Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

As the carriage moved to a halt along one of the most busiest and popular streets of the Emerald City the door was opened revealing a young woman. She stepped out with a toss of her long golden hair, her white heels landing on the green brick pavement below. She stood out in the crowd of tourists and citizens alike. Dressed in a white button up jacket which matched with her knee length white skirt. Elegant and smart looking. As if she wanted to make an impression. Perhaps she did, since she was in the business district of the great city where all the most beautiful and well off shops resided.
She looked about her, a charming smile upon her pink lips. There was a glow about her. Not just from her make-up, but a natural glow too. One of excitement and adventure. The same look any newcomer has when they first step foot here.

Before the driver went off along the road once more, there was movement from the back of the carriage. A large array of suitcase and hat boxes were placed on the pavement beside her, till they created a pile almost taller than her. Though, being only about 5'1 in height it wasn't hard to be shorter than something.

Yet she didn't seem to notice the sounds of the carriage or the pile of her belongings. Instead the young woman was too busy staring up at the building right in front of her. Her blue eyes sparkled with joy at the sight of it.

This was it.
Finally she was standing before the shop front with a pile of suitcases beside her. Her shop. The very shop she used to visit as a child during the summer months. She'd spend a week or so following her grandma about, charming the customers to buy another bouquet of tulips or roses. Helping her carry crates of new flowers in the early morning and closing up at night.
That was why when her grandma retired she had left the entire shop in her well manicured hands.
She held the key tightly in her hand now looking up at the newly painted sign above.

'Uplands Bouquets'
Was written in bold flowing letters in white paint. The background of the sign a baby pink colour. She wanted something that would catch a person's eye. Something that stood out beside all the greens of the other shops along the street. In the Emerald City everything looked the same, she was adamant on adding some colour to the place. Another colour that is. The rest of the outside was also painted in the same shade. The large shop window was currently left empty however, though she did plan on filling it up with the best looking flowers once the first shipment arrives tomorrow morning.
It was quite a small shop, yet truly she preferred it. It was quite cute looking really. Who needed a massive flower shop in the first place after all.
No, this was perfect.

"Miss Upland? Everything should all be in order. We have everything set up for tomorrow and the shipment will arrive in the morning. Everything for your apartment is also ready. "
A young man spoke, drawing the woman from her thoughts. He was one of the helpers her popsicle had hired to help her move in and set up shop. The one who had the task of unloading all of her things from the carriage. Of course she could have done it all herself, but it was nice for someone else to do all the heavy lifting. He was a fellow Gilikin. About 5'3 in height and quite lean yet muscular. He had pair skin, like hers and his short blonde hair was hidden by his cap. He wore blue overalls with a white short sleeve shirt underneath. On his feet were a pair of brown ankle boots. Perfect to walk about in while doing manual labour.

Turned her head to face the man. Flashing a charming smile his way.
"Why thank you. But please, call me Glinda."
She spoke in a soft, polite manner. Her voice just as charming as her face.
The young man blushed, his tanned skin going a few shades darker.
sheepishly he grinned before he lowered his head. Pushing his cap lowering to hide his face.

"Of course. Apologies Miss Glinda, if you'd like to do the honours we can head inside and have a tour. There is a lot to go through."
The man continued after clearing his throat.
Of course Glinda knew there would be work involved. Her Popsicle had sat her down a few months ago and had a stern conversation about running a business and the responsibilities of keeping one going. Or as stern as the kind man could muster on his only daughter. Most of the was lost on the blonde. Not because she wasn't listening. Truly she tried her best to take in everything her father told her. It was just her excitement had clouded her thoughts. She just wanted to start right away. Wanted to prove herself that she could be independent.

Which was why she declined both her parent's offers to stay with her for a few days, till she got her bearings. She was a twenty three year old woman with a big dream. To make the whole of Oz just a little happier with her flowers. Maybe even find true love while she's at it too. She wouldn't learn a thing if she was being coddled the whole while. She loved her parents truly, but they can be rather overbearing. So no, she'll do this on her own. Or as alone as the daughter of a noble can be.

With a elegant flourish Glinda unlocks the door to her shop and flings it open. There's a quant little chime from the bell above as she steps inside, followed by the young man.

The interior of the shop about medium sized but well organised with wooden floors and pink walls. There are two sets of three shelves made from wood painted white that were nailed into the right side wall. The left side had a cabinet of the same material with glass doors and more shelves within. Inside were a range of verses for customers to choose. In the middle of the wooden floor were three rectangular tables in a vertical row. On top of them were larger verses for the flowers. Underneath were clay pots, for the flowers too. Then of course, near the far end was the counter with the till. Behind it was some hooks with bags. Beside it however, was a door.
Glinda knew behind that door was a hallway which led both to the small storage space and the stairs that led to her new home.

It was strange seeing the shop so empty. As a child the interior was always full of different flowers and packed with people too. She would sit on the counter and watch as her grandmother helped people find the perfect flower for the perfect message. There were meanings to every flower you see. It was something Galinda learnt quite early on. Something her grandma taught her that she still held close to her heart. One shouldn't just pick some random flower just for the colour or its sweet smell. One should find the flower which holds the message they wish to say but cannot. Whether it is an apology or a confession of love.

It might be empty now, but she already knew exactly how she wanted the shop to look once the flowers came in. The shelves would be filled with the smaller plants and succulents. Then the big pots would be where the more larger and beautiful flowers would be. There'd be verses full of the finest tulips and lillys. They'd be a rainbow of colours and different sections for different types. From wonderful smelly flowers like lavender and roses to those that just looked beautiful like poppies and orchids. The shop windows will be filled with only the best. Perhaps she'd even have a few pots outside? Ones that the people could have for free, or for little children to take with them. There were so many ideas swimming from her head. She'd have to draw it out.

"As mentioned all of the flowers will be arriving in the morning. However, the apartment upstairs is ready. I'll bring all your things up and then we should discuss how your first day should go. Your father wanted me to inform you on everything. He was quite insistent that I give you some warning for your new life."
The young man spoke up once he placed all the suitcases down. His voice a little breathless from the effort.

Of course her popsicle couldn't just leave her to figure it out on her own. Though thankfully a lecture is easy to forget once its said. She was certain they'd be a few lines that'll stick of course, the ones that actually matter. Just like the things her grandma would tell her. Those little nuggets of wisdom she held dear.
She's a odd woman, but she adored her so. Not just because she gave her this shop, but long before that. With a mysterious backstory but one full of experiences and knowledge that always provided exactly what a younger Glinda needed whenever she asked. Be it a question for a quiz or to answer why she felt so little when she kissed a boy, yet felt so much when a girl played with her hair.

The sound of her name being questioned brought her back to the present. She shook the dazed expression from her face, replacing it with an cheerful smile.

"Hm? Yes! Yes of course, but let me help you. We can get into the much boring but much needed talk of business quicker if we both bring my things up stairs."
Glinda then spoke up. Not allowing the young man to protest she already went back to grab some of her things. She came back with two hat boxes. They were some of the lighest things in the pile, but she was still wanting to help.

The man smiled, thanked her and began to pick up the more heavier cases. He went through the door first. Carrying them up the stairs.
She watched, pausing for a moment. This was truly it. The first day of her new life. Truly, she was a little nervous. This was a big step really. A huge change. Yet she was also excited. A new start. A chance to prove herself. This was that chance. To own a shop, earn her keep. To find love. Everything she had dreamed of.
This was the first step. Bring all her things to her new home and learn everything she needed to know for tomorrow.
It couldn't be that hard right?
After all she was used to being lectured on things. It wasn't like she never worked a day in her life before. Or well, she helped. It couldn't be that different.
Just a walk and a talk.
How hard could it be?

Chapter Text

As it turned out, this was harder than Glinda first thought. A lot harder actually.
After almost an hour carrying suitcase after suitcase her clothes and possessions up a flight of stairs into her apartment, the actual tour and lecture began. She followed after the young man from before, who she learnt was named Lou, as he showed her everything she thought she already knew and everything she definitely didn't know. From the time schedule for when the flower shipments arrived to how to work the till. She always thought she was good with numbers, but learning how count up a till was surprisingly difficult.
She had to go so far as to jot down notes while she tried her best to follow along. Though she feared none of her notes even made sense.

By the end of the tour Glinda was leaning against the counter with a growing headache. Her fingers massaging her temples to try and ease the pain. This was stressful. A lot more work than she let herself believe before. Had she possibly swallowed more than she could chew?
It didn't matter though, she was far too deep now. She wouldn't just pack up and leave, not when she got all this way. Call it determination or call it stubbornness, she wouldn't just give up now.

