estoria | [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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That much shouldn't be difficult. I was told that the application process is very simple.

[There, now when this guy inevitably finds out it's not true at all, Kaoru can just pretend to be equally tricked by the mysterious someone who said something about it first...

Smiling at a demon, though! Wow. Kaoru isn't even trying and is already making life harder.]

Is there anything else that I can help you with in the meantime, sir? You seem a little skittish...

[Very hard. Now he is also wondering if Miss Vietnam was just being nice to him...out of charity. Does that mean he doesn't have any merit of his own? Is he going to be an inadequate employee to her respectful establishment? Oh, the insecurity will crush his heart. Thank you for that too, Kaoru. But hey, at least he is not smiling anymore.]

I am not skittish, madam. Merely unfamiliar with this environment.

[Kaoru is HERE TO HELP. Or here to make people worry unnecessarily about things that they shouldn't be worrying about at all... This poor, poor stranger, just trying to go about his own business taking pictures of trees.]

Arriving can certainly be disconcerting... [A small, encouraging smile. It's okay, skittish man!!]

I know my way around the city quite well by now, myself, though I still remember how difficult it was to adjust. If I can help you at all or direct you toward anyone, please don't hesitate to ask.

[Why must his life be so difficult? What a terrible demon! Please, stop smiling at him. It's creepy. Besides, he is not disconcerted at all!]

I-That should not be necessary, madam, though thank you for your proposal.

[He can fly, after all, and human cities always make a little more sense from above. Though now he wonders if it is all right to fly incognito in this place. What if he is run over by one of those flying carriages or something? Those terrible noisy things crossing over their heads? His dear skies no longer seem safe.]

[Kaoru would smile EVEN MORE if only it was more obvious that that in particular was one of the things wigging this poor guy out... But at least Kevin's just stuck with a regular and very pretty smile! Too bad it comes from a demon, what a tragedy. Some people just don't have any good luck at all.]

If you say so... But any friend of Vietnam-san's is a friend of mine, so please consider it if you ever find yourself needing aid. If I could use what knowledge I have to help more new arrivals, I would be happy for it.

[Thanks heavens for that small blessing, even if the regular and pretty smile is enervating enough. But wait, the demoness said something that caught his attention.]

Are you that close? To Miss Vietnam, that is?

[Should he warn his dearest manager about the dangers of consorting with demons? And why is the infernal creature targeting new arrivals? To more easily corrupt their innocent hearts?]

[THESE SNEAKY DEMONS just all up in everyone's business, being crafty and wily and terrible.

Unfortunately, the answer Kaoru gives probably isn't very reassuring.]

She's been a very good friend to me since we first met. I do hope that you'll treat her kindly, sir.

[Miss Vietnam is consorting with demons? She must be unaware of that! Certainly, his manager could do no wrong and the demon is taking advantage of her kindness.]

I-I will.

[Perhaps he can protect her from this most terrible influence!]

[Gosh, Kevin, ye of little faith...]

I won't hold you up any further, then. I'm sure you would like to finish with your pictures before the lighting changes.

[Quite the opposite, madam!]

T-thank you for your help, madam.

[He bows politely and starts his most strategic retreat. Maybe heathen demons are more helpful than the usual kind. Maybe.]

[Open] Say cheese?

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