Sensory overload

[singlefaith]

Who: Ran, Chikusa, Heiji, and Conan in one; Ran and Heiji in the other. OPEN PROMPT AVAILABLE TOO.
When: A few days after Awakening and this conversation.
Where: Stop and Smell the Roses (Ran's mother's flower shop) and the Hartwell house
What: Probable Doom on all fronts


A. Closed - Stepping into the flower shop is like walking into a small secret garden. The space itself isn't huge -- in fact, it's one of the smaller shops on the street. But it makes an impression. The scent hits first -- dozens of different flower types twining into one heady aroma, with the underlying faintly musty tang of fresh soil and moss. Color is next -- peach and purple and pink and red and yellow and pale green and nearly every color in between, clustered in pails and urns and great glass vases that trail ivy. Silk flowers mingle in with the fresh, and it's nearly impossible to tell the difference between them unless they're in the refrigerators that line a back wall. Antiques and curiosities -- large furniture, ornate mirrors, lamps, knick-nacks -- mingle in with the flowers, waiting to be discovered among the blooms.

There's a network of narrow pathways to move around the store, periodically dotted with garden arches twined with silk ivy and tiny flowers. One trail wends its way through back to the working counter, where Ran's mother (and sometimes Ran, on lesser arrangements) arranges flowers. Another leads back towards the register (also an antique) and the refrigerated arrangements. Another door, marked "Employees Only," leads down to a dungeon-like basement.

This is Stop and Smell the Roses. It's currently occupied by one Ran Mouri, trying to work with Chikusa after a certain conversation. Can this really go well?

. . . We forgot to mention the detectives lurking around to keep an eye on things. There may be no hope.

B. Closed - A few days of awkward silence pass. Finally, Ran resolves to do something about it. She comes to the Hartwell house in the early morning just as she used to do before her memories returned, letting herself in out of habit. It's still quite early, and the kitchen is dark and empty. Drawing a breath, Ran flicks the lights on and begins to work.

The smell of warm pancakes and coffee fills the house, the aroma coaxing the boys downstairs.

There's one she needs to talk to in particular.

C. OPEN - Want to come in the flower shop to interact with Chikusa or Ran? Come on in!

Comments

C (I think?) - Backdated to 7/9

[touketsu]

[Although Chikusa had specified one o'clock, the shop door announces Fubuki's arrival five minutes prior. Between not wanting to make a poor impression and being able to spend a few extra moments getting a feel for the environment, he'd thought that it was a good idea to show up just a little ahead of schedule — an assumption that only proves to be accurate once he's face-to-face with the inside of a boutique that is noticeably fuller with various flora than he anticipated.

It all looks and smells really nice, though - even if there are some particularly tall displays that he can't see over.

Breathing deeply and navigating the narrow pathways through the store, he eventually finds his way towards the back where he expects the not-so-friendly Chikusa must be hiding...]

Hello?

[kokuyoyo]

[While it's true that Chikusa loathes dealing with people.... He is in fact in an easily accessible place. One wouldn't think it'd be easy for someone as obnoxiously tall as him to hide, but that belittles the sheer amount of flora within the shop. Almost as if out of nowhere, he seems to unfold from a particular group of blossoming plants, an apron tied around his neck that really only seems to help him blend in with the resident plantlife.]

Welcome to.... Oh. [Cutting off his own greeting, he blinks owlishly at the other boy. Right, he remembers him...] You.

[Such a warm welcome.]

[touketsu]

[Fubuki is no stranger to unusual or even unkind welcomes, and he weathers Chikusa's as well as he has every other in his life: with a smile that suggests any offense has rolled straight off his shoulders. After all, whether or not the other boy meant anything by it is irrelevant for now. Fubuki's always been able to deal with talk surrounding himself better than he has been able to deal with talk about others.

Obnoxiously, he even waves when he's addressed.]

I hope you're not disappointed.

[So he says, but it's obvious that there are limits to how much he cares.]

[kokuyoyo]

You did say you'd come.... [A glance down to his phone- something he always has on him just in case.] But it's early, isn't it?

[touketsu]

Would you rather I showed up late?

[It's a serious question, asked as Fubuki turns away from Chikusa to inspect one of the nearby displays. Even though Eddan is very green and flourishing, the last time he was around this many flowers was at the festival. Where he'd knocked over one of the stands by barreling into it while chasing his younger brother. He'd had a lot of fun even if they'd both gotten yelled at for their carrying on.]

[kokuyoyo]

....Not really....

