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"Happy to help you lot! Tell Orpheus I said congratulations, alright?"
The prince of the underworld and his mother were talking just outside of the house. Normally Zagreus came in the unconventional way, so seeing him out front was certainly abnormal for Musaeus. The young child was standing next to his mother, one hand hanging onto her multi-patterned skirt while he listened to her chat with the man.
"Of course, Zag. I'm sure the next time you come around we'll be better prepared for you.” She paused. Then her ears perked up. “Oh! Before I forget, and before you go," He watched Mama fish out a small parcel from her pocket. She extended her hand and plopped it into Zagreus' own. His mismatched eyes widened as he stared down at it.
"Oh wow, thanks Eurydice! Smells awfully good. As expected of course."
"You open that when you need it." Mama smiled. She turned and hoisted up Musaeus, taking him into her arms and propping him up against her hip. "I really do need to get back. You take care now, you hear? Don't be a stranger."
"Right!" Zagreus grinned. His gaze turned to Musaeus. "You have fun there, mate?"
Musaeus nodded and smiled. He always loved spending time with Zagreus. Things were always lively with him.
"Cheers! I'll be seeing you then. You too, sprout!" The prince reached out and ruffled Musaeus' hair. He squealed and giggled.
With the tip of his tongue stuck out, the prince extended two fingers. He put them to his temple and arched his arm outward, making a peace sign while turning around. Then he jogged off, fiery feet carrying him to wherever it was he was going to next. It was probably something fun. Mama turned.
"Right. Let's go see Babas, shall we? They're excited to see you again." She gave Musaeus a kiss on the side of his head.
Mama walked back into the house with him in tow. It was small. Quaint. Familiar smells wafted back to him as they entered. Through all of them though, there was a distant twinge of something. Musaeus couldn't decipher what it was. It almost smelled like metal. But it was like a mere drop in a vast sea; almost invisible. Everything else nearly masked it. And if anything, the rich smells were even stronger than usual.
He didn't dwell on it for too long, because he was being set down. "There you go, kid." Mama patted his head.
Musaeus looked over at the bed in the room. In it sat Babas, looking very tired. Rather than his usual golden headband, he had one made out of fabric that wrapped around his head and slicked his bangs out of his worn face. It was... Different. He was different. There was something about the air that made Musaeus a bit uneasy. It made his chest feel funny. To top off the changes, there was a small stand next to the bed that held a long basket. His usual curiosity didn't come to him as he looked at it.
A hand touched his back. Musaeus looked up, eyebrows slanted upward. There was Mama giving him an encouraging look. "It's alright, sapling," she assured. "I know it must be strange. But that's still your Babas."
Musaeus glanced back at the bed. Babas didn't have any makeup on. No lipstick, no eyeshadow, no eyeliner. He was so used to seeing his face painted with dark hues that he almost looked unnatural without it. Babas must have sensed his uneasiness, because he gave him a small wave. It was accompanied by a sleepy smile. That was all he really needed. Straying away from his mother, he hurried over to the end of the bed.
He used the small step stool next to it to climb on. Looking to his father Musaeus grinned, beginning to crawl over to him. He lost balance and flopped forward. But that wasn't any problem. He got up again and finished the small journey, plopping himself right into his Babas' lap. He looked up at him. "Babas!" he chirped again, reaching up for his face. Now that he was closer he could see the deep eye bags and dark circles under his eyes.
Babas hummed. "My little one," they leaned down their head so Musaeus could touch their cheeks. They weren't round and squishy like Mama's. He could always feel his Babas' sharp cheekbones whenever he held his face. A soft kiss was planted on his forehead. Like always, it made him feel warm and fuzzy inside. He emitted a high pitched squeal while Babas gently placed their slender hands around his wrists.
"Did you have a fun time with prince Zagreus?" They mumbled.
"Mhm!" Musaeus nodded enthusiastically. "We went and did stuff in Asphodel, and then we went on a boat, and we went to Tartarus, then I got to go to where you go! I got to see Hypnos again! And mister Achilles! And I got to eat some real yummy fish— it's not as good as Mama's though. But I went and saw queen Persephone's garden! She said, uh..." He trailed off as he tried to remember.
