#ghostmothe

ben really liked that archer trusted him. he also really didn't mind that archer tended to get really drunk, and then blow up his phone. it was kind of nice to be thought of. and he really likes waking up and knowing he doesn't have to be alone if he doesn't want to. archer's always so sweet, he's always so nice. he doesn't really know how to describe just how thankful he is for the way archer has found a place in his routines. it's hard enough being as exhausted by everything as ben is. it's nice to finally have something that feels a little bit more stable. ben got into his truck pretty immediately when archer said he wanted to go home soon. it was always the way that they worked. archer went out with his friends, got a little too drunk, called ben. and ben would get in his truck, drive downtown, and pick him up. it was nice to have a routine. and considering the amount of drunk texts he received from archer, he'd be worrying all night if he didn't go pick him up. it was nice to know he got home safe. [text: ben ] i'm outside [text: arch] my3 ben is here [text: arch] i will say bye [text: arch] to the devs he didn't mind waiting. it was kind of nice to do something other than either tear himself in half, or stare at the ceiling. [text: ben] take your time [text: arch] no no no baby ben i just hve to find my keys then its ben time my favorite time [text: arch} im so happy you came to oick me up ill see you soon i love you god, he was blushing like an idiot. when archer opened the door, he couldn't help but laugh. "hey, sweetheart !! how was your night ??"

it's time to start a BRAND NEW DAY!

and alice, well, she's already ahead of things. sure, she wakes up late, but she's out the door, she's on the way! it's not as if the store really has hours in the way a traditional store would. it's not even like it exists in a place where just anybody could ever find it! in CARDINAL HILL, something special fizzles within the air, calling, pulling, those with a a need. could it be their heart? a longing? whatever it was, there was a place, a moment, or even a flower to match said intent! and it's part of what alice loves about working at the bird's garden. a girl like her, oh, she could find so many curiosities in a place like that worth chasing!

maybe the boss won't notice as she goes creeping in. shoes toeing over the floors, her blue eyes fluttering from left to right. no! she's safe! exhaling audibly as she swung into motion, shedding the jacket she wore gleefully to reveal the blues, the ribbons, grabbing at her white apron to tie it about her QUICKLY, with just enough time to spare!!! the boss is here - alice, already beaming, bright!

"you've finally made it!" as if it was HIM all along that had been late, how silly, how strange, to think it could ever be her! "i was just thinking about getting to painting~ someone sent in an order last night for tomorrow, they're looking for a few beautiful red roses, and all of ours are white! don't worry~ i already checked. i've just the colour to work with!"

Diego stared at the map in his hands." This makes no sense." He murmurs to himself a bit worried as he turns his attention to their surroundings, glancing around the hallway of what seemed to be infinite rooms.

sunshine had decided to visit one of her favorite coffee shops, a local, queer-owned cafe. she'd discovered it a while ago and liked the cozy vibes, plus the coffee was pretty good too! it quickly became one of her favorite spots in town, grabbing a drink from it at least a couple times a week.

today, she went with one of her regular orders: an iced dirty chai with oatmilk. the staff knew her well-enough at this point that they recognized her when she came in, but she cycled through orders often enough that it was anyone's guess what she'd get. after a few minutes of waiting, she hears her order called from the pickup counter, and makes her way over to grab it.

drink in hand, she turns around to leave the cafe and continue on her way, only to collide with someone standing near the counter. there's a splash of liquid from the impact, and sunshine takes in the fact that the individual has what looks like about half their drink now on the ground. immediately, she panics, quickly grabbing napkins to try and clean the mess up. "oh my god, i am so sorry, babes! i really gotta look where i'm going more often, i can be so one-track minded sometimes!" she rambles, her nerves making her overexplain. "are you okay? did any get on you? please let me replace your drink, i'll pay!"

the first time it may have been an accident. it had to be. they are on the same side of the tennis net, after all, so why would harvey have purposely thwacked the ball at the back of felix's head?

because the parrot-taken-human-form is a little shit, that's why.

this becomes more evident when it happens a second, then a third time, until felix has turned around to yell at them. they're still grinning ear to ear when the other declares they're supposed to be on the same team.

"oh i'm sorry, fe-fe." a little curtsey is given with their tennis skirt tugged out some. "i'll try to aim for the other guys instead." their speech is exaggerated, and they're still smiling broadly.

“  when  will  you  learn?  ”  valentina  hissed  out  as  she  stormed  into  the  mediation  tent  ⸻  pitched  in  the  middle  of  a  neutral  ground  in  some  false  hope  they  would  reach  an  agreement.  she'd  instructed  the  rest  of  her  men  to  retreat  to  the  tree  line  for  now;  but  she  remained,  a  sword  in  hand.  her  gaze  steeled,  unwavering.  of  course,  she  knew  who  she  was  standing  face  to  face  with.  a  legendary  conquer,  one  she'd  seen  her  neighbors  and  then  some  fall  to.  some  by  force,  many  by  sheer  surrender. 

valentina  didn't  know  the  word  surrender.  even  if  it  meant  the  loss  of  her  life.   “  others  may  have  bent  the  knee  to  you  and  your  brutality,  but  you  will  not  have  my  lands.  ”  she  had  loyal  subjects  to  protect,  children  to  keep  safe  ⸻  and  she  took  her  responsibility  very  serious.