I looked at screenshots from SQ5 and my brain said "Give them love". No that's wrong. I wanted to write one and took inspiration from the images.
Originally posted on Valentine's day of 2023.
Rollan rolled out of a ship a barrel above the bridge towards a wooden trailer he had set down to load it. Rollan shove the barrel over the little door of the trailer to put it into it, then shove it to the corner, so it wouldn't be that close to the exit. Rollan adjusted it there, then hopped out of the cart to return to the ship and grab two medium-sized benches to bring them to the trailer as well. Rollan had placed them next to the barrel, and afterward made his way back to the ship to grab a small suitcase, which he opened to take a look into it. Inside the bag, he contained a few red table towels, white serviettes, and two kitchen towels, where he had the cutlery wrapped in. Underneath the cutlery, he had another opened-up towel, where he had plates hidden and he looked at his hand to count down all the materials he had gathered up in the bag. Rollan smiled and closed the bag again, then carried it carefully above the bridge to bring it to the trailer and placed it beneath the benches. Rollan took out from the pocket of his pants a folded sheet, which he opened up to analyze all the things he had gathered up together.
"Hmm I don't know, If I can get any flowers in time," Mumbled Rollan looking at the black horse, that stood tied up on a pole eating hay along with a different stallion. Rollan pondered about it, then grabbed a bucket, that stood nearby the trailer and dropped it inside the trailer. "I think I should go and give Florida a little visit," Rollan said making his way towards the stable to get his horse.
Gerda sat in the dining room together with Kai for breakfast together. Kai was eating bread while using his other free hand to sketch with pencil outlines on a white canvas. Gerda was almost done with her bread, then heard a pan fall on the ground and she looked back to see her father pick the pan up, which made her chuckle.
"Are you sure you're not gonna wake up mom like that?" Questioned Gerda watching the father shrug, then put the pan back in its place. Gerda sighed enamored and looked up at a wall, which contained several images of their family and the blonde eyed specifically one image, where she stood together with her boyfriend Rollan by the harbor. Rollan stood with a smile facing the polaroid camera, while Gerda was beside him with her arms around his arm almost leaning on his shoulder facing the camera as well with a more amorous smile. Gerda got up to take a closer look at the picture, then sighed enamored.
"Our first valentines day…" Commented Gerda, then heard a squeaking and she looked down to see Luta carrying in her mouth a rolled paper sheet, then Gerda bend down to pick it up.
"What do you got there?" Asked Gerda unrolling it up to take a look at it.
"Happy Valentine's day, mi amor. This is going to be our first year of valentine's day together. I know you never had one and neither did I. I've spent weeks looking for the perfect gift and I think I have found it. All you need to do is follow my instructions on the second sheet. Kisses, Rollan," Gerda read, then looked at the second sheet to see the instructions and noticed down on the ground of the sheet the words no magic. Gerda chuckled about it, then folded the sheet and looked at Kai.
"Do you want to come?" Questioned Gerda watching Kai shake his head.
"No, I'm fine. I still got to finish my present for Alfida….she does know, what valentine's day is, right?" Questioned Kai watching Gerda shrug her shoulders.
"Perhaps not. I'm not sure how she grew up out on the sea related to those sorts of days," Commented Gerda, then got down to offer Luta her arm, so she could get on top of the blonde's shoulder. "I take Luta with me," Said Gerda making her way into the corridor of their house to head to the exit.
Rollan stood among a few other men and women in line by the garden of Florida waiting to be attended. Rollan was the fifth in line and watched how Florida spoke to a man about specific flowers. Rollan felt someone touch his shoulder, then he looked back at a brunette man, which smiled at the Spaniard.
"I have never seen you around here. What sort of magician are you?" Questioned the man making Rollan chuckle.
"Oh, I'm not really a magician. My girlfriend is," Commented Rollan making the man smile.
"Oh, what is her name if I may ask?"
"Gerda," Answered Rollan with a smile, making the man nod.
"Do you have an idea, what kind of flowers you want to give her?"
"Not really. I know she likes flowers, but I don't know, which ones she likes the most. I hoped Florida could give me a hand," Rollan commented watching the man nod. "What about you?" Questioned Rollan watching the man roll his eyes down at the ground.
"Don't trip,"
"What?" Questioned Rollan confused, then watched the man point down so Rollan would see green flower branches move around Rollan's feet and fasten itself around him. "Hey!" Complained Rollan falling down and get pulled along the ground catching the attention of everyone including the florist, which looked up to see her large plant holding Rollan upside down.
