bakerstreet | flower shop AU (+tattoo shop AU?)

[ would love to do alina as a flower shop owner! ]

[ Would love to do a modern AU where Mitsuri owns a flower shop! For shipping angle: Her husband recently divorced her and Mitsuri struggles to find her worth again as a partner, until a persistent customer shows her differently? ]

[ He inhales deeply, face full of fresh gentians that he’s very proud of. It’s not practical to grow all his inventory himself, but he takes meticulous care with the small garden space he’s cultivated in the back of the shop. They’re exceptionally hard to grow, which makes outsourcing them ridiculously expensive, but he can’t let them go. It would be a lie to say he doesn’t know why they’re prominently featured in most of the arrangements he creates. Wen Ning picks up most of the slack, offering more variety for when Wei Wuxian is feeling especially nostalgic. He’s Wei Wuxian’s only other employee and in addition to his more traditional bouquets, he’s wonderful for the manual labor around the shop.

He trims the gentians down and strategically positions them neatly among the succulents and other greenery nestled amongst the dirt inside of a ridiculously small, leather child’s shoe. It’s very unconventional, but he just didn’t have the heart to throw the shoe out when Yuan outgrew the pair a few weeks ago. The gentians will eventually wither and die, but the succulent should remain in relatively decent condition. With the low water maintenance, he’s sure the shoe should hold up as well. He thinks maybe he’ll do a different arrangement with the other shoe. Something with red, perhaps?

He’s absentmindedly rubbing at his nose with his index finger in quiet contemplation when the bell above the door chimes, signaling someone’s just entered the shop. He makes his way out of the back where the walk-in coolers are kept, a beaming smile in place and ready to greet a potential customer. His expression grows softer, smile still impossibly wide as he greets Wen Ning who’s coming in for the second half of Wei Wuxian’s shift. He’s worked seven days straight for years, on top of multiple jobs, just to be able to save up the money to afford buying this place. So while he isn’t a stranger to it, Wen Ning volunteered to pick up a few hours here and there so Wei Wuxian could catch a break.

His ‘break’ consists mainly of taking care of his son, Yuan, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. Adopting a child is the last thing someone in his position should’ve even considered, but in more ways than one Yuan saved his life. He hasn’t spoken to his own family in years, not after being disowned. Having Yuan and the remaining Wens feels like having a home, a reason to breathe. They’ve by far been his biggest motivation to keep striving. So here he is, leaving his prized possession in very capable hands so he can go and pick up his four year old son from daycare.

He steps out into the street, the door of The Burial Mounds closing softly behind him. He doesn’t often allow himself to think of how this all came to be, of what was sacrificed for him, of what was ripped away as a result. There were so many things he pushed away because he no longer felt worthy of them. He spent a lot of the earlier years dwelling on it and it almost killed him. If Wen Qing hadn’t taken pity on him in that hospital… How is it that all the women in Wei Wuxian’s life inevitably end up saving it?

He’s unusually early, but this just means he has time to pick up a delicious snack for him and Yuan to share on the way home. He pauses, red ribbon hanging between closed lips as he readjusts his raven tresses in the middle of the uncrowded sidewalk. ]

[Oh Julie is for sure either running the flower shop or helping in it. She has a tendency to talk to the flowers but you could swear they actually seem to respond to it.]

((~~Literally only here because of an abridged version gag~~, but sure, if former Team Rocket agents Butch and Cassidy are canonically running a bakery and cafe now respectively, Buson can work in a flower shop.

Please picture big, beefy Buson clipping the stems of flowers and trying to tie fiddly little ribbons around bouquets with his huge hands, and still talking in the most aggressively rude way, but he's in a cute apron with a dainty Lilligant mascot on. His speech is as rude, aggressive, and overly-familiar as ever. How did he get this job? Is it a very strange marketing ploy? Who knows!]

Edited 2023-06-02 04:12 (UTC)

( the absurdly knowledgeable owner of a fancy little flower shop, or maybe a frequent customer of one! )

[He could be visiting a flower shop (or some other shop) or someone can visit the cafe & bakery he owns.]

[ Either visiting or opening her own shop. ]

Edited 2023-06-02 08:18 (UTC)

[Because I'm a sucker for a soft AU and also a big guy working with flowers.]

[ JUMPS ON THIS SO FAST! Placeholder until I am done with work! ]

[YES time for more SOFT!!]

[ Little bit later then I intended... but here I am!!! How should this AU work? Heroes or no heroes? ]

[My first thought is no quirk/yes mutation? He'd keep his arms and maybe be able to make hands but not a lot else, but that would also mean no One for All. So perhaps just normal with events slightly to the left where there are more options for kids like them?]

[ That works! ]

[ Izuku has a bookstore he likes to visit frequently that's on the way home from school. There's a new flower shop across the street from it that opened a month or so ago so today he decides to go check it out and buy some flowers for his mom as a thank you to her for all she does.

