3rd POV

"Monae, darling, its been so long."

A smile curved Janelle's lips upward as she chuckled her hello to her eccentric friend, Peter Gene Hernandez; better known as Bruno Mars.

"Says the man who has been touring the world, forgetting to keep in touch with your friends at home." It was now Bruno's turn to chuckle as he returned Monae's playful tone with one of his own.

"Well you know once you get famous its so hard to keep in contact with you mere peasants." Using the best whinny voice he could muster Bruno emphasized his dread as he dramatically placed his hand ontop his forehead, giving an enlongated sigh.

"However do you live with yourself?"

"Well you see Janelle, I wake up in the morning and then I find a mirror. For ten minutes I stare into it and wonder, 'how would people live without me?'"

At this statement Bruno and Monae made eye contact which deemed too much as they both burst into laughter. 

"I've missed you Bruno, have you been well? Are you all done with your tour?"

It was Monae that ended the playful atmosphere and replaced it with one of bittersweet sentiment.

"I've been good Monae, I've been good." Bruno intertwined their fingers as he spoke gently her palm with his thumb. "For the most part I'm done with my tour but theres one last place I have to go, and I was wondering if you would like to accompany me?"

Janelle stared at their interlaced hands, leaving his words to hang in the air; the atmosphere turning intense. 

"Bruno. . ."

"Look. Janelle, I know how you feel about these sorts of things but trust me, I'm not doing it to boost your ratings, you're doing fine right now. I just want you to help me perform alongside B.O.B, it'll be part of the show so. . . "

Before he could finish his ranting tangent Monae hushed him gently and apolozied.

"I know you mean well Bruno but I don't want to impose on your success or have you pulling strings for me. I want to do this on my own. With my own hardwork and determined efforts."

"I know that. But why don't you think of it as you putting forth your efforts to help a friend in need?"

He stared at her pleadingly as he gripped both her hands within his. Monae saw the determined look within his eyes and knew he wasn't going to give up, however neither was she, at least not until she took more time to think about it.

"Alright I'll contemplate this and get back to you tomorrow."

"That'd be wonderful but we're due to leave tomorrow." The casual tone and relaxed smile on Bruno's face almost made Janelle overlook his comment.

"What did you just say?"

She returned his indifference with one of her own.

"The plane takes off tomorrow around eight in the morning and I already brought your plane ticket so I suggest you say yes and begin packing."

Janelle knew there was no way she couldn't go now, especially if he brought her ticket already. He knew her weakness of not liking to waste money and so her decision was as good as made.

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Monae sat down in the uncomfortable airport chairs as she waited patiently for her flight to be called, however the jittering impatience that was present in her stomach was too noticeable to ignore.

Figuring the best way to take her mind off of her unending nerves would be to distract herself she searched through her carry on bag for anything that could possibly take her mind off of the dwelling reality Bruno's spontaneous nature issued. However to her dismay she hadn't found anything worthy enough of relieving her of the fit of anxiety she was having and so she decided to take a stroll through the terminal.

Getting up from her seat while taking her purse with her Janelle knew she wouldn't be so nervous if she had proper time to prepare herself for. . .now that she thought about it she wasn't exactly sure what Bruno expected of her.

Sighing to herself as she took both her hands to rub either side of her temples; Janelle's batch of frustration was becoming worse. In truth she couldn't understand how someone could be so illogical and spontaneous.

Janelle didn't get to ponder too long on Bruno's irrational behavior as she was suddenly jolted to the ground, resulting in a solid thud.

A string of apologizes followed soon after and she could only guess it was from her attacker.

"I'm sorry. My bad I didn't see you there. Are you okay?"

Dusting herself off as she stood up, it wasn't until she was fully erect that she noticed the culprit's outstretched hand. A feeling of guilt passed through her for an instant as she was afraid he'd think her rude, but she let it go to save both of them the embarrassment.

"It's fine. I'm okay it was an accident after all."

Sadly Janelle was a bit used to being trampled seeing as how she was a mere 5 foot.

The confrontation didn't last long as the stranger gave his last apologies and Janelle gracely accepted each one with a smile, reassuring him nothing was wrong. Soon they separated ways with him saying something about his flight and Janelle nodding her head in agreement. That was the only interesting thing that happened to her as she boarded the plane that would land her in Seoul, Korea.

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Janelle Monae POV

As the plane landed on the airport runway I felt familiar butterflies course through my stomach, giving me the jitters. This feeling always came to me before a performance and in some way entering a new country was very much the same thing.

How the people of that nation receive you often time depends upon first appearance, much like entering a showcase on stage. Outfits were important and so was the essence of confidence. 

Walking off the airplane and into the airport I instantly felt a flock of eyes staring at me as I strolled through the various terminals in hopes of finding my luggage. I allowed for a relaxed smile to grace my face because my mother always told me that "the grace of a smile was a sign of open invitation to future friends." 

She was a woman that knew everyone good understood the depths of a smile and so I carried one now as I made my way through the bustling airport that was vibrant with life. 

It wasn't long before I realized that if I kept wondering aimlessly through the airport I would become completely lost, not that I wasn't lost already. Sighing to myself I locked eyes with a young man dressed in security guard attire and as I approached him I watched as his eyes shifted from side to side and his facial features changed to that of a nervous child.

"Hi I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction for baggage claim?"

