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 Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:43 pm
It was a warm sunrise this particular morning. Emiyn found himself walking along the docks with a bag of baked goods in hand and a tray with warm drinks from the local café. It took a couple of dodges, some sharp glances and swear words but eventually the Matori made it all the way to the Misty Maiden. "Finally." He breathed, shaking his head slightly at the mess of workers moving about below on the docks with the typical chaos of a Monday morning. Thankfully the decks of their ship was mostly quiet now that a lot of the newest construction was over. Many of the crew were off enjoying another little vacation before sailing again towards Matori and Yael to do another trading route, the calmer route having been the more popular option since their Kahi adventures. That particular stretch of ocean was more familiar now and while they planned on going back to Kahi every other year or so the changes in the captain and the first mate's lives had changed a few things around for everyone in the recent years. They were still a merchant ship but one that was constantly kept on its toes with the growing families, the crew's downtime increasing as the captain adapted to having toddlers who were slowly adjusting to coming along with their travels instead of staying behind in Belrea.
Still, Emiyn wasn't too upset about it and it was only after a light knocking at the door of his shared rooms with Yokka that Emiyn entered with the food and drinks. "How is everything?" He found himself asking as he sought out his companion, his amber gaze bright as he studied the recent changes to the expanded rooms.
[Emiyn 1]
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:44 pm
Corny by Discord
Less than a month... Yokka could hardly believe that it was almost time. Most onlookers were surprised to hear that she was near the end of her pregnancy considering her miniature baby belly. Despite that, Yokka felt like she could give a whale a run for its money. No position in bed was comfortable, none of her clothes fit, her back ached constantly, and the narrow halls of the ship felt youngling sized.
It was almost as bad as the first time around!
She was just grateful that it was almost over. She would be done being pregnant, and her..... her second son would be in her arms. Plus, she found some comfort on the couch in her room with a mountain of pillows supporting everything. It was perfect for daydreaming about the coming baby. The knock pulled her from her thoughts, a smile rising at the sight. "Hey," she murmured lightly, shifting to sit up more for the drink. The smile turned into a wince, grunting and groaning as she pushed herself upright and readjusted the pillows for comfort. "I would say its been quiet, but your son has done nothing but kick my ribs and headbutt my bladder while you've been gone." She glanced over at the door to their bedroom and smirked. "At least Ronan went down fairly easily for his nap today."
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:44 pm
A chuckle escaped Emiyn's lips. "Fair enough. I suppose that's why I brought you a drink and breakfast as offerings." He teased lightly before handing over everything, careful to make certain nothing spilled as he also scooted a small table over towards the couch. Somehow they had managed to set up a fairly comfortable area on the ship and Emiyn was thankful that the captain didn't mind the addition of even more children to the crew. Ephrym's own troublemakers were handful enough!
His gaze swept towards the bedroom and Emiyn could only nod. "Let's just hope the second baby likes to nap as much as Ronan." He agreed with a smile before grabbing a pastry for himself and slowly sitting on the very edge of the couch. Now that he was perched all of the exhaustion from running back and forth the last few days started to catch up to him and the Matori had to resist the urge to slip backwards into the pillows himself. "If it ever gets to be too much trouble we can always stay with your family or visit my grandparents back in Matori." He mused quietly. Could they even imagine leaving the babies behind with family or separating themselves for a time while the crew continued sailing now that Ephrym's own twins were more settled as toddlers?
[Emiyn 2]
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:44 pm
Corny by Discord
Yokka sighed lightly and placed a hand over her swollen belly. "It smells good. Maybe he'll calm down now that you're back and I can actually eat," she mused, taking a couple breaths before fully sitting up to the table. "I'm hoping so. It was one thing when it was only him, but now.." She shook her head with disbelief. They hadn't exactly planned on having a second so quickly; then again, they hadn't planned Ronan either! It was a good thing they had Ephrym and Chrys' twins to practice with!
She took a long sip of her tea and sighed contently. Mention of their families made her brow rise though. "That might not be a bad idea," she replied softly. "I know my family would be glad to help out. There'd be plenty of hands to take the boys." Especially now that most of the members could see her choice to leave home had been the right one. She could still acutely remember the resistance she had met with after announcing her intentions to not follow the expected paths. "Once Mako comes, that would probably be really nice to have a break, actually." She smiled and rubbed her belly. "Yeah.. I'm happy with the name Mako..."
