My motivation has been super low lately, but for those few of you who are here for lamia drama/caring coils, here’s some cute canon:
Sometimes pygmies get too zoomy to pick up, wanting you to chase them or just not wanting to leave, so it’s a common sight for Nikolai or other coworkers to trail a cat toy around them and wait until they’ve caught it before using that to pick them up.
Nikolai was, in fact, once a baby. I had a craving for fluff and for getting another Maia scene in, so enjoy some little lamia.
As always, the species of lamia here belong to @vex-bittys
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Maia, age 44, had been working Caring Coils for the last twenty years – give or take a few – and one of the many things she had learned was that Kings made the angriest babies. Oh sure, young Mamba had legendary tantrums, but they still lavished in attention and could be easily placated with some praise and treats. Corals could be hissy if you handled them wrong – they were shy and got easily overstimulated, but they just took a gentler touch. But Kings? Baby Kings were nigh-unrelentingly full of indignant rage about absolutely everything.
Honestly? It was adorable and hilarious. Especially when they were too young to open their hood without falling over, little arms flailing as they let out shrill squeaks as this new little one had just done.
Maia was in the far back: the lamia nurseries. She was in one of many private rooms for the full sized lamia, walls a soft yellow color with splatters of paint made by many tiny, bony hands. Soft toys, pillows, and blankets were bunched up in a nest in the corner with two little Honey Bo napping and a newborn King falling over himself to try to threaten her and glaring at his parents who were by her side.
The King, Mikhael, was holding their mother, Parfait the Honey Bo, in his arms. Parfait was visibly exhausted, slumped against his mate and watching the newly-cleaned little ones with fondness in his eyes. Even he couldn’t resist giggling at the little ball of hisses, “Goodness. You’re so mad.”
Mikhael chuckled, “Just born and already fierce. You did well.” He kissed the top of Parfait’s head, letting his mate bury their face in his shoulder.
“Congratulations, you two!” Maia said, patting the new parents on the back before turning to the nest. “C’mon squirts, let’s give you all a look over.”
Thick leather gloves stretched up to her armpits, and guards were fastened around her shins to protect from the inevitable onslaught of baby fangs. While Caring Coils had plenty of anti-venom, it was generally better to just not get bitten in the first place. The handling gloves were cumbersome, as always, but immediately became useful as she went to pick up the little King and he furiously attacked her hand, scratching and biting, venom dripping off the gloves onto the floor.
“You’ve got a fighter! Good instincts, very lively, and seems to be moving alright. That’s a good sign.” she said, looking over at them as the baby shrieked in her grip. “C’mon, settle down kiddo. Just gonna get some measurements.”
The newborn King was having absolutely none of it. The only thing that could interrupt his squeaky shrieks were his hisses and bites; at least they knew he could definitely speak, no problems with that. Maia cooed and tickled his cheek, ignoring the vicious bites on her thumb.
“C’mon little wiggleworm. Let’s get you on the scale.”
She’d brought in a portable scale for the exam. It was nothing fancy, quite similar to what you’d use to weight fruit really, but not the hanging type. Maia tried to lower him down onto it, but he took one look at the shiny metal and started clinging stubbornly to her left arm and glaring at her. Maia rolled her eyes, trying to pry him off with her free hand. “C’mon you. It’s not gonna hurt any.” Babies could be stubborn about the strangest things.
The little one only curled tighter, hissing.
Mikhael chuckled, “Need some help?”
“Yes please,” Maia said.
Mikhael went over and detached his baby’s upper body while Maia unwound the chubby little tail. The newborn king looked absolutely betrayed and gave his dad a bite. Mikhael rolled his eyes, “Oh hush you. We’re just getting your weight.”
They sat the kid down. Thankfully the tyke seemed disgruntled enough to stay still for a few seconds, long enough for Maia to note the weight.
“Hold him for a second, will ya honey?” Maia said. “Gotta measure him.” She got out the tape measure, laughing at the withering stare from the kid as he was held straight. Maia marked down the kid’s height and gave him a quick look over for any signs of illness, but he was perfectly healthy and a bit on the big side – she gave a sympathetic glance to poor Parfait who had to pass the kid.
Once she was done, she put him back with his brothers. He immediately went to sit on top of them, laying down with his hood flared. Presumably he’d be glaring if his eyes were visible over the hood. For a few seconds the room was quiet, until Maia picked up one of the Honey Bo for their exam – the King screamed and tried to cling to his brother.
“Just born and already trying to protect them, eh?” Parfait said. He picked up the little King, purrs rumbling in his chest as he stroked his baby’s back. “Y’know, I wasn’t sure at first, but think you’re right Mikey. I think we’ll call you Nikolai. Good to meet ya.”
Nikolai squirmed, wanting to watch his brothers and refusing to sleep until all five lamia were curled up together in the nest, getting a well-earned rest.
