inawildflower

[inawildflower]

time had gone quickly for dabin as she explored the holiday market. it seemed to have expanded compared to last year, or maybe now she was more familiar with the business owners that decided to set up a stall, especially the local artists selling their work, from whom she made sure to buy. not only did she decide to splurge on a few original creations, but dabin also purchased pots of beautiful poinsettias to decorate her place. all the shopping made her hungry though, and dabin chose to see what was still available to munch on given that it was a bit late already. even a warm beverage would be welcome in that weather.

luckily for her, one of the few businesses open was the sweet bean cafe stand, with a familiar barista serving drinks. she rushed to greet him, bags in hand. "good evening!" dabin apologized when she noticed that the table was almost empty, like they were preparing to leave. "are you preparing to close? i'm sorry. i can look somewhere else," still, ever so kind im hajoon offered to receive her, for which she was grateful. since they had exchanged more words than coffee orders, dabin had found him to have a very affable personality. "anything will do, but i would appreciate a hot chocolate if it's available."

closed starter for :@inawildflower location : holiday market, sweet bean stand

as the days went on and drinks were poured, hajoon had been hoping (wondering? fearing?) if she was going to show up. surely every citizen of ansong would frequent the holiday market sooner or later, it was simply the spot to flock to during the month of december. more than once had he caught himself looking out for her in the crowd, eyes searching for her long, dark hair, the almost signature-esque strands framing her delicate face. a new wave of customers craving hot drinks would wash over them and pull him out of the ocean of day dreams before he could drown. now, the hour was late, the first stalls started closing for the day, the crowd thinning out. hajoon was alone - after cleaning up most of the stand, he had released his co-worker, promising he could manage the last 30 minutes on his own. suddenly he was longing for backup, anyone he could cling to in his proximity. "ms. choi", he greets her, accepting that he is on his own here. "hello. what can i get for you?"

[inawildflower]

"is that so?" a soft smile formed at the prospect of a new order and the fact that she had an admirer in town, but she immediately regained her professional facade. regardless of the number of pieces she made, a stranger recognizing her work gave her a sense of pride. although she did not pursue arts and crafts in exchange of validation, it was nice to know that someone acknowledged the time and effort put into creation. "i appreciate being considered in your search for new dishware—sorry, may i have your name?"

dabin regretted paying little attention to the baristas that had prepared beverages for her at sweet bean, then again, she was not such a frequent client of the café. still, there was something in the man's expression that she couldn't quite decipher. maybe it was just the nervousness of doing business. she didn't want to make him feel self-conscious, so she decided to keep the atmosphere as relaxed as possible, inviting him to take a seat at a nearby table by signaling the chair, similar to his previous gesture.

"please, make yourself comfortable. can i offer you a cup of water? perhaps tea or coffee?" dabin had zero hopes of impressing a professional with the latter options. she hoped for him to choose the first since drinking from a terracotta recipient was a special experience. they were porous in nature which helped in spreading coolness equally throughout the liquid. she could swore that water tasted better, more refreshing, that way and she always had some within reach on her desk to keep herself hydrated.

"that would depend on the quantity of pieces and the design," she replied, trying to remember the mugs and plates that they used. the dishware wasn't the generic white one that other establishments had, instead it possessed a rustic feel with small imperfections because of time. maybe that was the reason why they were looking to change it. "are you looking for something in specific, or would you be alright with letting us recommend the style?" dabin reached out for her notebook and a pen to take notes; she preferred analog to digital.

