Post by Glade on Jun 14, 2022 17:17:10 GMT
Co-written with the wonderful Riah
This is a follow up to Tall Tales for Spring - 28/04 - Glade
In the morning, Glade enters Fiore Popolare with the same smile on her face and her branches still filled with white magnolia flowers. This time, however, one branch stands out as it is filled with multi-colored lilacs, forming almost a gradient from blue, purple, to violet, and all of the flowers having three white flower buds at the tips. She holds one such flower in her hands, quizzically.
“Good morning.”
There is one other patron at the moment, an elderly woman with fine lines that match the fine features of her elven face. She gives Glade a small smile and nods, then goes back to reading her book and sipping what appears to be tea. The pot is crystal and as Glade watches she sees a small fish come swimming between the blossomed flowers within.
“Good morning and salutat- Oh, Glade. What a pleasant surprise. You’re already up and about!” Leona comes out from somewhere behind the willow tree. Her auburn hair is in two plaits that hang down over her shoulders, decorated with flowers and covered by her witch’s hat, which sits on top of her head at a stylish angle. “I thought you would have stayed dancing until dawn! Did you have fun last night?”
“Oh yes, it was magnificent. In fact, I came here to thank you for inviting me and my friends. It was more than what I could have imagined, the play, the atmosphere, the dancing, the tree.” Her whimsical expression tones down a little: “Speaking of the latter two,” her mood gave a hint of embarrassment, “I kind of fell asleep a little after midnight. Loud parties and dancing isn’t really my thing. Which also leads me to the second reason I’m here.” Fidgeting with the lilac flower in her hands she asks, “Do you know anything about this?” She shows Leona the flower and tilts her head to show the new branch.
Leona’s eyes light up as Glade holds out the purple flower. “I might know a few things. What would you like to know?”
Glade, stammering a little as she’s searching for the proper words and phrases, says, “Well… starting with what it is, exactly? I mean, how do I put this… when I fell asleep, it was under the lilac tree that bloomed during the dance and when I woke up this morning, one of its branches was among mine. Thing is, I usually have to put it there myself. This is the first time a tree has ever put one of its branches by its own.”
“Ah! You have been blessed with its first flowers then! That really says something – about you, but also your connection to what the tree is known to represent!” Leona noticed Glade’s confused look and smiles. “Do you know the language of flowers and plants at all, Glade?”
“‘Language of flowers and plants’? Well, I know that sylvan is the language spoken by many fey, but other than that there’s druidic, the language that my mentor taught me… No. I mean, sort of… I know there’s a way to communicate with plants and trees with magic, but I’m still practising on that part.”
The mixologist shakes her head. “I mean something a bit more simple,” Leona says smiling. “Take the forget-me-not flower. It’s fairly obvious in its meaning — a promise to keep the memory of someone who is no longer with you alive. For other flowers and plants, their language, their meaning can be more obscure.”
Leona leads Glade back to the bar where she begins to work on a brew. Pulling out her wand, she gives it a little flick, and a pale vapour begins to pour into a decanter.
“Did your mentor teach you this?”
As Leona was explaining the forget-me-not flower, Glade mouths ‘oh, this’ and a hint of embarrassment hits her as she realises what should have been an obvious answer.
“She did… but it was mostly the forest knowledge surrounding plants and flowers, not much, almost none, when it came to people’s views and conceptions on flowers and what they think each means. I tried to learn more of such things on my own when I was travelling here. I know of the more obvious ones, like the forget-me-nots, but not that much when it comes to the more less known ones.”
“It’s not what people think they mean, it’s what they actually mean. But as for your new branch…” Leona passes Glade the drink she’s been making — it’s a fragrant, relaxing tea with a smokey froth topping. “I have not seen them before last night, though I’ve heard of them in legends and myths of the Feywild.”
“Legends and myths of the Feywild… urm. Well, sadly I don’t know much about them. I only have a vague feeling of the three white buds at the end of these lilacs and how they match with the symbol of Lliira but I don’t see how-…” she stops mid-sentence, but not from the smell of the tea.
“We saw her last night!” Glade whispers, realisation written on her face as she recalls what she saw during the dance. “A woman with the brightest of blue eyes,” she says louder this time, “with long blond hair filled with pastel colours.” Her face is still awe-struck.
Leona nods. “Yes, young Glade. That is indeed who we all saw. And it was all thanks to the effort you and your adventurer friends did in preparation!”
“We…” But before she could say another word, her cheeks turned a light pink-ish hue as she shyly sipped her tea as she just realised that they had gained the attention of a deity.
“Lliira is at least the kind of deity you’d want to notice you.” Leona says, noticing Glade’s slight nervousness. She suddenly leans in and whispers conspiratorially, “I heard Queen Merla managed to gain her alliance for the Summer Court back when things were in Pandemonium — this being before Queen Nicnevin became the Fey Ascendant. No one quite knows how she did it but she did and that might be why Lliira was able to partially manifest in the Theatre.”
“I see,” Glade says with a pensive expression, cheeks still slightly pink. “It’s quite something to take in. I may need some time to reflect on it.”
