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English
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Published:
2024-02-24
Completed:
2024-03-05
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3,089
Chapters:
3/3
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and the dawn arrives when you're smiling

Summary:

Contrary to popular belief, Olivia Park likes things other than training and Robos.

Also contrary to popular belief, people know that Olivia Park likes said other things.

 

(or: some few times that Olivia has short interactions with other kids)

Notes:

a few months ago i forgot about mech cadets and then i'm here now with this

i'm not confident i can actually make more of this so like. have fun with this 300 word piece. it's all you might get.

Chapter 1: ONE

Chapter Text

Olivia Park was actually friendly, in a way. Sure, her status as the general's daughter intimidates a lot of the other trainees, but she's not mean.

She'll silently judge you if you make a 'rookie mistake' in fight training, or raise an eyebrow when someone makes an incorrect statement in class, but it's not like she's going to walk right up and spout out an insult.

But she does give good constructive criticism when asked for.

And this was what Jackie was doing. They're a newer trainee, and managing to get by on being at the middle of their classes.

But Jackie didn't want to be just average.

They wanted to be one of the best and bond with a Robo, darn it. Why would they be in Sky Corps Academy if they wanted to be basic?

So after a particularly rough spar in training with another trainee, Jackie goes over to Olivia and bluntly asks:

"What did I do wrong?"

Olivia blinks, processing the sudden question. She's never really interacted with Jackie before. Some passing words from the other teens about a new non-binary trainee being let in but that's about what she knows.

"You didn't account for Zane's endurance," she finally answers after a moment of thinking. "You were getting too tired dodging every attack and that's how he got you."

"Oh," Jackie, ever the word master, says dumbly. "I see."

"You also hesitate on your attacks, so they're late." Olivia continues with her eyebrows furrowing. "That's something other trainees can see and they can dodge your attack beforehand. Zane's one of the slower trainees and he's not really the best in dodging, which is how you got in some good hits."

But then, she smiles. "But you're pretty fast. If you manage to stop hesitating when you land a blow, you'd be one of the better trainees in battle training."

"...Thanks," Jackie manages to get out as they smile back. "I can see why you're the best trainee."

They laugh, and Olivia couldn't help but laugh as well. The two are out in the sparring area, having a moment of joy that the other trainees couldn't help but quizzically stare at and question, is this really Olivia Park laughing in public?

The answer was yes.

Chapter 2: TWO

Notes:

i really did not want to do my english summary homework so i did this instead

who woulda thunk

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

So yes, Olivia Park likes music. And the others knew that her music taste was rock. Occasionally, a group of trainees would see her blast out songs from an old band while she beat up some training dummies.

And very rarely, trainees would see Olivia Park listen to music with someone else. There was only one (1) known instance of this, back when she was thirteen, and it was something many of the others had seen and agreed upon.

It was late in the afternoon, and just a bit after the last class that day. She had hung back in the room, organizing and rereading her notes throughout the day. It was a fairly uneventful one, all things considered. But it was good. It was routine.

“Oh.”

Olivia blinked as she noticed her writing had gotten messier. “I need to practice that a bit more,” she muttered, frowning as she put the notes away. Then, she paused when she hears something.

Music.

She did not recognize it, or the genre, but she was assuming it was close to rock with the electric guitar and the drums she can hear. It definitely wasn’t a recent song. Yet something about it interested her. It was quite nice, upbeat, and she really liked the way the horns blended with the rest of the instruments.

Looking behind, she saw a trainee who also stayed behind. He was older, seemingly about two years, and in his hands was a decide Olivia couldn’t quite recognize. The other trainee glanced at Olivia, and she recognized him. Reggie, her mind supplies the name. She won a fight against him yesterday.

Reggie just stared at Olivia, and Olivia does the same. The only thing preventing awkward silence was the music still blasting from the older trainee’s device. Olivia is compelled to look away, to look at her notes, and hope that the other student doesn’t mind her at all. Alas, she tensed up when Reggie speaks.