"Oh! She said that I could have some of her poms if I wanted! So I did!" He beamed. "I told her that Mama likes them too, so she had me take some! Then I wanted to bring them home, so I tried to go, but then I got a bit lost—" Musaeus recalled his exploits out loud to his parents. They involved many accounts of getting lost, being fished out of places by Zagreus, and almost getting injured in some type of way. The expressions he was getting from his Babas were lost on him.
"–Then Zag brought me home. And now I'm back!" Musaeus giggled and tossed his arms out.
"Oh..." Babas blinked. Musaeus stared up at him, a smile still on his face. He watched him close his eyes for a few seconds before opening them with a small smile on his face, eyebrows pushed together. "Well, it certainly seems like you had fun. I hope the different scenery was a welcome change to your routine."
He nodded. "It was lots of fun! I wanna go back with Zagreus, he's not boring," he wouldn't say the other part out loud. Not to Babas, at least. Because sometimes he could be real boring. Super, duper boring.
"Let's not get ahead of ourselves now, Musaeus..." Babas gently took his hands off of his face. Musaeus continued staring up at him while he did it. He noticed that all of his nails were all cut short for once. Normally they were all very long. Except for two, on only one of his hands. When he'd asked about it Babas had told him it was because it made playing his lyre easier. Which seemed true enough! Babas held his hands in both of their own. They were always so cold. Not that Musaeus minded too much. He was just happy to be close with his parent.
"Do you remember why prince Zagreus took you for the day, my love?" Some hair was tucked behind Musaeus' ear. And as Musaeus gazed up into a pair of soft emerald eyes, he drew a blank. No; he didn't remember why. It had all happened rather quickly. As he searched the recesses of his brain, all that really came to mind was how upset Babas had been right before Zagreus had popped in. They'd been acting strangely, with Mama close by and talking to them very quietly. Musaeus hadn't gotten a whole lot of answers upon asking what was wrong.
He hadn't liked seeing them so upset. It felt like something he wasn't really supposed to see. So when mister Zagreus had come around unannounced as he normally did, Mama said something to him. Then the dark haired man had crouched down to speak to Musaeus, exchanging some words before scooping him up into his arms. He recalled being confused. Perhaps a little upset himself, even. With no warning, now he had to leave. But Mama gave him a kiss goodbye, and Babas had made Zagreus set him down next to them so they could hug him and kiss him as well.
Then, the prince took him into his arms again. And the two had left.
Musaeus shook his head at the question he'd been presented with. Babas hummed. Mama's warm voice came from behind them.
"I told you just before you left, hon."
Had she?
His ear flicked as he stared back at her. What had Mama told him? Something about...
About...
’Once you come back, you'll finally be a big brother.’
Musaeus' ears perked up and he gasped. "I remember! You said that– Uhm– I'll be a big brother!" He watched Mama smile. Her smile made him smile.
"I did. That's exactly right, sapling," From beside the bed, she reached down and rubbed the back of Musaeus' head. His tail whapped against the duvet as he let out a happy hum. "You know how Babas had a baby in their belly?"
He nodded again. He couldn't forget that. Especially since it meant that there was no room for him in their lap anymore with how big their tummy had gotten.
"Well, she's certainly not in there anymore," Mama giggled as she took her hand off of him. Musaeus cocked his head to the side, now confused.
"Why not? Then where'd they go?"
"She's been born, dear," Babas mumbled. Musaeus turned his head back to him. "That's what was happening while you were away. I was, ah... Well, I was giving birth to your sister. But that's a tale for another time."
Before he could ask any questions relating to the matter, Mama spoke again. "Would you like to meet her?"
A sister…
Musaeus nodded. He supposed he'd see what all the fuss was about. And why Baba had been acting so odd for the past months. And why he hadn't been able to cuddle up with him as he usually would. It had been quite the annoying thing!
