Bones, Flowers and New Acquaintances

Chapter 1 - not so mundane

It was a calm and pleasant morning. The sun was shining through the transparent roof of the greenhouse as Emma was watering her plants. She had a notepad in her hand, checking off the batches of flowers that had already been watered and checked.

It's spring, and spring doesn't just mean a bountiful harvest of flowers it also means that; the breeze wasn't ice cold, and It wasn't oven hot either. The breeze felt like a nice warm embrace.

Emma adjusts her straw hat before tucking her oak brown hair behind her ear, her peachy skin reddened a bit from the sun; her jade green eyes that laid on top of a field of freckles were focused on her plants. Emma is at the age of 22, and she's well liked and known around the neighborhood. People might even describe her as a sweetheart.

Once she finishes her routine, she checks in with her scarecrow at the front desk of her flower shop, placing her notepad on the desk, then she gets into a chat with Mr. Scarecrow

"Tring Tring!"

The phone blared loudly, snapping her out of the quiet morning. She picks up the phone.

She greets with her usual cheery tone.

"Good morning! What may I help you with today?"

A breathy sigh could be heard on the other end.

"...the usual, please."

The other end hangs up curtly.

This only meant one thing to Emma. It was that one regular that always bought a bouquet of "Julia Child" roses. Once in a blue moon, this peculiar regular would ask for different flowers, but every time he said, "the usual," he always referred to the yellow tinted roses.

She never really asked him about anything despite having a friendly relationship with her regulars. It was odd it only now did it occur to her to try and start a conversation with him. It's been a year, and it won't be thay awkward, right? He always looked so inapprochable, but Emma won't let this dishearten her.

She hummed whilst jotting down his name in the list of deliveries for today.

"- Aesop Carl"

Her gloved hands gently pick up the list, pinning it onto the bulletin board with an adorable daisy pin.

Emma wraps up all the flower orders.

"Cattleyas? Check! Seems like that's all for today"

The young woman goes around the block, delivering the flowers with an unwavering, serene smile. She deliberately went to Aesop's place last.

"Knock knock"

Emma knocks gently on his door. The door slowly swung open, a masked man with grey hair showing up in front of her. He looked down at her while holding a scalpel in his left hand.

Contrary to Emma, people around the neighborhood don't know much about Aesop except from the fact that his occupation was an embalmer. This fact just made him just a bit more obscure.

Emma gives him the roses..

Aesop quietly hands over an envelope per usual, containing his payment for the roses. She puts the envelope in her pocket. Emma won't let this moment slip, though. She speaks up as he was about to close the door.

"The weather's really nice today, it's really good for the flowers"

They looked at each other quietly, the "conversation" falling into a deep silence. Aesop's eyes narrow, looking down at Emma before turning his gaze aside.

They both stood there for a hot second, both equally speechless; Aesop is slowly retreating behind the door.

"Hold on-"

Emma swiftly steps forward and instinctively grabs him by the wrist.

This made it even more awkward, the tension was so thick you could probably cut it with a knife. Emma is just hoping to chat with him. It doesn't really look like he's that busy. Aesop jumps back in shock, unconsciously blushing out of embarrassment due to accidentally making eye contact with her.