ofprophecies

[ofprophecies]

leah was beautiful and their presence was warm, and daisy often compared leah to a spring day — the shyness of the new blooms as they peeked out after months of winter, the soft breeze that wrapped around your heart like a hug, and the promise of new beginnings. she couldn't help but be completely in awe of leah and she was certain it was evident in the way her cheeks turned red and how she constantly smiled around leah. "i love surprises," she mused, "that's one of the reasons i love when you stop by." that was definitely too much and she wanted to place a hand over her mouth so she wouldn't say anything else so embarrassing. daisy's eyes lit up and a shy grin danced across her lips — no one had ever brought her flowers. it was such a romantic gesture, one that she'd always hoped for and she'd be lying if she said she hadn't wandered into the bloom box before, silently putting together her dream bouquet. but, before she got ahead of herself, daisy had to remember that leah saw her as a friend. flowers could be a friendly gesture, too, could they not? either way, daisy knew she'd cherish them and either way, daisy's heart was racing at the thought. at the sound of their question, daisy held out her hand — wiggling her fingers as she showed off her bright pink manicured nails. she giggled, leaning closer as if she was spilling something top secret, "i'm a sucker for bright colors. they always brighten my mood."

They used the moment Daisy was gone to take a breath and settle the butterflies metaphorically flitting around and making them nervous, afterwards quickly composing themself with the woman's return and taking the offered water. "Thank you." Leah took a sip of the drink before setting it down on the little table beside her, listening intently until she felt the other's touch and completely blanking on whatever intelligent thing she had planned to reply with. "I, uh... Yeah, that's good to hear," they stumbled slightly while resisting the urge to just turn their palm and hold Daisy's hand. But sadly it was a fleeting moment, and she reminded herself not to be so obvious about how flustered the masseuse made her. "Surprises can definitely be welcome." Like the one just now. "I've been doing okay though, thanks for asking. Working, mostly... I think I told you before that I work at The Bloom Box? I can get you any kind of flowers you'd like." Was that too forward? It could've simply been a friendly offer. She didn't want it to be, though; Leah just wanted to give her flowers, damnit. "I'm sure your work space would look pretty with them," they tried to rationalize. "Do you like bright colors, or something more classical?"

[ofprophecies]

“em, you weren’t —,” but daisy’s words are cut off by emmanuella’s, and she couldn’t help but smile, giving her friend a fond look. confusion swiftly transformed into pure happiness. it’d felt like forever since she’d gotten to see em — em, who made her heart swell, made her feel like she was walking on a cloud, and who always comforted her. and if daisy had seen her name on her schedule, she would’ve at least tried to look cute — instead, her loose waves were tied up in an unintentionally messy updo and she was certain the long day had made her makeup melt off of her face. "am i really that good of a masseuse?" she asked, giving the other a playful smirk, batting her lashes as she did so, "or do you just love me?"

she stepped forward, hand brushing over em's, not to take the money, no. to ground her. daisy knew when something was off with em and she desperately wanted to help. her hands met em's cheeks with tenderness, cupping her face as their eyes met. "don't you dare move back to new york," she shook her head, a small smile pulling on her lips. "tell me," a whisper, "what's going on?"

who :   @ofprophecies ,  daisy.  where  :   red  rock spa.

“shut  up ,  i  booked  your  five  o’clock.”  em  is  barely  three  steps  into  the  room  before  the  door  slams  shut  behind  her.  fingertips  digging  into  the  back  pocket  of  her  jeans ,  fishing  out  a  small  handful  of  cash.  okay ,  it  wasn't  exactly  small.  enough  to  cover  the  full  high  end  service  and  a  generous  tip.  enough ,  she  hopes ,  to  keep  daisy  from  feeling  cheated  out  of  a  real  new  client.  one  who  might  want  to  graciously  spoil  her  favorite  masseuse ,  rather  than  hijack  her  schedule  out  of  desperation.

this  isn’t  normal.  not  for  em.  she  doesn’t  barge  in.  doesn’t  detour  from  work  like  this.  doesn’t  pull  stunts  just  to  steal  an  hour  of  someone’s  time.  but  ...  desperate  times.  daisy  has  become  something  close  to  a  safe  haven.  and  em  is  fraying  at  the  edges.  “don’t  say  a  word.  i  know ,  okay?  i  know…”  the  words  fall  out  in  a  rush ,  ending  in  a  sigh.  exhausted.  the  kind  pulled  from  somewhere  bone  deep.  “but  our  schedules  have  been  insane  this  past  month  and  a  half.  and  if  i  didn’t  get  to  see  you  soon ,  i  was  packing  my  shit  and  moving  back  to  new  york.”

[ofprophecies]

“but, darien,” cruz whined dramatically, though the corners of his lips betrayed him by curving into a smile. maybe puppy dog eyes would work instead? so, his eyes softened — a forced pout tugging on his lips. he’d royally screwed up by borrowing a nice white button up from a friend and deciding to eat pizza in it. cruz should’ve known better, he was a notoriously messy eater. the only person who could save him now was the blonde in front of him who was standing her ground. “you’re my last hope, darrien,” he all but pleaded, “if you do this for me, i’ll bring you free bouquets from the bloom box every week for a month.” he raised a brow, flashing her a grin, “what do ‘ya say?”

