Traversing Seattle always confused Ami Flynn. The mechanics of how places were mapped out made no sense to her. Bustling city blocks, quiet slices of suburbia and dirty landfills and trailer parks, scattered around without any real logic. It always surprised her to find herself lapping along the outskirts of the city when only minutes ago there were trees all around her. Ami felt apprehensive going to a place she had never been before, even in her late teens.
When she was young it made no difference to her; the last thing she had on her mind was getting from place to place. Her parents always provided that for her.
Even so, the trip over to Maynard Hurst's house always felt surreal no matter how she got there.
Maynard lived only three or four miles from Ami's home. He lived on a residential cul-de-sac, with houses that were made for the atomic family but stumbled over their feet very recently. It was a perfect fit for Maynard. By contrast, Ami's neighborhood was very well-to-do, homes that looked polished obsessively by shoeshiners promised triple. Not even on opposite sides of the city and yet on opposite sides of the world.
Everything in between was strange, too, and the scenery to and from were never the same. Sometimes there would be an expanse of grasslands, sometimes not. Other times they'd to dip inside Bohemia, passing by coffee shops and bright-haired beatniks.
The oddest trip of all had to be when her parents did not drive her at all.
It was a cold November weekend, close to Thanksgiving. Ami was in middle school, proclaimed 'math wizard' by the teacher that always wore those really lame sweaters all year long. That was his cheeky way of saying that she had one of the highest grades in the entire class. She was very proud of this achievement, though never that eager to brag. Not that she really talked much.
Maynard Hurst was the complete opposite. He grasped English liked the back of his hand, and the poetry he showed her was way above middle school level work. They bonded over English, and up until then shared the same English classes. He sucked at math. Maynard was awful. He could barely remember the order of operations let alone any formulas. Ami sometimes saw him shrink in his seat when the teacher was looking for an answer to a question. It was actually kind of sad, though she never told him that.
So it came as no surprise when Maynard snuck up next to Ami during lunch and asked her, sheepishly, afraid of offending, if she could help him study for the test.
Of course, she said yes without thinking.
It wasn't her first time going over to Maynard's but it would be the first time she'd be going over to help someone study. It was also the first time she'd be over to his house when his parents wouldn't be home.
Oh. Also, his parents wouldn't be home.
Maynard told her when he first asked, abashedly telling her they wouldn't be able to get her a ride. Ami thought very little of it at the time. In hindsight, she probably should have worried. Especially a few years later when she started learning about herself and, well, all it goes without saying. But Maynard was a nice boy and he was a good friend. If he needed her help, Ami would certainly try to provide.
There was a problem though; Ami wouldn't be able to get a ride. Her father was busy, her mother was out of town, and she had no idea where her uncle was. Maynard's parents wouldn't be home, obviously, and it wasn't like she or any of her friends could drive yet.
Perhaps it had been impatience, the fear of how Maynard would react to her suddenly canceling or her sheer insistence in wanting to help him. Ami cannot recall the reason. Whatever it was, she figured that instead of waiting for a ride, it would be easier to walk to his house.
It was only 20-something degrees outside. And she had to walk several miles.
It made sense to her at the time.
She had enough sense to put on a light jacket, sweatpants that she had to roll up at the ankles and gloves that made her hands looked comically big. Just the bare minimum though. The cold wasn't about to turn her into an ice cube but it felt enough of an impression to make Ami realize her mistake, and she was kicking herself for half of the trip.
A trip that would have only taken a hour took Ami nearly twice that. She was going in circles for a good period, passing the exact same gas station and feeling scared each and every single time. That was until the gas station attendant came out and, looking a bit weirded out, pointed her in the right direction.
By the time she recognized the hard right that lead into Maynard's neighborhood, her arms were coiled tight around her front, desperately stealing heat from herself. Her teeth were gnashed, more in a scowl than a chatter. She rubbed her gloves against her arms, clutching the straps of her backpack in her fingers. It wouldn't be very long now.
The Hurst residence was one story, timber like all the others surrounding it. Even at such a young age Ami could imagine that they were all built at the same time; when the builders finished with one house, they would just pick up their tools and walk over to the next one. Maynard's house was different in that it was painted white rather than a sickeningly cheerful color. It made it easy to spot once she found his block.
It was also the one with Holiday decorations that looked like severe hand-me-downs. Maynard's father was an antique nut or something. Ami had no place to judge though. Frankly the definition of a 'normal father' seemed foreign to her.
She nearly caught her shoe against a large candy cane sticking straight out of the ground. The cold was getting to her, making her limbs a little stiff. She wouldn't become a popsicle, no way, but the thought seemed more and more likely. Finally she reached the doorstep, peering at the mahogany door, through the windows. The lights didn't look to be on inside. Was he even home?
