[open] somnus & YOU

[luciing]

WHO: somnus and OPEN
️ WHAT: he be shopping for the gf, but he needs help/suggesting buying stuff to spoil her
WHEN: early july
WHERE: around town
WARNINGS: nothing

A for Armani

[ Any merchant might say that shopping should not be a strained situation, but here among the stalls is none other than Somnus Lucis Caelum, standing with all of his stony gloom as he looks upon the wares. Indeed, he appears less stoic and more serious as he hovers over a set of silks laid out before him, brow lowered and frown prominent upon his expression. His shadow casts a bleak grey on the fabric, veiling its finer, gossamer features.  As an added effect, his disgruntled expression, unfortunately, scares off the vendor herself, leaving him with no assistance in choosing a product.

Any other time in the market wouldn't be so... stressful, but this day, it is different. He is not shopping for himself, but for someone else. One thing remains clear above the torrent of choices and second-guessing and backtracking: this gift must be absolutely perfect. ]

Tell me, which of these colors would suit a maiden of blue hair?

[ Step one to buying a dress means first purchasing the fabric. The more difficult parts to it-- determining the cut and style-- come later. For that, too, he will be helpless. ]

B for Balenciaga

[ For better or worse, it seems that Somnus can not come to a definite conclusion on exactly which color, fit, or item to buy-- so he buys all of it. All the things.

Yes, that's right: all of the gifts he's happened to purchase are currently being packed neatly into a medium-sized wagon. In addition to the variety of silks, furs, hats, and books. There are, of course, more than a dozen bouquets of flowers, none of which he knows their meaning, for included are arrays of daffodils, roses, orchids, lilies, birds of paradise, an actual fowl of paradise in a birdcage, and a few flowering cacti. Perhaps someone should tell him that less is more? Or just to not try so hard... or that one of the cacti is actually a carnivorous plant, currently snapping at the hem of whatever cloak, skirt, or sleeve you are wearing. ]

C for Chanel

[ Having sent off a variety of gifts, he is now free to spend more time browsing some of the stalls. However, for those who think he may now be penniless: rest assured, he is not. In fact, it appears he has more gold to spare, seeing as how he just so happens to be stalled at the edge of a jewelry vendor.  

One can also be assured that Somnus knows next to nothing of women's jewelry and fashion, and so when he peers curiously at one of the displays showcasing bracelets and rings, he may happen to be looking at the most hideous of arrangements. ] Does this stone symbolize anything?

[ Moreover, does it matter? Do women pay attention to what a stone might mean? And would the woman he is currently planning a gift for care for a particular meaning? Oh no, would she like it, maybe he should just buy the whole lot just in case-- ]

Wildcard

[ Have an idea? PM this account, drinksteapots, or Jade294#6977! Find Somnus in the market, run into him, try to steal one of the gifts from him, etc. Feel free to incorporate any of the quests/TDM prompts, too! ]

Comments

[silvergarden]

[By the Father, but his mannerisms are so romantic! Like a storybook prince. She can't help but blush, fingers curling in his grip.

But even Rinea-- despite being used to royalty-- is going to be shocked by an entire wagonload of gifts. She blinks owlishly at it as she takes in the scene. He's joking, right?]

A-- all of it? [As she peers past the wagon's cover into the interior, it begins to dawn on her just how much stuff is in there. Rinea presses her free hand to her mouth, reeling. Even putting aside the sheer abundance of it, the implications of the gesture are making her short-circuit.] You prepared all of this? For me?

[luciing]

Indeed.

[ Her fingers curling into his hand make her touch warmer. It is by instinct that his thumb brushes over the side of her hand.

Somnus turns his head away from her, then begins to guide her to the wagon as the attendant takes down the tarp. While most items remain in neatly tied packages, the bouquets of flowers are packed so tightly together along the side of the cart that they appear like mural honoring the sunset.

…Which is appropriate, given that it is evening. A full day of shopping for all of these items, and all the thought he’d put into it (for he simply did not pick each gift at random), it’s been quite the day.

