Crystalline|Autus

[kiyukit]

Ballah smiled again "Have you ever had someone put acid in your crystal? Ah well, I'll tell her not to put such things in it... My friend is... a bit unique."

[Deleted]

"I'd imagine so," Shion said a bit dryly, smiling to take any sting from his words. "But no, no one has tried to put acid in my crystals as far as I know. Tell you what, though: I could have a particularly dense bottle ready for you by tomorrow, if that's what you are interested in buying. All I need is an idea of the size desired."

[kiyukit]

Ballah relaxed, she hadn't wanted to trust LinLy safety on something that might not hold up. "Maybe the size of a perfume bottle? And perhaps you could shape it into a flower shape?" she blushed.

[Deleted]

"Certainly!" Shion said jovially. He loved getting decorative. "What sort of flower? Tulip, harebell, rose, sunflower, violet, geranium, hydragea, lily, iris, acanthus, daisy, olive blossom, cherry blossom, plum blossom, peach blossom, or a trailing vine motif?"

[kiyukit]

"An orchid if you could manage it." Said Ballah, blushing brighter.

[Deleted]

"An orchid! Lovely choice," Shion praised, already beginning to visualize what he could come up with. "Come back after lunch tomorrow and I'll have some samples ready for you. We can settle price then, how does that sound, miss?"

[kiyukit]

Ballah nodded "That sounds wonderful... do you know any places I could go in the meantime?"

[Deleted]

"Well, there's a very nice inn just three streets down," Shion said, pointing in the appropriate direction. "The gardens they keep are sleeping now, due to the season, but it's still a lovely place to take a stroll, have a meal and stay the night. I stayed there for a week while I was setting up this shop, and I wasn't cheated once."

[kiyukit]

Ballah nodded. "Thank you. I'll be back tomorrow." And turned, heading off in the direction the man had pointed.

[Deleted]

"Have a nice day!" Shion called cheerfully, and immediately sat down in the middle of his store, bringing his Signs together. Before him, small bottles began to take shape: One was tinted the deep purple of orchids, with clear raised floral designs; the second looked identical, but for reversed colors. The third was shaped and colored like an orchid in full bloom, balanced on a stand of red. The fourth took the appearance of a full bouquet, stems included, and lastly, a bottle shaped like a single orchid still on its stem appeared.

"Whew!" Shion beamed upon his creations, and swept them up to hide them behind his money counter.

[kiyukit]

The next day, Ballah made her way back, her mind lost in memories. Did the world work the way she hoped it did? She was here, in Autus, to try and prove it, but the proof was worthless without LinLy there with her...

"Sir?" she asked, coming near the shop.

[Deleted]

"Now where-? I could have sworn I had more eggs," Shion muttered as he dug through his pantry. "Don't tell me I.... Oh, you're kidding me," he groaned, discovering there were no more eggs even in the very back of the cupboard. If he wanted a nice big omelette for lunch, he would have to go shopping.

Shaking his head at himself, Shion picked his shopping basket from the floor of the pantry and went downstairs to exit through the shop, only to stop and place the basket behind the pay counter as he spied Ballah.

"Welcome back, miss! Come on in," he greeted jovially, beckoning. "Don't mind the 'out to lunch' sign, I can make an exception," he said, placing the vials he had made on the counter. "How do these look?"

[kiyukit]

Ballah looked over the five small vessles and carefully picked up one after another. With a faint smile, she picked up the center one, a delicate orchid in full bloom. "She'll like this. How much do I owe you?"

[Deleted]

"Ten coins," Shion answered, feeling generous. The bottles unchosen were bound to attract other customers, thus balancing out any deficit in earnings. "Would you also like this gift-wrapped, by chance? I should have a box in the right size."

[kiyukit]

Ballah shook her head as she carefully counted out the coins. "I don't need it wrapped. But I don't suppose you could point me towards an apothacary? I need to buy... some things... for my friend to go along with her bottle."