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 Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 5:36 pm
Seasons came and went. While Uzumati was learning to be less like a wild animal and more like an actual earthling under Padma’s tutelage, the fighter still preferred the peacefulness of the forest to the bustle of the city. He was a lot more peaceful around strangers now and actually could converse whenever it was absolutely necessary. Absolutely being the best word since he did still very much prefer speaking with actions than words. However, living in an actual home that was more than a simple den dug into the base of a tree required supplies and trading with the townspeople nearby was the best option for Uzumati now that he also had a companion to provide for. At least it turned out that he was fairly talented with crafting, perhaps a perk of his connection with his deceased uncle, and over the last few years a small hut had transitioned into a fully stable home in the woods that twisted along a great oak in the center of a forest clearing. There was even a towering room with a large window that allowed in a lot of light and fresh air with alcoves that held shelves of books and parchments gathered over the years, things that Uzumati left alone unless learning for the most part, but he figured Padma may enjoy them. It was a drastic change from the many years he had spent alone before Padma came into his life, but Uzumati wasn’t completely aghast by his current lifestyle especially since it came with someone so beautiful and dear to him.
So important was her existence in his life that the man had recently found himself in a panic when he overheard a pair of leaflings talking amongst themselves in town. The hunter had come in to trade furs for winter supplies, the chill of autumn finally starting to touch the morning air, and it was at the store that he heard the men speaking about the importance of a ring. Man! You know you should get a ring before it’s too late! If you don’t put a ring on it soon they’ll always leave ya. Perhaps it was a tease, but Uzumati was not good at picking up sarcasm nor did he find himself fully invested in the affairs of the townspeople to know the full story. All he knew was that rings were apparently important to keeping someone from leaving and a growing dread came across him. What if he didn’t bring Padma a ring? Was it more than her simply being busy with the gardens that they had built together around the forest clearing? Was she planning on leaving because he had missed out on some important earthling tradition? Needless to say, Uzumati spent the next week hunting and gathering more than usual while also crafting and doing odd jobs in the town for those who needed help. He was good at building and some of the older homes needed repairs before the winter winds came through which greatly benefited his pockets now that he knew the importance of coin. Eventually he came through with a satchel and it was when he spotted a merchant that he found himself looking over a whole display of shining jewels! Was this what made a ring so important? The shiny factor? Uzumati chewed on the inside of his cheek, his frustration growing as he tried to reason which ring made the most sense.
“Need help?” The lady chuckled at the hunter, her amusement obvious as she saw him picking up ring after ring before placing them back on the counter and then starting over once more. “It is a hard decision...do you have anything in mind that could be particular to the lucky person getting this gift?”
Uzumati pursed his lips and let out a huff at the chuckle before the next question made him pause, his hand hovering over a few of the rings. “Flowers.” He finally replied as he moved his hand back and looked towards the merchant with interest.
“Flowers, hmm?” The woman smirked before browsing around her stall. “You’re fortunate that I decided to stop in town for a bit before going back to Oba.” She hummed before coming out with another wooden box and opening the lid. “There’s a few in here that make me think flower…”
His gaze widened as he looked at the display but Uzumati already knew which one to pick. The smile that spread across his lips was bright as he carefully picked the ring that would hopefully keep Padma from leaving. It looked like an actual flower but when he touched the petal he realized it was made of something more solid, more precious than a simple flower petal. The rose gold band twisted like leaves and he saw that some of the shiny gemstones were also along the band. It was perfect! Uzumati wasted no time in trading his hard earned coin for the ring, tucking it neatly into his pocket before darting away from the center of town and making his way back down the path that twisted towards the forest he called home.
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2021 12:07 pm
[1/10] It had been years since Padma started this little life with Uzumati, and sometimes it struck her just how much had changed in that time. She could still remember taking shelter during a rainstorm, half naked in the hollow of a tree with a man who could barely speak. Now...? Now, they lived in a beautiful home they'd built together, with a flourishing garden. Uzumati had branched out from his nearly monosyllabic vocabulary, and while he was still content in the forest, he'd also begun to go back to the village with her. In the years they'd been together, Padma had never dared to put a title on whatever it was they had together. They were friends, of course... but she'd be lying to herself if she said she didn't care for him more than that.
