And I do Cherish You

[cetrary]

Who;Aerith+ OTA!
What; Setting up her shop for Cherishment and getting some chocolate! Feel free to also use this for any interactions you might want to have for the event or just for the month in general! She'll be working at her shop a TON trying to make the most things, so you can almost always find her there from morning to night.
Where; Her shop in the market and the chocolatier
When;Anytime at all
Warnings; None for now!


I. Aerith's Flower Shop.

Once a flower peddler, always a flower peddler. Surely that was a motto someone out there had, right? Well, if it wasn't, it was someone's now. Specifically, it was Aerith's current moment, at least for the time of Cherishment. She'd set up some samples in the window of her shop that showed off a variety of different flowers including: camellias, asters, roses, red and white chrysanthemums, ivy, and plenty of others. The common thread that tied them together was that they all represented affection in some way. In the center of all the flowers was a sample bouquet that was wrapped up with two different ribbons, one pink and one black. Next to it there was a small display showing off a sample of ribbons, each one in a different color. A sign finished the entire thing reading:

Let the flowers speak for you! Each bouquet comes with your choice of flowers and two ribbons, one for your loved one and one for you, creating something that will always tie your memories together!

It'd taken her a while to set it all up and even now she was working on small things, shifting things around so that everything looked as perfect as it could. Ironically that meant she wasn't completely aware of people that were coming by the shop. Or into the shop.

Maybe she should think of installing a bell.

II. Noble District Chocolatier

This hadn't always been here, had it? No, it was new. It was definitely new. She'd have definitely remembered a chocolatier. That alone should probably have made people suspicious of it, but it didn't. At least not the native people here. That was a kind of unsettling sometimes, how things would just appear and the people here acted like it'd always been there. The more sensible side to her thought that maybe she should just ignore it herself. Pretend like the chocolates didn't look particularly tasty and that the sweet smell wasn't appealing at all.

Nobody ever had any fun by listening to their sensible side though. The first box Aerith bought for herself. It wasn't the only box she bought though. She bought a few for other people, it seemed like the thing to do. They were wrapped so nicely and the idea of making someone happy with a small gift like this made her forget about the weirdness of it all. That was the point of the entire Cherishment thing wasn't it? Making friends and loved ones happy with a little gift that let them know how much they mattered. It was nice. Nicer than a lot of things this place had given to them. Nicer than most things back in her own world. Nice was a...well, it was a nice change of pace.

The chocolates that she'd bought for herself didn't make it too far before she'd opened the box up and tasted one. You see, she had to taste one. It was only right that she try them before she give them out to anyone else, right? What if they actually tasted terrible? It was the sensible thing to do.

That was what she was thinking when she bumped into someone else, clearly on their way to check out the new shops.

"Oh! Sorry," she mumbled with a mouth still half full of chocolate. This was just embarrassing.

Comments

I. Aerith your part-timer is here to be a nuisance >>

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn was, of course, in and out of the shop a lot. In when he wasn’t working at the Gullwings office, and out when she chased him out finally with the reminder that he said he’d try to work less. It was a rather funny thing to see, really. He could get rather awkward when she reminded him of the time, clumsily checking his pocket watch and thanking her before he disappeared. Then back again the next day, so the cycle continued. It was funny to watch, to say the least.

But, for all, he was clumsy. He was very careful around her shop and seemed very good at helping to put bouquets together and assisting with orders. He enjoyed the busy work and fussing, it just settled his nerves to have his hands busy while he talked to her or someone who’d entered.

He would agree with her on the bell idea, if only to avoid them being startled the odd time they didn’t notice someone entering. He didn’t like being caught by surprise, though she might find that kind of funny to watch.

It was approaching lunchtime though, and Llewellyn had disappeared a short while before... Only to return with a bag tucked under his arm as he ducked in through the door. He was trying to remember to spend less time working, but he also was holding her to the eating more meals with friends. “Mm... I do believe it’s time for a break, as busy as it’s been... I think we’ve hit a lull?” He held up the bag, having gotten something to go from Ignis’ lodge.

The detective also had something else for her, but he was more focused on food at the moment.

[cetrary]

It was strange to have sort of employees. Not that she ever treated Llewellyn like an employee. If he had suggestions, she listened, and she didn't really give him many orders. Aside from those reminders that maybe he'd been working just a bit too much again. It was a cycle at this point, a funny one that almost seemed more like a playful game at this point.

"Mmm, maybe you're right," she said halfheartedly as she continued to mess with an order that she was certain didn't look that great. (It really looked perfectly fine, she just wanted it to be absolutely perfect for her clients. Love was important after all!) She finally actually looked up at him and noticed the bag he was holding.

