Clear Blue (also on Amino somewhere...)

Cornwall

Month 7, Day 1 

Cobalt has never had stable friends over the years he's lived back in England. Most of the people he knew were just there for business- and he's literally been raised to not become attached to people he 'didn't need' in his life. His parents were strict with who he's allowed to talk and connect with, and as a consequence he became detached and unable to communicate properly.

He found solace in that he found at least one friend in Cider, though. His one stroke of rebellion against his parent's strict methods and way of raising children was hidden in the form of a neat pile of letters that he hid under his mattress.

When the chance finally arose though, he strayed from that stupid rule of theirs- he can finally become the normal person who can talk to people without his parents' permission. Here in Oregon, where his parents couldn't reach him, he was finally free to talk to whoever he wanted.

Of course, he needed to get used to it for a few months though- almost like he was a trained dog away from his owner for the first time... that analogy made him question the rest of his parents' motives actually.

He knew that he'd get used to it eventually though, and these past months working at Million Petals made him realize how much he's needed this job, and how much it's helped him develop into a normal person. Here, he's not some rich heir trained to act like a pompous brat, but a young man named Cobalt Linton trying to make it through college.

He never thought he'd be able to connect with people as deeply as he did with his coworkers, however. He's grown attached to them- Cider's big brother instinct that his own brothers never had, Scarlet's witty but amiable nature akin to an older sister's, Amber with her upbeat charm that reminds him of a typical younger sister, and Miss Eden's wacky but friendly nature that acted like a mother to them all. He was happy with their regular customers as well- who doubled as their neighbors.

But what he really didn't expect was that he could help people just like him- people who can't make friends easily because of some personal issues that just can't be healed in any way. Viridian was this for him- and slowly he realized that he's breaking their shell bit by bit. Ever since compiling that guidebook with them, they've talked more and found solace in one another, and the whole shop was relieved that Viridian finally had someone who they could speak to, because they all knew that it was a good start.

They've become a family now, and he couldn't be more thankful.