#liacabrera05

" oh, yeah. i didn't want just one, though. " she remembers her parents' stories. her younger self was thoroughly overwhelmed by the cuteness of her options. so much so, in fact, that she couldn't do the one thing that was asked of her : pick one. " i went from wanting a hamster, to wanting a rabbit, then a dog & then... a guinea pig, i think ? all in the span of one week. " an embarrassed smile forms across her lips, knowing her indecisiveness was driving her parents insane. especially since anthony had his own suggestions to add to the pile. " i guess at some point i stopped asking, because i couldn't make up my mind & i just settled for the koi pond at the dojo. " all or nothing – particularly tricky when it comes to pet ownership. she might revisit the topic in a few years. after all, she hasn't developed any sort of immunity to adorable animals. for now, she'll settle to just joke about it. " maybe i should just be a farmer. imagine the possibilities. "

yeah... she knows about 'the whole- you know'. there's a moment of silence, a little kick of sadness to her usual sunny demeanor as she thinks for the millionth time about the effect of the karate brawls on people who are just trying to live their day-by-day lives. she considers herself somewhere inbetween. somehow, she knows far too much about this insanity to consider herself a simple bystander, but that's not to say she doesn't completely understand where lia's parents are coming from. here's to hoping movie theater security keeps everything in check. " they're right, you shouldn't go alone. i'd love to join. " she smiles, actually excited to brush up on her vocals a little bit. she knows for a fact there are wicked fans in both miyagi-do & cobra kai, so one of two things could happen – a fight with a killer soundtrack or a moment of peace strengthened by music. she's hoping for the latter. " don't worry, okay ? if a fight breaks out, we can come back to my place & do our own sing-along. "

of course he did. it's just like her guy to instill a little rebellious streak in lia when given the opportunity. & while she's all for a little harmless chaos, she'd argue her way is better. " li, come on. of course they would forgive you ! but they probably will make you take the turtle back & saying goodbye would be much harder than not having it at all, believe me. " she gives a sympathetic smile, tossing an arm around the other's shoulders. " why don't we just focus on getting your way ? " playful brow arches upwards. " but before you start buttering them up, you'd better be sure you can handle this. a turtle is a big commitment, like any other pet & you have to be responsible. it's important that you're sure. "

ah, the age old question ! you should know, moon has wanted to go by moon ever since she was grown enough to speak & choose what she wants to be called, herself. grayson picked her middle name & it just speaks to their closeness & the fact that he was pretty much destined to be a girl dad. or... her dad. 😂 it's not that she doesn't like her first name, she actually thinks it's very pretty, but her mom is the only one who consistently calls her 'scar' or 'scarlett' when something is wrong. it was a habit all throughout the divorce process, all throughout dakota's downwards spiral & her relapse & even before then. where there's a low moment, there's scarlett. she associates it with feeling unsafe & anxious, but it's not something i don't see her overcoming, especially as her relationship with her mom improves.

@liacabrera05 : "---i asked mami and mom if i could have a turtle for a pet. they said no."