"What in the name of….." Florida spoke looking up at the Spaniard, which faked a grin and waved at the dark-skinned woman.
"Hola…..I'm just here to buy flowers," Stated Rollan. "I swear, I've got money," Commented Rollan making the first three guests laugh at the situation. Florida rolled her eyes, then pointed at the ground and watched the flower drop Rollan on the ground, causing him to groan shrieking the guests.
"Gentle, flower, gentle!" Warned Florida, then watched the flower sniff on Rollan and suck him into her head, making the guests gasp, afterward, the flower opened her mouth to drop a wet Rollan out, which came out with a terrified face.
"Caramba," Mumbled Rollan, then Florida helped him up along with a guest and Florida used a towel, she had received from another plant to give it to Rollan to clean his face.
"What flowers do you want for your special someone?" Questioned Florida. "
"I'd like to show Gerda with them, how I feel about her. I heard that certain flowers have specific meanings like love or charm," Commented Rollan. "Is it possible to make a bouquet with various flowers with said meanings?"
"Sure, do you have any words you can relate Gerda with?"
"Sure," Responded Rollan watching the flower, that had picked him up before holding up an open book to the raven-haired to show the various flowers with their meanings. "This here which says devotion and love….Gypsophilia…..Protea for diversity and bravery...those here look pretty…..or hydrangeas look in blue really cute,"
Florida imagined Rollan's combinations, then took a look at the book again and nodded.
"Can I make you a suggestion?" Questioned Florida making Rollan nod. "I can make you a bouquet with the following flowers. As for the surrounding, I can use white or pink Gypsophilia. Besides them, I add around four Proteas, which we have also in the same colors. Between them, I suggest depending on, which colors you pick beforehand 6-8 Sweet Williams, which I own in the three colors purple, red, and white. The middle will be finished with Hydrangeas, which exist in five different colors. White, Blue, Red, Pink, and purple," Florida explained making Rollan nod.
"That looks good," Commented Rollan.
"Good, go and pick the colors, I'll be meeting you, after attending this man here," Said Florida making Rollan nod, which walked away and the large flower pursued Rollan with the book.
Gerda passed by the harbor with Luta on her shoulders and looked around the area to find the ship of Alfida docked on the poles of the harbor. Gerda looked up at the framework, that was above the pirate girl's ship and the blonde took a closer look at it to see how the construction of the airship was going. Gerda got up on the ship to spot Alfida playing cards along with three other pirates and Gerda spotted an X on the side of the barrel.
"Good morning Alfida!" Greeted Gerda calling the attention of all crew members. Alfida waved at her friend, then got up.
"Hey Gerda, what brings you here?" Asked Alfida seeing the girl hold a sheet in her arms. "Is that a map to a treasure?"
"No, this is from Rollan. Luta brought it to me this morning. I'm supposed to find my gift somewhere here," Commented Gerda and looked at the barrel, where the pirates played cards. "Must be in there,"
Alfida chuckled, then approached the barrel to open its cover to see above the barrel filled with used corncobs another sheet, making Gerda wide her eyes curious and take out the sheet.
"I think I must have been invited to a scavenger hunt," Mentioned Gerda opening up the sheet. "Mi amor, you reached the first checkpoint. If you arrived here after the nine, the gift has already made its way somewhere else. Don't worry, follow these instructions and you will get to find the gift. Move on with this sheet to the highest point of our village. From there you have to look for a specific rock," Gerda read out loud, then looked at the village to see the church's tower as the highest point of the location. "This one is easy," Commented Gerda watching Alfida exchange looks with the pirates.
"What the heck are you two doing?" Questioned Alfida making Gerda chuckle.
"It's valentine's day and on this day, we're supposed to give our lovers a special attention gift or do with them anything. Anything for our love. I never had one before, Rollan had explained to me that once,"
"Oh okay, never heard of it before," Mentioned Alfida making Gerda wide her eyes surprised.
"Oh no, I had no idea," Commented Gerda. "Do you want to make Kai something for today?"
"He's participating in it too?" Questioned Alfida making Gerda nod. "Oh…..well, I need to think about something,"
"If you can't get a gift anywhere, it doesn't matter. You can organize for both of you something to do, like a romantic dinner, a ride around the village, a star gaze on a ship ride, there's a lot you can do. On the other hand, it doesn't really matter. This day is more for flower shops, food shops, and any other store to make more money than usual. You're supposed to love the person you are with every day not just this day,"
"Alright, but I still might think about doing something. You said Kai was doing something for me, so I'm going to do for him something too," Alfida stated, then looked at the pirates. "Okay guys, I know none of you know anything about valentines day, neither do I, but we can together do something special. You're all on vacation next week, so in exchange for your help to me, I offer you two more days off. Is that a deal?" Asked Alfida watching the pirates applaud, then Alfida looked back at Gerda. "We will fix it. Have fun with your hunt," Wished Alfida watching Gerda pat Luta's head and walk out of the ship to make her way to the next checkpoint.