" LOOK — I KNOW 'S AN OFFERED SERVICE , , , but you don't want it , " darien insists , reapplying her lipgloss in the reflection of the pocket mirror balanced atop her palm , speech muddled from the application . after careful inspection , and a nod of approval , she closes the mirror shut with a SNAP . ren turns her head , a wild head of bleach-blonde curls bobbing from the pathetic bun she had put it in . a slit brow quirks , sticky pillows rubbing together to spread the glossy product as she seems to size them — and their request — up .

" i got it on the sign for looks — i don't know shit about dry cleanin' . last one i tried was so starched it didn't move a lick . trust me , doll , i'm doin' you a FAVOR by sayin' no . "

an 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫 for 𝘋𝘈𝘙𝘐𝘌𝘕 𝘋𝘈𝘈𝘙𝘓𝘔𝘖𝘕 set at her laundromat . 3 / 5 replies !!

[ofprophecies]

it was becoming increasingly obvious that cruz barrera didn't belong in a library; he was a disruption if there ever was one. but, he was determined to complete his mission, even if it meant he'd have to embarrass himself in front of a certain dimpled brunette. cruz gasped, placing a hand over his heart in mock offense. "you've hurt me, leo. you don't think i can keep a secret?" the corner of his lips broke into a smile, ruining the act he was trying to put on. "well, i can keep a secret, thank you very much," a wink, "for you, at least." he noticed leo's eyes briefly darting away from him, and his own cheeks grew warm. he shouldn't be feeling so dizzy and hot in the cool air conditioning of the library. was he growing sick? cruz bit back a giggle as leo surveyed his injury, his nose scrunching in endearment as the other rolled his eyes. "i fear i'm wounded for life, leo. unless you can find some magical cure for me?" he swiftly adjusted his expression back to that of puppy dog eyes and a pout. breath hitched as leo stepped closer — even if only by a few inches — and his eyes slowly swept up to leo's. "whatever will i do?" a dramatic, playful whine. "javelin and discus, huh? what do you take me for? some kind of ancient greek olympian?" he raised a brow, another laugh escaping his lungs before he pressed one of the books that had fallen to the floor against his lips to stifle the noise. cruz was relieved ( and excited ) that leo agreed to help him, it meant more time with the one who cruz simply couldn't get enough of. a faint blush bloomed on cruz's cheeks. "well," he started, rubbing the back of his neck as he tried to remember the name of the book he was searching for, "one of my favorite clients, edith, has been talking about her favorite book for ages and i figured i should give it a read. but, i have no idea how to find a darn thing in the library. how does one even know where to begin?"

leo had always been one to HATE attention, hate curious eyes watching his every awkward move. he could feel the librarian’s retinas burning holes into his profile, even if they weren’t aimed for him specifically. something about this exact situation should’ve been leo’s personal hell. but then cruz laughed, big and unabashed, and to be seen doesn’t seem like the worst thing in the world, if only for a moment. ❝ will it? i don’t know, cruz. something tells me keeping secret isn’t quite in your lexicon. ❞ leo’s eyes followed cruz’s hands, lingering, then darted away. for as much as he quite enjoyed the other’s company and felt endeared by his cheery disposition, leo hated the way his mind wandered - moreso than usual! his gaze flits back, zeroing in on the phantom injury, and his eyes rolled before he could school his expression into something not so dopey. ❝ you poor thing, ❞ he mused, ❝ what’ll become of you now? ❞ will against want, leo’s hands stayed tucked in his bubble - though he did allow himself a short step closer, pretending to observe the injury that wasn’t there. ❝ your javelin career may be OVER, sorry to say. discus will miss you, too. ❞ the request set off bells in leo’s mind. he ought to say no and return to his element, quiet and lonely and unexposed. he should direct cruz to the librarian in question, tell him to play nice before he drags leo’s reputation down in the process too. ❝ yeah, okay, ❞ he answered instead, at the mercy of something he couldn’t ( wouldn’t ) put a name to right now. ❝ what can i do for you? ❞ wait. ❝ i mean. you know, how can i help? ❞

[ofprophecies]

it was ridiculous to think that he could walk through magnolia and not run into cezanne. or perhaps khalil assumed so much time had passed that cezanne wouldn’t recognize them. but how could two people who were so in love ever not realize they were in each other's presence — even after so many years. there were days she arrived uninvited, like a ghost, memories of cezanne waltzed through khalil's mind. he'd see the curve of her smile in a stranger's or smell her perfume when the wind blew. other days, they sought her out — flipping through pictures of them together, holding keepsakes from their relationship in their hands — the ticket stubs of the first concert they saw together, a letter she'd written him. she was intertwined in khalil's every moment and try as they might to forget her, it never worked. and when she stood before him, her mouth agape, khalil panicked — it'd been a mistake to move to magnolia, cezanne was likely horrified that he was there. and he desperately wanted to run. but his feet stayed firmly planted on the ground beneath them.

