A Flower a Day Keeps the Bees at Play

[lightthedarkness]

Who: Usagi Tsukino (Serena Lapin) and customers
What: It’s Usagi’s real first day of work after all her training… wish her luck
When: All Day
Where: The flower store Usagi works at
Warnings: Just the cheerful klutz that is Usagi?
Notes: I’m more than happy to match styles!




A: Early Morning

Luna (and Mamoru) had learned long ago, that the way to get Usagi anywhere on time was to set her alarm clock an hour ahead. While Usagi knew the trick, she never bothered commenting on it because, well, it worked! She got up early, she got to things on time, and everyone was happy that she wasn’t late. Still, even if Usagi knew the trick, considering the situation she was currently in? She completely forgot to do it. After all, she liked sleeping in as much as the next person (probably more than the next person, actually)!

Which was why, running through the streets was the blonde bunny, in a bright white and blue dress, crying in dismay: "I’M LAAAAAATE! I’M LATE I’M LAAAATE!" with a bag on her shoulder and a lunch-box in hand. The rabbit was late and had no time to say hello or goodbye to those she was living with, she was late she was late she was late!

So frantic to get to work on time, she didn’t pay attention as she turned the corner...

And promptly smacked into someone, falling backwards and straight to the ground.

"OOOOOOOW!" she cringed and whimpered only a little. She rubbed her back, she paused to catch her breath, and then quickly popped right back up as if she hadn’t just fallen. She was so used to falling, honestly that it wasn’t something she couldn't handle. She didn’t have time to be upset, though, because not only was she late, and more importantly, she possibly just hurt someone!

"I’m so so so so so sorry! Are you okay? Are you hurt?" she had to go but she didn’t want to abandon the person she just ran into. She bowed deeply. "Really, I’m so sorry!"



B: Throughout the Day

Usagi let out a sigh of relief as she had made it on time. The flower shop owner, Ophelia, merely chuckled to herself and commented about how nice it was to have such an energetic girl around the shop.

The older woman was actually incredibly kind to hire her on. Usagi explained that she had just moved in with all of her cousins after an accident involving their parents. Serena Lapin was doing everything she could to support her family, five girls and one boy! Ophelia was an older woman, bent over and needing a cane to walk, and her son and his best friend worked for her as it got harder for her to work by herself, but at seeing "Serena’s" eagerness and willingness to work, her friendly and open nature, well Ophelia commented that it would be nice to have another girl around, hiring the very day Usagi applied.

And, on top of Usagi’s paycheck, she got to take home flowers that were too old to sale or were damaged in such a way that they couldn’t be given to their customers. She had already taken a few damaged roses, plucked off the ruined petals and leaves and stuck them in her hair. But Usagi was also thinking that flower bouquets would be a great way to keep the house smelling lovely and feeling warm.

Usagi, or rather Serena Lapin was ready to work! With her pastel pink apron and the name badge with a little thistle at the end of it, she could face anything. She looked up when she heard the door chime and greeted the guest with a bright smile.

"Welcome to Thistle Do Nicely: A Flower for Every Occasion! My name is Serena, how can I help you today?"

Comments

[faithfulflame]

"Right, of course. On both counts."

Rei pulled out a laminated driver's license, figuring that yes, she was about to get squee'd at. She hated showing it, but she didn't exactly have a fake ID. And the credit card had her name on it as well. And with that done she picked up a card with a dog on it and started to write out a fairly lengthy note, just a simple but loving message.

Once it's done, she slid the card over to Usagi after closing it. After the card had been rung up, she just...she had to ask. She was committed now, to interaction. It wasn't like it would be polite to just leave it sit. IF she'd done something to this girl then she should apologize.

"And...miss, forgive me for this, but did I...you look like you recognize me, and I...um. Where from? Did you come to one of our concerts?

[lightthedarkness]

Usagi didn't gush, mostly because Usagi already knew. She saw the ID, nodded and rang everything up, having the list of how to do it in front of her as her own little cheat sheet that one of the boy's wrote. She took the card and added it to the slip Rei had filled out before stapling receipt and the pink copy of the order together and handing it to Rei. She was filling in the section she needed to as an employee and her hand stopped in mid-word at Rei's question.

She swallowed and hadn't thought up this story yet, mostly because she hadn't thought she'd even meet Rei yet. She couldn't lie, her prior reaction had made it pretty obvious that she was upset despite her best efforts. She paled, trying to figure out what to say.

Well, she couldn't lie, Rei would sense a lie. Or, well, the old Rei could, she didn't know if this Rei could.

"Uh no, I've never been to a single concert of yours," which was 100% completely true. She nervously rubbed her engagement ring. "I'm really really sorry about earlier, I'm just nervous," also 100% true, for multiple reasons. "It- I'm just really I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable in any way, that wasn't anything I wanted to do at all!" also 100% true.

[faithfulflame]

Rei hadn't yet regained the fullest extent of her power. She had regained some, but not that. Her psychic powers were weakened, and the observations had just come from simply that. She finally bring herself to look at the girl now. Serena. Brushing her hair back with a nervous smile, she took back the card and receipt, answering a little more steadily.

