Ollie
32
Single
Knight/Warden
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Post by Xavier Bolton on Dec 20, 2020 17:46:26 GMT -5
Lavender and chamomile? Xavier had never heard of people stuffing their matresses with things. Normally if he had trouble sleeping he'd simply do some paper work or read a book or go for a walk. Still, it was a little amusing that she'd filled her bed with flowers to help her sleep. Also not as surprising the more he talked to her.
"I think if a man isn't worthy of being relied on he shouldn't be." Xavier didn't want his sisters to rely on him just because he was a man. He wanted them to feel safe relying on him because he was trustworthy and strong. He wanted the women in his life to rely on him because they felt safe with him. He wanted his sisters, his nieces, his future wife and daughters to feel safe in following after his leadership.
As she went on about the healthy properties of honey suckle he found it rather endearing in a way. Xavier liked the flowers because they smelled and tasted sweet and he remembered finding huge bushes of them with his siblings when they were young. During the warmer months when they were in full bloom and the five of them could simply pick as many as they wanted. "I just thought they smelled nice." He stated with a soft chuckle.
As she handed him a cutting of the plant he raised a curious brow. "Thank you?" He asked it as more of a question than anything else. He took the cutting anyway and tied the little pouch to a loop on his belt. Not terribly concerned with how he might look with a plant hanging from him. Though he was certain his sisters would be curious why he was planting something in their yard. Gardening wasn't exactly his hobby. "You're very sweet, Lady Valis."
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Kat
23
Countess
Herbalist shop owner
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Post by Pandora Valis on Dec 27, 2020 23:33:26 GMT -5
Pandora was a little pink at what she said to him but he didn't seem to judge her for it so she was thankful for that at least. She didn't often struggle with sleep but when she did, the scents from her bed helped to lull her off to sleep.
Oh, that was one way to put it, "Does your sister rely on you?" she asked him curiously, a little furrow on her brows at the question. She was often taking care of herself and then her father since he needed it, even though he didn't say it he did. She was curious about him and his family for the simple reason that everyone was scared of them and since he was in the military, she had an extra reason to be nervous but yet she wasn't.
"Oh...well they do smell nice, I love having them in my shop when they are in bloom and if they're not, sometimes I burn the dried flowers in the fireplace to give the scent," she told him with a little smile. She loved all sorts of flowers in truth and what ever her mood was, was what often was being burnt in the shop.
Standing, she smoothed out her skirt a bit, "Well, this one has been growing here for the past fifteen years, it's high time a part of her get spread around," she told him as she saw him tie it to his belt loop. A blush would creep across her cheeks though at his compliment of her, her head bowing some, "Thank you, Sir Bolton." she told him as she would move to kneel down again and pluck off a few more leaves, "Could I offer you some tea back at my shop? Just to thank you for kindly keeping me company out here," she would ask him as she continued to nip at a few herb leaves that she would get up and place into her basket.
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Ollie
32
Single
Knight/Warden
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Post by Xavier Bolton on Dec 27, 2020 23:55:26 GMT -5
Her question took him a bit off guard but he probably should have expected it. "I like to think they do. Nessa a bit more than Farrah." The image of Farrah coming in his office to listen to him hum when she had a hard day or Vanessa seeking him out for advice and comfort came to his mind.
"Farrah enjoys having her independence and helping care for the house since we lost our mother." Though he said it casually talking about his mother always made a sharp ball of emotion want to seize his throat. Still, he swallowed it down without a sign of any distress. "I think I spoil them both too much though." Most everyone at this point knew that the Lady of the Bolton house had passed some years ago. If he listened Xavier could still sometimes hear the pitied whispers from other nobles when he and his family passed by. He hated them. The Boltons were a strong family who didn't need anyones pity or sorrowful prayers.
The comment of how she burrned dried flowers in the fireplace reminded him of how his mother used to put dried lavender in the fireplace to help him sleep after a nightmare. Though he didn't comment on it. He much preferred not talking about her. "I'll be sure to plant her somewhere nice where everyone can see her." Her offer to have tea at her shop made him grin a bit.
"That would be lovely. I get off my shift rather soon so I could accompany you back and return later if you'd like."
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Kat
23
Countess
Herbalist shop owner
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Post by Pandora Valis on Dec 28, 2020 0:07:36 GMT -5
Hearing that made her smile a bit, knowing that his sisters leaned on him and that he seemed to be more than willing to be a rock for them, "I imagine that Nessa is the youngest then?" she asked, a little knowing tone in her voice, it was often the youngest sought more attention than the older siblings.