In front of him, Babas extended his arms out. Mama leaned in and obscured his view. And as his mother leaned away again, Musaeus saw the newest part of his life for the first time. There was a small person, loosely wrapped in the blanket that Mama had been embroidering for ages now. He couldn't make out any features from this far away. Babas motioned for him to scoot in closer; so he did.
"Sit over here, dear."
Musaeus hunkered down on the side of Babas that was more open. He scooted right up next to him, legs draped over his lap. That's when Mama sat down next to him, the mattress sinking as she did. It made him lean slightly. "This is your little sister Musaeus," she smiled.
"Her name is Orphne."
Musaeus gawked at the baby in his Babas' arms. Her eyes were closed. She had a round face, her small features scrunched up and full of scattered wrinkles. She was pale. Though, he could see some darker flecks here and there. Light brown lines hugged her eyes and danced down her cheeks, trailing to her darkened ears. They were short, but pointed at the tips. He saw that she had a thin layer of fluffy black hair crowning her head. That's how he noticed the final part about her.
There was a tiny green sprout right on the very top of her, peeking out from her hair. It was curled, with two little buds where leaves must have been beginning to grow. What a sight. His eyes widened the more he stared at her, mouth falling open slightly.
"She was in your belly!?" He finally thought to ask as he stared up at his Babas. He listened to them chuckle.
"She was."
"That's crazy." Musaeus turned his sights back on the infant. He could hear Mama and Babas giggling amongst themselves. His little sister— Orphne, she must have been sleeping. But he didn't want her to be. Did babies do anything? He really wanted to know if they did. He wanted to say hello. And she needed to be awake in order for him to do that, surely.
He reached out and gave her cheek a small poke. It was squishy. Very squishy indeed. Neither of his parents said anything after he did it, so he decided to take that as a silent grant of permission to keep on with what he was doing. Next he decided to boop her nose. The baby crinkled it at this. Musaeus grinned. It looked a bit like how Mama's did, a rounded tip with a flat bridge.
"Why's she sleeping?" He looked up at his parents while he complained. They exchanged a glance.
"It is a very tiring thing, being born," Babas started. "Strenuous. She's had a long day."
"And that makes her very drowsy," Mama added on.
Musaeus' ears drooped slightly, eyebrows knitting together. He didn't want her to be sleepy. He wanted to properly meet her!
There came a small sneeze from the bundle in Babas' arms. Musaeus turned his head back to see the baby– his sister– beginning to wiggle. She turned her head, bringing her hands by her face with a small grunt, before both arms flopped down again. They had a few scattered markings akin to tree bark. They weren't nearly as numerous as his own or Mama's, but she still had some all the same. He watched as the infant's face screwed up, little features scrunching together before clearing, only little wrinkles being left behind.
He was enamored. He leaned in to look even closer, resting his hands against his Babas' arm. And that's when it finally happened. Ripples underneath her eyelids, eyes squeezing shut, then, fluttering open. The child squinted at first. But quickly she opened her eyes all of the way, revealing blue irises. Musaeus gasped. His ears instantly perked up again. There was a warm hand on his shoulder as he felt someone lean against his back.
"Aren't you going to say hello?" Mama cooed. Her head must have been resting against his own.
Oh. Right!
"Uh... Hi!" Musaeus piped up cheerily.
The baby didn't react much, if at all. She only blinked and brought one of her hands back up to her face, opening and closing it. This wasn't going to stop him though.
"I'm your big brother! My name's Musaeus. And Mama says your name is Orphne, so I guess that's your name! You were in Babas' tummy for a really long time. I thought they were just going to be round forever, but I guess not!" He rambled, "you're really small. I guess that's how babies are."
He looked up at his Babas. "Was I that small when I was a baby?"
Babas smiled. It was an endearing smile, warm. Not like his typical small polite ones he'd give. He nodded. "You were. Not as small as your sister, but you were still little nonetheless. You were very..." He looked away for a moment. "...Stubborn. I think I shall go with that."
"Stubborn?" Musaeus echoed.
