The morning started like any other, got up, dressed, took care of Sally, took care of themselves, checked the budget and what's planned for orders, colour preferences and designs needing to be painted on the ready made orders.

They received a text on Instagram from a friend asking if they'd like to meet up at one for lunch, a weekly tradition for almost two years that Sally seemed eager for them to continue, so Virgil agreed.

At midday, Virgil took a shower, since they were covered in paint and clay, dressed in a black and purple plaid skirt with leggings and black t-shirt, where they shrugged on a dusty lavender purple and grey homemade patched hoodie that was almost three sizes too big, perfect.

They look in the mirror curiously and smiled, "Sally do I look ok?" they flutter over instantly landing on Virgil's nose fluttering their wings, Virgil giggles softly offering their hand for them to go on "ok, I'll take your word on it hun" they say getting their wallet and house keys since the flower shop and cafe are within walking distance of Virgil's home Virgil decided to ignore the car today.

They slip on their shoes and check the time on their phone, before leaving the house and locking it behind them.

"Hey Vee, I'll just take this customer then we'll get going ok?" Virgil nods looking for any sign of Rem's pronouns, they were wearing their black leather jacket and white T-shirt with jeans something that usually is worn when Remy's feeling masc, Virgil looked around for a minute confused by the missing companion who is usually attached to Remy's hip 24/7, Remy must've noticed because they pointed outside towards the greenhouses, Vee raised an eyebrow and they looked outside one of the back windows seeing a blob of bluish-grey in a greenhouse most likely watering the flowers and ferns held inside.

Remy quickly excuses themselves going to the window "Mocha babes! Time for a break! Vee and Sally are here!" There was a noise calling back and Remy laughs at the elephant watching her run to the shop and they go back to their customer apologising for the slight interruption and continuing with the order, talking about the arrangements and ribbons, the reason for the purchase.

Virgil noticed that Mocha wasn't shrinking down so they rush to the door and step out getting between the large animal and the building Sally flutters after Vee "Woah Mocha calm down, Remy is fine, they're safe and talking to a customer, remember you need to shrink down or you will destroy the shop and technically your home" Mocha pauses for a moment the small flash happens and they're the size of a large maincoon Sally futters and lands on top of Mochas head, Virgil stood aside knowing the flower shop was now safe from destruction for another day.

Remy quickly finished with their customer and put up a sign saying they are gone for lunch and would be back in an hour or two.

Remy takes a deep breath and sighs practically melting on the counter, "my god babes- you putting that flower arrangement in that new vase design has helped with business a lot, maybe a bit too much though." Vee laughs at the other, their hand covering their mouth out of instinct, "I could say the same about your posts too, orders are almost doubling" Remy smirked, "how often are you in the workshop now babes?" Virgil frowned thinking for a moment, "I was in the workshop yesterday making 40ish orders the day before was the same, I'll be in there for another few weeks before this round of orders is done, so let's say I'm taking at least a week off after" Remy nodded "I've heard there's a musical or something being worked on in the theatre in a couple of months, I'm not a fan of that stuff but it is a form of entertainment and a reason to go out." Virgil considers and nods "yeah ok, we should find out if we can pre-book tickets" Rem sits themself up with a slight Groan, Mocha as always standing next to their owner with love and support but now with Sally chilling casually on her head.

"Well we should get lunch, or I'm going to starve, breakfast was at four-thirty for me and still haven't caught a break till now" Virgil nods and the two quickly lock the door and go to the cafe at the corner of the street, Sally finally moved back to Virgil resting on their shoulder, Mocha trotted along next to Remy allowing herself to be the size of a Bernese mountain dog, "any luck on the soulmate search you two?" Virgil asks curiously and Remy shakes their head "no, not really, I sometimes think they've decided they're done waiting or looking for me. the only reason why I still hope is because of her" Remy gently pets the elephant fondly who emits a soft growl at the touch.

