Chapter Text
Rodger never thought he would be doing this.
He had always looked at the tattoo parlor across the street with awe and curiosity, He wanted to look inside, it was something so foreign and new to him that he didn't know what to think of it. He was always the curious type, he knew he should have gotten into detective work, but he thought that carrying on the family business with flowers and botany was a legacy that his dying father would be proud of. Now he was in his 30's and his father was long gone, and he regretted not giving himself enough freedom. He wanted to be able to be care free.
Rodger took in a deep breath, smelling the skunk smell of marijuana and turning his nose up, he knew that this was going to take a lot of courage and strength to get over the smell and -
"Rodger? What'cha doing?"
Rodger looked over to the pastry, not realizing he was already holding a nice vase of Valerians in his hands, they were associated with sleep, and he had heard that the owner of the Tattoo parlor was a moon-like man, so he thought that it would suit him nicely.
"ah- Cosmo! I was.. uh.. just taking an order out! across the street!" Rodger explained, sitting the glass vase of Valerians on the counter. He looked to Cosmo and the Strawberry who was coming up behind him. Tall, skinny, and lanky, towering over both Rodger and Cosmo
"To that tattoo parlor? You need help with that, old man?" Sprout teased, resting his hands on Cosmo's shoulder, making the pastry chuckle lightly and lay his hands over Sprout's. Rodger rolled his eye and put his hands on his hips, shaking his head before grabbing the vase back into his arms, holding it close to his chest. "I'll be just fine, Sprout. I'll just be going across the street and right back.." He explained 'I can't STAND the smell...' he thought to himself.
"Well, if you say so! I'll let you do what you gotta do! Just enjoy the Mary Jane over there for me, yeah?" Sprout laughed before walking back to the flowers he was tending to, dragging Cosmo along with
Rodger walked out of the shop and looked both ways before walking down the street, the smell of Marijuana becoming more and more apparent, he felt a gag deep in his throat as he came to the front door. He repositioned the vase in his arms and opened the door with one hand, the bell hanging over the door chiming as he walked in.
An origami cat creature was at the front desk, she looked up from her phone as she chewed bubblegum, blowing a bubble before snapping her jaw down, biting the bubblegum down and popping it, she sat up in her chair and tilted her head, her tail lashing in her seat as she pushed herself closer to the desk with her tail, grabbing a pen in her hands, assuming that he was here for an appointment "heyyy! You here for a consultation?"
"o-oh no- I was looking to see the owner of this establishment?" Rodger asked, reaching over to the back of his neck, rubbing it anxiously as he looked to her. He was trying to hold his breath as he looked around at the place, sugar-skulls lined the walls and a large elk skull hung on a plaque above the front desk
"oh!- alriggghhttt!!!~" Scraps nodded as she got up and went to the back, coming out with a tall man in a blue blanket-like robe, a long nightcap falling upon his head, draping down his shoulder from the front to not drag on the floor. His face was a deep navy blue with a crescent light blue shape, having only one eye on the crescent part of his face, his other eye being a platinum white star, deeply glistening as he stared down at the smaller florist. a small smile came upon his lips as he tilted his head
"Greetings..! What brings you here..?" The moon yawned, wiping some sleep from his eye. one set of hands rested at his hips while his third caressed his hat and his fourth rubbed the back of his neck.
"oh!! Hello there!! I was just coming here to gift you these flowers!!- I hope you don't mind me invading your work..!!" Rodger explained, handing the flowers to Astro. Astro's eyes lit up as he stared down at the Valerians, small clusters of soft white flowers, a soft pink color accenting them. He gently and carefully grabbed the vase from Rodger and took a deep breath of them, humming calmly as he nodded "These smell wonderful.. what are they..?"
"oh! Valerians! They're associated with herbal tea that's used to treat insomnia, anxiety, and stress! but- they're calming and promote good sleep! I supposed that they'd fit you.." Rodger explained, trailing off after realizing quickly he was info-dumping yet again about flowers- although Astro didn't seem to mind- in fact, he chuckled at the magnifying glass
"Well.. thank you sir.. I appreciate the sentiment, You're too kind.." Astro smiled, a warm look in his eye, his star glowing faintly from contentment. Rodger nodded, his smile growing from the knowledge that Astro did in fact enjoy his gift. "I- I should get back to work.." he nodded as he gestured to the flower shop just across the street
Astro looked over him and smiled, nodding "I'll make sure to keep in touch.. I enjoy this flowers.. I'll get more when they eventually wilt.." he smiled, waving to Rodger as he walked out and watched him walk across the street and go into his own shop
Rodger breathed in the fresher air and sighed from relief, leaning over his desk as he huffed, feeling his lungs practically thank him for giving them air that wasn't polluted by the skunk smell of marijuana. Rodger felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked over to see Sprout, the strawberry tilted his head in confusion and concern
"You okay?-" Sprout asked, to which the magnifying glass nodded and got up, cracking his back a bit before sighing "I hate the smell. I'll be fine."
Astro looked at the flowers at his desk, his head resting on his hand as he stared at the intricate petals. He reached up and touched the petals gently. delicately feeling the soft petals and leaning over, the vanilla-candy fragrance of the flowers filling his lungs and making him hum with delight.
He closed his eyes, envisioning the magnifying glass in his mind, thinking about his delicate, yet calloused hands as he held the vase; his eyes, so full of care and kindness as he stared at him. He felt warm and content in knowing that someone was looking out for him, that someone cared.. He laid his head down on his desk, opening his eyes finally again, but not for long as he drifted very slowly to sleep, continuing to think of the magnifying glass who visited him today, and wondering when he was going to come visit him again..