holy apparition in a soup kitchen

“Pestinos! My abuela makes them the best. I think I’m getting pretty good at it but, like, no-one can cook as good as her. My mama’s really good, too, but even she’s said no-one can beat her, so that isn’t, like, me being mean, or anything, I swear. I love mint chocolate chip ice cream tubs really late at night. It tastes better then, I dunno why. And... Hm... My face!”

“So cool! This clown sounds nice. Hmm... Maybe a worm, please. ‘Cause I feel like no-one ever asks for them, and that’s kinda sad for worms, don’t you think? Like, that probably bums them out. Or... A hippo. I love hippos. I wanna hug one.”

“Like a magic trick, kinda thing? Where you make someone disappear? I love those! I’d be your helper, sure! I think magicians are really cool.”

27. What is their biggest regret?

i rly am not too sure whether mila has any............... the mii plaza music is always playing quietly in her brain n when she stops talking that’s all that’s going on in there.... there’s just a little wii mii standing staring at the screen like :) gently swaying it’s arms..... she doesn’t rly dwell on bad feelings n kind of has a shallow pool where they’re concerned bc she’s just very like...... the world is so good and cool and i love everyone n everything! as much as she can b. pretty naive. that said i think she fleetingly regrets some things. mayb thinks she should have said smthn to rusty (bebe daddy) along the lines of like “i’m here if u need me” bc she assumes he’s just going thru a rough time n that’s why he hasn’t contacted her...... probably regrets accidentally stepping on a dog’s paw two yrs ago she’s like :(.............. n wonders sometimes if he’s forgiven her late at night. little things like those. nothing too earth shattering.

31. Most prized possession?

oh god it’s hard to choose jst one... mila treasures literally everything. she has a little ceramic frog on her window ledge n she probably kisses it’s head before she sleeps at night. she luvs this big knitted cardigan she made tht’s like patchwork n all diff pastel colours w :P faces n rainbows on. maybe her grandma’s knitting needles? altho they aren’t rly hers. literally just like.... her home in general....... all her family’s things..... her grandpa’s rocking chair..... she rly likes this fanny pack she got for three dollars n ninety-nine cents frm a gas stop. it has smiley faces all over it n honestly it’s kind of an abomination tht looks cheaply made bt she was like oh so neat n cool! :) acting like she’d found a designer piece fr a shocking bargain..... her grandparent’s wrote each other love letters when they were younger n they have a big trunk of those. mila loves reading thru them altho a lot of the time she doesn’t understand the words they use bc they’re bigger than her vocabulary </3 bt it’s ok. she still gets the romantic gist. also like any gift anyone hs ever given her...... OH and her pastel hair clips she loves those too. n she gets different pattern plasters w like dinosaurs n faces n hearts which she likes as well.... she literally cherishes anything she’s ever owned bc she didn’t grow up w much so she rly doesn’t tke anything fr granted n has a lot of love in her heart.

35. What activities do they enjoy, but consider to be a waste of time?

“I like Alita, ‘cause it’s my abuela’s name. And I think Sofia’s cute. It kinda feels like mine, a little -- like, when you say it, and stuff. In your mouth! Then... Umm... Leo and Iggy. Those are really pretty. Leo makes me think about lions and the sun. And Iggy’s fun to say.”

“Huh? Why would someone have my eye on them? Who put it there? Not nice. That’s kinda scary.”

she was humming as she walked, in a surprisingly chipper mood as she left work. there was a certain relief that came with the end of a shift. one that lifted her spirits as she was free to do something, anything now that she was no longer chained to one location. caught up in watching her shadow, in watching it move up and down as she moved, but in a compressed version that didn’t match her proportions, she wasn’t paying attention as she turned the corner. screaming as they went down in a tangle, she only wanted to add dramatics to the whole affair. everywhere she looked, there were dogs, but all she could think about was how she wanted a fur coat. a faux fur coat of course. “i hope the dogs don’t start running in different directions or i’ll be drawn and quartered like a medieval european.”  she looked at the leashes trapping them, and looked at mila, but she was focused more on deciding how she felt by this whole ordeal than getting out. “it’s like advanced twister, but less sexy.” she shook her leg, trying to keep the dog away, though she hardly felt the dog’s teeth through her jeans. “this is romantic. i like being this close to you.” she smiled widely, but it was more taunting than genuine. “i could survive without the dogs. are they all yours?” she began working her way out of the mess. 