"Oh, did you get something? You didn't have to!" But he did, didn't he? This was all her fault really and she knew it. She was the one that brought up the fact that he worked too much. It was something she'd brought on herself.

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn eyed the arrangement she was working on. It was beautiful and certainly ready to go to the person who’d ordered it. Which was why he’d approached when he had, so he smiled at her halfhearted response. “I believe I am, especially since too much more fussing and those flowers might get up and, mm… walk away on their own at this rate.” The attempt at light humor was occasional and always a surprise, but they did happen now and again.

Shrugging lightly, he set the bag down on a clear space and leaned on the counter to open it. “I would argue that I did. I noticed you didn’t have anything with you. I certainly didn’t have anything either, so it seemed fairly necessary if either of us were going to eat today.” He began setting out food. Nothing was potentially messy. Sandwiches stacked high with vegetables and sliced chicken by the looks of it, and some tasty-looking fruit tarts for dessert that he might’ve gone as far as the nice bakery in the market for. Llewellyn was partial to blueberry, though there were some strawberry and cherry as well.

Yes, Aerith. You definitely brought this on yourself. Llewellyn was very stubborn sometimes.

[cetrary]

"I'd let them walk away if they learned how to do that!" They'd have earned it. "They are getting kiiinda tired of me adjusting them," she said as she placed a heliotrope that had a particularly deep purple hue in the center of a bouquet of pure white jasmine flowers. she fiddled with it some, ignoring the food he'd started to set out in favor of making sure the purple really stood out among the white flowers. If she thought back to all the things she'd done in her life it occured to her that she hadn't really put this much effort into anything before. Except maybe that special thing she knew she had to do back home. It was an odd thought to be having right now.

"Oh, I guess I didn't bring anything today." Or ever. He probably knew that too, that jerk! Turning her words against her. Completely and utterly unfair. Buuut she couldn't deny what he brought looked pretty good. "You didn't have to get so much!"

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn did take a moment, as he glanced at the arrangement to admire it. They were lovely. Especially with the contrasting purple at its center. He let her fuss with it a little more while he set out food. It wasn’t like he didn’t understand the thought behind it. Sometimes things needed to be just right, and he’d been doing much the same over the course of the day. But once the heliotrope was placed and looked like it was as adjusted as it could really be, he nodded.

“You didn’t, or yesterday, or the day before that.” He commented absentmindedly with a small gesture to indicate the passage of time and the pattern he’d noticed with it. Yes, he noticed, he always did when it came to people he cared about. Which made it a bit hard to get things by him, unless you managed to properly distract him with something else. He also didn’t really think much about pointing it out. It was a fact that seemed pertinent to point out.

At her exclamation, his brow rose in surprise. “Is it a lot?” He blinked, looking at the collection of food, before shrugging. “I um- might’ve gotten a little carried away, but at leftovers just mean snacks later if needed!” Llewellyn was pro-snacking, after all.

[cetrary]

"Hey! No fair keeping track," she said with a laugh and shake of her head. It was only fair if she was the one doing it. That's how these things worked.

"I guess we balance each other out here. I get carried away with my flowers and you get carried away picking up the food." She gave him a gentle smile and then looked at his spread. "You know, mom used to get frustrated with me for coming home late for dinner. Sometimes I thought for sure they were going to tell me something important and you can't leave before that, right? It'd be rude." And she'd really wanted to know more about those things she needed to know.

"How've your dinners at home been going?"

[gadaboutdetective]

Llewellyn glanced at her with a slightly amused, clumsy smile. “I can’t help that I notice things. It’s the um- hazard of having a detective around, I suppose.” He responded with a little shrug of his shoulders as he set the bag the food had been in aside.

“Hm? Oh- I suppose that’s a nice way of looking at it.” Balancing things out in the sense that they both got carried away with things… One had to wonder how much it balanced though, if they were both getting carried away and no one was stopping them. It was kind of funny, really. But he smiled a little as she spoke about her mother and being late. “Mm… No, I’ve always been under the impression that cutting off a conversation before getting to the important bits is quite rude. Though I’m uh- sure that your mother would have been worried about you eating, plants might have too if they realized you needed to.” He added thoughtfully, not that he knew what plants thought exactly… Not the way she did.

The question gets a small, awkward tilt of his head as he snagged a sandwich for himself to start eating. “Oh- well, I think it’s been going well? I’ve been trying to be around more, especially during supper hours… I’ve been late a few times, but I think Rhy appreciates the attempt?” It was a work in progress, but Llewellyn liked to think that he was doing alright.

