Live Life to the Fullest!

“You ought to slow down. You’ll work yourself to death.”

I’m not going to get any better without practice, Antonio.

"August 25th, huh? Well expect a annual gift then!" Antonio said with a jubilant smile. "August is a pretty great month to have a birthday, there are no holidays that are super close to it. Well, there's the Fourth of July, but there isn't many presents then."

Antonio was glad it was positioned in the summer months, he knew exactly what he was going to give her. It was a long ways away, but with the help of a calendar he was sure he would remember.

#hitman-natalya

We're not gonna be friends....we're gonna be besties!

[rolls his eyes] you wish, Antonio. Whatever. [blushing a tiny bit, was actually a little worried when he started that sentence]

No really! I’m serious!! Whatever it takes! You’ve got to be one of “the crew” y'know? [hopes that it made sense] You should meet everyone! We could all hang out and have lunch or something!

all? Who are you talking about? [sitcks out his tongue] you’re just running your mouth. ‘Besties’ whatever.

My other best friends! Wouldn’t it be cool if you all met each other? It’d be like the best dinner party ever! If we aren’t all Besties by the end of that I don’t know what I would have to plan next!

[scrunches up his nose] I’m not exactly a people person. Or a parties person. Or an… anything person. Do I have to meet your friends?

Well… [shrugs hesitantly] I guess not… But you really are missing out! But I won’t force you to do something you don’t want to. [smiles]

Maybe we can have a pizza party and movie night to ourselves then? If you don’t want to join everyone else at ours. I don’t want you to feel left out!

[feels guilty] N-no! don’t spend the extra money on me for a night to ou– [cuts himself off because of the implications of ‘a night to themselves’] …not that I wouldn’t want a night to ourselves, but don’t go out of your way! I’ll meet your friends, just don’t expect me to be happy about it.

[thinks for a second] Well I don’t want you to be not happy about it, that kinda defeats the purpose of a pizza party! [laughs] We could just have the left-overs if you wanted, we always have at least some!

so you… want me to come over to your house? For leftover pizza?

…first of all, leftovers are bullshit. If you’d order good enough pizza- or better yet, make pizza- you wouldn’t have any leftovers. Second of all, what even makes you think that I’d like the leftovers? you’d probably get a kind I don’t like or some shit. It won’t be fresh so what’s the point anyway? I might as well go to your fucking party just to hog all of the good pizza to myself.

[crosses arms] that settles it. I’m not sharing your friends’ pizza.

[listens to Lovino's preaching about leftovers] Well, I suppose true... I haven't made a homemade pizza in the longest time and there is really no good pizza joint nearby...

[smirks] But the way you are avoiding sharing pizza it seems like you are just trying to avoid catching cooties! [snickers]

[walks into his shop the next day when they're supposed to meet] [complains that he's getting a headache from all of the flowers as he looks for Antonio] [finds a slightly wilting chrysanthemum plant and picks it up] This one is nice, I guess. [shrugs]

[comes downstairs from his flat, dressed well and carrying a small bouquet] You’re here! [walks over quickly] Oh! You like chrysanthemums? Well, there aren’t any in this bouquet, but if you want to just take that one go ahead! [smiles]

[raises eyebrows at ‘not a place for everyone’] what kind of friends do you have?

[rolls his eyes] stop dissing your car. If it has wheels and goes forward, then it’s fucking fine.

Oh! Well I consider all of my friends to be exciting and fun to be around, if that’s what you mean.

It’s just an older car, that’s all really, it’s broken down before. [shrugs] I don’t think it is dissing it, it’s just something people usually like to know.

a car is a car. I’d prefer a nice scooter, honestly, but shit, I’m not driving and it’s not mine. So whatever.

[laughs] I’m glad you feel that way! I mean about not minding the car, I don’t have a scooter. But I try to at least keep it looking somewhat decent, I can’t be seen around town in a totally embarrassing car. [stops for a minute] I keep going on, don’t I? Let’s go, I’m wasting some good time!

