Dick knows things are always a little.. different, with Lysander. That his life hasn’t exactly been easy, and he certainly hasn’t been shown the care he deserves. He didn’t exactly expect much else from Lex Luthor of course but - it doesn’t change how much Dick just wants to make that right somehow. Even if that’s not really his place.
And it’s probably not, god knows he’s sure he’ll have to answer for this at some point, but he doesn’t care. Lysander deserves to be cared for.
“I can hang around for nine minutes, don’t mind me. I can even help out, fi you need it.” Dick offers with a smile. He doesn’t mind milling around so Lysander can do his thing, really - it’s nice sometimes, to just stop and relax, even if it’s to wait. “Hey - I’m never going to say no to muffin if you’ve got one to spare. I’ll even throw an extra dollar in the tip jar for you guys to start off with tomorrow.” He says with a grin, glancing around. “I can get started on the chairs first, if you want?”
sometimes, when he was feeling particularly self-indulgent, lysander liked to think of a world in which dick was his father.
it tended to crossover into a world where jess was his mother, because both of them were particularly kind to him, and so far seemed to be the only adults in his life who actually wanted to check in. but still, dick was a lot nicer than he felt he deserved, but he did enjoy it when he could -- but he couldn’t enjoy those fantasies for long, really, because then he felt guilty and terrible about his actual family.
“have whatever you want, i’ll grab it for you.” lysander insisted, grabbing out the cleaning products from the little cupboard under the sink to prepare to wipe down the benchtop. he’d done most of the cleaning, really, he just got particular about certain things. it was his shop, after all. or, half his shop, but that was beside the point. “are you... a-are you sure?” ( this would be another moment where perhaps, if he didn’t think too deeply, dick could pass for his father ) “i don’t w-want you to feel as if... as if you have to.”
jessica jones had come into lysander’s life at quite a key moment.
truly, if he were honest, she probably saved his life. well, actually, considering the space she rented out to him and the times she came to visit with dinners and sweets and much more friendship than he thought he deserved, there was no probably about it. however, lysander was... quite an anxious thing, shocking a grand total of nobody, and although he wanted to thank her, he was too nervous to vocalise just how much she had done for him -- and, he wasn’t sure she’d appreciate the emotional rambling, either.
so he settled for bi-weekly gifts, instead. with an armful of native australian plants ( they were not delicate, not daintily pretty, and lysander figured they’d suit her more ), the florist knocked on her door. every week or so he’d come around for lunch, and this week was no exception. // @alivses
❝ One of the LONGER ones. ❞ It implied more that all of the nights of his were long - and this one , maybe even more so. And it was true ; Cyrus didn’t get as healthy an amount of sleep as he’d like , cherishing every precious second of it before he’d have to spend his waking hours working again. A work-a-holic in the oddest of ways , definitely refusing to change such habits even when he was on hiatus from performing. ❝ So trust me - it’s really appreciated. ❞ Even though the other had refuted his offer , Cyrus would be leaving a large tip. It was the most he could do. Noticing his nervous expression , the witch had to ask , ❝ You good ?? ❞
“hopefully i-it won’t be... too bad for you.” lysander offered, a little awkward. he didn’t like to think of people working late into the night -- as much as he didn’t rest well or often, he did enjoy climbing into bed to try and calm down a little. he was glad that he’d never studied, because he knew that schooling would have ruined his already fractured sleeping schedule. “anything i can do to help, i... you w-want any of the sweets?” he asked, pointing to the glass windows. “we’re getting fresh ones tomorrow, so. i-i hear carbs and sugar are good for, uh, for energy.” he said, before nodding. “yeah, i-- i just. yeah. fine. i’m a-always like this.”
Tim gives Lysander an indifferent shrug. “You’d be one of the hundreds of people to kick me out so you could close; at least you didn’t have to wake me up to do it.” Tim wished he was joking about that. “If it’s really not too much trouble, I’ll take a large coffee.”
“one large coffee, coming up,” lysander said quietly with a little smile. he didn’t like to kick customers out -- it was rude, but it also meant they might not want to come back later on, and he’d hate to scare them off. “seems late to h-have a coffee. busy, uh... busy night ahead?”
“Oh?” Bruce glanced at the clock on the wall, chuckling lightly, offering the other a polite smile. “My apologies, Lysander. I hadn’t realized how late it was.” Though his voice and features displayed sincerity, the older male was actually lying.
