And progress continues outside... ((Closed RP, A, Kusuriyuri))

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

The walls of the castle seem more confining than usual. Though he is usually adept at avoiding the wanderlust-feeling, a holdover from his most recent occupation, there are days that Kusuriyuri just needs to be outside, to feel the plants, the sun, the earth and hear the water near by, to taste it in the air. He needs to reconnect to the elements around him that make up his world, his power.

Picking up his case, he finds a house elf and politely requests the creature deliver a note to his student for him. The way they fall over themselves when he asks anything is almost amusing, almost sad. His note en route, he heads outside to his student's pride and joy, his garden and new greenhouse.

The contents of the note are as follows:
Deshi,
Today, let us meet outside for the elements call to me.
Kusuriyuri.

Comments

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

It hardly takes any prodding to call A to his garden, to his greenhouse. The way it's thriving is helping him thrive as well.

He'd been about to ask Kusuriyuri to the greenhouse anyway; the mikan (and a couple of other citrus trees) have arrived. So he scurries down happily.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri is waiting in the patch between the greenhouse and the garden, looking up to the sky, his eyes closed. His case is set carefully by the greenhouse door. The sun is warm on his skin as it dances between the clouds, the water flowing just out of sight, the plants growing with all their might around him. Even the framework of the greenhouse adds to the feeling of 'nature' and 'completeness' that fills him.

At the sound of A's feet approaching, he opens his eyes and looks at his student. "Welcome," he says, his soft voice lightened by his content.

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

A's sense of connection with his garden is less conscious, but no less balancing.

"It is good, to be here," he says. "Is it a good place for you to hear the elements?"

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri nods, almost absently. "It is a good place to hear them, yes." He takes a deep breath. "How is deshi? What has he been doing?" Talk first, always. It is a way to find how A is coping with those things around him and to know what needs to be worked on.

And today, it will allow him to spend a little longer absorbing the energy he needs.

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

"The citrus trees have arrived. We have mikan now," A says, nodding at the greenhouse. "And lemons, and limes." He smiles broadly. "I have been tending my garden, and starting many things in the greenhouse. Mello took me to get plants that I could not get at the nursery."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

"Mello, huh? I had not thought he liked plants." He had noticed a change in the boy's attitude, though, for the better. "That is good, deshi. Mikan are delightful, thank you." He pauses, tilting his head a little. "But, have you been all your time in the garden?" It is neither reproof nor approval, just a question.

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

"Most of it. There are new plants, seeds and cuttings to see to. And I have been doing research online, on how best to care for them, and what other plants might grow well."

He smiles again. "But I have not been neglecting Schrodinger and Einstein. I bring them down with me often."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

That A is so relaxed in reassuring him that the cats are well cared for is a great sign of progress. Kusuriyuri is pleased.

"So, Mello took you to Diagon Alley, then? How was your trip?"

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

"It was unnerving," A confesses. "There, oh, there were so many people and the shopkeeper was rude, and oh, oh, I didn't like it. But I got many plants, plants that will make good medicines."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Less emphatic, less repetitive. Good. "The shopkeeper was rude? How so?" By pressing, by seeing when A began with his former patterns, Kusuriyuri could judge the amount of recovery as well as talk through possible repetitions of 'rude shopkeepers' and ideas for coping with them.

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

"He did not like that the plants were for medicine." A frowns. "He didn't approve."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri's eyebrows went up. "Oh? Is that so?" He frowns. "What, then are they to be used for?" Many of the herbs were unsuitable for food usage, after all.

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

"He thought they should be for potions. He thought only magical healing was important." A lifts his chin defiantly. "But the head of the Medicine Wing doesn't think so. And he is giving me plants to grow."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri keeps his smile under control, not yet letting A see that he is pleased with the answer. "And, you told him?"

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

"I told him. But Mello made me put my wand away."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri nods. "It is generally wise not to hex shopkeepers," he says in mild reproof.

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

A bows his head, accepting the scolding. "I was angry."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Indeed impressive. "That is allowed. It is then given to learn ways to be angry that are a little more wise. Tell me, what did Mello do?" He is curious if the boy would be a good example to use.

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

"He haggled with the shopkeeper." A smiles. "He made him lower the price."

Which is a bit further than A can be expected to go.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri smirks slightly. "So, he turned something bad into a benefit, then? That is good." He looks at A compassionately. "Perhaps you can learn to do such? Instead of reaching for your wand, find a path that is beneficial?" It will take practice and a quite a bit of coaching, but perhaps, if not haggling, A will be able to turn things a little more to his favor. "You do not need to do as Mello did exactly."

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

"But he insulted using plants for medicine. Insulted you."

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Ah, the sticking point then, Kusuiryuri thinks softly. "If someone wishes to be ignorant, can there really be any help for them? If they do not wish to change, can anything really be done?"

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

"It's not right. Not right that someone should insult you."

A is quick to spring to the defense of those he admires.

[edomedpeddler.livejournal.com]

Kusuriyuri reaches out for A's arm. "I have been in jail before, deshi. It is nothing much. What matters is what you know. Not every one will believe what you know, deshi. There is no need to force them."

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

"But I don't like it," A whispers, more in explanation than defiance.