m o n e t

"That's fair, I guess." Monet shrugged, eyes focusing on the other for a moment longer than it would've lingered beforehand. "I don't get it, but, I understand the desire to be away from places that don't bring you joy." She refrained from saying 'this place' because even though Kismet Harbor isn't a place that she'd have ever thought she'd come back to with all the pain that this place had caused her years ago. "Having passions are the only reason I've stayed sane through the years." she admitted, lifting the glass and taking a sip. "And alcohol. Big hit." she added, finishing off the contents and placing it on the bar top before she let her eyes meet the other's again. She hadn't expected Tanner to ask her if she still sang, yet, with a small shrug of her shoulders, Monet nodded. "Not as much as I did and it's really only for my own entertainment these days but." she shrugged. "Still something I'm passionate about if that's what you're wondering." @tannerkohli

Omar watched the gears turning in the other's head. He imagined that most, if not all people that stepped into the local flower shop were buying for someone. Omar, on the other hand, had decided to throw a curve ball for the day. "I hadn't even thought of that." Though it was clear that florals were not his strong suit. "Can you give me some different varieties?" Frankly, Omar didn't care what it cost him to spend on the project. "I might use inspiration from both, give them a couple of examples to pick from." @monetrousseau

"I can do whatever you need." she nodded, taking a step to her right, towards a random row of florals of every sort. "This row is some of our more exotic flower types; black dahlias are pretty intricate, would be great to show off any line work." she paused, taking a step towards the middle of that row, head nodding towards another bit of flowers. "I think this Queen Anne's Lace would be really pretty with pretty much anything, I personally love them more than baby's breathe, but I know that's a controversial statement." she shrugged. "And these are probably my favorite flowers; the gloriosa lily. I think they'd make a really cool tattoo if you're looking for a reason to show your color skills off or something." @omarxmorrison

As she closed her laptop, she set it aside so it wouldn't get more flour in it. "Thanks. Maybe we can plan the New York thing in the fall? You know, so we don't have to deal with the sticky, humid weather. I can already smell the trash piled up on the street." Ruby was laughing as she said it. It was one of the only things she wasn't a huge fan of in the city, the summer. The conversation shifted over time, and Felicity Ruby let out a heavy sigh. "It's the same." Heavily as if she just wanted to give up, but she also knew it would do more damage than good. So she gave Felicity space to come to her if she wanted. "I try to connect with her, but it's just hard because she keeps me at arm's length or farther." It hadn't been easy to let Felicity into her life, but she was grateful to have her daughter, too. "And before you say it, I know." Ruby tried to let out a laugh, not a happy one, more in a way to hide how she felt. Felicity wasn't like her in any way, but this was like how Ruby was too with new people. "I just try to give her the space and don't push. Which is all I can do, maybe it will get better over time, but I don't think it will sometimes." Ruby said honestly. It was easy to be honest with Monet, like with Riley. "Enough about me and my problems. Tell me what YOU have going on?" @monetrousseau

"I know I can't say no, and trust me, if he cooks I'm going to enjoy it. Gain about ten pounds in the process but, enjoy it none the less." Monet stated. But, she knew by now that her best friend knew the Monet wasn't going to ask Riley to do anything. Which was likely why Ruby was insisting on doing so, instead. "She's doing okay." Monet nodded. "I'm very thankful that aside from the things that come along with old age specifically, she's doing really well. Still her sassy self, stubborn as hell, but, overall she's doing well." she nodded. Which she were thankful for, honestly. Her grandmother had been her saving grace in both of the hardest times for her life - both Blythe's birth and death - and she along with Ruby's return had been part of the reason Monet had come back to this town. She was just happy to be able to help her grandmother out now in the same way she'd helped Monet. "She'd love to see you. You should come over for dinner the next time that Riley works late." she stated. "We'll make something for her like we used to." she smiled, the memory filling her mind effortlessly as it often did when it contained Ruby.

