much care for which. This one was a short blond, with hair clipped up in a partial ponytail most of it down but the fringe picked up. "I mean you could call Adrian he's better with this stuff. He doesn't like my partners, otherwise I'd offer to just trade posts with him."
"No, no, that's not necessary I'll, just-"
"Mother?" Arsinry's voice came, just before the girl appeared from around the corner. They were in more girl mode at the moment. Long skirt and hair both in dark black both decorated in braids, and a loose fitting blouse in teal with flared bottom sleeves, which also had little decorative braids. "What's that?"
"Your new pets!" Loki said. "An apology gift."
"One you called the wrong one. And why the snakes?...Did you leave a midgard fire going?" Arsinry said.
"Yes," Loki said. "On purpose. To get you these guys."
"Sure," Arsinry said, she accepted the clutch of eggs. "Thank you."
"You are very welcome," Loki said.
"Are you going to hang up or? Or do you want something else?" the Matthew alter said.
"Bye Denny," Arsinry said, hanging up the phone for Loki.
"Thank you," Loki said.
***Le time skip*** ***The lifespan of a Ashwinder later*** ***Jazz is still at work before…***
"Dad!" Arsinry called looking at the now lifeless bodies of the askwinders.
"What's the matter, Arsy?" Loki said appearing in the doorway to the room.
"They died! What did I do wrong?! I tried everything!" Arsinry cried.
"What?!" Loki shouted. "I don't know, maybe I moved them too soon or too roughly?!" He shouted.
"There wasn't any damaged on the eggs!" Arsinry cried. "Was it something I feed them?"
"There snakes I'm sure rodents and smaller insects are fine!" Loki shouted. "Maybe I accidentally froze them!"
"There wasn't any frost!"
***Le time skip*** ***Several minutes of panicked discussion later*** ***Jazz coming home***
"What even fucking happen thisssssss doesssssssn't make any ssssssssssssense?!" Loki shouted.
"I don't fucking know!"
"I don't fucking know either!"
"What are you two arguing about now?" Jazz said coming into Arsinry's doorway to see what they're arguing about this time.
"They're dead!" Arsinry and Loki said together.
"Those are ashwinder," Jazz said.
"Yeah, and they laid eggs and died and then the baby's laid eggs and died and the same thing happened to these ones!" Arsinry shouted.
"Ashwinders die after like thirty minutes, they lay eggs and then they die," Jazz said, rubbing her temple. "Why would you give them ashwinders?"
"I didn't know they'd die that fast!"
"Don't give something to someone if you don't know anything about it," Jazz said simply. "Alright, where's the most recent batch."
"This batch didn't even make it to egg laying!"
"I'd imagine," Jazz said. "Alright, hold on a minute." She sent a text message to someone and after several seconds one of the Matthews arrived.
"Alright here they're souls are," the Matthew clone/alter said, passing the small bundle of Ashwinder souls to the distraught child. "Next time call Thews or Ness. They're monster experts. If you don't know who to call, it's me, you call me, and I'll direct you to the appropriate Matthew."
"Thank you Adrian," Jazz and Arsinry said.
"Thank you, Matthew," Loki said.
"Not Matt," Adrian said. "Later little sibling, nibling." Then the man disappeared into a whirling vortex of green.
"Alright, so for further reference which Matthew should you call if you need something?" Jazz asked.
"That one?"
"And which was that?"
"Ah…? I don't know…"
"Number 1, Matthew 1 is how he's listed on your phone," Jazz said in exasperation. She turned to Arsinry who was currently snuggling her now ghost Ashwinders. They were now pale blue instead of dark red, with green specks of light around them. Jazz smiled watching them. Arsinry was still in mostly fem mode, but it was hard to tell if they were genuinely still a girl or if they just hadn't thought to switch out. Didn't matter much for the moment as long as the kid was happy.
"Alrighty than now that that's cleared up let's get some food, okay?" Jazz said smiling.
"Yeah," Arsinry said. "I haven't eaten since breakfast."
"Have you two been focussing on the ashwinders that whole day?"
"No, mom failed to keep her potion fire cleared up," Arsinry said. "Then we were freaking out about the ashwinders. What kind of creature lives less than an hour?"
"Yeah, strange creatures," Jazz admitted. "Alright, what should we order? I'm not cooking and I'm not trusting you with anything flammable for a while."