Maya Posting

[rovingstories]

Maya the Wanderer

She picked up one (1) Peter (NSFW)

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Post-Heat Clarity

[rovingstories]

[After a particularly intimate week with Peter, where she let him dote and pour all of his affections into her, the heat has finally subsided and her legs finally aren't jelly.

The very instant she's feeling better, she's up and at 'em, back at her camp and packing it up.]

Thank goodness I actually had the foresight to put papers away, I didn't do the same heat-brained nonsense I did last time.

[Digging through the bottom of her bag... ah hah. Out comes a satchel that rattles with the sound of coins.]

There we are. Let's see if we can afford that cart and pull animal...

[your_boyfriend]

[As she's looking through her bag of coins Maya will inevitably hear the sound of something hitting the ground. It clinks as it does so.

A quick look will find another little pouch not so far off. If she's looking for coins there's plenty in there and if she looks upward to see where it came from she'll catch sight of that Shadow of hers, skinny as ever and waving to her with a toothy grin. Up there in the shade of the tree he's more bright shining blue eyes and sharp white teeth than anything else.]

[rovingstories]

[When she sees that gaze and those teeth, she has to restrain a laugh. It was the kind of look she'd seen out of a predatory Sickletooth, its head peeking through the tree tops and down at her.

Peter was, decidedly, far less dangerous than that and a lot easier to placate and even tease.]

Did you eat something like I told you to, my shadow?

[She bent down to scoop up his offering of coins.]

[your_boyfriend]

A little while ago. I brought some for you too if you want it.

[He gestures over his shoulder to something like a backpack on his back. While she was working and relatively safe in his mind he'd gone into the nearest town and stocked up on things. It helped that he felt almost nothing for others because being something of a mercenary made for good coin in this weird world. He didn't exactly love violence but he was pretty darn good at it regardless.

The way he drops out of the tree is pretty darn graceful honestly. Once there he shifts the backpack thing off of his back and drops it on the nearest table. There's fruit, there's bread, there's cured meats and cheeses and other things that'll keep while traveling.

She'll also find along the sides tucked into convenient places is his collection of knives. There are more on him as well.]

Tinctures

[rovingstories]

[On the road together with Maya, Peter had a lot more leeway to just... hang around, be close, without having to be sneaky. Not that Maya ever questioned him or acted uncomfortable if he did - she opted to trust him and that was going well for her so far.

Two weeks into traveling and camping, Maya's not acting much different... but she's definitely noticed more persistent nausea throughout her day, which would be expected. Despite waking up with a big yawn and heavy eyes, she decides today she'll verify - by unpacking her massive backpack and pulling out a wooden box with dense padding, wherein a selection of vials were kept.

Selecting one with a faintly green, clear fluid inside, she popped the top, used a claw of hers to cut into the heel of her paw pad on her left hand and squeezed a drop of blood into the vial. Re-capping it, she gave it a thorough shake, the fluid inside changing from muddy red and greens to a dark brown as she did.]

Good morning, my shadow.

[Another long yawn. As she kept shaking the vial, she sorted through the rest of her tinctures, taking inventory.]

I ought to teach you how to make some of these tinctures. My papa taught me a lot about how to brew a lot of practical ones.

[your_boyfriend]

[It's been an adjustment for Peter to say the least. It's not that he isn't happy though, Maya can more than rest assured of that. She likely has no problem seeing it either because a happy, relaxed Peter is a cuddler. He pulls her in close at night when they sleep and he does like he's doing now, coming up behind her.

Despite the shaking he's slipped up behind her to rest his chin atop her head. He's learned over these few weeks to rest his hands against her hips if he put them anywhere given her hands always seemed to be busy -- with writing, with mixing, with everything.

From the scent drifting off of him he's been out and about this morning. Acorn might be able to graze wherever but Peter is unsurprisingly diligent in seeing to her. Once he worked out how the harness works and how to hook her up and off of the cart he's been sort of insistent on doing that too. He makes sure she's in a good spot to eat her fill when they make camp and typically tends to Rat then too. Some days he even wears the rat snake around his neck though this morning she's absent.

His rumble of laughter can be felt from his chest.]

You sure you trust me to brew anything?

[rovingstories]

With some supervision! And there's a few things that don't involve brewing with fire. The worst you'll do is make something that'll blow up in my hands.

[She teases, leaning back against him even as she kept shaking the vial - by now, it was starting to lighten again, turning into a deep, bruise-like purple.]

This one is pretty easy and only involves steeping a specific measurement of wigroot in clean water. There's also a drought that's fire-free - and pretty easy, too. Just have to be accurate in your measurements.

[After taking a pause to lift up the vial, Maya smiled - it was becoming clear again, and turning to a vivid blue.]

