#interaction.maya

[emelinecormier]

— maya lee somewhere in the market, any day.

The spring market always kept Emmy on the tip of her toes, especially since it's the place she ran into Verda one year, after years of not seeing each other, and also the place that eventually led to their impulsive decision to get married the previous year. Part of her couldn't help but wonder what was going to happen this year and the other part of her was happy to distract herself by meeting up with Maya, two iced teas in hand as she made her way toward the woman in the crowd, holding one out once she closed the distance. "One for my second favorite person in the world," Emmy greeted with a smile, handing the iced tea to the other. "It's some kind of special spring flavor. Lavender, maybe? Or rose? Hibiscus?" Her brow furrowed as she tried to remember what flavor was advertised when she purchased them, but gave up after a moment when it didn't immediately come to her. "Anyway, please tell me you've got some juicy gossip with your lover boy to fill me in on."

@mayxlee

[sagefranklin]

The previous time or two they'd managed to bump into each other could have likely gone better, but Sage would like to think that they were both above lingering in the past and instead, recognizing that they both had someone in common that they adored more than anything. Judging by the teasing tone in the other's voice, she got the sense that Maya agreed. "Right," the older blonde nodded in understanding, offering the woman a soft smile, grateful for the slight lightening of the mood. The mention of the elf costume left her smile growing slightly larger. "He never showed you the photo?" Sage questioned, rolling her eyes in a teasing way at the forgetfulness of the man they both shared a friendship with. "I made sure he put it on her to visit Santa in the mall... it's priceless, honestly." She was already halfway to pulling the aforementioned photo up on her phone by the time she finished her sentence, leaning over slightly as she tilted the phone toward the other so she could see it. "I always try to take this time of year as slow as I can," She explained, though she didn't feel the need to mention why she did. "What about you? Have anything keeping you busy this season?"

@mayxlee

"Ying Yue for the people who dislike me," she teased in return, aware that, despite their own dynamics, Maya adored her mini version. She smiled, knowing Atlas had their daughter and amusedly mentioning his failure to update her on the elf costume's fit. "Atlas still didn't text me to let me know if that elf costume fit her," she noted, making a mental note to ask him later. Unsure about their plans for a Christmas photo, she thought of making something fun for Maggie. "It sounds like you're both having fun," she joked, smiling at the blonde. "How are you? Ready for Christmas or ready for all of the madness to be over already?"

@sagefranklin

[emelinecormier]

— maya lee amelie's, downtown.

"Okay, so you have to be one-hundred percent completely honest, okay? Give it to me straight," Emmy insisted as she pushed the plate across the table she'd seated Maya at, inviting the woman to the restaurant during the day so she'd be able to get some honest feedback about a new Creole bread pudding she was thinking about putting on the list. It was an odd undertaking for her, playing around with desserts, but something about being married to a baker made her want to try a little harder at grasping the science of it all. "I know the first try isn't going to be great, so if you say it is, I'll know you're lying."

@mayxlee

[emelinecormier]

— maya lee post-wedding brunch at amelie's, downtown.

She was sure she hadn't stopped smiling for the last twenty-four hours. At least, that's what she was blaming her aching jaw on that morning as she tried to settle at the gathering of wedding guests they'd invited to brunch, knowing that even though it was hosted at Amelie's and she felt like she should be doing something to help out, her staff had absolutely everything under control. Surely if they could handle a Saturday night dinner rush, they could handle a small post-wedding brunch gathering, right? Emmy found herself approaching the woman at the table which held a pile of croissants in varying flavors, sliding her arm around her friend's waist as she pulled her close into a side hug of greeting, resting her temple on Maya's shoulder as she crooned, "I'm glad you made it, even if you're going to be forever disappointed that I'm officially off the market and unavailable for our future wedding."

@mayxlee

[emelinecormier]

— maya lee maya's home, bighorn hills.

