Like Any Other Day [F]

Sadiq entered his shop early in the morning, switching the sign around to open before leaving the front of the shop and heading to the back. He’d gotten in a batch of seeds from the south the other day, and was hoping to see how those flowers were faring. So far they’d looked rather sickly, but he had high hopes they would live, even if he could never sell them to customers.

Not that he seemed to care much about said customers. He wasn’t operating the store for the money after all, but rather the enjoyment of the place. There was so little for him to spend the money on anyway—it couldn’t buy him what he wanted, so what was the point?

Completely ignoring the front of the shop now, he set about pruning one of the bushes he was working on before going around and watering the flowers that needed to be watered that morning, checking up on the others and finally cutting a few, taking them to the front of the shop. If today was a quiet day, he wasn’t sure he would mind that.

Roisin traipsed down the side walk of one of Eden's main thoroughfares. Her path swayed slightly, pausing here, darting there, even spinning in place and double back a few times. There wasn't any reason to hurry, nor any set destination in her mind. She was simply familiarizing herself with the city and enjoying the sunshine. It was so beautiful today. Days like this reminded her of heaven so much that she could've sung at the tops of her lungs for joy. But she didn't. It hadn't taken her very long to learn that bursting into song at random intervals wasn't really well received. At least not in any of the places she'd been so far.

She was feeling rather pleased with herself at the moment. Her wings were actually hidden for once! It hadn't been easy, no where near as easy as they told her it should be, and true, her skin was still looking somewhat luminescent... but she could pass for human! It was the longest she'd ever been able to keep herself suppressed, too!

She hummed the tune to an old hymn that humans didn't sing any more. It was a shame too. She'd always loved the melody. It was simple and sweet, a thing of joy and beauty. A bright spot of color caught her eye. One of the store windows brimmed over with flowers. On a whim she opened the shop door and stepped inside so she could see them better. The little bell on it jingled pleasantly, so she reached up and tapped it a few more times to hear the sound again. She giggled as the sound ended and sauntered over to the flower displays. She ran her finger lightly over the petal of a glorious lily in full bloom. She leaned closer so she could smell it. Heavenly.

Sadiq's head snapped up at the sound of the bell, blinking half in surprise before scooping his mask up from where he'd set it down earlier. Readjusting the white half mask on his face as he walked out, he glanced over the small woman that had entered his shop.

Leaning against the counter, he continued scooping her out before finally speaking. "Why hello there. Is there anythin' I can help you with?"

Roisin was almost startled by the unexpected voice behind her. The man who spoke was tall, much taller than her at least. The mask was new to her, she hadn't seen any other people wearing them. She was curious about why he'd wear it, but curbed her curiosity for the moment.

She beamed at him. "That's so nice of you to ask! I'm fine at the moment. I just wanted to stop in and smell the flowers." She indicated he lily she'd been at only a second before. "They looked so beautiful from the street." She turned back to the man. "Can I help you at all?" It was nice to offer, and she'd be only too happy to assist him. She hadn't had a chance to really help anyone yet.

Sadiq's brows shot up behind the mask, and he was quite glad she couldn't quite see his emotions. "Well, yeah, the flowers are quite beautiful," he replied, stepping to one side of the counter and then forward, coming to stand closer beside her. "The lilies are a personal favorite of mine, and I've always liked these," he said, handing her a orange rose. "They smell wonderful."

Pausing again, he looked her over. "And no, the point of ownin' the shop is to help those that come in, not the other way around. Thanks though, I suppose."

"I've always liked lilies. They remind me of Easter." She said with a gently smile. She took the proffered rose, studying the layered petals. It reminded her a bit of the sun when it was hung low in the sky. She shut her eyes and took a deep breath and savored the smell of it. What he had said was an understatement. "Magnificent." She said.

Her grin widened. "You're welcome. That's very nice of you, offering to help so many people. I've been trying to, but I'm not very good at it yet." She shrugged slightly. Alright with admitting her short coming. She ran her fingers lightly over the rose in her hands, skirting lightly over the stem and it's thorns.

"Big fan of Easter then?" he asked, leaning against the counter and playing with the stem of a lily. "I'm glad you like the rose then. A personal favorite scent of mine. You can keep it if you like, it would look good in your hair."

"So, what do you do then, that helps people?" he asked, already somewhat confused by her asking to help him in his own shop.

