MEENA SMILED as she waved towards the camera. She had been in the best mood that people had ever seen her and she was excited to feel this way.

She pulled her legs onto her chair, her Elmo pajama pants showing as she brushed her hair from her face.

"Hello! Hello!" She smiled as she pulled her chair closer to her desk. "I know I've been gone for a while I'm sorry."

Other than super secret projects she couldn't quite disclose. Meena had been with her friends, family, and Blau just because she wanted to be. As of now, she and Blau had been dating for a few months and it was still something they kept from their friends... expect for Rae, Ellum, MJ, and Tina who found out in ways that would be discussed later.

"I've missed you all and I have so much to talk about." She chuckled before gasp, holding her hands up to the camera. "Look! I got my nails done with Tina this morning. She always gets the cute designs and I go basic but I wanted to switch it up."

Her chat filled with replies, but her eye was caught on Foolish's.

Foolish: moo? what the hell is that on the bed?
username: he calls her moo?

Meena turned in her chair before gasping again and standing to her feet, taking her headset off as she spoke.

"Yes, Foolish calls me Moo..." She replied, grabbing the large stuffed animal from the bed. "I don't know why... I don't really question it anymore."

She sat back down at her desk with a soft sigh, pulling her headset back on before turning to her chat, the large stuffed animal sitting in her lap.

"It's a giant Elmo!"

Meena was obsessed with Elmo. All things muppets really, but Elmo was her favorite.

She didn't grow up in the U.S.; she didn't move there until she was 15 years old. She spent most of her childhood in India, and while life there was vibrant and full of adventure, it was also when she discovered the world beyond through television.

She loved how the Muppets brought imagination to life, creating entire worlds with their hands. It wasn't long before she started sketching and painting her own characters, bringing them to life on paper. Her parents noticed her artistic streak early on, and though they were firm believers in academic success, they always encouraged her to pursue her creative passions.

By the time she was a teenager, Meena had already filled dozens of sketchbooks with doodles of creatures, landscapes, and, of course, Elmo-inspired creations. Art became her escape, her way of expressing herself.

When she moved to the U.S., the culture shock was intense, but her love for art and technology grounded her. She threw herself into her studies, determined to find a way to merge her passions.

She graduated with a bachelor's degree in computer science and later pursued a master's in fine arts. It was during this time that Meena began to see her childhood inspirations come full circle—combining her artistic talent with her technical knowledge, she started creating interactive art and digital experiences.

Meena smiled. "Blau got it for me after we were going to this restaurant and I saw in the window."

username: restaurant? alone?
username: can you play the sims
Foolish: why is it so big?

"No, not alone." Meena smiled, turning around in her seat to throw the Elmo back onto her bed. "We were with Ellum and MJ. And we were meeting up with Rae, Tina, Leslie... everyone."

Which was true... but there was way more to the story.

LESLIE WANTED everyone to go out and eat at this restaurant that she found great reviews on through her chat. She practically invited everyone and had reservations set up at 9:30 P.M.. Ellum and Blau were getting ready with MJ and Meena at Blau's place for various reason (that will not be disclosed) and by the time they stepped out the house and found parking, they had to walk the rest of the way there.

As they were walking, they passed by various shops that they hadn't seen before. Meena had her nose down, looking at her phone as her eldest sister, Vereena, had been texting her about the different wedding cakes they had tried.

That's when Meena looked up and over at one of the smaller stores. It was a toy store and she didn't think much of it, but as she began to look down, she swiftly cocked her head back up and darted towards the glass window.

Blau, with knitted brows looked back and paused, seeing her stand by the window. He watched as she took a step back, her phone in both hands as she took a picture of the window and turned back, gently jogging as she went back to his side and looking back down at her phone like nothing has happened.

He leaned down slightly, his voice low so only she could hear. "What was that about?" He asked.

Meena shrugged, barely glancing up from her phone. She closed the messages with her sister before opening the photos and clicking on the one she'd just taken.

The giant Elmo that sat in the back of the store. It looked like it hadn't been touched. It was four feet according the sticker in black, bold lettering.

She narrowed her eyes playfully but didn't say anything more, slipping her phone back into her bag as they continued walking. "We have dinner reservations, and I don't want to make us late. I don't think the store is gonna be opened when we get back, so I'll probably just order it or something."

Blau simply nodded and fell into step with Meena as they entered the restaurant and it was everything Rae had hyped it up to be—warm lighting, soft music, and the scent of freshly baked bread wafting through the air.

The group was quickly ushered to their reserved table, and Leslie took charge of seating arrangements like the unofficial ringleader she always was.