The bell at the top of the door chimes as he walks in and looks around. There sure are a lot of flowers everywhere... ]

[Setting up in a strip-mall has the advantage that a lot of little out of the way stores that have no cohesion. A game shop, a florist, an empty lot and a small restaurant that looks about as trustworthy as an actual hole in the wall. Across the way, the book store that Izuku could be seen going into every so often.

When he comes by the flower shop, the seasonal display had just been put up, and everything is tropical-looking and green and a bit crowded. The boy behind the counter is busy trying to hang a pot with creeper cascading from between its twine hanger. His voice is muffled behind a nice filter mask, but pleasant.]

Welcome, we'll be with you in just a moment.

[ Izuku smiles pleasantly in greeting. ] Hello! It's okay! Take your time! [ He would ask if the person needs any help hanging the plant up... but he's a lot more shorter than the person behind the counter so he doesn't think he'd help much hahaha. ]

[When it's done, he turns to face the counter, with his hands on the counter, others behind his back, facing Izuku politely.] Sorry about that. What can I do for you?

[ Izuku's eyes widen when he sees the person has more then one set of hands. ] You have multiple hands! That's so cool! Are they just extra limbs or can you do anything else with them? [ He's forgotten about the flowers for the moment... ]

[The first instinct is "oh no" when the questions come, but this guy is adorable. He can't find it in him to be defensive. The proper stance drops, and he holds up his left hands, a little pink around the edges of his mask. One of those hands morphs into a mouth with the same voice, but clearer about its enunciation.] Actually, yeah. I can do a lot of things with them. [Bashful...]

[ His eyes bug out even more! ] You can talk through your hands??? How does it work??? Is it some kind of morphing ability?? [ And then he remembers... ] Oh! I'm so sorry, I can get really excited about that kind of stuff! It's so cool all the differences people have!

[The enthusiasm is precious but a little overwhelming. This guy is the type that's really into the vast array of Quirks that people can have, isn't he...] That's right. I can't change the main two, but if it's from the other limbs they can be whatever shape I need. [An eye forms from the end of another tendril, held up evenly with Izuku's eye level. A chime from the bell at the door, and he remembers himself, straightening back up again.] A-Anyway! Are you looking for anything in particular?

Woooow! [ Izuku leans in to get a better look at the eye and lifts a finger up like he's going to touch it but when the door chimes, he pulls himself back and jumps a little in surprise. ] R-right! I go to the bookstore across the street a lot and I thought it would be nice to get my mom some flowers! But I don't know much about them...

[That eye blinks as a finger comes toward it, shrinking back like anyone might when a finger comes too close. Shouji doesn't outwardly give any real response to it besides stepping out from behind the counter and gesturing toward one of the more brightly colored displays.] What kinds of colors does she like? We can put together something that she can keep on her table, if you like. [As he says that, a hand reaches for a book of different flowers and the colors they can come in, as well as guides on dying them if they want specific variations.]

Green and pink, I think! [ He wants to ask so much more about the morphing ability but he doesn't want to be rude either so he wills himself to settle down. ] How long have you been doing this...? Working here...?

[He moves down the line to a selection of carnations in pink and red. They could add something around the vase itself for a green accent, he thinks, and make sure there are plenty of nice leaves to contrast the flowers.] Uh...about a month? Since I moved here, at least. Do you go over to that bookstore a lot? [As if he hasn't noticed Izuku coming and going fairly regularly.]

Since you moved here... Did you get a job here right away or is this a family business for you?

I do! It's a little out of the way from where I live... but it's the best one I think!

Mmh. My mom's got family out here, a cousin of hers runs this place and offered to start me on. It's nice, but I have to work hard so she doesn't think I'm slacking. [he couldn't just coast on what little his family had, after all!]

That's really nice of her! I understand about working hard. I have a part-time job in a coffee shop while I go to school. It's just me and my mom so I want to do what I can to help her out!

If you ever want some table decorations for it, we've got small arrangements that would work for that, and businesses get discounts. [He has to offer it; good salesmanship, and also potentially a reason for Izuku to come back.]

You do? I'll let my boss know! Some flowers would make the shop look really pretty!

Are the most common flowers people use roses and carnations? That's what I think when I think of bouquets... but there's so many more here!

[Either owns the shop or has come in to acquire some plants for his garden.]

[not sure how she got the job but she's doing her best to pretend she knows whatever it is she needs to know to not get fired.]

[Luckily she happens to know a plant expert!

...but whether she likes it or not, a very familiar purple hoodie slips into the flower shop and gives her a bright wave once he sees her.]

[April's been stacking and sorting since dawn so Donnie is very much a sight for sore eyes! April mouths an enthusiastic "Hey!" at him from over the bag of dirt in her arms; it's heavy enough that she sort of waddles her way into the backroom to get rid of it, before ducking back out to meet him.]

D! Didn' expect to see you up at this hour! You miss me or somethin'?

[Donnie tucks his hands into the pockets of his hoodie as he drifts deeper into the shop to wait for April to be rid of her load.

Well, how could I not come by and say hello to one of my favorite people at her new job?

-also you get discounts, right? I mean, did you see the purple on those orchids up front? How can I pass those up?

Oooh if that got your attention, you ain't seen nothin' - c'mon, c'mon, c'mon!

