torimae

[torimae]

"She'll be enamored with whatever masterpiece you create, no pressure." Tori reassures her. Besides, it was nice havin' flowers around. They brightened any mood, any space. Shit, Tori Mae would keep a vase at the shop if she could have it her way. Maybe she might start.

She's grinning back as Teagan expresses her feelings aloud as the exit the dance floor, but at the same time Tori Mae can't help but feel the sadness, despite the wink. It was as if there were some kind of invisible string linking people in town with loss. She was happy to hear Teagan was alright, but knew there was a hole left by the absence of her parents and Efa. There was no way she'd let it known, though. "You got that right." she says instead.

Of course she can't stay long and Tori's not about to keep her siblings waiting. "Of course, yeah, get yourself back there." Tori Mae doesn't know how Teagan does it, keeping the family together like glue. She's sure friends help though, even if it's just for a chat and few moments away from family, so she can't turn down an offer for a drink after. "I'll come find you, I'm holding you to that!"

"If your mam enjoyed that one, I may have to be a little more extravagant this time 'round." The spin comes to a soft lull, steps slowing and stepping out into a gentle side-to-side. Teagan exhales deeply, sweeping her hair out of her face as she pulls Tori Mae off the dance floor. As much as she's enjoying herself, she doesn't want to leave her siblings alone too long.

"I'm glad you came out too. If it weren't for our gwenny booth, I wouldn't have made an appearance myself. Even if all the ladies make it hard to stay away." She winks, scrunching her nose in that playful way she always does. It's a good mask, all things considered. No one else needs to know how broken she feels inside, how painful it is to be in a place that her parents can no longer be. It nearly cracks at the thought, but Teagan quickly stitches a grin together.

"Feeling mighty lovely now. Might have to return to the booth though. Can't leave my siblings alone too long. But, uh..." She pauses, leaning in with a knowing look. "Mayhaps I see you after. For a drink? Or more?"

[torimae]

"I love their love that's for sure." Tori Mae replies with a soft smile, facing Teagan again after her spin. She did love love in general but as far as finding it for herself, she wasn't quite sure it was for her right now. "And I know my mama will adore whatever you put together!" Tori was a wiz with a machine but Teagan could create a masterpiece with flowers.

"She still talks about the Thanksgiving arrangement you put together a couple of years ago." Tori Mae's mom found out last minute she would be hosting out of town family and nearly lost her mind over getting the house ready. The golden hues of the flower arrangement popped on the dinner table and tied everything together like a perfect bow atop a present.

Tori Mae is laughing right along with Teagan as she spins them both, Tori doing her best to avoid stepping on Teagan's feet. But it feels good just to spin, and laugh with a friend. She really did need to get out more again. Maybe she'd make good on the promise she'd made to her dad this summer. "Well, I'd say I'm feeling quite content, happy even." she offers with a gentle shrug of a shoulder, hips still swaying with the music. "I almost didn't come out this year but I couldn't pass up seeing everyone dressed up." Maybe a key to more joy in Tori Mae's life would be to watch others experience it. Though if she were honest sometimes it still hurt to see couples her age. She knew it didn't make sense, mourning a situationship, something that never really had the chance to take root. But she was trying and that had to count for something. "What about you, my friend?"

Teagan hums, hips swirling with the whimsical rhythm that thrummed in waves across the floor. She breathes in the warm Springs air, helping herself to the aroma of fresh baked goods, honey, and flowers. It mixes together pleasantly, leaving Teagan relaxed as she pulls Tori Mae in for a little spin. She nods along to the conversation, mind drifting to what arrangement she would want to make for her.

"I do love love, don't you?" Not something she really sees herself having for quite some time, but she does enjoy the concept. The way it warms her chest with that delightful buzz that you can only mildly recreate in fleeting spurts. With all the new responsibilities, there's not much room for such a thing. "I'll make sure to make something tidy and special."

Pulling Tori Mae in, Teagan grabs a hold of both her hands and spins them both. She's laughing brightly and freely, unable to contain herself. "How are ya feeling miss Tori Mae?"

