Aroma Therapy

[Eleanor Bennett]

An audible sigh of relief escaped her when the lord confirmed his previous purchases had in fact been suitable. It was easy to become invested in her work, she didn’t exactly have a lot going on outside of her business- and so when her work fell short or wasn’t perfect, Eleanor often took it a little too much to heart. ”I’m glad, truly Lord Lockheed.” The blonde said honestly, shooting him a warm smile as she pocketed the piece of paper with his contact details on. He was quickly proving to be the kind of customer Eleanor adored: amicable, with a clear idea of the scents he was looking for, and polite too.

It seemed as though the man was certainly busy: tutoring, gardening, being a land-owning noble; Eleanor couldn’t help but admire that about him. ”Very admirable my Lord, your students are certainly lucky to have a kind and dedicated teacher such as yourself.” Her tone was bright and cheery, and Eleanor meant each and every word. When the topic shifted to her business, Eleanor remained energetic: ”Oh yes, I haven’t been in town all that long- but everyone has been so welcoming! Once I’m truly settled, have my garden established, and my bees are comfortable- I’m sure things will only get better!”

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce blushed faintly at the praise, lacing his hands together in front of him to keep from toying with his hair or clothes or other nervous habits. He certainly tried to be a kind and dedicated person. Not because he needed to be called out as such, but simply because he did in fact want to help. Teaching was his way of raising the family that he was more and more certain he would never have. It was a little sad sometimes, but he was making a difference to someone's children. It only barely mattered that they weren't his own. "That's very kind of you to say," he said softly, truly appreciating it.

"Aralore is happy to have your skill in gardening and aromas. I am sure things will only improve for your b-business," he said, meaning it just as much. The economy was still building up but more and more people were able to spend money on luxuries such as the services Miss Bennett offered.

Which actually made him realize perhaps it wasn't just the usual farmers who could use a hand. "P-perhaps I can be of some assistance? I would be quite happy to extend my p-patronage to your establishment?" He hesitated to be more specific, not wanting to overstep if the woman didn't feel she needed the help.

[Eleanor Bennett]

She shrugged, wordlessly brushing off the man’s softly spoken comment. Perhaps it was kind of her to say, but Eleanor had meant it- and she didn’t need praising for making a comment she believed to be true. A good teacher easily made the difference between wanting to succeed and simply sitting there waiting impatiently for the lesson to end. ”Not at all, perhaps I would have applied myself better during my schooldays if my teachers had been a little more like yourself.” Eleanor had not enjoyed being cooped up in a school room all day- waiting to rush home and help her father with his work.

”Thank you my Lord, I hope you’re right in that matter… but I’m willing to work as hard as I need to in order to make that happen.” More words spoken in truth, Eleanor had invested everything she had into this little shop- her own little corner of Aralore. Away from her parents and the family, a small piece of the world that was well and truly hers. She knew a luxury such as fragrance would never be as vital as grain or milk, but hopefully there was enough trade to keep her from returning home with her tail between her legs. Maybe even one day she could trade across the other nations, just as her mother and father did. But for now Eleanor was content with this little town.

To Pearce’s offer, Eleanor didn’t quite know how to respond- and bright blue eyes widened as she struggled to think of what to say. ”That’s, that’s certainly kind of you my lord.” She began, lightly tapping her fingertips on the counter-top as she tried to collect her thoughts. Both her mother and her father had built their name up and they had managed it on their own- but it had been a long (and at times, difficult) journey… Eleanor could achieve so much with the patronage of Lord Lockheed. ”What would you need from me, if I were to accept?”

[Pearce Lockheed]

He supposed she was right. Zander was certainly a shining example of that, though sometimes Pearce wondered if it was less his teaching and more...well, more a different sort of attraction that had kept the younger man's attention in class. Briella might have been a better example. The marquis was an encouraging sort. He tried to find things his students would find relatable and practical, even if their career was in farming or soldiering. Reading open up so many new avenues to people, in their normal lives, but also to be able to own a business like Miss Bennett or to pursue a path they never thought they would. Even if it was to simply read or write for pleasure.

Even his quick initial look around the shop had gleaned that the woman cared and invested deeply in her work. Her attention and knowledge conveyed just as much, but so too did the organized shelves and swept floors and even the lovely sign out front. Considering he didn't see any other staff around, Pearce could only imagine she did all of the work herself, from gardening, harvesting, whatever went into preparing, bottling, cleaning, and selling her perfumes and other merchandise. "Considering you seem to be working all on your own, I think you just might have what it takes," he agreed encouragingly.

