Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1: In Memory of Terrance
Lotus- Nelumbo nucifera
Just like the lotus, we too have the ability to rise from the mud, bloom out of the darkness, and radiate into the world.
She didn’t know when it started. The familiar streets of smiling faces, the soft shine of the sun filtering through the car windows, and the hum of her truck as she passed many known faces in the small town she had learned to love. The old shops held a rich culture of farmers, entrepreneurs, and hustlers who worked together to keep each other afloat. This was the norm here in the small town in Sunset City. Rumi adored her community and gave back as much as she could. Unlike other kids born here, Rumi learned the way of farmers, the hard work it took to cultivate, to create. Mind-numbing physical labor to achieve a fresh product. They tended to run away, head for bigger cities, bigger futures. That was something that never crossed Rumi’s mind.
Her dad showed her how to ride horses, feed the cattle, and handle every aspect of running the family farm. He unknowingly planted the seeds of Sunset in her. It all started with his dream. To unite the Farmers of Sunset and support the local businesses. The once small town that was a dead end became something you could build. Stores began opening, farms were being built, and the community began to spread the hope of more. She admired her father so much in those times before he passed that she took over that dream in his absence. After the loss of her father, it was hard for Rumi to look at the farm the same way. Every place she would go held his smile, his cool, calm voice, his unwavering loyalty. He encompassed everything she wanted to be. Losing him shook her foundations but, but her mother like sticky vines melded into the cracks filling them, smothering the the hole her father left with attention and love.
Rumi remembers when it started to change, when she accepted that life would have to go on. Her mother had come to her, sat her down, and looked her in the eyes. The storms hid behind those brown orbs, shown softly before settling on something else.
Acceptance.
She accepted that things wouldn’t be easy, that things would still change just as the seasons. Fall would bring the leaves and winter the rain, but the sun would always rise as would the moon. Rumi, for the first time, saw things she had failed to miss in her own spiral; they still had each other. Grabbing her hand, she placed a small flower, a small Bamboo Orchid, in her palm with a small smile, slightly tugging at her lips.
Growth takes time, Rumi. You have to be patient. Can you do that?
The words meant more to her now than they did then. This wasn’t about a flower anymore. No, it was about her, her mother, and their family. Going forward, Rumi promised herself she would never look back. She would take every step forward knowing that growth wasn’t linear. As long as she moved, she was growing. Now, as she pulls in front of her shop, she smiles, a real smile, knowing she kept that promise. She continues to live for them.
The tires of her truck are slowly crunching against the gravel road as she pulls to stop. Rumi hated being away from her shop for too long, not knowing how her babies were doing put a toll on her mental state, to say the least. She had grown to love the smell of soil, the grit of the dirt in her hands, and the sounds of the leaves and petals dancing around her during the day. Every moment of her life, she had cultivated around her shop, Sunset’s Orchid.
Grabbing her phone, shoving it in her pockets, she steps out onto the pavement, humming softly as the wind blows against her face. The tall two-story building held her home away from home. The white bricks were fresh, no longer chipped and flaking. The large window let in loads of light, perfect for her babies. Her Logo is lightly placed in the window's glass, casting a slight shadow from the sun's reflection on the ground. Her thoughts captivated her so much that she didn't notice Jinu waiting by the door until he spoke.
“Rumi! My favorite friend, you're back.. early.” The smile on her face dropped as she looked at him unamused. ‘His favorite friend’ was his favorite line for when he messed up. She shudders thinking about the time he ordered ten times the amount of the needed flowers, and the shop was in chaos as she tried to find space to safely put them.
“What did you do?” She mutters, quickly walking into the shop, turning on the lights. Jinu was her apprentice and only worker in the shop. He was majoring in Environmental Science at a nearby college when Rumi first met him and begged to work with her. Now he still works here mostly as a favor. The farm needed a lot more work and Celine couldn’t do it on her own. Jinu nowadays was at the shop more than her, much to her displeasure.
All looked in place; nothing on the surface seemed out of the ordinary. The front of her shop held rows of flowers, which were separated by name and family. Each had its own place to exist. The flowers that needed the most sun were the closest to the window. She had more in the back for medcine and her hybrid collection that was for her hands only. Everything had a purpose, and Rumi hated things out of order. As she made her way through, she began her morning routine, checking in on each row. Jinu shuffled behind her, still quiet and seemingly trying to find the right words not to set her off. That was smart of him.
“Did all the flowers for the wedding make it out?” She said scanning over her flowers with overloving care. A care you would give your child. Soft, gentle touches. The extra care Jinu swore was unnecessary but secretly admired.
“They went out fine,” Jinu says, hands shoved in his pockets as he looks anywhere but her.
“The daily flower checks?”
“Filed away, every day, no changes whatsoever.” She hummed and turned towards him thinking. She hadn’t left him much to look after. What was she missing? Rumi was partly prickled at the thought she had to fish out the information. Rolling her eyes she prodded for more.
“Gave Bobby his shipment.”
“Yes, mother.” Jinu groaned. “Stop grilling me.” He hopped onto the counter letting his feet swing. “Just…. Well.”
