🌸 four | a feeling comes so fast, and i cannot control it.

[everblooms]

Who ⬤ the staff of dandelion, and you, maybe?
What ⬤ an open mingle for the grand opening of hell's newest flower shop!
When ⬤ september, consider this a month long thing.
Where ⬤ Tamamo district
Content Warnings ⬤ pop them in your headers if anything comes up, and i'll edit it in accordingly! no worries at all!

please note there's a myriad of images below the cut!

The last bursts of heat from Summer are so sticky and hot, you can feel it beneath your skin, humidity sticking to your bones. This is the perfect atmosphere for something to grow, though, with clear skies and sunny rays of warmth. In the heart of Tamamo, near Mizukume, there’s a lot of production going on around a little corner shop, nestled between trendy teahouses and fancy, independent boutiques. People file in and out of this little building for weeks; there’s display cases going up, built overnight, installations of new furnishings. Flowers start to appear in the windows, grand arrangements of sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias, marigolds and peonies all gathered together in dizzying, bright and cheerful bunches— within Jigokucho, flowers are a private business. It is personal gardens you’ll find, for the urban jungle of the city doesn’t quite lend itself to the growth of new life. But here, in Tamamo, there is an anomaly: city-bred flowers priced fairly for you and your’s. "Heya! Welcome in! This is Dandelion, and we hope to be your one shop stop for all your flowery needs. If you need anything, give any one of your local Busy Bees a shout, okay? Oh! And I'm Aerith, the owner. If you need me, I'll be around. Sound good?" The shop is called Dandelion. Its sign is a sweet, simple neon light over the awning, white letters burning Spring cloud white, and outside are rows and rows of ready-made bouquets. For the first week of operations, you’ll always see an employee outside of the shop, in the Summer sun, with a basket of flowers, promoting the shop. They flank down people from the streets, and haggle prices of single flowers during the daytime. At night, they’ve gone inside— you’re welcome to try to haggle prices then, too. Who knows, maybe you’ll get that giant arrangement for half-off? Employees are instructed to come up with different ways to have people pay for their flowers in the case of haggling, however, and how that payment is made is up to the Busy Bee you’re stuck with. Inside the shop is just about any flower you can imagine. It smells of wildflowers, like standing in an open field full of them, and the heavy scent wafts all the way through the two-story building. With the owner’s ability to grow them at will, she can afford to grow anything she pleases, and definitely indulges. However, you might be able to catch her, if you’d like to make a special order… The scent of freshly cut florals can be attributed quickly to two different events on either floor of the building. You can sign up for a flower crown course, led by any of the employees of Dandelion. They’re easy to spot by the virtue of the name cards they’ve been asked to wear on lanyards, or the pink ribbons Aerith has given each of them to wear however they please. The course is easy; you get to walk through the store and pick out any flowers you like, bring them upstairs, and the Busy Bee helping you will show you how to weave the stems together to make a crown. Get creative, be a nuisance— just don’t think you aren’t being charged, because you definitely are. On the ground floor, however, are floral arrangement courses, where employees can help you create a mini armature and then stitch your flowers together, instead. The wiring is bendy and can be made into any shape you please, and (probably!) no one will get mad if you’re a little silly or even naughty about it. After all, you’re paying for it. "If there's a certain meaning you want to convey or a shape you'd like to try, let's discuss it in further detail! Every flower has a meaning, so what would you like your arrangement to say?" Calling in favors across Tamamo was an arduous task, but it’s been done. Along with these activities in the shop are hors d’oeuvres, and drinks. Cookies with flowers baked into them, cupcakes adorned with petals, mini cakes and hand pies, all of them with some kind of floral twist. They’re out for consumption and free of charge, with classy business cards advertising the business that’s supplied it. Maybe you’ve got your own concoction you want on display or you’re just here for the food. That’s fine, too, just make sure to take a look around and recommend Dandelion to your friends! To pair with the goodies are drinks, virgin and alcoholic. Some were created by the Busy Bees themselves, and put together on the spot, others advertise bars or teahouses around the area and are laid out for the taking. The expected culprits are here: Floral brewed teas, cocktails and mocktails decorated with petals, extracts made from Dandelion’s special flowers, syrups with the remnants of blossoms in them lining cups… A particular crowd pleaser comes in the form of dried flowers. Pick what you please, and a Busy Bee will drop it into a tea cup with warm water. Then, watch as it rehydrates and steeps, turning the water an inviting amber tone. The flower blooms, unfolding as if coming back to life, petals robust and colorful again… They call it a Cup of Blooms, and if you ask for a Cup of High Blooms, you’ll get one that has a particularly relaxing effect. Some of the tea being made has a very enthralling aroma, green and peachy colors brewing in cups. It might remind a customer of the smell of the end of a concert, or a hippy gathering, as the herbs turns into different types of tea and various options are available. Though the goal isn’t to get you drunk in the shop, the employee serving you is at liberty to keep serving or cut you off as you please. Be nice? Maybe it’ll get you special treatment. "Here we have different types, they'll take about thirty to ninety minutes to hit, so when it does, I suggest you take a look at our food options over there, yeah? I'm here if I can help - if you get the jitters, call for me! I can help." In the evening, the upstairs gets cleaned up, and space is cleared for a little stage. Tamamo is the land of pleasures, after all. Surrounded by flowers, served efflorescent treats and refreshments, with the lights dimmed, you’re welcome to watch performances by anyone brave enough to make their way onto the make-shift stage. Perhaps it’s a Busy Bee themselves; after all, there’s that up and coming musician roaming the floor, and only a month ago had an idol duo advertised Dandelion’s opening. Maybe you manage to wiggle your way onto the stage yourself: It’s not like anyone has reason to stop you. Besides, doesn't the staff of Dandelion look like a great crowd for practicing your stand up comedy routine on? ... ... ... "We're closing. Please finish up and go." this is a mingle log for the grand opening of dandelion, a new flower shop in game. this mingle is open through out the month of september, and you're encouraged to tag as you please! for anyone looking to place a special order with aerith: she can't make fruit or trees, but everything else is on the table. your character doesn't need to be an employee at the shop to toplevel! please go as hard as you like. questions! do you have them? then you can possibly pm me, or pp me @ hagclub. i'll get back to you asap! the code used here is by photosynthesis!

