hh_mirror | flowers and kittens and nothing exploding ((closed, Rory and A))

He did a slight double take at that, but there had to be plenty of people in the universe called River. It wasn't that strange a name, just a bit hippie. "Lucky River, then." About the garden, he meant, but she clearly had a very devoted boyfriend, too. The kind who liked to drop her name into conversation whenever possible. He recognised the tone of voice.

Something else occurred to him. "...how do you get a mangosteen grove in Scotland? Other than - well, magic, obviously."

"By magic, of course," A agreed to as readily as one might to 'by electricity'. "I'd only asked for one, you see, but Lezard transported a whole grove, animals and all."

"I take it Lezard gets a bit... enthusiastic." He knew the type of thing. Still currently on the longest, weirdest stag night ever, after all.

"I think he's dangerous," A said firmly, "Not malicious, I think, but dangerous. Be careful if you meet him." And a moment later, "There is a list, I think, on the computer network, of people known to be dangerous."

Rory looked over at the trees, amusement fading. He'd almost managed not to think about that for a while. "Right. I hadn't seen that yet, but I'll - I'll remember. Thanks for letting me know." He wasn't going to question a magic castle having computers. It was less out of place than some things.

"If there is someone you are not sure of, you should ask Professor Kusuriyuri or Professor Kurama." It might be an imposition, but he knew both of his teachers wanted to stay informed about threats, and might be able to negotiate something with someone too newly arrived to be biased.

Rory nodded, finally managing to disengage himself from Schrodinger and stand up properly again. "Is it that bad here?" he asked, quietly.

"It can be," A responded in an equally soft tone, his expression momentarily grave. But his smile returned swiftly. "But there is so much here that is wonderful. I never had friends before, or cats, or growing things. And I wouldn't have met River." Saying her name still gave him a bit of a goofy grin.

What kind of life must he have had before?, Rory wondered. Something bad enough that friends and cats and plants were rare wonders... Despite that dark thought, there was a trace of the same lovestruck smile in his expression when he replied. "And she's worth everything. Yeah. I know what you mean."

By now, A could easily read that expression. "And you have someone too... here?" Probably, A supposed, or it would have been a more painful subject.

He nodded, the smile growing. "Amy. My fiancee. We ended up here at more or less the same time, luckily."

"That's good, it, it's very good. To be with the person you love, and see them smile when you do things to make them happy." He eyed the blackberries remaining on the bush, assessing how long it would take them to ripen, and grinning again at the number of almost-ripe ones to tempt visitors to the garden.

"It really is," Rory agreed, knowing how hopelessly soppy he sounded and not really caring. There wasn't anyone around to hear who'd laugh at him for it. "She'd love all this," he added, moving to look at the blackberries too. "Would it be ok, if I brought her to see?" He was sure the answer would be yes, but it was still polite to ask.

It did feel good to be asked, even if he wouldn't have dreamed of refusing.

"I would rather you left the greenhouse alone," he gestured toward it, "If I am not here. Some of the plants in it can be very toxic in the wrong quantities or used the wrong way. But the garden is a very nice place to show someone. The grass under that pear tree," he pointed, "is a lovely place for a picnic or a nap, and the gazebo is good for meals or relaxing as well."

"We'll stay out of the greenhouse if you're not around," Rory agreed. "Thank you. I..." He hesitated. "Sorry, I don't think I got your name?"

"I'm A," he said, holding out the hand not cradling a basket of berries. "And I'd be happy to show you the greenhouse, if you ever want to see it."

A as in the letter? Okay, that implied a couple of things about the life with no friends and nothing growing, but of course Rory wouldn't mention them. "Nice meeting you, A," he said, shaking the offered hand. "I'd like that, yeah. When you're not busy."

"I was, I, I was thinking of stopping for a snack, and letting the cats have some catnip," A told him. "You're welcome to join me."

"Oh." Rory smiled. "I will, if you want. Brilliant." He looked down at the cats. "Am I about to be back on petting duties, then?"

"You might find yourself with with a large black cat parked firmly in your lap if you sit still long enough."

Einstein had, indeed, noted that A had taken several steps toward the gazebo, and had risen smoothly to his feet. Schrodinger followed in a rather less dignified series of kittenlike bounds.

It was only a few yards away, and A realized with a start that given a few more years, the gazebo might be completely surrounded by garden. He resolved to plan any further expansion with that in mind, so it would be harmonic rather than slapdash.

"There's mint limeade," A told him, "and thumbprint cookies. The orange ones are satsuma-apricot and the pink ones are cannabis-rose. And you're welcome to any fruit, of course."

"He can park in my lap if he wants," Rory said, taking in the rest of the garden as he followed A. It was a bit of a fairytale in itself, this place, and right here on Earth. Okay, a parallel universe Earth with a magical castle, but still -

Wherever that train of thought had been going, it stopped abruptly as he registered what A had just said. "...sorry, the pink ones are what?"

A positively beamed at the question. "It was the first hybridization project I worked on with Professor Kurama. The plants are still basically roses, but they now produce the active ingredients in cannabis. It doesn't seem to affect the flavor much, so I can still use the petals for culinary applications as well." He was clearly proud of his achievement.

Rory could not bring himself to say anything that would burst A's bubble over this. He looked so thrilled. It would be like kicking a kitten. A kitten that had possibly been raised by mad scientists in a lab and was seeing daylight for the first time, or something.

"That is... incredible," he said, because it really was. "And satsuma-apricots were the next one?"

"Oh, no." A shook his head. "That's just the preserves. But my second project did turn out well; I crossed peaches and cherries. They look a bit like a red plum with fuzz; the flavor is a bit more on the peach side, but the texture is closer to cherry. The most difficult part would be making it fertile, but I'm not sure I can manage that yet." He seemed quite unfazed by the genetic impossibilities of both projects.

"Not yet, huh?" Rory grinned. "Sounds like it won't take you long, you've done all this in two years... I am going to have to introduce you to the Doctor," he added, thinking out loud. "As long as you can cope with having your head talked off."

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject