#lily streb

[randomheadcanons]

When Lily met Apollo

The alarm made an aggravating noise despite Lillian’s best effort to will it into silence. She rolled over and the snooze button, knowing that it was a fruitless endeavor. All too soon, it went off again and Lily sighed deeply, before sitting up and scrubbing her face.

“I need to stop agreeing to night shifts.” She mumbled to herself. She glanced at the clock. 2:00pm. Twelve hours ago she had crawled into bed, and now, so soon, she was crawling out of it. Only twelve hours, she reasoned, until she could crawl back into it.

This is why your friends don’t see you. She thought to herself as he brushed her teeth. And also why you can’t keep a partner, she ruminated. Her mind flitted to the woman she dated briefly, but never saw. That was a good fling, even if it only lasted about a month; it was good for Lily, she reasoned. It helped her get over the heartbreak of the year prior with a man who was a doctor at her hospital, and now has to see once a week. Don’t date your coworkers, she reminded herself. Don’t date doctors, especially.

“Okay,” she told herself, bouncing on the ball of her feet as she dug through her scrub drawer. “Pull it together. Get some coffee,” She perked up at that. Yes, some coffee would do her well. She’s been working like a dog for the past two weeks, and she deserved a treat. Lily pulled out her clogs, her sweet, worn, clogs. She needed new ones, but that was for another paycheck.

She shrugged on her shirt and assessed herself in the mirror. Bags under her eyes; classic. Obnoxious cat scrubs; classic. Greasy but passable hair; also classic. She patted some baking powder on her roots before pulling it back into a bun. She had tried a low-pony tail when she first started working on the children’s floor, but found very quickly that babies and young children love to grab hair. She did, however, pull out a couple of strands to frame her face. She forced herself into a smile, and almost convinced herself that she had some energy before grabbing her bag and heading out.

—————-

Thankfully, the coffee shop was on the way to the hospital, making it very popular with the hospital staff. The coffee shop knew this as well, which enticed them to operate on longer hours, which Lily very much appreciated. She also appreciated that it was local and not a chain, which helped her to not feel like a shell out. They didn’t even have a loyalty plan, but if they did, Lily would’ve racked up free drinks many times over.

She willed away the exhaustion as she waited in line, eyes lidded.

“Excuse me,” A voice said gently, but brightly, behind her. “I think you’re up.”

“Oh!” Lily started, then laughed in embarrassment, “Sorry, drifted off there for a second.” She apologized, as she stepped up to the counter. She grimaced at the cashier and placed her order.

“Make that two, please,” The same voice said behind her. “On me,”

Lily turned attention to her coffee patron and blinked. He was definitely handsome, definitely smiling very widely at her, and definitely buying her a coffee.

“Oh,” She said quickly, raising her card, “You don’t have to do that,”

“Can I not buy a coffee for an essential member of society?” He asked, teeth almost too bright. Almost. His blonde hair ruffled in the wind; which Lily found odd, because the windows weren’t open. She blinked.

“We’ll, when you put it that way.” She smiled, cursing herself that she didn’t actually wash her hair this morning. She had barely managed to get deodorant on. She also suddenly regretted being the “fun kids’ nurse’, with her loud scrubs as opposed to opting for the solid ones. She also regretted waiting to buy new clogs.

She shimmed down to the receiving end of the bar, tucking some hair behind her ear. He really was handsome, she admitted to herself. He was tall and athletic, with fluffy hair and well kempt light fuzz along his jawline. Lily wouldn’t go so far as to say it was a beard, but a hint of one that really worked for him. His eyes were green with flecks of brown and gold, and he had freckles spattering his nose.

“And who do I have the pleasure of addressing this coffee to?” The man asked as the barista slid the two drinks across the bar. The man took her’s before she could, and politely held it out to her.

“Oh, Lily.” She smiled as she took it. “And you are?” She prompted.

“Ap-“ He started, and then trailed off. “-erol” he grimaced.

“Aperol?” Lily asked in confusion, taking a sip of her drink.

“Aperol spritz” He continued. “Is my favorite drink.”

“Is it?”

“Yes, and we should get one later,” He smiled in embarrassment, taking a sip of his own coffee. “That is, if you’re up to it.”

Lily smiled. So he wasn’t actually handsome and suave, she mused. He was a dork.

“I’d love to,” She said. “If you tell me your name.”

“Right,” He laughed. “My name’s Matt.”

“Alright, Matt,” Lily said, holding her coffee out for a cheers, “It’s a date.” Matt touched there cups together, “But after this twelve hour shift,” she amended. “And then 8 hours after that so I can sleep. I’ve got the next two days off after tonight, we could do something then.”

“How about a breakfast date?” Matt suggested.

