Where things bloom ☕

a passion project by yuzuuu4—Disclaimer: Although characters and their stories' contents may be based off of real life elements
at times, they should not be perceived as reality and should remain strictly fictional.
And please be respectful about them when making fan-content, they're still
my ocs at the end of the day.

The Cast of Flos Hortus

Take note: Names of the characters, pets, etc. that happen to match those of real life individuals are either purely coincidental or used in a symbolic manner and are not used as a reflection of their original counterparts.Here in Flos Hortus, we never have a shortage of interesting stories from both staff members and customers alike! In fact, our full-time employees could wager that they've heard it all by nowClick on any name on the left to get to know our precious bouquet of regulars just a little better, both who they are as a person and what everyone else thinks of them ☕

Klei

Age: 21
Birthday: November 26
Occupation: Unemployed; Business Major
Likes: Video games with a side of 2 day-old instant ramen, being sweaty in MMORPGs
Dislikes: Going outside and taking phone calls
Go-To Café Order: Blueberry Scones and a Tall MochaHe's a NEET (former, he insists) that both suffers from struggling to give the cashier his order but can accurately point out what might be running their business to the ground with a delivery so blunt you might kick him off your property even if his advice works.In an effort to get over his fear of interacting with the outside world after abruptly holing up in his room for two years, he's started to go out and take it one step at a time by visiting coffee shops. He ended up visiting Flos Hortus during its first week after seeing an online ad, and it was different from then on."What do you think of Klei?"🧪 "He was a bit rude at first, but he's really inspiring my co-workers and I to do better with running the shop!"🐦 "(scoff) ...I don't have anything to say about him."📚 "He's doing better. I'm proud of him, really. I'll take it over... well, you know."🌿 "I just wish /someone/ stopped riling him up to direct him at me."🍊 "Extremely hilarious to bully, you should try it!"

Aria

Age: 21
Birthday: March 17
Occupation: Café Barista; Chemistry Major
Likes: Drink making, (secretly) playing MMORPGs as stress relief, succulents
Dislikes: Customer service, short deadlines for massive projects
Go-To Café Order: House blend tea and strawberry-flavored pastriesShe seems to be the pinnacle of time management; who else can juggle studying chemistry in college while also being an almost full-time employee for a shop that just opened? Aria, that's for sure! But at the same time, it's clear that it takes a toll on her especially when she has to meet her own high standards. She applied to Flos Hortus as a last ditch effort because of the amazing salary on their job listing, needing an income to keep the lights on at her dorm.During the day, she's all customer service smiles and "Hi, how are you!" to every new customer. But in the night, her fingers fly over the keyboard with creative insults only a seasoned veteran in a frankly awful MMORPG could say as a form of 'stress relief'."What do you think of Aria?"🎮 "It's a miracle they keep asking me to come back instead of kicking a rude customer out. Are they stupid?"🐦 "She lets me taste test some of the new drinks, they're all great! ...She says I say that to every drink, but can you blame me?!"📚 "I'm really glad she's here. She says I don't need to, but... I owe a lot to her."🌿 "She's a good colleague, one of the best baristas on the team."🍊 "What Syl said, but I hope she catches a proper break soon..."

Shou

Age: 18
Birthday: August 20
Occupation: Highschool Student; Animal Shelter Volunteer
Likes: Sports like skating and basketball, fast-food, Reiji
Dislikes: Facing his feelings, having to deal with problems head-on
Go-To Café Order: Smoothies or Frappes and BurgersShou is the type of guy to light up a room with his presence, getting along with virtually anybody in his school by matching their energy. He's also restless, always finding something to get his body moving, jumping from sport to sport like he's training for the Olympics. He starts coming to Flos Hortus regularly after finding it during one of his skateboard cruise trips, getting tempted by the smell of pastries and eventually befriending Aria from behind the counter.He's hopelessly in love with his bookworm of a best friend, but the thought of ruining the friendship if he opens his big stupid mouth or moves his hand just a bit wrong makes him want to throw up in his mouth and swallow it back down."What do you think of Shou?"🎮 "I get the feeling that he doesn't like me specifically. I can't blame him, I'd hate me too."🧪 "The first time he went into the shop, he tracked dirt all over the tiles! He's a good kid though, since he immediately offered to clean up."📚 "My best friend. I don't know where I'd be without him being all goofy the way he is. It's helped me more than he knows. ...But I wish he stops running whenever something bothers him."🌿 "He reminds me of someone. In a good way, of course."🍊 "My son! He's practically my son! The clip-on piercings are funny though, I'll admit."