"Fall is perfect." she nodded. "I'm pretty much always free, just let me know." she shrugged. "Ideally in enough time to let work know, but." she shrugged again, tossing a smile at her friend. Yet, as the conversation shifted back to Felicity, Monet let her eyes shift to her best friend, leaning against the counter as Ruby spoke about how things hadn't really changed much adding in that Felicity seemed to be keeping her at arm's reach. "I wasn't going to comment." Monet shook her head. "It's not my job to comment, but my job to listen." she added, taking a couple steps towards her friend, wrapping Ruby in a hug as if to say she was sorry without saying the words. "Just, follow your heart." Monet stated. "I know how much rekindling a relationship with her means to you, but the unfortunate part of being in our shoes is that we can't force anything; she's just as entitled to her own feelings about it as we are ours and if that's not the same, it sucks." she shrugged. "But you know as well as I do that you're heart's never led you astray, so, listen to it. And if there's ever anything I can do to help you feel better, you know where to find me." A promise she'd always keep, too. Yet, as it was now Monet's turn to speak up about what she'd been doing, she shook her head. "Well, can you believe that Blythe's been gone thirteen years already?" she paused, hating bringing up something so morbid. "I saw her parents for dinner on the night of the anniversary and they seem to be doing alright. They miss her terribly, as I'm sure they do." she shrugged. Monet missed her too, and she'd not been fortunate enough to raise her either. "Aside from that I went to this speed dating event they had here and that was interesting." she shrugged. "Doubt anything will come from it, but, it's something none the less." @rubyelliot

"I feel like the life would be more worth it no?" Monet paused, raising an eyebrow before she shrugged. To a degree she understood it; while her move to New York had entirely been to grieve in peace nor would she have considered that time in her life 'easy', she had loved the work she'd done there. That and the companionship of her best friend had been exactly the reason she'd stayed for so long. Moving back to Kismet Harbor? That had been the healed part of her making the decision and she had to say that for the very first time in a long time she was happy. "I can relate." she nodded. "Not with racing, but, we all have that thing that gives that high." she paused, eyes shifting. "Mine was all the times I performed in both New York and again in Las Vegas, it had made places that I knew would always be a temporary place for me feel more like home." Though as the other stated she'd frame the compliment, cherish it forever and then asked if she actually liked it here, Monet shrugged. "I'm still deciding." she laughed. "This place holds a lot of trauma for me if I'm being honest, but, my best friends are here." she added, leaving out the part is that this was also where her daughter was, even if Blythe wasn't still physically here. "Don't you worry, though, New York is calling my name. I'm taking a trip with my best friend sometime this Fall." @tannerkohli

Omar listened to the woman's word, a quiet huff of laughter passing over his lips as she said she would have liked to say there wasn't a secret flower language. "I knew it." He teased with a flicker of a smile against his lips. Nodding his head, he continued to take in what she was saying. "That's good. I'm not lookin' for roses. Or honestly, flowers for anyone in particular. At least not this trip," his own smile grew at the thought of Sawyer. "I'm a tattoo artist and I've got a client that wants a flower piece for her thigh. She gave me full reign to come up with what I wanted. I just like havin' a reference to go off of and I'm not sure what flowers are all going to mix together. If that makes any sense at all." @monetrousseau

"Oh." Monet replied, listening as the other stated that he wasn't picking up flowers for anyone in particular. Because it certainly didn't sound like he was looking for flowers for himself either. "What-" though she paused as the other stated that he had a client that was looking for a floral piece on their thigh. "Oh that's really cool actually!" she stated, looking at the other. "Do you happen to know what vibe they're wanting?" she paused. "I know you said they gave you full reign but are they wanting dark romantic garden vibes? Or something more sculptural and unusual?" The options really were endless, but, maybe with an idea of what she could create for him, she needed a little more of an idea of what he wanted to do. @omarxmorrison