"You just didn't want to come out of Babas' stomach. Guess you were comfortable in there. Wanted to stay for as long as possible. Made a huge fuss about coming out. Dramatic little thing, hm?" Mama kissed him on the cheek. "But you came out in the end. Now we have our sweet little honeysuckle." She concluded affectionately.
He squealed at the kiss and wriggled where he sat, the tip of his tail wagging. "Was I cute?"
"The cutest." Mama ruffled the hair and leaves on the top of his head. Musaeus giggled. Smile still on his face, he averted his attention back to his sister.
Her eyes reminded him of Babas'. Soft and tired. The baby returned his gaze by staring right back at him. Musaeus held eye contact for some time before sighing. "She's boring. Why doesn't she do anything?"
"She was only born a mere couple of hours ago. Newborns such as this don't do much, I'm afraid. Not at this stage. All she'll be doing for some time is eating and sleeping. Needing to be changed, crying..." Babas quietly rattled off the limited functions. Musaeus gawked up at him in shock.
"So she won't do anything?"
Before Babas could reply, Mama patted his shoulder, hand continuing to rest on it. "She's still very little, Musaeus. You were the same way after you were born. Your sister has to grow a little before you can play with her. But here, watch,"
Mama took his wrist. Musaeus gave her a quizzical look. She moved his hand over to one of the baby's tiny ones and brushed them against each other. The small child took hold of the nearest thing— his pinky. Mama moved her own hand away.
"She isn't completely helpless. She knows you're there, see?"
Musaeus gave half a nod, barely listening. All of his attention was locked in on the infant hanging onto him. Her grip on his finger was surprisingly strong. The longer he stared at her, the more emotions came his way. Ones he couldn't name. Ones he couldn't express. He was still young himself. It only made sense. Mama and Babas always told him how it was okay to feel his feelings. To show them off to the world. But right now—
Right now there were just too many. As he sat there staring at his younger sister, the newest member of their lone little family, a new reality smacked him in the face; there was someone else here now. What would happen? What could happen? Would it be good? Bad? He didn't know. His ears drooped as his face heated up, throat getting tight. He tried his best to be brave. To hide away his tears. He wiggled his pinky softly and swished it from side to side, little Orphne's hand moving along with it. He could feel his chin trembling. With one blink, his vision was blurred by tears trying to break free.
"Oh, my little one... Dear lark, what's wrong?" Gentle fingers cupped under his chin and moved his head up and to the side. He was met with Babas' face, full of a placid concern. It was still so odd seeing him without his usual makeup. Even without it, it was still Babas. And staring up at him made Musaeus feel all the more emotion. Tears rolled down his cheeks following a hiccup. Babas' eyebrows curved upward and furrowed.
There came something rubbing against his back. Musaeus turned his head to see Mama running her hand up and down against it. He didn't even know where to begin. Then there was some shifting beside him, and he felt a gentle tug of his finger as his sister was pried away from him. He let out a sad squeak as it happened. When he glanced back at his Babas their arms were empty, little Orphne tenderly set on top of the comforter.
"Come here, dear..." Babas murmured. Musaeus obeyed.
He slipped into their lap. Cold arms were wrapped around him, holding him close. The side of his head rested against Babas' chest. Oh, it had been ages since they'd been able to hug him like this. Musaeus melted into them. One of his father's hands placed itself on the back of his head. Another person joined the two in their hug: Mama. She came in from behind and wrapped her arms around him and Babas. She was warm compared to them. With his two parents encasing him in their arms; he cried.
He didn't know why he was crying. But he was. The back of his head was rubbed, kisses pressed to the top of it. He turned and rested his forehead against Babas' sternum. His chest was bare, pale skin exposed with no garments in sight. Somehow this made Musaeus feel closer to him.
"What's the matter, Musaeus?" Mama asked.
He could only shrug. "I‐I don't know." He whimpered. Mama hummed. He heard her take in some air to speak, but a thought hit him first.
"I don't want things to be different," he squeaked. "What if you don't like me anymore?"
