maverick-liu

[maverick-liu]

Buttercup 🌸:What’s a snack you can’t live without?

“Like, full on indulgence? Not cheating when I’m trying to be good on my workout plan and air frying gluten free protein pasta into ‘chips’? If I’m feeling sweet, Charleston Chews. If I’m feeling savory, Spicy Sweet Chili or Garden Salsa Verde Doritos.”

[maverick-liu]

"How dare you not know my every waking moment. Maybe you should be keeping tabs on my life." Mav nudges her with his elbow. "Kidding. It's also not like I updated any social media statuses."

He had always been bad at that. Even worse now that he isn't hopping on a plane to end up on the other side of the planet with Bradley. Then the 'world traveller' pictures would hit the Instagram feed, and Mav thinks his last update might have been Christmas with his family.

Hmm.

"Yeah? At least he's living it up, and you need to, too. No mom guilt permitted tonight. Your kiddos won't even remember you being out, not to say use that excuse for everything, but one night out won't hurt them. Or you for that matter."

@thelizaxevans

Liza was determined to try and have a great night tonight. She deserved it- she and Wes both did. So while she'd encouraged him to go mingle with some friends, she herself moved around the room, catching up with people she hadn't seen since she'd had her son. And when one such person found his way over to her, Liza grinned, perking up at the sight of her friend. "Mav, hi!" she greeted, genuinely happy to have run into him-- even if it was in their old high school of all places.

"Girlfriend? Geez, what have I missed since being in a baby bubble?" She teased, gently knocking her arm against his as he settled in beside her. "And he's around here somewhere. I think his sister may have even stolen him for a dance. Or a smoke break." She laughed, shrugging as she said it. "And they're good. It's mom and dad's first night out since the baby was born so...definitely trying to not let the mom guilt overtake me."

[maverick-liu]

“For real?” He hasn’t frequented the diner, not unless someone he knew really wanted to drag him along, “For what? Stealing a plate of fries?”He probably dipped on a bigger tab if that’s the case. “I could never dine and dash, I would go back with my tail between my legs ashamed of myself.” That would have more to do with how he was raised, and the morals he would tend to follow.

“It’s fun. Not gonna lie, I came in with zero expectations. I wasn’t sure how a twenty-one plus prom would go, and it’s tame. A lot more fun, but no chaos. I guess that has a lot to do with maturity and all that, but I knew either way I’d have a great time, becaaauuse…”

“My girlfriend is here with me. See that  little lady over there that’s straight stunning? That’s her.” He tilts his head toward Wren expectantly. “And who’s yours?”

@thewrenxharlow

"Fair point." Wren agreed, nodding as she looked around at the dancefloor and the people walking by. Even if she didn't know them by name, she recognized a lot of the faces in the crowd. This was definitely an event for locals. "Can you imagine? I saw a guy's face practically pinned up like a mugshot in the diner a while back. I'd rather move than show my face in this tiny ass town again."

She kept her eyes out on everything else for a moment more before finally focusing back up to the man beside her. "So okay. Other than a no bad energy vibe we're agreeing on, how's your night going? You here with anybody?"

[maverick-liu]

Happy National Friends Day!

— @keolalagaaia @astridlius @julianxpark

[maverick-liu]

"Got ya. Alright, no harm no foul on our end then." The clarification does ease him somewhat. At least Mav now feels that it wasn't a mistake taking that as a prompt to ask her out for tonight. One date is harmless in the grand scheme of, well, all of this.

However, there is still the issue with Julian, and Maverick is hyper-focused on that.

"See, I'm not offended, but I can totally get why Julian is upset. And you saying you always kinda had a crush on him the same night you kissed him and then told me that you like me is sorta digging a deeper hole for yourself."

From what he very clearly remembers, Celia was very very drunk that night. He wishes he could find Angel or Astrid for some support navigating this in this moment. Mav shakes his head to rid himself of that thought. He can handle this one his own.

"Sorry, and again, I'm not mad or anything, but what is it that you do want, then? Even tonight, I mean, we're friends. That probably is the best path to stay on, don't you think? Just until you can sort out what you want, and so you can maybe fix things with Julian."