Monet let her smile widen when she were greeted by the dogs, a non rare occurrence as she was here more often than not and had even house sat for them a few times. "My favorite dog niblings." she commented, letting herself be smothered in kisses by the dogs, pets to their heads as she tried to keep them calm and not jumping on her. Not that she cared, but, she were sure Ruby and Riley were trying to teach them not to. "You know I was trying to compliment you but on second thought definitely theirs." she added, tossing a playful wink in Riley's direction. Teasing him was her favorite pastime. "I'm not sure I'd always recommend surprising her." she admitted. "I don't know if she likes them." Truthfully, Monet had never tried; when they were in New York together she'd always just told Ruby about whatever the plan was before she managed to surprise her. She couldn't keep a secret when it came to that stuff. "But as a professional secret keeper in most things I can appreciate it, and I'll help cover." she stated. Yet as he said they should actually make it for dinner, Monet nodded. "I mean if you want." she shrugged. "Though I told her I was making it for Grandma so if there's no food yet when she gets home, at least we had a few hours of talking the recipe over." Not that she was sure it would take hours of conversation, but, Monet could pretend to play stupid and get all the spice alternatives if she needed to keep RIley's cover. "Though we should probably get started before she gets here and we have nothing done." @rileyjelliot

As the other called New York 'home', she felt herself exhale a little. Partially because she'd at one point called it home too. It had been the city they'd lived in together and the city Monet had found herself in. She missed it, but, Kismet Harbor was home for her now. And as much as it had been hard to come back here herself, she'd found herself at peace with her decision in the end. It was only when Ruby spoke again that Monet realized she'd been in a daze. "I would love that actually." she nodded. "I can request a couple days off at work, or schedule it around my work schedule at the florist, but, I'd love to pay the city that never sleeps a visit." And she would, maybe not for three weeks like her friend was doing, but for a week or a few days she could handle it. "If he doesn't get to it I do know how to cook." Monet laughed. "I can grocery shop for myself; I'll have to feed Gramma a few nights a week anyways, so, I don't want him to go out of his way if he can't get to it." she shrugged. She appreciated the gesture, but, she truly would be okay if she had to fend for herself. She'd done it plenty enough times when the two stopped being roommates. "No, I have my phone." she admitted, pulling it from her back pocket and scanning the internet for recipes, finding some with too many steps before settling on another. "Here. This one feels identical." she added. "I'd rather get my phone messy than your work laptop." she admitted. At the mention of Felicity, Monet offered Ruby a small smile. "That was a nice gesture." Not that she'd expect anything less from her friend, but, she figured she'd let her know regardless. "How are things in that department by the way? I haven't asked in awhile." @rubyelliot

"That's -" she paused, shaking her head. "One way to live I guess." she added with a shrug. She wasn't the type to speaking negatively on someone else's way of living even if it wasn't her way. Everyone was different after all, and if the brunette preferred to travel, Monet wasn't going to say anything. Even if she didn't understand why. She'd for sure become a home body over the last few years. It was only when the other made a big deal about the other's words forming a compliment. She were honest through and through, and if hyping up someone she was a way to express that she'd do it. Even if that person was Tanner Kohli. "Consider this your one and only." she admitted, eyes focusing on the other. "But you're right. I've learned in the year I've been back that no one can stay away." she nodded. @tannerkohli

starter for @monetrousseau

location: belle blossoms

During his time as both a football star and tattoo artist, he had learned a lot of things. He used to read a defense on the field in seconds and talk to reporters without actually saying anything. How to perfect the fine line. But what he had not learned was how to to buy flowers. And that was how he found himself standing in the middle of Belle Blossoms, looking completely out of place. His arms were loosely crossed over his chest as he stared at a display in front of him. Roses were obvious. Lilies felt serious. At the sound of someone else's footsteps, he turned, seeing the woman that worked there. "Is there some sort of secret flower language that everyone knows about except me?" Omar much preferred to have an actual reference for the work he was doing when possible but he was finding it difficult.

