melodiesoflife | Opening up the flower shop~

Entry tags:

Opening up the flower shop~

Where: Aqures Ixen: Terra’s new flower shop (Also a rescue center for animals and pets) located at the border between the 14th and 09th District of Aqures Ixen.
When: 9th through the month of May~ and June!
Summary: Terra has just opened her shop, Jardin Verdoyant, after spending some time and money getting it ready. Bartz had helped her where he could. Now it is open and ready for business. In June Terra can be found at the flower shop or her home. The memories left her feeling a little uncomfortable about people.
Warning: None.

Terra had made sure the shop was perfect before sending out Tempest with the flyers. There were rows of plants cut from the stem and rearranged in lovely patterns as well as rows of bright seasonal flowers that were still rooted to a clump of soft dirt. She wanted people to be able to plant flowers as well as have them to be placed in a vase or given as gifts. She had collected seeds as well, which sat in small baskets on the front counter, each with the flowers names written out on small pieces of parchment. The whole store front burst with colors drawing in those who walked by.

The back of the store was simple, Terra was in the process of outfitting it as a greenhouse of sorts and she hoped to have it set up so she could grow spring and summer flowers throughout the winter. On the far side of that wall there were pens and a dozen or so kittens were playing with small toys that Terra had made a few days before. Two of the kittens, whom Terra has trained, were wandering around the store front pulling in customers with soft meows. One was black with startling blue green eyes while the other was an orange tabby cat who’s eyes shined gold in the light of the sun.

Terra was excited and it showed in a happy smile as she lightly misted water over a collection of carnations.

She had her long green hair pulled back into a ponytail with loose strains falling to frame her delicate features. For once Terra wasn't wearing a dress deciding to wear a purple tank top and a pair of worn shorts. She wore brown boots that ended at her calf which were slightly covered in dirt and scuffed from work.

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Ven had seen the flyers earlier in the day, but at the time didn't think much of visiting anytime soon. He had, of course, gravitated more towards item and weaponry shops given the current state of affairs -- as vague as they still were -- but after window-shopping there for the afternoon, he doubled back down the street with a more attentive eye on the other businesses, ducking in and out of them here and there just to get an idea of what was offered. He had time to kill, after all.

Upon spotting the flower shop, he stopped mid-step and examined the colorful display with interest. He certainly didn't dislike flowers, but neither had he any reason or person to buy them for; all the same, a glance inside didn't hurt, especially with those wide-eyed looks that those two kittens up front were trying to guilt him with. With Mograe in tow (and silent, as by now she knew better than to ask what possible interest Ven could have in this store), Ven made his way inside -- carefully, as the greeter-kittens followed him -- where he was greeted by the sound of more tiny cats further back.

It was a pleasant little place, feeling much more personal than business, somehow. Spotting who he assumed was the only employee currently in the place, Ven raised a hand in greeting and moved further in. "Hi! Are you the owner?"

Terra looked up from her work placing the watering can off to the side with a light smile. "Yes." She was slowly getting used to talking to others and she was improving with each customer who walked through her doors.

"Oh, Um.. I'm Terra. Can I help you with anything?"

She absently tucked a loose strain of green hair behind her ear while watching Ventus curiously.

Ven immediately blinked at the introduction, surprised. Luckily, having heard about her beforehand probably cut his reaction down a few degrees, so he was quick to smile again -- even if there was something vaguely akin to sad amusement in the look this time.

"It's nice to meet you, Terra. I'm Ventus -- just Ven, if you want." He turned aside to indicate the store's front with a gesture, perking up some more as he did so. "I like your display! I thought I'd come say hi -- you're the one in the flyers, right?"

“Ven” She repeated his name with a shy smile. She decided it was a nice name but she wished she knew why his expression changed so drastically. She wasn’t good at social situations but she could tell at least that much. “Um.. yes. Thank you.”

