im-not-crying-on-sundays

[im-not-crying-on-sundays]

"My Papi and my Pater are both first generation american, so culture is a big thing for them. They have even helped me embrace my Haitian roots." She mused happily, smiling over at him. "Are either of them biological or were you adopted too?" 

"I don't know much about math, but those odds seem very slim." She murmured, sitting down on her bed. "I suppose that means we have very good luck, yes? I'm sure it is far more likely that we would end up with those who are uncomfortable with our parents." 

Arrival - Silas/Leita

Silas felt a bit of a weight lifted off of his shoulders.

"Papi and Pater… I call mine Dad and Father…by their own request. But… we don’t have much… culture." He put on a smile.

He did wonder… What were the odds that they would both have two fathers, being in such a small group? Oh, he could probably figure them.. He nodded slightly, fishing his phone out of his pocket.

"No, please… pictures are fine…" he said, distractedly.

‘If there were approximately 62 million children and adolescents in the United States several years ago, and the number children living in a house with at least one parent who was either gay or lesbian — a rather restrictive terminology, but it’ll serve for a general purpose — was somewhere around 10 million, then that was easy. About 16% of children. Then the odds would suggest that there were, with there being 18 contestants, there are approximately three others like me.

But that the two of us would be roomed together? There were 18 contestants in 9 pairs, for 9 rooms. So there were 153 possible combinations. And only one of those meant that we room together.’

A sly, excited smile twisted his lips, his eyes locked on the screen of his phone.

‘Crazy…’

He smiled up at her, then took a deep breath before he fell into odd rambling.

"Did you know that the odds of us being roomed together, here, are 1:152, approximately? And that only about 16% of children grow up with at least one gay or lesbian parent? So, in a group of 18, that’s rounded up to three, so there are odds that favor the likelihood of there being at least one more like us here?"

Silas blinked a few times, calming down a bit and sighing. “Interesting?”

[im-not-crying-on-sundays]

"Thank you." She blushed a little and ducked her head. "It is a bit of a mouthful, really. But it suits me well enough." Smiling a bit, she took her dresses out of her suitcase and set them on the bed before glancing over them. 

"Neither my Papi nor my Pater wanted to give up their names, so they hyphenated. It was a little troubling in kindergarten, so I tended to go with Katsopolis." She said with a bit of a shrug. "You have two fathers as well? How lovely! I suppose you won't mind me putting up pictures of my own, then?" She motioned to the frames on the night table. 

Arrival - Silas/Leita

He gaped at her for a moment. “L-Leita…” he began, unsure, a hot blush crossing his face. “L-Leita M-M-Mae…?”

Sometimes he could do long names and complicated terms.

He could also speak Latin sometimes.

This was not one of those times.

Swallowing to control the rising frustration and confusion in his stomach, Silas straightened up a bit. “Leita M-Mae. It’s a… a beautiful name.” He faced her, putting on a smile again. “Your parents have… very interesting names.” He shrugged a bit, sorting through the various tiny keepsakes he’d brought to slip into his pockets as ways to distract himself if he got anxious.

"My… my dad… just took… my father’s name." Silas glanced back at her, realizing he should’ve tested the waters before announcing that… he got so comfortable about it that he forgot there were people who would give him trouble for it. "A rather boring choice, but… easy to write… as a child. Though…" He nodded slightly, finishing the thought in his head first as he turned back to rearrange his suitcase some more, unsure of where to unpack it but feeling the overwhelming need to do so. "I’m sure… you appreciate every… every syllable… of your long name."

He knew he wouldn’t doubt for a moment if he had to write out both of his parents’ names. It would be worth it, and perhaps a bit more interesting.

[im-not-crying-on-sundays]

She entered the room, her own head ducked and her eyes focused on the ground. It wasn't that she didn't like people, in fact, she really loved interacting with others, but being in a new place surrounded by strangers made her want to shrink back into her shell. 

"Leita," She introduced, pausing for a second to lift her suitcase onto the bed before looking at him again. "Leita Mae Katsopolis-Torres, actually. But Leita is just fine." She turned back to her suitcase and removed a couple of picture frames, looking at them for a long moment. 

"The rest is kind of mouthful," She murmured, shrugging one shoulder and setting the frames down on her nightstand. 

Arrival - Silas/Leita

Silas looked at her over his open suitcase, his heartrate skyrocketing when he met her gaze for the flash of a moment it was raised from the ground. Then,  in a movement like surprised gasp, the stare was a broken, and Silas was hunched over his suitcase, hiding behind it as it blocked the view of him from the doorway.

"N-No… i-i-it’s alr-r-right..." He swallowed, shaking his head slightly. "I… I’ll st-stay out of your w-w-way." He ducked his head a bit, biting his lip. Maybe he’d been hopingimself. But he shthat meant he’d have a room to himself. But he should’ve known that wouldn’t happen, as soon as he saw that there were two beds in the room.

And he could just picture his parents watching him… arms crossed over their chests, sending him their knowing, parental glares. ‘Say something, or she’ll think you’re a serial killer.' His dad. His father would roll his eyes and shake his head, but they would all understand the sentiment. Silas knew it, he didn't have a reason not to talk to this person who would be sharing his space.

Clearing his throat, he tried to speak as slowly and clearly as his father did. “I’m… I’m Silas White,” he said, forcing himself to look up at her at least a little and smile politely. “Your… your roommate…. I guess…”

[im-not-crying-on-sundays]

Leita didn't really like airplanes, not that she was a germaphobe or anything, but sitting in close quarters on an airplane for an estimated amount of time in coach was not her favorite thing to do. With a little sigh and a wince as she shut the car door, just a wee bit harder than necessary, she grabbed her suitcase and turned to face the house. 

"Oh my," She murmured, eyes widening and grip tightening on her suitcase. The sound of people mulling about and chattering inside made her duck her head. She swallowed hard, moving past them as quietly as possible and leaving enough space to insure that she wouldn't bump into anyone. Quietly, she made her way up the stairs and read the name plaques on the doors until she came to her room. 

"Oh! H-Hello." She greeted, standing in the doorway shyly. "Am I disturbing you? I can go m-mingle for a bit, if you'd like."

Arrival

There wasn’t really an option to just turn around and go home? There should’ve been. Because he suddenly had an overwhelming urge to turn tail and run. As the car pulled away, his heart hammered in his chest. He wanted to go home already.

He wanted his bed. His chair. His books. That ship-in-a-bottle his father bought for him in the spring. His teapot his dad brought him from China three summers ago. The tea kettle he’d bought as the first thing to settle into his new apartment.

He didn’t like being out of his element.

Sighing heavily, he slipped inside, past the others that had already started collecting, and methodically found his room. Opening the door quietly, holding his slick black suitcase close to his legs.

What a trip this would be.

[im-not-crying-on-sundays]

Entry Form-

Name: Leita Mae Katsopolis-Torres

Age: 21

Gender: Female

Occupation: Full-time culinary arts student at the Art Institute of Seattle.

Fun fact: I was born in Haiti and adopted by two wonderful men, my Papi and my Pater, who brought me back to the United States and raised me. 

Why should we pick you? Give a brief description as to why you should be considered for the retreat sweepstakes. Erin Spenser is really cute and I might just die if I get to meet her.  I am told that I am fun to be around and I don't cause any trouble, so I won't contribute to any drama. Really, I am just looking for a vacation before I have to go be a big girl and face the world.