Boring Machines Disturbs Sleep

[Halbarad]

Tim doesn't waste a lot of time either, although he does take a moment to glance at the boxes for any clue of their contents as he heads out to what presumably is the street outside.

[Brian]

The boxes are labeled with papers that have been nailed in place.  All of them contain spare parts of some sort or another.  Atop the stairs, Nemo steps through the doorway into daylight, and Tim follows.

In a rush, the environment changes from closed, dim, and quiet, to boisterous, bright, and loud.  It takes a moment for Tim's eyes to adjust; there are people milling around on the street, most of them dressed reasonably nicely, a great number of the women waving fans in the air, and a number of the men waving their hats.

Nemo squints, then turns around and looks up.  Following his gaze, Tim sees that the tower he is in really does tower over the rest of the buildings around -- it's got to be nearly forty stories tall, compared to the next nearest, at six. The tower itself appears to be made of brass, and is larger at the top than the base -- extending halfway across the street.

A short distance up the way from the base of the tower -- perhaps the fourth floor?  It doesn't have windows, until the very top -- is a balcony, and a rounded man is shouting into a megaphone: "...prentices released to enjoy the day, and celebrate with the city!"  A cheer comes up from the street, and even Nemo waves his hat in appreciation.  "So all are released, and are under no order to reconvene until the thirteenth bell!"

Another, much louder, cheer erupts at this.  "Hear it for Master Balmer!" he cries out.

Glancing around, as the crowd begins to stream away from the tower, Tim can see that the immediately neighboring buildings are shops, with the exception of what looks like a police station -- judging by the police-looking man standing out front, and the pair leaving through the door, glancing at the tower before merging into the crowd.

None of the near shops look like florists.

[Halbarad]

Deciding to simply go, Tim heads down the street in the direction of the police station, leaving Nemo to do as he will and keeping his eyes peeled for anyone selling flowers.

[Brian]

Just as well, Nemo quickly vanishes beneath the level of the crowd anyway.  Shortly past the police station, banners of colorful paper have been strung between opposite buildings, and confetti is being flung around liberally.  Not much further down the street is an open park area, where people appear to be congregating.  There's a number of stalls set up in the streets closer to the park, which block the view much further -- but one of them is indeed a florist.

People aren't packed in, but movement is slow through the number.  Distantly, music can be heard escaping from somewhere -- sounds like a stringed instrument and an accordion, along with some sort of flute.  Someone's singing, too, louder as Tim gets nearer the florist's.

The florist is a heavy woman of middle years wearing a bonnet and an apron over her standard (somewhat frumpy) brown white gown.  She gives Tim a smile as he approaches the barrels filled with various types of flowers (roses, lilies, daffodils ... they all look like standard flowers to Tim, with the exception of a handful of deep purple flowers in the back, floating in a brass basin.  The woman finishes a transaction with another young man who just purchased a bouquet of yellow roses (seven bits), when she turns to Tim.  "And how can I help you today, young sir?" she asks.

[Halbarad]

"Looking for a bouquet for my lady," Tim replies with a smile. "She's fond of blue - anything you'd recommend?"

[Brian]

The woman behind the counter scrutinizes Tim for a moment, and then says, "How about these?" indicating a barrel marked 'Windflower'.  The flowers look delicate, papery, but are vibrantly colored.  "A full bouquet, only five bits," she adds.

[Halbarad]

Tim nods, quickly gathering a bouquet of the almost wildflower-like blooms. A few artfully-placed sprays of Queen Anne's lace - here as "moonruff" - and fern complete the bouquet to Tim's satisfaction, and he nods.

"I think this will do," he says. "Will a shilling be enough?" So saying, he extracts an unbroken coin from his purse.

[Brian]

"That's just fine, dearie," the woman behind the counter replies, placing it in a bin or drawer beneath the table displaying her flowers.  Tim hands the coin over, just as there's a tap on his shoulder.

[Halbarad]

Tim turns to face the person looking to get his attention, raising an eyebrow in the process.

[Brian]

It's a young lady (a very pretty one, in fact), wearing a pale green dress of indeterminate quality (seems nice enough, at least).  Her brown hair is done up in a braid with a blue ribbon through it, and falls to about her hips, and she's wearing a white hat that shades her face -- though she's close enough that Tim can see her blue eyes and devious smirk.  "Timothy," she says with a sudden chuckle, "I found you so soon!"

"Oh," the flower-seller remarks, before continuing in a low whisper, "she's a lovely one, there, lad.  Sure you wouldn't want an Imperial Fire Rose?"

"Come, let's go to the park," the young lady says, hefting a picnic basket.

[Halbarad]

Tim puts on his best attempt at a winning smile. "I was just about to come  looking for you myself," he replies, offering his elbow as the two make their way away from the flower stand. "I hope I haven't kept you looking for long."

[Brian]

"Of course not," she replies in a quiet voice.  She takes Tim's elbow, and directs him carefully -- but not towards the near park.  Instead, she angles down the street, where the crowd is thinner.  "Anyway.  You must tell me about your apprenticeship.  How are you doing?"

[Halbarad]

"Good news and bad news," Tim replies with a slight frown. "Good news is that I've finished my apprenticeship. Bad news is that they can only keep me on for another week, so I'm going to have to look for another job."

[Brian]

"That sounds entirely for the better," she replies, as another park comes into view, this one smaller and less crowded.  Pitching her voice low, she asks, "Have you heard the news?  Of Dr. Shuker's release from the asylum?"

[Halbarad]

Tim shakes his head, although the name Shuker doesn't escape his notice. "No, I haven't heard much news at all in the past couple of days. Is he all right?"