"That should be everything. Sir Upland had made sure the City Council were aware of you're title and made sure you won't have to worry about anything but running the shop for the first month at least. Though I expect a council member will come round shortly to talk to you about everything. I should leave you now though. I must head back to Gilikin in the morning to inform Sir and Lady Upland of you settling in."
Lou spoke up after a minute. His voice a little softer, as if he had sensed the mild panic from her.

Glinda turned to look at the young man. It was certainly time for them to part, she had to sort out her apartment after all. That and with the council member on the way she needed to be prepared. Not that she was really looking forward to the meeting. She knew the council leader was formidable, but she never met the woman before. Only heard of her in passing, and she was never sounded very nice. She swore she heard her grandma curse the woman once, which was definitely not a good sign.

"Yes, I suppose you are right. Thank you Lou for your help. I'll be sure to pass on to my parents you're helpfulness."
She spoke kindly.
She stood and followed as the young man went to leave. It was the good thing to do after all, see someone off. Even if that person was just an helping hand. A helpful one none the less. Even if she feared she had more questions than answers, she had to work this out alone.
Still she waved Lou off and closed the door.
Now she was On her own. At least till the council member came to visit.

---

To pass the time, Glinda decided to unpack her things in her apartment. Up the stairs in the backroom she opened the door to finally greet her new home. The space was about the same size as one of the dining rooms back at her family home, yet the space was hers. There were three rooms altogether. The door opened into largest of the three which was both the living space and kitchen area. The bigger furniture had already been unpacked and placed luckily, leaving her with a couch, a coffee table and an empty bookshelf in her living room. The kitchen had everything she'd need. A decent sized stove, a chill box, sink and a toaster. Most importantly, as she expected she'd be needed it quite often, was a kettle. The next two rooms were the bathroom and of course, her bedroom. The bathroom was the smallest of the three, though it had everything one would need. The toilet worked and there was enough space for a sink and a bathtub. Just perfect.

All that was left was the bedroom. When Glinda stepped inside she was met with baby pink walls instead of the normal white in the rest of the rooms and white, thick and fluffy instead of the wooden floors behind her.
Inside there was a small plush bed, a wardrobe and a vanity with a chair and mirror. There was another full length mirror beside the wardrobe, one she went towards straight away once she entered the room. Her heels sank in to the soft carpet before she stopped before the glass. She still looked fine, luckily. Though she moved to fix her hair, a few strands of gold loose from her ponytail. Her make up wasn't smudged and despite the growing nerves she still had the excited glow in her eyes. A smile still on her lips.
Then, with a spin she went to start to task at hand.

Unpacking took an unsurprisingly long time to complete. It took just over two hours just to organise all her clothes and put them all into the wardrobe. There were still a case of clothes she couldn't fit. The hat boxes had to be left in a stack beside the wardrobe and her coats were hanged up on hooks beside the front door. Her shoes placed underneath on a shoerack as well. All ten pairs of them since she left a bunch at home. She had a small break to eat the packed lunch her momsie had prepared her before she continued, moving to her vanity she filled it with all her makeup and fragrances. She made sure to put up a few posters up against the pale pink walls. A mood board of sorts, inspiration for her dream shop, and some rather beautiful looking models.

Next was the bathroom. There she had plenty of toiletries to place in the cabinets, towels to put on the metal rack and a robe for the clothes hook. She did consider taking a bath, but decided against it. She'd need one after the meeting, something to look forward to and de-stress with.
The other two rooms didn't take too long. There wasn't much for her to bring. She'd have to go grocery shopping at some point, though thankfully the movers who came before her had also stocked some food for her. Nothing much, some bread and butter for toast and coffee and tea for whenever she needed it. She'd make sure to take a quick out some point tomorrow. If she gets time to that is. She made sure to place her radio down on the coffee table for later use. The only items she had for the small bookshelf were a few magazines she picked up and some trinkets from her past and travels. In particular, she was extra careful with a beautiful bubble globe she placed on the top shelf. It was a music box which played a lovely Gilikin melody in the base of wood with gold engravings, on top of it was a pink crystal glass globe made to look like a bubble. Inside there were smaller glittery bubbles suspended in air, as if frozen in them. The globe was a gift from childhood, though she could not remember when she was first gifted it, she had held it near and dear to her ever since. A symbol of her joyous youth and childlike dreams. Of course being older, she was much more mature in her goals. She still wished in a silly manner she'd one day float about in a bubble just like her music box globe. One she'd maybe even make herself, but that was another life.

