( open ) quarantine safe house

[competing]

CHARACTERS: anyone! everyone???
DATE: from March 4 onward
WARNINGS: violence... gore... c..annibalism?? maybe
SUMMARY: some people decide they're too dangerous on their own and decide to put themselves in Time Out. other people visit them.



THE AFTER SCHOOL SPECIAL

THE DEAL:
1. post a toplevel
2. comment around
3. profit???
4. please include warnings on your subject headings if things get a little cray cray

Comments

[feytality]

It's about keeping the romance alive!

[Maya is clearly an expert in these matters. She's talked to Keith once and watched lots of television] And navigating the minefield of relationships! And melting his ice cream heart.

Now, c'mon, enough stalling!

[competing]

[ lance just looks at her for a second, clearly perplexed... it's a definite testament to his own greenness in this situation, that it hadn't actually occurred to him to continue wooing someone you're already with. of course he knows about romance! how many times has he witness his dad humming a tune while pulling his mother around in the kitchen, making her laugh? for some reason, it hadn't occurred to him that that was just as much an act of continuing the love, rather than simply expressing it.

huh! ]

Uh... I dunno, it's been a couple of months now, I guess? [ that in itself is actually hard to... pinpoint... ] It started with — actually I'm not really sure when or how it started. I guess, officially, we started dating in Woodhurst. That's when we had our first official date anyway. But I dunno, maybe it started when we kissed during the winter party? Kinda? Or — I dunno, maybe it was even before that... How can you tell??

[ look what you did, maya, you made him think about it. ]

[feytality]

[Lance how does the orphan who barely knew any dudes in her life and has zero experience with romance know more about this than you. All she knows is from TV]

I dunno, shouldn't you know that? Did he have a crush on you first? Did you have a crush on him frst?

[wait a second, is this the same party where he danced with Sonia] Oooh, do you mean the winter ball?

[competing]

[ first of all, that knowledge ain't shit!!

or whatever the pg-13 equivalent of "shit" is. poop, i guess. that knowledge ain't poop. ]

Look, it's complicated, okay? I didn't say any of this made sense. [ frankly, trying to think too much on it is just giving him a headache. ] What's it matter, anyway? We both like each other now...

And yeah, that one. Back in Oska.

[feytality]

[Lance you useless frickboy]

Wow, you got more game than I thought, if you took both Sonia and Captain Grumps out to the ball....

[She hums appraisingly. Maybe she underestimated Lance.]

If you both like each other so much, how come he won't cuddle you? Is he shy?

[competing]

[ lance waves a hand in the air. ]

No no, Sonia was my date. [ NOT THAT LANCE WANTS TO CONTEST HIS SWAG but. he doesn't want to lie, either. not about this. ]

What happened with Keith was just... [ another hand gesture, but this time somewhat... more flappy. ] Did anyone mention the magic mistletoes to you?

But — yeah, I guess so? He's not really a touchy-feely kinda guy in general. [ yet another thing they are opposites in. give lance an inch, and he'll drape all over you if he could. ]

[feytality]

Magic... mistletoes? Did they cast a love spell on you?

[Maya knows nothing, Jon Snow. Please elaborate on Lance's Great Kissing Adventures]

Yeah, but, even the crunchiest of people can have a soft side when they're alone with someone they really care about. Plus, you need cuddles more than ever now, right?

[Speaking of which, she's inching closer in case he wants physical contact]

[competing]

[ lance physically balks, rearing back at her accusations. ]

What? No! [ wait, maybe? he pauses to actually think about it, but the moment is soon shoved aside as he reminds himself — no, no way, whatever this is, it's definitely real. ] No, it wasn't a love spell. It was just a... binding spell, I guess? You literally couldn't leave until you kissed.

[ she is right about the latter part, though. absently, he finds himself mimicking keith's favorite defensive stance, arms folding over his chest. ]

It's complicated, okay? I don't think either of us really know how to give each other what we want or need right now.

[ he's... trying not to take it too personally, honestly. ]

[feytality]

That's kinda the same thing, isn't it? [Toma-toe, to-may-to] Either way, you got your macking on! I see. And that's where it all started, huh? Your latent feelings were triggered!

[Maya tilts her head... it doesn't seem that complicated to her. Admittedly, most of what she knows is from TV]

What do you think he needs? A lot of hugs?

[competing]

It's... really not. [ maya????? WHO ARE YOU GETTING YOUR LOVE ADVICE FROM IF YOU THINK A BINDING SPELL IS THE SAME AS A LOVE SPELL............

but anyway. he can only shrug at her other assumption. he doesn't really know, though he supposes it makes the most sense? ]

I dunno. Time, I guess? Understanding. He'll do things at his own pace, in his own way. I'm probably not the easiest to be with, either, so who knows.

[feytality]

[listen I told you all she knows is from TV]

Maybe he needs cuddling seminars! Just like you triggered his latent feelings with your magic kissing adventure, he needs a magic hugging plant to trigger the cuddlemonster within.

What kinda stuff do you guys do for romance?

[competing]

[ cuddlemonster.... ]

Uh.... I mean I took him out on a date to see the winter lights one night...?

[ he pauses, looking a little flustered. ]

Look we just started dating, okay. And then zombies happened!

[feytality]

That's no excuse! People make out and get together in zombie movies all the time! Work on your mojo, since he clearly doesn't have any! It's up to you to bring the swag to the relationship!

[Considers....]

The winter lights sound pretty neat, though. I bet that was a cute date.

[competing]

Yeah, it was. [ well, there were some bumps along the way, but that's sort of just typical of the two of them. ]

Look, no offense, but considering what's on everyone's plate right now, I think it's alright to focus on everything else for now. [ they'd already had this fight, and lance still feels kind of like a heel for it. neither of them were at their best then. ]

[feytality]

[gosh Lance she's trying to distract you from impending zombie doom]

Fine, but your next mission: top that last date with an even cuter one! And I can help. I'm a master of romance.

Okay, last question and we can move on to games and stuff [because she's definitely going to be there for the rest of the night to keep Lance company, hugging and hand-holding free of charge] You gotta tell me someeeeething dorky and mushy about him. I'll keep a secret, I promise.

[competing]

[ lance has his doubts about that "master of romance" claim, but he does appreciate maya's support and enthusiasm. it definitely feels a lot better knowing he can talk to someone about this, if he ever needed to... ]

Tell you what, [ he says, already moving towards the room where all the board games are kept. ] You beat me at Jenga? And I'll tell you two.

[ it ain't happening, of course. jenga nights are a staple in his family's household. he's got this in the bag. ]

[feytality]

You're on!

[listen, don't underestimate her, maybe she's a Jenga master???]

[She'll do her best to beat him, anyway]