Completed [The Flower Stand] A Cat and a Ghost

[Favik]

9th of Summer, 513 AV The Flower Stand 10 Chimes after the 18th Bell Favik weaved her way down one of the few open aired streets in the city, the evening sky above still providing a bit of light, as she made her way toward the ever cheerful Flower Stand. With each passing chime though, the shadows created by the buildings engulfed more and more. Favik didn't mind the dark. Even though she looked completely human while in this shape, upon close inspection of her eyes, one would note the slight slit to the iris in each eye. With that trait carried over from her feline form, she was able to see through the shadows. That and her mannerism were the only indication of what she really was. With the day nearly done, shops were starting to close up for the night and the traffic in the street was a bit more congested as everyone made their way back to their rooms or wherever else they went to after work. Favik's small frame made it easy for her to dart through the traffic, though on occasion she did get shoved to the side for accidentally bumping into someone. If she were to travel down the streets, she'd normally do it in her feline form. It was easier to weave through the tromping boots or even climb her way up to the high roof and move along the edge of the streets up there. She couldn't do that today. She was on a mission. Tomorrow was Richard and Laura's anniversary and Richard had instructed his daughter to go pick out some pretty flowers. Sure, he'd told her the breed he'd wanted her to get, but Favik had forgotten what he'd said shortly after leaving their room. Instead of going back, she figured she'd just explain the situation to whoever was working and hopefully they would know what flower she needed. When she got to the shop however, she let out a groan as she realized that it too had already closed for the night. "Aww man..." Standing on her tip toes, she peeked into one of the windows of the shop, spying all the flowers arranged on the inside. There were flower displays on the outside of the shop as well, but they'd been cleared empty for the night and moved inside. While she stood there looking inside, she thought she saw movement inside and let out a gasp. "Hey! Hey!" She called out, hopefully loud enough to get the attention of whoever was inside.

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri The Flower Stand, Fifteen chimes earlier... "Hm hm hm~♪" Kouri's cheerful humming echoed in the Nettle District. The ghost girl was happily floating through the street, two pretty wicker baskets in tow. Each carrying bundles of various flower stalks. Kouri had just returned from her usual work of gathering flowers in the Bronze Woods and now, she was delivering it back to The Flower Stand. Five chimes later, she arrived at her workplace; but couldn't help but notice the emptiness of the place. Only flowers could be seen. "Hmm?" Kouri tilted her head in confusion. "Hello~ Madame Atta? It's me, Kouri~" The rather peculiar employee of the Flower Stand entered the flower shop, her crimson eyes darting left and right to find the owner of the establishment and her mother figure; Madame Atta Sabot. "Hmmm? Where is she?" She couldn't find her though, then again... the shop was completely empty of people. Is Madame Atta taking a holiday? Kouri went deeper into the shop, only accompanied by the numerous flowers and bouquets on display. "Oh!" Her eyes spotted a note on one of her worktables, the worktable that Kouri often used when she's working. A tendril jutted out from her back and picked it up, then her eyes scanned it; absorbing the information contained within. To my dear Kouri, If you're reading this, then you may have not noticed that the Flower Stand is closed at the moment. I'm not feeling well so I closed the shop early. Just leave the lovely flowers you have gathered at my table. Truly sorry for not telling you sooner, dear. Love, Atta Sabot "Oh... I see... I hope you get well soon, Madame..." Kouri truly hoped nothing serious happened to Atta, she usually opened her shop until later in the night. Kouri then did as she was told and put both of her baskets on Atta's table. One her tendril then picked up a a quill and wrote a note explaining that it was her who put it there. "All done~" Kouri exhaled in relief, maybe she would go back to the Traveler's Row and spend more time with her little sister, Rena. The younger girl was very lovely and adorable, she was the solution to all of Kouri's problems. When she's with Rena, all of the bad things in the world seemed to disappear. "Hey! Hey!" !? Kouri's eyes shot up at the sudden female voice she heard. Then she quickly turned her head and saw a young woman with pale skin-tone, vibrant medium-length orange hair, and pretty blue eyes that contrasted greatly with Kouri's crimson red. She was probably a teenager by the way she looked, Kouri suspected she was only slightly taller than herself. A customer? Hmmm... Oh... Kouri pondered the decision on whether to just blink away and pretended she never saw anything thus leaving the orange-haired woman thinking the shop was closed and she would go on her way. Or Kouri could service this woman on Atta's behalf! Was it a good idea? She was a... ghost after all. Kouri thought hard for a moment then... Aha! a figurative light-bulb appeared on top of her head. The poor lightning condition provided by the fast approaching night time was just perfect for Kouri's materialization skill. Her mastery had gone to the point that she was indistinguishable from a real person under poor lightning condition or indoors. She decided to test this ability of hers and acted on Atta's behalf as the clerk, the blue-eyed girl should not be able to distinguish her from a real human unless she was an Auristic mage or touched her. Kouri landed on the ground, no longer floating by just a few inches. She then materialized herself, her form appeared much more solid and substantial. She also made sure all of her tendrils were retracted and no longer visible from her body. She only concentrated her tendril at the palm of her hands so she could manipulate physical objects like a normal human would, with their hands. Kouri then stood near the entrance of the greeted the orange-haired slim young woman. "Yes? How may I help you?" I hope this works...

