thoughtful gardens

Rin looks up when he hears her speak again, curious from the way her footfalls stutter. It looks a little awkward for her to be holding something so heavy-seeming, but he doesn’t bother to wonder about it: despie how gentle Shiemi appears, he knows she’s tough, and that she can mostly handle things herself.

❝ Yeah, you’re right, ❞ he returns his focus to the ground in front of him, humming contemplatively as he continues to pick through plants and pull at weeds. If there’s any hesitation in her voice Rin doesn’t catch it. ❝ Besides, we have that exam to be studying for, an’ all. ❞

It was definitely creeping up on them, and as much as he doesn’t like to think about it, the Exam would probably change things up a lot. It might even separate their group… not to mention that passing it wasn’t something he had a choice in, given what the Vatican had ordered.

… Although now wasn’t really the time to be worrying about it.

He rubs his hands on his thighs once he’s done with his section, carelessly smearing dirt over his uniform pants. The smell of freshly wet soil was oddly soothing, and his tail curls against his back as he scoops the pile of uprooted plants into his arms. 

 ❝ … Is there anything to do about these guys, by the way? ❞  Burning them was definitely an option, but it probably wouldn’t be too smart to do in a garden.

❝ Just how many weeds do you need taken care of, anyway? ❞

The girl often found herself feeling somewhat worried for Rin when the exam was brought up in conversation. Even for a slight moment, just a hint, a split second of a glance, Shi gives the boy a concerned gaze. The exam was a pressing matter, something just around the corner she could not quite predict. It made her feel anxious in both a good and bad way. She should probably be studying too ...but it was Rin that needed brushing up on his academics. Strength wise, she knew he would be fine.

“Yes...but it’s all the more reason to have a relaxing day like you suggested, don’t you think?” The girl adopts a confident smile as she faces him, her free hand forming into a fist. “I could make some tea that will wash away everyone’s stress!” Even her own.

Shiemi continues after that to water the rest of the planets that were just dying of thirst. It would finally be their turn to drink up and it became a little easier for her to waddle around once the pale became lighter. At his question, she did not stop but worked her way over to him.

“If you go over by the well, I have some buckets you can toss them in. I’ve been collecting rain water in them and breaking the weeds down into fertilizer. It takes a while but I already have a few buckets ready for later.” Free fingers delicately touch the weeds Rin has collected and she nods her head approvingly. “I think this should be okay... the rest of them aren’t hurting anything.”

❝ Ah, well … If they aren’t causing trouble then I guess leavin’ them makes no difference. ❞

He watches as she gestures to the well and his expression softens slightly, gentling, when her gaze comes to linger on the grapevines. The way she was looking at them wasn’t something he’d easily miss, and he could guess at how she was feeling; he wouldn’t doubt that the grapevines were the only reason she’d asked for his help, either.

It must be lonely in a place as big as this after all, especially with what happened not even a full year ago.

❝ – Yeah, it’s no problem ! ❞ Rin offers her a sharp smile, his eyes crinkling as he rolls up his sleeves, ❝ I’d rather be hanging out with you than stuck in the dorms, anyhow. ❞

He squats over the nearest pile of greens, his tail swaying behind him as he plucks at the taller leaves, his fingers digging into soil as he tries to unearth deeply set roots. 

Pharmacology wasn’t his strong suit, but he knew a little about edible plants because of cooking:  parsley, bay-leaf, cilantro… things like that were easily identifiable – and the weeds were probably the ugliest looking ones, anyway. He isn’t overly concerned as he pulls more weeds from the ground, shaking the soil from their roots.

❝ Say, do you think we should invite everyone to hang out over here some day? ❞  He throws the weeds aside, piling them messily,  ❝ Not everyone’s seen the garden yet, right? ❞

If anything it might help Shiemi to feel more comfortable at least.

“Ehe...yeah. I’m glad I stopped by then.”

A hint of pink was displayed upon the girl’s cheeks but it would be unseen by the half-demon as she strolled over to the well to collect water. She appreciated his help indeed, but even if she didn’t need him to do some heavy lifting around the garden, her day would still be spent with Rin some way or another. She would have stopped by to hang out around the dorms, maybe have lunch and tea and talk about their adventures to come. Either way, it’d be a nice afternoon.

“Hm? Invite everyone--...?” She stumbles a little as she carries her watering pale around to begin soaking the color filled garden. It’s a bit heavy, but she’s able to manage after doing the same thing twice a day nearly her whole life. “I...think that would be a lovely idea!” 