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aerith gainsborough | tamamo

[everblooms]

I. i hear the music; ( CLOSED to staff of dandelion. )

[ The wee hours of the morning are not the easiest time to get everyone gathered up, so she’s not terribly surprised if a few faces are missing for her ‘orientation’ the morning of the first day of the grand opening. The sun is going pale yellow over the horizon, the baby blues of the open sky of Jigoku-cho mingling with creamy orange shades. The light is still morning dew yellow. Usually, most people are in bed at this time, but there’s a great deal to go over today&mdashl There’s no hard and fast rules to go over, truthfully. Aerith isn’t one for tradition, and she’s not a controlling person either. So long as they get it done, they’re good in her book.

So the backroom has been set up with a whiteboard, still. In the corner of the room is a coffee pot, full and ready for anyone to partake in even if there’s definitely cafes with better coffee around, and a few donuts out for consumption. A menu is laid out for passing around so everyone can order takeout from a local diner for breakfast— Aerith’s treat, naturally. ]

So!

[ Here, she pulls out a pen, and a picture. It’s blurry, but there’s not a lot of men in the city who this could be an image of. A man with long, silver hair, tall and imposing, is in the photograph. Aerith attaches it to the top of the board, sliding it into the groove so it’ll stay there. ]

If you see this guy, he…

[ How does one explain Sephiroth? Hesitation runs through her for a moment, and she doesn’t speak for a moment. It’s already happening though: She has to keep going. ]

He’s a bully and a jerk. If he comes in and approaches you, let me know. I’ll handle him.

