Monday: Covent Garden Flowers

[mylandmyrules]

Nell settled in for what might just be her last shift ever at the flower shop. She'd let Lucille know and had been oddly pleased to know she'd be missed.

It was hard to know she'd have to leave her plants behind, but there was no way she could bring most of them through the portal with her.

She spent her day giving all the plants a little extra attention and enjoying everything she could.


Covent Garden Flowers is open!

Comments

[flamesburned]

Liz had felt bad that she hadn’t stopped by to visit Nell last week, even though she had been rather distracted with everything happening.

She also was trying very hard to not focus on the fact that tomorrow was the anniversary of her parents and brother’s death.

“Hi,” she said softly as she entered.

[mylandmyrules]

"Liz," Nell said. "How are you?"

[flamesburned]

“I’m …I’ve been better,” Liz said quietly, “it’s …it’s been a rough week and tomorrow…” her voice trailed off, “I’m just trying to take it one day at a time at the moment,” she admitted quietly.

[mylandmyrules]

"Tomorrow's a bad day?" Nell said sympathetically. "I'm sorry to hear that."

And now she hated to have to give Liz her own news. Maybe she should wait till Wednesday.

[flamesburned]

“It’s … it’s the anniversary of my parents and brother’s deaths,” Liz said quietly, “I … I wasn’t able to …last year I couldn’t properly grieve them, I was in custody," she paused, "it's ...I ... " her voice trailed off uncertainly.

Liz would be sad to hear that Nell was leaving, even with the next few days still being a bit rough for her so she'd still understand if she was told the news.

[mylandmyrules]

"Then you should do something special tomorrow to celebrate them," Nell said. "I'm happy to help if you want."

[flamesburned]

“I’m .. I’m going to church tomorrow,” Liz said quietly, “I’m … um … going with Steven,” she added, “I … you could come with us if you’d like,”

There was a pause, “I .. haven’t really decided what to do after that though,” she said, “I thought about trying to keep busy with work, but I ...I don’t know what to do to celebrate them,” she admitted.

[mylandmyrules]

"I'll come if you'un would like me to," Nell said, "but I don't want to interfere with your time with Steven. But maybe afterwards, I don't know, might be nice if you sat down by yourself or with friends and talked about them a little. I'd be happy to make a cake or some sort of baked goods for you if you wanted."

[flamesburned]

“I don’t mind,” Liz told her quietly, “I .. I do like the idea of a cake though, that would be nice, um I mean ... if you wouldn't mind doing that for me that is,”

[mylandmyrules]

"Not at all. I'd be happy to do that," Nell said. "And, I do have some... not so great news. I'm sorry to have to tell you today."

She hesitated, then just said it. "I'm going to be going home. They finally found a way to connect back there, so as soon as it's a stable portal..." She shrugged uncomfortably. "Not sure I'll be able to come back." For so many reasons.


[OOC: She doesn't think she'll be returning, but she'll be back about a week later - but nine years later for her.]

[flamesburned]

“Oh,” Liz wasn’t expecting that and she wasn’t sure how to process the news, “I’m …I’ll …” she stopped and started several times, unsure what to say, she had liked getting to spend time with Nell and learning how to garden, “I’m … I’ll miss getting to spend time with you,” she said softly, “I …it’s good right that you’ll get to go home?”

(Ooc: oh cool, I had been wondering if there were plans for a return :))

[mylandmyrules]

"I've enjoyed spending time with you as well," Nell said.

Now that last was a loaded question.

"I'll be going home to my husband," she said finally.

[flamesburned]

“That’s good right?” Liz wasn’t sure, “when …um…was the last time you saw him?”

[mylandmyrules]

"It's.. my duty," Nell said uncomfortably. "And I haven't seen him or been able to contact him in four years."

[flamesburned]

"Oh," Liz said quietly, noticing that Nell seemed to be a bit uncomfortable, "um - I ... you must be looking forward to seeing him again, if it's been such a long time,"

She tried to think of something else to say, "you'll get to see all your plants and trees back home again,"

[mylandmyrules]

Nell nodded, but didn't really answer one way or the other.

"I am greatly looking forward to seeing Soulwood again. And Steven reminded me of how much I've missed our dogs."

[flamesburned]

"oh you have dogs back home?" Liz asked curiously, "you must be looking forward to seeing them again, how many dogs do you have?" she had only ever really known people who had cats.

[mylandmyrules]

"Three," Nell said. "Two beagles and a bird dog. They were pretty young when I left, so I hope they're still there. I don't know if they'll remember me though. Four years is a long time."

