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auncyen · 3 years

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Ok ok so I'd been idly thinking about updating "Chats with Joker in Mementos" for Royal for a while, except as far as I know there aren't any transcriptions for the Royal Mementos chats like there is for Vanilla...

So...after some questionable use of my time, I now have a list of a good chunk of the starters in Royal. Only starters, not responses, since the point of the fic is having Joker be the one to respond, and I didn't transcribe ones I didn't think would be interesting for him to respond to, but still, if anyone does ever look to do a complete transcription, this might be helpful as a start? Or just interesting if you want to see what some characters talk about. Spoilers for third semester below cut.

Ryuji: Man, we really bust our asses to get stronger in here. I wish it meant we got stronger in the real world too.

Ryuji: Man, I had this horrible dream last night… Can’t remember a thing about it, though.

Ryuji: Ya know what? I guess Mona does have a mask, technically.

Ryuji: Yo, the way he jumps behind Shadows is so sick!

Ryuji: Yo, is it just me, or is fallin’ asleep getting tougher every night? At this point, I’m outta ideas of what to do.

Ryuji: Kinda fiendin’ for some ramen right about now… Maybe I’ll hit up Ogikubo when we get back.

RyujI: So lately, I’ve been tryin’ to work some training into my nightly routine before bed.

Ryuji: Hey, is it just me, or is Morgana’s sword basically the same size as Joker’s knife?

Ryuji: My mom made gyudon last night! My fave! Now I’ve got, like, fifty times more energy than usual!

Ryuji: This phantom thief stuff feels real as hell whenever he’s flyin’ around with that grappling hook.

Ryuji: Dude, that grappling hook is awesome! He looks like a freakin’ superhero with that thing!

Ryuji: Aww man, I just can’t get enough of those Akihabara maids…

Ryuji: Aren’t knives kinda hard to use ‘cause of their shortness? I definitely prefer my own shit.

Ryuji: I always thought darts looked easy—just aim for the board, y’know? But, it’s waaay harder than that.

Ryuji: Every try the monja in Tsukishima? That stuff is LEGIT.

Ryuji: Yo, does this outfit really make me look like I’m part of some biker gang?

Morgana: Listen, it’s not that I look like a cat. Cats just happen to look like me.

Morgana: I repeat: I am not a cat. To prove it, I took an actual bath yesterday.

Morgana: So, cats love to chase mice, right? I don’t get it—where’s the fun in that?

Morgana: I’m always so entranced by Panther’s whip technique!

Morgana: Panther, we have matching tails!

Morgana: You know, I’ve never actually been in a car before. Is it anything like I am now?

Morgana: I definitely made the right decision giving him the code name “Joker.”

Morgana: I’m willing to bet Joker’s skilled enough to use throwing knives.

Morgana: Anime, books, movies… Phantom thieves sure are popular.

Morgana: Last night I dreamt that Phantom Thieves were kicking some serious butt—let’s bring that dream to life!

Morgana: I can teach you everything you need to know about being a phantom thief. Relax—you’re in good hands!

Morgana: *yawn* I didn’t get enough sleep…

Morgana: I couldn’t fall asleep at all last night. I just laid there with my eyes open…

Morgana: I like Yongen-Jaya; it’s a great place for a stroll.

Morgana: Is Shujin Academy the only thing in Aoyama?

Morgana: I was vegetating in front of the TV last night, and I have to say, there are some pretty decent shows on now.

Ann: The bakery had a sale yesterday and I ended up buying everything they had!

Ann: The Ferris wheel is a must for me at theme parks, every time. I love being able to just relax.

Ann: I have an upcoming shoot at a theme park, but what sucks is how I can’t go on any of the rides.

Ann: Last night I dreamt I was eating a chocolate bar, then all of a sudden, it got mad and started chasing me!

Ann: Every once in a while I have a dream where I get chased by a Shadow…

Ann: I’ve been sleeping really well since I started getting all this exercise.

Ann: I was up late watching TV last night, so I might be a little sleep deprived…

Ann: I tend to do my clothes shopping in Kichijoji—it’s fun looking through all the resale shops.

Ann: I hate when people ask me to say stuff in English just ‘cause I lived overseas.

Ann: It always bothers me when foreign movie subtitles leave stuff out or take too many liberties.

Ann: I was talking to my overseas friend the other day—her straightforward attitude was really refreshing!

Ann: I was talking to Shiho on the phone and before I knew it, three whole hours had passed!

Ann: Joker seems like he’d make a good cook, doesn’t he? I mean, he’s great with his knife and all…

Ann: It’s actually quite exhilarating to attack with a whip. I wonder why that is…

Ann: Whenever my foreign relatives come to Japan, they always rave about how much they love Japanese food!

Ann: Do you think there’s anything I can do about my outfit? I feel like I stand out too much in this…

Ann: Is there a difference between a whip and a grappling hook?

Ann: Ya know, Skull’s always been into skull designs and stuff.

Ann: Wouldn’t a grappling hook be awfully handy in the real world?

Yusuke: I wish to paint the world as only I see it. The best way to succeed at this is through practice.

Yusuke: It’s fun to walk around and inspect different temples and shrines. The architecture is always impressive.

Yusuke: If Shadows are sentient, do you think their being moved by a painting would invoke a change of heart?

Yusuke: There have been times where I was compelled to create three-dimensional art.

Yusuke: I’m quite curious about Mona’s Western-style sword…

Yusuke: I hear whips are quite difficult to use. Where did you learn how to wield one?

Yusuke: Joker using a grappling hook…. That would make for a picture-perfect composition.

Yusuke: Mona, what exactly do you have in those pouches?

Yusuke: Creating a piece of art is pointless unless I can convey the full essence of the subject.

Yusuke: Art museums stimulate my creativity like no other place—I wish I could live inside one.

Yusuke: Skull and I both use long melee weapons, but they’re total opposites of one another.

Yusuke: Why does my outfit have a tail? I don’t understand…

Yusuke: I considered growing my own bean sprouts, but it seems to be more expensive than buying them grown.

Yusuke: I once had a dream that I washed up on a deserted island. I painted as much as I pleased… So wonderful.

Yusuke: I may specialize in Japanese-style painting, but I’d like to learn some Western techniques as well.

Yusuke: That grappling hook is very useful. I should find a way to utilize one in my daily life.

Yusuke: The other day, I went into the mountains to gather vegetables so I could cut back on food expenses.

Yusuke: I tried to paint a landscape of the starry sky once, but it’s quite difficult to do so from within the city.

Yusuke: India ink isn’t my specialty, but I’ve been experimenting with it in some recent work, just for fun.

Makoto: I may have stopped being a doormat for adults, but people are still calling me a “teacher’s pet.”

Makoto: A phantom thief’s body is their most vital asset. We need to make sure we eat balanced, nutritious meals.

Makoto: Do you enjoy visiting theme parks? I’ve rarely been to one myself.

Makoto: Fox looks cooler using his katana than I had originally imagined.

Makoto: I had the weirdest dream… I was at school, but I was wearing my phantom thief outfit.

Makoto: Would anyone care to learn how to drive, while we’re here? This place seems as good as any for practice.

Makoto: I know it’s not very healthy, but I do enjoy eating ramen from time to time.

Makoto: Once I’ve graduated, I’m going to buy a motorcycle and go on a road trip.

Makoto: I’ve been working on my grades because I still want to attend college, despite being a phantom thief.

Makoto: I want to read a certain book, but it’s out of print. Where do you suppose I could find a copy?

Makoto: Maybe I’m just burned out, but waking up has grown awfully difficult lately.

Makoto: The grappling hook’s cable seems pretty strong, but it’s scary to think what could happen if it snapped.

Makoto: Once my sister brought home some sushi for me. It was indescribably good…

Futaba: I heard rhythm’s an important part of fighting, sooo… I started playing a rhythm game!

Futaba: There’s going to be an event tonight in the MMO I play. I can’t wait!

Futaba: This MMO I’m hooked on is really cool. Do you wanna play with me? Oh—it’s in English, though.

Futaba: I’m about to beat the game I’ve been playing. Wonder what I should play next?

Futaba: I’ve been going outside a lot more, so now I’m sleeping way better than I did when I was a shut-in.

Futaba: Guess what? I’m making a game called “Hungry Hungry Mona”!

Futaba: You know who’s a really good driver, is Sojiro. He can parallel park with his eyes closed!

Futaba: If you could shoot grappling hooks from your hands, you’d probably be able to get around just using those!

Futaba: Ya know, I’ve thought about workin’ out and fighting alongside you guys.

Futaba: You guys should try playing shooters! It could help you improve your gun skills.

Futaba: Last night I had a dream my hard drive failed… That was scary.

Futaba: Wouldn’t it be cool if you could mod the grappling hook so it was electrified?

Futaba: Sure, the internet’s convenient, but it’s not like it can do everything. Don’t overestimate its capabilities.

Futaba: I wonder if I’d be okay going to some place by myself if it wasn’t crowded. Inokashira Park seems nice.

Futaba: Yesterday Sojiro bought me my favorite instant yakisoba!

Futaba: Maybe I should get a gun too, just for self-defense… Nah, my hands need to be empty.

Haru: I found this cafe in Kichioji with phenomenal tea—would you care to try it sometime?

Haru: I ordered kusaya but they refused to make it—they said they couldn’t get the smell out of the kitchen.

Haru: I feel like I need to learn more about the world, but I’m not sure how to best go about it.

Haru: Recently, I’ve been finding rare delicacies rather enticing…

Haru: Even lately, I sometimes dream about doing phantom thief things with Mona.

Haru: If you’re having trouble getting yourself to relax, I recommend herbal tea.

Haru: Asakusa is a wonderful area—I love how it’s this blend of the old and the new.

Haru: Ever since I started high school I’ve been taking the train in the morning, but I’m still not used to it…

Haru: Queen, your mask looks like it’s made of iron. Doesn’t it get heavy?

Haru: Joker’s so acrobatic! He’s really got the hang of that grappling hook.

Haru: I don’t think I’ve gotten this much exercise since I was in ballet.

Haru: Let me know if you ever get a tear in your clothing—I’m good at sewing, so I could most likely fix it.

Haru: I dreamt that the vegetables I’d been growing all died… I was so sad.

Haru: Your weapon seems fun, Skull. Do you want to swap sometime?

Haru: Sometimes it’s impossible for me to fall asleep on days that we’ve been to Palaces, no matter how tired I am.

Haru: You know, before this, I’d never considered using an axe for anything other than chopping firewood…

Haru: My hands have gotten all calloused… I supposed it comes with the territory in gardening.

Akechi: I have no intention of changing my stance on matters, no matter what anyone may say.

Akechi: Pancakes... I don’t want to hear that word again for a long, long time.

Akechi: We don’t have much time left. Please do what you can to avoid getting sick.

Akechi: The enemies are stronger than ever. Don’t let your guard down.

Akechi: A world that panders to your every whim is so mundane. Where’s the thrill if there’s no competition?

Akechi: Do you prefer my previous outfit or this one? Moving around’s become much easier for me.

Akechi: This place is immense. If there weren’t train tracks everywhere, I’d bring my bike here.

Akechi: We’re working under the constraints of a time limit, so I’d appreciate it if you could be more efficient.

Akechi: If you’re looking for a way to train both your mind and your body, I highly recommend bouldering.

Akechi: You think I’m frightening when I fight? Well, I’m afraid you’re just going to have to accept it.

Akechi: I meant to tell you, regarding Shido… Thank you for keeping your promise.

Akechi: You may not like working with me, but I’m counting on your assistance until our goal is achieved.

Akechi: When we’re riding in the car like this, it’s easy to forget that we’re actually inside Mona.

Akechi: The Shadows here behave differently from the ones in the Palaces, don’t they?

Akechi: I’m getting a bit hungry. I should’ve eaten beforehand.

Akechi: I enjoy spending time in Kichijoji. It’s not very big, but there are plenty of trendy shops.

Akechi: Riding in the car may beat walking, but it doesn’t stop my legs from growing stiff and sore…

Sumire: I have a few different superstitions for good luck in my routines… They get sort of hard to drop.

Sumire: It was already hard for me to believe Palaces existed, but to think there’s such a massive one under Shibuya…

Sumire: It’s a bit cramped in here with this many people…

Sumire: I get stiff all over from just sitting in the car.

Sumire: Why is the one desert you get to eat during the week so delicious?

Sumire: A phantom thief outfit represents a person’s image of their rebellion, right?

Sumire: I wonder if I should try incorporating another sport into my gymnastics training.

Sumire: I wonder what I could use as inspiration for my performances…

Sumire: Swords are actually pretty hard to wield.

Sumire: Whenever I travel, I always end up buying some sort of good luck charm.

Sumire: Your outfits are all so unique. I can see coordinating them wasn’t a priority.

Sumire: This time of year, a heating pad’s an absolute must for keeping warm.

Sumire: Sometimes people will just walk up to me and ask me to show them a standing split.

Sumire: I’m in top shape today! Let’s keep going.

Sumire: Do you all stretch beforehand? You could pull a muscle if you don’t.

Sumire: It’s too bad gymnastics competitions aren’t on TV more often.

Sumire: Fighting makes for a pretty good workout, doesn’t it?

while I didn't transcribe responses, I did notice something a bit disappointing: neither Sumire nor Akechi seemed to have responses for anyone else. It's possible I missed one?? But not being able to remember any, they must not have many if they do have some. A bit odd.

#persona 5 #p5r #p5r spoilers #to pick from later

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adenei · 3 years

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Finding My Way To You - Ch. 5

Missed Gestures

It was a picture perfect day by Ron’s standards. He’d returned to the flat and made breakfast for them as Hermione still slept. They’d gotten ready and went out to explore the area. He showed her the walking trail on the park he’d taken that morning, and then they’d made their way to the street Hermione had found the cafe on the previous day. There were several shops that lined the road, and they took their time walking through each one that interested them. Hermione bought a few cat toys for Crookshanks in one of the touristy pet stores they’d found, and they walked further down where they turned onto a bustling street.

They stumbled across the Melbourne Museum, and Hermione looked at Ron with excitement that he couldn’t remember seeing on her face in a long time. He nodded to her, indicating they should go in. So they paid their fees and entered the museum. Ron couldn’t deny how incredible it was to walk into the various exhibit halls, watching Hermione examine every exhibit, artifact and portrait, skimming the descriptions and learning the history behind them.

Three hours later, Ron’s stomach grumbled rather loudly, though they’d only gotten through about half the rooms. Hermione checked her watch and looked at Ron, “We should probably go and get some lunch.”

“Are you sure? I know you wanted to see everything here,” Ron said.

“We can always come back, can’t we? Plus, I wanted to check out that bookstore we passed.”

“That’s true. Why don’t we go back to that cafe you got breakfast from yesterday, and then you can check out the bookstore.”

“That sounds good to me,” Hermione said with a smile as they made their way to the exit.

The sun was warm on their faces as they walked back and stopped at the cafe. They ordered their sandwiches and sat outside at one of the tables while they waited for their food to be ready.

“So, how much are you planning on telling your parents tonight?” Ron knew he needed to start the conversation.

“I feel like I owe them everything,” Hermione said. “What do you think?”

“They’re not my parents, Hermione. But for what it’s worth, I think you’re right.” Ron agreed. “I know it’ll be hard, but maybe if we made a plan, you’d feel better about going through the story.”

Hermione nodded slowly as the server came out with their meals. They smiled politely and said thank you as Ron waited for Hermione to respond. “That’s a good idea, actually. They know about Cedric’s death and what happened to Harry at the end of fourth year. I think that’s why they let me go with your family to Grimmauld Place for the majority of the summer. They assumed it’d be safer for me there if Voldemort did try and make his move.”

“What about fifth year? The Department of Mysteries?” Ron continued.

“I wanted to write to them about how evil Umbridge was, but knew I couldn’t when we found out she was checking our mail. I gave them a brief idea of everything that had happened, and then with your Dad being attacked, and they were the ones who told me to go to you. They drove me to London and dropped me off. I was finally able to tell them about everything that summer, but when I talked about the Department of Mysteries, I only made it sound like the Order was there fighting when I explained Sirius’ death. They don’t know we were there…”

“Okay, so you start there and clear that up,” Ron said. “Sixth year?”

“Well, they knew about your poisoning and Dumbledore’s death, so I guess there’s nothing there really aside from the horcruxes, but that ties into this past year more than anything.”

Ron nodded. Not that the whole Lavender debacle related to the story, but he was relieved Hermione didn’t mention it. Even if he was sure her parents knew all about it. “So then, it’ll basically be from the point where you altered their memories to now.”

“Yes. I suppose we should explain the mission and what we were after..” Hermione was thinking.

“Should we start with the attack on Bill and Fleur’s wedding?” Ron asked between bites of his sandwich.

Hermione played with her soup. “Yes, probably, and explain how we got to Grimmauld Place and gathered the first lead. We’ll probably need to explain the Ministry break in, and the disaster of the Godric’s Hollow trip.” She looked up at him. “I won’t tell them that you left. They don’t need to know that.”

Ron felt the tightness release ever so slightly, knowing that she didn’t want to tell them of his abandon. “Er, thanks,” he said awkwardly.

“It wasn’t you. I know that deep down,” Hermione admitted.

Ron looked at her gratefully. He wanted to talk about that, but it was a conversation for another day. “So then I suppose that brings us to the Lovegood visit and, er..”

“Malfoy Manor,” Hermione finished.

“How much are you going to say?”

“I’ve been thinking about that. They’ll need to know about the Cruciatus, and..and what Bellatrix was after to have done what she did.” Hermione couldn’t look at Ron.

“Are you sure?” he asked. This was something even they hadn’t breached. He knew she thought they’d stolen the sword, but Hermione hadn’t been ready to talk about the experience beyond that, and he’d never pushed her.

“I think it’s time I should. They deserve to know. You do as well.”

“Only if you want to, Hermione,” Ron reassured her.

“I will. I’ve made my decision. But I don’t want them to know about her offering me to Greyback, or how long the recovery took.”

“Noted. So then we go into Gringotts and the battle, yeah?”

“Well, when you put it that way, it seems as though it will be a quick story,” Hermione said with a chuckle.

“Think of it this way, we’ve got a plan now,” Ron said as they finished their meals. “I reckon you’ve got enough time to head to the bookstore for a bit before we have to get ready to head over to your parents.”