By the time she was finished unpacking it was dusk. The bright blue sky now Turning orange and pink, slowly darkening into twilight. She all but collapsed onto her soft couch in a less than ladylike manner. Not that it mattered of course, she was in her own home without a guest in sight.
Her eyes glanced up towards the clock hanging on the white painted wall, it was almost evening now. Later than she expected, yet still no sign of anyone visiting. Perhaps the council was quite busy today? Or maybe, hopefully, they decided to visit tomorrow instead? It felt almost bad to hope so, but surely after all the travelling and unpacking, she deserved at least the evening to herself? A moment of respite before she throws herself into her first day of work? After all this was her first time running a business by herself. She wasn't going in completely blind after all, but she didn't know much. Some may call her quite foolish indeed. Yet, she was determined to prove her independence. And, if things go wrong, she could always return home and try again. This was the Upland way. The family wealth was earned through hard work and stubbornness, she wouldn't let that family heritage stop at her parents, she'll make sure to pass it down. If she'd ever have children herself. Which was definitely a conversation for a later date.

She had dared to hope for a peaceful evening, when she hard a sharp knock on the shop door. Even from all the way up stairs she could hear it as clear as day. A rather hard, almost pounding knock. One that makes your stomach drop a little.
She stood up with a start. Pushing herself off of the coach and immediately towards the front foor of her apartment.
She almost tripped over running down the stairs as another set of loud knocks echoed through the shop.

"Just a moment!"
She called out. Her little legs pushing her at top speed towards the door, she could see through the glass a woman dressed in a brutal yet elegant dress. Though it wasn't until she finally scrambled to open the door that she realised who it was.

"Oh, Mrs Morrible!"

Before her stood a woman in around her late sixties to early seventies by appearance alone. She had to be quite a few inches more than Glinda as she almost seemed to tower over her. Her sliver hair done up in a mass of neat and organised curls on the top of her head, almost like a bird nest. The little red teacup sized hat almost like the bird.
She wore a dress of the same colour and now Glinda could see it better, it was a little outdated. Made of ruffles and sliver threaded engravings. It suited the woman wearing it, but she doubted it'll suit anyone with a younger face.

Speaking of faces. The woman's expression was one of mild annoyance and possibly disdain, hidden behind professionalism and a polite smile. She wore make up quite heavy, but it did nothing to hide the signs of old age and stress. Her brown eyes sharp like daggers as she stared directly at the blonde.
This was definitely Mrs Morrible, the leader of the council and closet to the leader of Oz himself.

"You must be Miss Galinda Upland, I apologise for the time but I had much more important business to attend to first which took a lot of my time."
Her strict slightly shrill voice was controlled but still biting.

Glinda was quick to catch the mispronunciation of her name, having had changed it to what it was now years ago, but felt far too intimidated to say anything.

"No need to apologise! You must be a very busy lady. Please, come in! Would you like some water, tea perhaps?"
She asked, hurriedly stepping to the side to let the woman through.

"No thank you. This will only be a short visit, there are some matters I must attend to."
The older woman spoke. She went to step in as soon as Glinda stepped aside, barely giving her the time to move out of the way
Morrible glides into the shop in a short stride. She then paused once she got a few steps from the door, her eyes taking in every detail. Assessing, judging.
As if trying to form some opinion and searching for the right words to say.

"You seem to wish to stand out from the rest, I am unsure if this colour scheme fits with the city however. I suppose there is no harm for a new shop to try and make their presence known. Though, they tend to do so in other ways then...going against the norm."
She commented. She didn't bother to look at Glinda, instead she continued to look about. She walked towards the counters and shelves and ran her finger along, rising it to check for dirt or dust. It was hard to tell if she was disappointed because she found some or disappointed before she didn’t.