She decided right then that if Maynard had ditched her, and she ended up freezing to death, she'd come back as a ghost and haunt him silly.
A moment passed before Ami reached and gently pressed the doorbell brief hesitation, opened the glass door and knocked.
"Maynaaaard, c'mon." She stamped her feet against the welcome mat.
Twice Shy
Private - tiny!Maynard and tiny!Ami
Twice Shy
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Maynard couldn't possibly have been in a better mood.
He'd been waiting for this day for ages, and so far everything had gone off without a hitch. His whole family had gone out - his parents having gone shopping for the day, whilst Gus and June were out socialising with their own friends - leaving Maynard to his own devices for the hour or two it'd take for Ami to show up. They'd been a little hesitant at first - Maynard had never been been alone with friends before, with one of his siblings or parents always hovering around to make sure everything was okay and to barge in at the most inopportune times. His family had always been rather gauche, something that'd passed onto Maynard in spades, and with Ami coming around he wanted as little awkwardness or potential for embarrassment as possible.
He'd scarcely been able to sleep the night before, excitement and anticipation keeping him awake far later than usual and waking him up much earlier than he'd have liked. It'd given him plenty of time to make sure everything was organised and ready, though, which was always a plus. Ami was a special friend, and he wanted to make a special effort for her. His mum had been a great help; she'd left a tray of cookies and a pitcher of fresh orange juice, and ironed out the creases in one of his dress shirts.
Maynard had done his part too; he'd taken due care to gather up everything he'd need - textbooks and stationary and the like - and had prepared a vase of hydrangeas from their garden, placing them in the centre of the dining table. He thought it'd be best to work in the dining room rather than his bedroom or anywhere else; it was adjacent to the kitchen and living room, which gave them ample access to snacks, and to the family television if they wanted to watch a movie. Plus, his room was something of a mess at the moment - nothing horrific per say, but he wanted to make a good impression on Ami, and a messy room wouldn't exactly help in that regard.
The hydrangeas were starting to look a little wilted already.
He'd also made sure to dress properly too, avoiding his usual floaty shirts and jeans in favour of a plain dress shirt and trousers, as well as one of his constant waistcoats; a black-and-grey chequered number. For awhile he'd considered using a some of his father's cologne, but after giving the bottle a light sniff he decided against it. It was so strong and smelled awful, he couldn't understand why people would want to wear it.
After triple-checking that everything'd been properly prepared, Maynard resigned himself to waiting in the lounge, nervously rubbing his hands together as he waited for Ami to arrive. Everything seemed so much louder; the beating of his heart and the ticking of the clock on the mantelpiece. He stifled a yawn behind his hand and tugged gently at his collar. His lack of sleep was catching up with him already, it seemed.
He hoped it didn't impact too poorly on everything today.
He was just so tired.
Maynard didn't know for how long he'd slept until he was awoken by a sharp rapping upon the front door and a familiar voice, as Ami called for his attention outside. He sat sharply upright, bleary eyed and vaguely disorientated. He couldn't really have fallen asleep, could he? That was only something that happened in movies or television shows, wasn't it?
He hurried quickly towards the entranceway, slipping slightly as his socks struggled to grip on the shaggy carpet, and fiddled with the lock. How long had she been waiting out there? This was really a bad start, wasn't it?
After a few more agonising seconds he was able to unhook the latch and ease upon the door, greeting Ami with a flustered face and a sheepish grin.
"Hey, Ami! It's really awesome to see you. D'you wanna come in?" He shuffled backwards and beckoned her inside, "Uh... I mean, of course you wanna come in. Heh. My mum left some cookies and some orange juice, if you'd like some. How are you?"
He'd been waiting for this day for ages, and so far everything had gone off without a hitch. His whole family had gone out - his parents having gone shopping for the day, whilst Gus and June were out socialising with their own friends - leaving Maynard to his own devices for the hour or two it'd take for Ami to show up. They'd been a little hesitant at first - Maynard had never been been alone with friends before, with one of his siblings or parents always hovering around to make sure everything was okay and to barge in at the most inopportune times. His family had always been rather gauche, something that'd passed onto Maynard in spades, and with Ami coming around he wanted as little awkwardness or potential for embarrassment as possible.
He'd scarcely been able to sleep the night before, excitement and anticipation keeping him awake far later than usual and waking him up much earlier than he'd have liked. It'd given him plenty of time to make sure everything was organised and ready, though, which was always a plus. Ami was a special friend, and he wanted to make a special effort for her. His mum had been a great help; she'd left a tray of cookies and a pitcher of fresh orange juice, and ironed out the creases in one of his dress shirts.