@celia-baker

now that the proverbial ball was rolling, she knew there was no way to stop it (no matter how badly she wanted to retract her words and get on with the night). "I know, I-" the gesturing between them caught her slightly off guard. "I did mean it. I do really like you. is that deeper than a really good friendship? I-I don't know." her voice waivered as the emotions tugged at her. "that's why I said yes to tonight."

even though the questions hung in the air, they seemed to hit her at her very core. this was a mess. and it was her mess. flames of embarrassment stuck to her cheeks in reddish patches as she tried to gather her thoughts once more. "I don't know what I meant that night with everything with julian. I'm not going to lie, I've always kind of had a bit of a crush on him the entire time I've known him so.." she let the words trail off with a shrug.

right now, all celia felt was that she wanted to be anywhere but here. her actions the past few months had been extreme; she knew that. but not could she barely make sense of it all herself, this was the last place she wanted to talk about the catalyst behind all of her more unhinged choices. she wasn't ready, and this was far too public. "I honestly don't know what I'm doing a lot of the time these days, mav. kind of just stumbling through life. and I'm sorry that you got caught in the crossfire."

[maverick-liu]

Maverick glances down to the fabric pinched between Drew’s fingertips, unsure of how to really answer the question because he doesn't truly know what his jacket is made out of.

“H-ey, look at you. One hundred percent on the mark there! You really know your stuff.” 

He pulls at the lapels of it, shimmying his shoulders and laughing. "It's been a long time since, but that's right. Officially off the market, and it's been the best. I got the balls to kinda officially say something after one of those Driftwood speed dates, and it's really funny because we were paired up for Neptune's blind dates last year."

@drewohara

for: @maverick-liu

where: prom

"Dude, sorry, but I have to ask: what is this jacket made out of?" Drew asked, reaching out to tug gently at Mav's collar as if testing the quality. "Is that...boyfriend material I'm feeling?"

[maverick-liu]

Maverick spins on his heel to face Julian, and he is grinning and laughing, a mix of subtle bashfulness that is overpowered with a sense of pride and elation. 

“You think watching me get demolished during the Cupid Shuffle is cute?” Which is what happened, because as Sola warned him, she took it very seriously. “Really, though. Keep going. Love to hear about our adorability factor.”

He would give all the credit to Sola when it comes to the both of them, Maverick will milk the attention if it means he can talk about her.

He does slow in his steps to watch Julian and laugh, then push a hand against his shoulder in a gentle manner. “There will definitely be some K-I-S-S-I-N-G happening, but did we ever learn why it has to be in a tree? Ask the high school spirit that possessed you, since you’re so in tune with the paranormal. It might have an answer.”

@julianxpark

who: @maverick-liu where: aurora bay high school, prom

"You guys are cuuuuute," the word dragged on as Maverick walked past Julian to get to the bar. Watching the couple dance in the crowd was very different to how he'd reacted back in New Years, it brought a unsuspecting smile to his face.

Things had been tense after Julian's crash out at the last event he'd frequented, Mav unfortunately among the casualties but after an awkward apology and some time, they could look back on it and laugh.. almost. "Mav and Sola sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G," Julian sung as he followed his friend, before shaking his head as if he had no idea why he said that. "Sorry, I think I just got possessed by a high school spirit."

[maverick-liu]

"That's me!"

For as many times as Wren, or anyone, ever needed it, though Maverick is certain that this event wouldn't provide an opportunity for anything of the sort to happen again. Besides, should it, he recalls seeing her with someone who would better play the part.

"No rescues tonight because we are not attracting that sort of energy here. Besides, I think it's the tourists start acting like fools when they're around. It's too small a town for the locals-" Mav fans his arm out to the crowd. "-to do that and not be labelled the town creep."

@thewrenxharlow

closed - @maverick-liu

where - zee prom

"If it isn't my knight in shining armor." Wren cam up beside him with a grin as she'd spotted Maverick nearby as she was on her way to the hors d'oeuvres tables. "At least this time there's no creepers you need to protect me from? Hopefully anyways--the night's still young."

[maverick-liu]

secret files

"Oh, so I stole a pack of Sweetarts when I six or so. My mom kept putting it back on the shelf, so I hid it in my jacket. I still feel guilty to this day about it and won't eat Sweetarts because of it. I also won't go to that corner store when I visit the 'rents, just in case they have a mugshot of my six year old face on the wall saying I owe a dollar or something."