Rollan rode back on his horse carrying in his hand the new bouquet he ordered for Gerda. Rollan admired the creation Florida made, then looked up on the path he was going to and spot an arrow on the side of the path, where the horse turned aside to look at a corner with a small space of green with a few trees around belonging to the forest. Rollan moved with his horse to the side to stop there, then got down and searched in his shirt for a carrot to hand it out to the horse, which puffed before accepting it. Rollan smiled, then caressed the animal on his nose watching him eat the vegetable.
"Stay here. I will start to prepare everything," Announced Rollan placing the bouquet on top of the saddle, afterward got to remove the trailer of the harness of his horse and moved it down carefully, and watched the barrel slide back against the door. "Good I stored the vase in the suitcase," Commented Rollan walking back at the trailer to open the door and pull the barrel out, then roll it over the grass to the middle of the area, then pulled it up while grunting from its weight to put it horizontally. Rollan took a look at it, then nodded and returned to the trailer to pick out the suitcase. He got back to the barrel and opened the suitcase, so he could take out the table towel and adjusted it over the barrel. The horse neighed earning Rollan's attention, which looked at his horse.
"I didn't find a round table towel. If I adjust the corners equally, it will still look fine. Trust me, Valiente," Said Rollan watching the horse whinny at Rollan's comment agreeing with the Spaniard. "Don't worry, I will only set the most important things now, the rest I will do later,"
Gerda stood inside the tower of the church looking at the room, where the bell was, and walked around the path and encountered a sheet on the edge of the tower with a stone placed over it to prevent it to fly away. Gerda took the sheet away from the stone to open the sheet.
"Okay, you're one step closer from finding your gift. Trust me, it will be worth the wait. Now I need you to bring this letter to the restaurant of Hansel, tell my best greetings to him and say the code word duck sauce. You don't need to ask nor tell him, what that is. He knows, what's up," Gerda read, then looked at the weasel, which licked her lips making Gerda chuckle.
"You definitely would have wanted that," Commented Gerda making the weasel chuckle, afterward the two went downstairs to leave the church's tower and looked around for the next location. Luta immediately ran off with her nose in the air scenting something, then Gerda followed the weasel to get to the entrance of a restaurant and stopped in front of a closed door. The weasel grumbled annoyed, nearly sounding like she had just shouted out "come on!" and looked back at Gerda, which picked the weasel up to let her climb behind her shoulders. Gerda entered into the restaurant to see it was all decorated with hearts and several other decorations related to the current day.
"Wow, it's going to be a busy midday here," Commented Gerda spotting a blonde man analyzing the order book, while in front of him stood a man with his arms on the table praying to the staff member.
"Look sir, I only can serve you at night a few empty seats. We're overbooked for the entire midday," Commented the blonde. "My second offer would be a take away,"
"Hmm alright, I can wait until the night. I'd like two seats by the window, if possible," Said the brunette man making the blonde nod and notice it down.
"Good, do you want to decide the menu already or wait for tonight?"
"I'd rather wait," Responded the man making the blonde nod, then notice it down.
"Done, by any questions, pass by or call us," Informed the blonde making the brunette smile and grab Hansel's hand to shake it harshly.
"You're the best Hansel, I see you tonight!" Said the brunette leaving happily, while Hansel stood there amused by the man's behavior, then looked at Gerda.
"Ah Gerda, long time no seen," Said Hansel holding out his hand to shake the girl's head. "What brings you here?" Questioned the man watching Gerda hand him out the letter.
"Rollan told me to give you his best greetings and say the code word duck sauce," Informed Gerda handing the man her sheet out. Hansel nodded upon receiving the sheet and bowed down.
"Ah good, I know, what it is. Give me a moment," Hansel said, then walked back into the kitchen making Gerda lean her arms over the counter to wait for the man to return. Hansel returned with a folded sheet, which he handed over to the blonde girl. "Your boyfriend asked me to keep it here for you. I have no idea, what it is for, but he told me only you should open it," Explained Hansel watching Gerda open up the letter.
