e komo mai!

Selena had her work cut out for her. He was proving himself to be more dense by the minute, but that also made him a challenge. So the real question was, did she continue or leave him be? While the latter was tempting, she couldn’t deny herself the pleasure of looking at the handsome piece of work he was. He had been the one good thing she had seen since her few mere hours in the city.

A quiet chuckle escaped her lips when he stopped himself from saying ‘mahalo’. She wasn’t sure why he wouldn’t finish the word once he started – a level of comfort maybe? She decided that she’d wait and see before she said anything further about it or joined in. 

“A change of pace. A change of scenery.”

That was the short story, clearly. Selena had never been the type of person to look to the past as her own wasn’t the happiest, but it was the main reason that lead to her moving here. After many other moves. 

“It’s no different than the reasons of most others.”

She turned to face him with a confident smile, placing one of the cups in front of him.

hmm. he shot her a curious glance out of the corner of his eye. there seemed to be more to the story than she let on, but --- no, he shouldn’t pry. he barely even knew her, after all. instead he simply shot her an understanding smile, giving a firm nod.

‘ ah, same as me, then! ’ sort of. but she didn’t need to know that nana had to practically force him out of the house in order to do so. ‘ it’s a pretty nice city, i hope you like it here! do you already have a job lined up? if not, i know the baycourt center is always hiring ... ’

he murmured a quiet thank you as she placed his cup before him, raising it to his lips without a moment of hesitation.

Julia knew she couldn’t go back until this dog was found and that left her in a tight spot. This was why she never left the store unattended. Some of her employees weren’t the most attentive and that left her with more troubles than she could ever expect… Unfortunately, the lack of employees as is made it hard to replace them. 

“Ludus!”

Her face lit up immediately and she clasped her hands in front of her chest. His timing couldn’t have been more perfect.

“I am! I’m looking for a small dog about this big-”

She held her hands apart at the size of an approximate yorkshire terrier. 

“He responds to Tucker. He’s a little escape artist and left his sister alone back at the shop.”

a missing dog? his eyebrows raised, concern etching itself upon his features.

‘ oh no, did he run off? how long has he been gone? ’ instinctively his eyes began to dart around the street. truth be told, this wasn’t the first time someone had asked him to look out for a lost pet - although most of the time that had been back home, where the runaway in question had considerably less places to disappear to. but here, in the middle of the city, where there was an endless stream of noise and activity, it was safe to say he was more than a little uneasy.

he folded his arms across his chest, fixing her with a worried smile.

“Is that so? Hmm.”

She felt that it was a waste of his muscles talents, but she knew better than anyone that sacrifices had to be made when there were bills to be paid. Other than dancing, she, too, had worked odd jobs here and there - like bartending. There was that and the fact that she had no idea what his ‘true talents’ really were. To be honest, she didn’t care about that. Yet. Maybe.

“Then maybe I should give you a call when I run into trouble here~♡”

Although all of her subtle previous efforts had gone over his head, Selena wasn’t one to give up. He was proving himself to be an interesting character, one where his personality didn’t match how she would have initially guessed it to be.

“Hibiscus it is. And no, you can just sit there and look pretty.”

She teased, turning briefly to wink at him before grabbing her favorite tea and preparing two cups.

‘ ah, would you really? ’ his smile widened, eyes curving gently with gratitude. what a kindhearted woman. he hadn’t meant to turn his impromptu act of kindness and the rant that followed into a sales pitch - really he hadn’t - but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t touched by her offer. ‘ i’d really appreciate that. i’ll look forward to your call, then! ’

she turned away with a playful wink, and he gave a firm, satisfied nod in response.

‘ mahal --- uh, thank you. ’ geez, how many years had it been since he left the island? judging from his speaking habits, he’d think that he’d just arrived in harbour pointe yesterday. he leaned against the kitchen counter, lips upturned in a soft smile.

Selena smiled. Just as she had planned, he had accepted her offer.

“Of course not. As you’re happy to help, I’m happy to offer a small payment. This could have been an inconvenience to you.”

She planned to play nice for as long as possible to make it all sound more genuine and as if she really cared about paying him back. For now at least. There was a time limit to how long she could hold the nice facade, her true self would break out again soon enough. She was typically the kind to accept a stranger’s help, then quickly shoo them away to avoid any kind of unnecessary conversation. Her main goal was never to make friends, she only needed to secure her future and status. But he was too cute to shoo away just yet. ♡

“A handyman? Hm, I could see that.”

