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[waitingforhope]

I. - Brief/Son household

[With a current outdoor temperature of 106 degrees, it was no wonder Mai was spending the better part of her early afternoon in her room.  On the cool(er) floor, a small fan sitting on a nearby table blowing directly on her.  Dressed in shorts, a light tank top, and with her hair uncharacteristically pulled up in a loose bun atop her head, she sat cross-legged with a small pile of books around her.]

[All of them about mechanics and engineering.]

[Every so often, she would cross-reference something with another book before jotting down a few notes in a small notebook.  There were some rough sketches of two-wheeled vehicles highlighted in the page corners, but beyond that, it appeared to be mostly mathematical equations and part references.]

[Her door was open, simply because it was better to allow air to circulate, should anybody be walking by and catch a glimpse of her in that state.]

II. - Out & About

[She waited until much later in the day, when temperatures lowered to a more tolerable 101 degrees, before venturing out.]

[Sunscreen and a couple new hats were on her list, but one of the first unexpected purchases of the day came when she saw a small shop promoting umbrellas.  Slightly confused at first, she agreed to try it, and realized the immediate difference when one was under the uv-blocking shade.]

[From there, she happily carried around her umbrella over her head as she made her way through the shopping district, stopping again when she caught sight of a place selling something Italian Ice.]

[Perhaps the only thing she enjoyed more that day than the umbrella.]

Comments

[Action] Prompt #2

[light_of_willpower]

[Earlier in the day was also a good time to head out, before it got beastly. That's what Trunks had done, then just stayed where he was until it was later and cooler again. Not that the temperature seemed to bother him as much. (Compared to the extremes he'd been through before, especially in the room of space and time, this was not fun but bearable.)

No umbrella, no sunscreen---perk of being half-saiyan maybe. But the weather still wasn't fun, and he was out exploring again. With a smile coming to his face, when he recognized Mai under her umbrella.]

Mai!

[Called in greeting, and then quickening his pace to catch up to her.]

2

[la_matrona]

[Imelda is also interested in the something something Italian Ice. It reminds her a bit of the chamoyadas they used to have in the summer. These are not chamoyadas. The color is too vibrant and she's not even entirely sure if she can taste them.

She glances at the woman who also seems intrigued]

Have you ah-- had these before?

[waitingforhope]

[Mai turned towards the sound of the voice and--]

[There was a slight jerk of surprise as she did a literal doubt take at the woman's face. She was fairly used to being not entirely human, but this was...still unexpected. To see a...living skeleton? Was that who she was looking at now?]

I... [Once the initial shock wore off, she vaguely remembered something about a question, and glanced down at her icy treat.] ...oh! This. Umm...not exactly. We had something similar back home, but this is my first time eating flavored ice.

[waitingforhope]

[Catching her mid-bite, Trunks would have to wait for her to properly swallow before receiving a smile and greeting in return.]

Trunks! [She turned to face him fully before indicating towards the Ice.] You have to try this. It's like ice cream, only it's just ice and flavoring. It's so good!

[And she held up her spoon with a small amount of the delicious cherry flavor, offering it to him if he wanted.]

[light_of_willpower]

[There's a blink, and he pauses... It's not as if they haven't shared food before--it had been a necessity. But he's had some thoughts turning in his head, and they're interrupting and putting more significance on the gesture than Mai probably means. Which means he's politely waving it off, with a shy smile. Please don't let him be blushing already...]

I believe you, and probably should get my own if it's that good. You don't have to share anymore...

[waitingforhope]

[It was almost ironic the things that Mai had grown accustomed to in the Future. Things that would have otherwise seemed far too bold in another life. Like seeing him shirtless. Or sharing food--as he said, previously a necessity that had become so routine for them that she'd long forgotten the concept of an indirect kiss.]

[...though his reaction gave her a long enough pause for something vaguely similar to sink in. Causing her to mirror his expression soon after.]

...right. [Oh, look, her ice was starting to melt a little. Better focus on those little drips around the sides before they got everywhere!] I mean...I don't mind, of course, but...if you really want one, they're not very expensive, either.

[la_matrona]

[she's used to it by now and doesn't take offense. It is a shock to see the dead, even when you're prepared.]

What does it taste like? [even just hearing something about it she could perhaps get some sort of hint of memory? It's difficult. She's unsure of how to process anything here]

[waitingforhope]

[Mai had encountered the dead before. She had even encountered people who had been dead. As in, past tense. No longer dead. But every dead person she'd ever known had looked like their living selves, only with a halo on top.]