“Hey,” he had said softly as he paused the music. “Did I bother your studying?”

After an uncomfortable moment of silence, Olivia shook her head and replied, “No. You did not.”

Reggie nodded, and Olivia paid attention to him pocketing the gizmo. With a very hesitant voice, she continued to speak. “…You didn’t have to pause the music.”

“You sure?” The older trainee asked, raising an eyebrow. She nodded curtly, and didn’t miss the small smile that formed on Reggie’s face. “Well, alright.”

Reggie then pulled out the device and continued to play the song just as Olivia looked back onto her notes and quietly returned to where she was. No other words were exchanged between them after that. Just silent enjoyment. At some point, Olivia even gave up on her notes to just focus on the music. When it was over, she had gazed back at Reggie.

Reggie chuckled as he adjusted the device to play another song, and that was when Olivia stood up and sat a bit closer to him to listen more. More songs kept on playing as the time passed to early evening, and Reggie was even telling her about the band while she just nodded along.

“It’s already five,” Reggie pointed out, and that snapped Olivia away from her thoughts. She looked at the clock in the room, and it indeed was five pm. “I guess we can jam out some other day.”

“Can you give me the files?” Olivia asked as she stood up. “For the music. I… want to be able to listen to them on my own.”

Reggie grinned as he stood up as well. “Yeah, ‘course. I can do that. I’ve got some spare USBs in my dorm with a bunch of songs in them.”

Olivia smiled back and the two walked out of the room, Reggie’s speaker device still playing out songs. They don’t pay attention to the multiple trainees seeing them, or the rumors that begin. Right now, they’re jamming out, and that was all that matters.

Apparently, a few days after that, Reggie Descalzo was suspended for stealing something in the labs. Nobody ever saw him ever again, and Olivia did not in fact, get to jam out with him some other day. But she still has the USBs that she keeps to herself, never sharing them. Maybe it was to keep close the remnants of someone who could have been a friend. Maybe it was something she kept as a warning of what making friends would be like.

Or maybe she just really likes rock.

Notes:

so anyways you guys should listen to streetlight manifesto they r the best ska punk band n amazing

Chapter 3: THREE

Summary:

romance

Notes:

i absolutely hate learning about economics so you get this.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

Olivia Park can and does understand romance. She’s not so focused on being a mech pilot she’s dense. She can tell when two people are in love with the ways they stare at each other.

But Olivia never understood the “love at first sight” event. How do you fall in love with someone just by looking at their face? How do you even crush on someone just because of their looks?

After thinking about it, she just decided she’d marry someone who was good at heart. Someone who understands her. Someone who, like her, would put all of humanity first.

 

 

It was a rare occasion that Olivia went out on vacation with her dad, with him being a general and all the other Sky Corps business, but it does happen. It was always nice to spend time with him, without any external pressures and responsibilities.

But for this one, Olivia Park did not want to spend time with her dad. No, for this beach trip, she wanted to stare at and possibly talk to this pretty girl who looked like she wanted a flood to happen.

She didn’t even know why it happened. As per usual when on the beach, she sat on the sand and watched the waves. Yet her attention was diverted to loud crying on her right. It was a kid, probably just a few years younger than her, who tripped on the ground.

Ha, dumb baby.

The thought was pulled away when she saw someone go up to the kid, help him stand up and say something reassuring to him that Olivia couldn’t quite hear. And that alone somehow spiked her heart rate.

 

Oh.

 

If anyone looked at Olivia right now, she was certain they would point out the light blush dusting her cheeks. She was so, so lucky Dad was off sleeping in the house they rented. God knows what reaction he’d have to this. She was also lucky the girl was turned away as she stared at her. Olivia really hoped the girl would keep on never looking at her.

But there was this lingering want that was hopeful for the pretty girl to take her eyes off the kid and look at Olivia instead. For her to think of Olivia as her world instead of the kid taking up her time. That specific want was something that Olivia was trying very hard to keep down.

 

Unlike most things, she did not succeed.