Without the slightest effort in trying to hide it, she looked him over. With his build, it was no surprise that he was skilled in work that dealt with his hands and what she could assume required a lot of strength. If nothing is broken, she might have to accidentally drop a cheap vase. Once she finished looking him over, she walked over to the counter by her kitchen where she had more boxes piled, one specifically labeled ‘tea and tea leaves’.

“Do you have a tea preference?”

for a moment she paused as she looked him over, prompting a curious look from the man in question. had he said something strange? but before he could ask what the matter was, she had already turned away, heading toward what looked like the kitchen. 

oh well, he guessed he could ask later.

‘ well ... a handyman in theory, at least. these days i’ve been asked to do all kinds of things, like walking someone’s dog, cleaning someone’s room - i’ve even been asked to babysit a few times. really, i’m beginning to wonder if maybe i should start marketing myself as something like a jack of all trades instead ... ’

though his words were grumbled, his eyes still sparkled with faint amusement as he slowly trailed behind her into the kitchen. he couldn’t really complain, to be honest --- a job was a job, after all, and he still got paid for his time. he just wished that he was getting paid for the work he was actually supposed to be doing instead.

“Aww, are you sure? Tea is the least I could do and everything is already out.” 

Selena wasn’t used to not being able to get her way. Sprinkle a little determination on top and it was the perfect recipe for success. It hadn’t failed her yet and she wasn’t planning on having it start now either. …Or there’d be a worse temper tantrum coming her way.

“Hm, you can place that box by the table in the living room for now. I have to make sure nothing in it is broken.”

And if it was, the moving company was going to get a bad review, an email that was less than pleasant, and depending on her mood, possibly a phone call, too. There was no length of petty that Selena couldn’t reach when she put her mind to it. It was truly a gift. Just the thought of bringing them down little by little made her smile as she stepped through the doorway and closed the door behind her. 

“I am. First day in this city.”

Not off to a great start.

‘ well, if you insist ... ’ it wouldn’t be polite if he turned down such a generous gesture, no? ‘ as long as it’s not too inconvenient. i really am just happy to help. ’

he followed her into the building, eyes darting all around the interior of the apartment. whoa, what a huge place. he hadn’t been able to see much beyond the entryway of his customers’ apartment when he’d made his delivery. he’d heard that this building was supposed to be pretty nice, with spacious rooms and a view of the ocean ; looked like the rumors were true.

he frowned at her response, glancing at her curiously as he trailed behind her.

Auē noho'i ē.

A Hawaiian? Now that was a little interesting. There weren’t many opportunities for her to run into other native born islanders and if it just so happened that he was one– but speaking of that… When her temper cooled enough for her to focus on anything other than herself, she looked him over and felt that there was something faintly familiar about him. Could it be from the assumption that he was a possible native? Probably.

And when he lifted the box with little to no effort - and a flex of his muscles - she smiled. Whether she knew him or not didn’t matter anymore, she was going to get to know him. The dancer was determined. By bringing in the box, he’d already be in her apartment, too. Trapped. It was the perfect opportunity to be the perfect hostess~

“Mahalo.”

With a short nod, she moved around him to get to her door and hold it open. It was a much easier task than her trying to hold up the box and carry it inside.

“Let me make you a cup of tea and a small snack as thanks. ♪”

oh. he’d barely noticed that one of his nana’s old sayings had slipped out purely out of habit, but given the confidence of her mahalo, he guessed his new acquaintance had. was she an islander too? or maybe she was just being polite? maybe if she was hawaiian, that could explain why there was something so familiar about her. or was that just wishful thinking?

ugh, where had he seen her before? it was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn’t quite place it. he’d have to think about it a bit longer.

he shook his head, a soft chuckle escaping from his lips.

‘ don’t worry about it, it’s fine. just let me know where you want me to put everything, okay? ’ 

he brushed past her, box still in hand, then paused in the entryway as he waited for her to follow suit, shooting her a backwards glance. 

When Wayne wasn’t at the post office, chances are he was out putting his horses to pasture or just spending time with his many dogs as a replacement for human friends. Being an introvert had its caveats, but he’d never call his furry companions a detriment by any meaning of the word.