It was almost comical, the sudden way Mila paled, a child exposed to the bloody gore onscreen during an eighteen rated movie. “Hung drawn and... huh? Whatever that is, it doesn’t sound nice...” trailed off with a subtly furrowed brow, eyeing the dogs with a pinch of uncharacteristic caution. “I don’t want that to happen...” As if they’d hear this, wholeheartedly understand, and nod all of their heads in unison. “Please don’t run, you guys,” she whispered as if Antonia wouldn’t hear, making extra sure they knew her stance on the matter. Then, her chin lifted, already transfixed with the next thing she said. “What’s sexy about regular Twister? I played it with my grandma, when I was little. She almost broke her hip.” A grave tale, though Mila retold it fondly, purely for the fact that she’d shrieked laughing at her grandmother’s feigned exertions, grunts and all -- until they turned real, that is. Still, no serious injuries. Resting up, afterwards, her grandmother spun the wheel and let Mila finish the rest. “Romantic?” Losing her train of thought, Mila finally managed to free Antonia from the leads, stroking at Wallaby’s head straight after. “Nuh-uh. I do dog walking. Like, it’s my business. I made all my flyers myself. I gave out the last one... Sorry. I’d totally give you one. Um... Hey, you can come to my house, if you wanna? I think I have one stuck up, outside. Or I can grab you a new one if we go in. Do you have a dog?”

“For what?” Mina raised a brow, unsure why the other was apologizing, but she didn’t push it, figuring that it had been a result of miscommunication. It was something that happened often with Mina; generally why she avoided socializing, because she couldn’t seem to ever have a conversation that wasn’t uncomfortable in some sense of the word. “It’s the neatest.” She cringed as she said the word, and at the enthusiasm in her own voice, because upbeat just wasn’t her style. A quiet laugh fell from her lips at the other’s following words, and she couldn’t help but to grin a bit. “Well, now I’m curious what your name is, if only because I’ve never heard a name that sounds like a cat’s meow, of all things. Though, did you consider, perhaps, that he was just hitting on you? Because that sounds like a weird pick-up line that some cheesy doofus would use on someone. Can’t blame you for not wanting to start meowing a bunch, however. It might freak your dog out.” Teasing laced the words, which surprised her, but she decided to just go with it; it wouldn’t kill her to be in a good mood for once, after all. “Um, sure? I mean, yeah, I’d like that. I’m guessing these are all dogs?” Which seemed obvious, but it couldn’t hurt to check, she thought, as she followed the girl, attempting to keep up. “Yeah, I wanna hear about Wallaby— how many dogs do you have?” 

“Oh! It’s Mila,” she gushed like she’d just been addressed by the highest government official as they’d extended a hand to give hers a shake, smile instant. “It does kinda sound like a meow. Like a kitten, maybe. Miiiila. See? I thought it was pretty cute. I can see it... I dunno if it was like that, though. I think he was just being nice. And really smart... I never thought of it like that, before.” Mila struggled to catch on to most things like this -- the fact that he’d also been leaning into her space, lopsided smirk producing a lone dimple on his face, had only registered as a dutiful attempt to hear her better, a genuine interest in what she had to say. She remembered the entire exchange as incredibly sweet. “Uh-huh! All dogs.” Mila didn’t think the question was silly, at all. It didn’t even cross her mind to. “Oh, they’re not mine. I wish! I walk ‘em. Like, for my neighbours and stuff -- all around town, actually! Hey, I think I have a flyer. You wanna see?” Straightening, she drew the zip on her fanny pack -- covered in smiley faces, she’d spotted it at a gas stop for only three dollars and ninety-nine cents -- to produce a crumpled pink flyer. Comic Sans. A few misspellings and typos. A lot was going on in it, that’s for sure. Mila handed it over, chest swelled like a proud robin, cheeks plump with a smile. “You can keep it. It’s my business! Dog walking. I’m pretty cheap. Sometimes people pay me extra to hang out with them in my yard. I try to teach them yoga, but I don’t really know the poses. I mostly make them up.”

he was on his way to grab coffee, alex adamant on grabbing an iced coffee before he start his stake out. he hadn’t expected to run into a young woman, let alone a bunch of dogs dragging her on. “oof.” he groans, his shin being hit. chuckling, he’s instantly reminded of that one daniel radcliffe photo. “it’s – it’s fine.” he smiles at the brunette, finding her rambling endearing. crouching down, he greets the dogs, the lot of them jumping on him. “i have a baby, bella. she’s an ankle nibbler when we’re playing. do you think that belt is a good idea for you?” the raven-haired male cocks a brow, “you’re what? 100 lbs? these two probably weigh more than you alone.” the male snorts, scratching behind nibbles ears.

