ᶜ'ᵉˢᵗ ˡᵃ ᵛⁱᵉ

ɪ ꜱᴜᴘᴘᴏꜱᴇ ᴅʏɪɴɢ'ꜱ ᴀꜱ ɢᴏᴏᴅ ᴀɴ ᴇxᴄᴜꜱᴇ ᴀꜱ ᴀɴʏ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴛᴀʀᴛ ʟɪᴠɪɴɢ

[pushdaisies]

ɪɴᴛʀᴏᴅᴜᴄɪɴɢ... ᴱˢᵗᵉᶠᵃⁿíᵃ “ˢᵗᵉᵛⁱᵉ” ᴰᵉˢᵃⁿᵗᵒ

Walking through the picturesque streets of Cardinal Hill, you find Estefanía “Stevie” DeSanto , the 23 year old waitress at the Rustic Oven, originally from Seattle, Washington. Living alongside them in such a small town, you know that they're uninhibited and spunky, but what you might not know is that they are a witch, and that they’re hiding something…

tw: familial death, car accident

For as long as she could remember, there wasn't a mother but only a father in her life. Stevie was told her mother left after she was born, and it was the dynamic duo of her and her dad every day since. In fact, he was her best friend, and they did absolutely everything together. She didn't have a normal childhood, but wouldn't change a minute, growing up as the apple of her father's eye. Her life in Seattle would've been considered a pretty average, normal childhood. Stevie loved baseball, corn dogs, and dinosaurs more than anything in the world. At school, she developed her first crush, though she never got up the nerve to tell them before it was too late.

At the age of ten, she became an orphan. While driving back one rainy night, the car carrying her and her father home from a baseball game hydroplaned, sending the duo into oncoming traffic. He was gone upon arrival, but his daughter clung to life. She remained in a coma for two days. That was until her aunts on her estranged mother's side came to see their niece and brought more than their condolences. It'd taken them longer than usual to arrive, as they were traveling as they loved to do. Stevie didn't see them often as their adventures took them around the world, but she always remembered the treats they'd bring her from their journeys. The witches did what they did best, combining their knowledge of potions and precision with their powers to urge their niece back from the brink. Stevie awoke the next morning with two new guardians who had done more for her than she even knew. They moved her to Cardinal Hill to start a new life with them.

Then began what she called her second chance, though her wings were quickly clipped by the paranoia of her aunts. After nearly losing her once, they wanted to be sure it wouldn't happen again, especially once they discovered she was a young witch. With the unpredictable nature of learning her powers, the family became hermits, where Stevie studied what other kids her age did during the day, but the night was for lessons in her newfound abilities. With the amount of time she had over the years, she started honing in on her skills, and the rest of her time was filled with niche interests. Her honeybees outside are the closest she feels to the outside world, and she cherishes them along with Ned, her golden retriever and familiar. Besides her Aunt Olive and Aunt Charlotte, those were the only real friends she had.

Stevie had many pen pals, one in particular being the person she had a crush on in grade school. She never used her real name or revealed her identity, but continued to feel the same about them as they wrote each other over the years. Now that she's old enough to be on her own, she's finally spreading her wings and attempting to fly. Her aunts weren't given another choice when the girl finally said she was ready to leave, whether or not they were. Now she's meeting everyone she once never thought she would and living the life she missed out on, not wanting to waste her second chance. Still, she isn't sure she'll find the courage to finally confront the person she's fallen in love with over paper without ever having revealed who she really is.

maia refeccio . bisexual . cis female . she/her

she hates the name Estefanía, knowing it comes from her mother and has gone by stevie for as long as she remembers. only her aunts call her by her full name. they haven't told her about her mother, even after all these years, and conveniently always seem to not have answers to her questions.

since she's still living with her aunts as she saves up money, stevie is doing her best to get them out of the house and back on the road again, the way they used to. even if they haven't admitted it, she knows they miss it and hopes her own freedom can inspire them.

she is a rolodex of random facts about random things. in her spare time, she deeply researched her favorite things and didn't grow up as fast as everyone else.

