Chapter Text
Tubbo is very very late.
He honestly tried not to be. But he procrastinated doing the schematics for his project for way too long and then finished it in a day, aka being awake til the sun is up and only falling asleep at like 6AM. And now, 5 hours later, he is so terribly late to his goddaughter’s (well, technically not, but he doesn’t care) seventh birthday. He was supposed to be there 15 minutes ago, and it’s another 20 minutes way running, without any breaks.
And Tubbo is decidedly not in shape enough for that. So he comes up with a Plan B. Aka to give her more stuff than he was going to already.
He already has an ukulele he is going to give Tallulah – and not just a random one, he burned her name on the back and also a pretty picture of flowers. Speaking of flowers.
Tubbo notices a flower shop on his way and lights up with an idea. Flowers are perfect, Tallulah positively loves them. And maybe if he gives her a big and nice bouquet, she won’t be too mad at him for being so so late.
The shop is quite small, but even outside there’s a bunch of pretty potted flowers that make it look especially nice and cozy. So Tubbo practically barges in in a hurry, expecting to go in and go out in a matter of a couple of minutes.
This doesn’t exactly go to plan, as one might assume.
Music of the wind chimes, announcing his arrival, but after that, the place is strangely quiet. Tubbo looks around, notices an incredible amount of flowers behind a glass door of a cold room, but no one else in sight.
“Hello?” he calls, unsurely. Maybe the shop is closed, and the door just somehow was open? Oh, that would be so awkward.
Nobody answers, and Tubbo contemplates calling it a loss and moving on, but something moves behind him and Tubbo rapidly turns around, barely holding back a surprised yelp.
There’s a guy. Definitely a worker, judging by his badge with the name – Fred – written in an even, very definitive handwriting (Tubbo absent-mindedly thinks that it’s very pretty), who leaves another room that signed as ‘Staff only’. Tubbo completely didn’t notice it.
“Oh, sorry”, Tubbo lets a sigh out in relief. But the feeling of awkwardness only settles down further. “Hi! I need a big bouquet for my goddaughter”.
Only now he takes a proper look at the worker, and the only thought that comes to his mind at first is ‘they are so pale’. Which is a telling thing, considering that Tubbo himself sometimes doesn’t see the sun for days, so his skin is white like milk. But this guy is like made out of marble – not only he is impressively pale, but his hair is almost perfectly white and styled without a hitch and his eyes are light gray with undefined eyelashes. Tubbo can’t call them handsome, even remotely so, but there’s something about them that catches his attention and flusters him.
The worker doesn’t answer him, and Tubbo can’t properly read what he thinks, because the guy’s face stays absolutely neutral. He opens his mouth to add something – he isn’t sure what – because maybe needs to, but Fred the worker reaches out to a planchette, hanging on his neck, and writes something down quickly.
Then he raises the paper for Tubbo to see:
‘Follow me, you can choose whatever flowers we have’
Oh. That makes sense.
“Uh, okay, thank you”, Tubbo mumbles and follows the guy – who is a good half a foot taller than him – into the freezer. The place smells so nice with all the flowers there, that for a second Tubbo feels like he is in a lush garden somewhere in the countryside instead of in a middle of a busy city. There’s so many different blossoms, he doesn’t even know where to look. “Which flowers are the best to give?” he looks at the worker again, hoping that the other will direct him to the perfect option, but Feed just quickly writes down a sparse ‘All of them’, and Tubbo, once in his life, takes the hint.
Okay, he can do it himself. After all, Tallulah likes flowers in general, so there’s probably no wrong choices. Probably.
His attention catches magnificent purple flowers, that look like something Tallulah would enjoy. She likes purple, Tubbo knows that 100%. So it’s a no-brainer after all, just get a bunch of them, and run to the Minecraft household.
But as soon as he reaches out to the vase, he feels a light tug on his sleeve and abruptly turns around to see Fred shaking his head with a strange expression.
Shit, are those ones not for sale?
“Sorry! I thought all of the flowers are available”, he apologizes quickly, moving away from the vase.
Something flickers in Fred’s gaze, maybe amusement. Tubbo doesn’t know if he should be happy or self-conscious about it. But then they are writing something once again, and Tubbo patiently waits for it.
‘Those are usually not birthday flowers. Unless you want to say sorry They mean “sorrow”’.
“Well, I kinda do want to say ‘sorry’”, Tubbo chuckles and rubs his neck with a tensed smile. “But I guess sorrow flowers are not the right mood”.
