Chapter Text
The computer screen flickers to life, showing an image of herself in her room. Well, shared room actually. But that was beside the point because right now, Floryn was alone, and her computer screen was now being assaulted by a flood of messages.
“Hello again everyone! I hope you’re all well! I know it’s an unusual schedule for me to stream, but I have some free time today so…”
Truth to be told, Floryn wasn’t exactly the type to do this type of thing. Content making. She used a bit of social media, yes, but never because she posts about personal stuff like selfies, vlogs, etc.. After one of her videos on flowers went viral overnight though, she decided on occasional streams with some prodding from Mathilda. It wasn’t anything special, really, she just mostly talks about her interest in flowers and info dump about botany. Usually she would be in the greenhouse to show off her plants, but as mentioned, tonight is an unusual stream schedule.
Honestly, it works though. She doesn't really plan to show some things that would need her to be in the garden. Just showing how to make potpourri at home, and she already has her supplies at the ready.
(Edith says she doesn’t mind the jars of dried herbs and petals slowly inching their way towards her side of the room but even with the one year of having the blonde as her roommate Floryn still couldn’t read her expressions as well as she would have liked.)
Besides, she only started streaming a month ago, and even she did not expect the sudden influx of followers and popularity. But hey! She figures there’s no harm in sharing her interest with other people that are also curious.
She still makes sure to be careful and considerate though. The main reason is also because of the stated name: her roommate Edith. Again, she never said anything against Floryn’s streaming, but she still doesn’t want to take chances. Edith has an internship every Saturday for her course anyway so she makes sure to do youtube related stuff by that time.
This time was the first exception.
“So the stream is just going to be a bit short,” She smiles.” But I’ll pick it back up after my roommate leaves. I’m considering that by then though I’ll do something a little different. Like playing a game! A friend of mine says I should try farmville since, to quote, ‘it feels like a game you’d play’ and—”
She blinks, when the chat suddenly speeds up from the side of the screen, eyes scanning the zipping message.
Who’s that behind you????
Yo there’s someone behind you
WHOS THAT STARING AT YOU WITHOUT BLINKING—
Floryn spins in her chair.
And promptly screams, surely heard by her microphone and inducing the chat in a moment of deafness.
Because Edith, her roommate, stands right behind her chair with her with her trademark, deadpan expression.
“Floryn,” She notes.” I see that you’re streaming.”
“Hi-” The other slips, stutters out the words.” What are you— doing here? I thought—”
Edith’s face shifts in the faintest of quirks, an eyebrow raising.” My apologies. Am I interrupting it?”
Oh shoot she forgot . But this time usually isn’t the normal for Edith to return to their room! Floryn is faced with a sudden urge to slap herself.
“No!” She yells, then immediately slaps a hand over her mouth, before repeating it more softly.” No, no, uhm—” The stream. Shoot. Her free hand reaches out and flails for purchase on the camera, blocking it. She sighs.
“Listen. I’m really sorry. If I knew you were coming in earlier I wouldn’t have started going live. I know you don’t like me streaming.”
“Who said I had anything against your penchant for recording videos and streaming outside of lecture hours?” Edith’s eyebrows arch again.
Floryn gapes, then stares. Then tries to come up with a coherent sentence because really, she truly doesn’t know what to say and Edith looks mad but she can never truly tell and as always the blonde's shows and tells were always faint so—
Then, in a great, wondrous, oh so intelligible moment of clarity, Floryn says.
“Huh?”
Edith blinks, a rare sight to see, and Floryn cannot help but shove both her face into her hands and give out a high pitched whine.
“I’m sorrryyyyy,” The girl cries.” I just. I find it really hard to tell what you’re thinking. So I just went ahead and assumed—” She dares a peek from between her fingers, nervous.
She balks.
Edith is smiling. Very faint, barely there, but if Floryn’s eyes weren’t playing tricks right now, that was definitely a smile she was seeing on the blonde’s lips. Even if it looked so faint.
And Edith looks really, really, really pretty when she smiles.
But alas, the sight was gone as quickly as Floryn caught it. Replaced by a subtle frown that made her want to wipe off because she didn't like seeing Edith sad.