I. Help Him He Doesn't Know Flowers!

[skyward_eyes]

She should really install a bell. This was a thought Nida had as he came into the shop, looking a bit... nervous. This was so weird. He'd never done something like this before, and now he was wondering if he was letting his husband down like that.

But here he was, and he looked around like he literally had no idea of what he was doing. Or should be doing. Literally, a poor man in a guard uniform looking so confused.

"Um," he said, his voice soft and nervous. "Excuse me, I really don't know what sort of flowers I should be getting."

[cetrary]

"I need to get a bell so I can properly greet people, huh?" she said looking up from her organizing with a smile. A twinge of guilt hit her at how nervous he sounded to speak up. That wouldn't do at all. People should come here and feel comfortable asking for help!

"Lucky for you, I'm an expert on that! What kind of message are you looking to send? You see, some of them symbolize romantic love, friendship love, some of them say that you'll never forget the person, some talk about trust, and some even bring about domestic happiness!" Maybe she should reign in the rambling a little bit.

[skyward_eyes]

"I was literally just thinking of that," Nida admitted with a smile to the woman before nodding to her. But that didn't shake his nerves.

"Just... love and devotion. My husband deserves nothing less," Nida said with a bit of a shrug. "With jade colored ribbons."

[cetrary]

"It's probably surprising to hear but I've actually had a few instances like this lately," she said with a sheepish shrug. "So I keep thinking I really should get one and then I forget."

She smiled at him and walked over to a purple bundle of flowers. "These symbolize eternal love and devotion. There's also these that represent courage and devotion."

[skyward_eyes]

"A few instances of people coming in on a busy day for the holiday?" Nida asked, Yes, he was very surprised. Oh wait, no, not at all.

"Those... those both look and sound wounderful. Do you think they'd look good with a grin ribbon?

[cetrary]

"I know, shocking," she said with a grin. "I sold flowers back home, but not in a place like," she gestured around the shop. "this. I just had a basket and some flowers I'd brought with me for the most part. Much smaller scale." Honestly, she was completely surprised that she hadn't just given up on the entire thing.

"Hmm," she tilted her head and tapped on her chin. "I think so! But we could give it a test run to see if you'd like?"

Chocolate

[angelofdestruction]

Fayt walked around and smiled at the things that reminded him of Valentine's Day. It was a holiday he celebrated on Earth but now that he really thought about it, he never really got anything except from his parents for the day. He didn't have anyone to give anything to, because Sophia was just a childhood friend.

But he did happen to see two guys holding hands as he walked by and that made him smile. At least people were happy and happy was important. Life couldn't be taken for granted, especially when he'd been off to try and find the guy who wanted to erase his entire existence along with everyone else's that he knew.

And he went along, continuing to admire the shops and the people, not really feeling a part of the whole thing but that was totally okay with Fayt. And as he went to check out another shop, someone or something bumped into him.

Looking at what..or who really - hit him, Fayt immediately apologized to the woman in front of him. "Sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going. Are you hurt?"

[cetrary]

"My pride maybe," she said as she swallowed the last bit of chocolate that had been in her mouth. The tone she used was light with absolutely no hint of annoyance at all. Quite the opposite actually, really she'd thought she was the one that wasn't paying attention not him.

"It wasn't you, I don't think," maybe they both weren't paying attention. She was more inclined to take the fault though. "I wasn't paying attention at all. Guess the chocolate distracted me." A laugh escaped her lips as she brushed the side of her mouth just to make sure there wasn't any chocolate there. No need to make this anymore embarrassing than it already was.

"What about you? Not hurt, right?"

[angelofdestruction]

Fayt had to smile when the lady in front of him admitted it was her pride. And he was glad to see she hadn't started choking on the candy she'd been eating. Wounds he could heal, choking was something that would definitely make him panic though.

"So they have chocolate here then?" he asked, looking around quickly before returning his attention to his companion. Well that was nice to see that this world had something he was familiar with. He couldn't explain what that was on Elicoor 2 with the people that lived there. Fayt knew what it was though because he'd been born on Earth.

And with her asking if he was okay he nodded. "I'm fine." If only all the hits he ever took were as light as the one she'd given him. "But I'm still sorry I bumped into you like that. I'm still new here, and just trying to get my bearings."

[cetrary]

"Yup! Though the chocolatier I got these from just arrived," she pointed back to the direction she'd come from. "I can vouch for them being really good!" Even if it was kind of strange that it just appeared. That was this place though, kind of strange.

"I didn't think I recognized you," she said with a smile. Not that she thought she knew everyone here, but she was pretty sure she knew most people at least in passing. "How long ago did you get brought here?"

[angelofdestruction]

"They..just appeared? Today?" Fayt asked, totally unsure that he was understanding the lady before him correctly. How did things do that? Did they have transporters here too and he'd been unable to locate them? This would definitely merit more observation and checking out.