The plants in this world pull something from deep under the ground. Water, we think... not like the water we drink, but like the water I was drowned in. Something more than water. With the right plants and ingredients, you can do all kinds of unfathomably impressive things. My papa was always able to make sure the soil was rich and the harvest was robust during time of little rain - apothacaries are able to do incredible things. Tinctures and droughts can change the mind and the body alike.

[your_boyfriend]

[Peter's expression falls at that.]

I'd prefer not to blow up anything in your hands.

[Or, well, maybe one thing but that was less blowing up and more -- heh.

Peter does his best not to go down the more lascivious path at the moment and actually mull on her words.]

I don't mind learning. It sounds fun in a way.

[He reaches a finger out to poke that bright blue vial.]

You're brewing up a real pretty one right now.

[Or mixing it up? Either way he likes the color.]

On the Road!

[rovingstories]

[Travel is in her blood, in her very nature - she is easily experienced and knows how to efficiently pick what to pack or what to keep packed at any given time. Less work for both of them! Especially since early months frequently consist of her nausea dissuading particularly effort-filled tasks.

Early in their route, they're mostly out in the wilderness - the biggest concerns are not getting eaten by a hungry theropod-like predator and not forgetting to boil water before filling the canteen back up. But a few months in, by the time Maya's starting to show and is even feeling the first flutterings (even if Peter couldn't yet feel), they were traveling on more proper roads and passing more fellow travelers!

Tonight was one such night. Maya was contentedly transcribing from notes into her core book, losing herself in the task and in Peter's comfortable company as always. At least, until a voice chimes in. "Lo! Fellow traveler - a lore keeper?" the deep voice asked - it belonged to a caiman fellow, a bit taller than Maya and with a skinny snout, a fellow wearing rugged clothes and with a hefty leather bag on his back.]

Lo! Still walking even with the sun this low?

["Thought I might ask you two kind folk to let me join in your camp for the evening! I got a mite bit distracted in collecting, this evening."]

[your_boyfriend]

[The fact that she can feel the flutters and he can't is enough to have Peter nearly count down the days to when he might be able to finally feel them too. Months in and it's still surreal to think she's actually carrying his child! It's too far of a stretch for his imagination in the beginning and now he finds he can barely reconcile all the skipped steps he imagined to this conclusion.

Getting through the wilderness is a huge relief for him. While he didn't fear taking on anything in the forest he did fear Maya catching him doing so. Even when he earned his coin in all sorts of bloody ways when he first found himself in this world months ago he never did it cleanly or elegantly. Peter killed the same way any predator in those same wilds they passed through would and he didn't know what he would do if she caught him in the midst of anything like that.

For the most part he's been keenly watchful but relaxed next to her. If she's in his eyesight or he knows where she's at he seems content and perfectly happy to tend to the wagon or camp or any number of things she sets him to. The moment that voice chimes up is probably the first time since their last venture into town that Peter has tensed up actually.

While Maya converses easily with the caiman looking fellow Peter sits with his too intense gaze settled on him. She's of course friendly and easygoing, something he's used to from the months of stalking her. His hackles instantly raise though when he asks to join the camp for the evening.

He thinks fuck off very, very loudly in his mind. Yet he knows for sure that isn't what she's going to say.]

[rovingstories]

[Peter guessed absolutely correctly - with a glowing smile and a wave of her hand, she gestured for the stranger to sit by the fire.]

Please do! Are you a carver?

[Though Peter's expression was extremely clear, the caiman fellow only hesitated briefly before offering a friendly gesture, going to sit nearby. "I'm not, but my brother is! I've been collecting stones to polish for charms. My name is Jurral."]

Magnificent! I am Maya. And this is my shadow, who has yet to choose a name for himself.

["Oh aye, a name is an important decision, should you pick one and be going towards Bellhearth my brother can sell you a charm of protection with the chosen name on it." Maya beamed at the idea, patting Peter's arm.]

We weren't initially going that way, but that does sound nice! You could use something like that, my shadow, to help keep you safe.

[your_boyfriend]

[Everyone was so casual about names. This isn't the first time Peter has found it funny given how hung up on names his world was.

The moment Maya reaches out to pat Peter's arm and talks about keeping him safe is the moment Peter relaxes. A little. He'd never entirely relax with a stranger around but he's not about to make Maya worry about him snapping with her in eyeshot.

Well and love does soothe the savage beast, so they say.

He gives her a warm, fond smile before patting back at her hand. His attention seems wholly on her but he's still watching this Jurral from the corner of his eye.]

I'll get one if you do, darling. And one of the little one too.

[He doesn't even try to curtail the urge to reach over and gently pat at what she had for a bump. He never is, save when she's very focused on something or it seems like she'd rather not be touched. He's stupidly good at reading signals like that.]

Embarrassing Pasts, and First Kicks

[rovingstories]

[While Peter may be able to keep reprieve in Maya never ever finding evidence of his embarrassing past as a goth kid... apparently the same could not be said for poor Maya.