“My sincere apologies.” Apology counter: two. She really wishes Edith would apologize less and show emotions more.” I didn’t realize I made you feel that way.” The blonde steps away at this and off to the side. Floryn twists a bit on her seat to face her.” Rest assured though, I don’t mind these things you do. I do not really care whether these… followers of yours see me, nor what they think of me. So if it’s still unclear…”
Edith taps a little at the edge of the table, then graces her with a brief nod.” Then no, it’s alright. Yes, you can stream and don’t need to worry about my presence disrupting your activities.”
Floryn jerks her head to the side at this, resorting to fidgeting with her fingers.” Oh…” She breathes, then ponders briefly on a thought, wondering if she should say it out loud or not.
“Maybe… join me then?” It slips out either way. She sees Edith pause, and when she sees the shake of her head Floryn refrains from sulking.
“No, I think I’ll pass. I do not really know what I can contribute in this project of yours.” The blonde eyes the jars of dried petals taking up the space of Floryn’s table.” My knowledge in botany is admittedly sparse.”
“That’s okay.” She is not sulking. Nope. Floryn likes to think she’s an understanding individual. So no she is definitely not sulking and sad over the declined invitation.
Edith taps again at the edge of the table, then picks up something from it: a tupperware. She nudges it into Floryn’s hands, humming.
“A reason why I have also gone in our room is because I saw some vegetable curry on the way back and assumed you would want some. You mentioned a craving for it yesterday.”
A small flutter arose in her chest, Floryn gingerly took the tupperware from the blonde’s grip and held on to it.” Thanks…” She squeaks. She knows Edith was a very observant person but she didn’t think she’d go as far as to do something like this.
“Don’t look so sad now.” Edith states, fingers suddenly brushing over Floryn’s face to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and fix the flower nestled there.” It doesn’t suit a lovely individual like you, Floryn.”
The phrase makes a soft smile tug against Floryn’s lips, she giggles.” That’s very sweet of you.”
Edith nods, hand in that half position of cradling her head and hover by the side,before she let go. This time her arm raises in order to tap at the screen.” All is well then. I suggest you return to your prior activity. Your viewers seem a bit…” Pause.” Erratic.”
Oh no .
She quite literally forgot that the stream was still ongoing! And that in all the previous events, forgot that she was blocking the camera! A strangled noise passed Floryn’s teeth as her head snapped back to her computer. From this angle, thank the Gods, Edith is no longer caught by the camera. But no doubt they saw all of the exchange.
She barely processes the click of the door as Edith finally takes her leave, mind running haywire as fast as messages flooding the screen.
“Hisothat’smyroomate.” Comes out in a blundering rush and she feels her ears burning with heat. She wishes she had Dew right now to hug into her arms as she burns into her hole of embarrassment.
The response was immediate.
ROOMATE?!
Girl I’m sorry but that was peak homosexual behavior
I rlly thought that was ur gf for a second there
“She’s not!” Her voice pitches higher than she would have liked it too.” Eddie is a really good friend of mine! I’ve been living with her and another friend for some time now! She’s just sweet like that! It’s how she makes up for being difficult to read!” Oh god she really wishes Dew was here, Dew would listen and nuzzle her with its furry little face.” And- and- she doesn’t do romance! She hasn’t been in one since- ever!”
Mathilda would have a field day if she ever hears of this, which she had no doubt the other would. Floryn is so ready to just climb into a hole in the greenhouse and become fertilizer for her plants.
You guys are really cute tho!
Eddie” that name sounds so fucken perfect how—
And they were roommates
I know what u are /jk jk
OH GOD THEY WERE ROOMMATES
Floryn’s hand darts to her mouse, the cursor hovers above the screen. Her face is positively burning.
“Okay you know what, I think that’s enough for tonight.” She promptly ends the stream right there and then.
Not a moment later and Floryn hurls herself into her bed, grabbing her pillow and screaming into it. It would have to suffice for the lack of Dew’s presence.
Where even was her pet—
The urge to scream into the pillow again returns full force later when she decides to check twitter. To her (expected, but still) horror clips have went trending, tagging her and being reblogged by numerous people as the number climbed higher and higher. To her (even higher) embarrassment, the most trending one that almost broke the site that day is the one where Edith was out of view of the camera and Floryn’s utter look of adoration is seen plain and full.
She promptly screams into the pillow again.