2025-10-06: Managing Stress Is A Mother's Duty
- Log: Managing Stress Is A Mother's Duty
- Cast: Yua Ooshiro, Miho Ijuuin
- Where: Aoba - Penthouse
- OOC Date: 2025-10-06
- IC Date: Sunday, July 22 2012
- Summary: Yua recovers from her embryo transfer alongside Miho, as they reflect on her responsibilities and the aid Miho can provide her. They're feeling positive about their chances -- Yua's been praying very hard!
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua and Miho's doctor assured them that embryo transfer isn't terribly painful -- little more than a pap smear -- that indeed Yua would likely feel more put out by her regular progesterone, with all the steps before this final step being more arduous than the capstone. It was a little worse than she'd reported, though apparently, that had more to do with how tense she was over her medical prodecure than the procedure itself.
Luckily, Miho was there to hold her hand and give her the strength to go through it.
They've been given some strict instructions by Dr. Matsuhashi: no strenuous exercise, but no lying in bed all day, either; light regular activities are fine and encouraged, but it's still important to take it easy. Yua is to avoid excess heat in her baths to avoid raising her internal body temperature, and also to avoid NSAIDs and endocrine disruptors -- luckily, she thought ahead and took her dose of Suppressants the day before, so she ought to be able to hold out two weeks if she isn't placed under undue stress. (Which, itself, is a thing Himari warned them against, including cautioning them not to check a pregnancy test until at least ten days out, because they could receive a false negative result and drive her stress up more.)
Given Dr. Matsuhashi was very specific about regular activities and light exercise being things like 'walking around', once they've gotten home from all that walking around out there, Yua's found the lounge alongside Miho. It might not have been the most painful thing in the world, but her cramps are still unpleasant, after the fact.
"I can't believe we did it..." Yua sighs, resting against her fiancee's chest. "And... she said I'd be okay to fly if I wore those weird socks, right?"
(She's talking about compression socks, given her elevated estrogen levels and the risk of thrombosis.)
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Miho is aware at least of Yua's difficulties with medical procedures. She is not surprised that Yua's tension would be a problem then. But Yua has Miho! And Miho will not abandon her.
The strict instructions were quite a list. Miho frowned through some of them, because strenuous exercise by most standards is just a feature of their regular days. But Yua can still hang out while Miho exercises, they could still spend time together that way. And stress...
Well, Miho will have to see about 'undue stress'. If that means taking on a greater burden herself, that's fine--but it's unlikely that the Powers will interfere with the upcoming Olympics. Miho's glory is Japan's glory, after all.
But her self-control will ensure there are no pregnancy tests in the home until it's time.
Miho has her arm about Yua, lounging with her. "We did," she says. "You especially did. You were quite courageous."
A pause. "Yes. The compression socks... due to your elevated risk of blood clots."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Miho is Yua's strongest warrior!!
(And not just because she's about to dominate the Olympics, either.)
But Yua can, indeed, still watch Miho exercise. And she specifically checked to make sure cooking would still be fine; Dr. Matsuhashi just suggested putting a chair in the kitchen in case she got tired, only to learn that they already had one. So she's still free to make Miho her bento...!
... and since they already use organic ingredients -- Miho is, if nothing else, absolutely organic vegetable rich -- there really wasn't much advice the doctor could give them about making their meals more baby-safe.
She'll be relying on Miho's self-control, of course, because Yua... well, she's disciplined, but she's also terribly anxious, so it's more than fair to say that Miho is more controlled between them.
She's pleased right now, though, hearing Miho's praise; she hums, rubbing her cheek against Miho's shoulder. "It's worth it!" She assures her, brightly.
"Though, I'll have to wear normal shoes..." Yua sighs. She does of course own shoes which aren't pointe shoes, but most of them are shoes designed to facilitate other forms of dancing, instead. ... most of them; she does have normal shoes which don't have dancing utility at all. You know, one or two pairs of them, with one of those being hiking boots. "It'll be so strange."