They slept, skin to skin, almost every night, curled together against the chill of the air, warm under the quilts he'd given to her when they first established this little sanctuary together. Padma would make him sit so she could comb out and sometimes braid his long hair, fingertips trailing over scarred, tanned skin, and as time passed she found herself missing the city less and less.
There was still utility in it, of course - but as it was she only found herself leaving their peaceful home to travel to the town for supplies and any letters from her family. Her father had met a woman, and now how even more kids, and- she'd taken some trips to visit them, back in Yera at her father's home.
So... perhaps it shouldn't have been strange when Uzumati, himself, got... busy, all of a sudden. The past few days, he'd risen with the sun and been out of their bed before she was awake enough to do more than murmur after him to have a good day.
It was... frustrating! Because Uzumati wasn't a man with secrets - he was blunt, sometimes painfully so, and for him to be so secretive... She grunted, scrubbing a bit too hard at one particular stain. She'd used magic to heat the water - leaving her skin pink and flushed as she lifted her hands from the water, pushing back a stray lock of wayward hair. Her hair had grown over the years, and at times she missed when it was short and manageable - but Uzumati seemed to enjoy its length, and--
Urgh. Back to the man of the hour. She huffed, pouting as she stood and draped the stained pants up on a line to dry, propping her hands on her hips to look at her work. ... Only a few garments, sewn and repaired and patched. Not as much work as he'd been doing, this past week - fluttering about as he was all over the village. The people there, who still sort of saw him as some feral sprite of the woods on some days, had pulled her aside to ask if he sensed this winter would be difficult and THAT was why he was running about, and she'd had to laugh it off - but now she wondered.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Fri Dec 17, 2021 7:22 pm
[2/10] Uzumati had a bounce in his step as he walked back to the home he shared with Padma in the forest. Along the way the man had gathered some wildflowers, the crystal petals clinking lightly as he walked along the familiar path. It was a bit strange to see a bulky man covered in leathers and furs gathering delicate flowers, but every pluck was gentle as he made certain to get the full plant as he gathered them together into a bouquet. It wasn't anything particularly fancy but he had seen some couples gifting each other flowers in the village and he couldn't help but to think of Padma whenever he saw the beautiful petals. She had after all always been known as a flower to the wildman before he had learned her name and started talking more.
Now Padma had evolved from some random flower that had passed through his life into something, someone far more precious. Just the thought made the man's cheeks flush as he finally emerged into the small clearing where their home was built. The treehouse caught his attention first but his gaze slowly swept over the small gardens and storage areas that they had built over the years together. Was she inside or....? Uzumati tilted his head thoughtfully, his nostrils twitching slightly as he tried to get a sense of the area. There wasn't any cooking smoke coming from the house nor did he see her by the doorway....was that soap faintly on the breeze? Ah!
Uzumati's gaze lit up as he briskly walked forward, his steps only slowly when he finally spotted Padma and noticed her pouting expression. Oh. The man blinked as he glanced between the drying garments and his companion. "Hmm?" He made the humming noise in his throat as he pointedly looked around, the bouquet lowering towards his side as he surveyed the scene. Was the laundry causing her distress? Should he offer to help out?
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Posted: Tue Jan 04, 2022 7:00 pm
[2/10] Padma was tumbling through her thoughts, tied down with a guilty conscience when a soft hum made her jolt back to herself. It was... probably not good to have spaced out as she had, especially along the base of their home - while they'd established quite the homestead here, there were still beasts in these lands - a face that she remembered keenly every time she saw his scars. Her face heated up as she saw him, embarrassed to be caught so unawares, but the tension that lined her eased out and, without thinking, she strode forward and gave him a fond, playful smack on one muscled arm.
"You scared me! You're too stealthy." She accused with a smile, the previous pout disappearing like clouds from a sunny sky when she saw him. "My heads been floating away all day and... well... The chores I thought I'd finish by now are..." She turned her gaze up towards their house, huffing. "Very much not done. I'm sorry."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 10:45 am
Uzumati's gaze widened at the accusation, his expression shifting into almost a pout like some chastised pup. It was a silent way to say sorry, an expression that Uzumati had mastered while trying to do his best to keep Padma happy despite all of the little rough patches over the years. It had taken a lot of guidance to realize how to act more proper for an earthling and not just continue his antics as a wildman after all. Still, as he realized she was smiling Uzumati relaxed a bit more as he listened to Padma. That was it? So it wasn't his fault then?
