For a moment, she is stunned into silence and fear. What Willow is asking of her isn't difficult by any means. But the manner in which she asks is overwhelming and alarming.

Fortunately, Ophelia doesn't crumble. Instead, she takes a deep breath and steps forward, nodding in acknowledgement.

"Yes, of course, miss Willow."

Filly steels her nerves and puts on a brave face. It almost looks as if she might cry, but she pinches herself awake, encourages a smile, and gets to work. Under her breath, she whispers the instructions given to her.

"Blue mini roses with the roses and pink lilies. Six bouquets. Accent with a bit of baby's-breath. tie the vases with burlap like I see over there."

At first, her fingers are slow and clumsy. But once she finds her rhythm and once her heart stops beating out of her chest, she even stops pricking her fingertips with the sharp barbs. The lilies are beautiful and the roses smell heavenly. In the end, her bouquets are put-together and extraordinary. Some are a little lopsided, and they're lined up in order of first to last.

You can literally see each one get better and better as they go down. She is on the third bouquet because it doesn't really occur to her to organize each one at the same time. Gently, she tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and hums along to some tune. On the first bouquet, she adds the finishing touches of burlap, tying it neatly in a similar fashion to the ones miss Willow has put on display.

Gently, she thumbs the soft petals and moves onto the fourth.

willow atkins

☉

Just.. breathe.

She steels herself before entering the shop- but what she sees seems to make all of her worries evaporate on the spot. The girl gasps, eyes wide with shock and dismay. It appears that the woman behind the counter, she can only assume might be the one she had written to, is in quite a state of panic, or something similar.

Although the shop is by no means a mess or in a state of disarray, she picks up immediately on Willow's stress and urgency. It prompts her tl glance around in a panic all her own, but also to step forward with sudden urgency.

"M-miss Willow? Is everything alright? Can I help you in some way?"

She sets her bag down hurriedly, moving almost like a penguin to shuffle close to the woman's side.

willow atkins

☉

"More Wishiwashi's? Why.. I think that they would make it even more beautiful! It would mean that the coral must be quite healthy if they take to it so easily."

Just as he continues the conversation, she does too. She even laughs, despite the fact she has no idea they're talking on two different wavelengths. It feels natural, even if what he's saying doesn't completely make sense in comparison to her own story.

Fortunately, he chuckles, too, and the sound is so comforting and so familiar that she hesitates. Something skips, like her heartbeat taking a second too long to continue beating. And just as her breath is taken away, hitching in her throat, the boy at her side moves and turns away. She doesn't catch his face-- but she notices his bright orange hair and the way he sets his shoulders.

And she notices that he, too, hesitates.

"... Finley?"

Her voice is barely above a whisper, as if she herself can't believe what she's seeing, what she's saying. But hope sparks something in her voice, and she takes one tiny step forward.

Finley Black

☉

Sweet sixteen had finally come and gone. She was now on her way to becoming an adult, a woman with ideals and a career and a future laid out in fancy brick steps ahead of her. All she had to do was take that big step.

Her parents had, naturally, encouraged her to remain in Sinnoh and take up her floral internship closer to home. It made sense- they loved her and they wanted to assist her in any way they could. But she, surprisingly, wanted to unfurl her wings and take a step outside of the comfort of her parents doting arms.

That, and the heart wants what it wants, and ever since Finley Black had moved to Hoenn, she had felt three parts empty.

Was it impulsive? Yes. Was it stupid? Definitely. There was a very good chance she was throwing a line out into the big, wide Hoennian ocean only for Finn to turn her down as she had him. Honestly, she wasn't even sure he was still here.

But it was worth a shot, right?

Ophelia exhales nervously, her breath shaky as she presses the doorbell and sets her heavy luggage down. She's brought nearly her whole life with her. She lived humbly, so the suitcases were really only filled with clothing and the like, but it was enough to widen your eyes at.

When the door opens, Filly breaks into a warm, beaming grin - and is quickly pulled into a warm hug just as she is about to bend down to pick up her bags again.

"Oop! Illie, hi! Wow, gosh, it is so good to see you."

Tears well up in her eyes, and she returns the hug.

illeana reyes

☉

Today's visit to the Oceanic Museum was, for the most part, just for fun. While it definitely had it's educational purposes as per the written note and instruction on her homework sheet-- Ophelia had already virtually memorized everything there was to know about underwater plant-life.

She was a quick study.

Today was really just a nice and relaxing day to spend with her cousin, illeana reyes. But given how busy the museum is on days like this, and the constant influx of schools visiting for field trips, Filly is ultimately separated from the woman. Not that it worries her any, the entrance was their designated safe space to come back to if one or the other got lost.

And she had her phone on her for emergencies.

In fact, Ophelia isn't even at all aware she's even lost her cousin. Why? Because her wide brown eyes stare in shock and awe at the gigantic cluster of coral growing near the display glass.

One step forward.

And then two.

With her face practically smushed against the surface, she hears what should be a familiar voice mutter something in awe. Instinctively, she responds, though they are on completely different wavelengths:

"I know, right? Look at all of the beautiful colours, and how healthy it is!"

Finley Black

☉