“You’re right. Do you want to just meet me back at the flat? I don’t want you to feel like you have to follow me around the store,” Hermione suggested.

“If that’s what you want to do. Just make sure you’re back by 3:30, or I’ll have to come find you,” Ron told her through a smirk as she nodded and they stood up from the table.

He watched her go down the street before turning in the opposite direction to head towards the flat. He walked by a now open flower shop that had been closed that morning, and walked in. So far, the date she hadn’t known he’d taken her on had gone off well, but he wanted to get her something to make it seem like just a day out exploring the city.

“Good day to you!” The florist greeted him. “What brings you in on this fine day?”

“Er, hello. I was just looking for some flowers, for, er, a friend,” Ron said awkwardly as he eyed the display of roses.

“Ah, well you’ve come to the right place! Is this friend a true friend, or more than?” he asked.

“Best friend, but hopefully ‘more than’ soon,” Ron said honestly.

“Ah, young love! Such a wonderful thing,” the florist said happily. He noticed Ron eyeing the various colored roses. “Roses would be a perfect choice for you. Did you know that the different colors have different meanings?”

Ron stared at the shopkeeper. “They do? Of course they do, nothing is ever an easy decision..” he muttered to himself.

“They do indeed. I can give you an explanation if that would help you to make your decision.”

“Yeah, sure.”

“Well, red of course signifies love, and white represents innocence and loyalty, and some even say hope or a shared secret. The other two common colors are pink and yellow. Pink is another common color that represents admiration, grace or joy, and yellow stands for happiness, friendship and new beginnings.”

“What about these purple ones, here?” Ron asked him, taking in what he’d said.

“Oh, the purple ones typically stand for enchantment, mystery, and love at first sight.”

Ron nodded as he thought about the different colors and their meanings. He was thinking he wanted a mixture of the white, red, yellow and purple. But he liked the pink, too. All the colors really represented them. He just couldn’t decide.

The florist could sense his uncertainty. “You know, there’s a special rose color combination I can make for you if you think it would fit better. I take the yellow roses and add red tips. It signifies friendship deepening to love.”

That was it, Ron thought. “Could I take six of those, two purple, two pink, and two white to get a bouquet of a dozen?” Ron asked. His heart had started to skip a beat, as the excitement was starting to build.

The shopkeeper smiled knowingly. “Absolutely.” He plucked up six of the yellow, and two of each of his other requested colors. “I’ll be right back after I tip these yellow ones with red and arrange the bouquet for you.” He turned a few minutes later with the flowers wrapped in a beautiful bouquet. He’d even gone so far as to place them in a vase, that he’d boxed up for easier transport.

Ron gladly paid for the flowers. “Thank you so much for your help, today.”

“Of course! Of course! Helping customers like you is part of the reason I do what I do. I wish you the best.” The florist nodded as Ron thanked him again and headed for the door.

******************

Ron walked into the flat and set the flowers on the table. He’d decided he should get cleaned up a bit and change into something a bit more presentable for dinner with her parents. His nerves were building as he waited for her to return when she walked in a few minutes past 3:30.

“I know, I know, I’m sorry I’m late! It was only a few minutes!” she apologized as she walked in. Ron came out of the bedroom as Hermione set a rather large bag of books down. She noticed the flowers there. He’d meant to take them out of the box for her, but had forgotten.

“Ron, these are beautiful! Did you get them for my parents? What a brilliant idea!” Hermione gushed.

“Wha- Er, no, I- Hermione, they’re meant to be for-” Ron stuttered as he tried to explain.

“You’re so thoughtful! My parents are going to love them. Though, Mum is more a tulip person herself, but I’ve always loved roses. It’s probably a cliche but they’re my favorite.” Hermione bustled over and hugged him. “I’m going to go change for tonight, and then we can get going. You look really nice, by the way,” Hermione said shyly as she made her way to the bedroom.

Did that really just happen? Ron thought to himself. Did she really think the flowers were meant for her parents? Why couldn’t things just be easy for them? It was always one misunderstanding after another. And he’d tried to tell her they were for her, but she didn’t listen! Now what? He wondered as she came back out.

She was dressed in a pretty coral colored sundress that she must have bought when she and Ginny had gone shopping a couple weeks ago. Her hair was tied back into a soft bun and it looked like she’d applied a small amount of makeup to her face. Merlin, she was beautiful.

“Hermione, about the-” Ron tried to explain again.

“Ron, can we talk on the way? I don’t want to be late! Can you carry the flowers? I picked up a couple of books I thought my Mum would like when I was at the bookstore. I’m so nervous, I- What?” Hermione paused as she noticed Ron was staring at him.

“You, er- look really pretty,” Ron managed to say.

Hermione blushed. “Oh, um, thank you,” she said as she kept herself busy by organizing the books. She put the few she had bought for her parents in the beaded bag. Hermione picked up the flowers and handed them to him.

Ron tried to choke back the sigh as he followed her out the door. They were halfway to her parent’s house when he realized he should have just insisted they leave them there and go back to the florist for a different bouquet. Or that he should have gotten a second set to begin with.

“They’re a really unique set of colors you picked out,” Hermione said out of nowhere.

“Sorry?” Ron asked.

“The roses. The colorscape is quite unique. In a good way.”

Well, that’s a relief, since they were intended for you, he thought to himself. “Oh, well, I chose them based on the meaning behind their color.”

“Oh, yes, I’d heard that there were certain meanings associated with different colored roses. You’ll have to tell me what they are later.”

They were walking up the drive to her parents house now, so there was no time for it. Mrs. Granger answered the door before they could knock. She embraced her daughter happily when she opened the door and ushered them into the house. They walked into the kitchen when Hermione gestured for Ron to set the flowers on the counter.

“Mum, Ron picked these out at the local florist for you. Aren’t they lovely?” Hermione told her.

“Oh, yes darling, they’re...unique. Interesting color scheme,” she’d said. Mr. Granger had come in and gave Ron a look to which he returned with a defeated one of his own.

“Don’t worry, Mum, I told him you prefer tulips for next time, and that I’ve always been the one partial to roses.”

“Ah, yes, I do love tulips. Hermione, dear, your father and I ordered Italian takeaway tonight. We thought you’d like to talk to us in a more private setting.”

“Oh, yes, that does sound perfect. Look, Mum I bought these books for you at the bookstore! I thought you might like them,” Hermione said enthusiastically.

“Thank you, dear! These must have just been released! How’d you know I’d want to read them!” Mrs. Granger said appreciatively.

“Why don’t we go sit down in the living room?” Mr. Granger interrupted. “I don’t have to pick up the food for another half hour or so. Maybe Hermione can start a bit of her story before I have to leave.”

And so they all moved into the living room, where Hermione began telling them the truth about what happened between fifth and sixth year. She’d approached the point where she needed to tell them why she’d done what she had.

“I know it wasn’t fair to alter your memories without your consent, but it was the only way. If you’d known, and they’d somehow managed to find you...I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself. And I thought you’d have been happier not knowing you had a daughter if I...if I…” tears pooled in Hermione’s eyes as Ron moved to comfort her.

But Mrs. Granger moved quickly to her side and put her arms around her daughter, stopping Ron in his efforts. “It’s okay, sweetheart. You are still here, and that’s what matters. We remember you, and you survived. Sweet girl, you’re still here,” Mrs. Granger pressed a hard kiss to her temple.

Mr. Granger checked his watch. “It’s about that time...Ron, would you like to join me while I go pick up the food?”

“Er, sure,” Ron said as he got up to follow Mr. Granger.

He got into the passenger seat of the car as Mr. Granger started it. “Try not to mind Jean too much. She’s a bit emotional over the whole ordeal. She’s not intentionally being cold or rude to you,” he’d said as he pulled out of the driveway onto the road.

“I didn’t notice anything. Besides, it’s understandable,” Ron said.

“Were the flowers really meant for us?” Mr. Granger asked.

“I got them for Hermione. She walked in from the bookstore and saw them there and assumed they were to bring with us. I tried to explain it to her, but she just carried on and didn’t stop to listen,” Ron admitted, the words pouring out of him before he could stop.

Mr. Granger let out a full hearted laugh. “That certainly sounds like Hermione alright. What do you say we stop at the florist and get a tulip arrangement for Jean? I know for a fact the florist doesn’t close until 6.”

“Really? That’d be fantastic. Not that I’ll know how to or when to tell Hermione the roses were for her.”

“I’ll help you work in an opening.” He pulled over in front of the shop as they went in to pick out a colorful array of tulips to bring back to Mrs. Granger. Ron paid for the second bouquet as the florist gave him a knowing smile, and they continued on to pick up dinner from the restaurant.

��So what did you two do today?” Mr. Granger asked Ron.

“It was actually quite busy.” Ron went into detail about their day, as Mr. Granger smiled at his efforts. They had to pause as they ran in to pick up and pay for the family style meal they’d ordered, and when they were on their way back to the house Mr. Granger picked up where they left off.

“Sounds like a perfect day for Hermione to me,” he’d told Ron. “Though, it sounds like you’ll have to be a bit more obvious. I wouldn’t fear the rejection so much. She very clearly cares about you, too.”

“I hope so.”

“Have faith, Ron.” Mr. Granger said as they pulled back into the driveway. Ron carried the flowers as Mr. Granger grabbed the food and re-entered the house. “We’re home, dear!” Mr. Granger called as they made their way back into the kitchen.

“What’s this?” Mrs. Granger asked as Ron set the tulips down on the counter.

“Ron wanted to get you tulips instead, Jean,” Mr. Granger explained for Ron.

“Oh! They’re beautiful. You didn’t have to, though,” Mrs. Granger said as her face finally softened toward him. Ron’s own felt hot as his ears tinged pink. Hermione had given him a confused look, but didn’t question it.

Dinner was a quiet affair compared to the Burrow. Hermione’s parents filled her in on their life in Australia and what they missed about England. They said they were excited to return home to England, and Hermione had assured them that she’d taken precautionary measures to keep their dental practice intact, and their home would still be waiting for them. Bill had offered to check the house to make sure there were no lingering traces of Dark magic.

“We’ll probably have to wait until July or August to return,” they were explaining. Their lease on the condo wouldn’t be up until then, and it was close enough that it didn’t seem worth it to try and sublet.

Ron helped Mrs. Granger clear the plates and clean up before she prepared tea. She finally rejoined them and urged Hermione to continue the story. So Hermione and Ron took turns describing the events that happened from Bill and Fleur’s wedding until the battle. They’d skipped Malfoy Manor to start with.

“So he’s gone then?” Mr. Granger had asked.

“Yes. There are still some of his followers at large, but the Ministry is working hard to catch them all,” Ron explained.

“But what happened at Malfoy Manor?” Mrs. Granger wanted to know.

Hermione took a deep breath. “We were captured because Voldemort’s name was Taboo. The snatchers appeared and our wards were broken. They took us to Malfoy Manor and Bellatrix wanted to question me because of what she found in my bag.”

“What was-” Mrs. Granger started to ask.

“The sword. She lost it, Mum. Thought I’d stolen it out of her vault at Gringotts, which is why we knew to check there for another Horcrux. She ordered Ron and Harry to be taken to the dungeon in the cellar and then she dragged me by my hair to the center of the room. She used the Cruciatus on me to try and get information. I was being honest about the sword. I wasn’t there when Harry and Ron had found it. But she didn’t believe me and the pain kept coming. It was unbearable. I- I really thought that was going to be it. But I heard Ron calling for me, and- It was enough to help me hold on.

“I’m not sure what happened after a while. I think I must have lost consciousness. Apparently a chandelier fell on me, and I have this scar on my neck, but I don’t remember there ever being anything against my throat. I only remember waking up at Shell Cottage.”

“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry you had to go through that. You’re so strong. So strong,” Mr. Granger had said. “How did you end up safe?”

“Harry and Ron had somehow called Dobby, a little house elf. He helped free the other prisoners. He also dropped the chandelier as a distraction, he didn’t mean for it to land on me, I’m sure. But it was enough for Ron to get me out of there.” Hermione looked at him gratefully.

“But why didn’t this woman believe you about the sword?” Mrs. Granger asked.

“She was evil, Mum. She’s dead now. Mrs. Weasley got her in the battle at Hogwarts. She couldn’t understand that there was magic in the sword to allow it to appear to any worthy Gryffindor, and I wasn’t going to tell her that. She couldn’t know. I had to protect us.”

“But still, honey, why didn’t you know about the sword? You knew about everything else?”

“I was sleeping when Harry found it. It was lucky that Ron came back and found him. Otherwise, he would have been-” Hermione froze. She looked at Ron. She said she wasn’t going to say anything about him leaving, but she’d just…

“Hermione-” Ron started.

“I didn’t mean to,” she whispered. She looked horrified.

“What do you mean Ron came back. Wasn’t he with you the whole time?” Mrs. Granger shot a look at him.

“He- He was. He got injured, Mum. The splinching. There was no-”

“It’s okay, Hermione.” Ron cut her off. He might as well own up to it. “Yes, Mrs. Granger. I left. It was the worst mistake of my life. We promised we’d see Harry through with this together, but I couldn’t take the Horcrux whispering to me anymore. Telling me I was useless and not needed or wanted. Harry and I got in a huge row, and I walked out. I’m not proud of it, and I did everything I could to get back to them. And I did, eventually.”

Mrs. Granger stared at him. He couldn’t tell what he was thinking. He hoped that Mr. Granger could at least understand. “Hermione, I think you should stay here tonight.”

“But, Mum-” Hermione tried to say.

“No, darling, it’s been eleven months since we’ve seen you. You’ve spent so much time away since you were eleven! At least give us this, stay with us! You have a place here.”

“But what about-”

Ron knew when he’d been defeated. He wasn’t going to win against Mrs. Granger, and he didn’t want to further the wedge between her and her parents. “I’ll be fine, Hermione. You stay.” Ron got up. “You know where to find me. I’ll stay for a couple days, but if you want me to leave, I’ll contact the ministry and arrange for travel back to England.”

Nothing about this trip was turning out the way he was hoping. Maybe they weren’t meant to be after all.

“Ron, I-” But Hermione didn’t know what to say.

“For the record, I’m not leaving you. Not this time. You know where to find me,” he said quietly. He promised her he’d never leave her again, and he wasn’t leaving her. Not really. “Thank you for dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Granger.” Ron turned and walked to the door, and headed back to the flat.

#romione #hp post war #hp australia #slow burn

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renlimotroll · 3 years

Text

Cruel Summer

Summary: "Stay, Sensei, please." Siruko begs, even though it was useless. Sensei didn't belong to him. Sensei belonged to the world, to his fans, to the stage, to the microphone. This borrowed summer was the best and worst of times, where devils roll their dice and angels roll their eyes. What doesn't kill Siruko makes him want Sensei more.

Pairing: Limone-Sensei x Siruko 🍋🐶

Warnings: BL, a lot of ANGST (but I'm a sucker for happy endings, don't worry), extremely out of character, pure imagination, REALLY LONG ONESHOT FIC, PG-17 (there's nothing explicit at all, but there are heavy implications of mature themes) Please don't read if you are uncomfortable. You have been warned.

A/N:

Lately all I've been thinking about is LimoSiru, and I've been itching to write this ever since my friend Shuura showed me that picture. I'm really not good with angst, so writing this was a major challenge, and I hope I was able to pull it off.

I also want to thank this person who hates me so much, because if they didn't antagonize me so much with subtle little things that no one else sees, then I wouldn't be able to write this masterpiece. I learned that sometimes, no matter what we do--be kind, ignore, confront--they’ll find anything we do to be annoying and they won’t like us and that’s okay. We don’t have to make people like us, and they don’t have to like us too. It's really not healthy for me to be able to only write under extreme negative emotions and stress, but oh, the beauty that comes out of it is heavenly. I turned my frustrations into something beautiful, and I’m proud of it. Without this person, I wouldn’t have been fueled to finish this.

This is dedicated to all LimoSiru shippers like me. Seriously, what's not to like about LimoSiru? Have you seen how Limone-sensei acts when he's with Siruko versus how he acts with everybody else? Sensei turns into the playful, teasing younger-brother person while older-brother, responsible Siruko laughs exasperatedly at him (LimoSiru Hanany Land Reconstruction Part 1, Sensei's POV). He's usually not like that, always being the tsukkomi to chaotic Hanae, so seeing him be boke with Siruko-san is really cute. Plus, when Sensei scolds Mintosu-san VS when he scolds Siruko-san, you gotta tell me how you don't see how much softer he is with Siruko-san. And yes, it's canon that Siruko-san likes it when Sensei scolds him. He's the reason why the whole recorded voice clips went on sale, after all. Thank gods for the Number One Limojo, Siruko-san.

I should stop before the word count goes even longer. Enjoy!

"Stay."

It was still dark; the stars were still scattered across the night sky. Siruko blinks blearily, sleep still evident in his purple eyes. It was rare for him to be up this early, and for good reason. Siruko wasn't good at goodbyes.

"Stay, please. Sensei." He begs into the darkness, even though it was futile, just like all those times he pleaded before. Siruko follows the movement within the room with half-lidded eyes, crawling over to the other side of the bed. To the side where it always smelled like lemons and happiness. Limone was already buttoning up the white shirt he always liked to wear. A glance at the clock showed it was 3:15 am.

"Ohayou, Siruko-san." Sensei chuckles mirthlessly. The bed dips as the blue-haired man sits down. He takes Siruko's hand and kisses his knuckles, and with his other hand he runs his beautiful fingers through purple hair. Siruko almost purred. "You know I can't." He reasons out with a hint of regret in his deep, melodic voice.

What Siruko knows is how cruel this summer is. For the first time in years, his and Limone-sensei's break finally matched. 30 days of pure bliss--of netflix and chilling, playing games all day, going on sneaky dates, and even a trip to the beach for Sensei's birthday. It was good, all kinds of good that he soaked up and basked in because it was limited--a fragile heaven. Alas, all good things must come to an end.

Who would have thought that the man Siruko met in the net cafe so many years ago would be one of the most popular idols not just in Japan, but the whole world even. He could still remember it like it was only yesterday, when a handsome man was there staring at him as Siruko looked up from the vending machine. They struck up a conversation, and Siruko found himself attracted to this gravity of a man who was as charming as the devil and yet as kind as an angel. Since that day (during which Siruko was in high school making friends with a college student Limone), there was never a day where they didn't talk or hang out. It was almost a love story.

