Lost In My Mind

Rosewood fashion district at this time of day was not when the casual shoppers would be out and about but the professionals, and as one of them, Marina was running errands and looking for pieces to feature in an upcoming look book she was working on for the fashion house she didn't quite work for anymore now that modeling was the more steady stream of income, but she still dedicated her time to an an unofficial capacity. She'd heard that a pop up shop was happening and figured she'd get in early before anything really good got snatched up but figured she'd perhaps made it there too early as she witnessed Percy frankly talk to his employees like shit and fire them. If he wasn't looking for the truth, Marina was the wrong person to have crossed paths with that morning as she didn't like bullies, "The former, not the latter." She said coolly as she pulled out her phone, looking for alternative shops she could check out as this likely wasn't going to work out.

Percy let out a laugh and ran his hands over his face. "Just come look at this." Percy pulled back the curtain that was shielding much of his work to reveal the mannequins, poorly dressed, a few missing limbs, and a few of his pieces completely torn apart. "I tried not to be a micromanager for one night and they..destroyed everything." He knew it probably wouldn't change her perspective and honestly he couldn't really care about it right now because he had to find a way to put this all back together in under four hours and still find some cashboxes and set up the wifi so he could take card payment. "I can't even actually fire any of them," he added with a shrug and they all knew that so it was probably why he was getting sub par work from people who didn't even take his work seriously. "But I'm sure De La Renta would love your business. Keegan's been working on some really beautiful stuff lately."

Stifler was helping his mom out in running a few errands for her, picking up a dress she had custom made or something while she focused on the club's busy season. Garment bag over his shoulder, he was headed back to his car when a bit of commotion from one of the other stores caught his attention, and out came Percy Finch. Most days he would've been pissed to see Percy, like a bad omen for how the rest of his week would go, but watching him have a melt down outside what he now assumed was his store was hilarious. "Diva down," he called out, grin stretching across his features as he moved closer to the building. "Nah you've always been a bitch, it's not even a new thing. The fuck was that about, somebody fold one of your mesh shirts wrong?"

"Pretty sure you're not allowed to say that, especially during pride month. Kind of feels like a microaggression," Percy said without really thinking about it. The moment he saw Stifler all the sarcasm in his body flooded to his head. "Yeah well you're a bias audience. Glad you remember the mesh shirts though. You really liked wearing those." He rolled his eyes and looked back at the set up. "No, just something I worked weeks on and kind of got destroyed in one fell swoop. We're supposed to open in four hours so," he shrugged it off, figuring Stifler didn't actually give a shit. "So yeah, I am a bit of a bitch right now."

Emory watched in amusement at Percy's diva shenanigans. New York was everything they had ever dreamed of, but it was moments like this when Emory missed the simplicity of home. "Would love a cute summer job." They teased, chuckling brightly. "For the record, it was hideous. It's hard to find good help these days. People just don't know how to fucking listen." Granted, Emory always had high expectations for themselves and those they chose to surround themselves with. They expected excellence and nothing less. A sentiment Percy could agree with. "I don't think you ever stopped being one. There's nothing wrong with being a bitch and having high standards. You want what you put out to be good. It's known for being good. God forbid you allow a slip up and let your reputation be tarnished."

"Good, you're hired." Percy let out a laugh, feeling himself deflate a bit. He was stressed, that much was clear and he didn't take pride in being a bitch but there were moments where it just poured out of him and he couldn't really catch it until looking back. But he had worked all day with this crew and it was like everything he had said had gone right over their heads. Percy put his hands on his chest, feeling like Emory understood where he was coming from. "Thank you for that affirmation because look at this," he pulled the curtain back to show them how the mannequins had been set up with Percy's pieces. It was honestly laughable now and for a moment Percy thought he was being pranked before they told him they were serious. "I mean they look like a four year old put this shit together. This is why I've always ended up doing everything myself."

"As effortless as you make them, yes." Scarlet couldn't help but watch curiously as he got into his bags, as though she'd been let into a sacred part of his creative process. "Yes," she nodded, approving the vision immediately. "Not matchy-matchy but somebody could see us on the street and think they look good together," she joked, a less than serious observation but a very real one all the same. "Um I could be ready in fifteen I think, how about you?"

