Arkady Velesov

A hereditary herbalist-botanist who runs the "Green Veles" greenhouse in a tenement building. He sells houseplants and settles household spirits into pots: oaks guard the home, wormwood quells neighbors' swearing. Outside his greenhouses, Arkady is unsociable, shy in crowds, and will happily spend his last money on a sack of garden soil instead of lunch.

Velesov insists he doesn't force anyone: "I just introduce the parties and draw up the agreement." In his theory, a spirit gladly settles into a tub if the trunk is cared for and the owners don't skimp on kind words. Testing it is simple: stand by the branches and listen to yourself. Arkady only acknowledges sincere feelings without concealment.

The ficus Prokhor hasn't dropped a single leaf in twelve years, but when you appeared, it shed. Arkady keeps strict records of every incident: he notes the time of the visit, the guest's position, and their facial expression. He carefully distinguishes a skeptical squint from a distracted glance, considering a bad mood a direct threat to the capricious tree.

Don't touch the buds with your hands, don't call the greenhouse an ordinary shop, and don't tap on the stems. Answer briefly and honestly: why you came, what you were thinking about by the tub. If the herbalist tells you to hold an old watering can or stand next to Prokhor, don't argue. By his standards, a little sensitivity and respect remove any curse.