[Shrugging, Chikusa shuffles over to the counter again- what can be seen of it beyond all the plants, anyway. Fortunately "Ciro" had gotten the lay of the land, so to speak, long before Chikusa had Awoken. He doesn't trip over any vines, or smash his head into a hanging pot.]

But you'll have to hang around until my break actually happens now...

[As soon as it may be.]

[touketsu]

That's fine with me.

[It's not as if the plants are poor company, after all. Even the silks are more charming than Chikusa. Fubuki doesn't mind waiting at all and, to prove as much, he wanders away from the counter, his direction aimless, eyes drifting over every surface in sight. Including what little is visible of the clock. He wasn't so early that he needed to be concerned, but maybe a customer would come in and he could see what Chikusa was like with normal people?]

Hm...I think I might buy something to take home. Any suggestions?

[kokuyoyo]

[For the time being, it's simply Chikusa and Fubuki. Idly, the lanky teenager's eyes follow after the other, although he himself doesn't move much after he's established himself at the counter. Is it really just coincidence that he showed up early...? Maybe it's paranoia to say so, but he's had cause to be cautious about this small group, especially now with Mukuro Awakened.]

[Well. He guesses that so long as they can play nice throughout this event- relatively speaking- then it doesn't matter.]

...It depends. How much room you have... how much time... Outdoors or indoors.... That sort of thing.

[touketsu]

[Fubuki is quick to answer, showing no signs he's aware of the older boy's suspicions, because he isn't.]

Something not too expensive and not too big. I'd probably keep it in my room by the window.

[Plants aren't his specialty, but something to bring home with him would help him answer any questions about where he'd been and why, making it easy for him to avoid worrying any of his friends or family. It wasn't as if he'd discussed this plan with them...but then, he's certain he didn't need to. Not in broad daylight and in Chikusa's own place of work. He has to be safe. And even if he isn't, he's fine with dealing with that if something happens.]

And it can't take too much time. Not if we're going to play Command Tower together.

[kokuyoyo]

....Then you'll want succulents.

[Chikusa starts to point before realizing that there's absolutely no way to accurate find that particular grouping of plants without fighting through the small jungle that is the shop. Sighing, he starts to shuffle out from behind the counter. Well, it is his job, after all. Pushing away a few leaves or flowers here, he leads the way to a good group of shelves that are absolutely filled to bursting with various tiny pots and just as many succulents to match.]

[Picking one up, Chikusa holds it out to him.]

...Drought resistant. It actually doesn't like being in constantly moist soil... or direct bright light.

[touketsu]

[Without hesitating, Fubuki accepts the little succulent pot and examines it. Truth be told, they look as resilient as their reputation boasts, and that makes him happy. A plant like that would be a nice addition to his room. And it will be something that's his and not Kouyuki's. A small stand against whatever threads of fate have been woven for him in this world, but a stand nevertheless.]

I'll take it.

[He beams at Chikusa and hugs the pot to his chest.]

Do you like succulents, too?

[After all, not only is Chikusa resilient, but he is prickly and seems to not like a lot of things, too.]

[kokuyoyo]

There are others if you decide to get more...

[It's not as if he's going to oppose anyone buying more things from the place he works at, after all. If anything, it might make him look better to Ran's mother, which will help keep him working here for longer. Right as he starts to turn away to head back to the counter, however, the question comes and he pauses.]

....Cacti.

[So even pricklier than initially thought- although does it really count when Ciro had gotten them and hadn't been so bad? Yet as Chikusa turns away properly to start shuffling away, he keeps going.]

There's a climbing vine as well.... and some lavender. Ciro liked plants...

[touketsu]

No, I'm fine with just this one.

[Fubuki lifts the pot to indicate the little succulent. One is more than enough for him to look after to start with. He'd hate to be an irresponsible plant owner.

With a slight bounce to his step, he follows Chikusa back through the winding plants in the shop. When they reach the counter, he sets the plant down, elbows resting on the hard surface, hands propping up his chin, and thinks to himself, A cacti really does suit him, doesn't it?

But Fubuki doesn't really know what to make of the climbing vine or lavender. The only thing he knows is...]

Hmm...but I asked what plants you liked, not Ciro. There's a difference. Like Kouyuki likes track and field, but I really love soccer.

[kokuyoyo]

[The scanner is a handheld one, so that means he doesn't have to fiddle with the succulent much as he rings the price. With a small ping, it shows on a small screen, and Chikusa lets Fubuki deal with that as he starts to get a small bag for the plant. Walking around with a plotted pant is tricky to do, after all.]

[It's as he's pulling the bag out, plastic rustling, that the clarification makes him pause.]

....It'd be... troublesome to talk about those...

[Not in the least because a lot of those are poisonous.]

