Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was a very slow day at the shop. All the passersby noted the beautiful blooms, though none actually wanted them. A young woman behind the counter of the shop thought of the shame it would be to watch all the flowers wilt and die without being really appreciated, but knew she couldn't really do anything with them. Especially not with the old woman hanging around her lately. She had been acting so strangely in her very old age, but Lisa just attributed it to nerves and a bad diet.

With a sigh, Lisa propped herself up on her elbow and stared out into the crowd, daydreaming of the day when she might be on the receiving end of a present instead of selling them all the time.

At first, she had wondered where they were going, but soon enough, Lorey could figure it out. They were surrounded by the lovely blooms and bustling merchants that always lived in this area of the city. All the stalls were filled to the brim with all sorts of exotic-looking flowers, from real to fake. Craftsman even sold ones crafted from metal, wood roses, tissue paper flowers and origami blooms. Anything and everything had a certain love about it, which was really what Lorey appreciated about the place.

As they walked, Lorey hugged Richard's arm a bit closer. She was smiling in no time.

Lorey watched him go, and waited patiently. What was he up to?

Lisa perked right up when Richard came into the shop. She listened intently, nodding, and falling within the little romance scheme. She loved a good couple.
"Well... a white rose? But low on cash... there are white wood roses, right over there. Beautifully crafted, everlasting, and only a dollar." Lisa winked at him, sitting back to see his decision.

Lisa nodded politely. It was all so sad, like something from a novel!
"Well, wouldn't you know, I forgot the couple's discount we have going on. Half off for anything bought for a special someone! and since I see the lucky girl, you get the discount." Lisa only took half of his money, leaving Richard with the remaining coins. "Hope that gives the right message to her," she said with a final wink.

((but it sorta obvious that he's carrying a rose, especially after he stepped into the shop, unless he has it stowed away in a place where it won't be crushed or seen))

Lisa waved good bye to him with the wonderful feeling that she had done something right for the somewhat poor couple.

---

Lorey had passed the time by looking at all the flowers out front. She remembered Damian's comment, on how she shouldn't work in a flower shop because she'd take away from the blooms. Was she really that great? she wondered. Richard made her feel that way, so, it must have been a bit true.

Her blue eyes looked up to see him coming out of the shop, all smiles. It made her face light up too, to see him like that, though she wondered ust what he had been up to.

((it never is! xD))

Lorey looked down from the rose to Richard a few times. Until it dies? she thought quizzically, until it dawned on her: it never would.

With tears in her eyes, Lorey launched herself at Richard, wrapping her arms around his neck and giving him a deep kiss. She was finally achieving her dreams, after all the years of being alone and sad. She was finally loved.

When she pulled away, still keeping the rose in a careful grip, Lorey began laughing. "S-same here," she managed through her nervous reaction, but she meant it. "Thank you, Richard."

His blushing made her giggle even more. She was, too, but coming from him, it was just sweet. Lorey wasn't really sure how any of this was going to turn out, or even if it would work, but she knew she'd do all she could just to make it through.

Looking up at him, she said, "So... want to go find the others now?" They seemed to have been putting that off for quite some time, though she couldn't say she minded. "So I can brag?"