IT was december, and it was cold. But that didnt stop Gabriel from toiling about outside. Cypress wasnt around so far, and she had hied him to work for her. and since the inside of the shop wasnt really something he could work with. (Gabriel was no shop keeper) the Earth Witch found himself outside. digging through what could have been a poorly constructed garden. he was wearing a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, his feet where bare so long as he was working on the soil. channeling up heat through the earth wasnt so hard when you where standing directly on soil. if he where to walk onto the patio though he would have issues.
He'd actually went out and spent a bit og his remaining money on seeds to plant back here at the hardware store. The shopkeeper had given him all sorts of crazy looks when he said he was planting now. Apparently, not everyone could ask the earth herself for help in keeping plants safe. If the shoppe was going to sell magical articles, fresheness was absolutely key when it came to magical botanicals. the back door was wide open so that he could absolutely go help someone if they game in, probably wasn't helping the heater any though.
Heading towards her shop, she felt like she had been running late all day. Gabriel had kissed her twice in one night. The first time had been to thwart off his pursuers, the second, she didn't know why. Maybe he was happy she had given him a place to stay for the night as well as a job. Though, Cypress was unsure of either of those reasons. Whatever his reasons, it had bothered her. He had taken down her guard, invaded her space without her knowing and had gotten close to her to kiss her.
All of that bothered Cypress to the point she had not gone home that night. Staying in a hotel and then over sleeping. It was unlike her completely. Ash had called wanting to see her after work at her shoppe. Agreeing, she headed over there. She parked and headed to the front door. A bag of food dangled from her fingers. The key turned, unlocking the door and allowing her entrance.
White hues glanced around the empty store front. A deep breath let her know the back door was open. Heading in the direction she wondered why the door was open. Gabriel's scent drifted in the breeze that entered the store as she drew closer. Setting the bag of food down, she watched Gabriel working in the back.
There had been once a garden during the spring months. A garden of weeds. Cypress had a black thumb for all living things. Making something grow had never been her specialty. Yet, Gabriel was there in the cold, barefoot in his true element. Her dream rushed back to her. Them, together in front of a large tree, an apple tree perhaps. This was wrong. He wasn't supposed to be there. There was another place that needed more tending to. That was the impression that Cypress received.
"Gabriel, please don't waste the energy."
Her hand moved to pause at the back of his forearm.
"I am not judging your power, I am merely saying you should not waste the energy."
Once those words left her lips she dropped her hand and stepped back from him. Turning she headed into the shoppe again.
"I brought lunch. Please come eat."
Within the reusable bag lay a sandwich and a bottle water. She didn't know if he ate this sort of stuff, but his comment about McDonalds, let her to think he would eat a gourmet fixed deli sandwich. Also in the bag was an envelope with a few bills inside. A payment of sorts for just agreeing to work there.
Power coursed through him. This place had been in rough shape before he had showed up. and getting it into order was a deal of effort. being that he was channeling up heat from the earth the work was enough to create a fine sheet of sweat though the ground was almost fit for work now. when Cypress spoke to him the first time his attention had been on pulling the rocks from the ground of which there had been many. slowly they rose fromt he shifting ground, rising from udnerneath the soil, hanging in the air that was of course until she touched him.
He flinched when he felt her soft warm hand on his arm. The rocks fell from his focus and scattered as they rolled about. the flinch was a small one but her words registered and he turned emerald gaze over to her.
"S'not too hard, not much effort there in the end rocks where the first things I learned." though he said it wasn an effort he looked a little winded, that didnt change his smile when he saw her though, a warm geuine smile.
His attention piqued when she mentioned food, and his stomach muttered a silent agreement to the thought of earting. when he came inside he was polite enough to dust his feet off before coming in side, grabbing his jacket from the hook he'd left it on, like i said, it was hard to channel heat up from the earth when you wherent in direct contact with it. the sandwich was given a nice hearty bite and was met with a nigh lustful sound before another bite was taken and washed down with some of the water.
"what's this for?" picking up the envelope. when he opened it his brows shot up."Cypress, you've given me a bed to lay my head, you don't need to give me any money." since y'know he could fleece street perfomers for some extra cash.