Along the route they were taking, they needed to divert to resupply - Maya was already a bit put out that there was only one place on the map, a secluded little port town. The roads were decently traveled, as one might expect of a decent trade route, of which Maya has traveled them both on several times...

...but this one is the first one with a giant, gaudy statue carved of massive stone and painted. And the figure depicted is, with those colors and depicted fur patterns, undoubtedly Maya.]

... ... ... ...

[The woman in question was staring at this, mouth pressed into a thin line - Peter would easily notice that the insides of her ears and the skin on her face under her fur was burning red with embarrassment as she stared, her hands pressed together and over her lips as she struggled to find words.]

... ... ... ... This is a bit much. Even for me. No, especially for me.

[your_boyfriend]

[So the pair of them stand for a moment, Maya struggling to find her words and Peter just gazing up at the statue in awe. Despite not having the technology for electricity and the like here Peter does still cling onto his cellphone, long switched off with what it managed to keep of a battery life. It's somewhere among his things in the cart and now, now comes the desperate urge to find it just for the ability to take a picture.

One of his hands presses against his chest. Her face may be flushed with embarrassment but his is flushed with amazement.

...]

I can't take it with me, can I.

[He legitimately sounds disappointed.]

[rovingstories]

[Peter is in for a rare treat - Maya sputters, flustered and a little frantic. Normally she's so composed!!

She hugs onto his other arm, still hanging by his side, laughing a little in embarrassment.]

N-now, my shadow, even if Acorn could pull this thing, you have me right here.

[It might even sound anxious or jealous, when she frantically says that!

...In reality she just might die of humiliation if she's caught toting around a statue of herself in her cart.........]

[your_boyfriend]

[Peter wrenches his eyes away from one version of Maya to look down at the real thing, holding onto his arm and laughing. There's something about the slight hint of jealousy to her tone that sends a delicious thrill straight through him.

He can't help but give an amused huff of breath, his grin quirking lazily at her.]

Oh darling, nothing could compare to you. Not even a statue of yourself.

[He uses the hand he'd had held against his heart to stroke over her head before he bends to press a kiss between her ears.]

You're worth more to me than a dozen statues ... though I wouldn't mind having one or two of them. Just to hold close when you're not there.

[And start a portable shrine with.]

Family Reunion

[rovingstories]

It's time!

[Maya was excited on the way to this town already, but now that she and Peter were finally there, she was practically on cloud nine. Her size carrying their little one be damned, Maya practically ran with her hand clasped in Peter's, dragging him along to where everyone was going to meet.]

There! I can smell the smoke pit outside!

[She was getting a little winded, jog-waddling as she was, but her joy seemed to suit the adorable small abode they were rapidly approaching, with clay walls painted a vibrant yellow and decorated with blue stones. She stopped at the front gate, turning excitedly to grab Peter's other hand.]

Are you ready? Oh, they'll love you, I know it!

[your_boyfriend]

[To her credit Peter is somewhat swept up in her enthusiasm. He does so love to see her this bright and happy after all. It's one reason she can keep him in check so well, the fear of fumbling it all and losing these moments of bright happiness from her.

He has to admit too that that vibrant yellow home is like something straight out of some sort of saccharine fairytale he's told himself. It's inviting and with her snatching up his other hand and firmly claiming his attention again Peter bursts into a big, bright grin.]

Well I'll certainly love them.

[No, he still can't fully accept anyone would love him. He doesn't think Maya is a liar but anyone else? People lie every day just to make others happy after all.

Instead of delving too deep into it he stoops to snatch her up bridal-style, the weight of both her and the baby a breathtakingly pleasing thing to him. He peppers her cheeks and lips with a few kisses before bouncing her a time or two as he takes long strides towards the house. He coos out his words as he talks.]

And they'll definitely love this baby too.

[Or else.]

[rovingstories]

[Maya giggled excitedly, clinging as Peter lifted her. It was so cute how her weight with the baby was still nothing at all to him - he picked her up so often he even knew how to carry her in the most comfortable way.

Happily, she tilted up Peter's straw hat so she could kiss him back, purring up a storm.]

Vale is here! As is his Darling and their daughter. And a few other grandkids of mine, and their children. This reunion is going to be so big this year - it used to just be four of us!

Baby Makes Three

[rovingstories]

[The hope was that they would get to their next destination with time to spare, but Maya is not terribly surprised that things don't quite go to plan. After all, she was the one who let her anxiety from being stuck in one place for too long drive her back to the road when she was this far along.

As far as Maya was concerned, Peter didn't need to know she was feeling anything out of the ordinary. For now, she could focus on where to camp for the night - and where they'd be situated for a bit longer than just the night.]