Glinda stood awkwardly at a distance. Both of her hands fidgeting with eachother at her front. Her eyes followed Morrible like a animal seeking approval, yet so far she could only sense a level of annoyance from the older woman. She did feel a little silly seeking validation from the woman, though in turn it was also quite imperative that she did. Mrs Morrible was the head of the council, if she was too displeased with how she ran her shop, she could easily shut it down. Though surely a respectable woman like her wouldn't do so without a good reason. One Glinda knew she didn't have right now.

"I-I thought it best I make my store seem more personal, not just to stand out. I have no issue with the colour green I hope you understand, but pink is a much softer colour. I wanted to own a place where people can come in and feel relaxed, take their time. After all, once the flowers arrive there will be such a vibrant mix of colours and the smell will just be perfect. There be plenty of green then, of course."
She tried to explain, her voice wavering a little as her nerves sneaked up, but she still spoke her mind. Smiling sweetly once Morrible finally glanced her way.

Morrible didn't say a word at first, her eyes trailed up and down Glinda before settling back to her face. Her eye twitching and for a moment her smile dropped.
"Best not think too far ahead. One doesn't know how long their road leads before it's time to turn back."
Glinda's face grew perplexed at the words, but the council leader continued to speak before she could utter a question.

"Your parents have so graciously informed me that this is your lack of experience, despite your families titles. They have also paid in full your first month's payment of your permit to have a business here in this great city."
She started, stepping closer towards the blonde as the growing shadows made her expression seem more aggressive and sharp.
"But don't be fooled girl, just because you come from rich parents and your grandmother owned this building before you, doesn't mean you'll be given any extra treatment from me. In my personal opinion, I do not believe you have what it takes to survive a year here. A flowershop of all things isn't worth the council's time or the city for that matter. Though I'm sure you'll try to prove me wrong, but I doubt you will."

With that, Morrible straightened herself up and turned her heel towards the door.
"I suggest you work harder than you ever have Miss Galinda. I will return in a month's time to collect payment and inform you of any changes in our agreement. Though I'm sure either I or another member of the council will see you much sooner. For your benefit, I do hope it isn't me."
She spoke as she made her way towards the door, leaving Glinda to stand there frozen.

She then glanced her head towards her and for a moment Glinda thought she saw a glint of malice her eyes.
"Good night, Miss Galinda."

Glinda stared towards the door as it closed. The faint chim of the bell echoing throughout the dark empty space. She felt rather faint.
That wasn't how she expected things to go. Not at all. Had she done something to upset the woman? Or was she just in some bad mood? It was late after all.
Yet with her years growing up around respectful figures, she knew a threat when she heard it and Morrible wasn't being subtle at all.

Perhaps this was what she needed. The threat of her dream being taken from her could be the push she needs to fight for it even more. Yet it seemed far too harsh a push right now. Definitely not what she needed for her already growing nerves.
She'd just have work harder...but right now she needed to rest. Tomorrow will be a big day she knew it.

So, taking a deep breath she turned around and headed back up the stairs to her apartment. Now even more grateful she decided to leave the bath till after the meeting. A relaxing dip in the tub and a mug of calming tea then off to bed. That's what she needed.
She won't let that horrible woman's words eat away at her just yet.
At least, she'd try.

Chapter Text

Glinda woke with a groggy groan with her eyes staring up at the ceiling. Sleep came with some difficulty last night. No amount of relaxation could rid her of her worries. She tossed and turned before she finally managed to get some sleep. Though as she blinked the sleep from her eyes she doubted it was nearly enough. Yet she still sat up and stretched. Today was a big day, she couldn't risk even oversleeping a moment. It felt even more nerve-wracking with Morrible's words echoing through her head. Why would that horrible woman say such things to her? It wasn't like she's met her before. Was she allergic to flowers or something?
Whatever the reason, she had to focus on the present now. The first shipment of flowers will be arriving in the next few hours, so if she wanted to look presentable and eat she'd have to get out of bed right away.

So with a flourish she practically leapt out of bed, letting out one last yawn as she went to grab her clothes for the day.
Today she decided to wear something simple but pretty. She pulled out her yellow sundress along with her undergarments before heading to the bathroom to freshen up. A good long soak in the tub and self care routine was the perfect way to brighten her day. That and a good sing song while she did so.