Yet like everything she does, she faces it.

 

Mustering up her courage and taking a deep breath, Olivia stood up and walked over to the girl and the kid.

“Hi.”

And to Olivia’s poor, poor feelings, the girl had looked at her in a way that probably gave her a heart attack.

 

“Hello,” the girl had said in a voice that she was pretty confident was the single-most unique thing ever.

“Is the kid okay?” Olivia asked casually, though she was this close to having blurting it out. “I saw him trip.”

“Eric’s fine.” The girl nodded, gesturing to the boy. “You’re fine, right?”

“I’m a big boy,” whined Eric with a pout on his face that seemed so familiar to Olivia. “I’m okay!”

Then the pretty girl laughed. It was a cute laugh. Olivia’s heart skipped a beat when she heard it, actually.

“That’s, uh, good,” Olivia managed to get out without much stammering, considering what just happened beforehand. She was going to give an internal high five to herself when for a moment, she and the girl glanced at each other’s eyes.

Olivia had to look away because she just knew her blushing was visible and now she wanted to not feel the embarrassment. No high five it turns out, because she was failing miserably.

“I’m Lana,” the pretty girl introduced herself with a gorgeous smile that Olivia could see in the corner of her vision.

“Olivia,” she tried to reply smoothly. “You… come here often?”

“It’s my family’s first time here.”

“This is me and my dad’s go-to vacation place, whenever we have time.”

 

Lana’s smile from before grew wider and that was when Olivia really truly understood what love at first sight was. But she kept quiet as Lana whispers something into Eric’s ear before shoving him away. Olivia actually had to stifle a laugh when she hears Eric whining about his older sister pushing him. And then she’s face to face with Lana once more when the boy scrambled off.

“So the sea’s tides are affected by the moon,” Lana suddenly blurted out. “That’s.. probably common knowledge.”

“I mean, it is taught at school.” Olivia shrugged, but the smile never leaves her face. “But you probably know a lot about the sea.”

“What makes you say that?” The other girl giggled, sitting down on the sandy floor. “Is it the name?”

“You brought up the sea,” Olivia replied as she sat down as well.

“We’re on a beach.”

“That’s obvious.”

“I know a lot about the moon though.”

“Is that why you mentioned that?”

“Yeah.”

The two then laughed. Loudly. It was so loud that even some other people on the beach had looked at them for a moment. Olivia didn’t care though. She was having fun with a pretty girl with a pretty name who knew a lot about the moon.

“Tell me some facts,” Olivia prompted after they both slowed down in giggling.

“Me or the moon?” Lana asked with a raised eyebrow and it took all of Olivia’s willpower to not start laughing again.

“The moon.”

Lana nodded, and with what was probably the widest grin she’s ever seen on anyone’s face, started to tell her about the moon. It began somewhat basic, like how the moon was orbits Earth at an average speed of 1.28 light seconds.

But then it got more trivial. Like how apparently it would take you 135 days to reach the moon by car, driving at 70 mph. Or that moon dust smelt like gunpowder. Olivia didn’t know that. Lana had so much tidbits and facts about the moon that just enticed her. Or maybe it was how enthusiastic she looked as she spoke. Maybe it was the way her eyes had this excited puppy glint to it, like when you play with a dog. Maybe it was always her pretty smile. Or her soothing voice.

Olivia would give Lana the moon to hear her talk forever, actually. Once she got her Robo, she’d grab the moon and deliver it straight to this pretty girl. And about one hundred and five facts in, various short words from Olivia, and pure enjoyment between each other, Olivia was more than just curious and entranced enough.

“Why do you know so much about the moon?” Olivia asked Lana, and if she sounded breathless from awe, she wouldn’t deny it.

“I love space,” Lana answered. “One of the things I want to be is an astronomer. Study the stars. I also want to be an astronaut since I want to explore the stars too. And an engineer. Being able to engineer stuff that help me in my astronomy is another ambition of mine.”

“Wow.”

