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It wasn't usual for Forge to come to Kelp Dome in the recent times ever since it renovated from being a turf stage, she probably went to there only two times in four years. But she couldn't find it in any of her hearts to tell her former captain that she wasn't interested in botany anymore, let alone arranging bouquets.
So she was here, looking through the rows of various plants, thinking about what to put together in stems.
Maybe make them comparible to their personalities, Army had said, with their colors would be much appreciated.
Forge sighed. He had expressed his request in such an endearing way. Literal sparkles in his eyes despite having his usual stern expression, albeit a bit shy. She just couldn't say she didn't even remember the names of some flowers, let alone the meaning.
The inkling's eyes travelled everywhere in the greenhouse, looking at various colors of flowers. It wasn't crowded like a greenhouse's usual, but since it was morning it had less people than normal. Forge's eyes suddenly spotted a hooded figure from her spot, looking through roses. The sunnies and mask wearing figure was a little taller than her and well-built, strands of pink tentacles sticking out slightly from the hoodie. Along with a seashell necklace on their neck. Two things that were enough to spot the identity of the figure.
The hell's Diver doing here?
Now, Forge wasn't one to judge people's interests, neither she cared enough for it. But she couldn't help her curiousity as she saw the pink inkling crouching down towards the tulips (hey, she remembered one flower!), reading the small card in front of them. So, she slowly approached him, boots making quiet raps on the soft floor.
"Diver?"
The inkling let out high pitched gasp, too high for his own voice. Hands going up in defense, he lost his balance immediately due to his crouching and fell to the floor.
"Ah sh– Are you okay?" Forge perked up, rushing next to the man as she held out a hand towards him.
"Yeah– Gimme a sec..." Diver held her hand, slightly pulling the orange inkling towards himself as he got up with a grunt. His hoodie fell down from his fall, pink tentacles falling on his shoulders.
"Ack!" Diver let out a muffled yelp due to the mask on his face, as he took his hoodie up again.
"Diver are you..."
"Yes I'm perfectly fine!" Diver stammered, swiftly standing up with his fists on his side, "and I'm not Diver."
Forge stood up after the H3 main, poker face shifting into an amused smirk.
"Whatever you say."
She turned back to the tulips, many colored flowers greeting her sight. These are quite pretty, she thought. Maybe Army would like these? Do I get them in S4's colors? What was their symbol again...Do they have a good meaning? A bad one? Cod this is tiring...
"Forg– I mean– Woman I totally don't know?"
Forge turned towards Diver, mentally laughing at his attempts to cover himself up.
"What."
"You okay? You seemed quite...angry?"
Oh damn, right. Everybody and their mother (everybody as in her old team and the other co-captains and the rest of the S5 members and blue team in particular– woah, that was a lot) knew her face got quite a scowl on whenever she got confused or focused on something a bit too hard. A scowl that can be counted as a death glare that even her old captain was afraid of.
She still did that...great...
"Oh– yeah, yeah, I'm fine. I'm not angry, I'm just confused, don't worry."
"Confused about what?"
"Well..." Forge debated on whether she should tell him or not, but then again she wasn't gonna go anywhere if she keeps wandering around aimlessly. Also maybe Diver could help her?
"My captain wants to give bouquets to his partners, so he wanted me to arrange the bouquets because he knew of my botany hobby," she explained, playing into Diver's disguise shtick a bit, "but I've grown out of it long since, so I can't really remember anything about bouquet arrangements anymore. But I couldn't find in my hearts to tell him that."
Diver let out a quiet "oooh" at her words before chuckling.
"Well, you've come to the right inkling, Fo– girl!" He said, running a hand through his tentacles without bringing down his hoodie (how?). "I will help you!"
The two inklings spent hours in the greenhouse, discussing about several different meanings of different flowers. Forge took out her little manual from her coat, noting down important details while Diver explained several different ways of arranging a "fire" bouquet. At the end of the day when the employee announced the closing of the greenhouse, Forge paid for her finished bouquet and walked to the exit with the pink inkling.
Dusk has settled, cool spring air hitting her face. She called Army to drop the bouquet off and walked towards the direction, until she felt a tap on her shoulder.
"Hm?"
"Hey uhm..." Diver said with an uncharasterically nervous body language. He had pushed the sunglasses up to expose his eyes, hoodie still covering his tentacles. He pulled down the facemask to speak.
"Today was great and I'm– sorry for hiding, I guess– but can this stay between us? Please?"
"Huh?"
He scratched the behind of his head. "I–I've picked up this flower thingy ever since Aloha kinda left the team and the team kinda disbanded and I was really bored but I'm– not sure if I'm ok with others knowing for now. I mean look at me," he gestured to himself. "Do ya' really think I look like a guy who would enjoy this stuff?"
Forge looked at Diver for a second, an understanding smile making its way into her features. She had picked up "uncharasteristic" hobbies as well (seriously, could anybody see Forge getting interested in breakdancing out of all things?), so she could understand the man not wanting to being "seen" like this.
"I don't really think that's a problem nor we care that much Dive, but," Forge added, "I won't tell anyone, promise."
"T-thanks."
"See you at practice tomorrow." She gave out a small salute with a wink as she turned around and walked to the location Army sent her.