Except it wasn't. While their relationship progressed from gaming friends to real friends to friends with benefits, there was never really a clear status or label as to what they are. Especially when Limone started to upload videos of him singing (encouraged by none other than Siruko himself), and he got discovered by the public. Siruko knew one day he'd be popular; it was even him who nicknamed him 'Sensei' as a result of all those times Limone taught him something he didn't know, and the name stuck and now became a stage name. Singing was Sensei's dream, and he loved it with a passion burning as bright as the sun. Siruko loved it too--loved the twinkle in Sensei's eyes when he sang in front of a sea of crowd, loved the healing laugh when he gets interviewed on the TV, loved every billboard and commercial he sees as he walks throughout the busy streets of Tokyo. It's just, sometimes he wishes he had Sensei all to himself. Sometimes, he didn't want to share him with the world. He immediately feels guilty for that thought and scolds himself for being too selfish.

"Why don't you sleep a little longer. You have 8am classes, don't you? You need some rest." Sensei pecks his cheek sweetly, and Siruko chases his mouth for a better one. He needs it like the air he breathes, a kiss of passion, of desperation, of something that wasn't even his to lose, and Sensei gives it to him like he always does, a hot, bright and burning clash of lips and tongue. Heat pools at the bottom of his stomach and he breaks away to leave a trail of light kisses on Sensei's neck, hoping to make him feel how much he wants him.. hoping...

"Stop, Siruko-san." Sensei growls, pulling away and standing. Siruko stills immediately, shame burning acid behind his eyes. He internally mourns the loss of the warmth of another body. "How many times should I tell you, no marks. I can't come out wearing a hickey, you know that. Papz are everywhere." And just like that, the moment was gone. How unfair, Siruko thinks, because he knows his body is littered with colors of different shades, blue warring with purple, marks planted by none other than the possessive lips of Sensei. Limone likes to make sure Siruko knows who he belongs to. Isn't it unfair how only Siruko's body gets to be decorated with bruises and hickeys? Well, who was he anyway to get possessive over Sensei. He swallows the bile threatening to make his tongue bitter.

At least Sensei had the decency to look guilty. "I'll be touring again in a couple of weeks, in America." The idol sighs resignedly. Siruko closes his eyes in defeat; it was inevitable after all. Sensei puts on his watch with all the speed of a turtle, and Siruko knows he is stalling time, using up every millisecond he's allowed to have with his purple lover (?). Sensei didn't look like he wanted to leave either, a small comfort in the growing ache in Siruko's chest.

"How long?"

"3 or 4 months, I guess."

"That's too long."

"It's really not." That's true. When Sensei finally broke out into the international scene and started holding tours in other countries, he has been gone longer. Siruko can never begrudge him of the distance, because Sensei always Skyped and called him even in his busy schedule, even during the times Sensei can barely talk in his exhaustion. He knows, he understands with his whole being the realities of dating (?) an idol, but that doesn't stop him being upset.

He should just be grateful that Sensei spends time with him, a normal college student.

"I'll walk you to the car, Sensei."

Sensei finishes getting ready, putting his glasses and black mask on. Siruko combs Sensei's cerulean silky hair with his fingers, hair that became so messy from their bedroom activity. Siruko doesn't know why Sensei keeps coming back to him when he could literally have any man or woman in the planet, but he takes pride that he was the only one who can mess up Sensei's hair like this, a result of their dirty bedroom fun.

They walk in silence to Sensei's tacky rental car, a preemptive measure to avoid paparazzi or fans who can recognize him. Sensei holds his hand tightly, rubbing circles on the student's cold skin with his thumb. Siruko's chest is heavy, but there's no use whining. Sensei belongs to the stage, to the millions of fans who adored him. Instead, Siruko tries to think about the Sensei only he had. The Sensei who makes him watch horror movies so Siruko could cling to him when he's scared (the sadistic Sensei who enjoys Siruko being scared out of his wits only to comfort him after), the Sensei he can surprisingly outdrink (and how cute the drunk, clingy Sensei was), the Sensei who pets every street cat they see, and makes sure not to get any cat hair on him so Siruko's allergy won't act up.

August slipped away in a blink of an eye, but Siruko memorized everything. Every conversation, every place they went to, every food they ate. He's always been good at memorizing, and he stores everything in his heart. Sensei wasn't his, but the memories with him were his. No one can take that away.

The purplehead makes a whine at the back of his throat, and Sensei cracks a smile, slowing to a stop. Sensei always knew what he wanted, what he needed. He pushes Siruko-san to the shadow created by the walls in the narrow alley, but no one was around anyway, not at this hour. Sensei removes his mask as the darkness shields them from prying eyes and snakes his hand on the purplehead's waist. The singer cups Siruko's chin, tilting his head up, and Siruko can only grab onto Sensei's arm to steady himself. The last thing he sees before he closes his eyes is Sensei's hungry blue eyes and his gold ear-piercing, then Sensei swoops in and captures his lips into a hot, wet kiss. Limone-sensei runs his tongue into every cavern of Siruko's mouth, exploring everything, and it feels like heaven, a toe-curling sensation Siruko can never get enough of. Sensei bites his lip and it stings, then sucks on it tenderly as an apology. The pain mixes with the pleasure, and Siruko forgets where they are at the moment. Sensei takes and leads and dominates, and Siruko can only let him, as always. Fireworks explode in his body and Siruko moans loudly, not even caring who hears. The world could burn right now and Siruko will keep chasing Sensei's lips.

It felt too long and too short at the same time. The need for air separates them, and Siruko pants, chest heaving up and down. "Stay, please, Sensei." He can't stop begging, holding onto the fever dream high Sensei keeps giving him. Siruko knows the answer anyway, knows it from the way Sensei's lips thin into a firm line, knows from the way his shoulders straighten in resolve. However, knowing doesn't make it hurt any less.

"Stop playing so late at night and focus on your studies, okay?" Sensei whispers in his ear, his hot breath tickling him. He caresses Siruko's cheek in a way that he knows will always bring a beautiful blush. Sensei likes the fact that he can easily make Siruko blush.

"Yada."

Sensei flicks his forehead, earning a grumpy pout from the student. The pseudo-teacher gives in to the temptation to kiss that pout away. "If I say yes to your idiotic request of me recording all those freaky lines you want, will you promise to take care of yourself better?"

Siruko pretends to think. "Fine, but I want that 'Bakagayo' morning alarm. It has miracle powers that'll help me for my crazy morning classes." Sensei rolls his eyes but his chest rumbles in deep laughter, and Siruko likes that. Sometimes he imagines those laughs were reserved for him, and he likes making Sensei laugh a lot. He needs this goodbye to end on a positive note, or else he'll break down.

"You'll do great, Sensei. I'm sure everyone will love the new album." He whispers back, careful not to disturb the peace of the early morn. Despite the fame, the money, the influence Limone has, somehow, he always needed to hear this from Siruko-san, and the latter is only happy to give this to him. It was the only other thing he can give, aside from a good one-night stand. Sensei says Siruko grounds him, whatever that means. Siruko doesn't really understand why Sensei needs reassurance--he was a great singer and an even greater human being, with his charm and wit and kindness, and sometimes Siruko feels silly encouraging him, because Sensei was so out of his league. Sensei was everything he's not--confident, beautiful and interesting. He and Sensei live on two different worlds. But Sensei gives him that small, shy smile that Siruko really loves, and Siruko's heart squeezes. He'll fight the world for that precious smile.

Finally Sensei gets in the car. He rolls down the window to wave goodbye, and then he's off, and in a few hours, in another country, a different timezone. Siruko waits till the car disappears around the block, comes back home, then sags down behind the door and cries and cries.

He lets the tears fall until it's time for him to prepare for class. He doesn't even know why it still hurts even after all these years. He can't get used to it, no matter how hard he tries. He knows they can never be like any other couple holding hands on the street--they're not even a couple. He was just… that guy Sensei keeps coming back to. A friend, at best. He should be content with stolen kisses, hidden touches, forbidden passions. It's nothing new--he knows he has to keep secrets to keep Sensei. So why? Why does it kill him this much?

Maybe it's because when, three days later, he wakes up into an internet chaos when Limone-sensei's new album comes out. The Bintroll group chat descends into panic and madness of 300 messages. He ignores it all and buys the album, listening to it as he prepares a lab report, even though he already knew all of the songs before the release. He pretends that they were about him, for him. If he pretends hard enough, he can imagine Sensei is with him in the room.

Maybe it's because he sees Sensei everywhere, but it wasn't his Sensei. It was the world's Sensei. His new single is played in every music show, in every diner he eats at, it's in the lips of every conversation around him. Siruko's emotions are always a roller coaster during a comeback. It was good for his grades when Sensei is away; he can concentrate on studying while Sensei focuses on his own career. But the phrase 'out of sight, out of mind' wouldn't work when all he can see and hear is Limone-sensei.

The new single sounds really good. Siruko was really proud of him. When Sensei played it for him on the piano, it wasn't a duet yet. It was different from his usual upbeat, rock-popish songs. Sensei didn't usually sing about anything even remotely resembling love, but this one was almost like that, and that's why Siruko loved it. He didn't know Sensei intended for it to be a duet though, and as much as the woman's voice sounded nice, he preferred the version of only Sensei's familiar voice.

(It reminded him of the beach, of fireworks, of Sensei's wonderful birthday spent with Siruko, of a cruel August slipping away like a bottle of wine.)

Maybe it's because no matter how much he wants to tell his friends and family about this, Siruko can't. He does love the small world he and Sensei are in when they're together, where no one can judge them and they're alone and free to love and make love, but in times like this where he's hurting, he really really wants, needs someone he can share his pain to. It only hurts even more when his own friends talk about Sensei in front of him.

"I'm telling you, it's all promotion, promotion! A gimmick so the song will be talked about more! Not that Sensei needs it." Jiraichan huffs in frustration as Siruko arrives at their group's usual bench. He has half-a-mind to turn back and eat somewhere else as soon as he hears the topic, but that would be suspicious behavior. He tries to smile at the others as they greet him, hoping it didn't look as lonely as he really feels inside.

"And I'm telling you, the song itself is about some kind of a summer love! So… what if it's true!" Quartet argues, and Siruko's throat constricts. Did… they find out? Was their affair finally discovered by the world? Oh no, this scandal, it'll be huge, he can't be tarnishing Sensei's name… people will be hating him. It's ok if they hate me, I don't care, but please don't let this ruin Sensei's career, oh god what can he do to clean up this mess, why did he even think he can sort-of date an idol, oh my god ohmygod

"Siruko-chan? Are you okay? You look pale." Ichihachi notes, worry coloring his tone. He puts down his snacks and inspects their leader's face. Siruko didn't even realize he was on the verge of a panic attack. "Did you stay up all night studying again? I thought you got a high score on that midterms."

"I'm fine." But it wasn't true. His chest is being constricted by a big snake, squeezing air out of his lungs. The purplehead tries deflecting. "Where's Hakotaro and Minben-san?"

"They're in class. Siruko-san, have you heard of Sensei's new song? Of course you did, is there anyone who hasn't heard it yet?" Jiraichan asks rhetorically, obviously trying to change the topic away from Siruko to help, bless Jiraichan's soul, but in this case, it only makes it worse. "Do you like it? Do you think the rumors are true?"

"What.." he chokes, feeling the much-needed oxygen escape his body. "...rumor?"

"Eh you didn't know? Hang on." Quartetchi fishes his handphone from his pocket, scrolls for a while, then shows him the screen. A picture of Sensei and the female idol he had a duet with. Sensei's hand was on her back and they were laughing. They look… good together. "It says that Sensei is dating her. The internet's going crazy, but Sensei's company hasn't released a statement yet. It could be true though, I-- wait where are you going? Siruko-san?"

Siruko dashes away, feeling guilty for the three worried, confused looks of his friends he left behind, but he needs to get away. He needs to.. he doesn't know… he never knew it was possible but this was so much worse, so much more painful than earlier. He can't breathe, can't apologize to those he bumps along the way (not recognizing it was Minben-san and Hakotaro who calls his name, tries to grab him but he shakes them off violently). Nothing registers in his mind anymore than the need to get away… He needs to get out of here. He needs to…

Tears stream down his face and he can't even see where he's going. He trusts his legs to take him home, because honestly his brain can't be relied on right now. The image is flashing again and again in his mind, like his own personal hell. He shouldn't worry about it, dating rumors have always been there since Sensei rose to fame, the company will deny it later, Siruko's sure. But there was something ugly, something twisted eating him alive, making it hard to breathe. Maybe it's his insecurities, telling him that they look nice, and dating another idol must be better, because Sensei is honestly better off with anybody than Siruko, a good-for-nothing college student who sometimes streams games with his friends. He was just an old-time friend good for lonely, horny nights, and there wasn't even something between them. Maybe it was just all his imagination, the heated affection he sees in Sensei's electric blue eyes after Siruko tells a horrible joke, the promise of forever after a heated exchange of lips. He thought there was something there. But what if there wasn't?

Before he realizes it, he's in a bar, and he resolves to drown everything in alcohol. He wants to get wasted, to forget about everything, even for just a moment. Maybe even find someone he can replace Sensei with (as if, his heart scoffs). But he can't. Every time someone talks to him, it wasn't that deep melodic voice with witty banter, the voice who always scolds him but is always gentle with him, and he is disgusted with anyone not Sensei. When someone tries to flirt with him, he is revolted and he flinches away, because it wasn't Sensei's beautiful fingers touching him, it wasn't Sensei's rough yet caring touch. He goes home, drunk in the back of the cab and crying all the way home, and thankfully the driver ignores him.

Siruko doesn't realize that he's calling Sensei as he locks his front door. He curses himself as the ring goes too long; it could be any time of the day for Sensei right now, on the other side of the world. He could be preparing for interviews. He could be practicing with his crew. He could be with his girlfriend.

"Hi Siruko-san,"

And Siruko breathes clear for the first time today, that's the effect Sensei's voice has on him. His vision is blurry, maybe from the tears, maybe from the alcohol, maybe from the relief that Sensei answered the call. "Hello? Nashita? Is something wrong?"

"Is it true?" He whispers.

"Is what true? Hey, have you been crying?! What's going on?"

"You're dating her."

Siruko hears someone on the other end, maybe Sensei's manager Hanachan, muffled voices in low tones, and he feels guilty for interrupting whatever Sensei was doing. Siruko wants to hang up; he shouldn't be doing this right now, should have planned more for this discussion. He wonders if he can break up with Sensei, if he even has the strength to. The thought is so horrible and unbearable it makes him sick and want to vomit. Call him masochistic, but Siruko isn't above being a side lover, if only just to at least still be beside Sensei in some way. He decides to leave the decision to Sensei, and whatever he wants, Siruko will go along with it, as he always did. He'll follow Sensei to the ends of the world anytime.

"I'm sorry Siruko-san." Siruko intakes a gulp of air at Sensei's tone. This is it, he thinks. It's the end. "I didn't know about the rumor at all. Hanachan said the company is taking care of it."

"She's really pretty. You look good together."

"What?! No way! I told you it's not true! Jesus, Siruko-san." Sensei anger-whispers frustratedly. "I am not dating her."

Siruko pauses, forcing the words out, "But you can."

Sensei's pointed silence was an answer enough and Siruko continues. "You can date her. She's a better match for you more than I will ever be." Sensei inhales sharply that signals he's about to interrupt, but Siruko-san won't let him. For the first time, all the words are flowing. They'd be having the conversation they should have had all along these years. "It's not like we're… what are we, Sensei?" His voice breaks, and Siruko chuckles humorlessly and clutches his aching chest to keep himself together. "I know what I am to you. A friend, a good time in bed. And I'm content to be that. It's up to you now what you want me to be, but please. Please don't keep me away from your life. I… I can't stay away from you, Sensei. I'll be anything you want me to be, as long as I can stay in your life. That's all I ask for."

"Siruko-san," The blue-haired idol starts, and Siruko can picture him pinching the bridge of his nose like he does when something upsets him. Siruko wonders if the new girl knows Sensei like he does, knows how Sensei is annoyed when his glasses are fogged up, knows that Sensei hates cigarettes so Siruko gave it up for him, knows how much Sensei loves sneakers. Siruko grits his teeth angrily. No, no one knows Sensei like he does. Why is it so unfair, why can't Sensei just be his.

"I'm sorry, I know I'm interrupting something, so please, don't mind me. Congrats on your new album and single by the way. Good--

"Wait!!" Sensei shouts frantically. "Siruko-san, please, listen to me." Oh gods, here it comes. Sensei will break up with him. Knowing it's coming doesn't make it any less painful. "You're…

You're very special to me, and I don't want to see you like this. I… I'm sorry… " Siruko's breath hitches as he expects break-up words next. "...that I hurt you, I swear that rumor is false. I would always be honest to you, so please believe me." Sensei pleads. Siruko is confused why Sensei is not yet breaking up with him.

"Can we… this conversation… I think it's better if we talk personally… so I'm really sorry to ask this but, please, wait for me? I'll be home soon, I promise. Wait for me, please?"

Wasn't this something... worse? Waiting for Sensei to leave and dump him… isn't it agony? Sensei should just rip Siruko's heart out right now, swift and easy, on a phone call and not personally, instead of cruelly making him wait for months. But oh well, if Siruko has been able to keep their relationship a secret for five long years, what is a few more months.

"Okay…. I'll wait for you."

"Thank you, Siruko-san. I--" Siruko cuts him off and decides that this conversation has been long enough. He wants to sleep.

"I need to go, Sensei. Before I hang up, can I tell you something? Though, it might be the worst thing you'll ever hear."

Sensei hesitates but relents. "Sure, what is it?"

The few seconds were long enough that Sensei could be thinking he was asleep, but he waits patiently. Siruko decides it's now or never.

"I love you."

Then he hangs up.

November came. Autumn leaves were falling down, a reminder of the beauty of letting go. It had been two months since their last conversation, and it might be the worst two months in Siruko's life. Everyone noticed and were worried, and although Siruko appreciates their concern, he can't exactly tell them why he's not eating well, why he prefers staying on his bed rather than gaming like he used to, and their persuasions are becoming annoying. The purplehead leaves the lecture hall, rearranging his red scarf and wrapping his arms around his bony self. The air was cold, and something about it felt like something was going to happen soon.

