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 Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 3:02 pm
x - Inspo
Maritza waited outside the airship docks with wistful look. Isaia's ship was getting ready to sail off and while they'd had long enough to say their goodbyes it still felt odd not to be with him. Even if they didn't work side by side it had become a sort of tradition to at least walk up the ramp together. She would give him a shove, tell him not to screw up too bad and if he did not to mention he was her kid. Then he might toss a few words back at her before going off...
It was a bitter sweet moment, but there were reasons behind it. Reaching now to smooth her hand over her growing womb reminded her daily of her choices. It had been a good four months since they'd found out she was expecting again and so far Maritza was considerably smaller than the last pregnancy. She could still move relatively freely, which was a blessing in itself.
Of course this was still a drastic change from her boney frame and picking anything up off the floor? Impossible.
"Do you think he'll remember to give the books to Lioe or do you think he'll forget them onboard?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 3:16 pm
[1/10]
Uquin had stayed back, giving Maritza some space to say goodbye to their son. Now, though, as the engines began to rev he returned to his place by her side, nudging at her hand with his own with a small twitch of a smile. They'd both decided to avoid actual wedding rings, but he was apparently more of a softhearted fool than he'd thought... because shortly after it had become official, he'd sought out an artist to ink a band on his ring for her regardless.
It felt... right. And he couldn't seem to stop finding excuses to touch her with that hand, almost as if to show it off to her. Soon, he thought, Maritza would get annoyed with it, but she'd tolerated it reasonably well so far. "He'll be lucky if he doesn't somehow ruin them before he gets there. Leaving his boots on them, or using them for notes..." He sighed.
That wasn't fair. Knowing they were for Lioe, Isaia might make a real effort to preserve them... at first.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 3:22 pm
Fool of a man that he was Maritza couldn't help smiling when she looked down at his hand. She took it, naturally, with a wry smile and a huff. "He'll blame it on me, of course. 'Look, Lioe, mother bought some books for you! Shame she couldn't find any without stains or bent spines'." She dropped her voice a little to imitate him. "Still, as long as he gets there safely I suppose it won't really matter." He would be stationed for a while and sending a gift would make sure he at least spent some time with his brother before gallivanting off for whatever adventures Isaia had in mind. She couldn't begin to predict what he did in his free time and most of the time she didn't want to know.
Lifting their linked hands, Maritza moved them up to the her stomach and held it. "Wait for it." It took a moment, but after what felt like ages the babe within made it's presence known by kicking.
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 3:39 pm
[2/10]
Of course. Uquin chuckled at her imitation, then turned his gaze back to the ship, feeling strangely somber. It was a relief to have Maritza here, by his side, and not leaving this time... he felt he was getting strangely spoiled by this. The past few months had already seemed like its own honeymoon-like heaven, waking up beside her every day... she still woke early, of course, but so did he.
He blinked and turned back to her when she moved his hand, but quickly caught on, holding his breath until he felt it. At first it was a little fluttery, but then a stronger kick that almost made him jump. He smiled, probably a bit stupidly, because - because their first pregnancy had been so fraught, but this was so tender and intimate. After a moment, he rose his gaze to Maritza, then put on a playfully put upon expression, "I think they're excited about the ship too. Between you, them, and Isaia, I feel outnumbered."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 3:41 pm
"Good, now you know how I feel every time you and Zadia start talking about poultices." Now with Isaia in the midst of his training the only one they had at home was Zadia. Although, she was starting to spend more and more time away from home due to her own training.
At first the kicking was nothing more than a strange feeling for Maritza, but one caused the Belrean to grunt. "What is it they say about younger children? About how they're spoiled and more bratty than the rest?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 3:47 pm
[3/10]
Oh, haha. Uquin laughed softly, feeling proud as he thought of his youngest daughter. It felt... nice, seeing that she'd been enraptured by plants just like he was. Although at this point, she was more knowledgeable of gardens than he was - his own use of them had rather fallen to the wayside, over the years.
Still, he was proud of her. He was torn from his thoughts again though at Maritza's grunt and, not for the first time, he felt a wave of wonder and sympathy for his wife - because he couldn't imagine sharing space in his body with anyone, least of all an infant. They were fussy enough outside the womb, he didn't imagine they were any better inside. "I would say it is unavoidable, if they grow up with both of us at home." He agreed somberly, reaching to once again smooth his hand over her belly, almost hoping it would help entice the babe to calm down.