large chai latte with almond milk and a pretzel roll with basil cream cheese. hajoon still remembers the order. it was an unusually chilly summer morning, although the heat would strike swiftly within the next hour and thick clouds announced the usual rain during monsoon season. much like right now, he had briefly frozen in place upon first meeting eyes with her, as if struck by lightning. he was certain he had never seen her before - even though it had not been too long since he started at the café, he picked up on faces quickly and got a kick out of recognizing regulars and remembering their order. his heart had been beating up to his throat when he dipped the steam wand into the milk, more than ever before perfecting his tilted angle to get the creamiest milk foam he could possibly conjure. back then he wondered if she had even so much as glanced at the latte art he had created so meticulously before putting the lid on top of her paper cup. it was inexplicable. he had looked around, glanced into the faces of other customers and his coworkers to make sure they saw what he was seeing, but it was to no avail. no one else’s breath seemed to halt, no one else watched her leave the building, no one else seemed bewitched. or everyone was simply so much better at hiding than hajoon. now he has to adapt this technique, hiding. leaving is not an option anymore anyway. frankly, had he known this upon the task being delegated to him, he probably would have rejected it. come up with some silly excuse, a notorious streak of bad luck or whatever else would have persuaded his boss. but now here he is and, most importantly, so is she. her light wash jeans is speckled with drops of colors in various shades, the sleeves of her sweater rolled up, probably disturbed mid-work. he reciprocates her bow, forcing his body out of its frozen state. ”ms. choi,” he echoes her name. “i am here on the behalf of my boss, the owner of sweet bean. we are looking to exchange our current dishware and he is a fan of your work.” he underlines his words with a light sway of his hand towards the window, where various pottery is on display to evoke the curiosity of oblivious passersby. shiny stoneware sits pretty in the shopwindow, the irregularities of the colors and glazes making each piece unique, a testament to the nature of handcrafting. “i would just like to inquire a rough quotation and time frame.”

[inawildflower]

"think of it as a job perk, similar to a gym-membership or unlimited snacks," dabin encouraged her, trying to see the positive side of danbi using the service despite of working at fresh fields. "it would be great if employees got a discount in delivery too," she added to her initial proposal. it sounded like she was about to close glaaze and join as a manager at the grocery store, but that wasn't the case. she was simply another customer leaving suggestions in the imaginary mailbox. "don't worry about it," she laughed at the thought of being credited for the solution to forgetting her cart. "feel free to use it whenever they ask you for ideas to improve client relations."

"you are right," dabin conceded. the agenda began to fill up little by little, with people signing up for dates close to the holidays. "fortunately, i have it under control," the studio would be offering holiday-themed classes for everyone looking to create ornaments or mugs, perfect and thoughtful gifts to give away during the season. apart from that, they would offer certain pieces for those individuals who were too busy to attend a workshop, or did not feel confident enough in their manual skills. the only thing left was to decorate the studio and make it match the spirit; she would ask the manager and the instructors to participate in this particular task. "drop by if you have the chance."

"yes, for you!" she confirmed with a big nod. dabin enjoyed the way her expression reflected excitement. had she known danbi would react like that, she would have started working on her project earlier than planned. such was the magic of presents, especially handmade ones. taking time to craft something meant that you understood the tastes and interests of the recipient. plus, for dabin, infusing her energy and creativity into the process was very rewarding and she also found happiness in it. she hoped that her gift would be a meaningful gesture to thank danbi for being a gentle and dependable presence in her life.

"i'm afraid that it's a bit predictable and you can easily guess," she admitted. "why don't you try? i'll give you multiple chances," the idea had come to her when she noticed the number of plants in danbi's place. it was clear that the girl liked being surrounded by them. dabin thought of contributing to her gardening hobby by providing her with pots of different sizes, but prioritizing color instead of texture or design. she made her research about how to ensure proper drainage for healthy growth and a good type of clay to help the roots have good circulation. danbi wanted something beautiful without sacrificing function.

the idea of fresh fields offering fast, and convenient grocery delivery, has danbi's hues sparkling, doe-eyes wide and impressed with dabin's suggestion, having never considered it before. she glances up at the female, smile stretching the corners of her mouth - she thought it was a brilliant idea, and surely, a lot of customers would too, considering that autumn has come to a close and the harsh, winter nights were starting to settle in. she had heard enough grumblings during her shifts at the customer service desk to know that the last thing anyone wanted to do after working all day was trudge to the grocery store, especially if the weather was less than agreeable. "that's a great idea," she chirps, words genuine and true - even if dabin had meant it half-heartedly, more so as a jest than an actual proposal, danbi can't help but commend her on such a genius plan. "i'm sure a lot of people would love that, and i'm sure a lot of tenants in our building would use it. even me, but that's a little lazy of me, don't you think?"

