[NegMetaR] Water you doing? (Kama x Prehnite)

[Shiningamisgirl]

A flash of color flooded his vision where he clipped through the halls, brought him up short to stare at - and the eternal looked lost - looked familiar.

If for a moment Prehnite saw copper braids where black silk locks flowed, if he superimposed a pendant star where sunburst flare of kimono sat instead - he maybe thought he could be forgiven his mistake in moving to offer aid to the eternal Senshi.

Who was not Ochre…

Who was Kamacite…and for all that he’d seen him only twice and spoken to him not once….

“Are you…do you need help?” Safe and simple offer made in docile tones as he stood before the other and eyed the watering can in hand, gauged the heft of the thing,

Wanted to know why?

For in all his time crawling through the dust and detritus that lined the halls and caked the walls, never once had he seen anything green and growing that had a need of water from a can.

Not in the castle proper, and what grew in the rift beyond? Well…

Unless Kama had a very interesting indeed youma-plant pet at his side - tucked away in an office space - except no - Senshi - so it was not likely at all that he was associated with any such thing.

No true being of the rift at least…

Which made Prehnite want to double down on wondering ‘why’, and it was to abate his curiosity, as much as it was to cover his mistaking the others identity.

To save face and make a ‘meet cute’ situation out of his errant stumble and query. Because that was a thing people did, surely?



Kamacite didn't exactly jump, but he nearly fumbled the filled-to-the-brim watering can, and managed to slosh some of the water out of the spout and onto the floor as he clutched it to his chest. Which of course meant that his robes were now a bit soaked. Actually, they'd already been a bit soaked as he tried to figure out what he was doing.

"Oh, thank you, I'm okay," he quickly tried to say, even as he struggled to hoist the can back up to a more straightened position in his arms. But he supposed it was pretty weird for him to be carrying a watering can with him, and this man was one of the people who had been in the throne room.

"I don't know how to take care of a plant," he blurted out, because he was very stressed and didn't know what else to do. He didn't even know what kind of plant it was. Just that it showed up in his office, and it felt like it would be rude to not try and take care of it!

But… it also sounded pretty stupid for him to say he didn't know how to care for a plant. He felt his cheeks burn.

"I mean… I water it. Right? But. I don't know how much--" He paused, cringing a little at his own rambling and swallowed back his nervousness. He hadn't expected anyone to notice him, but all of his thoughts seemed to tumble out. Well, not all of his thoughts. But some of them at least.



“Is that so?” slow quirk of emerald gaze, question that creased his brows and thinned his mouth, because - a plant? A rift variety, a surface one? Prehnite wanted details, wanted to see, a wonder for whether or not Kamacite was secretly the type to endeavor in botany - or at least experiments in such. Goodness knew Prehnite had played his hand at, trying, playing with green thumbs and beginners gloves at gardening anything into growing with actual success in the place over the last decade or so.

With decisive intent Prehnite gently reached out, careful as he moved to take the over-pouring watering can from Kamacite's hands, not because he felt the other was too weak to handle it; certainly not. It was simply a shame to see the bright Senshi burdened so. Could only wince at the thought of sopped and soaked robes, and the way they would’ve trailed through the inescapable drift of rift ash and the dark kingdom's endless filthy cling, and who could say where the particles blew in from....

“That’s fine...did you...No, do you know what kind of plan it is?” and he could help with that, soft quick at the idea of a plant being kept down here, one from the surface. That it would survive long, even with water, considering the dismal lack of natural sunlight and proper day and night cycles.

“And if you don’t--- I’m invested in seeing it. If you don’t mind? Watering habits, sunlight needs, all sorts of things can be decided upon once we have an identifier for the ‘plant’ in question.” motioned for Kama to lead on, if he was willing, and Prehnite offered the soft words with a semblance of a smile, because in his soul he was soft for growing things - even more so if it was of the rift - tripply so if it would’ve erased the worried look on Kamas face.

It would’ve been a shame to see whatever type of plant it was die - especially with how hard Kamacite seemed to be trying to save it.  

[Shiningamisgirl]

"Prehnite -" answered in kind, soft clipped, tone; because the bright billowing Senshi looked like he was about to burst into a flurry of emotions...or flee..." - and you're right, it's not likely to get much of that down here." rolled his eyes to the heavens, begged the non-existent heavens of the rift for sense to be bestowed upon whomever had though it a good idea to dump such a burden down here.

Not that it was impossible to manage. There were ways...certainly...

