|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 6:22 pm
The warmed the back of Orah's neck as she set buckets of blooming flowers in water out on the stands before her father's shop. Her dark hair, for once, was up in chopsticks, curling bits falling about her face and neck. It was going to be warm today, you could feel it even at nearly 9:00 am.
The tulips and carnations in their spots, she straightened up and pressed her hands to her hips, surveying the display she had created. With the shop about to open, it had been her turn to set up the sidewalk displays, and today she had arranged things by color to create a bright rainbow of sweet-smelling flowers to welcome people into the flower shop called Farah's Garden. Brushing her hands off on her jeans, she crouched to straighten part of the display, smiling to herself as she buried her hands among the stems.
Hopefully today would come with some good sales. They could use the money, but more than that, they had some particularly nice flowers today. Fresh from one of the farms the shop purchased from, they would never be more beautiful than they were right now. Every day after this would see them slowly fading the way cut flowers are prone to do. The florist powder they used could only do so much.... but at least while they lasted, they were sure to earn their name 'the poet's darling' and inspire anyone who saw them.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 8:28 pm
This time of year was big for selling flowers, though Easter was big also, and Alexandre had been busy at work lately. His time divided four ways it was hard to find time for himself. But this trip out fell into school time. He had a painting to work on for art club, and it would later be presented as a project for class, and he'd decided on a very cliche idea. The idea was flowers on a wood table with a lace table cloth, something he felt was very cliche and yet timeless in a sense as well. It wasn't cliche in the sense that you never wanted to see such a thing again. Timeless made it a classic and something which could be done over and over again and updated - at least in his mind.
He had a table and even a table cloth which were perfect/ What he needed was a vase and more importantly the flowers. Where he worked only dealt in plants, living flowers, as it was a nursery. So he couldn't get something from work so he needed a flower shop which dealt with cut flowers. That wasn't something he ever bought, aside from Valentine's day this year for his mother (on behalf of his father). So now he was out and headed toward a flower shop, he had gotten the address from his phone and a google search.
Approaching the shop he couldn't help but notice the display nor could he not notice the female working on said display. "You work here?" He asked as he approached her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:07 am
"Hmm?" Orah turned as a voice called to her, brushing her hands on her shorts again to dry them.
"Oh! Yes, I do! Hello, I'm Orah. I run this shop with my dad. What can I help you with today?" She said brightly as she tucked a curl behind her ear, studying the newest visitor to the flower shop.
He had certainly never been here before, she was sure she would have remembered him. She would hate to admit that she could be so money grubbing, but he looked like he was at least well off. It wasn't necessarily the revenue that made her think that, though, but the special arrangements set up near the register. Not everyone could afford them, and this time she was particularly happy with the way they had come out. It would be nice to be able to send them home with someone so they could be properly enjoyed. He might not even be interested, of course, but maybe she could just steer him that way and hope.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 9:29 am
"I'm not one who normally buys cut flower, no reason to and I dislike how they only alst so long. But I find myself in need of an arangment." He spoke, honest and blun. He really ahd never been fond of cut flowers, for just hat reason pus he honestly liked caring for his plants.
"I have an art project for class." Let he wonder if he meant high school or college. "And I'm doing a rather cliche piece. A table with a vae of flowers, or some arangment perhaps, on top of a lace table cloth covering said table." Yes, maybe a vase of flowers wouldn't be as nice as an arangment of sorts. They did look nice when compaired to a vase filled with flowers. Maybe he'd do both peices, just not the vase one right now. For the vase one maybe he could add say...fish to the vase? Just to add something, some twist, to it. As the ideas played in his head he waited, half paying atention to the girl and half his mind on his thoughs, as he waited to see what she said. Did she have any suggestions, anything she thought would look or work best?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 11:49 am
Oh, an artist! This was turning out to be just perfect. An artist would appreciate the flowers more, perhaps, than anyone else would.
"I can certainly help you out with that!" Orah said as she smiled widely, waving to him to follow as she led the way into the shop. "Do you know what kind of colors or textures you're looking for? Do you want a big bouquet, or something small enough for an end table kind of space?"
As she tossed her questions back at him, she led him through the various displays to an area where more general flowers were kept, ones that didn't have a specific season or holiday. This part was usually where their regulars went when they wanted a little something to brighten up their kitchen or to give someone just because.
"Cut flowers don't last, but I think they're lovely for how fleeting their beauty is. You can also put certain flowers together that would never be able to grow so closely together, and they can add a bit of color and light to places where you couldn't grow a plant." Orah said as she paused a moment to stroke the petals of a rose with her fingertip.
"As far as our bouquets go, we have some like this one." She said, indicating one with lillies and irises. "Only two flowers, but lots of bright color. This one has a lot of different flowers, so you have some nice variety to look at. Its the season for Tulips, so we have a few kinds like this one." Each time, she pointed out to him different flowers in different vases, each with its own unique look.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 11:15 pm
"Colors I have an idea but I don't have anything set in mind for texture.Though I admit I could be easily swayed with the colors as well." A nice enough piece would and could easily sway his attention. As he followed her he wondered what she'd have in mind to show him.
