DAY SEVENTEEN: FLOWER SHOP AU

DAY SEVENTEEN: FLOWER SHOP AU

CLÉMENT NOVALAK

TAG LIST:

@i-wish-this-was-me

@giada-chan

@havaneselover08

@fangirl125reader

@rheathesimp

@strangemaximoff

@scopeiguess

PAI’S WORDS: as usual when it comes to flower stuff, it’s written based on my work and how my shop is ! 🧡 so sorry for the delay, for those not following me on X, I’ve had some rough patches lately and am only now getting better and motivated again 🫶

The day has been particularly exhausting, stubborn customers and complicated arrangements taking all your time and energy, especially since your colleague and dear friend couldn’t come to work today. Your hands cold and raw, your feet aching as much as your back, you’re almost done with the day and with your commands when the bell’s melody resonates inside the shop, indicating the presence of a new customer. Hiding a sigh and putting your best smile on, you lift your head and greet the newcomer, coming face to face with a charming man dressed in a suit.

“- Hi, how can I help you ?

- Hello, I came looking for.. well flowers ?

- Well, you’ve come to the right place, no doubt about it.”

The man in front of you chuckles and sends a sheepish smile your way, his dimples appearing at the same time as a warm feeling in your guts. You tie the bouquet you were making before walking to him, guiding the customer towards all the cut flowers you have and watching as he takes it all in, eyes stopping on some of them.

“- So, what’s the occasion ? A date, maybe ?

- Oh no, none of that. It’s for a friend.

- Sorry for assuming, it’s just that usually, when customers come in dressed as sharp as this, their intentions are pretty clear.

- Trust me, that’s what everyone tells me as well. I mean, being overdressed is not a crime, is it ?

- It surely isn’t. About that friend of yours, do you know their favorite color ? Or a color they often wear, the main color in their home, whatever.

- Um, not really know. Purple, maybe ? She does wear that quite often.

- Alright. And for the budget ? I can work around pretty much anything, but the bouquet will obviously vary in size.

- Oh, well, I don’t really know about that. I don’t buy flowers that often so I’m pretty.. clueless about prices.

- It’s fine ! We can choose flowers and foliages together and I’ll tell you the price as we go ?

- Yes, perfect, thanks !”

His dimples appears once again as he sends you a grateful smile, letting you guide him through the flowers.

“- As for now, the only purple flowers we have are clematis, aster and iris. Oh, some hydrangeas too, and gerberas. We can mix them with white and pink flowers for a softer, more feminine look, or use orange and yellow to create bright contrast, that depends on what you’re looking for. It’s for a friend, right ? Is there any special occasion ? A celebration, a birthday ?

- Actually, it’s not really a friend. I mean, she’s not a friend of mine, not really I guess. See, we have an.. emission, a podcast, with two of my friends, and she’s invited today. So I know her and, well, appreciate her, but it’s.. like a work context ?”

You giggle softly at the obvious fluster taking over him, watch as he stumbles on his words and frown as he wonders about the situation. Your gaze falls towards the racks of flowers as you listen to him explain what he knows about the woman, Lissie as you’ve learned, and her job and known passions. She seems lively and passionate about what she’s doing, as much as the man in front of you is at least, so you carefully pluck a yellow Calla Lily, putting it next to the clematis in your hand.

“- So, what we can do is have some strong flowers, like the yellow calla lily here, and build around them with simpler, smaller purple flowers like the clematis here. Calla Lilies stand straight and create a lot of volume when well-paired, and clematis create some movement with how they fall. See ? They naturally are more frail and “floaty” and will add color without it being too blunt. I can pair them with some hydrangeas for volume, no more than two or three to not throw the balance off, and some iris. Maybe add some mimosa stems in between to add more yellow.

- That.. seems perfect, really.”

