Stability For Once

Stern

The door closed. Scarlett and Mrs. Weslie were gone.

Now what kind of weird flowers could they have here?

Laurel’s eyes lit up. Turning her head to the other person in the house.

“So… Do I get to water plants?”

He glared. “You didn’t even know what a rosa was.”

She waved her hand, “Pshh, dialect difference.” Also wasn’t that spanish—

He pushed the chair, scraping against the wooden floor. “You and Scarlett from the same place?”

From the same planet? Sure. The same country? Her eyes turned away. Definitely not.

“You could say!” She winked, pointing finger guns.

Guns, however, didn’t exist here.

“What are you trying to do?”

“Forget that.”

He sighed, putting the final chair in. “Follow me.” His hand gestured, heading to the backdoor.

Finally, some gardening! She skipped along behind him.

-XXX-

SWOOSH—!

The grass parted as she stepped in. A white fence surrounded the garden.

There was an array of fruits and flowers. Problem being, she couldn’t tell which was which.

In the middle, stood a glass house. Peering through the glass, many plants were displayed inside.

It must’ve been a greenhouse.

But you never know what anything’s called in this world.

“What’s that?” She pointed at the structure.

“A greenhouse. Don’t tell me you don’t know what this is either?”

…

“Why?”

“Huh?”

“Nevermind.”

They stepped in. The brick floor immediately hit her, warm to the touch.

A table sat in the middle. She ran up to it, eyes locking onto the dim stones lined up atop.

“Ooh! What are these?”

At that point, the man had realized she really didn’t know a thing.

“Heat stones. They store heat. Put a bit of cold water on them and they start releasing it.”

“Like you’ve got to charge them?”

“Wherever you’re from, that place has a really weird dialect.” He mumbled. “We use these to heat up the plants during winter.”

Her fingers touched a purple petal. “And this?"

“It’s an absolis. A poisonous flower.”

Her hand retracted, way too quickly.

“It’s only poisonous if you eat it…” He made his way to the corner of the greenhouse, picking up a watering can.

She shook her hands. Yep, definitely should’ve asked before touching a thing.

The man had started watering the plants by that point.

Now, for the thing she really wanted to see.

“Where are those dalacians?”

“Right next to you…”

Her head turned. “Oh!” She bent down, looking at a white flower. “It’s so pretty!”

But it does look a bit different from that picture. Her finger tapped against her cheek.

“That’s not the one I was talking about.” He pointed to the other side.

Her head turned again. Eyes landing on the correct flower this time.

That explains why.

His eyes narrowed.

“Did you by any chance not go to school—”

RIIING.

She jumped up. A customer!

“Laur—”

“I’ll get it!”

And just like that, she was already gone.

-XXX-

The door clicked open.

“Welcome to uhh. Shit I don’t know this place’s name.”

“Excuse me.”

The voice caught her attention, making her look ahead.

The wind whirred into his ginger hair, eyes gleaming like an emerald. It was a man, slightly shorter than her.

Looked as if he was straight out of a fantasy world.

She shook her head. Obviously! She’s already in one.

“Hello, sir.” She flashed a smile.

He groaned. “Just let me in already.”

“Okay!”

She pushed the door open.

He strode in, carrying himself with a sense of elegance. Finally putting himself on the couch.

The back door creaked. Kair stepped in.

“Arm’s not doing so well?” The stranger proclaimed, head turning.

“It’ll heal in a few weeks. Nothing serious.”

A sigh left the man on the couch.

“You do have those peonies right?”

“Yep. I’ll go bring them.” Kair left for the backdoor, creaking shut.

Laurel rubbed the back of her neck.

Why did he hire them if he was just gonna do all the work?

Wait, no… he did make Scarlett go out. And her?

“I probably made myself look like an idiot.” She muttered under her breath, but a smile still broke through. “That never happened on Earth.”

And then, squealing excitement filled her face.

The emerald eyed man gave her a weird look.

