Don't worry about it! You made it, right? That's all that matters!
[Gepard didn't stand him up, so he doesn't have to go home in defeat like a sadsack with two wasted tickets for the price of one. And he even graciously offers to pay for coffee, like a gentleman. What a nice guy! Sampo really has great taste in men, except that most good men don't have taste that includes Sampo.]
If you pay, consider your apology accepted! [Sampo will never turn down a free coffee. He pulls the door to the coffee shop open, holding for his generous coffee buyer.] After you! We have plenty of time until it closes, but I want to make sure you have all the time in the world to look around.
[It's for his art block, after all. It might take a little while to get over it.]
[That's so nice. Sampo is being so nice. In a slightly different lifetime, he'd be bracing himself, wondering what the catch was. Or he might be doing the smart thing and walk away again.
But there is what could be, and there is the life which Gepard is living right now. He just flashes Sampo a smile - small and relieved and happy - and walks right in.]
How did you find this place? [It's...nice. He likes it.]
[Gepard's cute when he smiles, sort of shy and sweet, and boy is Sampo weak to a cute blond.]
[Since this shop is so close to the conservatory, it's leaned in to the theme and turned its interior into a little conservatory of its own-- shelves full of potted plants of all kinds, big and small. From common jade plants to delicate orchids and everything in-between, there's a plant in nearly every spot that could reasonably accommodate one.]
I really only noticed it because of what's across the street! Which is where we're going, if you haven't seen it.
[Maybe Gepard never noticed that Belobog has a botanical garden, maybe he already realized that they're right by it and cottoned on to Sampo's plan already. He goes up to the counter to order, and the barista seems to already know him and his order, and rattles it off to him.]
Aha, that's right! You've got a good memory. [She turns to Gepard and asks what he wants-- what kind of coffee do cute blond tattoo artists drink?]
I'll have a... [Gepard eyes the menu, considers it, almost says his usual order - drip coffee, black, or if he's feeling spicy a latte - but at the last second his eye is caught by the coffee-of-the-month on the menu.]
...coconut cold brew? [Of note is how he says it: with abject fascination. He pulls out his cre-]
Sixteen ounces. [...pulls out his credit card to pay, unless-] You don't want anything else, do you, Sampo?
[For now. If he has his way, Gepard will be buying him more things another day, when they're on real dates. But that's something for Future Sampo to enjoy, Present Sampo has to rizz his way into getting a Cute Blond to take a chance with him.]
[It didn't take very long for them to get a coconut cold brew together-- just pouring it, really-- and a few minutes longer for them to finish up with Sampo's abomination of a drink.]
[It can barely be classified as a drink-- it's a potion of making your heart explode. A potion of fighting God at 2 AM in a Denny's parking lot. The baristas have to get all three of the espresso machines that they have back there going to produce the sheer quantity of coffee shots that go into this lone cup, along with an altogether frightening number of pumps from a bottle of white mocha sauce, shaken with ice but served in a cup that does not have any ice in it. It's a slightly creamy looking and yet somehow also slightly menacing beverage that lurks on the counter that it's placed on.]
[He doesn't, mainly because that abomination has such a vile aura that he can't quite bring himself to touch it. His coconut cold brew? Normal. Friendly. Inviting. It's a drink that wants to be friends, if but in a slightly professional way. A little bit of fun, a little bit of business.
Then there's that fucking thing which lurks on the counter, and Gepard just stares at it because it's so menacing. So ominous. It repels him.]
What...is it? [Gepard reaches out ever so slightly for it, and then balls his hand into a fist and retracts it. It feels dangerous.]
[It is not coffee. It's what coffee becomes after its villain origin story. It's coffee that joined a cult and learned dark and unholy secrets. It's coffee that Sampo picks up like it's completely normal and takes a sip of without flinching.]
[This is, probably, a red flag. At the very least, it's an indication that Sampo is not a normal man, and one that Gepard should probably heed. Or not, whatever, it's his life.]
All good?
[Don't worry about the contents of his cup and what it might be doing to his insides. They've got plants to see, that's clearly the more important thing here!]
All good. [He says, as he takes Sampo by the arm, because if Sampo suffers heart failure thanks to that thing and passes out, he needs to be prepared to catch him before he falls and hits his head on something and suffers even more brain damage than he already has. Given that they're both holding drinks, this is the only way, and, yes, Gepard Landau is fully prepared to slam back his so he's in a better position to catch Sampo at the first sign of trouble.]
I'm excited. I haven't really gone much of anywhere in a long time - too busy with work. [And care packages for Lynx and all that, but Sampo doesn't need to know all of the details.]
