Signe   let   out   a   soft,   relieved   laugh,   handing   over   the   tangled 

She   offered   him   a   secret   smile,   one   that   highlighted   just   how   much   she   enjoyed   their   little   back   and   forth,   like   they   were   the   only   two   who   understood   the   true   meaning   behind   their   words.   A   pleased   flush   was   on   her   cheeks   when   his   lips   brushed   against   them,   the   blush   something   that   was   becoming   a   semi-permanent   trait   in   his   presence.  “Oh,   you   can’t   stop   thinking   about   me?”  Her   hand   came   up   to   his   chest,   her   fingers   trailing   along   the   frankly   disrespectful   display   of   bare   skin   before   lifting   her   gaze   to   his.  “For   the   record,   I   mildly   enjoy   your   company   the  most   when   you’re   making   declarations   like   that.”  With   that   stupid   pretty   mouth   was   the   part   she   left   unsaid.   A   beat   passed   and   then   she   added,   softer.  “But   you’re   right.   I   like   having   you   around…   like   who   I   am   around   you.”   Her   hand   traced   up   his   collarbone   and   then   she   brushed   her   thumb   along   the   edge   of   his   jaw.  “I   don’t   care   who   you   used   to   be,   Charlie.   I   care   about   who   you   choose   to   be   now.   I   know   we   pretty   much   just   met,   but   this   version   of   you?   He’s   a   good   man,”   Signe   leaned   in,   kissing   the   corner   of   his   mouth   with   quiet   intention.  “And   from   the   little   I   know,   even   back   then,   you   had   this   heart   underneath   it   all.   Even   if   you   were   to   slip,   you’d   find   your   way   back.”  She   looked   into   his   eyes,   making   sure   he   saw   how   much   she   believed   the   words   she   was   saying.   She   smiled   and   reached   into   the   pocket   of   her   dress,   pulling   out   her   phone.   “Come   on,   let’s   take   a   selfie.   I   want   to   remember   our   first   date,”   she   said,   whirling   around   and   leaning   back   into   him.   She   snapped   a   few   photos   quickly,   trying   to   catch   him   off-guard   in   a   few   before   he   posed   with   her.   Signe   giggled,   glancing   at   the   photos   on   her   phone.   She   looked   over   her   shoulder   and   smirked,   mischief   sparking   in   her   eyes.  “Want   to   take   a   really   unhinged   one?”

Charlie arched a brow, the cocky edge to his grin settling in as he stepped closer, just enough for her to feel his presence. He raised his eyebrows, leveling his eyes to hers, "You only mildly enjoy my company under very specific circumstances… got it," he said, drawing the words out with playful mock offense. He tilted his head, eyes glittering with teasing challenge as he slowly licked his lips, then dipped his head. "I think," he murmured low near her ear, "you’re tryin’ to keep me around more than you’re lettin’ on." He didn’t move far after that, gaze softening slightly as he leaned back just enough to meet her eyes.

"I get what you mean. Maybe that’s what I am too.. I’ve always chased connection, maybe attention, if we’re bein’ honest. I just liked bein’ around people. Didn’t matter who, really." He paused. "I might feel a bit different now, though... Can’t stop thinkin’ about you." His lips brushed just barely against her cheek, gentle and intentional.

His voice dipped again, quieter this time, the smile faltering only slightly. "My mum never expected much from me.. she just wanted me happy. It was everyone else. Coaches, mates, teachers… my father.. they saw potential and pushed it hard. I was good, so it made sense." He shrugged, the motion small but rigid at the edges. "And then it was.. well I had to change plans. Just like that." His injury may have been nearly a decade prior, but it hadn't hurt him any less.

Charlie’s eyes dropped for a moment, thumb brushing lightly along her arm aimlessly, grounding himself as much as her. "I think what scares me most is slippin’ back into who I used to be.. The kid with a mile hight wall, always deflectin’ with a joke.. Or worse, turnin’ into the men I was raised around." He looked down at her, thoughtfully, "I don't wanna be the man I was.. I really like what I have now, and I don't intend on screwin' this up." He looked back up at her then, the smile returning, smaller but more real. "And I’m not gonna, Signe. Not with you. I'm not goin' anywhere and I mean that. You're not gonna scare me away."