[torimae]

"After our dance!" Tori repeats, reassuring Lydia who looks like she's about to combust with excitement over dancing - or nervousness. Whichever it is, Tori Mae doesn't want her to miss dancing to her favorite song. "Let's go." She tells her, extending her own hand to take Lydia's. Within seconds she's pulling them out to the dance floor, wooden rings and bottlenecks long forgotten.

The sound of the fiddle and banjo echoes across the dance floor, melting to mix with the sound of conversation and laugher as partners twirl together. That coupled with Lydia's presence is enough to take Tori Mae's mind off of running away. Besides, she enjoyed spending time with Lydia. She could recall when they'd first met out at the lake. Lydia looked like she had been rolling in the mud along the bank and Tori knew it was kismet. Anyone unafraid to get their hands dirty made Tori Mae feel right at home. Though her hands were free of any stains currently, she was usually elbow deep in grease and oil, and when she was fishing with her Pop, dirt and bait.

She's smiling as she puts her free hand on Lydia's waist, trying her best to move in time with the beat. Perhaps lighter shoes would've been a better choice but she won't let her chunky boots stop her. And there's those lights twinkling in Lydia's eyes again. Tori Mae's smile is wider now. "This song is real pretty." she finally says. She's sure she's heard it before, probably at this very festival. "Y'know. I was thinkin' maybe we should go fishin' again soon. Maybe have a little picnic to celebrate the start of summer, too?" Every year for the past couple of years Tori promised herself she'd start to get back out more, make good on her promise to her dad to take a little time away from the shop. And every year she failed, so maybe this would be a good step in the right direction.

Lydia doesn't have a car and probably never will— that's not how she's familiar with Tori. Taller, older, prettier... It actually took her forever to muster up the guts to even so much as wave to the other girl and her dad from across the lake, and even though that was forever ago now, she just can't seem to shake that certain trepidation that she's going to say something wrong. And even if she did, Tori Mae would be too sweet to say so, which makes it even worse. Well of course I really wanna! It's immediate and cheerful and increases Lydia's heart rate to the point where she's starting to feel like a hummingbird has taken residence within. She's staring up at her, hands clasped together, grinning like a dang loon.

She should be focused on the ring toss. Or at least pretending to be. Instead, she's admiring the way the string lights bounce against Tori's skin, the casual but sincere dedication in the furrow of her brows as she aims, the slight quirk at the edges of her lips. Her lips. Lydia clears her throat, eyes aiming instead to other dancers floating around fiddle music for about as long as she can stand before she's gazing back to Tori. "A-After our dance, right," a skittish laugh trembles out, and she subconsciously smooths out her dress. "This song's one of my favorites, too! Real pretty. Not too fast n' not too slow..." She shudders in a breath and tells herself now or never before sticking out a hand. "Y'ready?"

[torimae]

"You know good and well that I ain't just sayin' that!" Tori Mae says back with a grin. "And at the same time I guess you're right about that. Gotta remind everyone where they can find the prettiest flowers around!" Not that anyone in the Springs could forget. Walking through the fields at Sunlit Blooms was like walkin' through a real rainbow. It was where Tori Mae would sneak off to when she needed sunshine on a cloudy day in the springtime.

Tori's admiring Teagan's choice of floral when she reaches for her hand and drags her out to the dance floor. "Well, I reckon' you're right. Guess we can't pass up the opportunity to let two pretty ladies take a twirl around the floor." She finds herself holding just a little tighter to Teagan's hand as they both begin to saw to the music. She's a little nervous - not about the whole dancing with a friend part. Nervous about the part where she doesn't really put herself out there in spaces like this. She prefers to lay low at town events. It's a wonder she's out and not hiding away at the shop. She would be if her parents weren't at home and watching for Tori Mae to do just that.

"Speakin' of the flowers, I need to stop by soon and pick a fresh bunch for my mama." Finding the rhythm to the song is easier than she thought, though she's cursing herself for wearing her chunky boots. Her feet feel heavy as lead. "I guess two bunches, really. One from me and one from pop. Their anniversary is coming up and he wants to surprise her. She says she don't want nothin' but pop insists and well, I also can't let her go empty handed."

