follow me down

“Not for lack of trying. But what can I say? What’s the Underworld without a little fire?” He smirked knowingly. “How’s your place? Business alright, or do you need a spot tonight?”

“We are doing just fine, thank you. I have more than enough to clean your clock tonight,” he said. He was not sure what about him got under his skin, but he did. “Why don’t you show me yours before I show you mine?”

“Was it a nice vase?” Elle joked, having no experience to really draw on for this. “Honestly, neither would I. I’m just assuming it’s complicated considering how hard of a time people seem to have with it. Maybe you should find someone the guy’s type and try and get them together so he moves on from you.”

     “what? a small-town rager?” truman laughed and shrugged, “this is pretty standard. i’m sure it’s been quite some time for you, but this is pretty standard for college-aged kids.”

     “kit! that’s right. yeah i don’t know what it’s short for either,” she shrugged. “i could do with different music,” roz modified, “this beat isn’t really my style.”

“I always do, this mouth is expensive.” He stated, leaning back casually in his seat at the table.

“Tell me, how is that hovel of yours doing? No one burn it down yet?”

                     the panic sets in quickly, and part of him finds annoyance in that fact. he was ( formerly ) a police officer in new york city, for christ’s sake !! and yet the moment the very large, very imposing man starts discussing the topic of death ( and not just death in itself, but dead parents ) he feels his stomach churning. all the while he’s doing his best to keep that customer service smile on his face, though he finds it to be a daunting task while thoughts of his mother’s last moments race through his head.

                     a soft clear of his throat, and his free hand tugs at the collar of his shirt for a moment. “ i can…check the catalogue and see if we have anything in the shop that has a similar sentiment. ” he places the bundle of roses down on the counter, exchanging them out for the stock binder.

                     “ monkshood symbolizes uh…hatred. ” his words feel sticky in his throat. “ yellow carnations…disdain. lilies are a common funeral flower and uh, orange ones also mean hatred… ”

“I did not realize flowers so talkative,” he said. “I will keep that in mind in the future. I wouldn’t want my dad to actually think I liked him.” Admittedly, he hadn’t thought much of him, barely saw him. Once the memories came back, Lobo lost any sense of loyalty he felt towards his parents. But he still gave them flowers, because they were his family for a moment there. And it was still an awful way to die. 

“We can keep it a bit classy and go with lilies. Though he would really hate orange flowers,” he said. “But so would mom and she was... a lot more endearing.” Admittedly, he had low standards there. He inhaled sharply. Nope. No need to think about how they went and how that would likely be him someday. “So, are all the people who work here as attractive as you, or are you just special?”

“Bold of you to assume I’d make it that easy for you.”

“Why don’t you put your money where your mouth is?”

“Well if you were honest with him from the start, isn’t that all you can do?” Elle shrugged. “Maybe he’s over it, if he’s angry with you that’s his own fault for imagining more to it than what was really there. Love’s way more complicated anyways, maybe he should have guarded himself more.”

     truman snorted in laughter, a grin present on his face, “my hearing is fine man, it’s just selective.”

     “yeah, i’ve gotten pretty good at switching worlds. here for a good time, not a long time and all that,” she sipped at her drink. “what’s his name again? something with a k? kyle? kevin? whatever it is, pretty good party!”

     “nope, sure don’t!” roz laughed, “i just like a good party and a jameson and ginger ale,” she held up the cup in her right and as proof. “i’m not too picky about where i spend my time.”

“All good with a job, but thank you though. Unless you need to hire a videographer for some event or function. Then I’m your person,” they smiled, showing a thumbs-up as well. “But, yeah, sure, fair enough. Is this a…don’t tell anyone, or you’ll kill me sort of thing?”

“Oh really now? I must say, you have quite good taste.” Marina commented, sipping from her tea. “I will never understand how you’re able to indulge in such gigolo antics. Not that I’m judging, mind you. I just…How can you do such things and not feel so deeply? How is it that you’re able to just have fun, feelings be damned?”

“who?” she said, narrowing her eyebrows.  “uh no, not really.  my mother is giving me shit about not taking my painting lessons ‘seriously’ so i’m here for the day to…observe, i guess.”  the man didn’t look particularly fancy, but  that didn’t mean he couldn’t still have money.  “you seem to know a lot about all this stuff.  are you an art dealer or something,” she asked as she gazed up at him. 

      “did you say something?” truman made a show of looking down at lobo, as though he had not even heard the man and had been looking over him, whiskey in hand.