fighter

🌮 - stop by a food truck

"I have never said such a thing and I doubt I ever will," Val's mouth falling agape briefly before her attention was quickly consumed by the mammoth of a heart attack that was dressed as a burger on the table in front of her. "How does one even... approach it? Like Godric it looks insane," she exclaimed as she twisted her head around it, trying to find the ideal vantage point that would get her the most satisfying and successful bite. She was salivating at the sight of it, melted cheese and slightly charred bacon and onion hung out of the layers of grilled beef and bun. "I won't deny that possibility– but then it's only fair that I queue for half of my life to get you one of your own," Valeria then said fairly before taking in a sharp breath and reaching out for the burger. The second she took it in her hands, grease dripped onto her fingers and any chance of avoiding mess was irreversible now. The first bite however was absolutely worth every minor consequence that followed suit. First she moaned as the initial impact reached her taste buds, every ingredient melding together effortlessly into a symphony of flavor. Eyes closing involuntarily as she savored every bit of it. "Holy shit," Val finally said after chewing back the bite she'd taken, "You're going to die when you try this, Hunter."

👟 go for a walk/jog/hike - kai & valeria ( @valeriasanchez )

Val thanked him, using his help to finish off the uphill climb as they reached an area of the hike that was on more of a plateau. "Really? I'm glad my phone's still got some battery then. I'll want to take pictures," she grinned, moving along to try and find the waterfall Kai was talking about.

"I mean I like a few sweet things but I'm fairly certain I can find someone who would eat them even if we don't finish them." Money definitely wasn't a concern for him, he was very lucky in that respect. "I suppose there is nothing stopping me."

"You can always pack it up and save for a later time," she suggested with a shrug when he mentioned not thinking he'd finish it all now. "Or like you said, share it with someone with a sweeter tooth than yourself."

"So you're naturally just that scary?" There was a moment as he seemed to realise what he said before Mason held up his hands. "And by that I mean that you have ninja feet and just creeped up behind me like a freaking ghost." He quickly rambled out. "But really?"

"Scary? Ouch I suppose," she quirked a brow at that initially, although she knew she had her moments. "Ninja feet? Don't think anyone's ever said that to me before," Val observed with a light snort.

"She has lots of flavours she enjoys but you're right. Safe a bet as they are, they might be the right choices." Dorian hummed lightly, letting his gaze drift over them again. "I can make decisions on some things in no time at all and yet I struggle with something as simple as this."

"Sometimes the simplest things can be the hardest decisions," Valeria sympathized with a humored expression. "Would you like some extra time to mull it over? We can do a lap around the block and come back again."

"Youthful hm? Well aren't you charming." Jackson said with a warm smile at her words. "But I suppose you are only as old as you feel. Some days that certainly wavers with me however." The children could make him hit both ends of the spectrum, not to mention everything going on in their world.

"I guess it's normal for it to change from time to time," she considered when he said sometimes the way he felt wavered. "I certainly can relate. I find that it's usually who I'm spending time with that makes me either feel older or younger depending on conversation topics and all of that," Val thought aloud.

"Yes, it's blue, I know that it's blue, so you don't have to tell me. No, it wasn't on purpose, and yes, I am trying to figure out how to fix it."

"I'd be a little more concerned if you weren't aware," Valeria laughed lightly. "So you don't like it? I'd say the blue is cool. What were you actually going for?"

"I think you bring out that side of me." He wanted her happy and he would do everything in his power to ensure that she was. "Not at all, please do it all you want. I like hearing it. I might actually get my head around the fact you are actually flirting with me of all people at some point too if you keep going." It still felt a little surreal to him given how long they had been friends and that so far it was really working out which was also new for him. He supposed it just took the right person.

"I consider that music to my ears," Val grinned in reply. She had always enjoyed their dynamic, but especially since they'd become an item. She didn't realize just how much she would enjoy saying things to see him flustered or remind Hunter of how much she appreciated him. "Although as much fun as I have flirting with you, I sure hope that you don't think I don't expect you to keep flirting with me too," she added cheekily. "I like hearing it too after all."

"And take over your spotlight?" Jordi asked. "Maybe you should do it here. I'll stick with running a business with plants."

"Oh please, there's no spotlight here to take over," she waved off casually. "But I get wanting to stick to your plants. I know you love them so much."

"I'm going to need your help here aren't I. To not go over the top. Or maybe I'll simply be condemning myself to a worse fate of buying everything given your current view of things." Fred laughed softly.

"I mean as long as you're not wasteful, I'd say live your best life," Valeria insisted with a snort. "Why would you need to stop yourself if you can afford to and it makes you happy? I say, go for it if it's what you really want."

"Well, for starters I'd be spending a shit ton more on drinks. And food. And rent, actually," Halley listed off, taking the bottle from Val and chugging some herself. "Indifferent I guess? This year's been kind of... meh?" Was the best way she could describe it. "But it must be pretty great for you, having a New Year's kiss this year. Not that I'm at all jealous that you'll be kissing someone else, nope."

"So I'm just a human coupon to you, is that what you're saying?" Valeria scoffed but there was clearly no hard feelings being held after those statements. "I really lucked out because if certain things hadn't happened to me lately then I would've been right there with you on the 'meh' train," she agreed. "I mean it's the same one I had last year but this year is so much sweeter," Val couldn't resist correcting smugly. "You have to let me help you find someone to bring home though– you deserve to have fun tonight too, Hal," she then said with more consideration, reaching to squeeze Halley's hand tightly.

Hunter laughed when Valeria was honest about it, it was one thing he could rely on her to be. She never messed around with her words. "Then I feel like I've not done a bad job if it means a lot to you." Hunter was still navigating what it meant to be in a relationship with Valeria but he did try his best and when he wasn't sure, he tended to turn to Cyrus or Elena in work if he needed advice. They tended to be the most level headed people he knew for something like this. "You know, if I wasn't already dating you, that'd sound almost like a line, Ms Sanchez." Hunter joked when she asked if he wanted to find somewhere to enjoy the drink. "But yes is the answer."

"Definitely not. You have a talent for always thinking of simple but somehow the most thoughtful gestures," Valeria commented, thinking to the jacket of his she still wore on a regular basis. He had just given something of his away and in turn it had become one of her most treasured possessions, even when they had just been nothing more than friends. "What? Are you saying that because we're dating I can't keep flirting with you?" she challenged playfully. "Because that's going to be an issue for me– we might have to break up so I can continue," her lips curling into a smirk before pulling him along for them to find a quieter spot to have a drink.