She looks up to Miho, ankle hooking around her leg as she reaches up to undo the bun she was keeping her hair in, letting her long hair tumble down her shoulders again. "But it's really something, you know...? Part of you is inside me, now... it's your baby I'm nurturing!" Her eye glitters, as she smiles to her. "Isn't that amazing...?"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Cooking!! They could just have Eiko do it... but that would be terribly disappointing to Yua. As to ingredients, well... Why would Miho have anything but the best?
She might not bother to spring for it if she weren't all about health stuff. But she is.
Miho smiles at Yua when she says it's worth it. "Yes," she agrees, and admires Yua's long hair. She smiles at that, too. But something...? "It is," Miho agrees, and, with a question in her eyes, moves to put her spare hand over Yua's belly. (Only if she allows it, of course; there are times when she would be decisive... but this one, it is a Yua question.)
"It is amazing," she says either way. "And if it works, only nine more months...."
She holds Yua there. "You will do wonderfully. Even if you have to wear normal shoes for now." Teasing.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua likes her nice long hair, and she likes that Miho likes it; she needs to keep it tied back when dancing, of course, but she can let her hair down at home.
But she smiles to her and nods, slightly, when that question enters Miho's eyes; her own hands join Miho's, at her belly, gently holding her there to assure her that it's okay.
Miho's protecting both of them, after all.
"Only nine months!" Yua exclaims, bubbling with excitement. "I can bear the footwear... the doctor said I'd need to protect my ankles, after all. And I really must avoid an injury like that..." If she ends up twisting her ankle because she's carrying more weight, after all, it might be harder to get back to dancing once the baby's born.
(Dancing, tragically, counts as strenuous exercise, so she'll need to avoid it for the next two weeks... and it will get difficult again as she gets further along, too. But of course Yua knew she would make sacrifices for the sake of their child; if they weren't such serious sacrifices, Miho might very well be in her place.)
"Mm, and mental injuries, too," Yua supposes, thinking of the distress of hurting her feet. "I'll need to manage my stress very well... I'll be relying on your help, too, okay?" That keeping on top of her stress levels is her work isn't really a question in Yua's mind; even so, Miho can be a powerful ally.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Yua letting her hair down is very exciting. Miho thinks Yua's hair is beautiful; of course, when she has her hair up there is a different sort of beauty...
It is okay, though, and Miho will protect them both. Only nine months...
"Important," Miho agrees to protecting Yua's ankles. "I can only carry you so many hours in the day." She must avoid the injury; Miho knows that well.
Indeed; Miho could have, did consider it. It wouldn't have been fair to expect it of Yua without at least contemplating the idea for herself.
"True," Miho says. "You will. But anything I can do to assist you there, I will. You may rely upon me."
A smile. "I can make your environment more soothing, for one... and Ikeda-san will also help with whatever you require, of course. Did you know? She has kept her professionalism, but I know that she is excited for us, as well."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"Ahahaha!" Yua laughs, a light and joyful sound, when Miho insists she can only carry her so much. "I do like being carried by you... but I don't need to trip to get that!"
She is, of course, terribly impressed that Miho can hoist her whole weight up, even though she's a ballerina and so she watches her figure quite religiously to ensure that her danseurs won't be injured in their lifts. Even if she's designed to be hoisted, though, it's still impressive!!
(Being fair, Miho can likely lift things much heavier than Yua...)
"I will," Yua smiles, when Miho assures her she can rely on her. "You're super reliable, Mimi!" Her cheeks warm, seeing Miho's smile, and she rubs her cheek against her shoulder again. "Mm-hmm!"
Her smile is so bubbly, one might fear she could burst. "Eiko-san's been so nice to me!" She exclaims, and she is more familiar with the servants, but of course she isn't used to having servants to begin with. "She was just reminding me the other day about our foot spa and everything..." In case her feet hurt, of course.
