B L A C K C H E R R Y

the empress: do you think you will ever get married?

“I highly doubt it. I’m 31 this year and I barely have any friends let alone anyone closer than that. I’ve done so much damage to my life that it’s gonna take a long time to find anyone who’ll put up with me, and likewise, for me to put up with them.”

the moon: have you ever written a love letter?

2. coffee or tea? 

“I can’t survive the day without my morning coffee.”

4. bitter or sweet?

“I prefer sweet, but I’m not gonna lie I do get a kick out of those super sour-bitter candies you can get. Over all though, sweet for sure.”

9. ice cream or frozen yogurt?

1. cherry or strawberry?

“Strawberries dipped in chocolate. How’s that for a curveball?”

7. warm or cold drinks?

“It depends on the time of year for me. On a cold winter’s day a hot mocha will always win out, but on a hot summer’s day you can’t beat an ice cold sweet tea.”

8. bland or spicy?

“I believe in magic, but I don’t believe in the whole hurling fireballs and hexing people kind of magic. We’ve got superpowered people for the fireballs anyway. Nah, the magic I believe in is pretty mundane. I believe in the silly stuff like finding a twenty stuffed down the back of the sofa, or managing to make it right on time to step onto the bus that just arrived without breaking stride. Even getting through to someone you never thought you could, and seeing something beautiful when everything else is so bleak…  It’s that magic that makes us move and moves us that I think exists.”

Soflia

To put it bluntly, Sofia adores Thalia. Sofia’s surprised even herself in how she’s warmed up to someone so quickly, but Thalia’s probably the first person to have greeted her with such kindness after being used to getting a cold reception for so long. Sofia really likes her, and thinks that her bumbling awkwardness is the most adorable thing she’s ever seen. Shamelessly and something that will never be admitted to Thalia’s face, she has wondered if she’s straight, but she’s enjoying Thalia’s company as a friend above all else right now. There’s also a need there to protect her, because whilst she’s sure that Thalia’s by no means innocent, her personality certainly is and that is something worth protecting.

Cherringale

He was due a visit to the Tilted Tulip. He tried keeping it low key… maybe once every few weeks to make sure it was casual, but regular. Just pay it cool. Talon thought to himself as he entered, the bell ringing announcing his presence to whoever was working. The greeting shortly followed and he smiled, approaching the counter with his hands in his jacket pockets before leaning onto it because again, trying to play it casual.

“Hey. I just need an arrangement. Of flowers… obviously.” He said, clearing his throat and playing with one of the petals of the display bouquet, avoiding eye contact until the last minute. He wasn’t used to the feeling of being on the only side of knowing something other than his own secret. There was no intention of outing her. She was doing what he did, even if he thought there were better ways to conceal one’s identity from where he was standing. Still, when he finally met her eyes, he kept true to his level-headedness. “I think maybe I should invest in one of those punch cards. You know, where I buy ten things or whatever and the eleventh one is free. If you have it… is that even a thing here?”

Cool was slowly creeping away. Clearly he’d spent time around Thalia and her nervous babbling was starting to rub off on him. “Right arrangement. It’s for someone special this weekend and I need an expert opinion. Is there something daffodil-y? She likes daffodils.”

Talon had always amused Sofia, from the very moment he had first walked into the store. She relaxed, the customer service look devoid of any soul making way for a more cunning smirk, “Obviously.” She repeated back to him. Sofia splayed her fingers on the counter, drumming lightly as he approached, “I’m starting to think the same thing, can’t fault a loyal customer, even if he clearly has no idea how to pin someone down.” She teased with a wrinkle of her nose, “We don’t have a loyalty scheme unfortunately. I think you’re the only frequent customer we get. Maybe I can arrange some kind of discount for you for that, though.” She mused, but ultimately that was up to the boss to decide.

Sofia shrugged lightly, “Very of the season daffodils are, representing the break of spring,” She flourished her hand whimsically, “But they’re not exactly exciting on their own. Daffodils grow just about anywhere, for all she’d know you’ve just ripped some up from the park,” She chuckled, moving to step around the counter and into the store itself, “You’d need to pair it with at least one other, maybe some daisies and sunflowers? You’d have a beautiful summery bouquet then.” She suggested, heading over towards the daffodils.

“Tell me more about the lucky lady, I might feel inspired.” She requested, plucking out a few daffodils that would act as the base of the arrangement. She’d build around them until it was perfect and ready to be gifted.