She'd told her wife over text that she was planning on working late at the restaurant and crashing at her apartment that night. Most of which was true. She was at the restaurant late that night and she did, for the most part, do some work. However, that work ended up slightly intermingled with a red wine bottle she'd found in the back of a supply room, dusty and forgotten, and when there was usually red wine involved, there were usually questionable decisions to follow soon after. Nothing made Emeline Cormier a sloppy drunk like a dry dark red. Thankfully, there were no voicemails with declarations of love only for her to take back this time, just a late-night Uber and a trip to Bighorn Hills to interrupt what was probably a relaxing night for her friend. With her ride gone, she let her fist wrap against the door in two muffled knocks before leaning against the frame and taking a deep breath, the evening forest creaking around her as she waited for the door to open and, when it did, she burst into an explanation. "I know you weren't expecting me to show up until our little spa night tomorrow and I know I'm a little early, but I may have had a bottle of red wine when I was closing tonight and if I didn't come here, I would have done something stupid and I just... don't think I can handle more stupid decisions right now."

@mayxlee

[emelinecormier]

— maya lee holiday market, downtown.

Emmy recognized the woman she was supposed to be meeting almost instantly, despite never even seeing her face in the crowd that surrounded them at the ever-popular holiday market. A grin pulled on her lips, genuinely happy to have the chance to see her friend and cheerfully, she sidled up to the woman, placing her hands over the other's eyes from behind as she sang, "Guess who!" An amused chuckle fell from her lips, buried beneath the holiday instrumentals playing from not far away and she took a step around Maya as she turned to face her. "Okay, not a difficult guess, but I am really happy to see you and I happen to be in a fantastic holiday mood. Where should we start?"

@mayxlee

[emelinecormier]

— maya lee floral window display browsing. downtown.

"Okay," Emmy started as they walked along the bustling street full of festival goers and vender shoppers and everyone out just enjoying a nice spring day with their dog, "This might be the most lowkey thing I've done in forever." A soft chuckle left her lips teasingly as she motioned her voting paper toward the first window display of a local soap shop they came across. "Not saying it's a bad thing. Lowkey is nice." She paused, glancing at the display again and then down at the paper in her hands. "So, what would you say the most redeeming qualities about this display are? Personally, I think the blue flower bubbles are a nice touch."

@mayxlee

[emelinecormier]

location: friendsgiving dinner, cabin resort. status: closed for @mayxlee​

Emmy sidled up to the woman she felt like she hadn’t seen in forever, but in truth that was mostly because she missed the other’s candor in the few weeks it’d been since they saw one another. “You know, I can’t say this beats having a drink and greasy pizza in the middle of nowhere, but it comes pretty damn close.” The atmosphere was warm and cozy and the reception hall was buzzing with activity and conversation and for something that was pulled together in such little time and was filled with people she might not know, it still kind of felt like home in a way. “Now, are you going to fill me in on what you’ve been up to, or do I have to guess?”

[emelinecormier]

location: skyline shopping center, downtown. status: closed for @mayxlee​

“Why do malls always see so... drab after the holidays are over?” Emmy questioned as the two made their way up the escalator to the second story, in search of nothing and everything all at once. “It’s like, why can’t we have twinkling lights and shiny decorations all year around, in a non-holiday specific way? I think it’d really brighten the place up. Post-holiday malls are just like... a pit of despair that people drag themselves into to return whatever lame gift they got and leave because they’re broke from spending everything during the season.” It became clear, halfway through her rant about the despair found in the loss of a couple strings of lights may not have been related to post-holiday seasonal depression at all and more so about the argument she’d had with Verda just two weeks prior. It was still lingering on her mind, driving her up a wall thinking about how it had gone so wrong when she thought they were doing so well. “Anyway, enough about my seasonal depression, what’s been up with you?”

[emelinecormier]

location: picnic table, fun fair. status: closed for @mayxlee​

Emmy’s fingers delicately picked off a piece of the shared cotton candy, knowing that they would end up sticky no matter how hard she tried to avoid it. Popping it in her mouth, she glanced at the other with a grin. “Can I just tell you how psyched I am that you texted?” She started, continuing as she grabbed another ball of sweet fluff. “Sometimes you just need a night to turn your brain off and listen to other people’s drama instead. Like those two over there.” She nodded in the direction of a couple, seemingly in the throws of a heated argument. “For sure just broke up. I’d kill to be a fly on those balloon darts.”

