Difference between revisions of "Logs:Sweat and Flowers"

Greenhouse, High Reaches Weyr A rustic and unadorned vestibule leads in from hewn spiral steps to a refitted ledge, enclosed by limestone pillars. Sturdy wooden framework captures elongated glass panes, tilted to absorb the most light during the day. The wash of heat from within, lush and humid, persists even into the dead of winter; the air is heady with the scent of fresh-turned soil and various flora.

Long, deep troughs of soil line the inner stone wall, planted with an assortment of broad, leafy tropicals - practical and decorative alike. Fruit and vegetable baskets hang from rafters, optimizing space, tempting in reach with a perpetually ripening harvest. A series of stone shelving is devoted to flourishing, aromatic herbs and new green shoots; even the softest touch releases a burst of savory scent from tender leaves. Amidst the greenery, a handful of wooden benches have been scattered, making this a temptingly warm and secluded spot to sit.

Shuttered vents serve to regulate humidity and heat given off from a small hot spring recessed into an alcove at the back; a secondary pool with cooler waters siphons off to provide a constant, fresh supply for irrigation. A small potting station nearby is cluttered with watering cans and gardening tools of various uses, with a wooden bin for composting materials tucked underneath.

Grunting. A normal sound for Bones in almost any activity, but especially pronounced during times like this. Workout time. Drenched in sweat, he hangs upside-down from a crossbeam more meant to hang plants from than give true structural support. With knees hooked over the top of it and ankles crossed, he struggles to slowly raise his torso up time and again, doing crunches with the added difficulty of gravity holding him down. Judging by the small puddle of drippings beneath him, he's been at it for a while.

There have only been a couple of times that Hana has made her way to the greenhouses. Somehow or another, she's managed to miss the resident gardener... and no-one has mentioned him to her. Therefore, there is no sneaking in, but a simple stepping in, and a shawl removed and placed on a bench. The grunting, on the other hand, has her taking a turn towards the crossbeam and stepping into view even as she calls out, ".. hello?" Because, of course, grunting in the greenhouse has to be taken gracefully.

With Hana's gentle greeting, the workout suddenly comes to an end, one last grunt of defeat coming midway through the crunching motion. The big man suddenly goes as limp as his hanging dreads, letting his long arms succumb to gravity as opposed to the tucked position behind his head they were in before. Shirtless, but thankfully still in work pants, Bones continues to drip a few more drips of mansweat down to the floor as he sucks down air in big, fast breaths. "Hi." Comes simple greeting to the new face, his smile a little weak in exhaustion. "I'm the..." A pause comes for a few more deep breaths. "... gardener."

Hana comes to a stop, and just... blinks for a moment. It is, after all, not every day she finds a shirtless man hanging from the rafters in the greenhouse. Still, where thought process may falter, beaten-in manners prevail. "Hello, Gardener. I'm Hana - it is a pleasure to meet you. Should you be hanging upside down like that?" The last bit is said right after the first part, even as she comes closer - and off to the side, in case the removal from the crossbeams spreads out a bit.

"Well..." he starts, trying to make that one last crunch required to move up and grab the beam, so that he has something to hold onto as he unhooks his legs. His abs are too sore from overuse, and he doesn't quite make it, accepting defeat with a sudden droop once more. Just a little more time to rest, then. "Nice to meetcha, Hana. You worried about the beam, or me?" Spoken in regards to her question about what should or shouldn't be done. He probably doesn't have an answer even if she clarifies. "Wait a second. Hana? Lady Izzy's girl? From the hold, right?"

"Yes," Hana replies with a bit of an impish grin - or frown, depending on which way you are looking. There is a tilt of the head, then a nod, "I was in her service until the Hatching," she confirms, "And High Reaches Hold, born and bred."

