video; un: naruhodo

[convene]

I feel like it's such a light hearted thing to ask considering the atmosphere in Trench, but I received flowers from someone. I don't know who they are from, however, they were just left here.

[He pauses, before he gestures to the small bouquet of roses and lumenflowers that is currently sitting in a make-shift vase on his table. Next to it is a small wool goat]

I was wondering if anyone knew the best way to preserve them. I know they won't live forever in water as they no longer have a root system... [He sighs, wincing a little as he moves.] But I'd like to keep them in some fashion.

To whoever left them for me: thank you. I really appreciate them.

Comments

[everyrosehasits]

You can hang each flower upside-down until it dries out. There's no way to keep flowers fresh forever, but that way you still have something of the flowers.

[convene]

I see. They'll be quite brittle once they dry, won't they? I'll have to be careful when I do something like that.

I really appreciate the advice. I wasn't sure what would be the best process.

[everyrosehasits]

They will but you can still gather them in an arrangement after they dry. At that point, you can put them inside of a glass box that's been framed and have them as a permanent decoration.

It's the least I can do. This place has already taught me so much about being strong, but I'd like to share what I can about the gentler arts my world dictated.

[convene]

That's not a bad idea. I was told I could press them in a book, but displaying them in a frame would make for a nice decoration.

I suppose that would mean finding a framed glass box to put them in. [He laughs lightly.] I just hope I am careful enough to preserve them.

[everyrosehasits]

Thank you. And pressing them in a book works as well, though it renders the flowers into a two-dimensional space. Hanging them to dry keeps them three-dimensional.

[guess who's been reading about physics in Gaze?]

I'm sure that such a thing would be available for a certain price? I'm still not entirely used to how people do business here, but I've gathered a large number of pretty shells and geodes, just in case.

Video ; @samsa

[anthropophagite]

You can air dry them, or dip them in wax. You can also press them, like inside a book.

[convene]

Dipping them in wax might work, but pressing them in a book - that sounds promising.

How does that work?

[anthropophagite]

You will need a heavy book and absorbent paper. In the middle of the book you place the flower between absorbent paper sheets and after just close the book. The water from the flowers will be absorbed by the paper and they will dry out after a month or so.

if you don't have books, you can use pieces of wood instead and put the flower between them.

[convene]

Wood might be easier for me to find. I'm not sure where I'd be able to locate absorbent paper. Though I suppose it doesn't hurt to look around first and see what I can find.

[He smiles at the camera, though he's still getting used to where he needs his eyes to focus considering this technology is well beyond him.]

Thank you. I appreciate the advice. Have you done this before? The pressing of flowers, that is.

[anthropophagite]

A thin cloth might help as well, since the idea is to absorb water. As long there is pressure to the flowers so they dry out, it works well. if you need help, i can try to give you a hand.

[ kaneki smiles back at the other, nodding after ] And yes. From time to time I'd leave small flowers drying between the books I read.

un: natsume.takashi

[natzoom]

Ah, someone already mentioned but yes -- you can press them and it preserves the colors fairly well. You can do that with most plants.

[convene]

Oh! I wasn't aware pressing them would preserve the colors. I think that will be the option I go with.

What is the best way to do that?

[natzoom]

I believe it's because it keeps them away from the sun, and there's less fading in that case. [He's a little awkward talking about it because...flowers aren't usually a teenage boy's interest, but.]

A heavy book is usually best, though it should be one that you're all right with perhaps staining a bit. Sometimes the color transfers onto the pages.

[convene]

Ah! Yes, of course. [That makes a lot of sense.]

I'll keep that in mind. I'll need to find a heavy book, then, to give this a try. I really appreciate the advice here.

Have you done something like this before? [There's no judgment in his voice when he asks it either.]

[natzoom]

Happy to help. [And he is, somewhere under the awkwardness. The flowers seem to be special to the stranger, after all, and Natsume is nothing if not understanding of sentimental urges.

He does turn a little red at the question, raising and lowering his shoulders in a shrug.] I-I had a relative who was very interested in it, and she taught me when I lived with her.

video | timaeusTestified

[givehead]

(Oh hey. First time actually seeing this guy. Dirk bothers with a video response.)

Looks like someone might have a crush on you.

(He has no idea how to preserve flowers so he's just...gonna stick with teasing the guy.)

[convene]

Perhaps. I'm surprised that someone might.

[Surprised, maybe a little concerned considering they're in Trench, but he smiles all the same.]

I'm flattered by the flowers. I just wish I knew who it was so I could thank them properly.

[givehead]

(Dirk had recently gotten flowers for the first time ever himself and honestly? It was a stellar feeling. His grin is a little more genuine than he would ever care to admit.)

That's cool, dude. You seem like you deserve something nice like that.

(From their brief conversations, anyway. The guy wasn't a raging asshole which was pretty much Dirk's only real bar.)

They are probably too shy to let you know right now. Why are you surprised? You seem like a handsome dude with a mostly okay personality.

[convene]

You think so? That's kind of you to say.

[Maybe he does deserve something nice. That's certainly something to think about.]

Oh, I'm not sure I'd call myself handsome. [Confidence issues, clearly.] But I suppose I just...didn't think someone would like me enough to give me flowers? It's rather sweet.

[Maybe they were just shy, and he definitely called them out over the Omni without meaning to.]

[givehead]

Yeah, bro. You seem like a nice dude. (At the very least, he wasn't annoying as hell.)

Oh. Nah. You're objectively hot. (Dirk really is out here making it sound like an irrefutable fact.) It's the jawline. You kind of look like my ex-boyfriend except you have worse hair. (Dirk.) No offense.

The world's full of surprises, man. Maybe they will feel encouraged that you think it's a nice gesture.

video; un: ushiromiya

[entreats]

[ Does Ange know anything about flowers in that sense?

Absolutely not. And yet this message stands out enough to her for her to reply anyway. ]

Someone just randomly gave you flowers? And without even attaching a name to them?

[ It's that last part that's mostly interesting to her. Otherwise it'd just be a gift from one person to another, but now there's some mystery about it, isn't there. ]

[convene]

Yes! And this wool goat. [It's a small trinket, certainly, but there's some fondness for it as he holds it up to be seen in the video.]

I wish there was a name. It'd be nice to actually thank them. [He sighs.] It's quite strange to receive a gift like this, isn't it?

[entreats]

I mean, the timing is a little off. [ It's a sort of statement that might seem odd, but thankfully Ange doesn't leave it at just that.

Because after the briefest pause, just a moment, she adds: ]

There are roses, after all. If it was a few weeks earlier, I'd say a secret admirerer gave you a Valentine's gift.

[convene]

Valentine's gift? [Another holiday he's not terribly familiar with. Something they don't celebrate in Japan... yet.] I mean, I knew of people exchanging cards but nothing so elaborate as flowers or trinkets.

[Ahh Victorian traditions.]

[entreats]

[ Honestly, Ange is more used to the idea of exchanging chocolates, but she's picked up from other worlds enough at this point to know that flowers are pretty common too. ]

No, they definitely exchange flowers in other places too. [ Whether 'places' means other worlds or other cultures there - either works, right? ] Especially roses. Red roses are supposed to be the most romantic flower or something.. I think, anyway. I'm not exactly good with all this stuff.

[ She'll readily admit that. ]

It could be that someone's got a crush on you and is too shy to tell you.