"It's fine, Kamacite. I don't mind." an easy enough offer, because in truth? He had time to spare. Between managing one task and the next, between setting up one gathering mission after the next. Threading his way through the thirteen at pace and testing the waters. Prehnite had never quite enjoyed being thrown into the depths without a life raft in tow. Even if he had to set it up on his own.

"This way.." hefted the water can high enough that it wouldn't sway errantly, as he followed along, careful not to step on the robes and trailing braid of black silk that made up the Senshi's boundless braid. "....if you have a chance to ask the one who gave it to you what it is..I do have an app though."

Hoped it would be something easy enough to identify by sight. Of course it could've been anything - a nursery plant - a dollar store air fern - a chia pet - something plucked out of the wilds and potted.

Prehnites thoughts swirled slightly on the possibilities, ticked off points in his head on things he had available to him that he could lend over to the Eternal in order to keep his new office plant alive as long as possible - He was a bit taken aback by the sudden appearance of a - "This -- this is your office?"

Gentle slish-slosh of water within the can as Prehnite stared down - well - it was very out of the way at least. Tucked in enough to be easily missed. Likely the most inobtrusive door to an office he'd ever seen.

Guine

 

[Shiningamisgirl]

The note of concern, of, and he waved the apology off as an unnecessary utterance. Simply kamacite making apologies, social noises where none were truly needed. It wasn’t as if Reed had an office - nor prehnite - what served him at work and in his home was more than enough. To add on a third amongst the droll depths of the castles confining walls? When he could’ve been wandering iolanthes den or—

Found his thoughts getting away from him as he set the watering can down carefully. Nudged it off to be unobtrusive and to the side, soft noise that escaped him for the sweetly potted plant thrust in his direction.

As though Kama were both afraid it would bite and desperate to see it cared for. Small thing - long green leaves, distinctive waxy texture of the bright flaming bloom that sat in the middle, no longer than a dagger, and equally as thin, the way the plant grew straight up - as if it’d been thrust burning into the sky.

“Oh, a Vriesea splendens! Did you know it’s one of the most common bromeliads?” prissy type of coo for the freshly growing thing. Cradled the simple pot easily between his hands and examined it — every leaf, stem, and soil.

“That is - it’s rather interesting someone got you a flaming sword. Ah, an admirer, or maybe an office warming gift? It’s surprisingly apt for a house plant..”

Prehnite praised the heavens for being handed such a common, easily cared for piece of flora, and Kama wouldn’t even need that much water to keep the thing alive.

“Its a wonderful that they were so considerate…these need no direct light. A small fluorescent lamp would keep it well enough - or trips home — evenings and mornings near a window.” a soft shrug as he carefully placed it back atop Kamas meager, yet cozy desktop.

“I can — you’ll need a spray bottle to mist it with - the soil barely needs watered at all.” Ticked off points like thoughts and “It’d be easier if you accompanied me maybe? I have the necessary supplies in my shed at home….I am..a bit in love with. Well.” airy flash of a wave at the indication of all things green in general.

Guine

 

[Shiningamisgirl]

“Hmm” a pretty thing indeed, and as it grew in bloom it’s central cupping of petals would hold water better, would need humidity, soil that was only barely damp; never dry though. A thing of a jungle environment — tucked beneath tall trees that cast heavy shade. Keeping it moist was probably more important than keeping it well sunned even..

“It is very pretty, and with some care? It can be beautiful. Who knows, it may be healthy enough to bloom properly and bud pups, you could have a whole generation of them lighting up your office — or home?” a suggestion outlined in a shrug as he carefully placed the plant down. Center stage on the desk, it’s brightness only overshadowed by its shy owner—

Who he finally slanted his gaze to, so enamored with the little leafy thing that — “Inconvenience? Hardly, if anything you’d be doing me a favor by coming along. Considering how it’d save me from taking multiple trips. That…”

Offered up his hand, an open gesture that could be as easily taken as it could be denied.

“….and it would be nice to show off.” such honesty, and his Hatsya cared about vegetables, but wasn’t like him. Didn’t love his garden or the rift or…and he wanted to show off. Had to admit that his pride lay somewhere in that secret space, that if anyone deserved to see it?

Had none left alive who would — could bring in someone new.

Of all the people it should be shown to…maybe Kamacite was worthy.

Maybe Iolanthe, maybe his single subordinate when she had the time and interest. His remaining friend was a broken cup— the mission felt like a farce to hide something more — smoke screens and mirrors.