[emelinecormier]

Her friendship with Maya had grown fast, but she never regretted a second of that. She'd even go as far to argue that the other came into her life at exactly the right time and within that friendship, she somehow found herself a family that she'd never had and never, ever expected. Things came easy with the woman across from her — even the teasing that left her lips upturned in a wide grin and a laugh leaving her mouth as she shook her head at Maya's insistence that she shut up. The woman was cute for thinking she ever would. Teasing her was way more fun. "The rest will come," Emmy nodded her head in agreement. And even if it didn't, that was tomorrow's problem.

@mayxlee

"That's very true," Maya agreed, nodding her head. Life before and after Emmy came into it was like day and night, and truth be told, she liked how things were now much better. It wasn't easy for her to trust people easily, and yet everything had been so easy with Emmy. Sometimes the brunette wondered if this was what people meant about soul siblings. Whether true or not, there was no doubt the woman was special. "Oh, shut up," Maya muttered at her friend's comment, bursting into laughter again. This time her face grew even redder than before. She didn't think Dean paid much attention to her hands, but she kept that thought to herself, wanting to make sure her friend was okay. "It's okay. Maybe tomorrow, or the day after. What matters is that you know you love her, and she loves you. The rest will come."

@emelinecormier

[emelinecormier]

"You would never be able to survive without me. Even without the food, I'm irreplaceable," Emmy teased, lips curving in a bright grin despite the nagging feeling about her married gnawing on her insides. If it did end up failing, at least she was confident she would always have Maya in her corner, the woman in her life being as irreplaceable as she was in the other's. "Good, we wouldn't want to lose one of those pretty fingers." She reached forward, patting Maya's hand with one her own. "I'm sure Dean wouldn't be a huge fan of that." Her brow raised and a laugh fell from her lips as she pulled her hand back before the other could decide the comment made her want to remove one or several of her own fingers. Emmy assumed her wife, if she continued to have a wife in the future, wouldn't be the biggest fan of that either. Her gaze fell to the restaurant around them, the people coming and going near their table, and her shoulders lifted in a shrug. "Maybe eventually. But... probably not today. I'm working on it, I promise. I didn't up and get married twice for no reason."

@mayxlee

She smiled warmly at Emmy, reaching to nudge her gently. "What would I do without you? Besides starve," the brunette half-joked, though meant each and every word. Emmy had become such an important person in her life, in such a short time, and she had no regrets whatsoever. There was something about her that Maya could just trust, feel comfortable around, and most importantly, be herself without the fear of being judged. "Don't you worry, I'm being extra careful, especially with the fingers. I don't want to end up at the hospital. I think that fear keeps me from being clumsy around scissors," she exclaimed, making a face. The very thought was terrifying to her. Giggling again at Emmy's reaction, the brunette rested her head on the palm of her hand, curious eyes just looking at her, trying to read the expression on her face. "Do you want to talk about it?" Maya questioned, not wanting to have her friend feel pressured, but at the same time wishing that Emmy knew she would be there in case she needed someone to talk to. "I think it's normal..." she said softly, shrugging her shoulders. "It's a big change... so it's normal to feel this way."

@emelinecormier

[emelinecormier]

Emmy couldn't help but chuckle and offer the other a quick roll of her eyes. "A little pruning isn't going to change how well you can sew, don't worry. Besides, anything happens, you know I'll make sure you're well-fed for the rest of your life." Though, she made sure to add with a slight wrinkle of her nose. "Just be sure not to cut off a finger, that causes an entirely different set of difficulties and I'm not about to tie your shoes for you for the rest of your life." Cooking for someone, fine. Tying shoes? That was definitely her limit. It was one step closer to just having a kid which drove her toward insanity just thinking about it. Tying shoes for what, eighteen years? She couldn't do it. "Thank you," Emmy pressed her hands together with appreciation at being spared the details of just how in depth their makeout went, though she was impressed the two managed to finally get their act together. Sort of. "What? I'm not avoiding it. I'm just... you know, never in the area." Backpeddling wasn't going to work in this situation, considering she just fully admitted to avoiding the bakery. But it was worth a shot, right? She shrugged. "I'm just more overwhelmed with the whole being married thing than I thought I would be, that's all." She didn't want to ruin the other's excitement in her own budding relationship with the issues in her own. "It's me. I just have to get over myself."

