video;

[virginprice]

[Alcuin had sat down at his console to ask his fellow Foreigners a perfectly innocent question, only to be greeted by Malicant. He's shaken, though it only shows in the way his voice carries a little more asperity than usual.]

Whether it was ignorance or malice that caused someone to summon that here, I hope they have learned better- though indeed, such knowledge would seem to come too late.

[He shakes his head. Never mind. There's little to be done about it now.]

But that was not the matter I intended to speak of. I seek someone with the knowledge of how to care for young trees, for I have found one and know little of their husbandry.

Comments

video;

[storm_warning]

[Ororo's been bothered by a lot more than Malicant in the last twenty-four hours and she's desperate for a change of topic -- one which Alcuin provides for so nicely.]

I've got some horticulture under my belt. It's my major back home.

[She's not exactly the picture of confidence as she speaks and her body language -- curled up in her chair, a hooded sweater drawn tight around her -- is closed off, but it's a start.]

How young's this tree of yours?

video;

[virginprice]

It's hard to say, since I found it in Sinbrilee. It's quite small and slender, though- I carried it back myself and found a pot and some earth for it.

[It had been so lovely he hadn't wanted to leave it there, but he really didn't know much about gardening.]

video;

[storm_warning]

Think I could take a look at it?

[Ororo's not sure if small-and-slender means like an evergreen or a citrus tree and they each need a different handling. She'd rather not accidentally give it a death sentence with her advice.]

Just hold it up or something and I'll be able to figure out more.

video;

[virginprice]

Oh, of course. I should have thought of that myself.

[His lips quirk at his own foolishness and he gets up to fetch the pot, holding up the silver-leaved sapling in its elegant green pot.]

video;

[storm_warning]

[The smoothness of his reply twitches the first and faintest of smiles in return, though it fades as she looks at the tree.

That... looks nothing like the trees she knows.]

Okay. [A breath.] It's no conifer, I'd keep it warm. Let it tan for five hours daily and see how that goes. [Her brow furrows -- this is a rare moment when she kind of knows what she's talking about.]

How many stones've you got in the bottom to drain the water?

video;

[poeticverses]

I know nothing of trees, but I know how to care for flowers?

video;

[virginprice]

You ought to see this one, Jehan, it's lovely.

[Even if he might not be able to help, he wants to show it to him. He lifts it up to show the delicate tree with its unfurling silver leaves.]

video;

[poeticverses]

Oh, that is lovely, Alcuin. Silver leaves!

video;

[virginprice]

I've never seen the like. I couldn't resist bringing it home.

[He touches one of the leaves with a gentle finger.]

video;

[poeticverses]

I do not imagine I would have been able to resist either. It's very unique.

video;

[amonfire]

What point do the trees serve?

[ Sure everyone needs a hobby but this comes out of blessed nowhere. ]

video;

[virginprice]

It is very beautiful. I think that's point enough. [He shrugs a little.]

Though truly, I am curious. I've never seen a tree like this before, and I wanted to see if perhaps its fruit or nuts might have special properties.

[franchisepirate]

In my experience, those who would make such an error rarely learn their lesson in an orderly fashion. Most inconvenient for the rest of us.

But more to the point, I managed a fair plot of land at one point. [Land that wasn't his, but it was his shoulders and back and work that kept things going.] What sort of sapling have you come across?

[virginprice]

I suppose that is true, and a shame. I would hate to decry them as fools, but... [Really. How stupid can you get?]

I'm not sure, it's nothing I've ever seen before. The trunk is pale and the leaves are silver- I found it in the city that we're visiting.

[franchisepirate]

Sometimes even distasteful things must be done. [Count this as an 'aye' for the "Fools" column.]

I can't say I'm familiar with a tree like that, and plants can be rather picky about their environment. Perhaps how and where you found it would be of some clue.

[virginprice]

True enough, but I think others have made the point. [He's had time to see a few of the scoldings now.]

Oh, I hope I haven't hurt it... [He would hate for it to die because he moved it, but it looks fine so far. Some of the leaf buds are even unfurling.]

[franchisepirate]

Indeed. Not that it needed to be belabored.

I'm sure something can be arranged. Most foliage tends to have the same basic needs: light, water, soil. Did you dig it up, or was it more or less ready for travel?

video;

[trainwrecked]

... sorry, not much help with the tree, here. Downside to growing up in a city.

[Beat.]

You doin' all right?

video;

[virginprice]

Yes, that's my trouble too. [Chuckle.]

I am well, yes. Have you visited Sinbrilee?

video;

[trainwrecked]

Yeah, I kinda thought so. But I think you're getting decent responses, so.

And yeah, I did. The whole dreaming place thing is... unexpected. But the city's kinda beautiful. You?

video;

[virginprice]

The city is wonderful. It reminds me of what I've read about Tiberium- except that has many more people, of course.

video;

[trainwrecked]

[Sliightly confused look.]

I don't think I know about Tiberium. But it kinda looks a bit like the pictures I've seen of Rome.

[He's never BEEN to Rome. But there've been dame fugitives...]

video;

[wintershepherd]

Trees, huh? I'm not one to judge but if you're gonna take one as your husband, I'm thinking it's going to be hard to fill out the marriage license.

video;

[virginprice]

I'm going to take care of it, not marry it. [He chuckles.] I hope you were just teasing.

Re: video;

[wintershepherd]

Yeah, but you said husbandry.

[ He does actually know what that term means, he's just being a little shit kind of a brat. ]