Lily wrinkled her nose. “How early were you thinking?”

“I’m an early riser,” He grinned, as if he was laughing at his own private joke. “So why don’t you pick a time?”

Lily chewed her lip. “Okay,” she said. “Saturday, here, at 10am? Aperol spritz in hand?”

“I’ll be here with bells on,” Matt grinned. “Have a good shift.”

Lily curtsied her scrubs. “Thank you, kind sir. And thanks for the coffee.”

Lily walked out of the coffee shop, smile on her face. And, she was energized

[randomheadcanons]

Addy goes to camp

once again, we post like men

Her leg bounced up and down as the car drove down the county road. The trees whizzed past the window, and she barely heard whatever song the radio was playing. 

“Ads?” Her mom called. ”You okay, sweets?” 

Addy blinked, looking at her mom in the driver’s seat. “Mom, what if they don’t like me?” she asked bluntly.

“Addy, what’s not to like?” Lily asked. 

“Ask literally anyone at school,” she said quietly. “That’s why you pulled me out, remember?” 

Lily sighed. “We made that decision together,” she reminded, “you know that babe.” It was Addy’s turn to sigh, and she looked down the road as it curved. “I know. I’m just nervous, I guess.” There was a pause. “Can’t we just go home?” she asked tentatively. “I can keep myself busy. I can be okay,” 

“Babe, this is the safest place for you right now.” Lily explained, for what felt like the  hundredth time for both of them. “You know summer's busy at the hospital, and I can’t be home to make sure you’re okay.” she paused as she pulled the car over to an unassuming road marker. “It’s only for the summer.” 

Addy looked up the grassy hill, to what supposedly was supposed to be a magical camp that would explain everything that Addy had been through. From the absent parent, to the school struggles, to the unsettling feeling Addy always seemed to get when she was alone for too long. The eyes she felt on her would supposedly stop, and whatever monsters she saw-that she had convinced herself were fake-were real, and she would learn how to fight them. 

Maybe that’s what she needed. Maybe, if she could learn how to fight them, they would go away, and she could be somewhat normal. All she wanted was to have friends, and all she wanted was a place to belong. Home was great, but Mom was always working. School was a wash; everyone thought she was the weird crazy girl with no friends. Even her babysitters thought she was weird, and kept her at a distance, and they were being paid to be friendly. 

“Can you walk with me?” Addy asked, wringing her hands. 

“I can’t,” her mom apologized as they got out of the car and started gathering Addy’s bags. “But I won’t leave until you’re up that hill, and wave to me.” 

Lily pulled her daughter into a hug, and Addy clung tightly. “I’m scared.” 

“Oh, sunshine,” Lily said softly, brushing some hair out of Addy’s face. “It’s okay to be scared. I’m scared too,” “You are?” “Of course I am,” Lily assured, bending a knee to meet her daughter’s eyes. “But I know,” she said, taking a breath. “That you are going to be Adaline Streb, my daughter. Who is caring, who is strong, who knows her worth. Who takes care of birds with broken wings and wraps her mom’s arms in bandages just to practice. You are going to be you, and that’s all you need to be. Okay?” Addy took a deep breath, wiping the tears on the side of her eye. “Okay,” 

“I love you, Ads.” Lily said, pulling Addy in for one last tight hug.

“I love you too, Mom.” Addy said into her shirt. 

“Okay,” Lily said, patting Addy’s shoulders, and placing her duffle on her shoulders. “Go on, babe. Be great.” Addy nodded, looking up at the towering pine tree. She looked back at her mom. Her mom, who had crow’s feet and laugh lines too early. Her mom, who wore the loudest scrubs imaginable, just to make her patients more comfortable. Her mom, who always protected her. 

“Will you write?” Addy asked, stepping onto the grass, gripping her bag tightly. 

Lily, of course, nodded. “Duh, kiddo.” Addy nodded, assured. She knew her mom would write large so she could read it. She always did. 

Addy nodded, steeled herself, and marched up the hill.

[randomheadcanons]

Up till college, addy and her mom had this tradition where on the first day of either school or camp, lily would make chocolate chip pancakes, and addy would decorate a sign signifying the year in school/year at camp she was starting and then they'd take a picture

[randomheadcanons]

Just wanted to doodle Lily <3 

She works on the baby floor <3 

[randomheadcanons]

♀ to Addy's mom, how did you react when you found out Addy was a demigod? Do you worry for her during her summers at camp?

"Well, when I was pregnant, Apollo told me everything, so I guess I always knew. I was innately worried about the hardships she’d have to endure, but I knew I’d be right there whenever she needed me.

And of course I worry. What mother in their right mind wouldn’t worry? But Addy is smart and has friends to watch her back. Camp is the safest place for her, but yes, I still worry.”