estoria | [Open] Say cheese?

Entry tags:

[Open] Say cheese?

Who: Kevin Cecil and you
When: 1/6, 1/7
Where: CERES Gardens
What: Flowers! Pictures! Discomfiture!
Rating/Warning: none

[A florist! Kevin is a florist! He has never been a florist before, which is saying a lot considering he has been around for quite a bit. It is all right, though. He is nothing but thorough, and if he is going to sell this world's flowers, he might as well learn everything about them. With some trepidation and a few involuntary detours - oh dear, was that a neighborhood of ill repute? - he manages his way into the most bizarre railway system. Honestly, the entire thing is underground and as claustrophobic as any coal mine. Is that a distant and more forbidding relative of London's horror? Why anyone would ever consider that a good idea is quite beyond him. But thank goodness his efforts are amply rewarded when he emerges from the depths of earth to the most luxuriant sights and sounds of Ceres Gardens. Ahh, that was exactly what he had been praying for!

This place is very different from the Master and Mistress' peaceful Victorian garden, and not quite as wild as Eden itself. Although he is fully capable of recognizing some of the flora, the hard truth is that another equally large number of species baffle him. There is some spot of trouble with a grumpy groundkeeper when he attempts to collect some samples for entirely taxonomic purposes, but it all ends well after a young lady - she couldn't be over eighty - invites him to sit by her side, and proceeds to tell him everything about her six grandchildren and four house cats. By the end of their conversation, Kevin has learned a great deal about house cats, but also about how to use his CereVice to take daguerreotypes of cats or whatever catches his fancy.

Instantaneous pigmented daguerrotypes, no less. My, what will people invent next?

After saying goodbye to the nice lady, he resumes his stroll and starts to take photographs of all the flowers. Sadly, he lacks both the technique and etiquette to do that properly, so if you were to turn around, you might find yourself face to face with a tall stranger wearing a very intent expression and taking pictures of you.

Though what he is aiming at is that cherry tree just behind you, really.]

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[Like an obedient angel he breathes in... and then out. Does that make him feel less embarrassed? Not particularly, but at least oxygen has been secured.

Fine, they can be flustered together. Perhaps that is the right order of things. But wait, the lady asked him a pertinent question. He should address that.]

T-that was my goal, I swear! [It's a beautiful tree, okay.] A kind lady showed me the pictures of her cats... and I thought I could do the same to the flowers. Take the images home and research them, see? [He picks his CereVice again and turns it around. Here, have a long series of awkwardly taken flower pictures with thumbs and actual people in front of them.] Mosts are rather different from those we have at the manor. [Or - as far as he can recollect - in God's creation, but he refrains from mentioning that.]

[Somewhere, somehow, Anna couldn't help but giggle a little. Whoever this person was? She could tell that she was going to like him already! That and it seemed like he probably needed a lot of help!]

Then you should be taking the pictures of the flowers instead! I mean, if I was in the way, you could have said something, silly! Or if you needed some help, you could always ask me!

[...Nevermind that Anna didn't really know how to operate a camera herself]

[Her mirth actually helps him calm down. He is not particularly good around people and it's always better when they are being friendly. Oh, she doesn't seem offended. What a relief!]

I-That was my intention. I merely thought...[He thought she would show as a blur in the picture since she was moving.] T-thank you for your help. Ah...are you an artist, madam?

[Better change the focus of this conversation to her. Yes, that is much more manageable.]

But of course! I'm an art director of this place and it's my job to make sure that anything and everything gets painted around here!

[Now depending on the quality? That's a whole other story but for right now? She places her hands on her hips as she gave a smug smile!]

But that's why I can help you out! You see, you need to stand still before taking a photo! I think that's where you need the most work on! You can't take a good photo if you keep moving! Otherwise, it'll turn out really weird!

[Uh, Anna, you do realize you just insulted him right?]

[ An art director...to a botanical garden? What sort of job is that, Kevin wonders. However, that means she probably knows what she is talking about.

At least he doesn't usually mind being insulted. Not by humans, at least. On the contrary, he takes her advice to heart and holds the CereVice more firmly. Is he doing this correctly, Anna sensei?]