Yeah you’re rattling your mouth when we could be drinking. [to be honest he hadn’t noticed until Antonio mentioned it. thinking: Figures, the spaniard is getting to me]

So, what kind of drink are you getting? [following him to the car]

The worst thing I've done yet! Wasting precious drinking time [laughs]

Oh, I was thinking maybe a Mai Tai! Or maybe a Pina Colada, but then a sangria is failsafe. If I can't choose maybe I'll get all three! [laughs] How about you? [clicks the unlock button on the key fob]

"Now, think of the happiest things. It's the same as having wings."

Antonio laughed a bit, thinking of all the possibilities, but settled on one. “I suppose a yearly bonus does get everyone pretty excited, doesn’t it? I know I loved mine this year!” He then nudged Francis playfully, “Oh, and friends are pretty good too, of course!”

“Hm, you are always coming over to my place, it’s fair that I save you the trouble at least once and a while. I’ll come over to the clubhouse.”

Antonio laughed, “These sound awful, I love them. I suppose we could just go with something obvious like, Loathing Max, but maybe that’s too tactless.” Antonio laughed, “I suppose this poem in general isn’t very tactful in the first place.”

marianneyounow

“Okay but if you’re coming during work hours, you’ll be able to hear sex from the rooms next door~” He said it in a singsong voice, but he was being serious.

“We should just put the poem away for a bit and come back to it when we think of a clever name.” He chuckled.

Antonio shrugged and with a smile said, "There are worse things, besides it's not like I haven't heard it before. But thanks for the warning." Antonio laughed, "But I'm not sure what I would otherwise expect from here during working hours."

"Agreed," Antonio said with a nod, "We can't distract from the art that is that poem with some shabby name!"

#flarefrance

"Now, think of the happiest things. It's the same as having wings."

Antonio laughed a bit, thinking of all the possibilities, but settled on one. “I suppose a yearly bonus does get everyone pretty excited, doesn’t it? I know I loved mine this year!” He then nudged Francis playfully, “Oh, and friends are pretty good too, of course!”

"Hm, you are always coming over to my place, it's fair that I save you the trouble at least once and a while. I'll come over to the clubhouse."

Antonio laughed, "These sound awful, I love them. I suppose we could just go with something obvious like, Loathing Max, but maybe that's too tactless." Antonio laughed, "I suppose this poem in general isn't very tactful in the first place."

#flarefrance

[walks into his shop the next day when they're supposed to meet] [complains that he's getting a headache from all of the flowers as he looks for Antonio] [finds a slightly wilting chrysanthemum plant and picks it up] This one is nice, I guess. [shrugs]

[comes downstairs from his flat, dressed well and carrying a small bouquet] You’re here! [walks over quickly] Oh! You like chrysanthemums? Well, there aren’t any in this bouquet, but if you want to just take that one go ahead! [smiles]

[raises eyebrows at ‘not a place for everyone’] what kind of friends do you have?

[rolls his eyes] stop dissing your car. If it has wheels and goes forward, then it’s fucking fine.

Oh! Well I consider all of my friends to be exciting and fun to be around, if that’s what you mean.

It’s just an older car, that’s all really, it’s broken down before. [shrugs] I don’t think it is dissing it, it’s just something people usually like to know.

a car is a car. I’d prefer a nice scooter, honestly, but shit, I’m not driving and it’s not mine. So whatever.

[laughs] I'm glad you feel that way! I mean about not minding the car, I don't have a scooter. But I try to at least keep it looking somewhat decent, I can't be seen around town in a totally embarrassing car. [stops for a minute] I keep going on, don't I? Let's go, I'm wasting some good time!

We're not gonna be friends....we're gonna be besties!

[rolls his eyes] you wish, Antonio. Whatever. [blushing a tiny bit, was actually a little worried when he started that sentence]

No really! I’m serious!! Whatever it takes! You’ve got to be one of “the crew” y'know? [hopes that it made sense] You should meet everyone! We could all hang out and have lunch or something!

all? Who are you talking about? [sitcks out his tongue] you’re just running your mouth. ‘Besties’ whatever.