Relief made Uzumati smile. As long as he hadn't done anything why worry about some chores? Uzumati simply shook his head as if to brush off Padma's worries and offered her the bouquet of wildflowers before moving so that he could check on the laundry, silently moving to hang up anything that was remaining in the pile. Despite knowing more of the common tongue Uzumati still was one of few words as he much preferred to simply act. There was a nervous energy in his movements though as he moved here and there double checking things that were already hung while also continuing to pat at his satchel at random, the weight of the ring burning a hole in his conscious. How did one actually go about this? Every time he walked past some laundry he would take a peek at Padma before darting backwards again, his cheeks threatening to give him away with their flushing.
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Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2022 4:15 pm
(3/10) Oh, not that face! Padma quickly smiled, and that sweet little expression brightened again. Uzumati was so expressive, now that she knew what his tells were, and as he moved closer she reached to rest a hand on his arm, as extra reassurance.
He shook himself, and produced...a bouquet! She gasped, delighted as she accepted it, lifting it to her face in an unexpected rush of shy delight, holding them closer to her chest. "They're beautiful, Uzum-- ah! You don't have to--"
But already he was helping out, and Padma relaxed again, her expression fond. He'd been working all day, and it felt... wrong, somehow, for him to have to help with this too. But he's somewhat sedated her by putting her in the position of not being able to stop him, not until she'd figured out where to put her flowers. "You silly man." Padma murmured, trailing towards their garden. There were, sometimes, ceramic pots here for new plantings and... ah! Perfect.
She selected one, thankfully already filled with soil, sliding the stems of the bouquet in until they stood on their own strength. Only then did she turn back to Uzumati, catching him just as he was looking quickly away from her.
He was acting... oddly, but she couldn't quite put her finger on why. "You know - you've been so busy lately, I had someone ask if you were expecting a hard winter this year." She joked, smiling brightly as she stole the last bit of laundry from the basket with a victorious grin, moving to pin it up, finally finishing her work.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2022 8:22 pm
Uzumati normally would have lingered to enjoy Padma's reactions to the flowers but the man's heart was already jumping in his chest every time she got closer to him. Who knew that a piece of jewelry could cause such a burning sensation in his pocket and on his conscious? It had already been rough to do so much work in town without expressing exactly why he was doing what he was doing. Even though Uzumati still found himself struggling with certain expressions the man had always been honest with Padma and hiding something from her, even hopefully a good surprise, was truly a challenge.
He peeked around some laundry and watched as Padma trailed towards the garden, hope rising in his chest that he would have some time to prepare himself. Unfortunately for Uzumati it was not that long before Padma found a vase and turned back to him, the man's cheeks darkening once more as she spoke. Oh, no no no. He couldn't look her directly in the eyes else he'd break! Or had he already broken? Uzumati gave a grunt before moving as if to straighten one of the sheets. He stretched the material in his hands while biting at the inside of his cheek. The merchant had talked about planning a special event and here he was helping with laundry while nearly dying under the pressure! Earthling customs could truly be frustrating! It was so much easier before when he could just openly show his affections instead of trying to do these strange surprises.
He was quiet for a moment longer before finally peering back towards Padma. "Hungry?" Uzumati managed quietly, his emerald gaze studying Padma almost warily as he waited for her response. At least he had cleaned up after working in town this morning. There was a small spring on the way back home so that man had quickly stopped there while brushing out his hair, tying it back into a ponytail and straightening the tunic he had taken to wearing while adapting to more earthling attire instead of simple furs. So at least physically he felt prepared for an event though he was still scrambling to think of the perfect spot for the moment.
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Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2022 5:34 pm
(4/10) Perhaps at the beginning, Padma would have felt at a loss when Uzumati merely grunted in response to her statement. But now, years after settling down together, it was normal. She knew he was listening, and if he had something he wanted to contribute he would do so - either by looking at her with that beautiful expressive face, or actually saying something. She presumed that if it was truly going to be a hard winter, he would hasten to give his reasoning - explaining the omens he saw in the world around them. He'd always been so good at explaining, at teaching.