"Oh you're just saying that, lass." Teagan waves Tori Mae off softly, playfully turning it into a few pats to her shoulder. "I can't have a flower farm and not have a massive flower crown. It would contradict everything I stand for." Which is living and breathing everything floral.

Teagan flares out the bottom of her blouse to show off the pattern, smiling proudly. "Now, about that dance?" When she flattens it back out, she quickly grabs Tori Mae's hand and leads her to the dance floor before she can say no. "Warm up or not, gotta take a pretty lady dancing when the momsnt arises." Squeezing Tori Mae's hand, Teagan sways side to side to find the beat.

[torimae]

Tori Mae can't help but snort at Lydia's joke. It's silly and unexpected, though not really that unexpected comin' from Lydia. She always had something unexpected to say and it was one of the things Tori liked about her friend. Her life was the same day in and day out with nothin' much beyond shop talk - literal auto shop talk. So the silly jokes and out of pocket remarks were nice, as insignificant as it seemed. "Guess we'll have to watch and see if we can spot any."

As Lydia looks back at Tori Mae with her question, she finds a tender smile settling across her lips. Lydia seems surprised at Tori's offer, genuinely touched. "Well of course I really wanna!" She proclaims with a nod. "I think we'd make quite the dancin' pair." Her gaze lingers on Lydia for a moment longer before turning back to the bottles before them, Tori Mae's last ring clutched by the fingers of her free hand.

"Alrighty, lemme see what I can do." She presses her lips together and her eyes narrow for a moment as she's formulating her plan to get this stupid ring around one of those bottles. Then she flings her wrist to give it a go because she actually has no plan. The ring immediately bounces between two bottles and falls to the cobblestones with a thud. She looks at Lydia again, fighting back a laugh. "Okay, so I actually suck at this game so maybe we need to find someone who can actually win us a prize after our dance."

Two left feet. It's not that funny, but Lydia laughs anyway, like it's the most hilarious thing she's ever heard. "Wonder if anyone out here's got two right feet, even things out a lil' bit," she snorts, shoving her glasses up and pushing against the edge of the booth. She couldn't care less about this game, winning one of these prizes, or even finishing out the round. What she's hanging onto is the last thing Tori says. Make a fool out of ourselves out there. Together. She swallows in a gasp, and it makes her chest feel like it's caving in on itself just a little.

"...Y'really wanna?" She asks, more awed than incredulous, though both are present. She's been around long enough to know that Tori's not one to make a big spectacle of herself, not on a regular day and definitely not during a festival. Frolicking around in the town square? While Lydia aches for the courage to even ask, it makes sense the other would willingly sit it out. Still, her elation is palpable, knees bending ever so slightly as if she's about to take off straight into the sky. "I, um... I'd be mighty fine with lookin' like a fool out there with ya."

[torimae]

Tori takes another long sip of the beer, willing her tastebuds to enjoy the beverage and hoping she would more so by the end. Of course they could sneak away and she would do it, but at the same time perhaps it was more work than it was worth. Plus, Tori Mae tended to be the kind of person who couldn't stand going back out once she was home. She feared if they snuck out she may have more trouble convincing herself to return to the festival grounds. Then again, she'd do it for Missy.

Speaking of, she wasn't kidding about the radiant compliment. There was a glow about Missy today and she could tell she had given more attention to the flowers in her hair than she normally had. Maybe it was just the parade, or maybe she was up to somethin'. Whatever it was, she'd share in time, if she wanted.

"Oh, come on!" Tori Mae grins, "You know there's not a chance we'll be the two most ridiculous lookin' ones out there." Besides, no one was ever looking at the friends having a good time. No, people were eyeing the new couples and old flames, people finding inspiration though their consumption of liquid courage or tellin's from Miss Fortune, and inviting their crush out onto the floor. Though it wasn't quite late yet, Tori Mae knew it'd only be a few hours now. "But four left boots, ya got that right!" She couldn't help but tease right along with her friend. "I'll just be a warm-up partner though because as pretty as you're lookin' right now you're fixin' to get some heads turnin' tonight."