On the way to his apartment building, he sees a familiar man wearing glasses and a black suit with an orange tie, and it was so out-of-place in the sea of half-awake, half-dead zombie horde of students that Siruko couldn't help but stare. The man scans his surroundings and locks eyes with him. Siruko instinctively steps back.

The man approaches him with a big smile. "Hi Siruko-san! We finally meet! I'm Hanae Natsuki, I'm assuming you already know who I am?"

Siruko's lilac eyes widen in surprise. Of course he knows who this man is. He's the only person in the world who knows about his secret relationship with Sensei, although he's never met Sensei's manager personally before. (Even if he's not connected to Sensei, Siruko would have still recognized. Hanachan was as popular to Sensei's fans as the idol was.) He nods, unable to form words out of his nervousness. Why was he here? Is Siruko in trouble?

"Do you still have classes? Can I invite you for tea?"

"Hai…" Siruko murmurs anxiously. Hanachan flashes him another wide smile and leads him to a sleek, fancy car.

The cafe Hanae-san brought him to was a quaint, charming one, and the smell of coffee and pastry wafts throughout the place. Hanae-san guides him to one of the more private tables. Their orders arrived moments later (expensive-looking aromatic tea for Hanachan and coffee for him, along with several kinds of pastries and treats).

"So, you're a university student? How's school?" Hanachan asks after a sip.

Siruko shrugs, "If I pretend that my professors are the monster bosses in a game I have to defeat and that every year I pass I level up and get closer to clearing the game, it's fine."

"You're a gamer?" Hanachan chuckles at the metaphor. "Sensei always makes me play horror games!" He complains good-naturedly. "What kind of games do you play?"

They converse for a while, pleasant enough to the point where they can laugh for a bit. Hanachan forks the scone to his mouth and remarks, "Now I know why Sensei likes you so much."

Siruko blinked, mouthful of croissant. "Eh??"

Hanachan shakes his head a little, grinning. "You're too cute for your own good. Listen, the real reason I met with you is this." He fishes out a big ticket and an armband from his coat. "Sensei's performing tomorrow at the Unit, so go see him, okay?"

Siruko swallows painfully, biting his lower lip anxiously. "But… doesn't he have an American tour?"

"We're on a break right now." Hanachan assures him, "He misses you. He doesn't say it, but I know him." Hanachan looks at him with heavy intensity, and suddenly Siruko knows why this man was good at what he does. Hanachan knows how to wield his charm and professionalism. Siruko privately thinks he would be super famous too if he weren't a manager. "Go see him, Siruko-san, and if you choose to, please talk to him. Everything will be alright once you talk. Got it?" Siruko finds himself unable to say no, not that he wants to. The thought that he'll be able to see Sensei fills him with nervous excitement. He nods meekly, accepting the gift. To be able to see Sensei, even just as a fan, it's enough. Siruko's stomach is filled with butterflies.

"Sa te, see you there!" Hanachan stands to leave, and Siruko scrambles to bow deeply to thank him. "You're really good for him, you know? Sensei's born to shine under the spotlight, but he won't take the stage if there wasn't someone pushing him and encouraging him from the shadows. He can fly to anywhere in the world, but at the end of the day, he needs and craves a home to come back to. Thanks for being that person, Siruko-san."

Siruko flushes red at Hanachan's words. "Is it this easy to tease you? I might start doing it more." The manager laughs evilly, causing Siruko to sweat-drop. Hanachan places a firm hand on his shoulder.

"I know you've always been there for him, so continue to take care of him, ne? Let's play together sometime too!"

"Hai!" Siruko's lips twist upwards brightly. Hanachan is an amazing person; he was like a walking sun. Siruko stays in the cafe for a while, staring at the ticket for the details. He really really wants to see Sensei, and he's so tired of stalking him via fancams and tv shows and social media. Tomorrow, no matter what happens, whether Sensei dumps him or not, Siruko's going to see him, and that's all that matters.

It turns out, he'll be going to the concert on his birthday.

When he arrived at the concert venue, Siruko almost wanted to go back home again. He couldn't stop his hands from shaking, whether it was from nerves or excitement, he doesn't know. But the guard recognizes him (maybe Hanachan showed him a picture) and leads him to a back door, where usually the staff and crew are. Hanachan greets him and leads him to the steps that lead to the stage where Sensei already was. Siruko bites his lip and hunches to himself, hoping Sensei wouldn't notice him yet.

It was always a one-of-a-kind experience attending Sensei's concerts, and Siruko loves it. Loves the energy, loves the crowd swaying to the beat and chanting the idol's name. It was electrifying, and he can honestly say it was one of his favorite things in the world. Tonight's concert was a small one, a limited only fan member-exclusive type. But that didn't mean it wasn't crowded. It was Siruko's first time being on the other side of the stage though, and he can see the limojos and fans' excitement as Sensei taps his mic to start the show.

Siruko enjoys the show, he really does, but he feels a bit strange. Usually when he watches Sensei's concerts, he focuses on Sensei alone, blind to everything else. Now that he's on the other side of the stage, he can see the fans' reactions to everything Sensei does, the way their eyes are lit with faithful admiration, the way they absorb everything Sensei says and does, and it reminds Siruko again that Sensei is not his. That Sensei is a performer and he belongs to the microphone, to the stage, to the fans. And Siruko can tell that Sensei loves this, that he's having fun doing this, that the fanchants only motivate him to sing better, to be a brighter star than he already was. Siruko can't take this away from him, and maybe it really was for the best to part ways. If Sensei can't do it, then Siruko needed to be the one that got away. Siruko's heart drops to his stomach, melancholy seeping through his veins. I'd gladly sacrifice my heart and happiness, he thinks sadly, for Sensei.

As Siruko was about to leave, Sensei clears his throat on the mic, implying an encore. A crew hands him a guitar and Sensei jokes a little, and the fans are ecstatic. Sensei looks especially handsome under the bright spotlight, and that's not Siruko being biased. He drinks from his water bottle and suddenly Siruko feels thirsty too (it should be illegal to look that hot just by drinking water). He begins the encore by giving a message, and Siruko decides to stay against his better judgement. It might as well be the last song of Sensei's he'll ever let himself listen to.

"First, I'd like to thank all of my fans and supporters. I owe everything to you guys, and if it weren't for your support I wouldn't be here on this stage. The last five years were truly an amazing ride, and I'm glad to be able to share my music to the world. Thank you so much." He bows deeply.

Suddenly, Sensei turns his head to the side and their eyes meet, blue connecting to purple. Sensei smiles, and Siruko can't help but to mirror it. Siruko's heart drums out loud in his ears. Limone addresses his audience again. "That's why I'm hoping that my fans can support me in this announcement I'm about to make." Sensei pauses, and there's a mix of confusion and anticipation in the air. Sensei holds Siruko's gaze again as he speaks into the microphone, and the intensity makes the butterflies in his stomach flutter harder. "There's a really special person in my life, a person that I love so much, and I hope my fans will accept that." Siruko's breath hitches. He can hear the shocked noises of the fans but he can't really process anything. Was Sensei… really doing it?

"Many of my fans have asked me before, why I don't sing about romance. I've actually written a lot, but I was scared. I know it's silly and stupid. Me? Scared?" The audience laughs and Sensei does too. Sensei can charm an entire mass of people just by being himself. "But that's the truth. The industry I work on can be ruthless and cruel sometimes, and every little thing I do is subject to the public eye. I wanted to protect this person from the hatred and the judgement, so I kept us a secret for a long, long time."

"How long?" An audience shouts, and Siruko panics, thinks that the fans won't accept, that they're angry, that Sensei's career is blowing up and Siruko's to be blamed, and it must have shown on his face because Hanachan is suddenly beside him brushing up on his elbows, and winks at him. He realizes that this must all be planned, that maybe the fan was planted there to ask it. Siruko relaxes.

"How long, you ask? Five years! It was way before I started being an utaite. Actually, you guys should thank this person because they were the one who told me to upload my singing videos." Sensei declares in amusement. His tone takes a more somber note as he continues. "I'm really sorry for keeping this from you guys, so please don't be mad." Siruko sees some people shake their heads as a reply, and he realizes for the first time that maybe, this could work. The sliver of hope shines bright for the first time in his life. Maybe Sensei can finally be his.

"I guess what I want to say is, I hope people can accept that I'm only human, and it's not a sin to love, is it?" The fans shake their heads unanimously, and some even looked like they were about to melt. Siruko feels he is about to melt too. "I decided that I want to still keep our relationship private, so I hope my real fans respect our privacy. This is me saying that I won't hesitate to shove any paparazzi cameras to their faces, bakatare omaera." The audience laughs and takes every word of Sensei's with an awesome amount of worship, like they're ready to fight anyone that stands in the way of their idol's happiness. "The most you guys get is maybe a hand or a voice in one of my social media posts, and that's it. I'm not sharing this person with anyone." Another audience shouts, "Sensei, aren't you too possessive!" and Sensei roars with laughter, making the audience join him too. "Yes I am!" He says proudly, and Siruko can only chuckle and shake his head exasperatedly.

"I won't be giving any interviews about this, so go ahead and upload this and share it everywhere. I also won't hesitate to take any legal actions, I can totally afford a lawyer or five." Sensei jokes, but everyone knows how serious he is taking this. "I'm just asking my true fans to respect that I'm allowed to love someone and I'll do anything in my power to protect it. Is that okay?"

The audience screams yes, and Sensei laughs, which is music to Siruko's ears already. He feels tears well up in his eyes and tries to hold them back by biting his lower lip. This is too overwhelming, and so different from all the ugly scenarios he was always worried about. This isn't how he imagined it to go, not this easy acceptance from his fans, not Sensei revealing he loves Siruko to the world first before Siruko himself.

"I'm dedicating this song to that special person. I hope my feelings reach you, love." And the audience went 'aaaaaw' as the lights dim, a lone light focused on the singer.

Sensei began singing the notes to his latest single, and tonight he's performing it as a solo, the way Siruko heard it originally. And now Siruko understands. It really was that summer: the picturesque beach on that day, the waves on his feet, the sand underneath his body as Sensei smiles on top of him. The beautiful purple twilight, the fireworks he wished would never end along with the summer. For the first time, he can finally assume that the song was his. Sensei was his.

And he can see it. That underneath the Limone-sensei that fans adore and worship on the stage was Siruko's Sensei who couldn't hold his hand in the beginning because he was too shy. That beneath all the glitter and glamour of being an idol, a star, is Siruko's sensei who knows all the spells in the Harry Potter movies, a big big dork who picks out all the vegetables in his food and whines about it unless Siruko threatens to withhold coitus if he doesn't eat it. He's still Siruko's Limone-sensei, who can master any game he plays so easily it's almost god-like, and honestly Siruko thinks Sensei would have been a better pro-gamer than an idol.

His Sensei, who looks at him from time to time while singing, with love and affection in his intoxicating ocean eyes, something that Siruko can't be mistaken about anymore because it was so clear as the blue sky.

As the song ended, Hanachan grabs his elbow, and Siruko quickly tries to wipe his cheeks (he didn't even realize he was crying) and Hanachan just gave him a knowing smile. "Here, go to this hotel room," he says while handing out a card. "Wait for him there, Siruko-san."

As he takes the card, he glances towards the stage and once again, blue meets purple eyes. Sensei smiles at him so tenderly it physically hurts Siruko's heart, and Siruko smiles back shyly. He's grateful for a time to collect himself before they talk, because if Sensei kept flashing that stupid disarming loving smile like that, Siruko will probaby die and ascend to heaven.

"Thanks, Hanachan."

"Sure! Just remember, put your hickeys in places we can't see, okay?" Hanachan winks.

Siruko blushes so hard he turns beet red, and Hanachan laughs loudly at his expense.

It took Siruko a long time to come down from the high Sensei brought him to. After admiring and checking out the high-class, fancy hotel room, he decides to take a shower to help calm himself down. Just as he came out of the (really big) bathroom, Sensei barges in with a loud noise, takes one long head-to-toe gawk at Siruko's robe-clad wet body, and Sensei lunges at him like a hungry predator, kissing him hard, taking his robe off faster than you can say "darling".

They're lying on the fancy bed now, silky sheets tangled up between them, the perfect afterglow leaving them to their own thoughts and to catch their own breaths. When he turns to his side to look at Sensei, he sees that Sensei still hasn't come back to Earth either, what with his dopey smile and glazed blue eyes. Siruko wants to bottle up this moment forever.

However, some matters need to be discussed first, even though Siruko would rather talk with his body than his mouth. "I think we should talk, Sensei."

"No shit." Sensei chuckles then faces him. This close, Siruko can feel Sensei's breath fanning his face, can count each beautiful eyelash, can easily touch Sensei's collarbone and feel the warm skin against his. Sensei takes his hand and kisses it, and Siruko follows the movement with his eyes. It was incredibly intimate, and he only realizes now that Sensei liked to do this all the time. He really was that blind, huh.

"First, I want to apologize. Nope, don't interrupt," Sensei puts a finger on his lips when Siruko was about to react. "This was my fault, and I'm surprised that you held out so long for me. Thinking back, that was really shitty of me and you could have left me, but you didn't. Thank you."

Sensei gathers his thoughts with a deep breath. "This is such a lousy excuse, but the truth is, I didn't have time to think about us. I was always chasing after my career, and frankly, I took you for granted. I never told you, but you're the anchor that keeps me stable and steadfast even against the stormiest weathers. The reason I can sail through this shitshow of a show business is because I have you to come back home to." Sensei traces his jawline affectionately, unknowingly repeating Hanae-san's words. Siruko's heart clenches. "You're my lifeline, Siruko-san. And you've been so patient, so kind, so understanding, waiting for me all this time. I'm so incredibly grateful but also really surprised that you haven't left my dumbass." They both let out amused laughs at that.

"After you called me that day, I realized how much I screwed up. I was so focused on keeping us a secret that I never even told you how I felt about you. So I talked to my agency, told them I want to announce us, and... wait, I realized I went ahead and said we're dating even though I never really asked you out." Sensei realizes, horror dawning on his face.

"Bakagayo," Siruko whispers Sensei's favorite phrase, making Sensei laugh. "You already said it out there, so you can't take it back. Oh my god, we're," Siruko mirrors Sesnsei's stricken pose as the realization hits him. "...dating! Sensei, punch me so I know I'm not dreaming."

"Bakagayo," Sensei shows him how it's said the right way, and Siruko giggles. He loves it when Sensei says that. "I talked to my agency, and at first they were hesitant. It's understandable, but my career could burn at our door and I wouldn't care. You can't expect an idol to sing about love when they're not allowed to love. That's stupid." He rolls his eyes irritatedly, and traces Siruko's lips with his finger.

"I did tell them I have hundreds of songs written about you, so that's good album material as any. There wasn't any point arguing with me because my mind was all made up, and Hanachan was totally backing me up hard. We pestered and badgered until they gave up and let me."

"But… wouldn't this damage your career?"

"Hmmm… the crazier fans would flip out, but I couldn't care less. Haven't you seen my fans? They're the kindest!"

"That's true." Siruko agrees. "Are you sure the limojos won't hate me?"

"Are you kidding? And aren't you my number one limojo, though?" Sensei kisses his nose, and Siruko giggles again, pressing closer. "But we're still gonna be private about this. Just as a precaution, I don't want anyone crazy coming after you, so I'm not revealing your identity if I can help it, and we still can't go out on dates in public. I'm sorry." Sensei hugs him tighter, kissing his violet hair as a sincere apology.

"It's okay, no one has to know about us. I'm already content that everyone knows you belong to me." Siruko feels Sensei laugh through the vibrations in his chest. The feeling of hearing Sensei's heart beat like this was magnetic. "But can we at least take a pic so I can tell my family and Bintroll?"

"Now? You really wanna be announcing us to them naked and just after we had---"

"NO!! LATER!! BAKA BAKA BAKA!"

Sensei laughs, and Siruko feels that everything is okay in the world. It feels like he's been carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and it's been lifted off of him now. He relaxes further into Sensei's embrace, rubbing his head into the crook under Sensei's chin and burrowing further, like a feline. Sensei responds by stroking his hips, and Siruko knows it won't be long before they start their tumble in the sheets again, coz Sensei is insanely insatiable like that. But for now, Siruko savors the cuddles. Honestly, he didn't care about them hiding. It just feels better now that he can at least tell his friends, and that no matter what happens, he knows that Sensei is his.

Of course it won't be easy, the complications of dating a famous person are always there to ruin things after all, but Siruko doesn't really care. As long as he gets to be with Sensei, that's enough. Even if he doesn't get to scream it to the world, as long as Sensei loves him back, it'll always be enough.

Siruko reluctantly pulls back from his warm cocoon of Sensei's arms to look up to Sensei's beautiful piercing eyes. "Sensei, I need to tell you something that might be the worst thing you'll ever hear."

"Hn?" Amusement dances in his blue eyes, already knowing what it is.

"I love you."

"Jya, I'll tell you something too, but it might be even worse than what you just told me."

"Un?"

"I love you too. And happy birthday."

The kiss that came after was electricity starting up their hearts, fire burning their bones. It was blue as the beauty of sky, the loyalty and trust in every shade. It was purple painting the twilight, devotion and passion in every stroke of color.

It might have been a cruel summer, but Siruko wants every kind of summer with Sensei.

Later, the locket that was his birthday present opens up to a picture of them kissing at that beach, taken after Sensei had just turned his brain, body and soul into mush after their mind-blowing something and just right after fireworks decorated the night sky, and Siruko decides it wasn't really a cruel summer after all.

The End.

A/N:

I did imagine an omake where Siruko sends a picture of Sensei kissing his cheek while they're in bed to the Bintroll group chat, and Jiraichan screams "WHAAAAAAT", Quartetchi furiously types, "IS THIS A PRANK", Ichihachi calmly sends "Congratulations", and Minben-san teases him "Wow, way to go getting yourself a sugar daddy. Omeome!" Hakotaro calls him angrily and scolds him, but in the end, he was happy for his Niisan. (And maybe he gives Sensei the shovel talk later. Hurt my Niisan and I'll drive a wooden stake straight to your heart.)

