entranceway | 5th rose petal ⚘ action/locked video

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5th rose petal ⚘ action/locked video

[Garry will be outside most of the day, partly because although he's started smoking again (yes, just today, why do you ask?) he'd still rather not inflict it on others. But he also just feels a lot more decisive than usual, so instead of continuing to debate internally whether going anywhere near those vendors again is a good idea, even for an endless vase, he's just going to go.

When he comes away, he's a bit loaded down trying to juggle his rose, two full vases, a lit cigarette, and his phone. Maybe someone should give him a hand?]

[ locked: fivepetaled ]

Hey, Ib? I've got something for you.

...And, uh. Something to tell you, too. [It's very obvious that one of those things is much better news than the other.]

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What is it? [She is probably referring to both things at once. She has a bit of paint on her...everything, since she is trying something out.]

I got us some of those blue vases!

The ones that stay full?

[yayyyy]

Exactly! [He really should have done this sooner, never mind all the excellent reasons to be wary of the vendors.] Do you want to come down to the front and get yours? Or I could come to you... [That might take a little longer, though. He's kind of trying to carry a lot of different things.]

I'll come! Hang on.

[She turns her device off and leaves it behind as she hurries down and down and down the stairs from her room on the seventh floor. When she arrives, with her rose in hand, she hurries over to help Garry carry all those things.]

Here.

Ah, thanks! Here, this one can be yours... [Garry crouches down to offer the vase he's wedged awkwardly into the crook of his arm. Amazingly, nothing has spilled yet.]

[Ib takes the vase in both hands and hugs it carefully, afraid to drop and break it.]

Where did it come from? [The closets would only give her normal vases.]

[Even one less thing to keep hold of makes it all much easier, and when Garry straightens back up it's a much less clumsy affair.]

Oh, there are people selling things out back.

[Ib blinks. She'll have to check that out.

In the meantime, she puts her rose in the vase, even though she's totally fine. There's a little flash of light and she smiles.]

It works.

Great! [That's the good news taken care of. Now for the bad news, which even today he knows he should probably work up to.]

You should also know, I was looking through a book of Guertena's works, to show someone what they look like in case they show up here...

[Ib looks up, blinks, nods. She waits for him to go on, wondering where he's going with this story.]

It had Mary in it. She's a painting. [Blunter than he'd really have liked, but how else do you say something like that?] His last, apparently, I don't know if that means anything but...

[...yeah. Their little friend is probably a danger to them. Oops?]

[Ib stares at Garry for a minute. It's a surprise and she has no idea how to react to it.

...

...

...

She looks at her rose in the vase she's holding.]

...She has a rose.

It might not be real. Or... there were yellow roses in the painting. [Could that maybe be why the roses? Or was that because of Embodiment of Spirit, like he'd vaguely supposed? Garry really wishes he knew more about creepy art magic.

Either way, they've never yet seen Mary get hurt, so who knows if her rose "works" or not?]

I'm sorry, I know this isn't pleasant to find out.

...But that doesn't mean she's bad. [It's more of a question than an argument. She wants confirmation of what she's hoping.]

[It's a possibility- a very, very few of the artworks have been helpful, like that congested eye, or the Blessed Bride- but the length of Garry's hesitation probably says something about how likely he thinks it is that Mary's intentions are innocent.]

I hope not. I don't know that she's done anything, but... it's a reason to be careful, at least!

[Ib nods slowly. She is unhappy with this information.]

She asked about my mom and dad. I guess she doesn't have any.

Oh. [Wow. That is definitely sad.] Maybe we can help her, once we know what she wants?

She said before.

[When they first met her. She told them she was looking for people. That she wanted to leave.]

[ Perhaps he was already there when Garry arrived, perhaps it took a while to spot him by the stalls further at the back, but Lord Buckingham is unmistakeable here, and he is unmistakeable about to make the same mistake as Garry. ]

Surely that can't be your final offer, the necklace is worth a small fortune!

[ ...Even if his might turn out to be of a more impractical and feline nature. Or at least that is what the moving ball of fur in a basket at his feet might suggest. ]

Of course that is what I asked for, but look at the size of it! Who in their right mind would put a mewling cub on their crest?

[ The mewling cub in question... well, mewls in protest, offended that anyone would question its majesty. It swats at the intricate buckle sewn to Buckingham's boot. The duke scoffs. ]

...aww! [It's a lion! And it's adorable! Garry would ordinarily admire its cuteness from a short distance, aware that wild animals are still wild even if they're little, but with caution on vacation he is definitely going to pet that thing. Just, you know, as soon as he puts down some of his stuff.

The cigarette he can just drop and stomp into the flagstones, it's not as if the place isn't cleaned by magic, and that makes the rest of it much easier to handle...]

