video post

[ino]

[On the feed, you can see a pretty blonde girl staring at the screen. She's brushing her long hair with one hand, reaching to poke around on the screen with the other.

Finally, she lets out a little sigh, and mutters:]

Same shit, different day, I guess.

[She'll finally look directly into the camera, now, and put on a bit of a smile as she continues brushing her hair.]

So, it looks like I'm one of the few people whose age didn't get screwed around with. Anyone else out there?

Comments

[ino]

So you're one of the older residents, then.

[strategic_guile]

Ouch. [Laughs] But probably.

[ino]

[a little laugh] Well, I didn't mean you were old. Just that you'd been here longer than most.

[strategic_guile]

[He's actually 50, so he's getting there. He's smiling anyway, totally unbothered.] That's excellent to hear from a lively young woman.

There were a lot of people who came before me who had been here for nearly a year.

[ino]

[hey, galadriel's like 10,000, you've still got a ways to go to beat that, blaine ;)]

Really? You haven't heard of anyone earlier than that at all?

[strategic_guile]

[He'll be dead long before! Doesn't count!]

No, not that I can recall, but I've met just a small fraction of people. The earliest posts on the network may help.

[ino]

I'll have to check it out.

[she pauses to make a note, before glancing back at the camera with a smile]

So! What do you do for a living, Blaine? I mean, before you came here, obviously.

[strategic_guile]

I work for a drug company, mostly. [Lifts his hands in a vague shrug.] On the board of directors for a few other companies as well.

[ino]

So ... you just tell them what to do?

[strategic_guile]

Basically. We meet a few times every year to go over rules and the direction of the company.

[ino]

A few times a year? So what do you do the rest of the time?

[strategic_guile]

Have fun. [Smirk.] Travel. Do whatever I want to.

I'd ask the same of you, but you look a bit young to have a job.

[ino]

[a bit of a frown. sorry, blaine, this is a bit of a sore spot]

First of all, I'm twenty-two. Secondly, I work at my family's flower shop.

[strategic_guile]

Oh? I thought you might have been in school. [Holds up hands.] No harm meant.

[ino]

I haven't been in school for a long time.

[but she relaxes, putting on a smile]

But I guess I could forgive you.

[strategic_guile]

I'll be in your debt for forgiving such a grave mistake. [Playfully.]

Does your flower shop do well? I can't say I know much about them.

[ino]

Sounds good. [she grins, obviously teasing]

We're the best in town! My dad and I are experts at that sort of thing.

[strategic_guile]

An expert? I lucked out then, did I?

So, where do all those flower meanings come from?

[ino]

All kinds of places! There are a lot of myths that explain where they came from that relate to the meanings. But the color also plays a part, too. I've also noted the meanings can vary by country or world, though many of them have some things in common, at least.

[she's much more excited and into the conversation, now. flowers, the girl loves 'em!]

[strategic_guile]

[He can tell, so he'll keep her talking for a little bit to pass the time.] A what flower's meaning to you like best?

[If it's true love he might just laugh.]

[ino]

My favorite flower is the cosmos. It means "harmony".

[not quite as cheesy as true love, but close!]

[strategic_guile]

Harmony is a thing we all strive for. I rather like that choice, but I'm not sure what a cosmos flower looks like.

[ino]

They're pretty distinctive! They come in a lot of different colors, but they usually look something like ...

[she'll draw a simple version of this into the tablet]

This!

[strategic_guile]

[He looks at the picture and nods.] True, I've seen that type before.

[He sweeps the picture into a folder with a finger.] The universe contained in one flower.