My only regret is I want to write Sensei's pov, coz obviously Siruko can be a little bit of an adorable baka who doesnt see how much Sensei loves him---

The fantastic art in this story was made by my friend Shuura, so please do not grab or reupload it elsewhere. Thank you, Shuura! Click this to see more of her Limone-sensei art! 💙

Send me your reactions and comments! I'd love hearing your thoughts! Also, you can send some prompts or requests, I'd like to try challenging myself in writing, and any Bintroll pairing is fine! Thanks for reading~ 🌻

Also, the thought of scared-to-death Siruko-san x horror-fears-me Limone-sensei is haunting me, help I love this trope.

Lastly, I wonder if anyone can recognize the easter eggs and real references I wrote. There were a lot 🍋🐶

#LimoSiru #Bintrollfanfic #Limonesensei #Siruko

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purplesurveys · 3 years

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1059

surveys by lets-make-surveys

1 - When you wake up, do you get up straight away or do you lie around in bed for a while? Lie in bed, even on work days. I work from home, so there’s nothing to prepare or look nice for, anyway. I can stay in bed and just roll out of it and head to my desk at 9 AM to start the day.

2 - Who was the last person you video-called with? Have you done this more often since COVID hit? Video calls make me anxious, so I’ve always turned them down even when it was someone I’m close with who was trying to call, like Angela. The only person I’ve felt comfortable having video calls with was Gab but that obviously hasn’t happened in a while. I think the last people I saw on video was my dad’s family, though I was still shy and asked my mom not to put me in the shot for too long.

3 - How many times a week do you go out for food or drink? Back then I’d do it 2-3 times a week. Then Covid happened and I had to stop; but now that I’m starting to try to put in more effort to take care of myself, I try to bring myself to a coffee shop for me time at least once during weekends.

4 - Do you prefer getting takeaway or actually sitting in a restaurant and eating your meal there? Dine-in. For me ambience is a big part of eating food, and even if I had the once-in-a-lifetime chance of getting to eat the absolute best meal in the whole world, if I’m eating it alone at home I would still feel like shit.

5 - Where’s your favourite place to get takeaway coffee (or whatever your drink of choice is)? Starbucks. We have five joints in the highway I live on alone, so it’s both a personal preference and a I-don’t-really-have-a-choice type of situation haha.

6 - Do you tend to keep your phone on silent, vibrate or loud? It’s on vibrate during work days; then I’ve formed a habit of putting it on Do Not Disturb during weekends or holidays.

7 - If you have pets, when was the last time one of them annoyed you? What happened? Cooper thought my hand was a toy earlier so he was biting on it, and not in a very playful way.

8 - When was the last time you went into a bookshop? Around a week ago when I was buying presents; I needed to get my cousin the mechanical pencils and eraser she wanted for Christmas. I also came across the bookshop that Gab and I would make a habit to visit, but I didn’t go inside as I didn’t know if I was prepared for the memories that would inevitably flood back. I looked through the stuff they had on their windows, though.

9 - What was the last thing you ordered off Amazon? I don’t know if Amazon operates here. But the last thing I got from a local e-commerce app - don’t judge me HAHA - is a phone socket featuring the face of my newest K-drama crush. I placed my order literally 10 minutes ago.

10 - When was the last time you took a dog out for a walk? Is this your own dog or did you borrow someone else’s? Yesterday. Both were my family’s dogs.

11 - What jewellery do you have on at the moment? Not wearing any, haven’t worn any in a while.

12 - Do you have any products in your hair right now? What are they? Just shampoo and conditioner. I never put anything else on it; I don’t really deem hair products other than those two a necessity.

13 - Have you ever used a VPN to access foreign content online? Hahaha no. I’ve wanted to try it out, but I’ve always been paranoid that the NBI would come knocking at my door the moment I install one of those.

14 - Who was the last artist you listened to? Is this someone you’re a fan of? She’s a Korean singer named Cheeze, though she’s honestly unfamiliar to me. The song she contributed for the OST of Start-Up is my absolute favorite in the entire tracklist, and that’s how I knew of her.

15 - What was the last thing you had to drink? I’m at a cafe joint right now and they didn’t have my usual order of caramel macchiato, so I opted for a Spanish latté because it sounded new to me.

16 - When was the last time you cooked something for the first time? Did it work out the way it was supposed to? I made a Monte Cristo sandwich, if that counts as ~cooking; this was about a little more than a monthh ago. It worked out significantly better than I was expecting, given how rubbish I am in the kitchen. I lacked a couple of ingredients, like mustard for the sauce and the right kind of cheese, but I still ended up liking it.

17 - Black cats are considered to be bad luck - is this a superstition that you’ve ever believed in? Not me personally, but I know this is still widely believed in my country. It’s sad, so I approach black cats whenever I can and play with them for a bit.

18 - Would you ever eat blue cheese or do you find the idea of eating mould to be pretty repulsive? It is definitely not my favorite; I’d say 5 times out of 10 I would consume it, and the other 5 I would set it aside. I enjoy it the most in pizzas and as a sauce for chicken wings.

19 - Do you visit the dentist every six months like you should? Is that the standard schedule? Lmao. I only go when I have to.

20 - How old were you when you first used the internet? Was it dial-up or did you have access to proper broadband? I was first exposed to the internet at around the ages of 3 and 4, when my mom would use the dial-up internet to email my dad (he had just started to work abroad). For many years I thought Yahoo Mail was the only website that existed, since that’s all I saw my mom use. Eventually my dad got broadband for the family by the time I was 10, and the first website I ever looked up was YouTube.

21 - Are you old enough to remember using floppy discs? I remember those; I just never had to use them myself.

22 - When was the last time you purchased an actual DVD or CD? Andi gave me a Petals For Armor CD for Christmas, if it counts. Because they’re the most awesome fucking friend. The last DVD I bought myself was probably a Beyoncé's Life Is But A Dream, which was...holy crap, 7 whole years ago.

23 - Do you shave? Which body parts and how often? I do. I shave my underarms every few days, and my legs monthly.

24 - What’s your favourite season, and what are some of your favourite things about that season? We don’t have the usual four seasons we hear about in other countries; we only have wet and dry. Between those two, I definitely like wet more because I love the rain, and I like how cold it can get.

25 - When was the last time you burned yourself? I took a big bite of a lumpiang togue yesterday when it was still piping hot, so it felt like I almost burned my tongue and the roof of my mouth. But since I was a guest at my dad’s family’s house, I couldn’t spit it out.

26 - Have you ever been the victim of a theft or robbery? What was stolen? Did the police ever catch the person who did it? Someone stole my wallet in high school, and I never got it back. It was a small petty thing that the police didn’t need to be involved in, lol. I know my mom’s family got robbed when she was a teenager, though; the worst thing that got stolen was their grand piano :(

27 - What was the last TV show you discovered that you really liked? What was it that got you to watch it in the first place? START UP. I first heard of it from my co-workers who would mention the show here and there; and because I was new to the team and wanted to have something in common with them so that I can break the ice, I figured I should start on the show myself. Ended up getting obsessed with the show and gaining a new Korean crush altogether.

28 - Have you seen any of the live-action Disney remakes? Which one is your favourite? What about your least favourite? No, those have never looked even remotely appealing to me. I never saw the point of recycling movies that already exist and already feel magical by themselves.

29 - Do you have any exciting plans for tomorrow? If not, how are you planning to spend your day? It doesn’t sound exciting on its own, but I’m very much looking forward to be a homebody tomorrow haha. We’ve been with extended family for five days straight and I’m at a café right now for some me time, so tomorrow I can’t wait to just be at home and lounge around.

30 - Would you ever keep a working dog as a pet? Do you think it’s fair to keep dogs like huskies in flats when it’s so different to their natural environments? If the dog is already trained or certified to be a certain kind of working dog, I don’t see the point in keeping them for myself when they could be beneficial for other purposes. The only time I see myself adopting a working dog is if they’re already at the point of retirement and would need a loving home to live out their remaining years.

1 - Are you a fan of garlic bread? Do you eat it on its own or as part of a bigger meal? Love garlic bread; I regularly have it with my pasta and occasionally, pizza.

2 - When was the last time your area was under some kind of weather warning? Did it end up being as bad as predicted? Last month, during Typhoon Rolly. Other cities had worse experiences, but it also wasn’t sunshine and rainbows on our end. We had a blackout for around two days and I had to file for an emergency leave four days into my new job, which was super embarrassing. It didn’t flood in our street but the water was high in other areas in our village, so we couldn’t go out for a while.

3 - Do you ever buy things from charity/thrift shops? What was the last thing you bought from there? I don’t recall ever buying anything from either.

4 - The last time you got fast food, did you eat in, takeaway or go through the drive-thru? My last fast food wasssssss Jollibee, and my parents got it for takeout so that we could eat as a family at home.

5 - If you have multiple pets, do they get along with each other? Hahaha no they don’t. It’s been six months since we got Cooper but the two still don’t get along, unless it’s Kimi trying to hump him. It’s understandable; Cooper is a vibrant pup that’s super excited and play bites all the time, and on the other side is a nearly 13 year old, nearly blind, can’t-smell-as-well-as-he-used-to senior dog; and I get that Kimi’s more sensitive to sudden movements now.

6 - Do you ever buy things off eBay? If you do, do you participate in auctions or do you just use the “buy it now” option? I never go on eBay. And since I’ve never checked it out, I never understood the gimmick of the website.

7 - When you go out, do you worry that you’ve forgotten to lock the door or turn something off? Yeah, this is especially the case with locking the front door.

8 - What fruits and vegetables have you eaten so far today? Do you tend to get your “five a day”? I didn’t know five a day is a thing of some sort; but it’s only 8:47 AM and I haven’t eaten anything at all yet today.

9 - When was the last time you were in pain? What caused it and did you manage to get it sorted in the end? Last night when my back was giving me hell. As for the cause...idk, years of bad posture maybe? I was able to deal with it for a bit with the new massage pillow that my dad got for Christmas.

10 - Do you live in an area that gets lots of snow? Do you like it? If not, would you like to live somewhere that gets that cold? I would love to move somewhere that’s generally more cold. Humidity gets exhausting to deal with.

11 - What was the reason for your last doctor/hospital visit? My fever had already been lasting for a week and wasn’t showing signs of going away. No Covid symptoms, just pure hellish fever.

12 - If someone had told you that 2020 would see a global pandemic, countries going into lockdown, compulsory face masks and millions of deaths, would you have ever believed that you’d live through something like that? My personal biggest surprise for 2020 wasn’t even the pandemic. I would have had a more violent reaction if I was told I would no longer be in a relationship and be barely talking to my then-girlfriend of six years by the end of 2020.

13 - Do you prefer having the blinds/curtains open or closed when you’re at home? Does it depend on the weather or the time of day? Always closed. I don’t ever voluntarily open the curtains or windows to let the sunshine in.

14 - Do you use an ad-blocker on your computer or phone? Why/why not? I use one on my laptop because the ones on YouTube can be extremely annoying. I didn’t know it was possible to put on ad blockers on phones (is it?).

15 - Do you still use a paper diary/planner to organise your appointments and schedules? No, but I’m thinking of getting a planner again for 2021. I used to get a Starbucks planner every year just because I wanted to get into their Christmas promo hype, but I never completed any of them. Now that I’m working and am busier all around, I see the bigger need for a planner. These days, I use a Google extension called Momentum to list down my to-do tasks. My parents also got me a corkboard for Christmas on which I stick notepads with things I have to do for the day.

16 - When was the last time you charged one of your electronic items? Do you have to charge that specific item often? I’m charging my laptop now. At this point it’s always plugged in because I want to keep the cycle count low, though I’m not sure if it’s the healthiest thing to do.

17 - Have you ever thrown or broken something in a temper? Yes, definitely. I’m not normally aggressive when angry, but sometimes it happens.

18 - What does your outfit look like today? Did you pick it out for a special reason? I have on a black sundress that I didn’t change out of. I wore it yesterday when I went to a coffee shop to spend some time on my own.

19 - Do you follow any vlogs or podcasts? What is it about them that interests you? I do follow certain channels who do vlogs, but I never tune into them since most of them have gotten a little uninteresting. I’m also subscribed to several podcasts like Andi’s and Renee Young’s, but I’m not always in a podcast mood; I subscribe because I want to support them.

20 - Aside from Tumblr, what websites do you spend the most time on? Do you go through phases of visiting certain websites? I visit Twitter and YouTube the most often. I will binge Reddit every now and then, and I will get into a Wikipedia black hole at least once a week.

21 - Do you have a good relationship with your siblings? If you don’t have siblings, what about your cousins or extended family? I do not maintain a relationship with my brother after he physically assaulted me last year. My sister and I are on good terms, but we’re not close in that I can cry to her or that we know each other’s secrets. We have a very good casual relationship, and we never argue.

22 - When was the last time you were up early enough to see the sunrise? I hate the sun so I don’t really do that lol.

23 - What movie series did you last watch from start to finish? Was it one you’d seen before? I only ever do this with Twilight. I have my annual Twilight Saga marathon where I watch all five films in one afternoon hahaha.

24 - Do you still enjoy watching children’s TV programmes? What was the last one you watched? Yeah, but only the ones I watched as a kid. My cousins and I watched the Wet Painters episode of Spongebob last Christmas Eve right after we finished Midsommar.

25 - Who was the last person to tag you in something on social media? How do you know that person? I have no idea. I’ve been going in and out of deactivation, so at this point I’m sure people no longer have any clue if I’m on a certain social media website or not.

26 - What was the last thing you took a photograph of? It was a screenshot of something I wanted to show Angela.

27 - Are you a fan of giving animals human names? Sure. I certainly find it funny when pets are given incredibly ordinary human names, like Bob or Mark.

28 - When was the last time you weighed yourself? Were you happy with what the scale said? Christmas Eve eve, when I saw a weighing scale in my cousin’s room. I mean it’s what I’ve weighed for the last 5 years or so, so I have no complaints.

29 - How often do you buy yourself new clothes? What was the last clothing item you bought for yourself? Used to be a few times every month, but I have not bought anything new since before the pandemic. The last items I got were still the tops with puffed sleeves that I bought in March.

30 - What is the reason behind your mood today? Is this something you could have done something about? I’m mostly at ease; a little anxious because work continues for a certain headache of a client even though we told them our office would be on shutdown; and a little melancholic for no reason. I’m trying to combat the latter by doing my embroidery and it’s kind of helping, but the sads are still lingering.

#survey #surveys #multiple surveys

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travelingtheusa · 4 years

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ALABAMA

1 Jun 2020 (Mon) – We ran a bunch of errands today. Shopped at CVS, WalMart, Publix, the liquor store, and the post office. We also did laundry and stopped at McDonalds for breakfast while waiting for the clothes to finish. We had lunch at an Irish pub, too. They have a patio and we were able to eat outside. I guess that’s the new criteria for picking a place to eat. Our mail was forwarded from Texas and we received it with no problem. We went into the lodge and settled up our bar tab back from the day we were in there for the tornado. I called Memorial Sloan Kettering to have my medication shipped to me but the pharmacist said I had no refills. She would have to call the doctor to get authorization. She never called back so I’ll have to have it sent to me when we get to Indiana.

I finished my 2018 Travels slideshow but now I can’t seem to burn it to a CD. This is so frustrating! I will have to see if Best Buy can help.

We leave tomorrow. We will try to avoid big cities so we don’t run into the rioters that are out there protesting the murder of George Floyd. The country seems to be coming apart at the seams.

31 May 2020 (Sun) – We stayed around the campsite today. A gray dog is now in the yard next door along with one German shepherd. I sat down and wrote letters to the Human Society, the police department, the County Animal Control Division, and the local animal shelter. I hope they can save this dog.

30 May 2020 (Sat) – Paul discovered one of the tires on the RV was low. He filled it yesterday and it lost 10 pounds overnight. He took it off and brought it to a tire repair store. The mechanic said it was a bad valve and replaced it. Hope that does it.

We got to Zoom with Caiden and Miranda today. It was the first time using Zoom and turned out to be pretty easy to use. Travis has been facetiming or calling almost every day to check on us. I enjoy the contacts.

29 May 2020 (Fri) – I asked to have our mail forwarded. It should be Monday or Tuesday. We will leave as soon as we get the mail. We have to be up in Goshen, Indiana by June 8th. Paul wants to stop by Vanleigh Vilano in Tishamingo, Mississippi first so they can take a quick look at the slide out and confirm our problem is a warranty issue. Then it will be a fairly straight up to Indiana.

I picked up garbage along the back and side of the property line. We have spent over two months looking at the stuff and I couldn’t take it any more. I got two garbage bags full. I probably could have gotten three bags of garbage if I wanted to dig into the leaves.

Paul washed the truck and camper today. We are getting ready to move on.

28 May 2020 (Thu) – We took a ride to Sokol Park, the same one we went to with Bonnie a few days ago. But instead of going into the dog area, we hiked a trail through the woods. It was a short one but nice in the trees. It was after 11 a.m. and the sun was hot. Bonnie was soon panting heavily. We didn’t do much more than a mile.

After the park, we stopped at King’s Kitchen for lunch. It was a café with tables on a patio. We sat outside with Bonnie and ordered our meals. Bonnie enjoyed her burger very much. It was a very pleasant change of pace and the food was very southern. Unfortunately, we noticed that they were not wiping down the tables after use. A couple sitting at a table nearby got up and left but the table sat with no cleanup. When we finished, we wiped down our table and hands. Then used sanitizer when we got in the truck.

27 May 2020 (Wed) – We stayed around the camper today. Thunderstorms pummeled us most of the day, sending Sheba deep into the closet.

26 May 2020 (Tue) – Didn’t do much today. It rained most of the day. Paul worked on maps for the New York caravan. I worked on the slideshow for our 2018 travels. This is a very enjoyable project.

25 May 2020 (Mon – Memorial Day) – We had to go shopping today for pet food. Since we were out, we also went to the supermarket and picked up a few things. We also stopped at McDonalds for breakfast. I’ll bet the drive in places did especially well during this pandemic. People who don’t normally eat McDonalds or Wendys or Chick-Fil-A have gone there because delis and cafes have been closed.

Noah called to facetime with us. He’s so funny. I love talking to him. Travis had his in-laws over for a barbecue. His brother-in-law was supposed to come over but didn’t. We just hung around the camper for the rest of the day. The sun is so damn hot! It blazes bright, too. Anything light colored seems to reflect and magnify the sunlight. Walking outside during the day absolutely requires sunglasses. Walking the dog will be reduced to early morning and evening. I imagine the roadway/parking lot gets very hot for her paws. At the height of the day, it feels like standing in front of an oven. The sun is certainly more intense down here in the south. I rarely remember the sun feeling like this back up in New York.

