Chapter Text
Castorice sighs as she bangs her head on the counter top. “I knew this wasn’t a good idea.” She glances around her shop barely raising her head.
Flowers filled to the brim. Still beautiful, even when the natural light couldn’t reach the windows most of the days.
Unfortunately the sun still shines, and the heat crept on her neck. The one wall mount fan kept churning for no reason. No relief came from it, effort futile.
Still, she couldn’t bring herself to unplug it. So she’s simmering in the sweltering heat and wasting energy. Castorice reaches out, hand fumbling around for her handkerchief.
Why did she decide to set up a flower shop right next to the biggest, most popular one? Even during the Month of Romance she would have a handful of customers at the most.
Polyxia was right. She should’ve joined the family business, instead of her silly florist idea. What were dreams when she couldn’t make grocery money on her own? (Not that she could use that comparison when her family was wealthy.)
She touches the welcome sign on the desk, pushing it face down on the desk. Slowly getting up to change the sign on the window-
The bell jingles as the door swings open, a man walks in slamming money on the counter. Sweat beading his face, hair ruffled, and panting. Did he run here?
Perhaps he meant to go to the store next door. Maybe a last minute apology for his lover’s anniversary. She starts to point next door. “If you meant to go to Emile’s flower boutique-”
“I need a ‘FUCK YOU’ flower boquet!” He hisses. Castorice pauses. No- freezes. What?
“P-Pardon?” She manages to make out. She clasps her hands together and sets them on the table.
This could be great writing material!
Fuming. The man with the Snowy hair blinks before clearing his throat. “Please..and um sorry. Is twenty enough?” He scratches his cheek, in an apologetic gesture.
Castorice shoots up straighter, “R-right away sir!” Before scurrying off fumbling with the different flowers, and flipping through the pages of a book of flowers.
He watches her shuffle around. “You haven’t answered my question, miss…”
“Sure, It's enough for me.” She answers absentmindedly.
She places a striking bouquet of flowers on the counter, a bundle of petals, yellow, orange, pink, and white. Wrapped in a gorgeous red ribbon.
“Geraniums, foxgloves, meadowsweets, carnations, lilies and nettles.” She lists. This must be her best work yet! Despite the message, it looks like something to give to a lover!
(Or enemy in this case.)
She takes the twenty and cashes it into a tin jar under her counter. “Thank you for shopping here at Shadow Flowers.”
“Woah… you got his colors right..” He mutters, taking the pretty bouquet. She beams with pride. Turning it over in his hands. “but uh… aren’t foxgloves poisonous?"
Castorice flinches. Shoot! She was so absorbed in the messages she didn’t think about it! “I can take them out!”
He shakes his head, “No no! It's alright! The more hateful the better!” He picks it up, smiling sweetly at her. (Surprising for someone holding literal hate) “Orrr is it too dangerous?
She nods, “It should be okay, don’t think people would eat flowers anyway…” So it should be alright. Though, a nasty rash will come about. Would she get sued? Maybe she could just say she was only doing the customer's order.
The customer is always right, even at the cost of your job.
“Thank you… uh Castorice?” He chuckles. She glances down at her name tag, forgetting it was there. “I’m Phainon.”
He gives her another 20 bucks, before scurrying off. “Hey! Wait! That's way more than then-” She yells leaning out her door.
“Keep it! As a thanks!” He waves running down the street. “Also your shop is very pretty! I’ll come again!”
Wow. What a day. And…. and a true customer! She’ll have to work harder to keep a loyal and paying person at her shop!
But she looks back at the counter, to the money. So much more than her prices, and was even willing to pay more. (A stark contrast to all her customers.)
Although… she felt a little bad for taking his money. (He seems… not the wealthiest)
She still watches the window, as her phone starts to buzz. She absentmindedly clicks on the notification.
It's from her sister Polyxia. Is she going to scold Castorice again? So what if a flower shop isn’t a good idea!
Wait. Oh no!
“I forgot its dinner night!” Castorice quickly closes the shop and runs out the door.
The plates clink as dinner is served. The steak is warm, the greens are fresh, and the wine is sparkling. Along with one glass of pure pommegrante juice.
A dinner for business. Even if their partner is their cousin. Castorice pokes at her food, while Polyxia cuts her steak. Eating it gracefully.
Mydei tugs his gloves on tighter.
“That's a new development.” Polyxia comments. Nodding to his gloves. The silk smoothes over his skin.
“Some fuck- uh..” Mydei clears his throat. “I got a really bad rash from a bouquet of flowers.” Castorice pauses mid bite. Huh. That sounds…. Really familiar.
“How….bad were they?” Castorice asks, she shakily brings a drink to her lips. It can’t be.
Mydei itches his hands under the gloves. “Bad. I searched it up.” He leans back in the chair, scoffing, “Gifting foxgloves and nettles. Who even thinks of that?”
Shit.
“Oh my!” Polyxia gasps, setting down her utensils. “Are you okay? That’s terrible!"
Mydei rubs the bridge of his nose, “I’m fine…” Their conversation starts to pick up, dulling in Catsorice’s ears.
What's wrong with her? How could she do this? Tears prickle at her eye, warm and hot. She quickly blinks them away. Her small appetite is now gone.
When they turn to her, eyes worried, she only mumbles a response.
“Yeah... What were they thinking.”
They wave Mydei off as his car is along the road. The light moved away, masked with the foliage of the bushes of their garden.