[...well, the ones who returned to Earth after dying, that was.]

I think it depends on what flavor you order.

This one's cherry, so it's very sweet. But you can get flavors like lemon or orange or even chocolate.

[la_matrona]

[she's tempted to order one. To test it out. But so far she hasn't tried-- even if the memory of hunger is beginning to get a little presumptuous]

Gracias. I'm Señora Rivera... It's nice to meet you.

[light_of_willpower]

[He's still trying not to blush, and the smile is still a bit shy, but also genuine.]

Give me a minute to go get one, alright? And don't let yours melt. You deserve to enjoy it, Mai.

[Before he's jogging off to get one for himself. It shouldn't take too long, and when he does come back he has a slightly larger, dark-purple one in his hands. And holding it out, in case she wants to try some of it herself.]

[Action] Prompt 1

[fashionably_strong]

[Bulla may not be a genius like her mother, but she's still bright enough, and growing up around cutting edge technology and hearing it discussed around her rubbed off on her enough that math, physics, programming languages and the like were all pretty easy for her in school. Her worst subject in school had been history, hands down. Biology had been unappearling simply because of dissections.

She peeks in Mai's room, spotting the pile of book, and what looks like a bunch of equations. Not wanting to startle her, she knocks quietly.]

Hey. Am I interrupting?

[waitingforhope]

[There were some words in there that took a moment for Mai to register. For the most part, language barriers seemed non-existant in Genessia, and she'd encountered very few in her universe of origin. Still, context was clear enough for her to figure out the expression of gratitude.]

You as well, Señora Rivera. I'm Mai.

Are you a recent arrival to this city?

[waitingforhope]

[There was no way she would let this delicious treat go to waste; in the brief time that Trunks disappeared to get his own ice, she made a significant dent in her portion.]

[And, of course, when he offered a taste of his, she hardly thought twice before using her spoon to take a small sample, letting the flavor melt on her tongue as she contemplated the difference in flavors.]

Mmm. [A small hum of approval.] Which flavor is that?

[waitingforhope]

[Not startled in the least, Mai looked up at the sound of knocking and smiled when she recognized the face in the doorway.]

[...although, admittedly, she needed to do a quick double-check to make sure she had the right Brief.]

Bulla! [A light shake of the head followed.] No, not at all. I was just doing a bit of research.

Was there something you needed?

[light_of_willpower]

[Despite the blush a few moments earlier, and caution, this time it goes unnoticed or cared about, when she shares from his. Instead there's a small smile, as he moves to keep pace with her walking.]

Grape, or some kind of berry mixed with it. I figured I'd try something different.

[waitingforhope]

[Embarrassment aside, it was...nice to be able to still share things. One of the few cherished memories of the last year she had was the look in his eye as he would hand her a solid half of his rations.]

It's nice. I think I still like the cherry better, but I might get it another time. After I've tried some of the other flavors.

[light_of_willpower]

[Small moments and things, like watching her with Scratch. Or the shy smile when he persuaded her no--she had to eat too and accepted the rations. Those had made the year less hellish, more bearable. She'd helped keep him going, even when he'd felt the weight of it all crushing him.]

We'll have to do this again then.

[He wasn't thinking about what he said. And when it hit him, he was glad he had his spoon in his mouth, and flavored ice too. At least it kept him from blushing again.]

[waitingforhope]

[She wasn't thinking too much of it quite yet, either.]

Get Italian Ices?

[Because that didn't sound so bad. In fact, if the heat kept up, she might insist on it. Or stocking up on some at Bulma's place.]

[light_of_willpower]

[Yes. Although he nodded, he was quiet before responding. Using that same italian ice (another spoonful) as a cover while he chose his words. Maybe also gathering up some courage.

Given his father had vanished from the cities, Trunks had been thinking--and Namur was still not wrong. Especially with Vegeta gone now...just that quickly. He'd been planning to have this conversation with Mai, but now he was having it sooner.]

That...but...also. I guess... I wanted to know about us. What are we, now?

[Apparently he was still feeling some awkwardness. Also trying to get an idea of what she thought.]

[waitingforhope]

[She froze. Steps coming to ab abrupt half. Body tensing. Spoonful of Italian Ice barely touching her lips.]

[That question...]

