Closing Time (Open)

[Cecelia Riddel]

Daylight was beginning to dwindle by the time Cecelia shut the door to the Enchanted Florist, the chime above the door giving a cheerful ring from within as her boss locked the door behind her.  She offered a smile to the older woman, raising a hand in farewell before quickly pulling her gloves on and shivering against the winter chill.  She descended the two-step staircase with the elegance of a woman arriving at a ball, even if her skirt lacked the glamour of the illusion.

She'd thought she'd be happier here, at least on some level.  It was a world without qi and qi users, other than those she had arrived with.  Many had died, many around her, and the memories still lingered and tainted her thoughts about the world around her, but there was no denying the noblewoman now felt she could breathe easier.  No more worries of hair gone wrong when she woke up in the morning, or dreading every time she got the hiccups - or worse.  Not often, anyway.  But it had done nothing to mend the rift between her and her family, who knew what she had been, and she was sentenced to live in the apartments like all the others that arrived on the Ark.  if anything, it had made the distance worse, all of them reduced to paupers living on charity instead of being the ones to provide it.  Words and names and objects were not the same, and what she had brought with her meant nothing here.

She hated it.  And now she was working like a commoner.  Thankful as she was that she had found a job that catered to her talents saved her from physical labor, but the thought still galled her, a sour taste filling her mouth as she strolled the market streets.  With the shop closing early that day, she had time to window shop and contemplate what she wanted for dinner.

At least she could count on today being peaceful.

[Adelaide]

Adelaide would show up at the floral shop, wearing her loose fitting 'Parental Advisory' shirt and ripped up pants with her guitar and bat strapped over her shoulder and onto her back, only to find that the shop had been closed.

"Ah, fuck."

She would say. Then she looked around and noticed a girl that looked like she had just left the shop.

"Yo, miss. You work here?"

[Cecelia Riddel]

The vulgarity passed by unheeded by Cecelia. She may have only recently come out and brave this new world, but one thing she quickly learned was that many people curse. Frequently. Sometimes they were even customers; the first time she'd discovered that, she'd nearly dropped the bouquet she'd been working on.

"Yes?" She turned as someone called out, a puzzled frown on her face as she saw the girl's shirt. It made no sense. Parental advisory? Did her guardian need to be contacted if she were found? Offering the dark-haired girl an apologetic smile, she nodded.

"Were you expecting to pick up an arrangement today?"

[Adelaide]

"Well, I mean, I was just planning on looking around. But I thought y'all were opened later? Did ya close early or something?"

[Cecelia Riddel]

"I'm afraid so." Another nod, a single fluid motion and an apologetic expression. "Our manager had to attend a personal matter. We do open back up at ten in tomorrow morning, however."

[Adelaide]

"Ugh, so early... How long will y'all be open tomorrow?"

She asked curiously as she scratched the side of hear head, revealing her multiple ear piercings.

[Cecelia Riddel]

"Early?" She blinked a couple of times, the movement rapid as she otherwise hid her confusion. Perhaps the woman merely worked nights? Cecelia's thought derailed as she caught sight of the many piercings the other woman sported, illuminated by the overhead light that hung over the shop's sign. Bewildered by the woman's words and appearance, she couldn't help but wonder why someone would do so in this world. She stared for a moment in silence, before regaining her composure.

"We're open from ten in the morning to seven at night, most days." She did her best to sound assuring. "Until six, on Sundays. Was there something in particular you had in mind while you were browsing?" Most people didn't window shop or stay idle at a florists that she'd seen. Even if they didn't know what they wanted, they had a person or occasion in mind. Perhaps she could help her more when she came back if she prepared ahead of time?

[Adelaide]

"Not really, just thought I'd find something pretty for someone special. Flower's ain't really my thing."

She said with a shrug.

"Her favorite color is always changing. Like right now it's yellow, but like in a week it could freakin' lavender or some shit. So just something colorful ya know. Pretty. Like girly as fuck."

[Bailey Oleander]

"I see." She nodded, her smile lifting a fraction. It sounded like the young woman was looking to get something for a child if they changed their mind so frequently. It was sweet.

"Well the good news is that we have quite a few varieties to chose from, and many yellow ones, as well, miss...?" She trailed off, not knowing the woman's name or certain if she should ask. But by the heavens, she was raised to know who was who and to have manners, so she'd be that person asking a random stranger!

[Adelaide]

"Oh, Adelaide. Nice to meetcha."

She would say holding out a hand for handshake, her nails were painted black, but they were obviously not well cared for as the polish was old and chipping and the nails looked more like they were bitten rather than clipped, her fingers would be rough and calloused from playing the guitar for so long.

[Cecelia Riddel]

This poor girl's hands. She needed help, or they'd be stuck, miserable and chapped with chipped, forever. She felt a small pang at the sight of Adelaide's hands, wishing her own looked better than they did and grateful for the gloves that covered up the fact.

"Cecelia Riddel. A pleasure." She hesitated at the hand stretched out to her, partially because one didn't pierce personal space, let alone touch the lower classes. She swallowed the knot in her throat as she remembered she was one of them now. They were equals; her normal greetings would do her no good.

She gave Adelaide a dignified nod!

[Adelaide]

Adelaide would just raise an eyebrow and pull her hand back.

"Uh, right. Was I suppose to give my last name too?"

She asked confused about how this interaction was going.

[Cecelia Riddel]

"Perhaps not." Again the apologetic smile as Celia chided herself. She should know this by now.

"I apologize for the confusion. Where I'm from, we offer our surnames, as well. I believe you may do it different here, however." She looked over her shoulder at the shop's door, the closed sign lighting up now.

"Would you care to walk with me? I'm afraid we may draw more attention to the shop while it's closed."

[Adelaide]

"Uh, sure I guess. Do I need to escort m'lady home as well?"

She said half joking, not sure if this girl would survive a simple walk back to her place in the dark.

[Cecelia Riddel]

"Not need, necessarily." She shook her head. "Though I would not object to the company." She didn't seem to mind the humor, or perhaps merely chose not to respond to it.