The other's voice made Monet smile a little. Not because he both looked and sounded lost in the middle of this flower shop, but because she could tell that whatever brought him out here must have been important. In more cases than not, the men that came out here for flowers or plants were often accompanied by a female who was picking out more things than their cart or the male could hold, but, this was obviously not the case for this man. "I'd like to say no, but, I think to some degree there actually is some sort of flower language." she laughed, shaking her head again. In her own hand was a calla lily, a flower that she'd grown to recommend to a lot of people that wanted something they could just plant and forget about. This one in particular had been mixed with some roses that clearly had been misplaced. "I will just say, as much as I love looking at roses, if you want a bouquet to mean something, stay away from them." she added with a shrug. "Very common for people that want to buy flowers that don't actually mean anything." she paused again. "Are you looking for a premade one or something more custom?" @omarxmorrison

At the mention of her being left in town with Riley for a week, Monet groaned, though she didn't truly mean anything by it. "Ugh you're leaving me alone with a man." she exaggerated the words, knowing as well as Ruby did that not only did Monet adore Riley, she also didn't have a problem with men. At least not the good ones, which Riley Elliot was. It was only when her friend made the joke about her being his second wife that Monet shuttered. "If I get to reap the benefits of his cooking, starting an argument when I need to let out some anger and spend extra time flirting with his wife I'll be your sister wife all day long. Just don't expect me to sleep with him. That's all you." she cackled. "Never in a million years." Monet Rousseau believed in girl code in every sense of the word. As their attention returned back to the recipe, Monet let herself think for a moment. "My memory is shit these days. Too much trauma floating around up here." she admitted, eyes glancing at the card and then searching her pockets for her cell phone which was currently missing in action. "We may have to look it up." she stated. "Because I just know this smudge is the most important ingredient and I can't have us messing something this good up." though she paused at the mention of blueberry lemon poundcake in the freezer. "So when I leave you're going to go seduce your man and you aren't going to ask any questions when I leave, kay?" @rubyelliot

"I can't say I understand that feeling personally but you know, I know enough about siblings to know that they're literally only born to be a pain in the ass. That's why I'm happy I grew up as an only child." As far as she knew she were an only child; she hadn't talked to her parents in many years at this point. Not since she'd been kicked out at seventeen. And despite living with her grandmother she didn't ask about them, even if she did talk to them weekly. "Edgar Allen Poe was my favorite in high school." she admitted, having signed up for a poetry club specifically because she'd loved his work so much. "Annabell Lee still makes me emotional if I think about it for too long." she paused, eyes shifting from the hole she'd been staring in the table towards the other. "As for baking-" a pause. "Whatever I have all the ingredients for." she admitted. "Pastry type things seem to be my specialty though." @berkanxyilmaz

Where: Riley and Ruby's house

When: May 2026

When he wasn't working, Riley liked to keep himself busy. Whether that was working out and staying active or working on a project, one that either he was interested in or that Ruby asked him to do. Today he was tackling on making a fire pit in their bsckyard, and adding some chairs so during the cooler nights they could utilize the space. As he heard the doorbell, he completely forgot he had asked for Monet's help with picking things out, the color scheme and everything. So he had a few samples laying around and went to answer the door, holding said samples in his hand. "Hey!" He replied, both Casper and Lucy coming to greet the visitor, "I sent Ruby out for the day so we can get this finished."