@mayxlee

"Well, you have to remember these hands are important. What if I can't sew anymore? I'll completely starve," Maya pouted, though she couldn't help but smile softly at her friend. As if her mom would let that happen — even Hoonie would make sure she got at least one meal per day. The recent turn of events had put her in deep thought. How Dean had gone from someone she vaguely remembered from high school to someone she actually looked forward to texting in the morning. It was an odd yet positive feeling, and Maya wanted to share everything with Emmy. If not her, then who? Bursting into laughter at her words, she shook her head, her face flushing slightly. "Okay—okay, I will spare you from the terror of all the details," she exclaimed before confusion washed over her face, not sure what the other meant. "What do you mean? Why are you avoiding the bakery?" she questioned before shaking her head again. "No, it's okay. I kinda want to see where it goes. I'm actually excited to get to know him better. Really know him."

@emelinecormier

[emelinecormier]

"Excuse me, Miss Future Famous Fashion Design, but I paid my dishwashing dues a long time ago," Emmy pointed at the other with a grin. Years of doing dishes in grimy water in diners and restaurants that had no business being open, she liked to think she earned the right to never do a single dish again. Of course, she would for the Lees. "A little?" She couldn't help but inquire, noticing the hesitance before the word little which usually meant whatever the other was describing wasn't little at all. It was clear that Maya and Dean were a good match more than they weren't, but she wasn't sure just why they were both hesitant at admitting it. Clearly, fate didn't care one bit about that. "Okay, make-out session says it all, honestly. Say no more. In fact, if you say any more, I might just have to burn my ears off with a frying pan in the kitchen." A chuckle left her lips and her eyes rolled before she continued, "I haven't really talked to him much lately. If I'm being honest, I'm kind of... avoiding the bakery. I already have to face the look of utter disappointment every time I go home now, I don't need to willingly walk into it during the day. But of course I'd tell you... do you want me to snoop? I'll do it. Though, I don't really need to to know that that man is probably smitten with you."

@mayxlee

Emmy's reaction elicited a small laugh from Maya, who enjoyed having her friend join them. Sharing their happiness with the people they cared about was one of the few things they liked to do, and it wasn't a surprise they considered Emmy as one of their own. They all had so much love to give, and Maya never hid the fact that she adored her, even if the competition for attention was strong when her whole family was present. "See, I knew you had ulterior motives. Why do I always get stuck with them?" Maya teased, her face far from serious as she laughed.

Hiding her face with both of her hands, Maya slowly pulled away and dropped her hands on her lap after a few seconds. "We kissed... a little," she replied, making the motion with her hand and avoiding the fact that it was a blatant lie. To her defense, she had no idea what took over her, or what happened, because that was not why she had gone over in the first place. Not that there were any complaints whatsoever. "Listen, it's a miracle I didn't run away or do something dumb. In fact, I'm glad I didn't embarrass myself in the first place. I consider the movie and makeout session a bonus because that was supposed to be a friendly get-together. He wanted to apologize for being awkward, and well, um, you know..." Now she was stumbling over her own words, barely making any sense, her thoughts all over the place. "Nothing happened. Just... making out. He didn't say anything though, did he? Because you'd tell me. Like... if he doesn't want to see me again, you'd tell me, right?"

