pulses can drive from here

mave moon ; 28 "we might be hollow but we're brave"

[maeve-moon]

athvnagreen​:

“well, you’re in for a treat. this place does the best face masks in the world, and i’m not just saying that because they pay me,” athena said, chuckling softly. she’d been known to clock off some nights and immediately treat herself to some self-care before going home, but she deserved something special from time to time. “if you’re planning on coming back, i can sign you up for our rewards and discounts program.”

maeve couldn’t help but smile at athena’s enthusiasm about the spa. “i sure do love a good face mask,” she said, “it’s been quite a while since i’ve had a night to relax.” she was a member at her previous spa while she lived in the city but her hectic work life made her visits rare. because of this, she didn’t waste a second when athena said she could sign her on the program. “i’d really love that,” she said with a huge smile, “may i know how it works?”

[maeve-moon]

dewbands​:

sasha’s eyes widened in horror as the woman listed off all her coping with the valley. it was every reason she’d left in the first place. “i can’t believe you put up with all of that when you don’t have to. why would you even live here? tell me you at least make use of the spa. that’s the only thing i’m looking forward to doing here.”

maeve smiled a little at sasha. “i guess i just needed a fresh start.” she said, remembering the flyer she found about this small town. “my old job was becoming quite a chore so my feet led me here. other than the allergies and the insects, everything has been great.” besides the sunscreen she had in her purse, she also made sure to carry around bug spray - a lesson she learned after the town’s camping trip. “oh yes, the spa is lovely,” she continued, “i went there a few days ago and i’m planning to go again in a week or so. the season’s just great for relaxing, don’t you think?”

[maeve-moon]

dewbands​:

“i wi–” before sage could express how he wished he could stay in the valley for longer before their next tour stop, he caused a disaster. he quickly knelt to the sandy dunes in embarrassment, so he could get the items back in the bin. in his haste, he managed to knock over the rest of the bins in the cluster and mix up all the debris. “oh no,” he groaned. he couldn’t even look at the mess.

maeve chuckled lightheartedly at the mess. “don’t worry about it,” she said, placating sage’s frustration. “it happens to the best of us.” the powers that be knows she’d gotten herself into many messes these past few years. her patience at this point was as strong as steel. “at least it’s just here in this small area,” she said, smiling as she gestured to the pile. “c’mon, let’s pick these up.”

[maeve-moon]

ahuangs​:

alex chewed thoughtfully as he mulled over maeve’s suggestion. he loved it, of course, but maybe he could tweak some things… “i like that. i haven’t done many of the oldest classics with them, so i think they’ll like them. are there middle grade adaptions of the classics you could teach too? i don’t think all of them are up to that reading level, but the content would still be excellent.” truth be told, he appreciated maeve’s excitement. it was nice to share this with someone.

the gears in maeve’s mind started turning. “i’ll read the books and check in you about them. there might be duplicate copies so i can send you some.” it wouldn’t be while until she could start teaching so she’d take all the time she had to prepare for it. this was quite reminiscent of when she’d prepare to present financial reports. however, there seems to be no major stressing out attached in this new environment. “have you been here long?” she found herself asking, “i worked in the city 5 hours away from here. i just really love it here. it’s quite different, but definitely a good different.” 

[qvietlight]

“Uh oh, that’s not a good home for you, little guy…” Henry murmurs as the can of Jojacola he’d been about to grab starts to scuttle away from him, revealing its new purpose as the shell of a hermit crab. “How am I gonna get you out of there?”

[maeve-moon]

maeve had been picking up some discarded water bottles when she saw a crab scuttling by carrying a empty can of joja cola. well there’s a first time for everything. “oh, hey henry,” she greeted him. “would you like some help in getting that from the little guy?”

[maeve-moon]

ahuangs​:

“that sounds really nice,” alex mused about their family farm. he’d never visited or even imagined a place like the valley before he moved here. it was nice to think other pockets like this existed in the world. he took another sip from his glass and offered maeve a small, quietly abashed smile when she complimented him. “the small class sizes in the valley make it easy and the only option, really. but they’re pretty great. you’ll get to know them quick once you start your lessons with them. they’re all spunky in their own ways.”

“that has me quite excited,” she said timidly, “i know i’m totally nerding out about this but that’s just me every time i do something new.” she loved knowing everything there was to something but she’d have to extend her patience for this one. this wasn’t like trying and failing to grow plants or trying and mildly succeeding at knitting. she was pumped but still had a lot to learn. “what do you think about them doing some reading on classics?” she suggested knowing full well that those books were as familiar to her as the back of her hand. “or maybe some middle grade books? the library will receive a shipment of those in a few weeks.”

[maeve-moon]

athvnagreen​:

“that sounds perfect. i’ll book you in with our specialist right now,” athena said, professionally friendly as she tapped away on her computer until maeve was all booked in for the next session. she looked up, smiling, when maeve walked over, always happy to greet customers and make their time at the spa as best as she could from the get go. “i’m athena, and welcome to the valley. it’s great to meet you, too,” she smiled, “how’re you liking it so far?”

