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Post by xiaomei on Aug 22, 2011 10:06:57 GMT -5
It was going to be a gorgeous day. Mei hummed absently to herself as she opened her shop, then stopped and looked around guiltily. Oh, good. No one was close enough to have heard her. It wasn't until she was inside and removing her light traveling wrap that she felt completely at ease about her humming, however. There was just something about others hearing her that made her nervous.
No matter, that. It was time to begin the morning opening routine. She opened the shutters on the bay window in front, smiling as the sunshine streamed in to illuminate one of her newest arrangements. Vibrant reds and purples mixed with lavenders and golds. She was fond of it, but then again, she was fond of everything she grew or created. A ceramic pot became her doorstop today, one filled with pink pansies. The air outside was too nice to keep the door shut, so today, it would stay propped open.
A handful more of other small chores, and Mei was soon settled at her work counter, facing the door, with a small rosebush in front of her. Others stood in a row, waiting to be inspected, pruned, and watered. It was soothing work for the girl, nevermind the thorns.
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Post by Feliks £ukasiewicz on Aug 23, 2011 23:23:57 GMT -5
Feliks had received an order from one of his clients. The one he knew brewed poisons. Apparently he was having trouble finding an ingrediant, or didn't want to be seen perchasing it. So he had hired Feliks to get the rare plant for him.
The blond had traipsed around Granor for the last week, both as himself and as Felicja, trying to find a plant or flower seller who had the stupid plant. He was at the end of his rope when he spied the shop he had been told about. Apparently the girl grew all sorts of flowers and ones that the others couldn't. Feliks didn't know where he'd go if she didn't have the plant, maybe to apothacaries, taking the risk that they'd know what the plant was to be used for.
Feliks dusted the hems of his pants, wanting to be presentable when he entered the shop. While it was rare for him to wear pants when out and about, he had long learned that flirting was acceptable currency in the information trade and it was harder to flirt with a girl as a girl, not imposible, just harder, unless the target leaned that way to begin with. Taking a deep breath, the man entered the flowershop. He took a minute to admire the beautiful blossems, he had to be careful or he'd end up taking home way more flowers then he had intended.
Feliks then slowly walked up behind the humming girl, and watched her prune the miniture rosebush for a moment before speaking, "It's so rare to find a beautiful flower who also sings."
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Post by xiaomei on Aug 24, 2011 0:22:15 GMT -5
As time had gone on, Mei had shifted to face away from the door; working at an angle like that wasn't comfortable. More time passed, and she finished first one rosebush, and then another, before she found herself humming softly. Well, after a guilty glance around... no one was in the shop. So she fell back into her work.
'Now... finish these, make the arrangement for... for... oh. Oh, whoever. It had the sunflowers, yellow roses, white daisies, gypsum, and greenery, all in a crystal vase provided by the purchaser. Then trim the lilies... and use some of those to make a new window arrangement. Someone might buy the one there.'
She finished that bush and was moving on to the next before she heard someone speaking. "It's so rare to find a beautiful flower who also sings." Immediately, she fell silent, her cheeks heating in a blush. "O-oh... I'm... I'm so sorry... I was... I was caught up in my work and I didn't notice - how long were you - ah..." She sat her pruning shears down, took a deep breath to soothe her flustered nerves, and began again. "Welcome to Mei's Blossoms, sir... W-was there something I could help you with?"
How long had he been standing there? She hoped it hadn't been long... it was terribly rude of her not to have noticed him. ... And he'd... he'd called her - no. Don't bring silly girlish notions into the business world. They had no reason to be there. It was just... it was a greeting. A simple greeting. ... that would cause her to blush if she thought about it more.
"Ah... an arrangement? Or a particular potted plant? Seeds, perhaps?"
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Post by Feliks £ukasiewicz on Aug 24, 2011 12:02:21 GMT -5
Feliks chuckled to himself when he saw the girl's blush, "It's okay, darling, I just entered. And I was enjoying watching you work." He let her calm down a bit before answering her question, "I'm looking for a plant, for my master." The blond man had decided to play the charming butler, he was dressed for it after all. "The other flower merchants didn't have any, you're my last hope. You see my master is a very picky man when it comes to decorating his home, and he wants a plant he read about in a book. He wants a Rosary Pea vine." Feliks hoped the girl didn't know the toxic properties of the plant, after all it was a pretty plant in its own right.