My other best friends! Wouldn’t it be cool if you all met each other? It’d be like the best dinner party ever! If we aren’t all Besties by the end of that I don’t know what I would have to plan next!

[scrunches up his nose] I’m not exactly a people person. Or a parties person. Or an… anything person. Do I have to meet your friends?

Well… [shrugs hesitantly] I guess not… But you really are missing out! But I won’t force you to do something you don’t want to. [smiles]

Maybe we can have a pizza party and movie night to ourselves then? If you don’t want to join everyone else at ours. I don’t want you to feel left out!

[feels guilty] N-no! don’t spend the extra money on me for a night to ou– [cuts himself off because of the implications of ‘a night to themselves’] …not that I wouldn’t want a night to ourselves, but don’t go out of your way! I’ll meet your friends, just don’t expect me to be happy about it.

[thinks for a second] Well I don't want you to be not happy about it, that kinda defeats the purpose of a pizza party! [laughs] We could just have the left-overs if you wanted, we always have at least some!

“You ought to slow down. You’ll work yourself to death.”

I’m not going to get any better without practice, Antonio.

“Ah! Well I guess it does take a lot of time and you are plenty busy, but if you ever want to learn how to keep one living for a while, I can teach you. It just takes getting into a habit so anyone can do it.” Antonio smiled and then nodded.

“I guess it is a bit of a waste, but to be fair, I used to do it as a kid. I’d get a flower for my birthday every year and when it was close to wilting I would pluck the petals off, sometimes playing that game on a recent crush,” Antonio laughed a bit. “It probably sounds silly, doesn’t it? But I also loved the feeling of the velvety petals.”

“I might as well learn one of these days.” Natalya said. “Although I’m not sure if putting me in charge of life is a good idea, considering my job.”

“I wouldn’t know, I never played that as a kid. I guess I was pretty boring. You got flowers for your birthday?”

Antonio laughed. “If someone payed you to kill a flower, I think they have their priorities in the wrong spot. I don’t see any other way it would be in danger with you.”

Antonio nodded, “From my abuelita every year. She had a rose bush in her yard that she would take a flower from and give it to me.” Antonio laughed a bit upon reminiscing about it. “Maybe it was a bit cheap, but I dunno, I never minded it too much. Of course as a kid you’d much prefer a toy you were hoping for, but I always expected the flower.”

“Hey, if someone paid me to do it, I would. Business is business.”

“I’d like a flower.” Natalya said, almost wistfully. “I never really got anything for my birthday. A flower would have been lovely.”

Although, she had to admit it would have been quite out of place. Her neighborhood in general was too grungy and run down to support anything more than weeds. Her home had been no exception; it had been no place for a flower.

“I guess, but isn’t that the job of an exterminator? That title isn’t nearly as flashy as what you have now,” Antonio laughed, “Maybe you shouldn’t take out flowers.”

“You’ve never gotten a birthday present?” Antonio gasped. He puffed out his cheeks, frustrated that she hadn’t been able to get anything for her birthday, he let the air out to be able to continue to talk. “Well that won’t do! When’s your birthday? From here on out it won’t be a problem!” He half expected her to not give a solid answer or to dodge the question out of being humble, but he could never truly predict what she would do. I guess that’s the nature of a hitman, he thought to himself. Either way he knew that she was getting a present yearly, whether she have him her birthday or not.

“Flower exterminator. It’s a plenty flashy title.”

“No, no, no, it’s not like that.” Natalya said, realizing her mistake. “I mean, I haven’t gotten one in years, but I did get stuff on my birthday when I was younger.”

“It’s nothing, don’t worry about it. I think I’ve grown out of birthday presents anyway.”

