Child's Play - A Hermitcraft 8 AU

April Prompt List - Day 3: Meadow - Joe

(Author's notes: This one's coming out a little later. It's growing closer to eleven as we speak. Welp, still got it in today! Had a bit of a busier day, but an enjoyable one. So here's a bit of a shorter chapter that yesterday's, of some fluffiness again. FYI, this is about the writing vibes that you get from me after 8pm. Also, for those curious, again, @HermittpadRecap---hopefully it works this time---created the prompt list. There's still four more days left if you'd like to join us writers!) 

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Joe sat at the bench underneath the canopy at his flower shop. After a rough respawn a few days ago (stupid spider farm was much more difficult to make than anticipated), he decided to chill at the shop with a book, just waiting for costumers.

Hermits had come in here and there, typically in waves around mid-day. The allium had been a popular flower as of late, hermits wanting the new spore blossoms in their builds. Along with that, common ones were sunflowers and roses, cheaper than the rest and perfect for different dyes. Occasionally the oxeye daisies or azure bluets would be bought in bulk, given they were useful for light gray concrete. That being said, Joe wasn't worried about the stock at the moment, opting for a break to read through the Hobbit again.

The time between respawns was his favorite. Responsibility went out the window aside from a few shops he could run or completing item collection for future builds. ...and the bit of "schooling" Cleo wanted him to get through (any studying for their future base along with any science studies that could improve their life. If they could do the "extracurricular" work whenever they were growing up, they wouldn't have to waste their precious building time).

Today though—today—he wasn't listening to that rule. Because Joe had made it his goal to finish the entire Lord of the Rings trilogy on top of the Hobbit in the time between child and adult. Ambitious, maybe? But definitely doable with a few late nights.

The sun beat down comfortably, most of it hidden by the shade of the woolen canopy. Today it was a bit breezy, breaking up the heat. Really, it was the perfect day to get all this reading out of the way.

Cleo was busy doing who-knows-what (actually, Joe was pretty sure she was setting up her own business franchize of energy drinks, and that could take a few weeks to get started at best), so again, there would be no interruptions.

Just as he was getting to the part where the crew was meeting up for dinner, right before they ventured into the forest (with the spiders), a hermit came in to talk flowers.

Joe put his book down, about to grumble at the interaction (but put on a smile, knowing that he had to present his best for everyone—he didn't want to ruin someone's mood by being all grumpy, and if someone was already in an off mood, he felt he shouldn't contribute to it), and looked up at who'd walked through the portal.

"Howdy!" he exclaimed, standing up at the counter. "How may I help you today?"

In front of him was what seemed to be an absolutely exhausted Grian (really, Joe would be surprised if they got through this order in only a few minutes. It seemed unlikely the other could even think.), for some reason here with the goal of flowers when he should really be aiming for sleep.

"I was–uhm–looking for flowers."

Yep. Very helpful. "I'll be right on it if you can just tell me what you need."