"Oh yes! It's just so miraculous." And full of so much hope. She loved it. The only drawback was that there weren't many Easter Carols to sing. At least not many Earthly ones. They had plenty of special songs praising it in Heaven, but there had always been something special about the human songs. Rosy felt their music was almost a personal connection between the people and her fellow seraphim.

"Can I really?" She asked, grinning up at him. It would be the first gift she had received on Earth. "I haven't seen any other roses like it. Not even in the park." She turned it over in her hands a few times, puzzling over how one would wear it. Ornamentation had never really applied to her before.

She tilted her head and considered his question. "What ever I can, I guess... I haven't learned many ways to do things with much significance, but people seem to like it when I sing. So for right now, just making people happy." At least the people in the park had enjoyed her songs. It was rewarding to see people smile and pause to watch.

He nodded along to her first part, and smiled faintly at the second. "Well, roses like that don't grow around here. I had to grow it back there," he said with a tilt of his head, "In one of my greenhouses. Imported and all that. But I think it suits you," he continued, watching her look around. "If you have a band for your hair, or a clip of some kind, you can stick it in there."

"So you sing then?" he asked, curious. "It's been a while since I've seen a good singer..."

The astonishment was obvious on Rosy's face. "You grew it? That's an incredible gift you have!" She couldn't think of many talents more fitting than nurturing things to grow. And he grew all of these flowers? It was absolutely incredible what humans could do. "I don't have any of those." She replied. "I've never worm anything in my hair before."

She nodded at him. "I sing everyday. I can't believe there aren't any singers around here!" What was life like without music? She suppressed a shudder at the thought. Awful. Hell. Inconceivable. "I'll sing for you if you want." It was at least a way she could replay his generosity.

She smiled a bit. "Many things are stronger than they appear." The slightly serious air about her vanished as quickly as it appeared. "That's still a wonderful talent! It's not easy raising anything, and knowing when to give it space is just as important a skill." She said earnestly.

Rosy took a moment to look at the human garb she had clothed herself in. It was simple, a white blouse and white skirt only, but there were some button holes near the open collar. She selected one of the lower ones and carefully threaded the stem through it until the blossom was snug against the fabric. It made for a charming burst of color in her opinion.

Rosy nodded her head, time moved so quickly down here, much faster than it seemed in Heaven. "Alright." She took a moment to think before deciding on a song. She took a deep breath and began to sing. "We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land. But it is fed and watered, by God's almighty hand. He sends the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain. The breezes and the sunshine, and soft, refreshing rain." Her voice was light and warm, and brimming with the sense of contentment. She carefully kept herself from adding in any harmony, despite feeling it internally.

[[ Here is the song she's singing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33U8saXFV4E&feature=related ]]

She smiled at the man, blushing slightly at the compliment. Singing had always just been something she did, not anything to be praised. "I'm glad you liked it. It's nothing fancy." She considered his comment seriously. "I'd be happy to sing here more often if you'd like it." She said with a nod to herself. "I like this place. It's so full of life."

"Then I'll stop by more often!" She said with a little laugh in her voice. She had would already bet that she was going to be looking forward to these visits. "It's really nice to be appreciated for the things you love to do." She said with a subtle knowing look. The flush deepened a shade. "You don't need to address me so formally. Most call me Rosy." Apparently the nickname was more current than her full name.

She extended a hand to him as she'd seen other humans do in greeting, hoping that she was getting it right. "Glad to meet you too!" She smiled as she said, "I'd like that. But, what should I tell them when they ask?" She hadn't noted the sign above the store, and didn't know the storekeeper's name either.

She studied her hand for a moment, a little puzzled. She had known a few kisses, the affectionate kinds on cheeks and foreheads, but something was different about this. Either way, she decided it was nice, and a smile returned to her lips. "Sadiq." She repeated the name to herself, enjoying the pleasant tone of it. "Alright, I won't forget it."

"I like it." She replied. "It has a very pleasant sound. It suits you." Honestly, she didn't find very odd sounding. The last time she had spent any time on Earth she had watched over the likes of Colum Cille, Ninnidh, Laisrén, and Ruadhain. Beautiful in her opinion, but apparently not used here.

"Thank you! I've always felt blessed to have it." She said with a grin. Compliments were something she could get used to, although she would have to make sure not to let them make her head swell. "My Father always is very deliberate when naming."