Upon taking another sip from her tea, she seems to snap back. “This tea… this is what I liked making back at home. How do you… know which one?”
Leona tilts her head a little to the side. “It’s my job to know. Did I make it right?”
Glade smiles warmingly and nods, the pink in her cheeks finally fading away. “I sometimes had the tendency to go a little over on the honey, but yes, it is perfect.”
Sheepishly she asks, “Do you think you can teach me,” she abruptly corrects herself, “I-I mean, just a little, I-I’m not asking for your trade secrets, it’s just that…” she looks around the shop for a couple of seconds “It’s just that, what you’ve done to the shop is beautiful, and I would love to share this kind of beauty with others.”
Leona’s kind smile freezes a little but she quickly recovers. “I’m not much of a teacher, but, um-” She looks around and starts busying herself tidying up. “W-what sort of things are you looking to learn?” She asks, her voice rising a little.
“Oh, many things, but mostly ways to improve my… well, my way to… how do I say this to be able to share beauty and joy better? I clearly have a lot more to learn, why else would that girl, Blessed, not accept the flower crown I gave her. And you,” Glade looks around at all the flower decorations, “are clearly way better than me.”
“Ah,” Leona sighs, visibly relaxing. “If that’s what you want to do then it’s more a matter of finding the thing that you can do that also brings you joy. Though I am flattered you want to, trying to copy what I do might not be the best way for you to spread beauty and joy. This,” she opens her arms, “is my passion. It has taken me many years to figure it out, and even then I’m still learning.”
She leans forward again, whispering quietly so the one patron in the bar doesn’t hear. “And between you and me, Blessed is a sweet girl, but I wouldn’t be upset that she didn’t accept your flower crown. She’s, how do you say… a little superficial?”
Glade gives Leona another smile, “Yes,” she says downing the rest of her tea, followed by a slow exhale as she lets the warmth of the tea flow. “You are right. However, I think I will try my hand in painting,” she says as she gets up and prepares to leave. “I could ask that Toothy guy, he seems to be skilled in it. I always wanted to at least try it, it’s amazing what people can do with a small brush and some paint.”
“Yes, that’s a wonderful idea!” Leona says brightening.
“Well, I’ll be heading off. Sadly, I’ve got some of my own duties to attend to, but I will come again at a later date since I want to get to meet Nasiphe more. I have only heard stories, but I never met a dryad before.”
As she takes her leave, Glade waves to Nasiphe, leaving a gold coin for the tea along with the singular purple lilac flower with three white buds at its end.
This is a follow up to Tall Tales for Spring - 28/04 - Glade
In the morning, Glade enters Fiore Popolare with the same smile on her face and her branches still filled with white magnolia flowers. This time, however, one branch stands out as it is filled with multi-colored lilacs, forming almost a gradient from blue, purple, to violet, and all of the flowers having three white flower buds at the tips. She holds one such flower in her hands, quizzically.
“Good morning.”
There is one other patron at the moment, an elderly woman with fine lines that match the fine features of her elven face. She gives Glade a small smile and nods, then goes back to reading her book and sipping what appears to be tea. The pot is crystal and as Glade watches she sees a small fish come swimming between the blossomed flowers within.
“Good morning and salutat- Oh, Glade. What a pleasant surprise. You’re already up and about!” Leona comes out from somewhere behind the willow tree. Her auburn hair is in two plaits that hang down over her shoulders, decorated with flowers and covered by her witch’s hat, which sits on top of her head at a stylish angle. “I thought you would have stayed dancing until dawn! Did you have fun last night?”
“Oh yes, it was magnificent. In fact, I came here to thank you for inviting me and my friends. It was more than what I could have imagined, the play, the atmosphere, the dancing, the tree.” Her whimsical expression tones down a little: “Speaking of the latter two,” her mood gave a hint of embarrassment, “I kind of fell asleep a little after midnight. Loud parties and dancing isn’t really my thing. Which also leads me to the second reason I’m here.” Fidgeting with the lilac flower in her hands she asks, “Do you know anything about this?” She shows Leona the flower and tilts her head to show the new branch.
Leona’s eyes light up as Glade holds out the purple flower. “I might know a few things. What would you like to know?”
Glade, stammering a little as she’s searching for the proper words and phrases, says, “Well… starting with what it is, exactly? I mean, how do I put this… when I fell asleep, it was under the lilac tree that bloomed during the dance and when I woke up this morning, one of its branches was among mine. Thing is, I usually have to put it there myself. This is the first time a tree has ever put one of its branches by its own.”
“Ah! You have been blessed with its first flowers then! That really says something – about you, but also your connection to what the tree is known to represent!” Leona noticed Glade’s confused look and smiles. “Do you know the language of flowers and plants at all, Glade?”
“‘Language of flowers and plants’? Well, I know that sylvan is the language spoken by many fey, but other than that there’s druidic, the language that my mentor taught me… No. I mean, sort of… I know there’s a way to communicate with plants and trees with magic, but I’m still practising on that part.”
