Follow The Pipes

"It's not about fun. The flames are a part of us. We have to burn in order to live." - Lio Fotia from Promare

[endlessreruns]

"What about you? Have you been able to find some kind of happiness in all of this?" he asked curiously, knowing that in a place like this it wasn't the easiest. Eason had gotten lucky he'd found his so soon since coming back. He also hadn't been dealing with everything as long as many others had. He gave a smile back at the nudge, "Sometimes I wish she knew it was okay to take a break and take care of herself first before taking care of everyone."

[waterboylui]

Lui paused in thought, tilting his head from side to side before slowly nodding. "I think so, mean my sister's married now, rest of em are happy with their own partners," he said, "And I have Scarlette now." His lips quirking up into a smile when he spotted her trying to smear sunscreen on her dad, shaking his head in amusement. Glancing back at Easton he nodded, "I do too, you know we don't mind coming over to help out at the BnB if you wanna take her out for a couple hours a week."

[endlessreruns]

"no, no need to start planning any speeches" he chuckled as they shook their head. "It's more at the rate this place goes I'm not going to rule anything out. I feel like the impending doom of this town makes people start hearing wedding bells faster than they might normally."

[waterboylui]

Lui thought about it before slowly nodding his head, "Not sure if we should count that as a silver lining or not. Though I guess if people are managing to find some kind of happiness it's a good thing." Nudging Easton he gave him a smile, "I'm glad she has you, you know? She's always taking of everyone, it's nice knowing she has someone watching her back."

[endlessreruns]

Easton couldn't help but grin at all this. It sounded like Martha. "I'm already prepared for our wedding to be the most extravagant and beautiful thing this town has scene if we get married. Glad I didn't miss an announcement though, I'd feel bad if I had"

[waterboylui]

"Trust me you'll be one of the first to know if that ever happens. Partly cause I think Martha would be yelling it for everyone and their mother to hear," Lui said chuckling and shaking his head. Looking at Easton curiously before grinning, "Yeah I don't doubt it, you already thinking that far ahead or should I start planning my reception speech for sooner than I thought?"

[endlessreruns]

"It's still probably too fresh for he-wait are you getting married?" Easton knew he could sometimes be out of the loop when it came to things, but he didn't think he was that out of it.

[waterboylui]

Lui was nodding along before he froze and felt his face turn a bright shade of red. "Wait-what? No I'm not...I mean..." stuttering before quickly shaking his head and holding his hands up. "Ok rewind, no I'm not. She's just be telling me to propose and stuff, think she's still miffed about Celia and Cal just keeping it lowkey and then Knightley and Z doing the same."

[endlessreruns]

"I think she's doing as well as she can be." Easton said, knowing it wasn't really his place to speak for her, but that seemed like a generic enough answer. "You should stop by sometime, maybe the two of you could go to lunch. I'm sure she'd like that."

[waterboylui]

"I mean we've gone out to lunch a couple times and all she wants to talk about is me getting married. Which very sweet but, anytime I broach the topic she waves me off," Lui explained. He was idly rubbing the back of his neck in thought.

[waterboylui]

WHERE: Lake Party WHO: Easton (@endlessreruns)

Lui gave Easton a wave before tugging off to the side away from the crowds. “Hey I know today is suppose to be fun in the sun but…,” trailing off he sighed rubbing the back of his neck. “Is…is Martha Mae doing ok? Stupid question I know but I was hoping she was at least opening up to you.”

[waterboylui]

Lui Lake Party 2024

[callofthxvoid]

"I'm pretty sure I'm not supposed to be exhausted after a celebration for me," Vero sighed, laying on the couch in their apartment. She looked up at her brother and then quickly corrected herself. "Fine, a celebration for us. But seriously, is this what it's gonna be like from now on? That was way too many people. We either need to narrow down our definition of family or some of y'all have to break up with your partners."

[waterboylui]

Lui had given Vero a pointed look before his face relaxed when she course corrected. He was on the floor giving Ghost belly scritches at the two talked. Laughing he gave her a look, "Or we could start voting people off Survival style. I'm willing to vote off Mo if it means we get to keep Eagan, think it's a pretty fair trade."