He quickly looks around and spots another pretty purple flower. He even knows its name – lavender, which is already a success in Tubbo’s books. But as soon as he steps in that direction, Fred tugs him for his sleeve once again.
“Sorry”, Tubbo says automatic and Fred quirks his brow on that apology, before scribbling in an impressively nice for that speed handwriting another message.
‘Lavenders are very nice flowers, but they mean “distrust” in a lot of interpretations’
‘You are very unlucky in that. Also apologize too much’
Tubbo flushes in embarrassment, but at the same time his curiosity only grows (and it doesn’t matter that the object of this curiosity is not flowers).
“I didn’t know that flowers have actual meanings”, he admits, hesitant to make his next pick. He is pretty unlucky.
‘It’s called flower language. All flowers have meanings’
“That’s neat”, Tubbo comments after reading what Fred wanted to say and looks up at him, practically pleading the guy with his gaze: “I really want to give my goddaughter the best bouquet. She is turning seven today and she loves flowers. Can you please help me choose which ones mean that I love her and very proud of her?”
Fred doesn’t answer in any way for good ten seconds with a completely blank face, making Tubbo want to say sorry and take his request back – why is he nervous to ask a shop worker to help with shopping is a question he doesn’t want to ask himself, so let’s pretend it’s not there – but finally Fred moves towards some vases, and Tubbo follows him with a growing hope.
‘Those are amaryllises. This flower in general means “pride”, so they are a good way to tell someone you are proud of them’
Fred takes out several stems of purple and yellow amaryllises and places it on a small table. Tubbo listens to him with fascination.
‘Yellow amaryllises are a wish of good luck. And purple ones basically say that you think the person is worthy of everything in the world’
“Aw, that is so sweet”, Tubbo coos, excited and looks at the flowers in front of him with a new appreciation. “I think Tallulah will love them”.
‘What size of a bouquet do you want? Because usually there’s at least some leaves as well to make it pretty, not only flowers’
The thing is, big bouquets are expensive, Tubbo is fully aware, plus he can see the prices on the vases. But he wants to make Tallulah happy. He also just really wants to talk to Fred more. Not in a crush way! Definitely not. They are just a very curious person. And the whole flowers language thing is cool.
“Make it as big and beautiful as you can, king. She deserves the pretties bouquet ever”, he answers after all. Thank fuck he has money.
Fred nods to him and quite quickly decides on another bunch of flowers and grass.
‘Yellow tulips historically known to have bad romantic connotations, but they also mean that the recipient’s smile remind you of a sunshine and symbolize happiness’
Tulips go next to amaryllises.
‘Crocuses are the symbol of spring. Youth, innocence, start of something new. Fitting for a young girl’
Crocuses go in the pile as well, and Tubbo crouches next to the table to smell them. Their aroma is not that strong, but definitely light and very pleasant.
‘I will add baby’s breath – “I will love you forever” – and huckleberry – “Hope all your dreams come true” – to make this bouquet look fluffier and more complete’
Fred picks up everything he chose for the bouquet and gestures Tubbo to follow him back into the main room of the shop. It’s so much warmer here, he didn’t even realize he got cold being in a flower freezer. Which now seems like logical consequences to his own actions.
While Fred is arranging flowers into a nice bundle, Tubbo gets an idea, and he is known to have next to zero impulse control.
“Hey, sorry to bother, but can you also please make a small bouquet of flowers that mean gratitude? That would be nice”.
Fred nods, which Tubbo interprets as ‘no problem’, and makes a quick detour back to the freezer, returning with small bundle of purple flowers that Tubbo thinks are irises.
Another couple of minutes, and both of the bouquets are collected and wrapped in a paper – Tallulah’s in a fancy magenta one with a purple ribbon and the other one in a transparent mica with a blue ribbon. Tubbo pays for them, trying his best to not freak out over the price, and accepts the absolutely massive Tallulah’s gift.
But when Fred also hands him the bundle of irises Tubbo just shakes his head and takes a step back, his face immediately heating up with a blush.
“Oh, this one is for you”.
Fred stares at him blankly before writing down a quick ‘Why?’.
“Just wanted to thank you. You’ve been really helpful. And nice. With this whole flower meanings thing. Yep. Um, bye!”
He doesn’t let Fred say anything else before quickly leaving the shop, red as roses in the vases behind him.
It’s so joever. Why did he do it. This was probably so weird. Oh god, he made a fool of himself in front of Fred. Which shouldn’t be as vital as it is.
Tubbo shakes his head.
No time. He is now half an hour late, and still needs to get there. Fuck, hopefully Tallulah will really like those flowers.