Covent Garden Flowers; Tuesday [01/01].

[white_oleander]

It was interesting, really. Removed from this place, Astrid started to feel that she didn't like it, she didn't need it, she didn't want to be here. She thought of how she considered sabotaging her trip back so that she'd have to stay in California longer or, better yet, not have to return at all. But then she got back, and she started to realize that there were a lot of things she actually did like about this place. The interesting people, the bizarre but fascinating classes, the openness and the freedom.

That last part especially surprised her, considering how terrified she'd been of the idea of being by herself when she'd first arrived at Fandom. But after two weeks in a group home where her every move seemed to be monitored or dictated by a bunch of people who didn't know her, where meals were regulated, bedtimes and bedchecks enforced, where even the simple act of spending time with her mother turned into a whole production of checkpoints and rules...the difference was staggering, really, and she found herself a little startled by how Used to the freedom she'd gotten.

There was still comfort in all that regulation, though, but this...this was nice, too.

And she'd definitely missed the flower shop, eager to return to it after her science class for her shift, even if she didn't really do much but a few simple housekeeping tasks and sketch some of the flowers again, which she'd missed. She didn't even seem to mind that they'd decided to sing today, and what they were singing was "Auld Lang Syne" over and over and over...

...okay, maybe she did mind it a little bit, wondering if she could somehow manage to wrap the scarf she'd found from her secret santa when she'd gotten back in a way that would help block out the sound, making a note to invest in some ear plugs.

Covent Garden is open!

Perk, Tuesday afternoon

[biotic_psychotic]

Just what everyone on the island, an already hyper Jack going in for coffee. She looked the place over and counted exits and all that pretty plate glass. Exactly the same as the last time she'd been here. Hooked her fingers into her pockets and sauntered up to the counter. She even remembered to be reasonably polite to the people behind the counter while placing her order for a large black dark roast.

Wallet dug out of her back pocket to the tune of jingling from the chain, she paid and tried not to make a face at the ugly green paper money. A bill and the loose coins of her change went in the tip jar.

Didn't take long to get her coffee and amble on over to a chair. She kicked it around with her foot and straddled it backward so she could rest her forearms on it and people watch. Most people thought sitting like that was attitude and it was a little, but mostly it was strategic. It was easier to grab the chairback and use the whole thing as a bludgeon if you didn't have to reach behind you to do it.

Not, Jack reflected, that she was likely to need that maneuver here. The street outside was quiet, people probably still sleeping off the hangovers from the night before.

She sipped her coffee and burned the roof of her mouth. In between sips, she worried at the burn with her tongue. It hurt but she didn't really mind pain and this was so minor it wouldn't have registered much on the scale anyway. Other than people watching, she was mostly thinking about whether she wanted a pastry or not.

[Open]

Luke's, Tuesday

[battlewithstyle]

It was New Year's Day, which weirdly meant Mitsutada was more assertive in taking control of the specials board.

Today's Specials
Mochi
Ozoni
Ricearoni

Okay, he had some control over the specials board, not entire.

Luke's was open!

[ooc: and OCD free because late]