"Sometimes I just gotta remind myself that I don't have to cook for myself every morning, coming to the diner's always on the table- and man, do I love a good pancake." She hums, happily tucking into her breakfast as she goes over her planner for the day. "I've got a whole day to myself too- this is a rare opportunity, you know? I've got to make a rule for myself- 'Birdie, don't go to the soda shop today even if it's just to check in' because I know I'll try to work, I do it every time I have any sort of 'me time'- I am suddenly realizing it's been perhaps far too long since I've had a full day of... 'me time.'" she observes aloud, closing her planner and leaning over to the person sat next to her at the counter.
"I do hate to be a bother, sweetheart, but could you pass me the sugar shaker? this coffee's a little bitter." She chimes. "And maybe something sweet'll show me the path toward what a day off looks like for somebody who's not let herself have one dang near since all this mess started."
"It surely wouldn't kill somebody here to try and grow tea plants indoors..." She sighs, hands planted on her hips as she scans the rather... scant selection of bag tea left over on the shelves of the Food Market. "That Calhoun boy and his poor timing was a godsend, but now they want an arm and a leg for simple black tea? I've hardly got the sugar and honey for pastries and tarts, much less making this sweet." She sighs, placing it into her basket anyway. It's then she spots a box of white tea- set high up on a shelf and pushed to the back. She's not likely to reach it herself, but maybe- "Excuse me, sweetheart, would you mind lending me a hand quickly? There's one last box of white tea on the top of the shelves here, and I chose today not to wear my heels. It goes much better with the herbs from my garden for cough medicine for the little ones- could you help me get it down?"
"Oh I know sweetpea, it's so so upsettin'! I don't have as many littleuns for you to play with when you're here like I used to! Everybody's growing up on me! it's okay to have big feelings though, come here, come here- Oh! Coming!" Buttons is old hat at this, and its clear enough by the time she reaches the front door with the baby on her hip- no longer crying but absently playing with chunky, shiny plastic jewelry- to greet Ondine. "Ondine! Hello honey! come in, come in, it's getting colder every day out there- would you like something to eat or drink?" She offers, waving her inside. "If I'd known you were coming by I'd have rescheduled my other sittin'- but this lil dear won't be a problem, will you, lovey?" She coos, moving off to sit the baby in a playpen before returning to her visitor with a welcoming, warm smile painted bright red.
"Make yourself at home, won't you? What brings you through?"
"Oh! Parker! Hello darling!" The greeting is pleasant and bright, as are all things about Buttons, most days. "I've not seen you in a bit- I should hope Gabe hasn't gone and forgotten about how much I like to see the two of you just because he's found himself a little girlfriend." She adjusts her groceries in her arm, removing her sunglasses and tucking them smoothly into bright blonde hair- she doesn't hold Parker's absence against Parker after all. "How's Mrs. Cabbage holding up? I should hope that last fix was enough to keep her from losing more of her stuffing?" She gasps, holding up a finger. "That reminds me! I spilled red wine on one of my throw pillows, positively ruined it, I'm sure I could take the stuffing out and give her a little more fluff in her stuff, if you'd like!"
She called me up at a quarter past three; "Big Sister, he hit me." Enough is enough, said, "Give me 15." 'Cause blood's thicker than whiskey...
"Hello there angel baby! I'm Sidnee O'Grady, but you can just call me Miss Buttons, everybody in Huntsville has since you were about a dandelion tall! Why, I'm 65 years old and as spry as ever! Been here my whole life long, I have. I used to own and operate the local toy store before the paradox hit, but that's been about a lifetime now, hasn't it? These days, I busy myself taking care of the young children around town. I'm a maternal type, that much you probably gathered, but I have a distinct lack of patience with stupid adults. My vices are simple- Beautiful women, and a vested belief that if Karma won't get you, Something- or somebody else will."
Name: Sidnee Lenora O'Grady
Aliases: Miss Buttons, Buttons, Sid
Age: 65 (July 9th)
Sexuality/Gender: Cis Lesbian, She/Her
Personality: A warm, maternal woman, Miss Buttons has built her reputation on the back of the archetypal kind southern grandma- an aging belle settling gracefully into her sixties, she carries herself with an overwhelming confidence in herself, well aware she's beautiful and brilliant and unwilling to compromise these facts for anyone else. It's her unwavering love for the most innocent among the people of Huntsville, the young, the abused, the 'odd' that has made her a fixture of the community- when blood fails, it's Buttons who's quick to offer those around her a home, no matter how temporary it may be. Always at the ready with tea, tarts, and a soft blanket, her home's walls hold hundreds of secrets tight- words whispered in confidence never passing cherry-painted lips to another soul. In a way, Buttons has earned her reputation as a witch, among those who take issue with her staunch sense of justice and loyalty to providing a voice to the voiceless. In others- she's just a sweet old lady, and the murmured stories of her knowing just the right way to make somebody's problems disappear are surely just that... Stories.