Hmm... not close to the water this time, too many predatory animals... not loving these trees... I think a few miles ahead is some clear grassland. I think that's the best wager for camp.

[She's not counting on how extremely observant and obsessive her shadow is about every single little detail about her, though. Even she doesn't have a perfect poker face, and contractions hurt.]

[your_boyfriend]

[Unease had been clinging onto Peter as the day rolled on. He had tried to disguise it as best he could through fussing over Rat or Acorn. He well understood Maya didn't mind his fussing too but the extent of the fussing her could do wasn't something he had rolled out on her. He might have slowly but subtly taken over doing a lot of things, even trying to set up the things Maya did on their travels so she needed to do as little as possible herself.

He didn't want to cage her. He couldn't do that to her. He knew he couldn't but the bigger she got and the more he could feel that baby of theirs move around? The stronger and more insistent the urge grew.

All day he had been eyeballing her. He'd tried to be subtle but subtle and Peter went together not particularly well. At least not when it was something he couldn't pre-plan like making sure cooking equipment was laid out just the way she liked it or that her bed was set up just so.

The way her eyes tightened just so, the now and then tilt of her lips, the way her whiskers twitched ...

Eventually he reaches to take Acorn's reins from her gently, trying not to show how his whole body was starting to prickle at high alert. Keep your tone steady, don't panic! If she's in pain the last thing she needs is you being a fucking moron.]

Here, you just guide me. Once we get to a good spot I'll set up the tent first.

[He'd gotten stupidly good at that over these many months and tonight he could probably put it up in seconds through sheer nerves alone. He takes a moment to caress her back too, trying to sound soothing. He rests it just against the small of her back, around one of the spots that had given her the most trouble over the last few months.

His nerves are trembling (and he might be too) but his voice is soothing at least.]

Don't worry about the animals too much. I'll take care of anything that comes around.

[Because sure, he can't smell heats or a lot of things like that but those predators can undoubtedly smell him.]

[rovingstories]

[He really is not subtle, but Maya is in a rare state of not minding much. She can feel his anxiety prickling, and her mind is already wanting to prickle in turn - instead she nods and lets him take the reins, letting out a soft breath just a bit too tightly to actually be relaxed.

Peter's hand on the small of her back will be able to feel, even through her clothes, the tightness of her muscles - and the way they relax, after a while. It wasn't as though she hadn't had any of those before - that was normal for a pregnancy, she had explained - but the air was just a bit different today.]

I think when we find a spot we should set up the nicer tent. The support poles are a pain, but I think we'll be resting for a while.

[She leaned against his shoulder, letting out a longer exhale as the contraction subsided. It was, admittedly, much nicer to be with someone than by herself for this - even if she never had to manage the anxiety of someone else during her own labor, having the extra hands and the company was a great solace.]

I'll set the fire pit when we find the right spot, then. Get that and the pot going. Are you hungry, my shadow? Don't get so distracted you forget to feed yourself.

Visitor in the Night (A Seed of a Thought)

[rovingstories]

[A month already goes so quickly, to Maya... it always seems to fly even faster when you've got a little one. It's another one of those sentimental nights too... Maya's opted to skip any writing, instead just laying on her cot now that the camp is set up. Their first time setting camp after leaving where the little one was born...]

You're officially a wanderer.

[Maya purred, stroking their little one's head. Their daughter squirmed a bit, nuzzling into Maya's hand but insistently crawling away from the cot now that her bright blue eyes were properly open.]

She's as curious as you, my shadow.

[your_boyfriend]

[A month and Peter had been the goopiest mess of a man since the first evening he had laid hands on that tiny little baby. He had been a mess that night and was only slightly less of a mess now, though this month had been more from sheer radiant joy than any fear. He might have only cried several dozen buckets between the baby's birth and the day her little eyes popped open.

Blue. Goddamn. He could hate everything about himself but he couldn't imagine hating those big blue eyes on her.

He'd somewhat mastered making tea by now, quietly sitting a steaming cup near Maya's side of the cot like he has been throughout her recovery. He sidles over to the other side, coming to lay down himself. He gives Maya an unrestrained toothy grin now, his remaining awkwardness shed in the moment.]

Pff, you're the curious one. I just got roped into it.

[He moves a hand to gently tickle at one of the baby's little ears. He'd been charmed by how they flexed and flickered as she ate and feels the same tightness grabbing at his heart when they flick at his ministrations now.]

[rovingstories]

It's fun, being curious...

[Maya smiled, watching Peter's heart melting as he played with their little one. Maya herself was gently stroking her tiny back, but the kitten was wide-eyed and grabby and curious. She didn't have teeth yet, but her tiny hand did grasp onto Peter's finger and pulled it into her mouth to try and bite it.]

Oh, so very like you. When she gets her baby teeth, our fingers are going to be just peppered with bites. ...Not that I'm complaining about your nibbles~