[maverick-liu]

CLOSED STARTER for @thelizaxevans at the under the sea prom

"Look at who it is! Gracing all of Aurora Bay, and glowing," Maverick announces his arrival with a cheer and sits down on the edge of the gymnasium bleachers beside Liza. It's a bit of a fall into place, he's taking this time where Sola ran to the bathroom with Cricket to rest before she puts him through another dance session on the floor.

He won't mind when she does, but this moment to catch his breath isn't one he will pass up.

"Don't mind me, my girlfriend is kicking my ass out there, but I think I'd be disappointed in myself if I didn't go home disheveled. Where's the hubby? And how are the kids?"

[maverick-liu]

"You do not," Maverick laughs through his words, delighted by the demonstration and coaching he was just put through.

There wasn't anything he could do to keep up beyond the basics, a lot of the crowd fell into step that way, but as Sola says, she stood out above the rest of them.

Maverick is also aware but won't outwardly acknowledge his own bias.

"Woah woah, easy there on the criticisms. I'm more of a freestyle kinda guy. Throw some Missy Elliot on, and I will tear up that dance floor," he gets out through the tail end of his giggling, and as he is catching his breath. "What do you have to say about my hips? They move. They can move, to the right song, and isn't the Cupid Shuffle just another form of a line dance?"

Maverick grabs himself a water from the refreshment table, and one for Sola as well.

"I bet you don't fuck around with Cotton Eyed Joe, either. Or the Cha Cha Slide, or The Wobble, which I do know, by the way. It's hard not to figure it out, but I'll pat myself on the back for it."

@solaadisa

closed: @maverick-liu

location: under the sea prom

"I told you, I do not fuck around about the Cupid Shuffle."

Sola's point was pretty eloquently made by the fact that she was slightly out of breathe and the light sheen of sweat across her forehead as she led Mav off the dance floor by the hand — after she had nearly yanked his arm out of the socket to lead him there as soon as the song had come on over the speakers.

"You definitely kept up, but we gotta work on your form during the turns. It's all in the hips."

[maverick-liu]

"Oh, alright. I don't know then."

Maverick really can't make much sense of it. Why Julian would be upset, why he would say her name with enough inflection to draw Mav's attention to it, why Celia looks like a kicked puppy. He wants to get on with the night. Hope that Julian makes it home safe, and get back to dancing.

Until she shares another piece of information that feels like the one he needed the whole time. "You also got really drunk and told me you really liked me, which you really insisted meant that you liked me. And that's why-" Mav waves a hand between them. It is why he asked her to be his date here. It prompted him to consider it, the idea of them, and just starting off with going out on a date. It didn't feel awkward, they already have seen enough intimate parts of each other for it to feel anything of the sort, but now guilt settles in his chest and takes hold of his heart.

"Did you mean any of it?" And okay, Mav realizes he might sound dejected, so he clarifies, "Between me and him - did you mean to kiss him? Did you mean that you liked me? Or neither or what?"

He frowns, "Because he's my friend, and I feel like this is a weird position to be in now because I don't know if you know what you want. Or if you were just... drunk and not thinking."

@celia-baker

the contrast was almost comical; as people around them celebrated and made plans for the future, here celia was having to answer for her past. the girl had never been one to be able to put on a poker face, so she knew mav knew something was up the second all color drained from her face. "on halloween?" she asked as her gaze finally moved back up to meet his. "no, no it wasn't a fight."

there were many times that celia baker had felt invisible, but in this ballroom right now, she wished she truly was. every word she tried to utter caused her eyes to well up with tears, each thought threatening to cause an overflow. "I got really drunk and kissed him at sharky's." she finally blurted out. the glass she was holding shook slightly as the mortifying reality of having admitted it finally set in. "then I ran. that's why I disappeared that night. I ran and didn't talk to him until tonight. and we didn't even talk about what happened. so I don't know exactly why he's so upset." the silence that followed her word salad hung in the air. but that's not quite true, now is it? she guessed there was nothing to lose; her dignity was already shredded to pieces. "he did mention that you were my date with a bit of anger or jealousy or- I don't know."

@maverick-liu

[maverick-liu]

Maverick poses outside the front door of the tattoo parlor, hands on his hips and wearing the biggest, brightest grin. It's all for show, like a kid standing outside the school bus on their first day. Except Maverick is outside of Crescent Moon, and for the first time, it's for a piercing.

