Flowers for Arrangements [Antonio & Lovino]

[Deleted]

My apologies, dear,
for all my mistakes

S

leepless nights were common nowadays.

Pale, slender fingers traced the under part of Roderich’s eyes, examining the bags that had formed from countless nights full of studies, writing or just partial insomnia. He didn’t understand what about Russia made it so hard for him to sleep. He abandoned his mirror, bending to splash water in his eyes from his sink. He snatched his towel and cleaned his face before looking out his balcony door. Russia was always snowy. Always cold. So cold that one might think you’d freeze just by living here for too long. Roderich tossed his towel on the bed before fetching his clothes. Of course, Roderich had seen snow, just not always year round. Normally, he only had seen snow in the winter.

A crisp, white shirt was retrieved from his closet along with a pair of dark slacks. Roderich laid them on his bed and stood back, observing his choice. He decided to add his navy coat as an over layer, all the while grabbing a scarf and his cravat to complete the ensemble. With another glance over, Roderich adorned himself with the outfit before preparing his house to be left alone. After turning off anything that could have possibly caused a fire, Roderich retrieved his satchel from his study before departing.

It was earlier in the morning, yet still a good part into the day that people were beginning to gather around the shops and traverse the town per usual. Roderich adjusted his scarf, pulling the cloth to shield his mouth and nose, which were beginning to flush a light pink. Roderich avoided contact with other beings walking the streets, trying to avoid any conflict that might float to the surface. The snow on the side of the roads stood like an impenetrable wall, infallible and true. It was almost unsettling how much snow had heaped to make that wall.

Roderich seemed to shudder, or it might have been a shiver, but needless to say his body shook as he continued his path. His eyes trained to the sunrise, getting a small shock of the light shining in his eyes. He closed them instinctively and squinted towards the light, to protect his eyesight. The sunrise was almost blinding, but it was beautiful all the same. Orange hues mixed with yellow which reflected off the white snow, making the city seem to sparkle and shine in the moment. Roderich allowed himself to smile before remembering his purpose for being outside. He had arranged to meet with Elizaveta, and in no way was the man going unprepared. Being prepared was part of his being, something interwoven into his DNA or soul or whatever you want to identify makes a person a person. Needless to say, preparation was important and Roderich was the king. Yet, he didn’t exactly know how to tackle a meeting with his arranged fiancee. Was it a date? Or was it just an informal meeting for both parties?

With a sigh, Roderich stopped when he had found his desired location. The infamous Little Florist. The shop he had constantly seen on his way to and from his classes and job. Roderich’s breath rose into a small puff as he exhaled while examining the flowers through the front window. He nodded to himself before opening the door to the shop and entering. He removed his scarf as the little bell jingled to signal that someone had either left or entered the shop. He let the scarf fall loosely around his neck, removing it from the front of his face. He began examining the certain bouquets and arrangements around the store, wondering where the owner could be.

✣

tags: Lovino Vargas & Antonio F. Carriedo
word count: 638
notes: lets go toni and lovi

by worldie for steph

[Antonio F. Carriedo]

It had been a fair matter of weeks, months for Antonio to have become settled into his life as the owner of the Little Florist. By this point in time a lot of his responsibilities as a sales representative for the Carriedo group had fallen to work that could be done at home over the phone or internet, with the occasional in person dinner or meeting. This left a fair majority of his time to caring for his flowers and the store that came with them.

It may have been a bit optimistic, but he had even begun the necessary steps to begin selling potted plants and seeds once spring rolled around. This of course required much research on his part. What sorts of plants could survive in Russia? Potted or planted? Were there any hardier varieties of plants he knew from his time in warmer climates? What sort of advice should he give new plant owners? Where should he go to order? It was this task that he was too buried in to notice someone approaching his door, not until the bell had rung. And even that took him a moment, possibly two to register. Telling himself to at least finish the paragraph he was on or else he’d forget – what was he waiting to respond to? Oh, the bell!

“Welcome!” He called, slipping a bookmark into the book on gardening and setting it aside before coming out from the back room to greet his customer with a smile. As practiced customer service as some may automatically be in his situation, Antonio greeted just about everyone in a similar manner. Whether he was in a … ‘professional’ role or not, there was always a smile to be had.

Once he was out in the open, Antonio took note of just who had stepped into his store. Honestly he would have expected to see someone more at one of the high class business parties, or one that his parents attended with other high society folk. The contrast of pale skin containing a single mole against the dark hair, the presence of the long navy coat. Was it – class? Propriety? He became lost trying to come up with the word he was looking for to describe the sort of impression he got from the man automatically, became more in favor of speaking to him and getting a better feel that way. “How can I help you, sir?”

Words: 406

Tags: @stephanie & Lovino Vargas

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[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

Life was quite nice for Lovino in this mixture of a shop and a house. After having gotten used to the fact that the strangers were meant to come in and out the bottom half of the building (Though he still hated every time it happened), the feline mutant learned to at least, not attack every single person who happened to walk in… At least, for the most part. He had gotten used to the ladies, that part wasn’t hard at all. And though he despised how they would want to always pet him or pull his ear or tail, children, too, weren’t that bad. However, men were still hard for Lovino to welcome into the store openly, and he had almost no intention of fixing that. As far as the Italian was concerned, he had already been more than compromising for his human, that he saw no reason to be so even more. At some point, he had to draw the line, and the sex of the customer seemed like a decent place to do so.

At least, to Lovino. What Antonio thought was probably a whole different story.

Grabbing a tomato from the kitchen countertop bowl, the mutant’s ears perked up when the bell rung announcing the arrival of a new customer. The Italian gave it some thought before he decided to check up on the person as always (and really, most of the times the customers were female anyway, so he wouldn’t cause trouble), and bit into his tomato as he headed down the stairs just enough to peek into the store. As usual, his bubbly, idiotic human greeted the customer like he was some king or something, Lovino wasn’t even sure what customer service even was to really care to learn anyway, and naturally the olive green orbs traced up to where the human was looking. When he saw that the customer was a male, Lovino’s ears flattened in an instant, and he froze momentarily on the step he was on. Again, his human didn’t seem alarmed one bit… Guess it was up to him, yet again, to protect this household of intruders.

Licking his fingers and holding the tags around his neck with his other hand to keep them from making too much noise, Lovino took a few more steps down the stairs, changing into his housecat form on the way before he rushed towards Antonio. He rubbed his side up alongside Antonio’s leg, glaring at the man with glasses as he did so, his tail immediately fluffing up to double in size and pulling his lips back to hiss loudly and flash his fangs, hoping it would be threatening enough. He rather not taste blood in his mouth if he didn’t have to.

Word Count: 459

Tags: @stephanie & Antonio F. Carriedo

Notes: Translation; Get out. BI

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[Deleted]

My apologies, dear,
for all my mistakes

R

oderich examined the flowers in the shop. Roses were too fancy, not that Liz didn’t deserve them but it would make Roderich look pretentious. He couldn’t let that stand. Maybe lilies? They were pretty and white, but it gave an apologetic air to the meeting if he brought lilies. With a frustrated head, Roderich couldn’t make this decision himself. It was awful, he didn’t want to look pretentious but he wanted to be cordial to the lady. He continued to mull his decisions over, and not knowing the lady’s favorite flower had made it even harder. His attention was stolen from the lovely flowers as someone, whom he deemed the shop owner, welcomed him into the shop. They gravitated near each other as Roderich offered a nervous smile in return. Maybe he could get some help, this man obviously knew what he was doing.