@mayxlee

[emelinecormier]

One was hard enough to imagine, two was damn near impossible, but five? She knew that the Lees were damn near godsends for raising, not only that many kids, but good kids at that. She'd never met any family more humble and kind than Maya's family. "Your parents are super human, I'm convinced," Emmy chuckled softly. Superhuman or just way better people than she could ever imagine she'd be. She was glad that her friend had a family like that, one filled with love and want and warmth. Hers was too, albeit a small one of just her and Amelie and Ty, when her friend would be around. "Okay, I get it," The brunette admitted with a nod. "Listen, if you change your mind, let me know, and I'll tell him it was entirely my idea. But if not, no loss, right? Except his, because damn, you're a catch." Teasingly, she tossed a wink in the other's direction before a smile, much more earnest, widened on her lips. "Oh good, so the neverending stress of not being able to find a head chef isn't showing?"

@mayxlee

Emmy's remark elicited a soft chuckle from Maya. "True, but two kids do seem like a breeze compared to handling five of them," she quipped. The memory of her parents managing a large household often crossed her mind, and she couldn't help but admire their ability to navigate the chaos. It wasn't as if all five of them were well-behaved angels all the time."I get it, it just caught me off guard, you know? It's not that I don't want to go on a date, but the whole situation is just... weird. I don't want him to think I'm saying yes just because he brought it up. I'm taking things easy, trying not to stress about dating in general. So, let's just... talk about how absolutely stunning you look these days?"

@emelinecormier

[emelinecormier]

"Darn, it would be such a shame to be invited around more often," Emmy teased back, tone making the other's threat seem like more of a bummer than it actually would be. In reality, she loved being at the Lee's and if she could get away with it, she'd be there every second of every day. They exuded the level of family that she always imagined was the perfect family; loving and caring and together. She knew they'd do anything for each other. Being around them made her feel, for just a second, that she was a part of a family too. "Sounds like a win-win for me, honestly, especially if I don't have to be the one doing the dishes." She felt like she put in her time being a dishwasher in high school, the last thing she wanted was to have any part in doing them again.

"It doesn't matter what he said, Ms. Denial." She couldn't help but grin at how flustered Maya was growing, much more than she had when Emmy brought up Dean the first time those many months ago. Oh, how the table turned. It felt better to focus on someone else's relationship rather than her own. "Okay, so you went to his place, you had dinner, you kissed...." Emmy waited for the turn the story took, but sadly it ended with a quick nothing happened and a movie. A total snoozefest. "Number one, of course he's good at desserts, he works for the very best." Her wife, obviously. The Sweet Spot was where she'd met Dean and hadn't stopped bothering him at work since. "Number two, you watched a movie? After kissing? Maya, please tell me you're just keeping the good stuff for yourself. Your mother would be disappointed in you. Where's the strong independent woman she raised who goes for what she wants?"

@mayxlee

"Careful, if you say that around my mom, she'll think her food sucks and start inviting you over more often," Maya teased, a mischievous glint in her eye. "And you know what that means, right? I'll be stuck with the dishes while you two have all the fun." She chuckled, recalling how their mom loved hosting guests, especially her kids' friends. It seemed like there was always someone at their house, especially during family nights. Leaning in closer, Maya's expression softened. "I'll never stop reminding you or telling you how I love you. Because I do, and I love you even more now that you've become my personal guinea pig," she teased, her smile widening.

Emmy's gasp elicited a giggle from the brunette, her cheeks flushing crimson. "I never said he wasn't handsome," Maya responded nonchalantly, though her hands instinctively moved to cover her face for a moment, as if to shield herself from the embarrassment. "What? No -- No, I don't know," Maya stammered, feeling like a teenager again as her mind raced with uncertainty. Were they actually a thing? The fluttering butterflies in her stomach certainly weren't helping matters. "What did he say? He said he wasn't into me?" She blurted out, her nerves causing her to ramble uncontrollably. "Well, um, I went over to his place, and we had dinner... he makes great desserts, you know. Which is embarrassing because it was so good it almost stole the show," she confessed, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement coursing through her. "Uh, well, you know... we kissed. A lot." Maya admitted, her embarrassment evident in her tone. "Shit, this is embarrassing. Um, yeah -- nothing happened after that, we just watched a movie. I don't think that was a date, though." Shit, he probably thinks the worse of me now."

@emelinecormier