She would listen to him, hearing the casual tone but she felt like it was a cover, she knew the pain of losing a mother; her own to her father's hands but she had no proof in that regard. "I don't think it's spoiling if you do it out of love and affection. You can't spoil someone with feelings," she told him with a little smile. She was gentle in her words, wanting to convey that no matter how he treated them that as long as it was with love, he'd never spoil them.
That oddly made her brighten, knowing he'd plant it somewhere well seen, "If you have troubles let me know, I don't mind helping," she told him as she would move to collect a few more leaves to place into her basket.
"I would like that, least I will get back home safe and sound thanks to you, let me just nip this one last plant," she told him as she would move to the end and carefully clip off a few leaves. Her touch was very gentle on the plants, acting as if any sudden movement might harm them but in truth it was just her caring for them. She would place the last leaves into the basket before picking up another leaf that smelt of mint and crushing it with her fingers to rub on them, "It helps clean my hands after touching all these plants," she told him as she would brush her hands along her skirt again before picking up her basket and walking around and over to him, "So, do you like your tea on the strong and robust side or more herbal?" she inquired curiously, ready to walk with him out of the forest.
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Ollie
32
Single
Knight/Warden
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Post by Xavier Bolton on Dec 28, 2020 0:31:16 GMT -5
He nodded at her assessment of Vanessa being the youngest. She was the baby. Always had been and always would be and as long as he was alive neither of his sisters would be treated as less than he deserved. It was bad enough with his sister getting married soon that he worried how the man might treat her without him around. If he caught any wind of him so much as raising his voice to her Xavier would rip him apart.
The idea that he couldn't spoil them so long as it was with love made him raise a curious brow. His father had a very different idea given that he thought his mother had spoiled Xavier with affection and coddling. Though he supposed it was different for men than it was for women. He stood aside as she gathered the last of her plants, his eyes scanning around the area. Both as a way to admire the beauty and check for any dangers. He couldn't let any wild animals sneak up on him just because he had sudden company.
Her explanation as to why she rubbed one of the leaves on her hands was interesting. Though he wasn't sure how clean it would get them he was certain it smelled nice. As she finished he offered her his arm as they made their way back down the small trail to the exit of the forest. "Strong tea preferably. Smoked Lapsang if you have it." Though he didn't often drink a lot of tea he did prefer a strong black tea over anything else.
The knight walking out of the forest and back into town with a woman did catch a few strange glances. Xavier wasn't exactly known for casual interaction with women outside of his family. Since he'd thrown himself so far into his work he'd hardly had time to interact with anyone that wasn't family or a soldier of some kind. Though he was letting her lead the way back to her shop.
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Kat
23
Countess
Herbalist shop owner
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Post by Pandora Valis on Dec 28, 2020 0:42:46 GMT -5
Pandora would give a small nod, it was odd hearing nicknames for someone who was intimidating but the more she spoke with Xavier the more she wondered if that was all talk and people were just being petty. That wouldn't be the first time that they were, she was just thankful he was kind to her and didn't pick on her for her hobbies and loves that he learned about.
She would finish up and then when he offered his arm to her this time, she would slip her arm through his as she held her basket in her other hand down at her side, "I do, yes. Do you take honey or sugar in it?" she would ask him curiously. She wanted to know what she had to pull out for him; even though she knew she'd be pulling honey out for herself since she liked her teas a little sweeter when they were stronger.
Walking out with him, she quickly noticed the strange glances hat she got from being on his arm. Were people that surprised? She would look to him for a moment before taking him through town to the front of her shop while she ignored the rest of the glances. Pulling out a hidden chain from around her neck, she would slip the key off and unlock her shop door and open it with a small bell jingling as she did so.
"Come on in," she told him as she would let him enter first. Inside was warm and cozy, the scent of vanilla and coffee beans in the air still. Light played in the shop through the stained glass windows and on the hanging herbs. He would notice there were a few step-stools set about the shop for her to use. The young woman would set her basket down and then carefully reach into the fireplace to pull out a kettle and then went to her counter to set it down to refill with fresh water, "Please feel free to pull up a chair and sit, it will only take a few minutes," she told him while she pulled off her shawl as she set the kettle back into the fireplace. She added in wood and some dry straw to pick the fire right back up to heat the water into the kettle.