[bcckmcskcd]

"That's a technicality," Ridley insisted. "We were outside the ball. But when the geyser erupted we dashed inside like normal people who didn't want to be rained on by hell water." They elbowed Lui again, but gentler. "C'mon; we both know you're a total catch. The complete package, even. So, when are we doing a double date? Or are you worried I'll embarrass you too much by telling childhood stories?"

[waterboylui]

"Didn't get enough of that at my birthday party? Thanks by the way for re-spilling the beans about me pissing in Martha's plant. Scarlette had a field day with that one," Lui said shaking his head. That gathering had been a lot larger than expected with how things had changed. "What's Sawyer up for anyways? Just went to the bar with Z and her guy, played some pool. I'd offer up the arcade but doubt you want your girl to see you get your ass handed to you like that."

[bcckmcskcd]

"I suppose that's true... and it wouldn't hurt to have someone tell me that it's okay that I'm hurting." Nolan gave Lui a wry smile. "I feel like I'm to blame for all this. I should have just let the investigators do their job, and accepted that Willow was most likely dead. They don't really tell you how to move forward when amnesia and trauma completely changes the person you were holding onto like a life raft." He couldn't help but grin at the comment though. "Fat lot of good it does me in here. At least I get to help Cyan out with the like.... instant message stuff."

[waterboylui]

"Hey man, me and my sister lasted a week like I said. When it's someone you love you don't always act rational and no one can hold that against you," Lui said shaking his head. He felt for Nolan and Willow, the whole thing seemed like such a heartache for the two of them. "Hey I'm technically supposed to be grabbing lunch, wanna come with? Milkshake can at least make a day a little better."

END

[ambercast]

“You two are so sweet,” Martha said with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “We were lucky. There was only a bit of water and everything’s been drained and cleaned out. How’s the diner?” She hoped things weren’t too hard on Celia right now. Maybe she should volunteer to help at Bucky’s.

[waterboylui]

"The diner's recovered, whole lot of us were pitching in to help. Trying not to play favorites, but kind of hard for some of us not to focus on it," Lui admitted shrugging. Although to be fair it had been during their off hours at least. As they walked he grimaced seeing the crack, shifting as if that would keep her safer as they walked. "You know if you need anything, all you gotta do is ask, we're all here for you," he said softly.

[ambercast]

"Oh. Oh! Yes, sorry," Martha said quickly, shaking her head to clear it and giving Lui an apologetic smile. "That sounds like a wonderful idea actually." She moved to stand. "Are you going to try a new flavor? I hear their strawberry milkshakes are to die for, because they use real strawberries! Oh, I do hope their strawberry fields are okay after the flooding."

[waterboylui]

"You're good, no worries," Lui said giving her another smile as he also stood up. "Just don't tell Cece I'm cheating on the diner's milkshakes and I'll grab strawberry," he said giving her a playful wink. Once they had 4 new milkshakes to carry out, he held the door open for her, "Think most of the farmland is recovering. Know Z has been out and about, asking me to grab samples when I go to work," he shook his head. "The plumbing ok at the bed and breakfast? I don't mind doing another run through, Vero wanted to check your foundation again but talked her out of it. Feel like 2 checks is good, you know?"

[bcckmcskcd]

"Well... maybe. We're close, but we spend a lot of time apart. Of course I'm happy to have her here. There's just like.... a lot going on in my brain." He gave Lui a sad half smile. "I'm sure you've heard about it from Lettie." He nodded a little. "Oh, duh. Someone had to get the water out of houses. Of course it's the plumbers. Clearly my smarts are only computer related."

[waterboylui]

"Kind of what family is for, you know? Talk to them to get some of the noise out of your brain," Lui replied before grimacing. He gave a slow nod, "Yeah we talked about it a little. I don't think she expected this when she and her dad drove in," he said. Reaching over he squeezed Nolan's shoulder, "For what it's worth think you've been doing your best. It's not the same but know a few folks who have family with memory issues here in town. There's no easy solution." Chuckling he gave another soft squeeze before dropping his hand, "Hey don't knock the computer skills. Some of us still playing catch up with how quick things went outside here with computers."