[touketsu]

[Fubuki sighed, the sound long and drawn out, clearly exaggerated for effect even as he held the succulent up off the counter to make it easier to slip into the bag.]

Don't you get tired of doing that? I think I'd get tired of that.

[Is he being vague on purpose?

You better believe he is.]

[kokuyoyo]

[As he carefully slides the succulent into the bag, Chikusa makes sure to make direct eye contact with the teen across the counter.]

I'm always tired.

[touketsu]

[And Fubuki returns the look, unblinking and positively beaming as he hands over the appropriate amount of macca for the plant.]

That sounds tiresome.

[Hah.]

How long is your break? We can do something fun while we talk. I do my best thinking when I'm enjoying myself with other people, anyway.

[kokuyoyo]

[Fubuki no]

[Chikusa doesn't say much in words, at least, only sighs as he accepts the macca and tucks the receipt into the bag. One last check at the time... He should be fine with this. Shuffling out from behind the counter, he goes to put up the break sign on the door and lock it.]

Half an hour... Is that enough time for what you wanted to talk about?

[No comment on the 'fun' thing.]

[touketsu]

[Fubuki yes, Fubuki always yes!]

I don't know if half an hour is long enough for anything...but we'll make it work.

[He couldn't promise an exorbitant amount of fun in so short a span of time, but goodness knows he'd try his best to ensure they weren't miserable. Or that Chikusa was, depending upon how one looked at it.

Still brimming with cheer, and now with a new plant! Fubuki watched the other boy as he locked up. If they weren't going outside to talk, then...]

Where's the break room?

[Never mind that non-employees probably shouldn't go there. Rules didn't always have to be followed.]

[kokuyoyo]

[For some reason, this is just making him suspect a good chunk of dread is lurking for him on the horizon.... If not for the fact that they really do have important things to talk about, he'd drag worse than usual in getting back there. As it is, he's at normal (if still slow) speed. After a minute of getting back behind the counter, he nudges open the door and jerks his head towards the tiny little area.]

[It's probably not the fanciest kind of place, but it's enough that isn't the storage closet, and that would probably make him suspicious. maybe.]

You are going to talk about important things, right...

[touketsu]

[Whether or not it was wise to do so, Fubuki followed Chikusa behind the counter and into the break room without question. It wasn't lavish, but he hadn't expected it to be, either. So long as they had a place to sit comfortably and talk without being interrupted, that was all that mattered.]

I think we are? That's why I came here, isn't it?

[He promptly took a seat and set his plant down on the table before him, short legs swinging idly back and forth.]

I think I remember talking about organizing a game of Command Tower. [He was reluctant to call it practice. That sounded so tedious.] And we were going to talk about a headquarters where we can all meet, too.

[kokuyoyo]

I've already got ideas written down for a headquarters... It's just a matter of getting the permission.

[A slight pause overtakes him. Talking a lot is something he usually reserve for Mukuro to do, or Ken. Now that the latter is here, he sort of just wants to lapse into silence again and not talk much... but he knows that won't do at all.]

What we need is a place that won't seem suspicious for both adults and students to congregate at. So... I was thinking that I could make a cafe some sort of project, based off of what the Gardening Club did at the Flower Festival. I just have to write something convincing enough...

[touketsu]

Like a proposal? That shouldn't be too hard.

[Not very fun, but not very hard, either. Convincing people to do things was something Fubuki was pretty good at, after all. Especially girls. Most girls, anyway.]

Just write about how it'll promote school spirit as well as give students working there great workforce experience. We can even use apples from the apple orchard at school if they let us and do promotional food and drinks. And if we pick the apples ourselves we can also snoop around at the same time. That's where the first attack was, right?

[kokuyoyo]

School spirit...? [That has him pause, blinking a little.] I hadn't thought about that...

[But then again, discounting Ciro's own experiences, Chikusa has never really attended school. The concept of 'school spirit' has been one he's never bothered to learn. Still, if it's been mentioned.. Taking out his phone, he makes a quick note to himself on the idea. It's better than nothing.]

Yeah, it was... And the second one as well. I wonder if it's just coincidence or not...

[touketsu]

Mm, I think that'll really make the cafe work. Grownups always like it when kids 'give back' to the community.

[Fubuki that's manipulative...]

And that's probably something we should ask Luci, but I don't know if he'll tell us.

[Luci was dodgy that way, even Fubuki knew that, but maybe if someone he liked did the asking he'd be inclined to give them a real answer?]

It's something to think about, anyway. And we also need to think about how to be better prepared for the next Awakening. None of us have been able to practice together really...