“What are you so worked up for?”

“A flower that I know the name of!”

Peonies were definitely her favourite flowers now.

His brows arched, then his head tilted.

“You.” He pointed at her.

She gave a shrug. “I am the only person, other than you, in here y’know.”

“When did you start working here?”

“Like, today.”

He tilted his head again. Then a finger tapped on his cheek.

His lips finally parted.

“Tell me your name, commoner.”

“Ouch.” She put a hand on her chest, and the other on her forehead. 

“Didn’t have to call me that.”

A chuckle escaped her. “But it’s Laurel Ains.”

“A peculiar name.” He covered his mouth with a hand, as if in deep thought.

“I’ll take that as a compliment.” She paused, staring at the man in front of her.

Her arm extended, pointing at him.

“What’s yours?”

He blinked.

“Me?”

A blank expression painted his face.

“Obviously!” Her arm remained extended.

After a moment of silence. A sigh left his lips.

“You’re definitely not from around here.”

“Was it that obvious?”

He nodded. Instant response.

His lips parted.

“Adrias Vale.” His hand reached his chest. “That’s my name.”

“Sick.”

“Sick? I am not ill.”

“No, not like that—” She waved her arms, but then dropped them. “Your name sounds cool!”

He paused, his eyes narrowing.

“You’re one weird commoner.”

She raised her hand, giving a thumbs up. “I know.” And she’d take that label proudly.

The backdoor clicked, Kair peered through.

“Here’s the peonies you wanted.”

The ginger’s gaze shifted. “Even with an injured arm, you still do your job well.”

“So, who are those flowers for?” Laurel leaned closer, eyeing the bouquet.

“For my sister’s marriage.”

She brought her hands together. “Congratulations!”

“Don’t need to hear that from a townsfolk.”

Then came a frown on her face.

“I’ll be on my way now.” He pivoted his foot. “And can’t forget this too.”

THUD—!

A small leather bag hit Kair’s palm, tied with a red ribbon.

“Keep the change for those healing potions.”

The door slammed shut.

…

What an attitude. Jeez.

“Who does he think he is?”

He placed the leather bag on a nearby table.

“The next head of the Vale family.”

“Huh?” Her head turned.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know who they are either…”

-XXX-

I should’ve arrived hours ago. Now, the sun was starting to set.

Great.

Rubbing my eyes, I spotted the flower shop down the street. Ended up spending the entire day searching for that Eyara Feigns or something.

A yawn parted from my lips as I finally reached the door step.

RIIING.

The door flung open. Black hair flickering through the entrance, a wide grin adorning her face.

“Welcome to Kair’s Flowe—-!”

“Laurel?”

Guess she must’ve been handling the job well. I kinda abandoned mine.

“Oh, just you Scarlett!”

“Yeah, now wha—- WOAH!”

She grabbed my hand and dragged me in.

“I finally learned the names of all the flowers!”

I blinked.

“What?”

“Took some crying, but eventually I got it.”

…

“Is that something you should really be proud about?”

“Yes.”

In that case, your standards are very low.

“Anyway, how was it? Was Mrs. Weslie nice?”

“Fine, I guess.” She did have a mental breakdown however.

“Should’ve expected such an answer from you.”

She giggled, walking further inside. Somehow she became even more joyful than today’s morning.

“Oh right! Why were you gone for so long?”

“Looking for that lady.”

“No luck?”

I shook my head.

“Well better luck next time!”

“Don’t you want to find her too?”

“Well…” She lifted her head up. “It would be nice if we did.” Spinning around, she fell on the couch. “There’s still 2 hours left…”

“Shouldn’t you sit at the counter then?”

“I’ve been doing it the entire day!”

“Right. Forgot.” I dragged myself to the counter. “So…”

She immediately jumped up, the floorboards creaking as she ran towards me.

A pair of hands fell on my shoulders. “Fear not, Scarlett! I’ll teach you everything!”

