Shiro scowled darkly at the myriad of unfamiliar plants, some of them seeming to stare back at him.
This exact sort of thing was why he hated his luck with coin tosses.
“Can I help you, si- Ah, a Federation Gent! Looking for something to send a special someone back on the home planet?”
He straightened up and blinked at the stranger, mildly offbalanced at first by the almost motherboard-like patterning on the other male’s pale bluish-green skin. Some sort of android? “Er- no,” Shiro said, realizing he was being rude. “Our ship’s computer sciences tech has a brother in the station infirmary and she hates picking flowers.”
“Aha, so you’re just the unlucky delivery boy,” the stranger replied, sharp teeth flashing in an amused grin that was surprisingly infectious.
“Yeah, pretty much,” Shiro admitted, scratching the back of his neck as he smiled back.
“Well, that’s no problem. Your patient a human?” At Shiro’s nod, the florist bustled off into a veritable jungle of color. “Any known allergies?”
“Uhm, ormurli spiderlilies are the only one I know of. And he likes orange.”
“I can work with that. Price range?”
Shiro snorted. “She gave me sixty-seven jade tickets.”
“Ah, familial love,” came a chuckle from somewhere in all the greenery. “Still, that’ll be enough for a decent little vase. Let’s see, a few ketcha buds - he’ll be able to make tea with those later...a couple of yumorna blossoms... here we go.”
Shiro turned around as the florist emerged, and blinked in surprise. “That for jade?”
“I do exceptional work,” the florist replied, puffing himself up proudly as he set the vase on the counter and gave it a flourishing dusting off.
“Clearly. I’ll have to come back for my mom’s birthday,” Shiro said as he handed over his card to make the payment. “Who should I sign this to?” he asked, indicating the ticket.
“No problem. Don’t you be a stranger, now.”
