fandomtownies | Monday: Covent Garden Flowers

Ask and ye shall receive! Well, it was Watts, so expression-wise he did kind of have permanent scowl-face but that didn’t mean he was particularly grumpy. Anyway, the point was around mid-morning he strode into the shop with a book tucked under one arm.

“Good morning, Ms. Ingram,” he greeted, taking off his hat as he stepped inside and looking around for someplace to put it.

Nell had seen him coming and was prepared for once. "Let me take that from you," she said, reaching for his hat to put it somewhere safely away from the plants.

"And here," she said, handing him the sleepy orange kitten she'd just scooped up. "Perhaps you'd like to hold Rigel. I just got him and his brother last week. Not much better than holding a drowsy kitten."

Watts blinked down at his hand that had been full of hat and was now full of kitten.

“I. Yes. I suppose you’re right.” It would require some shifting around to hold him comfortably, though, most notably involving handing the book he’d come in with over. “It’s the companion to the one I gave you when you left,” he explained. “I thought- well, perhaps you might care to read this one as well. Though, of course, I realize- you may already have done so.” Since it had been nine years and all.

"Oh Detective!" Nell said. "This is so kind of you! I have not read this one, though I read the first one you gave me many times. While John was still alive it was the only book I had to read except for the Bible."

“It sounds like it was able to provide some respite, then,” Watts said, giving the kitten a scritch behind his ears now that his other hand was free. “I’m glad.”

"It certainly did and I appreciate it," Nell said, then smiled as she watched him with Rigel. She picked up Cygnus, who was not happy to have been deprived of the attention his brother was getting, and snuggled him as well. "This little black and white guy is Cygnus."

“Curious names,” Watts said. “What inspired them?”

Oh she was so glad you asked, Detective! "Rigel is one of the brightest stars in the sky and it's in one of the most easily seen constellations, Orion. That little guy you're holding is such a bright little guy in looks and personality that I thought it would suit him." She looked down at the black and white kitten she was holding. "Cygnus is another of my favorite constellations. It's the swan, and while swans are not black and white, something about him just reminded me of the swan. He's more graceful than his brother."

She smiled up at him. "I must admit I like the constellation Cygnus because it has a bit of a romantic meaning in Chinese myth."

"Chinese?" Watts echoed, as he switched from scritches to gentle pats for Rigel. "I'm afraid I am- not familiar with that meaning, though I do know Cygnus was Greek."

"Yes, Cygnus, is sometimes considered to be Orpheus who was said to have been changed into a swan and set besides his lyre which is the constellation Lyra," Nell agreed, "And sometimes it's related to Queen Leda who gave birth to twins when Zeus seduced her as a swan. But all cultures have their own stories."

She offered him a chair and settled into one herself, so much easier for snuggling kittens. "The Chinese call it the 'Magpie Bridge'. Two lovers are separated by the Goddess of Heaven because the girl is a fairy and cannot be with a mortal man. But once a year all the magpies in the world are said to assemble and make a bridge so that they can be together for a day."

Nell smiled as she looked down at the kitten. "I love the story even though I don't believe in any of that stuff. Except in books."

“‘That stuff’?” Watts echoed. “What stuff might that be?”

Nell looked up from Cygnus, then back down again. Her stupid mouth. Going before her brain did. She could lie, but she was terrible at it and the Detective, being a detective would probably realize it anyway.

"The whole romance like in the books thing," Nell said. "I don't think it's real."

Watts could sympathize with being a poor liar; too often he just said what was on his mind without regards to anyone’s feelings.

“I see,” Watts nodded. “Mere months ago, I- would have agreed with you.”

"I don't mean to say nothin' bad 'bout you and Steven," she said quickly - and honestly - the church speak slipping in more when she felt stressed. "I'm kinda figurin' you'uns might be the exception that proves the rule." At least she was hoping for Steven's sake that it was.

"But for me..." she shook her head. "Ain't never seen anything that would make me believe in it."

