Ulysses bought no flowers, because, well, the thought never occurred to him. Valentine's is for married people, and he is not married people. When he sees that he's received a whole bunch from his folks (both literal and Ebon-fam), though, he grins through a mouthful of toast and flashes them two thumbs up. There is absolutely no guilt about not reciprocating the very kind gesture because he's a jerk like that, but at least his pleasure is both obvious and genuine. Thank you! He loves you for loving him!

When he sees the orchids, he turns pink in the way only very white people can. It does not fade over the course of breakfast, although he puts on an admirable show of not noticing/caring — eating and joking around with the rest of the table. Every so often, he glances nervously down at his lap where he has stashed the note that came with the flowers. Each time he does, the blush reemerges full force.