✿ martina ✿

flower vending machine seen at shinjuku station, tokyo.

WE ARE ALL MADE OF STARS

River was relieved to return to Florida, and Aleka’s Attic; the band got a regular gig at a small punk club called the Hardback. But his Gainesville anonymity was slipping away, due to the Oscars and a article in the local paper. Another Gainesville band, called the Smegmas, decided to torment River by posting copies of one of his early pinups all over town. River was wounded and confused, but instinctively tried to play peacemaker: Aleka’s Attic opened a gig for the Smegmas, and although the show was attended by hundreds of teen fans of River, he made sure the Smegmas got all the money. 

He tried to brush off people who spotted him, insisting that his name was actually Rio. That wasn’t sufficient at one party, when a gang of racist skinheads tried to pick a fight with him. 

River smiled sweetly at his tormentors and told them, “If you want to kick my ass, go ahed. Just explain to me why you’re doing it.” 

After a confused pause, one of the skinheads said, “Ah, you wouldn’t be worth it.”

“We are all worth it, man,” River said with a beatific smile. “We are all worth millions of planets and stars and galaxies and universes.”