i want roses set on fire

elodie lancaster. i sleep with one eye on my royal flush, the other on the take. i sleep awake.

[elodie-lancaster]

If she’s willing to share, than he’s willing to take. “Thanks.” He makes sure to say, acknowledging her kindness with a nod before standing. It wasn’t often that he met someone like that. “Best around? Guess I’ll see.” He sort of jokes, approaching the box and picking out a donut. Tommy takes a few steps back toward her, but lingers in the kitchen, stuck between being unsure if he should eat on the couch and being unsure if he cared. “Yeah, it ain’t half bad. Easy to crash on.”

"I don’t know if I can vouch. It’s my first stop for donuts in the city, so..” The croissants were sugary -- definitely her favorite of the bunch, but it’s probably one of those particular tastes. “That’s good. I think it’d be weird to have a shit couch in a place like this.” She pauses, thinking for a moment. “I’ll test it out sometime.”

[elodie-lancaster]

‘Too long’ gives the impression that she didn’t sleep well, but he doesn’t say anything about it. Not his place to, so he forgets it as soon as he hears it. Another quick rub to his eyes and Tommy sits up fully, not bothering to glance at the clock, only toward the blonde on the arm of the couch. He’s never one to turn down free food, but before he takes on her offer, he might as well ask. “Huh. You sure?”

“All yours.” She says, gesturing toward the wide pink box. There might be a donut or two, some croissants -- things she claimed to have been for her, but serve another purpose just the same. With a quick nod, Elodie’s hands fall in her lap and she looks to them, legs dangling where she’s perched. “They’re pretty good. The best around, I hear.” It has her smiling after a beat. “Is the couch comfy?”

[elodie-lancaster]

The sound of quiet footsteps reach his ears, but mostly they make play within his dreams, only bringing him into a lighter sleep. Not enough to have him open his eyes just yet. For now, his dreams are vivid. But after a small voice greets him, he’s completely pulled out of it, cutting off the story in his mind and he doesn’t remember any of it anymore. His eyes blink open and he sits up quickly, having forgotten this is where he crashed last night. Rubbing tired eyes with the pads of his fingers, he looks at the blonde afterward.

Elodie. He’s certain that’s her name, and he musters a small quirk of his lip for a smile. “Morning.” He greets in a voice that still full of sleep. Not that he has any clue what time it is, but he imagines she’s already been up and out the door long enough to come back with whatever is in that box. “You been up a while?”

Odd, though Elodie can’t say she’s never done something similar. She doesn’t have a tough time sleeping just about anywhere -- and does so often, so an empathetic smile crosses her lips. “Too long, yeah.” Before turning to take a seat on the couch arm, her eyes fall back on the box. “If you’ve got a secret sweet tooth or something, you can totally help yourself to whatever’s left in there.” 

[adam-mcdowell]

Nowadays, it wasn’t difficult for Tommy to sleep wherever he dropped. Sitting up. On the floor. In the dirt. He could sleep anywhere - and even if there was a bed that was probably more expensive that anything he ever owned waiting for him upstairs, Tommy managed to crash on the couch.

The sleep wasn’t all that restful, though. Not with the usual troubling dreams that had his fingers twitching, and his brows furrowing. It probably wouldn’t take much but a few steps into the room to jerk him awake.

[elodie-lancaster]

There’s a tiny cafe and bakery right a few blocks down, and she’s got a few hours to blow. Truthfully, she couldn’t get much sleep after an hour or two -- as restlessness usually follows her, but some mornings it serves as useful. Because god, her naps get around to insufferably long. In any case, the tiny blonde’s back with a box of eclairs and a few other pastries that she thought were manageable twenty minutes ago - but are definitely too much for her stomach. 

Locking the door behind her, she comes in and stumbles on Tommy... still asleep, and tries to set the box down on the connected kitchen counter down more quietly, figuring it might’ve already stirred him and biting down on her lip. Testing the waters, she tosses out an apologetic - and quiet, “Morning, sunshine?”

[elodie-lancaster]

It’s some relief that she doesn’t have to worry too much about wild housemates, at least not in the traditional sense. Anything beyond that she doesn’t think much on. “Maybe if I find something to celebrate.” There’s almost a momentary optimism in the words, but they feel like bullshit even as she says it. And it’s enough to have her smirking in the next moment, retracting them with a shake of her head. “But probably not.”