With my pearly whites showing I patiently awaited his answer and when I realized I wasn't going to receive a reply any time soon I began to repeat myself only believing that he had not heard me the first itme.

"Baggage claim, do you know where it is?"

I watched as his cheeks turned a slight pink color before he fiddled with his hands only to end up scratching the back of his neck shyly.

"My english. . .um. . .jo geum. . ." He brought his right hand forward as he squished his index finger and thumb together leaving a fraction of space between them.

Understanding him as he warned me against his limited english I smiled and thanked him kindly before I turned to walk away. With this it seemed I panicked him because the next thing I knew he was standing in front of me stuttering out "c-chamkkanmanyo chamkkanmanyo (wait, wait a moment)." I interpreted this as wait as he glanced around the airport as if looking for something. 

To my surprise he was looking for someone because he soon grabbed an individual passing by and began speaking to them in korean, however it seemed that their knowledge of korean was just as limited as mine. The young security guard must have realized this because he smiled heartedly while signaling to the young passerby to follow him. 

Obidently the man did and before I knew it they were both standing in front of me, an embarrassed young officer and my attacker from before. 

I couldn't help but to chuckle at the coincidence of this whole situation. 

The two strangers must have noted my behavior because they soon joined in and we all began to exchange smiles and awkward glances. It was the perpetrator from before that finally spoke.

"I'm guessing that you need help?"

"Yes I do. I'm currently looking for baggage claim."

Nodding his head he soon turned to the young security guard and in his best Korean gave his regards before saying good bye. The evident relief that crossed the guard's face was cute as he waved good bye and in his best english wished us good luck.

"To be young again" was all I could think to say as I followed this stranger throughout the airport. He must have heard me because he glanced towards me and gave a soft chuckle.

"What do you mean? You're at least the same age as that security guard."

"How old do you think that security guard was?"

I watched as he pondered before replying, "at least 23 years olds."

I smiled up at him as I thanked him for his kind compliment.

"Well it is true that I'm not that old but I'm not as young as 23."

With this statement he gave me a puzzling look.

"How old are you? 24?"

"No. I am currently 27 years old."

My age must have stumped him because he ceased walking and just blatanlty stared at me.

"Yeah and I'm a little school girl."

His reaction caught me by surprise and I couldn't help but to laugh. "You're one of the most manliest school girls I have ever encounter."

As we proceeded walking I took notice that he still seemed a bit perplexed. 

"Alright stanger, how old are you then?"

I watched as a timid grin brightened his features.

"Guess maliit."

Mal-eet? Was that Korean?

"I'm going to go with. . .25?"

"You're good at this game, but I'm actually 26."

We finally came to a stop as the familiar machinary for baggage claim came into view. Surprisingly we each saw our luggage off to the side signaling that we were late in claiming them but luckily they were not misplaced or stolen.

"Well I believe this is where we part ways Maliit, it was nice meeting you."

"Yeah. Thanks for all your help Stranger."

Smiling at each other as we said our good-byes we both separated ways and I couldn't help but to feel good. How many interesting people would I be meeting on this trip?

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3rd POV

Leaving baggage claim to head towards the front entrance Janelle was caught off guard when she suddenly noticed a man holding a sign. Not just any sign however, it was one that had her name on it in hot pink letters.

She knew that this man must have been sent by Bruno which she found strange because his flight left two hours ahead of hers because he had to get back and take care of some important business. Janelle hadn't thought he'd send someone for her but then again he was a rather responsible guy, even if he was illogical and spontaneous.

Approaching the 6'4 man that was dressed in a nice black and white suit and dreads reaching his mid back Janelle couldn't help but to smile as she greeted him.

"Hello Phred."

She knew that if he was being stared at before then he was definitely being burned with stares now because to everyone around them they must be the oddest looking pair. Although they were both African-American Phred towered over Janelle's petite frame and stature. 

People did stare intently but they only did so as long as Janelle and Phred were in their path of viewing, eventually some felt rude for staring so long because the more they stared at Phred and Janelle the more they got the feeling that they were intruding upon something private.

While in reality there was nothing serious going on between them, they always made people that stayed in their presence too long uncomfortable. In truth no one could figure out why and so they settled with the thought that they just seemed to be in their own world together. No matter if Janelle or Phred was talking to a different person first, as long as either of them joined the conversation whomever was originally there felt the tug of being a third wheel.

They  didn't do it on purpose, for they included everyone in their conversation, but it was something that couldn't be helped, and to those that knew them they just stayed away or admired from afar.

"I hear you're perfoming alongside Bruno Ms. Monae."

They exited the airport and Janelle trailed alongside Phred as he guided her towards a black Cadillac Escalade.

"Truthfully I'm not sure why I'm here. I thought I was just helping." She gave a smile and a thank you as Phred opened the passenger door to allow her inside.

As he made his way around the car Janelle tried not to over think her current situation and just relax into the groove of things. 

"Don't be nervous, I'm sure whatever it is, you'll do fine."

On entering the car and starting the engine Phred offered his words of advice in hopes to relax his friend even the slightest bit. 

Sighing to herself Monae nodded and relaxed as best she could into the leather formation of her seat. Although she wasn't very comfortable she knew she would take what she could get and soon after, she was dozing off, jetlag finally setting in.

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Another update will be happening later tonight of tomorrow for sure.

Yup I'm back!! :D

Who's the Stranger I wonder?. . . hmmm. . . .

This is Phred Brown