“It was you, wasn't it.” Polyxia says, looking up at her. She holds out her hand as Castorice’s head falls into it. “That wasn’t the best move, was it?”
Castorice looks away. Polyxia only smiles. “Do you want to stay the night?”
“No thanks. I’ll see you later.”
Castorice swings open her door and ignores the light switch. She quickly flops on the couch. Her apartment is ice cold. Her eyes drift to the moon.
The night sky draped the world in satin, the light pollution drowning out the stars.
As her curtains flow with the air from the wind outside. A gentle lullaby from the world, as leaves from below shuffle together.
The traffic is a distant rainfall in the melody of the night.
Castorice rolls off her couch to shut the window. She shivers when she gets closer, rubbing her arms for warmth.
Before she touches the latch, something dark catches her eyes. A shadow running through the buildings, jumping from roof top to roof top.
A girl in silver hair, cat sweater and something shiny in her hands. Glittering in the moonlight. A wicked and gleeful grin plastered on her face.
A dance of whimsy. Her feet tap at the roof tops, arms wide, flowing with the rhythm.
It was….breathtaking. The girl seemed to be dancing along the breeze, and weaving between the gray clouds. Swaying along the glittering night.
Warm, lively, like the comfort of summer.
Suddenly, the sky wasn’t just dark, but a dazzling wave of watercolor in many shades. Purple, blue, even the dimmed out stars made an appearance under the haze.
The cool air kisses Catorice’s skin, but she doesn't shiver.
She runs through, bridging the gaps with ease. Castorice finds herself holding her breath, as the girl starts to climb higher and higher.
Heart beating faster as the girl seems too close to the edge. Castorice is now halfway out the window.
Reaching out closer, seeing it with her own two eyes.
The girl twirls along the edge.
Too close for comfort. But with one graceful leap, the girl jumps up the highest she’s even been.
Nothing but a cat silhouette framed in the moon.
The cat sticks the landing. She gave a deep bow, ending the performance before skipping off.
But before Castorice realizes it, the cat girl is gone. Hiding back in the shadows. She stands still, breathless.
Woah.
“Who was that?”
Her mind hasn't left last night. But everything else moves on. That is what life is after all. She picks up an apple on the market.
Sunday shopping day! Castorice flicks her list out to read it. Hmm that's about it.
The best quality fruit she had seen here. “Could I have this one?” She smiles.
“Of course! That’ll be twenty credits.” The woman grabs a bag, and holds it out for Castorice to put the apple in.
Twenty credits? What a scam! Hmmm. But this apple does look really good. It had been a while since Castorice had fresh fruit.
And her budget does allow her to indulge in treats. “Okay, just the one.”
Castorice reaches for her wallet before she's pushed forward. “Oof!” She watches as a figure in black darts away.
“Dear are you okay?” The shopkeep asks.
“I’m okay, here you-” She pats her pocket. “Huh? My wallet?” She explores the rest of her pockets. Realization catches up to her.
A pickpocket.
“Sorry ma’am! I have to go!” She tosses the apple back to the lady, racing to chase after the thief. “Give me back my wallet!”
“Miss!?” The shop kept yelps, catching the apple.
Castorice weaves around the bustling market. She bumps into strangers, and she mumbles and apologizes, still on the trail of the figure in black.
She crashes into a stall, the cabbages falling and rolling about. “My cabbages!” The man cries.
She hurriedly bends down picking them up quickly, before running again, making a cut in an alleyway to get to the thief.
There she is! She won’t get away with this!
Getting closer to the thief. The same cat hoodie from last night. It can’t be, Castorice slows down a bit, and the girl darts off.
“You stop!” Castorice throws her purse at the girl’s feet, and she starts to stumble, falling to her knees.
The girl looks back, the same silver hair, and blue eyes of deceit meets her. Castorice lunges forward grabbing her by the neck of her hood.
They roll around the street in the struggle, but Castorice comes out on top.
They pant, catching their breath. “Uh, you caught me.” The thief giggles. She struggles a bit, as Castorice gives her a deadpan.
“My wallet.” She holds out her hand.
“What wallet?” The girl smiles, trying to wrestle out of her hold like a cat.
Unfortunately for her, Castorice is the arm wrestling champion. “Please give it back!”
The girl yelps in pain. “Ow ow ow! I- don’t know what you’re talking about!” Castorice pauses, she wasn’t even pinning her down too hard!
The cat tries to wiggle free in Castorice’s confusion. She shakes her head, and uses her arm to keep her in place.
“The one you stole from me-”
“Ladies, what are you doing?” Castorice glances up to see a police officer towing over them.
They both scramble up, meeting his gaze. “Uh Officer Gallagher! Nothing's happening!” The girl answers, Castorice nods along.
Gallagher blinks. “Cipher, her wallet.” He points at Cipher, and then to Castorice.
“Huh? I didn’t-” Cipher starts to argue.
“Cifera.”
Cipher groans, reaching into her hoodie and reluctantly giving the wallet to Castorice. His phone buzzes, and snaps his fingers, walking away.
“Shift’s over, if you still have problems drink it away at the bar.” And with that, he’s off.
Is he allowed to do that? Wouldn’t he get fired?
They stand still watching the officer leave.
“Oh hey! Wait!” Castorice tries. But Cipher (Cifera?) is already gone.
Castorice only stares out to an empty road.