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:44 pm
"Here's hoping." Emiyn replied softly as he curled his fingers around his own warm drink. "If not we'll have to go back to Fran and I know how much you adore staying in the healing ward." Even though the healer could be the most helpful of souls the strict guidelines she put into place for her....charges could be rather tiresome. Emiyn could only imagine the bitter herbal concoctions the woman would come up with for this type of situation as well. He just hoped the teas he had picked up for this morning would settle well so that they could avoid such a visit today.
"Mako is lovely." Agreed Emiyn with a thoughtful nod. "I won't complain if you would like a break. It could be nice to be settled somewhere for a year or so at least." The Matori smiled at the thought. "The only question I suppose is which area though Belrea may be best. My grandparents would love to meet you and our children at some point but I also understand why Belrea is the better option for now." They would be sailing in a few months towards Matori which wouldn't give them enough time he realized. At that point Yokka should have given birth and their child would only be a couple of months old then. He wasn't certain if that would be the best time to travel...Ronan would be okay but how would a newborn fair upon the ocean for a few weeks? It truly was a lot to contemplate. "I would also need to speak with Ephrym. They may want me to come along since one never knows the will of nature." If another storm came along it could easily disrupt their travels if Emiyn wasn't around. It would mean being away from the family for a couple of months...Emiyn sighed at the very thought. He could always push Ephrym to give him a vacation for a few months to stay with Yokka here but would that be best? His stomach twisted at the thought of anything else happening to the Misty Maiden while both of them were gone.
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:45 pm
Corny by Discord
After tossing Emiyn an unamused scowl, Yokka closed her eyes and took another sip of the tea. "You know I'd walk all the way to my parents house before getting stuck with Fran." She would do just about anything if it kept her from bedrest under Fran's so-called care. Might as well stick her into a prison! The food would probably be better...
After a long moment, she set the tea back down and picked up a pastry to take a small bite. The thought of having extra help with the babies from people who had actually raised multiple children of their own was surprisingly comforting. "A few months would probably be good... I don't know if I could handle being on land any longer than that anymore." Ah, then Emiyn brought up another point. There was a brief hesitation, and then she shook her head. "If he needs you back here, then we'll be here, too. I won't have you missing out on that much time. Ronan will be walking soon, and.." What if something happened while he was gone? She banished the thought from her mind and just nodded firmly. "Nope. We'll be here if you are."
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:45 pm
"Let's just hope it doesn't come down to that since I'd rather avoid a fight." Replied Emiyn with a quiet chuckle. One of the crew had been adamant about avoiding the healer a couple of weeks back and had gotten snagged by a bola. The woman had a terrifyingly good aim....probably a good thing considering the stubborn crew they had.
"We so accustomed to the ocean that it's hard to walk straight on land." Acknowledged Emiyn as he picked up another pastry and thoughtfully chewed on it. His expression narrowed though at Yokka's statement. "Are you certain? Not that I wouldn't love to have you nearby but what if it's too stressful?" He knew better than to push his concern about Yokka too far but at the same time Emiyn couldn't help expressing it. A sigh left the summoner's lips. "Either way we'll figure something out. Thankfully the trip to Matori isn't so brutal. Maybe we can rest there for a few weeks if the ship continues into Yael." The Misty Maiden would pick up supplies and trade materials in the nearby island country before returning towards Matori where they could rejoin the crew. Emiyn nodded thoughtfully. "That would give us some rest until we return to Belrea for another break."
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:45 pm
Corny by Discord
Yokka's brow cocked sharply. "Being on a ship is my life, Emiyn. Stressful is being away from it for a long time.. and away from you." She felt a little heat rise to her cheeks at the admission, though it was obvious to anyone by now that the pair had a bond. A short time apart was fine, but a trip that was likely to take a month as long as everything went well?
A rest in Matori though.. She nodded slowly. "If this little guy arrives before we have to leave, then both my family and yours will get the chance to meet him while he's tiny." She put a hand over her expanding belly gently. It was still crazy to realize there was another life in there. Soon he would be joining them on the outside..
A giggle rose when she felt a push against her hand and she crooked a finger at Emiyn for him to come closer. "Mako's awake," she murmured. She reached out her hand to guide Emyin's to where Mako was poking at her. Hopefully, Emiyn would be able to feel it.
