2019-11-07 - Storming in and Storming Out

A windy, late afternoon thunderstorm means battening down the hatches of the outdoor collection, which is what August and Ully are up to. The more delicate plates get taken into the canopy or tarped; the breakable stuff goes inside. They started this process as soon as August saw the supercell on the approach, so they're almost done, and everything is accounted for. A couple of customers are looking through the greenhouses, as those are sheltered from the wind. Thunder grumbles overhead and lightning flickers in the distance. The power's threatened a couple of times but not gone out. Not yet.

August is in a black leather jacket, dark red and gray, long sleeved t-shirt, denim jeans, and his workboots. He's currently ferrying some of the more expensive and delicate pots to just inside the door to the outside collection, where they won't get tipped over.

In a town of derelicts and... err, unique souls like Gray Harbor, Gina's all-black looks are no real shock. Perhaps more of a... unique feature... is how she's dressed dressed in hooded cloak. Okay, really it's more of a maxi wool black overcoat with a hood, but if one takes into account Gina's boots, the purple hair, the red-black-grey smoky eye and the deep plum lipstick, along with the hood being a little... steeper than normal, it does lend her an air a particular air. Especially when there are chains going from the front pocket to the last button at the waist, several strings of thin chain from which hang charms - including a few that look like ivory or bone carvings. And at least two human teeth. Not creepy at all, Gina. But she steps inside-- conveniently just as thunder rolls-- and glances around at the inside of the shop, expressionless. Seeing August in the midst of scurrying, she acknowledges, "Groper. Busy?"

August carefully sets down a drip-dry, brick red pot and gives Gina a Look for that nickname. Fortunately for him, Ully is outside and Ignacio's in New York. Bullets dodged. Her outfit gets a curious once-over, especially the human teeth. No comments, though, aside from a brief lift of one eyebrow. 'Human teeth? Really?' that eyebrow telegraphs.

"Sure," he says, moving to stand by a table of air plants. He folds his arm. "Whatcha need? Come for your cat-safe plants?"

Gina just ignores the Look. He knows what he did! The focus on the teeth has her looking down at them... before she makes eye contact, if August allows, and gives the smallest of smiles-- a little smug, a little sly, like there's some grand secret August's not in on. But she simply pulls a sheet of paper from her pocket and approaches, holding it out towards August. "I'll need four cat-save plants for different areas. One will need to be good in a low light environment. I've got eight birdcages at home I've written down the dimensions of. I'll probably me making use of at least two or three of them. If there's any cat-safe plants that can be put in some hanging cages with falling leaves, that'd be cool, too. Oh, and I need a bouquet made that looks romantic but means fuck you." All said in the same casual tone, maybe with a little wiggle of the paper.

August answers Gina's secretive smile with a dry, amused one of his own. His expression clears as she offers over the paper and explains what she needs, and he starts scanning. He's murmuring names under his breath ("Sedum, Chlorophytum, Soleirolia...") as he goes, but stops abruptly and double-takes at the request for a 'fuck you' bouquet. He peers at her. "A...romantic, 'fuck you' bouquet?" He repeats that carefully, like he wants to be totally sure that's what she wants.

August wants clarification. And Gina just stares at him, mostly expressionless, but the aura around her is... patiently resigned, as if she's realized she is going to have to use small words with August. Obviously he has issues with the obvious. "A bouquet that looks romantic but /means/ go fuck yourself." She clarifies. And gives a little half-smirk, "Or looks cute but is actually a common funerary bouquet. You know, something like that." Gina says, shifting away from looking at August to stroll slowly through the various pots and tools on display.

August tilts his head, weathering the reiteration with a faint smile. "Got it. Just making sure." He puts his hands on his hips, looking thoughtful. He prefaces what he wants to say with, "We can definitely put something together." His eyes travel the room, not really focusing on anything. Ideas are flitting around in his head. One in particular seems to strike his fancy. "How," a glance at her outfit, "creepy did you want it? Or do you want it to fly under the radar on that front? I mean," he gestures, "we can put in a few things like, a crow skull, a rabbit's foot, that kind of thing, along with the plants."

"If it wasn't a little creepy, no one would believe I sent it." Gina's tone is almost...detached. She knows her reputation. But she doesn't seem particularly proud of it, or ashamed. It just is what it is. "No rabbit feet though. That's just sort of gross." Even Gina has standards, guys! "If you have a whole taxidermy rabbit you can use as a vase, that'd be cool, though." ....strange, twisted standards. And expectations. "No feathers or birds, though. Squirrel or mouse skulls would be okay. If you don't have any I can have some dropped off." OKAY GINA. "If you've got something that's like, maybe cool and spiky to add into the bouquet, that'd probably scream me."

