s m i l e for me

   [ kaylee bryant, female, she/her ] - was that MAYA TANAKA i saw by the lighthouse today? i heard that the TWENTY SIX year old who has been in nightrest for TWENTY YEARS and works  as a PHOTOGRAPHER has a reputation of being PROTECTIVE , but also INSECURE. they reside in FOG GATE & people in town usually associate them with AN ALBUM FULL OF PHOTOS, AN ANTIQUE CAMERA,  A COLLECTION OF OLD PHOTOGRAPHS, . let’s hope the killer doesn’t go after them next.

I just want them to know That I gave my all, did my best Brought someone some happiness Left this world a little better just because I was here

blood tw, death tw

mentions: @adeehayag @julesdavis @theoastor @jieunfms

“For sure! They’re going to love it. We’ll make sure it fits Mama’s vibe, too, so it doesn’t look out of place. I think it’s a good time for such a thing, too… you know, after everything.” She smiles, already imagining the reaction of the owners when they see it. And if they’re both working on it together, it can be done even sooner. “You did and we thank you for that,” she jokes, laughing softly. It would’ve been a disaster if everyone let loose. It already felt like so many people did. “Of course! It’s the least you deserve too after being DD last time. I wonder if the town’s planning some surprise event soon…”

"maybe give it a retro theme so it fits?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.  a retro theme would help it fit in with the other decor. or at least that was what she thought.   what ever theme for the board they went with, she was sure it would turn out great either way. at the end, she was just grateful that lucia was helping. "for once, someone else can stay sober for a night. because i for one want to get drunk one of these nights." that was all she wanted. one night to get drunk, let loose and maybe if she was even lucky enough, go home with someone. though the last one probably wouldn't happen.

“I always forget you were born there. It’s so cool, I’ve only been to a couple cities out of the country. Paris, Milan. Stuff for work, you know?” Theo nodded along to her plan, thinking that Maya would be a great person to visit the city with some day, making a mental note in his head even if he’d probably forget about it later. “It’s a plan then. Honestly, I can’t really think of anyone else I’d want to go with besides you anyway,” he replied with a grin. “Plus, you’ll get some great pictures out of it, I’m sure.”

"it is a cook place to live. i mean the month i was there to visit family, it was nice." she felt safe there too. not to mention the amount of fun she had.  it was a nice trip over all. "maybe you could come with me there the next time i go." she suggested. she wouldn't mind having a friend tag along. especially if it meant she could show them her hometown. that was something she had always wanted to do.  "fair warning, i may end up taking photo's of you in front of the trees."  photo's she was sure would turn out to look amazing too.

“I did have a little to eat earlier, but I might take you up on that offer if this water doesn’t help,” she replied, appreciative of Maya nonetheless. She was keeping the name of the guy she mentioned to herself for the time being, despite being unable to hide what a morning she’d had. “I don’t know, maybe? But some baggage is way worse than others, no? It just kind of killed my mood, I guess. I’m not sure I’d ever really want to see him again.”

"regardless of the water, you do need to eat.  can't go on an empty stomach." missing out on breakfast anyway was a big no to her. hungover or not, breakfast was a must. even if it was something as simple as eggs.  "understandable. but this guy, did you like being around him?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "someones baggage shouldn't matter if you like being around them. even if its just to hang out."

“thank you for keeping us full,” she said with a smile, julia couldn’t begin to explain how grateful she was to have friends like maya. ones who actually cared about her and vice-versa. she doesn’t know what she’d do without them. “you think i’ll be able to do it?” julia laughed, she wasn’t a bad cook, however she knew there’d be no way to replicate anything maya’s mom shows her. though she might try but still. “stay seated and relax, please!” there was already enough on the table in front of them, and she wanted maya to get a few minutes of peace before she goes back to cooking. “oh, well i don’t think i’ve gotten down to anything worth mentioning. mainly working, have to keep the coffee addicts at bay. but i did get out of my reading slump!”

"think adee would want to learn how to make some of these dishes too?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at her. she didn't mind teaching julia and adee how to cook them. seeing a they weren't really hard to make. at least to her it wasn't. knowing how to make them since she was sixteen, it was just easy to make them ever since. "i think so. with some practice, you'll be able to make them in no time." and she would be there to help her practice make them. "okay then. we'll save the ramen for later. " there was more than enough good anyway for now. the ramen could take a backseat until later on. "ah.  the customers haven't been rude to you, right? " she knew how some could be. some could be rude which wasn't cool at all in her books. "

“Oh, thank you!” She leans in to give Maya a one-armed hug. “Sure, I’d love to help out. It’s a real cute idea, I’d love to be a part of it. I have so many ideas, actually.” Mama’s means a lot to Lucia. Not only had it been in town for as long as she could remember, but she had good memories there with her family as a kid. “That’s fair. So many needed designated drivers.” She giggles. So many people had gone all in in Medusa, her included.

"think the owners will like it?" she asked as she hugged her bag. she was hoping the owners would love it. it would be something they would hang on the wall. and for everyone to really see. she could only hope that it would come out looking good. with lucias help though, she was certain that it would look good. "a lot did. someone had to take up that." and she didn't mind doing it too. "next time though, i'm hoping someone else can be the designated driver so i can actually drink."

"Fine.” Azra rolled her eyes, swapping out her coffee for water with a sigh, taking the advice of her friend. “That’s good.” She smiled, glad that Maya seemed to enjoy herself, even if their versions of that weren’t the same at all. “Honestly, not really. It like… totally sucked for me, and then I went home with this guy. I promised him I wouldn’t say anything, but let’s just say he’s got a lot of baggage.”

"if you're hungry, we can always head back to my place so i can cook up some eggs for you." she offered.  she was leaving that up to azra though.  she wouldn't mind it though. cooking up some breakfest for her friend. especially if it would help her sober up faster. at the mention of the guy, she didn't know what to say fast. staying silent for a moment before speaking. "don't half the people in this town have a lot of baggage with them though?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Sure, let’s do it,” Theo nodded in agreement. He had most of the day off today anyway, so stopping by Maya’s place was really no problem. Besides, he liked that she was so passionate about what he did, finding it really inspiring. “I feel like I’d want to see them there though, plus I’ve always wanted to visit Japan anyway. Tokyo looks like such a cool city, and they have a bunch of hiking spots too. Washington DC could work for now though… maybe next year I’ll go, as long as you come with me,” he replied with a smile.

"seeing them in japan is nice. i got to see them in my hometown, kyoto." a place she missed already.  she may not have grown up there, but it was a home to her. her second home. "there's always next year. i usually go every year to see them. " a tradition of hers for the past few years. that, plus seeing her family that lived there too still. at the mention of her going with him to washington dc to see them, the smile grew on her lips. "i'd love to go with you." even if it wasn't seeing them where she was born, she would still go.  "they're gorgeous in person. i'm sure you'll love it."

“thank you, maya,” adee said with a grateful grin before she reached over to grab some for herself. “wanna come over to jules’ and mine next weekend? i finally got the whole weekend off instead of just sunday, so i’m planning on cooking adobo for sunday brunch since i know i’ll finally be well rested. or would you rather have sinigang? i just– ugh,” she said with a slight groan. “i really miss being able to cook an actual dish, instead of just frying something or having to rely on takeout. i miss it so much that i might just go ahead and cook both,” adee said, letting out a laugh. “how’ve you been doing?” 

"if you like them, i can show you how to make them." she offered.  she didn't mind showing her friends how to make them at all. it would have been easy too. at the mention of coming over, she nodded her head. "just the three of us for a girls night?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. a girls night with adee and julia would be nice. just the three of them hanging out.  "if you want me to bring anything, let me know." she didn't mind making something. or even bringing the drinks if she had to. "have you asked for weekends off?" she asked as she looked over at her. "maybe they'll let you have the weekends off if you ask." she pointed out. "i've been okay. planning my next project already. what about you? how've you been doing?"

“well, thank you for going through the effort of making us dinner.” julia was grateful to have maya as a friend, even more when she goes out of her way to tire herself in the kitchen and bring her delicious food. “stop before i officially add your mom to the friend group,” now seated on the couch, julia placed a full glass of wine in front of maya, taking her own to take a long sip. the second the glass was placed on the coffee table, julia dug into her food a sigh full of pleasure following suit, “your food is always so good!” she complimented, going back for another bite. a few minutes later she grabbed her wine and leaned back into the couch, “okay, let’s hear it. what have you been up to?”

"you know me, i love cooking up some food for you and adee whenever i can." and on occasion, jieun and dom as well. there weren't many people she would make all of this for.  "how about this, when you come to my parents house for dinner, you can ask her how she makes it all. i'm sure she won't mind showing you." she pointed out.   taking out the rest of the containers, she left the ingredients for the ramen in the bag. "think i should make the ramen right now, or later on?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked at her.  "me? just taking photo's. the usual. nothing too exciting for me lately. what about you? what have you been up to?

adee: good, i'm glad you're not alone

adee: if you ever wanna stay over at jules' and mine, you know you're always welcome

adee: we gotta stick together, right? especially now 😔

maya: i know. i might come over in a little bit

It was hard to not smile around Maya, hearing her talk about her life more than enough enjoyment for him right now. After they’d graduated, Theo moved to LA, and the hardest part of it for him was not being able to see everyone he cared about. Maya, especially then, had been one of the people in the forefront of his mind, always knowing that there was a part of his heart that belonged to her. “You’ll show me some of them, right? I saw you taking pictures during the reopening,” he responded. “Mhm, I’ve seen a bunch of pictures of cherry blossom trees, I’ve always wanted to see them. I hear you have to like… go during a specific time though, is that how it is?”

"if i had my laptop with me, i could show you them right now." but she had left it had home. that had been a first for her too. not carrying it around with her when she almost always did. "if you want, we could head over to my place after we're done here so you can see them" she suggested.  it was a much better suggestion than just leaving him here to go home and get the laptop. "you should for sure. i know they have some in washington dc. they say the best time to see them would be the end of march and the first week of april."