#𝐁𝐲𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞: a study in soft things

Maggie Q

⇢ 🌸 STATUS ﹕ closed. ⇢ 🌸 TAGGING ﹕signe + sigrid!! (@ofelation) ⇢ 🌸 LOCATION ﹕ palmview university.

Signe   made   her   way   up   the   familiar   staircase   of   the   humanities   building   with   a   to-go   iced   coffee   in   one   hand   and   a   wax   paper   bag   in   the   other   containing   a   cinnamon   bun.   A   peace   offering,   if   she   was   being   honest   with   herself.   Signe   didn't   visit   her   mother's   office   often,   not   because   she   didn't   love   visiting   her   mom,   but   because   Sigrid   Holmström   was   a   consummate   professional.   The   girl   had   always   felt   guilty   about   disrupting   her   mother's   crisp,   orderly   and   polished   world   at   the   university.   Switching   the   coffee   to   her   other   hand,   she   knocked   twice   on   the   office   door   before   opening   it   without   waiting   for   a   reply.   “Professor   Holmström,”   Signe   began,   her   voice   full   of   playful   formality.   “I   come   bearing   caffeine   and   carbs.   And   maybe   a   bit   of   daughterly   guilt.   You   free   for   a   little   break?”

@anchorsfm

Driven (2018)

[  …  ]  ❀  you’re  not  from  around  here  ,  are  you?  i  figured  because  you  totally  just  missed {  SIGNE  HOLSTRÖM  } walking  by.  don’t  tell  me  you  don’t  know  who {  SHE  }  is  ?  they  kind  of  look  like {  HAVANA  ROSE  LIU  }  and  i  could  be  wrong  but  i  think  that  they  might  be  {  24  }  years  old  right  now.  they’ve  been  living  in  palmview  for  the  last {  10  }.  and  i  don’t  know  if  anyone  has  ever  told  them  this  before  but  they  kind  of  remind  me  of {  SPENCER  HASTINGS  }  from {  PRETTY  LITTLE  LIARS  }.  if  you  stick  around  the  town  long  enough  you  might  catch  them  in  action  working  at {  PALMVIEW  FASHION  HOUSE  }  as  a {  STYLIST  }.  you  see  this  town  isn’t  really  that  big  of  a  place,  some  folks  like  to  call  them  the {  THE  MIRAGE  }  of  palmview!  they  took  a  liking  to  the  name  too  after  a  while,  go  figure.  oh  crap,  they  must  have  heard  me  yapping.  they’re  coming  this  way.  i  got  to  warn  you  though,  rumor  has  it  they  can  pretty  {  AVOIDANT  }  at  times.  i  wouldn’t  take  it  too  seriously  though,  from  the  times  i’ve  spoken  to  them  they  seemed  pretty {  AMBITIOUS  }  to  me.  we  see  each  other  all  the  time  since  they  live  in  that {  2  BEDROOM  }  apartment  beside  me  over  in {  MANGO  BAY  LOFTS  }.  i  better  leave  you  to  it.  it  was  nice  meeting  you!   {  KRYS.  32.  SHE/HER.  EST.  }

𝓲. 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚝𝚜

name: signe holmström [ pronounced sing-neh ] nickname(s): tba. age: twenty4 birthday: 06 october 2000 gender/pronouns: cis woman + she/her sexuality: pansexual occupation: stylist at palmview fashion house residence: mango bay lofts #4B time in palmview: ten years

𝓲𝓲. 𝚝𝚕𝚍𝚛

signe is the only child of søren and sigrid holmström, a warmhearted doctor and reserved art history professor, respectively. she was born in malmö, sweden, but has been living in palmview for the last ten years ( since she was fourteen ). she is a soft-spoken perfectionist with a deep love for fashion and a dream of one day becoming a designer. while she's always surrounded by an abundance of love, she tends to have doubts about whether or not she actually deserves to be where she is. she strives to be the ideal daughter, not because of any expectations her parents have placed on her, but simply because she understands how much they've sacrificed for her and she wants those sacrifices to have been worth it. she's just moved out of her parents home and is figuring out what it means to be on her own.

full bio here.