I. i feel the beat; ( OPEN. )

[ In the afternoons, Aerith is easily found within the shop getting something done. There always seems to be something that needs doing— who knew owning a business was so time-consuming?! All this hustle and bustle just makes her miss the abandoned church in the slums, where so much of her life has revolved around. These days, she’s most thankful for the company she’s acquired, all the friends she’s made and can share her flowers with, however, and Dandelion is no abandoned church but it is full of people she cares about, and she is able to provide for them.

If you catch her helping with flower crowns, she’s an old hand at it and teaches it quite easily. Arrangements are a little more intensive but she’s here, still, doing what she can. Perhaps you put in a request and see her make a flower out of nothing but a little pot of dirt, just to hand it to your character, roots and all. She’ll ask if you want help snipping it the right way, but the smile on her face is indescribably warm.

On the other hand, at the snacks, she’s taking custom orders for floral teas, chatting up business owners, and handing out cards.

So, where do you find her? ]

[dehallow]

[ Barok feels out of place. It's too warm and humid here, too colorful and crowded. The entire place feels alive and that is not something he generally seeks from his environment. But this is Aerith's big day, so he's here.

Just kind of... lingering, pretending to look at the flowers very intently, while Aerith is teaching some interested customers to tie flower crowns. When she finally has a free moment, she finds him turning at the speed of light to approach her. ]

My congratulations on opening your very own business venture.

[ He takes a bow before holding a small paper bag out to her. ]

Please accept my humble gift for the occassion.

[ When she looks inside, she'll find a rather detailed stained glass candle-holder just pretend it looks more expensive. ]

[everblooms]

[ Not that he has any way of knowing this, but Barok's approval of anything is a delight, and he is certainly one of her favorite people here. It's a mix of things: the stick up his ass, the way winning him over feels like a hell of an accomplishment, and the fact she knows there's a soft center to that hard exterior. He's got a heart of gold under everything, no matter how hard it can be to get to that heart. Her face lights up the moment she sees him, and she makes a point to rush over the moment she can, not bothering to contain her joy over his presence. ]

I was hoping to see you today!

[ The gift is, of course, taken. When she takes it in hand, she feels a bit bad about the dirt under her nails, or the way her fingers are stained a bit with the remnant of petals. If nothing else, her hands match the stained glass of the candle holder.

Speechless for a moment, she doesn't miss the way this looks a bit like her church... ]

You didn't have to do that, Barok. But, I'm glad you did. [ Whipping around, she behind the register, pulls a ladder out, and after setting the thing up, immediately climbs it with the candle holder in hand. There's an empty little nook over looking everything where the holder fits perfectly, and that's where it goes. ] I've been looking for something to go here. It's perfect.

[ Sure, it looks like the church in the slums. A little chunk of home, so that it feels like her roots are here, forever.

But it's also a gift from a dear, trusted friend... Like this, it feels like he'll always be there with them. ]

Looks good, don't you think?

[invinciblemikey]

(he wouldn't be here if the smell of pastry didn't invade his nostrils as he walked the streets. he doesn't have emma with him, thus, there's no real reason for him to look at flowers, nothing regarding the meaning of them bringing an ounce of interest in him.

but, well, the food. there goes a little more of his money as he gets two mini cakes all for himself, sitting outside and just stuffing his face, all the expression of a happy toddler all over his face - until he sees what the lady had just done. did she just... grow a flower out of the air?

he has to inquire.)

Yo, miss. Could you do that before you got here?

[everblooms]

[ It's no skin off her back if someone's here for the food and nothing else. Better eaten than not, she knows. Hungry kids are the last thing she wants to see out here, though any kind of hunger hurts her heart. His voice interrupts her thoughts, her business, and she looks over to the boy with a surprised look. Hm? ]

Miss? [ She's going to have to get used to that, eventually. Tifa might find it funny, soon enough. ] No, actually. Why do you ask?