[flamesburned]

“Oh they do sound lovely, I hope that you do get to see them again,” Liz said softly, “I know when I first left my home to come back to Fandom, I was worried the cats were going to forget about me,” she admitted, “even though I was only gone two months before I returned home for a visit,”

[mylandmyrules]

"And I'm sure they remembered you, right?" Nell said with a smile.

[flamesburned]

Liz gave a small smile, "they did, one of Hellboy's cats had kittens before I moved back to Fandom, so getting to see how big they'd gotten in two months was really nice and the other cats as well," she paused, "Hellboy loves cats," she explained, "he has over twenty now,"

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh my," Nell said. "And I thought three was a handful. He must love cats very much to take on that many."

[flamesburned]

"He does," Liz said fondly, "Rain ... my cat, well she used to be Hellboy's, she was one of the kittens that was born before I returned to Fandom, he gave her to me when I moved back here," she added.

[mylandmyrules]

"That was nice of him," Nell said warmly. "She must be good company for you."

[flamesburned]

"She is," Liz told her, nodding, "I, having Rain around helps ... sometimes she ... she makes me not feel as lonely," she admitted.

[mylandmyrules]

"Animals can be good company that way," Nell agreed. "Oh! I've made you up a large batch of that tea. It should last you through the rest of your pregnancy. I didn't want to leave you without when I left."

The package also contained a couple of jams as well.

[flamesburned]

Liz did smile at that, "thank you," she said softly, "that's really nice of you, I've been enjoying the teas," she told her.

[mylandmyrules]

"Good, I'm glad," Nell said with a smile.

[unusual_sith]

"Nell?" Lana came in and headed back for her.


[sorry I'm late!]

[mylandmyrules]

"Lana, hello," Nell said. "I'm glad you came by."


[ooc: No worries! SP is love.]

[unusual_sith]

"How could I not?" Lana asked. "I got your message. How are you doing?"

[mylandmyrules]

"Resigned," Nell said honestly. "I know I have to go, I've made my decision. Now I'm just storing up good memories to bring back with me."

[unusual_sith]

Lana nodded. "I was conflicted going back home, too, and I'd known when I was and was content with what I was returning to. But I know you made a promise. Do you think you'll be able to stay in touch?"

[mylandmyrules]

"I don't know," Nell admitted. "I'm going to try to sneak my phone home and keep it charged, but I'm not sure what will happen or if we'll have any type of cell service."

"But I'll try."

[unusual_sith]

"I'm glad." Lana nodded. "You know if you do need help, I'll come as fast as I can. And I know you've got other friends who would, too." She reached for Nell's hand. "Even when we're not there, you're never alone."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell couldn't help tearing up a little. "Thank you," she said. "You all mean the world to me."

[unusual_sith]

"You've been my best roommate," Lana said. "Which, granted, is a low bar considering some of the people I've had to room with, but the point stands."

[mylandmyrules]

Nell couldn't help but laugh. "You were my only roommate other than family, if you don't count this week with Marc and Steven, so you were definitely my best as well. But I thought you were wonderful."

[unusual_sith]

Lana smiled. "You were, too. And all your plants. I missed having greenery around when I left. That's one of the things I'm reminding myself - you'll be going back to your woods. I'm happy for you for that."

[mylandmyrules]

"I will be," Nell said. "I keep reminding myself of that, too. At least I'll have Soulwood."

She stopped herself, remembering. "Oh, I'll be leaving a lot of my plants at Marc and Steven's till they can find homes for them, please feel free to go pick out a couple if you want. Or I could give you a few of mine that are staying here at the shop. I can't bring them home, of course."

[unusual_sith]

"It'd have to be something difficult to kill," Lana said apologetically. "I'm better at purchasing them than taking care of them."

[mylandmyrules]

"Hang on," Nell said and slipped into the back, returning with two hardy looking plants. "The ones at Steven and Marc's are more delicate, but these two are succulents and much harder to kill. A little water, a spot on the sun and they're perfectly happy. Put a finger on the soil and if it feels dry, give them some water and they'll be fine."

She put her own fingers in their soil and focused some energy into the plants. "There. These'll withstand pretty much anything now."

[unusual_sith]

Lana took the plants and smiled at them, then at Nell. "Thank you. I'll do my very best by them."

[mylandmyrules]

"I'm sure you will," Nell said. "Something to remember me by."

[unusual_sith]

"I won't ever forget you," Lana promised. "I hold out hope we'll see you again before too long, but even if not, your memory is with me for good."

[mylandmyrules]

"And yours with me," Nell replied. "I hope I get to see you - everyone - again sometime too."

[unusual_sith]

"I hope the same," Lana said.