He’d rather help kamacite with this single task than scour the city for more energy that felt like drops in buckets that’d had holes drilled in them, for the ******** all he knew about what it was going towards.

Guine

 

[Shiningamisgirl]

"You're welcome." soft sound accompanied by a nod and semblance of a smile. Prehnite reached, easy thing to tug Kama through - walk from an office in the deep dark and out into a well-groomed alcove just beyond. Carefully chosen nature space, tucked off a main path that seemed to hedge towards civilization.

"It's not even a block down..." though he'd learned better long ago than to drop directly into his living spaces as he was. Especially not without some way to mask what they were -- no cat -- no baubles or mauvian constructed diffusers to dampen what would've screamed power in a blip; if it wasn't so quickly shrugged off. How Prehnite wasted little time in shaking the soft mantle of Captain free - to reveal little more than a twenty-five year old pastel-pink eggplant of a man beneath that. He could've been a teacher. An old GAP fashion add. Couldn't have been more boring though. No, he was well beyond that at this point.

"...and we tend not to have issues with. Well, people being nosy? It's a fairly nice area actually."

Small talk to lean on, as if it mattered a single iota to Kama about whether or not they had to worry about loose dogs and noisy neighbors. The whole way up was clean swept walkways that lined quaintly quiet little street-sides, paths well lit, an area that screamed HOA. Though it didn't technically have one. A mix of working class and the upper end of the middle, when it came to money makers. Reed wondered, often, how many side streets and cul-de-sacs in near suburban endways their organization had managed to snatch up under its belt. If there was an entire subdivision devoted to 'Negaverse Real-estate' and nothing else.

"Actually. I just realized -- you can call me Reed. Though - technically it's Reynard Michaels on -- Oh, pick an official piece of paper? But I digress." swift little gesture, flippant with his own name, which he realized belatedly should've been mentioned beforehand. Except, it really didn't matter anymore, did it? Not with how branded, stamped, and sealed he was in service under Lepidolite and his School at this point. How many years that'd gone on without end.

Which meant....that if Kama was going to be stuck calling him something that didn't sound like an 'ite'. Then he'd have rather it be something he liked. A personable nickname felt right. For all the ways he wanted the façade of friendship, even if it was only in passing.

Guine

 

[Shiningamisgirl]

"Yuuri, then. It's a pleasure." It was always a thing, to note the little differences between the person that lay behind the power. The similarities. It would endlessly surprise him, the way most corrupts hair was so dramatically different between one shift of being and the next. Aside from that? Yuuri was like any other person he'd met. Smaller without the flow and flash of blinding robes to follow him, but not less, somehow.

Didn't struggle to fill the silence when the day was nice and the air was clean. Seasonal shifts that showed all around. The adaptive ways nature preserved itself through fall, changed colors, went dormant, all sorts of fascinating little tricks to protect from the oncoming cold.

If he waved Yuuri along after and just, enjoyed it. The moments it took to pass neighbors upkept lawns, manicured hedges, quaint little homegarden spaces and well run yards that spoke of primarily family homes. Middle to Upper. A swath of slightly better off working class.

And his fences weren't white, no more than they were picketed. Reed skipped over his walkway entirely, sidestepped around the front entrance to lead Yuuri back, rough bricks that showed where one property line ended and another began. Crawled straight up with trumpet vine and possum grape purples. Foliage that clung with soft green hooks into every crack, nearly overgrown in parts even, except for where the latch to the back gate lay.

Padlocked until he produced a key.

Stonestep paths straight back, to a large garden shed, a smaller greenhouse - a -- how it became apparent that whatever blandness the front lacked in beiges and greens. The same did not apply to the back. Terraces, trellises, trimmed or grown wild. Freshly turned earthen plots stacked for more seasonal things - a whole hellishly over-high pile of mulch in a back corner. Fairy lights on some sort of timed setup strung in various spaces that were more meant for 'pretty' than 'food growing purposes'.

"Now..I know in here somewhere...mind all of the, well, mess. I have more solar setups than not, but? I have quite a few indoor lights. Some that are battery run. The amount of times my little greenhouse has failed, and I've needed to drag my more favored plants inside."

A subdued little sigh as he shoved the doors open wide, screech of steel that clearly needed oiling. "I think...some light..some food..A good misting bottle. It's actually quite soothing, I think. To have something to take care of sometimes." Ticked off lists and hummed through his thoughts before he broke into rummage...carefully. Kama had a sweetly simple house plant, that would ask for little, a good starter for him, if it was a hobby..a...a gift? So strange to see plants down in all that dim. He approved of it wholeheartedly though.

