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They should all be the same, unless they've ordered more than one kind. Roses might have too soft of a shape, so I think asters might be better, given their daisy-like appearance... Hope and patience, then.

[ She'll wander away for a moment, give her a bit—she'll eventually return with a few bushels of flowers. There's some extra ones, like yellow chrysanthemum and the dwarf roses she'd been murmuring about. Another few minutes, and some clear vases have joined the fray!! As well as scissors and some sort of dried grass for ties, apparently. ]

There we go. The goal is to make them as aesthetically pleasing as possible, while only using an odd number of flowers—three daises, five asters, things like that. The total can be even, but individual flowers must be in odds. It's good luck like that and achieves better symmetry, both visually and weight-wise. [ ......... ] Am I moving too fast?

No, no, it's fine. Odds are best, strive for aesthetics, and keep in mind the feelings you're putting into the arrangements. The... meanings themselves are something I'll study on my own time, but I can get the basics for now.

[She's going a Little fast, but Goro's quick to pick up on things when he's attentive. And she has his undivided attention.]

I'll follow your lead, Miss Velveteen, and perhaps I'll try my hand at making one myself a little later -- I'll pay for it, of course.

Naturally. Do you have a person or occasion in mind for your own arrangement?

[ Elizabeth's done these before, so she lets her hands do the teaching while she shuffles the conversation along—these are on the small side, so five daisies, three yellow chrysanthemum, a sprig of goldenrod... She trades the chrysanthemum for dwarf rose, considers it, then tries it with aster, and sets the aster aside, favoring a mix of rose-chrysanthemum for the filler. Cleans up the extra leaves at the bottom, ties them together loosely with the dried grass-like plant, puts a bit of a mix of sugar and water in a vase and gently puts that in the fridge.

Rinse and repeat. That's what they're doing. ]

I do, for both, but it's more... I want to put my feelings into a visual medium?

[If that makes sense. Goro will watch her do a few of them before slowly doing one himself, keeping an eye on her to ensure there's no mistakes.]

And I'd like to have something to do with my hands. [A nice distraction.] I'm not sure I'd even give them the flowers, after all. Though I think I'd like something for my mother as well since I'll be leaving her shortly.

[ ...Mm, mothers. ]

If you give me a list of feelings you'd like to convey, I'll help you pick an array of flowers. You'll be on your own for arranging them, however.

[... Mmm. Therapeutic.]

Fear, rejection, misery... Apology? A bundle like that.

What a terribly sad bouquet. [ Let her think about this... Wait. ] Is this the one for your mother, or for the other person you'd like to make one for? There's quite a few ways this could go depending on your answer.

[ ... ]

I'd like to know a bit about the both of them regardless as well. [ She's a very thorough florist. ]

The other person. For my mother, I'd like something to show my appreciation and love for all she's done for me.

[... Hm.]

And the same to my aunt and uncle, so two bouquets with good feelings and one with bad. What sort of things do you need to know?

The type of people they are, how good your relationship is with them... So on and so forth. Whatever you feel comfortable enough to tell me.

My mother is the kindest woman in the whole world. She's a hard worker, but she's always made time for me no matter how tired she is at the end of the day. She's the one who taught me to cook, to manage the household, and told me to look down on those that would look down on me. That is, to rise above them and put them in their place using my strengths.

[A good woman.]

She's the most important person in my life. I can't imagine what I would do if something happened to her, which is why I'm going to do all I can to ensure she can live comfortably, without worry, and protect her with the power I was given. Also, my mother wants to meet you, along with the other friends I've made. Would you like to visit for tea at some point?

I see, and yes, I'd love to sometime.

[ She'll let Goro finish up the rest of the arrangements, she's going to dig through a drawer nearby and grab a pen and pad. She's writing down notable things under "Mother," underlined once, and then on the next page there's "Aunt" and "Uncle", also underlined. ]

What of your aunt and uncle?

My aunt and uncle are both teachers at one of the other high schools in the city, though my aunt could certainly teach in university if she liked. They instilled in me a love and the importance of knowledge... an appreciation of education and the widening of one's mind. Particularly, my aunt is the one who allowed me to amass such a collection of books.