"Well, any way you spin it, getting no presents at any birthday is not acceptable!! You are getting a present, mi amiga! When's your birthday, if you don't mind my prying?" Antonio asked sitting up straight. He was going to make note of it immediately or make a date up to bring her a suitable gift.

#hitman-natalya

We're not gonna be friends....we're gonna be besties!

[rolls his eyes] you wish, Antonio. Whatever. [blushing a tiny bit, was actually a little worried when he started that sentence]

No really! I’m serious!! Whatever it takes! You’ve got to be one of “the crew” y'know? [hopes that it made sense] You should meet everyone! We could all hang out and have lunch or something!

all? Who are you talking about? [sitcks out his tongue] you’re just running your mouth. ‘Besties’ whatever.

My other best friends! Wouldn’t it be cool if you all met each other? It’d be like the best dinner party ever! If we aren’t all Besties by the end of that I don’t know what I would have to plan next!

[scrunches up his nose] I’m not exactly a people person. Or a parties person. Or an… anything person. Do I have to meet your friends?

Well... [shrugs hesitantly] I guess not... But you really are missing out! But I won't force you to do something you don't want to. [smiles]

Maybe we can have a pizza party and movie night to ourselves then? If you don't want to join everyone else at ours. I don't want you to feel left out!

[walks into his shop the next day when they're supposed to meet] [complains that he's getting a headache from all of the flowers as he looks for Antonio] [finds a slightly wilting chrysanthemum plant and picks it up] This one is nice, I guess. [shrugs]

[comes downstairs from his flat, dressed well and carrying a small bouquet] You’re here! [walks over quickly] Oh! You like chrysanthemums? Well, there aren’t any in this bouquet, but if you want to just take that one go ahead! [smiles]

[nods] Yeah, there’s actually one not too far from here, just across the street, I think, but it’s not that great. Anyways, I was thinking about going to one just a bit further in town? I get a bit of a discount, [lifts his hands quickly realizing how tacky that sounds] But I wasn’t planning to go there just for the discount! Don’t think of me as a cheapskate mi amigo, it really is just a much nicer place!

[smacks his arm] I don’t care if you want to go someplace cheaper, stupid. It makes sense because you’re always giving away free shit. It’s just… [thinking: should I even be saying this? I guess there’s no harm in it…] is there a hotel near there? That way if we’re both too fucking drunk then neither of us have to drive back.

[backtracking] Not that I’m fucking expecting you to get drunk of your ass and then lead me to a hotel or anything. [blushing like crazy] It’s just better to be safe and have a backup plan! And since you’re talking about being cheap, it’d be cheaper to get one room…

No, don’t worry that makes sense! Better safe than sorry, right? I know there is a hotel not too terribly far from it, but it isn’t super close either. A block or two away maybe? I think we can probably manage that walk, you seem to have a good head on your shoulders so I’m not terribly worried! [he smiles widely in sincerity]

But if you’re worried I know someone who lives super close, but his place isn’t really… It’s not really his place, its kinda like a shared living space situation. It’s kinda noisy so, think of it as the very last choice.

It sounds like your friend’s place would be the cheapest of all, if you want to keep the price low… but you know your friend, I don’t. Last resort it is. I think we’ll be able to walk after, it’s just friendly drinks after all.

Are you gonna hurry up and drive us to the bar, then? Or not? It’s not like I know where this place is, I just moved here. I barely know where my place is most of the time.

Price really doesn’t matter. [Antonio laughed weakly, hoping that Lovino didn’t really think that he was cheap] But I think you would want it to be the last choice, I know he wouldn’t mind, but it’s not really a place for everyone? A hotel or something would be more in your interest! [Antonio smiled, glad that Lovino wasn’t insistent on the cheap route as he wasn’t sure that he could explain going to a brothel on their first outing]

Right! Yeah, let’s go! [turned and heads to the door] My car isn’t the greatest but it get’s me where I need to go, I hope you don’t mind too much!

[raises eyebrows at ‘not a place for everyone’] what kind of friends do you have?