What did he need from her? Well, nothing specifically. He was offering to provide her a lot of money in return for product. Not that he specifically needed all that much, but he wanted to provide her with enough business to ensure she could continue to do business, as it were. He didn't need his name on anything and he would of course encourage others to seek her out in turn. "Only to continue to do b-business with me. In larger quantities than this, should something be to my liking. I'd additionally be willing to pay more for exotic herbs you can't obtain here. To further your abilities or p=plant your own." It struck him it would be more useful of course if he could in turn make use of more product. "I own and operate a handful of mines and quarries on the isle. P-perhaps, if there is something you can make that would prove useful to my workers?" The nobleman didn't have the faintest idea if any such thing existed, but it would be better than mountains of lavender scented oils, he supposed.

[Eleanor Bennett]

Eleanor had been more than lucky, growing up in a household that encouraged and nurtured all the traits that would make her a successful business woman- after all, it was her mother who had made her father’s perfumed famous across the kingdoms rather than just the small corner of Aralore in which the Bennett’s had made their home. She wanted her daughters to succeed, and armed them both with the skills to do so. Maths, reading, writing, even some elements of art composition- how to arrange the bottles and vials filled with all manner of flowers, herbs, and oils to be most eye catching to a potential customer. Her father had filled in the remaining gaps in her knowledge: teaching her how to coax flowers into blooms, how to harvest the petals before they were first touched by the morning sun in order to preserve the sweet notes in the resulting oil, and how to capture scents- to bottle them and blend them.

Some things Eleanor had taught herself- like keeping her bees, a hobby at first, but she soon learned that having a hive or two nearby had a wondrous effect on the flowers that grew nearby. Soon she was pouring over each and every book on apiarys she could find, building (or commissioning where her own skills failed her) what she considered to be the perfect hives. The blonde had even taken to planting her gardens in certain ways in order to appease the bees in her care. As a result, her garden and her bees were flourishing in their new home. ”I had a little help, everyone was so kind to me when I moved here- it hardly seemed to take any time at all to settle.” She said warmly, an easy smile coming to her lips at the compliment (even if she couldn’t bring herself to quite accept it outright). ”It really is lovely town.” It had, like she said, taken no time to settle. Already the little village seemed like home and Eleanor was willing to work hard to keep living here, to not only keep her little shop afloat- but to help it thrive if she could.

”Oh! I can certainly do that, it would depend on how much you needed of course- the garden is fairly small and botanicals do have their seasons. But I would be more than happy to continue doing business with you my lord.” Her tone was bright and light, as though she hadn’t even paused to think over it all that much. But when the conversation turned to products that would help his workers, Eleanor tapped a finger against her lips as she thought. There were certainly certain fragrances that could help people relax after a long day, ones that could be as stimulating as a cup of coffee, and even certain tinctures and balms that could soothe aching muscles. But as always, the perfumer would need more information, ”Useful… how?” She asked, tone still bright as blue eyes levelled on the lord.

[Pearce Lockheed]

Pearce nodded. "Aralore has always been a fine place to live. Even moreso now, I w-would wager," he said with a nod. Certainly the new island and new leadership brought it's own hurdles, but the kingdom had done well before and it was doing well now. He could only hope that new leadership could provide lasting security and while he had faith, it was hard with an absentee queen. She'd return soon, he hoped, and that would help.

He nodded at her enthusiasm and her humility. It was a mall garden now, perhaps, but there was no reason it couldn't be bigger. "Splendid," he said with a nod. He realized it might be something to think about longer, it being her business, after all. He shifted slightly, still quite comfortable in the shop, but a little unsure of how to answer her question.

"That, I...I am not s-sure? Admittedly, I only run a company. I d-don't know what might...be useful." He admitted. It was a bit frustrating, because he did like to help and he did like to know things, but he wasn't about to misrepresent himself or his workers and pretend to know what their lives needed in order to be better. "B-but I can ask?" He offered. Unfortunately, while he knew enough of his own likes to be helpfully suggestive, this was a bit of a different beast. "Alternatively, it might help to provide them with some ideas?" Not everyone had the disposable income, especially right now, to be browsing perfumer shops to know what was out there and what they might find useful. But giving someone an example could often open up more ideas.