𝓲𝓲𝓲. 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜

🧵 childhood best friend - someone who has known signe since she arrived in palmview and has been by her side ever since 🧵 professional rivals 🧵 neighbors 🧵 roommate 🧵 former crushes/flings/exes 🧵 current crushes 🧵 college friends 🧵 work friends/coworkers 🧵 muse - a close friend (or rival!) who pushes signe to be bolder, weirder, and more herself creatively. 🧵 the mirror - someone who is also dealing with a legacy they're trying to live up to. they see a lot of similarities in each other and bond because of that. 🧵 the mentor - a senior person in fashion who takes signe under their wing

The   moment   their   lips   met   again,   all   of   the   doubt   and   hesitation   seemed   to   disappear   from   Charlie   as   he   pulled   her   close.   The   whole   world   floated   away,   and   the   only   thing   that   was   left   was   the   dizzying   sensation   of   his   mouth   on   hers.   He   kissed   her   like   she   was   something   precious,   like   he’d   been   waiting   to   do   it   again   from   the   second   he   stopped.   When   they   finally   broke   away,   Signe   opened   her   eyes   to   see  his   still   closed   and   the   sight   cleaved   at   something   within   her.   He   opened   his   eyes   and   laughed,   low   and   quiet   and   the   corners   of   her   mouth   tugged   into   a   soft   smile.   God,   he   was   going   to   be   her   undoing.   And   maybe   it   was   too   fast.   Maybe   it   broke   every   unspoken   rule   she   usually   held   herself   to   rigidly.   But   Charlie   seemed   to   have   a   way   of   pulling   all   the   caution   out   of   her   that   bypassed   logic   and   timelines   and   every   hesitant   script   she   usually   followed.   Signe   should   have   been   scared   by   how   easily   she   could   lose   herself   in   this   but   all   she   felt   was   the   quiet,   heady   thrill   of   wanting  more.   His   whispers   to   her   had   her   cheeks   tinged   pink,   feeling   the   words   settle   in   the   part   of   her   that   still   sometimes   questioned   if   she   was   too   much   or   not   enough.  He   pulled   back   and   with   a   crooked,   playful   grin   asked   for   her   favorite   movie,   casually,   as   if   they’d   been   in   the   middle   of   a   game   of   Twenty   Questions   or   something.   Her   laugh   came   out   a   little   breathless   and   she   shook   her   head.  “That’s   what   you’re   going   with   after   kissing   me   like that?   My   favorite   movie?”  Her   eyes   glittered   with   amusement   as   she   just   watched   him   for   a   moment.  “You’re   ridiculous,”  she   said   softly,   unable   to   stop   smiling.  “My   favorite   movie   is   called The   Half   of   It.   It’s   about   a   queer   Chinese-American   girl   and   it’s   a   coming   of   age   story   and   I   saw   so   much   of   myself   not   just   in   the   main   character,   but   the   supporting   characters   too.”  It   was   a   special   story   to   her   even   if   it   was   a   more   recent   movie   than   some   she’d   watched   and   loved   in   her   childhood.  She   glanced   down   at   the   hand   still   resting   against   her   side   and   the   soft   drag   of   his   thumb   against   her   dress   making   goosebumps   raise   along   her   arms.   Signe’s   eyes   lifted   and   watched   as   he   took   a   drink   from   his   water   bottle,   a   wicked   smile   on   his   lips   as   he   drank.   Her   eyes   went   a   little   unfocused   as   she   zeroed   in   on   his   mouth,   remembering   the   feel   of   it   against   her   own   and   only   snapped   out   of   her   thoughts   when   Charlie’s   shoulder   bumped   against   hers.   She   registered   his   words   and   his   teasing   smile   and   heat   returned   to   her   cheeks  (  had   it   ever   really   left   from   the   moment   she   entered   his   presence   ?   ).   She   fought   a   smile,   knocking   her   shoulder   against   his.  “Shut   up,”   she   muttered   under   her   breath,   a   little   embarrassed   at   being   caught   staring,   but   not   at   all   remorseful.