[bcckmcskcd]

closed starter for @waterboylui

"Aye, Luigi," Ridley grinned widely at Lui, elbowing him unmercifully in the ribs. "Y'know, with all the chaos that erupted, I never got to properly hassle you about going to the ball, you know. So you really like that girl, huh?"

[waterboylui]

Lui grunted when he felt someone dig into his ribs, half expecting Vero but grinning when he saw Ridley. He couldn't help but laugh, equal parts amused and maybe a bit relieved to have something normal to talk about. "Last I checked you were there with your girl too," he quipped back a small flush on his cheeks before he slowly nodded, "Yeah I do, and for whatever reason she seems to like having me around."

[callofthxvoid]

Vero turned to give Lui her glare of death, but it didn't last long, her face softening when she thought about her girlfriend. "It's going really well, actually," she replied. "I was telling Pyotr the other day that it's funny because I never saw myself with kids. That's Cece's gig, you know?" She shrugged. "But I really like Lia and I adore Juniper. And the triplets are cute, even if most of what they do is eat, sleep, and cry." She chuckled. "Honestly, some days knowing I get to see them later is the only thing that keeps me sane at work. If I have to look at that smug asshole's face one more time..."

[waterboylui]

"Stealing Cece's gig right in front of God and everyone, for shame," Lui playfully scolded her. His smile softened and he gave a small nod. "Listen everyone in the family knows you're only like 85% grouch the rest is all gooey and fluffy. Bout time someone else got to see that side." At the mention of Howl he rolled his eyes feeling his jaw clench. "Aaron seems willing to deal with him, god only knows why. Woulda told him bout Eags, but Gizmo said to leave him alone. Never really thought about the fact they live in a deceased family's house."

[waterboylui]

send CONFESSED for a scene from my muse's past in which they revealed a secret about themselves to someone

TW: gender dysphoria

"Remember we can't tell anyone," Vero said firmly as she adjusted her clothes in the mirror.

Lui messed with the shirt he'd been given feeling like he could finally breathe as he got dressed. Glancing at Vero he shifted nervously, "Can I at least tell Ridley? No way they're not gonna be able to tell you're not me," that and he really didn't want to lie to his best friend.

"Ok fine, just Ridley, but no one else. No way mom is gonna be cool with this," Vero said giving him a pointed look.

Which is how Lui ended up grabbing Ridley before school and dragging him into an empty classroom. Watching as their brow furrowed in confusion.

"Vero? You steal Lui's clothes or something?"

Lui felt his cheeks flush tugging again nervously at his shirt, "We um...ok so....um...we're switching? I mean...I just...I don't want to be Vero anymore and she doesn't want to be Lui anymore. So we're switching names...and other stuff." He's explaining this so poorly can see Ridley slowly blinking at him.

"Ok...so I just call you Lui now and her Vero?"

Swallowing Lui slowly nodded his head, "Yeah..if this is too weird I get it. I just...I kind of just want to be one of the guys you know? But like I get if it's too weird and you'd rather not deal with it."

There a brief silence before he feels a punch on his shoulder, "You're weird alright, but not cause of this. You're just weird in general but hey so am I. We can still be weird together."

[bcckmcskcd]

"Yeah; for the most part." Nolan let out a sigh. "I feel like I'm kind of just a burden on her. I'm the reason she came here, and if I had just... I don't know." He let out a soft sigh. "No; I have a job at O'Connor's so I'm set there. I actually kind of like working most days. Gives me something to do." He paused. "Did it really fucked up the pluming that much?"

[waterboylui]

"Hey, look, if y'all are anything like me and my siblings you know she'd follow you to the ends of the earth," Lui said shaking his head. Pausing he shifted a bit before adding, "Me and Vero came back one week after everything went to shit, Cece always called you know? This town is hell, but as horrible as it can get I am grateful to have my family. Sure your sister is just grateful to have you with her than without." Glancing at Nolan he nodded and rubbed the back of his neck, "Not really, more we have the equipment to get it out of the places that are still flooded. Lots of hoses and buckets, keep having to see Z for more ointment when it gets on me."