“How can I help you, sir?” Roderich enjoyed the sound of the foreign voice. Something more pleasant than the shouting that filled the streets of Archadia. His hand rose to rub the back of his neck, his hair tousling slightly. “I have this da- meeting! I have a meeting, yes.” He cleared his throat again as he examined the man. He had sun-kissed skin, meaning he wasn’t native here. Kindred souls. “But. I need some flowers to bring to my meeting…” He rubbed his neck a bit more before he was startled by the hising coming from the cat. Wait, was it a cat? Roderich took a hesitant step backwards, having his experiences with territorial animals. Hansel wasn’t one to let just anyone into Roderich’s house. This cat did not like Roderich, not one bit. Roderich began to blame it on the scent of his dogs before he saw the tags. Those tags were familiar by now. This man had contracted with one of the beings that the government deemed unsafe. Something just made his spirits drop for a second before he returned his attention to Antonio, while still wary of the cat. He approached the store owner to close the space the cat had made. ”But, I need some flowers fro my meeting… and I am pretty clueless when it comes to these things.” These things? What things? Meetings? No, because he had lied about that. He really didn’t understand how to go on a date, as he had never really been on one.

✣

tags: Antonio F. Carriedo & Lovino Vargas
word count: 431
notes: oh roddy you're so awkward

by worldie for steph

[Antonio F. Carriedo]

The tilt to Antonio’s head is on the minute side, just as is the quirk to his brow. Meeting, huh? As in a business meeting? As a business man himself there were very few meetings he could think of in which flowers were expected. And this was coming from a Spaniard, the country of passion! The few times he could remember bringing flowers usually involved the meeting being held at someone’s personal home with their wife. At that point bringing wine and some flowers was rather acceptable. Perhaps sending them to a coworker that was sick or having a baby, but would that be called a meeting?

As he thought Antonio became aware of the pressure on his leg – something he was becoming rather familiar with. With that came a bit of questioning, even on his part, as to how the following situation would ensue. Sure enough, when he glanced down at his feet, he was met with the image of Lovino. Hissing. Showing teeth. “Lovinooo,” he chided, low and more in a pouting manner than any real aggravation. “I thought we were getting better about customers coming in.” Better meaning less injury. Which, fortunately, was becoming less common from what Antonio could tell and remember. There had been less animosity towards women and even the children that would occasionally try and approach him.

When he looks back up to his customer the smile and apology that Antonio gives is practice, turning automatic now when it came to Lovino. As was the trying to sweep the matter away with his words – brightening again to continue. “I’m sure we can get you set up with what you need! To make it perfect though, could I hear some about who your meeting is with, if you don’t mind? Is it a business associate? Do you know anything about them or their tastes?” As he spoke Antonio stepped back – working around cats at his feet beginning to become second nature now – and gestured to some of the bouquets had had on display. “Arrangements with white or yellow roses are generally safe if you don’t know the other person at all, usually trying to keep away from too much color.”

Words: 366

Tags: @stephanie & Lovino Vargas

made by MISSO for use only by BECCA

[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

Lovino was loving his small moment of victory, figuring that the man would now leave, when he saw him take a step back upon hearing him hiss. That would’ve been for the best; again, Lovino much rather not have to attack. As the stranger’s eyes glanced downward a bit however, the mutant found himself lowering his own body more to the floor as if to hide his tags, hearing them clank to one another from the movement. He hated these things… He really did. And someone paying attention to them was not helping his hatred for it one bit. So instead, he crouched to the floor and lashed his tail much like a normal housecat would before pouncing on a toy, his whiskers pulling back to let out yet another loud hiss, opening his mouth wide in hopes that the sight of the fangs yet again would help the man step back even further.

Lovino had learned to ignore Antonio’s constant pouts, sighs, groans, anything noise that came out as a result to him ‘misbehaving’, as the human called it (Though really, he was just protecting his property from strangers. Why was that so hard to understand? Was a store meant to be that vulnerable?). So when the usual pout like whine passed his human, he just dismissed it with a flick of his right ear, his eyes locked onto this stranger. Women and children were easy to ignore; though they had a habit of pestering him with pets and occasional tugs from very young children, they were easy to scare away. Men on the other hand… They tended to ignore Lovino’s warnings all together. It made the cat that much more nervous, afraid that if it came down to it, he wouldn’t be able to keep his human safe… Not that he cared for him or anything, really.

So when this strange man seemed to ignore his warning and took a step forward once more instead of trying to leave, Lovino widened his eyes and quickly unsheathed his claws, his tail puffing up to twice its regular size, speeding up in how it would wave behind him, tapping Antonio’s leg every time. One more loud hiss came from him, trying to get the man to step back once more, or better yet, to hopefully flee from the scene. What happened instead however, was Antonio stepped around him and headed deeper into the store to suggest some of the flowers for the occasion the man suggested.

