#❦ call back in the morning [ queue ]

[skidrowflorist]

@polarean / continued.

Audrey looks over the clipping with interest. “Gee, the world news section.” How could she ever have dreamed that her strange little plant would be not just the talk of the town, but of the state, maybe even the country or the world! She has no idea what place the kid calls home, and the scrap of newspaper doesn’t give any clue, but even neighboring New Jersey feels a world away to her sometimes, so any place would amaze her. “She is bigger already, that’s true... We repot her every few weeks. It’s unheard of — usually you only repot in the spring, and lotsa plants don’t even get repotted once a year.” She thinks he might know some of the usual facts already, since your average Joe with no experience in plants doesn’t tend to ask questions about repotting. Is he interested in gardening, himself? “But nothin’ about our girl is usual, so we have to sorta make the rules up as we go. Gettin’ these big terra cotta pots is starting to get expensive! Do you have plants of your own at home?”

[skidrowflorist]

Her mouth opened slightly, a surprised look capturing her features. Audrey was bad at taking compliments on the whole, but this, and from Seymour, was worth more than most, and accordingly got more of a reaction than most. And that smile again, so sweet, so adorable. If Seymour had been bold enough to hold her gaze, he'd have seen the color rise in her cheeks, mirroring his, and maybe he might have understood something deeper...

"Saturday!" She answered in something of a squeak, trying to sound breezy, unfazed. "Well Saturday is... oh, that's usually date night..." Her hands wrapped around the refilled bucket and drew it close against her chest as she stepped out from behind the counter and lingered between Seymour and the display case. The work was getting done, but without any attention, nor rush. After all, what customers were there to rush for? "Could we make it a lunch? That'd be good. Then even if Mr. Mushnik can't give us both the day, I can take my break with you, and I'm back home from my shift with time to fix my face before my date comes."

As soon as he had asked, he was afraid that he had made a mistake. Was he crossing an invisible line? He hoped not—they were friends, and it was normal enough to want to spend your birthday with a friend. And it wasn’t the first time that he had suggested spending time together outside of work. She had never seemed offended, but most of the time she had other plans, which Seymour understood. So when she began to answer, he wasn’t surprised when it sounded like she was going to turn him down. His gaze dropped however, and he belatedly chided himself for looking so crestfallen. To his surprise, however, she went on to say that she didn’t know if she had plans on the day, but she wanted to go. She wanted to go with him? He looked up, a bright smile that had only ever been owed to her forming on his face. “You would?”

The smile didn’t fade as she continued, but he shook his head vehemently when Audrey stated that he didn’t have to invite her out of politeness. “I do mean it, Audrey—it isn’t me being polite, I…I want to see you…on my birthday, I mean. I know we see each other every day but it’s…seeing you is the best part of my day.” His face reddened when he realized what he had said, and he looked away again. “Oh, it’s um…” He set his broom against the wall and sought out the calendar, thankful for the distraction, and too fearful to see her reaction. “Looks like it’s a Saturday.”

[skidrowflorist]

@leatherfangs // continued.

Words can't express the relief that Audrey feels that Liddy doesn't wait for an answer, but offers help and ushers her in. She's glad to wordlessly take the offered arm (with the hand that isn't tucked away into the makeshift sling of a scarf). What could she possibly say to that question - are you okay? If she opened her mouth on that doorstep, she was certain that all the strength that kept her on her feet as she trudged to Liddy's building would escape in one ugly, shaking sob and leave her in ruins. The shameful sting of tears when Liddy's gaze first locked on her went unfelt under the meaner throb of a bruising black eye, but she can't ignore the blur of her vision as they start to swell and roll down her cheeks.

It's lucky Liddy's even awake, she thinks. It's so late, anyone else might have been turned in for the night. Liddy seems remarkably awake for the hour. Audrey doesn't think too much about it.

She leans into Liddy's support as she steps out of her heels and looks around the entryway like a frightened animal, but then she withdraws from her friend's touch. She hadn't expected it to make her feel worse somehow. But if she backs up and keeps her eyes on the floor it all seems manageable enough to get some explanation out. "I'm sorry. I know it's late. I just— I couldn't go home." She fidgets, pulling up a ripped sleeve, smoothing tussled hair, trying to feel just a little more normal. "I think," she says, her voice breaking through the words, "I think I need help."

[skidrowflorist]

@leatherfangs // continued.