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:45 pm
Emiyn's own cheeks heated at the admission though his lips curved upwards into a happy smile at the sound of it. "I understand the feeling." He replied quietly as he pondered their options. "I think that should be fine. If we cannot catch the ship in time when we're ready to return then we can always take an airship back to Belrea to meet up there." The Misty Maiden was often docked more in Belrea whenever Ephrym was refreshing supplies and trading out whatever they gathered on their previous voyages through Oba and Matori. While they went towards Yael and sometimes Kahi, the ship mostly kept to the simpler path since there was plenty of trade between the desert country and the Belrean continent. Silks and spices were in high demand from overseas and sold quickly within their capital cities. Healing ointments and other products from Belrea traded quickly as well in the foreign countries, especially since Ephrym had established a connection with groups of healers and pharmacists.
"I suppose we'll see with time." Murmured Emiyn as he rested his hand against Yokka's stomach, delight crossing his features at the little kick he felt. "He's feisty, isn't he?" He stated with a wide grin towards his love. "Hopefully a little calmer than Ronan, but we'll see." He teased with a chuckle as he felt another hint of movement. It was so strange to think about the fact that they were bringing more life into this world but Emiyn couldn't be happier. There was no one else in the world that he wanted to raise a family with. He was so thankful that Yokka had found him all of those years ago and brought him into this chapter of their lives. "Hopefully we can see your family before the next voyage and then maybe we'll stay with my grandparents for a couple of months until the children are a bit sturdier on a boat. I can take you to see all of the sights that I loved growing up." He had seen so much of Belrea that it was only fair he showed Yokka a bit more of his world.
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:46 pm
Corny by Discord
The returned sentiment made the heat on Yokka's cheeks burn further, but this time with pleasure rather than bashfulness. Finding love had never been on her to-do list growing up. In fact, she had blatantly disregarded the idea that it would ever happen for her. The rest of her family had that focus, but not little Yokka. All she had ever wanted was the sea.
Yet, here she was with the best of both worlds. She could still remember the frantic letters she had gotten when she had announced her first pregnancy. The family had been excited, but also worried. Of course, there had been nothing to worry about. Care on the ship was top notch, and she wouldn't have had it any other way.
Pleased to notice Mako cooperating, her smile softened and she gave Emiyn's fingers a squeeze. "Hopefully a little calmer.. but they come by feisty honestly," she said with a playful look up at Emiyn.
"As much as I love my family.. I would rather not be there when Mako is born. They were helpful when Ronan came... but also absolutely smothering." She sighed and let her head fall back. "One born in Berlea like me, and one born in Matori like you. That would be nice."
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:46 pm
A soft chuckle left Emiyn's lips. "I suppose they just have a lot of personality from their mother then." He teased as he squeezed Yokka's hands back. "Though I do imagine there is a bit of feistiness from their father's side as well." He had been a bit of a sharp-tongued person when they first met after all. His gaze softened at the memory, his chest tightening with familiar affection as he recalled their adventures that had brought them together. He was thankful that she had been as stubborn as a mule despite his prickly exterior back then. "They'll need that on this ship to survive." He just prayed that they weren't as reckless as others he knew. The captain was already enough of a concern to keep Emiyn on his toes! Not to mention a certain first-mate who enjoyed pushing her limits and worrying him to death!
Emiyn's gaze was warm at the sentimental thought. "One in Belrea and one in Matori, hmm? I think that would be nice. My grandparents would love to spoil them both and you as well." He promised with a small smile, the Matori rubbing his hand lightly over Yokka's stomach once more before moving so that he could pull her closer into an embrace. "It would be nice to watch the sunset along the beach where I grew up. I used to always love telling stories to the younger village children when I was a teen though they always thought me a touch strange." He admitted sheepishly. "I did have quite a knack for spinning tales back when I was growing up and being raised outside of a village kept me apart from others. It's definitely a lot different now since I feel like we've gained a large family that we simply cannot escape from whenever we're sailing for weeks together."
Not that Emiyn minded. He would not trade his life on the Misty Maiden for the world and prayed that his family would feel the same, especially their boys as they grew older. At least he knew that they weren't going to be alone thanks to the captain having his own family that was growing alongside of their own.