tears stung khalil's eyes, they couldn't believe she was in front of them. if khalil had been asked nine years ago where he thought he'd be at thirty-three, he would've confidently answered that he'd be married happily to cezanne, living his life to bring her joy. but that was a silly dream. he'd been naive and lovestruck, so much so that he never saw their end coming. when her eyes met his, khalil remembered how he used to swim in hers. khalil's breath hitched in their throat and they nodded, "i'm really here." he pressed his lips together, blinking back any tears, "and...you're here." a stupid observation on his part.

all those years had been spent chasing cezanne in his dreams and in his memories — and now, she was within reach. but khalil couldn't touch her. he couldn't run his fingers through her hair the way he once had, he couldn't hold her hand in his. no, those days had come and passed. the universe hadn't been kind to them, that day cezanne had to leave. fate had left its cruel mark on khalil's heart, but oh how he dreamed of cezanne healing it. there hadn't been a day that passed where he hadn't thought of her.

khalil noticed the tears in cezanne's eyes, reminiscent of the ones that had fallen down her cheeks the day she'd left. and their heart nearly shattered. khalil hadn't wanted to upset cezanne and he was close to apologizing for being there, to telling her he'd leave magnolia immediately — but then, her hand took his. and his heart pounded rapidly in his chest. it was the passionate return of something that had never truly left — the same way the tide reaches the shore. he squeezed her hand gently, taking a cautious step closer to her. "i...i accepted a job here," khalil explained, "i wasn't sure if i'd see you, or if you'd moved somewhere else." what he really wanted to say was 'i'm so happy to see you' and what he really wanted to do was wrap her in a hug but he had to fight those urges.

she   didn't   know   what   she   was   expecting.   actually,   scratch   that,   yes   she   did.   she   had   been   expecting   literally   anybody   else.   she   had   been   so   positive   that   her   brain   was   simply   playing   tricks   on   her;   that   the   person   she   had   seen   walking   by   the   window   was   only   a   lookalike   that   had   been   a   coincidence   because   he   was   on   her   mind.   running   after   him   was   a   ridiculous   thing   to   do,   she   had   been   sure   of   it,   and   the   stranger   would   likely   look   at   her   like   she   was   nuts.   only…that's   not   what   happened.   said   stranger   turned   around   to   reveal   that   he   was,   in   fact,   not   a   stranger   at   all.   the   shock   was   surely   evident   on   her   face,   stepping   back   not   out   of   fear   or   disgust   but   rather   pure   disbelief.   how   could   he   be   here?   in   magnolia?   had   she   manifested   him   somehow?

“if   i'm   dreaming   again,   i'm   going   to   be   so   pissed,”   she   huffed,   but   she   could   tell   that   it   wasn't   a   dream.   they   weren't   in   some   fictional   happily   ever   after   that   her   mind   had   created,   nor   were   they   in   a   memory   from   her   time   with   him   in   los   angeles.   her   dreams   never   brought   khalil   to   magnolia,   because   why   would   they?   she   couldn't   dream   of   him   in   a   place   she   didn't   believe   he   would   ever   come   to   in   a   million   years,   so   this   must   have   been   reality.   “you're   really   here?”   she   questioned,   eyes   looking   up   and   locking   onto   his   as   she   stepped   back   toward   him.   what   was   she   to   say,   to   think,   to   do?   he   was   right   in   front   of   her,   and   suddenly   all   of   the   things   she   had   said   over   and   over   again   in   her   mind   throughout   the   years   just   flew   out   of   the   window.   words   were   lost   on   her   as   she   tried   to   accept   what   she   was   experiencing   as   the   truth.

and   thank   god   she   was   alone   out   there   with   him   on   the   sidewalk.   what   if   she'd   been   with   her   parents?   what   an   excruciating   moment   that   would   have   been   for   the   both   of   them.   they'd   never   been   especially   fond   of   khalil,   hence   why   they   had   all   but   forced   her   to   move   back   home.   they   had   only   met   him   one   single   time   and   had   based   their   entire   opinion   of   him   off   of   that   meeting.   she   was   barely   an   adult   when   she'd   left   him,   but   it   was   the   one   true   regret   she   had   ever   held   in   her   life.   now   here   he   was,   in   the   flesh,   in   her   hometown   and   saying   her   name   like   he'd   never   even   forgotten   it   (and   she   doubted   that   he   ever   had).

she   sighed   as   she   stepped   even   closer,   eyes   misty   and   wet   as   she   dared   to   reach   out   and   take   his   hand.   further   proof   that   she   wasn't   hallucinating   him.   “khalil,”   she   whispered   back,   like   a   prayer   she   was   too   afraid   to   actually   ask   god   for.   her   parents   might   as   well   have   etched   “thou   shalt   not   love”   into   the   commandments   the   second   they   stole   her   back   from   him.   “…what   are   you   doing   here?”