That’s what he was in the middle of when he heard a voice call, brushing through one of his stallion’s white manes meticulously and undoing any knots after a day out in the field. This particular breed, a white Abtenauer, was notorious for being quiet and energetic– which becomes apparent as it lifts its muzzle out toward the entrance to the barn, Wayne following his gaze to find the same man he considered a close acquaintance standing at the door frame.

“Oh– howdy, partner!” Wayne lifts the brim of his hat up in polite greeting, pausing in his motions to appear a little more welcoming. There’s a broad smile on his face, as per usual, pleasantly surprised by his sudden appearance despite just remembering he asked him earlier to repair a broken hinge on one of his stalls.

“Sorry about that, pal. If I’d known you were comin’ over already, I’d have met ya at the door.”

That’s not to say he caught him at a bad time. Wayne gestures him inside with a tilting of his head, standing close to his horse to avoid any anxious nickering as Wolf’s Bane is introduced to a new person from afar.

“He won’t bite. The stall’s over here if you’d like to take a look at it first.”

oh, so he was back here after all! a relieved grin tugs at his lips as he approaches the other man.

‘ ah, aloha wayne! no worries, i probably should have called in advance, yeah? for a moment there, i was kind of worried that maybe i’d gotten the date ... wrong ... ’

suddenly he stops in his tracks, stunned silent as he stares wide-eyed at the animal before them. 

‘ th-that’s --- ’ no way. no way. was this for real? he didn’t really know anything about horses - never even seen one up close in person - but he’d always admired them, even hoped that he might one day get the chance to ride one.

what should he do? should he get closer, or would that freak it out? didn’t people always give them apples as treats in the movies? or wait, was it carrots? maybe he should just stay still?

Is everything all right? Is everything all right? Selena had to take a moment before turning around in an attempt to stop herself from snapping back too quickly and harshly. Sadly, it only partly worked as the only thing kept out of her attitude-filled response was profane language. It was too bad, too, the voice didn’t sound like they were trying to cause any additional harm.

“Does it look like it’s all right?”

She turned around and waved her hand in the direction of the large, turned over box. One that was left that way by moving professionals might she add. A waste of the money she spent on them. Never again, that was for sure! And it was such a shame that such an attractive man had caught her in a time like this. She couldn’t even calm her temper enough to work her natural charm.

“There were valuable items in there, including a family heirloom!”

he didn’t even blink at her angrily-spat words - after years of mischief and constant trouble from the twins, things like that didn’t really faze him anymore. but what did surprise him as she turned to face him was the ruby red glint of her hair, the downturn of her lips.

she was absolutely beautiful. and ... strangely familiar. had he seen her somewhere before? was she a celebrity or something? 

his brow furrowed as he frowned down at the overturned box on the ground.

‘ ah, really? auē noho'i ē, how terrible! ’ he crouched down beside the box, eyeing it over for a few seconds. in the next moment he gently lifted it into his arms with one fluid motion, careful to keep it as still as possible so he wouldn’t further damage the items inside.

Open

Selena had originally planned on buying a house when moving to the city, but with that plan there was a potential roommate and lesser bills with the maximum amount of space. Unfortunately, that plan fell through relatively quickly when her friend had decided to sign for another five years with the company, immediately ridding her the need to buy a permanent place. And maybe that was for the best. Selena didn’t know how long she’d be here for and it was easier to leave an apartment then it was to sell a house.

The last of the boxes were moved in to her new place and as quickly as they were moved, the dancer began to count them off to make sure everything made its way here. She was getting to the last of the boxes and everything seemed to make it… Everything except for one box. 

Are you kidding me?

There was no hesitation when she flung her door open. Her frustration was evident, she wasn’t even trying to hide it, and when she looked down the open-air hallway her heated temper was only made worse.

“Are you kidding me?!”

to be honest, there was always a small part of him that was a little sad to part with his creations. all that time spent laboring over each commission, pouring the entirety of his self into his work, with nothing to show for it but a check with his name on it --- he knew it was silly, but there was something about it that was a little bittersweet. he could hear the twins’ voices in his head calling him a sap already.

he was almost to the elevator when the crash of a door being thrown open startled him from his thoughts, accompanied seconds later by a frustrated shriek. whipping his head toward the source of the sound, he spotted a woman standing down the hall, her back to him. 

his feet moved of their own accord.