more tbd

📌 : Pinboard

[pushdaisies]

closed starter for ej (@lxstboysxx) located at the park

She came around dusk to give Ned room to run. He didn't often get to stretch his legs this much. A zoom around a tree before staring back at Stevie, who only needed to move ever so slightly to send him reeling again. The nights were coming quicker now as fall took shape on the town, but she didn't mind, so long as she was able to experience it freely. Each moment was savored as a different taste, one that felt like a fading photograph or a feeling she could never quite reach. After living here for all these years, only now did it truly begin to feel like home. The sight of a shadow, along with a smaller four-legged shape beside him, made Stevie rush forward to put her own furry friend on a leash. Ned didn't hesitate to return to her without more than a sniff in the stranger's direction. Once on his leash, she reached out to the figure that had now come into view. "Sorry about that, I thought we were the last ones left," she offered with a smile, hoping no harm was done. "Gorgeous goldie by the way. They're the best. Not that I'm biased or anything." The brunette and her opposite-haired friend gave each other a glance, as if he knew the silliness of her words.

[hearthandhallows]

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “I’m Connor,” he offered quickly, hand lifting in a small wave even though they were standing only a few feet apart. “Sorry, I should’ve said that right away. Felix kind of dropped me into this, so I’ve been trying to play it cool and, uh–” he broke off with another laugh, rubbing at the back of his neck. “Not sure I’m pulling that off.”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ For just a second, though, when her expression shifted–like something hit her harder than it should’ve–he tilted his head, concern flickering behind the boyish smile. “Hey, you okay?” he asked gently. “I didn’t… say something weird, did I?”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ His tone stayed light, teasing enough to give her an out if she needed it, but his eyes lingered. “I mean, first impressions matter, right? And I’d really like mine to be a good one.” He could feel his face flush, but it wasn't from the warm summer air.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ After a beat, he held his hand out with a soft smile. "If you're still in, I'm still in-and we got a movie to catch."

[pushdaisies]

⋄⋄ 🌼 ⋄⋄

While she’d been Daisy for all these years, he’d always been Connor. A name she drew in hearts on her sketchbook while never knowing the man he’d become, but the words he put onto paper. They were unlikely pen pals, assigned during school while she was absent, before her aunts decided she’d be a better fit for life inside. She never had to be anyone beside herself, or at least the version that had been growing inside of her, never seeing the light of day until now. There he stood, somehow even better looking than she imagined, and words escaped her. For a moment, all Stevie could do was stare at him, but she shook herself loose once he commented on her behavior.

“Oh, you’re playing it off as cool as a cucumber,” she replied with a slide of her hand as if to resemble the same slick nature. Maybe it was stupid, no, it definitely was, but she couldn’t control it at this point. Whatever came from her was a mixture of nerves and excitement to have finally met Connor after all these years, and this was the circumstance. “Huh? What? Me? Oh, no, I’m fine. Thought I forgot to turn the curling iron off, but I definitely did.” A lie. Nothing else came to mind; she needed something to say that wasn’t a dead giveaway that her brain was working faster than her mouth.

An impression given that he had no idea about, but she kept her heart from fluttering away at the thought. The door was shut, and Stevie wouldn’t be turning back now. “Definitely still in,” the brunette confirmed, taking the hand he offered and praying hers didn’t go clammy. “Honestly, I’ve been waiting to see it since I first heard it was coming to theatres.” Movies are a glimpse into her truth, into the Daisy he knew and the Stevie he was on a date with. “If it’s good, I might even splurge and get it on VHS,” she threw in before quieting down for a beat. “Wait, you’re okay getting popcorn right? I gotta have something to mix with my Milk Duds.”

[bburich]

MAIA REFICCO in Pretty Little Liars: Summer School "Chapter Thirteen: Sweet Sixteen"

[blackcatxmagic]

This was all very unexpected. Here Leo was expecting to preparing for a sexy surprise, and now he was talking to a stranger in his partner’s home. She was nice at least, and she clearly cared about Felix, which immediately made Leo like her more; anyone who liked Felix was a good person in his eyes. Still, he felt a little awkward, especially since he was pretty sure that Stevie would know or at least guess what Leo had been planning to do with the rose petals. He would just have to do this at his cabin if Stevie was going to be staying here. “Uh…maybe can you not tell Fi that I came in here with rose petals?” he asked Stevie, his cheeks a little warm. 