Thalia found herself rooted to the spot as she watched Black Cherry work. Confusion etched clearly on her features as she fought every impulse to correct her, speak out or question what she was doing. But she was not wearing a mask, she wasn’t Nightingale right now. She was just an innocent person in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Black Cherry had saved her. The more that thought repeated in her mind the more confusing it sounded.

She recoiled slightly at Cherry’s question, because deep down the answer was yes she did in fact count her as the type of person to just walk on by. There was a flash of guilt, and something else, dancing clearly in her eyes. Right now Thalia was an open book and there was very little she could do to hide it other than merely hope the Vigilante wouldn’t look too far into it. She was just another innocent victim saved from the rough streets, there were so many of them lately that Thalia was certain there was no doubt going to blend into the crowd.

“Walk me?…I…you don’t have to do that,” The blonde nervously played with the edges of her sleeve, avoiding eye contact with the brunette. She didn’t want to outright say no, such a thing would look odd, but Black Cherry knowing her home address? Running the risk of her somehow knowing she was Nightingale? She was certain if that were the case this ‘nice’ act would vanish very quickly. 

Luckily for Thalia, Cherry chalked up her response more as being in shock than being confused. To be saved by a vigilante in this city was becoming increasingly more common as more hit the streets, but still, not everyone got the chance to meet one. Cherry figured it was the same for Thalia, clueless to the real truth that someone who she saw as a good friend was in fact her greatest nemesis in a mask.

She shook her head, “It’s no trouble, you wouldn’t be impeaching on my time or anything. After all, this is all part of the job,” She smiled, but she tried to smile differently, which was a damn hard feat in itself. Thalia’d been up close to Sofia, and Cherry wore no mask save for the full face of makeup (which, according to some would treat them as two completely different people) but it didn’t exactly take a mastermind to figure it out, “C’mon, I’ll at least walk you to your corner and you can take it from there, how’s that for compromise?”

Not uncommon for people feeling weird about vigilantes knowing where you live, and fair enough if you asked her. She wouldn’t like the idea of Pitch knowing where Sofia lived, it’d be strange. Cherry held up her hands in a mild shrug, “But ultimately, it’s your choice.”

Sofia was going out for a drink. She deserved one after all of this crap, and she couldn’t just stay holed up in her apartment and prayed that the gang would never come for her. If this meant living every day as if it were her last? Then so be it. She donned her nicest high heels, put on a full face of makeup and shrugged on that infamous studded leather jacket with a pair of black jeans over a shapely body suit that left nothing to the imagination. When she grabbed her keys and purse, she caught herself in the mirror.

Even under the makeup, she looked tired.. But she looked fierce. Lips red like wine and eyes smoky as sin, for the first time in the last few months she felt powerful. She pushed out her chest, stood up straight and strutted on out. Sofia could feel all eyes on her before she even got to the club, but where before it had instilled pride and confidence, for the first time ever she felt self conscious. She tried to keep her chin up, bitch face firmly set in place as she swayed her hips and flicked her hair. No one was going to stop her from enjoying herself tonight, not a damn soul.

Sofia was on her own on the shop floor this afternoon, which was exactly the way that she liked it. The manager was working in the back, ordering in next week’s flowers and any other items they might need for preparation. It was a fairly quiet day so far, a few people had come in but of them most just picked up a pre-prepared bouquet or were collecting an order. Sofia was browsing on the laptop that doubled up as the register, reading the news and chewing on pistachio nuts that were set in a bowl next to her, shucking the shell into the trash can just beside her.

Admittedly she was grateful for the quiet. She’d taken a bruise the night before, someone shot her but it had hit the vest just as intended. It meant the panel needed replacing as it was now compromised, and Cherry refused to work without her armour. So waiting for the replacement panel to arrive gave her plenty of time to rest and let the bruise heal.

It was only when the bell rang above the door to indicate someone had arrived, and Sofia quickly finished her mouthful and dusted her hands off on her canvas apron and tightened her ponytail before rising to her feet to greet the customer, wincing only slightly, “Welcome to The Twisted Tulip, how can I help?” The stock greeting, complete with slightly too wide customer service smile.