He bit his lip looking away again. His brows were scrunched together as he tried to place his next words carefully.
“So you see… I may have…forgotten to do something.” Rumi paused in place, her hand lowered from one of the pots to look at him annoyed.
“Jinu… spit it out.” The glare she gave could freeze over hell, her hands crossing over her chest and then she remembers. Before she left for the farm she had rescued a wild flower and nursed it back to health. It still had a few more weeks of extensive care that was needed and she had debated taking it with her. Her stomach flipped and a frown pulled at her lips at the thought. “It’s Terrance isn’t it?” She sighs as his face flushes and he picks at his fingers. She already had gotten the answers from his actions. The one thing she was worried about was leaving her newly saved child with Jinu. His love of botany wasn't as deep as hers, which is why he was still under her wing after all these years of working together. “I left specific instructions. Specifically because you are slow when it comes to these things.”
“Hey! I resent that!” He looked at her with a slight pout. She slowly walked over to where he was supposed to be. There was a sad plant shriveled beyond saving. The end of a short, delicate life. It hurt Rumi more than she liked to admit. She always related herself to flowers. Terrance had a specifically big part of her heart.
“You can get a new plant, I promise I'll pay.”
“It wasn’t just a plant, Jinu! Terrance was a Tiger Lily. He was one of a kind and can't just be bought and replaced. Now I have to bury him.”
Blankly, blinking, Jinu's eyebrows raised, watching Rumi carefully scoop 'Terrance’ out of his pot into a square wooden Box. Every move was deliberate as the coffin was arranged.
“Tell me you're joking? Bury him… like a funeral?” He looked at Rumi as though she had another head. He knew she had a crazy obsession with flowers and plants but to lay one to rest. Yeah, maybe she was crazier than he thought.
“I'm not, now go get some flowers. Lilies, the white ones. Oh, and some pink roses. I think Terrance would appreciate them!” No longer looking, shooing him away to start arranging his small death box. Jinu scoffs, muttering something along the lines of crazy plant lady, but goes to collect the flowers she asked for with natural haste he was used to working along the botanist.
Carefully, she places her hands in the soil, feeling his roots sighing sadly. “I knew I should have taken you with me.” She looks down, staring at the plant she remembered rescuing from the sad shop window while looking for new seeds. He was slightly drooping, slowly decaying away. His leaves were patchy and covered in dead spots. At first, she was just gonna advise the owner, but the more she looked at the flower, the more she wanted to take care of it. So when the shop owner said yes for a small price, she bought it and brought it home. Slowly, he grew and began to recover from her unwavering attention and love. Seeing the now dead flower hurt. She bit her lip as she closed the lid on the box. Plants, to Rumi, were like people. Without the proper care decay, wither, and disappear. It is one of the reasons she was so kind.
“Please tell me you aren't crying over a plant.”
“Jinu, stop calling Terrence a plant. He was my son.”
“You are ridiculous.”
“And you are a murderer.” She holds back her satisfied smirk as she listens to Jinu groan in annoyance at her antics. The silence after that accompanies this moment is light and filled with an easy rhythm they always had. Carefully, she decorated and carved the lid of the box. Jinu finished the daily flower checks, and swept the floor for the upcoming day ahead. They moved around each other with a practiced elegance of stage dancers that never missed a cue. Before long they finished, Jinu putting the checklist in the filing cabinet for the day.
“I really am sorry though Rumi. I know after this weekend it's not news you needed.” She paused and stiffened as her mind flicked back to her guardian. Going back to the farm recently has been a challenge. A mental battle of wills, with high limits. She let out a sigh propping her arm on the table and letting her cheek rest heavily in her palm. Celine was… well Celine.
Things weren't always this bad. After the death of her father, Rumi was afraid of opening up to adults. She clung to her mother in hopes of never getting attached to someone else. Then came Celine, who won her mother's heart and slowly Rumi’s too. The relationship had started like budding flowers, soft, delicate, and slow. Celine was patient in gaining Rumi’s trust and becoming a part of her world. The more time they spent together, the more she thought things could be different. Celine wasn’t just nice because she wanted to. She encouraged, when she was down. Helped when she was lost, and told her when she was wrong even when she didn’t want to hear it. They begin to orbit each other, like she had always been there. So many moments she cherished- appreciated until they were gone. That once soft-spoken woman whose hand turned into stone. Rough and distant, demanding more than could be given. Taking more than what was there. Yet she still yearned for her affection. Needed to be good in her eyes, and so she worked to please her until she realized she never could. Nothing was ever good enough. Rumi wanted to bring Sunset together and Celine wanted to build a legacy. Was this always her plan? Was this always what she wanted? Anxiety prickled at the edge of her skin as her doubts fly across her brain attacking her insecurities.
No, those are not the thoughts she wanted in her head. Not now. Not ever. In her mind, Celine was still there. The woman who would wake up and make her breakfast and hike with her down the trails. Holding onto those moments Rumi gives Jinu a weak smile.
“It's okay, I'll just take it out your check.” She teases, punching his shoulder softly before grabbing the decorated box. Jinu lets out a small laugh and the tension is gone like it was never there. Jinu was genuine sometimes, mostly annoying the rest of the time. It is something Rumi grew to enjoy having around.