the last bit comes out with a laugh, and danbi can't help but giggle as she imagines her coworkers showing up to deliver groceries to her house on her days off - surely, she wouldn't do that, mostly out of guilt, though the convenience was tempting. nevertheless, it was still a bit funny to think about. "aw, no, you're flattering me," she says after a beat, cheeks starting to heat up as dabin steers the conversation a little - to hear the older female call her dedicated makes her feel a little shy, and while her chest blooms with warmth, she can't help but shake her head a little, trying to dismiss the compliment. "i'm not any more dedicated than the next person, but i'm really happy he did agree to bend my schedule a little." she grins up at dabin, still a little flushed. another small chuckle escapes her, relishing in the good-natured conversation between the two of them. "for his kindness, i'll let him know about your idea. all credit to you, of course."

the two of them turn down a familiar street, though the apartment building still isn't in sight. danbi finds herself falling into step beside dabin, and nodding as the other mentions that the stillness of the week will soon come to a close. danbi knows that all too well, mostly from her own job, as most people took to the weekends to get their grocery shopping done, but also because she had been to glaaze once or twice on a sunday, having come at the encouragement of both dabin and nic for beginner classes. "i'm sure you guys are going to be really busy with christmas coming and all," she says after a few beats, nodding her head slightly. "a lot of people are into handmaking gifts this year, so i'm sure your classes will fill up quick. it'll be nice to have a lot of people come in, but just try not to overwork yourself!"

the words come out sincerely, as danbi can't help but worry from time to time about the other woman - it's just in her nature, and dabin fills a space in her heart that danbi hadn't been aware had been empty before - something akin to a sister, though she never recalls having one before. the thought feels foreign, but somehow familiar - an odd sense of deja vu washes over her, but she quickly shakes it away, too preoccupied with dabin's next statement. "a surprise? for me?" she certainly is taken aback by the words, but her face lights up nonetheless. "dabin - you didn't have to do that. you're too kind!" but danbi can't help but be elated, the warmth that had saturated her heart kicking up and spreading through her entire being. "thank you! i can't wait to see it. i'm sure whatever it is - because your master hands are involved - it's amazing!" she gushes, feeling a bit of a pep in her step. "can i ask what is it? oh, wait - it's a surprise, right? maybe you can give me a hint though?"

[inawildflower]

Bae Suzy as Lee Doo Na DOONA! 이두나! — 2023, dir. Lee Jeong Hyo

[inawildflower]

glaze day at the studio was carefully planned by dabin, whether each bisque-fired piece had its respective color or texture assigned, or she was feeling experimental with techniques. her precise skill came to light when adjusting the consistency of the mixture and applying it. this time, she made sure to cover every part of the creations, given that they flaunted an intricate design that required to brush into its small crevices. they were lidded jars that had flowers directly stamped into them for a one-of-a-kind pattern. after that, she left them to dry for a while before loading the kiln.

she carefully arranged the three jars in the kiln (she was going to leave the lids unglazed for a better seal), making sure they were spaced correctly to avoid contact and ensure the glaze had room to melt properly during the firing. as she waited, dabin cleaned and organized her tools. the process of organizing her workspace always seemed comforting to her. although repetitive, dabin enjoyed cleaning her brushes until no residue was left. wiping down her glaze station served her to tune out with the hum of the kiln in the background; she was the only one at the studio.

at least until the shop bell announced someone's arrival. dabin wasn't expecting the manager or any of her instructors until later, which possibly meant it was a potential client curious about the classes. perhaps an early bird on the way to work that discovered the studio. she left her long apron behind to receive them, hoping that she would look presentable in the comfortable clothes she picked for today: some jeans she didn't mind getting dirty and a long-sleeve sweater whose color matched her long padding. nothing special really, but decent enough to welcome the man at the door.

"please, come in," dabin said, noticing a bit of doubt in his steps. could it be that he was regretting it? some students tended to have doubts when starting a new hobby. "yes, i know the place," the name of the establishment rang a bell. dabin would visit when in need of a chai or turmeric latte, maybe a sweet little treat, but she wasn't a frequent client, at least not enough to recognize him. "the owner would be me, choi dabin, it's nice to meet you," she bowed. it was a nice coincidence. "how can i help you today?"