"I actually eat the rabbits, so, no taxidermy specimens, but I could wrap a prepared fur skin around it." For at least half a second it occurs to August he should be concerned for whomever is receiving this thing, then he's back to ideas. He has no concept of being a florist, but weird arrangements of stuff isn't outside his purview. He does use the Gift in conjunction with tokens of various kinds, after all. "Spiky I can do. Plenty of thorny vines to include. I've got some rodent skulls I can put in there." He bites his lip, going over plants in his mind. He'll have to look up some meanings. "Why no birds?"

It's a reasonable question, but the expression that breaks through Gina's usually solid composure isn't quite normal. It's a complicated mix, of fear and fondness, bitterness and regret, her fingers curling around a pot of flowers. "Old debts." Is the only answer she spits out, before she takes a deep breath and tries to slip back into her usual lack of care. Which isn't mysterious at ALL. "Still has to look... cute. Romantic. Whatever. Something with roses and a bow and shit." There's a mild look of disgust at the whole idea, as she focuses on something else. Gina, apparently, is not one for traditional romance customs. "No skin, it's fine. Just don't use a plastic container, or something cheesy like a skull-shaped pot or whatever. "

The reaction gives August pause. He studies Gina for a spell, then nods in apparent understanding. "Old debts," he echoes, almost gently. "Understood." He goes back to scanning the store. "Cute and romantic, but undermined." He shakes his head about the container. "No, we'll do a proper pot of some kind. Bow, can do." He smiles, a little mischievous. "Maybe a black and gold one? Think we have some of that from Halloween sitting around."

Gina doesn't appreciate August's demure acceptance. The weather doesn't appreciate it either, a wild wind blowing as the thunder rolls when August understands. She throws him a dark look, but it's quick, her head shaking as she lets go of that particular pot and taps the rim of the pot next to it, fingernails red with black tips. "As long as it looks romantic at first glance to someone. Over the top romantic." A small smile, that still manages to convey not-entirely-good intentions for the recipient. "Oh, do you all deliver?"

Gabriel makes his way on into the shop, pulling, the hoodie's, uh, hood, away from his head once he is under cover. He seems to be looking for some pots himself, and thus finds himself over to where Gina and August are. "Oh, hey," he says, glancing between them. He waits his time to ask questions on whatever he might be looking for.

August flicks a glance outside at the thunder and wind. Ully's finished securing things outdoors and is now helping a customer in the big Quonset canopy, which has had the upper vents opened to prevent it from turning into a huge parasail in the winds. "Got it. And, we can, it's a little off the cuff but doable. This time sensitive or can I send you some photos and you can pick?"

He gives Gabriel an upnod, raises an eyebrow at him in a silent invitation to also ask his question. He's a regular, he can cut in. Also August is a multitasker.

Gina pauses, tilting her head to one side as she considers-- but before she can answer, there's Gabriel! Gina watches him enter impassively, not smiling at all - but she does give the slightest tilt of her head and sways back on her heels just a touch, the only sign acknowledging Gabriel has her consent to cut in. But Gina in general is a known misanthrope with a colorful history and nothing criminal in her record, so this is really no surprise to anyone, probably.

"Oh. Hey." Gabriel jams his hands into the pockets of his hoody as he is acknowledged by August and Gina. "I was looking for some start suggestions for indoor plants. I don't know. Something to keep me busy when winter descends." August would know that Gabe is more of an outdoor lawn and flowers and trees and bushes person. Indoor work would be new for him!

"We just got the indoor winter crop in yesterday," August tells Gabriel, with a sideways glance at Gina to include her in this. It's a relevant topic given her request. "Aloe vera's a good one, spider plant too--you'll be drowning in them, so I hope you have friends to give them away to--zebra plant and staghorn fern are really nice for a display piece. Prayer plant, those close up at night, kind of a cool effect." He raises his eyebrows to see if any of those are of interest.

Gina pulls out her phone while Gabriel and August talk. Though as August talks, she does add towards the end, "ALoe and Spider plants are pretty impossible to kill. Zebra too. Never done the fern or prayer plant. Most difficult plant I own is the rabbit foot fern." Gina glances up towards August, so he has juuuust the right idea of all her plant care experience, before she looks towards Gabriel, "Should probably get something easy to kill if you want to stay busy."

