(no subject)

[invocate]

WHO: Li-Na, Kaguya, Eren, Leon, Haru + OPEN
WHERE: All over town
WHEN: All of Jan
WHAT: Various encounters + ONE OPEN PROMPT
WARNINGS: n/a


[ooc: Starters in comments! If you want to do anything with Li-Na this month, HMU @ anacrusis and I can write something up.]

Comments

HARU -- SWEET STEMS (mid-Jan)

[invocate]

One of the biggest downsides of winter, after the cold and the cold, is the lack of plant life. Sure, trees are still there, and bushes. But the flowers and other colorful plants are either dead or dormant. It is a stark contrast to Hong Kong, where even in the 'winter' season plants continue to thrive.

Suffice to say, Li-Na is desiring a little color in her life, even if it's just for a few days. So when she passes by Sweet Stems on her way home from dance practice one afternoon, she pauses in front of the doorway, then walks inside. Maybe flowers will do the trick, for a little while.

"Hello~"

[gunsandveggies]

Haru isn't the only worker here at this time, but she is the only one aware of Retrospec. It's a little difficult, trying to talk about things that don't have to do with what's happening right now. While Haru's been scrambling to keep her own garden alive, the other employees don't see a reason for it, claiming that this "eclipse" won't hurt the plants.

Well, she thinks to herself, if we're not going to sell solar lamps or the like, maybe she can at the next farmers market.

It's as she's thinking this that a customer comes in, and Haru tilts her head at the familiarity. She's seen this one before, though she usually makes a beeline to Chiyo. As Chiyo isn't working today, Haru instead takes it on herself to smile and greet in return, "Hello!"

She steps up to her, hands clasped in front of her, "Can I help you with anything?"

[invocate]

Li-Na flips back her hood, glad to be in out of the cold. This shows her dark green hair, though her braid stays coiled in the hood. Tucking the flashlight she's been forced to carry around into her jacket pocket, Li-Na gives the sales girl a smile.

"Yes, I want to buy flowers. Just a small... cluster."

That's not the right word, she knows it's not, but they use the same character for both words.

"I want something to liven my room."

[gunsandveggies]

Green hair, huh... It could be a dye job, but it could also be something gained from the Retrospec. Haru's eyes do linger on it, though she gets her head back in the game soon enough.

"Well, you've come to the right place! Actually, I've seen you here before, right? I don't think I've ever caught your name."

As she talks, she leads Li-Na to another section of the store, where all the flowers are.

"We have cut and potted flowers as well as seeds that grow in winter. Which would you prefer?"

[invocate]

Li-Na isn't surprised when the girl stares at her hair for a moment. Everyone has been staring at it since it changed on Christmas morning. She is not getting used to the stares exactly, but she's no longer startled when they do occur.

"Yes, I sometimes visit Chiyo. My name is Li-Na. What is yours?"

She follows the girl around the store, taking in the various plants. It's so nice having green and blue back. The plants just didn't look right when their leaves and stems were gray.

"Oh! I did not know you have ones in pots! I think I would like that best. Something that is still alive."

[gunsandveggies]

"Oh! I'm Haru. It's a pleasure to meet you, Li-Na!"

There's a certain section she stops at, all the potted plants and flowers that look so vibrant and alive. There's several in rows, including pansies, marigolds, sweet peas, and violets.

"These," she says with a gesture, "as well as a few others, grow well through winter. Would you like something easy to take care of? Though - with this... darkness, it may require more care than usual."

The last sentence is approached with some caution. Retrospec user or not?

[invocate]

"Nice to meet you, Haru."

Li-Na looks at the various plants of display, comparing the shape and color of the blossoms, the subtle scents floating in the air around them. She finds the sweet pea the most pleasing, both in appearance and odor.

When Haru mentions the darkness, it takes Li-Na a moment to catch onto her meaning.

"Yes, I am wondering about that a little, but the plants seemed to do okay when they were missing green so..."

And then it clicks. Haru can tell the darkness isn't normal either.

"Oh. Oh. They will be okay, right? Even with the..."

She points upwards, meaning the dome.

[gunsandveggies]

Oh. Oh, thank goodness, Li-Na understands. Actually understands, at that. Haru's features brighten, absolutely pleased to see another Retrospec user here. She looks over, just to make sure that the others aren't listening in, before turning her attention back to Li-Na.

"We have proper lighting in here, so they'll be fine. I'm not exactly sure how this darkness is affecting them; everyone else seems to think they'll grow even without light." Everyone else, meaning everyone who isn't on the network, and thus can't tell what's really going on. Still, even with that frustration, Haru gives a smile, one that's different from her customer-service-smile. "I'm happy to find someone from the network here! It can get strangely lonely, working with people who don't realize what's going on."

[invocate]

"Oh, I know. I work at Expressive and just two of my coworkers are on the network. I have to be careful what I say around them so they do not give me strange looks."

True, she can usually just laugh off the confused looks and the non-app users will just chalk it up to a miscommunication. But it is still frustrating and something she would prefer to avoid altogether.

"How long have you had the app? I got it in July."