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"It's true. You need only ask, my darling."
Miho smiles. Her green hair is vivid in this light. Miho of course could carry Yua even if she were bigger... but it is nice that it's so relatively easy. But remember, lift with your legs!
Miho strokes through Yua's hair as she rubs her cheek against her shoulder. "I am glad you think so," Miho says. "I work hard for it to be so."
She could burst. ...But hopefully not. That would be terrible...
"Of course." And it's not just that she's paid to--because she's not paid to be nice, she's paid to do the work politely. Miho has seen her going above and beyond for her own reasons. ...And might be raising her pay accordingly...
"That's good. You should remember it, though I'm happy to put in my work rubbing your feet, too. I will take good care of you."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
"And I will!!" Yua promises Miho, with delight. "But not for a little while... the doctor said I should still be walking around like normal."
Yua pauses.
"Well, like most people's normal..."
Apparently they're unusually fond of exercise in the Ijuuin household.
She sighs, happily, feeling Miho's fingers through her hair. "You do work hard," she affirms, with that big smile of hers, and somehow Miho will manage to keep her together.
Yua, of course, was very insistent when she started getting better that Eiko shouldn't be penalised in any way for Yua taking on some of the duties of the home; she had no desire to housewife their maid out of a job. And it's been very lucky they have her, even with Yua keeping the home, because Yua still has at least part time work keeping her away. Eiko is an essential contributor to the penthouse being so neat and tidy!!
"Aww, Mimi..." Yua gazes up to her, rubbing at her leg with one of those aforementioned feet. "Your footrubs are the best! I won't have anything to worry about!" She pets the back of Miho's other hand, at her belly, her smile warm. "You've always taken good care of me," she adds, sweetly.
She spends a moment gazing up at the woman she's to marry, lovingly. "... we'll be okay," she assures her, still smiling. "I was talking to another housewife," another housewife, and Yua is clearly delighted to be able to count herself in their numbers, "and she said that even though she was going through a lot of stress when she had her first child, she was still born healthy and grew up just fine! So even if our life is difficult sometimes, we definitely get through it, okay?"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
"Right. The ordinary normal." Lesser. Acceptable, but not laudatory.
But Miho smiles back. Hers is wider than usual; she is not always so demonstrative, but today, she is moreso. And of course she will not abandon Eiko.
"You will not," Miho agrees about feet, and Miho keeps her hand down at Yua's belly. Soon, she thinks, something will be there... If not already.
"I wish to," she says, of taking care of her.
But, "Oh?" Miho inquires. She is sure they'll be all right, but...
"Oh!" Miho says, and smiles. "That is good. I do have... concerns," she understates, "But that you have a friend who has been there is... good. My sister might also be a resource... I believe she likes you far more than me, these days."
"I will not give up on that idea. Of us getting through. I love you, Yua."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Ordinary normal! It's fine for ordinary people. Just, you know, they're not ordinary people, most of the time.
Yua is of course delighted by Miho's sudden surge of expressiveness; she's normally the far more effusive of the pair, but that doesn't mean she doesn't love seeing Miho smile, too.
They were warned, of course, that the chance of success of each round was about thirty-five percent; even with Yua being one of Dr. Matsuhashi's youngest patients, they faced likelier chances it wouldn't work than that it would. Even so, Yua has faith that it will... she's praying every day, after all.
She'll be fine, because Miho's right here...!
And Yua's able to reassure Miho, a little, with a network unlike Miho's. (Miho may be a woman, just like Yua, but Miho is far less likely to gossip with other housewives.) "I've been talking to Ritsuko-chan on the phone, lately," Yua says, reaching up to stroke Miho's hair, too. "I know it's been hard for you two sometimes, but really, she's been very kind to me...! Like, she told me not to worry if there's a little spotting, since that can happen at implantation too... and she said the mood swings were normal, too."
It's kind of hard to tell when Yua is having loud moods when all of Yua's moods are loud, though.