“On second thought, I’m fine on my own.”

“But the flowers!”

“I’ll find a way.”

-XXX-

“Come again soon!” Laurel waved a bye as the door closed. She walked back, humming on the way. “So, are we still going out to find her?”

“We still have a lot of other things to get sorted.” And I’ve already spent way too much time on that today.

A finger tapped on her chin. “We could use a good break.”

“Only for tonight.”

“C’mon, let’s get one of those cool glowing crystals tomorrow!”

“As if we have enough money.”

“Then let’s just save up!”

“We aren’t even getting paid.”

She paused, only for a moment. A smile appeared on her face.

“Right, he hasn’t given it to you yet.”

“Hmm?”

“Nothing.” She tilted her head, then ran up the staircase.

I dragged my legs behind her.

By the time I’d reach the corridor with our room, Laurel’s hand had already reached the handle.

She turned it and flopped inside.

Way too much energy.

The floor creaked. My head turned.

“Kair?”

“Yes, that’s me.” His uninjured arm hid behind his back.

Without Laurel, the corridor fell silent. Fast.

And all I could recount was what happened earlier this morning.

The old lady and her daughter.

“ ‘Cause of you, I had to deal with an old lady’s mental breakdown.”

“There were way better ways to phrase that.”

“None came to mind.”

His eyebrow arched. “So… it ended badly?”

“No idea.” I groaned. “I came here to work at a flower shop, not to be a therapist.”

“Says the one who skipped work the entire day.”

“I was looking for Eyara Feigns. The one who stole your purse.” And the only lead I have to finding that necklace. “You should be glad someone’s looking for her.”

“You seemed pretty unsuccessful in that.”

I scoffed. “Why are you even here?”

He stopped, a sigh leaving his mouth. He moved his hand in front, holding a leather bag just the size of his palm.

It was tied with a red ribbon.

“What’s this?”

“Your pay. I don’t want people working for me without them getting anything in return.”

He held it out, expecting me to take it.

Seriously? The whole reason we got to stay here was because we'd agreed to work for free.

But… not like this was a bad thing.

I took it in my hands, gaze lingering for a few seconds.

“Thanks.”

“You don’t need to. It’s something I had to do.”

Guess I can’t skip out on my job anymore.

“Has Laurel…”

“I’ve already given it to her. The same amount.”

I lifted my head up, facing him directly.

“And what about some extra for dealing with things that I wasn’t supposed to?”

“I shouldn’t have hired you.” A palm dragged across his face as he turned around.

And with that, his voice faded away.

“Scarlett! What’s taking so long?” A voice echoed from the room behind me.

“Coming.”

-XXX-

Laurel curled up on the bed, the fabric beneath her bending.

“So comfy!”

“Move.”

She sloppily shifted. And immediately opened her mouth.

“So, like when you were gone, this strange guy came and asked for peonies.”

“Ok?”

“For his sister’s marriage. Apparently he’s the heir of this Vale family thing.”

“Yeah.”

“And he was an absolute jerk.” She threw her arms around. “Kept calling me commoner or townsfolk.”

“It’s a medieval world.” Must be a noble.

But why would a noble even be here?

Not like this flower shop was bad. But I doubt it's renowned enough for a noble to drop by on a casual Tuesday.

“Name?”

“Adrias or something.”

I laid down on the bed.

“And after him, a few more people came. They were way nicer than him.”

“I’m going to sleep.”

She jumped up.

“Already?”

“We have a long day tomorrow.” And why are you saying ‘already’? The past 2 days we’ve slept all I had to do was blink and you’d already be snoring.

“Well it’s gonna be like that till we find another job.” She mumbled.

“I know.”

She straightened her back, her head now resting on the pillow.

“Fine… Goodnight, Scarlett!”

My eyelids slowly drifted.

“Night.”

I yawned, drawing my hand closer to my mouth.

At least tomorrow sounded predictable. For once.

~Stability For Once~