I've got halos made of summer, rhythms made of spring

[missleadingquestions]

WHO: Maya Fey and you!
WHERE: All around
WHEN: all the time! ...Through February, anyway.
WHAT: This is a catchall log! For all the dumb non-inbox interactions you wanna thread out with Maya, no matter how small or quick. Want me to write you a starter? Plot with me at gueyprince! Or if you have a starter ready, lay it on me.
WARNINGS: Will warn in thread headers!

Comments

Kaneda "Teen Boy Trash Disaster"

[rassera]

[Because really we're gonna have a million]

Feb 8th; action

[rassera]

[It was finished. After spray painting Tetsuo's room, and seeing his jaw-drop reaction to it, he'd felt a little more confident in doing things other than just weapons. Sure, he'd customized bikes before, mostly his own or Yamagata's, but he never really went any farther than just colour replacements. It was easy--match the colour to the rider. But this...this was different.

It'd taken him almost all day in the backyard to do it, and he'd asked Komasan to keep Maya busy (with whatever that entailed...Komasan seemed to have some very strange ideas in the brainstorming session of that conversation) while he worked. His project? The vespa he'd extorted bartered with Edgeworth over at New Years. With Maya staying at Nonah 05, she didn't use it, and Kaneda had kept it at Edgeworth's place for the time being. No harm in keeping it there, right?

But now...he had an idea, thanks to Tetsuo, and with a dozen cans of spray paint, his mask, and a lot of free time, he began to decorate it. The day went on, and it wasn't until mid afternoon that he takes the mask off, sealing in the last of the finish on.


Perfect.


Now all he had to do was get it out front (the easy part), and then go and grab Maya. Once it's out and parked, Kaneda enters in from the front door, jacket zipped up to cover up any paint marks that might've gotten on his shirt. Hopefully Komasan had kept her busy enough to not look out the window...]

MAYA???

[Because why go find her, right?]

[missleadingquestions]

[Luckily Maya's been downstairs most of the morning, watching Samurai movies, unaware of Kaneda's plans. But when she hears him calling her, she has to roll her eyes. It's the second day of Maya's strange upset-spell, and though she's a bit more cheery thanks to Nick's being here, she's still not herself.

Doesn't mean she's just going to ignore him, though. Instead, she peeks out the door, jacket wrapped around her shoulders, and calls--]

Yeah? What's up!

[rassera]

[Good, she'd be completely surprised like this, just as planned.

Kaneda doesn't say anything, letting the image speak for itself. He hops to the side and out of the way of the door, heel hitting the ground with to pointed upward as he gestures outward to the side. And if Maya follows the motion, it trails to...

Yes, that certainly is Edgeworth's hovervespa, floating contently next to him and waiting. But there's something strikingly different about it. Where there was once a bland paintjob was now white, light pink lines stenciled in stylistically to trail the metal. Red accented the bottom and the headlight, with a few lines near the seat to finish off its influence. And perhaps the most -important- part of this was the pattern. Sakura blossoms speckling from the front all the way down, with a few on the mirrors.

A design worthy of the Pink Princess herself.]

[missleadingquestions]

[Kaneda wanted surprise? Is surprise he gets. More than that, really-- he gets the full wide-eyed, mouth-ajar treatment. Maya stares blankly at the vehicle for a few moments before looking at Kaneda with that same expression.]

...Okay, where did that come from?

Feb 9th; action; fight club

[rassera]

PLACEHOLDER

Feb14th; Day

[rassera]

[Valentine's Day.

In all Kaneda's years of dating, he'd never once officially celebrated it. Part of it was because it wasn't really his job to. In Japan, it was always the girls who celebrated Valentine's, and the boys would pick up the slack on White Day in March. On the off chance that he was 'dating' a girl around that time and they gave him something, they were gone by White Day.

But this year was different--not only was he threatened talked into celebrating, but he was the one taking Maya out. The only difference? She doesn't know, and he's hoping to keep it that way. He'd treated this like a normal date, like the one they had at the laser tag place just didn't count. And in his mind, it didn't.

That was her returning a favour. This was a real date.

So that's the mantra he keeps to as he stands outside of Nonah 05, waiting for her to get ready. The plan for today? 50% off pancakes at the local pancake house. He had his eyes set on strawberries and cream and no one was going to take that away from him.

Yes, clearly the reason for going.]

[missleadingquestions]

[Oh Kaneda, you sweet summer child.

