We All Know How This Goes

How It All Started

Fiona wakes up at exactly 5:34 am. Her kitten lay right next to her face. She gets out of bed and slips into her fuzzy slippers. Fiona then heads to the kitchen, gets a glass of water, and puts her toast in the toaster oven. Fiona also fills Snowflake's bow with wet cat food. While the toast cooks she goes to her living room and retrieves her phone. She leaves it there just in case she feels the need to be on screen before bed. Fiona has made sure her phone is off 3 hours before bed, this makes getting to bed much easier for her.

When Fiona has her phone the first thing she does is check her emails. Her fundraising company was to save the Kashmiri Red Stag. The toaster oven goes off. She heads back to the kitchen making sure to grab a book. When Fiona gets to the toaster she takes the toast out and rests it on the counter. Snowflake is happily eating her food.

An Avocado is waiting to be used near the toaster oven. Fiona cuts it open and mushes all of it into a spreadable consistency.

Once Fiona has had her Avocado toast and finished her milk, she brushes her teeth, washes her face, and gets dressed. She puts on a cream coloured sweater and tucks it into a skirt. The skirt has a white base color with a brown plaid pattern.

Fiona's light brown hair is left down, resting just above her shoulders. She slips a few rings onto her ebony fingers. Her perfectly polished nails glimmer in the early morning sunlight.

Fiona had debated taking a shower, but she had taken one yesterday and didn't think she needed one today. She does, however, put hibiscus deodorant on.

Snowflake decides that the best time to play is right after Fiona finishes getting dressed. Fiona indulges in some relaxing quality time with her kitten, before deciding she needs to leave.

She puts on her light brown close-toed heels, white mask, and heads out the door. Snowflake tries to follow but is too late, as the door closes a few seconds before she reaches it.

Fiona isn't too worried about Snowflake. She is pretty well behaved, just energetic.

Her bike is right outside just as she had left it yesterday. She gets on the pink retro-bike, and heads to work.

On her way, she buys a packaged lunch with ham, swiss cheese, almonds, grapes, and a kombucha. She also stops by Starbucks to buy a black coffee with 3 creams, 4 sugars, lemon bread, and a blueberry muffin. She always buys breakfast for her work neighbor Maxine.

Maxine owned a music shop. It nestled between a tattoo shop and a floral shop. Fiona had been working on Ivy Lane for over 4 years, she loved her job, she met so many people. Lovers, friends, runaways, actors, authors, they had all come to her shop.

Artemis wakes up at 7:34 and stays in bed for 10 more minutes before they absolutely need to get out of bed. They stretch, sit there, and heavily swing their legs out of bed. Artemis loves their job truly, but they hate getting out of bed.

"Why couldn't I just live at work? I would never have to get up this early." Artemis complains.

"Come on, come on, turn the radio on~ It's Friday night and I won't be long~" Artemis sings. They've had that song stuck in their head for a while. (Credits to Sia-Cheap Thrills).

They continue humming as Artemis puts clothes into a backpack. They don't have time to put on everything. They grab a cream soda, an everything bagel, an orange mask, and put on their boots.

"Oh! Bus pass, can't forget you." Artemis grabs the bus pass and runs out the door.

When they get to work Artemis rushes to the bathroom. They lock the big stall and pull out their clothes.

They put on a fishnet top, red flannel shirt; slightly off the shoulders, top buttons undone. For the pants Artemis puts on ripped, black skinny jeans. And a belt with chains is added for extra flair.

When Artemis steps out they check themself out in the mirror, they like flannels because they're loose enough to hide their gut. They had been a bit self-conscious about it, Artemis had only recently been taken out of the hospital for malnourishment. They had practically starved themself to death. Artemis had almost been sent to a psychiatric hospital, but Artemis' moms told the doctors they would watch over Artemis. They have since gotten better. Mostly.

Artemis steps out of the bathroom and puts ear buds in to play music. They go over to the sink and bring out their makeup. They put on black eyeshadow, with red on the lid and in the corner of her eye. Artemis then uses red eyeliner to bring out her eyes. Artemis puts on a bit of mascara and neutral lip-gloss. They don't need to wear colorful lip-stuff anymore because of the masks.

The only good thing that came out of covid, Artemis thought.

A/N: The next few lines will be happening at the same time, I will frame them as one being normal and the other being bolded.

The tattoo gun has been cleaned before the day begins and colors have been restocked. She has made sure that all the seats have been sanitized, and that she has extra masks for customers who forget theirs.

Flowers have been arranged, candles have been dusted, money for change has been counted. They have trimmed the thorns off a few of the roses, and picked out a few of the dying flowers.

Fiona is ready to start the day.

Artemis is ready to start the day.

Fiona remembers she has to go give Maxine her breakfast and heads next door. Outside she sees another person.

Artemis has looked through records to put onto the record player, but none look decent. She decides to go next door, and buy some new ones. Artemis has only talked to Maxine a few times, but she seems nice. Artemis walks outside and sees another person walking to Maxine's shop as well.

A/N: The POV goes back to normal

Fiona and Artemis stop at the door at the same time.

"Hello", Fiona says. "Do you work next door?"

"Yeah! Just started a week ago. Came to get some vinyl." Artemis is glad this person is nice, they have trouble talking to new people.

"My name is Fiona, what 's yours? "

"Artemis. If you don't mind me asking what pronouns do you use?"

" Oh, um, she/her? Yeah, she/her! "

"Cool. I go by they/them, but if you slip up that is totally understandable I would just appreciate the effort. "

"No, yeah, totally. I will do my best!" Fiona released a smile that went from one cheek to the other. Clasping her hands in the process.

They both step into the shop, Fiona going to the back, Artemis going to the rows of records.

'Let's see' Artemis explores the records. 'Nirvana, maybe not the best for the flowers. Hmmm, somebody made a Mitski record? Okay that and something else..... Florence and the Machine. Absolutely, then we'll also do Cavetown. I didn't think these guys would have-'

"AHHHHH!"

Artemis runs to the back of the store, panic rising in their chest.

'What's happening? Is she okay?'

Artemis stops at the doorway of what must be Maxine's office. Fiona is just standing there, hands pressed to her mouth. Artemis steps forward.

Oh.

This is not good.

Slow updates. But summer break is on the way so I should be fine, and they won't be too slow.