@inawildflower

the air is crisp, it’s cold enough to sting hajoon’s lungs at the first inhale. tufted clouds are sprinkled across the sky but they are no obstacle for the sun, its rays providing an inkling of warmth amidst the cold. it’s his favorite kind of weather. cold, yet sunny. the type of weather to give you hope that there is an end to everything, the good and the bad. that the sun will rise earlier and set later eventually, an invitation by the universe to leave the winter blues behind for just an afternoon. his hands slide into his black leather gloves, earmuffs already sitting snug to prevent his ears from hurting. although his journey can be cut short with a singular bus ride, he decides to walk, soak up the little bit of vitamin d he can get. the gusts passig through ansong over the past few days have turned the trees bare, streets already swept clean by tireless workers. hajoon bewared of letting this task get to his head. sending someone who has cracked the thirty mark to strike a deal instead of a nineteen year old is a no-brainer — hajoon made sure to not chalk it up to any potential business skills he could possess. who knows, maybe he would choke when asking for a better price or delivery conditions, perhaps the brazen attitude of a nineteen year old could actually be useful. he wonders what kind of owner he is about to run into. a slightly esoteric middle aged lady perhaps who’s better judgment has been clouded by paint fumes or a young rugged guy who is determined his art and sculptures will change the world. hajoon isn’t entirely sure if his composed nature is one to handle and mingle with artistic people, but after all he’s here for a business partnership. who hates money? a bright, pleasant bell sound chimes as he pushes the door open. he is immediately enveloped by warmth, the cold air only a distant memory as his cheeks and nose also start to warm up. he sheds his gloves and pushes them into his coat pocket, curiously looking around the unfamiliar place but he barely has times to take in the new environment. hurried steps approach and a face appears around the corner, long dark hair whipping in the motion. despite the warmth, hajoon freezes. he wonders if it’s too late to leave, just turn on his heels and let the bell chime again. but the idea is thrown overboard as quickly as it approached. he hadn’t completed his motion of stuffing away his gloves yet, so he finally pulls his hands out of his pockets and greets her with a small bow. “hello, sorry for disturbing you,” he says and clears his throat after hearing his rough voice. he wonders if she recognizes him too. he should assume that she doesn’t. that she didn’t put as much meaning into their fleeting encounters as much as he did. even encounter is too big of a word. transaction? ”i come from the sweet bean café. i was wondering if i could speak to the owner perhaps. it won't be long."

[inawildflower]

hello, it's your life and you're my main character

too late to say goodbye - cage the elephant gossip - tame impala bar italia - pulp all i need - air, beth hirsch something real - doechii last piece - lykke li

ft. @ansonghub

[inawildflower]

"it does," dabin couldn't help but smile at the anecdote. she found it endearing to imagine danbi returning for her forgotten purchases in the worker's break room. and it made her feel less self-conscious too, which was danbi's original intention. "maybe it's time for fresh fields to offer grocery delivery," she suggested half-joking, as if they were back at the customer service desk. "i would use it at least once or twice a month," she thought aloud. her not so novel idea sounded worthy of consideration by the store manager; she was even willing to give it to them for free.

"that's great to hear," she conceded. a relaxing day at work was always welcomed. it seemed like the perfect time to move forward with tasks and enjoy a calm pace. dabin felt that it allowed her to recharge her batteries, be more creative without stress and, most importantly, it served her as a reminder of how valuable it was to balance effort and calm. she imagined that those moments were necessary when dealing with customers. "i would have been surprised if he had said no. you are a very dedicated person and you deserve a little flexibility from time to time."

"mine? it's been quiet. once thursday comes, that will change," dabin was already used to the rhythm. people tended to book classes as the weekend approached, it was rare when someone showed up at the studio on working days. therefore, she used that time to review the inventory of materials such as clay, glazes, tools and other supplies. sometimes she also supervised the work of her instructors and taught them new techniques. other times, she met with clients to discuss custom projects, give them a preview of pieces in progress, or receive feedback on previous work. in addition to lessons, glaaze also worked on-demand and she made custom pieces.

"by the way, i have a surprise for you," she recalled after thinking of her regulars. perhaps the fact that they found themselves in this situation had not been a coincidence. now she was eager to get home and show her what she had been working on. "it's not quite ready yet, but i'd like you to see it so you can give it your seal of approval," dabin admitted. she was open to any ideas or required modifications for the pieces she made with danbi, the final user, in mind.

the sun had long since bid the world a soft, tender goodnight - as the autumn afternoons seeped into cold, winter nights, the burning star would tuck itself away earlier and earlier each day, letting the inky trail of darkness take over the sky overhead. with the seasons changing, the days grew shorter and shorter, and sunset didn't seem to last for more than a few minutes, making it difficult for one to enjoy the afternoon. with this, more often than not, danbi would be greeted by the sight of a dark sky and twinkling stars upon the end of her shift, as opposed to the vermillion hues she so loved to see painting the sky above. and it was with this seasonal adjustment that she had decided to request a schedule change - a little selfish of her, she had thought, when she'd approached her manager, but danbi was never a fan of the dark, and though the walk home from fresh fields was well-lit and never uncomfortable, she'd much preferred to already be cozied up in her apartment as night fell.

