Work Text:
The new tattoo studio across the lot is run by the most vibrant person Evan has ever seen. They keep the pride flag taped up in the corner of the front window and wear the oddest assortment of clothing. He's both enthralled and suppressing that feeling in the name of professionalism. Still, there's a vase in the backroom he's been saving, arranging amaryllis, peonies, orange orchids and tall stalks of white spider-lily in it. The owner isn't there when he goes to introduce himself, so he drops his bouquet on the counter and hopes they take it the right way.
When Evan stops by the tiny gym that's opened up two doors down, he's genuinely unsure if it's a good idea. He wants to be the kind of person that assumes the good in people but he's too jaded for that. At least Jammer, if he can assume that's the gym owner's name from the business' sign, seems like a stand-up guy. Evan carefully mixes blackthorn and black oak blossoms, broken up by green carnations, edelweiss, and purple heather. It matches the simple, clean interior of the gym, and the smile Jammer gives him in response makes Evan stomach flip.
Unlike the others, Sam comes to him. She barges in, the most welcome surprise and the most beautiful woman he's even seen, and asks sweetly for "one of those pretty bouquets, like the one K got". It lets him put a name to the tattoo studio owner, and otherwise leaves Evan gobsmacked. Evan assembles her arrangement with shaking hands; vervain, moonflowers, and tulips in bright shades of orange and yellow. Last minutes, he tucks red daisies in. She beams when he presents it to her, and they go back and forth for nearly fifteen minutes when she attempts to pay.
Evan collects his own assortment of gifts. K drops-off sketches that Even pins to the corkboard above where he cuts flowers, including a mock-up of a logo should Evan want it. Jammer brings breakfast in the mornings, greasy diner food that Evan barely stops himself from scarfing down, but also little foam basketballs and a plastic hoop that clips to Evan's door. Sam gets him practical things and markets his shop to her rather impressive social media following. None of them ask for another bouquet, but Evan makes them anyway; diphylleia and gorse and yellow acacia hidden like a vow.