Work Text:
At Hortense’s suggestion, the group stops at Rosewood Manor to pick up a few things for their journey to Snow Country.
“Found them!” Gretel gleefully calls, brandishing jackets and scarves, distributing them to her friends. Alistair immediately loops a long striped scarf around his neck. “Oh, Alistair, try that one.”
“What’s this?” He holds up a dark parka with fur. It’s in good condition, with pockets lined on the outside. Judging from the quality, it was purchased from somewhere on Earth.
“Hansel’s old parka from when we were eight years old,” she grins.
“Huh, well it still fits…” he whips his head up. “How dare you! I am not that short!”
“I never said anything about that.”
“I can see it in your face!”
While Jack holds Alistair back from chasing Gretel around, Filomena busies herself with trying on the trench coat Gretel gave her. It’s a warm creme color made of cashmere wool, hugging her knees. The buttons are black and– Oh! –hidden pockets inside the lining. She also tries a pair of boots Gretel brought out in case the trek would get rough. In giddy delight, Filomena spins. The coat is the prettiest thing she’s ever worn, though it’s second only to the hanbok she wore at Chuseok a few years ago. It reminds her of the winter catalogues her Mum stacked on the counter occasionally, something so glamorous they would never look good on her.
“Oh, Filomena, you look adorable!” Gretel gushes while holding Alistair in a headlock. Filomena fails to hide her laughter at the sight of her friend smiling widely as the other boy fights in her grip, squirming inside the well-fitted parka.
“Not really,” Filomena doesn’t really know what to do with the compliment. “But thank you.”
Somehow, she catches Jack looking at her and her cheeks warm. Suddenly she remembers Beatrice’s words about how Jack said she was really smart and pretty and her blush deepens. Filomena shoots him a shy smile, pretending the stare doesn’t mean anything.
“This is pretty comfy, y’know?” she moves to make the coat swish. “And look, hidden pockets inside!”
For a brief moment, Jack just stares at her. Then he shakes himself awake, a faint red tinge forming on his face. He clears his throat, “That’s nice.” His tone goes soft and his smile is fond. “You look nice.”
Filomena almost falls faint. On cue, Gretel releases Alistair, who lets out a loud yell, crashing on the floor. The spell is broken immediately.
“Alright,” Jack claps, back to his usual serious self. “Pack all your things, we don’t have time to waste. We’ll need all the energy we have to reach Northphalia by evening.”
“And for my hair to lose all its moisture,” Gretel sighs, running a hand through her dyed blonde head. Her eyes light up. “Wait, I’ve got just the thing!”
Aware that everyone has her attention, Gretel continues, “Let’s go to the garden!”
“The… garden?” Jack raises his eyebrow.
“Why wouldn’t a place like Rosewood not have a garden?” She slings an arm around Jack. “Come on, I’ll show you something, it’s important to the mission, I promise.”
Jack doesn’t argue and the group troops to the other side of the mansion. They reach a set of tall doors which Gretel pushes. A floral scent hits Filomena’s nose, and she steps out onto a stone path.
“Wow!”
Shrubs dot the landscape of trimmed grass, each containing bright bursts of color. Small trees poke around along with topiaries forming circular shapes. A grove grows camellia and gingko trees, stone benches and a pond sheltered under them.
“There,” Gretel points at a row of flowers–roses. “See that? We need those for our trip.” “Roses?” Filomena tilts her head.
“I’m sure we have enough modes of beautification,” Alistair says. “Like, I dunno, your hand-me-downs?”
“Do they have healing properties by chance?” Filomena asks.
Gretel ignores Alistair and beams at Filomena. “Exactly! These aren’t just your regular flowers. These are magic. Well, some are. I think the rest are for cooking and cosmetics.”
“The blue roses,” Jack understands. “They’re for resisting cold. And the kaleidoscope roses are good for healing small injuries. Good job, Gretel. Let’s pick some of these and add them to our supplies.”
They gather the roses, picking among different colors. There are peach roses, orange roses, yellow roses, burgundy roses, white roses, pink roses, green roses, purple roses, lavender roses, and of course, the titular red rose. Filomena’s hand hovers over a couple of yellow roses. All of the roses didn’t have thorns, which is a good thing but is also kind of weird. Must be an other world thing. Filomena hesitates, then decides to pluck the yellow rose. Then another. And another. And another until she’s satisfied.
“Gretel,” she calls her friend. As the other girl turns to look at her friend, Filomena places a flower crown of yellow roses on her head.
“ ‘For a dear friend,’ ” Filomena grins. Gretel squeals and hugs her.
“This is so cute! I love it!” She touches the flower crown and wipes a tear out of her eyes.