"Are you alright? Should we try and head home before they get too worked up?"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 3:56 pm
"Especially now that we're both going soft." He'd always had a soft spot for children, she supposed that came with having such a large family to begin with, but he'd ruined her over the years. Now children didn't run from her with tears in their eyes; instead they came to her with boo boos and bad dreams.
"I think I just need to sit down for a while." Maritza reached down to rub at her calf since she couldn't exactly reach her ankles. She could tell they were swollen; a bi-product of pregnancy that was unavoidable for her. "I thought I was ready for the whole package again, but I think I just want the end result. I still don't understand how woman can 'glow' like this."
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:31 pm
[4/10] Uquin nodded, a fond smile settled on his face. That was true. Perhaps, if it was just the scar and eye, he might scare children too - but he'd made the vain mistake of choosing a pretty stone, and now even children that weren't his progeny came up to ask curious questions. Once she gave an indication of what she needed, Uquin nodded again and moved to help lead her away. Thankfully, seating wasn't hard to come by - Belreans like to install seats just about anywhere, sometimes randomly along the cobbled roads, and in this case they found one that would let them continue to watch over the ship as it prepared for take off.
Uquin couldn't speak for them both, but he didn't want to leave until it was gone - since their son was on board, after all.
Once she was seated, Uquin moved to kneel infront of her, grimacing since it strained his knees somewhat. Even so, he slipped one of her feet from her shoe and rubbed at it, and her ankles, peering up at her with a somewhat secretive expression.
"Well, I understand you're uncomfortable, but that does not mean you aren't glowing." He pointed out softly. Her first pregnancy had reduced Maritza to a skeletal figure, exhausted, tired, and in pain more often than not thanks to how thin she was, and how big her children were inside her. But now ... this babe was smaller, and seemed to share her frame already. Her skin was soft, smooth looking, and pregnancy had made her hair look fluffy and grow faster than normal.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:45 pm
Once Maritza had settled down she felt the pressure coming off her back. Even with what was hopefully a single child there wasn't a lot of room and the bigger her little brat got the more fussy she got. While it was a little embarrassing to be tended to like this in public Maritza found herself grateful for Uquin's attentions. She'd seen expectant father's with less care toward their partners in the city, but even at their worst in the first go around he'd been there. This time around it was so much more pleasant, with a comforting element to it.
"I don't know about that." Minor drawbacks aside this time was so much more. As annoyed as she was about her limitations Maritza found herself talking to the little one in her belly, telling them stories and even going so far as to pick out things in shops as she passed. "Come on then, sit by me." She patted his shoulder a few times. Even if he wouldn't admit it, putting his knees on the hard cobblestones couldn't have been comfortable.
"Have you heard from the girls yet?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 4:55 pm
[5/10]
At least Maritza didn't bite his head off for the cheesy comparison. He huffed a soft laugh though, but perked up when she patted him to get up. Not that he wanted to stop tending to her, but any open invitation to be close was appreciated, after so many years of prickliness between them. He was eager to soak up this warmer, more affectionate Maritza, even if she had been this way now for years.
Ever since they'd made up again, she'd been warmer with him, and it never got old. So he picked himself up, feeling only a bit embarrassed at the sigh of relief he gave when he sat. Even now, he still got strange looks when they revealed they were partners, and while before he'd felt spry enough to laugh off the comparisons, now he felt it more and more in his bones.
To start, he was getting to that age that he felt cold all the time, and just like her first pregnancy Maritza was a literal heater, so he found himself moving in to sit closer to her, draping his arm against the back of the bench, and tipping his head to distractedly kiss her brow.
"Padma hasn't written back. I expect she is still deep in the forest with her...beau." He made a face at that. He still felt that his little girl deserved better than the rough forest man she'd fallen for, but... that was her decision to make.
"... Ujana ah... sent back a thick envelope. I've been a bit too worried to read it yet."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 5:36 pm
Ever since they'd gotten back together Maritza found that she quite liked affection. Not too much of it at once, of course, but little touches here and there were charming. Anytime she noticed little things that Uquin may have done for no other reason than to see her smile made her feel loved in a way she hadn't before. It was just a wholesome kind of thing that she could grow used to.
As they started to age Maritza found that Uquin's skin was softer than it had ever been. It was still firm in areas, but for the whole cuddling up to him as akin to holding a supportive blanket.