“that’d be wonderful, thank you.” maeve was pretty excited to finally have a massage after a few months of going without. she’d probably get one every two weeks if she could. the powers that be know her poor back probably deserved it. “lovely meeting you, athena.” she greeted the other with a warm smile. “the valley has been wonderful! entirely different from my previous living situations - but it’s a good different.” she was glad that she adjusted quite quickly to this new beginning. “i’ll probably be popping by here often. spas and i go way back.”

[maeve-moon]

dewbands​:

even if she wasn’t a fan, sasha found she didn’t mind speaking with maeve. it was nice to just be a stranger in her hometown. it helped her see just how much she’d left the valley behind, and that was all she’d ever wanted. “i’d love to. let me write it down for you.” she reached into her bag, where she kept a supply of pen and paper for anyone who might need an autograph. she was a star, after all. her nose wrinkled when the other woman reveled in the valley’s “natural”-ness. “i’m not really a big fan of the outdoors. i’ll be ready to get back to this city after this week is over.”

“thank you so much,” she said as sasha wrote down the brand name on a piece of paper. she never really expected to have a conversation like this - much less in joja. “yeah the outdoors and me haven’t really been tight either,” she lightly laughed at her own expense. sure she loved the valley but being a city girl all her life came with a lot of adjusting. “i’ve been dealing with allergies and the occasional mosquito attack. So i usually stay at home - or in the library for work. i sure miss galway, though.”

[maeve-moon]

dewbands​:

maeve’s kind, nonjudgmental welcome to the beach clean-up answered her own question really. she and everyone else in town was ready to host him with grace and warmth, and he couldn’t enjoy his time here more. “it’s so nice here. everyone is so nice, and the valley is just beautiful. it’s amazing, really, wish i could stay longer than a couple of weeks.” he tried to start sorting some of the debris into the labeled bins as they spoke, but in the process he accidentally knocked over an entire bin. “shit!”

“i feel the same way,” she said with a smile, wiping the sweat from her brow. “why don’t you stay for a while? i’m sure the town would love to have you around. there’s just something about the valley that’s so - welcoming.” she didn’t really have a better word to describe it other than that. things just fell in place when she moved here a month ago. the sound of the bin being knocked over jarred her from her thoughts. “oh dear,” she said, “oh well i guess we’d better place these back.” she chuckled at that and began to gather them back in the bin.

[maeve-moon]

dewbands​:

sasha felt some of the armor she wore around the valley peel away. it put her on edge at first, to know that new people had come to town since she left, and to know that this was more a home to them than it ever was to her. but after a moment’s reflection she realized…wasn’t that what she wanted? she relaxed some as she spoke with the woman. “it does. i could send you the brand if you want. it’ll take forever to ship here, but i promise it will be well worth the wait. and i did bring sunscreen, thank goodness my assistant remembered. i’m not used to spending so much time outdoors.”

maeve found that she was actually enjoying this conversation. she was afraid that the other lady might think maeve was intruding on her errands. “oh, uhm - sure, i’d appreciate it” she said. it was her birthday a few months from now so that could be a well-deserved treat - if she could afford it. “sunscreen is definitely one of my necessities,” she had one in her purse right now, she burned up like a tomato in the summer if she didn’t slather enough on. “and same actually, i’ve always been cooped up in big buildings.” maeve never really spent a lot of time outdoors - unless she was biking. “the valley seems to have changed that for me but it’s been all good.”

[maeve-moon]

dewbands​:

whether the woman knew what she was talking about or not, sage took her every word as gospel. he had no reason to believe this woman wasn’t a genius since she was clearly much more knowledgeable than him. “drinking cans, tetra paks, and plastic bottles,” he repeated, nodding his head as he listed off each one. “maeve, it’s nice to meet you. i’m sage,” he extended a hand to her for a quick shake and with a grateful smile. “thanks for all the help. i’ve never done this before, and i have no idea what i’m doing.”

“it’s great to meet you too, sage.” she said with a smile. “don’t worry about it,” she readjusted her grip on the bag as it was almost full. “there’s always a first time for everything. i haven’t done this since uni actually so i’m learning as i go.” it was great to see the townsfolk all coming by to participate in this cleanup. it was quite different from all the big cities she’d previously lived in. “how are you finding the valley, sage?” she found herself asking. she’d only been here for a little less than two months but she already loved it - she hoped everyone did. 

[maeve-moon]

athvnagreen​:

with the beach clean-up in full swing, athena had decided to take some much-needed quiet time at the spa to complete some of her assignments, but the moment she heard the ding of the bell above the door go off, she put on her brightest smile and headed for the front desk. she was met, then, with an unfamiliar but friendly-looking face waiting in the sitting area. “hey, there,” she called over, “how can i help you?”

