Going into town again is not a very pleasant experience for Blessi. Don't get her wrong, everyone there is very nice and all. The only thing bothering her is how busy and packed it is. The noise coming from all directions is overwhelming and very disorienting. Especially on Sundays and Mondays.

Normally she would have done her business here on Thursdays or Saturdays but she was all out of paper. She needs to get paper now or else she'll lose that tiny bit of inspiration that just struck her after a full week of writer's block.

Anyways, on to the main problem. The store she usually gets paper from has ran out of it.

That means she has to go to the next town over to get her supplies.

Perhaps she should just go home and return another day. Forget about writing, venturing to another town is scary. Actually, new people are scary. Maybe she should just scrap her plans of travelling all together. She won't be able to make much progress because they'd have to stop at lots of different places. Places that have people.

Right now however, she's glumly walking towards the gates and to her home.

Blessi passed the carpenter's house when she heard the man call out to her. Turning around she sees him loading some things up in his waggon.

"Right over here mi amigo. I need to call in a favour." Victor, the carpenter she's close to, said to her.

"Well what do you need help with." She asked bluntly.

Victor sheepishly scratched his neck and explained. "Why so moody? But I was staying up all night to work and I accidentally injured myself. I need help delivering these furniture into the next town."

Great, the one thing she wanted to avoid. Wait— what?

"You're injured?"

"Yeah, don't worry though! It will heal in a bit."

"Okay.." Doubt was clear in her voice making Victor cringe.

But Victor was a good person who's helped her many times so she won't pry. And even though she finds going into another town unappealing she couldn't disappoint him by refusing. And she could also just get her paper while she's at it.

"Fine." She decided, already having second thoughts.

"Great! I'll just go get Toni." He exclaimed as he went to fetch his horse.

After he came back, told her the route, and gave her the reins she went off. It was a surprisingly short ride there. It was also less busy than the town she lived next to, thankfully.

What she was not thankful for was her ability to mess things up just when she starts to relax. To her ire and panic she immediately knocked the sign at the entrance by accident which caught the attention of the people.

Not knowing what to do she froze up and her eyes flitted everywhere.

Her heart had dropped to her gut. God she wants to go home– is it too late to turn back?

Just when she thought she was gonna get chased around with pitchforks because of her anxiety fueled imagination, they went back to their business. She's an idiot who forgot people had their own lives and didn't have time for some random stranger knocking off a weathered sign that was bound to fall on its own. All of this happened in the span of five seconds.

Embarrassed, she distracts herself by reading all the addresses for her delivery.

Nudging the horse, she goes to her first destination to drop off a table.

When they arrived at the house she hopped off and went to the back of the waggon. There she lifted off a finely crafted table and slowly walked backwards off of the vehicle. She huffed as she put it down and steadied herself. It's been a while since she's exercised. She internally weeped at the thought of her now faded abs.

Then she walked to the door of the house and knocked. Immediately there was a clunking sound and 'oww's' resounding through the house as who she presumes to be the owner rushes to the door. Said door almost swings into her face. She stumbles back and the occupant of the house almost falls on her.

"Sorry! I'm sorry! I don't know what's up with me today." He exclaimed while bowing down and fumbling with the hem of his ruana.

Blessi was still very overwhelmed and had a bit of difficulty processing his words. "No- um, you're forgiven— ar–are you Felipe Castro?"

The man's eyes were still wide and he looked very uncomfortable. "Ye-yes, Felipe's me— my name's Felipe, I'm Felipe. Haha what brings you to the door- my house." He stutters out while trying to lean on the doorway but ultimately slips off and stumbles.

Confidence fills Blessi at the fact that the poor guy was even more of a mess than her (though it did make her feel guilty). "You ordered a table from Victor Lopez right?"

"Si." The man fidgets.

"Well it has arrived, where would you like it placed?"

"Ah, next to the um- kitchen counter." He said as he moved to help her bring the table in. It wasn't really needed because the table was small and didn't weigh too heavily.

With a little coordination they both placed the table on the spot the man liked the most. He lit up a bit before his face came crashing down.

"Oh- I uh- I forgot to order the– um, the chairs."

Her face showed disbelief. Who would forget the chairs when ordering a table? Apparently this guy did. "I'll just note it down for you if you want."

The man turned to look at her in surprise. "Really?"

"Mhmm, it's no problem."

"Sorry to inconvenience you.."

"Oh no, it's alright. It is my job after all, at least for today anyways. I don't usually work for Victor, I'm just doing him a favour since he's out of commission today."

In truth she didn't actually need to work much. The money she receives for her works were surprising and made her eyes go wide. Writers and editors really did make quite a sum in the 1800s. So she was considered very well paid in this time period's standard. She was just.. Very paranoid. And she wants the best for her son. Most of the money gets hidden away in random nooks and crannies, or saved in a piggy bank just for her son's future. Speaking of which, how much did school tuition cost?

Breaking out of her thoughts she shook her head. Just in time to hear the man's response.

"Gracias Señor- um.."

"Amortala, Blessi Amortala."

"Amortala. Gracias."