[invinciblemikey]

(would she prefer 'hey, you'? it's all he has, please, make things easier for him. monts told him about things the leaders can do, and these? these are essentially important, to gain power. he's just physically strong, but that pales in comparison to powers, so there's nothing more he wishes than to level the playing field.

he stands up for a second, only because the tokyo manji jacket is sliding off of his shoulders, leaving it hanging from the chair he sits right back to.)

If you're not too busy, sit with me?

i

[empression]

[ Haru is here-- she's accustomed to being an early riser, far too used to being up before the high school had officially opened back home to tend to the rooftop plants. She's a little groggy this morning, but working on remedying that with tiny sips of coffee. Not the best coffee she's ever had, certainly nothing like Leblanc's, but it'll do the trick.

She's quiet as she listens, focused on the picture Aerith settles on the board, and lowers her cup to speak with a soft air of concern. ]

Do you think he'll come in here to deliberately cause problems for others?

[ He doesn't look like a man who would visit a flower shop, but she probably shouldn't assume anything. ]

[everblooms]

[ A good question, and one she's not too sure she can answer in complete honesty. The tangled web between her and Sephiroth is deep, to be sure, but... Haru doesn't need to be worried about it. ]

Depends on who he sees, I guess. [ He hasn't done anything, but she doesn't want the kids to get scared or wrapped up in his... anything. It could be bad for Sephiroth, too, in truth. ] He's not really the sort to cause trouble, but he can be a nuisance if you don't know how to handle him.

[empression]

[ Haru low-key worries about everything, Aerith. It's fine. Or maybe it's not fine, but maybe it doesn't have to be fine, in this particular situation. Not if she's already warning them about it. ]

I see... would handling him be too difficult to learn? I don't like the idea of causing you more trouble by having to ask you for help if he makes a habit of entering and approaching.

[lightduties]

[Aerith's latest shop visitor is a short man with feline-like ears and cat-like tail, a new arrival still finding his feet in both the city as a whole and Tanamo territory.

Rhea'li finds it a little strange to not always be on the road and it's strange to not be able to simply... disappear into nature for a few days whenever he (mostly) wanted. So it's the flowers and greenery that draws him to the shop. He only intends to stop in to look, but when he breathes deep of the heady scent of wildflowers, he visibly relaxes and lingers for longer. He personally has no desire to purchase any flowers, but he does approach the woman on staff with a query.]

I saw there is a flower crown course?

[The question is asked with a slight tilt of the head, an ear twitching, his left eye is slightly discoloured from blindness.]

[everblooms]

[ Living in the heart of Hell means you get used to a lot of things. Sometimes, that includes catboys. She mistakes him for a bakeneko, but it's of little consequence, in the end. It's a unique appearance for one, certainly, but she's made acquaintances with a bakeneko or three in the past. She's sure she can handle this.

Aerith is in the middle of arranging leaves on a particularly large fern, spritzing it down with a water bottle as she talks to it in a low hush about how glad she is to see everyone enjoying their time here. Rhea'li isn't interrupting, though, because she considers the conversation over when she raises her head from her work to smile at him. ]

Yep, you did. [ Fists to her hips, she turns to face his fully, and leaves the spray bottle on the sill nearby. ] Not your first time with flowers though, right?

[lightduties]

[Talking to the flowers doesn't strike him as particularly unusual; he's seen plenty of people with an affinity talk and even sing to them. But it does bring a smile to his face to see. Rhea'li shakes his head at the question.]

Nay. I travelled much, so I often had the pleasure of seeing flowers in bloom. [The corner of his lip curls into a wry smile.] Though I've little practice in keeping any.

[Constantly travelling doesn't make for good flower keeping.]

I'm surprised to see so many flowers when there appears to be little arable land here.

Feel The Beat

[blackabyss]

[Flower shops aren't usually Fumikage's choice of hangout location, but he had wanted to come and see how his friend Izuku was doing at his new job. He does linger around, looking at the various arrangements and displays. Even Dark Shadow pokes his head out to sniff at the flowers. So when he sees Aerith near one of the arrangements, he smiles to her.]

So you are the owner of this shop... I see.