“hello,” she greeted back, “i’d really love to have a deep tissue massage - and maybe a facial too?” she wasn’t sure what time the spa closed but it was already quite late when she entered. she’d settle for the massage seeing as her back was killing her. “i don’t think we’ve met before,” she said, standing up and heading over to the counter. “i’m maeve - kinda new here - it’s nice to meet you.” 

[maeve-moon]

ahuangs​:

“is it hard to be away from them?” alex asked. he figured it could be, especially if there was a time when maeve had been closer to her family. he didn’t always miss his own family; they weren’t together often, so he didn’t know much life beyond his moms (save the before, of course). he chewed thoughtfully, trying to think of a way to summarize his answer to maeve’s question. “it’s wonderful, of course. i love how small our classes are, so i can focus on each individual kid. the lesson plans are individualized for each one, since they’re all at different ages and education levels. i think that’s the most important part. to see each student with honesty and to meet them where they are.”

“yeah, i miss them.” maeve said, smiling wistfully at the thought. “my parents are still in ireland and my uncle manages the farm in korea now that my grandparents have passed.” she had so many fond memories of buan-gun and was happy that the valley reminded her of that. “it’s kind of like stardew actually.”

she hung on to alex’s every word. she was amazed at the time and effort he put in teaching each and every student. she’d always been in big classes and had a hard time trying to catch up with her other classmates. this was why she turned to reading - it was much easier learning at her own pace. “that’s really great of you. i’d love to learn about your students too. they always look so eager to learn during your classes.”

[maeve-moon]

@athvnagreen​ | maeve had been at the beach since early morning to participate in the cleanup. after filling three garbage bags, her back was beginning to ache. she was sitting on her front porch when she decided that a trip to the spa would do her some good. this would be her first time to come by since she moved in a little over a month ago. popping the kickstand off to her bike, she entered the spa. she instantly smelled the sweet peppermint coming off from the oil diffuser over the counter. the place certainly had a relaxing ambiance and all maeve wanted to do tonight was unwind. she parked herself down the small sitting area and waited for the receptionist. 

[maeve-moon]

dewbands​:

sage accepted the supplies from the woman with gratitude. he’d expected someone on site to provide him with the supplies, but as he looked around he realized the operation might be a bit more grassroots than he imagined. “uh, yeah, i can do that,” he replied, then paused for a moment. should he tell her? “but i have no idea what that means. do you mind showing me?”

“oh,” maeve said, contemplating if she had enough knowledge to talk about proper waste segregation. well, she thought, she should at least try. “drinking cans, tetra-paks, and plastic bottles go into recycling - but separate the cap first, i think i read that somewhere.” she picked up an empty water bottle and chucked it into her to-recycle bag. “and just place the soiled food containers in a separate bag.” she’d picked up quite a few pizza boxes and take-out containers lying around the surf. “if you have any questions, just tell me and we can look it up. my signal’s great in this area. i’m maeve, by the way, it’s nice to meet you.”

[maeve-moon]

dewbands​:

the other woman spoke with such familiarity that sasha had to stop to scrutinize her. for a moment, she genuinely had to think if she’d forgotten someone from the valley, but she would never forget one painstaking second in this ridiculous postcard town. maybe she was a fan. she offered her a smile from behind her shades. “i’ve never tried any of these products. i don’t even buy shampoo in the store; i order a brand from italy, and it’s the only one i trust.”

well maeve didn’t expect that answer. her twenty-five dollar leave-in conditioner couldn’t compare to what the other woman was using. regardless, this was her favorite and it would stay that way - until she found a better one in the same price range. “that’s pretty amazing,” she said with a smile, “i bet it does wonders for your hair.” the woman seemed familiar but maeve couldn’t really place her. “summer is quite hot here in the valley so i hope you have some protectant against that.”

[maeve-moon]

ahuangs​:

between ben’s basket and maeve’s dishes, the two of them had more than enough for twice their number. “we’re going to be here all day if we try to finish all of this,” alex said with a laugh as he helped her find space on the blanket for all their food. once everything was situated, he grabbed a couple plates he’d packed and passed one over to maeve. “a little. but it’s okay. i know what you mean, i never had siblings either. i had a couple younger cousins, but i didn’t see them often.” as he spoke, alex scooped a couple servings onto his plate and waved at maeve to follow suit.

maeve piled on a little bit everything on the plate that alex gave her. she chuckled a little when he agreed that she was indeed rambling. “most of my family is back in korea,” she said with a small smile, “i haven’t been back in a really long time so i’m guessing my cousins would already be adults now.” she missed that part of her culture but between moving all across the globe and her parents aging, she found it hard to plan a trip to visit. “do you mind telling me a little bit about your experience teaching the kids here?” maeve would have liked to get into the nitty-gritty pointers but she found that it would be a good idea to have a feel on how it would be like when she’d have her turn at teaching some classes.