His silence instead said that wasn't the case, and once more Padma had to puzzle out just what it was that made him work so hard. She'd been distracted by the flowers, before - but now as she returned she realized that he was... fidgety. Uzumati couldn't quite meet her eyes, and seemed almost... squirmy.
... Not that it was the first time he'd been uncomfortable, but it had been a while yet. When they first began to live together he'd jumped at the chance to help her with almost anything, seeming both pleased and distantly confused by her continued presence in his territory.
He seemed, once again, like a skittish creature eyeing her as she approached, ready to bolt - and not knowing why made her brain eager to find the answer why.
"... Not as hungry as you must be!" She agreed, at length, slipping her hand into the crook of his elbow, just - touching as she led him back to their home. "I'll get the fire started, and heat up the meats you brought yesterday. I haven't prepared the veggies yet, but I do have some paratha bread we could eat with it--" She continued to yammer on, suggesting different things they could eat as they climbed up into their home - even if she had to give up her grip on his arm to climb ahead of him.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2022 7:22 pm
And just like that he was caught. Uzumati nearly flinched at the contact before allowing Padma to lead them back to their home. It wasn't as if he didn't enjoy being touched by his companion, but rather he was just on edge with so much going on in his mind. It was almost overwhelming until the familiar sound of Padma's voice had the man's heart slowing down, his mind focusing on every clear syllable coming from her lips instead of the tangled thoughts in his own mind. "Mmm." He nodded his agreement to everything she suggested before climbing up after her into the upper level of their home.
Though Uzumati would normally toss his satchel to the side the man kept it tucked closely against his body today. He glanced back and forth at their home, the single room from so long ago greatly expanded into something much bigger with multiple rooms now, but Uzumati still seemed at a loss before a thought struck him. Ah. Uzumati smiled before looking for Padma again. Had she already started with the food? If so that was fine. If anything it would work! Uzumati nodded before finally calling out. "What about...picnic?" Would she like the idea of eating outside today? He finally had a spot in mind and usually a nice meal would always be a good lead into anything, right?
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Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 2:25 pm
(5/10) At first it was easy to dismiss Uzumati's strange reactions, but now the evidence was mounting and Padma felt a frown tug her lips down. He was holding his bag to him in a way she could only describe as protective, and it reminded her terribly of when one of the younglings she used to watch broke something and didn't want her to see it. Any other day, she'd worry that he'd somehow been injured and didn't want her to know.
Uzumati had always been nothing but giving - being defensive over things was... new, and she found that she didn't like it. It made her feel like she'd done something wrong, something to make him worry about her, and- and it wasn't a good feeling.
But he couldn't be too upset with her if he wanted a picnic, right? Her expression, conflicted and growing more and more worried, cleared and brightened at the suggestion, and she clapped her hands in delighted agreement. "Oh! Yes, that'd be... yes! I'll go get everything ready!"
Bustling about, packing a basket, kept her busy, and blissfully out of her own thoughts. When she was finished packing the preserved meats (sliced into bite sized pieces, with the stiff bread carefully slotted in besides it, along with a small sealed pot of sauce), she draped the bag over her shoulder and turned to face him. "Ready?"
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 3:51 pm
A sigh of relief left Uzumati's lips and he found himself simply watching Padma as she moved about to prepare the food for their picnic. That was one less thing for him to worry about because noticing her expression had nearly gotten him to just toss his bag at her, revealing everything that he had worked so hard towards the last couple of weeks. Now though he felt like some semblance of a plan was coming together, almost like when he had plotted out a good hunting trip or something. Not that he was hunting Padma! It wasn't like that! Though he had heard others joke about how the ring was a trap, but that was just a joke right? He had obviously tested the theory by removing the piece of jewelry from his small finger a few times...just in case...but it seemed safe enough.
"Mmmhmm." Uzumati nodded before gesturing for Padma to follow him, the satchel still kept tucked against his side as he slipped outside and climbed back down towards the ground. He already had the perfect spot in mind, a little cliffside area that was towards the northern edge of the forest that overlooked a lake. It was a nice area and he hoped the view was just as beautiful as he remembered it. During the afternoon it looked almost like a mirror, especially on a windless day, and the reflection of the sky would be lovely.