Bruce had chosen that time specifically to pass by, wanting to avoid the distractions of the day, knowing the younger male wouldn’t be able or as willing to speak if there was a multitude of people around them. He just wanted to check up on him, finding it easier to reach out at his work rather than at home, not wanting to over step any boundaries and overwhelm Lysander by invading his privacy. They didn’t know each other very well after all, Bruce was simply a regular at Beans & Beans. And that rich guy who continuously ignored his father’s calls.
“I hate to be a bother, but I would truly appreciate it.” Bruce stepped towards the counter. “I was supposed to make an order of arrangements a few days ago,” he said, sighing. “But I completely forgot. And now the event is four days.”
lysander could never, would never understand bruce wayne. it wasn’t necessarily mean or anything, because the frailer of the two did try his best, but bruce was... kind, but quiet. he was sure the older man meant well, but he was too unsure of himself to really ever know that.
still -- lysander was pretty sure that bruce was trying, which was far more than he could say for his own father, and although he wasn’t particularly trusting, he didn’t want to seem rude. bruce was a nice man and was an excellent customer, and he mentally acknowledged that he’d come to visit lysander on his turf, where it was safer and more comfortable for him. pulling his woolen sleeves down over his hands, lysander offered a polite -- albeit nervous -- little smile.
“f... four days?” he repeated, making sure he’d heard correctly. eyeing the plants around them, lysander wet his lips and nodded slowly. “i-i can do that. what did you... what did you want for the, uh, the arrangements? c-colours and textures and th-things.”
“Oh don’t worry, that’s totally fine. I’m not here for the flowers.” Dick assures him with a smile, taking a few steps towards Lysander - slowly enough that he doesn’t freak the kid out, of course. The last thing he wants is to startle him, especially if he’s had a busy day at the shop. All Dick really wants is to check on the kid, make sure he’s okay - maybe take him to dinner, or at least to catch up if he doesn’t feel like eating.
So he’s a little protective of Lysander, sue him.
“Just dropped by to check on you, actually. Thought it might be nice to catch up?” Dick offers kindly, no real expectation, no pressure at all. Just an offer to spend some time with him, if Lysander wants to put up with him for a while. “Though if you’ve got something cooler to do than hang out with some old guy, I won’t hold it against you.”
there weren’t many people lysander trusted so immediately as he had trusted dick. when he’d come back home -- or as close to home as he could comfortably be without living out in the wilderness -- he’d completely wanted to ignore any kind of interaction with his father. moreover, he didn’t want to have any sort of fatherly connection, too afraid of disappointment and whatever else may come his way, but dick... dick had been what a dad should have been.
aside from grateful, he still didn’t know how to feel about it. that is to say, he didn’t know if he deserved it, but he’d take it all the same.
“i don’t really have anything to do, a-aside from close in... nine minutes, now.” lysander answered, smiling a little and shrugging. there wasn’t much else to do but sweep up and stack the chairs, but it was worth his while to leave the coffee machine on. “do you want, uh... there’s some muffins here. they were made today b-but we’ll have fresh ones tomorrow. do you want, uh, want one?”
alexander froze in his tracks. typical. of course the coffee shop was closing in ten minutes when he had wanted to escape the rest of the latverian delegation for as long as he could. then again, it was all his fault. he should have checked the opening hours before marching inside. alexander let out a defeated sigh and mimicked the other’s gesture by running a gloved hand through his hair. “can i please have a small black coffee on the go?’ he peered over his shoulder, half-expecting a doombot to wait outside the window. “no sugar.”
putting down his little watering can and hurrying behind the counter, he was grateful that he knew how to make coffee with their fancy new machine. it had saved him more than once, both with customers and for himself. he didn’t like to bring his staff out when they were busy out the back somewhere, and the guy seemed nice enough. “black coffee is... pretty strong for this late at n-night.” lysander said, trying to make conversation and hoping it wasn’t too forward.
The fact he was even being served was gratifying - bad idea of course to buy CAFFEINE late at night , but the witch was way too accustomed to pulling all-nighters and late nights in general. Immersing himself in his craft , he’d been preparing a ritual to pull off at midnight - of course , he needed to stay awake during it. The boost was need. ❝ Can I get just a regular mocha coffee ?? I’ll pay extra since I know it’s the fucking apex of rude to show up this close to closing. Promise. ❞
slipping behind the cafe counter, leaving his bright little flowers behind him, lysander nodded. he wasn’t as good at making coffee as melodie was, but she was out the back baking and he wasn’t going to interrupt her. she was too in the zone, probably. putting the drink into the register and starting the coffee, lysander looked over a little nervously to his customer. “no need. the... the... sentiment is enough.” he assured, before smiling a little. “is it... a long night for you?” lysander asked, referring to the coffee.