There was silence. Had he said something wrong?
"Sapling... No. No, we could never dislike you. Your sister isn't meant to be competition, hon. She isn't a replacement! We had her because we love you so much. And each other. We wanted to share it with someone else," Mama tried to explain.
"Precisely," Babas chimed in. "We had such good experiences with you, we decided to have another. And—And we did it for you, in a way. Your mother grew up surrounded by others. I had my own siblings around me in my living days. It... It can become isolating, I must say. In this realm. We thought, if you were to have a sibling around, then perhaps you wouldn't become so lonely."
Musaeus sniffled. Tears continued cascading down his cheeks. He tried to take in what Babas and Mama were saying. It was all so confusing. They had another baby because... They loved him? And they wanted him to have someone else around?
Huh.
"Wh-What if... She doesn't like me?" He worried out loud. "What if I'm not a good big brother?"
"That worry alone is enough to prove that you'll be trying your best, Musaeus. It is all you can do. I cannot guarantee that the two of you will always harmonize– no two melodies are ever truly the same after all. The both of you are individual selves with a unique tempo to match. It ebbs and flows. Signatures change. They will change. Yet even so, there is always a chance of coming together. Be as it may, I'm sure the two of you will get along at least on the occasion." Babas gave him a gentle squeeze.
"Does that make sense?"
If Musaeus were to be honest— It did not. Melodies, signatures, tempos... People weren't songs. What did music have to do with this? What was Babas trying to say? He hiccuped and took in a shaky breath.
Mama sighed. "What he's trying to say is that even if you and your sister won't always see eye to eye— you're still siblings. And that means you're family. And even if it may not seem like either of you like each other, you'll still love one another all the same."
His ear twitched as he pulled the sentence through his brain. Family... Still loving one another...
"I think–I think I get it," Musaeus mumbled. There would be no guarantee that his sister liked him. Or that he liked his sister. But they were still siblings. So even if they didn't get along, he could still love her.
"I'm glad." Mama kissed his head.
Musaeus peeked through his parents arms and watery eyes, over to his sister. Orphne was flat on her back on top of the blanket encasing the mattress as well as the smaller one she’d been wrapped in. All of her limbs were on display now; she'd escaped the swaddle. Her arms rested above her head, legs bent as they lie on the bed. The most interesting thing about the baby was a small brown tail that came from underneath her. The tip of it was curled around a wad of mismatched fabrics.
"...What's that?" Musaeus pulled his arm out from the hug to point at the object.
"The little pillow? I tossed it together while we waited for your sister to come along. Stuffed some old scraps of mine into it. Baby nymphs like to cling onto things. Normally it would be the arm of whoever is holding them, but since she isn't being held right now, you have to find something for them to curl around. You know, so you don't have a screaming baby in your ear," The auloniad chuckled. "Unless you want to listen to her cry."
"No," Musaeus quickly interjected.
"You were just like her once. Always hanging on me and your father. With your hands or that little tail of yours. You still do it." Mama recalled fondly. Musaeus knew exactly what she was talking about. He didn't know why exactly, but hanging to her tail or wrapping his own around her in some way made him feel good inside. Like he was supposed to do it. He never wanted to lose that feeling.
He continued to stare over at his sister, his tears steadily drying. She seemed so small on her own, little body resting on such a big bed. He watched as her eyes fell open and shut as she swayed between sleep and being awake. Maybe she would want to be hugged, too. Babas said that they didn't want him to be lonely. So why should Orphne have to be?
"She should be included too, I think..." Musaeus mumbled.
"You think so?" Mama asked.
"Uh-huh," he nodded.
"Well. Let's bring her back over then," Mama unraveled herself from him and Babas. Babas seemed to hesitate.
"...Say, Musaeus," He looked down at him. Musaeus peeked up.
"Would you... Like to hold her, perhaps?"
Musaeus stared at his Baba for a while. Hold her? He could do that? He hadn't even thought about it before! His tail flicked excitedly and he nodded, quickly standing on his knees with a grin. Babas hummed contently.