Maybe she was a bit nervous to show off her garden to the others.. or maybe it was just being able to share this place with only Yukio and Rin that made her a little hesitant to bring around their other friends. Either way, the girl feels somewhat shy at the thought. But...it would be nice to spend a day around the garden with the lot of them. It was a nice atmosphere. A peaceful setting that could tame the destructive clashing between Suguro and Kamiki. 

After everything they’ve been through as classmates and fellow exwires, a day like that would be rewarding. 

The little guy stood firm on his shoulder, but the little green feet were barely felt. Klaus lifted his finger to pet the little familiar and as expected, they shook hands– or well more like fingers. He could feel a warm glow in its aura. It was similar to that of the Grove, both possessed a sentience unlike any human. Was there another Grove around? 

“I quite like him too.” Klaus wondered if this girl was anything like himself. A soul entwined with nature. Whose song was one with the grasses below and the trees above. That would be nice, to find someone much like himself. “Familiar you say? What’s a familiar? Like a spirit animal?” The seemed to really want her friend back, so he picked the little guy up with two fingers before placing him down on his palm. Before offering it back to the other.

A laugh spills passed the young Exwire’s lips and she finally reaches out to successfully take the Greenman into her hands. It seemed they really liked each other, so it only lead her to believe he had an interest in plant life like her. Although, unlike most gardeners, it was something more spiritual, something that really came from his heart. A demon like Niichan would be able to see such love within a person’s soul...just as he saw it within herself. 

This gave Shiemi a nice feeling; a feeling she could really relax to.

            Like that, he won’t mind the world around him. What’s happening behind his back, which sounds are flying through the air. He won’t care, won’t look. As long as nobody would dare getting to close, still. It’s not like he won’t like company, but wouldn’t know how to act towards another person without being too tensed and too timid. Dewey’s not even able to speak with them due to his lack of courage and endurance of peoples appearance.

             Anyway, he won’t stay alone today as the noises behind him, the voice reaching out for him, made him shiver just a little as he dared to move around, facing the other figure looking at him. In fact, his poor little heart was racing, but won’t make him faint right away. “H-Hello.” He just returned her words. Chocolate-brown hues watching her in confusion.

“U-Um, I wasn’t expecting anyone else to be here.”

It seems that he wouldn’t be the only shy one sitting between the tall grass and white swaying weeds. Shiemi twirls the shorter blades of green around her pointer finger and eyes the brush to spot out her familiar in case he were making any unwanted friends. In the end, however, she gave up when when the realization came that it was just a reason to get out of interacting with the person that shares her hiding place.

The girl relaxes with a soft breath and turns her body a bit to face the other.

@ niitamer​   

His eyes almost narrow as they pass into the garden, gaze lingering on the high, silver gate. It had sung the last time he’d touched it, and he remembers how loudly it had fallen apart: clattering and clanging as it unhinged and tottered to the ground.

As far as he knows it would break just the same as last time, and he makes sure to keep his distance from it, sticking closer to Shiemi as they wander through.

“ So… By the way, what exactly are you meaning to do anyhow? ”

He easily falls into stride alongside of her, his tail swishing back and forth. He hadn’t given it a second thought when he’d agreed to hang out with Shiemi, but working in a garden isn’t the kind of thing Rin knows how to do: it was different from cooking or fighting, it wasn’t what he’d grown up with, and the last time he was here all he’d really done was hand her stuff.

“ If it’s weeding, then I could do it for you! Or do we need to water stuff first? ”

Excitement leaks into his voice, and into the stretch of his smile. From the looks of it gardening was surprisingly challenging – and now that Shiemi had her full mobility again, they would probably be able to do more than just the sitting-down stuff. 

It wasn’t like she had a set plan, but Shiemi did indeed have something in mind for them to do together. 

Rin was a wonderful addition to her day. In fact, she was excited to hear that he had no other plans that afternoon. Therefor, the girl decided that she’d invite him over to her home for some gardening not only for the help but also for his company. Not to mention, he was a strong boy and that would always come in handy some way or another.

“Don’t worry about the weeds...I actually don’t mind them.” Shiemi paused once they were inside the garden and immediately glanced over to the hose near the grapevines. “The only weeds I ever worry about are the ones near the edible plants... “

It was then when she lifted her hand and pointed towards the source of water and turned her smile to Rin again. “If you’d like to do the weeding, I’ll do some watering! But sooner or later...I would like to cover the grapes.” It may or may not be obvious in her green eyes, but the garden girl has always felt a bit nervous when it comes to dealing with the grapevines.

yes hello i kinda wanted to make an important announcement that’s definitely not relevant now but will be at some point in the future so I’ll just reblog this when the time comes--