Their cups clink, the beer in Missy's sloshing, near threatening to spill over. Thankfully, the laws of psychics are kind to her, just a couple of frothy bubbles hitting the rum. Which, of course, are sipped up quick by the woman. Still not her favorite, but she's hoping it'll grow on her once she's down to the dregs.

Tori Mae always has the best ideas. Her mind is a mechanical wonder -- how had Missy not thought of sneaking in and out? She could smack herself upside the head, but she's sure her friend would stop her before she even lifted a pinky. "One of the best minds in the town," is all she has to say, tilting her cup in her direction before taking another swig. At her compliment, all Missy can do is flash a grin, her free hand moving to touch her hair -- little blooms and interwoven through small braids, which admittedly?, took more time than she had anticipated. Not that she was trying to look good for any particular reason. None at all. Especially not because she's planning to see a certain pastor's son behind one of the buildings later. Nope.

"Well, I don't hold a candle to your beauty," she says, with the same about of cheese as her friend doled out, eyelashes batting at her and all. It's easy to be silly, a different kind of softness, with Tori Mae. At her mention of the dance, Missy can't help but let out something akin to a chuckle, flowers dancing in her hair as she shakes her head. "Sounds like you're tryin' to embarrass us both there." The words drip with a teasing tone, her nose crinkling up. "But, it's not like I'd say no. We'd be the prettiest out on that dancefloor, four left boots and all."

[torimae]

"This town may be small but I doubt everyone has a partner. More people probably avoid the dancin' than ya think!" She explained. In years past Tori Mae was one of them herself. For the first few years after high school she avoided some of the festivals entirely. She couldn't stand the sight of other people enjoying themselves while she felt like she was drowning in grief. But her mama had convinced her to accompany her and after a few years she managed to find joy at the Rain of Petals Parade again. If anything she got to see all of her friends sparkling like sunshine dappling the forest floor and creating a mirror ball effect through droplets of the morning dew. She came to love the costume parade and announcement of the Marigold Queen. Not to mention the joy and anticipation of summer was unmatched.

Once she started appreciating the little things in her life she began to think she'd be okay. Maybe not great but just okay was enough for her. She smiles at Minjun. "Nah, I'm not much for twirlin' around. I prefer to watch. Besides, I step on toes and no one wants that." She glances down at her own boots before looking up again. "But you should if you were thinkin' about it! Something about springtime in the Springs brings out the best in people around here."

"No.... should I or do you think everyone is already taken?"

It's his first Rain of Petals Parade and Minjun is enjoying himself, as usual. The townspeople love to throw a festival, everyone gathering with sweet treats and beautiful crafts that Minjun is regretting not bringing out his own mugs and plates to sell. However, he only decided against because 1) he's still new and 2) he wants to enjoy what the Springs has to offer. He wants to enjoy being with the townspeople, as they, as always, welcome him with open arms, and the general festivity. Though, the only downside is the dancing part. Minjun has to watch people ask others to be their dance partners as he keeps to the back, not having a close relation with anyone here. Maybe he should ask Haerin to dance with him-- no, she'll reject him. Not even his own sister would dance with him. "Have you asked anyone?"

[torimae]

Lydia's effort to land one of the rings around a glass bottleneck is enough to keep Tori Mae playing herself just to win her one of the prizes. Her attempt is meaningful. And she can't help but laugh herself as the ring smacks the guy working the booth right on the head. Tori winces herself but is grinning. "Sorry!" she mouths before shaking her head.

Her gaze lands on Lydia again as she responds. Tori Mae's own head shakes again in reply. "I haven't managed to do so myself either." And now she shrugs a shoulder, "I've got two left feet, as my mama would say. But she ain't much better than me so I guess I get it honestly."

But she can't help but want to keep up that sparkle in Lydia's eyes. Maybe it's just the reflection of the string lights illuminating the games but as she watched her kiss her fist before tossin' that ring, Tori Mae figured it was a real shimmer. "Wha'dya say we we try to win you one of those prizes and then maybe make a fool of ourselves out there together?"