"Congratulations, you just ordered a special menu, and that menu you will find it on the path leading to the abandoned lighthouse. Don't worry, it's easily described to you, where to go. You won't miss it. See you later," Gerda read out loud, then chuckled about it.
"I'm starting to see, that my present isn't something materialistic," Gerda commented watching Hansel shrug his shoulders.
"Some people are good at keeping secrets," Hansel said placing his hand behind his back making Gerda nod.
"Then I better get up there," Announced Gerda making the man nod and watch Gerda leave the restaurant, afterward Hansel glimpsed into the kitchen to give an order.
"Two menus for takeaway. Menu Medisterkaker. Advice me, when it's ready," Asked the blonde watching one of the cooks give a thumb up and pick up a pot to carry it to the oven.
Rollan had set up the table and stood by the trailer to see what it looked like. Rollan smiled proudly about, what he had done and looked into the trailer to pick up a box to open it. Rollan looked into the box, then shook his head and placed it back in the trailer.
"I better wait, until she's near or they fly off," Spoke Rollan and picked up from Valiente's saddle the bouquet to place it on the table, then returned to the trailer to do something else. "Okay, I got the whole table set. Plates, cuchillería, serviettes, the flowers, the vase…...candles!" Rollan remembered and picked up a bucket, where he had two large candles with a separate holder in it. He returned to the table to adjust them up on the barrel. Rollan placed the bouquet on the bank and made sure the whole table would look symmetrical, then smiled as the table now was complete. Rollan walked down at the trailer again, then opened his backpack he had inside the trailer to take out a in a cloth-wrapped gift. It was tightened with a small cord, where a small paper was with Gerda's name on it.
Rollan brought it to the table, then hid it on the other side and returned to the trailer. Rollan tried to remember all the things he had brought, then he took out from his pants the list to analyze it. "Presente, the hearts, sign with Gerda's name on it. Good, good. Gerda will be here sometime, so will the food. I just need to get dressed and share the hearts;" Rollan commented, then took the previous suitcase again to open it. Down under a towel, he removed it to find a cheeseboard on it, then took it away to reveal a white shirt, which he picked up to see another cheeseboard under it and Rollan took a look at the white shirt to see, if it was clean, then he put it down again, so he could use both hands to remove his shirt. Rollan picked up the white shirt to put it on, then closed the buttons of it and admired himself in it with a smile. "Magnifico," Rollan commented, then looked at Valiente, which looked back at his owner. "What do you think, amigo?" Asked Rollan watching Valiente stomp with his front leg on the ground. "I could look better?" Questioned Rollan. "I don't have many pants," Spoke Rollan watching the horse whinny at his comment.
Rollan got out of the trailer, then walked at the sign to see, if he would have any clue of Gerda and spotted Luta running on the ground, while Gerda walked behind her with the sheet she got from Hansel. Rollan adjusted the sign, then got to the trailer to pick up the box and spread it from the table down to the path the heart-shaped letters. Most of the letters were hatched with a red pencil color and in black all had a small message on it variating from one to another. Rollan smiled at one of the messages and placed it on the ground, continuing to distribute them. Rollan heard something fall, then looked back to see a candle had fallen on the table, then Rollan walked up to adjust the candle. Afterward, the bouquet rolled off the bank and Rollan got down to pick it up, followed by the candle drop from the table again, down at his head making him frown. Valiente began to neigh in a laughing-like manner, watching Rollan pout at the incidents and he got up to analyze the place the barrel was placed and noticed they were on a slightly uneven ground. Rollan returned to the trailer to pick up a cover of a box and placed it under the barrel to see it was now steady. Rollan smiled, then adjusted the second candle back on the table and analyzed it to see it was now better.
"Muy bien," Rollan said, then watched a few sheets take off from the ground with a bit of wind, making Rollan gasp and jump in the air to catch one, landing on his knees on the ground making Valiente tilt his head confused. Rollan watched the three sheets fly into the path and observed Luta appear, then look up at the sheets. Rollan got up to spot Gerda come along holding two different heart-shaped sheets in her hand while reading their messages. Rollan adjusted his hair, then held the bouquet closer to him, afterward he walked backward up at the table watching her look away from the letter with a smile, afterward she gasped as she saw the amount of hearts spread on the ground leading to the set table from Rollan, including him standing there with the flowers.
"Happy valentine's day!" Wished Rollan watching Gerda smile enamored at her boyfriend's surprise, then she looked at all the messages on the ground, then picked up a few.
"Are those all for me?" Questioned Gerda making Rollan nod.