Her hand drops to Miho's shoulder, so she can steady herself as she leans up to kiss her. "I love you, too," she murmurs, against her lips. "Nothing can stop us...!"
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
Indeed.
While they were warned, and Miho is more cautious perhaps than Yua... Miho is also less diligent in prayer. She would prefer quicker success than not, though. And she will continue to support Yua through this, too.
Miho indeed does not talk to many housewives, though sometimes they include her in matters at the office. Not usually, though; she's usually busy with their husbands... and while some consider her an ally in the office, others consider her competition.
"Oh good," Miho says. A pause. "Our lives have taken... differing paths," she says of her sister Ritsuko. "But I am glad that she is of help to you. And kind to you."
It makes a lot of things better.
"Oh, good. I would worry, otherwise..."
But Miho leans down and kisses Yua, too. "And nothing will."
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua has of course introduced Miho to all the household Gods she invited into her home -- or, from another perspective, presented Miho to them -- but it's no stain on her honour that she spends less time in prayer. Yua doesn't mind praying for her, too; she learned all the prayers from her grandmother and aunts, after all, back when they were all living on the island together.
... and there's a difference between being suitable for the priestesshood and suitably leading household prayers. Yua and her mother are at least well enough for the latter.
Yua does think it must be rather difficult, in Miho's office, when she is trying to balance her gender and her work... though, largely because the men Miho works with all seem to have particularly unpleasant qualities about them.
"She's really been quite positive when speaking of you lately, you know?" Yua assures Miho, because she would understand if Miho is a touch more reluctant to speak with her sister. "She said she's happy you're settling down... if you gave her a call, I think you'd be surprised!" Yua, having taken on the role of social connector, calls many people in their combined families regularly... including Miho's mother, who she gives updates just as she offers to her own.
(Though, her mother... well, Yua can't help worrying about her.)
Yua can't help but giggle, though, when Miho says she'd worry. "You might still worry," she points out a terrible fact of her mood swings, though she's amused, "because you know what happened yesterday? I cried over a commercial. There was a sad little duck," she explains, as if that illuminates everything.
... that still sounds like regular Yua, though... is she really as unstoppable as she insists?!
<Pose Tracker> Miho Ijuuin has posed.
'Less' is not 'none', of course; Miho has applied respect to Yua's traditions. ...But she's less pious a person overall, pledged to the dark figure in her dreams more than any particular divinity. But don't worry about the fact that her Persona is Faust.
Miho's life at work is difficult, though, in part for that reason.
"Oh?" Miho wonders, and is surprised a bit. She is more reluctant. "Hmm. Perhaps I will, then." Miho is aware of Yua's connectivity; it's important, and good.
Miho laughs. "Is that so?" she asks. "The sad little duck from the cleaning company?" she wonders. "Hmmm...."
She teases a little, but leans in to kiss Yua again anyway. It is a happy moment.
<Pose Tracker> Yua Ooshiro has posed.
Yua's soul, in turn, is expressed through the pious Gretchen; and surely there's no metaphor inherent in that. She has never seen the hand of the dark figure in their lives moving her, and so she feels no compulsion to abandon all gods but Him.
"Or... maybe we can see her together?" Yua adds, hearing Miho's reluctance. "That way, you can relax, because I'll leap bravely in front of any bad vibes coming for you!!" Yua had better not do any leaping she is trying to become pregnant, but never mind that.
It's important to foster familial connections! But Miho has so much to worry about, and so Yua makes sure to remember, in those spaces where Miho runs out of energy at the end of the day.
But Miho laughs, and Yua pouts! "He couldn't get up onto the kitchen counter," Yua gives her the details, and she is, indeed, quite emotional, though she doesn't really mind the teasing. "It was too clean... he kept slipping off the edge... that poor little duck...!!!"
Luckily, Yua is soothed by Miho's lips, so she doesn't start crying about the sad little duck a second time.