"We can get you set up, and then..if you ever need more?" an offer of - comradery? Support for Yuuri's endeavor into plant care? Something, surely.

Guine

 

[Shiningamisgirl]

Rucksack turned tool tote, he couldn't remember if he'd gotten it from a thrift store, off the back of a truck? The printed lettering long since faded with use, dirt, and time. Though it alluded to some joke about plant husbandry. Kama..Yuuri's compliment had him smiling softly, as he rummaged through racks worn with years. Like the shed had been there long before it's current occupant, had been repurposed over time - from tool shed, to plant breeding paradigm.

"To be fair, I cheated a little bit. The city just so happens to have a nigh magical amount of nurseries."

So many of his things had been received from castoff home improvement stores. Sat glued into pots on a grocery rack - half grown, discount, poorly planted. What he hadn't gotten from those? He'd imported himself. Little packets of online seeds, seedlings, samplings of saplings that he was able to graft onto still living root systems.

"Even though I've technically lived in Destiny City my whole life..this was the third home I'd moved to. I've had points where I've had to travel. Where I've come and gone for...oh...years at a time? I've only had this place for the last..three?"

A shrug as he loaded the sack up with what he deemed appropriate things. Thermometer, fluorescents, a dusty pack of watch batteries. Spray bottles and a babyfood jar of plant ready nutrients.

"Anything seasonal though? Anything particularly poisonous or strange? Is usually my doing, a personal touch. Though some of the newer plots are my room-mates. The fruits and vegetables come and go. I think the vines actually came with the home? The honeysuckle at least." he wasn't sure it'd taken him long, per say. Some things, certainly, had taken longer to cultivate than others. The ones he hadn't cheated on entirely. He only wished he had samples of his favorite parts of the rift - that he could've coaxed them to thrive as easily as any other vine or weed.

"I'm glad you think it's appealing though. It's my favorite time sink..." a helluva thing to call his most impassioned hobby. Better than calling it his pride and joy though, the thing that he poured so much time into -- outside of work -- and of course *work*.

Guine

 

[Shiningamisgirl]

The laugh for that. Surprised nasally thing that tapered on a wheeze. Reed was nearly embarrassed for it. Laughing, not at Kama, but for him. He'd had so few people over to his home, to any of his homes, across the span of years...He almost forgot how..not quite normal...'All my prettiest things are poison' was, as a topic. As a thing to mention to anyone who wasn't a family pet or small child.

"Not often to people, unless you've taken a liking to putting house plants in your salads and perennials in your stews. You wouldn't believe how many different kinds of lilies range the gauntlet of irritating to deadly. Albeit wonderful for air purification within the home."

It was his bad, entirely. Though he felt sorry for Yuuri's swath of apologies, he waved them off. Smiled and offered up words that he hoped would be somewhat soothing in the face of all the rest.

The jostle was negligible. The tote was far less heavy set on the ground, with the rest. If he nudged it to the side, out of the way of being stepped on or tripped over before the wide open door. Ever so gently guided the senshi that hovered arms-reach in his orbit away from anything sharp -- pruning sheers, axes, weedwhackers -- a few hori-hori blades and a sickle-saw.

"Oleander for example? I'm sure you've seen it. In parks, yards, roadside thoroughfares and everywhere in-between. With its pretty pink flowers and thick stems. How it stays evergreen. No one would ever know just by looking, how dangerous it can be."

Like Senshi. He wondered if that was the appeal to him, for the entirety of his team. Why he'd been so dead set on Iolanthe, on Xyla ,on -- each and every one of them in-between. The power hidden in a single seed, in a petal - the way so many of their own were like that. Deadly, dangerous, impossibly powered things. All hidden in obscurity. Under bright colors and slight, magical, frames.

"No..getting proper poison out of them requires some...extraction..chemically speaking. Anything truly bizarre, anything with bite? I keep in the Rift."

Nothing Yuuri touched would've been his untimely end. All the greenhouse beauties were tropical or favored foods. Basil, tomato, mint. A few rare Begonias and edible salad type weeds that he didn't want invading and choking off his favored species.

"So all of this...can't hurt you. Safe to touch as the air is to breathe. Promise." Crossed his heart, hoped to fry, would make Yuuri wash his hands after, just in case..

He wondered if he should've offered Yuuri more. What the polite way was to handle a guest -- water -- tea -- snacks? A tiny purple and pink potted succulent to add to the rest of his growing plant-menagerie?

Probably not that. He'd think of something though.

Guine