Maynard had done his part too; he'd taken due care to gather up everything he'd need - textbooks and stationary and the like - and had prepared a vase of hydrangeas from their garden, placing them in the centre of the dining table. He thought it'd be best to work in the dining room rather than his bedroom or anywhere else; it was adjacent to the kitchen and living room, which gave them ample access to snacks, and to the family television if they wanted to watch a movie. Plus, his room was something of a mess at the moment - nothing horrific per say, but he wanted to make a good impression on Ami, and a messy room wouldn't exactly help in that regard.
The hydrangeas were starting to look a little wilted already.
He'd also made sure to dress properly too, avoiding his usual floaty shirts and jeans in favour of a plain dress shirt and trousers, as well as one of his constant waistcoats; a black-and-grey chequered number. For awhile he'd considered using a some of his father's cologne, but after giving the bottle a light sniff he decided against it. It was so strong and smelled awful, he couldn't understand why people would want to wear it.
After triple-checking that everything'd been properly prepared, Maynard resigned himself to waiting in the lounge, nervously rubbing his hands together as he waited for Ami to arrive. Everything seemed so much louder; the beating of his heart and the ticking of the clock on the mantelpiece. He stifled a yawn behind his hand and tugged gently at his collar. His lack of sleep was catching up with him already, it seemed.
He hoped it didn't impact too poorly on everything today.
He was just so tired.
Maynard didn't know for how long he'd slept until he was awoken by a sharp rapping upon the front door and a familiar voice, as Ami called for his attention outside. He sat sharply upright, bleary eyed and vaguely disorientated. He couldn't really have fallen asleep, could he? That was only something that happened in movies or television shows, wasn't it?
He hurried quickly towards the entranceway, slipping slightly as his socks struggled to grip on the shaggy carpet, and fiddled with the lock. How long had she been waiting out there? This was really a bad start, wasn't it?
After a few more agonising seconds he was able to unhook the latch and ease upon the door, greeting Ami with a flustered face and a sheepish grin.
"Hey, Ami! It's really awesome to see you. D'you wanna come in?" He shuffled backwards and beckoned her inside, "Uh... I mean, of course you wanna come in. Heh. My mum left some cookies and some orange juice, if you'd like some. How are you?"
"Uhhm."
There was a pause. It certainly wasn't awkward, more just to give Ami to analyze everything. Maynard was throwing several things at her at once and, considering her brain was just barely thawing from the cold, it was hard keeping track.
"Hey Maynard," Ami found it hard to make eye-contact, bashful as all get out. "I'm fine, really. It's super cold out though!"
The boy was waving her inside. Ami was all too happy to get in from the cold, though she kept her gaze downcast. , the sort of heat that could fog glasses up, and Ami almost sneezed in response before catching it in her throat.
Ami looked over at Maynard again when he had his head turned. He looked... like a grown-up. Like, she knew he had a bit of an eccentric sense of style but Maynard looked like he was ready to go out to a dinner party. It was something her father would probably wear to a dinner party. She would have been simple to chalk it up to Maynard being Maynard but she was still new to the song-and-dance of dressing up. Was this how boys were supposed to dress up when a girl was coming over?
She felt underdressed by comparison. Ami stared down at her sweatpants and noticed a stain, a drip, buffalo or barbecue, how the hell did she know? She only just noticed it and it just stuck out. Don't get her started on the spot on her sleeve that she tried to wipe her runny nose. And her gloves looked stupid; paint them white and she'd look like Mickey. It made her look... like a kid. And she hated that.
She quickly unzipped and pulled her jacket off and began to shrug it off. There was a coat hanger near the door and she planned to just chuck it on there. Underneath, the pink tanktop with a pattern of scattered daisies did not look very conductive to keeping warm but she didn't know that at the time.
Again, it was hard for her to look at Maynard in the eye. But she used the same trick her father taught her and instead she looked at Maynard's nose instead.
Ami smiled. Small talk was hard so she cut to the chase fairly quickly.
god you're such a dweeb.
"Sorry about making you wait. Where are we going to sit?"
There was a pause. It certainly wasn't awkward, more just to give Ami to analyze everything. Maynard was throwing several things at her at once and, considering her brain was just barely thawing from the cold, it was hard keeping track.
"Hey Maynard," Ami found it hard to make eye-contact, bashful as all get out. "I'm fine, really. It's super cold out though!"
The boy was waving her inside. Ami was all too happy to get in from the cold, though she kept her gaze downcast. , the sort of heat that could fog glasses up, and Ami almost sneezed in response before catching it in her throat.