Sitting there with Stevie and the cats, Leo listened to Stevie talk, thinking about how that was something she had in common with Felix. “Did he mention my hair?” Leo asked with a grin, unconsciously running his fingers through it at the same time. “I think he’s a big fan. And you’re right about our favorite person.” Leo smiled as he said this. “So Stevie, how long are you staying with Fi?”

[pushdaisies]

⋄⋄ 🌼 ⋄⋄

Stevie gave him a face that said 'no duh', which only lasted for a sarcastic second. "Of course," the brunette nodded firmly and used her hands to latch the metaphorical lock on her lips. Throwing the invisible key over her shoulder was just a personal touch. "They'll love it." Mostly because it came from Leo, or so she'd assume. It would have been nice to hear about how happy her friend was and the man who had a hand in making it happen. For that, Stevie would always be grateful. Anyone who made Felix happy was someone she cared to know. Besides, with the amount of time she'd been over lately, it only made sense they were acquainted. She'd argue the cats were lonely, but it wasn't a secret that it was the other way around.

A laugh escaped before he'd even finished speaking. Stevie had to put a hand over her mouth to quiet the outburst. It'd all been true, too, his hair the first thing she noticed, appreciating good hair care whenever she saw it. "How did you know?" Even this early on, Leo knew her favorite person that well. That only made her grin grow larger. "I don't really know. I've only ever lived with my aunts, it's just nice having somewhere else to go." Maybe it was too early to dive into her backstory, but it was Leo. "They're hermits. I didn't get out much. Until now, at least."

[plldaily]

MAIA REFICCO photographed for CONTENTSBeauty Magazine, march 2025

[pushdaisies]

closed starter for zion (@covenlcss) located at the enchantment theatre

Now that she could explore the town she was raised in, Stevie went anywhere they'd let her in. She'd heard about the theatre but never had the chance to visit it herself. Not until now. While being a movie buff, experiencing something live was a new concept to her entirely, except for the one year she went to the Nutcracker with her dad. She still remembered that night like it were only a few days ago. Those memories she clung to, refusing to let go of the father still alive in her. Stevie had only just wandered in, and her eyes darted around trying to take as much in at once. The girl thought she was alone until the sound of someone scoffed to grab her attention and presumably ask if she belonged there. "Hi," the brunette waved, a smile already sitting pretty on her features. "Do you offer tours or anything? Maybe an upcoming show? I've always wanted to come see this place in real life before." Her eyes couldn't stay locked on the stranger any longer and drifted back to their surroundings. "It's even prettier than I imagined." To Stevie, it didn't need to be much, as long as it was real.

[pushdaisies]

closed for levi (@prophecieswithoutcause) located at felix's apartment

Stevie hadn't expected anyone else to hide out at the apartment that was swiftly becoming like a second home, but then there was Levi. She'd been glad to have company, as Felix and Leo were off running errands and left the pair to their own devices. This small home was a sanctuary for the misfit toys that had been tossed out by the world, not that Stevie wanted to be anyone else, loving even the misshapen parts of her. Still, she knew next to nothing about Levi but wanted to get started changing that, especially if they'd be spending more time together. "How did you get into boxing?" That hadn't been a hobby that Stevie picked up while gathering dust in her aunts' house. In fact, she'd only seen a fight on television before because it came through on her tiny television set when she held the antennas just right. Meeting someone who did that sort of thing firsthand was something else entirely, and Stevie was curious about anything she knew nothing about. "Have you ever gotten really hurt doing it? I always wondered if your nose gets hurt being out in the open like that. I almost broke mine once by walking into a wall. I can't imagine a fist."

[pushdaisies]

closed starter for len (@innocentcurse) located at stevie's aunts' house

Not just anyone could come over to her house so freely; even her aunts were weak to his charm. Stevie would say it was impossible to not love Len the second you met him. He made her smile on the inside, or that's how she liked to put it, a best friend. After her blind date, she needed someone to know the truth before it spilled out of her by accident. A warm cup of tea warmed her palms, sitting criss-cross on the floor of her aunt's living room. They'd gone to bed long ago, and it left the first floor of the home to the duo. Depending on the trajectory of their conversation, a bottle of red wine awaited them in the kitchen.