"At least you can say you tried to reach her." She leaned over on him, melting into the coolness he provided and pulling one of her legs up casually onto the bench. "Uzumati is...well he's...at least he's protective." Personally she thought Padma would have been better off with a rock, but....
"If I've learned anything I know we can expect a visit from her when we least expect it and some explosive meeting. After that she'll be fine; she was the last time." Maritza had been much worried the first time she'd met Ujana than she was now. She was yelled at, things were thrown but now? Ujana was one of the reasons she felt alright leaving Lioe in Tale. She knew he would be cared for.
"What will you do if you have another daughter?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 6:06 pm
[6/10]
True. Padma, hopefully, wouldn't be too upset with him. But Uquin turned to look at her, making an unimpressed face at her assessment of Uzumati. Ujana had always seemed the sort to settle down with someone feral, not sweet Padma. But here they were.
As for Ujana visiting, he hoped that this news wouldn't inspire so dramatic a visit like the last time. "In some ways, I wish I could see her face. She was horrified, the last time, imagine how she feels now?" He laughed softly, shaking his head.
But... another daughter. He hummed softly, turning his eyes to her, idly stroking some of her short hair from her brow. "Hope she resembles you this time? I think, of the three of them, Lioe resembles you most -" He gestured toward her forehead crystals, "It about broke me, when they were born and... well." And Maritza had nearly died. He remembered holding Lioe tightly, just praying she survived to see how much they looked like her. But now, growing up, both Isaia and Zadia had pieces of his bone structure - sharper faces.
"And you? If we had another boy, do you think he'd be calm like Lioe, or as chaotic as Isaia?"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 6:18 pm
"You know I'm right." Maritza gave him 'the look' before curling her nose. "I can hold a conversation with Ariya, but Uzumati? I'm pretty sure if I tossed meat cubes on the ground I could lead him around like a duruf." Okay, maybe that bit was a stretch and she wouldn't say it around Padma, buuuuuttt....Well, if Tale itself had been 'rustic' for Maritza then he was about as opposite her as she was going to get.
"I would like to think she expects it at this point. We've already proven we can't be trusted." As Maritza turned her attention back to him a sight caught her eye. The airship was starting to leave port and with it their son.
"Another girl would be nice, but I think if it was only her in the house she would be too spoiled. So, maybe a boy then. With your eyes." That was possibly her favorite part about looking at her boys; seeing their father's gaze staring back at her. With Zadia it was a reflection of herself which was terrifying in it's own right and Isaia...well, he was a mixture, wasn't he?
"If we have another boy I would hope he'd be as smart as Lioe, definitely as attentive, but I do enjoy Isaia's spunk." He'd always been a handful, but one she'd whole heartedly embraced. "I'm just...I'd be lying if I said that giving birth again doesn't scare me. After what happened last time it's...daunting to say the least."
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 6:25 pm
[7/10]
Oh no-- Uquin's hand moved to smother a laugh before it could come out, the mental image of Uzumati crawling around too much. It was so mean, but - but... Oh gods!
He sobered up somewhat the more they talked, the smile on his face settling into a comfortable, happy look as he imagined it. Ah... that was a good point. Another girl, alone with them, both in their... more patient years? It was a recipe for disaster. "She would be a terror. With your tongue and wit, we'd be done for." He agreed mournfully.
His eyes though? His eyebrows rose, and he felt wave of fondness that made his chest go warm. "It would even my track record out." He sniffed playfully. "Three girls, three boys. But ah... I'm happy no matter how they turn out. As long as you're both alright." And... on that note.
Uquin agreed. That... had been terrifying, for him, and he wasn't the one who nearly died. "I know." He murmured, squeezing her a bit tighter. "But- you survived those three little monsters. And - that was over a decade ago. Belrean healers know more than they did then."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2021 6:32 pm
Maritza let out a sharp bark of laughter. "We'll be screwed! Can you imagine? My wit, your mind and stubbornness? And imagine, now that we're doing this in Belrea Rivyn's going to be around more often. Let that sink in." Her brother would willingly babysit, but that also came at the risk of a little princess coming out of all this. Bows and ribbons, feather boas and shimmering fabric, tacky things as far as the eye could see...
"It's still...I don't know, I wasn't even aware of it at the time. All I remember was your face." It was all a pain filled blur, but that expression...it was something she didn't ever want to see again. "I think it helps that there's just one in there this time. Or the other one is just really good at hiding."
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