There was an awkward silence as neither of them knew how to continue on.

"Then I'll— be going on with my deliveries." Blessi said.

"Ah- o-okay."

Finally out of the man's house, she sat on the waggon and coached the horse into the next house. She didn't speak as much as she did with the previous customer, having had her social battery drained. Blessi only opened her mouth to answer yes or no to questions then went on her way.

Exhausted, she rode back to Victor's place to tell him she had completed her work.

Victor's wife handed her a couple of Obleas as thanks, knowing her and Pedro's sweet tooth.

All in all it wasn't as bad of a day as she had expected. Walking up the hill to her house she suddenly remembered about the paper she didn't get. Her eye twitched and she muffled her frustrated scream in her hands. Whatever. She was done for the day; she'll just get it tomorrow.

The morning after was considerably more peaceful than the day before.

She went on with her usual routine: Showering, cooking, waking her Pedrito, bathing him, eating breakfast, etc.

Despite the morning going well her head started to hurt a little.

The store she usually gets paper from will only restock in two days. She's not in the mood to go into town today. So instead she'll do some activities with Pedro. Standing up, she makes her way over to the playroom where her Pedrito was.

"Corazoncito, we're going to the creek today!" She exclaimed.

Pedro perked up from the bean bag. He bounced up and with the pitter patter of his feet, he glomoed her leg. "Really!??"

She laughed and tickled him. "Yeah!"

He shrieked while squirming in her hold. Blessi took mercy on him and let him go to catch his breath.

"Are we going to find pretty rocks?" Her little star asked her as they both got ready to go outside.

"Maybe." She said in a playfully mysterious tone. "But bring a bucket with you just in case, because you're going on an adventure with the GREAT Cassiopeiaaaa!" She theatrically narrated while putting on a mask and making a high ponytail, effectively going into her 'explorer persona'. She always does this to amuse her little star.

The tiny child gasped in amazement and cheered. "Cassiopeia! Yay!!"

"Alright little explorer! Have you gotten your tools and coat yet? We're off on a journey to find treasures unknown~.." She made her voice higher and more feminine while adding a little rasp.

Pedro's eyes widened and he ran to get his coat and explorer kit.

It made Blessi chuckle as she went to get her own items.

After they both had gathered their things, Blessi carried Pedro on her shoulders and he giggled at the feeling of being tall.

"My trusty little partner, where to now?." Once again entering her persona, she asked her little star.

"To the creek Cassiopeia!"

"But which way is the creek oh great Pedrito?"

"Down to the right!" He laughed.

They bantered all the way to the creek while occasionally stopping for pretty items they found along the way. She also made multiple 'mistakes' of making wrong turns while Pedro huffily corrected her. Finally arriving at the creek, Blessi puts her Corazoncito down and he skips to the water.

"Careful now sweetheart." She said, breaking character for a moment.

"Okay Mama." Pedro absentmindedly replied.

The bucket he was carrying clanged as he put it down on the rocks.

Blessi followed him and brought out her chisel and mallet.

"Look Ma! I found the perfect rock!" He shouted

And indeed he did, he was trying to carry a large pegmatite over to her. Blessi was pleasantly surprised to see a lot of topaz on the underside of the rock.

"Good job partner!" She praised him, back in her explorer persona.

The day went on with them happily collecting smooth and weirdly shaped rocks with the occasional crystal going in the pile. They stopped for a lunch break in between hunting.

In the end Pedro was worn out and Blessi had to carry him back up to their home.

Opening the door, Blessi put the bucket at the side and took off their boots to change into slippers. She also took off their coats and walked to the stove to heat some water up for her little star.

She made him eat dinner with her and he weakly protested.

Then she carried him to the bathroom and filled the bathtub with water. She gently shook Pedro awake and put him on a stool while he was rubbing his eyes free of sleep. She fetched the boiled water in the kettle and poured it into the bathtub, periodically checking the temperature by dipping her hand in the water.

When it was warm enough she helped her Pedrito take his clothes off and enter the bath.

Grabbing the shampoo she collected from a plant, she gently rubbed it into the sleepy toddler's hair until it bubbled up.

Then she grabbed one of the softer loofahs and scrubbed him with soap.

After that she drained the bathtub and poured water on him to rinse off all the soap. She was careful to avoid filling his ears with water or pouring it over his nose. Grabbing the hanging towel, she bundled him up and carried him near the closet and put him in a change of clothes.

Pedro made a disgruntled sleepy noise.

"Sorry love, but you can't sleep yet. Your hair is not dry and you'll get a headache." She whispered while laying his head on her towel covered lap.

He whined a bit as she rubbed his hair with the fluffy towel until it dried, it took a long time to accomplish with how thick his hair was. Then she cleaned his ears which incited a giggle out of him.

And then he was finally allowed to sleep, he passed out within seconds of Blessi gently putting him down the mattress, head against the pillow.

Blessi took her own bath and then joined her son in his sleep.

She still hadn't gotten her paper, but she enjoyed her day. She'll just pick some up tomorrow (again.)

A/N:

Blessi presents themself as male to the townspeople.