[With a tug on his sleeve that's both excited and impatient, April leads Donnie down a winding and oddly complex path through several rows of plants, before stopping in front of an arched doorway that has a bead curtain instead of a door.]

[Instead of shoving it aside though, she first turns to him with a serious look.] Okay wait, 'couple ground rules. First? Do not - and I mean do not touch or move anything. What I'm about to show you is kiiiinda a big deal for the boss. Technically I'm not even allowed to let anyone back there.

???

[Well, she's definitely got his attention piqued at that! April easily pulls him along, although Donnie can't help but look around while they're weaving their way towards...wherever it is she's heading.]

Oooh, divulging company secrets already? And before the wifi password?

[He meets her serious look with a sly sort of smile before he takes a breath and smooths his expression into something more neutral and hopefully just as serious as he holds up a hand like he's making a solemn vow.]

No touching or moving anything, got it. Relax! It's like you think I'll get some strange urge to redecorate!

You can't build up all this suspense and leave me hanging! What's in there?? I mean, it must be a big deal if it's got a beaded curtain!

I mean it, D. Not even secret clippings. I dunno how she does it, but Ms G will know.

[Good ol' Ms G. That woman has a sixth sense for disturbances in her garden domain.

In any case! Stern though she may have started off, April can't deny how excited she is.]

Okay. Omigosh. You ready for this?

[Donnie is absolutely right about that beaded curtain - swishing it back with one arm gives April the exact amount of dramatic flair she wanted for the big reveal. See this particular doorway was equipped with a motion sensor that triggered the lights to come on once someone crosses the threshold. The lights brightened the room gradually, like a timelapse of the sunrise, and revealed that the entire room was covered in flowers in shades of red, purple and pink.

It was meticulously organized such that each color had its own section of the room that it occupied. There was a small worktable and stool in the middle of the room too, where someone seemed to be working on a very artistic bouquet, but it was easy to miss because it was situated underneath an impressive floral arch that looked like a literal sunset gradient had been slapped onto it with how well the colors blended into each other.

April grins up at Donnie.]

Two words: Celebrity. Wedding.

[Did part of her scoff at this blatant display of excess money? Sure. But a girl could also be impressed by the drama of it all at the same time! This bride definitely had her favorite colors and none of them was the traditional wedding white.]

Edited 2024-05-22 14:43 (UTC)

[He opens his mouth and then closes it.] Exaggerated sigh, fine, I promise. No secret clippings.

[But with April getting psyched up again for this reveal, Donnie can't help but get swept in with her excitement.]

Oh my muffins....

[Is it all very over-the-top and highly unnecessary? NO STINKIN' WAY!! This is glorious! Exquisite! His hat's off to Ms G- that woman clearly knows what she's doing!]

It's beautiful... I definitely need to rethink my organization of the greenhouse.

[It's so easy to get caught up in the array of colors- she'd organized by color!- that Donnie almost misses the main event save that it's really hard to miss that floral arch. He's not an artist by Mikey standards but the floral facsimile of a sunset? Chef's kiss!

His eyes finally tear away from the backdrop to study the bouquet, drifting towards it like a curious butterfly but keeping mindful of April's earlier warnings as he circles the display.]

This is amazing..! And no wonder she's gone all out. From the flowers I've seen included on this arch alone, someone's definitely had to shell out the big bucks!

Right?? I didn't know we even had this many purple flowers here in New York.

[April trails behind him, pleased as punch over his glee and happy to sit back (and supervise) his exploration of the intricate floral creations. He was always the one with the impressive things to show, so it was nice to be on that end of things for once.]

What even is in the greenhouse these days? Can't remember the last time I checked it out.

So long as they are given the proper maintenance and care, there really is no limit as to how many purple flowers one can have anywhere!

[He's already eyeballing a few of those blooms.] I want a purple garden. Why have I not cultivated a purple garden?

[At least he just manages to remember what April says before his wandering fingers can actually touch any petals, reluctantly tucking his hands into hoodie pockets, not that he'd dare damage anything!]

Well, I have been looking forward to harvesting the Cayenne Purple Peppers I've been growing. They rate between thirty thousand and fifty thousand Scovilles so we're going to see if Raph can take them as a pizza topping.

flower shop AU (+tattoo shop AU?)

Vash | trigun stampede

alina starkov . shadow & bone . ota

may parker | mcu | ota

Mitsuri Kanroji | Demon Slayer | OTA

wei wuxian | mdzs / the untamed.

Julie Joyful | Welcome Home

Buson (Attila) | Pokemon | OTA [also, casually spoilers for JN]

zelda | breath of the wild | ota

takashi saiki | oc | m/f for shipping

Ereshkigal || Fate/Grand Order || OTA

Mezo Shouji | MHA | OTA

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Elias Ainsworth // The Ancient Magus Bride // OTA18+

Izuku Midoriya "Deku" | My Hero Academia

April O'Neil | Rise of the TMNT

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apologies for disappearing for so long! still down to continue this if you are

*thumbsup!!!*

<3

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thumbsup!!!