Butterfly Flowers

"I would like to speak to the owner of this establishment."
"We're just a simple florist, m'lady, and I run it."
"Come on, do I have to prove that I know what goes on in here? Fine, I'd like to see one of your butterfly flowers. Now, can I or can I not see the owner of this establishment? I know his name, but it'd be best if it was not said."
"Of course, m'lady." The woman headed towards the inside of the flower shop and promptly returned with the man Raewyn was looking for.
"Wind! It's been a long time, girl."
"And you too, Snake."
Slanel could be described as a stereotypical businessman, with the suit, briefcase, tie, he was extremely out of place at the flower shop.
"Come on in, we'll go to my office, shall we?"
He led her in, through a corridor where she could hear the sounds of certain illicit activities occuring in the rooms along the corridor. She took a seat by him, lying back against the wall.
"I still can't believe you went into prostitution."
He smiled wickedly. "I suppose you understood the moment Mr. Necromancer told you I was running a flower shop."
"You enjoy that phrase too much."
"It's true. I run a business involving genital organs, and so do florists. It's just the organs of what, that truly matters."
"Of course."
"What are you doing here, though? I remember the day when you left. The Shifter was heartbroken."
"The Shifter doesn't even have a heart. I think."
"Oh, he does. And he wasn't the only one. Arguil was really disappointed. And so am I. You nearly brought Liryc to tears, remember?"
"She's fine now, right?"
"Not... really. She got even more depressed after you left and that's saying something. I never thought she could get even more depressed and suicidal. Your departure really hit her hard. Hit all of us hard. But Liryc got hurt the worst, girl."
"If there was some way to help her, I would. But it's too late for that. It's much too late. I left the guild fifteen months ago. I'm here for a different reason."
"Oh? And what might that be?"
Mirroring her previous encounter with Arguil, she pulled down her top garment.
"Nice colour. What did you do?"
"What I did is not the matter here. The matter here is that the salve I'm using to cure it is much too potent. I need a stalk of dreaming fern."
Slanel pursed his lips. He stood and strode about his office.
"You ask a lot, Wind. You leave us all negative fifteen months back, now you come back and you demand a stalk of dreaming fern."
"I can compensate you."
"The compensation isn't the most important thing. The most important thing is, never insult someone who might one day help you. You never seemed to grasp that. And now, it still seems like you haven't. Respect."
"On account of old time's sake, Slanel."
"Ah, don't you remember? I never do credit.""
"Slanel. Just... Look, if I don't get the dreaming fern, the salve will eventually burn my skin away and kill me. If I stop applyng it, the thing will cover my body and kill me."
"And that concerns me how?"
"Don't be so stubborn, will you! This is a matter of life and death."
"I refuse. I require greater incentives."
"I will come and visit the guild regularly."
"Not good enough."
"I'll pay you double the value of the dreaming fern."
"Triple."
"Fine." Raewyn grinned. "You always were a sucker for cold, filthy gold."
"Hey! I polish that gold everyday until it shines! Or at least," He amended, "I used to. Nowadays, I polish it when I can, the rest I leave to my servants to polish."
"You ain't afraid they'll steal it?"
"Why should I? They ain't kravlun." He said, using the term for the bottom-class, generally considered to be thieves and pickpockets. "But yes, there's a spell on my gold, bring it out of a certain range, bad things will happen."
"Mmm. I'm not too interested in what your household does."
"I can tell. I really think you should go and find Liryc. Try to get her to her previous state of depression."
"She's a dirge-singer, shouldn't the depression work in her favour?"
Slanel shrugged.
"As a dirge-singer, I guess it would help with the emotions and all that, but as a person? Not so much."
"I heard she's in Necropolis now?"
"Yes. She'll be back in Pero Diaz by next week earliest."
"Alright. I'll try to keep in touch with you guys. It's been a long time. The Shifter?"
"He's working as a bodyguard."
"How did he even get the contract? Don't tell me he finally got the hang of speaking?"
"Oh no, he hasn't and I don't expect him to anytime soon. I work as his agent too."
"And I assume you don't know where Necros is either."
"Our de facto leader tends to disappear quite regularly. This is no different."
"I'll be seeing you then, Snake."
"And you too, Wind." He kissed her on her forehead. "You may have been an irritance and a nuisance back in the day but I still missed you. Now take the fern and begone. You can pay later."
"I thought you said you didn't do credit?"
"Details, details, now go!"

You've forgotten about Alice, haven't you. Libys' voice echoed oddly in her mind.
"Hush."
You can't hide from her forever. Either you go and find her, or she comes and finds you.
Raewyn ignored him and slowly applied the salve. And the screams began once more.