#poppicede

Piper’s laughing — still pitched a few degrees lower than both River and Lachlan have heard it when they’re not pretending — as they try to get free, despite River’s leg strewn across them and Lachlan’s arm around their waist, both exerting pressure to trap them.  The lounge is empty right now (  the other students tend to make themselves scarce when the three of them show up, wonder at that  ) but one can never be too careful.

Not that it matters, what with Lachlan calling them PIPES.

(  it’s fine.  it’s a gender neutral enough nickname not to really be any risk, but they shoot him a playfully offended scowl anyway.  )  Blue eyes widen at the request — demand? — and the surprise is quickly replaced by raucous laughter (  and river pretending to gag  ).  She’s tired, too, high from a day spent with people who love her, inhibitions muddled and she wants to kiss Lachlan, she does.

It’s strange.  Normally she’s so good at telling when people are attracted to her, if only because she’s always searching for assurances that she’s valuable somehow — but she can’t get a read on Lachlan.  She thinks he’s into her, but — well, he’s also gay, at least as far as they know, and he’s always insisting that they’re bros and it’s — weird.  They’ve bitched to Pryor and Pietro about it (  they’re of differing opinions, which doesn’t help  ) and not come any closer to figuring what the hell is going on.

But — inhibitions muddied by the hour and the rare sensation of being loved, so Piper grins and laughs and reaches, bending to close the distance in the odd position they’re in, hand resting at the back of his head to tug him closer — and Piper kisses Lachlan, right on the mouth.

Lest he think he’s special — and despite River’s overdramatic cries of “no, mercy!” the moment he realizes their intentions — Piper repeats the action on their other friend, coming back with an enormously challenging grin.  River looks like he needs to wash his mouth out with soap and Lachlan is as red as his hair — and, also, both are too flustered to remember they were trapping her in a cuddle puddle, and Piper’s able to wiggle free with a triumphant laugh.

She’d yelp, if her hands weren’t already clapped over her mouth.

The a stranger rounds the corner, his sightline easily finding the dark shadow she’s hiding it, pressed to a wall and chest heaving.  Her first response is to panic — oh, no, the fan she’s been hiding from has found her — and then, a beat later, surprise takes it place.  It’s...someone else.  Someone else?

His lips part, perhaps to ask why she’s hiding, but she presses a finger to her lip and shushes him as silently as she can.  A moment later, the cause makes itself known.

@poppicede​ Titus in Idia’s phone

Name: Hero Boy☀️ Ringtone: Lifelight Picture: It’s a picture of Titus’ school jacket one that Titus had taken on their first day back at school. Idia’s gotten several other pictures from Titus he could have replaced this one with. But he likes how this one reminds him of Titus even without having to see the other’s face.

Last Text Sent: [To Hero Boy☀️]: check out what i finally put up! [To Hero Boy☀️]: *Image attached: The image is a picture of Idia’s dorm room which now has blue glow in the dark stickers all over the ceiling* [To Hero Boy☀️]: i couldn’t decide where i wanted them so i was saving them [To Hero Boy☀️]: but i think i like them here like laying on the ground watching stars outside but better cause im inside LOL

❛    sure, man! this look okay?    ❜

Junie is a pushover.

That’s what Nico had decided long ago when they started this {one sided} rivalry. In the rink it was a different story, of course, you didn’t win a match by being miss sunshine and lollipops. But off the court Junie was all smiles, and never rose up at Nico’s taunts, and prods. It was kind of annoying. Where was the heated arguments makeouts that she was promised by the media?

It’s the irritation of it all that made her lash out on the guy. Only a real piece of shit would be mean to the girl that smells like flowers, and talks about her groupon to a beekeeping place outside of town. Now Nico was here with ice on her hand, and trying her best not to look at Junie who was hovering a little too closely.

It must be a strange sight; a small child, alone, picking through the weeds and the rubble left behind from what appears to be a fairly recent battle.  The bodies are gone, one collected so their lips could be moistened with water and their body dressed, the others burned to keep from the sight of children who’d already seen.  But it was only a week or so ago.  Dried blood spatters remain on branches or stones, and ripped clothes or pieces of broken weapons glint in the sun.