AN: I know there's a reason why hot dogs come in packages of ten while hot dog buns come in packages of eight but it still bugs the hell outta me :/

Confusion (Fie, Laura, sequel to Snapshots chapter 1)

"Why?" Fie said with a barely repressed snicker, looking on as Laura applied ice to the bruise around her eye. "Talk to me. Why?"

"I-I was merely curious about what it might be like to wield such a weapon, nothing more!" She tried to glare at Fie with her good eye, though the undeniable pout she wore meant it really didn't do all that much. "Is it really so confounding?"

"It is from where I'm sitting." Hopping off the couch, she walked over to Laura, unsheathing her gunswords. "Here. You should try these next time you're curious. Y'might like 'em."

Culture (Kurt, Kairi)

Normally, Kurt was anything but nosy. The sight of Kairi intently studying a mysterious diagram, however, was enough to make him break that particular habit.

"Hello, Kairi. You seem hard at work."

"Hey," he said with a smile, looking up at Kurt. "It's not really work, just some – uh, extra reading, I guess?"

"I see. About what?"

"Well, I was looking up more of the traditions and customs of the East and came across this," he said, gesturing toward a grid dotted with black and white markers.

"This is…?"

"A game. Have you ever heard of 'go', by any chance?"

Pie (Class VII)

"Apple," Rean decided with a nod. "Classic. Can't go wrong with that!"

"Blueberry with ice cream," Alisa said, grinning all the while.

"Blackberry. Xeno and Leo liked it too."

"Cherry-rhubarb," Gaius and Elliot answered simultaneously, high-fiving right after.

Emma smiled and sipped her tea. "I'm fond of pumpkin myself."

"Peach. Sis made it the best," Machias declared, pushing up his glasses.

"Key lime," Jusis replied. "The sweet and sour makes for a perfect contrast."

"Klaus bakes the most wonderful strawberry pie, truly."

"Banana-cream, the sweeter the better! Right Lammy?"

Crow raised an eyebrow. "You really want me to answer that?"

Vow (Vita, Crow)

He'd sworn to never forgive him. Or them, occasionally it was them. It depended on the mood he was in, really.

Sometimes the anger ran hot, making Vita sigh as he raged against anyone that would hear. Other times the anger was cold, and she'd watch as he plotted with a devil may care grin on his face that ended arges before his eyes.

She sees his dedication and wonders what he might be like after; without his promise, without his grudge.

An idealist might hope for him to be satisfied.

A realist knows he won't be anything at all.

Carry (Rean/Alisa)

"Sorry, you're gonna have to explain this again; I'm here why, exactly?"

"Ferris wasn't feeling great this morning," Alisa replied patiently, quickly re-tying her shoes as Rean took a few shadow swings with his borrowed lacrosse stick, "and I needed someone to play with for today's practice. Lucky you, huh?"

He couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Lucky me. You know I've barely set foot on this field since I helped you clean up that one time, right?"

Alisa flashed him a confident grin. "No need to worry about that. You just be ready to run; I'll handle the rest."