"it's no problem at all," danbi says cheerfully as she adjusts the grocery bags in her hand, glancing towards dabin and giving her a warm smile. it's with her alleged selfishness that she is able to enjoy moments like this - getting to leave a little earlier each day means she has more opportunities to spend time with people close to her, and dabin appearing on the first day of her shift change makes danbi feel that this must have been the universe's way of telling her that she didn't need to feel guilty for adjusting her schedule. besides, it's not like she was cutting her hours, she simply was opting to come in a little earlier in the mornings. "if it makes you feel any better, one time i bought all my groceries on break, but then ended up forgetting them at the store after my shift ended. it was so embarrassing to have to go all the way back and get them and head home again."

the tale is meant to soothe the other female, a gentle encouragement from danbi to show dabin that she forgot things all the time herself - the two were more alike at times then even danbi figured, and she lets out a soft, shy laugh as she recalls her colleagues looking at her strangely that day when she'd rushed back, out of breath and a little disheveled. "it was good! not too busy today, surprisingly," she mentions, knowing that with the holidays creeping up on them that she wouldn't have the luxury to say such a thing in the next few weeks. "finally asked my manager about changing my hours, and he was really nice about it. hopefully we'll be able to cross paths a little more now."

danbi falls into step beside the other, another cheery smile painting her features. there's something about walking home with dabin, holding groceries, that just makes her happy - she always loves to help out if she can. and dabin was someone that made danbi feel comfortable, feeling they were usually on the same wave length - today really was shaping up to be a good day. "how was your day? were there a lot of people at the studio?"

[inawildflower]

dabin owned a personal shopping cart that resulted quite useful when loading up on supermarket staples or totting a farmer's market bounty. not only did it carry produce, eggs, and the occasional wine bottle, her wheeled cart could roll heavier cargo, like 5-gallon water jugs or a case of soda. it could also be easily maneuvered, with wheels that turned well, and it even climbed stairs without getting stuck—it wasn't much of an issue for her since she lived on the first floor anyway. despite being one of the best purchases in her (after)life, dabin had forgotten to take it with her to fresh fields the day when she needed it the most.

still, fortune smiled on dabin when paying for her groceries. she spotted one of her favorite people at the customer service desk. danbi was working and she approached to say hello, also to ask if her shift would end soon. they had walked home together on previous occasions that their schedules matched, so she wanted to make good use of the trust that existed between them and ask danbi for help to carry a few bags. the sweet girl had of course said yes and dabin couldn't be more grateful. she promised to wait for her while danbi clocked out; she didn’t want to come across as bothersome after requesting that favor.

“thank you for your help again!” dabin said for the umpteenth time as they got ready to step out. she made sure to distribute the bags for danbi to get the products with lightweight packaging or the transportable vegetables; it only seemed fair. “i swear that i’m not always this forgetful,” she apologized. “anyway, how was work?” the small talk did not feel awkward when it involved danbi. she appreciated their conversations and was genuinely interested in her day. dabin knew that she was a diligent employee, perhaps a too keen on taking extra shifts. it was nice to see her going home a little bit earlier than usual.

@dvpendable

[inawildflower]

⋆.ೃ࿔.𖥔 ݁ ˖*:･༄

hi, everyone! i'm itzel (gmt-6 & she/her) and i'm super excited to be part of ansong. tbh i didn't have much prepared for her intro, but i bring you dabin. she is 30 and has been around for 2 years (almost the exact time after her death), remembering very little about her past life. dabin is the owner of glaaze pottery studio, which is luckily related to what she used to do when she was still alive. feel free to read more about her in the links below and reach out if you have any questions. i can't wait to plot with everyone, so leave a like for me to message you~ it's okay if you prefer to chat through discord too. ♡ about. profile. memories & connections.