[Dark Shadow waves happily at her.]

[everblooms]

[ A welcome face that sticks out among all the colorful, vibrant blotches of colors. The flowers are so healthy and beautiful here, it makes him look all the more darker. It's lovely. Aerith immediately breaks into the lightest jog to catch up, rushing down the steps and nearly barreling into him. She's sure Izuku will be saying hi, too, but for now, she's happy to grab Fumikage on his own. ]

Well, someone has to run this place staffed by all these misfit teens, don't they?

[ Hands on her hips, she offers him a smile that's equal parts cheerful and playful. ]

[blackabyss]

[Her playful response draws a light huff of amusement from here.]

So it would seem. But it looks very lively in here despite the riffraff.

[He can see the place is bustling! And the flowers are very lovely indeed. Dark Shadow looms over to a nearby bunch and sniffs at them.]

They all smell pretty!!

[Fumikage agrees, nodding along to his Quirk's comment.]

I actually came to visit my friend here. Izuku Midoriya is a friend of mine from my world, and he mentioned getting a job working here. I wanted to see what kind of place this was for myself.

[dissimilar]

[ in truth, it was the smell of baked sugar that drew him into the shop. he'd simply been exploring the territory since his assignment to the clan, mapping out the luxe and lurid establishments that vibrantly flank every road. this is tamamo. he figures he'll need to know sooner rather than later, never being content to just let the wind guide him, too focused and steely for that. yet it's a little gust of it that beckons shou into the busy shop, stopping short just in the doorway.

it's beautiful.

he's visited a modest flower shop in his home city many times before, but here, he thinks he understands the fantasy of the clan, even if only a little bit. it's more digestible, for someone like him. and the thought pops into his head that maybe he should search for something for someone, steps taking him more along the outskirts of the shop to look over the arrangements. pausing at a large display of peonies, he pauses to touch one of the blooms with cautious curiosity evident in his fingertips, minding to not damage the petals.

when someone bustles near him in a flourish of floral scents and colors, he retracts his touch and steps back as if he's in the way. ]

My apologies. I was just taking a look.

[everblooms]

[ The petals are fine. It isn't like they aren't a hardy plant, you see, and he can touch as much as he likes so long as his fingers are clean. Aerith merely offers him a sly little look, as if apologizing insincerely. She wants to tease him a bit; it always tickles her to see people lost in the beauty of the flowers. ]

It's okay. If I didn't expect people to stay and look, I wouldn't put free food and drinks out.

[ Hands behind her back, she waits only a second more before speaking again. ]

You like peonies? They're really beautiful flowers. They do wonderfully in a sitting room, or bedroom— anywhere, really, as long as they get a lot of sun.

[dissimilar]

[ free food and drinks is a solid deal for him, though he'd gotten a bit sidetracked from that initial curiosity. his gaze flickers towards the arrangement again and he nods. ]

I don't often see arrangements like this, but I like them. They're pretty striking.

[ maybe too much to bring to a makeshift home right away. ]

...there was something else I was looking for, though. A small bouquet, something children might like.

i hear the music

[bratherine]

( There are few days when Kate isn't up early, and this certainly isn't one of them. She's running late for other reasons — specifically, the ones that have her arriving already glistening with sweat, a gym bag thrown over her shoulder. Sure, she could have rearranged this training session and gotten here comfortably in time for orientation, but that would throw the rest of her week's schedule off.

She slips through the door just as Aerith tries to explain the blurry photo of a silver-haired pretty boy, skirts to the back of the circle of employees to at least listen to the last of it. )

Y'think he'll turn up here?