"Most of them are little sentences, that explain how I feel about you. Others are words, that describe you," Mentioned Rollan watching Gerda look at a few.
"You're the kindest girl I have ever met," Gerda read out from one letter, then looked at the second one. "My heart feels like fire, every time I see you," Gerda read, then watched Rollan pick up two others one for her to read. "There are many words, that I can use to describe you…...The problem is there isn't enough paper for me to show you that," Gerda read out from the two sheets and looked at Rollan, which nodded.
"I wrote everything I could think of down there. I know very well there's far more than that, it' just so difficult to describe. They are simply not enough words…..words that I know," Confessed Rollan making Gerda smile, then look down at one heart and pick it up.
"Tu eres mi vida," Gerda read, then moaned relieved at the message, and looked at her boyfriend. "You're insane, Rollan. I didn't expect you would put up such a big spectacle for just valentine's day,"
"I just wanted to give you the best first valentines day you could have. You only deserve the best. I might not be able to give you the most expensive things or modern things. But you know, I'll put my heart and soul into something in order to make you happy," Rollan confessed reaching Gerda his flowers. "I ordered them today by Florida's garden. All the various sorts of flowers have a different meaning and they all describe your personality. I don't remember exactly, which is which…...I know those ones meant bravery and diversity. Those one admiration and beauty…..perhaps it's the other way around," Rollan explained making Gerda chuckle.
"It doesn't matter, it was the cutest thing you have organized," Gerda said taking the flowers from Rollan's hands and shared a long kiss with her boyfriend. "Thank you," Gerda said watching Rollan smile amused by the kiss.
"You're welcome," Answered Rollan holding his hand out at Gerda, which smiled and gave him her hand, so he could lead her to her seat and shove the bank back with his foot. Rollan watched Gerda sit down, then Rollan sat on the other side of the barrel. "You've said Hansel the code word?" Questioned Rollan making Gerda nod.
"Oh, yes I did. What did you order for us?" Questioned Gerda.
"Hansel suggested I should take Medisterkaker. They didn't have your favorite food,"
"It's a good pick," Admitted Gerda. "I'm glad, to be here with you," Gerda commented making Rollan smile, then look down at Gerda's gift to see Luta sniff on the object, then start to nibble on the cord, making Rollan gasp.
"Luta, no!" Warned Rollan watching Gerda look down as well and spot the weasel rip off the cord of the present, and Gerda moved the present away. "Actually there's nothing eatable in the present," Mentioned Rollan watching Gerda look at the rope and find her name on it.
"Do you have time to go home to me? I didn't expect to go on a scavenger hunt and left the gift back,"
"I'm off the entire day. No problem," Spoke Rollan making Gerda smile. "While we're waiting, you can open your gift," Suggested Rollan making Gerda nod and remove the cloth off her present to recognize her gift, which was a frame with space for eight pictures. On the right side the frame had a board on the same thickness of the frame, which was the shape of the weasel Luta engraved on it with her head and paws placed above the top of the frame. In the opposite direction was a rainbow running down from the top to the corner on the left side of the bottom. Gerda smiled amazed by the gift and looked at her boyfriend.
"Did you make this?" Questioned Gerda making Rollan nod.
"I had help from a friend to make it more realistic. Luta's part mostly, the rest I could do by myself. It took a long while, but I made it,"
"Thank you, Rollan," Gerda said moving her hand over the table for the raven-haired to take it. Valiente did a whinny earning the duo's attention, then Gerda chuckled and waved at the horse. "You too, Valiente,"
"Oh yes, he carried the trailer with all the materials here," Mentioned Rollan. "Eventually he will take us home as well. There you gotta thank him a second time,"
"I make sure I will give him an apple or another piece of fruit," Promised Gerda looking at Rollan, which admired the horse. "Eventually his owner could take me on a ride later at night?" Gerda asked looking at the Spaniard, which had eye contact with the girlfriend.
"Well….. we could go earlier so we can catch the sunset? That would be a great way to finish the day,"
"Yes. That is perfect," Gerda commented gazing at Rollan, which smiled at her, then heard a different horse and looked down along with the blonde to see Hansel had arrived with a delivery for the couple, then Rollan winked at the girlfriend and walked past the spreaded sheets on the ground to accept the delivery, then Gerda crossed her arms amorously to watch her boyfriend play the delivery man for their dinner.
WOW I WROTE THIS ONESHOT DOWN WITHOUT ANY WRITERS BLOCK NOR ANYTHING. THIS IS FANTASTIC. Perhaps cause it was Valentines day and my brain promised to shot out a Rollda thing.