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-----The house resembles most of the houses containing shops in town. The main structure consists of wooden beams and the spaces between the timbers are filled with wattle and daub. The ground floor is beaten or packed earth and all the floors are covered with a layer of reeds. Heat is provided by a single fireplace and the window openings are small and usually covered with oiled sheep or goat skin. The workrooms or shops are located at the front of the house on the ground floor.
-----Kazel, Seth, and Gimplefwick enter into the work area of the flower shop. The room measures ten feet by thirty feet. Everywhere about the walls are bouquets and wreaths of dried flowers. A few colorful combinations of fresh flowers have been set out on two small tables in the center of the room. The fragrance appealingly fills the shop.
-----A short roly-poly man in a light green tabard enters from the back carrying another bouquet of freshly cut flowers. The tufts of white hair on each side of his head reveal his older age. He squints at the three who have entered and he appears to have a hard time focusing on them.
-----"Oh, I didn’t realize anyone was here," he says putting down the flowers, "Can I help ye?"
-----Kazel seems to welcome the fresh scent and plays around a bit with the flowers on the table, but quickly retracts when the old man comes out of the back. She opens her mouth to answer the shopkeeper, but then changes her mind and instead glances sideways at Gimplefwick, hoping to see what the Dread Pirate might say this time around.
-----Gimplefwick eyes the fat, old man dubiously, "Aye, ye barnacle encrusted, overloaded swabby. We be searchin' fer an orchid. Not just any orchid mind ye, ye wallowing merchantman, but a blue orchid. Mayhaps ye have somethin' in that area we can take a gander at."
-----Gimplefwick taps his cutlass meaningfully and glares at the old man, and says mysteriously, "The sun is shining, but the ice is slippery."
-----Gimplefwick rocks back and forth on his heels, waiting for the florist to reply.
-----The old man carefully moves closer to Gimplefwick as if in awe. The wrinkles in his face multiply as he continually squints and move his head forwards and backwards. A couple of times, the oldster widens his eyes as if to clear his vision, but it appears not to work. Still he keeps looking, or at least trying, at the Dread Pirate Hobbit.
-----"Ah, . . . yes," he finally mutters, "but surely, . . . orchid, . . an orchid ye be saying?" He stands upright and places his hand under his chin. He then begins to shake his head, "No, . . . no . . . it be too early for orchids. They be not bloomed in full yet." He puts his hands down by his wide sides and with a pouty look he says, "A blue orchid? Ye wouldn’t be pullin’ a jest on me, would ye?"
-----Gimplefwick scratches his head in bewilderment and turns to Kazel, "Arrr, it was a blue orchid we were supposed to be askin' after, wasn't it?"
-----Gimplefwick wheels sharply about on the old man, "Shiver me timbers, ye scurvy dog. Fetch me a blue orchid, or I'll have ye keelhauled. I don't care if ye have to get some blue paint and color a white one, do as I say or I'll run ye up the mizzenmast and leave ye there." Gimplefwick puffs up his absurd little hairy chest and glares at the florist challengingly. "That bleedin' bit o' shark bait, Picks, is playing games with us. What proof do we have that he be a...ummm...duly appointed representative of an upright citizen's liberation group anyway?"
-----Sethanales smiles, "mmmm, I believe the man with the parrot on his shoulder wants a blue orchid. So does this stunningly beautiful lady. And you must be Dora May's Father?" Seth looks at the old man quizzically.
-----Seth holds out his hand in greetings, "Oh and by the way, I would like a blue orchid as well, and a hint of advice, and I give this only because of the deep regard with which I admire your flower arranging. The Dread Pirate Gimplefwick Wispybeard be a mighty dangerous man to upset."
-----"A blue orchid it is," Kazel says crossing her arms and starting to look a little impatient. "Come on now old man, Chant would say the customer's always right. So let's not be wasting time here." She cracks a smile at Seth's words, then quickly reverts to her stern demeanor at the florist.
-----"How dare ye?" The old man seems to fumble nervously with his hands, "Ye all sound to do me harm! Ye children, get ye from me shop before I call the watch! I’ll have none of your blue orchid nonsense!"
-----"Papa," a sweet voice comes from the back of the house, "Papa, what is wrong?" With that, Dora May appears from the back room. She stares with an annoyed look at the three thieves.
-----"These three naughty ones mean to come in here and threaten us for a ‘blue’ orchid of all the nonsense!" Papa angrily replies. "Well, I won’t have it in me shop!"
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