Disclaimer: I do not own Tales of the Abyss in any way, shape or form.
5. Flowers
Guy was in a world of red and pink and white. Every available space of Jade's office had been covered in peonies… bright, colorful, fluffy peony flowers. There were vases covering Jade's desk, the nearby table, the floor, the chairs… smaller vases, ones with only one or two peonies in them were lined on the bookshelves. Wreaths of peonies hung from the walls, the door, and the sides of the desk.
At first, Guy had been convinced it was some type of prank from the emperor, but that was quickly disabused when out of curiosity and still suspecting Peony, he read some of the cards.
Peonies for my favorite Colonel. –Koria
Thank you for your help! Your fan forever, Yuni
Have a great day! Veena
So it wasn't the emperor's warped sense of humor. Guy shifted on his feet, a hand at his chin. "…But then why…?"
"Is something the matter?" Jade asked from just behind him, voice a low whisper across his ear.
Guy jumped and whirled, coming dangerously close to tipping over a purple vase filled with light pink peonies in the process. He let out an exasperated breath. "Don't do that. If one tipped, it would have taken the rest down, too."
Jade just looked faintly amused. "Well? I don't believe I requested your help today."
Guy shrugged. "Honestly, I was bored. I'm not used to just sitting around all day. So I thought I'd see if there was anything for me to do."
"Hm, I see," Jade said, still much too close and amused sounding. It was disconcerting.
Guy waved an arm toward the ground and the scattered vases. "What are these doing here?"
Jade shrugged, spreading his hands to either side. "It happens every year on my birthday. The peonies started as a little joke of the emperor's. About six years ago, he couldn't be there for my birthday, but he thought I needed some type of Peony to be present, even if it wasn't him. So he sent peony flowers to my office.
"Some of the military personnel saw the flowers coming in, and decided I must love peonies. You can see what it's grown into," Jade said, sighing in a very put-upon manner.
Guy stared at all the flowers. "…Well. What are you going to do with them now?"
"What I do every year," Jade said calmly, picking up a single vase. He plucked off the tag and slipped it into his pocket, then as Guy watched, carried the vase just outside of the room.
Waiting in the hallway were a series of barrels. Jade tossed the flowers into one, dumped the water into the second, and placed the vase in the third. Guy blinked. Somehow, he'd been expecting Jade to do something else… maybe burn the flowers, or use the vases for target practice, or… just, anything other than calmly separating them all.
Jade paused as he passed Guy. "Letting an old man like me do all the work…" He raised his eyebrows. "Young men just aren't very active these days, I suppose."
Guy blushed and hastily grabbed a vase, slipping the card onto a free spot on the desk. "What'll you do with these once they're all separated?"
Jade shrugged. "The vases will be sold, and the flowers thrown out."
Guy paused in process of dumping out the water. "…Could I do something with the flowers instead?"
"Oh? Like what?"
He smiled wryly, rubbing the back of his head. "I'd like to take them to the Yulia Orphanage."
Jade looked surprised for a split second, before the expression was buried. He shrugged carelessly as he placed an empty vase in the last barrel. "If you like."
Guy grinned. "Great! I'll take the flowers over after we're done. The kids will get a real kick out of them." He scooped up another vase and began to place the flowers in the first barrel. Guy stayed silent, expecting Jade would ask how he got involved with an orphanage, but as the minutes passed without a word, he slowly realized the older man wasn't going to.
The flowers were sorted out much more quickly than Guy expected, considering their number. Within half an hour, the entire lot had been emptied into the three barrels. Guy stood awkwardly in front of the flower barrel, wondering for the first time how he was supposed to get it to the orphanage. While the flowers themselves were lightweight, the barrel most definitely was not. He couldn't carry it. Tapping his foot restlessly, he crossed his arms and considered his options.
"I'll have the barrel delivered to the orphanage."
Guy blinked. "Thanks. I was just wondering how I was going to get it there."
"Now then. My birthday presents are taken care of, so I have work to do. If you will excuse me," Jade said, pushing his glasses up his nose as he moved back to his desk.
Nodding, Guy turned and headed to the doorway. Fingers touched the frame, and he found himself looking over his shoulder at the other man. He smiled warmly, knowing that even if Jade was already buried in work, he would somehow see it.
"Happy Birthday, Jade."
Jade never looked up, but Guy thought he saw something like an amused smile cross the man's lips right before Guy shut the door.