"So, long story short, one of my pen pals I've like kind of been in love with since I was ten," the girl blurted. A sentence loaded with questions, but she silenced them with a raised finger. She wasn't done yet. "It gets better." Oh, how she wished that was the end, and she hadn't even gotten to the punchline yet. "Color me surprised when I find out that's who my blind date is with, and it's like my brain just stopped working," she groaned, setting down her cup to switch her forehead into her palm.

[hearthandhallows]

✿ Closed starter for Stevie (@pushdaisies) outside Felix's.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ When he agreed to the blind date, he hadn’t expected Felix to send him an address. He’d assumed they’d meet somewhere neutral, maybe the diner or the movie theater, but nope–there it was, plain as day, Felix’s handwriting with their own apartment number scrawled at the bottom. That was how Connor realized he’d been roped into a date with someone who was staying with Felix.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ The realization made his stomach flip. If it went badly, she’d go home and report back, and then Felix would know. Connor wasn’t sure he could live through that kind of secondhand embarrassment. He’d already agreed, though, and Felix’s only response when he pointed out the setup was a mischievous giggle. “They’re pure evil,” he muttered to himself at least three times, but there wasn’t any venom in it. Honestly? If she was Felix’s friend, she had to be cool. That thought was the only thing steadying him.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Which was why he was now sitting in his truck outside the building, a few minutes too early, tapping the steering wheel like it might psych him up. He’d been on dates before–plenty, actually–but suddenly the idea of knocking on this door had his palms sweating. He finally huffed, “C’mon, man, you’ve got this,” shoved the truck door open, and made his way toward apartment 13.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He knocked, stepped back, and braced himself for Felix’s smug grin on the other side. But when the door swung open, it wasn’t Felix. It was her. And–wow. Pretty eyes. The kind of eyes that made him forget whatever clever opening line he’d practiced in the truck.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Hey,” he managed, smile warm. “You must be Stevie. Felix has told me a lot about you–all good things, don’t worry.” His laugh was easy, even if his heart was racing faster than he’d like to admit.

[pushdaisies]

⋄⋄ 🌼 ⋄⋄

In all honesty, she was pretty excited considering this was her first date. Whoever it was Felix picked could be trusted; they wouldn’t have sent her to the wolves. Their judgment was all she needed to feel safe. This would be fun; besides, this was a movie she’d been looking forward to seeing on tape, but now she could experience it as the director intended. If Felix liked him, then he couldn’t be bad company. Still, she wanted to look her best while also being true to herself. Stevie wouldn’t change for anyone, incapable of being anyone besides unapologetically Stevie.

She'd decided on a pair of her favorite jeans, a cropped t-shirt, and a jean jacket that was littered with embroidered flowers done by yours truly. When there were only so many things to do, she made sure to do them all. It was a hobby taken up to jazz up her closet while also adding another time killer to her arsenal. The girl sat on the couch anxiously petting a cat with each hand, mumbling to them about her worries, not wanting to bother Felix with the nonsense. At the same time, an element of thrilling anticipation made her understand why people did this sort of thing, and then there was a knock at the door.

"Wish me luck," she asked of the animals, getting up from the couch, along with a few brushes to her pants to whisk off the cat hair. Without even seeing him, Stevie started to smile, it only growing as she opened the door to reveal the mystery man. "In the flesh." The girl gave a wave down as if introducing herself to the world itself, which in a way she felt like she was. "Ah, good, it's no fun to start with the bad stuff." A joke that could've gone either way, but Stevie didn't hold back from being herself, only hoping that he wouldn't mind either. "I don't think I caught your name," she confessed, biting into her bottom lip sheepishly. It wasn't unlikely that she'd been told, but she couldn't recall in the moment.

Then he said it.

And she thought her stomach might fall down into the sole of her shoe. After all this time, it was him.