[Emiyn 6]
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:46 pm
Corny by Discord
Yokka snorted and shook her head with amusement. The boys had plenty of sources to inherit feistiness from, absolutely. "Our boys will do nothing less than thrive," she assured. There was no doubt in her mind. They would be fighters in their own ways, just like their parents.
Ah, but they would be much more spoiled as well... That would be an interesting combination. She was about to joke, but her breath caught as she was pulled into the embrace. She melted in his arms, feeling warm and safe. Her cheeks gently warmed as Emiyn described how he hoped to spend their time in Matori. "I'm sure they will enjoy listening to your stories." Her smile turned mischievously playful. "Besides.. they'll be a captive audience while they're stuck on the ship~"
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:46 pm
"Let's just hope we can thrive with them." Teased Emiyn with a laugh. He could only hope that Mako would be a bit calmer than young Ronan. The child was still so young, but already the toddler had gotten into as much as possible simply by crawling around their cabin. It definitely did not bode well for their peaceful future if that curiosity and mischievousness kept growing as the boy aged. It was both a good and a bad thing considering all the trouble that could be found when they were sailing around the world. Still, Emiyn trusted the crew who basically served as an extended family to the Matori who had once felt so alone in the world. The very thought made him squeeze Yokka closer, his appreciation for the lovely geian never ceasing.
"You think so? Perhaps though for our sake I should avoid certain stories....I would prefer to not have our boys wanting to dive into the ocean depths after sea monsters." Emiyn joked lightly as he thought about tales of the kraken. "Though I'm sure the crew will be spouting those as soon as the children can understand their words." What sailor didn't talk about things such as mermaids and krakens? The appearance of the Kahi had been enough of a stir within their community because the islands were almost like the mythological creatures that had fish tails and lived solely beneath the ocean waves. Even if the Kahi had villages on their little islands the fact that they could survive underwater and swim like that....well it was astonishing to say the least. Emiyn could only shake his head. "I think even though they'll be stuck on the Misty Maiden there's plenty enough to keep them entertained which is another worry I'll have when the time comes." The ship wasn't the biggest vessel but there definitely was plenty of space on the privateer with its crew of nearly twenty and large cargo holds.
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:47 pm
Corny by Discord
Yokka gave a sigh of a laugh and nodded. It was going to be a challenge, but they would face it together and thus would they thrive. A whole new future was waiting for them to seize and flourish within. "Maybe we'll get lucky and they will at least wait until they are a little older before they try diving around. I'm betting they'll be tearing the ship apart for tools to use in their adventures as soon as they get the notion."
She looked over to the room where Ronan slept and then down to her rounded belly. "They get to grow up with the life I had dreamed of from the moment I first saw the ocean. A family trip to the port for supplies that changed everything for me." She winced slightly at another kick and shook her head. "I hope they grow to love it as we do."
[7]
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Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2023 4:47 pm
Emiyn gave a playful shiver of dread as he held onto his beloved. “I don’t know what’s worse…thinking of the terrible teen years and all that entails or worrying about the destruction of the ship while they’re planning those exploits.” The summoner shook his head, his forehead creasing in a frown. He thought conquering storms was a feat but it seemed that parenthood was on a whole new level of difficulties and challenges! Still though having Yokka by his side made Emiyn feel much more confident about the future, even if their sons did end up trying to cause a lot of trouble along the way.
“Always had a love for the ocean, hmm?” Emiyn replied quietly with a small smile. “I suppose I did as well, but I never expected to live on the water instead of simply next to it.” Not that he could complain though since traveling the world had given him so many blessings. “I’m sure they’ll love the ocean as much as we do. How could they not?” Emiyn glanced towards the one window in their cabin, the shimmering waters stretching out across the horizon. It truly was a breath-taking sight, almost as breath-taking as the Geian woman whose cheek he gently kissed. “I think we may have more trouble trying to pull them away from it.” He joked lightly. “I definitely will have to try to keep the crew from telling stories about those ocean treasures and monsters.” Ronan was already so feisty even as a baby! Who knew what type of child he would grow into, especially when surrounded by such an adventurous lot?
Taking a sip of his own warm drink, the cup nearly forgotten during their conversation, Emiyn gestured towards the array of baked goods that he had placed on the table. “Until then I suppose we should take care of ourselves and get all the energy we need for those days.” He nodded with a soft chuckle. “At least the ocean normally helps me out so I can always wash our children ashore if they ever try anything too reckless in the future.”
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