[ofprophecies]

daisy watched as her younger sister fought with the charming old car in fond amusement. with a hand on her hip, she giggled, "fine, fine. if you don't want your older sister's help then i'll just watch you work your magic — no matter how long it takes." daisy had always admired adley's determination and grit. adley was a plucky little thing, while daisy was quite the opposite. and while the two sisters were very different from one another, they were spun from the same golden thread — two flames that shared one soul. once adley had victoriously slammed the car door shut, daisy couldn't help but cheer for her, bright laughter filling the warm desert air.

"i don't have the patience like you," she hummed, tossing her curls over her shoulder. "i don't understand how you're not stricken with stress over that old thing," a chuckle as she glanced at the car and then back at her sister, "not that it isn't...an endearing old car." daisy was beyond thrilled adley had shown up. she knew her sister needed some relaxation, but wouldn't treat herself to it unless daisy begged. as they linked arms, daisy looked over at her with a bright smile, "you need to take time to pamper yourself, adley. if not, that fancy french chicken will turn out burnt and your whole kitchen will be up in flames." an exaggeration, sure, but she had to convince adley it was beneficial to come to the spa every so often. "and what is wrong with my frozen meals?" a hand over her heart as she feigned offense. daisy gently squeezed her younger sister's arm and grinned, "you're too good to me." the cool air of the spa wrapped around them as soon as they stepped inside. "how does a manicure and pedicure sound?" she raised a brow, "i won't make you go all out today, i pinky promise."

location: outside of red rock spa featuring: @ofprophecies ( daisy !)

"No - No, Dais, I'm fine, you just need to - shit, you just need to fucking - yank it open!" Adley messed with her old heap of a car's passenger door. She insisted on doing it herself, as she finally got out of her old car, the car she had got and had fixed up herself - refusing to pay anymore than eight hundred bucks for the old 1970's car, but it got the job done. Adley emerged from the car and sighed, rolling her head back when she saw Daisy, her best friend, her other half, her big sister who she adored, but would never openly say it.

"Makes life more interesting, doesn't it, when you fix with your car? I really cannot believe you convinced me to come and have a spa day with you at work, especially when I have dinner prep tonight and I'm making fancy french chicken. I brought some, by the way - you're not eating a fucking frozen meal for lunch here." Adley nodded, linking arms with her sister before going inside.

[ofprophecies]

khalil was admittedly eager to explore magnolia. but it was a bit of a culture shock, moving from a large city to such a small town. and for some reason, they found that getting lost in the crowd in los angeles wasn't quite as overwhelming as walking the quieter streets of magnolia. as he rounded the corner, khalil was drawn towards the lights of evergreen gallery and they decided some inspiration was just what they needed to get motivated for his next article. the hush of the gallery brought him a sense of serenity as he moved from piece to piece, admiring the work of others. lost in the artwork, they hadn't realized they were obstructing another's view.

shaken from his thoughts, khalil turned towards the voice with a small smile on his face. "i wouldn't make for a very good muse," they laughed dryly, taking a step to the side. curiosity getting the better of him, khalil tilted his head to the side. "are you an artist?" khalil questioned, hands in his pockets, "is any of your work on display here?"

status: 0/5, open! location: evergreen gallery when: friday night

julius often found himself drawn to the local museum. hell, he even had a yearly membership just for the free admission and gallery talks from the artists. maybe it was because he'd always wanted to try his hand at painting despite the stubborn fear of failure always keeping him from actually doing so. it was nice to see the works of people who dared to try. dared to be judged by pointing fingers and tilted heads. today in particular, julius brought his hardly-used pocket sketchbook and was trying to get the silhouette of a sculpture when another form blocked his view.

"i can draw you if you want," he started without looking up as a way to politely get their attention so they could move, "but it'll cost you a dollar."

[ofprophecies]

daisy didn’t often treat herself to a shopping day, but fifi had easily persuaded daisy to accompany her. she might’ve gotten a little too carried away as she’d brought nearly half of the store with her into the fitting rooms. but, she’d hated everything she’d tried on — until she slipped into a little pink mini dress. as she stared in the mirror, she took a deep sigh. perhaps this one was good enough to model for fifi — and if fifi liked it, daisy would consider buying it. she squealed in surprise when her eyes met fifi’s before letting a giggle slip through her lips. a blush bloomed across her fair cheeks and she twirled, “do you really think so?” a smile pulled on her lips and she raised a brow, “i don’t have anything like this in my closet — should i get it?”

who: open ( assumed connections are fine! they could be shopping together, bump into each other, anything ) where: a clothing store in magnolia

THE BLONDE HELD A BUNDLE OF CLOTHES IN HER ARMS, maneuvering her way towards the fitting rooms to try on the items she selected. she approached one of the stalls, reaching a hand towards the handle when the door suddenly opened. fifi jumped, startled by the sudden movement, but couldn’t help look the person inside up and down. “wow! that looks gorgeous on you!”