[Favik]

9th of Summer, 513 AV The Flower Stand Favik stood outside the shop, leaning from one side to another trying to get a better look inside. Had she really seen someone? She thought she did. Maybe she was just fooling herself. Her father wouldn't be exactly happy that she came back empty handed, but what would he do? He'd never struck his child before. Where did they get the flowers anyway? It wasn't the Stone Garden... Cause well, that was just stones. She flinched for a moment and touched her right shoulder at a memory then shook her head. No, probably outside the city right? Flowers would get flattened in the cramped city. Letting out a deep sigh, Favik was just about to turn around and leave when the Then there was a girl standing in front of her. A grin spread across the feline's face at first, then she actually looked at the girl. She was a few inches shorter than her, her long silvery white hair and crimson red eyes were interesting, but the blood on the dress had her worried. "I... I wanted to see if I could... Get some flowers..." She shook her head and points down toward the blood splotches. "Are you ok? Did you hurt yourself? Do you need me to go find help?" She asked, her voice rising a little as she realized that even if the girl had hurt herself, Favik didn't have the slightest idea on what to do to help her. If Favik's night vision could have helped her in seeing past the ghost's materialization skill, it was lost in the moment as she was focused on the the girl's clothing. The girl didn't seem to be in any pain, but who would wander around with blood on their clothes unless they were hurt. Her eyes widened a little. Unless THEY hurt someone else. Her eyes narrowed a little and her body tensed, ready to put distance between her and the younger looking girl. With the blood and the eyes and the long silvery white hair... Favik couldn't, not at the moment, see the girl as innocent. "Maybe I should just go... You might be... busy?"

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri Oh petch... Kouri made a huge mental facepalm in her head. The girl must have noticed her bloodstained dress, oh how could she forget that? Kouri was so used to her appearance that she didn't care anymore, this is the first time she had ever use her materialization skill for disguise. She usually used it for combat as in you know... blink to your enemy and violently poke them in the eyes with her materialized fingers, it would cause stun at best and blindness at worst. No matter how solid or substantial you look, the bloodstains would certainly give her away as something... not quite human. Then again, her crimson eyes and very pale skin tone could give her away as well... but people will think she's a Viper Dhani rather than a human, but you couldn't argue with the bloodstains. "Eh... ehm, yes! What flower would you like?" Kouri tried to salvage the situation, but the growing suspicion and concern in the young woman's eyes seemed to tell otherwise. "Well.. no! I'm just fine you see..." Petch this! How idiot can you be, Kouri?! Another mental facepalm. Saying 'I'm just fine' while blood splotches were all over your neck and left part of your dress was definitely not a good idea. Then the moment Kouri feared most happened, the woman looked fearful and inched away from her. She must have thought I'm a murderer of something... Kouri didn't want to scare Atta's potential customer, what would she think if she know about this? Kouri could get fired... okay that's unlikely especially with a woman as kind as Atta, but anything could happen. "Wait! Don't go!" Kouri extended her right hand and grabbed the woman's left. ".........................................................................................." She then went completely silent, her face brimming with nervousness and 'oh-petch' expression. In her spur, Kouri forgot that her touch was chilling cold; especially with her current materialization power-level. Kouri also forgot to control the degree of her touch, this woman would feel as if her hand was wrapped in a block of stinging ice. If Kouri could still sweat, then she would be bathing in cold sweats by now.

[Favik]

9th of Summer, 513 AV The Flower Stand Favik didn't have a clue as to what the woman was. She'd never met a Dhnai or done any sort of studies on other races. In her mind, everyone was a human. Well, unless they were actually an animal like her. She'd heard talk of other races, sure, but having never really met any of them personally, she went on pretending that there were just humans and animals in the world. Favik kept a close eye on the girl as she started to inch backwards. Maybe the girl had done something to the flower shop lady... And and, her now asking what kinda flowers she wanted was to lure her inside! When she said she was just fine, Favik's mind screamed HA! She was fine, she wasn't hurt. It must have been someone else's blood. She started backing up a little more and more, keeping her movements slow as to not spur the murderous child after her. It didn't matter how careful she was though, the girl reached out and grabbed her hand before Favik could turn and bolt. She was stopped from moving any farther, and it took a moment for her brain to process the cold that now engulfed her hand. Then the pain hit once it registered. Favik's eyes went wide as she let out a startled, and somewhat pained, sounding scream. She wasn't sure she could feel her fingers anymore. All she felt was cold, and she couldn't move her hand anymore either. Looking down at the girl, she started trying to tug on her arm as the cold traveled up the length of her arm. "Ahh! Its cold! Its cold!!" Her initial scream and now her struggles and whimpering had drawn attention of the few people that were still out in the street. They probably thought she was just some strange kid, maybe had a mental disorder or something. Nothing seemed to be wrong, a younger girl holding the hand of an older.