"I'm pleased that you're so delighted about the concept," the corners of his mouth twitched upward as he spoke. "You can stay right here. Though, you'll need to sit. There we are..."
Musaeus turned around and plopped right back down on his bottom. He was sat between Babas' legs, back pressed up against their torso. Mama already had Orphne in her arms. He opened up his own so that his sister could be handed to him.
"Be sure to support her head now," Mama advised as she slowly lowered the baby down, "and her butt. Just like that hon, mhm,"
Musaeus adjusted his hold on his sister with the help of his mother. He didn't expect her to be as heavy as she was. Orphne took up his entire lap. The bottom half of her rested on his legs, with her head resting in the crook of his arm. He could barely even get his arms around her all of the way. Without her swaddle, the baby was only in a cloth diaper. He gawked down at her. She had her eyes squeezed shut again, but he didn't care. He was just happy to be so close.
A smile stretched itself across his face as he grinned from ear to ear. Yes, she was boring. No, she couldn't do much of anything. But this weird looking thing was still his new sister. Even with her bald tail and the tiny sprout atop her head. Musaeus' tail started to wag. It knocked against what had to have been Babas' leg, but he hardly noticed. His ears perked once Orphne grunted and cracked open her eyes.
"Hi!" He greeted again. His sister stared at him with a blasé expression on her face. It just made him all the more amused. What could she be thinking about? Did babies think? Was she happy to see him? She blinked and yawned. The infant's leg kicked outward once, quickly coming back in. That's when Musaeus felt something against his arm. He turned his head to look.
It was Orphne's little tail, hooked around his forearm. Musaeus gasped and whirled his head around to look up to his Mama.
"Mama, Mama, look! She did the thing! She did it to me!" He exclaimed.
Mama, who was sitting beside Babas now, laughed as a smile painted her face. "She did, hon. I can see that. She must like you."
Musaeus' ears wiggled as warm joy shot throughout his body. He immediately glanced back to his sister. "You like me! Well– I like you too! I'll be the best big brother ever." His sheer giddiness was starting to make him hyper. He leaned in and placed his lips on Orphne’s head, giving her the biggest kiss he could muster. He heard the baby squeak and hum. She wiggled a little in his arms.
As he held Orphne he glanced to his parents. They were leaned into each other, Mama having an arm wrapped behind Babas. Her other hand rested on their shoulder. The side of her forehead was placed against their temple as well. Musaeus watched as Mama turned, giving Babas a kiss on their cheek. Babas turned their head toward her. After a moment of staring at one another, eyes half lidded, they bridged the gap between them with a kiss.
Musaeus looked away. His first instinct was to think it was gross. His parents, kissing? Blech. But then he realized... They did it because they were in love. They loved each other, and they loved him, and his sister. And he loved them! He hummed to himself, his feet rocking from side to side and tapping together. They all loved each other. A whole bunch.
"We're a family!" Musaeus concluded, voice chipper. He turned his head up to look at his two parents.
While Mama looked happy, Babas looked shocked. But then his features softened. A little smile appeared on his face. "Yes we are, Musaeus. And nothing shall ever change that." He reached his hand out and brushed some bangs out of his forehead. It was strange not having those nails against his skin like they normally would have been. Babas kissed him on the forehead.
"Even if we were to find ourselves in completely different realms."
Musaeus giggled at the sensation of Babas' lips pressing against him. Afterward, the look Babas had turned almost wistful.
"My dear Musaeus... I do hope that you and your sister stay with each other as you grow. I would never want either of you to experience the loss of someone dear to you. Please keep one another close." He murmured. His hand rested on Musaeus' shoulder now. Musaeus blinked. Loss? Like– Leaving?
"Don't worry Babas, I won't!" Musaeus nodded his head. He turned it back down to Orphne and a smile crossed his face. "I'll never leave her. Or you! Never, ever. Because I'm her big brother. And that means I gotta protect her. Because I'm the big one!"
Babas thumb rubbed his shoulder. "I do hope so, my love. I do hope so."