Bathym With #19

summary: number 19 - legally required flower shop au

(this is a mix of paragraphs and hcs!)

from this prompt list

Dew drops gathered on the weeds pushing past cement cracks and lifting themselves to the sun above just like they gathered dripping their drops as condensation from the building gutters. And despite the early time where the grass by the parking lot to the strip mall was still damp, a couple of the stores held inside were open including the floral arrangements with the fake neon sign filled with cheaper chemicals calling it “Devil’s Ivy.” The store front under it held delightful windows, no longer sheltered from their shutters but instead showcasing planters growing marigolds by the bunch, as well as showing them getting watered for that morning from your peeking from the sidewalk.

A young looking gentleman with only a few wrinkles peaking at his laugh lines and forehead, pale blue hair pinned in a headband to keep from falling over his eyes while he leaned over the golden petals. The smile moved on his face, speaking to them, muted behind the glass. Indentations uneven seen like flickering lights from the movement, dimples with the right just a noticeably hint at being higher than the left. A simple outfit was hidden behind apron already with specks of dirt sticking to the cotton blend, a dark short sleeved shirt matching the choker of similar fabric guarding at least two inches of his neck and black straight-legged pants.

He would get up from the hunched position to twist his body looking towards the shop back like his favorite song had come on the radio, hand loose on the watering can, a few drops hitting the tile beneath him when he had turned back towards you through the window. A double take, having just seen you in his peripheral, surprised and catching your look. Guiltily handed or not he still offered a smile and a small wave before walking towards shop door. It was a clear and clean as the windows with more blockades from stickers, its open sign, and schedule post.

With a hand leaning on the door way and the other on the low push bar of the door’s inside side, his head would peek back for his turn at you.

“Would you like inside? We have a drink cooler if you were jealous enough of the plants to stare,” his smile was bright as much as it was cheeky. Waiting for you to take the invitation to join the rows of floral and succulent inside.

• Indeed there’s a small fridge unit on the cashier desk next to the wall, waving you off when you try to hand anything in return for the single small beverage.
• He doesn’t stand over you while you look around, finishing his morning chore rounds while checking in on any that you seemed to deem nicer than others maybe finding a preference.
• Bathym is rotating the plants who will enjoy more direct light for the day when he bumps into you looking at the floral section filled with whites and bright yellow.
• It’s a favorite of his, pausing with you after the short apology. Like most plants brought in and raised in shop, he knows the popular meanings of each but focusing more on the positive than how the single daffodil signals misfortune in the future.
• You can tell he enjoys his job and sharing it with others, the fact is almost downplayed by how easy he seems to be carrying a short and potted lemon tree without any worry of weight showing on his face. Too focused on explaining freesia than that and the fact he had yet to explain how to say his name in case you wanted his attention later in your rounds around the shop.
• At some point behind the desk, trusting you won’t (technically) steal any more than what was rest of your drink, you can hear him talking out loud.
• It was a habit he gained taking the shift, usually even talking directly to the plants though he definitely played favorites, talking to more than others.
• He was crossing things out in a book-a catalog- going on about reminding a “Levi” to get a “Mammon” to sign for the soil shipment, something about knowing Levi wouldn’t want the interaction.

You were shifting between your feet, a plant from the “houseplants, yes even cat safe” section firmly planted in your hands. The cashier desk had no bell and the concept of messing up the name of someone you were interested in building some kind of relationship with was more embarrassing than could be handled at the humble 10 am.

It would take you, setting it just a little too loud on the glass cover for him to perk up and recognize you were ready to go. Dusting off his dyed jeans to get up only to make the problem worse, more dirt from his gloves now on his pants resolved in some self cursing, threats to himself about “if you mess this up now ill make you move out.” Maybe you could ask if you visit again.

But he was standing, a small flush to his cheeks when he gave a smaller tight lipped smile. And now rushing in a brisk walk over to ring you up. It was a small plant, on one of the taller shelves for easier grabs meaning it still wasn’t too expensive but something told you a certain coworker would have his ass for knowing a customer came in for stuff and got it all for free.

His hand, the left, now ungloved to put in commands to the register easier, brushed yours when giving your change and receipt. Just a moment too slow than a normal accident, a bit surprised at feeling your hand touch his own. You put away the change and receipt in your pockets, yet staggered a bit. Hyping yourself up before extending the talk even after the exchange was now supposed to be over.

“You know a lot about- well about everything, would I need to ask for an arrangement delivery to get to hear more? Or is someone else in charge of them?” You ask, a hand picking at the edge of one of their cards.

His face lights up in surprise as you ask, happy that you seem to care so much before connecting that you are using it for an opening.

“You can always ask for me personally, Mammon does our calls usually b-oh. Oh! I see, here let me give you my personal if that’s okay,” He says, a chuckle just resting in the back of his throat but not laughing during his talk.

“There, and if you still want to call the shop instead you can ask for Bat. I know Bathym can be a hard one to remember, I’ll know when they mean you even if you don’t become a regular.”

Taglist:@hiraethhh-h (bc i wanted to save your actual req when i answered for mams n levi :] )