Into the shop, out of the thunderstorm, Juniper looks.. well, soaked. She hasn't even come that far! Just from her truck parked up the road into the shop proper, but her dark green 'Sexy and I mow it' printed hoodie and threadbare grey jeans are not exactly proof against the weather. So it is that she takes a moment by the entrance to shake off her legs and push back her hoodie hood, hair neatly braided and tucked under a black bandana. "UGH," she announces to the shop, her disgust with the storm quite clear.

"Hah. Well, maybe the prayer plant," remarks Gabriel, thinking it over. "It's a cool effect, that they close at night. I'm on weird hours, so nice to keep something around the house to keep me diurnal." Man is serious about his plants. "Aloe vera would be a nice little more practical thing, too."

"Oh, Juniper!" Thoma pulls out a towel from behind the counter. ...there's a whole stack of them. This is apparently not a rare occurence. "Here," she says, offering the big, thirsty bathsheet over. It's nothing fancy, a simple slate gray, but good for soaking up the water. August casts a look of intense sympathy Juniper's way. The outdoor collection is safely tucked away, and all patrons are either availing themselves of the shop or the greenhouses.

August points at Gina, agreeing entirely with her final point. "Finicky plants take more work, which, if you want something to keep you occupied, means they're ideal. You can even get some of each--easy care, middle, and difficult, if you've got weird hours that might work really well." A sideways glance for Gina, and he says, "You know, given your," he gives her a once over, "aesthetic, purple velvet might be right up your alley."

Gina's dressed in a long, black, maxi woolen coat with a deep hood thrown back. Does it look like she's wearing a cloak? Yes, it does. Is there several strings of slender, charm-bearing chains going from her pocket to the lowest waist button of the coat? How'd you guess? Do said charms include some carved ivory(Or bone!) icons and at least two very human-looking teeth? It's like you have eyes, guys. And yet the purple-haired, smoky-eyed Gina looks at August and says, with a straight face, "Aesthetic? I just wear what feels comfortable. I'm not really into fashion. But I do like purple. Smart of you to guess that." The weather outside is frightful, but Gina's humor is dry enough to keep her safe! "It sounds cool. You have any to show me?" Towards Juniper, she spares only a glance.

"Hey Thoma," Juniper greets the Greek woman quietly, taking the towel gratefully and using it to dry her face and hands - not much to be done for her clothing, but it's better than nothing. "Cheers honey." That done, she hands the towel back and begins schlopping her way through the shop towards August, offering the proprietor a slightly strained smile, though not interrupting his conversation. Gabriel gets a nod too, and Gina gets a look in respose, one brow slightly raised in silent question.

August bobs his eyebrows at Juniper, nods at the tea and coffee stand that's available to customers. It's not much, but it's something warm. He gives Gabe a wave as he departs to go through the indoor plants, and cosiders Gina with a wry expression. 'Sure you don't have an aesthetic' is what that look says. He swipes at his phone a bit, trying to find a purple velvet plant picture he likes, and which hasn't clearly had the contrast amped in Photoshop. Let the plant shine, guys!

"Here we go." He turns his phone so Gina can have a look. It is, as the name suggests, covered with a coat of purple velvet over deep green leaves. "Flowers are bright orange."

Gina meets August's eyes, raising her own eyebrows. 'You gonna say something about it?' Those eyebrows dare. DARE. But then there's a plant, and she leans forward to look over the plant on August's phone. Her nose wrinkles at the talk of orange flowers. "Does it have to flower, or can I chop those off?" She wonders, before she straightens to pull out her own phone. Perhaps to check up on purple velvet plant care. Not looking up, she also adds, "This is my favorite time of year. The storms are really the best part of the year. Especially if you go to the beach. Nothing like the sea when it thunders." Is Gina saying this to provoke Juniper, or are they sincere feelings? Who knows. "Anything good for hanging?"

"Mmn. It's a time of year that is good for business, but." Juniper shrugs, ambivalent about the stormy season beyond that, and a preference for not getting soaked through. She glances to August, asking quietly, "Any news?"

August meets that dare with a carefree smile. "Nothing about it that needs saying," he assures Gina. "You can cut 'em back if you want." He glances outside, nods. "I like the storms, and," a dip of his head in agreement with Juniper, "they are good for business. But they don't much like me."

