Jack's Roses

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy opens up the shop and makes sure things are in place. She moves behind the counter and starts tallying up the books.

There are a lot of things on her mind, including the fact that she suddenly has no roommate. She doesn't know if she wants to try to find a new roommate or if she just wants to keep the single.

She finishes the books and returns them to their place. After that she waters the plants and flowers and then goes to sit behind the counter and work on her homework.

Comments

[demonbelthazor]

Belthazor wandered into the flower shop, debating picking up something for Phoebe. He nodded at Buffy as he saw her behind the counter. "Hey."

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy loks up from the book she is studying. When she recognizes Belthazor, she gives him a slight smile. "Hey."

[demonbelthazor]

"I was looking for something for my girlfriend," Bel said, keeping his tone light while readying himself for potential attack. He wasn't sure if the Slayer would hop over the counter and try to kill him, since killing demons was as big a duty for her as it was for the Charmed Ones. Plus his relationship with Angelus was hardly a secret, and Buffy preferred the souled version. "She really likes stargazer lilies," he went on.

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

"Phoebe Halliwell?" Buffy asked as she went through the books and the samples. "We have several different arrangements, as well as single lilies."

She looked up at him and her lips twitched. "I'm not going to attack you...especially not in Jack's shop."

[demonbelthazor]

He relaxed a little. "Cool, thanks. I know I'm good friends with Angelus, and he's your ex and all...I mean Angel was...is?" He laughed a little. "Kinda confusing, isn't it? You two, uh, gonna get back together now?"

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy shook her head, there is sadness in her eyes. "No. As much as we love each other and would fight for each other...we can't chance him losing his soul like that again."

[demonbelthazor]

"That's a shame," Bel said sympathetically. "I kinda know what it's like to love someone you think you can't have. But I took the chance." He grinned a little ruefully. "And I bet I really sound like I just want you to sleep with Angelus so he loses his soul again, don't I?"

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy eyed him. "The thought had ocurred to me." She frowned. "Angel and I took a chance...you met what happened."

[demonbelthazor]

He nodded. "And it's no secret that Angelus and I were friends, and I was pissed off that he's gone. I'm still trying to adjust to this total stranger in his place. I imagine you know what that feels like from the other side."

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Some of the tension melted from Buffy's sholders. "Yeah, I can understand completely how that feels."

[demonbelthazor]

Bel sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. "Yeah, I'm still trying to adjust. Angel doesn't like me much, but Tara seems to think we have a lot in common and could be great friends." He shrugged. "I don't know. It's just...weird."

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

"Phoebe didn't have a problem with the two of yu being friends?"

[demonbelthazor]

"We haven't really talked about it yet," Bel admitted. "She was really sick last week when the whole souling thing went down. I'm not even sure she knows what happened because I haven't brought it up. She won't be happy about it, that's an understatement. Hence the flowers -- preemptive gesture...."

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy raised an eyebrow. "You think she's going to be pissed." She turned her back and started flipping through cards. When she turned around, she handed Belthazor four cards, each with a different arrangement of Stargazers. "I'm thinking one of these four would be your best bet."

[demonbelthazor]

"That one's nice," Belthazor said, pointing to the largest of the four. "Yeah, I'll take that one, delivered to room 412. The note should just say 'No matter what, I love you.'" He smiled weakly at Buffy. "Not much else you can say when your best friend kills someone your girlfriend cared about, right?"

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy smiled faintly. "Try having your lover kill your watcher's girlfriend." Buffy sighed and rang up the order for the flowers. "Either the delivery guy or I will deliver these tonight." Buffy looked at Belthazor. "About Phoebe, she's not a fighter, is she?"

[demonbelthazor]

Bel pulled money from his jacket pocket to pay for the order. "Fighter? What do you mean?" he asked.

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

"I mean, if someone comes after her, can she defend herself? Is she the type to lose her temper and pick a fight?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I've been teaching her to fight, but we haven't gotten past the basics," Bel said. He scowled. "Why, who might come after her? Anyone lays a hand on her and I'll rip their arm off."

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

"Teach her well, Belthazor. She's so open and believing in everybody that someone is going to try to take advantage of her and hurt her like that." She stared at him and sighed.

[demonbelthazor]

"You got anybody particular in mind?" Bel demanded. "Why are you so worried about this?"

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Deciding that the best way to make things right with Crowley is to get him a plant he can torment, Aziraphale heads into flower shop.
"Good day, my dear," he says, smiling at the young lady at the counter.

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy smiles at Mr. Phale. "Hello, sir, how can I help you?"

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"I was hoping to purchase a plant. Something leafy, and...hardy."

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

"Hardy?" Buffy things for a moment. "We have ivy...also some small trees." She cocks her head. "Do you have something special in mind?"

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"Well...no. It's for a gift, actually. Ivy might be nice. It doesn't require a great deal of care, does it? I'm afraid it'll likely be rather neglected, except for when it's being, er, threatened." He gives Buffy an apologetic smile. "I'd care for it myself, but then that would rather defeat the purpose."

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy smiles. "Ivy is rather self-sufficient, to be honest."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

He nods. "That sounds lovely, then. Thank you my dear." Remembering his manners, he adds, "And I don't believe I've introduced myself. I'm Mr. Phale, I run the rare books shop. You're a student at the school, aren't you?"


[ooc: Correct me if they have met and I'm just not remembering it.]

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy smiles. "I'm Buffy, I don't think we've met." She brushes her hair back from her face. "Yeah, I keep wanting to stop into your shop, but something always happens."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

He offers his hand to Buffy. "There does seem to be always something happening in this town, doesn't there? Do come by though, when you have time. Just for tea, if you aren't in the market for books."

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy shakes his hand and has a genuine smile on her face. "Tea would be very nice. Thank you for the invitation, sir." Buffy is happy with this meeting. She found someone who talked to her like she was a person and didn't assume anything.

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

Aziraphale returns the smile. "You're quite welcome, my dear. The shop is nearly always open, even quite late into the evening. And there's a reading lounge if you're just looking for a quiet place to sit and read."

[forlornslayer.livejournal.com]

Buffy is smiling more than she has in awhile. "The idea of someplace quiet and mostly safe is a very nice thing to know about, Mr. Phale."

[a-phale.livejournal.com]

"My dear, I can promise you that my shop is completely safe." Aziraphale's voice is calm and sincere. "I pride myself on that. If you should ever need someplace to do...someplace you can be absolutely certain of, do keep that in mind."