24 May 2020 (Sun) – The day started out overcast and oppressive but cleared up later. I worked on creating a slideshow of our 2018 travels. Paul is still trying to get the 2017 slideshow he did to burn on a disc and make a copy of our 2016 adventures. The technology is very challenging.

23 May 2020 (Sat) – We stayed around the campground today. In the afternoon, thunderstorms rolled in and my phone was dinging with weather advisories. At 8:30 pm, I got another notice. Thinking it was another weather advisory, I half glanced at the notice then sat bolt upright. It was a Public Safety Alert that said “Escaped inmate seen in your area.” It then went on to describe the man. I went to the door and locked it. Paul as quite amused by my reaction.

22 May 2020 (Fri) - We slipped out early this morning and did laundry. There was one woman with a small child and a repairman in the laundromat. After the clothes went into the washer, we drove to Chick-Fil-A for breakfast and brought it back to eat in the truck. There was a lot of traffic on the road. Seems like the whole state has opened up.

21 May 2020 (Thu) – We went to Home Depot today to pick up material for Paul to use in revising Sheba’s perch in the truck. The shelf he has for her now is just a little too small. The new one will accommodate her better. With her spinal issues, she can’t curl into a ball like most cats so we have to make the form fit her straighter posture when she lies down.

The parking lot was pretty full. When we entered, a worker with a cell phone said she had us. She was counting people as they entered the store and entering it into a program. When we exited, another worker counted us. One adds the number of people going in and the other subtracts the people going out. I guess they are keeping the number of people in the store at any one time to a maximum number. Most of the customers were not wearing masks. We wore ours and all the employees had masks on.

Governor Ivey held a press conference today. She announced the openings of businesses and the restrictions that will stay in place. She also said that people have to take personal responsibility for their own safety. I liked that. There are many people who are not at risk for the coronavirus and shouldn’t have to remain at home. Others, like us, are vulnerable and should take precautions to protect ourselves. That is just a fact of life.

There are two German shepherds in the yard of the house below us. Are these the original dogs that were there when we first arrived or two different dogs? Where have they been if they’re the same dogs? Does the guy have a business where he keeps his dogs for guard duty? Hmmm.

20 May 2020 (Wed) – We took a ride around the corner this morning and got the address of the house below us where the man was abusing the dog yesterday. If I see him doing anything like that again, I will call the police.

We took Bonnie and drove to Capitol Park. It contained the ruins of the capitol building that burned down in the late 1800s. I don’t know how you can make ruins attractive but the town somehow managed to do it. There were plaques all around telling the story of the buildings that used to be there. The park was small but neatly kept.

Then we drove to a dog park. It was almost 8 miles away (the UA Arboretum is still closed). It was a very nice park – large, grassy area with a concrete walkway around the perimeter of the park. It lets the owners walk while the dogs play. Unfortunately, there was dog crap all over the place. Apparently, people walk and talk on their cell phones and don’t pay attention to what their dog is doing. No one picks up after their dogs.

There was no sign of either of the dogs in the house below today. They were not out in the yard at all. I am distressed and at a loss at what to do. I think he killed the two dogs. When we first got here back in mid-March, there were 3 dogs in the yard (2 German Shepherds and a poodle) but I haven’t seen them in a while. The 2 that were in the yard yesterday looked like border collies (black and white). I don’t know if I am looking into the yard of a serial killer. I want to call someone but I don’t know who. To make it worse, Paul does not agree that there’s anything wrong and nixed my call. He thinks I have watched too many TV shows about killers.

19 May 2020 (Tue) – A new critter showed up next to our camper today! I was looking out the window when I caught sight of a small creature walking by. I thought it was one of the cats that walk through the area from time to time. There’s Blondie (a yellow tom), Tabby (a gray, striped tabby), and a black and white cat that we haven’t given a particular name to. Anyway, when I looked closer at the gray ball of fur I discovered it was a groundhog. It calmly walked along the edge of the grass, stopping to munch on the greens from time to time. After a while, it went into the bushes and disappeared.

I was very disturbed by an event that took place next door this afternoon. I was outside watching Sheba when I heard a dog screaming. Looking down into the yard of the house below us, I saw a dog running back and forth in terror. Thinking its friend (there were two dogs) was caught in something or facing off with a rattle snake, I strained to see what was going on. The trees and bushes have grown in pretty thick. What I witnessed horrified me! A man was wrestling with a dog who was screaming. Then the dog stopped screaming. The man was kneeling on the dog and smacking it. But the sound it made was not like anything I have ever heard before. It was a kind of popping sound. I yelled out, “Hey! That’s no way to treat an animal!” He stopped hitting the dog but remained kneeling on it. So I suggested that I was going to call the cops. He got up and went into the house but I never saw the dog get up. Later, the man walked back and forth to his shed a couple of times. Neither dog was seen again.

18 May 2020 (Mon) – We went food shopping at Publix this morning. I really liked the assortment of choices. Maybe we’ll make this our regular store. We were both surprised with the amount of food we bought. We didn’t think we needed that much. The cost was over $300! At least they had steaks.

After shopping, we stopped at Another Broken Egg for breakfast. Sitting by the river, eating a scrumptious meal, was so delightful!

This afternoon, we saw a few cars parked over at the lodge. A guy in a pickup drove over and started talking with me while I was outside watching Sheba. He said they opened up today but he wasn’t going in. They never let us know what was going on. They put up signs on the door the last time they were here describing the circumstances of their reopening. One of them says “If you’re sick, don’t come in here!” I thought that was pretty funny. The other signs are just print outs from online that describe recommendations from the CDC and requirements from the Alabama Department of Health. It basically called for a reservation or call ahead system. Sounds restrictive to me.

15 May 2020 (Fri) – We drove to Moundville today and walked around the Archaeological Park. It is an historical area with 29 mounds built between 1200 and 1600 AD. The tallest mound was about 60’ high and had a great view of all the other mounds in the area. It was quite a climb up! Then we walked around the area. It was almost 1.5 miles. Good exercise.

Afterward, we drove around Moundville looking at the area. It is kind of depressed with a lot of run down, poor parts to the town. We bought lunch at McDonald’s then stopped in the ABC store and picked up a couple of bottles of liquor. It was good to get out again.

When we got back, there were several cars parked at the lodge. We thought it had opened but it was probably the officers who were meeting to discuss the best way to open the lodge, given the restrictions the state is putting on businesses. They were gone by 5 p.m.

14 May 2020 (Thu) – We bought breakfast at Chick-fil-A, then went to the laundromat, put the clothes in the washers, and sat in the truck to eat our meal. Clothes transferred from washer to dryer, we remained seated in the truck until it was done. One of the machines did not fully dry all the clothes and we put them back in for another 12 minutes. They still came out damp but we just took them home and spread them out to air dry.

When we pulled into the lodge parking lot, the neighbor’s dog was running loose (again). It had managed to slip out of its harness and was exploring our campsite. I chased it back to their RV. The lady didn’t even know the dog had escaped.

13 May 2020 (Wed) – We drove back to the Riverwalk this morning and had breakfast at Another Broken Egg Café. We were the only people on the deck when we arrived but were joined by other couples as they arrived and chose to eat outside, too. The meal was excellent and Bonnie especially enjoyed her scrambled egg. When we were done, we walked the Riverwalk to the end and back. There was a visitor’s center on the route and Paul stopped in to get some brochures on the area. Unfortunately, they didn’t have much and the clerk wound up telling Paul to go online.

We ran out of propane two nights ago. He went out today and got a refill.

12 May 2020 (Tue) – We put Bonnie in the truck and drove to the Riverwalk. It was a very nice walk and the park was very nicely maintained and there were many people walking/running/biking on the trail. We came across Another Broken Egg (a breakfast place) along the trail. We will have to go there for breakfast. Parking is limited to just one hour so we’ll have to take a shorter walk if we stop to eat. They are pet friendly so we could bring Bonnie and let her have breakfast out, too. She’ll love that!

When we arrived back at the lodge, a red SUV turned into the parking lot in front of us, drove to the back where our RV is parked, then left. It looked like the same inspector who was here yesterday. He had another man in the car. Was this his boss on a field trip? We’ll find out.

11 May 2020 (Mon) – Another very warm day. Summer is around the corner! Someone was working around the lodge in the morning. We went food shopping this morning. We also stopped in two CVS stores to pick up hand sanitizer. We still can’t find Wet Ones (hand wipes). At least, everyone seems to have worked out the toilet paper issue as everyone has it in stock.

A man came onto our site today claiming to be an inspector with the County. Someone complained about us being here. He says there is no camping authorized here. We pointed out that the hookups are not new; that they’ve been here for many years. He dismissed our argument. We had a very pleasant conversation. He is originally from Elmira, New York and was sympathetic to our situation. When I asked if he was going to evict us, he said no. He also recommended that we take a walk along the Riverwalk on the Alabama University Campus down the road. We’ll try it tomorrow.

10 May 2020 (Sun-Mother’s Day) – The weather is getting hot. It starts out cool in the morning in the high 40s/low 50s but then the sun comes up and it burns hot. It must be because we are closer to the equator that the sun feels so intense.

Folks have been working in the Elks Lodge all day. Maybe it means the place is getting ready to open. At 5 p.m. Paul went out to Olive Garden and picked up a meal for us to share. It was delicious!

9 May 2020 (Sat) – We ran out of milk today. We walked next door to the Dollar General and picked up a quart of milk. All the stores in the strip mall were open. When we drove into town the other day, Paul noted that the mall was open. JC Penny’s was not open but the rest of the mall was. Guess the state is starting to open up. People are demonstrating in other states and a woman was arrested for opening her hair salon in spite of state directed orders to remain closed. It’s starting to get hairy out there!

We have been going back and forth with Jon Katin of the SMART Travel Committee. They want us to put a cost to the NY caravan. Most of the campgrounds don’t open until Memorial Day and many websites just say they are closed due to the pandemic. They offer no information on prices. We will have to wait until we can physically get up to New York to get the costs. In the meantime, we have developed a caravan for 8 days in Reading, PA for the WWII Reenactment. I sent that to Jon. He is afraid that there are not enough travelers to fill all the caravans that being offered (5 of them). How funny is that? They were concerned about getting enough caravans and wagon masters to offer caravans. Now, they’re afraid they can’t fill them all.

8 May 2020 (Fri) – It rained most of the day. Paul picked up dinner from the Olive Garden tonight. It was a pleasant change. The food was good. I finished the slideshow. Once Paul has had a look at it, I’ll start one for 2017.

7 May 2020 (Thu) – I think I am living Groundhog Day. The past three mornings I have gotten up, the clock has read the exact same time: 6:54 a.m. Weird, huh? I have just about finished the slideshow for our 2016 travels.

6 May 2020 (Wed) – We went out early this morning to do laundry. There were already a couple of people in the laundromat. After putting the wash in the machines, we sat in the car and ate our Chick-Fil-A breakfasts. Then we went in to put the clothes in the dryer, then sat in the car playing with our iPad and iPhone. When the laundry was done, we stopped at CVS on the way home to pick up hand sanitizers. We both went in and got one bottle each.

Two dogs from the neighbor came into our campsite this afternoon and left deposits. I had had enough!

I walked over and asked the lady to please keep their dogs on a leash. I was pleasant; said “Please” and “Thank You” but was firm. She said they run out when she opens the door. I asked that she not let them do that. Let’s see if my request holds.

5 May 2020 (Tue) – Since I have to sign for my medicine and UPS would be delivering it to the lodge, I sat outside all morning waiting for the truck to arrive. At noon, two jets screamed overhead twice. They were part of the Thunderbirds/Blue Angel Thank You tour they are doing around the country to show support for all the medical people who have worked so hard during this coronavirus pandemic. I don’t know why we only got two planes when they usually fly in a group of five.

Finally, at 1:00 pm, Paul drove to the local Mexican restaurant and picked up lunch for us. Since it was Cinco de Mayo, we celebrated with margaritas and burritos. While Paul was out, the UPS truck arrived. I got my medicine, Paul returned with the food, and everything was fine.

Our neighbor, whom we thought was leaving, is still here with his wife. I guess they just went through spring cleaning around his rig. They remain aloof and unfriendly.

4 May 2020 (Mon) – We went food shopping at Winn Dixie this morning. Besides the cashier, there were very few people wearing masks. Boy. I don’t know how people can work in those things all day long. It gets so hot and mine keeps sliding up into my eyes. I think my mask is too big for my face.

I called Memorial Sloan Kettering this afternoon and ordered a refill for my medication. They said they would overnight the refill to me.

3 May 2020 (Sun) – We tried walking a new route this afternoon. We crossed the road onto a small country road that parallels the main road as well as the train tracks. It has less traffic. We came to an intersection and turned right, intending to go to a park just up the road. Unfortunately, it is still closed. The entire walk was about half an hour. As long as our usual walk but not as intense. The hill had a more gentle slope that the hills into either the apartment complex or the Elks lodge.

2 May 2020 (Sat) – Our neighbor is still here. We thought sure that he would leave today but he hasn’t. His wife is still here with their 3 dogs. One dog keeps getting loose and running over to our area. It wants to play with Bonnie so badly. I feel sorry for it. I also feel angry at the couple that can’t seem to get their dog under control. This lodge is on a very busy road and if their dog chooses to run to the road instead of over to us, it will not survive the experience.

1 May 2020 (Fri) – We see that our camper’s wife is here. Maybe she came to help him pack up. He had a motorcycle which he took away in his work truck and did not bring back. We never saw him ride it so maybe it was borrowed from someone at work or he was just holding it for someone.

30 Apr 2020 (Thu) – We drove into town today to get pet food. While out, we stopped for lunch at McDonald’s then picked up bourbon and “43” at the liquor store.

The other camper parked here in the parking lot of the Elks Lodge is packing up. We’re guessing his work assignment is up and he is leaving tomorrow.

I paid bills this afternoon. I also have been working on gathering input for the Nomads chapter newsletter as well as still collecting pictures for a slideshow of our 2016 travels.

29 Apr 2020 (Wed) – Took two walks along our usual route. Got in 2 miles plus whatever else we put in while watching the cat play outside.

28 Apr 2020 (Tue) – The Exalted Ruler of the Lodge stopped by today. I was outside watching Sheba when a van pulled up to the dumpster and the guy got out to put garbage in the dumpster. I waved so that the man would know I was watching him. He got back in the van and drove over. It turned out he was the ER. He introduced himself and said he appreciated our offer to paint the lines in the parking lot but they already were working on having somebody do that. He did give Paul permission to take down some piping they had put up a couple of years ago for a fair. It took Paul all of a half hour to do that project.

I started my next video project by putting all our pictures from 2016 into a slide show. We have been to many places!

27 Apr 2020 (Mon) – Our big adventure to Piggly Wiggly was a disappointment. The store appears to be big but there selections were small and they carried a lot of unknown brands. We had to finish off our shopping list at Winn Dixie.

After dropping off the foodstuff at the RV, we went to the laundromat and got our clothes washed. And such was our big day in town.

26 Apr 2020 (Sun) – The lodge secretary was helping a member today. She saw me sitting outside in the camp chair and drove over to introduce herself. Her 90-year old mother was visiting from upstate New York when the virus hit so she is still here in a very extended visit.

Sheba certainly is enjoying all the time she gets outside. With us home all the time now, Bonnie and Sheba get lots of outdoor time.

25 Apr 2020 (Sat) – Still hunkered down. Noah called this morning to say thanks for his books. I bought him 3 books because Travis said he would like them. Apparently he had one of that type and just tore through it. He does love to read! The books are called “Everything You Want to Know About . . .” then there was “Math,” “English,” and “History.” I also bought books for Hudson and Lincoln. I also bought their parents ink and paper in order to be able to continue entertaining/home schooling the kids.

I am surprised by how cool the weather remains. I thought that Alabama was one of those hot southern states. It’s been in the high 40s, low 50s every morning. Doesn’t get up past the 70s. Although the sun burns hot on your skin. I guess it has to do with being closer to the equator.

24 Apr 2020 (Fri) – Nothing much going on. Noah, our grandson, has learned how to call us on FaceTime. He calls between 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. to talk about whatever he’s doing. He’s such a happy, upbeat personality. I love talking to him. He makes me laugh so much.

23 Apr 2020 (Thu) – Thunderstorms came in last night. There is so much rain here. There are flash flood warnings everywhere. Luckily, we are on high ground with no water bodies nearby so we don’t have to worry about that. I am surprised that with all the rain, there aren’t more puddles. They have an incredible drainage system in the area.

22 Apr 2020 (Wed) – We had rain a good part of the day. Hunkering down for rain tonight. Thunderstorms are on the way again. These storms seem to roll through about every 3 or 4 days.

21 Apr 2020 (Tue) – Nothing happening here. Took our daily walk. Talked with our son and his family. Noah has learned how to dial us up on FaceTime and calls when the urge grabs him. He is so funny. I thoroughly enjoy his calls.

20 Apr 2020 (Mon) – Another storm system came through yesterday. It rained for 20 hours. I usually enjoy thunderstorms. I like to watch the lightning flash in the sky and feel the rumbling of thunder in my bones. But these storms come with warnings of tornados and that scares me. Of all the weather systems that can happen, tornados scare me the most. I tried calling Malissa from the lodge but her phone kept saying the person “is not accepting calls at this time.” That was very unsettling. She is proving to be a very unreliable person. She said she would come down on Tuesday to cook a dinner but never showed. That was the second time she did that. And then not being available when a potential emergency was looming? Hmmmm. Fortunately, no tornados came our way.

We went into town today to get pet food at Pet Smart. Then we drove around looking for a Piggly Wiggly but wound up shopping at a Publix. They have traffic signs on the floor directing one way movement in the aisles. There was also a thick Plexiglas sheet between the cashier and customers. This is a new world. Next time we’ll shop at a Piggly Wiggly. The excitement of new adventures! We stopped at a Taco Casa for lunch. The food wasn’t bad but I think I like Taco Bell better.

The man from Wyoming left. I guess that when I told him someone from the lodge would be down to open up the building in the event of a tornado watch, he was scared off – either because he realized his free stay was over or he just didn’t want to endure a tornado.

