A Grand Opening | video ►un: bloodrose

[immortalrose]

[Guess who’s been working their tail off in hopes of opening a new little flower boutique in town? This grumpy purple gentleman over here. Augustine begins this video with a clear shot of the boutique in question. The footage is a little grainy here and there but thankfully it’s doable at least. His knowledge regarding technology is a bit lacking at best but Augustine at least knows how to record video.

The storefront is mostly black and gray with a couple of dried herbs hanging from the glass awning above. It looks a bit worn, almost as if everything was made from random scraps of metal and glass. A testament of his resourcefulness despite being very frustrated over the lack of resources he can afford. Judging from the footage, this shop is just a few avenues away from the busy marketplace in the Harbor. While it’s not the most ideal location, it’s better than nothing.]

What I failed to achieve in life, I plan to achieve in death.

[Now entering the establishment, the video pans slowly through the cramped shop showcasing all of the exotic flowers and plants on display. Gardening was always his favorite hobby but flower arranging is his second passion. There’s a couple of noticeable bouquets on display with some flowers artfully displayed within decorative skulls and shiny brass tin chalices. Don’t ask if those are real human bones because he won’t answer.

This video tour comes to an end once Augustine sits his phone high upon a wooden shelf nearby. The purple dhampir is finally in view and he looks as dapper as ever. While he still retains his usual aloof nature, Augustine certainly seems quite pleased with himself. Proud, even.]

Welcome to Anthanasia’s Hortus, the newest florist boutique in town. For those who don’t know me, I’m Augustine Gheorghe Rosethrawn, the proprietor of this lovely little shop–

[Just as he was about to continue, a blinding bright light suddenly appears besides him in the form of a glowing blue faery with bright blue wings and a nasty attitude. While the pixie's silhouette can barely be seen, its shrill squeaky voice can be heard quite loudly.]

This cheeky old vampire thinks he's a gardener despite stealin' all my flowers for himself! He got some nerve, don't he? He's all proud of himself for settin' up shop in this dirty old hole in the wall.

[Looking absolutely mortified by the sudden appearance of this unwanted guest, the faery continues defaming his character for all to witness.]

You know what else he's been doin' around here? Whinin' and moanin' about his misfortunes like some wee babe. I get sick of just listening to him! Honestly, you would think someone as old as him would be more at peace with oneself but he's not!

A cryin' shame, really.

[His shock gives away for anger as he tries to swat the faery out of his face but he misses. It flies high above his head for a moment before getting just eye level with him again.]

He thinks himself as some sort of hero for helpin' find the Mourning Lantern but he's just another HEARTLESS idiot who thinks he knows everything!

[An honest to god hiss escapes the dhampir as he tries in vain to grab the faery. However, she thankfully vanishes just mere seconds before he could crush her within his bandaged palm. Yes, his right is hand is bandaged for some oddity. Maybe something happened before hand? Probably. Nevertheless, the faery leaves him to deal with the aftermath.]


…Well, it seems I have a pest problem.

---

(ooc: anthanasia's hortus is open for business! if anyone's interested in the shop, feel free to reach out in DM or the likes.)

Comments

video | un: raindrops

[aflowers]

[ There's probably stuff in the video she should be concerned about, like the pest problem he mentioned, or the bandage on his hand, or even the fact that some of the arrangements look a little, well, macabre—

But right now? Well. She's excited, to put it mildly. Aerith has been responding mainly in text to those she doesn't know, but in this case? Oh, this needs not just voice, but a video. And when Augustine receives it, he'll see a bright, smiling face with excited green eyes staring at him. ]

Hi there, Mister Rosethrawn! My name's Aerith— I don't suppose you need any help in this shop of yours?

[ Honestly, it's something she might have thought to do herself, if she hadn't been so busy getting her lifedeath together since arriving here. But for now, at least, she moves the camera, allowing it to pan over her little adopted home in Serene, still sparsely-furnished, but liberally decorated with flowers she's found around the place, all replanted and thriving as much as something can thrive in this place. ]

I'm pretty good at looking after flowers. And they usually seem to like me okay too.

[immortalrose]

[Augustine was in the middle of arguing with that annoying little pixie again when he receives this message. They both turn towards his phone in confusion once they heard the notification.]

Ah, greetings! [He quickly shoos the pixie away before appearing on screen. This is an important call and he doesn't have time to fight with the fair folk now.] It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Aerith.

I haven't had the chance to put up a flyer but yes! I'm in need of an assistant, someone who's quite knowledgeable about gardening---

[He trails off the second she pans the camera towards her humble little home. Yes, he notices those lovely flowers in the background. How could he not?! They're absolutely---]

Gorgeous.

[He mutters quietly.]

My goodness, look how vibrant your flowers are! How did you manage to cultivate such works of art? They're perfect in every way!

my apologies for the delay! it was a rough week on my end.

[aflowers]

[ Despite the fact that she's deliberately showing him the flowers, she admittedly is a little taken aback at the reaction to them. Even with the gentleman on the other end of the call having just started a flower shop, she's not exactly used to other people thinking flowers are as pretty or special as she does.

Her smile, when it recovers, is bright and warm again— although admittedly she's not sure exactly what she should tell him. ]

Where I'm from, the flowers have to grow in much worse conditions than this— I'm sure that's kind of strange of me to say, but it's the truth. So I've learned to help them as much as I can, you know?

[ It helps that back at home the flowers talk to her— but they don't do that here, so there's no point in bringing it up. ]

Anyway, I'd be interested in helping out.

no worries! ❤️

[immortalrose]

[Listen, he loves gardening. It's the only thing that keeps him sane at this point. If he wasn't constantly gardening right now, the call of the void would be too strong to ignore.]

While flowers may appear as delicate, they're far heartier than you and I. The fact that flowers can grow here of all places speaks volumes.

[The wonders of nature and all that jazz. He's just glad hell isn't all fire and brimstone.]

Then I welcome you to meet with me at the boutique at your earliest convenience. It's been a slow day so far, so I have plenty of time.

[aflowers]

[ For Aerith's part, she finds it both wonderful and fascinating that even a place like this can have flowers growing, especially some of the ones as beautiful as she has seen.

But coming to the boutique to meet up with Augustine sounds wonderful, and so she signs off from the video with a promise to do exactly that, a smile and a wave, before she heads off toward the place in question. Of course, it's not until she gets there that she realizes she never asked the meaning of the name, "hortus" of course being obvious to her but "Anthanasia" not so much— she makes a mental note to ask about it later.

While the muted décor of the place might not be a match for her personal style (to the point that she probably looks somewhat out of place as she walks in, a girl in pastel pinks and reds), it's beautiful nonetheless, and the flowers themselves are of course stunning. ]

Wow...