A proud grin falls on your lips as you pluck the flowers you’ll need, creating the bouquet as you go. Foliages are not counted in the price as your shop offers them, something not that uncommon but that still surprises customers not used to it. You decide to go for eucalyptus, giving the bouquet more volume but also more fluidity and lightness, creating a less strict, more simple looking composition. As you go, you never forget to calculate and enunciate the price, making sure to check in with the man in front of you who seems purely in awe as he observes your hands work carefully around the flowers, delicate fingers adorned with little cuts and callouses. You place the last flower where it’s supposed to go, checking on different angles to make sure it’s evenly distributed before showing it off.

“- Ans that’s how it looks, is it what you had in mind ? If not, I can replace some flowers and such, don’t hesitate to tell me.

- No, no it’s really pretty, thank you ! I didn’t even have something as gorgeous as this in mind, to be fair. You have a way with flowers, trust me.”

He compliments you excitedly as you laugh, taking a ribbon out of your apron to tie the creation before making your way to the checkout, followed closely by the young man you find quite interesting. Your hands quickly work as you cut the stems at the same level and wrap the bouquet in yellow colored paper, placing a simple light purple around it and making a bow. All the while, you explain how his friend should take care of the flowers, insisting on the “cutting them every two days” part and a sweet smile grows on your face as you note how meticulous he seems, nodding in a determined way and asking questions about some parts. You staple your shop’s cars on the wrapping paper before handing it to you, your hands brushing his as he oh so carefully takes it and profusely thanks you, making his way towards the exit.

“- Oh, I’m sorry ! But you’ve said you have a podcast, right ? May I know the name ? I don’t know much about cars and, sports in general, but I’d like to learn more.

- Yeah, sure ! It’s called Screaming Meals, and well, my name’s Clement. It was nice meeting you, Y/N.”

You stare at his back as he walks out with a frown and a gaping mouth, only realizing much later, as you’re making dinner, that your name is written on your apron. The podcast accompany your dinner and you shyly subscribe to the channel, grinning as Lissie compliments the bouquet and laughing as Clement brags about it, not missing the soft look in his eyes.

Steve and Robin decide to buy the couple’s package at a spa resort because it’s cheaper than two individual packages. They don’t really read what all is included because they assume it’s the same as what’s included in the original package.

Only, Robin gets sick - just a sinus infection, so she tells Steve to go with someone else and not worry about her. And after a long discussion between the two of them, they realize that Eddie is the only person Steve can invite that will go along with the whole couple lie.

It’s no surprise when Eddie happily agrees to join Steve, but about an hour into their day, it is a surprise when their instructor teaches them how to give each other a very intimate massage.

Steve’s only thought is, “I’m glad I’m not doing this with Robin.” Which sends him slightly spiraling because he realizes he doesn’t mind doing this with Eddie.

And there Steve is, lying face down on a massage table with his lower back oiled up and being kneaded by Eddie’s very skillful fingers as he has his bi panic.

That was a very fun time Vienna, thank you for being so sweet and giving us all such a lift last night. Much love 🖤

forever haunted by hozier's face when he sings "put me back in it" (and by haunted i mean i'm clawing my eyes out)

i am forever thinking about the admiration hozier sings with in verse two of "abstract (psychopomp)". the way he compares the death of his relationship with the collision of hitting an animal, but is more in awe of his lover's reaction than the tragedy itself?? "the speed that you moved"?? "the screech of the cars"?? "the creature still moving that slowed in your arms"?? the way they could look death in the eye and care for it rather than run from it, and, instead of hating their acceptance of the breakup, hozier says that that is why there is "no choice but to love you"?? 'the way you are ending this is the reason i love you'?? the fact he is thankful that his lover has the strength to be the psychopomp because he knows he would have just kept flying into the sun icarian style?? how, despite how lost he feels ("the earth from a distance"), he cannot help but find the compassion his partner shows to the end of their love beautiful ("see how it shines")?? it is on my mind day in day out i can think of nothing else

"i dont dislike taylor swift as a person, i just think her music is not that good" well i hate her as well. why the fuck am i biking everywhere and taking trains and walking two hours if she produces two tons of co2 emissions for a 15min flight. fuck her