If Audrey weren't already red with embarrassment, this woman's comment would definitely have gotten her there. Even her foundation can't save her from this kind of blush... She's had to get used to some level of lewd as a result of her night job, and talking about it here is almost like talking in the backroom of The Gutter, amongst the dancers, where it feels more matter-of-fact, trading industry secrets. She doesn't think it speaks well of her character that she'd know those secrets or that sense of community, but she's not looking that self-loathing in the face just now.

Right now she's making conversation in this boutique with a woman who looks like she could snap Audrey in half and has a full basket of her own, which Audrey is distinctly trying not to notice.

"I guess that is a nice set. Thank you," she murmurs, because she's not sure how else to answer someone's lingerie recommendation, even less so when it's a good one. If it were up to her, she'd like something of that kind, gauzy and pink and sweet (not that she'd ever admit she might want to buy that something for herself), but unfortunately it's not up to her, not really. "I'm, um, I'm shoppin' for someone else's taste, though. I think he's more into the, ah, leather and studs type thing. It all looks so uncomfortable, but I guess he'd sorta like that about it..."

[skidrowflorist]

Where Does Fear Reside In Your Body?

all your body

your fear is in your head, heart, hands, legs. it sets your internal organs, muscles and your entire being on fire. your adrenaline goes up; the risk is obvious but you won't go down without a fight. hot blood travels quickly to all the parts of your body, preparing them for action. all you think about is the problem before you and its solution. your senses are sharpened, your heart is gonna jump out of the chest. your body is trembling, your feverish brain - galloping. you'll fight until the end. you'll get out of this. for a magical moment, your fear becomes strength and bravery.

Tagged by: @enjoytheglow Tagging: anyone who wants it! tag me because i love to see what you all get <3

[skidrowflorist]

Audrey gives way instantly as he pushes into the dark room. She spares a last, blinking look for the hallway and is glad to find no other doors cracked open to see the commotion. She closes and bolts the door, and the room warms with low light as she flicks the switch and put her back to the wall. She still holds her peignoir closed with one hand (though not as tightly now; what modesty can she still pretend with Orin?) and rubs at her eyes with the other. When she meets his gaze and recognizes the look they're giving her, the scattered, sleepy look chills into something a little more aware of herself.

Just as Orin appraises her, she appraises him, though with a different air — apprehensive, confused, trying to discern his mood.

She keeps those meager few feet between them.

"'Course you are. I didn't mean you couldn't. It's just so awful late, and you were bangin' so loud.... Not too loud, not that loud, I guess," she amends quickly, appeasingly. "Just... I was worried about ya. To come at this hour... Ya woke me up."

Reflexively, Orin furrowed his brow when Audrey greeted him with that tone. It was so soft and she seemed so genuinely worried and not intimidated that he almost found himself ready to correct her for being so casual. That wasn't how she was supposed to address him. And hushing him too at that! Scolding him in that gentle way that stirred up both indignation and something almost like calm.

But...wasn't this what he'd wanted to hear? A familiar soothing voice to ease the frantic energy of his mind and make him feel more grounded, more at ease? In his rush to force his presence upon her, Orin had hardly taken the time to even consider what exactly he'd come there for even if the answer was aggravatingly simple.

Comfort.

But God forbid he ever say something like that out loud, admit that he so desperately craved her company when he was feeling so low as this. The very idea was enough to make his mind recoil, some distanced cool and clarity coming back to him as he pushed past Audrey and into her small home.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm perfectly fine," he replied in a clipped, cool, manner, though perhaps not nearly so convincingly as he might have were he not so exhausted. He looked her up and down, hoping his gaze alone would bring back a little more sheepishness in her demeanor. "I'm your boyfriend. Ain't I allowed to come over and see ya?"

[skidrowflorist]

somewhere that's green audrey vs the reprise :') made with this piccrew

Tagged by: @enjoytheglow Tagging: @themeekwillinherit, @scrivellc

[skidrowflorist]

What's At Your Core?

spun gossamer

the easiest thing to do is stay quiet when something’s up. you’re not bothered, and you know what? you shouldn’t be! it’s none of your business, even when it’s entirely your business. it’s difficult (read: impossible) to tell if your cheery demeanor is a cover-up for something sadder, or if it’s simply your natural state of mind. you see a lot of things: people coming through town, people leaving the house and never coming back, lies and deceit of the highest degree. what happened to you? will you ever be that kid again? your presence smells like cotton candy, and your fingertips sparkle like stars. whatever white rabbit you’re chasing isn’t going to lead you to wonderland if you don’t start reaching out when you’re not feeling okay.