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri Oh shykes shykes shykes shykes shykes shykes shykes!!! What should I do? What should I do?!! Queen Morwen please help meeeeeeeeeee! Kouri panicked, unsure on what to do. She had made the situation from not-good, to bad, and finally to worst. The ginger-haired woman would definitely find out she's a ghost now and the staring people didn't help the matter at all. Well at least, her materialized form could convince most of the humans passing by... but what about the bloodstains? "Gah!" Seeing no other option, Kouri focused her tendrils to her hand and pulled the screaming woman inside the Stand. People just looked at them and shook their head, thinking that they are one crazy siblings or something. Inside the shop, Kouri released her hold on the woman's hand and used a tendril to stifle her voice. "Sssssssssh... sssssh! P-please don't scream, please... pleaaase..." Kouri acted like a mother trying to calm down her child. "T-this blood uhm... it's my body you see? I'm a... eeeh... I'm a ghost! You know what a ghost is, right? And I work for Madame Atta, the owner of this ship. S-so... uhm... you can calm down now, please..." Kouri used her most sweet, gentle, and pleading voice in an attempt to ease the older girl down.

[Favik]

9th of Summer, 513 AV The Flower Stand Favik's struggles seemed to do nothing compared to the little ghost's grip on her hand. Pull and pull as she might, she didn't move. Or well maybe she thought she was moving but with how numb her arm was now, she wasn't actually moving at all. As the cold traveled upward and more and more people started looking at them, Favik started to bounce from foot to foot. "Its cold... It's cold.... Cold...." She kept repeating over and over again under her breath. When Kouri finally decided to pull her toward the shop, Favik's eyes went wide. "No!" She yelled and she struggled more but it was little use as the younger looking girl pulled her off the street. Once inside, the feline's eyes darted from corner to corner, scanning the shadows, the floor, the windows... Everywhere she could see. When her hand was released, the absence of the cold hurt nearly as much as the tingling sensations started in her fingers. She dropped down to her knees, tucking her frozen limb between her chest and her thighs to try and warm it up with her body heat. She would have cried out again, but the tendril over her mouth silenced her. Surprisingly enough, the fact that she wasn't able to cry out any sound confused her enough to give her time to calm down. The right half of her body was still cold, having shivers wrack through her body every now an then, and her hand was still numb to the touch. Her breathing was still fast and frantic, but it was coming down as she realized that she didn't see any blood in the shop. Where had the blood come from? Where was the body? There had to be blood somewhere else besides just on the girl. Nobody was that clean! When the little girl started talking again, in a voice that was meant to try and calm her, Favik locked her blue eyes on Kouri's red eyes. She listened through her fast breathing, trying her best to pay attention. So the blood had been her's... But how had she gotten hurt? Why wasn't anyone rushing to try and help her? Surely that was enough blood to warrant aide from the Syliran Knights at least, right? "I'm a ghost!" Favik's fast breathing hitched then slowed to a stop as her head tilted a little. She knew what ghosts where. Beings in human shape that could float through things. This girl seemed pretty solid though. She'd been able to grab a hold of her and pull her into the shop. That was pretty real. Her eyes clearly showed the doubt that was floating through her mind. After a moment of looking sharply at her, Favik's slightly slitted eyes looking her form up and down, she slowly nodded her head to signal that she at least understood her, even if she didn't at the moment believe her. From how close she was with the young ghost, if Kouri was paying attention to her gaze, she might notice the slight feline look to the iris's.

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Please... ssssh... calm down, it's okay... it's okay I won't hurt you..." Kouri truly acted like a mother trying to calm down her daughter, it was rather strange on how the much younger looking girl calming down the older one; but if one knew their history, one would see that Kouri was just over twelve years old while the older-looking girl was merely over a year old. "Phew..." Kouri rubbed her forehead when the older girl calmed down and nodded, indicating she understood her. Kouri released her tendril and retracted them to her body. "Now then... I'm sorry to startle yo-!?" Kouri was cut off when she looked up and found the woman's face too close for comfort. W-wow... Kouri couldn't help but to stare at those beautiful bright sapphire blue eyes of hers. It contrasted greatly with Kouri's ruby red. She wanted it back, the beautiful blue eyes of her and her family when she was alive. But it was wistful thinking... or is it? Someday, she would find a way or she could just leave it completely and accepted who she was right now. And is that... slits? Kouri tilted her head when she noticed the young girl's eyes were not exactly round-shaped like most, if not all, humans. Is she... like Madame Vaspira? A Kelvic? The thought crossed her mind, she had met the big cat female Kelvic a season ago and she had the same slitted eyes. But Kouri decided to postpone her curiosity, for now she needed to salvage the situation, her reputation, and employment prospect. Kouri backed away a bit to give the woman some personal space then she bowed rather deeply. "I'm terribly sorry, Madame... I hope I did not harm you in any way..." Her tone apologetic and she slowly lifted herself and gently smiled at the woman. "Uhm... would you still like to buy the flowers?"