“You know flower language?” Jack asks, blue roses in hand.
“A little,” Filomena admits. “Dad gave me a book on flower language as a present. I pass by florists back at home, and my grandmother does flower arrangement.”
“I only know how to read tulips,” Alistair pokes his head from a shrub. He points at a row of white tulips. “Those are used in funerals.”
Filomena laughs. “Or for giving respect.” She picks a kaleidoscope rose. “I don’t really know if this has a meaning in Never After, but common roses can also be used for medicine. Lucky that these are magic.”
“It won’t hurt to bring some more,” Jack supposes. He gestures at the peach roses. “What do you think? Should we bring these?”
“Perfect! Those usually mean ‘thank you’ and can be used as greeting a host,” Filomena adds the flowers to her pack.
“How about these?” Gretel holds up pink roses.
“Sure,” Filomena replies. Filomena knows they’re usually for appreciation, but for those who didn’t know flower language, they were pretty and would surely make someone happy.
“Here, Jack,” Alistair brings up a couple of burgundy roses. Filomena hides a giggle but Jack’s eyes widen in surprise. “They match your vines, look.”
“Wrong color, buddy,” Jack corrects him, and picks up an ivory rose instead. “This is the one you’re supposed to give, though I do appreciate the… thought.” He adds the last part awkwardly.
“Ivory roses are for platonic love while burgundy is for passionate love,” Filomena whispers.
“Really?” Alistair eyes Jack and his face curls into mock disgust. “Well dude, you’re my best friend, but also ew. Other guys are okay though.”
And the two boys are poking fun at each other, until Alistair gives him a pink tulip that he says means friendship. Gretel, overhearing, picks a pink tulip and an ivory rose and loops it to form a bracelet and gives it to Filomena.
Warmth floods through Filomena. Surveying the scene of her friends in the garden–Alistair and Gretel picking ones at random, Jack substituting another color to fit the context–if only they could stay longer. But the blue and kaleidoscope roses in her pack bring her back to reality and she remembers they must continue on their journey to save Zera and Colette from Queen Olga.
She spots a pink rose among the plants and glances at Jack.
“We have to get going,” Filomena says, catching their attention. There’s an unmistakable look in her eyes that brings them back to the situation at hand.
Jack gives an affirming nod. “Everyone got what they need?”
Alistair salutes while Gretel says, “Yep!”
Filomena watches them leave then pulls Jack aside.
“Before that,” she takes a deep breath and extends the pink rose. Her hands shake slightly, but she doesn’t falter. “For you.”
“Oh, thank you, Filomena,” Jack sounds grateful. He places the rose in the pocket of his shirt, pats it in place, and smiles at her.
Filomena feels herself smiling back, and all traces of her nervousness are gone. She clears her throat. “They mean gratitude and admiration because I’m so thankful I’ve met you–and Alistair– for helping me around here, with my heritage and all. You–and Alistair and Gretel–inspire me a lot; you’re especially special to me for cheering and instilling hope in me–us with whatever enemy we face. I’m so happy you’ve got my back, because I have yours.. ” Oh, oh, she’s rambling. “What I mean is, I cherish you for everything.”
Her cheeks are heating up and it’s embarrassing, but he’s listening to every word she says attentively and does not look away. Jack makes her feel comfortable and Filomena knows he understands what she means.
Besides, she only said half of what she really meant. Pink roses were about gratitude, and deeper shades means deeper meanings of this appreciation.
But it was a singular light pink rose without thorns.
“You cherish me,” Jack echoes, then whispers, “Can you close your eyes?”
Oh. Oh? Oh!
“Okay…”
She feels his fingers brush her cheek. Her curls tickle her face and Filomena catches her breath.
“...There!” Jack declares making Filomena open her eyes.
“It’s in your hair,” he grins, and Filomena wants to dig a hole. Did he just tie a flower to her hair? Just like that? Not like she’s expecting anything…Girl, stop blushing!
“T-thank you,” Filomena really wants to run away already. He probably chose a yellow rose anyway.
“Hey! Aren’t you two coming?” Alistair yells from up ahead.
“Let’s go,” Filomena says immediately. “We can’t keep them waiting.” She hopes she doesn’t sound disappointed or anything.
The two race to catch up with their friends.
“Just so you know,” Jack says, low enough for her to hear. “I know flower language too.”
“What?”
“Prince of Vineland,” he shrugs, and his vines respond by curling on his arm tight. “It’s kind of one of the things I had to learn to keep up with the title. You didn’t notice?”
Filomena’s too rattled to even refute back. Her eyes had passed by a mirror, revealing the singular lavender rose bunched up in her hair, shimmering with otherworldly light.