"Azaylia's told me 'bout you!" There's genuine excitement in his voice, enough to make him attempt a dismount once again. "She told me 'bout your teatime and-" He lifts himself up and manages to get his hands on the crossbeam, but as he uncrosses his ankles his abdominals suddenly give out, and he drops down with such force that the grip of his sweaty palms fails, and he hits the floor with a wet smack, flat on his back. For a few seconds, there's silence. "Ohhhhh yeah. That hurt. Yup. That hurt."

On the other hand, it gets Hana moving again as she hurries over, "Can you move your toes? Oh, wait, or are you not supposed to move your toes. I never did take any of the healer classes," Hana burbles before distracting herself and maybe the bearded one, "And Lady Azaylia is a lovely companion, with or without tea - do you need a hand up?" she ends with, offering her hands.

He takes Hana's advice, and lifts his head up to look down at his booted feet, ensuring that he can move them around. "Yeah, I'm fine. Hehe." He rests his palms on his belly and looks up at her with a smile. "No no, you best be pulling those hands back. I'll just be slicking up your palms something awful before I yank you down with me." He gives a small groan as he props himself up on his elbows, the rest of him still laid out on the floor. "Zee told me I shouldn't be around for your teaparty. Now I see why. You're classy as fuck."

"Well, if you're sure.." Hana allows, before stepping back to the give the man some room. "I... ah, thank you? Though really, I would hate to have turned away any tea-lovers from such a setting." Even if said person is Barnabas. Speaking of which, ".. I've met so many people - I'm certain you have been mentioned, but I cannot for the life of me, remember your name, sir." A polite fiction, though one offered with an apologetic smile.

From elbows to a full sit is an effort worthy of another small grunt, one that makes Bones wince briefly, but otherwise doesn't interrupt his steady smile. "Bones. Call me Bones." He rubs the back of his head, testing whether or not his impact had left any damage there. "N'ky mentioned you too. Surprised it took us this long to meet up, considerin' the acquaintances we got in common."

Hana grins and shakes her head, "Well, it has taken a couple of days for me to get settled - and things aren't all quite where they need to be yet. But you are correct - why, I've been here a couple of times, but only ran into Lady Azaylia. I guess the timing just wasn't correct. I do have to say, however - I love how everything is green here - and that you've managed such a variety of flowers."

"Well, thanks! A man likes to hear his work is appreciated, eh? Hehe." With a sigh, Bones comes to terms with the unfortunate realization that he needs to stand up, and so with no small effort he manages to tuck his legs underneath him and push himself up to his feet. "Woo. Now I know why my record was my record, know what I mean?" He gives a few pats to his stomach, and them immediately regrets touching it with a visible wince. "MMph. Err, so, you a fan of flowers then?"

"Well," Hana starts as she backs up again to give the man more room - given, he is about a foot taller than she is, "I like to use them in braids - or to bright a room. Now that spring is finally coming about, the rooms will have a nice airing out, and won't feel so closed in." Being an utter stranger to working out just to work out, there is a slight frown of concern at the wince, before her expression smooths out. "It is a shame one can't make a pot of tea down here. It wouldn't help warm one up, but it is always a relaxing ritual to enjoy."

Bones' lower lip falls just enough so that his mouth could be called open, looking at Hana curiously after her brief talk of tea. The curiosity gives way to a sudden smile. "Wow, can I just have your voice in my head? You weren't even really sayin' nothing, and suddenly I'm all relaxed. Ha!" He trudges over towards a nearby bench with tired, heavy steps. There, a frayed old towel waits for him, which he picks up and starts using to dry himself of sweat. "What's your favorite color?"

"That may be exhaustion hitting you. That whole upside down thing looked quite tiring," Hana points out, before offering a quick grin (belatedly), "Either that, or it just means I talk too much. Favorite colors? Hm.. It's hard to say. Just about anything in the blue and green range, mostly," she admits before finding another bench to sit on, the one her shawl was left at.