[Favik]

9th of Summer, 513 AV The Flower Stand Favik really didn't have any concept of personal space when she became curious. Nothing was too close and she didn't understand fully that some people just did not like that. With her arm still tucked between her, her face up close to the girl's, she did notice how her sentence cut off once she noticed, but Favik didn't pull back. There had to be something more visible to support her claims to being a ghost. Sure, her right arm was still super cold and numb, but nah, that wasn't enough. When Kouri stepped back away from her, Favik's head tilted again but she leaned back upright as well. She was completely calm again now, her curiosity having taken over. Did she just call her Madame? Her nose wrinkled and she let out a most un-Madame like snort in laughter. "I'm not a Madame, I'm not that fancy." She said, her face now sporting a small grin instead the look of fear she had before. "I'm just Favik is all." Untucking her arm, she curled her stiff fingers into a fist then stretched her fingers wide again. It was hard to move them. "Other than being like crazy cold, no..." She held out her hand a little. "You made it cold, could you make it warm again?" She asked, her brows raised a little as she tried getting the little ghost girl to do something ghosty for her. When she asked about the flowers, the feline blinked, looked around, then looked back at the girl. Flowers... Oh yeah! Now, what kind had Richard said for her to grab? She'd seen them before when he brought them to Laura in the past. "Yeah... I don't know what they are called though... I forgot." Her brows scrunched together as she tried to remember. "They're pretty..." She started then looked around again. That little description covered all of the flowers in the shop. "Uh... Red.... Its a special day tomorrow for my mom and dad and Papa wanted me to come get some flowers so he could give to my mom..." She let out a little whine. "But I can't remember what he said to get..."

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Ehe... ehehehe~ Then~ I'll call you 'Miss'~" Favik's carefree nature greatly eased Kouri and she couldn't help to stifle her giggle. Good thing this girl was rather... lenient, if it had been a squire... she would go into a heap of trouble. "Miss Favik..." Kouri lifted the hem of her dress and bowed slightly, curtsying to the older-looking girl. "I'm Fubuki Kouri, but you can call me Kouri..." She slowly lifted her head and beamed her a happy smile. "Make you warm again?" Kouri tited her head in confusion. Does Miss Favik have no knowledge about... beings like me? It seemed to be the case... Kouri heaved a sigh and a sad smile replaced her previously happy one. "I'm sorry, Miss... I can't give you warmth... I can only... absorb it..." Kouri gazed at Favik's curious blue eyes and it seemed she wouldn't believe her unless she experienced it herself. Kouri slowly raised her materialized right hand and gently touched Favik's held out hand *psssssssssh*. A hissing sound akin to dry ice touching a warm surface emanated from their contact, Kouri felt warmth from her touch but Favik could feel the same chilling sensation; but Kouri controlled the degree this time so it would not be as drastic. Kouri quickly retracted her hand as to not hurt the girl further. "See what I mean?" Her tone was forlorn. I suppose... I don't have to keep this appearance any longer... Kouri unmaterialzed herself, now her form appeared translucent. If Favik had any lingering doubts Kouri was a ghost, those doubts would most likely vanish. Kouri's feet also took off from the ground by a few inches, returning to her usual manner of... 'standing'. "Hmmm..." From made a thinking expression, trying to find the perfect flower close to Favik's description and purpose of the flower. Papa... huh... for her parents I see... She couldn't keep her depression and longing for her parents showing up. Kouri's expression looked like someone who had been deprived of sleep, her lips in deep frown. "Red roses... it should be perfect for the occassion..." Kouri still had some spirit left to continue serving her customer. A tendril jutted out from her back, grabbed a nearby red rose bouquet, and offered it to Favik. "It will cost 1 silver miza, Miss Favik... Do you like it? I made it myself..." Kouri could at least find some solace in knowing that her self-made bouquet would bring happiness to the girl's parents. "I wish my parents were still here though... I wish the tiger hadn't come and killed the-... ahaha... I'm sorry, look at me rambling... anyway, Miss. If you like the bouquet, you can pay and bring it home... I hope your... Papa likes it..." She even called her father the same way I did... Papa...