Blau found himself next to Meena, much to Rae's not-so-subtle delight. As menus were handed out and orders began to trickle in, the table buzzed with energy.

Meena, with her legs crossed, one hand (and excuse her, her elbow) resting on the table as she was engrossed in conversation with Tina about getting their nails done together. Tina showing Meena various designs she found on Pinterest, while her other hand had been placed in her lap, resting on top of Blau's.

Blau leaned toward her, lowering his voice. "Hey, I'm gonna go to the bathroom."

Meena glanced up, nodding absently. "Okay. Don't get lost."

She quickly turned back to Tina as she pointed at something she liked and watching as Tina pressed on the photo.

Meena couldn't tell how long Blau was gone as she was now turned towards Leslie. She wanted and practically needed to know when her mother was coming back to town so they could all hang out together, do something fun while she was here.

Meena gave Leslie a quick answer as Blau reappeared, sliding back into his seat beside Meena.

"You okay?" Meena asked, glancing at him curiously.

"Yeah," he replied smoothly, picking up his glass of water and taking a sip. "All good."

As dinner wound down, the group exited the restaurant, chatting and laughing as they strolled back toward the car. Meena walked alongside Blau, her hand brushing against his occasionally as they moved. The cool evening air felt refreshing after the cozy warmth of the restaurant, and Meena couldn't help but feel content.

That was until they passed by the toy store.

Meena's gaze instinctively darted to the shop window she'd glanced at earlier, hoping for one last look at the giant Elmo she'd been quietly thinking about all night. Her heart sank when she noticed the lights inside were dim, and the display was empty.

"You okay?"

Meena turned, looking over her shoulder to see Blau standing close behind her. Meena turned back towards the window with a soft sigh before nodding.

"Yeah, I'm fine."

Blau tilted his head, studying her for a moment before stepping closer. "You sure? You seemed pretty into that Elmo earlier."

Meena laughed softly, her fingers brushing a strand of hair away from her face. "It's just a stuffed animal, Nathan. I'll survive."

The group continued their walk, the toy store quickly forgotten amidst the chatter and jokes flying around. Meena, however, couldn't shake the small pang of disappointment she felt. It was silly, she knew that, but something about that Elmo had tugged at a nostalgic part of her.

Meena turned, noticing that Blau had faltered behind. "Are you filming me? Stop!" She asked through her laughs, a stupid joke Ellum made as he nudged her, almost toppling over.

She made her way over, her hand covering the camera in hopes he'd stop, though she really meant no harm.

She turned back, opening the car of the passenger's side and as she looked down to sit... there it sat.

She could've cried... She did cry, her hand clasping over her mouth over something so childish and small, but the thing was, Meena's ex was pretty shitty. He didn't see her streaming as a stable job, her thought her college degrees would get her further, and he thought what she liked what childish. Never in his life would he have gotten the Elmo for her, never in his life would he make her feel so special.

Blau approached her slowly, tucking his phone in his pocket after seeing the girl cry in front of him. He knew she was more so excited rather than upset.

He didn't know much about her ex and he didn't care much about him, but Rae had mention in passing in a stream that she'd done with Meena that her ex-boyfriend, was a guy who truly did not give a fuck about Meena's interest.

Meena turned, her mouth still clasped over her mouth as her other arm wrapping itself around his neck, pulling him into a hug.

Without a second thought, Meena leaned up and kissed his cheek. The gesture was quick but full of meaning, and as she pulled back, she caught the faint redness creeping up his neck.

Before either of them could say another word, Ellum's voice broke through the moment, loud and unmistakable.

"Wait. What was that?" Ellum asked, turning away from MJ mid-conversation, his head snapping toward them with a dramatic double-take. His eyes widened in disbelief. "No way. Did that just happen?"

Blau straightened, his expression shifting between amusement and exasperation. "Ellum, don't—"

"Oh, I'm gonna," Ellum interrupted, pointing an accusatory finger at them. "Did you just kiss him? Meena? Spill it. Right now."

"BUT, YEAH," Meena nodded. "On the way to dinner, I saw it in the window, and Blau bought it for me."

username: i'm suspicious
Blau: why is he slouching?
Foolish: cute story... ig?

Meena smiled, turning back towards the bed. "He's napping, I guess." She answered before looking back at her chat. "Anyways, chat... I think..." She chuckled. "I think I'm gonna PlateUp! with Miyoung, Rae, and Leslie."

With that, he stayed and watched the entire stream. As he worked out, as he cleaned, he would pop into her chat to talk from time to time and that's because Blau really really liked her... more than many people would ever know.

— lucy has something to say !!

everyone is playing marvel rivals...

bye :))))