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 Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 5:35 pm
Quote: Prompt 10: Poinsettias are common during the winter seasons, so it isn't unusual to see them decorating windowsills and local establishments. What is unusual are the unique Winter Star Poinsettias that seem to have accidentally mixed into the bunch. They look like ordinary Poinsettias reflecting a bit of glow from nearby lights--only, the leaves themselves are emitting a soft, silvery glow. They look like they are covered with a fine morning dew, only with fine silver glitter peppered in to give it a unique sparkle. They seem to have gone unnoticed by most of Destiny City and the landscapers, and it's not clear how these plants were selected, but anyone with a keen eye might recognize them as the catastrophe of Destiny City Botanical Garden's 2016 Winter Extravaganza. Thankfully, these variants are far less dangerous than their counterparts, however, these plants have a strange pollen that acts like an allergen and can cause agitation, oversensitivity, and sneezing to anything with much of a strong smell. Anyone who comes into contact with these plants may also find themselves suffering from flu-like symptoms such as fever, coughing, fatigue, and nausea and no medicine will relieve it, but the symptoms gradually fade. The leaves of the poinsettia are sharp and can sting like a papercut, so be careful! ...If you're worried about an all-out attack again, it might be a good idea to destroy these poinsettias--if you can manage to do so without getting caught.
Tonight, slightly after dinner, he'd arranged for them to meet and talk...and walk. He hadn't invited Aiden over, he wasn't sure how that would go for either of them, it felt like it might just cause some emotional issue for them both. There was a lot tied into the house and he didn't want things to go bad.
Already on his way to the meeting place he'd tripped, and twisted his ankle, in a rabbit hole. He really....at least they weren't as bad as the last batch of rabbits which had infested the city a few years back. Though he could argue that they were worse in some ways, all the work to fill all the holes would take a long time and lots of money, he really wasn't going to weigh one over the other - both were bad. He was not a fan of these rabbits.
His hands were tucked into the pockets of his coat as he approached the meeting place, still nice and warm from dinner, he took his time in looking around and watching all the people milling about. The snow was just starting to fall and it really was a lovely evening. He just hoped this meeting went well, though what they'd talk about he wasn't even sure. He just...wanted to see Aiden. He knew it sounded pathetic and like he wasn't just giving up on the other, as he should get over it, but they'd been together a long time...even if perhaps at times it hadn't felt like it. It had still been a long time.
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:26 pm
Aiden looked down at his phone to check the time. "Damn it." He muttered under his breath. The text he tried to send twenty minutes ago still hadn't gone through. Once he got his next paycheck, he'd look into swapping phone companies because this was ridiculous. There weren't any reported power outages in the area and he'd already restarted his phone three times. With quickened steps, he hastily walked down the snow and salt covered sidewalk for about a block from where he parked. Cold hands were shoved into his warm fleece pockets where he kept a wad of kleenex just in case he needed to blow his nose later. "Hey!' He pulled one hand out and waived to Aiden. "Sorry I'm late. There was an accident on the way here." If he were able, he would have found a detour. Unfortunately for the long stretch of highway, it happened on, there were no turn offs for almost a mile.
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 6:33 pm
He'd started to think the other might not turn up, he'd worried, but as he heard the familiar voice his attention turned to focus on Aiden. "That's fine, I'm not surprised given the weather. So long as you weren't involved in the accident." He knew how accidents went in this sort of weather...the moment it started to snow people seemed to forget how to drive - thus accidents.
He really did, at times like this, wonder how some people managed to still have a license to drive. "The snow is supposed to get heavier tonight." In a few hours from now the weather report claimed it would be coming down much heavier, they were due nearly a foot of snow over night in fact.
"You'll be safe on the way home tonight I hope." How he wished they still lived together and he didn't need to wish the other such things, they would simply go home together. Things however were not so simple and easy for the ashen blond.
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:00 pm
"Yeah, no worries." He waived his hand dismissively and stuck it back into his coat pocket. "I just got a new set of snow chains for my car and Riley is waiting for me at home. I still need to take him on a walk later." While the Chesapeake Bay Retriever loved to play in the water, he wasn't all that fond of the snow. He'd go outside, no problem, but never for long. "Are you going to be ok driving in this? And are you going to be able to keep warm at home?" If the power went out due to downed lines, Aiden was sure the apartment complex would have a backup generator that would kick in while repairs got the main one back online. But he didn't really remember if Alexandre's home had one installed or not. His black hair was peppered with white spots and as he looked up at the falling flakes, he smiled. "I'm guessing it smells like fresh-cut pine or peppermint." He mused, remembering his former partner's obsession with scented candles.
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Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2020 8:56 pm
Snow chains weren't a thing he'd ever considered for his own car, he didn't think he did enough driving in bad enough weather to require them. But the fact Aiden mentioned them did raise a brow from the blond. He did hope the other was indeed being safe, and would remain so. At hearing of Riley he couldn't help smiling though, he did miss the other dog but he was glad he was still with Aiden.
"I'll be find getting home, I'll manage." He didn't like driving in bad weather, he didn't trust the idiots on the road, but he'd manage. He had to at any rate. "I have the fire places if anything happens as far as heat goes." He had thought of a generator at least once in the past but he'd never gotten one. He had a gas stove and he had fire places so he figured he was fine enough, he could manage if need be, he could go without tv and the internet for a bit....as much as it might drive him a bit nuts to do so. He could just put in more time patrolling the city if he ever needed to occupy a large amount of time.