"Yeah exactly. I mean they'll say that anyway cause look at us but now we might go viral in someone's random ass tik tok," he joked, kissing her cheek and nodding. "Sounds like a plan to me." He put the music up on his phone, changing to something more upbeat as they got ready. He took some time to take some selfies in the mirror, wanting to document the trip as much as he could before he was sliding his sunglasses on as he stood near the door. "I think that was record time for me, getting ready that fast. I must really love you," he said with a dreamy sigh and opened the door. "You have the room key, right?"

"No..." Scarlet fought back a laugh as he put a shower cap over her head, confident without looking in the mirror that she looked ridiculous. "Do you use this?," she asked curiously, grinning spreading across her features, "Is that the secret to these curls?" Kissing him again, she ran her fingers through his hair while he pulled her into the shower with him.

"I mean yeah, when I need to. You think these luscious curls just happen?" Percy laughed as his hands hovered over his bag. "I kind of do color code, so at least I know what is where. And we shouldn't match exactly but we should compliment each other. Similar hues and all of that," he said as he opened the bag and rejoiced when it was the right one he had been hoping for. "It's not always colors, just vibes, you know?" He pointed at what she had picked and then slowly pulled out some pieces from his bag that would compliment. "See what I mean?"

"Excuse me, my mistake," she smirked back at him. All her late nights at the bar meant they were on her schedule now, no nap needed- she just had to not sleep too late tomorrow. Scarlet laid a change of clothes out as Percy poked his head out, her lips pursing in faux consideration while she looked over the outfit she'd picked. When she heard the music start she laughed, abandoning what she was doing in favor of joining him. "Coming!" Once she came around the corner she shielded her eyes, as if there were any part of each other they hadn't seen. With a grin then she dropped her hand, pulling the hair tie off her wrist. "I just can't get my hair wet, not if we want to get in and out of here," she said as she tied it back, leaning in to kiss his lips.

He laughed when he caught sight of her in the mirror and put his hands over chest as if to shield himself. "Well that's why I'm always prepared," he told her and dug into one of his toilettree bags for a shower cap. "Here we are," he told her, kissing her back before he unfolded it and gently placed it on her head. "No fucking around, got it." He kissed her again before he finally stepped into the shower and pulled her with him. "I already love Nashville," he joked, holding her closer under the water. They were as quick as they could be but Percy still found ways to take his time and take in the moment. He was slightly out of breath when they stepped out of the shower and he wrapped her towel around her before wrapping one around his waist.

"Housewives intro?," she suggested with a teasing raise of her brows. "Oh babe you're gonna need another suitcase for that." Knowing Percy though he probably anticipated needing the extra room. She sighed into his touch, hand reaching for his to give a quick squeeze before he let go. "Not just Illinois, I think Rosewood has its own center of gravity, like it'll start pulling us back to it any minute now." They all joked about it but Scarlet didn't have the same animosity towards their city that other people did, maybe because she didn't grow up there, and so it'd never really be her city, quote-on-quote. She liked it though, and all the people it'd brought with it. "And they were pissed to be on that plane," she called back, gathering a change of clothes from her bag. "And I get it. I'd be pissed too."

"You know what? Add that to the list, absolutely. And yeah, maybe, or, or I'll make it fit. Haven't you learned I have magical powers now?" He smirked, appreciating that she saw him and loved him for it. "You're right, we might just wake up and still be there, means we got to make the most of tonight. I'm glad I took a nap on the plane." Percy was not at all eager to get back home, feeling like he was getting even better at being present in the moment. It was easy to do when he was with Scarlet. "Oh absolutely, they were not having it. Snatched out of their cribs to suddenly feel pressure in their ears and suddenly be somewhere totally different. Crazy disorienting. Poor babies." He laughed as he turned on the shower and popped his head out of the bathroom. "You wanna take a quick rinse with me?" He popped back into the bathroom and pulled up some music on his phone. "I'm even setting the mood!"

"Oh but I'm so excited to see what you brought. You're like a doomsday prepper for couture." Scarlet plopped down at the edge of the bed and grinned back at Percy, her one reasonably sized suitcase beside her. Slowly she got back to her feet as he drew back the curtains and joined him by the window. "Good. Do you want something? I think I have dramamine or I can check downstairs." So long as they were together she didn't care what they did, just the fact that he'd planned this trip to begin with was more than enough. She smiled against his lips, "You want to do some touristy shit, maybe walk down Broadway?"