What? Seriously? Here he was trying hard to kick the man out, and his human just outright ignored all his threats and instead invited him in further? He swore he was going to smash Antonio’s TV later that evening, probably knock it off the counter it stood on. He wouldn’t be able to watch football, then. Maybe that will teach him not to ignore him.

Sliding himself in between his human’s legs like a snake, not caring if he were to fall over after losing his balance or something, Lovino jumped in front of the several suggested bouquet displays. He arched his back and let his fur stand on end all up his spine, now moving to feline growls instead of hisses, the next level of threat. His human might’ve known by having lived with him for a while now; if this was ignored… Lovino was going to lash, hard.

This human had to leave.

Word Count: 571

Tags: @stephanie & Antonio F. Carriedo

Notes: Lovi will most likely attack next post; just sayin. ;P

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[Deleted]

My apologies, dear,
for all my mistakes

R

oderich examined the cat again as he hissed. He looked back up at the man though, making sure he would answer his question. "Well, I've known her for a while now. We have written letters to each other for at least seven years, possibly more." He turned, looking at the flowers on the displays. Peonies, roses, lilies, chrysanthemums and even a small flash of edelweiss. He looked back at the edelweiss, examining it before he turned back to Antonio. ”I'm looking for something friendly, something for a first meeting." He spoke, subconsciously grabbing the silver necklace pendant that hung about his neck.

It was still polished and smooth, with years and years of care taking the necklace hadn't decayed a bit. It was a gift. A special gift. A gift that surfaced sad memories. Christmas exchanges, Italian dinner and movies. Before Roderich knew it, he had drifted off. He glanced back up at the flower merchant before mumbling his apology. "Sorry, I got distracted thinking of the past." He spoke, moving closer to the flowers that the florist had motioned to, moving to examine them. Then the cat appeared, growling and looking like a panther, ready to tear Roderich into pieces with one swipe.

Roderich didn't step back, he just examined the mutants tag more. He caught the small letters making out a name of 'Lovi'. Roderich put his hand to his chin before turning to the florist again. "Is his name Lovino Vargas?" He questioned, motioning to the cat slowly. He had been studying the many mutants that were housed in the underground and sold or rented out to patrons. He had specifically remembered a pair of brothers, Vargas was the last name. Lovino and Feliciano. His files were sitting on his desk at home, open as he had left his studies from the night before. Currently he was working on a paper, and Lovino and Feliciano had been chosen as his subjects. But as Lovino had been contracted, he hadn’t been able to meet the subject at all. He looked at the man, hoping he'd answer him. The mutant was chipped and tagged, so he wasn't doing anything illegal. Maybe Roderich would get more than just flowers on this trip.

✣

tags: Lovino Vargas & Antonio F. Carriedo
word count: 402
notes: wow my shortest post yet the next will be longer

by worldie for steph

[Antonio F. Carriedo]

As he listened to him speak Antonio realized that his first impression of what the man meant could not have been more off. Well… maybe there were some possible instances that were even further down the complete opposite of what a business meeting was… but this was pretty close still! Pen pals meeting for the first time gave him a fair bit more information to go on and use in his suggestion than simply a business partner. As did the lingering glance the other held towards a certain area of the displays that Antonio caught. One of the few times such a man held powers of observation was when it came to flowers and business.

Sadly, that was about as far as his abilities went for the time being. The far off look connected to the fingering of a silver necklace was lost in his following the all too familiar sound of feline growls. The darting through his legs (in a manner more reminiscent to a reptile than a cat in his mind) was caught but not addressed fully. Not until some accompanying sounds set off the alarm bells in his head.