If you...paint everything around here, you must know all the flower species quite well...

[As she looked carefully at the camera and then back to him, she quickly gave him a thumbs up! Although, the smile on her face slightly flatters afterwards.

Of course she didn't but that didn't mean she couldn't pretend right? ...Right? Quick, Anna, what can you think in this situation? You better think of something or else! ]

Uh...sure! I think it depends on what kind of flowers you want! If it's a specific flower you want to take a picture of, you just come talk to me and we'll figure out the rest!

[...Was she pulling it off?]

[She is totally pulling it off. He takes her suggestion very seriously, and wonders where he should start...]

...Well...where young master and I come from, flowers have specific meanings. A lady's seal means "be my support". A pink carnation means "I will never forget you". A white rose means "innocence and purity"...And so on. Friends and beloved ones communicate those sentiments by offering flowers. Do you believe it is the same in this world? Or perhaps you know of a similar tradition from your own home?

[Somewhere, somehow, there was a small sigh of relief. Score one for Anna, she finally managed to get away lying without being caught!

However, if Cecil paid close attention, Anna's eyes widen before she chuckled a little herself.]

It's kind of the same back home but I don't think it's any different here either! I mean, if I'm from 1840 and it hasn't changed wherever you're from, I doubt it'll change here either!

[It is hard for him to mistrust a young lady who is trying so hard. He notices the reaction, but doesn't quite understand what it means.

But wait...]

1840? Madam, that cannot be right. That was almost fifty years ago!

[ He was told about different worlds, not different times, and Anna doesn't look that old...]

Well, it's a little hard to believe? But it’s truth though, I really am from that year! And besides...!

[Sure, she could talk more flowers but there was something more important to her! As she began to cross her arms, a small frown appeared]

And I'll have you know that I'm about to turn 19 pretty soon! I'm not that old to be old yet!

[...Does that even make any sense?]

[Well, that is very awkward. And a little hard to be believe. Even if angels are not constricted by barriers of time, not precisely. Yet, the idea of humans managing the same feat is alarming to say the least.

But for shame, Kevin, you just offended a lady who has been nothing but kind to you. ]

My sincere apologies, madam. I did not wish to imply that you were already a matron.

[Or had a pact with the devil...]

[Luckily for you, Kevin, Anna wasn't the least been offended! Instead, she just chuckled it off]

Don't worry about it! I'm still kind of surprised by how many people are from the future here! But I just think of it as a good way to see what it has to offer!

It's not like I'll ever get a chance to see it!

[She didn't want to bring up a somber topic and especially in front of someone she just met but it was the sad truth. And all things considered? She was more or less dead here anyway]

[Aw, Anna. Human lives are so brief. Even an antisocial being like Kevin misses a couple of them who vanished in the last...billion year or so.]

However, that is not quite true in our case, is it? When I return, I could attempt to find you so we could talk about current events over a cup of tea. My, you could even show me what an even greater artist you have become!

[She will probably be an old lady with many grandchildren, but sometimes those are Kevin's favorites.]

[And just like that, Anna eyes widen before eventually settling down into a chuckle]

That's true too! But I doubt that I'll be that great of an artist though, I mean, I kind of have a busy job back home!

But it's kind of nice though, everyone I met here is from the future so at least there will be someone I could visit from time to time. And here I thought I wouldn't able to meet them ever again!

[But if Kevin looked carefully, Anna was looked a tad bit uncomfortable]

[He notices that all right, and wonders why. Doesn't she believe she can live that long? However, she seems healthy enough. Or is it the idea of never meeting her friends from the future again? The lady seems like the social type. Perhaps she also has a social job back home?]

...Madam, may I ask how long you have been here?

Oh, I've been here for about a couple of weeks! It's kind of funny though, it sure feels like it's been a lot longer than that!

[With all the chaos going around, it definitely feels like she's been here a lot longer! However, for such a simple question, it seemed so loaded as well. As she gave a smile, she had a question of her own.]

But why did you ask?

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[Open] Say cheese?

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