Tagged by: @enjoytheglow

Tagging: @intothewildsea, @polarean (for jaja!), @scrivellc, @themeekwillinherit

[skidrowflorist]

@polarean / continued.

“You... Oh.” Audrey suddenly and very strongly resembles a deer in headlights. They’re not friends. They’re dating.

Andrei isn’t the first ... person like that that she’s known (she stumbles over the word gay in her mind). Audrey is aware of gay people. Definitely aware! She’s pretty sure she’s had friends who’ve turned out gay. But when she thinks about it, when she tries to respond to it right in front of her like she has to now, she freezes. A feeling of estrangement and uncertainty seeps into her.

“Oh,” she says again, because the silence as he looks at her expectantly is so horrible. Her fingers start to worry at the back of her other hand. “I’m sorry. Ah! Not I’m sorry because you are, but I- I’m sorry I said that rude thing about not getting along. It’s, um, it’s great that you are. That’s neat!”

‘That’s neat’? She has to be able to do better than this.

“I’m sorry,” she laughs breathlessly, and gee, she feels like she’s repeating herself a lot. “I don’t really know what to say...”

[skidrowflorist]

'When it comes to relationships...' Oh. Audrey is beginning to understand that their conversation isn't just about clothes. She's used to this kind of advice by now. Mr. Mushnik never lets up from disparaging Orin, and Ronnette has led more than one campaign from her and her friends. Audrey is almost numb to these attacks on her relationship. No one understands what she has with him, or what she has to stomach with him. How could they help her? How could they understand how badly she wanted this to work? How could she ever explain that she was afraid she'd never do better than him? 'No one will ever love you like he does,' a frightened voice warns in the back of her mind. 'And no one will ever hate you so much if you leave.' She prepares to mount the tired old defenses she only half-believes...

But then she's surprised. Evelyn has the restraint to hold back whatever her own advice would have been when she senses Audrey's discomfort. A little bit of the tension eases from her shoulders.

"It's, ah... It's okay," she says impulsively, appeasingly, even though it doesn't really feel okay. "You never understand relationships until you're in them yourself. And no one can ever explain how it's ... "complicated. You expect things of each other, and you try to do for each other... I know he likes it when I dress for him, and I like to make him happy. Nothing wrong with that."

Evelyn gave a small smile, her brows creasing together slightly.

"I've never believed in that whole 'beauty is pain' thing…"

But maybe that was a luxury, to not feel bad about your body, to not care about the opinions of others.

No, that wasn't true, Evelyn cared about how others saw her, in terms of her actions, in terms of most things, actually, but beauty and style is subjective. She didn't see the point in wearing clothes that she didn't want to wear, or that caused her discomfort. Whereas Audrey...

She was probably reading too much into this. They were only clothes after all. Just because Evelyn's sense of style revealed practically everything about her, didn't mean it was the same for everyone else. She shouldn't put people into little boxes, like they did to her.

"There's nothing wrong with wanting to look pretty but… I'm not even sure what I'm trying to say, I haven't had a lot of experience when it comes to relationships."

She laughed a bit, realising how she must sound, giving heartfelt opinions on something she knew nothing about.

"I think someone you're with should - "

Evelyn was going to end with "should love you no matter what you wear" but stopped herself as she realised how that could be misconstrued. She didn't mean that Orin didn't love Audrey, or that Audrey didn't deserve love, she absolutely did. She deserved ten times the love she gave others. Audrey deserved the world, and even that wouldn't be enough for someone so sweet and pure.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable with my questioning, I don't know where I was going with that."

[skidrowflorist]

MEME CALL! looking to start new interactions with blogs i’m not already writing with, so, if that’s you, LIKE/REPLY for me to go through your meme tag and send in a few starters! if i have verse/muse uncertainties i’ll slide into your dms for clarification. multimuses, please specify which muse you want it for.

[skidrowflorist]

@outrageous-spectacle

“Oh, hi there!” At the sound of the front door bell, Audrey snaps up from her dozing lean over the shop counter. Maybe the extra little bit of enthusiasm will conceal how idle she’s been — and by extension, by empty Mushnik’s has been. Customers are desperately rare, so she can’t afford to drive one away with bad service... “Anything I can help you find, miss? Special occasion you’re shoppin’ for?”