“Come on, let's go. We have a lot to do today and I have a tattoo appointment tonight and I don't want to be late.”
After they bury the small box, Rumi kneels down and puts a place holder for a tombstone. She lets her finger glide over his grave. “Gone too soon, until I see you again son.”
“I can't believe this.. my boss is crazy.”
“Shush, you're ruining the mood.”
“I'm going back to work.” Jinu huffs and walks back inside tending to the shop. She lingers looking over the small greenhouse area. She smiles before standing and heading back inside and over to help Jinu with a customer.
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The sun was winding down, the sky a span of orange, blue, and pinks when Rumi day had finally come to an end. She turned the sign to close and watched in amusement as Jinu laid on the floor.
“Today was so busy.”
“It really was.” She agreed for once. The amount of business today actually surprised them. The shop was small compared to others but Rumi prided herself on her quality of service that kept her clients expanding and continued business with her. “You did good today Jinu. I'm so proud.”
“Like I can ever do bad.”
“Should I bring up my dead son?” She smirks watching him fidget and shoulders begin to shake with laughter as his face reddened slightly in anger.
“Oh my- Rumi let that go! I swear you are a bully.” He sits up glaring as she continues laughing looking smug.
“Close up will you. I got a date with some ink.” She smirks, patting his head and then jumping back from his swinging slap as he tries to hit her.
“I hate you so much Ryu.”
“I love you too.” She sing songed out and hurried out the shop before he could retaliate anymore. Her jaw slightly hurt from the amusement. Crossing the street she headed to the tattoo shop. Excitement begins to bubble against her skin as she pulls on the doors of Splat, the hottest tattoo shop in town. Rumi smiles as she looks over at Baby sitting behind the desk in his usual position. Feet propped against the desk leaning back in his chair with his bored and unamused expression. “Ryu, you know where to go.”
Rumi laughs, surprised he even spoke. The kid had no cares in the world and is known to be stagnant with customers. So his speaking was enough respect in her eyes and didn’t push for more. “Nice to see you too, Baby.” The blue hair boy hummed, never looking up from his phone but she swore she saw his lip slightly twitch. The walls of the hallway were lined with pin up girls, art, and pokemon. She had seen the hallway so many times she could remember every surface of the walls.
“Mystery! Your favorite regular is here!” She yells out not knocking on the door. Mystery’s room was black and pastel purple stripes covered in band posters and his personal art. The door had a full body mirror on the other side were Rumi had checked out many of his stencil placements. Mystery had his set already ready ink placed in the cups, gun batteries lined up in the wireless charger.
“Ru, I got bad news.” The artist pulled his long hair back just enough to slide it in his baseball cap backwards hairs slipping slightly out the front. He turned in his rolling chair patting the bench. “I just got the opportunity of a lifetime.” Rumi frowns but sits letting her legs swing slightly.
“So, I'm not getting a tattoo huh.” Today was just a bunch of messes. Though it was slightly irritating she did her best not to take it out on him. “So, tell me this opportunity that took my session space is tattooing Jesus.” He laughs, rolling his eyes, double checking his station as he talks.
“Well, no not from me but I owe you for today.” He started looking up for a second with a big smile. Mystery always got excited when it came to his work. It was th one thing they shared in common being from two different worlds. “You are getting tattooed by the Z. My boss and owner of the shop. She is booked until the end of the year but since she is giving me the opportunity to tattoo a high value client she said she would have an opening and it's all yours for the inconvenience. Ru this is huge for me and you get a fire tattoo for free. Win-Win” Well honestly this wasn’t so bad. She did enjoy her sessions with Mystery but this wasn’t an opportunity she would let him pass. If he had cancelled the hit for her she might have killed him.
Thinking about it now, she had never met his boss. She had heard about her but never actually met her. Last time Mystery brought her up she was tattooing at a convention to promote the Splat.
“Okay, I’m going to let you focus. You got this!” Giving him the thumbs up she backs out of his room only for her back to bump into someone. Gasping, she quickly turns to apologize when hands find her shirt and grips tightly to use her as an anchor. In normal circumstances that would be fine, but of course they were so lucky. She pull of her shirt sends both of them to the floor Rumi smothering the person with her body.
“Oh god, I’m sorry.” Lifting herself she winces feeling the sting of the knee she banged against the ground. She placed her palms on the ground, looking down, coming face to face with brown pools of eyes and freckles that danced along the nose of the girl's skin. Words that maybe should have come out were lost as the two stared at each other.
Oh… Oh.. she's so pretty.
Heat rushed to her cheeks as they wordlessly communicated nothing and yet everything at the same time. The narrow hall felt suffocating. Her heartbeat hammered in her ears but she couldn’t look away.
“Y’all okay?” Mystery's voice snapped her out of her trance as she turned her head to him as he looked at them with concern. She is sure the blush of her cheeks is still heavy and warm, avoiding his eye contact. Before she could respond an angelic voice came from under her that sent a shiver down her spine.
“Oh, I’m better than okay. I could get used to being right here.”
Fuck