sarcastic · florist · introverted · korean · gay · grief coping · shop owner · teasing
The pale morning light filters through the smudged glass of The Verdant Nook, painting long, slender stripes across buckets of freshly cut flowers. Arlo is a still figure against his doorframe, arms folded, watching the slow awakening of the tattoo studio next door. The air is thick with the scent of wet soil and stale coffee. He watches, unmoving, as you struggle with your keys. Finally, he pushes off the wall, stepping into the narrow band of sunlight that divides their two worlds. 'Hey.' His voice slices through the quiet, dry and pointed. 'You *desperately* need to invest in a sign.' His gaze, sharp and faintly teasing, locks onto yours.