With him in the main area, she would slip past the curtain that separated the back of the shop and the sound of water could be heard as she washed her hands and would start to walk about out with a towel drying them.
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Ollie
32
Single
Knight/Warden
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Post by Xavier Bolton on Dec 28, 2020 1:12:03 GMT -5
Once they made it to the shop Xavier released her arm and let his eyes wander about his surroundings curiously. "No sugar or honey. I'll just take it as is." He wasn't much a fan of most sweet things in general. Of course there was nothing wrong with one here and there he much preferred to just let things taste how they naturally were.
The shop felt cozy and inviting. Though it seemed most of the things were meant for someone a bit shorter than he was. That wasn't very surprising though. She was rather small while he was on the taller end of things. As she invited him to pull up a chair he did but he still let his eyes wander about the shop. Wandering over all the different hanging plants and various containers full of already dried flowers. There was an odd mix of smells but it wasn't unpleasant.
Xavier could hear her moving about making the tea and couldn't help but feel a familiar calm he didn't often feel since his mother passed away. "How long have you worked in the shop?" He asked curiously as he ran his fingers through his hair. He let his fingers then trail over some of the soft petals on the plant hanging from his hip.
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Kat
23
Countess
Herbalist shop owner
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Post by Pandora Valis on Dec 28, 2020 1:23:53 GMT -5
Pandora would pull out a rather fancy glass teapot and than an infuser for the tea, while the water heated in the fireplace she would get this part ready and would reach under her counter to pull out a box where she kept her own teas. Looking through the carefully labeled packages she would then pull one out and inhale it a bit and smile.
"Oh my...a few years now, since I was eighteen I believe so five years possibly?" she said as she would fill up the infuser with the tealeaves before settling it into the teapot and then going for the kettle from the fireplace and filling up the pot. It would only be moments before the water started to get perfumed with the tea and change colors as it infused and steeped.
"I hope to always have this place and to pass it down or gift it, I can't really pass anything down without children," she told him with a little chuckle. She lacked a partner in that regard and she hadn't seen herself really with someone but sometimes, like today, she got some funny feelings when talking to a man. Pandora would pull out a set of tea glass and then a small pot of honey for herself to use in her tea, "How long have you been Knight?" she inquired then, reaching under to pull out a box that held a fresh honey cake that was cut into small squares to snack on.
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Ollie
32
Single
Knight/Warden
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Post by Xavier Bolton on Jan 9, 2021 22:08:54 GMT -5
It was interesting to hear that she'd been running the store for some time now. Of course it wasn't unheard of to have business passed down between family members but normally the parents were around to help still. It wasn't often seeing such a young lady running a business on her own.
When she talked about passing down the store he noted she wasn't wearing a ring. Not married? Though he was curious it wasn't really any of his business. The perfume of the tea wafted through the room filling Xavier with warmth and a familiar comfort. The question on how long he'd been a night made him think for a moment.
"Fifteen years I believe." Had it really been that long already? All the years since his mother passed had mostly blurred together. As he took his tea and saw the little cakes the corners of his lips almost tugged into a smile. "My nieces love these." He noted casually. Taking a drink from his cup he let felt the warmth run through his chest and let out a soft sigh.
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Kat
23
Countess
Herbalist shop owner
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Post by Pandora Valis on Jan 9, 2021 22:59:17 GMT -5
Pandora would pull out a small pair of plates and would use a small serving knife to cut into it and then place a couple of pieces and placing them on the plates and then sliding him one, "You've been at it a while, I'm surprised our paths haven't crossed until recently," she told him, a little joke in her tone because it would seem he's out and about a lot as she was.
"So do I...I make them once a week with some of the fresh honey I get. Honey is great for healing so I try to not use too much but I love these cakes; they're not too sweet and they go great with this sort of strong tea," she told him as she would fill her own cup after making sure his was taken care of.
"Do you see yourself always in a military role or changing one day?" she'd ask curiously as she added a cube of sugar to her own tea and stirred it before just holding it in her hands as she leaned against the counter.
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Ollie
32
Single
Knight/Warden
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Post by Xavier Bolton on Jan 10, 2021 16:00:31 GMT -5
It wasn't as odd to Xavier that they hadn't met before. Perhaps he'd met her father at some point and didn't quite remember. Most peoples faces tended to blur together unless he needed to remember them. Others were unimportant. "Well, it's lovely to have met you now."