He sighed in resignation as she explained the whole idea of having a territory to him. When she put it that way, there was really no way to argue against it. “Alright, alright,” he conceded, raising his hand in mock surrender. “So figure out the territory, and then expand later,” he muttered, putting the thought in a mental checklist. He glanced around the area, attempting to process everything going on. “So…” he began. “Is your territory the entire Neon District? Or just like… this area near the club?” he asked, wondering how big of an area he should start with.

At the mention of walking him home, he laughed and shook his head. “I really hope you don’t mean all the way to the door,” he joked. “I feel like that’s a cardinal sin in terms of keeping up a secret identity.” He shrugged and gestured to her. “Lead the way, and I’ll just peel off once I recognize where we are.”

She was glad that he was starting to understand, “Exactly,” She nodded, “Yeah, I try to cover the whole district, but I’ve been working this joint for the last two years. I split it up though, I won’t cover the whole place in one night, so I rotate different subdistricts. Tonight for example, it’s the weekend, clubs are booming, so I stick to the clubs and surrounding alleys where a poor drunkard might get targeted.” She explained, “I just started out in this area though, then I broadened out to the rest of the district.”

Despite the advice, she still wanted to get him somewhere safer Cherry knew he was just kidding from his comments, but it still earned him a sidelong glance before she’d begin to head off. She jumped up onto the fire escape that she had pointed out before and started to climb, “Fair deal.” She agreed, once she had him dropped off in his own neighbourhood then she could get back over here to continue her investigation. Normally she escorted civilians home but, well, she supposed a rookie wouldn’t hurt either.

At the top of the building, she cracked her knuckles and turned to him for when he was able to join her, “How’s your parkour?” She asked, wanting to know exactly what path they’d be taking to get back to the basement.

Thalia had been toying with different ideas and plans to get herself out of the situation. It was dark, they were alone, she could think and act like Nightingale to take him out. No one would know - no one would believe him. There were so many short haired blondes in the city they’d never be able to pinpoint it back to her. What would Nightingale do? She frowned at the question, the stupidity of thinking in the third person, but went through with the thought anyway. She’d find a way to move forward, to disarm him. Yet with the gun and his focus solely trained on her such a daring plan seemed all too daunting.

Flee, Escape, Run; every fibre in her body screamed for one course of action. Flight had most certainly kicked in and the thought of fighting seemed so remote the idea was no longer entertained. It was ridiculous how powerless she felt without the mask to hide behind. How her pulse seemed to race, chest moving too quickly and urging her to do so too, yet her feet were cemented to the ground. 

Her tunnel vision had been so fixated on the man, on the barrel of the gun, that she’d been as oblivious to her heroes entrance as the mugger had been. Her loud and confident voice cutting through the tension as swiftly as her foot came into contact with his knees and head. Thalia had still been reeling from the entrance when he hit the ground and the gun landed at her feet. Wide eyed and mouth agape, she looked from the floor upwards to the hero. To Black Cherry.

“I-I-ah,…you’re-yes-…” She shook her head, a visual contradiction of her stuttered words but her shock was more directed at her than the hold up. “I’m-I’m fine… you’re-you… saved me?” She said dumbly, unconvincing in her attempts to sound fine and unshaken. 

Cherry waited for him to be firmly on the ground before she moved to confiscate the gun from him, taking it apart quickly and tossing the pieces across the alley, “Are you sure?” She asked again, the shock misunderstood simply from the adrenaline of a near mugging. Cherry cuffed the man with cable ties, and pulled out her phone to seemingly alert police of his whereabouts. She took perhaps an unorthodox method in doing so, opting to DM the department from a seemingly anonymous twitter account. It got the job done, and it meant she didn’t have to make any calls.

Once the man was secure she laid him onto his side, then dusted herself off and stood back up again to… Ugh. It was too weird. Cherry never, ever anticipated needing to rescue a friend before, surely that ought to have been something she should have anticipated? Her brows knitted together in slight confusion, “Of course, what, did you just expect me to walk by and ignore it?” She shook her head with a hum of ‘nuh uh’, “Not on my watch, especially not in this neighbourhood.”

She didn’t ask her why she was walking through such a dark alley, nor did she blame Thalia for picking such a route, instead she sighed, “Shame they don’t teach these assholes in school not to pull shit off like this, huh?” She rolled her eyes, feeling infinitely awkward but hoping that it didn’t show… What if she recognised her? The makeup was a good mask, but was it enough? Cherry pressed her tongue against the roof of her mouth before clearing her throat, “Where’re you headed? I can walk you the rest of the way if you’d like?”