Terra wasn’t sure what else to say. She fidgeted for a moment picking up her water pale and then setting it down in its correct place.

“You’re welcome to look around.”

As social and considerate as Ven was, he quickly picked up on Terra's uncertainty. He didn't want to force a conversation, but an uneasy silence didn't seem right, either, so he nodded before glancing around some more. He could at least do her the courtesy of not staring at her. "Thanks! We have some gardens where I come from, but I didn't really help take care of them or anything. We didn't have this many kinds of flowers, either."

He leaned over with his hands on his knees, examining a row of daisies. "Do you have a shop like this back home?"

Terra was internally thankful that he didn't stare at her. Ever since the strange dream she felt like those who knew she was a monster were left to stare and wonder about who she truly was. She pushed those thoughts from he mind turning to look at Ven as he spoke.

Every flower she had felt new to her even though there were a few that she vaguely remembered from home. She hadn't had time for flowers back then.

His question made her pause and she was thankful that she hadn't had anything in her hands that she might drop. Terra didn't know what to do. She had been pushing so much from her mind to keep herself from worrying but in the end she hasn't really face much of it.

"I don't remember a lot about my home." Her voice was soft and her statement only half true. "I don't think I owned a shop like this though. There is a lot of war where I'm from. I was a soldier."

She thought to leave it at that, not willing to dive deeper into her thoughts on the matter. However, Terra didn't look like a soldier. Her features were delicate and she resembled a statue or work of art more than someone who was accustom to battle.

Ven glanced over during the pause, his expression curious at first and then quickly turning sympathetic. "Oh... that's too bad." Her lack of memories, as well as the mention of war. Terra certainly didn't look like a soldier, true, but then again neither had Aqua, and neither did Ven himself. He wouldn't judge on that account or ask any more about it. "Either way, it's pretty impressive, what you've done here," he went on more brightly, taking another glance around the shop. "I don't know much about business, but I can tell you put a lot of care into this place."

He smiled at her, only to look down as one of the wandering kittens approached and stared up at him. Grinning, Ven crouched down to give it some gentle scratches between the ears. "And you're taking care of these little guys, too, huh?"

For a moment Terra feared that he would ask more but when he didn't she felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She didn't mean to feel so nervous or distrust those around her but deep down she was scared. The mentioning of the kitten quickly snapped her out of those thoughts bringing her gaze down to one of the two kittens she had decided to keep.

"Yes." Her expression softened into a tender gaze. "I haven't named him or his brother yet."

She heard a soft meow and looked down to see the second kitten batting at her shoes. She leaned over picking up the feisty creature and putting him in the crook of her arm. "I have others in the back too. I'm looking for homes for them all." She had found them over the city and taken them in. Before she knew it there were to many to care for. In truth her purpose in opening the shop was to have the money to care for all the homeless creatures.

"Oh, yeah?" He laughed as the kitten in front of him rolled over, batting playfully at his hand. "That's nice of you. The people I'm living with now have a couple of pets, but I can always ask if they'd mind another one." Ven had never had a pet himself, not that he remembered; the closest he'd come was the couple plants in his room that he cared for, although he was never in want of more than that.

He started a game of tapping the kitten's stomach, withdrawing his hand just in time to avoid getting smacked, and repeating. The tiny cat didn't seem to mind, judging by its purring. "Cats are pretty independent, right? Once they get older?"

"If you'd like. You are more than welcome to come visit them too." Terra stared down at the kitten fondly. She could be honest with the little kittens and she never had to guess what to say. It made them perfect companions for the shy girl.

Her bright blue gaze shifted up towards Ven. "Even as kittens they are independent. You can also train them to live outside as well as inside." They would once again wander around the city but they would have food and someone who loved them when they returned home.

"Really?" He beamed at Terra before adding to the cats, "I'll have to bring you guys something the next time I drop by, huh? I'll try to help think up some names, too." He meant it on both accounts. Despite his last encounter with a cat, which had been less playful and more along the lines of life-and-death, Ven didn't hold a grudge against felines. If Meredy and the others were okay with it, he might well come back to take in one of the adoptables.

