“Well, what you suggest for another way to relax?” Penelope asked the other witch, “I’ve wanted to go for a spa but I don’t know if that interests you.”
“I usually go for makin’ myself a cuppa in a pillow fort; I’m simple like that.” Mellie had left out the part where she might not come out for a while. “I’ve never been to a spa, but I’m up ‘or anything.”
“I mean, I appreciate the thought, I really do. Battenberg Cake is tricky, ‘nough as it is.” There had only been one time Mellie herself had attempted to create the dessert, and it hadn’t been with magic; one could only imagine the results would’ve been like! “Would ya be offended if I offered to make one with ya? The proper way?”
“Well, at least he gave ya a good steppin’ stone to learn from. ‘Ow many do ya know?” It was something Mellie was curious about when it came to Imogen, now that she was aware that her friend was bilingual in a way. “Mhm, I’m lookin’ 'or somethin’ that belonged to mum, but it’s not here any more.”
❝ Hullo there. Uh….. ❞ given that he’s the ex-captain and not the current captain doesn’t make much difference to her, chances were that she wouldn’t have recognized him anyway. Though chances were that he wouldn’t recognize her either, however, the young woman had been having run-ins with The Avengers as of late; something about them needing her help and what have you. Apparently having a healer on a specific team was an important thing? The man standing before her is polite, and her pause has nothing to do with this fact, instead has to do with her coming up with a solution to such a royal screw up. ❝ I s'ppose it would help if they have a green thumb or simply like flowers in general. Or if they don’t, I have flowers that can help with that…'ow much of a tiny force of nature are we talkin’ here?❞
If Mellie hadn’t known any better, she could’ve sworn a storm had blown the little blue door in, what with the way the young woman came in. Or it was her twin, he tended to operate similarly; except for the time Melvin had pulled the door off its hinges. Very quickly, she realized it was another witch, the Latin being a tip off if nothing else.
Of course, there was the usual realizing you’d been witnessed part–every witch had it happen at least once in her life. Or more.
“It’s a'right, I’m a witch as well, look,” coming from around the counter, she allowed hands to glow green, vines coming down her arms like sleeves. “Though I have to ask, what have ya trapped on the other side?”
“It’s just that I’m more than a bit rusty on my Latin and this looks like a complicated spell. Or I’m just making this more complicated than it needs to be,” Either one could be the real reasoning or she was just making excuses; however, Mellie wasn’t one to make excuses about a situation.
Truthfully, at least a few months had passed since the witch had bothered opening one of her mother’s tomes.
Yet some customer in passing had mentioned they needed a spell performed and given her it on a scrap of parchment. A solid month to get it right. To master it before performing it. Yet she didn’t know what it did. Or how to pronounce it. Was this simply a fear of the unknown? Or screwing things up royally?
“Well, I s'ppose that’s a positive way of thinkin’. I know ya shouldn’t ask ‘ow old a woman is, but I’m genuinely curious to say the least.” Mellie was indeed curious as always, but this was a different variety that she’d never experienced before–the kind that couldn’t be put into words. Those were rare situations for her. “Sounds pretty wild. If ya know 'bout me, ya MUST know 'bout my twin. He’s hard to miss anyway–force of nature, that one. Not that I’d have him any other way. He taught ya, or somethin’?”
It was the beginning of a quiet afternoon around the shop, customers had been in hours ago. Yet hadn’t been for a couple after that. Sometimes this happened. So the closed sign or rather the ‘be back in a half hour’ one had been flipped around. The kettle was put on for the second time that day and Mellie got to enjoy herself for tea and lunchtime. The favourite time of the day was teatime, which honestly could be any time of day–the British were good about that. Though other Brits didn’t mind, they had their own reasons for teatime, after all. Half an hour later and the shop was opened back up, customers coming in with an eagerness. Perhaps of the variety that were headed home from their jobs? People did work in the early morning hours, after all.