Ever since a few years back, where she'd spent all twenty of the tickets she'd had to her name on ring toss right away and spent the rest of the night pouting about it, she swore to herself to forever ignore that Goddess-forsaken booth for her own sake. But that was before she saw Tori Mae standing next to it tonight, her outfit simple, her presence a mere delight. She doesn't need to dress like a princess; her radiance alone casts shadows over any elaborate gown. But she'd muck that up out loud, so she greets the other with an inhibited, but earnest "that color sure looks pretty on you, Tori Mae!"

And, suddenly, she's ten tickets in, too giddy to make a shot that she likely wouldn't be making anyway. "This'll be the one, I can feel it!" She says, kissing her fist before flinging one of the rings towards the rows of bottles... And, much like all the others, it ends up clinking disastrously against the glass bottlenecks and onto the cobblestone below, this one nearly smacking the guy running the booth straight in the forehead on the way down. "Ope— sorry, sir!"

Her cheeks are thankfully too sunburnt for her blush to show, but Tori's question has a laugh hesitantly vibrating through her, as if she's not sure whether to unleash it, and it sits stuck in her throat, not sure where to go. No, I haven't. Would you like to? That's what she would say if she didn't feel like she had a ton of bricks on her chest. "I... haven't gotten 'round to it yet," she blurts quickly. "Are you, um, thinkin' of askin' anyone in particular?"

[torimae]

Tori's eyes watch the ring fall to the grown and then averts her gaze back to Teagan. "With you lookin' like the Marigold Queen herself dressed like that?" She compliments wholesomely, and means it, "I'm sure there's someone itchin' to twirl you around on the dance floor, Teagan." Tori Mae would be remiss to pass up on the opportunity herself.

"I reckon I could if you wanted, but it'd just be some warm-up steps. I'm not much for dancin' myself you know." Nor was Tori Mae much for drawing attention to herself. It was bad enough to have the shadow of her loss all those years ago hanging over her. And in a small town there were bound to be words shared if she took it upon herself to finally give the impression that she was tryin' to get back out there. Though her mama wasn't around to start the gossip herself so maybe she should have a little fun.

Teagan finds herself pouting at the ring toss station, having been kicked out of her own booth. After spending hours on setting everything up, Aelwen and Aeron had gotten tired of her hovering and sent her away. So, she's half-heartedly tossing rings here and there, not really aiming to win anything at all in hopes of passing the time by a bit faster.

She gives it another hour before her siblings are calling her back, but until then, she's stuck making small talk and pretending like she's making some sort of effort. "Hm? The dance?" Teagan blinks, ring clacking against a bottle and swirling several times before thwipping off unceremoniously on the ground. She lets out a big exhale, blowing a raspberry in the process. "Don't got a partner yet. Why?" Teagan is adorned with a flower crown and a flower pattern blouse to match, a long white skirt completing the ensemble. "You askin'?"

[torimae]

The sound of the water flowing from the fountain brings Tori comfort as she waits for Missy's return. Though she didn't chance stepping foot back into Miss Fortune's tent anytime soon, she couldn't help but encourage her friend. It was probably unfair of her to bring Miss Fortune's little remark about her life changin' unexpectedly into the tragedy that had occurred nearly 15 years ago but sometimes Tori Mae had a tough time letting things go. But she didn't hold it against anyone else.

And judging by the sight of Missy returning with two clear cups filled with a familiar looking amber liquid, she couldn't help but blame the fortune teller even less. Whatever she had said clearly inspired a drink and Tori wasn't about to complain. She reaches for the cup with a grin. "Cheers!" she offers, tilting the cup ever so slightly towards Missy before taking a long sip. The liquid is smooth and cold, not necessarily to Tori Mae's liking, or Missy's judging by her response, but it'll do. The sun was beating down and the last thing she was about to complain about was a cold beverage.

