Covent Garden Flowers, Tuesday

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It had been really quiet last week with most of the folks with the school out of town. It had been peaceful, but given Peter too much time to think.

So today, he was back in the flower shop, poring through catalogues. The books Khadgar had brought in had mentioned a lot of different plants and herbs, and now he was looking up everything from mint to catnip to lavender to aloe and seeing where he could get them and how well they'd cultivate indoors.

If nothing else, the shop should smell great by the weekend.


[OOC: Open post! No OCD.]

Comments

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

Did the door have a bell? It should have a bell. A small tinkle that would sound when a customer came in.

Which is what was happening now! Well, actually, the door was just opening and a head was peeking in. "Oooh. It is a flower shop!"

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Regrettably, the door did not have a bell, as Peter really didn't need one.

He looked up. "It is," he agreed. "Hi. Come on in. Can I help you?"

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"Hello." Shiemi smiled and stepped in, taking a deep breath as she did. It smelled like... well, like flowers! Which was wonderful to Shiemi. "I saw the sign as I was walking through town and I wanted to see inside. I like plants."

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"Then you're definitely in the right place," Peter said. "Look around all you like. Let me know if you have any questions, okay?"

He'd...try to answer them.

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"Do you only sell cut flowers and bouquets?" Shiemi looked around a little, curious and getting more and more relaxed. "My roommate has a new rose bush, so we could use some pyrethrum; I worry about chafers, especially. Ah! And some lime sulfur for the garden. Do you know if that's safe for Pillow Trees?"

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"Pillow trees?" Peter blinked. "I...don't think I've seen those." He'd been sticking to Earth plants. "We do have live plants, mostly over here." He led her to the far window. "And some supplies for growing them. But just what the previous owner used to order, so I kept it. I'm not sure what's there."

In case it wasn't obvious, you probably knew more about plants than Peter, Shiemi.

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"Ah!" Shiemi blushed slightly as she followed him. "S-sorry. I just babble on when it comes to plants. I forget that not everyone is as interested."

She leaned over to examine the live plants he had available, hiding her embarrassment. "Pillow trees are new to me as well; there's one growing in the school garden. I need to go to the library to see if I can find out more about their care."

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"No, it's okay," Peter assured her. "It's just that I never really meant to own a flower shop. I'm still learning things. You could probably teach me a bit."

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

Shiemi looked up, confused now. "You didn't want to own a flower shop? Why not?"

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"I don't really know anything about flowers," Peter explained. "I just came in here and started cleaning up, taking care of the plants a bit. The town decided I owned it."

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"They can DO that?"

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"Apparently so," Peter answered, a bit bemused by her enthusiasm. "I'm Peter Octavian, by the way. Hi. You're a student at the school?"

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"Ah! I'm sorry." Shiemi grinned sheepishly and gave a small bow. "I am; I just started this semester. My name is Shiemi Moriyama."

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"Kon'nichiwa, Shiemi," Peter said, in a passable but European accent. "And, sorry - that's about the only Japanese I remember. You know a lot about plants?"

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"That was very good!" Shiemi praised the attempt. "I'm surprised; have you been to Japan?"

"My family has a large garden. I've been working with plants all my life." She beamed proudly.

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"Not in a long time." Peter shrugged. "So, how am I doing, then?" He waved at the plants. "They mostly seem happy, but there's a difference between 'not dying' and 'doing great'."

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

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"It's calming," Peter said. "And I like having green things around." He grinned at her babying. "You know, if you want to spend more time around, I could probably use someone who's good with them."

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"You want me to shop more?" Shiemi was confused. "I was thinking music would be nice, but I could do that?"

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Peter laughed, startled. "Uh, no. I was actually wondering if you might want to work here. Maybe after school or something?"

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

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Peter held up his hands, laughing. "I'm sure you'll be fine, and you only need to tidy up a little, and you're welcome to take home any that need help." He shrugged. "I'd appreciate the help, really."

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

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Peter laughed and held up his hands. "Whenever you want. Khadgar's working on Fridays, but I'd be glad to have you any other day you want."


[And I finally stop flaking and realise I've got pings...]

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"Khadgar?" Shiemi tilted her head. "Is that a student? The name sounds like an awfully harsh one." For someone who works with plants, that is.

"Do I only work one day? Ah! Can I bring Nii?"

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"He's a student, yeah. And not too harsh, I don't think."

Peter shrugged. "You can work any days you like. Who's Nii?"

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"I'll work Monday, if that's okay?" And maybe every day, if she could get done with the garden and her homework and didn't have Cram School or a mission!!!

Shiemi beamed at her new boss. "He's my demon! He's a greenman, so he'll be very helpful and polite, I promise."

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"Monday's fine," Peter answered absently, more concerned with, "...a demon?"

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"Mmm!" Shiemi smiled broadly at him. "He's really nice and helps me with my own gardening, too. Oh. Would you like to meet him, first?"

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"I...that might be best?" Peter was already calling to mind any spells he could. "He's nice?"

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"He's really sweet. Everyone says so, so it's not just because he's my friend." Shiemi nodded, reaching to pull out a small scrap of paper from a hidden pocket. Peter might catch a glance at the circles and stars (http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/greenexorcist/77991553/85075/85075_100.png) drawn on it when she turned it slightly to run the edge across her finger and gave herself a papercut.

She smeared the small sliver of blood from her finger over the larger circle on the paper. "Come out, Nii-chan?"

A small *poof* and a little green figure floated out of the paper.. and then sat on it, waving. Yes, he was covered in a sort of moss and wearing a leaf for a hat.

"Good afternoon, Nii-chaaaan!" Shiemi rubbed his cheek with a finger.

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Peter blinked. He...really didn't look like any demon he'd seen before. Not visually or magically, and Peter relaxed a little.

"Hi." He waved at the little being.

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"Niii!"

"This is Nii-chan. He's a greenman, kin of Amaimon, the demon Earth King." Shiemi lifted Nii closer so that he could be pet if Peter wanted. "Nii-chan, this is our new boss, Octopus-san. He's letting us work in his flower shop!"

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Peter wasn't going to pet a demon, no.

He barked in laughter. "Octavian, not octopus," he corrected.

[greenexorcist.livejournal.com]

"Ah! Octavian-san; I am so sorry." Shiemi blushed with a small smile, pulling Nii-chan back so she could bow. "Thank you for giving me this chance and I hope to learn a lot from you. Please look after me."

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Peter bowed back, more European than Japanese, and smiled. "I hope to learn a bit from you, too, but I will definitely look out for you." He held out a hand for shaking. "Welcome to the shop."