[Eleanor Bennett]

Eleanor had never had much of a mind for politics, if it wasn’t for the gossip in the market place or idle chatter with her customers- Eleanor doubted she would even know that the queen had been absent. ‘Away with the fairies’ or ‘with her head in the clouds’ were phrases her mother had often muttered under her breath in regards to the young blonde. As much as she tried to keep herself involved in local life and as much as she had hopes to branch out and expand her business: Eleanor didn’t have much interest in the ways of court outside of the romance novels that littered her bedroom in the little flat above the shop. It was fun to imagine, to drift to sleep thinking upon stories of intrigue and romance- but that world seemed so far away, it was difficult to think the cogs turning up above would ever truly affect her and the little life she had carved out for herself here.

”That’s no problem.” Chirped Eleanor, as bright as ever. ”If you ask and get back to me, either send me a message or stop by- and we can get started on that. I wouldn’t quite know what to suggest, there’s the usual relaxing tinctures, salts in which to bathe to alleviate muscle tension… I can’t say I’ve met a miner to ask what they may need.” Shoulders rising and falling in a slight, carefree shrug. ”It helps to ask for complaints, if they’re having trouble with anything- from there we can see if I have anything to hand which may help that.”

[Pearce Lockheed]

Thankfully, Aralore was structured for all sorts. One didn't need to know current politics to offer or accept aid in the slightest. Pearce appreciated that. He tried to keep up on current evens to be helpful and simply because he liked to know. He was invested and often politely nosy. There weren't very many stories of intrigue and romance filtering down beyond the queen's inner circle, at least not at the moment, but he was less interested in the romantic lives of other and more in what affected people on a daily basis. It was all a lot less interesting and a lot less wide reaching than any romance novel. Not that he had read very many. Recently.

He nodded quickly. The excuse to stop by again wasn't necessary, but it was still just as welcome. "Well, even your s-short list there is a helpful start for me to ask after," he said with a smile. He nodded again at her notion of asking after complaints. Pearce had a feeling that might open up quite the rabbit hole. He did his best not to mistreat his workers but there were a lot of them and he didn't directly handle such things normally, he had foremen for that. But he supposed he had to start somewhere in order to move forward, after all.

"That sounds like a p-plan, Miss Bennett. Now, shall I pay you for the samples? I expect you will see me soon enough with notes about these and more," he said easily.

[Eleanor Bennett]

It did sound like a plan indeed, several of them in fact, and Eleanor’s mind was already racing with the promise of possibilities. Not just for the business, for the custom, but for the chance to really test her skills. She didn’t know what ailments and concerns Lord Locheed’s workers might have- but she was eager with anticipation to help them any way she might be able to. Scent was a powerful thing, it had the power to take you back to a moment from your childhood- long forgotten. Eleanor only hoped she could harness it to help the minors as much as she could to ease troubled minds to sleep and help noblewomen catch the attention of the person they hoped to woo.

It was exciting. Thrilling even.

Eleanor couldn’t wait to get started. ”No! Not at all, samples are supposed to be goodwill, a chance to- well- sample.” She laughed at that, bright and airy and with blue eyes sparkling. ”Take them, try them, and if there is something not quite right, please let me know so I can fix it.” Blonde curls bounced around her face as she stepped out from behind the counter. ”I’m looking forward to seeing you again, my Lord.” Making a motion that was half-bow-half-curtsey-all-awkward, Eleanor went to hold open the door for him.

[Pearce Lockheed]

As Eleanor repeated herself, Pearce blushed. Had she said that before? About the samples? Probably. He felt awkward, like he as purposefully trying to show off his wealth when really he had simply forgotten. The marquis liked to think he was a collected and thoughtful individual, if not calm, but clearly he needed to be better about organizing his thoughts. "I appreciate the gesture, milady," he said with a grateful smile.

"I will. Try them. And let you know what I think. Yes," He continued, rambling slightly. "I look forward to working with you, Miss Bennett," he added, and at her parting words, easily offered a bow in return, this a much smoother and confident reflection of the man he was some of the time.

And with that, he he left the shop, samples held carefully against his chest, keen to employ her samples, learn how the pair of them could aid each other, and, hopefully soon, to see her again.

[End Thread]