Flowers For One

Aletheia was glad the chocolates had gone over well. They wanted to treat Amaryllis some more, no matter what the greed bun said. The punk was dressed normally this time around as they entered Hollyhock & Iris Floral Emporium.

They approached the counter and rang the little desk bell. They were taken by surprise when a 4’11” doll came up to them. The doll was dressed in deep blue and somber grey, with black and white ribbon accessories and silver piercings. They did not strike Aletheia as the flower type of bun.

“Hello! Welcome to Hollyhock & Iris. I am Azrael, the owner. Looking to create a special message or wanting some flowers pressed?”

“I was told this is the shop for creating a bouquet for someone special?” The punk was definitely more at ease now than they had been at the chocolatier's shop.

“What do you wish to tell this special someone?”

“That she makes me want to be better, she lights up the sky…. I guess a simpler message would be better,” the pride bun spoke gently. “I want her to know how I feel, how my heart races when I stand beside her, how she takes my breath away, and how I don’t understand how she treats me sweetly.”

“Has anyone told you that you have got it bad? You caught feeling hard,” the lust bun commented. This earned her a half-hearted glare from her customer. The goth laughed and shook her head. “Alright, alright. Do you want something more classic or something a bit unusual?”

“A mix? She is a bit of a bookish bun, but she does like some things that are unusual.”

“Okay, purple angelica for inspiration, since she makes you want to be better… white bittersweet or white chrysanthemum for truthfulness… pink camellia for longing… clematis for mental beauty… heliotrope for devotion… tarragon for lasting interest… and aster for affection. How does that sound?”

“Will it look nice while delivering the right message?”

“Yes. Pink, purple, and white overall with green from the tarragon.”

“Then it sounds perfect. How much?” the hellfire bun asked.

“45 carats,” the florist replied before setting off to prepare the bouquet.

Aletheia dug out their carats and put the appropriate amount on the counter as she waited. After a couple minutes, Azrael comes back with a full bouquet. She counted the carats before handing the bouquet over.

“Best of luck. Would love to hear how it goes!”

“Thank you,” Aletheia replied before leaving. They held the bouquet nearly as carefully as they had held the chocolates the other day.

They walked to Kiss of Words, Amaryllis’ bookstore and firm. It was usually where the greed bun could be found. They did not bother hiding the flowers as they made their way through the shelves to the publisher’s office.

They knocked on the door and opened it to see Amaryllis typing furiously. It seemed her work never ended. Aletheia briefly wondered if they should have done this another day, but that thought was interrupted by the goth’s voice.

“Hello, Aletheia. This is more frequent than normal, should I worry?”

“Hi, Ama. I got you these,” they held the bouquet out for the bespectacled bun.

She got up and walked around the desk. The publisher gently took the flowers from Aletheia and gave the skeletal featured bun a kiss on the cheek. “You do not ever have to get me anything, but this is sweet. Especially with the meaning these have. How long have you longed for me?”

“Murmur, I didn’t think you’d catch on that fast….” the punk mumbled bashfully, her face turning red.

“That did not answer my question.”

“A while, okay?” they managed to get out as an answer.

“You are adorable,” Amaryllis stated before sniffing the floral arrangement. She smiled and put them in a mostly empty water picture that she kept in her office. She then took a skeletal hand in hers and pulled the punk close. “You really are something else, Lethe.”

The pride bun’s eye went wide, her blush deepening. Their expression did not get better when the goth sat down and pulled them into her lap. Amaryllis got back to work, leaving teasing kisses on Aletheia’s neck as she typed.