But a busy day doesn’t mean he isn’t mindful of her or how she may react. This is probably the closest he is to be eager to please another. ]

Come, you may see them yourself.

[silvergarden]

[As she takes the whole scene in Rinea feels her smile turning goofy at the edges. The flowers are so neatly arranged, and the packaged gifts stacked with care. How much time and thought did he put into this? Could he have taken the concept of "courting" any more seriously?! Somnus is almost intimidating in his gravity... but at the same time, so cute.

A giggle escapes her, the sound wondering and bright.]

How beautiful! [Rinea turns her beaming smile upon him, obviously delighted. Her hand squeezes his.] Lord Somnus... you are too sweet. Thank you.

[She... should....... probably say something about how absurdly over the top it is... but that can wait. She feels light as air. (And given how guilty Somnus seemed when he confessed, even the slightest hint of misstepping might make him self-destruct. Better not.)]

The sunroom will look very nearly like the garden outside at this rate. [Adalhard's watering duties just got way longer.] Would you like to come in? I'll arrange vases for the bouquets right away!

[luciing]

[ What a gracious woman she is, he thinks, to invite him in so that he may personally see how she places the flowers in the vase... It is quite touching. Furthermore, with the addition of the wagon's attendants around, no one would think they are retreating into her home for something scandalous. All business, yes. ] Aye.

These, first? [ The lilies are the closest to him, and so he takes the bouquet out of the cradle on the wagon's side.

And as they walk to her home, he asks: ] I have not interrupted important work, have I?

[ He's noticed that she's in her work attire. ]

[silvergarden]

Not at all! [Rinea lifts a bouquet herself, along with a second one lifted with kinetic magic. Handy, that!] I've begun teaching a fellow otherworlder about our shared magic... I was only practicing the lesson.

[As she lets him inside (the house is clean, though clearly lived-in), though, she looks lightheartedly embarrassed.]

Still, you should let me know when you visit next time! I would prefer looking more presentable for you.

[luciing]

Very well. I shall send an owl next time.

[ For there will be a next time. As one shopping helped pointed out, flowers are good gifts not only for their traditional value, but because they need to be replaced, they allow someone give another bouquet later.

While he has been in her workshop before, he has never been invited into her home, and so he is mindful of his surroundings. It’s different from his own, lived-in and homey. She’s clearly made this place her own, and he is glad for it. Rinea should be comfortable in her afterlife.

However… it is smaller than he expected. Will all the gifts be appropriate, or will they clutter? ]

I was not aware that you teach Avalon’s magic. Perhaps some of these flowers may decorate your classroom, if they are too much.

[silvergarden]

That's a lovely suggestion! I shall do so. [The, uh, more animated and bitey plants can go there. Poor Doppo can get his soul scared right out of him the next time he enters her workshop. Fun for everyone!(?)]

If I'm honest... [it's not a secret or a huge admission, but Rinea still feels a bit shy saying so,] the house has felt a bit lonely ever since Chris departed from Avalon. It will be nice to have such cheerful arrangements.

[As they bring in more and more from the wagon the flowers slowly but surely take over the sunroom, turning it into more of a greenhouse. Rinea doesn't have quite enough vases for all of these bouquets, but she can make some out of regular glasses with alchemy in moments. The view of flower taking over the room is absurdly overkill enough for maybe even Somnus to notice, but Rinea doesn't seem to mind. She looks quite happy.]

How nice! [When they've finished arranging the floral gifts to her satisfaction, Rinea beams up at Somnus.] What do you think?

[luciing]

[ He may have no eye for decor, but he does make an effort to direct the hired help to offload all the flowers to appropriate fixtures and vases. At the mention of Chris leaving, he adds: ] May these flowers provide you with company.

[ By the end of it, the sunroom seems to be a garden of it own. Somnus finishes adjusting one of orchids on a low table as Rinea calls to him.

Straightening, he turns to look at her— and is quite relieved that she appears pleased. This is the effect for which he had hoped. ]

Talented in both dance and alchemy… this shows the same in decorating. [ He approaches her, his gaze soft. ]

You have an eye for the arts, dear Rinea.