There was a passing thought that Xavier swore he could listen to her talk about different plant benefits all day. Though it was gone as quickly as it came. He watched her break up the cakes until her question caught him a bit by surprise. "Probably for the rest of my life." The military was all he knew at this point. All that really mattered go him besides his family.
"I don't think I'd be very good at much else." He stated jokingly before taking another drink.
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Kat
23
Countess
Herbalist shop owner
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Post by Pandora Valis on Jan 13, 2021 13:58:15 GMT -5
Pandora smiled at him as he said that, a little pink on her cheeks to that, "As am I," she told him honestly. Her tone told him that she was truly telling the truth, she was no longer scared or leery of the man as she slowly worked to get to know him.
"Well if you're doing it for the rest of your life, come by here and I can be sure to help keep your health up." she told him warmly as she would lift her tea up to her lips and took a sip of it, sighing contently at the herbal taste. It was good and made her sigh happily.
"So do you have any other plants that you like?" she asked him, her attention going to him as she broke off a small piece of cake and popped it into her mouth, her fingers lingering at her lips to get the honey off of the before she picked up a napkin to clean them.
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Ollie
32
Single
Knight/Warden
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Post by Xavier Bolton on Jan 13, 2021 16:07:10 GMT -5
If Pandora had told him she didn't find him scary or intimidating Xavier might have laughed. Most everyone found him off putting, except for perhaps his sister and cousin. It wasn't that he tried to be 'scary'. There had been enough times he was told it had something to do with his face. Whatever that meant. One person told him he gave off a 'mean aura'. That was even more confusing.
"I'll be sure to drop by more often then." He wasn't entirely sure why he agreed to that. It wasn't as if they didn't have nurses and doctors and healers specifically for the military and wardens. Xavier had never really needed to worry about a need for someone to heal him. Still, it would be nice coming back to the warm little shop. It just for some tea and to hear her talk more about plants.
Speaking of, when she asked him what his other favorite plants were Xavier blinked a bit in surprise. "Ah, I'm not really sure." He'd never really spent much time paying attention to them to care. Some of them were good in a pinch for on the go patch ups but that was it. "You certainly know more about plants than I do. What's yours?"
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Kat
23
Countess
Herbalist shop owner
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Post by Pandora Valis on Jan 13, 2021 18:17:23 GMT -5
"I'll happily look for you then!" she told him with a big smile. She wouldn't ever protest to seeing him again, her earlier concerns vanishing into thin air and she was just calm and content with him being around. Oddly a little safe to, even after her initial spook but she felt he wouldn't let something harm her.
That would cause her to pause for a moment and think, her teeth tugging at her lower lip a little bit as she did so.
"Ok, Herb wise I love mint. The smell and use of it is multitudinous. It helps when your feeling sick, freshen a room- brighten a room, it's great in tea's and tonics and has been used for so long as an anti-inflammatory as well," she told him as she smiled a little at that. "Regular plant wise I have always loved pink prairie smoke flowers. They look like pink swirled cotton on top and have such a light scent, it feels soft but I've always struggled to grow them so I don't get them really," she told him, a little sadness in her tone as she spoke of the flower. She thought they were beautiful and magical and who didn't like a little magic?
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Ollie
32
Single
Knight/Warden
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Post by Xavier Bolton on Jan 28, 2021 19:17:17 GMT -5
Xavier found he rather liked her smile. It was warm. More genuine than the sly ones he'd gotten used to over the years. The way the light coming in danced across her soft pink lips. It was calming in a way. Though his outward expression and body language didn't change to show this. To be fair had he wanted to hurt her, found a reason to, he would have done so in the forest. Where there wouldn't have been the possibility of wittnesses.
He quietly sipped his tea as he listened to her talk. Mint did smell nice as least. It had been used as a garnish on enough of his food at home for him to know the scent by now. Listening to her talk about it though made the herb seem more important. It suddenly took on a different place in his mind.
The slight sad shift in her voice as she talked about the flower made him furrow his brows just a bit in concern. Was a flower that special to her? It certainly seemed interesting. He was sure he could use some of his contacts to find one for her. Of just so he could see that smile again. "It sounds as lovely as you." He stated cassually before taking another drink. Pink Prairie Smoke. He'd have to remember that name.
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