It helps that she doesn’t know anyone here, that drinking with strangers doesn’t sound all that appealing right now. It contrasts sharply with how she used to be, but that’s true of a lot of things. “Let’s hope you’re a good judge of character.”

Yeah, maybe. Quiet time near the beach isn’t exactly spring break material -- not unless this house starts brimming with teenagers and alcohol. Truthfully, she’s only opposed to the first option... but it’s not something strangers need to talk about. Whether they’ll become anything more than frequent passersby, she has no idea. All Elodie knows is that she’s made one (sort of) friend under this roof, and it wouldn’t be the worst thing to make another. Or maybe it would. She tries not to think about it. “Let me know how it goes.”

But it’s more of an open invitation than a request. The other girl’s got to figure that. Well... so far, it hasn’t gone too poorly. “Hasn’t exactly been my specialty, but I’m giving it a shot. Are you? A good judge of character, I mean.”

[elodie-lancaster]

map quest ✿ elodie & ricky

[elodie-lancaster]

"That’s a new kind of kink. Man and his shadow," Ricky says, and if the thoughts make him slow down in his gait, it’s only because his mind isn’t as clear as it should be right now. His thoughts slow and sluggish, while at the same time enlightened to the world around him in ways he only knows he can make himself. He smiles when she jokes about being being able to handle herself. For some reason, he doesn’t doubt it. She’s small and cute, but she’s got the attitude of someone who knows how to carry themselves. He thinks they’ll get along. Until he messes it up somehow. That’s how it goes, right? 

She holds the door for him at the same time she holds her breath and if he takes his time sauntering on into the record store, it’s a purposeful thing. The inside smells of vinyl and incense and Ricky forgets himself for a moment because this is familiar. This is comfortable and if no place feels like home anymore, the scent does. Something he likes that people don’t frown on him for, that isn’t harmful. “Yo, Chickadee,” he says, turning to look at her. “Please tell me your taste in music is spot on, because I think we could be friends.” It’s the closest he’ll come to a thank you for bringing him here. 

"Heart wants what the heart wants." She says matter-of-factly, though it's unlikely that anyone has ever actually felt an attraction to their shadow. If there's one thing she excels in, it's beating dead horses. For whatever reason, she can run with a joke until its origins are miles behind. At least he doesn't seem to have a problem with it - might even follow along for a little. Maybe that's what makes her, to some degree, comfortable around him so far. He could take a joke. 

The blonde has to spare a few more strides, barely reaching. A full eleven inches behind him, Elodie looks over a few album covers and artwork. Her full response is a mischievous flash of both eyes, right before getting caught in the midst. Even if the decor is nonchalant and subtle, there's a lot of charm to the area and she's glad they're here. "Like I'd show my face here if I didn't?" Rolling her eyes, she starts sifting through records in one of the aisles. "Where's your 'spot on' bullseye land? Unless you're not even on the target..." She taunts, lifting up a Fleetwood Mac single to dust off the top before setting it back down.

[elodie-lancaster]

She shrugs her shoulders, because it’s a simple question but she doesn’t really have an answer for it. Right now it’s preferable, and maybe that’s how she should be gauging everything. One day or minute or hour at a time, but it already seems to drag when there’s no strong urge to be here. Though if she were less selfish she’d wonder if the distance from home isn’t solely for her benefit.

”So I shouldn’t expect any wild parties?" The question’s neutral enough, but there’s less disappointment in the thought than there would’ve been. Maybe a week from now, when she’s bored and lonelier than she’ll care to admit, she’ll change her mind.

"Not unless you've got a few planned." She snorts, twining her fingers and turning both arms out in a quick stretch. It's not like she could go about planning one unless there was an ad on Craigslist. To hell with that - there aren't enough unenthused people in the area to attend someone's pleasant little house on the beach party. "'Cause I sure don't." 

But it's not really her intention to sound like she's opposed to it. Anything Elodie can't manage or tolerate is just as easily abandoned as it is complained about. If it gets too noisy, as soon as she's comfortable with the surrounding locations, she can leave. Go out for a walk. Deal that way. "But maybe I read those guys wrong and we're looking at the worst spring break of our lives."