By the time she stepped back into her bedroom she was dressed with her hair wrapped up in a towel. A smile already on her lips. She practically skipped along to her vanity before sitting down. There she began to apply her make-up.
She decided on a look that matched her outfit, simple yet pretty. So she went more natural. Using a lighter blush on her round cheeks and button nose, a faint pink on her lips and leaving her eyes just about untouched. She wanted to look more professional than flashy after all. Though it wouldn't be her if she didn't look slightly glamours. As pretty as a doll, as her momise used to say. She did look like a doll in some ways. Her rounded cheeks and soft features. She took a lot of pride in her appearance. Hence the long routine of creams and serums. They kept her skin clear, soft and glowing.

Once her hair was dry enough she removed the tower and started to work with it. First brushing it out till it felt smooth and soft like silk. Then she began to style it. This time she went with a simple look. Tyinging up a portion of her hair into a ponytail while keeping the rest down. She made sure to style it so it looked perfect. She had to perfection. This was her first day after all. The last thing she wanted was to have a bad hair day. Once she tied her hair she added a few hairclips to keep her hair pinned and away from her face. They were one of her favourites, simple clips with a pretty dasy charm stuck on top. She only needed two, one of both sides of her head.

Finally she picked up her favourite fragrance and quickly sprayed over herself. Then with a bright smile she was ready. She leapt from her vanity and made bounced out of her bedroom. She knew some say eating after makeup was a dangerous game, but she just couldn't start the day without a painted face. It just brought her a comfort she couldn't shake. That and it was a habit from her dorming days at Shiz. The thought of her dormmates seeing her naked face in the morning was almost nightmare fuel.

So the next stop was breakfast. She turned on the radio before hoping to the kitchen. A pleasant melody bled into the room as she turned on the kettle and popped bread into the toaster. She fished through the cabinets and chill box for jam, butter, milk and coffee. All while she hummed along to the song.
Her eyes did glance towards the window, smiling dreamily as the sun peeked through the glass. It looked positively beautiful today. The type of day that called for flower shopping, or at least she thought it did. Cute couples on their dates. Children looking to find the perfect present for their momsies.

Once the coffee was made and drank and the toast eaten she was finally ready to head downstairs. Checking the time she was surprised to see she was actually early. Only by a few minutes but still early! Usually she was on time or running late, so this was a record for her.

There was just enough time to gather a few things from the storage ready for her opening day. Glinda decided while eating her toast that she'd make her opening day extra special by having an offer on. Every bouquet of flowers purchased will be gift wrapped free of charged. It took some rummaging but she managed to find two rolls of green wrapping paper. Ha! Morrible couldn't complain about the lack of green now! It was the perfect shade of Emerald too.

After also finding some tape and scissors she hurried to the front counter to set everything up. The sight of paper laid out across the counter brought back another joyful memory to her mind. A memory of her little hands cutting and wrapping up fresh flowers. She could only do the small bouquets at the time. Her little hands couldn't hold more than two to three stems a time, yet the bright smiles every customer gave her when she handed the finished product, she couldn't wait to relive that moment now.
Perhaps one day she'd have her own little and eager hands helping her. Maybe one day.

She just finished putting everything away when she heard the steps of a horse coming to an end at the front of her shop. When she looked up she saw a large cart full of boxes being pulled by two chestnut horses. On top of the cart sat a short man, though his ginger curly hair was what drew her attention immediately. He was definitely a munchkin, and by the look of his blue overalls he must be the flower distributor she had been waiting for.

She came over to the front door before unlocking it, opening it up so she could greet the man. As soon as he got down from his cart he glanced up towards the opened door. His freckled face instantly reddened when his brown eyes met with Glinda's. Which was quite a feat, he already looked quite red in the face from the sun. She smiled rather charmingly, and he almost seemed to faint.

"You must be the fine man who's come to bring me my flowers."
She spoke. Stepping away from the door she came a little closer. Her neck then craned, looking over towards the cart eagerly.
She couldn't see any flowers however, just their protective containers.

The munchkin stayed silent for a moment, as if unable to speak. Yet a moment passes. He breathed, shaking whatever trance like state he found himself in upon seeing such a beauty.