Reiji

Age: 17
Birthday: October 27
Occupation: Highschool Student; Library Volunteer
Likes: Hardcover Novels, memorizing the Dewey Decimal Classification for sport, Shou
Dislikes: Wattpad 'novels', dog-earing pages
Go-To Café Order: Matcha-flavored drinks and maybe a buttery pastryHe's a guy who knows what he wants and isn't afraid to show it when needed, especially when his classmates are inviting him to go outside with them and he has a book he's been meaning to finish. His frequent company is the smell of new and old pages as well as the shushing of the old local librarian he works with when volunteering over the summer. Reiji found out about Flos Hortus when he sees Klei going out more often and brings back a treat or two for him from the shop.But more than that, he has the patience of a saint or monk when it comes to dealing with the closest people in his life preferring to push everyone away when they're hurt, even if he has to wait a while."What do you think of Reiji?"🎮 "...I know he keeps saying he'd rather have this, but I know I could've done better. No, I /should've/ done better."🧪 "He likes to pretend he's more mature than his age, but he's still a kid, especially to me. Reiji's very endearing when it comes down to it."🐦 "...Honestly, I can't get a proper read on him sometimes, so it's hard to know if I'm overstepping, y'know? Other than that, there's no one else I can recommend when looking for a read!"🌿 "Ren likes to call him my 'mini-me', but I'd beg to differ."🍊 "Sweet kid! He's just a bit shy, though. Like someone I know!"

Syl

Age: 21
Birthday: February 5
Occupation: Part-time Café Barista; Multimedia Arts Major
Likes: Painting, his cat Missus, Freeloader (specific)
Dislikes: Freeloader (specific)
Go-To Café Order: Chicken Pesto Pasta and any hot tea by itselfFrequently described as someone who's cold, dismissive, and intimidating; there's barely anyone brave enough to get near him, let alone talk to him face to face in campus or otherwise. However, those who feel brave enough to try and talk to Syl to shoot their shot find their courage evaporating the second they see a brunette hanging off of him if he wasn't staring through them. "Tough luck!" they might hear when they slink off to nurse their wounded courage.He started working at Flos Hortus as a part-time employee, if only to get a bit of pocket money for his cat and his art supplies."What do you think of Syl?"🎮 "I don't like him. ...'Because he's co-workers with Aria?'—She has nothing to do with this! He's just weird!"🧪 "Really reserved even if he works part-time with us, but his lover comes over a lot on his shifts! They're fun to watch."🐦 "He kinda feels like what Reiji would be if he was taller... Syl's kind of intimidating though, even if he has good advice."📚 "My brother doesn't like him a lot and tells me to stay away from him. But Aria says he's fine, and I'll take her word for it."🍊 "Two things I love about Syl: his apartment, and our shared custody daughter Missus."

Renji

Age: 20
Birthday: May 19
Occupation: Freeloader; Multimedia Arts Major
Likes: Daydreaming, his (not) cat Missus, Freeloading off of Syl
Dislikes: Confrontation
Go-To Café Order: Iced Matcha and Blueberry CheesecakeAwkward with anyone on the first meeting whether they're older than him or younger, there's no difference when everyone's someone he's never met before. Once he gets comfortable though, they'd be learning words they had no business knowing beforehand. He started visiting Flos Hortus because of the cozy ambience, becoming a regular after Syl became a part-time worker.When asked how he deals with it, Syl seems to get a constipated but fond look on his face before quietly saying "It's like handling a toddler who learned how to use a bank account. Our shelves are full yet he's still buying more. He's lucky I love him or else I would've sold his trinkets off.""What do you think of Renji?"🎮 "He's dating the weirdo, so that makes him a weirdo too. Keeps pushing my buttons."🧪 "Majority of the reason why we never run out of blueberry cheesecake! He's always looking for it and we feel bad when there isn't and he smiles all disappointed."🐦 "I should really be paying him for helping me with my homework when he's in the coffee shop, but he keeps telling me showing off some tricks is enough."📚 "We may not be reading the same kind of literature, but he's a big help for school essays."🌿 "He immediately felt bad and told me he was joking and loves me more than the apartment. Not more than Missus though, but I agree."