For now, he stood up and turned to Terra again. "Y'know, I think I'd like to buy some flowers, after all. My side of the room's pretty plain right now, anyway." He doubted Sora would mind ~~and if he does, too bad, Ven is the elder one here by laws of technicality~~ so Ven took another look around, considering. He may not have known much about flowers, but he'd owned and cared for a couple plants back in the Master's castle, so he had an idea of what specifications to look for. "Do you have any that do well indoors? Maybe something... that doesn't need a whole lot of watering, in case I'm away for a few days?"

"Yes."

Terra walked over to the left hand side of the store and picked up a small plant. It was in a white ceramic pot that was shaped like a sphere. The bright green leaves spilled over it's edges and in it's center was a light pink bud. It still had a few days until it bloomed.

"Little sunlight, indoors, water once a week with an amount that equals three ice cubs." She smiled then handing the pot over to Ven.

"What do you think?"

She hoped he'd like it. The leaves were shaped like five pointed stars with white tipping their ends. The pink flower once it bloomed had many petals all circling a white star shaped center. "It usually blooms at night." Terra added softly.

Reaching out to take it, Ven held it carefully as he observed it. It certainly was pretty, even if it hadn't bloomed yet; he could appreciate that kind of thing. His smile soon turned into a more thoughtful look, however, as if he were studying rather than admiring it -- and at Terra's words he blinked, first at her and then back at the yet-to-be flower again.

At night...

His hands were full, so he couldn't reach into his pocket to retrieve what he was thinking of, but he didn't have to. He knew that shape and design well enough to realize the resemblance was uncanny -- and it put the smile back on his face as he looked up at Terra, the expression somehow even brighter than before.

"I think it's perfect," he assured her sincerely. Then, realizing he sounded a bit too serious, he added with more energy, "I'll take it! And I promise I'll take good care of it!"

Terra felt the tension in her shoulders grow as he looked between the plant and her steady gaze. Her bright blue eyes betrayed her worry as he carefully took the pot from her hands. It would thrive well inside and she hoped that it was what he was looking for.

The moment he said it was perfect she felt a vale lift from her shoulders. A light smile pulled at her lips and she felt the knot in her chest slowly release.

Terra didn't know why she had felt so worried but she thought that flowers were important. They fit their owners like companions.

"The care instructions should be simple but I can write them down for you." Just so he doesn't forget.

Ven nodded. Having the reminder on hand couldn't hurt! "Sure, I'd appreciate it!" He set the pot on the counter and searched his pocket for the small bag of Gil that Mograe had supplied him with just that morning. He'd assured her he wouldn't spend it all at once, but this little purchase hardly counted.

"I'll let you know how it's doing the next time I stop by, too!" he offered.

Terra moved behind the counter picking up a pencil and a piece of parchment. She focused on the paper scribbling out basic instructions. Once or twice she paused and looked at the plant before continuing her written words.

"Here."

She passed over the paper to him with a shy smile. She was happy or at least she thought she was. "I'd like that."

Ven glanced at the instructions, widened his smile, and folded the paper neatly before tucking it into his pocket. After counting out the Gil to pay -- with a quick word of help from Mograe, since Ven was still getting used to the value differences between this and munny -- he handed it over and took up the potted plant again with care.

"Thanks again, Terra! Hope everything goes well!" She probably didn't need the well-wishing, since her grand opening seemed to be going just fine, but Ven meant it all the same.

"You're welcome."

She placed the money where Tempest had told her to store it and watched as Ven walked from her shop. She bowed her head at his farewell hoping that things go well for him as well.

Terra felt like she should say more but before she could he was gone and she was left with her thoughts. She couldn't help but wonder if this was what it meant to have friends.

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Opening up the flower shop~

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