[elodie-lancaster]

She makes a noncommittal noise, because she has to, but in places she’d expect it from. Here, she doesn’t know what to expect, and she thinks that has her on guard more than anything. It has her shifting on the porch almost in some attempt to compensate for it, palms settling against the surface and letting the warmth from the sun soak into her skin.

”Three of you.” She keeps her eyes on the girl next to her, but that answers questions she didn’t ask. Not someone’s kid, probably no kids that she’ll have to deal with. There’s almost gratitude for that, more that she might not find herself crowded here. Personal space shouldn’t feel like such a luxury, but silence is its own kind of blessing these days. “Guess that’s not so bad.”

Only three-- but there's really no telling how soon that could change. A quiet hum of acknowledgement follows the point Gwen's made, and Elodie offers something like a small smile. "Yeah. No one here's loud - pretty nice out with all the windows after dark." But she doesn't want to talk any ears off, and understands if she 'can handle the one suitcase.'

"Unless you like noise. I don't know." It's not unfamiliar: having no damn idea what's going on in the minds of those that she shares homes with. The temporary places don't require her (nor do they give much of an opportunity) to know other tenants. She thinks of asking if the other would like to put her things down and come along, but doesn't really want to pester any further.

[elodie-lancaster]

“Strange name.” Though maybe not odd for Oregon, and she can’t say for sure. She’s never been in the state before, let alone lived here. Already the prospect of sharing space is making her borderline uncomfortable, and the only real question is how long this lasts until she can go home. Regardless of how much is left of it.

”Gwen.” She studies her for another moment, but a quiet distaste for most people around her doesn’t mean it’s not a good opportunity to prepare herself. She wasn’t given much warning on what she could expect, because it wasn’t like she had a choice either way. “How many people live here?”

"Yeah, I guess. That's why I've got a short version."  Bobbing her head, Elodie shrugs. Not like there were any explanations as to why she has the one she does, but it works. "Heard way weirder." Beach people sure are interesting -- what, with their nicknames and last names for first names... it's all over the place. 

Gwen. Significantly more normal, or at least common. "Two that I've met so far. Makes four total." She's not sure if others will come and go in the time that she stays here, but the blonde isn't opposed. "I think there's room for more though, so who knows? Might get a few more showing up, but we'll see."

[elodie-lancaster]

Her head lifts at the voice, brow furrowing slightly as she focuses on the woman with a sharp intensity. She can’t tell how old she is, but she looks young, and it’s with a distant curiosity that she wonders if she lives here or if she’s just the child of someone who does. And more importantly, if sharing space with children is something she’ll have to get used to.

"I think I can handle one bag." The annoyance is genuine, but it’s less for the stranger who steps down next to her and more for how little sits on the porch behind them. She used to have so much more, though it’s never the material aspect she thinks of when that thought rolls through her mind. Maybe she can again, but it’s equally as frustrating just how few of those decisions are left up to her now. "Who are you?"

"Sounds good," she nods, shifting her weight and letting her eyes drift out to the street. There's plenty of getting used to in a place like this -- different brands of people are only the start. Frankly, Elodie can't find it in herself to mind. It's not like this is permanent. None of this could ever really be. 

But a question comes up and she feels confident that whatever temporary things do happen, will be okay to sit through. And if she's lucky, she can enjoy them in the meantime. "Elodie. Dee's okay, too. Whatever works." The breeze blows a few wisps of hair into her line of vision and she's quick to tuck them away. "And you? Who're you?"

[lilith-arali]

It’s called Astoria and maybe on a different day in a different life Gwen would’ve liked it. It seems more like purgatory now, some place her uncle sent her to recuperate, or reevaluate, or whatever the fuck he wants to call it. She can’t help but think of it as exile, but she lost the right to challenge that kind of decision so here she is. Sitting on the porch of a house that might be big enough to disappear in with just one suitcase sitting next to her.

And she’s alright with sitting there for a while, but the door slams and there’s a shadow falling over her in the next moment. “You’re blocking my light.”

[elodie-lancaster]

She thinks the beach is a good idea -- mostly because it could waste time and warm her feet, simultaneously. A towel bag is slung over one shoulder, complete with sunscreen and a pair of sunglasses hanging from her collar. Small and unrelenting, Elodie's pulled from her thoughts by a voice she has yet to hear. Another stranger, huh?