Occupation: Childcare provider, Seamstress, former toy store owner
Affiliations: She seems particularly close to Auntie G- But appears to be a free agent, beyond her general loyalty to the townsfolk.
Scent Profile: Sweet honey and natural sugars, dyes from plants and the homey, comforting smell of fresh baked pastries. Florals and turned earth, the sharp, cutting smell of various herbs and natural soaps. Light and comforting in a way that's almost performative- hot tea, bubble bath, and clean linen.
Aesthetic: Two pretty, shiny button eyes, 1950s perfection and red-lipped grins even a decade into captivity. She is not trapped here with them, they are trapped here with her. Gentle, pretty hands soothing scrapes and bruises, a piece of sweet candy to chase away tears, a stuffed animal well-loved mended with sure fingers and strong stitching. A gentle voice reading bedtime stories with a jeweled dagger tucked under her pillow, the nightmares don't come into her room when you run to her for solace- they fear her, as you fear them. Spiders and mantises in little glass containers across shelves, living, breathing decor, beautiful and deadly- women with a hunger for blood, and foolish men who push boundaries oft their quarry.
I don't claim to be a saint- But, no, it didn't feel like a sin. It felt like he got what was comin' to him.
CHAPTER ONE: LIFE IN HUNTSVILLE POST PARADOX
Calamity may rule the town she calls home, but it's done little to shake Buttons. She continues as she always has, attending kindly to the children around town and providing a listening ear and leaning shoulder to the young people who might need it. In the wake of murders, natural disasters, and the splintering of extremists, she's continued as she always has, a comfortable, constant presence with an unwavering will, and a lifestyle hinging on no small sense of personal mystery. This too, will pass, and even lying in a heap of rubble, it's likely that Huntsville will always have the heart-print dress clad presence of Sidnee O'Grady. Stepping up her care for the youth in town after the Halloween festival disaster if anything to give injured parents and grief stricken friends a little space to breathe, it's her vested interest in ensuring the safety and comfort of the children that's led her to start teaching other townspeople how to rear the plants she grows in pretty, perfect gardens year-round.
Salves and home remedies made from crushed, cooked, and blended plants, stuffed animals filled with dried aromatics to soothe away nightmares. It is the little bit she can do for the people trapped in town, beyond tea and a listening ear, and she remains willing as ever to take secrets to the grave. Though rumors remain about who's grave certain secrets may eventually lead to. In a way, she's thankful for her lack of employment, these days- the freedom to come, go, and do as she pleases has given her a number of interesting opportunities, after all.
"Oh- Gotcha!" It's quite the sight, really, Birdie scampering around the soda shop in a sundress and wide-brimmed hat, reaching up after a butterfly- only to exclaim victoriously, when she caught the insect, lowering it to eye level and peering into clasped hands. "I'm sorry! you must have a very busy day to get to- but you can't do it in here! You'll end up in somebody's root beer float! And I try not to have anybody eat bugs unless they know waaaay ahead of time I put a bug in there." She's making her way to the front door when it opens, bell clinking and heralding the arrival of a customer. "Oh! Welcome to Pop and Lock, honey! One second!" She opens her hands, shooing the butterfly out into the open. "there we are, everybody's where they belong, now!" She plants hands on her hips with a serious nod, then turns to the visitor with a smile.
"Oh! Afternoon Will! What can I get together for you, baby? I'm only here a little bit longer- Got to teach a 9 year old how to play the clarinet in an hour or so- the joy of music never rests, and all that."
"You have a beautiful day, sweetie!" Birdie calls after the departing customers, features split into her typical megawatt smile and tucking ration cards into the register in front of her. "Andrew, honey, the soda machine is gettin' stuck again on the red-punch nozzle, you mind takin' a look at it this time? I tried t' fix it all by myself and made a right mess of the counter underneath it- and I promise the walkway's good an' clean enough for you to take a break once you help me out." She informs with a hum, closing the register. "You all don't have to look busy for me, you know, 'long as the shop's clean and our customers are happy you should all take whatever time to sit you need! Catch up on a book or something, or just take a load off! No need to wear yourselves out pretendin' to get stuff done when stuff's done and dusted!" She glances over her shoulder at the soda machine again.
"I swear it's got it out for me- the High School's copy machine was the same way."
"Oh Spencer! You're here so early honey- I was hoping to be in-and-out before anybody noticed, I can't stay long today, I've got lessons to teach and everything but-" She's chipper as always, even without the sun settled into place high in the sky, the morning still fresh and new, as she holds up a container of baked goods. "I had extra fruit and flour from when I was prepping for the flower festival so I thought 'Birdie you gotta do somethin' nice for your staff! they work so hard and keep the soda shop running just right so you can do your thing!' and then well, I decided the best way to do that was muffins! I really was just gonna drop 'em off with a note- but you're here so I can give 'em right to you!" She hands them over with a smile. "There's two a' each one, I hate tryin' to figure out how to share just one so I made two! You got anything you need a hand with for the next-" a pause, checking her watch. "Hour an' a half, baby?"
