&&; sunflower

Hearing the reaction, she couldn’t help but nod her head a little bit before speaking. “Well, you kind of just let people spout the bullshit they are going to try and give you, then you tell them how it’s really going to happen. As long as you don’t just let them think they can walk all over you, you’ll be fine!” 

“Not sure I quite have the courage to just, call people out like that.” Because he was a very quiet and soft spoken man, that being said he did like to think that he wasn’t a complete pushover. 

@benjixwoods​

There was a lot of things Reese Brooke did not like. He didn’t like the color orange, poor people, and the dreadful flavor that was known as raspberry. However even though these things made him grimace, there was one thing - one person - that Reese hated more than all: Benji Woods. He never understood where his hate came from, as Benji was just a soft spoken little fella, but for some reason whenever he was near Benji, Reese’s eyes glowed with anger, ready to prove to everyone he was much better ever since they were kids. However that didn’t mean Reese was wanting to just avoid Benji entirely… No, of course not. That’d be cowardly. Instead, one of his favorite things to do was poke and pester the guy. “Why do you even work here?” He asked Benji on such a day at the botanic gardens. “Isn’t it a bit… I don’t know… girly? Can’t handle a manly job, Benji?”

Benji had been so caught up in his own world that he hardly registered the others words, simply blinking at him as he tried to think if he heard him right, “Erm... because I enjoy it?” He answered, not sure if that was what the other was looking for. At the mention of the job being girly he had to suppress an eye roll. “Yes, because researching plants which are more or less the key to our future in the way of science, food, fuel and medicine is seen as something to be looked down on.”

“Well that was awkward,” Phillip said as he looked away and made a face at the other over his cup, “What do you think that was about?” He asked, gesturing to the scene.

@benjixwoods

“From the look on his face and the woman across from him, I’m guessing he’s on his date and the person who yelled at him was his girlfriend.” Benji observed over his cup of tea, “Or ex girlfriend at this point.”

“Listen, I know you’re trying to pull the whole initiating me act right now, but let me tell you, it isn’t going to work.” She told the person on the phone. “Now, you can either deliver what I requested, exactly as I requested it, or you can not get paid. You’re choice. Let me know when you’ve made it.” Hanging up the phone, she looked to the person who joined her in the room before speaking again. “Sometimes you just can’t let them think they’re going to win.” 

“Maybe I should make a note of that.” Benji chuckled a little nervously, realising he should have probably knocked when entering the room. “Does it work, letting people think they’re going to win? I mean, not sure I’d succeed, I’d probably fall over my feet and my words at some point and ruin things. But if I practised maybe...”

Being outside and experiencing the barbecue was a lot of fun for Faye. Everyone seemed like they were having fun and she was definitely enjoying the food and playing games and meeting new people. “Be careful! Your snow cone is about to spill!” she laughed a little bit at the person she spotted while moving around to see different things. “I’d hate for it to stain your shirt!” 

Benji would admit that he totally zoned out, too focused on the commotion around him to realise of the blue dye getting awfully close to the white t-shirt he was wearing, “Oh shoot- thank you. I guess I wasn’t paying much attention to.. well... anything.”

“I mean I dunno, you’re welcome to come up with some suggestions too. But no, you make me do all the work. Classic Benji,” he teased with a wicked grin. “That’s how you know you’re having fun,” Tucker replied, “When you start feeling sick to your stomach.”

“What can I say, I’m a classically indecisive person, it’s part of my charm.” Benji chuckled, his face screwing up slightly at the thought of reaching a stage in which he would feel so sick that he wouldn’t want to move, “How is the feeling of nearly throwing up fun? I mean- I’m pretty sure throwing up is one of my least favourite things to do.”

“Alright but how about some friendly competition?” Tucker asked the other, nudging him. “I mean we can do drinking, eating or even a belly flop competition. Or all of them! But maybe not in that order. The opportunities are endless.”

@benjixwoods​

“Belly flop competition?” Benji couldn’t help but question the other, blinking at him and looking a little lost. “I’m not really the competitive type so I’m not sure how fun this will be for you, or me when I start to feel sick from eating too many hot dogs.” Benji commented, “But I guess I can give it a shot.”

“You know, for a small fee I can even do tarot readings. I’m not just good for herbal remedies and good luck charms; I’m even a dab hand a fortune telling. Just call me extremely multitalented.” Huojin boasted with a wink, fanning the chinese deck of cards in one hand from where he was perched behind the glass counter that contained various stones and pieces of jewelry. “So what do you say?”