"Oh." Stepping aside and down the porch step, she stuffs two hands in the pockets of her jacket. "Not exactly the best welcome, sorry. Need some help?" She asks, referring to the suitcase and not minding a bit of a wait before the afternoon's trip.

[elodie-lancaster]

map quest ✿ elodie & ricky

[elodie-lancaster]

"Well, shit," Ricky says, tipping his head to the side. He’d never really thought of it like that and right now he’s as malleable as ever, open mind willing to be molded any way it sees fit depending on where they are. And with her, she’s someone new, with new ideas and new things to say to him. He’s getting a whole new perspective on life just being in the same car with her. "Never thought of it like that. Pan’s the fucking boogeyman." He snorts afterwards, trying to put himself into the shoes of a kid who got enticed by broken promises and forced to live like that for all of eternity in an open war against pirates. Kid’s dream, he supposed. Until the realized that was all there is in life. 

She parts the car and he nods, happy that they’ll go into the record store. He thought they were an extinct being. That everything had gone digital these days. He had a record player at some point. He’d smashed it. On a whim. And in the morning when he realized what he’d done, that laid back attitude of his had shattered for a moment because that had been his prized possession for a long time. The one thing he was proud of owning. He’d fucked it up. Like he always does. “Depends on if they’ve got the good stuff. I know how to handle myself.” 

"Told you," she says simply, fixed on her previous reply being the right one. "If Pan came for my little brother, I would'a told him to go screw himself. Or his shadow. Whatever makes him happy." Half a shrug later, and she's smiling -- because even though it hits a chord with her, Elodie's not one to linger on those things. It'd be a total downer on their day, and it sounds like he doesn't need to deal with that. No one does. "You'd better. Otherwise I might have one too. Then what? Get kicked out." Running a hand through her hair, she passes a glance over the street and looks both ways. Once it's clear, the blonde starts her way over... not bothering to check for a crosswalk.

Down these streets, traffic must be slow and sparing. Plenty of cars are parked, just not so much coming and going through the intersections. It's kind of nice this way, she thinks - they must be home, or at the beach. Staying so close to the ocean is a helpless kind of pleasant, and she's glad that this is the temporary choice. A bell sings when she gets the door for both of them, back holding it open until he catches up. Puffing up both cheeks, Elodie feigns holding her breath-- but it seems unlikely that she'll need to. There are plenty of classic and contemporary vinyl albums scattered on the walls, stealing her eye upon entrance.

[elodie-lancaster]

map quest ✿ elodie & ricky

[elodie-lancaster]

"Who’s not a fan of Peter Pan?" he snorts, glancing over at her. "I mean, fuck, I’d hate to be a kid forever, but being 21 forever — shit that’s the dream." He’s talking nonsense now. Eyeing the map as his mouth rambles and it happens a lot with him. Some of his most  hurtful comments come out that way, but it’s a good distraction from his own head. Let his mouth do the driving, just like he’s letting her. Where it gets him is usually in trouble, but he doubts that’s what this is going to lead to. Maybe she’ll hate him by the time they get to the fish and chips place, but at least they won’t be in trouble. 

"Fairies draw this map?" he asks, holding it up and looking at their intersection. "Right again," he nods his head down the street, being the navigator helping him concentrate more than he normally would when his head’s the way it is. They should be getting close if he’s reading it right. He sets the map down in his lap because the place should be on their left coming up and he’s looking out at what shops and scenery is around them. He’s not explored the town so far, not explored anything here. He knows nothing of Astoria and no one here and maybe that was the whole point. It’d be harder to…be Ricky Ryan out here. "This town looks quaint as shit." He tips his head at one of the stores. "Shit, is that a record store?" 

"Me." She sticks to the claim with an arched brow, prepared to back it up with some evidence and half a smile. "He's a little asshole and makes a ton of kids go somewhere they don't wanna. Just talks them into it and then what! They're stuck." It's probably obvious that she's put some thought into it now, but there's no doubting that she's not speaking seriously. At least, Elodie is trying to make it seem that way. "I dunno." Following instructions and turning until they hit a main street and she nods. "Yeah, with good reviews!" Or so says her skimming from the previous night. "Wanna check it out?" They do have plenty of time to spare, and exploring isn't such a bad idea. 