[blackcatxmagic]

Leo was planning to surprise Felix. He knew his partner wasn’t home, but that served Leo’s plans perfectly because he needed time to prepare. Well actually he didn’t need a lot of time, just enough to put out the flowers and, well, to get naked. He approached the front door, a bouquet of roses in one hand and a bag of rose petals in a bag. Maybe leaving a trail of petals from the front door to Felix’s bed was cliche, but it was still cute Leo thought, and he was still learning how to be a boyfriend - it had been a long time since Hugo. And besides, Felix would laugh when they found Leo in their bed, naked and with rose petals strategically covering his dick. Even the thought of Felix’s reaction had Leo smiling; he loved making them happy, and this definitely would. 

With his hands full, Leo was glad to be a witch as he reached the door. And another reason he was glad was because Leo didn’t have a key, but magic would take care of that. Sure, Leo had put his wards over Felix and his home, but he had created them and knew the way through. So with a few words muttered under his breath, Leo felt something in the air shift, an opening of sorts, and then he heard the door unlock. However, Leo was in for a shock when he walked inside because the apartment wasn’t empty. For just a minute, Leo worried he was in the wrong apartment, but then he saw Simon and Oscar. And they seemed to know this girl too, which meant that she was apparently welcome here. “Uh…” Leo said, caught off-guard. What did he say in this situation? But whoever this was knew Felix clearly because she called him Felly, which Leo doubted he’d let just anyone do. “Fi actually lets you call him that?” Leo asked. “I bet Fifi doesn’t seem so bad now.” He smirked at the thought of that, but clearly this wasn’t some dangerous trespasser. Not only did she clearly know Felix, but Leo wasn’t getting any kind of dark vibe from her. 

Nodding, Leo confirmed, “Yeah, I’m Leo,” smiling because it meant that Felix was talking about him. And then it all clicked, Leo realizing who this was. “Oh yeah, you’re the penpal!” Leo said. “Yeah, Fi’s mentioned you. I just didn’t know you’d be here…clearly.” He looked at the bag of rose petals in his hand - clearly Stevie would know what he had planned. “These will be good tomorrow too, so let me just put them somewhere out of sight.” He stowed the petals in a hall closet, and then Leo went to the kitchen and grabbed a vase, putting the roses in some water. For a moment, he felt awkward, but then he joined Stevie and the cats on the couch. Petting the pair of them, Leo looked at Stevie and asked, “So what exactly has Felly been telling you about me?”

[pushdaisies]

⋄⋄ 🌼 ⋄⋄

How natural things felt already made her all the more certain this was exactly where she needed to be right now. So far, she liked Leo, though her friend had only great things to say about their newfound partner. With curious eyes, she looked over the items that occupied the other's hands. "Awe," the dark-haired girl hummed to herself. While she hadn't experienced a relationship, it made her happy seeing the person she loved thriving in one. Besides, this kind of thing was much better to watch unfold in real time rather than reruns on television, as the letters could feel like by the time they arrived. "Well, yeah! I like Fifi, though. I definitely think you should just use it more, then they have no choice but to love it." She was serious too, even through the mischievous smile; there was a genuine nature to her comments. Stevie thought her Felly Belly must've loved their nicknames because they came from a place of the same kind of love, regardless of it that was the case or not.

"That's me!" The girl perked up even more then, popping up like a weed in a garden. "It's nice to finally meet you. Felly's been telling me about you since I got in." Her backstory was probably too much to dive into on a first-time meeting, but she expected it to happen soon to not confuse him with some of her peculiar wordings. "Mostly that you're super great, handsome, duh, and that they really, really like you. So I like you too," she agreed matter-of-factly. As long as he loved Felix the same way, there wouldn't be anything more that Stevie needed to know. "We already have something in common: we both have the same favorite person."

[pushdaisies]

closed starter for jackie (@jacquettaowen) located at the cardinal carnival

Stevie was excited to finally experience it for herself without the watchful eye of her aunts or enjoying the view from her window. A few trips would be necessary to get to everything, if she was even able to. After growing up without much more than her letters for company, she didn't mind going alone, and thought nothing of it. Bright eyed and bushy tailed the girl walked through the game alley with a smile not even a crowbar could take off. One game in particular called to her or maybe it was the prize you won, either way Stevie was floating towards the water gun race. Only moments upon arrival did the reality strike. Without anyone else to play the game wouldn't be all that fun and she went on the hunt for an opponent. Each passerby was scanned but most avoided eye contact as if they knew the girl was interested in striking up a conversation or selling a gimmick. Stevie honed in on the first person who caught her gaze, hurrying up to her with a smile and a dream of playing the carnival game. "Could I interest you in a water gun race? I'm not even good," she assured the stranger. "Best out of three? I'm trying to win one of those cat plushes for my friend."

