[ so, maya is engaged in conversation with.... a below average person. you can just tell, from looking at him. it's c. hungryman! it's less 'engaged', though, and more that he seems to be just... like... following her around, and you can tell she's getting increasingly uncomfortable. he's making lots of comments like: ]

[ Wow, it's so creepy when you're not smiling and happy.... and If something's wrong, you should just tell me! You can't hide anything from me, you know! ]

[ which she just kind of laughs off, but nervously!!! finally, he steps up his game by offering chocolates, which does get her to relax a little and it seems like it's not going to be weird.... until there's a bit of chocolate smudge left on her fingers and this guy decides the best way to fix this is to just pop her fingers in his mouth. gross!!! she yelps. ]

[ maya, for her part, has no idea how to deal with this -- she tries to get her hand free, she tells him to stop, but he's grabbed onto her wrist and he's not letting go!!! ]

[ hm. ]

[ now she's looking at you with a helpless and pleading look. please intervene!! please!! ]

[ it's hard to resist seeing someone you love again, isn't it? smiling at you, a painful reminder of what you might have lost... you almost feel like you want to reach into the mirror to be with them. it's hard to pay attention to anything else when your most cherished person is right there... in your reach. ]

[ but someone's taking hold of your arm, getting in your face (as much as she can, she's like five foot nothing) and gently trying to guide you away. ]

Hey, let's check out the shops and food before it gets too late. Come on, there are much better places to hang around!

[ it's pretty obvious what she's doing. ]

[ heading into the forest may not be the best idea! but here you are anyway. there are definitely more spiders here than you might have expected. and also, a wolf? yep, that's a black wolf. it's a little runty and scruffy, but it's heading straight for you.... and before you can react, it bunts you in the stomach with its head. it's not really an attack -- it's trying to push you away, and whining at the same time. ]

[ the message her is clear: turn around and go back!!! but you have to wonder why a random wolf is out here trying to teach you this life lesson. unless you're wise to maya's games and know this is her, in which case you have to wonder why she's out here in the first place if she thinks it's so dangerous. ]

[ so, you've shelled out for the sleepy willow, and are comfortably resting on a pillow, maybe catching up on some well-earned sleep in one of the time loops. ]

[ then, all of a sudden, maya appears out of thin air right above you! and crash lands right on top of you. so much for rest or sleep. ]

WAH!

[ instead of getting off, she clings to you. this is very unhelpful. ]

Woah, where am I? Did it work? Did I get eaten again? Noooo, I'm too young to die! Don't eat me, you---

[ then she seems to realize where she is and who you are. ..... and she's still hanging on. ]

Oh, hey, what's up? Did you get dinner yet?

[ why is she this way. ]

[ hit me ]