[ofprophecies]

there was a hush that wrapped around daisy like a hug every time she set foot in the guiding stars and the air smelled of relaxing incense — it was a calm haven if she’d ever experienced one. as a child, she’d loved running through the crowds on the french quarter to listen to tarot readings being done, mouth agape as if she were mystified. walking into the guiding stars elicited that childlike wonder in her again, so she kept coming back — not to get her cards read, no she was too terrified for that, but to listen and sneak a peek if she could. as she padded across the room, letting her fingers linger on trinkets and crystals, she nearly bumped into another. her eyes lit up, turning towards where the sound was coming from — in a not so discreet fashion. “perhaps i should offer to buy them a coffee — or lunch. that sounds tragic,” daisy sighed, a pout falling on her lips. “i’ll admit, i’m a little too afraid to get a reading done,” she giggled, her eyes finding his. “and you? have you ever gotten one?”

For: Anyone and Everyone Location: Guiding Stars

there's usually something relaxing about coming to the guiding stars. it was likely on purpose, but it was not often a place was as successful as the shop was for mason. just the first breath in had him feeling less uptight (which wasn't all that much to begin with) and more at ease. his tattooed fingers were more likely to pick up a random book, tap around the crystals or the tarot cards, just...puruse.

usually being the operative word. there was a bit of a commotion from someone getting a reading. based on the sounds of it, it was not going well for them.

"you think it's really that bad?" mason whispered to another person in the shop, nodding his head back towards the source of the noise. were those tears? or was it another noise being washed out by something else? "-hope you're not here for one of those and get something like that. sounds like their whole day is going to be ruined, huh?"

[ofprophecies]

Taylor Zakhar Perez | Lacoste Womenswear Fall/Winter 2025-2026 Show in Paris, France | March 09, 2025

[ofprophecies]

something about leah brought daisy a peace she wasn’t used to — and she craved it. at the same time, they made daisy’s heart beat to a rhythm she was unfamiliar with. it was a dizzying sensation, to find such serenity and excitement just standing in their presence, and daisy was certain she looked a fool trying to compose herself. if red rocks being the best spa in town was the reason leah kept coming back, then daisy would have to ensure each visit outshone the last. her ruby lips curled into a bright smile. “your wish is my command,” she said, spinning gracefully on her heels. she walked to the nearby glass container, the chilled scent of cucumber filling the air as she poured the water. ice clinked gently as she made her way back. “here you are, my dear,” she hummed, handing the glass to them with care. “oh, i’ve certainly been kept on my toes,” added with a light laugh, tossing her curls over her shoulder. it amazed her how many people traveled all the way from phoenix to magnolia in search of a little peace. for a brief moment, her thoughts wandered to her mother — wishing she’d make the journey too, though knowing how unlikely that was. “i’ve met some lovely visitors,” she went on, giggling softly. “but i think i’m the one who ends the day needing a massage.” she stepped a little closer, letting her gaze rest on leah before speaking again, tilting her head to the side. “and you? how have you been?” reaching forward, daisy brushed her fingers against leah’s hand, a soft shake of her head following. “don’t worry — we don’t mind at all.” a blush bloomed across her nose as she pulled her hand back. “i actually love walk-ins,” she added with a warm smile, “there’s something special about spontaneity — the surprise of it all.” and leah — leah was always the best kind of surprise.

Leah casually looked up from her phone, unable to help a return smile and wave as she set the cell down in her lap to give the other her full attention. As always, they found Daisy's energy to be warm, welcoming, and her words caused a little summersault in their stomach; she noticed Leah's absence? Play it cool! she reminded herself. "I couldn't stay away too long," she shrugged. "You guys are the best spa in town." Right, that was the reason. "But I'd love some cucumber water if it's not too much trouble..?" Saying she didn't need anything would mean Daisy had no reason to stick around, so of course she asked for something small. "How are you though? Are things getting busier since it's starting to get hotter in the city?" Many people tended to flee Phoenix once they started to near the hundreds, choosing waterfalls and fresh air over acres of heat-absorbing asphalt. "Sorry for not making an appointment, by the way. I hope you guys don't mind me being a walk-in."

[ofprophecies]

sure, cruz had expected to find leo here — though he’d assumed he’d have to go hunting for him. but, the fates had decided otherwise and now cruz was navigating through what, to anyone else, would seem like a perfectly ordinary encounter — but a quiet hum of electricity ran through cruz’s veins, which was not an entirely ordinary feeling at all. amusement lit up his features as he listened to leo mumble — there was something so endearing about it. and then their eyes met and cruz’s heart skipped a beat. “that’s what reading gets a man, huh? the mouth of a sailor?” a brow quirked as his grin grew wider. a boisterous laugh slipped into the space between them and he was quick to cover his mouth with a hand. “well,” he hummed after composing himself — as much as cruz barrera could — “i won’t tell your mother about your colorful lexicon. it’ll be our secret.” he winked before standing up, smoothing out his shirt. “oh wait,” mischief danced in cruz’s eyes as he suddenly grabbed his upper arm — feigning an injury, “it seems my arm got hit in the avalanche of books.” with a pitiful look in his eyes, he bit back a smile that ultimately broke when he saw the traces of a smirk on leo’s lips. “and i’m sure you won’t see me here again…that librarian over at the circulation desk doesn’t seek fond of me. i’m sure i’ll be banned, so enjoy it while you can,” cruz chuckled, glancing to see if he’d earned another scornful look from her. “but, do you think you could help me? — if you’re not too busy, of course.”