[hearthandhallows]

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Felix blinked.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Then blinked again.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He was still somewhere between confusion and awe, especially when she hugged him like they’d known each other for years. Which, okay–technically they had, just not like this. Not face-to-face. Not honey-and-focaccia-at-the-doorstep real.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He blinked a third time, mostly to reset his brain, and let out a small, breathy laugh.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Oh,” he mumbled, arms finally catching up to his thoughts and wrapping around her in return. “Oh. Oh. Wait. Wait. You’re–” She pulled back, and the light from the hallway caught on the daisy in the bow, and then it hit him like a freight train made of stationery and late-night letters.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Stevie?” His eyes widened, mouth parted slightly in disbelief before curling into a crooked, astonished smile. “Holy shit. You’re real. I mean, of course you’re real, I just–” he motioned vaguely toward the sketchbook still open on the couch, “you’ve existed in ink and paper for so long I kind of thought you were a beautiful hallucination or something.”

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He took the bag gently, holding it like it might sprout wings and fly away if he wasn’t careful. “And this is–oh, this is so much. You brought bread? Aunt Olive’s? You brought bread and honey? Are you trying to kill me with kindness? Because it’s working.” Felix grinned, warm and a little dazed. “Come in. Please. You can’t just… show up with carbs and honey and then not come in.” He stepped back to let her in, still smiling. “You’re taller than I pictured too, by the way. Spiritually.” A beat. “What on Earth are you doing here?” Another beat. "Oh my God, you get to meet the cats." Another beat. "Did you get my last letter? I have a boyfriend now!"

[pushdaisies]

⋄⋄ 🌼 ⋄⋄

She knew he’d recognize her.

Stevie grinned like she’d been given the best Christmas present, a friend. That’s all she really wanted anyway. Not that her aunts weren’t enough, always giving her company and Ned for companionship. Stevie wasn’t alone, not really, but she felt like it more often than not. Life was quiet, boring, and simple in the confines of their Cardinal Hill home. Seattle was different. Everything moved faster there, even the speed limit was higher than the small town where she’d become nothing more than a face in a window.

Felix might not have even known the appreciation the girl had for their letters and the safety the page provided. Now there they were, finally face to face, but they felt like they’d known each other all along. “You know, I might be,” the brunette thought out loud, giving a tap to various parts of her body as if she’d slip through her own ghostly figure. “Maybe we both are!” At least they’d be together, even if they ceased to exist outside of a hallucination.

“Not even,” she protested with a firm frown. That was a small offering for the friendship he provided to a lonely girl doing her best to exist in a disconnected world. “You needed to try it for yourself.” Stevie talked about her simple life at home, but it only meant something now that she was able to really share it. At their invitation, the girl was quick to take up the offer and waltzed into the apartment like she’d been there a thousand times before. “Hello kitties!” A greeting to the strangers that she already considered part of her pack. “Well, my aunts thought it was about time I saw the world, you know, after a lot of convincing.” Stevie took an entire month to plan out the perfect presentation, even going as far as making a poster for the occasion. She hoped she wouldn’t be able to give them the option to say no after seeing the work she’d put into the request for her freedom. They meant well, sure, but she needed more. The girl already started to look around for the furry friends before pausing, bent over to look under the table, her head shooting up at Felix. “A boyfriend? Felly Belly!” Stevie jumped up, taking hold of their arm in excitement for her friend. “Tell me everything.” Since having never been in one herself, she wanted to live vicariously through the experience of others.