"But, first, tell me more about some of these flowers, the house could use some color in it." Feliks had learned early on that one of the best ways to flirt with a business owner was to show interest in their wares. Not only did it make them relax, because you weren't just there to talk, it opened doors to other conversations.
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Post by xiaomei on Aug 26, 2011 17:29:41 GMT -5
"O-oh..." Mei really wasn't quite sure what to say. He was enjoying watching her work? W-well... she supposed some people liked to watch others garden... she wasn't ever satisfied unless she was doing the work herself. "Oh, but you should be particular about what plants you bring into your home or garden!" This was a topic Mei was well versed in. "Plants won't thrive just anywhere, you know. And flowers are the most particular."
A Rosary Pea vine... "I've got a few of those, at my greenhouse at home. You'd have to come there to retrieve it. As many children as I have in and out of here daily with their parents, I can't let them near the plants." She suddenly paused, tilting her head. "Your master doesn't have children or pets, does he? The berries are terribly poisonous. I'd hate for him to lose someone he cared about." Of course Mei knew. That didn't mean that she didn't sell the plant. She just made certain to check things with people beforehand.
"A-ah... right." She glanced around, and then back at Feliks. "Well... that arrangement in the window, there, for example, has roses, clematis, rice flowers, tulips, and hydrangea. Were there any particular flowers you were interested in that you see?" She had dozens of varieties here, and even more at home.
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Post by Feliks £ukasiewicz on Oct 12, 2011 20:08:24 GMT -5
Feliks chuckled when she asked about his master, “No. My master lives alone. It’s the reason he fills his home with interesting flowers and plants.” The blonde’s eye caught on a very particular looking flower, the petals extended like feelers (white chrysanthemum). “What is this one?” Feliks marveled at how the delicate petals uncurled.
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Post by xiaomei on Oct 17, 2011 0:22:56 GMT -5
"Oh... Well, I suppose it wouldn't do any harm, then..." Even so, Mei still sounded hesitant. "There aren't any others close by with small children or pets that might get into the garden or the house, are there?" She watched as he looked around, then stood, coming to stand next to him. "That? The white one?" She smiled. "It's a chrysanthemum. The white ones, like that one, stand for trueness." She smiled. "Then there are red, yellow, and bronze... they all stand for something different. And then just the chrysanthemum stands for cheerfulness, among a few other things." She smiled. "Most every flower means something, after all. You just have to know what they mean, and you can send a whole message in one bouquet."
She smiled, then shook her head. "But that's not what you came to discuss. It was the Rosary Pea. As long as you can promise me that there are no children or animals that might be harmed by eating the berries... I can either deliver it to you, or you can come gather it from my house."
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Post by Feliks £ukasiewicz on Nov 12, 2011 12:34:47 GMT -5
Feliks wondered how many people used Mei's flowers to send secret messages. There couldn't be many people who knew what every flower meant.
"There's no grandchildren. The neighbor kids would be heavily supervised if they ever visit." Feliks bent over to examine an arrangement of the Chrysanthemums and another red flower. "Ohh. I'd have to pick it up. My master is a very eccentric man and doesn't like deliveries to the house." The blonde straitened, " Do I pay you now? Or when I pick it up? And I'd like to get some flowers for my own home as well."
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Post by xiaomei on Nov 14, 2011 19:27:39 GMT -5
"In that case, sir, I'd be happy to sell your Master the Rosary Pea." She smiled, brushing her hair out of her face, though a persistant strand slipped free and fell in front again. "What sort of flowers were you looking for for your home? Did you see a particular arrangement that you liked, or were you looking for certain flowers? I can arrange anything for you, and have it done within the hour, if you wanted something custom."
It would, and wouldn't, surprise Mei to find that people were sending coded messages through flowers. After all, she knew what each meant, whether everyone who ordered flowers did as well. She'd often ask, if the arrangement was being ordered for another, what sort of feeling they were trying to convey... and slip additional flowers in on her own. It would enhance the arrangements, and it would make her feel better... especially if the silly male asked for something along the lines of foxglove and lobelia.
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