Once Signe’s hand found the side of his neck, Charlie didn’t think, he simply pulled her closer. The last shred of doubt, the fear that she might pull away, evaporated the second her mouth met his again, firmer this time, answering him with a tenderness that made his chest ache. There was no hesitation in the way he kissed her now, no lingering shyness, only this, only them, and the dizzying certainty that whatever this thing was between them, it was real.

He breathed out through his nose as they finally, reluctantly, pulled apart, his forehead pressing lightly against hers. Charlie’s eyes stayed closed a moment longer, as if trying to trap the feeling, the way she tasted like hope and the semla he’d spent the night before working on; the way the world seemed to tilt and steady all at once when she was in his arms. He forced his eyes open, and god, she’s looking at him like that, bright and unguarded. Like he’s something good. Like maybe she’s just as wrecked as he is. A breathless laugh escaped his lips without permission, the sound low and completely sincere. And then Signe’s hand slid down to rest against his chest, right over the place where his heart was thundering like it might break free. Charlie drew a slow, deliberate breath, hoping to steady himself and he knows, he knows, she can feel what she’s doing to him.

After all the years spent wandering from place to place, nights spent with people he hadn’t seen long enough to even learn their names, let alone remember them, Charlie had never felt anything like this, the gut-punch pull to stay. The need to memorize the way she flushed at a compliment, the way her smile tugged shyly at the corners before it bloomed into something brilliant. The need to know her, really know her. Charlie stayed still, like he was afraid even breathing too hard might break the spell between them. He tucked his head beside hers, huffing a shaky little breath against her hair, smiling against it because it’s either that or say something too raw, too soon. His fingers brush along her waist, slow. “You’re somethin’ else, Signe,” he says quietly, the words barely a whisper between them. Another breath. Another half-second where he almost says more. Where he almost tells her he’s never felt like this on a first date, never wanted to stay so badly it physically aches. But he swallows it down for now.

Instead, he leans back just enough to catch her eyes properly again, his forehead brushing against hers one last time as he grins, breathless and boyish and undeniably him. “I’m definitely startin’ to like responsibility,” he murmured, his voice low and playful. His arm tightened around her for just a moment before he peppered smaller, feather-light kisses along the slope of her cheek, a low laugh rumbling from his chest, half disbelieving, half proud. “And now that we got that bit sorted…” Charlie pulls back, finally giving them a tiny sliver of space, though his hand stays curled around her side, thumb tracing absent little patterns against the fabric of her dress. His grin sharpens, playful again but his eyes stay soft, drinking her in like he can’t look away. He bumps his nose against hers, that boyish, cocky spark reigniting in his eyes, “What’s your favorite movie?”

The question was so normal he almost startled himself, like he’s inviting her into some private joke that only the two of them know now. Charlie leaned back properly for the first time all night, just enough to put an inch or two of space between them, though his hand never fully left her. He scanned her face again, greedy for it, for the look of her cheeks still tinged pink, the way her eyes softened even when she laughed. Grabbing his water bottle from the blanket, Charlie took a sip, glancing at her as he did, his grin lingering around the bottle. There was a steadiness under the teasing now, something unmistakable. Something that said he wasn’t going anywhere. That whatever this was between them, this quiet, slow-blooming fire, he wanted to stay and see exactly where it led. He lowered the bottle, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, and then, without missing a beat, bumped his shoulder lightly against hers, the grin tugging at his mouth unmistakable. “Careful, love.” Charlie says, voice low and teasing, “Keep lookin’ at me like that and I’m gearin' to start askin’ a lot more questions.”