“Bella?” Mila let out a gasp, briefly forgetting their predicament. “You like Twilight?!” Quite the assumptive leap. In Mila’s brain, it made perfect sense. In fact, she even started considering a career path as a budding detective, considering how fast she’d cracked this case. She wasn’t sure if the trench coat was for her, though. It was fine, and all, a perfectly respectable coat, but Mila liked to embody colours of the rainbow, each item of clothing adding up to something you’d find painted on a kindergarten mural. “The... Oh, this?” she asked, hand moving to touch it as if he could’ve possibly meant anything else by belt. “No, it’s okay, we’re all best friends. They’d never pull me over. We have, um...” trailed off, sure there was a word she’d heard her grandpa use that applied to this, once. Suddenly remembering she was supposed to be untangling him, she set back to work. “They’d never wanna do that. It’d make them sad. Like, I’d never pull them over, either.” 

          was it possible to be attracted to someone’s shoulders  ?  poorly bleached white locks fell into his eyes as jody cocked his head to the side, pondering the question, amongst more. most of which were filthy and would never leave his mind. drunken stupor leads his lean frame to lurch to the side in attempt to keep balance  —  ankles felt loose, like an untied pair of boots clinging on for dear life.  “  mila,  ”  voice is just above a whisper, a throaty burp following. the female looked so peaceful, dozed off on the shoddy piece of furniture they called a couch. like a shitty renaissance painting taking place in his family home.  “  millhouse.  ”  jody raised his voice a bit, taking a single step forward before haphazardly collapsing into the spot next to her. a childish giggle pulls from him as he peers over at her through eyelashes, fixating on a crayola-colored flower drawn poorly on the top of mila’s hand.  “  did kim try to give you a tattoo  ?  ”  the way he props against her goes unnoticed.  @milaherrera​

For some reason, Mila had taken off her chunky knit cardigan only to drape it on top of her, under the impression that snuggling beneath it as a blanket was a far better conservation of warmth than putting her sleeves through. She possessed the appearance of a curled up cat, cheek slightly pooched from her lean against the cushion, and it was almost a wonder that her sleep was so deep, considering it was in a house that wasn’t her own. Then again, Mila trusted the world wholeheartedly. She could doze off in the middle of a busy intersection if someone promised it’d be fine. “Hm?” came with a sleepy blink, eyes drifting through the dim of a late night to place him. It still felt a bit like a dream. “Did I fall--... Sorry. What’s, um... time’s it?” left yawned on the last two words, a squeaky little thing, barely audible. Blinking down at her hand, a smile began to rouse, momentarily forgetting she’d overstayed. She lifted it to show him properly, displaying Kim’s work with the pride you’d expect from a mother. “Uh-huh. Don’t you think it’s pretty? I paid her with a candy, ‘cause I think it’s super... What’s the word? Um... I dunno. I found a lemon one in my purse. She spat it out, though -- I don’t think she likes lemons,” Mila filled him in, mentally making a vow to pluck a lemon from her fridge at home, later, and whisper a secret compliment so it didn’t take it to heart. “Sorry I fell asleep,” she murmured with a gentle rub at one of her eyes, peering at him in an accidental wink. “I can get my stuff.” 

Mina had been in a sour mood since waking on the wrong side of the bed that morning, and so, when she found herself tangled in a dog’s leash, she wasn’t exactly thrilled. At least, she wasn’t until she caught sight of the dog, and it was difficult for even her to be upset over the situation because he was, admittedly, adorable. And if there was one thing she was a sucker for, it was animals. People? Not so much, but animals were generally nicer and softer and just cuter than most humans, so that made sense in her mind. “I… didn’t catch the majority of what you just said, but it’s fine… I think I can figure out how to get out of here on my own if you just give me a sec.” Granted, it took longer than a second, more like a few minutes, but she eventually managed to disentangle herself without injury… A success, at least. “Nibbles is kind of the cutest name ever so I’m willing to forgive him for nibbling on my ankles. Besides, at least he’s living up to his namesake, that’s something.” It was her attempt at a joke, but she didn’t have the greatest sense of humor, nor was she the most skilled conversationalist. 