He ducks his head at Juniper's question, lowers his voice. "Yeah. He's safe. Self-rescued, turns out." He chases that with a weak smile. "Had a lot to say about mouse manners and etiquette." Then he's following up on Gina's other questions. After a glance around the shop, he says, "Aside from the spider plant, string of pearls and string of nickels are both nice options. Sedum too. The ferns--maidenhair, staghorn, boston."

"No spider plant. I had one. I'll get one of the rest you're recommending and just get more of whatever else I like. Care guides would be nice, too." Gina says after a moment of consideration. And more work for August. At least she's a big sale! She checks her phone again, before glancing between August and Juniper at the talk of mouse manners and self-rescue, shaking her head and NOT ASKING.

Juniper blinks slowly, eyeing August. "And you couldn't tell me this before?" she asks, sounding somewhere between upset and angry, hands resting on her hips. "Like, as soon as you knew? Not even a text or something?" An unhappy frown settles in place and she turns to head out, preferring to be pissed off in the storm rather than a room full of breakable pottery.

"I only just found out," August says, apologetic. He holds out a hand towards Juniper's arm, as if to stop her from leaving, though doesn't actually touch her. "Right before all this," he nods at the weather, "turned insane, and we had to get everything lashed down. I'm sorry. I haven't had a chance to talk to anyone else."

The request for care guidelines is, in all honesty, a moment of respite from this other situation. He takes a steadying breath, lets it out slow. "We can give you print copies or email you a link to the shop database for those, whatever you prefer."

"You really have a way with people, December." Gina notes mildly, watching this all as if it was all a show that had absolutely nothing to do with her. It really doesn't, either! She's just a bystander. A moment of consideration, before she glances at August and asks, "Do I want to know?" It seems a sincere question...one with hidden motives, the little smile says. But she nods, "Print and links would be good. Never said if this could be shipped to my house. Or I wasn't lsitening."

"A text takes like five seconds, August," Juniper informs the other gardener flatly. Sure, she understands logically that needing to respond to the storm warning would put other thoughts out of mind and require a swift response, but this isn't really logical Juniper speaking. No, it's the Juniper who is feeling guilty that someone got taken by Them and she couldn't stop it, the Juniper who has been fretting about Iggy since the event happened. So she carries on towards the door, pulling her hood up and wrapping her arms around herself after hauling it open, then stepping out into the storm. Exit, melodramatically, stage right!

August sighs, defeated, when Juniper exits so dramatically. Thoma makes no attempt to hide her intense interest in this tiff. August gives her a warning look, and Thoma raises her chin, smiles sweetly, and goes back to getting the wreathes sorted.

Rubbing at his eyes, August reminds Gina, "You're retired," rather than no. Maybe it's an invitation for her to cheat on her retirement. Or maybe it's a less direct no. "Yeah, we can. It's a little ad hoc; we pick the vehicle needed and someone shows up with your stuff. But we can do it." Because this is a small town, and slow days and hours are how it goes.

Gina keeps that smallest of smiles in place, and only responds to August with the smallest nods. "As much as I can be." Because when one is as deep a sound, as bright a light as they both are, sometimes it really isn't a choice who or what comes looking for them, is it? "I like knowing if I need to stay home and Netflix binge for a few days." Instead of say, being useful and helping anyone.

She moves on, glancing towards the pots and plants, "I'm not really in a rush. I just need to know when you're showing up so I can be there. Or have somebody deliver that bouquet."

August rolls his eyes, not at Gina so much as Gray Harbor. "Well, that's always a yes." He gives her a tired look of 'it's never really over, we both know that'. He shakes his head to clear it. "We can set up a day and time, text you once we're on or way over. Bouquet, same thing--set up a day and time, or just, drop it off once it's done, as you prefer."

"Text is a good way to communicate." Gina says. The 'preferred' goes unsaid, as she reaches up to pull the hood back over her face. It's a deep hood, the material stiff enough it doesn't drape over her eyes but forms a sort of visor above her - it must have something sewn in to make it do that, right? Features now obscured-- that is, protected from the elements-- "I'll stop by in two days to check out the ideas for the bouquet. You've got the papers of what I need in plants. Tell me the cost when I show up." Gina's so casual about it, turning around to head back into the storm, pace slow and easy. No rushing for her. That coat's warm and heavy, the weather's stormy and fine. "Later, September." She'll never say August.