"Funny my first poke is for this. I have literally zero interest in an ear or nose piercing, but I need to get this done."

It was a want produced from boredom during his employee arc, and Maverick ended up not going. Partly because Angel talked him out of it, and partly because he needed to save money until he found another job.

"So, the question is," Mav begins as he pushes the door open and holds it for Nora. "Straight bar, horseshoe barbell, or a bead ring. I mean, I think they have a specific one they do when you first get them done, but maybe I can buy the jewelry I want ahead of time to switch out once they're healed."

@noralevin

closed: @maverick-liu

location: crescent moon

"Hang on," Nora said, stopping just outside of Crescent Moon's front door and pulling her phone out of her back pocket. "Gimme a smile. I'm gonna send this to Angel. He'll lose his mind."

She shot off the picture and an accompanying text — our boy's getting his nipples pierced and there's nothing you can do about it <3 — cackling all the while.

"Okay," she said and put a hand on the door. "You ready for this?"

[maverick-liu]

As it would seem, the lack of forethought in both of their heads has given them the toughest obstacle of the day. Mav also didn’t expect tennis to end with Ravi in a tree. He clicks his tongue against his teeth and says with a resigned sounding sigh, “This might be your life now.”

Too bad it isn’t for something like conservation as much as it is for an inability to problem solve. Maverick tries to do mental measurements when he’s warned and truthfully, he isn’t sure he wants to know what ‘tarzan’ing it means. He doesn’t have to wait long to find out, and Mav instantly throws his arms out with a scream.

“Woah woah! What are you doing?!” 

This is the exact opposite of a good idea when Ravi cracking his head open becomes a very real possibility. One Maverick doesn’t want mainly for the fact he likes Ravi in one piece.

"What?" is about all he can get out on the end of Ravi's final swing that propels him towards Mav with enough force that he does indeed catch him. Maybe not in his arms with any grace, but there's a solid connection of their bodies that prompts a loud 'oomph' and Maverick tangles his arms around any of Ravi's limbs he can manage as the force pushes him back.

One step, two step - then flat on his ass and rolled back. And only when movement has ceased does he release his grip on Ravi. He doesn't look up and lets himself work through the feeling of having the wind knocked out of him.

"Are you alive? Tell me you're alive. And that there's no blood, because blood makes me squeamish."

@ravirussell

"That... Is a good question," Ravi says from where he's still latched onto the branch. It wasn't a fatal drop by any means but he also wasn't looking to find out what the impact of his body hitting the ground from that height would feel like.

Legs first made the most sense but after whac-a-moling Maverick's head once already, he didn't want to risk kicking him in the face.

"I'm going to Tarzan it, it's all good."

He realises as soon as he lets go at the arms that it wasn't anywhere near good, a yelp leaving him as his upper body swings like a Ravi shaped pendulum with too much momentum for him to not momentarily think he was about to die.

"Fuck, catch me!"

If Maverick misheard him, Ravi leaves no chance for him to misinterpret him when he makes a blind grab for Maverick's shoulder from his upside down vantage point.

"Maaaav--"

Almost immediately after his hand connects, another miscalculation and a harsh reminder of why he needed to stop skipping leg day occurs as he loses his grip at his knees and calves and all of him comes crashing down on Maverick's sturdy form.

@maverick-liu

[maverick-liu]

“That routine I told you about earlier, and then I’ll head to the gym. On Wednesdays I do ballet. When I can’t hit the gym, I’ll try and get some form of activity going. A hike or a run, or maybe just a walk." - DEREK LUH

[maverick-liu]

CLOSED STARTER for @keolalagaaia at coachella valley music & arts fest

The night has been full of bass that reverberates up his spine and the bright electric luminescence of stage lights and like fucking pioneers, he and Keo have found all the cracks and crevices and comfy nooks where the best parts of the crowds wile away the night.

Maverick’s stumbled through conversations with celebutantes and hipsters; frat boys and Coachella veterans. He’s a social butterfly in an unbuttoned floral shirt.

“It’s hot as fuck in here,” Maverick explains earnestly, rolling the fresh water bottle between his palms. Water beads on the outside, left from the ice in the cooler. It feels nice, nicer when he presses it against the side of his neck. "Also, I have good news for us."

“I got word on one of the secret after parties if you’re up to catch the sun rising. Or we can go kick it at the campsite after for a chill night in. You tell me, brother.”