There is a residential area behind us on the other side of bushes and fences. One of the neighbors had a party Saturday night. They barbecued food, played games, listened to music, and just plain had a great time with family and friends. People are really starting to defy stay-in-place orders. There were lots of cars on the road when we drove around today. Paul thought it was because it was later in the day (we usually go out first thing in the morning). Maybe.

19 Apr 2020 (Sun) – We watched the church service back home in Islip this morning. A very talented young man, Christian, played the trumpet. It was mesmerizing! I am glad they have been able to set up these digital services.

We were able to FaceTime with our son, Travis, and his family. Noah is just the happiest and most lively child. He always makes me giggle. Hudson wants to talk but gets embarrassed and doesn’t know what to say. He has to be drawn out and given prompting. What a difference between the two boy’s personalities. I am looking forward to discovering Lincoln.

Miranda sent a picture of Caiden with a missing tooth. He lost his first tooth. Unfortunately, he swallowed it while eating a PBJ sandwich. I remember swallowing a tooth while eating watermelon.

18 Apr 2020 (Sat) – I got a message from CVS in Valrico, Florida, yesterday saying that Paul’s prescription was ready for pickup. I called and arranged to transfer it to the CVS right by us here in Alabama. We got a text message an hour later saying his prescription was all set. We drove to the store and got his medications, then had lunch at Bojangles. Picked up our order at the drive thru and brought it home.

We haven’t seen anything of our new neighbor. He has a motorcycle rather than a car in tow and it’s been gone every day, all day. With everything closed, I wonder where he goes. His RV is in really bad condition. It is clear that he does not have a lot of money. We think he pulled in here and stayed longer than he said he was going to because it’s free (he was just looking for a place to pull over for the night). There is no one here to collect any money.

Paul’s sister, Joan, called today. We did Facetime with them. Joan & Peter are in the RV boondocking with her son’s family; Adam, Diane, and Devin (and the dogs). Adam gave us a 360 degree shot of the surrounding area. There are a few RVs parked out there in the desert. It is the epitome of social isolation.

Another weather system is headed this way tomorrow. It will start in the morning but the worst part won’t hit until the late afternoon/early evening. I hope Malissa is around to let us in the lodge. She has proven to be a less than reliable person.

17 Apr 2020 (Fri) – We went out early this morning to do laundry. Nobody in the laundromat was wearing a mask except us. I can’t figure this out. The folks in the post office were mad at me for not wearing a mask. The people in the grocery story were a mixed group – some wearing masks and some not. Nobody in the laundromat was wearing a mask. It is very confusing.

16 Apr 2020 (Thu) – We ran out of propane during the night so we went out to buy some. While we were out, we stopped at Wendy’s for lunch. Then we drove around the nearby town of Cottondale looking at homes around Canyon Lake. It really was in a small canyon with a very small lake. The homes were all very nice; built of light colored brick.

Another camper pulled in tonight. His license plates are from Wyoming but he says he is a full-timer who does work kamping around the country. He pulled a motorcycle out of his RV, which he uses to get around. I didn’t spot anybody else with him but he put two camp chairs out. Maybe it’s an invitation for someone to join him?

15 Apr 2020 (Wed) – CVS gets their shipments on Wednesday so we went out to get some hand sanitizer today. The first CVS had none so we drove down the road to a 24-hour store and they had some. I wanted to buy two bottles but everyone is limited to one bottle per person. So I bought one and then had Paul go in to buy one. So I got my two bottles.

We also went food shopping at Winn Dixie. About half the people in the store wore masks. We wore our masks for the first time. It is very uncomfortable and keeps pushing up into my eyes. Accordingly, I kept pulling my mask down. Isn’t the drawback to wearing masks that you touch it?

13 & 14 Apr 2020 (Mon & Tue) – Just hanging out around the campground.

12 Apr 2020 (Sun – EASTER) – There was no rain when we woke this morning. We left the bedroom slide pulled in but opened up the living room and kitchen. The animals – Sheba in particular – are distressed with the rooms are pulled in. I guess they don’t like change. We took a walk in the morning then hunkered down waiting for the storms hit in the afternoon.

At about 5:30 pm, the possibility of tornados was being reported on the weather channel. We called Malissa from the Elks Lodge and she came down to open up the building. She and her boyfriend, David, Paul and I along with Bonnie and Sheba all sat inside watching the weather channel for an hour. Finally, the weatherman indicated that tornadic activity was calming down as far as what was headed in our direction. We returned to the camper and Malissa and David went home. An hour later, Malissa called to say they were on the way back to the lodge because a tornado was on the ground. The news said nothing about it. We grabbed the animals and our go bag and ran to the lodge amid fire sirens going off and my phone beeping in with warnings to find shelter immediately. The sky opened up and it rained so hard, you couldn’t see the camper from the deck of the lodge. A tornado touched down about 13 miles north of us in a mobile home park (they always go for the trailers!). After two hours, the news (again) said there were no more tornados headed in our direction. With that, we said good night and returned to the trailer. It was an exciting night.

11 Apr 2020 (Sat) – We took our walk around the usual route twice today. For dinner, Paul ran out and picked up KFC. We are preparing for severe thunderstorms and a possible tornado tomorrow. Paul will pull in the slides tonight and park the truck under some trees to minimize hail damage.

10 Apr 2020 (Fri) – We drove to the post office first thing this morning. We arrived at 8:15 a.m. only to discover that they didn’t open until 9:00 a.m. We then took a quick trip to a nearby bank to get some money at the ATM. It is amazing how little we think of all the things we touch in a day. Now that we are so much more aware of infection, every little thing seems like a threat – doorknobs, countertops, desks, keypads, shopping bags, money, etc. It’s become a very scary world!

9 Apr 2020 (Thu) - It was another trip to the outside world today. We needed to send off an Easter package to the grandkids so it was a stop at the post office. That was an adventure in itself. There was a long line of people waiting to get in. It looked longer than it actually was because people were leaving 6 to 8 feet between them and the person in front of them. There were 9 people in front of us. The line moved very slowly and it was a half hour before we got to the desk. There was only one clerk working. She explained that one of the employees caught the virus so they shut the place down. All the meters and registers were off. She was working with something like a smart phone. Nothing could be metered. She could only accept flat rate items and she could not accept cash; payment by card only. I got to send off the two packages but was not able to mail off our taxes.

We stopped at CVS and Walgreens to see if they had any hand sanitizer. Neither did. There were some food trucks out so we stopped for lunch at a Mexican Taco truck. The food was terrible and they used the wrong kind of cheese. We won’t do that again! While out, we also stopped at an ABC Store – a state run liquor store. Actually, two stores. The first store only had one bottle of Red Stag and no 43. The owner called over to another store and found they had what we wanted so we drove there and bought another bottle of Red Stag and a bottle of 43.

At 6 p.m., we fired up the iPad and tuned into the Islip Methodist Church Maundy Thursday service. There was only the pastor, the organist, and our cousins – Lee and Donna – performing the service. It was communion so we poured some wine and broke off some bread and followed along with the service. It seemed weird to be reading the response while sitting in our living room.

8 Apr 2020 (Wed)

– We stayed in today. I counted the cars on one of the freight trains that go by every day. There were a hundred cars on it. It’s amazing that so many of those very heavy cars can be moved at one time.

7 Apr 2020 (Tue) – We ventured out today. First stop was at the laundromat to put the laundry in the wash. Next stop was at Winn Dixie where we picked up groceries. We went back to the trailer to put away the food. Then it was back to the laundromat to move the wash to the dryers. We then went to Chick-Fil-A for a late breakfast. Then it was back to the laundromat to collect our clothes. Paul brought in a wipe and wiped down the table we folded the clothes on. We put on gloves everywhere we went but we did not wear face coverings. Last night, President Trump asked the nation to voluntarily wear face masks to continue fighting the coronavirus. The number of infections are falling, thanks to the people who are complying with the CDC guidance to self-isolate (most states have imposed lockdowns and curfews), practice social distancing, and wash your hands. Over a million people have been infected worldwide with thousands of deaths. It is amazing how infectious this virus is. It is in 184 countries now. The world truly is a mobile place.

6 Apr 2020 (Mon) – UPS delivered my medicine from New York today. I put a sign on the mailbox telling the UPS driver to bring the package to us in the RV. Paul happened to be up on the roof when the driver pulled in and waved the guy over. He spent several minutes arguing with me about why he shouldn’t give me the package. It was addressed to the Elks, but my name was also on the envelope. He told me he was supposed to give it to the lodge, not us in back. If we need to have mail sent to us here, we should ask the lodge to assign us a lot number. After going back and forth, he finally gave me the package. When I said I was supposed to sign for it, he said they are not allowing anyone to touch the pad. He signed for me.

As I was sitting outside waiting for the UPS driver to arrive, someone from the lodge drove over to check on us. She said they were going to have wings and beer tomorrow. I told her we would have some, too. Weird. Aren’t they supposed to remain closed with the 24-hour curfew in place?

5 Apr 2020 (Sun) – We tuned in on Facebook and watched the church service back home in Islip. The picture was dark like they didn’t turn the lights on. Maybe they’re trying to save money.

3 Apr 2020 (Fri) – We opened the package my sister sent. It included mostly supplements I had ordered and sent to her because UPS won’t deliver to us here. She repacked my orders and sent them in one big box.

Paul took the fifth-wheel hitch off and worked on sanding it. He’ll repaint it and make it look all nice again. I worked on getting our taxes done.

2 Apr 2020 (Thu) – We drove to the UPS store to pick up a package my sister mailed to us. We placed it in the bed of the pick up to sit overnight. We will open it tomorrow.

Since we were out already, we stopped at Freddy’s for lunch. It was ok. After we got our food at the drive-up window, we parked and walked over to their outside tables to eat our meal. There was a sign on the table saying that their outside dining area was closed. We walked back and sat in the truck to eat.

After lunch, we drove to three different liquor stores looking for our favorite liquor. They were all small and had none of our choices in their selection. The bigger stores are the ABC Liquor Stores but they are all closed. We think they are state run. We will have to make do with the wine we can pick up in the supermarket until things open up again.

At 6 p.m. I called a nearby Mexican restaurant to order a meal for pick up. The website said that due to the volume of calls they get, they added a second number. They failed to say that second number was at another location. When Paul drove to the restaurant, they did not have our order. After he left, apparently that restaurant called their other site and found our call had gone there. We worked out the misunderstanding, replaced our order, and was able to pick it up. Besides the food, we got a half gallon of margaritas. A bottle of Jose Cuervo and a container of margarita mix were included in the order. It looks like we could probably get 8 glasses out of it!

1 Apr 2020 (Wed) – Just hung out today. Took two walks along our now familiar circle of across the parking lot of the lodge, across the parking lot of the strip mall next door, up the hill around the apartment complex, and back to the camper.

31 Mar 2020 (Tue) – We ventured out today wearing plastic gloves. Didn’t see many people with face masks. Went food shopping at Winn Dixie. They have designated 7 to 8 a.m. for seniors and 8 to 9 a.m. for first responders. There was no one at the door checking IDs so I guess anyone could go in if they want to. Then we drove to Pet Smart for pet food. Next door was The Fresh Market. We went in to get some fresh produce. On the way back, we stopped at a CVS. Everywhere we go, I look for hand sanitizer but we can’t find any – all sold out. I wound up buying a nasal saline wash. Each time we go out, we will use the nasal wash and gargle with salt water.

30 Mar 2020 (Mon) – It rained most of the day. We finally finished scanning all the photo albums into the computer. The trains riding by blow their whistles and fill me with longing to move on. We have been here now for 14 days. The governor of Alabama instituted a 24 hour curfew. Apparently, the 10 p.m. curfew didn’t work. Teenagers were hanging out at gas stations since the bars are closed. Someone got shot so now everyone is in lockdown. Crazy!

29 Mar 2020 (Sun) – Adventure abounds! I have just returned from two days in the hospital. What happened, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

We were hiking in the woods at Harris Lake in Tuscaloosa. We were about a mile in on the trail, stopped at a dam and sitting by the stream. I suddenly got very shaky, my vision dimmed, and I complained of a severe headache. Paul tells that I then lost my memory. I had no idea where we were, where we have been, or even that there is a virus ravaging the country.

We hiked back out of the woods (I don’t remember any of it), got in the truck, and drove to the nearest hospital. I “came to” during the ride in the truck where Paul was telling me I had an episode. He thought I had a stroke. First stop was at a VA hospital but they didn’t have an emergency room so we were directed to a civilian hospital down the road.

There was a person sitting at a desk outside the entrance to the emergency room dressed in a gown, cap, gloves, and mask. She put me in a wheelchair and brought me inside. Paul was not allowed to enter the hospital. After being checked in at the desk, I was wheeled into the emergency room. Almost all of the staff was gowned and wearing face masks. They drew blood and sent me for a chest x-ray and found nothing. The doctor wanted an MRI but they couldn’t get me scheduled until the next day so I agreed to be admitted for the night. Paul was still not allowed in the hospital so the staff advised him of what was happening.

The experience in the hospital was unsettling. First, I was placed in a room all by myself. The doors to all rooms on the floor were kept closed at all times. Only one staff person at a time was allowed in patient rooms and contact was kept to a minimum. I spent hours behind closed doors feeling like I had been forgotten about. I got an MRI of the brain and they took more blood. A doctor came by to say everything was normal and left to see when the neurologist was going to come by. Next thing I knew, a nurse came in and said I was being sent for an ultrasound of the carotid arteries. The nurse said I was also scheduled for an echo cardiogram but she didn’t know when it would happen. It turned out later that it would be the next day so I had to stay another night in the hospital.

At 6:00 a.m. this morning, they took me down for the cardiogram. A neurologist and his P.A. showed up later to say all the tests returned normal. There was nothing on the brain MRI, the EKG, the cardiogram, the x-ray, or the bloodwork to explain what happened. The good news was that there is nothing big that is wrong with me. It’s possible I suffered a TIA, which, as he explained it, is a kind of catch all diagnosis when they don’t really know what happened. He recommended that I follow up with a neurologist and a cardiologist after I get out of the hospital.

I was finally given the all clear and discharged at 2 p.m. Paul had to pull up to the entrance (all entrances were closed except one), check in with the security guard, call up to the room to tell me he was there, then wait for me to be brought out. I then had to call the nurse’s desk and ask for a transporter to take me downstairs. It took more than half an hour for someone to show up. Paul was entertained while he waited for me. A guy came out of the hospital to get some food from a truck parked outside. When he tried to go back into the hospital, the security guard refused to let him in. Yelling and shouting ensued. People showed up and the crowd grew as the guy tried to get back into the hospital. Apparently, he was a patient and kept yelling he was not going to stay. Finally, a supervisor came out and allowed the man in. A few minutes later, he exited the hospital with his belongings. They don’t fool around down here!

When I was wheeled out, I told Paul not to touch me. I had instructed him to spray the seat with Lysol before I sat down. When we got back to the trailer, I stripped naked standing outside in front of the stairs then went directly into the shower. While I scrubbed down, Paul washed my clothes and sprayed down my purse and shoes. I hope we got all the spores I might have brought back with me. Only time will tell. It is good to be home.

26 Mar 2020 (Thu) – There are some railroad tracks across the road from the lodge. Several freight trains roll by every day. I saw an Amtrak passenger train barrel through one day. I don’t know if they go by on a regular basis. I guess they do. I just don’t see them. I hear the train whistles and rumbles often.

There is a small strip mall with six shops next door. The only shop open is Subway. Next to that is a small child care center. It was closed when we first arrived but there were children in there today. I don’t know if they have reopened or if they are only watching children of health care workers. They were all little tykes, somewhere between 2 and 5.

Next to the child care center and up a small hill is an apartment complex. At least once a day, we walk past the shops and child care center, up the hill, and around the parking lot of the complex. I don’t think it amounts to more than a total of one mile but at least it’s a little bit of exercise.

The name of the child care center is Little Roll Tide Academy. There are a lot of businesses around here with the word “Tide” in them. Apparently, the U of Alabama has a team called Crimson Tide and the team chant is Roll Tide. I don’t get it but then again, I don’t live here or go to the games. I guess the locals find it reassuring.

25 Mar 2020 (Wed) – Paul read that Winn Dixie is restricting the first hour to shopping by senior citizens. He thought the time was 7 to 8 a.m. but when we got there, it turned out to be 8 to 9 a.m. So we drove down to a laundromat and threw the laundry in the machines. What a rip off! The machines were $4.50 each, but another $0.50 for hot water for the whites. Then the dryers were $0.25 for six minutes. I think it was the smallest load we’ve ever washed for the most money. One washer wound up sucking our money and we had to spend another $5.00. The attendant couldn’t do anything about it. She is not authorized to give refunds.

Between washing and drying, we went to Winn Dixie for groceries. There were a few seniors there when we went in - most of them wearing face masks. The shelves were, for the most part, well stocked. The cleaning aisle was half empty and the cashier was limiting purchases to either Lysol spray or Clorox wipes but not both. They had no hand sanitizer.

We also stopped in to Walgreens so I could get batteries for my hearing aid. They had no hand sanitizer either.

24 Mar 2020 (Tue) – It turns out the lilac tree is wisteria and it is growing all over the place. Looks so nice. It is tough to just sit here day in and day out. There is no sidewalk on the highway so we can’t take long walks. Even Bonnie is getting bored with walking circles around the parking lot. Paul looked up a nearby park but when we drove there, we found it closed. I went to Trip Advisor and found a county park then I called to be sure they were open and dogs were allowed. The answer was YES to both. We drove a half hour to Lake Lurleen State Park. It has 1,625 acres of hiking trails, camping, and water activities (but no boat rentals for now). We walked a trail. Bonnie lasted about 25 minutes then got too tired to go on (we were on a 4-mile loop trail). It was nice to get out in the woods and smell the pine and hear the birds.

On the way back, we stopped for lunch at Bojangles (a chicken place). We both had fried chicken and fries. The times, they are a-getting’ desperate!

23 Mar 2020 (Mon) – There is a beautiful lilac tree in the back of the parking lot next door. The trees are starting to bud. Spring is not affected by the virus. Luckily, neither are we. The statistics say that Alabama is the third lowest state to have the virus, so it is a good place to be. I pray for our friends and family every day. It is maddening not to be there to watch over them.

22 Mar 2020 (Sun) – Well, we finished up the Longmire series. Now we will start watching the videos we have been carrying around with us. Some are good; some not so good.