it’s a blessing and a curse, to round the bookshelf and see a familiar face. on one hand, leo could be mostly assured he wasn’t in for a FIERCE reprimand. on the other hand, he still felt just as DEFENSELESS, what with warm, big brown eyes and a sunny charisma leo himself simply did not understand. ❝ that’s what reading gets a man — the right words for behaving wholly wrong in public, ❞ he grumbled, newly nervous now as he made a tidy pile of books beside himself and willed himself to meet cruz’s eyes. STUCK, down low with a palm on top of some stranger’s autobiography for balance, and cruz smiling at him like they’re both in on a little SECRET. leo’s brain short-circuits, and he’s only brought out of the reverie by the soft tap to his crown. ❝ she’d have a conniption and choke on her tongue, i think, ❞ he answered, limply but earnestly. cruz’s question threw leo’s brain through a loop — he ducked his head then and busied his hands with scooping up his pile, taking a steadying step back as he stood again. ❝ well — you didn’t, so we’ll never know. ❞ SMOOTH... it was then that leo took stock of where they were, and who they were. he couldn’t help the smirk that played at the edge of his lips. ❝ say: i don’t think i’ve seen you in my neck of the woods here before. ❞ it wasn’t a question, but his gaze was inquisitive.

[ofprophecies]

tommy had become cruz’s home away from home — though, tommy was much warmer than denver was — in temperature and in the demeanor of his family members. cruz’s parents were disappointed in him. and he couldn’t blame them, he hadn’t amounted to much. but, tommy took him in, made him feel important, and watched out for him. they looked out for one another. the last month had been tough on tommy and cruz would do anything to heal his friend’s heart. starting with ensuring that tommy was taking walks daily and getting out of the library — he didn’t want tommy holing himself up and spiraling.

“i had a bagel this morning, not cornflakes, thank you very much,” cruz hummed, running a hand through his hair as the sun beamed down on them. “that’s a wonderful idea, tommy. perhaps you could contact someone and vouch for me?” he glanced over at tommy, batting his lashes as a grin curved on his lips. “then maybe my parents would finally be proud of me,” a playful huff of breath as he kicked at a rock on the ground. “tell me, dear tommy, were you listening to a word i said?” cruz nudged his friend, a brow raised. “do i need to quiz you? because i will,” he threatened, a finger raised — feigning disappointment, though soon, a booming laugh fell from his lips.

who: tommy & cruz ( @ofprophecies ) where: downtown

as tommy and cruz walked, he wasn't sure that he had, had a word come from his mouth in at least the last fifteen minutes. and whilst tommy always appreciated spending time with his dearest friend, he also was struggling to keep track of whatever it was that cruz was talking about. he couldn't help but feel a little bad about it. cruz was someone so important to tommy. he was one of the few people in magnolia who he truly knew had his back. when he left julius, he felt a little like he was never going to be happy again. and whilst things weren't easy, they were a little brighter whenever his friend was around.

as cruz finally took a breath, tommy spoke. "someone has had their cornflakes today, haven't they?" he laughed as he looked at cruz. there was a smile on his face as he looked at his friend. "i think you might have broken the world record there by saying the most words that's ever been said in a minute. you should get some sort of trophy or something."

[ofprophecies]

he felt like a ship without a port in magnolia, and khalil was certain that at the first sign of a storm, he’d sink to the bottom of the ocean with no lighthouse to guide him to safety. his parents, his support system, were in los angeles and he was navigating life truly alone for the first time in his life, in a town that wasn’t his — in a town that belonged to cezanne. and the more he explored magnolia, the more he understood why she’d choose a life in magnolia, a life of success, and a life near her parents over him. and suddenly, he felt small — inferior — as he walked down the sidewalk, trying ( and failing ) to avoid the ghosts of memories past. he could still feel cezanne’s presence in his dreams — nine whole years later. and maybe, he thought, it’d been a mistake to move to magnolia. maybe he was chasing a life that wasn’t meant for him. maybe. but there was no closure — there had been a chasm between them that was far greater than physical distance. and what if a bridge could be built, what if they could be reconciled?

the sun was particularly bright — and particularly annoying — as khalil walked down the street — his head hung low in an attempt to keep to himself. he felt anything but sunny on the inside. he felt unmoored, cynical. he hadn’t seen cezanne yet since he’d moved to magnolia and he worried what would happen when he did see her. he’d admittedly been heartbroken. he’d shed so many tears in the months after the broke things off — would he get emotional when he came face to face with her again?