Signe’s   answering   smile   was   soft   and   understanding.   There   was   something   familiar   in   what   the   other   girl   had   said,   almost   as   if   she’d   pulled   the   thoughts   from   Signe’s   own   head.  “Do   you   paint?”  she   asked,   tilting   her   head   curiously.  “I   was   thinking   something   very   similar   myself.   The   colors   and   the   movement   of   the   dancer’s   skirt,   even   in   a   portrait   have   my   head   spinning   on   how   you   could   make   fabric   do   that, look   like   that   in   real   life.”  She   turned   her   head   back   towards   the   painting   in   front   of   them.  “Moments   like   this   just   have   me   itching   for   my   sketchbook.”   “It’s   funny,   isn’t   it?   How   sometimes   what   you   end   up   making   ends   up   looking   nothing   like   what   inspired   it?”  she   giggled,   mostly   amused   at   the   thought.   Signe   returned   her   focus   to   the   girl,   studying   her   closely.  “What   kind   of   stuff   do   your   normally   like   to   make?   You   said   you   were   working   on   something   new?”

mango  bay  art  district  was  a  place  that  bella  had  came  to  visit  every  so  often.  she  lived  in  ocean's  edge  but  often  times  would  come  out  to  mango  bay  to  take  a  look  around.  it  sometimes  even  gave  her  a  little  bit  of  motivation to keep going with her own work. she  worked  at  a  bar  as  of  this  moment.  but  in  the  future?  she's  hoping  to  be  able  to  live  out  her  dreams  of  being  an  artist  somewhere.  even  a  graphic  designer  if  that  meant  that  she  was  able  to  get  her  artwork  out  there  more  and  more.  she  had  a  ton  of  projects  that  she  was  busy  working  on,  as  well.  but  nothing  was  finished.  bella  liked  to  finish  majority  of  her  drawings  or  paintings  up  when  the  inspiration  for  them  had  seemed  to  come  on  through.

recreating  different  things  into  your  own  perspective  was  always  the  fun  thing  about  art.  at  least  that's  what  she  had  thought  about  it.  she  was  just  starting  to  approach  to  the  other  side  when  a  voice  was  heard.  "  oh,  no.  you're  fine.  i  was  simply  just  observing  like  every  one  else.  figured  i'd  come  here  to  try  and  get  some  more  inspiration  for  another  project  i  wanted  to  work  on.  "  responding  with  a  quick  shrug  of  her  shoulders.  "  it's  like  ...  sometimes  i  want  to  create  things  but  i  like  to  feel  inspired  first.  otherwise  i'm  not  quite  sure  how  to  translate  the  image  i've  got  in  my  head  onto  the  canvas.  "

Signe   hesitated   for   a   moment,   trying   to   decide   if   her   request   was   had   crossed   a   line   when   the   girl   reached   across   and   made   quick   work   of   the   tangled   mess   that   she’d   been   struggling   with   for   the   past   ten   minutes.   She   raised   an   eyebrow   at   the   other,   giving   a   very   pointed   stare   to   the   flash   of   fingers   working   through   the   knots. “Uh   … yes?   You   look   like   someone   who   could   take   on   every   knot-related   crisis   in   the   tri-county   area.” She   took   the   bracelet   back   gently,   her   smile   leaning   towards   sheepish. “I   sew   like…actual   clothes.   I   thought   I   could   handle   a   couple   of   pieces   of   string.”   Signe   laughed   quietly   as   she   studied   the   now   pristine   and   untangled   beginnings   of   a   bracelet. “Apparently   not,   but   you’ve   got   my   full   endorsement   if   you   need   testimonials   for   business,”   she   quipped.

serena  takes  one  look  at  the  knot  ,  “  do  i  look  like  i  know  how  to  untangle  these  things  ?  ”  it  wasn't  supposed  to  come  off  any  way  ,  but  her  relaxed  tone  said  otherwise  .  taking  the  bracelet  without  second  thought  ,  serena  gets  to  work  .  “  i  used  to  be  obsessed  with  making  these  .  that  might've  been  my  first  business  actually  .  ”  memories  flood  back  to  a  little  serena  ,  setting  up  shop  in  elementary  school  ,  her  stash  of  friendship  bracelets  sitting  in  her  pencil  box  for  her  peers  to  peruse  .  within  seconds  ,  serena  hands  the  bracelet  back  ,  shrugging  .  “  you're  making  me  want  to  pick  this  up  again  .  ”