[Hmm. How to describe them...]

My uncle... is a very jolly man. I... never had a father in my life, so he's the closest thing to one for me. I admire him a lot; he's always told me stories about his childhood, how different things are now versus how they were then, what Japan was like when he was a boy and how he met my aunt. It's rather romantic! He used to be a translator too, he'd take books in different languages and rewrite them into Japanese, I find his multilingualism fascinating. He's a very charming person to speak to, or so I've heard from others.

Meanwhile, my aunt has only ever bothered to learn French for fun. English was somewhat of a necessity when coming to America... she has a great love and appreciation for western literature. She's a strict teacher who takes her passions seriously and lived in Paris for a time, so there's actually quite a few things that remain habit for her, like air kisses. Despite her age, she's actually quite like an older sister, always fussing and ensuring that I'm on the right track for life.

[He obviously adores them.]

We stayed with them while I was going to junior high and their doors remain open should we ever need to return. They're very much family people, which is a striking difference to the relatives I knew in Japan.

I see. [ Fun, bright bouquets for these three, she thinks. She carefully notes things down in small, neat cursive, humming softly as she does so.

Third page, and she pauses at the top of it, not sure what to title it, before she settles for "Discouragement." ] And for your sad bouquet, Akechi?

[The mood shifts, his arranging slowing to a stop as he bites the inside of his cheek.

... A bouquet he wouldn't send, just something to qualify the things he feels now, towards that person...]

A kind, caring person who I'm terrified of hurting. There's things I need to tell them... but I'm afraid it may change their perception of me, even if they don't care about our memories. [So a Retrospec user.] No matter how I try to assure myself, I can't help but think the worst. Of myself... and also of that person, who I care deeply for. It isn't fair to either of us.

[There's an ache in his chest and he idly plays with the tie of the bouquet, setting it aside to start anew.]

I'm sorry it isn't very much to go off of.

[ ...Someone Goro cares about immensely, someone he shares memories with... someone he's not willing to disclose a lot of information on.

So, essentially, someone she already knows, and he doesn't want her to know that she does. There aren't a lot that fit all those requirements, and Elizabeth watches him for a moment before she turns back to her pad, tapping her pen against it. ]

It's quite alright. I've gone off less. [ A gentle wave of her fingers at the arrangements she's left him to make, as an example. ] I like personalizing them as best I can though, when they're only a few in number and when they involve people I'm rather fond of... That's why I asked.

[ Fear, rejection, misery, apology... Fear of rejection, likely. Misery at their memories, apology for... Thinking the worst, she supposes. ]

Thank you for being so thoughtful towards my requests. If there's anything else I can offer to you, let me know and I'll do my best.

[He'll finish the arrangements in the meanwhile.]

I only have one request.

[ She tears the third page out too and taps them between her fingers, setting them down in front of her once they're perfectly straight. ]

Don't give that person such an upsetting bouquet. Whether or not people know what flowers mean, the feelings someone holds in their heart while making them—while thinking of what they symbolize—often comes through regardless. I'm certain they'd want something sweeter.

[... Mmm. It feels like she knows, then, who he's thinking of, and he hunches his shoulders in slightly.]

Of course, Miss Velveteen. I simply want to vent my feelings visually.

It won't make you feel any better, you know. [ Gently, softly, before she's smiling and setting her pen on the pad again. ] Would you like me to write down some flowers I believe would suit your true feelings for them then, so that you can arrange them and give those to them once you're feeling more genuine?

... I suppose so, if you think that would help.

[He trusts her, after all. She knows this better than he does too.]

Without a doubt. I'm certain Aki would enjoy them as well, provided he isn't allergic to pollen or anything of the sort.

[ Caaaaaaaasually dropping that out there now that it isn't weirdly tense— ]

[MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM thank god his hands weren't on anything.]

I-- I don't think he is. Why bring him up?

We were just speaking about him, weren't we?

N...o, of course not.

[he's not fooling anyone, his face is Hot.]

If we were texting, you'd be using lowercase right now.

[ ...this is how she's decided to call him out, yes ]

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