Open RP: Great Hall: It's Alive!

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

The circles under his eyes are more pronounced than usual today. L slips into the Great Hall, to get himself a pot of tea. Once it arrives, he sits and pauses, to wait for it to steep. It needs to be stronger than this.

He's been pushing himself on a case the past few days. It's resolved now, but it was the first real challenge he's had since moving here, so he may have dropped off the face of the earth a little. Time to emerge and make sure everyone is still alive and well.

As soon as the tea is finished steeping, that is.

Comments

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"The greenhouse allows you to create an environment suitable for citrus?"

That's useful.

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

"That was one of the original uses of greenhouses. Oranges and pineapples." A gives him a pleased look. "I've ordered a pineapple plant as well. But they grow slowly and it takes a long time for the fruit to mature, so we will not have fresh pineapple for some time."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I'm patient."

L's tone is quietly teasing.

"Besides, you've already got a supply of fresh fruit likely able to feed the whole castle."

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

"No. The fruit is for friends. But there are herbs for the kitchen that will be used for everyone, so when you eat food from the kitchen that has herbs in it you will know that I grew them."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"That's a lovely thought."

He begins adding sugar to his cup.

"What else has arrived?"

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

"I am following the, the tracking information, and the maple should be here tomorrow, and the alkanet."

An odd duo to be arriving together, but A was not one to question it.

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"A maple tree? Those grow to quite a height, don't they?"

Worrisome.

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

"When it begins to grow too tall, I will transplant it outside."

Of course, he's promised not to tell that it's be request.

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Turlough doesn't mind another tree being planted?"

He seems to have gotten better about A's gardening exploits.

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

"He has told me where I should plant it."

Which is true enough.

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"That's good."

L changes the topic.

"How are the cats?"

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

"Very happy." A beams. "I have been bringing them with me when I have been spending time out in the greenhouse, so they know it well now, and get to see a change of scenery often. Although I think Wishbone might like it if I left them to play with him sometimes."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Does he like cats?"

L didn't know that.

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

"He likes Schrodinger and Einstein," A says proudly. "They have played together, and at Christmas he asked to bring them lamb."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I do remember that, actually."

He thought it was just about Wishbone getting more meat, but apparently not.

"He's Near's pet now, so he will be around to see him."

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

"That seems strange, to think of him as someone's pet."

Dog or not, he talks, which seems unpetlike to A.

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"I wouldn't use the word if he hadn't," L assures him.

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

A nods. "He probably thinks of it differently than I do."

He's used to people thinking of things differently than he does by now.

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Maybe you could ask him."

Emancipate him, L imagines. A dog revolution.

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

"Ask him what he thinks about being a pet?"

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"Certainly. If he minds it, if he likes it. It can't hurt, can it?"

Probably.

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

"I will ask him, then, if it is something he likes. Because I don't think he was Near's pet before."

[ijk-mno.livejournal.com]

"No, he wasn't."

L shakes his head.

"I don't know if he was anyone's."

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

"Maybe it is comforting for him. It is a good feeling to have someone look after you and care for you."

[red-eyed-l.livejournal.com]

Beyond had gone in for more jam. And house elf abuse.

When he opened the door and saw L and A, though, he stopped. His face screwed up in a damnit-I-won't-cry face.

L...why'd you break your promise to B?