“But also… I want to know where Robos are from,” Lana continued with this determination in her eyes that reminded Olivia so much of herself. “Robos are popular, I know, but like, they’re so fascinating! They’re sentient, they go to Earth specifically for some reason that nobody knows about, and they probably come from another star system! I’ve been studying the stars and trying to make guesses, but since space is infinite I have absolutely no clue! And that’s one of the best parts!

“When I discover where Robos come from, and learn about them as much as I’ve learned about the moon, it’s going to be the most satisfying moment of my life. I’ll go to Sky Corps, become a staff member there in either R&D or engineering, and I’ll do just that.”

To Olivia, how Lana used “when” instead of “if” was a sign of confidence that just sealed it all off. Olivia wanted this girl in her life.

“And you?” Lana suddenly broke Olivia out of her thoughts with a question on a tone so casual, as if she didn’t just reveal her biggest dreams and aspirations to this stranger girl who asked about her brother. “What do you love?”

 

You.

 

“Robos,” Olivia said briefly before clearing her throat. Her love for Robos wasn’t brief. It was her whole life, actually. And if Lana told her why she loved space, she can tell her why she loves Robos too. “I’ve been, well, planning to be a Robo pilot since I was, what, six?”

Lana laughed at that, and Olivia is just more compelled to keep on speaking. “Yeah. My family has a history with Robos. My uncle is a Robo pilot, and my dad works at Sky Corps.”

“You’re kidding,” Lana whispered in shock, making Olivia just look proud as she grinned.

“Not at all,” she told the moon girl. “So, I love Robos. I know a lot about them.”

“Like I know space?”

“Just like that.”

Then, the two laughed again. Just like before, the one that felt like hours ago, but this time more heartfelt. Olivia only knew about Lana for a short amount of time, yet the laughter feels so intimate and close. Warm.

“So we’ve got being deeply in love with our interests as something we share,” Lana said, holding back a snicker. “Wanna talk about other things?”

Olivia nodded.

And then they did. They talked about so many things, other than just the space and Robos. They talked about themselves, their favorite things, before drifting into other things together.

It was only during the sunset when Olivia heard her dad call out for her.

“Olivia! You’re gonna miss dinner!” He shouted out with such a wide grin on his face that told Olivia everything. He knew.

“Well, it’d be real bad of me if I let you starve, Liv.” Lana chuckled once she heard, giving a playful punch to Olivia’s shoulder. Olivia however, was blushing because of the nickname. She quite liked it, especially since Lana said it.

“You should go back to your family and eat dinner too.” Olivia nodded as she stood up, patting off the collected and clumped up sand on her. “We were talking for a long while.”

“Yeah. See you around?”

“Sure.”

 

Once Olivia was in the beach house with her dad, about to eat dinner, was when she realized she had no way of contacting Lana. Nor would she be able to find her again, since she was gone tomorrow.

But she did remember one thing. Lana was going to Sky Corps.

 

Lana was going to Sky Corps.

 

Olivia held on to that.

When they returned to Sky Corps, the first thing Olivia Park did was ask around and figure out when the next lab and engineering mentorships applications were sent out, and when their results were. Everyone was confused on the sudden interest she had with the two things, but she never bothered to explain. It made the others all the more curious, but she didn't care. Olivia Park wanted to be selfish.

Olivia Park wanted to be selfish about the knowledge about the pretty girl she talked with on the beach and keep her to herself. Olivia Park did not want to tell others about how it was revealed to her that the moon was so amazing, and that space was just as great too.

 

Olivia Park did not want anyone figure out why she was so sad when the mentorships came out, and not one of them had the name she wanted to see.

Notes:

maybe in another world lana got into sky corps. who knows. i sure dont.

😔 my favorite line that got cut:

"After thinking about it, she just decided she’d marry someone who was good at heart. Someone who understands her. Someone who, like her, would put all of humanity first.

Turns out, maybe all of humanity was a baby, and that someone was an unpaid babysitter."

 

also special mentions to a friend for suggesting the moon facts thing. it was meant to be flirting.