Like A Rose

As Daisy got a better look at the woman, she realized where she had seen her before. “Oh, that’s my sister’s name! Rose, Lily, Violet, and me..Daisy! Mama has a thing for flowers, I always wonder what she would have named a boy” She giggled. “And I remember you now, you’re the librarian right? My boyfriend Dhani works in the library, do you know him? I’m in there quite a bit, probably more than I should be. So I’ll apologize in advance if I ever distract him from his work” Daisy rambled on, bouncing a little on the balls of her feet. “Oh! I think we have something with raspberries and a white wine base, how does that sound?”

“What a coincidence!” Rose laughed, “My full name is actually Rosemary, but I think Rose is easier to say,” she shrugged. The redhead nodded, “I think I do, I try to keep to myself for the most part. I’ve been here for more than three months and barely know anyone on this island. And please don’t you worry about that, young love is sweet and you two should flourish in it. Enjoy it while you can,” she smiled at the other woman. “That sounds wonderful actually, I’d love to try it!”

Fawn was happy for the Rose, she deserved the best, she was more like family to them than their actual family had been to them. “ Well, the Island is a great place to try new things, meet exciting people. And you deserve to enjoy and live your life to the fullest.” Fawn needed an escape when they came to the Island but they loved it here so far. “ Maybe we should get match tattoos or something.” They teased. “ Yeah, we can go now.”

“Oh, it definitely is! I haven’t had much luck around here, but it’s definitely helped with my shyness a bit. I keep reminding myself, even the smallest of victories are still victories,” she nodded. “So do you. I think we all deserve happiness. Our own happiness, not one written by others for us to conform to,” she said as she grabbed her purse and began walking by their side.

The first thing that Daisy noted about the other woman was her hair. Aside from Miss Booker and a guard that she usually tried to stay away from, there weren’t that many redheads on the island. So she tended to get excited when she met another, especially one as pretty and sweet looking as this Mistress seemed. So didn’t have that overly sexed, out on he prowl look about her that most who frequented the club did, and that made her all the more interesting in Daisy’s eyes. Her smile turned warm, and she made up her mind then and there to make sure that this nice woman had a good time. “Well, I’ll get you something special then! What kind of drinks do you like? They usually do tend to be a little sweeter around Valentine’s Day, but if that’s not your thing, I’m sure I’ll find something that will suit you. I’m Daisy, by the way!”

@rosemaryisley​​

Rose hadn’t brought out her other side in years, as a mimic she was able to switch between forms and her other form was definitely more fitting for a place like this. However, years of being put down by her ex had her afraid, and she wanted to experience life and excitement with her current form before bringing out the other. She was reserved, and often people didn’t notice her presence, she enjoyed things that way, it was what made working at the library so calming for her. Rose’s eyes met with the others and she smiled in return, “I’m willing to try anything once. I definitely favor wine, red or white doesn’t matter. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Daisy, I’m Rose.”

Fawn wasn’t close with Will, but that did think Rose was one of the best additions to their family in centuries, but anyone with eyes could see she was unappreciated in their marriage.  “ You are a goddess for staying with him for so long. I am happy you are no longer with him as well as being here.” They smiled. They missed their family and it was nice to see a familiar face. “ I’ve always been the family outcast, nothing new there.” They chuckled. “ Would you like to get something to eat? Go catch up?”

The redhead couldn’t help but blush at their compliment, she wasn’t used to them and hearing anything of the sort flustered her. “Thank you. It’s going to take time to move on I know but there’s so much I haven’t done that I can’t wait to do.” Of course, there were moments where Rose missed home, she missed her daughters the most but this was important to her. “Well, now you’re not alone in that. We’ll be family failures together,” she laughed. “That sounds wonderful actually, I’m just about done with my shift if you’re up for that now?”

It was Fawn’s turn to furrow their eyebrows. She had been on the Island for months? Why haven’t they encountered her before?  They might not get out much, but they were always in the library, though they were known to get lost in a story or wear a different face. “ I’m sorry, but did you say divorce? When did that happen?” They were cut off from communication with most of the family, but they that their children would mention something.

Rose hesitated to explain to them what had happened but she was safe here, she was away from all the pain she had endured all those years. “You know Will and I never had anything positive in our relationship. He controlled me for a very long time while he went out and lived his best life. I couldn’t take it anymore, the girls are grown now and I left. I deserve to have a life, to explore my sexual desires and figure out who I am and what I like without him holding me back. It’s been great since. I’m still struggling to get out there but I’m free,” she smiled softly. “No one really took it well and so I came here to get away from it all, so it seems you and I are on the same estranged boat.”

Why didn’t they go to the library on a different face? Why didn’t they just use the entertain to look for gardening tips? So many thoughts ran through their head as they looked up at Rosemary. “ I-I.” They opened their mouth and closed it repeatedly. For a few moments before finally standing up clearing their throat. “ I’m a Professor here? What about you?” They asked confused.

Rose furrowed her brows, she’d been on the island for a while now and hadn’t seen them around before, but perhaps that was her fault for not getting out much. It was hard to break old habits but she was doing her best. “I’ve been a librarian here for a few months now, I...I thought it’d be a good escape after the divorce.”

Daisy brushed out her long red hair as she got ready in the dressing room of Exotic Tastes. She had been considering asking Mister Keith about a new uniform for her. Not that she didn’t love her current one, because she really did and always felt so elegant in it. But a blue or green or black would look so much better with her bright hair! The witch was still satisfied with her appearance though, smiling at her reflection as piled her hair on her head in a cascade of curls. Most clients did prefer the easier access to her neck. After smoothing on some dark red lip gloss and slipping into her black stilettos, she was finally ready.

Stepping into the main room of the club, Daisy’s jade eyes scanned the room before landing on someone sitting alone at the bar. Going over to them, she gave her most winning smile. “How are you tonight? We’re testing some new drinks for Valentine’s Day, can I get you something sweet?”

The more time Rose spent on the island the easier it got for her to get out more. She’d found herself frequenting more crowded places on the island. However, she was still working on bettering her social skills. The redhead would usually sit at the bar alone, observing and enjoying watching the others in the same room as her. It was hard to break the quiet mold of a housewife who was there to please others. She’d been mended into that for so long and breaking out of it was going to take time. Her green eyes took in the other woman’s figure, the girls were so gorgeous around here and how she wished she could be like them. “I’m alright thank you. Sure, I’d be more than happy to be a taste tester, not really doing anything else with my time,” she chuckled.

@rosemaryisley​

Fawn hummed to themselves as they browsed their the Non-Fiction section in the library. They were looking for a book about gardening when they paused hearing a familiar voice. It couldn’t be though, their mind had to be playing tricks on them. They shook it off and grabbed two books off the shelf, until the voiced spoke again but closer.

They spun around, just to put their mind at ease. Almost dropping the books in their hands. No she couldn’t be here? Why was she here. They could feel themselves panicking. They reached down to grab their bag and trying to leave without her noticing when they tripped. “ Son of a bitch.”

Rose enjoyed her time at the library, it was her safe haven. Being so used to the quiet and being alone in the earlier years of her life, it was hard for her to branch out now that she was free from those chains. She had been organizing some of the books, many students and teachers had a habit of placing things where they didn’t belong, when she heard the commotion a few feet away from her. The redhead looked up and squinted, her head falling a bit to the side as she walked closer to them to help, “Steele?” she questioned as she got a good look at their face. “W-what are you doing here?” she questioned as she held out a hand to help them up from where they had fallen.