[Go ahead, take him by the arm-- he just thinks it's cute and endearing. Sampo has no idea that Gepard secretly thinks that he's going to give himself a heart attack through caffeine overdose, though, really, someone should be looking out for Sampo's heart health, because he clearly isn't.]
[He leads Gepard across the street, over towards the doors for the Conservatory. They take his tickets at the door, and once inside, there's a wave of warm, moist air as they enter what's essentially a giant greenhouse. The first room has a welcome center with maps and a gift shop, and further in, it opens up into a palm garden set up with glass sculptures.]
So there's an exhibition going on for the next few weeks. [Sampo snags one of the maps as they walk by, just in case they get lost later.] Some famous glassblower has a bunch of sculptures set up in the greenhouses with the plants, it sounded like it would be nice to see.
[Meanwhile, here he is, wishing he paid more attention during CPR training, half-wishing he'd become a paramedic or something useful instead of an artist because if Sampo collapses because of a drink he bought he'd never forgive himself. But, for now, he's being cute and endearing.
There's a wave of moist, hot air, Gepard makes an appreciative noise as they enter and he promptly stops paying attention to Sampo because he's too busy taking in everything. Because he knew this place existed. He just was too busy with work and family and more work and more family, and while he's done things, he also hasn't done...things.
Well, anyway, after a moment, Gepard remembers that he's got a man on his arm and he really likes this man right now, actually, he's very charmed. A map is snagged.]
Do you come here often? [It seems like it. Sampo seems really well prepared given everything.]
Every once in a while! It's nice to get out and take in some good scenery, appreciate the beauty in the world.
[After all, you only get so many years on this earth, you might as well spend as much of it as you can doing things that are nice. Bring a little joy into your heart! All work and no play makes any man a dull boy, and Sampo is very much against being dull.]
It's nice that they bring in exhibitions, too, it might get a little boring if it was the same every time. [Variety, spice of life, something like that.] And since you've got a little art block, why not look at some art, right? Maybe it'll give you some inspiration. And even if it doesn't, at least you got to have a nice walk.
[-and Gepard looks at Sampo for a moment too long, and maybe a moment too hard, and he chews on the inside of his cheek, wondering at how thorough that answer feels compared to how often Sampo says he goes here - every once in a while. Maybe he's just sheltered? It feels like he's just sheltered. But there's no good way of asking the guy you barely know if you're sheltered or not, so, maybe it's a sign that Gepard Landau should let it go.
So.
He lets it go.] Well. It's a good idea. It's a little embarrassing that I haven't thought about doing something like this. [If anything, he's like a puppy, except the leash he's stuck on is Sampo's arm- it's a nice leash, but also it's still a leash. Which, also-]
If you-
[There's no good way of saying if that caffeine goes straight to your head and you feel like passing out it's okay to sit on a bench and I can get you some water - so, ignoring that.]
Nevermind. [He's also feeling like a tourist, but it can't be helped. Also that one flower over there looks interesting, and, much like a puppy on a leash, Geppie's trying to amble over without actually ambling over- Sampo's the third wheel to flowers and Gepard, at least for the moment.]
[Figuring out shit to do when you're too stressed or bored or whatever to figure it out yourself. That's totally part of it, welcome to the Sampo Koski friendship package.]
[If anything, when Gepard gets distracted by a flower, Sampo's the one that feels like he's on a leash-- being pulled along by an overexcited golden retriever that wants to sniff all the trees at the dog park. It's endearing, in no small part because Gepard's cute and there's a lot that Sampo will tolerate for a handsome man. He'll be the third wheel to a plant for a while, because it makes his not-date so happy.]
[There's a plaque next to the flower that talks about that particular flower, providing helpful information like what kind of flower it is and its scientific name, where it comes from, the kind of climate it likes and whether it's endangered or not. Fun trivia for nerds, really, Sampo doesn't usually read this kind of thing. He's just there to look at the flowers and take in the vibes, not to learn. If he wanted to do that, he would've gone back to college and, like, not failed out this time.]
What do you think? [It's a nice flower. Very flower like, it's got petals and leaves and everything.] Passes muster?
[And boy, is he enjoying himself. He knees before one plant - this requires letting go of Sampo, and Gepard's forgotten about the ever present risk that Sampo might topple over and die of a heart attack, oohing and aahing over a plant. And then he stands and relinks arms and drags Sampo off to a second plant. This is the hell that Sampo has set himself up for. All for a pair of blue eyes.]
It's beautiful. [Too bad this isn't closer to work. He'd constantly go on his lunch breaks and he'd never emerge.] This flower is- [And he goes on a couple minute ramble about the basics, which segues into a story about a client which starts off basic - client wants thing, he offers thing, but segues into-] -then we had an argument about whether or not hyacinths and foxes were native to the same region- they wanted an arrangement that had plants and animals that would be found in the wild together, but I said they had the wrong fox. But I asked my sister- Lynx, she's my younger sister, and she suggested a mongoose, and my client liked that.
