::Open RP - A's Garden::

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

It was a lovely day, really.

Even if the weather had been less than ideal, A would have gone to the garden. The plants needed to be tended, after all, and right now he's kneeling by the catnip bed, pulling out the few weeds that have dared to encroach on his territories.

Now that he has a computer with an internet connection, A is Discovering music, and he's singing, very badly, as he weeds.


"Everyday seems a little longer
Every way love's a little stronger
Come what may
Do you ever long for, true love from me"


He can't carry a tune, but there's an odd hiccuping tone to his voice that's a clear attempt to mimic Buddy Holly.

Comments

[ringo-raver.livejournal.com]

Satiated on apples for now, Ryuk went outside to look for this gardener that L was talking about.

Oh, look, a garden! And someone singing off key in the garden!

Attempted Alternate, huh? Would match the 'A' L talked about.

And look, tree full of pears. L said Ryuk should try one.

He hovered above the pear tree, trying to find a good one.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A doesn't notice at first. He's obsessed with his plants and his song. When he does turn in response to hearing a rustling, he lets out a little shriek, falling from a crouch to an awkward sprawl.

That doesn't look like a bird.

[ringo-raver.livejournal.com]

"Oh, hi. Didn't mean to interrupt you. L just suggested I try a pear."

Still hovering over the tree, Ryuk crossed his arms.

"I HAVE been away too long, it's so amusing to see someone startled at my appearance."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"You know him? He suggested it?" A averts his eyes, trying to keep from being too alarmed. "Then you may have a pear."

[ringo-raver.livejournal.com]

Ooh, that looked appetizing. Ryuk plucked one off the tree and chomped down on it. He chewed a few minutes, considering, then finished the pear, albeit with not as much gusto as he would an apple.

"It does taste all right. Not as good as an apple, but it's good." Ryuk landed in front of A.

"Yeah, I know L. He didn't know me, but we talked a bit when I got here."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I don't have an apple tree. I might add one at some point." It was becoming a regular orchard, if an unorthodox one. "Fruit fresh from the tree - or bush, or whatever sort of plant it grows on - is very good. I've learned that since I started having a garden." He tilted his chin up with a proud smile. "I am growing some fruit for L."

[ringo-raver.livejournal.com]

"Oh, I bet he likes that. He'd probably like it better if one of those trees grew cake, I bet. I remember him eating a lot of that." He grinned. "I would come here every day if you grew an apple tree." And clean the tree out, no doubt.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A's not entirely sure that would be an incentive; this... whatever-it-was... seems friendly enough, but his presence is unsettling, and A feels uneasy.

"Some of what I grow can be used in cake. We will be decorating a cake with candied violets."

He's not going to tell this stranger about the strawberry-rose cake. That's going to be a surprise.

[ringo-raver.livejournal.com]

"Really?" Ryuk leaned down so he was eye level with A. "Humans can eat flowers?"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"S-some flowers," A forced out, leaning back. "Almost all the ones I planted are ones that can be eaten. I made jelly from the lavender the other day, while we candied violets and rose petals."

It's easy for A to relax when he can start talking about his plants.

"The morning glories aren't edible, but L wanted them."

[ringo-raver.livejournal.com]

"Interesting!" Lots of things were to Ryuk. "So you like to do what L says, huh?"

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"I want to make him happy," A says simply. "I want him to be pleased with me. And he likes morning glories. So there are morning glories in my garden."

[ringo-raver.livejournal.com]

"Whatever works for you." Ryuk stood to full height. "What else do you grow?" He fingered the catnip plant.

[misoramassacre.livejournal.com]

Naomi had also noticed the fine weather, so she had her wand in a jacket pocket and some books under her arm, in search of a good study spot on the grounds. She doubted a spot near the singer would be particularly good for study per se, but she decided to look into it a bit before she resumed the search. If there was some dangerous magical creature that lured with music, after all, it would probably have a better voice.

On the way over, she spotted someone else. A few inches shorter than her, she noted, carrying weapons as well as books, maybe from the same place as Drizzt Do'Urden. As their paths converged Jezz nodded in acknowledgment, she nodded back, and they continued walking several feet apart, in silence, up to the edge of the garden.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A little more alert now, A notices two people approaching. He recognizes Jezz and smiles a little shyly, but he doesn't know the other; in fact, women in general are kind of new and strange to him.

[misoramassacre.livejournal.com]

"A." Jezz looked around the garden, managing to tamp down on any hint of his unreasonably disconcerted state. "This is yours?"

A second later Naomi said, somewhat awkwardly, "Hello."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"My garden, yes. It feels good to make things grow." His smile is hesitant but genuine.

To Naomi, his smile is a little more uncertain. "Hello."

[misoramassacre.livejournal.com]

Jezz nodded. "It's good to have yourself established." Trundling around the Underdark was not conducive to gardening. Nor was banditing around the Dalelands. Jezz hadn't exactly longed for agriculture, but he appreciated the potential meaning.

Naomi, meanwhile, was wondering. A - was he connected to L and B, or was it just a coincidental nickname? After puzzles like LABB and incidents like the busjacking, she was more inclined to doubt coincidence.

Jezz turned halfway toward her. "We all know his name, so why don't we make it even. Jezz Jaelre."

She nodded. "Naomi Misora."

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Oh!" That was a name he recognized. "Ryuzaki knows you. He mentioned your name." He doesn't mention the Summer Christmas party, both because he's not sure if L is positive he wants to invite her, and because Jezz won't be invited.

[misoramassacre.livejournal.com]

Ryuzaki. "Did he...? Which one?" She hadn't heard of B reusing the name but it wouldn't do to assume.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Which... one?" A tilted his head, clearly confused. He'd been dead before B used the alias. "I don't, there... only one, only..."

[misoramassacre.livejournal.com]

"You see, I know two people who've used the name. In some ways one looks and acts something like the first, but in others..."

Jezz listened with some interest. Naomi, aware of this, kept her words oblique for the moment.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

A's eyes widened at that, realizing who she meant. "No," he said, almost moaning. "They're not alike, no, no, not, not...." he shook his head, wringing his hands.

[misoramassacre.livejournal.com]

Taken aback, Naomi lowered her voice. "No... of course not. It's all on the surface."

And not so much on the surface either, for her. Otherwise she might have had a heart attack when she saw L in the subway, well before he threw himself at her.

[i-am-an-hero.livejournal.com]

"Not... he doesn't even... it's fake, it's all fake, mimicry won't, won't make him more, no, no, Backup isn't good enough, he's not, not..."

A was still crouching, almost hunched in on himself, but there was a faint defiant gleam in his eyes. How, how could she dare compare B to L!