[Slowly, her eyes turned downward towards the Ice. Her spoon lowered. At the same time, however, she wasn't really looking at it. Her eyes glazing over as she seemed to be running over that question in her mind. No, not just the question itself. The motive behind it. Why he would ask such a thing. Here. Now.]

Trunks... [Tempted to blush, she settled for a look of both curiosity and slight concern. Perhaps even timidness. Gradually, she turned towards him, head lifting just enough to meet his gaze. There were too many emotions behind her eyes to properly register a single one.] ...what do you think we are?

[An awful thought flashed in her mind, for less than a second. A fear that, in this new world, with so many possibilities...he might have found one that didn't include her....]

[...except, no. That would never happen.]

[...but, then...]

[light_of_willpower]

[So many emotions in her eyes, and the timidness was new. Or at least, rare enough he wasn't used to seeing it on her so it seemed new. She didn't seem upset though, and the hint of concern made his heart hurt.]

We're partners.

[He didn't even have to think about that response. It was natural, and came to his lips as easily as their oft-used denial too.]

But...I guess I wondered...do you still want it to be 'not like that'?

[A tiny part of him was proud that he wasn't blushing. Just watching her steadily, a tiny hint of smile and whatever reassurance he could portray that no--whatever happened they'd still be friends, partners, in a way. She would always have a place in his life, no matter what world they went to.]

[waitingforhope]

[We're partners.]

[That alone brought the smile back to her face. Warm and content. Trunks was her Partner. Come what may, he would always be her partner. Even--]

[...do you still want it to be 'not like that'?]

[Her eyes widened, and she gave a near-inaudible gasp.]

[There was no doubt in her mind what he meant, too. How often had they echoed that exact sentiment to others? Vegeta...Bulma...Bulla...his whole family seemed insistent. As did several of the new friends they were making here. She wasn't blind as to why, either. Anyone could see the two of them were close. He was her most precious person and her dearest friend, the only other survivor left of their lost world, and someone who understood her like no other.]

I...

[Oblivious to any who may have been around them at the time, she continued to stare up at him in awe. Cheeks a definitive shade of pink now. Italian Ice all but forgotten in her chilled hands.]

...don't know.

[The most honest answer she could give him. Because it was true. He'd put her on the spot, and she'd spent so long refusing herself of the chance to entertain the notion, that she didn't know what she wanted.]

What I do know... [After a few seconds, her mind a whirl with thoughts and feelings attempting to sort themselves out with varying degrees of success.] ...is that we said we would stay together. That I would always be by your side, no matter what happened. No matter where. No matter when.

[Here, her eyes dipped down shyly, barely hiding beneath her bangs.]

That's what I want.

[light_of_willpower]

[Her smile brought an answering one of his own, but he was patient. Listening, and trying to not feel worried at her indecision. The blush was a good sign, right? Or had he overstepped some how.

Their frozen treats were definitely forgotten, and he waited for her to finish. Nor would Trunks deny his heart might've skipped a bit, with her final answer. It wasn't as clear as he wanted, but it was an answer all the same.

One he was pretty sure he understood.]

I understand.

[Moving one hand, to her shoulder, squeezing gently.]

Where you go, I go, no matter what, or when. Which means...

[And here was the tricky part...]

...when you're ready for it to be 'not like that'---explicitly--I'd... I'd like to take you out. On a date.

[But the decision had to be hers.]

[waitingforhope]

[Until that moment, the bulk of it had been on her. He was asking, giving very little away, and she was left to answer.]

[In a single sentence--with a single word, really--he completely evened the emotional playing field.]

[Date.]

[Trunks...wanted to take her on a date.]

[Really, given the line of conversation--given his pact actions, even those last few weeks in the Future--it shouldn't have been that surprising, and yet...this time, not only did she gasp audibly, but she dropped her Italian Ice in surprise. Cheeks brightening further.]

You...would?

[light_of_willpower]

[Okay that did not help--her blush or her surprise. Which might be why he reacted in two different ways at the same time. The first being his own blush coming to the for, and a sharp affirmative nod. The second being almost instinctual--as he moved to catch her Italian Ice. With his own.

Which did not go so well, and left him with a mess of Cheery and Grape-berry mixed ice over his arm and hand, her spoon on the ground, and the cups sort of awkwardly mashed together. This also was not helping his blush, and his hand moved from her shoulder to start to scrape off the mess with a sigh to accompany it.]