[skidrowflorist]

what does your heart look like?

an open door, a burning hearth

Your chest is wide open, and your heart is a home. Others are welcomed in readily and asked to stay. You are comfort and love, everything you were never given but so desperately want to provide for others. You have built this welcoming hearth with your own two hands and won’t see anyone else left out in the cold. Be careful to not burn yourself out trying to keep everyone else warm.

tagged by: @outrageous-spectacle​​ (thanks!) tagging: @intothewildsea​​, @leatherfangs​​, @polarean​​, @reastless​​, @wardogsong​​

[skidrowflorist]

Audrey wants so badly to believe it — that she is safe here. Liddy won't add any more bruises to her ensemble at least. That's for good and sure. But the glass entryway scares her with his voyeuristic potential, and the possibility of being followed, or of being talked into calling the police when she doesn't want to say a word to another living soul... These things can still scare her, and she isn't sure Liddy's apartment is safe from all of them.

She nods and shuffles further into the space, finding the first seat in her path and sinking into it. "D'you got a first aid kit? Some ice? Or anything frozen would work, just to, um, to keep the swelling down... I'm sorry," she says again, because they just fall out so easily. (How many times and in what a hurry did she say 'I'm sorry' tonight to a man who didn't hear or didn't care?) She tilts her head toward the half-assembled Lego set, full of plastic little blooms. Liddy must have been building it, but after the night she's had, Audrey can only look at the pieces and see it as dashed and scattered. "I'm sorry to intrude on your evening..."

It hurt to see Audrey move like that, silently submitting to being assisted when she was so adamant about doing things on her own. It stung even worse that Audrey then recoils, as if she's afraid of Liddy. Unwelcome memories of Delia flash to the forefront of her mind, but Liddy quashes them as quickly as they come. Audrey isn't Delia. This isn't the same New York. And, more than that, Audrey needs help.

"You're always safe here," Liddy insists, fighting the urge to step forward and fuss over her friend. Not when she's so large and Audrey is so small and alone.

She swallows hard and stifles the urge to ask who did this. Not while Audrey is all but shaking like a wounded animal. "What do you need?" she asks instead, keeping her eyes on Audrey's face, because if she thinks too hard, she's going to get too angry to focus. "Anything at all, sweets, just name it." With a quick gesture, the door swings shut, and Liddy gestures for Audrey to come further in, away from the glass walls of her foyer. "You wanna come sit?"

[skidrowflorist]

picrew stolen from @babydxhl​ :)

[skidrowflorist]

@fabricwrapped / continued.

“Mush-nik,” she said, overemphasizing the sounds, “Like in push. And my name’s Audrey. It’s us two and Seymour.” She pointed over her shoulder toward an unmarked door leading to the basement, though Seymour wasn’t in just now. “We all do our different parts to keep things runnin’.” 

Funny sorta customer. Most folks didn’t care to ask her name, let alone worry about how they pronounce Mr. Mushnik’s. But then, most folks didn’t shop here anyhow. It hardly cost Audrey anything to be friendly, so she was willing enough to make small talk. The more the customer — Evelyn — said, the more interesting she got. That new-apartment excitement (and a budget for decoration) weren’t exactly Skid Row hallmarks. Most folks were just glad to have their crumbling little roof over their heads, never mind its looks. But again, most folks.... And yet, the general rule didn't always hold. Audrey, for one, did everything she could to make her own little hole in the wall feel beautiful. Audrey couldn’t help wondering where this woman came from, and how she didn’t realize the on-its-face absurdity of buying flowers for a Skid Row apartment, the absurdity of this whole store. Audrey’s eyes slipped once again over Evelyn, noting again the classy ensemble. Just what kind of gal was she...?

“If you’ve got a blue vase, let’s pull some yellows. They suit each other real nice. I saw you looking at the roses. Classics, always. They usually come in dozens, but we can do 'em in bigger or smaller bunches. If you’re looking for the most bloom on a budget, we could do some gladiolas. ... Are you on a budget?” It’s a question that would usually go without asking, but Audrey’s curious now, and trying to make out just what the situation is with this woman. She extends a hand to gesture toward gladiola stalks dotted in robust blooms all up a single, slightly slumping stem, but her eyes stay on Evelyn, trying to read her expression at the mention of money.