“Oh.” Shit, of course. She hadn’t realised how late it was. “I’m sorry, um… Are you sure? You don’t have to–”
recognising the anxiety immediately, lysander nodded a little. “it’s totally fine. we... i’m closing by m-myself, plus, i own the place, so it’s... it’s... no stress. what can i get you?”
“Sorry,” Tim said as he rubbed the back of his head and gave his brother in law a small smile. Ever the chronic night owl robin Tim hadn’t really stopped to consider the time before he chose to stop in to visit the shop. “You don’t have to if it’s going to be a bother. I’ve got plenty of coffee at home.”
peeking into the cafe and seeing the register empty, the young man nodded. they hadn’t had customers in a little while, and the florist till was counted, so he could spare the time from the flowers around him. “no, i can get you something.” he insisted. “i just didn’t want to... to... f-for you to have a wander just for... for, uh, me to k-kick you out.”
“ oh … morning, “ melodie replied through a yawn, an unthinking response as she nonchalantly carried around 3 people’s weight of ingredients. a beat before she realised that that wasn’t a regular morning activity, quickly putting down the bags of flour and coffee beans. sheepish smile, she quickly tried to deter any further questions about her weight lifting capabilities by pulling freshly baked tray of cookies off the cooling rack. ‘ it’s been – ah ! good ! everything’s almost out of the oven, wanna have a good luck cookie? they’re earl grey and lavender – ! ‘
it wasn’t that melodie couldn’t protect herself. really, lysander thought that she would probably be better off without him there, regardless of whether or not he knew that she could lift what she could -- he was nothin’ but noodle, as he’d once told her, but the more people in the store would be a deterrent for anybody who might think of coming in. hopefully. and the company wouldn’t do either of them harm, which certainly helped. “oh! uh. yes, p-please. the combination is... sounds great.”
“welcome to beans and beans,” the young man smiled politely, running a hand through his curls as he stood behind the taller plants towards the back of the store. stepping out a little, he eyed the clock on the wall. it was late and he’d already counted the till, but... he could still serve them. right?
shifting nervously, lysander spoke up again. “we close in ten, b-but... i’d be happy to help you.”
“good morning,” lysander smiled lightly as he walked in the door. he didn’t need to be there as early as melodie did, baking things and making coffees, but he didn’t like to leave her alone when it was still early. not that he’d be any protection for her, but the older man figured that his presence might do something to deter... no-gooders. it was well intentioned, anyway.
the florist didn’t need to be open this early, and as a result, he liked to help clean or count the till or do whatever he could. “how’s your morning so far?” / @bbmelodie
Should Tony be flying around in the suit? Probably not. In fact, he feels like he probably made some kind of promise to someone (Pepper) not to do so unless absolutely necessary. But then again, what does absolutely necessary even mean? It’s a totally different measure to two different people, right? Surely if he deems it absolutely necessary to be racing through the skies as Iron Man to make sure he gets home on time - which he definitely wouldn’t be able to otherwise - that should be okay, right?
He can only hope.
Catching the sight of a flower stall down below, Tony makes a quick detour - flowers are always good, right? - and lands a couple of meters away as so not to ruin any of the arrangements. “Didn’t mean to startle you, everyone relax.” He insists as his armour disappears, nanotech retreating back into the housing device on his chest. “I just - need some flowers, I guess. Any suggestions are welcome. Which bunch says ‘I’m sorry I flew home when I wasn’t supposed to’?”
lysander had to realise that not everyone was as slow-paced and unsteady as him. living in the same town as superheroes was jarring, and when iron man himself landed out the front of his store -- well, his half of the store, that is -- the thin, almost sickly looking man raised his eyebrows and braced himself for the man walking in. the iron suit looked out of place in his florist, and as he finalised a sale for a young woman, lysander gave a little wave to the man.
“u-um, purple... purple hyacinths mean ‘sorry’. oleanders are for caution, as... uh, a-as in, you’ll be careful not to do it again.” he offered, glancing around the store. “i-i can add some, uh, we’ve got nuts still attached to their branches, if... assuming you feel stupid about this.”