[Sampo lets himself get dragged along from plant to plant, sipping his abomination of a coffee while Gepard admires each flower. He even listens when Gepard starts nerding out about them. Sampo might be the guy who sells flowers, but that doesn't mean that he knows all that much about them-- he just has a good eye for putting them together in ways that are aesthetically pleasing. Flowers are a business for him, but they're clearly a passion for Gepard.]
A mongoose! That's an interesting one. [He's pretty sure he knows what a mongoose is. They eat snakes or something? Maybe?] Is your sister some kind of biologist? Or does she just really like animals? I wouldn't be able to tell you what's native to where.
[Is it a whole family of people with very narrow special interests? Gepard and his flowers, his sister and animals? That can probably happen, right, where you have a bunch of siblings who just decided to hyperfixate on different things.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2024-10-19 02:10 am (UTC)[Gepard didn't stand him up, so he doesn't have to go home in defeat like a sadsack with two wasted tickets for the price of one. And he even graciously offers to pay for coffee, like a gentleman. What a nice guy! Sampo really has great taste in men, except that most good men don't have taste that includes Sampo.]
If you pay, consider your apology accepted! [Sampo will never turn down a free coffee. He pulls the door to the coffee shop open, holding for his generous coffee buyer.] After you! We have plenty of time until it closes, but I want to make sure you have all the time in the world to look around.
[It's for his art block, after all. It might take a little while to get over it.]
no subject
Date: 2024-10-20 02:33 am (UTC)But there is what could be, and there is the life which Gepard is living right now. He just flashes Sampo a smile - small and relieved and happy - and walks right in.]
How did you find this place? [It's...nice. He likes it.]
no subject
Date: 2024-10-20 02:52 am (UTC)[Since this shop is so close to the conservatory, it's leaned in to the theme and turned its interior into a little conservatory of its own-- shelves full of potted plants of all kinds, big and small. From common jade plants to delicate orchids and everything in-between, there's a plant in nearly every spot that could reasonably accommodate one.]
I really only noticed it because of what's across the street! Which is where we're going, if you haven't seen it.
[Maybe Gepard never noticed that Belobog has a botanical garden, maybe he already realized that they're right by it and cottoned on to Sampo's plan already. He goes up to the counter to order, and the barista seems to already know him and his order, and rattles it off to him.]
Aha, that's right! You've got a good memory. [She turns to Gepard and asks what he wants-- what kind of coffee do cute blond tattoo artists drink?]
no subject
Date: 2024-11-07 03:33 am (UTC)...coconut cold brew? [Of note is how he says it: with abject fascination. He pulls out his cre-]
Sixteen ounces. [...pulls out his credit card to pay, unless-] You don't want anything else, do you, Sampo?
no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 03:01 am (UTC)[For now. If he has his way, Gepard will be buying him more things another day, when they're on real dates. But that's something for Future Sampo to enjoy, Present Sampo has to rizz his way into getting a Cute Blond to take a chance with him.]
[It didn't take very long for them to get a coconut cold brew together-- just pouring it, really-- and a few minutes longer for them to finish up with Sampo's abomination of a drink.]
[It can barely be classified as a drink-- it's a potion of making your heart explode. A potion of fighting God at 2 AM in a Denny's parking lot. The baristas have to get all three of the espresso machines that they have back there going to produce the sheer quantity of coffee shots that go into this lone cup, along with an altogether frightening number of pumps from a bottle of white mocha sauce, shaken with ice but served in a cup that does not have any ice in it. It's a slightly creamy looking and yet somehow also slightly menacing beverage that lurks on the counter that it's placed on.]
[Don't mix up the drinks, Gepard.]
no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 03:26 am (UTC)Then there's that fucking thing which lurks on the counter, and Gepard just stares at it because it's so menacing. So ominous. It repels him.]
What...is it? [Gepard reaches out ever so slightly for it, and then balls his hand into a fist and retracts it. It feels dangerous.]
no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 03:47 am (UTC)[It is not coffee. It's what coffee becomes after its villain origin story. It's coffee that joined a cult and learned dark and unholy secrets. It's coffee that Sampo picks up like it's completely normal and takes a sip of without flinching.]
[This is, probably, a red flag. At the very least, it's an indication that Sampo is not a normal man, and one that Gepard should probably heed. Or not, whatever, it's his life.]
All good?
