Welcome to Gaia! ::

Elst looked down at the pot the flowers were in. "Hm, you've got a point there, these guys could use a bigger pot. I'll get one of the nice ones, too." He turned, walking towards one of the large racks of pots. He searched around a bit, finally selecting a white porcelain pot with a pale grey silhouette of a large flock of geese painted on it. "What do you think of this one?"

Aoi returned Zia's smile with a soft nod, his mental broadcasts saying more than words could.

Elst nodded, a brief laugh escaping his lips upon hearing Zia. "Aright, then, let's see here..." He returned, pot in hand, and poured potting soil from a nearby mulch bucket into it. When it was about half full, he carefully turned the lilies over, their shared soil sliding smoothly out of the pot, and he placed them in their new home. A few more handfuls of soil, and the pot was full, the transplant complete. He opened a cabinet in the face of the counter, removing a large burlap bag of what sounded like rocks.

"Now, for the aesthetics..." He opened the bag, and poured out from it an even layer of crushed bits of light grey cat's eye and agate stone. They covered the soil, making it seem like the flowers were planted in glistening snow. From another cabinet, he removed three spools of satin ribbon -much to Aoi's interest- each spool matching one of the flower's colors. He swiftly got to work, and soon three bows, one violet, one orange, and one yellow, formed a stark colorful contrast when tied around the monochromatic pot.

"There we go... Anything else you'd like added? You and Ellandra deserve the best, after all."

Elst thought for a moment. "Delivery? Yes, I'm sure I can arrange for that. Just address this envelope to her, it's the one your card can go in." He withdrew a pen from his coat, and placed it on the counter, removing a card and envelope detailed with pink roses from another drawer within the counter. "Just write your message in the card, seal the envelope, and I'll deal with the postage for you."

Behind his façade of happiness, his mask of 'Everything's just fine' that he wore around others, within Elst's mind burned an unstoppable pain. Here, before him, stood another enamored lover, prepared to say his farewell to the girl to which his heart belonged. Sounded fresh out of a romantic novel, reaching it's tragic climax. Painful for them to part, yes, but that pain would at least end eventually; the lovers always reunited in the end, right? But for him, no, it wouldn't quite end like that. He couldn't feel love in the first place, so all that he would feel would be the agonizing emptiness that it left in its wake. But enough of that. If he couldn't enjoy it, he would do everything in his power to make sure Fao and Ellandra could.

Elst smiled somewhat weakly. "Oh, I didn't figure you would, you love her too much, and that shows quite clearly. Your carnival’s moving soon, if I'm not mistaken. Got any surprises in store for her?"

He took the envelope, nestling it cozily between the stalks of the lilies.

Elst cocked an eyebrow. "Ah... Certainly this'll be the most romantic kidnap of the century, eh?" Fao's devotion truly touched Elst; it showed that, even with the spite that seemed to overwhelm Drente at times, there was still hope for humanity.

"Certainly, though, it would be near impossible to move all of her things with you? If you want, I can arrange for whatever she leaves behind to be transported to wherever your carnival is going."

Elst may have troubles socially, but he had many customers, and with customers came connections.

Elst looked down at Aoi for a moment. "And I would be delighted to meet her. Bring her here anytime, day or night, I'll have some tea and cheesecake waiting for the both of you, I guarantee." He paused a moment, smiling. "Or cake of cheese."

Elst nodded, an assuring grin on his face. "Oh yes, I'll make sure they get to her as soon as possible. Go, to your angry father and your carnival life, I'll be here when you return with Ellandra." He looked over to the flowers. "Farewell for now, I suppose."

Aoi lifted his hand to meet Zia's briefly, before they parted. Bye, for now. Who knows, we might be Alters by next time, huh...

Elst offered a small wave as Fao made his comment and turned to leave. Fine, good bye, then. Regardless, I bet Ellandra's waiting for you, go get your obligations done, and go get 'er."

He smiled as he watched his friend exit the greenhouse, into the cool evening air.