[rolls his eyes] stop dissing your car. If it has wheels and goes forward, then it’s fucking fine.

Oh! Well I consider all of my friends to be exciting and fun to be around, if that's what you mean.

It's just an older car, that's all really, it's broken down before. [shrugs] I don't think it is dissing it, it's just something people usually like to know.

"Now, think of the happiest things. It's the same as having wings."

Antonio laughed a bit, thinking of all the possibilities, but settled on one. “I suppose a yearly bonus does get everyone pretty excited, doesn’t it? I know I loved mine this year!” He then nudged Francis playfully, “Oh, and friends are pretty good too, of course!”

Antonio nodded with a smile, “Which day works best for you? I can at least do that for you, amigo. Also! If you ever need to plan a surprise for Vash, just let me know what day!” He winked at Francis, “One of the best things of being friends with your crush’s boss is that you can get them some days off, right? Oh, but he won’t lose any hours, if you’re worried about that! I’ll just move his schedule around!”

Antonio laughed a bit, “I’m glad you like it, I was hoping it sounded close enough, but maybe it isn’t close enough? Telly Off…” Antonio repeated, trying to figure why it didn’t ring as well as he had hoped.

marianneyounow

“Hm, perhaps wednesday? It’s usually rather slow.” Francis tried his best not to blush, but his face betrayed him. “I’ll keep that in mind, my friend.”

“Maybe it doesn’t sound enough like a name? Although I don’t have an alternative. It’s not like any of us know anyone with the first name ‘Telly’“

#flarefrance #sorry for the late responses everyone #school has gotten super busy

"Alright, then let's plan for Wednesday! But you know if it doesn't work out, just let me know, kay?"" Antonio smiled.

"Yeah, I suppose Telly is a bit of a strange name. At least it isn't something weird like, I dunno. Something like F. Rustrated." Antonio said with a amused sigh.

sunbvrnt

went to granville island yesterday, look how cute !!!

#q

“You ought to slow down. You’ll work yourself to death.”

I’m not going to get any better without practice, Antonio.

“Ah! Well I guess it does take a lot of time and you are plenty busy, but if you ever want to learn how to keep one living for a while, I can teach you. It just takes getting into a habit so anyone can do it.” Antonio smiled and then nodded.

“I guess it is a bit of a waste, but to be fair, I used to do it as a kid. I’d get a flower for my birthday every year and when it was close to wilting I would pluck the petals off, sometimes playing that game on a recent crush,” Antonio laughed a bit. “It probably sounds silly, doesn’t it? But I also loved the feeling of the velvety petals.”

“I might as well learn one of these days.” Natalya said. “Although I’m not sure if putting me in charge of life is a good idea, considering my job.”

“I wouldn’t know, I never played that as a kid. I guess I was pretty boring. You got flowers for your birthday?”

Antonio laughed. “If someone payed you to kill a flower, I think they have their priorities in the wrong spot. I don’t see any other way it would be in danger with you.”

Antonio nodded, “From my abuelita every year. She had a rose bush in her yard that she would take a flower from and give it to me.” Antonio laughed a bit upon reminiscing about it. “Maybe it was a bit cheap, but I dunno, I never minded it too much. Of course as a kid you’d much prefer a toy you were hoping for, but I always expected the flower.”

“Hey, if someone paid me to do it, I would. Business is business.”

“I’d like a flower.” Natalya said, almost wistfully. “I never really got anything for my birthday. A flower would have been lovely.”

Although, she had to admit it would have been quite out of place. Her neighborhood in general was too grungy and run down to support anything more than weeds. Her home had been no exception; it had been no place for a flower.

"I guess, but isn't that the job of an exterminator? That title isn't nearly as flashy as what you have now," Antonio laughed, "Maybe you shouldn't take out flowers."