"I'll do my best. And if we don't find it here I'm not above sneakin' away and comin' back in with our favorite." she tells her, "No one'll notice, anyway." Or care. If there was a time to let down your guard it was during a festival in the Springs. The only worry folks had was whether they'd win the contest or dance with their crush. "But I did notice that you're lookin' as radiant as ever!" Was it cheesy? Of course! Did Tori care? Not a bit. She was just happy to be here. "Might even ask ya to dance later." Tori Mae wasn't much for dancing, but she'd do it with her best friend.

location: Town Square (Rain of Petals Parade) status: closed, for Tori Mae (@torimae)

Don't blame Missy for the two cups of ale in her hands. That's on Miss Fortune. Well, maybe that isn't exactly what she said, something about not running from her future. But, when she bumped into the drinks stall, merely moments after stumbling out of that stuffy tent, it was clearly meant to be. Why would she run away from her future of pounding back a beer? Even if it doesn't has that perfect, sweet to bitter ratio that the champagne of beers, her faithful Miller High Life, has. Aritsan beers always taste a little too hops-y for her taste. Not that she's going to complain. A beer's a beer at the end of the day.

Besides, one of said cups is for the star of the hour, her very own Marigold Queen. Well, not in title. But, Tori Mae may as well be royalty in her eyes. There's a certain power in her gaze that Missy sure as hell views as regal. With a high chance of neither woman winning tonight, it only means that the pair can get good and drunk by the end of the night without having to trip and stumble on the stage.

Missy waltzes over to her darling friend near the fountain, a dainty hand extending out one of the cups as she takes a sip of her own. Too hops-y, just as she figured. If she dislikes it, it's not evident on her face. It is evident, however, in her words. "We'll have to have somethin' better after this one," she states, simple, holding up her own, clear cup to the sky. The amber liquid sparkles in the sunlight. "Maybe my picker's off. You'll have to hunt for the next one, Mae."

[torimae]

location: festival games area, Rain of Petals Parade status: open!

Tori Mae wasn't much for dancing and pageantry but she did enjoy the occasional event to people watch. The Springs came alive every spring with the Rain of Petals Parade and the looks of pure joy on the faces of festival goers was a nice reminder that there still was a little magic left in the world, even if none of it belonged to Tori Mae.

She should've listened to Miss Fortune all those years ago when she told her to expect a big change in her life, but truly, she should'a listened to her mama telling her she had no business putting any trust into what that woman had to say. Tori ignored the instructions to steer clear of her tent then, but had made up for it by avoiding it entirely for the last fifteen years. That counted for something, right, Mama?

Instead, she wandered the festival grounds, savoring the smells of freshly baked teats, hand picked flowers, and honey sticks. She greets local artisans with a big smile, promising to make another round to actually purchase something and sends her Pop's regards. He hated missing the festival but promised Tori Mae's mama he'd rest this year and let Tori take care of the shop talk.

Now, she's clad in high-waist denim shorts, a muted golden-yellow floral button down, tied in a knot just above her exposed midriff, and flower suede platform Doc's with a freshly squeezed lemonade (and gin) in hand. Her eyes are trained on the ring in her friend's hand as they play ring toss, or maybe attempt to play would've been a better way to put it. A chuckle escapes from her lips. "So, did'ya ask anyone to dance yet?" She inquires with a quirked brow, bringing the straw to her lips.

[torimae]

basics.

Full Name: Victoria Mae Henry Nickname: Tori, Tori Mae, Vic Pronouns: she/her Gender: cis woman Romantic attraction: Bisexual Age / DOB: 31, August 20, 1993 Sign: Leo (Leo Sun, Libra Moon, Aquarius Rising) Hometown: Bleeding Hearts Springs Time in Bleeding Hearts Springs: her whole life Occupation: Mechanic at Honest Auto Shop

physical appearance.

Face Claim: Alexandra Shipp Hair: shoulder-length, brown with strands of golden honey. curly with bangs. usually pulled back, especially when she's working, strands falling to frame her face. Eyes: brown Height: 5’ 6" Accent: southern and smooth like tupelo honey drizzling over homemade biscuits. Tattoos & piercings: several tattoos: lotus flower on her breastbone, the small outline of a wrench with "vic" on the handle in her father's handwriting on her outer left wrist, a bleeding heart flower on her upper right ribs. pierced ears & a nose ring.

family: 

Parents: Harold & Lori Anne Henry Pet: Murphy, her tan and white six year old pit/boxer mix. he's the most calm and sweetest boy you'll ever meet. she occasionally brings him to the shop.

personality:

Positive traits: inquisitive, honest, humble, determined, kind Negative traits: stubborn, cynical, closed-off emotionally, passive, non-committal Likes: old cars, tinkering with machines, vintage tools, rock and southern soul music, fishing, spending time with her father, gardening and baking with her mama, cooking, tight jeans, swimming, dogs, drunk cigs Dislikes: new cars, not being able to solve a problem, men who think they can fix a car better than she can, snow, bug bites, motorcycles

fun things:

Hobbies: tinkering with cars, searching for vintage tools, fishing at Swan Lake with her pops, baking with her mama, watching old movies, swimming, yapping with a friend at The Velvet Stag Favorite animal: her dog, murphy Favorite color: maroon Favorite food: Lori Anne's homemade lemon pound cake, Misty Apple's homemade apple pie Favorite weather: a cool, clear early summer night. Favorite flower: sunflowers

bio highlights: (tw: motorcycle accident (not graphic!), loss of a loved one, parental medical emergency)

born & raised in Bleeding Hearts Springs, Tori has never really left. her family took a few vacations when she was younger. her parents would pack up the car and they'd meet her aunt and uncle at their beach house on the South Carolina coast. when she was in high school her aunt and uncle divorced and her aunt moved to BHS to live with them so the beach trips stopped. Tori's always been a little jealous her uncle got the house, and they don't talk to him anymore.

her father, Harold, or Howie, owns Honest Auto Shop and it was owned by his father before. Tori's grandpop passed when she was younger and she swore to him she'd help her pop keep the shop runnin'. it started as a part time or every now and then gig, but her father suffered a heart attack five years ago. he's better and back on his feet but Tori has since taken on more responsibility, working full time at Honest Auto Shop now. Tori has found solace in the routine and a deep sense of pride in the business but her father worries about her eventually carrying the weight of the business on her own.

she's a bit of a wiz when it comes to cars, though she's still got a lot to learn. she's the friend that'll scold you if you go too long without an oil change.

in school Tori kept to herself. she played volleyball for a few years and would go to the events in town with her mama, who would enter a cake in any bake-off or event she could. but she spent a lot of time at Honest Auto, learning all she could about fixin' things.

her junior year she met someone she thought might be the love of her life, she just didn't realize it at first. Ronnie Mills whipped into town like a tornado and Tori felt a fire inside she'd never felt. she'd kissed a few boys in school but Ronnie was her gay awakening. they never kissed, though they had held hands once while watching a movie at The Majestic and knocked knees under the table at Granny's a time or two. Ronnie was her best friend, at least. they had big plans to get out Bleeding Hearts Springs after graduation. maybe they'd travel and find a college to go to together. maybe they'd open an auto shop. the world was their oyster. until it wasn't.

Ronnie's dad fixed and rode motorcycles and Ronnie aspired to do the same. Tori was too scared to try but promised Ronnie when she got her own bike after graduation she'd ride with her. that day never came. a month before senior prom, Tori had mustered up the courage to ask Ronnie to be her date. Ronnie and her dad had gone over the mountain to a nearby town to look at bike Ronnie had been eyeing and Tori was going to ask when they got home. they never made it home. accordin' to the coroner Ronnie's dad took a curve too sharp after dark. Tori was too devastated to even go to the funeral. instead, she stood outside the church after everyone had gone inside, her mom promising to go in her place. Ronnie is still a constant presence in her life, like a ghost she can't say goodbye to. sometimes she journals as if she's writing to her. she ain't sure it's healthy, but it helps her somehow.

she's had casual flings since but nothin' that's made her heart soar. she's not entirely convinced she'll ever feel that fire again. to be quite honest, she's not sure she deserves the happiness.

when she's not working at the shop she's fishing with her pop at the lake or hanging at The Velvet Stag.

she lives in a little house next door to her parents, across from Honest Auto.

she never went to college. she's not sure she ever will. she knows enough about cars to get her by and that suits her just fine.

[torimae]

alexandra shipp as daisy taylor in space oddity (2022) dir. kyra sedgwick

[torimae]

Etty Hillesum, fom a diary entry featured in An Interrupted Life: the Diaries, 1941-1943 and Letters from Westerbork