There's no way Maya can't have known, though there's also no reason for her to have assumed Kaneda wanted to make this valentine's day date romantic. The date-- February 14th-- has been hammered into her head through tons of marketing talks for the past two months and the day before she'd received the first wave of fan prizes. It's still a relatively slow thing since Pink Princess is just starting out, but that doesn't make flowers showing up at the studio any less annoying.

She knows it's Valentine's day and that's honestly why she's glad she's spending it with Kaneda. He's a ton of fun, and hell, maybe he'll help her get rid of all the flowers. That book burning party had the right idea. Burning flowers sounds fun.

That doesn't mean she's completely against the idea of Valentine's day, though. No, the kitschy decorations get her giggling all the time, and she thinks the aesthetic of it all is pretty adorable. Besides, any holiday can be fun if you let it be, right? So she's unafraid to dress the part, too. She's dressed up in a red-hearted dress and other red accessories, and yawns as she opens the door, obviously not treating this like any special day other than her somewhat eclectic fashion choices.

Closing the door behind her, she calls--]

Hey, y'ready? It's cold, y'know.

[Yes he knows it's cold you make sure to let everyone know it's cold out these days, Maya]

[rassera]

[Her voice is the first thing he hears, Of course it's cold, Maya, you only make it a part of your regular day to point this out. Bonus points if you happen to mention how warm it is in Heropa, and extra credit if you mention the sunshine.]

It's February. It kinda gets like that sometimes.

[There's a cheeky little smile as she says that, at how easy it comes out. This whole time he was waiting, he was wondering what to say. He was never good at THIS kind of dating--something romantic and serious and specifically for devoted couples. Talking like this was more casual, and if he could just keep up that appearance for the whole day, it could slide by as just another one of those dates like Laser Tag had been. Something fun they could enjoy together.

Yes. It'd be so simple.

--

At least, until he looks at her. Proverbial glass shatters as his attention turns to that dress. Noticing the little patterns on it, more importantly how perfect she looked in it. A heart cut out--completely noticeable by him for OBVIOUS REASONS--and a bunch of red accessories to accent it...

Oh no.

This wasn't--she looked great in it. Beyond great. But this...this was Valentine's, wasn't it.


His head tilts to the side, rocking back on his heels with that realization. Conflicting feelings fogging his head and stomach, letting it twist unnaturally as he tries to find words.]


Ah! ...Ready.


[That wasn't it.]

lmk if I need to change anything!

[attainment]

[Maybe most people would have taken some time off after being held captive on a submarine for nine days, but Barnaby isn't most people. Besides, with an extraordinarily rare trip out to Disneyworld just around the corner, Barnaby knows he needs to take care of a few things before he leaves.

As it so happens, one of those things includes laying the groundwork for future collaborations with the Pink Princess, also known as Maya Fey. The talks have been lengthy, with people from both teams brimming with ideas. He's reminded a little bit of Agnes, his producer from back home, and how excited she'd get at the chance for some good publicity for her heroes. It's refreshing, actually, working with people who care about their work so much.

But even the most invested people need a coffee break sometimes, and Barnaby sips at a steaming mug as he gives his strained eyes a much-needed break by gazing at sky outside.]

sorry for the wait!

[missleadingquestions]

[It's true, things have been busy-- especially after the trip to Russia. Still, if Maya's at all tired from it all, it doesn't show in her or her team. With her producer, JJ, at her side, Maya's excited to get things started.

Of course, getting to know the people you'll be working with is important as well, so when Maya passes Barnaby on his break, she's quick to stop by and say hello.]

Hey. You busy?

no worries!

[attainment]

[He regards Maya with a professional, well-practiced smile.]

Not at all. Why do you ask?

[missleadingquestions]

I wanted to come by and talk!

[Maya brightens up immediately, glad she isn't intruding.]

It's Barnaby, right? It's been pretty crazy today, we haven't had the chance to chat!

For Cass, following a text a few days ago what is time

[missleadingquestions]

[She's serious too, okay, she has no qualms dropping everything to get to the café. Besides, she's already in Heropa after a meeting with JJ and the morning's daily training with Tex. When Maya arrives at Cass's, she slips in quietly and heads straight for the back, looking for Cass upstairs first.]

Hey-- Cass? You up here?

[lasthugs]

I'm here!

[She is, in fact, around! And coming out toward the stairs in fact. She's carrying out a new box of napkins to put out front, and stacked on it is a bottle of dish soap. You have to make sure everything is stocked! She brightens visibly when she spots Maya.]