“Because of your upbringing?” Watts guessed. He supposed in a world of arranged marriages and multiple wives per husband, romance would seem like something that belonged purely in the realm of fiction.

She shrugged. "Maybe it's part of it, but nothin' in the sixteen years since I effectively left the church has changed my mind. They're like fairy tales."

"Hmm," Watts hummed. "Perhaps you just- haven't met the right person."

"Perhaps," Nell said politely, but she certainly didn't believe it.

"You remain unconvinced."

She smiled at him. "Luckily you don't need to convince me. M'not worried about it one way or the other, but I do think the odds are pretty long."

"I just wouldn't dismiss the idea entirely," Watts told her.

"I am in Fandom," she pointed out. "I suppose it's entirely possible that one day I'll end up in a fairy tale."

But she certainly wasn't holding her breath.

"Indeed," Watts said with a nod. And then, abruptly: "How go the preparations for the new shop?"

She hadn't realized she'd be so relieved to move from that topic, but she was.

"My store is coming along very well," Nell said. "I think I'll be opening maybe the 21st or 22nd. Everything is almost just the way I want it."

After Liz had visited Summer, she wanted to visit Nell to ask about growing more plants so she stopped by, “Hi Nell,” she smiled.

"Hi, Liz," Nell said cheerfully. "Come on in. Just be careful of the kittens running around here."

Liz smiled as she came in, careful to not bump into any kittens, “how was your weekend?” she said as she approached, she had seen other on Friday but a lot could have happened in the last 48 hours in Fandom.

"Just worked on the store," Nell said. "I'm hoping to get it open the 21st or 22nd. How about you?"

“Oh wow it must be exciting to have it so close,” Liz smiled, “and my weekend was good thank you, really good,” her smile widened at that, “I spent it with Prompto, even made a cake,” she added, even though they had forgotten about it for a while.

"It is," Nell said with a smile. "I never really imagined I could have something like this, which makes it even more special."

Her heart went out to Liz. "You must be so happy. Your man is back and you're having a baby and you got cake on top of it all."

Liz smiled brightly, "I'll definitely come by and see your store, I'll try and come by later this week and when you open of course," she added.

Then she listened to the rest of what Nell was saying, "I am ... it ... everything just feels right, I'd forgotten what this feeling was like," she admitted.

"I'm happy for you," Nell said. She still really didn't believe that sort of thing existed outside of books, but if Liz was happy and her man treated her right, who was Nell to judge?

“Thank you,” Liz told her with a smile, “I was actually hoping to talk to you about growing some more plants?” she asked, “I’m thinking about growing a few more plants for the nursery and the apartment in general,”

"Of course," Nell said. "Do you know what you'd like? It might be easier to get you started at my place. I have a bigger variety there."

“I wasn’t too sure, maybe something similar to what you helped me plant before, something that doesn’t require a lot of maintenance and it won’t be harmful to humans and animals,” Liz told her, “I don’t really know too much else beyond that,” she admitted.

"Herbs are always good," Nell said. "Some of them are rather pretty and they smell good. And you can use them incooking."

Liz smiled at that, "herbs would probably be a good idea, especially since Prompto and I are trying to do more of our own cooking," she told her.

"Then I can set you up with a number of different herbs to grow," Nell said. "And maybe some catnip fruit Rain "

"That would definitely be great if you could do that," Liz told her with a smile, "and I know Rain would definitely love the catnip,"

"I can absolutely do that," Nell said, "and those are fun to grow right from seed. We can get them started and growing in no time."

“That sounds incredible,” Liz told her with a smile, “when would be a good time for you to get started?”

"Any day this week," Nell said. (Other than Tuesday since they'd both be unexpectedly busy) "My schedule is pretty open."

Liz nodded, "how about Wednesday?" she asked, "I don't have anything on then if that would work?"

"Sure, come on by and I'll have some stuff out for you to plant and I'll give you a tour," Nell offered.

Liz smiled, "that sounds lovely thank you, I'm looking forward to seeing your new place,"

"I'll see you Wednesday, then," Nell said cheerfully.

Monday: Covent Garden Flowers

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