[ Buckingham takes a sharp look to the side, prepared to chase away anybody who'd dare to intrude on his negotiations when they've not been concluded to his satisfaction yet. However at the sight of the intruder his expression quickly brightens. ]

The young Master Garry, what a pleasant surprise! What brings you here today?

I needed some vases. [It's said vaguely, because that's really not important in the face of the CUTE. By now his stuff is sitting on the edge of the pathway, including the rose, and he comes closer to peer at the little cub.] And I... guess you needed a lion?

[ He laughs. ]

Our country's proud herald, I thought it a change of pace, although I've not quite... convince myself that he lives up to the... expectations.

[ Buckingham looks down at the cub, and picks it up by the scruff of its neck, for Garry to behold up close. It offers little protest beyond a yawn. ]

Made your choice yet, have you? [ Oh yes, he's spotted the vases now. ] They look rather... plain.

[TIME FOR BELLY SCRITCHES. SO FUZZY.]

It's not for decoration, it's because they never run out of water.

Nor do the mansion's faucets.

[ He arches an eyebrow. Well, at least company seems to make the furry sack of claws more endearing. Even if endearing was not quite the image he'd hoped to attain. ]

Well, it's eas- ah!

[Unfortunately for Garry, the lion cub is like every cat throughout history, in that it liked the belly scritches for a few moments but then decides to let him know that it's done. With its claws.

It... could probably be worse? But there's a fair amount of blood, and a few feet away, his rose starts to go wilty.]

Quite the fierce warrior after all! I was wrong to underestimate him,

[ Buckingham laughs, and cautiously lowers the creature back on the ground. With an apologetic smile he pulls a handkerchief from his sleeve. ]

Not a fatal blow, I should hope...

[ He takes the liberty of reaching for Garry's arm, and presses the silk against his wound. ]

[That is a very nice handkerchief, and Garry almost feels guilty about getting it dirty.]

Thank you. I'll be fine, actually, just... [Yes, the rose and the vases are right where he left them, and hopefully the cub won't decide they're for playing with.] ...actually, you can see what they're really for!

[ Buckingham does not lament its loss, not when it is done in the spirit of ever such an amicable gesture. Especially not when Wonderland's magic will supply a replacement readily. ]

Oh?

[ The lion cub surreptitiously withdraws underneath the merchant's table, though whether to plot a renewed attack or to recuperate from his undoubtedly exhausting battle Buckingham could not say. Instead the duke glances at the vase, and Garry's rose as well, which he thought he remembered in healthier bloom than that. ]

Now you've made me curious!

[Garry smiles as he fetches his rose and vase, because this is one of the only good things about having been put through that gallery: healing any injury in a matter of seconds, as long as you've got water.]

It's probably a lot less impressive after all this Wonderland stuff, but it was pretty amazing... [It's probably a good thing the blood that had already welled up has been blotted away, because he's being a lot less careful not to drip into the vase than he probably would be on another day. He doesn't actually know what blood in the water would do, but he wouldn't like the idea if he were thinking about it.

At any rate, no sooner has the stem gone into the vase than the rose perks up to its previous, healthier state, and the claw marks on Garry's hand disappear into nothing.]

[ Unsure what he is about to observe Buckingham's eyes remain on the rose, for any changes he might observe. Barely has it touched the water that its petals seem to revive, which the duke supposes is a well enough trick, yet there's little enough to it indeed. The vase remains unchanged and dull as well, hardly worth the sight for fresh flowers alone, yet- yet that is when he catches a glimpse of Garry's hand, of the scratch that vanishes right in front of his eyes, almost too quick to notice. ]

Now, that is rather impressive still!

[ the duke concedes, and cannot help but venture a touch, taking Garry's hand to feel the small miracle of soft, unbroken skin. A vase which heals. No, not quite. A vase which revives a rose, which in turn-- ]

Mmm, I certainly... see its use now, although I wonder...

[ His hand wanders, trailing over the vase and its rim, until his fingers reach the rose's stem, and tap against it lightly. ]

Does it work just as well in reverse?

Yes, and it's very painful.

[Hopefully that will satisfy his curiosity, because impaired judgment or not, Garry doesn't especially want to let him or anyone else verify that. It's hard to forget his near death by defoliation.

He doesn't actually withdraw, though. Hey, Buckingham said he was impressive.]

Well, we had better.... not play 'effeuiller la marguerite' with it then, eh?

[ Buckingham laughs out loud. His hand still lingers for a glance, then he withdraws it slowly, eyes still lingering on the petals. A magnificent recovery to behold, yet to stake your health on the well-being of a thing as frail as a flower... it seems rather risky, if you ask him. ]

Now! What else... are we here to buy today?

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5th rose petal ⚘ action/locked video

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