"How about you?" Virgil laughs "yeah totally, I haven't had time to, so who knows? They might have moved on from trying to find happiness with me and I guess I'd be fine with that but... I dunno, I just hope they'd give me a chance if and when we meet? is that- does that make sense? like I wouldn't want them to break up with their partner because they've found me, I'd want to just be friends with them if that's the case, I'd hate being the reason a perfectly fine couple break up" Virgil says awkwardly thinking back about what happened with their parents, "yeah, I see what you mean babes, that does make sense, especially with what you've told me about your parents and what happened there"

Virgil hums entering the cafe and Mocha shrinks down a little smaller and they go up to the register, "you're buying this time, I paid last week" Virgil says and Remy laughs, "sure babes, tell them what you'd like" they gesture to the cashier who's smiling at the two a type of lizard resting very much happily on their right shoulder looking like they were sleeping soundly since the sun was shining on them from one of the windows next to them.

"Hey, can I please have a large hot chocolate with no marshmallows and a slice of the veggie frittata, heated?" they nod tapping the screen a little bit "of course, so the hot chocolate and frittata, anything else?" they ask and Remy nods, "yeah babes can I please have a large iced coffee, with a shot of vanilla, ice please and no whipped cream. Can I also have some of the tri pasta salad" the person nods tapping on the screen as they listened still smiling happily, "okay, so large hot chocolate no mallows, heated veggie frittata, tri pasta salad and a large iced coffee with ice, no cream and a shot of vanilla?" the two ordering nod "have here or take away?" "have here please" they grab one of the table numbers and give it to them "ok then, that will be 21 dollars and 50 cents please" Remy takes out their card and pays Virgil smiles at the person waiting patiently behind them.

Once everything is paid for the two go to a two-seater table outside "Remy what pronouns are you using today by the way?" "masc if that's ok" Virgil nods quickly "yeah, of course, it is Rem! I didn't want to accidentally misgender you is all," Mocha growls, detecting Remy's discomfort with the slight mention of misgendering, Virgil noticed "Remy... how often have you been misgendered?" Sally instantly flutters onto Remy's nose tickling him a little bit, "It's fine, it's not often-" "often when you're something other than masc? Remy, you really should do a colour system or even pin saying which ones you're using for the day, I know that people it's awkward but this place is pretty good with referring to others with the right pronouns, you can correct someone without insulting them" Remy sighs, "I'll think about it, ok Vee?" Virgil crossed their arms already seeing through that statement with a raised eyebrow, "you won't do it, will you?" Remy doesn't meet his friends' eyes instead of focusing on the elephant pressed up against his leg supportively, "can we please just drop it, I said I'll think about it, ok?" Remy quickly snaps shutting the conversation down instantly.

"Sorry Remy, I just... worry about you, a lot," Virgil says after a minute of silence, Remy sighs leaning his elbows on the table burying his face in his hands, "I know you do but I'm fine, I am! it's just.. I'm not as comfortable as you are with having people that type of knowledge, last time I told someone before you it didn't end well" Mocha looked at Remy her trunk reaching up and patting Remy's back comfortingly, he reaches down and pets the top of her head to knowing it was a good pet when she lightly growls into the touch, Virgil remained silent having a mental conversation with themself.

"Here you two go, hot chocolate?" Virgil takes the drink smiling quickly a thank you, they gave Remy his iced coffee and brought out their food "sorry about the wait you two, lunch rush is still a little there" Virgil shrugs the apology aside "that's perfectly fine, if we were getting impatient we would never blame you at all, we come here often enough to know it's a popular place for everyone" the person nods smiling relieved their lizard companion very happy with the interaction now going back to sleep on their shoulder once again "ok, thank you two for being patient, have a good lunch" they leave back into the buzz of the cafe, where Virgil could already hear someone sounding like a Karen complaining about their coffee being too hot to drink.

"I feel bad for people who work in this sort of industry" Virgil mutters taking a sip of the hot drink, Remy nods "agreed, they do not get paid enough to put up with Karens" "who gets paid enough to deal with Karens though?" Virgil asks cutting into the warm frittata, Remy quirks a brow looking up from the pasta smirking, "the manager" Virgil stops what they're doing to stare at Remy, they looked like the definition of a disappointed parent which made Remy laugh dropping his fork clapping at the change on Virgil's part,

"Remy... that was horrible please never give up your job at being a florist to even pursue a possibility of being a comedian"