Liymote | Anywhere You Go

"Pen."


"Yes?"


"No."


"Yes."


Tree facepalms.


"I'm all for team bonding, but this isn't the way I want to do it."


"Well I agree with it," Liy smiles at Pen. "It's a great idea!"


Pen smugly turns to Tree. "Seeee? That's two to one, bucko."


"Hey, what're you guys talking about?" Bottle jumps in.


"Talking about ways to get to know each other better!" Pen grins. "And we've decided on a nice game of Truth or Dare!"


"Oh, I love that game!" Bottle cheers.


"You have the approval of one other person, nothing's been decided yet."


"Hey Bottle, do you want to play Truth or Dare?"


"Yeah!"


Again, Pen smugly turns to Tree, exaggerating the swing of his body.


"Make that two people."


"Ugh." Tree facepalms again.


"I'll grab the rest of the team and see what they think of it," Liy says as she skips off. Soon, all of Death P.A.C.T. is sitting in the living room, listening to Pen's proposal.


"It'll be a family-friendly game of Truth or Dare. No shenanigans, nothing like that. It'll just be team bonding time!"


"I mean, I'm down," Black Hole nods.


"Sounds like a good idea to me," Pie gives her thumbs up.


"I've never played Truth or Dare, but it sounds fun," Remote says.


"Mhm!" Pillow smiles.


"Great! It's settled then." Liy puts her hands on her hips proudly. "Tonight, we'll have a great team bonding session!"


"Whoop whoop!" Pen hypes her up, followed by Pillow, Bottle, and Remote. Liy grins.


She especially wants to get closer with Remote tonight.


It's 8PM. Liy sets up the living room as best she can, stripping the beds of their pillows and blankets, throwing them down onto the wooden floor. She goes to arrange them in a circle, slyly putting her pillow next to Remote's. It's a sneaky trick, but it wouldn't hurt anybody, so it'll be fine.


"Setting up?" Pen pops into the living room.


"Yeah. Figure we shouldn't start too late."


"Agreed. Hey, you want me to get snacks or something?"


"Oh, perfect! Yeah, you go do that. You know what everyone likes, right?"


"Welll...sorta?" he shrugs. Liy stops what she's doing and looks at him. "I know Bottle likes sweet things, and Black Hole doesn't really have a sense of taste, but that's about it."


"Pie likes salty foods, but not too salty. Tree has a particular liking for cheese and crackers, but also has a bit of a sweet tooth. Pillow has a taste for weird food combinations, and Remote likes hard candy, and anything she can crunch."


Pen blinks. "You sure know a lot. When did they tell you this?"


Liy shrugs. "Oh, you know, I just ask and they tell me...eventually."


"Well, I won't question it too much," Pen smiles. "So...things like pretzels, chips, candy, popcorn?"


"Yep!"


"Gotcha, gotcha." He clicks and throws a finger gun her way. "I'll be back with the goods!"


Liy watches as he runs to the kitchen, probably to check their snack stock. A few minutes later, the front door opens and slams shut.


Liy smiles to herself, grateful for the help.


Thirty minutes later, everyone is sitting in the living room, getting comfy. Liy notices not everyone sits the same way: Tree and Black Hole sit upright with their legs crossed, Pen and Pillow lay on their backs, Pie and Bottle lay on their pillows, and Remote politely sits on her legs.


As Liy's eyes linger on Remote a bit too long to be just a glance, Remote catches her gaze. They avert their eyes, both blushing with embarrassment and smiling at the ground.


"This is a lot of snacks," Black Hole comments.


"Yep! Totally worth it though."


"How much money did you blow on this?"


"Like, twenty dollars. No worries. Anyways!" Pen clapped his hands together. "I'd like to go first, if that's cool with you guys."


Various sounds of approval go up in the room.


"Cool, cool," he grins. "Tree! Truth or dare?"


"Oh, goodness." Tree pinches the bridge of his nose. "Truth."


"What's the most stereotypical Australian thing that you do?"


"Stereotypes? None that I can really think of off the top of my head." Tree put his thumb and index finger to his chin. "I suppose it's speaking the occasional Australian slang? You probably wouldn't know I'm Australian if not for my accent."


"Slang? Like 'g'day, mate'?" Pillow rolls  over.


"No- Well, yes, but not like that. Words like 'brekkie' and 'bludger'."


"What's a brekkie?" Bottle asks.


"It just means breakfast. Also, 'g'day mate' isn't usually said together like that, it's pretty old fashioned."


"Wait, then how come you never say slang around us?"


"Because you'd hardly understand it."


"Is that a challenge?" Pen scoffs. "Say a sentence with as much Australian slang as you can, right now!"


"You can't dare me to do that."


"Hey, Tree!" Liy grins, "Truth or dare?"


"No."


The topic drops after a few turns, and the game continues as normal. Liy drinks in the lively atmosphere, with her friends talking and laughing around her, having a good time, eating snacks, and getting closer as a group.


She looks at Remote, discussing with Pillow, Bottle, Pen, and Black Hole about his lack of taste. Her eyes seem to sparkle with intrigue.


"It's possible to be born without something like that?"


"Yes, but it's not like I don't have a sense of taste. It's just dulled."


"That must suck!"


"I suppose, but I don't have anything to compare it to. It's normal for me."


"Do you wish you could taste better?"


She and Remote are the same, she's sure. Curious spirits with a thirst for knowledge. She's fantasized about traveling the world, learning all there is to know about the mysteries of the universe.


And she can't help the ecstasy and warmth in her gut when she dreams of traveling with Remote. She's the only person she'd need to bring along, to share their knowledge and excitement.


Somewhere along the way, they'd become the best of friends and lovers. Every aspect of Remote- her wants, dreams, and desires- Liy wants to know it all, and share every part of herself in return. It's the kind of relationship she never knew she wanted until now.


Liy's used to being alone. But with Remote, she doesn't have to be. She doesn't want to be.


"Liy! You daydreaming over there?"


"Huh? What? Is it my turn?"


"Yeah!"


"Ah, my bad," she grins sheepishly. "Uh....Remote, truth or dare?"


"Truth!"


She leans on her arm, closer to Remote. Her heart speeds up. "So...if you could go anywhere, with anyone, where would you go, and with who?"


"Ooh, deep stuff!" Pillow looks between the two of them.


"Hmm...I haven't really thought about that." Remote rests her chin on her fist. "I want to go to new places and learn new things. So I'd go anywhere, really. And..."


Remote blushes, and looks Liy in the eye.


"I'd really like to go with you."


"Aww!" Bottle squeals, "that's so cute!"


"That's a good answer," Black Hole nods.


"Black Hole, are you dense?" Pen elbows him lightly, and whispers in his ear.


"Oh. Still a good answer."


It's the lightest she's ever been. Liy beams, and can't stop herself from smiling. She moves her hand to touch Remote's.


"Well, I'm always free after the competition!" she grins. "We're gonna go everywhere."


Remote smiles. "Uh- Liy, truth or dare?"


"Dare!"


"Oh- I, uh-" Remote stutters. Liy tilts her head.


"Was I supposed to pick truth?"


"Uhhhhh.... I....dare you to date me?"


Pen's suppressed laughter floats into her ear.


"Pen. Shush."


"Yes!" Liy grins ear to ear, and childish giggles bubble from her mouth. She leans in closer and pecks a kiss on Remote's lips. They both giggle like little girls, but neither of them care how they sounded.


"How cute!" Bottle claps her hands together. "Congratulations!"


"Let's go lesbians!" Pillow whoops.


The game continues as normal. Liy's and Remote's hands remain touching for as long as they can.

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