he heard it first — a sharp, familiar rhythm slicing through the silence behind him, like the sound of a champagne flute being tapped before a toast before the glass breaks and shatters to the ground. the clicking of heels. and suddenly, he was running hand in hand with cezanne down the streets of los angeles, late at night, her heels clacking — with nothing but love in his eyes. khalil felt a soft tap on his shoulder and his breath caught in his throat as soon as he heard her voice — a melody that his heart hadn’t forgotten. turning around, his jaw fell open as he took her in, for the first time in nine years. words failed him, time stopped, and all he wanted was to take her in his arms and beg her to heal his broken heart. but, all he could muster was, “cezanne…”

it   had   been   exactly   nine   years   since   cezanne   had   moved   home   after   her   university   years   in   los   angeles.   it   had   been   eight   years   since   her   parents   had   purchased   coif   couture   for   her.   and   in   all   of   that   time,   she   had   never   stopped   thinking   about   him.   her   heart,   mind,   and   spirit   all   remembered   him   as   if   she   had   seen   him   only   yesterday.   sometimes,   if   she   dreamed   about   him,   that   technically   was   the   case.   she   had   left   so   much   between   them,   so   much   left   unsaid,   and   there   were   so   many   times   that   she'd   thought   she   would   stop   and   write   to   him…but   she   never   sent   a   letter.   not   even   so   much   as   a   text   message   in   almost   a   decade.   that   had   to   hurt   him,   had   to   sting,   and   she   knew   that   because   it   ached   her   deeply;   right   down   to   the   bone.

all   that   to   say   that   it   was   a   slow   day   at   the   salon.   cezanne   didn't   have   a   client   in   her   own   chair,   though   some   of   her   employees   did,   and   she   had   pulled   up   a   chair   to   the   receptionist's   desk   to   sit   and   chat   with   her.   she   absentmindedly   held   a   conversation   while   she   flipped   through   a   vogue   magazine   and   imagined,   for   the   one   millionth   time,   what   her   life   might   have   been   like   if   she'd   been   able   to   stay.   in   los   angeles;   in   his   arms;   in   an   element   of   her   own   making.   but   here   she   was.   sort   of   randomly,   her   eyes   flitted   up   to   see   a   man   walking   past   the   windows   of   the   salon.   she   swore   her   heart   must   have   stopped   right   in   its   tracks.   was   she   seeing   things?   losing   her   mind,   maybe,   after   so   many   years   pining   for   someone   who   she   should   have forgotten about?

perhaps   it   was   the   wishful   thinking   finally   getting   to   her,   but   she   dropped   the   magazine   down   onto   the   desk   and   hopped   up.   her   heels   -   because   of   course   she   wore   heels   to   work   -   clacked   against   the   salon's   cold,   marble   floor.   the   ding   of   the   bell   attached   to   the   door   sounded   out   as   she   went   through   it,   head   on   a   swivel   as   she   looked   around   for   him.   she   spotted   his   back   and   followed   after   him,   heart   beating   in…what,   she   wasn't   sure.   excitement,   anticipation,   anxiety?   she   would   settle   for   d.)   all   of   the   above.   she   caught   up   to   him,   holding   her   breath   as   she   reached   out   to   tap   his   shoulder.   what   if   it   wasn't   him?   what   if   it   was   just   a   stranger?   how   embarrassing   that   would   be,   she   thought.   “i'm   so   sorry,”   was   falling   out   of   her   mouth   before   he   even   had   the   time   to   turn   around.   “it's   only   that   you   remind   me   so   much   of   somebody   and   i   needed   to   come   and   find   you   to   make   sure   it   wasn't   really   that   person.”

to: khalil { @ofprophecies } from: cezanne setting: coif couture, outside

[ofprophecies]

it would come to absolutely no one's surpise that cruz wasn't the biggest reader. it wasn't that he didn't try ( he just didn't try hard enough ), and so he was wandering the library like a lost puppy searching for a book one of his favorite customers had been talking to him about. she was an elderly woman who doted on cruz like he was her own grandchild and he adored her — and wouldn't it be wonderful to talk with her about the book? after being hushed by the librarian behind the desk multiple times for his volume level, he'd had to press his lips together to prevent from making any noise. until, he heard the sound of books crashing to the ground at his feet and a slew of curses falling from someone's lips. a humored smile lit up his face as leo came into view. "quite a vocabulary you've got, leo," he laughed, perhaps too loudly for the librarian because he got hushed again. he bent to the floor and lowered his voice, "does your mother know you speak like that? surely not." picking up a book, he gently bopped leo's head with it and grinned from ear to ear. "let's say i had gotten injured, would you have tended to my wounds?"

