isleofavalon | [Catch-All] Moving Forward

🧙 WHO: Aerith Gainsborough, You
⚔️️ WHAT: Catch-All for August / September
🕒 WHEN: August / September
🗺️ WHERE: Aerith's flower shop, Camelot, and wherever else we need to be.
⚠️ WARNINGS: TBD

[They drop down! Click if you don't see them.]

► [01. Flowers, Flowers Everywhere]

[Aerith's flower shop has seen a lot more activity than she's expected. When she initially opened it, she'd assumed it would be a relatively calm pastime. She's not prepared herself for just how many visitors she'd get.

The upstairs loft painting has finally been completed, though it looks a... little like a child did it in some places. (That's Aerith's masterful painting at work there, along with some help from Nanaki—but the latter's was better.) She's made it less cluttered in most places, creating a nice comfortable little way off to the side where there's some in-house teas available at no additional charge. The patio outside now has a few smaller tables and chairs for those who want to sit in the sun and enjoy the sights. The other portion of the store holds a curtain of hanging ivy and other blooms that pave way for a plant paradise right within, though it can get a little warm and humid in there.

In short, Aerith has been busy.

Today, she's in the midst of writing some instructional cards for some of the newer plants that she's presenting in the front window. She tucks them in all nice and neat and catching the eye of the next passerby, she lifts a hand and offers a welcoming wave and a bright smile.]

► [02. A Real Place]

[Aerith... has never gone house shopping before and realises that as she's begun to look at new residences, she has no idea what she's actually gotten herself into. She's been using her phone to get around to the best of her ability, but with no real idea as to where she should be heading next or what seems to be the most logical course of action in terms of distance, she really spends most of her time wandering from one district to the other, stopping occasionally to examine some of the houses.

In the midst of still peering at her phone on the way to her next misadventure, she lifts a hand to grab onto the person nearest her, tugging on the arm.]

Hi, excuse me. Can you help me find this place here?

[And then she lifts up her phone. It's a nice, small, very modest looking place. Can't be more than two bedrooms at the most, if even that. Definitely bigger than the apartment she's currently stationed in, however.]

► [03. Lending a Hand - Don't Treep, Man]

[It's another moment where she's almost a little envious that she doesn't have green magic. It'd certainly make her growing anything significantly easier. But maybe that's a little too easy. There's something to be said about the achievement of hard work and earned success.

Not part of the green mage collective, Aerith helps around the farmland by doing a little bit of everything that she can get her hands on. Her favourite thing to do, however, is the watering. It's easy to find her going down a line of very small sprouts that have only just begun to pop right up out of the ground, modestly watering them.

And talking to them. Because that's a necessity, you know.]

Oh, look at you! [She croons happily.] You're looking so good! You're gonna grow up nice and strong, right? [In fact, Aerith is probably a little too excited about something as trivial as watering plants. But seriously—talking to them is good for them.]

► [04. Wildcard]

[As it reads on the tin. Wildcard option available for those who aren't looking to use the above prompts. If you'd like to do something special, please either PM, PP at ofthesky, or contact via Discord. We'll set something up!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Tsumugi looks in Aerith's direction, interest piqued. ]

I would love to see them, if you don't mind. [ Maybe he'll end up getting both! His room could use some brightening up. (though he can practically hear sakyo in his head, scolding him for frivolous spending... sorry, sakyo-san...) ]

I'm really amazed by how many plants you have. Honestly, I feel as though I could stay here for hours.

[Offering him a nod, Aerith motions for him to follow after her. She takes him to a warmer section of the shop, not excessively warm, just something comfortable, clearly for the humidity factor. She has a couple of modest shelves of pots with the very standard yellow daffodils, and across the way on a shelf opposite are white ones.

They are incredibly small. Incredibly dainty. And as Aerith confessed so openly, cute.]

This will probably not come as a surprise, but I feel the same way. My apartment here isn't too different, so to me, it's not like I'm coming to a job, but rather just a second home. I love it here. It's so peaceful and I love having the opportunity to talk with everyone, especially those who might not know very much about them.

[ Tsumugi wholeheartedly agrees; the miniature flowers are precious. And he will say so out loud, as he selects one of the yellow daffodil pots. ] How cute... [ He loves it. He'll give the little daffodil a good name later.

But for now, his focus shifts back to Aerith. ] You've really done a great job of making this place feel like a home.

[ It's because of this that he feels comfortable enough to ask: ] Sorry if this is a bit forward, but... are you, by chance, looking for extra help? I'm afraid I don't have experience working in a flower shop, but I've gardened as a hobby for several years now. [ And, as he's hopefully demonstrated, he knows a thing or two about flowers. ]

[She beams, incredibly proud of his assessment. His reaction is exactly what she's looking for. She wants the shop to be warm and welcoming, to show all of the additional assets that plants can provide aside from just making a pretty bouquet.

His follow-up question delights her, transparent in her expression, and she nods without much hesitance.]

To be fair, when I opened this, I didn't have really any experience running a shop. It's been a learning experience for me, too. I sold flowers back home, but it wasn't anything like this. [Aerith's expression relaxes into a smile, no less warmth or sincerity.] I'm happy to let anyone help out as they want here. I have some others who help out, too. I've been meaning to get everyone together so we can all meet. Maybe we can have some group outings, too.

[ Tsumugi smiles, just as warm and sincere. ]

That all sounds wonderful! Thank you very much for having me. [ He bows his head slightly, a show of respect and (even more) gratitude. ] I'll be more than happy to help in any way you need. [ Though maybe not so much heavy-lifting? He's not completely frail, sure, but his physique is far from impressive.

But that aside, and before he forgets (and honestly, it feels like a show of her kindness, to have not asked this already): ] My name is Tsumugi Tsukioka. It's been a pleasure to meet you.

[Quite readily, Aerith offers over a hand in his direction.] It's nice to meet you! I'm Aerith.

[She gives another glance around the flower shop thoughtfully.] I'm pretty relaxed about what people do here, so really if you're doing something you actually want to do, that's all that matters. And it doesn't have to be just one thing either. So if you find you want to prune plants and water them, then I'd want you to do that. Honestly, it's not as if I'm very picky. I just having the help.

[And the company. Of course, what she really needs is someone who's good with finances, but... she's pretty sure that's what Balthier has threatened her with.]

[ Oh - he lifts his head and takes the offered hand, before following her glance around the shop. Something he actually wants to do, though... He can think of something. ]

Honestly, I'll be happy just being surrounded by all the plants. [ That is to say, he's 100% down to help out in general! ] But I would love the opportunity to try my hand at making arrangements, if that'd be okay. I've helped others choose flowers for bouquets in the past, and it was always rewarding to hear if they were well-received.

[Aerith gives his hand a nice, firm shake. Maybe a little too excitable, all things considered.]

That's how I feel. [But she is getting the distinct impression that they're very likely to see eye-to-eye on many things where plants are involved.] I'm not sure I have many people other than me here doing bouquets. If you like making those, I wish you'd been here a month or so ago. I had an order for like, twelve of them.

[And she still doesn't know what Zuko actually needed them for...] It was a pretty tall order for just one person. Still, better late than never. When you come in, do whatever you're feeling most. If that's bouquets, have at it. I regularly change up my displays every week, so I'm sure I'll always have plenty for you to do.

[Catch-All] Moving Forward

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