❝ L E S S than an ace, for he is dead; he is nothing ❞
⎣ alfie allen, cis male, he/him ⎤I just saw LYSANDER LUTHOR walking around new york they’re TWENTY SIX years old and they’re the child of LEX LUTHOR. Their abilities are N/A and they are working as CO-OWNER OF BEANS & BEANS COFFEE. at their best they’re THOUGHTFUL & DETAIL-ORIENTED but at their worst they can be ERRATIC & GUILTY.
tw: child abuse, domestic violence. not really in detail but it’s there.
“ o, take the sweet sense of my innocence! ”
1 / he is born, the youngest of four, and is a little lion. his laugh is a roar and his giggles are purrs and he doesn’t cry, not even when his father is mean or uncaring. scathing words can’t hurt the little cub if he can’t hear them, and if he hides in his den -- in his closet, under his bed -- his dad can’t bother him. if he can’t be found, he’s safe. and that’s how it works, for the most part. there are a few times where his dad finds him, but mostly he discovers he doesn’t care enough to.
2 / and that’s how he learns to live, for a while anyway. the little lion no longer roars, and instead hides himself away and keeps quiet, not wanting to bother his siblings or father and just finds ways to get himself in trouble. he’s alone, mostly, until he’s surrounded by terrible things and then he’s alone but in a sea of people. coming home is just as bad if not worse, to be alone with no distraction. going to his nice friends’ houses are nice but he knows he doesn’t belong there. with the nice things. he is not a nice thing.
3 / he manages to get by, for the most part. there’s a teacher he almost confides in when he’s about twelve before that man turns out to be just as awful as his father, so that’s a bust. he’s got a handful of friends but mostly, lysander keeps to himself as best he can. it’s easier that way. he can keep up appearances and pretend that he’s still a lion as long as he ignores the poachers everywhere.
4 / things get worse and worse for years and lysander doesn’t know what to do. what else is there but this kind of life? it is easier to escape, he thinks, and so he spends time running with one or two or ten bad people. the worst of them offers him a place to live and no need to pay his way and anything sounds better than being at home, so he runs away and loses himself in that world.
5 / so lysander’s life for about four years is nothing but him. his house and his voice and his everything entirely enveloping his senses. it’s not a good four years, but it takes that amount of time for him to realise that maybe this isn’t the best place for him to be. formerly content to just allow this man to kill him, eventually, the youngest luthor finds himself an opportunity to run. and after taking enough money out of his family’s account, lysander disappears.
and so the lion vanished,
6 / and so lysander realises he has nowhere to go, but nowhere to go is better than somewhere to stay, and so he just runs. it takes three weeks for him to find some secluded place in the woods somewhere, and he pays his rent with cash so there’s no trail for anybody to follow his transaction, and for six years he stays in the woods, alone and surrounded by plants, and it feels like this is where he should have been for his whole life.
7 / he’s littered in scars and his bones ache but eventually, after what seems like no time at all, he comes back to his family. the real world is calling, and his father is noticing that money is slowly sapping out of the account, and the hunted, wounded animal has to return to his pride of lions. but as he looks at himself in a mirror and packs his bag, he wonders how long he’ll last before they eat him alive.
8 / he makes one friend, at least. they get along surprisingly well for someone so afraid of everything and together they open a little shop. it has his need for plants and her need for baked goods and it feels good to feel safe with somebody. his family is overwhelming and his old friends are curious and concerned, but she’s just excited to get things up and running. she’s good. he doesn’t deserve good, but she deserves effort, and he’s not going to let her down.
9 / lysander is a nice guy, really, if you’re able to get more than a few words out of him. he’s happy to talk about flowers and plants for hours on end, and he’d like to listen to everything you have to say, but the broken down thing can’t handle a conversation centred around himself for too long. he’s very clever, despite his mistakes, and needs friends more than he wants them.
half sleep, half waking.
POSITIVE / considerate, non-confrontational, outdoorsy, humble, intuitive, devoted, tidy, kind.
NEGATIVE / jumpy, untrusting, confused, melancholic, indecisive, anti-social, anxious, passive.
NICKNAMES / sandy, lys.
D.O.B. / september 28, 1993.
STAR SIGN / libra.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN / english, italian.
HABITS / downcast eyes, heavy breathing, eyes squeezed shut, pressing nails into palms.
SCARS & BIRTHMARKS / a smattering of faded freckles across her face and arms and a small scar on her collarbone left behind from a physical altercation.
WANTED CONNECTIONS / siblings, father, bad people he used to hang out with, an old landlord, childhood friends, new friends, regular customers at beans & beans, group therapy buddy, father figure, protective friend