The mixologist shakes her head. “I mean something a bit more simple,” Leona says smiling. “Take the forget-me-not flower. It’s fairly obvious in its meaning — a promise to keep the memory of someone who is no longer with you alive. For other flowers and plants, their language, their meaning can be more obscure.”
Leona leads Glade back to the bar where she begins to work on a brew. Pulling out her wand, she gives it a little flick, and a pale vapour begins to pour into a decanter.
“Did your mentor teach you this?”
As Leona was explaining the forget-me-not flower, Glade mouths ‘oh, this’ and a hint of embarrassment hits her as she realises what should have been an obvious answer.
“She did… but it was mostly the forest knowledge surrounding plants and flowers, not much, almost none, when it came to people’s views and conceptions on flowers and what they think each means. I tried to learn more of such things on my own when I was travelling here. I know of the more obvious ones, like the forget-me-nots, but not that much when it comes to the more less known ones.”
“It’s not what people think they mean, it’s what they actually mean. But as for your new branch…” Leona passes Glade the drink she’s been making — it’s a fragrant, relaxing tea with a smokey froth topping. “I have not seen them before last night, though I’ve heard of them in legends and myths of the Feywild.”
“Legends and myths of the Feywild… urm. Well, sadly I don’t know much about them. I only have a vague feeling of the three white buds at the end of these lilacs and how they match with the symbol of Lliira but I don’t see how-…” she stops mid-sentence, but not from the smell of the tea.
“We saw her last night!” Glade whispers, realisation written on her face as she recalls what she saw during the dance. “A woman with the brightest of blue eyes,” she says louder this time, “with long blond hair filled with pastel colours.” Her face is still awe-struck.
Leona nods. “Yes, young Glade. That is indeed who we all saw. And it was all thanks to the effort you and your adventurer friends did in preparation!”
“We…” But before she could say another word, her cheeks turned a light pink-ish hue as she shyly sipped her tea as she just realised that they had gained the attention of a deity.
“Lliira is at least the kind of deity you’d want to notice you.” Leona says, noticing Glade’s slight nervousness. She suddenly leans in and whispers conspiratorially, “I heard Queen Merla managed to gain her alliance for the Summer Court back when things were in Pandemonium — this being before Queen Nicnevin became the Fey Ascendant. No one quite knows how she did it but she did and that might be why Lliira was able to partially manifest in the Theatre.”
“I see,” Glade says with a pensive expression, cheeks still slightly pink. “It’s quite something to take in. I may need some time to reflect on it.”
Upon taking another sip from her tea, she seems to snap back. “This tea… this is what I liked making back at home. How do you… know which one?”
Leona tilts her head a little to the side. “It’s my job to know. Did I make it right?”
Glade smiles warmingly and nods, the pink in her cheeks finally fading away. “I sometimes had the tendency to go a little over on the honey, but yes, it is perfect.”
Sheepishly she asks, “Do you think you can teach me,” she abruptly corrects herself, “I-I mean, just a little, I-I’m not asking for your trade secrets, it’s just that…” she looks around the shop for a couple of seconds “It’s just that, what you’ve done to the shop is beautiful, and I would love to share this kind of beauty with others.”
Leona’s kind smile freezes a little but she quickly recovers. “I’m not much of a teacher, but, um-” She looks around and starts busying herself tidying up. “W-what sort of things are you looking to learn?” She asks, her voice rising a little.
“Oh, many things, but mostly ways to improve my… well, my way to… how do I say this to be able to share beauty and joy better? I clearly have a lot more to learn, why else would that girl, Blessed, not accept the flower crown I gave her. And you,” Glade looks around at all the flower decorations, “are clearly way better than me.”
“Ah,” Leona sighs, visibly relaxing. “If that’s what you want to do then it’s more a matter of finding the thing that you can do that also brings you joy. Though I am flattered you want to, trying to copy what I do might not be the best way for you to spread beauty and joy. This,” she opens her arms, “is my passion. It has taken me many years to figure it out, and even then I’m still learning.”
She leans forward again, whispering quietly so the one patron in the bar doesn’t hear. “And between you and me, Blessed is a sweet girl, but I wouldn’t be upset that she didn’t accept your flower crown. She’s, how do you say… a little superficial?”
Glade gives Leona another smile, “Yes,” she says downing the rest of her tea, followed by a slow exhale as she lets the warmth of the tea flow. “You are right. However, I think I will try my hand in painting,” she says as she gets up and prepares to leave. “I could ask that Toothy guy, he seems to be skilled in it. I always wanted to at least try it, it’s amazing what people can do with a small brush and some paint.”
“Yes, that’s a wonderful idea!” Leona says brightening.
“Well, I’ll be heading off. Sadly, I’ve got some of my own duties to attend to, but I will come again at a later date since I want to get to meet Nasiphe more. I have only heard stories, but I never met a dryad before.”
As she takes her leave, Glade waves to Nasiphe, leaving a gold coin for the tea along with the singular purple lilac flower with three white buds at its end.