They continued to blare rather loudly within his ears with his next course of action – but alas he continued with it all the same. “Lovi,” he says softly. Antonio starts kneeling down in front of him – pointedly between him and the customer that was on the receiving end of Lovino’s anger – and slowly sliding his hands under the cat’s arms to hold him up. If he got scratched then at least it would be Antonio and not the man behind him. That may at least let some of the aggression out if it did happen. “Please, Lovi? For me? I don’t want you to go over something like this.” They are small and private, his words. Given with an imploring gaze of bright green eyes a dangerous mere few inches from a pair of angry olive colored ones. Fortunately for Antonio the exact phrasing was vague – fortunately because that was not his intention at all.

Nor was it intentional when he automatically shifted to hold Lovino more behind him than not hearing Lovino’s full name. It was a suspicious-seeming move that he would chide himself for later, but he did so unthinkingly without even fully comprehending why hearing that automatically made him feel apprehensive. It may very well simply have been connected to the emotion behind his near begging Lovino just seconds prior. Thinking about how if he did actually hurt someone bad enough there could be an investigation – one that had Lovino not only taken from him and back to the Underground but also possibly punished. That sort of fear in the back of his mind could have been why – yeah… that was it.

He smiled through it though – a businessman to the end. “I’m really sorry about him, I’ll put him upstairs if he causes any more problems.” It wasn’t clear – at least in how Antonio presented – as to whether or not he meant to circumvent answering about Lovino’s name.

Words: 514

Tags: @stephanie & Lovino Vargas

made by MISSO for use only by BECCA

[Lovino Vargas]

He's the meanest little kitty...

The feline mutant’s threats continued, the fangs baring and the claws flashing in the small bit of light. They continued for as long as it was allowed, until Antonio knelt down in front of him, blocking his view to the customer he was blaring his threats towards. As his name was spoken softly, Lovino slowly lowered his lips to cover his fangs and flattened his ears further, the green eyes narrowing into slits. When the hands reached down to slide under his forepaws and lift them slightly off the surface, the claws too retracted immediately to avoid hurting his human.

“Please, Lovi? For me? I don’t want you to go over something like this.”

The words were low in volume, private, loud enough barely for the two to hear. The anger in the feline’s eyes didn’t fade, and he showed the extra motion to make sure Antonio was certainly aware of his current state by lashing his tail several times, but he said nothing back in words. The mouth slowly opened for the cat tried was about to speak, argue back about the man needing to leave, when he too heard the man speak up behind his human.

“Is his name Lovino Vargas?”

Lovino’s furry frame became frozen stiff, his eyes widening slowly. This human knew his name. That was not a good sign, seeing that could only mean, he was a part of the government. Not a guard, seeing he didn’t recognize him from the Underground, but maybe some weird officer who took care of paperworks? That certainly would make sense.

Feeling Antonio’s hold shift on him to hide him more from the man’s view, Lovino gulped slowly, his anger fading quickly away from his posture and gaze. Instead, panic and fear filled them, and the tail that was lashing back and forth was tucked in between his back legs. He tried to keep it subtle, but he was afraid. Afraid that this man could actually do some damage, unlike random customers that would make weak, snarky comments and would leave in fear or annoyance (either way, it didn’t really matter).

Without giving Antonio much of a choice, Lovino let his claws out again and hooked it to Antonio’s sleeve. If he had hands he would’ve been gripping at them, silently begging him to let him stay close by him, and though it would sort of destroy his pride if so, he didn’t care at the moment. He needed to make sure Antonio would keep him in the house, regardless of the danger he quickly picked up on.

“I’m really sorry about him, I’ll put him upstairs if he causes any more problems.”

The Spaniard’s words made Lovino give a small tremble, and he mewed pitifully. There was no way he was going to go upstairs to be alone; he learnt using the human was safer than actually being alone and hiding. At least with the human protecting him, he was able to have a plan B of hiding, instead of just one plan all together, right?

Scrambling to climb onto one of Antonio’s arms, the feline pressed his face against the Spaniard’s chest and mewed, trying to show he was just an affectionate kitten. He was glad Antonio didn’t say whether or not his name was the one mentioned, trying to hide the tags by pressing up along his human’s chest. God damned tags… Why did he even agree to wear them again, anyway!?

Word Count: 576

Tags: @stephanie & Antonio F. Carriedo

Notes:

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