"Yeah, it's tiring. That's why it works." His answer is matter of fact, and a touch distracted, looking down to the floor as he towels off. Suddenly, he snaps his fingers and tosses the towel up over his shoulder. "Skobeloff Bells!" He turns to her with a grin, then motions with his hand. "Cmon, I got just the flower for you. They're over here."

"Sko... pardon me?" Hana has to ask, before getting back to her feet. "I don't think I have ever heard of such a flower - admittedly, I don't know much about actually growing them, as much as picking them." Still and all, off she'll follow, curiousity being a strong draw.

It's not a long walk, just a round a bend or two, that a pot is tucked in between two much larger plants, almost as if it's hiding behind it's big-brother trees. Bones tugs it free and holds it out to Hana, where a long vertical stem grows big star-shaped flowers in deep blue-green. "They're also called Binge Bells or Binge Blossoms, because they grow near rivers and needs lots'a water. Honestly? I think people just call em that because nobody knows that Skobeloff is a color. Hehe!"

Absently, "I'm not even sure I could say it, much less realize it was a color..." Hana admits even as she lifts up a hand to lightly touch the edge of one stalk. "They are lovely... do they all share the same stem?" she asks without the bother of looking up. Despite that, there is an edge of laughter and delight running under the words, before she shakes her head, "How did I miss this lovely?"

Continuing to hold out the pot with only one hand, he smiles as he uses the other to scratch at his goatee. "That's probably my fault. I only got so much shelf space, and kinda forgot about this little dude." Bones looks down at the flower for a moment, watching her fingers grace it's surface. "You want him?"

Oh yes. That truth is naked enough. However, her fingers twitch just slightly, before lowering her hand, "Unfortunately, the dorm which I stay in has so little light - I couldn't possibly take care of him in that setting." She shakes her head, sending a couple of tendrils dancing with the movement, "No... best he stays here. Even hidden, he still would get /much/ better care than I could provide."

Bones looks genuinely disappointed at her refusal, but accepts her words as truth even while frowning. The look doesn't last long, as his face brightens at a new found possibility. "Tell you what. You can come back and check him out whenever you feel like, and in the meantime?" Bones carefully plucks one of the flowers from it's stem, and sets the pot down at his feet. "Y'can just take one of his blossoms eh? He won't mind." Bones moves to try and plant the plucked flower into Hana's hair, but stops awkwardly on his way. "I don't really know how to... do the thing with the..." he trails off, and settles for just handing the flower towards her. "Hehe, there you go."

Hana tilts her head slightly, but then offers a bit of a smile at the acknowledgement of ignorance, "It is a trick - luckily, I have a lot of practice." She did, after all, steals some blossoms for Zay's hair once, and Izzy's as well! Fingers lift up to tuck the blossom to the side of her bun, using the beaded string to fasten it into place, before breaking out into another full smile. "Perfect! And I will be certain to visit as duties and time allows." And even better - she can't be blamed for killing the poor plant, if she's not responsible for him. Win-win!

"Hehe, I'll leave the the beauty to the beautiful people." He fires a wink at her, a playful gesture free of flirtation. "And next time you swing around, I gotta try and find you a plant that can make it in the dark. Maybe a fern or.. moss, or something, eh?"

"... if it grows in the darkness, and I wake up to find myself its new bed, I might become rather worried," Hana teases, before offering a curtsey. "But honestly - I thank you for the thought - and at some point, we shall have to have tea together. Agreed?"

"Tea eh?" He scratches at his stomach now, no longer wincing as he ponders her invitation. "Yeah, sure. Can't say I ever been invited to tea before. Sounds... good." It honestly does, and that fact somewhat surprises him. "I'll make sure to wear a shirt, hehe."

There is a moment of disconcertion - there are teas to be had without shirts? But the sound of honestry rings true, and so another full smile is given. "Good! I'll see you then," she promises, then with a swish of skirts - and a pause to gather up her shawl, and off Hana goes. Bedecked in her new blossom, and with plots of having tea with the gardener.