“Oh, sorry!” Mila startled, assuming perhaps she was hard of hearing -- she even went to begin signing, hands poised, but Mina distracted her with the compliment. “I know, right?! I think it’s neat,” she declared with the confident enthusiasm of Marge Simpson holding a beet, smile springing in fast succession. “That’s true. I didn’t even think of it like that. But then... This guy told me my name sounds like a cat’s meow, one time. So I guess I’m not really living up to my namesake. But I don’t think I wanna start meowing, a bunch.” Reaching to steady the leads, attempting to wrangle the pack of dogs into a docile sit, Mila leaned to tickle behind the ears of Beeboo. A quick glance up came framed by pastel clips, bobbed ‘do falling to cup her cheeks with the angle. “Wanna meet the rest? Beeboo’s a people person. He loves telenovela’s and the mail man. Nibbles loves milk duds but she can’t have them and her favourite colour’s orange. She always tries to lick them in the groceries.” Realising she’d charged full steam ahead, she blinked up at Mina to check if she was following. “Wanna hear about Wallaby?”

The cold bite of the winter air had left Barnes waking up on the right side of the bed that morning. He loved it, when the temperature got cold enough to see his own breath - each inhale of his cigarette was matched with a hearty exhale, one that left him pretending it was all him. A dragon wreaking havoc on the town square of downtown Irving. The momentary daydream came to a sudden halt when Barnes was all by attacked by teeth biting gently at his ankles, paws scrabbling against his legs, “Jesus Christ,” he sputtered, eyes widening comically as he held his cigarette high above his head, lest one of the dogs get extra excited and jump right up only to be met with an accidental burn, “Mila what the fuck?” Barnes hated that he’d slowly begun to notice himself making a conscious effort not to hurt Mila’s feelings in these moments. Which seemed to be an impossible task, as it was. Though his tine had been whiny, Barnes didn’t feel as put out now as he did just moments ago, already patting at the head of the retriever panting in front of him, “How the hell does someone as tiny as you take these big boys for a walk every day?” he asked, finally wrapping a hand around the piece of leash tightening around his calf and attempting to step out of it, “I think they’re walking you more than you’re walking them - ow! Motherfucker - can you, like, do something? They’re gonna slice my fuckin’ leg in half, and then I’ll sue you, Mila. Do you want me to sue you? I’ll do it.”

her eyelashes fluttered, head tilting to the side in silent amazement for mila’s anger free reaction of her ruining a perfectly knit cardigan with coffee blends from south america. payton wondered if she was dreaming, face sticking to the inside of a leather bound book somewhere in the corner of a library. she needed to pinch the skin on her arm just to make sure but there was no jolt back to reality. dreaming was ruled out. this was reality. she didn’t need to built up walls to prepare for a stranger yelling at her incompetence. in fact, she did the opposite. she propelled her body forward, gathering mila in her arms and squeezing her tightly for a bone crushing hug. “thank you,” she mumbled into the soaked fabric of her sweater, not even caring that her own clothes were now stained. she stepped backward again, placing her hand over her chest to gather her breathe. “oh,’ she squeaked, reclaiming the dirty napkins because it was the polite thing to do. “i didn’t think you were,” she assured. “i am sorry about all of this. can i do anything for you? at least let me buy you a pastry or a cuppa.”

Mila let out a squeak like a startled guinea pig when Payton hugged her close, surprise forcing her lips apart. She quickly returned the gesture, always the sort to give when she got and even when she didn’t. “That’s okay,” she soothed fast, blinking around the place over her shoulder as she tried to work out what it was, exactly, that she was being thanked for -- bumping into her? Absorbing most of the mess with her sweater, maybe? Regardless, a breezy smile settled once she’d withdrawn. “Oh, wow. You don’t have to--...” faded, eyebrows gently knitting as her head cocked, a spaniel attempting to hear tires on the drive. “A cuppa? Um...” trailed off, still trying to work out what this might mean, hesitant to broach that she had no idea. “Like, a couple’a pastries? I can’t eat that many. I never got how those hot dog eaters ate, like, a bunch at once, ‘cause I get belly ache if I do that.” Reaching up to rub at the tip of her nose to quell an itch, Mila hummed a second before making a final decision. “Maybe one of those, um... I dunno their names. The ones with the little cherries on, with the crusts. Could I get one of those? They’re my favourite.” Subconsciously, her hand had come to settle on her stomach, contemplating snacks like she was, pad of her thumb gently stroking. Sometimes, at night, she’d lie awake asking it questions, half expecting a voice in her head to answer back -- she didn’t quite get the terms of pregnancy or the fact you weren’t telepathically linked with your baby. She let go when she realised. holding her hands, instead. “Which is your favourite?”