[pushdaisies]

closed starter for leo (@blackcatxmagic) located at felix's apartment

She'd been waiting for her friend to return from work while on his couch and enjoying the company of his cats. They seemed to like her for probably reeking of her dog Ned, but it gave her the feigned hope that one day they could meet. For now, she kept them company, having conversations with them as if they talked back, making tea using her fresh honey as a garnish. "I know, I can't believe she did it either," the girl agreed with the mew of Oscar and turned her eyes back to the television set. Days of Our Lives was garbage TV, she knew that, but after growing up with her aunts, Stevie got invested in the chaos. The girl flopped back onto the couch and patted the spot next to her for the cats to get back into position when the door opened. While she expected her friend, the face hadn't been one she knew, besides, by word of mouth. "You must be Leo!" Steveie shifted onto her knees to pop over the back of the couch, tea cup in hand, and a smile that gave the sun a run for its money. "Felly's told me all about you," she started, giving him a visual once over. "He's not home yet, just me and the cats." While he wouldn't know her, she blinked through an introduction before realizing it might be necessary due to his facial response. "Oh, right, I'm Stevie."

[hearthandhallows]

✿ Closed starter for Stevie (@pushdaisies) at Felix's apartment.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Felix rubbed the back of his neck with ink-stained fingers, half-distracted as he shuffled through a stack of unopened mail by the door. He'd been hoping to see one letter in particular, and frowned when he didn't see the familiar name appear. The apartment still smelled faintly of cedar and lavender. It had taken some time, but Felix finally felt that he was in a rhythm again, and could let himself breathe. Jinhwan had graciously accepted his plea for assistance with deep cleaning his apartment. The windows were open again. He was happy.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ He'd been meaning to start sketching again–for himself. His muse had skyrocketed since he'd started dating Leo. So when he accepted defeat that the letter, in fact, was not in the stack, he'd walked back to the couch and sat down in front of a worn sketchbook. Felix picked up his pencil when he heard it: a knock. 

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Mmm?” he mumbled, glancing at the clock. Weird time for packages. Or friends. Or Leo. Or... anything, really. He walked over and cracked open the door, expecting a neighbor or a confused delivery guy. Instead, there was someone standing there he didn’t recognize–a woman. His brain did a little scramble, like it was trying to find a match in a deck he didn’t remember shuffling.

‎‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ “Hi!” Felix blinked, smile crooked and curious. “I think you may have the wrong address. Well… Unless of course I've given you my address and I don't remember. That's always a possibility. Can't remember the last time I've done that, but anything can happen, really.”

[pushdaisies]

⋄⋄ 🌼 ⋄⋄

This was the beginning of her life, according to Stevie. After being trapped behind the fears of her aunts and the family history that was always conveniently out of reach, she felt like all she had was time to make up for. Even knowing that, one place had been the first stop on her freedom tour, and Stevie knew better than to show up empty-handed. A jar of honey from her bees, along with bread freshly prepared by her Aunt Olive, made for what she thought was a perfect welcoming gift. Of course, Felix hadn’t given her explicit permission to visit, but she didn’t think it was necessary after revealing her life story to the stranger through paper. They were family, regardless of whether they’d gotten to meet face to face, and today Stevie planned to finally change that.

She appeared at their door with a smile, bright eyes ready to absorb each detail the world had to offer her, and a delicately wrapped paper bag of goodies with her favorite flower pushed through the bow. For as long as she could remember, she was drawn to daisies. Maybe it’s because they grew naturally in the backyard of her caretakers or that they were featured at her late father’s funeral, but they littered her life eternally. Felix came to greet her, unbeknownst to them who exactly stood at their doorstep. “You’re even taller in person,” she mused, ignoring their questions and pointing out her new observations instead. Stevie shook the laundry list of questions from her own head and closed the space between them to engulf their slim figure in her even smaller one.

“It’s so nice to see you, Felly.” A nickname given to the stranger by a pen pal who hadn’t even bothered to introduce herself, expecting them to fill in the blanks. “You’re exactly how I pictured, just, you know, taller.” Stevie pulled back to get another glimpse at her friend's figure before nodding to herself in confirmation of her initial thoughts. “Oh, before I forget, I brought you Aunt Olive’s famous focaccia!” The girl held out the bag with an effervescent grin and whimsy that could only be achieved by someone sheltered from the dark truth of the world. "And honey from the happiest bees in Cardinal Hill." Or so she liked to think so.

[pushdaisies]

tag dump.