"Pine...lots of pine." He responded with a smile and a laugh. "I went with pine and balsam for the house this year." He'd skipped the peppermint this time, figuring it might be too much when all the pine was added into the mix.
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Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 9:32 am
For as much crap as he often gave Alexandre for overspending and buying way too many candles, a part of him did miss the fresh scent that lingered through the house. "Sounds pleasant," he replied with an approving nod. "Shall we?" Aiden turned to start walking towards the tea shop. A bit of a hole in the wall ma and pa cafe, smaller than a typical Starbucks with a warm rustic feel.
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Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 10:28 am
"Always." Smiling at the other. It smelled like a forest or a christmas tree lot, the smell really was that heavy if he lit everything he had in the house. "It certainly feels like winter and Christmas." Which was always the point of the candles - to give the right feel. Not to mention they were relaxing, the scents and the flames dancing in their glass holders. It was all very nice.
"Sounds good, coffee would be nice." It was chilly out, no matter how warmly dressed he was, the snow was still falling and coffee was a welcome thing.
As they walked, close together but not holding hands, he spotted some plants - of course he did. They were the usual wintertime plants, which you saw everywhere including the grocery store, but they looked...different. Not all of them but a few of them stood out as he slowed his walking in order to look them over. Drifting, as he often did, from Aiden's side he headed towards the plants to get a closer look. Something had caught his eye.
"Interesting...."
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Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 12:57 pm
Alexandre was one who enjoyed the holidays, he had an extended family that accepted him as he was and didn't make jabs or insult him to try to start an argument. It was one reason that Aiden didn't invite him over to his place in the last few months. His own apartment was devoid of anything cheerful or holiday-inspired aside from a small four-foot Christmas tree with a cheap $12 set of ornaments he got from Good Will. He paused when Alex muttered something beside him. "Hmm?" The ashen blond no longer walked beside him but rather seemed to be distracted by some plant. "What's that?" he asked before realizing the flower Alex was walking towards bore a certain resemblance to one he had seen a few years ago. "I wouldn't..." Aiden reached out to grab hold of Alex's arm and pull him back.
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Posted: Mon Dec 28, 2020 7:25 pm
"I wasn't going to touch it." Wanting to assure the other, even as he stepped closer to Aiden. "I'm just...surprised to see it. I wonder how they came to be here after what happened a few years back - when they were introduced." And to think he'd been all set to buy a few of the plants as well, considering they were new and rare and had looked amazing.
"I haven't seen them since." And he was, for once, glad to not see these plants again - till now. "I wonder how they are back...and where they are coming from." Since he hadn't heard anything or even noticed them till now. Either way he didn't like the sight of them, lovely as it was, and would much rather see them ripped from their pots and dashed against the pavement. These were plants he wouldn't mind seeing dead.
"Something should be done....if they're like the last ones." Aiden remembered, he remembered, how could either of them forget that insanity? He'd been going to propose that night. That was when things hadn't been so bad between them....it felt like half a life time ago really.
"I'd like to see them burnt - all of those horrid plants." Not the normal ones, though he wasn't sure he should trust the normal looking ones, but those that shone and glittered - they needed to burn and die somehow.
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Posted: Tue Dec 29, 2020 10:27 am
"Probably best not to make a scene." Aiden pulled him back against his chest as he eyed the poinsettias wairly. He wasn't sure the range on the plants but the nasty flu he had suffered because of them was not something he'd soon forget. "Chances are someone held on to a few seeds rather than destroy them." Perhaps they had been mislabeled and thought to be of the normal, non potentially lethal, variety. "Right now neither of us have any proper protection to deal with them. We can notify the store manager and let them know that they should be removed but beyond that I suggest we both stay clear." If they had masks and perhaps a shovel to dig them out of the ground to dump into the trash, then he might have considered having Alexandre provide a distraction, or cover, while he disposed of them. But this was not something either of them were prepared to deal with at the moment.
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Posted: Thu Feb 11, 2021 3:42 pm
"Mmm." Though he didn't entirely agree with Aiden' saying a scene shouldn't be made. He was of the mind that they were some sin against nature, considering how they behaved, they went against his love for plants and he was sure people would purchase them - and fall victim to them.
"Somehow I doubt that. I rather think it's something similar to the last time...just a different means of distributing the plants." Grey eyes remained locked onto the plants, as if they might jump into action and attack them both at any moment...like they had the first time. He didn't trust them.
"Yeah. We can do that." Though he'd do more later on, once night fell, he didn't think just taking them off shelves as enough. They needed to be dealt with in a far more serious manner. It wasn't a job for him to do as he was now - as a civilian. He couldn't do it in front of Aiden either.
"Let's find someone to talk to. I don't want to leave them about longer than needed. I still remember that event." And how he'd planned to buy several of the plants as soon as he'd seen them. They'd been lovely - and still were. They were tempting...but he knew how dangerous they were.
"I suppose it's a good thing were here to see them." Drawing away from Aiden in order to find whoever they needed to speak with.
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