"Perhaps. I find more beauty in live plants however. But yes, seeing flowers that normally would never be together would be a plus." And the only one he could really think of. He really wasn't one for cut flowers but he couldn't go and bring a garden into his class room. And he wanted to work on a strong point of his - nature. So he wanted flowers and greens, so this was the idea he'd come up with.
"I've seen a lot of tulips lately, it is their season. Perhaps something else. Maybe an arrangement not meant for a vase? One of those stuck in foam ones?" An idea and not what he'd fully intended when coming here. But it was an idea. It seemed more could be done that way with more going everywhere. "Though I do like that second arrangement. The third while bright is too in season I think." He'd helped plant bulbs in preparation for this time of year. He'd been seeing a lot of tulips lately.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 6:52 am
Orah nodded as she listened, a smile spreading on her face.
"Well! Bouquets really aren't for you then. Flower arrangement is a bit of a hobby of mine and my father sells them in the shop. I have a couple I could show you. They're a little more on the pricey side, but they're not something you would see every day." She said as she led him back to the register area and a stand display there with a couple of rather artistic flower arrangements on it.
"I've been experimenting with branches and leaves and breaking outside of the normal shape that flower arrangements tend to take. This one has a lot of greenery to it, with bright little pops of color from the roses. That one also has the idea of green with a little color, but its more branches and a unique little bowl I found. Less of the vase look there. And then that one has a bit of a tropical theme with some flowers we had to special order. They were left over from a weeding we did flowers for, so I took the opportunity to do something creative with them, since I don't usually have such unusual flowers to work with." The girl said as she ran one of the slick leaves through her fingers. She'd never been to the tropical climate these flowers had come from, but she imagined it was a beautiful place.
"If none of these strike your fancy, I think I might have a few others I was putting together in the back that I could show you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 11:15 pm
"Price doesn't matter really. I'm looking for what catches my attention and will work with my project idea." Really he had no issue spending money on his hobbies, nor did his parents. It was simply something which was paid for, so long as he didn't go insane on spending. This being also for school it was perfectly ok, in his mind, to spend whatever he wished for this arrangement. Not to mention it was coming from his pocket and not his parents debit card.
"Yes, they do tend to all follow the same basic shape and form." Which had been what he'd been thinking of but the ones she showed were eye catching as well. "The first one offers a lot of green and different leaves, a chance to really get into showing each leaf for what it is." So many different leaf types it could be really fun to work on. "The second one has a very oriental feel to it, which can be made traditional in a way. I could change tables and remove the cloth and really do something down that route with it. A touch of the new but with a classic sort of oriental look." Which would be new for him but not unwelcome in the least.
The topical one was certainly bright and eye catching, how could it not be? And hearing her talk about how she'd come into having these flowers he nodded his head. "I actually like two of them - for two different ideas. I just hope I can manage to paint everything or get it laid out and pictures taken before they wither." He really did. Working on two would be difficult and time consuming. He wouldn't be going out for a few nights, he'd be stuck painting no doubt. "I like the second and third ones. As for whatever your working on - I'd like to see anyway. But these two." Indicating the two he'd mentioned. "I'll take." it was more than he'd planned and he was digging himself into a deeper hole. But he would do it. He really hadn't had time outside of school to paint much lately, too busy with everything else. It was about time he got back to basics, at least some.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 7:24 am
Orah clapped her hands together happily when he chose not one, but two of her arrangements. It was wonderful that one of them was finding a home, but two was fantastic.
"Wonderful! Here, let me move these to the counter and then I can show you what I've been working on..." She said as she lifted the first, balancing it carefully as she transferred it to the register's counter. The second was easier to move and she settled it next to the other. "Where do you go to school by the way? Would you like these delivered there? It might be awkward for you to carry both of them, but I think I have some good boxes we could put them in."
Waving to him again, she led the way back behind the counter and through a swinging door to the controlled chaos that was the back room. Flowers were everywhere, covering every surface. Even the large work table that spanned one wall was covered, though not enough that she couldn't work on her little project. The backs of the refrigerated display cases showed behind them, separating this room from the front. An open door showed a stairway off to the left that led upstairs and presumably to where the family lived. A large garage-style door at the back led to the loading dock, closed at the moment.
Moving over to the work bench, Orah fingered the arrangement she was creating, though it was at best half done. A pot of tulips sat with a bunching of orchids and hydrangea, various other flowers in easy reach to help fill out the piece.
"I think I'm going to add some branches to this like the ones up front, and maybe some calla lilies. I figured tis the season for tulips, but I really do love orchids, and the hydrangeas are such a pretty color... I still have a bit of work to do on this one before its done."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:11 pm
Watching her go about moving the arrangements he was startled by her question but then nodded, he really should have thought about that. He couldn't go and carry one much less two flower arrangements into school. "Meadowview, and yeah you can deliver them. Just tell the office they are for Alexandre Evans and I'll be picking them up after classes." And he'd pick them up once his last class let out and go one and then the other walked to his art club.