Hey sweetie.

[missleadingquestions]

Hey!

[Maya smiles Cass's way, and then hurries over to grab that bottle of dish soap. Cass may be the dish-and-box-carrying champion, but it's good to lend a hand sometimes anyway.]

Where're we headed?

[lasthugs]

[Oh, you're the best, Maya. Cass smiles and lets her take it, slipping around in front of her to lead the way in that case.]

After we just set these down, how about we go down to the front? There aren't that many people in today, but it's my turn to be keeping watch today. You ready for some rice cakes?

[amadaman]

[The last time Ken actually sat next to Maya without a huge party around them was when they were on the warship and he was bleeding, freezing, and falling asleep. Not a good last time to have. And since then he's healed his shoulder, had Tadashi slowly start to heal it, and he's also met up with Tetsuo. His usage of the address 'Tetsuo-sama' isn't exactly difficult to overhear, so Maya may have heard it already. He hasn't explained that to anyone. Things have been weird around Ken Amada.

But as if he hasn't noticed any of that weirdness, Ken sits down next to Maya today small and orange as usual, and in his hands he's holding a bundle of strings that may be familiar to her.]

Maya-san. Can you teach me?

[missleadingquestions]

[Maya's noticed the weirdness by now. But she's waiting-- waiting to see if he shows any signs of needing help. It's not her place to step in-- just to support him, just to be there.

So when he approaches her, she gives him all her attention.]

Oh-- the bracelets? Sure!

[She holds out her hand, beckoning.]

Let me see.

[amadaman]

[There have been none so far. In fact, Ken's actually cheered up quite a bit since he started actually talking to Tetsuo. There was a day or two where he was quiet and reeling from something, but that's faded back now. He nods and doesn't hesitate to hand the strings over to her before sitting the way he does when he's comfortable: feet pulled up on the cushion, knees bent up with his chin resting on them. In Nonah, it's a way he sits only when he's around Kaneda or Bull.]

I tried to look for the kind you made online, but I couldn't do it. It's hard to just follow a video.

guess who lost this tag IT ME

[missleadingquestions]

Yeah? I thought so too, it was easier when Mabel showed me.

[She bunches them up the way they need to be and then holds the bundle up, knotting it slowly and carefully in front of him.]

Usually you have to put something down so you can like, hook the knot to it? But it's a little more fun to have someone just hold it for you. So, you just start out by taking the two on this end and-- wait, you hold onto it, and I'll show ya.

[She holds it out, realising talking without showing would be a little silly, and smiles.]

Nick

[wrightingwrongs]

[BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE SO MANY OF THESE I CAN ALREADY TELL]

Feb. 7th? Late Morning.

[wrightingwrongs]

[The weather in Nonah was drizzly. Phoenix could almost hear in his mind's eye a certain visor'd somebody talking about how it weighed heavy on the heart, a rain that you felt way down in your soul-

Or something like that.

Truth is that he might not be entirely wrong about that, but it was more the weather that was causing Nick grief. It hadn't been that long since it had happened, for him.

He replays the scene over and over in his mind - fire, a bridge, a plummet into a river below-

shivering, feverishly pressing the Magatama into Edgeworth's hands, feverishly entrusting him with the case that could have saved or doomed her.

He nursed the coffee he had warming his hands - he hadn't figured out how to take it black, not yet, but between the coffee, the rain, and the date - February 7th, of all days-

he was feeling melancholic, and it wasn't that hard to tell.]

[missleadingquestions]

Nick?

[It hasn't taken Maya long to find him. She'd been planning on spending the day in Kaneda's room, alone-- she knows what day it is. But Nick had appeared, and things had gotten crazy, and, well. Perhaps Maya should be leaving Phoenix alone for now, to get adjusted, but she can't seem to find the will to. She'd gone upstairs to put on proper pajama pants (the main floor's a bit chillier) and had returned quickly, eager to return to her dear friend's side.]

'M back. You okay?

[wrightingwrongs]

Oh, hey, Maya.

[Maya was alive. That still floored him - and the date was only making him more keenly aware of how lucky that was. Twice in two months, she'd nearly been taken away from him. If it wasn't for Godot, if it wasn't for a whole lot of people other than him intervening at just the right time-]

Yeah, I'm okay, I'm just... thinking.

[She'd really be dead. And no amount of tricks of false-tunnel entrances would have saved her.]