paper heart ;;

“Yeah–” Juni held her breath for a couple seconds then exhaled in a long sigh, a hand pushing her hair back. “I don’t know– me and Rosie are not exactly in great terms.”

“Why?” Lavender tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “What happened?”

around a time like now, when heads were messes and people were upset and anxious and overthinking, casey did what he did best: blocked it out. as he walked, he stared down at his phone, thumbs tapping out a text and almost seconds from sending it when he heard a soft voice, a white rose handed out in front of him. slowing his walk until he was stationary, casey locked his phone, swallowing the lump in his throat; the topic he’d rather not talk about. “sure,” he mumbled, taking the rose and peering at it for a moment, before looking up at the brunette. “did you…—know him?” it was a cautious way of asking; quiet, in case it hit a nerve, though his eyes were soft.

“No,” she says, shaking her head. “I didn’t but I know people who were close with him. And even if I didn’t, it’s still so sad.” Lavender presses her lips together. “Did you?” she asks softly.

“That’s… really thoughtful,” Juni told her friend as she took the flower. It wasn’t much– hell, it was nothing, but at least someone had him in mind. She had offered the cops jars of coffee that same morning, as they woke up to the news and started the search party, and would have to go back that same night. But other than that, it was just another day in Misty.

Lavender tries for a smile again, this time it’s a little more real now that her friend was in her presence. “Um, let’s have a sleepover? With Rosemary? I could use some girl time.”

   misty hollow  was very good at the art of suffocation. while jill hadn’t been here long, negative experiences and events were emerging in similar but new ways. this was supposed to be a trip that would last for a few days before she could go back to l.a. to convince her ex husband and her daughter that she had tried to sort things out. they wanted her to step up, to be there more for them as well as jacqueline but things were complex and the idealist approach wasn’t flawless. widening her eyes at the other, jill took a step back. “are you seriously using this as an excuse to push profit? it doesn’t show shit if no one does anything.” it wasn’t jack; if the boy was found, it wouldn’t rewrite anything, just stop history from repeating completely. jill despised this town and that was evident in the way she directed her anger towards a stranger trying to do their job. “word of advice, don’t bring it up.” living in denial was difficult when she was here, it all seemed so real. however, she would appreciate it if people didn’t remind her constantly. “a flower isn’t going to change anything.”

The girl’s jaw drops slightly. She wasn’t expecting this kind of reaction from anyone. But of course, Lavender knows you can never predict how people with react at a time like this. Still, it leaves Lavender with a different kind of pain in her chest than she was already feeling. She didn’t experience this pain often. It was guilt. “It’s... It’s free,” she says quietly. “It’s just a gesture, I wasn’t trying to...” She swallows. “I’m sorry.” Her hand moves to gently rub over where her heart is, like she's trying to ease the pain.

SHE HAD CONSIDERED STAYING HOME, but eve was feeling more and more like an outsider every day. since arriving back in misty hollow, she felt the quiet little girl she had been before new york opened her up like a flower beneath its traffic jams and blinding lights, reverting to the young thing touched by hate in a house full of secrets. at least, she thought, she was living in her own place, nothing to haunt her when she turned the lights out at night but her own memories of this town. 

she forced herself, made her way to the beach where she stood with a glass of wine in hand and watched the flames of the bonfire licking the air around it. it felt warm against her cheeks and she closed her eyes to the feeling until she felt the presence of another by her side. glancing to her right, eve eyed her new companion and offered a small smile. “ want a glass? ” she asked, unable to shake her inherent politeness, always aiming to please. “ it’s pretty cheap but it does the trick. ”

Lavender sees Eve and walks over to greet her. When Eve offers wine, she smiles at the offer. She loves drinking and even more so she loves drinking with others. “Sure, I’ll have a glass. I should run home and grab another bottle for us. I guess we can see if we’ll even need more.” She smiles. “How are you enjoying the night?”

status: open ( bonfire ) | @mistystarters·

So there Hayes was, sat a good distance away from the open flames with a rather pensive look upon his face. One that accentuated the wrinkles lines of age, and darkened the blues of his eyes. 

“If one was to raise chickens.. wouldn’t that make them a chicken tender?” It’s spoken out loud for all to hear – without much rhyme or reason. Well, aside from his penchant for wise jokes and terrible puns, of course. 

Lavender laughs lightly. “Chicken tender, that’s actually hilarious.” She grins. “Did you make that up?”

status: open ( bonfire ) | @mistystarters·

Though less known as a man of refined tastes via the world of art, Douglas had a few other skills hidden up his sleeve. Creating songs was one of them - albeit a smaller, less touched upon interest compared to his usual jobs. Yet even he got tired of the constant apprehension and anxiety induced nausea. So what better way to ease his mind than to slam down a few drinks and fiddle with a few chords with some choice words?

A pen wiggled between his fingers as he tried to conjure the words to another verse. “Alright, let’s all go to the picnic, let’s all go have a drink… let’s see, what rhymes with drink?” He thought out loud; hardly even noticing that his words could be heard by another.

Lavender looks over when she hears a voice. She contemplates answering, maybe he didn’t really want input. It seemed like he was writing a poem or song. That was usually something private, something that came from the heart. Still, she decides to respond. “‘Maybe you’ll find love closer than you think’?” She shakes her head. “That was stupid, don’t use that.”

(open to all)

In all honesty, Kaeden hated social gatherings and such were the part he hated the most about his job. Chewing on the edge of a half-smoked cigarette each time it touched his lips for another portion of the poisonous smoke to slip into his lungs, his dark eyes roamed the beach, looking for anything remotely disturbing. The echo coming from somewhere near the docks brought old memories to his mind; once this was him, a kid that didn’t care about anything. To be honest, not much has changed since then other than that he was no longer a kid. He was no longer going to be given the warning since now he was the one giving it. 

A gasp left his parted lips as the flame touched his fingers, burning them. Tossing the leftover of his cigarette aside, the sheriff reached for his pocket. At least he could afford not to wear his uniform tonight, instead he switched it with black jeans and black leather jacket. Pulling up the box, he was unpleasantly surprised to find it empty. “Shit.”

Lavender looks up from the game of Words With Friends she has open on her phone. She looks Kaeden up and down, trying her best to figure out on her own what upset him. She notices a small box in his hands but can’t make out what it is. “Is everything okay?” she asks. Lavender turns her body toward him so she can give him her undivided attention.

✎⌠cierra ramirez. cisfemale. she /her⌡❝ — well, look who’s just arrived ! if it isn’t the one and only lavender rivera. though, around here they’re known as the ellubient. don’t tell ‘em i said this but the twenty two year old cashier at a flower shop kinda has a reputation of being impatient and naive. but y’know, they can be caring and spontaneous too. typical sagittarius. anyways, welcome home and stay safe lavender ! ❞ ↷ scarlett. 23. she/her. cst.