21 Mar 2020 (Sat) – We are binge watching the Longmire series. We bought the entire six seasons a few weeks ago and will now finish it off. Other than that, it’s watching the daily news briefings about the coronavirus on TV, walking the dog, and hanging out. Cabin fever is already starting to set in.

20 Mar 2020 (Fri) – We ventured out to shop today. First, we went to Vowells Fresh Market. The produce seemed old. Many of the shelves were empty, especially the cleaning supplies aisle. We both wore plastic gloves. The cashier did not have any gloves on. I thanked her for working during this crisis. She admitted she is very scared.

We then drove to the nearby grocery, The Fresh Market. It was more like the health food stores back home. It had a fresher, better stocked look to it. The produce was fresh and most of the shelves were full. There was a delightful deli section with salads. That cashier wasn’t wearing any gloves either. I guess they’re not as concerned here.

After shopping, we drove around the area to see what stores are around. There are quite a few. This is a built up area and it doesn’t look like we will have any problems shopping for what we need. I stopped in a GNC shop looking for zinc sulfate and nasal saline but they had neither. We also stopped at a CVS but they didn’t have any either. One of the clerks was wearing a mask and gloves. Made me feel a little more justified for our caution. Silly, isn’t it?

We have been watching the daily news briefings by the Coronavirus Task Force. Each day, more action is being taken to try to counter the spread of the virus. It is amazing how far and wide this thing has spread around the world. It will have to run its course. I initially thought it would go away when the warm weather arrived but it’s starting to look like that won’t happen. They’re predicting it will take 18 months to clear up. They also revealed that men have twice the mortality rate as women for those who have died. How depressing!

19 Mar 2020 (Thu) – It was a quiet day. I would have preferred to stay in the Army Corps of Engineers campground in Montgomery among the moss covered trees and the lazy river. It would have been more in commune with nature. Instead, we are camped in a parking lot at a closed lodge on a busy highway. At least there are several stores close by. On one side is a small strip mall with a Subway, an insurance company, a nail salon, and a child care center. On the other side is a larger mall with a grocery store called Vowells Fresh Market. Next to that is another supermarket called The Fresh Market. On the corner at the traffic light is a Walgreens and across the street is a Winn Dixie and a CVS. There are some eateries and other small businesses. Many of the small businesses have signs on the door that say they are closed until March 31. The news said Governor Cuomo in New York has directed ALL nonessential businesses to close for two weeks. That means Travis & Sam and Miranda & Kenny are out of work. Well, maybe not Kenny. He works at a beer distributor that also sells food. Maybe they will stay open. What a mess!

18 Mar 2020 (Wed) – We called the campground to see if we could extend our stay for two weeks only to be told the campground is closed. Everyone is being allowed to stay when they paid through to, but then must leave. No extensions. Since today was our check out date, we were literally kicked out.

We packed up and left Montgomery at 9:45 a.m. The drive was pleasant and uneventful. We arrived at the Elks Lodge in Tuscaloosa at 12:15 p.m. There are 9 campsites along the site of the lodge on the grass with full hookups. Unfortunately (or fortunately, however you look at it), there was a sign on the door that says the lodge is closed until further notice. This is in line with all the other notices that have been flooding my phone for days. Schools are closed, restaurants are only serving take out, colleges have switched to online classes, all federal and most state campgrounds are closed, and some states have called out the National Guard to help with the crisis. Today, the president invoked the Defense Production Act, an act of wartime activity. It authorizes him to have manufacturing ramp up to make required products to combat an enemy. In this case, the corona virus. It’s crazy!

17 Mar 2020 (Tue) – Took a quick foray out to get fuel in the truck. On the way back, we stopped at a fruit and vegetable stand to pick up a few things. The man staffing the small booth was very old with just a few teeth. He had a heavy southern accent and was hard to understand. I bought 2 oranges, 2 sweet potatoes, and a watermelon.

At the entrance to the road leading to the campground stands a Dollar General store. We stopped in there and found toilet paper on the shelf. We picked up a pack as well as a few other items then returned to the campground. Later, we cooked burgers and corn on the cob for dinner and sat by a delightful fire as the sun set. What a great campground this is! The lazy river drifts by, the trees are covered in Spanish moss, and there are lots of trees and few campers. We could spend the next month here.

16 Mar 2020 (Mon) – Johnny & Linda packed up and left this morning. It seems empty now. We are just sitting around listening to the birds and watching the lazy river drift by. I know we are safe from the craziness of the coronavirus panic going on elsewhere in the world, but it kind of feels surreal. Kind of like we are the survivors of an apocalyptic event. We are the only survivors and we have run away to a safe place to hide from the zombies. That’s what we get for watching all those science fiction movies for years.

15 Mar 2020 (Sun) – Linda made pancakes and sausage for breakfast. Then we went into Prattville for lunch at Hooters. Johnny has a hood of a race car (it’s really a plastic replica) where he has gone around to different Hooters and gotten the girls to sign it. So he brought the hood in and had the girls all sign it. They started out hesitant to do it but by the end of lunch, they were all enthusiastic and amused by his project. I didn’t care much for their food but the margarita was good.

Back at the campground, Linda again cooked the meal of the day. She prepared wild rice with chicken and corn on the cob. Our visit with them has been a lot of fun and we look forward to seeing them in New York this summer.

14 Mar 2020 (Sat) – Linda made tacos for lunch. I made steak, baked potatoes, and grilled asparagus for dinner. We are enjoying each other’s company so much. We just hung out around the campground today and delighted in God’s country.

13 Mar 2020 (Fri) – Linda made Cady Lake Hash for breakfast. It’s like our frittatas. You take whatever left-overs you have in the fridge and cook them up with eggs. It is very good.

After much discussion, we all decided to go to Alabama to camp out. It is one of the few states that has not reported a coronavirus infection. Johnny & Linda fell in behind us and we headed out to Gunter Hill Campground, an Army Corps of Engineers park. I don’t know if it is related to the virus hysteria or they were doing repairs, but the three rest areas we wanted to stop at were all closed. We finally pulled into a travel plaza to stretch out legs and walk the dogs.

We arrived at the campground around 1:30 p.m. We are both parked in the same site but it has two hookups. We have water and electric, with a dump station somewhere on the grounds. We are right on a river front. With the moss covered trees, the meandering waterway, and lots of room between campers, it feels like we are in another world. It is peaceful and remote.

At 3 p.m., Paul and I drove to the Maxwell-Gunter AFB nearby to get some groceries at the commissary. It was a surreal experience. All the shelves were half empty. There was no toilet paper, no tissues, no Vitamin C, and no hand sanitizer (I still don’t get the run on toilet paper). The line went across the front of the store, up the side aisle, and down the back side. We were on line for 45 minutes. And this was the commissary on a base with only military folks! I hate to imagine what WalMart or Publix looks like.

We enjoyed wine at our campsite last night, all talking and solving the problems of the world. Johnny & Linda will be here with us for three nights before heading back home. We wanted to stay a week but they only had five days available. It is a very nice campground.

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asian-hero · 6 years

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Is It Just Me Or Are We Soulmates? -7

this chapter is long and i don’t know why

p1 - p2 - p3 - p4 - p5 - p6

wanna read on ao3? here’s the link -> link

Lance woke up with a groan, holding his head while sitting up. Slowly, he looked around at his surroundings. He noticed that he was back in his bedroom, and Hunk was sitting in the bed next to him, watching the news.

“What happened?”

Hunk looked over at him, grinning a little. “Hey buddy, how are you feeling?”

Lance rubbed his temples, trying to relieve some of the pain. “I want to die. I feel like shit,”

Hunk laughed, walking over to him to hand him a water bottle. Lance snatched the bottle out of his hands, chugging it down quickly. Once he finished, he threw it across the room, missing the trash can. He heard Hunk sighing next to him, going over to throw away the bottle properly.

“Do you remember anything from last night?”

Lance furrowed his eyebrows together, deep in thought, before shaking his head. “No, all I remember is drinking with you and Allura,”

Hunk blinked a few times before a confused look appeared on his face. “You don’t remember anything?”

“Should I?”

Hunk sighed, debating on whether or not he should tell him what happened last night. Deciding that he wanted Lance to get over his embarrassment before they left the hotel room he told him what happened:

“You were practically smothering Shiro with compliments and clinging onto him,”

Lance stared at his friend, slightly shocked about what happened. But he shrugged it off. He knew he was a flirty drunk, so flirting a little with his soulmate didn’t matter that much to him. Before he could say anything Hunk held up a hand.

“You also told him that you love him, then kissed him.”

Lance felt himself heat up, embarrassed with his actions. He put his face in his hands, trying his best to hide from his friend. Peeking through his hands, he saw Hunk struggling to contain his laughter.

“Is that all I did?” He asked hopefully.

Hunk shook his head, letting his laughter fall from his lips. “You also threw up right after you kissed him.”

Lance looked up from his hands, his face completely blanched of all color. He felt himself sink further into the bed, wanting to smash his head into a wall. It didn’t help that Hunk was just standing there, laughing at Lance’s misery. He looked up at the laughing boy, groaning.

“It’s not funny Hunk!” Lance whined, throwing a pillow at him.

Hunk dodged the assault, giggles still trickling out of him. “I mean, it kinda is.”

Lance glared at him, crossing his arms while huffing. Not only did he embarrass himself in front of his soulmate by throwing up, but he confessed his love for him after he’d been ignoring Shiro all day. He looked at Hunk cautiously.

“Do you know what he said after I told him I love him?”

Hunk smiled at his friend, sitting on the edge of his bed. “He said to talk to him when you’re sober,”

“How am I supposed to? I don’t even have his number!”

Hunk pointed to his wrist. “You could always write to him,”

Lance lit up at the suggestion. He moved to get a pen when his head started pounding again. Groaning, he slowly made his way to the bathroom instead.

“Maybe I should do it after I take a shower,”

------

Hey

Shiro looked down at the neat penmanship on his arm. He traced over it with his finger, contemplating on what he should say.

“Just say ‘hi’ it’s not that fucking hard,” Keith said, as if sensing his thoughts.

Shiro pouted, crossing his arms as he did so. “It’s not that easy,”

Keith tore his eyes away from the game he was currently playing to look at Shiro. When he saw the dejected look on his friend’s face he sighed, patting his shoulder.

“Just see what he wants, then you’ll have a right to be all freaked out,”

Shiro nodded his head, his pen slightly shaking as he wrote down his reply:

Hello

It was a simple message, nothing more than a greeting. Somehow it made Shiro’s heart race. After yesterday Shiro was confused about where they were in this relationship. Was it a relationship? Or is he just overthinking things? Before he could think anymore about the situation at hand he noticed a new sentence had appeared on his arm.

We need to talk

Shiro felt his breath catch in his throat. He thrusted his arm in front of Keith’s face, making the other man protest.

“What the fu—”

He paused mid sentence, less focused on the fact that his character just died and more on the neat words written on Shiro’s arm. After examining it for a couple of seconds he looked at Shiro.

“Well, are you gonna respond?”

“What am I supposed to say?” Shiro asked, clearly freaking out.

Keith rolled his eyes, picking up his controller. “Say ‘okay, sounds cool’,”

Shiro hit his shoulder, drawing out a small hiss from Keith. “You’re not helpful,”

“Helpful wasn’t apart of the deal when you made this friendship.”

Shiro spared one last glare at Keith before writing a response:

Okay, about what?

He waited for a couple of minutes before slumping down next to Keith, who paid no attention to his friend. Only when Shiro fell face first into the side of the couch did he decide to look over.

“Everything okay there?”

A muffled “no” came from the couch, making Keith huff. He turned off the TV and got up from the couch, pulling Shiro along with him, despite the other’s protests.

“C’mon, let’s go. I’m not letting you mope around all day,” Keith said, pulling on his hoodie.

Shiro sighed, reluctantly putting on his shoes and grabbing his keys. He raised an eyebrow at the look Keith was giving him.

“What?”

“Takashi Shirogane it’s winter. What would your mom think if I let you go out without a damn jacket?”

Shiro grumbled something about Keith being overbearing, but put on a jacket nonetheless. Once they were out of the apartment Shiro looked over at Keith, who seemed to be determined.

“Where are we going anyway?”

“The cat cafe in Akihabara. It usually seems to cheer you up,”

Shiro smiled, partially due to how determined his friend was to cheer him up, but mainly because he got to see the adorable cats. The plan seemed to be working, as he suddenly felt much happier then he’d been waiting for a reply. Feeling more playful, he started jogging.

“Last one to the train station has to pay for the tickets,”

------

Lance looked down at his arm, sloppy cursive letters printed on his arm. He had no idea of what he wanted to say. On one hand he just wanted to pour his heart out and create a large speech that would probably cover both arms. On the other hand he just wanted to avoid the whole thing and just pretend that nothing happened. He sighed, pushing his food around, not wanting to eat anything.

“Hey, if you’re not gonna eat then at least put it in a plastic bag,” Hunk said, wiping his hands, “It’s free breakfast, why waste it?”

Lance shoved a bite into his mouth, his eyes never leaving his arm. He wondered if even talking to Shiro was a bad idea. They only had a week left before they had to pack up and leave, so why was he so hesitant about this? Hunk looked at his friend, a sympathetic look on his face. After eating in silence for a couple of minutes, Hunk got up, pulling Lance up with him. Lance looked up from his arm, a confused look on his face.

“Where are we going?”

Hunk didn’t look at him, instead walking over to the elevators, pushing the button to go up. “Well first off, you’re going to change into something other than your pajamas and then we’re going to Akihabara so you can cheer up and be your weeb self.”

Lance lit up a bit, feeling slightly better. Once they were at their room Lance went to pick out a white t-shirt, a slightly baggy jean jacket, and some black jeans. He topped it off with a white cap that had a tiny rainbow on the front. As he waited for Hunk to grab his wallet from the safe he quickly wrote down something for Shiro:

Can we meet tomorrow?

“Hey Lance, are you ready?”

Lance looked up from his arm, shoving the pen in his pocket, standing up. He smiled at his friend, linking his arm in his.

“Let’s go!”

------

It had only been an hour and Lance had pretty much exhausted his bank account. He’d bought many figures and won some plushies from the irritating claw machines. After writing to Shiro he’d gotten a response immediately. Shiro agreed to meet up with Lance tomorrow to talk about their relationship and where it stood. Lance would send him his hotel address tomorrow and then they would talk. He tried his best to not think about it, because the more he thought about it then the more he just wanted to chicken out and leave.

After a couple of minutes of watching Lance fail at every claw machine, Hunk decided that they go to a cafe to eat some lunch. Much to Lance’s excitement, Hunk had taken them to a cat cafe. When they sat down at their table Lance couldn’t contain his happiness anymore. He picked up one of the kittens and set them down in his lap, petting them softly. Hunk rolled his eyes at the sight, looking at the menu.

“So what do you feel like eating? They have okonomiyaki, udon, gyo—”

“Oh my god!”

Hunk didn’t look up from his menu. “I know, gyoza seems pretty good,”

Lance his his shoulder. “No, not that! Look over there!”

Hunk looked up from his menu, his eyes following where Lance’s were. His eyebrows raised slightly when he noticed Shiro sitting across the room with another man. They seemed to be enjoying each others company, laughing a little while petting the cats. He looked back at Lance, who was currently freaking out.

“Are you gonna talk to him?”

“No! Who is that guy with him?” Lance hissed, moving the kitten off of his lap.

Hunk shrugged his shoulders, going back to looking at his menu. “It’s probably his friend,”

“You can’t be ‘just friends’ with someone that hot!” Lance said, crossing his arms while huffing, “I don’t talk to him for one day and then he goes and finds another man? What kind of soulmate does that?”

Hunk looked at Lance, an unamused look resting on his face. “You think so low of him. Just go over there and say hi,”

Lance felt a fire pool in his stomach, causing him to stand up and march right over to Shiro’s table. When he reached it, he put a hand on Shiro’s shoulder, plastering a fake smile on his face.

“Hey Shiro, nice seeing you here,”

Shiro looked up from the man sitting across from him, a surprised look on his face. He smiled back up at him. “Hey Lance, what are you doing here?”

“So this is Lance?” The man said, grinning, “I’m Keith, it’s nice to meet you.”

Lance looked down at his hand before looking back at his face. He was pretty, to say the least. His eyes were dark gray with a hint of violet mixed in them. He had a slim face with a nice jawline. His hair was black and messy, and was pulled into a ponytail. Lance couldn’t help but admit that the man was pretty, which only made the fire in his stomach burn even hotter.

He shook Keith’s hand, gripping it a bit harder than he had to. They all stayed there in complete silence until Keith coughed, standing up.

“Well, I’m gonna go to the bathroom. I’ll be right back,”

He quickly walked away from the pair, clearly wanting to step away from that situation. Lance looked down at Shiro, who was smiling up at him. Shiro motioned for him to sit down. He did so, huffing as he sat.

“So, who’s Keith?”

Shiro laughed, taking a sip of his drink. “He’s my friend. I’ve known him since elementary school,”

Lance nodded his head, his jealousy still not quelled. Shiro seemed to notice, as he laughed lightly at Lance. He looked at him, glaring.

“What’s so funny?” Lance asked.

Shiro shook his head, a bigger smile on his face. “Lance, Keith has a boyfriend.”

Lance blinked, confused. “A boyfriend?”

Shiro nodded. “Yeah, his soulmate,”

Lance looked at Shiro for a few seconds before groaning, burying his head in his hands. Shiro laughed, no longer able to hold it in. They stayed that way for a few seconds, before Shiro patted Lance on the head. He looked up at Shiro, who was still smiling.

“Were you jealous?”

Lance wildly gestured at himself. “What do you think? I wouldn’t have just marched over here for nothing!”

Shiro giggled, pushing back Lance’s hair. “You don’t need to be jealous,”

Lance groaned, looking at the table. “I know I shouldn’t be so jealous after what’s happened but—”

“I’m only interested in you.”

Lance looked at him, his eyes wide. Just as he was about to say something Shiro smiled, patting his hand.

“Keith’s waiting for me, I’ll see you tomorrow?”

Lance nodded his head, waving goodbye as he watched Shiro leave with Keith. When they left Lance looked down at the table, his cheeks warm. He bit back a smile.

Tomorrow was the day he was going to tell Shiro how he felt.

#shance #takashi shirogane #lance mcclain #voltron #vld

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