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Jun. 25th, 2009 03:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kat8chaThe day Shouichi joins the Millefiore, all the new recruits receive a bouquet. They are handed the bunches of flowers and escorted into a large hall, where Byakuran leans casually against a podium, wearing a careless smile. The hall is stuffy, ill aired, and the scent of the flowers is almost overpowering. Some of the new recruits begin to sneeze, and Shouichi tries hard not to be obvious about breathing through his mouth. They stand in formation; neat narrow rows of scientists all waiting for Byakuran to speak. That, coupled with the flowers in Shouichi's hand, reminds Shouichi of a nursery rhyme.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row.
It will not be the last time Byakuran's actions make Shouichi think of nursery rhymes or fairy tales, but it is the first.
"Hello." Byakuran begins his speech. He is behind the podium now, but still leaning on it. His elbows are planted on the hard wood, and his fingers are laced beneath his chin. He is still smiling. There is an expectant pause, and a few people murmur 'hello' back at Byakuran. "The bouquet you're holding is very important. I'm sure you all know that our family name, Millefiore, means 'a thousand flowers'." Another pause, low murmurs of assent, and someone in the back sneezes. Byakuran's smile widens slightly. "I like to think of all of my subordinates as flowers. Some of you are in full bloom, and some of you are just seeds right now, needing time and nurturing in order to reach your full potential."
There is something about the way Byakuran's eyes sweep the hall that makes Shouichi shiver, though he could not identify why.
"The purple flower on your left is you. That's heliotrope," Byakuran continues to speak, "it stands for faithfulness. I hope that all of you can be faithful to me." Another pause, uncomfortable this time. Someone shifts their feet and a floorboard creaks. "The flower on the right is me. They're anemones. They symbolize expectation."
Another pause.
"The white flowers surrounding them both is bindweed. To show how we are all tied together." Uncomfortable coughs, another sneeze. Shouichi feels uncomfortable, but not worried. Byakuran is merely another boss, expressing himself in new ways. The suit Shouichi is wearing is ill fitting though, and makes him want to shift. The tag scrapes at the back of his neck.
"The laurel surrounding the flowers stands for a reward for the achievements you have made in order to get here. Now! You probably want to get to work right? I shouldn't keep you." Byakuran pushes himself off the podium and waves cheerfully at them all, before walking out of the room. The lines of formation hold for a second, before the scientists fall into clumps and masses, like bouquets without string. Shouichi has no one to talk to in the hall, not yet, so he looks his bouquet over. He wonders if Byakuran expects them to keep it, or if they will all just throw the flowers away. Already Shouichi sees several White Spell members drop their flowers to the floor. Bits of leaves and petals scatter on the floor, and Shouichi realizes there is grass in the bouquet.
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row.
It will not be the last time Byakuran's actions make Shouichi think of nursery rhymes or fairy tales, but it is the first.
"Hello." Byakuran begins his speech. He is behind the podium now, but still leaning on it. His elbows are planted on the hard wood, and his fingers are laced beneath his chin. He is still smiling. There is an expectant pause, and a few people murmur 'hello' back at Byakuran. "The bouquet you're holding is very important. I'm sure you all know that our family name, Millefiore, means 'a thousand flowers'." Another pause, low murmurs of assent, and someone in the back sneezes. Byakuran's smile widens slightly. "I like to think of all of my subordinates as flowers. Some of you are in full bloom, and some of you are just seeds right now, needing time and nurturing in order to reach your full potential."
There is something about the way Byakuran's eyes sweep the hall that makes Shouichi shiver, though he could not identify why.
"The purple flower on your left is you. That's heliotrope," Byakuran continues to speak, "it stands for faithfulness. I hope that all of you can be faithful to me." Another pause, uncomfortable this time. Someone shifts their feet and a floorboard creaks. "The flower on the right is me. They're anemones. They symbolize expectation."
Another pause.
"The white flowers surrounding them both is bindweed. To show how we are all tied together." Uncomfortable coughs, another sneeze. Shouichi feels uncomfortable, but not worried. Byakuran is merely another boss, expressing himself in new ways. The suit Shouichi is wearing is ill fitting though, and makes him want to shift. The tag scrapes at the back of his neck.
"The laurel surrounding the flowers stands for a reward for the achievements you have made in order to get here. Now! You probably want to get to work right? I shouldn't keep you." Byakuran pushes himself off the podium and waves cheerfully at them all, before walking out of the room. The lines of formation hold for a second, before the scientists fall into clumps and masses, like bouquets without string. Shouichi has no one to talk to in the hall, not yet, so he looks his bouquet over. He wonders if Byakuran expects them to keep it, or if they will all just throw the flowers away. Already Shouichi sees several White Spell members drop their flowers to the floor. Bits of leaves and petals scatter on the floor, and Shouichi realizes there is grass in the bouquet.