He let out a loud laugh. "Yeah pretty much. That would be a great tagline for a reality tv show," he joked. "Nah I'll take some painkillers and call it a day. A beer later and I'll be solid." Being on solid ground had helped anyway and now that they wouldn't have to be back on a plane for a couple of days he was at ease. "Uh hell yeah I want to do some touristy shit. If I don't leave here with a cowboy hat and some cowboy boots I think we're doing it wrong," he joked, pressing a few kisses to her jaw as he held her. "Can't believe we actually made it out of Illinois," he teased, another kiss before he pulled away to pop open his suitcase to take out a shirt and a pair of shorts to change into. "I thought I might turn to dust if I did again but here we are," he called to her as he went into the bathroom to wash up quickly. "I hope that lady with the two babies on the plane is somewhere enjoying a stiff drink, honestly God bless her. Parents kind of deserve a gold medal for that shit."

Coyote Christmas was the only one she had so it meant a lot that Percy tagged along, even if he didn't have to. And of course it helped how well he got along with her group, even Rhiannon who hadn't threatened his kneecaps yet which was about as good of an endorsement as any from her. He caught her mid-sip and she nodded, unable to respond before he was holding out an envelope for her. "Oh okay, I didn't bring anything over here either," she said as she set her glass down and took the envelope from him, figuring they'd exchange gifts in private some other time. Whenever they spoke of the future the assumption came naturally, that they'd be together. It was easy to imagine. "Percy..." Plane tickets in hand, she fought back an almost giddy smile as she looked back up at him. "This is really nice. Thank you. And this is probably when I should tell you I did plan an international trip without you, and we leave tomorrow so...," she trailed off, corner of her mouth quirking up in a way that showed she was joking.

"Oh yeah? You packed my bags and everything?" He laughed, feeling comforted by how excited she seemed. He wanted to show her how much he supported her in the pursuit of her dreams and he hoped the trip would provide inspiration. And he was sure he'd find some along the way too. "I'm not entirely sure you're ready to see me in a pair of cowboy boots and hat so you know, prepare yourself," he teased before leaning in for a kiss. "I have to say, I've really liked being here with you all. Probably one of the best Christmases I've ever had. How you feeling?"

"When does object permanence start? She might think every gift's her favorite, and also her first," she joked back, smiling over her shoulder as turned to face Percy. "It's gorgeous, wherever they found it." Scarlet obviously loved Christmas, and she felt so lucky to share it with her found Coyote family and now Percy, for the second time. "A little bit, yeah. I didn't want to mess too much of it up. Whenever Rhi does one, and she's really good at it, I swear I feel her phantom hand swatting me away."

"Yeah I definitely got some swats but it was so worth it." Percy was grateful that he was able to join the Coyotes for another holiday, especially after the morning with his parents. He would catch up with the guys later but for now, things felt just right. "You feeling all the joy and love of the day?" He set his glass down and reached into his jacket pocket to pull out a small envelope. "I wanted to wait til it was just the two of us to give you this," he told her and handed it to her. "I also have a few more presents back at the apartment but I've been waiting to give this to you since I got it," he admitted. "I figure if we're lucky we have plenty of trips ahead of us but I wasn't going to plan an international one without you so," he explained as she opened up the envelope that would reveal two plane tickets to Nashville. "They say it's the songwriting capital of the world and I mean you're the best songwriter I know so only seems right for us to visit, right?"

"Oh yeah that's professional as fuck. Unprofesh would be hitting one of these-," she flipped both her middle fingers up. "Overworked for sure, you don't really mean that. So how are we killing brain cells now that you're free, you know I always say I'll try anything once."

"Believe me, it almost made the cut but I actually want to keep this job for now so I have to keep it cute," she told her with a loud sigh. At least until she finished her master's program. "Well let's see, first we're going to the dispensary because they're having holiday sales and you know I have that crush on the budtender who works Fridays, after that well we'll see where the wind takes us, my friend. And hope it takes us to somewhere that involves free drinks and a beautiful woman feeding me french fries. Or is that too specific?"