"It's...alright. I guess you're a fan of Flowers over Bones? We're grateful to all of you...though the reality is that I'm not very good at talking to people off stage." All her passion went into the music, and she didn't feel too bad admitting it. She was known by some as being skittish in public, and it was kind of obvious after this exchange.

"Would you like me to sign something? An autograph, or...actually. I can give you one of our albums, if you let me go to my car."

[lightthedarkness]

The out was there and Usagi almost didn't want to take it, she didn't want to add to whatever those kidnappers were doing to Rei and the others.

However, just like with the Infinity college, she would play along with this too. Hopefully she could just do it better than before. She nodded, not sure she'd be able to convincingly lie since she didn't know a thing about the band. Minako was still looking into that information. When it came to idols, no one knew how to get better information on them than her.

"Ah! Are you sure? That would be so nice! If that's alright I'd love an album!" which was true! She could get the album and let everyone listen to it. Maybe then they would have an idea of what to do. Haruka played music and Minako sang, if anyone understood the process (besides the senshi who would the absolute best at it being home), they would.

"Really this is great!"

[faithfulflame]

"Just a moment then. I'll be right back."

And Rei left, turning quickly on her heels and walking out. She did think about just leaving, going and not coming back...because whatever this was was bothering her. But something about that girl, those big blue eyes...she didn't want to disappoint a fan. Not over something so simple. So a few minutes later she comes back with a CD case in her hand and offers it in both hands, with a bow, to Serena.

"I hope you enjoy it. This is one of our first albums, and it's been signed by everyone."

If she opens it up, it's a copy of their debut album, Flowers over Bones. The music is a collection of tasteful classical pop music with credits and signatures: Doctor and Luce on Cello, Ivan Karelin on Shamisen, Rei Hino on Violin, and Pao-Lin Huang on percussion.

[lightthedarkness]

For once, Usagi was actually really unsure on what Rei would do now that everything was different about her on such a fundamental core. So when she came back, she brightened up considerably and clapped her hands together. When she was handed the CD, she hugged it to her chest and smiled brightly.

Even so different, Rei still has such a warmth, truly like fire. They couldn't change that, no matter how much they tried. She would save her, she would bring her Rei back and then together with the girls and everyone else, they could save everyone.

"This is really so nice, thank you so much," she said with absolute sincerity. "This means a lot to me."

[faithfulflame]

Rei bows again, smiling gently, some of the discomfort vanishing with that. The sincerity there, and how this girl seemed to calm down struck a chord in her. She hadn't been sure of what to think of this encounter at first, but Serena's honesty was nice, and the fact that she wasn't just making a fuss about meeting her was even nicer.

"It's nothing. I...appreciate you not, y'know...screaming and making a lot of noise. I'm not very good with the public. Just having a normal conversation is nice."

Reaching up to her breast, she unclips the casablanca pin from her shirt and offers that over as well.

"Take this too. If...you're a fan, you should have one. Ivan made it for me, to give to someone who was nice to me."

[lightthedarkness]

The White Casablanca.

It was still her favorite.

"Ah-" she took the pin and held it close for a moment. She looked at it and then suddenly bounced, smiling.

"One second!" she hurried over to the lilies before plucking out the casablanca lily and coming over to Rei, smiling as she held it out to her.

"Here, just for you, on the house. And it's alright," she paused, wanting to say Rei's name but instead, "Miss Hino, you should be able to go places without getting worried about fans," which Seiya had lamented about often enough that Usagi figured it applied to Rei as well. "Thank you so much for the pin, and I hope you have a wonderful day yourself."

She was holding the CD and the pin close to her chest, not wanting to let them go because they were from Rei, because they were important to Rei and things Rei made. She hoped she really liked making the music, she sounded like she did, even if the circumstance of it was so horribly wrong.

"Please feel free to come again anytime!"

[faithfulflame]

The music, the pin, they were both very, very important to Rei. Now maybe, more than they would have been. But she was always a passionate person. She was always, always good at what she did, and she never did anything by a half measure. If that meant turning to music, then she was going to be an amazing violinist.

"I may do just that," Rei said with a bow, holding the lily she'd been given in her hand. "Please, have a nice day, and enjoy the music. And...if you have the chance, come to the charity event. My...ah...band mother...Luce? Organized it. I think you can get tickets online still."

And with that said, she does turn and leaves the shop quietly. Once she's outside though, her resolve crumbles, falling away like so much broken glass. She bolts for her car, not running but walking briskly...and swallowing heavily. Tears start to fall as soon as she opens the door and gets inside, turning the little coup on and letting it idle a moment.

Who was that girl? what was really going on? What was that damn Rain Tree song, and why had she looked like she'd seen a ghost? Am I going crazy?

Flipping out her cell, she hesitated for a half second, fingers hovering over the speed dial for Yosuke...and then Luce...Doctor...and Ivan. But no. Not yet. She had to get back. She'd call when she was home. So, home she went, tearing out of the parking lot with a squeal of tires and completely uncertain of whether or not she'd be back.