Ami looked over at Maynard again when he had his head turned. He looked... like a grown-up. Like, she knew he had a bit of an eccentric sense of style but Maynard looked like he was ready to go out to a dinner party. It was something her father would probably wear to a dinner party. She would have been simple to chalk it up to Maynard being Maynard but she was still new to the song-and-dance of dressing up. Was this how boys were supposed to dress up when a girl was coming over?
She felt underdressed by comparison. Ami stared down at her sweatpants and noticed a stain, a drip, buffalo or barbecue, how the hell did she know? She only just noticed it and it just stuck out. Don't get her started on the spot on her sleeve that she tried to wipe her runny nose. And her gloves looked stupid; paint them white and she'd look like Mickey. It made her look... like a kid. And she hated that.
She quickly unzipped and pulled her jacket off and began to shrug it off. There was a coat hanger near the door and she planned to just chuck it on there. Underneath, the pink tanktop with a pattern of scattered daisies did not look very conductive to keeping warm but she didn't know that at the time.
Again, it was hard for her to look at Maynard in the eye. But she used the same trick her father taught her and instead she looked at Maynard's nose instead.
Ami smiled. Small talk was hard so she cut to the chase fairly quickly.
god you're such a dweeb.
"Sorry about making you wait. Where are we going to sit?"
This is an archival account used by staff to port posts belonging to the handler Ciel. While this handler hasn't been around in quite a while, should they return and wish to take custody of this account and/or its posts, they are welcome to do so by contacting staff.
Maynard's sheepish smile widened as Ami entered, his heels bouncing lightly on the spot as he tried to stop himself from screaming with excitement. He was about to offer to take her coat, like a gentleman would, but she'd already hanged it upon the nearby coatrack while he'd been distracted by the fluttering of his heartbeat and the adrenaline coursing through his veins. It was a bit disappointing, but there'd hopefully be plenty of opportunities to make up for his admittedly harried start in the next few hours or so.
He noticed the adorable outfit Ami was wearing, and began to feel overdressed by comparison. Sure, he could very easily shed his waistcoat, but he'd still be left with a dress shirt and formal pants and it wasn't like he could just run back to his room and get changed. He'd just have to make do, is all. Ami was so nice and kind, anyway, so he didn't think she would be one to judge him on his manner of dress.
He began leading her through the short entranceway, which branched off into the lounge and a separate hallway that led to the house's bedrooms, all the while answering the questions she'd posited him with. "Uhhhhh, we can sit wherever you want, though, uhm, I was thinking maybe the dining room?" He half-murmured, struggling to keep the nervousness behind his words from becoming audible, to no avail. "'Cause it's right next to the fridge if you wanted something to eat, or if you wanted to much a movie or, or something."
They turned a corner into the lounge and Maynard paused for a moment, resting against the open door frame and motioning for Ami to come inside. Though he was still terribly excited to have Ami come over, he was getting scared that his rapidly increasing nerves that'd leached into his movement and voice would overtake him and make him appear standoffish or aloof - the complete opposite of how he wanted Ami to think of him. So he took a deep breathe, clasped his hands together in front of him, and looked around Ami's eyes, lacking the courage to look at them directly.
"But it's totally up to you! You're a guest, and I wanna make you feel as comfortable as possible."
He noticed the adorable outfit Ami was wearing, and began to feel overdressed by comparison. Sure, he could very easily shed his waistcoat, but he'd still be left with a dress shirt and formal pants and it wasn't like he could just run back to his room and get changed. He'd just have to make do, is all. Ami was so nice and kind, anyway, so he didn't think she would be one to judge him on his manner of dress.
He began leading her through the short entranceway, which branched off into the lounge and a separate hallway that led to the house's bedrooms, all the while answering the questions she'd posited him with. "Uhhhhh, we can sit wherever you want, though, uhm, I was thinking maybe the dining room?" He half-murmured, struggling to keep the nervousness behind his words from becoming audible, to no avail. "'Cause it's right next to the fridge if you wanted something to eat, or if you wanted to much a movie or, or something."
They turned a corner into the lounge and Maynard paused for a moment, resting against the open door frame and motioning for Ami to come inside. Though he was still terribly excited to have Ami come over, he was getting scared that his rapidly increasing nerves that'd leached into his movement and voice would overtake him and make him appear standoffish or aloof - the complete opposite of how he wanted Ami to think of him. So he took a deep breathe, clasped his hands together in front of him, and looked around Ami's eyes, lacking the courage to look at them directly.
"But it's totally up to you! You're a guest, and I wanna make you feel as comfortable as possible."