( Does he really like flowers or does he just not have a life? )

[everblooms]

[ Not that Aerith ever feels a need to get on her case for something like exercise, or training. She knows the importance of it— hopefully Kate never decides to take advantage of that kindness, but with a thoughtful glance, she’s already considering Kate’s words. It’s a funny question, one that makes her lips quirk up a little in a half-way smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. Wouldn’t that be the best case scenario, Sephiroth just… not showing up? ]

Maybe not today, maybe not even tomorrow. But he will eventually, and I don’t want any of you to be caught off guard. He’s a lot, but you guys are tough.

i comes in late with starbucks u_u

[mahoraga]

[ Ever diligent, Megumi is there are the orientation five minutes before the start of it, already settled down and ready to take in whatever information she shares with him. The timetable, basic information on how to carry out his role, what to do when approached by a customer, plant care and maintenance - he's fully expecting to be orientated on these things, and while he doesn't have a notebook, he's ready to commit it all to his strong memory. The coffee he partakes in, brewing it black and strong, but he's going to need a greater push to accept the treat of doughnuts or a take-out order, being someone who tends to hold back on imposing on others.

Megumi listens with intent, but doesn't quite expect to hear this warning about this person Aerith knows. ]

... Is he a threat to the store? [ And to Aerith, specifically. His fingers flex in an almost habitual response, like he's thinking about it - whether or not violence is necessary. He knows how hard Aerith has worked to put all this together,
and the thought of anyone ruining things for her or hurting her makes him seethe. Even if the expression on his face does not change, Aerith will feel that shift in his demeanor from quiet and calm, to quiet and with a slight edge. ]

[everblooms]

[ She may hassle him to eat something later. For now, Aerith lets it slide, thinking that perhaps it's more important to get him oriented and on the same page as her before trying to knock him imbalanced by imposing her want to spend money on filling his belly on Megumi. ]

Good question.

[ At this, she pops a cap off the market, and writes "NO" on it, underlining the word multiple times, then... she writes "but", and turns to Megumi. ]

His goal isn't competition or getting rid of us. It's a lot deeper than that.

hewwo... as promised

[karumic]

[Kazuma is not here to buy flowers, as he has no use for them; he's here to see how Aerith's shop came out, say his hellos, and leave. He finds her near the snacks, just as she's finishing up a conversation with someone else. It's easy enough to sidle up to her, as if he'd just happened to emerge out of the crowd.]

I like what you've done with the place.

[Which is sincere! It's cheerful, well laid out, and tastefully decorated. Kazuma thinks you'd be hard pressed to find a better designed flower shop in any of the territories. Aerith did a great job.]

I especially like that display case.

[everblooms]

[ The head chef of a local patisserie excuses himself, mentioning needing to meet with a wagashi maker to check for supplies. With the season change approaching quickly, despite the heatwave, people are getting ready to sell their autumnal goods to a hopefully victorious Jigoku in the future. Teahouses, cafes, restaurants and the like— all of them have something to say about getting ready. These aren’t people to ignore when it comes to local business, and with such scrumptious selections on display, it’s probably not a surprise to see her rubbing elbows with such people.

It’s hard to miss, however, the way her face lights up, bright and sunny, when she spots him. Kazuma’s a welcome sight, and Aerith rushes over without care. She doesn’t hide that she’s happy to see him— why should she? He is, at the bare minimum, an acquaintance, and at the most, a friend. ]

Thanks, Kazuma! You really should have seen the guy who built it. So strong… and helpful, too. Might have to get him back here to help with some construction in the future.

[nmc0204]

[ If she's going to work for anyone, it seems wise to Ryoko to start with the people in her own clan. And by the suggestions she's gotten, they all seem like decent enough people to work for even if she's more or less a total newbie to the world of being gainfully employed. She tells herself over and over that she's not nervous as she makes her way to Dandelion but once she actually arrives, she finds herself stopped in her tracks just shy of actually going in.

It's so... pretty here. All bright pastels and floral arrangements and she feels more than a little like she doesn't belong. Like her standing here all dour and dark is like seeing a beetle squatting on top of a birthday cake.

... that's probably not the right mindset to have when she's trying to sell herself as an employee so she tries to put it to one side. She rearranges her expression into what she hopes is something that looks reliable enough and makes her way into the store. ]

Excuse me...? I'm looking to speak to Aerith. Have I come to the right place?