But her comment stopped his mental puzzling and her phrasing was odd, or she'd been here a long time maybe, long enough to know people by sight or name. Still, it was polite to answer her question so he shook his head.

"A few days maybe? I haven't been here long. And this place is so strange. But what about you?"

[cetrary]

"Things do that sometimes and the natives here kinda just act like they've always been there. Nobody really knows what that means exactly." Though, maybe that was because nobody really questioned that too much. At least not that she'd seen.

She tapped her chin thoughtfully as she tried to think back. "Nearly a year now I think. Time really does go by quickly."

I. Aerith's Flower Shop. (Earlier in the month)

[unknownmoirai]

In order to make flower crowns Inesa needed flowers. Of course, the best place to look for flowers was a flower shop.

A soft blue light floated in front of her as she walked through the city streets towards the flower shop. She didn't know where it was located and instead of aimlessly searching she had asked a friend to guide her. The spirit flickered when they reached the door before disappearing back into Inesa's chest. "Thank you little one." She spoke as she stepped into the shop.

The air was warm and heavy with the thick smell of plants and soil. Inesa smiled as the familiar scent washed over her. She didn't see anyone and began to look around, speaking to the flowers as she moved between the displays. "You are very happy. I hope you do not mind me taking you home. You are so beautiful."

It might take Aerith sometime before realizing that she had an angel in her shop but Inesa was happily taking her time, speaking to each flower as if they could understand her.

[cetrary]

Eventually she'd really need to get on that whole bell thing. Every time she missed the entrance of a customer it reminded Aerith that she really needed to put one up. The only problem was the minute the customer left she promptly forgot about it in favor of something else. Maybe she got a bit too distracted by things, but who could really blame her? There was so much to be done. And at least she never actually missed any customers outright. Usually she got a feeling that they were around eventually.

That feeling was what tugged on her to check on the front. "Welcome!" she said to the woman with a bright smile on her face and a wave. "Can I help you? Or are they already helping you?"

[unknownmoirai]

"Oh!" Inesa's cheeks flushed a warm honey pink as she met Aerith's gaze. "I could use help if you have a moment." She felt a little embarrassed being caught speaking to the flowers. Most people don't believe that flowers can understand speech but Inesa's experiences have been different and she felt awkward every time she tried to explain herself.

"I have two questions actually. I am hoping to make flower crowns for the Cherishment holidays and I need flowers that have thick stems to create the base. Could you suggest a few flowers?" She knew a few she wanted but there were many flowers here that she was unfamiliar with.

[cetrary]

"You're in luck," she said putting a finger up. "I happen to have several moments!" She gave her a warm smile in an attempt to try to make the obviously embarrassed woman feel a bit better. It was relatable really, being embarrassed at being caught like that. It'd happen to her quite a few times and she knew how it felt to be looked on as a weirdo.

"That sounds really lovely," she said with a quick clap of her hands. She tapped her chin and looked around. "I have some Gladiolus, lillies, tulips, and dahlias in a bunch of colors that might work?"

[unknownmoirai]

Inesa lightly tapped the pads of her fingers together. "Really? I hope to borrow all of your moments then!" She didn't know if this was how Aerith normally spoke but she enjoyed the unusual sound that the sentences made when spoken. Her embarrassment was all but forgotten in the light of her excitement.

She was easily distracted from her uncertainties.

"That would be perfect. I would like to be able to make many different styles and colors and I think that those flowers would be perfect. How much could I get with this?" Inesa pulled out half of the money that she'd been given as an allowance for the month. The rest had gone to her new wardrobe and little things for her apartment.

"My second question is about indoor plants. I was hoping to begin potting some. I don't know if you know of the best plants for that or perhaps sold potted plants." She wouldn't have enough money at this time but she'd slowly save up and come back. Inesa promised to be a very dedicated customer in the future.

[cetrary]

"You might get a bit tired of me if you do that," she teased with a bright smile. Maybe it was a bit self-deprecating to say, but when one goes most of their life without friends it's hard to not be self-deprecating at times. Not that she didn't understand why it'd been hard to make friends, she did. Didn't make it suck any less.

Aerith took a look at the money she pulled out and then tilted her head thoughtfully. "As many as you'd like. I think it's a really nice idea aaand truthfully, I kinda wanna see them myself." They sounded like they'd end up being really beautiful to see and if there was anything at all that made Aerith happy, it was seeing her flowers add to the happiness and beauty around them.

"For potted plants, it depends on what you want them for. Do you just want decoration? Or do you want something practical? My mom always went with mostly practical for cooking and other herbs indoors."