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Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 4:19 pm
(6/10) Having lived for years, now, in this place with him, Padma had grown more familiar with the different locations. That being said, her first introduction to the area had been so violent that even now she didn't usually go far from the base of their home without Uzumati at her side. That being said, after a few minutes of walking she was largely out of her depth, and found herself moving closer to him out of habit, her hand blindly searching for his until she found it and held on to it.
When they finally reached the cliff side, she thought maybe they'd gone the wrong way... until he lured her close enough to the edge to see the lake. She froze, mouth falling open as she took in the vision before her, so beautiful that she might have forgotten herself and stepped towards it (and off the cliff!) if he wasn't holding on to her hand so firmly.
"Oh... oh wow... do you see this?"
Padma wanted, so badly, to burn that image into her memory, and already knew that she'd have to beg him to come up here again more often. As it was, she shook herself and pulled away to set down the basket, lowering herself down to sit, facing the beautiful spectacle, eyes glittering. "I love this. I love that ... you still have so many beautiful things to show me here, Uzu."
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 4:46 pm
A small smile crossed Uzumati's lips at Padma's reaction to the view. So maybe things weren't so complicated after all. The man's cheeks flushed at the compliment but he could only shake his head, his attention solely on her. She was the most beautiful thing that he always saw and it was hard to focus on anything else. Uzumati opened his mouth and closed it again as he felt at a loss for words. Instead all he could do was settle down next to Padma, his legs shifting so that he could be next to her while she watched the view. It was best to come during the day like this so that they could see the sky in the waters and Uzumati was thankful that the spirits had given them such good weather today.
His hand slowly reached out to touch her arm, a gentle tap asking for her attention. "I can....always find new things to show." Uzumati managed with a small smile. If Padma was delighted by this view then he would make certain to find more things like this! But first he had something that he wanted to give her and the very thought had him glancing back towards the satchel. Just the sight of it made him swallow nervously before he looked back to Padma. If she was so happy now then would she really want to leave? Was she going to stay after all? Either way the ring was necessary, right? Not that he didn't want to give it to her! Uzumati was just afraid of the answer....what if she rejected it?
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Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 5:27 pm
(7/10) This was perfect. Padma, Uzumati... both sitting close enough she could feel the warmth radiating off of his skin. The beauty of nature around them... the land that he felt so close to, the forest that should have terrorized him and, instead, had become his sanctuary. He'd been through so much in his life, and yet he found such beauty in it. Padma loved that about him. She loved him - and couldn't possibly find the words to express it. It was at times like this that she almost was grateful for how quiet he was, as she... assumed... that he understood.
That he knew how strongly she felt about him, and about the life they'd built together. Her expression went soft from the previous tension, gaze happy and settled - when he tapped at her arm. She hummed softly and looked to him, then laughed and smiled at his promise.
She didn't yet see just how much was wrapped in that simple promise.
But she did realize that there was something left unsaid, and she raised her eyebrows at him invitingly, turning to face him fully, instead of the view. The sun was illuminating his cheek, turning his hair glittering and golden on the one side, and without thinking she reached out to touch it, brushing it behind one long ear.
"You're thinking awfully hard about something." She pointed out, leaving a beat there for him to talk.
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scarlett arbuckle Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 26, 2022 7:05 pm
Uzumati almost felt ashamed that he had allowed the whispers of others in the village to mess with his confidence. While there were still a lot of things that the man didn't completely understand about earthling traditions there was one thing he knew he could trust - his heart. The way it just filled up with love when Padma looked at him like that made Uzumati's whole world pause in that moment. How had he ever worried that she would leave him? He had never doubted his attraction to his 'flower' before but it seemed like there was just something truly special about this moment. Taking the touch as an invitation, Uzumati leaned forward and pressed his cheek against Padma's hand before placing a kiss against her lips.
He wasn't the best at words, but actions were definitely something he could work with. Uzumati wanted to pour all of his emotions, his thankfulness and his love into the kiss, and finally he broke away to nod slowly. It was a late reaction to her statement, but it was true that he had been thinking about something awfully hard. Now he was no longer concerned. Uzumati reached down to tug open the satchel and pulled out the small wooden box. His gaze was bright as he held it out for Padma to open, eager to see how she would react to the small ring nestled inside.
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