Parallel parking is hell. Maybe worse. She couldn't say for sure. Fortunately, they make it through unscathed and she puts a couple quarters in a meter that starts ticking the second she's turning back to him and the car is locked. "Couple hours should be good. If you have a comfort breakdown in the record store and we wind up there with an ambulance I can come back and put a few more in." Hopefully he doesn't mind walking the rest of the way - but she doubts there's a parking lot for the tiny, pickup restaurant. Might as well get off while they can.

[elodie-lancaster]

map quest ✿ elodie & ricky

[elodie-lancaster]

"Fucker’s definitely a snowbird," Ricky laughs and it’s probably funnier to him than it should be. His parents were snowbirds too. Upper Wisconsin in the summer, Arizona in the winter. Like damn night and day and Ricky had trouble keeping up with them even on his good days. They liked to move and even if for a few years he’d followed them wherever they’d gone, he’d long since stopped trying to make his home wherever his parents were. 

Turning the map over in his hands, he squints his eyes, trying to focus on the markings scattered across it. He usually has a pair of reading glasses when he tries to read anything serious, but he hadn’t grabbed them. Had barely gotten dressed in something presentable. She’s lucky he even grabbed his wallet in case they wound up somewhere where he couldn’t convince her to pay for him. “Second star to the right kinda bullshit going on with this map,” he holds it closer trying to decipher the street lines from the rivers. “Left turn, then a right two streets down I think.” 

He glances over at her. “It’ll take us there eventually.” 

"Of course he is."

He's not wrong about the scattered points along her map. She's got a bad habit of marking things down in a way that only makes sense to her - which benefits a whopping no one else, whatsoever. The red pen is a halfhearted circling, scribbles over wrinkled paper that's surely hard to read. But he doesn't complain all that much, and she's not used to it. Leading people someplace new, guiding others -- it's not her specialty. For the most part, she doesn't know how to feel about it. All Elodie knows is that she doesn't want to be responsible for anyone getting offtrack of lost beyond the point of no return.

But this is just a boat for fish and chips, and they're going to be fine. "I can do that." A false, lighthearted promise is made before she complies with a stop sign. "Not really a Peter Pan... fan. But it works sometimes." The unintentional rhyme made her pause, but not for long, and the roads make it a piece of cake. Driving shouldn't make her so anxious, but there are a lot of things unwinding beneath her casual demeanor. "So we gonna believe in fairies for this one? Get there that way?" After his last instruction, they head down a small hill and pull up to another intersection. From what she remembers, it shouldn't be more than two minutes away. "Next!"

[elodie-lancaster]

map quest ✿ elodie & ricky

[elodie-lancaster]

"Nah, man, it’s great," he tells her when she asks if he doesn’t like the nickname. There’s a laugh caught in his throat and maybe tomorrow he’ll find the nickname annoying, maybe he’ll find it stupid or childish, but right now he just thinks it’s funny for reasons she doesn’t even know. Inside jokes and everything with himself. It’ll be funny when she realizes. If he ever tells her, if she ever finds herself a part of the joke. Maybe she won’t find it as hilarious. Maybe she’ll be mad. He just leaves the thought there for now. "Nicky vacations in Florida, just to let you know," he tells her, referring to Saint Nick. 

He’s sitting there nodding his head, watching the scenery go by. It’s nice out here. East Coast born and raised, he finds the West Coast to be somewhat of a different kind of feel. He can’t tell what. It’s not more laid back, nor is it more busy. It’s just…different. Maybe it’s the company. When she asks him what the directions are, he looks down at the map in his hands. “Wait you actually need me to navigate? Thought I was just supposed to sit here and look pretty.” 

"Yeah? Knew I was right when I pegged him for a summer guy." Then she laughs, because Santa Clause is a simpler light in a complicated world. But what's even more complex are the directions ahead of them that Ricky doesn't seem to have a grasp on just yet. That's fine - she won't complain if they get lost, truth be told. It's not really about knowing the whole place like the back of her hand by the end of the day (she doesn't even know her hands that well). Just about getting somewhere and making progress. 

That's why she's here. That's what she has to keep doing. Moving. At all costs. Plus, the occasional making the best of it while she gets the chance. "Wasn't aware we couldn't all do both." Elodie teases, eyes still on the road though they do flick in his direction once. "'Least you've got one of two down. C'mon, try it. We're just down the block. The boat's a big red circle, I marked it for you." It can't be all that hard, can it? 