Following her into the backroom he glanced around at whatever there was to see, having never really been into a florists place much less the backroom. He was used to flower nursery's and other such places. There were flowers everywhere and greens and other such things used for the profession. It really was a chaotic mess, could she find anything in all this chaos? He wasn't sure but he was sure it was a mess back here. And yet beauty could be created amongst all this chaos and clutter.
"It'll be nice when it's done. Very lovely. Not as oriental looking as the other but unique and not so in the box as other pieces." And her ideas were good as well. "I prefer orchids myself, though I grow plenty of other plants as well." Though he really wished he had more room for a larger green house.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 6:31 am
"Oh, great! That'll work out just lovely, then. I go to Meadowview too. We'll deliver them to the office on my way to school." She said as she felt off playing with the arrangement. Now wasn't the time to fuss with it, she still had a customer in the shop. Alexandre Evans? She might have heard of him at school, but it was hard to remember.
"Thank you, too. I really enjoy making arrangements and finding them homes with people who will appreciate them. Here, lets to ring up your purchase and then I'll move them into the cold cases so they stay nice until we deliver them." She said, leading the way back to the front. It really was nice to have someone in the shop who loved flowers too.
"Orchids are my favorite flowers, but I try not to overuse them." She laughed, working the keys on the register to come up with the total. It was rather hefty for not one, but two arrangements. "How would you like to pay today?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 7:13 pm
"Do you, senior?" He asked automatically. The rare few times he thought about graduation, and just how close it was, he felt like it really hadn't been all that long since he'd been a freshman. Had it really been four years? Alexandre wasn't the social sort, missed each and every homecoming dance and the football games, he skipped a lot of events. He still wasn't sure if he'd go to prom. Graduation he honestly wanted to avoid, he just wanted to go and get the piece of paper at the school and no on some stage, he didn't see why such a big deal was made over it? It didn't mean school was over - there was still college and university and such. So what was the purpose of some celebration? They didn't do it when leaving middle school or elementary school either. But lately the thoughts of graduation were far from his mind - very far.
"I appreciate people who enjoy art. And while I dislike cut flowers I also cannot deny that arranging flowers is a form of art." How could he deny it? It took some artistic imagination and skill to arrange them as some people did. It was a form of art. They may not be able to paint but they were artistic, the same as a cake, sugar, or chocolate artist was.
"Thank you. I'll be sure to let you see the paintings when they are done." However long it may take to finish them. He'd make sure she got a note, somehow, to drop by the art room where they'd be done, whenever that was.
"I'm sure it's not easy, over using them. They are lovely. But it seems you manage to not over use them." From what he'd seen so far, he could very well be wrong. "I'll pay in cash." And he had the cash to pay for them. Pulling out his wallet he opened it and pulled out a large sum of money, enough to cover it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 7:04 am
Orah shook her head as she smiled and tucked her hair behind her ears.
"Oh, no, I'm still a junior. Next year though. Its rather exciting to look forward to. All I really do at school now is choir practice. I'm not part of any clubs or groups." She brightened when he mentioned letting her see the paintings. "I would love to see them! I really, really would! I find flowers so beautiful... to have it captured in paint would really be something wonderful."
Unable to stop smiling, nearly bouncing on her toes, she took his money and tapped in the total on the register. When the drawer dinged open, she tucked his money inside and tugged out his change, snapping the drawer shut with a jaunty shove. She offered the change to him with a grin, her face truly lit up with delight.
"I'm very glad you stopped here today, even if it was unusual for you. I'll get the flowers to the school for you and I really hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them." Orah said, resting her hands on the counter. "Thanks for visiting Farah's Garden. We hope you visit again."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 8:46 am
Ah, so a year below him. No wonder he'd never seen her. It was rare he interacted, or really remembered the faces (let alone names) of those in the lower years. It had been upper and lower years when he hadn't been a senior. "The only thing I'm apart of is art club. It allows me time to paint as I want to." Since his time outside of school had been eaten away by other demands, work and the Negaverse, not that he'd go and change those things. The one good thing about work was that in the winter was his hours being cut. But spring was on the way and he'd be working like a mad man again. In the sumemr he might pick up more hours even, if he could.
"I'll be sure that when the paintings are done I'll get a note to you. You should see them, since you created the original pieces of art. It's only fitting." Nodding his head as his change was taken and put into his wallet, which was than put back into his back pocket.
"I'm sure I'll enjoy them. I just hope you enjoy what I create." Little did he know that one of the pices of art, one of her floral pieces, which he'd take home to paint would be ruined. "Have a good day as well." Smiling as he nodded once he turned to leave, his task acomplished and with better results than he'd planned on.I think we can consider this done now. ^__^, the ruined flower arrangment takes place in another reg I have with someone else. ::Nods:: We should plan for a sequal, with the pices finished, and the one not finished, and such.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:46 am
Sleet Tempest Snape I think we can consider this done now. ^__^, the ruined flower arrangment takes place in another reg I have with someone else. ::Nods:: We should plan for a sequal, with the pices finished, and the one not finished, and such. Sounds good to me, just poke me when you're ready!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