The last customer of the day, which at the time was unbeknownst to her, a lovely fellow that was purchasing herbs for his wife’s cooking and a bit to grow her own herb garden. Apparently she wished to give it a try, despite having loved Mellie’s shop all the same. After parting ways, the young woman set to cleaning up a bit, to pass the time. Being behind the counter with a broom, she didn’t get a good look at the latest customer, but upon turning around with her usual greeting, the young woman stopped short. The fiery red-head looked as though she was…well something. Hurt perhaps? A gasp came from her lips, as the broom was quite literally dropped to the floor and came over to the other’s side. Especially from hearing her request for help, one of which sounded so broken sounding. “Oh goodness….what happened…?” A gentle pair of hands went under the other woman’s elbows, allowing support.
She’s sitting on the pavement with a sketchbook laying upon her lap, right outside The Spice Attic, when the girl shuffles over to her. They definitely catch Mellie’s eye, surprised that they are being offered to her. “Certainly! ‘Ow much do they cost, if ya don’t mind me askin’?” She didn’t have much in the way of cash, but paying Tuesday back wouldn’t be too much of a problem. They had an ongoing agreement, after all.
The weather was nice for once in England and Tuesday had allowed her to take a break, so taking her sketchbook out into something that wasn’t a storm was wonderful. There’s an eyebrow raised at the other girl’s words. “I look cool? I’ve never been described as that 'fore in my life. Not even my twin would tell me that.”
In a way, it was so strange how casual Jack was being about his explanation, yet humorous for a good moment. However, Mellie didn’t allow this to show. He might take offence. “Well…witches had something similar to the Big Bang Theory. If I ever meet her, I’ll be sure to ask and tell ya what I found out. Billions of years, though. We must all appear to be nothing more than specks to ya. We have such short life spans in comparison.”
“Is that what we’re callin’ what I do now? I mean, I s'ppose you’re not wrong, but it usually sounds better the way I phrase it.” There’s a mocked look of insult, but it quickly fades. Can’t hold that for long. “Huh, guess that means ya either froze my gardens over the years. Always tended to blame my brother.”
There were some that didn’t understand what it was that she sold. Or the ones that didn’t get how a florist could sell loose-leaf teas along with flowers–It bothered Mellie at first. However, nowadays? She used it as a reason to call The English Garden one of a kind. The little bell above the door gently rang as the newcomer came inside, which was her cue to greet yet another customer. “Hullo there! Welcome to The English Garden! Anything I can help ya with?” Came the young woman’s warm greeting from behind the counter, deciding to not move for the time being.
“Well, thank ya, even though I consider ‘im more so!”
England was mostly proper, and it was generally frowned upon by those that either chose to either drop out or leaving home before finishing. A waste of an education, so to speak. It was one of the things Mellie had given A LOT of thought to. Yet it had been Melvin that encouraged her to do as her heart desired. So Tuesday had become her tutor so to speak, taught her things that were important in the real world.
“My brother gets me to drink one coffee a month–that’s our agreement, and I won’t budge on it. I ADORE tea of all kinds, though mainly floral ones just like yourself. Never had green tea, yet I’ve been curious. Ah well, as the addin’ sugar and milk queen, I live by this rule.”
She wasn’t skinny as a rail, nor was Mellie overweight either. Just an average weight woman living an average life. Going to a doctor wasn’t something she was overly fond of, but she would go when called for, obviously.
“Would ya like to give it a go today, then? Or, unless you’d rather wait until later in the week. I’d be completely fine with either, obviously. We’ll make this work somehow, even if you’re in Japan. Must not be too hard to fly these days. I’ve never flown, strange as that sounds. I believe my brother undoubtedly has, though.”
hi hi! So I’m trying to make some more cash to afford my new car I had no choice but to get and am shamelessly asking for your help to spread the word because Etsy is a craft chasm and I know I’m probably on, like, page 115.
I am making tie-dye rainbow shoes! Both normal tie-dye on white canvas and reverse tie-dye on black canvas. My examples are down below the cut. I think they’re pretty neat and hopefully Etsy standard. If you can share to get my views up I would love you forever. If you like some and want to get some then I love you even more (not obligated though)
“It’s too bad that I can’t use one of my spells to get us back to that point–unless we’d work together with that one. Can’t ya talk to the dead or somethin’? I mean, they’d know if somebody is goin’ to know!”