[Don't worry about the contents of his cup and what it might be doing to his insides. They've got plants to see, that's clearly the more important thing here!]
no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 03:54 am (UTC)I'm excited. I haven't really gone much of anywhere in a long time - too busy with work. [And care packages for Lynx and all that, but Sampo doesn't need to know all of the details.]
no subject
Date: 2024-11-14 04:03 am (UTC)[He leads Gepard across the street, over towards the doors for the Conservatory. They take his tickets at the door, and once inside, there's a wave of warm, moist air as they enter what's essentially a giant greenhouse. The first room has a welcome center with maps and a gift shop, and further in, it opens up into a palm garden set up with glass sculptures.]
So there's an exhibition going on for the next few weeks. [Sampo snags one of the maps as they walk by, just in case they get lost later.] Some famous glassblower has a bunch of sculptures set up in the greenhouses with the plants, it sounded like it would be nice to see.
[And, y'know, good for the old art block.]
no subject
Date: 2024-11-17 04:19 am (UTC)There's a wave of moist, hot air, Gepard makes an appreciative noise as they enter and he promptly stops paying attention to Sampo because he's too busy taking in everything. Because he knew this place existed. He just was too busy with work and family and more work and more family, and while he's done things, he also hasn't done...things.
Well, anyway, after a moment, Gepard remembers that he's got a man on his arm and he really likes this man right now, actually, he's very charmed. A map is snagged.]
Do you come here often? [It seems like it. Sampo seems really well prepared given everything.]
no subject
Date: 2024-12-09 07:30 pm (UTC)[After all, you only get so many years on this earth, you might as well spend as much of it as you can doing things that are nice. Bring a little joy into your heart! All work and no play makes any man a dull boy, and Sampo is very much against being dull.]
It's nice that they bring in exhibitions, too, it might get a little boring if it was the same every time. [Variety, spice of life, something like that.] And since you've got a little art block, why not look at some art, right? Maybe it'll give you some inspiration. And even if it doesn't, at least you got to have a nice walk.
no subject
Date: 2024-12-11 03:19 am (UTC)So.
He lets it go.] Well. It's a good idea. It's a little embarrassing that I haven't thought about doing something like this. [If anything, he's like a puppy, except the leash he's stuck on is Sampo's arm- it's a nice leash, but also it's still a leash. Which, also-]
If you-
[There's no good way of saying if that caffeine goes straight to your head and you feel like passing out it's okay to sit on a bench and I can get you some water - so, ignoring that.]
Nevermind. [He's also feeling like a tourist, but it can't be helped. Also that one flower over there looks interesting, and, much like a puppy on a leash, Geppie's trying to amble over without actually ambling over- Sampo's the third wheel to flowers and Gepard, at least for the moment.]
no subject
Date: 2024-12-16 02:51 am (UTC)[Figuring out shit to do when you're too stressed or bored or whatever to figure it out yourself. That's totally part of it, welcome to the Sampo Koski friendship package.]
[If anything, when Gepard gets distracted by a flower, Sampo's the one that feels like he's on a leash-- being pulled along by an overexcited golden retriever that wants to sniff all the trees at the dog park. It's endearing, in no small part because Gepard's cute and there's a lot that Sampo will tolerate for a handsome man. He'll be the third wheel to a plant for a while, because it makes his not-date so happy.]
[There's a plaque next to the flower that talks about that particular flower, providing helpful information like what kind of flower it is and its scientific name, where it comes from, the kind of climate it likes and whether it's endangered or not. Fun trivia for nerds, really, Sampo doesn't usually read this kind of thing. He's just there to look at the flowers and take in the vibes, not to learn. If he wanted to do that, he would've gone back to college and, like, not failed out this time.]
What do you think? [It's a nice flower. Very flower like, it's got petals and leaves and everything.] Passes muster?
no subject
Date: 2024-12-21 09:52 pm (UTC)It's beautiful. [Too bad this isn't closer to work. He'd constantly go on his lunch breaks and he'd never emerge.] This flower is- [And he goes on a couple minute ramble about the basics, which segues into a story about a client which starts off basic - client wants thing, he offers thing, but segues into-] -then we had an argument about whether or not hyacinths and foxes were native to the same region- they wanted an arrangement that had plants and animals that would be found in the wild together, but I said they had the wrong fox. But I asked my sister- Lynx, she's my younger sister, and she suggested a mongoose, and my client liked that.
no subject
Date: 2025-01-09 05:20 am (UTC)A mongoose! That's an interesting one. [He's pretty sure he knows what a mongoose is. They eat snakes or something? Maybe?] Is your sister some kind of biologist? Or does she just really like animals? I wouldn't be able to tell you what's native to where.
[Is it a whole family of people with very narrow special interests? Gepard and his flowers, his sister and animals? That can probably happen, right, where you have a bunch of siblings who just decided to hyperfixate on different things.]