"Y-Yes! Yes sorry, my name is Boq."
The man spluttered, his cheeks somehow darkening even more.
"I have flowers for a Miss Glinda Upland?"
He then spoke. His eyes trailed up down by the woman's face still in slight awe. Almost as if he never laid his eyes upon a female before. Or at least one who didn't have red hair and was just above shoulder height to him. Of course that had to be wrong. He seemed like a seasoned trader, so this couldn't be his first time in the City. Perhaps Glinda could use this to benefit her. A discount, perhaps? Though only if necessary. She rather not flirt with some man, she had hoped she'd gotten passed that habit now. After all, it'll only be a lie.

"Well, you found the right person."
She replied. Her smile not breaking just yet. Though being far too impatient she already started to walk towards the back of the cart. Luckily this time Boq seemed to pick up on her interest and quickly began to catch up to her.

"I have a large shipment here, already paid for. Is...are you new miss? I think I'd recall a face like yours. A-As in a pretty face, of course."
The munchkin continued to stutter, he really couldn't act cool to save his life could he? Glinda had only met him and she could already read him like an open book.
He had a massive crush on her.
Too bad they were both playing for the same team.

She didn't have the time to turn him down though. So instead she smiled her usual charming smile and waited in front of the carrying cart.
It took Boq almost a minute to finally realise why they were both standing there in silence. It certainly wasn't for a staring competition.
Muttering a rushed apology he quickly went to unload the shipment. He ended up pulling out four massive boxes of flowers. They were labelled luckily. Poppies, roses, lilies and of course, Tulips. You couldn't own a flowershop in Oz and not own Munchkinland Tulips, they were the staple. Fragrance shops would often buy them to use for their perfumes. Clothing shops even use them for dyes too. They were the most famous and thus expensive flowers. After all a lot of munchkins make their living in selling them. Boq was no different, at least as far as Glinda could tell.

"That should be everything that's been ordered. O-Of course if you ever need any other flowers o-or of course, an earlier shipment you only need to contact me...
Us! As in the family farm I mean!"
Boq stammered out his words once again. It was cute before, but this constant shyness was growing a little tedious.
Glinda was well aware of her appearance. She prides herself in dressing herself in flattering outfits and using make up to make enhance her natural beauty. Really if it wasn't for her love of flowers she'd probably be a model of some kind. Own a clothing range or something. But she was happy as she was now. This shop was her dream.

It just annoyed her a little how Boq kept staring at her. She swore he was almost drolling. Of course, she wouldn't be rude and make a scene about it. Usually the boys would back down once it was clear she wasn't interested. Anyway, it was still rather innocent. Even if it wasn't as amusing anymore.
Boq almost tripped over twice as he went to grab the papers for her to sign.

"They're perfect, just what I want. Thank you dear."
Glinda spoke once Boq came over with the paper work and a pen.
She skimmed read everything, nothing really stuck to her as she read. It all seemed to be boring legal stuff. Though there was quite a lot the munchkin seemed was quick to turn the page where she needed to sign.
She didn't think anything of it. Her excitement starting to rise once again. These were her flowers. Her flowers to sell and give out to customers. The first shipment for her first day. How could she not be giddy about it all?
So she quickly signed the forums without a second thought.

When she looked up from the page her eyes met Boq's. Even they were trembling as he stood there. He was frozen in place, stuck clutching the clipboard in his hands. She could see how his mind went blank. No thoughts passing through his head. Just completely empty.
They both stayed in silence for a minute. Glinda was trying to he polite, giving the man time to collect himself and speak.
Yet the clock was ticking. She had her first day to start.
So, after a minute she cleared her throat.
That was enough to make the munchkin jerk awake from his trance.

"R-Right! I should get going, thank you for choosing Woodmans flower delivery. Have good day!"
He spoke, reaching out to take the pen, his hand clammy as he brushed his fingers just slightly. He let out a quiet yelp before rapidly pulling away. He didn't hesitate as he climbed back onto the cart, not without stumbling on the step of course.

Glinda stared a little dumbfounded. Was he just going to leave her to bring all the boxes in herself? It seemed so, as once he grabbed hold of the reins he was off. The cart moving a little faster than it was meant to. Leaving the blonde standing outside her shop with the boxes surrounding her.
Well, at least the process was quick.
Still, she couldn't help but feel like that Boq forgot something, other than helping her with the unboxing that is.
Yet she pushed the thought aside. With a sigh she looked towards the first of the four boxes. This was going to take some effort, but she had to get moving if she wanted to open up shop.

She was definitely going to break a sweat, hopefully she wouldn't ruin her nice dress.