Tuesday: 43 Unicorn Street, soon to be Plant Parenthood

[mylandmyrules]

Nell had spent the early morning putting up signs about the grand opening of Plant Parenthood on Saturday. Afterwards she'd gone by the museum to see Steven and bring him the small gifts she'd picked up on her trip. When he wasn't there she was a bit concerned, given the events a while ago. She considered stopping by their apartment, but ultimately decided she wasn't quite sure she should, so when she returned home she left a message instead.

Then she let the kittens down into the shop and worked on putting together extra tea and lotion samplers to give out at the grand opening.

She was cheerful as she worked, humming along to some quiet music, and occasionally laughing at the antics the kittens got up to. Cygnus was definitely a bit of a troublemaker and loved to sneak attack and pounce on Rigel - or Nell if she got close enough.

Comments

[hasaknightjob]

Steven felt horrible for not realizing that his friends wouldn't know about his new schedule, so when he got Nell's message he decided to stop by her home personally so reassure her.

The chance he might meet the kittens was incidental, truly.

Luckily it was easy enough to check the shop first and find her there. "Morning, Nell! Got your message. Is this a good time?"

[mylandmyrules]

"Steven! Yes, of course, please come in!" Nell said quickly. "Welcome to my home and my store. Hospitality and safety to you while you are here. You'un is okay?"

Cygnus stopped in the middle of his latest stalking of Rigel to see what was going on.

[hasaknightjob]

"I am, yeah," Steven said as he came in. He hadn't spotted the kittens yet or this conversation would be completely derailed. "Sorry. I'm on Thursdays again. Only just got the notice while I was away. Didn't have time to tell people."

Though Steven was touched that anyone had noticed and worried about him as a result.

[mylandmyrules]

"Oh good, I'm glad," Nell said with a smile of relief. "I was a little worried after, you know, the other day. But I'm sorry they keep switching days on you. That must be hard to keep track of."

[hasaknightjob]

"I do like Thursdays better," Steven admitted. "Though the change in schedule is a bit much, yeah."

Steven wasn't going to worry Nell by mentioning anything about lost time while he was away.

"How was your holiday?" Steven asked. "Did you like France?"

[mylandmyrules]

"I'd be all confused," Nell admitted, "If they kept switching my days around. But I'm glad you're back on Thursdays if you like them better."

She smiled at him. "France was wonderful! So many gardens to look at and so much history! I thoroughly enjoyed it! Oh, and I brought you back something."

She hurried over to her desk and returned with a small bag. "There are Marron glace and pate de fruits. The first is sort of a sugared chestnut and the other is candied fruit." It was harder than one might think to find French vegan things that would keep for a while.

[hasaknightjob]

"Cheers, that's kind of you," Steven said as he took the gift. "Who's thoughtful then? You. There's brilliant history there, isn't it? We had fun with that as well on our trip. No gardens but we did a wine tour. Llewellyn loved that, as you can imagine."

[mylandmyrules]

"I'm sure he did," Nell said fondly. She'd considered buying wine for Steven and the Detective, but just hadn't been able to go that far. Maybe someday. "I'm glad you both had a good time."

Cygnus was doing a slow stalk towards the visitor, wiggling his butt once he got close enough and then pouncing on Steven's shoe.

"Cygnus! Be polite to our guests!" Nell said with a laugh.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven looked delighted when he saw what was at his foot. He immediately knelt down to greet the kitten. He held out his hand for Cygnus to sniff. "Hello there! Aren't you brave, protecting your mum from strangers?"

[mylandmyrules]

"This little black and white terror is Cygnus," Nell said as he headbutted Steven's hand. "The orange stripey one over there lying in the sun is Rigel."

[hasaknightjob]

"Of course he's in the sun. He's a little star himself, isn't he?" Steven said. In the meanwhile he gave Cygnus very gentle pets around his ears. "And you, you're the graceful one. You guard bridges, no wonder you guard your mum's place as well."

[mylandmyrules]

"You remembered," Nell said with a smile. "That's so wonderful!"

Rigel decided to come investigate why his brother was getting pets and he was not.

"If you take a seat, you'll probably have the two of them snuggling in your lap," she offered, gesturing toward a chair.

[hasaknightjob]

Steven was all for that but he did look at the distance from the floor to the chair. "They can jump so high?"

He didn't have a lot of experience with kittens.

[mylandmyrules]

Nell just gestured to the chair again. He'd find out soon enough just how high a determined kitten could jump.

[hasaknightjob]

"Right," Steven whispered to the kitten in what was not at all a real whisper, "this is her idea. I'm not trying to abandon you, yeah?"

With that Steven stood up, dusted off his pants, and then took the offered seat.

[mylandmyrules]

Cygnus was on his lap barely before he had time to get seated. Rigel took a moment to stretch and yawn before leaping up and shoving his way under Steven's hand.

Nell just watched and smiled.

[hasaknightjob]

"Aren't you both clever then?" Steven said. Luckily he had two hands which matched perfectly with two kittens looking to be petted. To Nell, he said, "We went to a restaurant with cats in it, Llewellyn and me. They didn't cook or anything. They kept you company while you ate."

It was Fandom, you had to clarify these things.

[mylandmyrules]

"I'd hope they didn't cook," Nell said with a laugh. "There'd be hair in everything."

She watched Steven with the kittens for the moment, then suddenly remembered her hosting duties. "Oh! Let me get you some tea and some scones with jam. Stay right there."

As if the kittens would allow otherwise.

[hasaknightjob]

"Don't think I've much choice in the matter," Steven said, in spite of his inability to read the narrative. The kittens seemed to have firm opinions on the topic of Steven continuing to pet them. "But no, strictly humans in the kitchen far as I could tell. Lovely cats to join and recommend things on the menu. Which I suppose these ones might do for you when you open. Is that right? Will you help your mum teach people how to care for plants?"

[mylandmyrules]

"More like get underfoot and hope people find them adorable," Nell said as she put water on and pulled out the vegan scones and some jam.

She brought the scones, two plates, and a knife to the table near Steven and set them out. "Having the big opening this Saturday," she said. "I just hope people show up."

[hasaknightjob]

"Well we'll be there, obviously," Steven said. He nodded his thanks for the food since actually reaching for it would interrupt kitten petting. "That's during the day, right? Exciting. Are you ready? Need any help with it?"

[mylandmyrules]

"It is, yes," Nell said. "I figure if people need something after hours they can always call and I'll try to accommodate them. Though I think a plant emergency is very unlikely." She smiled at him and her own little joke.

"I think most everything is ready. I'm just making up extra tea and lotion samples to give out. And I've got more plants to start since my online business is taking off faster than I thought."

[hasaknightjob]

"You say that but considering where we are is it that unlikely?" Steven pointed out. "Might be jinxing things there. Though that's brilliant about your business. No surprise, of course. Your things are amazing."

Not that Steven had personally tried the lotions but Nell made them so they must be wonderful.

[mylandmyrules]

"I shall stay vigilant for any plant emergencies," Nell said with mock solemnness. "Just in case."

She smiled shyly at him. "You haven't even tried my lotions or anything, but I appreciate your kindness. I plan to have fresh baked scones and cookies and such for Saturday. I'll make sure some of them are vegan, of course."

[hasaknightjob]

"Kind of you," Steven said. "I'll make sure Marc shows up as well, even if there's a crowd. He's back on swearing he doesn't need to do things since last week went so nicely. I told him I'm not having it."