Shipping and Handling Not Included

He was? Tal breathed a quiet sigh of relief as it seemed like his answer wasn't going to get him slapped or thrown out or reported to the girl's father. Hotaru had asked him to come visit her in the Greatwood - well, not him specifically, but her friends, and they were that much, even if she was kind of like a fourth older sister more than a friend, right? - and he needed to stay on Remi's good side so he could get permission to do that and here was his daughter spinning around in a gauzy dress and flirting and oh, Frey, he really hoped he wasn't going to do anything that would get him in trouble here today--

He surrendered his glass without quite processing what Flora had asked, brain still spinning as he nodded automatically to her question. "Uh... yeah. I mean, I haven't been everywhere, but I've been a lot of places, I guess." Compared to the average citizen, at least. "Had t'go all the way out to the Climb for those Gore Core feathers y'asked for." Blinking, he realized he still hadn't handed over the wooden box and he busied his sweating hands with pulling it out of his Bag of Holding and offering it to its recipient as soon as she returned with a fresh drink.

flora

Oh! Right! Her quest! 'You're an absolute doll for doing that by the way!" Called out from the kitchen as she replenishes their drinks, Flora sails back towards him. Trading the champagne glass for the box, Flora sets it down on the mantel above the fireplace and flips it open. The ningo feather looked soft and luxurious while the gore crow feather looked ominous and somewhat sickly. Wrinkling her nose slightly before instantly brightening, Flora flashes Tal a bright smile over her shoulder as she lets the box fall closed.

"Perfect! Now for payment..." And gods, what a setup for a porno this would be. "..you just let me know! I promise I'm good for it."

what doesn't kill me makes me
want you more

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

He'd been called a lot of things before, but Tal had a momentary vision of Ludo appearing and turning him into a literal stuffed dolly if his hands went anywhere they didn't belong. He took the champagne glass back with extreme delicacy and let out a slow, careful breath of relief when Flora went to admire her feathers.

"Yeah, well... all part of the job," he managed with a sickly grin. "Thanks for choosin' Seawright's Courier Service..."

He looked down at the vodka and had a very hard think about the situation and exactly what sort of 'payment' he could request. In the end, though, the reminder of Ru had him nodding to himself and taking a steadying breath. "Actually... could you get your dad t'give me access to the Greatwood? A map would be even better but... I'd like to be able t'vis-- I mean, make deliveries there, too." He reached up to rub the back of his neck uncomfortably, sneaking a glance up to see Flora's reaction to his price.

---

Flora has received Ningo feathers from {se} where we tread
And Gore Crow feathers from Nothing to Fyr

flora

Flora, who had over the season in Torchline learned how to be a very good barterer, was able to disguise her relief behind an expression of thoughtful consideration. "Hmmmm," she hmmmmm'd as if this was more than she'd expected to have to pay.

Turning to Tal, Flora folded one arm across her chest and twitched her lips back and forth. "Well, since you did go to an awful lot of trouble on my behalf..." Letting silence slip between them, Flora eventually nodded. Dramatically. "Yes. I can do that for you." She agreed as if he'd twisted her arm. In reality, this came much cheaper than she'd expected and Flora was nothing but delighted.

Releasing her arm, she held out a hand towards the courier. "Please doing business with you, Tal."

what doesn't kill me makes me
want you more

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!

Tal held his breath as Flora considered his offer, pale eyes steady but hiding his worries that maybe the map had been too much? But at least it gave him room to haggle. Still, Flora kept him waiting until his face started to turn a concerning shade of light blue beneath his brown skin before she agreed to his price.

All of it.

All of it??

His face broke into a broad grin as he drew in a gulp of air, pale eyes bright. "Thanks, Flora! It's been good doin' business with you, too!" He took her hand in a firm grip and gave it a solid shake, beaming. "Cheers!" This time he offered his glass first, and it wasn't even shaking as he clinked her own and took a more moderate drink of celebratory vodka.

flora

They shake hands and clink glasses, and who knows what else might have happened had there not come a sudden shout from the back garden. "-ora! cramp! help!" Rolling her eyes and huffing out an extravagant sigh, Flora shook her head before offering Tal an apologetic pout. "That's Enzo. He's likely knotted himself up like a pretzel doing his Yoo-ga out there or whatever he calls it. Unless you care to see my other half in all his naked glory, I think this is where I leave you."

Crinkling her nose and then downing the remainder of the drink, Flora begins to swan towards the french doors leading out towards their backyard. "Thanks again so much, Tal! Don't be a stranger, okay? Doors' always open!" So saying the courier would be treated to the sound of one twin laughing and the other moaning in pain. For a moment it was hard to tell which was which.

~FIN

what doesn't kill me makes me
want you more

Code blatently stolen from queen of codes, Sky!