Easier said than done, probably. That's why she's not the one with the map.

[elodie-lancaster]

map quest ✿ elodie & ricky

[elodie-lancaster]

He sorts at the Rudolphs nickname. “Really? I’m stuck with a fictional Reindeer?” It doesn’t really bother him. Nothing right now does. It’ll take a lot more than a nickname to get under his skin. He’s completely at ease and even if he weren’t, he doesn’t think it’s that bad of a name. Still finds it hilariously tongue-in-cheek on his part, but he doubts she has any sort of context other than her own joke from the day before. It’s fun and it’s personal and it makes him think that maybe he’ll make it to his 24 hour of not fucking up goal. 

Following her down the stairs and out the door, there’s a quiet appreciation that she has a car. He wouldn’t mind walking, it’s normally the way he gets around. That or a bike. No car. Can’t drive a car without a license. A lot of things he couldn’t do because of that, but that was another thought for another day. He slaps the roof of the car before climbing into the passenger seat. “Nice ride,” he tells her and even he’s not sure if he’s being sarcastic or not. He gives a chuckle, buckling himself in and nods his head. “Wreckage is my middle name. I can be our fucking guide.” 

"What, you don't like it?" She feigns offense, partly fond of it already. Though she doesn't always give strangers nicknames, she does regard most people casually. It's just how she is. Keys in the ignition, she makes her way out of the driveway with little to no trouble at all. She's only recently begun to drive -- cars are necessary when you're traveling long-distance and don't want to get caught on public transport, but it comes easily enough. Maybe the blonde has a knack for multitasking, or maybe focus gets her mind off of other things. "Just gonna have to deal. I need to get to the north pole with some dignity." 

The compliment isn't so much offhand as it is unexpected, as her vehicle's somewhat unconventional. Small and dingy is the best she could do with her budget at the time, but she makes due. Maybe he'll learn that she makes due with most things to the best of her ability sooner than later. "I know, right? Got all the mechanics after this bad boy." Down the road they go, and she makes the first left turn that'll lead them to where she believes their destination lies. "Ricky Rudolph Wreckage. Like the sound of that. Okay, directions. First left, then what?" He's got the map, after all. 

[elodie-lancaster]

map quest ✿ elodie & ricky

[elodie-lancaster]

Ricky’s just closing the drawer in his nightstand when the knocks come on the door. He snorts, wiping the back of his hand across his face. Headache’s ebbing even as he sits on the edge of his bed. Spirits high and a curl to his lips that settles whenever that tension in his shoulders and neck leave, he stands and heads to the door. He hopes it’s Dee from earlier. He’s not really up for meeting new people now and she’d promised him fish and chips. Promised to pay too and his appetite was starting to make itself known now that he was feeling better. 

Pulling the door open, he leaned against the doorframe, cool smile when he sees her standing in the hallway. “Hey, Chickadee,” he greets, the nickname coming whether he’d pre-thought it or not. He’s got his hoodie on, flip flops on his feet no matter the temperature outside. He was on the West Coast now. Fuck snow and everything to do with it. Shoes were for the weak. “Ready to see if this…Bowpecker is gonna sink or swim?” He says the words, forgetting already the name of the place. 

Greeted by a nickname she's never gotten before, the blonde smiles and hopes it sticks. As a matter of fact -- she's never really had any nicknames. Just fake ones, once or twice. It's a package deal, but right now, the look on her face is entirely authentic. "Rudolph." She addresses him coolly, hands in the pockets of a baggy cardigan. "Hope you slept okay." Somewhere between absentminded and considerate, she steps aside and pulls the brochure out. Shoving it in his direction, she's baiting with a smile. "Yeah, I'm ready. Better hope they are, too."

Even though it's stationed on land and not on the docks, she stifles a laugh thinking of pushing it over... or attempting to, lunging and putting all her weight against the little ship. What a devastating failure. Starting down the stairs and assuming he's right behind her, Elodie makes sure to lock the door behind them once they're outside. It's not an unbearably long walk there, but she'd rather take the car in case they make another stop. Or get lost. Better a vehicle than nothing. Pressing her automatic key, she hops in the driver's seat and shoots him a quick look. "And we can hope we make it through the wreckage if it ends up tasting like ass."