“Yeah! But it’s super cool because you’re actually fixing it by yourself! I don’t know how to fix things so its super cool that you can!” Popuri replied emphatically. She was excited to see someone do something so technical like that. She didn’t know how to fix things it was really neat to meet someone who could!

She watched as the man went up the ladder and partially into the hole in the ceiling. She assumed he wouldn’t be able to hear her as well.

“Yeah the first time was with a guy who was a real author! I’d never met a real author before! It was super cool. The second time it was with some guy he was kind of scary and kind of mean. So the first time was better. But we always got out so it was fine. Well, the first time was scary but after the first time I knew that the fire department would come get me out so the second time was better.” She shouted.

“How do you know how to fix elevators?” She asked.

the moment he popped his head back up into the hoistway she began to speak again, words jumbling together in his mind as she chattered excitedly. there was something so familiar about her fast-paced rambling, something about it that reminded him of his friends from back home, that he couldn’t even attempt to fight back the unconscious grin that spread across his lips. 

‘ oh, man! that does sound like it must have been scary! but it also sounds like you met some pretty interesting people too, huh? ’ he peeked down the ladder to the interior of the elevator below - he couldn’t see her from where he stood, but hopefully she had been able to hear the genuine interest in his voice. 

taking his final few steps up the ladder, his eyes skimmed the small, faintly lit control space until they settled upon the motor controller. perfect. he gave a thoughtful hum as he popped the lid open, choosing his words before he opened his mouth again.

‘ well ... to be honest, i’ve never actually worked on an elevator before. but i’ve done electrical work in the past, and the nice thing about it is that a lot of the same concepts apply no matter what kind of thing you’re working on, you know? so it isn’t too hard to figure out, if you know what you’re doing ... ’ ah - he’d probably bore her if he got too technical, wouldn’t he?

One last sigh slipped from her lips and she brushed her hands along the front of her skirt, getting ready to leave, when suddenly she felt something hit her in the back of the head. She stumbled forward, her feet now deeper in the cold waters causing her stumble back at the temperature shock and land on her butt. She was a mess.

Now sitting in the sand, Sabrina rubbed the back of her head with a quiet ‘ow’. And to add to it, now her tailbone hurt as well. This is why it’s safer to stay indoors with a good book about the beach… She didn’t want to be a recluse, but every time she left the mansion something went wrong. Today just happened to be a possible concussion.

As embarrassed as she was in the moment, she thought it best to stay sitting for the time being. She glanced around to see the ball by her feet and continued to sweep the beach until she saw someone who looked worried. It must be his.

“Th-this is yours?”

She leaned forward to grabbed the ball and stood up, holding the ball out in his direction. There was no point in being upset with him, it was most likely an accident.

he could only watch in horror as the ball flew towards the stranger almost in slow motion, finally smacking her in the back of the head with a dull thwack. in the next moment, she crumpled to the ground, holding her head in her hands.

there wasn’t even a second of hesitation, his feet seemingly moving of their own accord as he raced to her side. 

‘ i’m so sorry! are you all right? that must have hit you pretty hard, huh? ’ as she rose to her feet, he peered into her eyes, worry sparkling in his own. it took a moment for him to register the ball she held out to him - he blinked at it slowly once, then took it from her with a murmured thank you, tucking it under his arm. 

without thinking, he rested his free hand on her shoulder, looking her over with a concerned frown. 

“Tucker!”

The blonde called out repeatedly walking the streets until she wound up by the park. Julia was bathing dogs earlier this morning when she got the news that one of the dogs escaped through the door when a customer walked in. She sighed, placing her hands on her hips while she caught her breath. She wasn’t sure how long she had been walking or searching, but now that she stopped, she was becoming tired. 

and it was cool autumn days like this that were perfect for a walk, to clear his mind in the brisk air. he’d gotten stuck on one of his designs today while he was working, and with his afternoon free, why not spend some time outdoors while he brainstormed? better than staying cramped at his work desk, at least. 

he’d only been walking for fifteen minutes or so, just a few blocks away from the corporate center, when he spotted a familiar face. one of his clients, if he remembered correctly - granted, they’d only interacted a handful of times, mostly when he’d been doing various repairs around the office. but he was usually pretty good at remembering faces, especially those of his clients.

she looked distressed. was something wrong? he knew it wasn’t any of his business, but ... he couldn’t just leave her looking like that in good conscience.