lavender; nishimura riki

seven.

4/26 8:32am - on set.

You and Riki are lounging in plastic chairs sheltered by a tent, tired from your repeated shoots. "I'm gonna fade away..." You mumble to yourself as you drink water. Riki scoffs, his lips moving into a small smile. You gaze at him out of the corner of your eye. "Hm?"

"I didn't say anything."

"I didn't say you did."

He groans in annoyance. "Come on, let's go shoot again." He gets up from his chair, leaving his water bottle on the seat and holding out a hand to you. You raise your eyebrows and reach for his hand, but at the very last moment he fingers draw out of reach. You shout as you stumble forward. "I hate you!" You drop your water bottle onto your chair and storm away as Riki laughs hysterically behind you.

"It is not that funny." You grumble. Crossing your arms like that, you feel like a grumpy old grandpa, but if that's what it takes, a grumpy grandpa you will be.

———

"What do we have at home?" Tara glances around the grocery store as Leo follows close behind. "Hmm, we have the basics for cake batter, but we need strawberries and whipped cream."

They both grin, "And random junk." They declare. Leo giggles. "As always." He pauses in the middle of the store. Tara glances back. "What?"

Leo hesitates. The store is close to empty in the moment, but he's still unsure whether he wants to let the mood remain as it is or let it turn melancholy. "Nothing." He finally says. He cracks a small smile. "It's nothing."

Tara furrows his eyebrows. She's doesn't really believe him but nods nonetheless. The two continue on their journey for strawberries, whipped cream, and random junk.

———

"So this next scene is going to be edited into a collage with music." The director informs you two after he's satisfied with the previous scene. "So I just need you two to look happy and play around. There are a couple lines scripted but it's not really important what you do. Just make it cute."

You and Riki make faces at each other.

"Cute?" You ask, wrinkling your nose.

"Yes, cute." Director Lee emphasizes. Riki sighs. Director Lee narrows his eyes. "I know you two don't like each other but we've had similar discussions before. You're in this together. You're a team, you're love interests! You have to be friendly. I don't care what happens off set or after the shooting of this movie, alright?"

"Alright." You both chorus with frowns. You give each other disgusted looks at the unison. You glance away. "Let's get going."

"Let's get going." The director agrees grimly.

———

snippet one:

Tara turns a corner to discover Leo with armfuls of strawberries. She gasps as he dumps them into the cart. She says something indistinguishable and Leo laughs loudly, grabbing her hand and bowing. She grins and runs a hand through his hair as he looks up at her. She says something again and the scene cuts.

snippet two:

Tara jumps in excitement, running for a display of glasses. She waves excitedly, speaking and grabbing blue sunglasses. She places them on Leo then grabs a red pair for herself. She laughs, holding her phone out for a photo. Leo grins and leans in for the photo, making a funny face and showing a peace sign.

snippet three:

Tara is reaching for something on a top shelf. She can reach most things, but she's struggling with this. Leo, who's just finished pouring five or so chocolate bars into the cart comes up behind her. He reaches for the item, pressing her against the shelves. She turns herself around as he backs slightly away. "Leo." She says. Leo smiles. "Yes, Tara?" Flustered, she pushes him away from herself and ducks under his arm. "It's nothing." She calls as she walks towards the cart.

snippet four:

"Found the whipped cream!" Leo holds up three tubs of whipped cream, wearing a bright smile. Tara matches his smile and makes a remark. She accepts the whipped cream and places it in the cart with everything else.

———

"Keep on walking!" Director Lee calls. "It's supposed to rain soon but if it doesn't we have our very own sprinkler system. Just frolic!"

"Frolic?" You glance at Riki, both of you having your arms full of groceries. You tilt your head. "I have a better idea. I don't know if the director will like this, but..." You lean in towards him. "How about we book it?"

"Just run? That sounds better."

"I hope he doesn't yell."

"Me too."

Felice spies the two of you whispering to each other and grins. "Is that you two being nice to each other I see?"

You and Riki lean away from each other. "Absolutely not." You say.

"Definitely not." Riki shakes his head.

But to answer Felice's question honestly, you have to admit that the two of you have been getting along a little bit better as each day passes.

———

"I think I'm going to get sick after eating all of this stuff we bought." Leo swings one of the bags.

"Careful!" Tara laughs. "Don't swing the bag."

"Oh yeah?" Leo swings the bag more.

"Noo the strawberries, we have to protect the strawberries!"

Leo giggles. "Alright, alright."

Tara shakes her head. "My mom will kill me anyway if I get sick, she doesn't ever want to take care of me."

Leo frowns. "I'll take care of you- I have no idea when my parents are getting back anyway."

Tara smiles. "I appreciate the thought, but not if we're both sick."

"Oh!" Leo laughs. "Obviously." He grins. Tara nods peacefully. "Yep, yep." There's a comfortable silence.

"Hey, do you feel the rain?" This may be your character's line, but as you stare up with furrowed eyebrows at the rapidly darkening sky, it's a completely genuine reaction. Riki glances at you. He shifts the weight of the bags in his arms and holds out a hand. "Is it? Oh- it is." He smiles.

"I like the rain." Leo says.

"I do too." Tara says quietly. "At least when it's with you."

"What's that? I didn't hear you." Leo frowns.

"Nothing- No it's pouring we gotta save our random junk!" Tara gasps. She glances at him eyes wide as the speed of the rain picks up and their hair grows increasingly soaked. By the time they're laughing, wet splotches cover their shoulders and backs as they hunch over their bags for protection, hair already slicked down from the rain.

You and Riki begin to run. Run and run, right there in the middle of the empty street. Director Lee looks incredibly confused but doesn't stop you. You're both laughing loudly, tripping over your own feet and grinning like you're high with giddiness. The location for Leo's house isn't too far from where you both were when the rain began, meaning that an instant later, you're both stumbling onto the front porch as the cameras pan around you. You set the bags down on the bench, crumbling with laughter. Riki is laughing at your position and bends down, holding your cold hands in his.

You're both soaked to the bone from the downpour and some of the poor staff are equally soaked, although the cameras are safe with the little umbrellas that were attached to them in anticipation of the scene. Although it may be raining hard, everyone on set is smiling.