Annie wiped a bead of sweat from her brow as she finished up the day's farm work. She looked upon her fields with satisfaction. The farmer had a fair number of crops growing at this point, and the land was shaping up to look like a real, fully operational farm. All she needed was a barn with a few cattle in it, and her budding farmland would be able to blossom. The farmer recalled that Gunther had mentioned that when she chose to fix up her house, he'd include a barn for free. The carpenter was a friendly, generous person. The kind you were glad to know, even if you weren't terribly close to them.
Her work being complete for the day, Annie had plenty of daylight left to take a trip to the Carpenter's Shop. On her way down the mountain, she noticed a familiar figure on a stroll. It was Klaus. The man she barely knew. And the man who'd occupied her imagination from the moment she met him.
The farm girl took a few nervous steps toward him. She wasn't sure how to begin a conversation with him. Knowing herself, it would start out awkward no matter what. Then, she suddenly broke her silence. Or, rather, she stepped on and broke a twig. Which inadvertently broke the silence. Annie winced as she lifted her foot off of the small-but-noisy stick.
"Ah, Annie! Good afternoon," Klaus turned at the sound and greeted its source.
Annie showed a polite smile, trying to hide her embarrassment, "H-hello, good afternoon to you too."
"I was just out for a bit of a walk. I enjoy observing the flowers and herbs whose scents I try to imitate in my perfumes. To get back to nature, so to speak," Klaus spoke as properly as ever, "Would you care to join me, if you can spare the time?"
"Yes, I'd be glad," Annie tried to play it cool, but she just barely contained her smile. The beginning of their first real conversation was going well! And, more importantly, it wasn't horrifyingly awkward.
Annie fell in step beside Klaus. He led her to a purple flower, one she recognized very well.
"Lavender," Klaus started, "It is one of the most difficult aromas to replicate. So dignified, yet delicate and calming." The dark-haired man knelt down to pluck one of the flowers from the ground, and handed it to Annie. She pressed the blossom gently to her nose, taking in its familiar essence.
"I grew up with this scent all around me," Annie reminisced in a soft voice, her eyes wistful as she gazed upon the small lavender stalk, "My mother loved it. She kept as much lavender on the farm as she could."
"Your mother has excellent taste," Klaus spoke as they began to continue their walk, "You grew up on a farm?"
"I did. I don't mean to brag, but my parents are the best in their area," Annie said with a small smirk, "Unfortunately," she continued, "that didn't really leave me with anything to do where I lived. All of the necessary occupations were taken care of."
"I see. Is that why you chose to relocate to Oak Tree Town?"
"Well, sort of. I had moved to the city for about a year and, in short, hated it. I knew I couldn't go back to where I grew up, so as soon as I got the pamphlet about this town needing a farmer, I sent in an application." Annie was surprised how easy it was becoming to talk to Klaus. He was so refined and spoke with such etiquette, he could easily make himself appear above others. But he didn't. Klaus was cordial and he had a certain tenderness about him. Annie remained a little nervous, but comfortable in his presence.
Klaus nodded slowly, though he wasn't familiar with the city aside from the fact that people from Oak Tree Town who had been there didn't care for it.
"I have not been to the city myself, but I cannot say I've heard good things," Klaus replied to Annie.
Annie gave a light laugh, "Yeah, it doesn't seem well liked amongst people who prefer the country."
Klaus retrieved a pocket watch from his jacket, checking the time. "Ah, I'm afraid it is time I must be getting back to work. I enjoyed having your company this afternoon, and I hope that you will join me again soon."
"I hope so too," Annie spoke more quietly than she meant to, growing shy at the perfumer's words, even if they weren't particularly romantic.
The pair parted, Klaus back to his home, and Annie to the Carpenter's to discuss her much-needed home renovation.
Klaus entered his brick home, fully absorbed in his thoughts. He was well aware he had the beginnings of feelings for Annie, but he tried to deny it and push the notion away. As far as he was concerned, there was no chance that any romantic advances on his part would prove successful. The brunette farmer was several years younger than him. Which didn't really bother him, seeing as it wasn't Annie's youth he was attracted to. But he just couldn't see a younger girl taking interest in a fussy thirty-two year old man like himself.
The perfurmer exhaled and turned his complete attention to his work. For some reason, he felt inclined toward working with lavender today.
A/N:
Full disclosure, I have no idea what I'm talking about when it comes to perfume.