“Oh no- I mean that’s pretty cool and all but I think I’d like to keep my future and fate a surprise.” Benji commented, smiling softly at the other apologetically. “I actually just came here to see what kind of herbs you use in your remedies, see if you need anyone to supply you with them. We’ve had a bit of an overgrow at the gardens.”

“Oh shit, Phantom!” Scarlett called after her dog as he jumped up on the other person, “I am so sorry. He’s very excitable. Especially in the gardens.”

@benjixwoods

“No- it’s okay... Dogs are fun.” Benji commented, his heart racing a little bit at the shock he had gotten from the dog jumping up at him, patting him on the head tentatively. “I’m just you know- used to plants, which don’t move... or bark.”

“Is the whole book on fruits?” she teased, trying to peer at the title. When the question was turned on her, Darcy paused for a moment, “I’d say mostly fashion. There’s just so much more to it than pretty clothes for me. It’s a statement about yourself– it’s a form of self-expression. There’s so much that goes into fashion. More than people would think.”

Benji showed the other the title of the book, “Not just fruits, more like plants that had peculiar and helpful properties. A lot of them are about stimulating a healthier mental attitude and medicinal plants too, one’s used in medicine and what’s in them that helps cure ailments.” He explained to the other, blushing a little at the fact he seemed to go on a slight tangent. “Sorry, I tend to get- caught up in things like this.” Benji smiled at the other, where as he wasn’t big into fashion himself, he did enjoy listening to people talk about things they were passionate about. “I can see it as that, a form of self expression a little taster of who you are before someone comes and speaks to you.”

“ Bananas ? What a peculiar fact. Does that apply to all fruits or are bananas just special ? ” It took all of Peri’s will power to not break into another fit of laughter. “ I wasn’t here for that, but I love learning, so I’ll treasure this discovery, ” she teased. “ I didn’t mean to interrupt, I just meant to subtly read the title of the book you were reading. I should… work on the subtlety.. Are you enjoying it ? ”

“Well there are probably other fruits that have incredible qualities, I mean there are super-fruits and all, but from what I’ve read so far, banana's are the only one’s to hold chemicals to make people happy.” Benji explained to the other, raising one eyebrow at her slightly when her laughing continued, not sure if she was a fan of the facts he was spouting or whether she was just amused by him. “If it makes you feel any better, I think you’re more subtle then what I am-” He chuckled, marking his place in his book before passing it over to the other to inspect. “I am, though I don’t think there is a botany book I’ve came across and not enjoyed.”

“Christmas– that’s right!” Ophelia exclaimed, reaching for her phone and tapping something away in her notes. “Thank you so much. Is there anything I can do for you? You’ve really saved me here.”

“I saved you?” Benji asked with a small laugh and a raise of his eyebrow, “I’m not sure how that was saving you but-.. you’re... welcome?” He responded, a slightly awkward edge to his tone. “But you don’t owe me or anything, I’m just-.. happy to help.”

BENJI WOODS; AESTHETIC 001

“Thanks,” she replied, moving to wipe down the chair with a sanitary wipe before sitting down and placing her bag beside her. Darcy laughed softly at his confession, “Happens to the best of us. While I myself have been lost in thought many times before, I don’t think it’s ever been over bananas. They must really have you entranced.”

“Well not just them, this whole book. Most people would probably see them as useless facts- but I don’t know... I think it’s fascinating.” He replied with a small shrug, marking his place before closing his book. “What does get you entranced then?”

“I know Chinese cinnamon is quite popular,” she mentioned, wracking her brain for the ingredients she remembered seeing listed. “Do you think that’d pair well with like orange peel or something?”

“I imagine so, I mean- isn’t cinnamon and orange a popular flavour around Christmas?” Benji asked her, “The orange should help even out the spice of the cinnamon and give it a little bit of a kick, I say you’ve got a safe flavour combination there.”

“She certainly has her moments. I wouldn’t say she’s happy all the time,” Taran chuckled under his breath. There were certainly moments when his mother got angry or upset. He had only seen it in person a number of times, since she tried to keep her negative emotions hidden in from of her children. “I’m off for the day. I have another vet who comes in and takes over on my days off,” he explained, shrugging his shoulders. “It’s nice. Gives me a break.” 

"Right, of course, no one can be happy all of the time. That would be a little bit obnoxious actually.” He commented with a small wrinkle of his nose, because he tended to see himself as an optimistic person most of the time, but even he had his limits on being cheery twenty four seven. “Something you need, can’t work yourself to the bone, you’ll burn yourself out.”