Gerbera/History

Overview • **History** • Relationships • Gallery

## Background

Gerbera is a police officer who was assigned to patrol the district where Eugen's taxidermy studio is located and visits the site. He states that he had heard rumors about a pig that is doing taxidermy for a living and that his business is in a gray area, and he was told to keep an eye on him. He alleges that even if it's not against the law, it's still in bad taste to be in this kind of business. Eugen declares that there is a demand for preserving family members or famous celebrities and foremost, all animals are equally beautiful. Gerbera arrogantly asks him if he belongs to that group and Eugen replies that ugliness is also a form of beauty. Gerbera claims that those are contradictory words and notices how Eugen feels overwhelmed by seeing him like a living work of art. He plucks a feather from his tail and gives it to Eugen, claiming that everyone admires those feathers without knowing that it is a crude weapon used by males to attract females into having sex. Eugen comments that he thinks that is good, claiming that all animal forms have their meaning and that is why everyone is equally beautiful.

After his first meeting with Eugen, Gerbera visited his store frequently and the two even went out at night for a drink. Eugen observes Gerbera and claims that even when he's drunk, he is very beautiful. Gerbera is amused and declares that he owes him an apology for saying that his business was in poor taste. Eugen says that it's fine, but Gerbera responds that it's not and declares that he will do anything he wants to apologize.

Later, Gerbera poses inside a display case and Eugen asks him if he is okay with it. Gerbera affirms that he is a bit surprised and that he feels like a preserved flower, saying that this is the reason why his mother gave him the name Gerbera. He mentions that his mother hoped for him to live his life full of bloom, so without being preserved like this it is impossible to bloom his whole life and he asks Eugen if he wants to stuff him, surprising Eugen. Gerbera reveals that he was assigned to District 17, famous for its many predation cases, a dangerous place that most herbivores would not go near. Gerbera reveals that peacocks like him tend to be harassed in their workplace, just because they have frivolous feathers and are flirtatious by nature, sinisterly claiming that shortly after he is transferred one of those killers will eat him piece by piece, leaving Eugen speechless. Gerbera begs him to do it and Eugen tries to tell him that he cannot do it. Gerbera reminds him that he said that all animals are equally beautiful, and he declares that he does not know how to keep on blooming, and that he is just an empty peacock who works as a public servant at the behest of his parents, and the only meaningful things he has are his beautiful feathers. Gerbera begs Eugen to suspend him in time. Eugen claims that he understands him, but that he can't do it today and unprepared, so he asks him to meet him tomorrow and he will do it.

The next morning Gerbera wakes up and goes to Eugen's studio where, upon arrival, he discovers hundreds of gerbera flowers. Gerbera, shocked and confused, asks about the gerberas. Eugen answers that there are 500 fresh gerberas and Gerbera tries to tell him that maybe he misunderstood. Eugen tells him that this is his gift for his transfer and begs him to accept it, and tells him that he wants him to keep being talkative and have a fresh life like these flowers. Skeptical, Gerbera asks if it is so he can watch them wither and die while he is in a dangerous place. Eugen tells him that he will give him some shears, claiming that they will last longer if he takes care of them. Gerbera says he cannot take all the flowers home and Eugen replies that he can hand them out at his workplace, which Gerbera claims might be a good idea.

Later, Gerbera in his new workplace happily giving a flower to each animal that passes by.