"You've never gotten a birthday present?" Antonio gasped. He puffed out his cheeks, frustrated that she hadn't been able to get anything for her birthday, he let the air out to be able to continue to talk. "Well that won't do! When's your birthday? From here on out it won't be a problem!" He half expected her to not give a solid answer or to dodge the question out of being humble, but he could never truly predict what she would do. I guess that's the nature of a hitman, he thought to himself. Either way he knew that she was getting a present yearly, whether she have him her birthday or not.

#hitman-natalya

We're not gonna be friends....we're gonna be besties!

[rolls his eyes] you wish, Antonio. Whatever. [blushing a tiny bit, was actually a little worried when he started that sentence]

No really! I’m serious!! Whatever it takes! You’ve got to be one of “the crew” y'know? [hopes that it made sense] You should meet everyone! We could all hang out and have lunch or something!

all? Who are you talking about? [sitcks out his tongue] you’re just running your mouth. ‘Besties’ whatever.

My other best friends! Wouldn't it be cool if you all met each other? It'd be like the best dinner party ever! If we aren't all Besties by the end of that I don't know what I would have to plan next!

"Now, think of the happiest things. It's the same as having wings."

Antonio laughed a bit, thinking of all the possibilities, but settled on one. “I suppose a yearly bonus does get everyone pretty excited, doesn’t it? I know I loved mine this year!” He then nudged Francis playfully, “Oh, and friends are pretty good too, of course!”

Antonio nodded with a smile, "Which day works best for you? I can at least do that for you, amigo. Also! If you ever need to plan a surprise for Vash, just let me know what day!" He winked at Francis, "One of the best things of being friends with your crush's boss is that you can get them some days off, right? Oh, but he won't lose any hours, if you're worried about that! I'll just move his schedule around!"

Antonio laughed a bit, "I'm glad you like it, I was hoping it sounded close enough, but maybe it isn't close enough? Telly Off..." Antonio repeated, trying to figure why it didn't ring as well as he had hoped.

#flarefrance

[walks into his shop the next day when they're supposed to meet] [complains that he's getting a headache from all of the flowers as he looks for Antonio] [finds a slightly wilting chrysanthemum plant and picks it up] This one is nice, I guess. [shrugs]

[comes downstairs from his flat, dressed well and carrying a small bouquet] You’re here! [walks over quickly] Oh! You like chrysanthemums? Well, there aren’t any in this bouquet, but if you want to just take that one go ahead! [smiles]

[nods] Yeah, there’s actually one not too far from here, just across the street, I think, but it’s not that great. Anyways, I was thinking about going to one just a bit further in town? I get a bit of a discount, [lifts his hands quickly realizing how tacky that sounds] But I wasn’t planning to go there just for the discount! Don’t think of me as a cheapskate mi amigo, it really is just a much nicer place!

[smacks his arm] I don’t care if you want to go someplace cheaper, stupid. It makes sense because you’re always giving away free shit. It’s just… [thinking: should I even be saying this? I guess there’s no harm in it…] is there a hotel near there? That way if we’re both too fucking drunk then neither of us have to drive back.

[backtracking] Not that I’m fucking expecting you to get drunk of your ass and then lead me to a hotel or anything. [blushing like crazy] It’s just better to be safe and have a backup plan! And since you’re talking about being cheap, it’d be cheaper to get one room…

No, don’t worry that makes sense! Better safe than sorry, right? I know there is a hotel not too terribly far from it, but it isn’t super close either. A block or two away maybe? I think we can probably manage that walk, you seem to have a good head on your shoulders so I’m not terribly worried! [he smiles widely in sincerity]

But if you’re worried I know someone who lives super close, but his place isn’t really… It’s not really his place, its kinda like a shared living space situation. It’s kinda noisy so, think of it as the very last choice.

It sounds like your friend’s place would be the cheapest of all, if you want to keep the price low… but you know your friend, I don’t. Last resort it is. I think we’ll be able to walk after, it’s just friendly drinks after all.

Are you gonna hurry up and drive us to the bar, then? Or not? It’s not like I know where this place is, I just moved here. I barely know where my place is most of the time.