"Lover boy!" Monet smiled, taking a step into the house as her best friend's husband greeted her. "Just the face I wanted to see today." she admitted, smiling as she looked up at him, placing her bag down on a nearby table and kicking off her shoes as if she were home. According to Ruby this was her home. "I'm excited to get this done, does she know?" she questioned, looking up at him. "I wasn't sure if it was a surprise but I didn't want her to think anything suspicious if she asked me to hang out so, I told her that I was coming over at some point today to get you to teach me that chicken spaghetti recipe you made for us the last time I was over, so remind me to get that from you before I leave so I didn't lie." @rileyjelliot

Monet listened to the other explain her work and she nodded. She'd always loved traveling herself, but traveling for work sounded exhausting. "You have more patience than I do. I love traveling." she stated with a pause. "But not having a place to settle but on the rare occasion sounds exhausting." she paused. "Though I'm a little jealous that you look as good as you do with all that traveling you did." she admitted, eyes focusing on the other. A compliment she never thought she'd give, but, at the end of it all Monet was a girl's girl. If that meant giving a compliment to someone that you never thought you would, she'd do it in specific instances. "I'm from here." she stated, matter-of-factly. "Decided it was time to move back." @tannerkohli

"I'd say I'd remember too but honestly my memory isn't good." she shook her head. "I am the kind of person that can be told something and five minutes later completely forgot we talked about it." she shrugged. It wasn't that she didn't care enough to try to remember things, Monet just had a tendency not to remember something unless she could connect it. Like Gabriel with the arc angel. Though she was sure with a face like that she'd remember him regardless. "You know you should sue." she laughed. "Cause you look like a Lucifer." she joked. "Would really give people a run for their money when they see that name on applications, right?" she added, arms folded as she leaned onto the table, something she did when she was relaxed. It was only when the other countered what she'd said with a 'like the painter' that she let her smile widen. "Exactly like the painter." she nodded. "My parents were into art, I guess." Funny enough she'd never asked. Loved her name too much to ever really care where it came from. Though it was what he said next that made her smile even more. "Wow you're good." she added. "Why are you single? I can't imagine that someone with as much whit and charm as you have is single." she shook her head. "Which one of these assholes broke your heart?" That was truly the only logical explanation. @gabrielxpierce

Ruby had placed the card onto the counter as she opened the counter using the swinging shelf that brought up her mixer. Something she told Riley she wanted when they redid their kitchen. "Looks like we need to cream some ingredients together. I can't really tell, over the years the recipe got smudged." Ruby frowned a little before sliding the card over to Monet. "Can you read that, or do we need to go on the internet and find a recipe?" She wasn't opposed to doing so. She did it pretty often when she was baking. "I did that for my blueberry lemon pound cake. Which you never told me how you liked it, by the way." She teased softly. @monetrousseau

At the mention of her watching the house, Monet nodded. "Of course I will." she smiled, nodding a little more enthusiastically. "I'll do anything for some extra love from Lucifer." she winked, watching the dog as the nickname seemed to make her excited. It was only when the cat was mentioned that Monet laughed. "Well, when you guys come back and Wicca prefers me, don't be shocked." she winked, clearly kidding. "I have a way to make other people's animals prefer me." she admitted. As the recipe card was pushed in Monet's direction she let herself pause, taking a glance at it as she squinted. She couldn't read it, but she had a fond memory of when they'd made it before. "I remember putting the wet ingredients together and the dry ingredients together and using frozen butter." she paused. "But I don't remember if we liked that version." she paused. She hadn't even looked to see if that was what the recipe card they had said or if they'd just winged it that day. "Ooh that pound cake was dangerous." she said. "I had to hide the last two slices in the freezer because I swear I gained five pounds eating just what you sent me alone." @rubyelliot

"Ah, siblings." Monet laughed, despite the fact she didn't have any herself. She had plenty of friends that had and her and her best friend were close enough she'd considered her a sister more than a friend anyways. "Looking out for you or being a pain in the ass?" she questioned. Yet as the other gave her a shortened answer, she nodded. She wasn't going to force conversation if he wasn't going to give her more but she certainly wasn't going to sit here and waste her time either. "Oh reading's fun." Granted Monet hadn't read anything in awhile; but the other didn't have to know that. "What do you like to read?" Another question before she replied. "I like baking, singing." she spoke. "I'm kind of into fashion but not making clothes, more on the end of buying them and piecing things together than making them. It's my most expensive hobby." @berkanxyilmaz