WHO: leo + anyone - feel free to assume connections ◡̈ WHERE: the non-fiction section of newton library TW'S: language

oh, CRUEL world. maybe he deserves this, for sticking to brick and mortar when the internet is the way to go these days. in his attempt to wrench a book out from a tightly packed shelf - which took more strength than he could've possibly anticipated - he'd jostled the bookcase just enough to send some falling to the ground on the other side. loud thuds and curious eyes finding him ... would that the bookcase just fall and CRUSH him instead, put him out of this misery. still, leo rounded the corner to clean up his mess, shamed moreover to find somebody on the other side. ❝ fuck shit i'm sorry fuck, ❞ was a litany falling from his lips as he approached and knelt down to pick up the few books that littered the ground. ❝ i didn't hit YOU, did i? ❞

[ofprophecies]

one could easily tell when daisy was clocked into her shift at the spa, for her laughter would ring through the otherwise serene haven. she, no doubt, disturbed the peace multiple times a day and often had to clasp her hand over her mouth to hold back her loud giggles as she flitted from corner to corner of the spa, checking in on customers and striking up conversations seamlessly. today was no different, though, daisy was well aware that a certain someone hadn't stopped by in in a few days, so anytime the front door of the spa opened, daisy stood on her tiptoes and peeked to see if her eyes would find them. she was well aware of how hopeless and pathetic she seemed. but, as she was laughing and serving a refreshment to a customer, her eyes found them. and her heart grew warm. she headed towards the front lounge, a wide smile on her lips, and approached leah with a wave. "and i was just beginning to think i'd never get to see your face again," a playful giggle, "what a pleasant way to start the afternoon." tucking her red hair behind one ear, she tilted her head to the side, "can i get you anything while you wait?"

for: @ofprophecies ( daisy ) where: red rock spa

While it was nice to treat herself every payday weekend, there was a part of Leah that didn't frequent the spa just for the relaxing facials and occasional red mud bath; they hoped each time to see one woman in particular. Maybe it was burning a small hole in her wallet, but she couldn't help it. Today, they were a walk-in waiting in the front lounge when they saw her from a distance. More like heard, at first, but her heart did a little skip just the same. Quickly, Leah looked down and pretended to be interested in their phone like they weren't eavesdropping and hoping Daisy would say hello.

[ofprophecies]

( madelaine petsch, cis woman, she/her ) well, well. welcome to little ol’ magnolia, daisy ainsworth! i heard that as our resident 30 year-old massage therapist at red rock spa, you can be kind of reticent? no worries, i think your bubbly nature makes up for it. anyway, keep up those smiles as sweet as honey + knowing it is better to love than to hate vibes. we’ll see you around uptown blasting the prophecy by taylor swift, daisy!

˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 𝗕𝗔𝗦𝗜𝗖𝗦 ;

name : daisy ainsworth

age : 30

hometown : new orleans, louisiana

occupation : massage therapist @ red rock spa

personality traits : bubbly, warm, reticent, & sensitive

pronouns : she/her

sexual orientation : bisexual

˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 𝗕𝗜𝗢𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗣𝗛𝗬 ;

daisy adored her childhood — she was born and raised in new orleans, louisiana to an amazing set of parents and her younger sister, adley, was her best friend. life was sweet; warm summers soaking up the sun and drinking lemonade with adley, begging their parents for a beignet every time the family went out, and watching tarot card readings on the streets of new orleans with wide, mystified eyes. everything seemed magical. until it absolutely wasn’t. once summer day when she was fourteen, daisy went to surprise her father at his office, catching him in the midst of infidelity. she was devastated. had her childhood been a lie? was love a lie? before she had a chance to think through things, daisy ran home and told her mother and sister what she'd seen. and in the blink of an eye, her parents split up and daisy's father wanted nothing to do with her. to this day, daisy believes she's the reason her family fell apart and blames herself for it.

over the years, daisy and adley moved with their mother from city to city, town to town because their mother couldn't keep a job. she was forced to make new friends every few months and she was taught not to let herself get too attached to people because she never knew when she'd be uprooted again. daisy tried to stay optimistic, she hid her pain and fears with a bubbly persona and a warm demeanor, but she can't help but love others and find herself getting attached easily, clinging onto happiness and community. but, her only constant for most of her life was adley and the two remain inseparable.

now, daisy and adley's mother lives in phoenix and has remarried and things are finally looking up for her. daisy couldn't be more thrilled for her mother and so, she and adley decided to move to magnolia two years ago to make their own lives for themselves. daisy remains terrified of losing people and tries ( and fails ) to keep people at a distance to avoid getting hurt. she's always smiling and laughing and works as a massage therapist at red rock spa — she loves the idea that she can ease other people's tension, pain, and stress.

˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 𝗪𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗦 ;

ex : someone daisy dated until she felt herself getting too attached and ended up breaking it off out of fear — this person could be angry with her still or perhaps forgiven her !

first date turned friends : someone who went on a date with daisy and they hit it off, but realized they were better as friends and now they're inseparable !

scared to be lonely : this person and daisy may or may not harbor feelings for one another, but they'd rather spend nights together in each other's arms than be alone !

un/requited crushes / flirtationships / friendships / truly anything !