Difference between revisions of "Logs:Gonna Like You"

Greenhouse, High Reaches Weyr(#2203RJ) 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.

The chill from outside is enough to nudge anyone in to someplace warm, even people who come from Telgar. Liv doesn't seem to be suffering too much from the cold when she arrives but she's rosey in the cheeks and nose like a proper person should be. Her eyes wander the greenhouse while she breathes on her hands to thaw them out; she's a new face, and as most new faces do she wears an attentive, curious expression. She's never seen this, and it's one more place to check off her list of things to check out as a newcomer, so here she is.

Clutching a half-filled cloth sack of floral waste, Bones trudges his way down the length of the greenhouse in combing fashion to check every plant twice-over. Each is cleared of any wilt or disease with a rusty sickle, the oxidized metals tinged a dirty deep red. Shirtless and sweating from the sheer weight of dying foliage he's lugged back and forth through the steamy warmth of his workplace, he rounds the corner to spot the newcomer. Judging from the dark circles under his eyes, he's in dire need of a nap or a new mug of klah, not that a fresh transplant would be able to distinguish them as anything but ordinary features of his face. "Hey."

'Startled' is not quite the word for what Liv is when she hears Barnabas's voice, there's a distinct lack of jump or twitch, but she does whirl around quickly as if on the defense for getting caught somewhere she shouldn't be and is tense for a beat after she sees him. Her fault for admiring the flowers. The sight of him alone is enough to involve her in a stare that is a little too long but it all happens in a handful of seconds. "Hi." She relaxes all at once, as easy as flipping a switch. "Are you the gardener?" Although really she puts a little something extra in there that suggests 'The Gardener'.

Bones gives a slow and intentional look to the wicked looking farming tool in his right hand, then slowly his eyes roll over to the sack of leaves and branches in his left. They finally settle in-between, towards his new guest. "No, I'm Weyrwoman Brieli, taking a break from dealing with lower cavernfolk." The handle of the sickle is briefly put in between his teeth, gripped firm there so he can use both hands to tie a knot at the end of the sack. With that task done, he sets it aside, and then reaches up to imbed the sickle into some of the wood of a rafter with a sharp chopping sound. "Yeah, I'm the gardener." With work put aside for the time being, he approaches with a grin and an outstretched hand. It didn't look too sweaty. "Bones. You?"

At first just a suggestion of a smile plays around the edges of Liv's lips like she isn't sure if he's being a playful asshole or just an asshole with the sarcasm, but she settles on the former and presses her lips together for that smile, nodding 'you got me'. "Right. Liv," she replies in kind, taking a step towards him to close the distance and take his hand. Hers is a firm enough grip, though her fingers don't quite make it all the way around his palm. Her eyes scan the length of his bare arm while she's at it, and all of that ink, and she turns a grin up at him. "Something tells me I'm going to like you."

The man's grip is surprisingly easy, though the shake seems to lack the same gentleness. "Hey, don't judge a book by it's cover. I got plenty'a time to piss you off one way or another." Four fingers of each hand slip into the pockets of his low-riding work pants, and he rocks back and forth on his heels as he furthers the conversation. "So what can I do you for? Y'here for somethin' in particular? Flowers for a lucky lover? Some plants to spruce up a dull weyr? Some fresh fruit?"

Liv's hands in like kind find the pockets of her jacket; she isn't /mirroring/ him, but she kind of is. "I think you'd find I'm a lot harder to piss off than you think. Might not be worth it. What do you have in the manner of something I can tend? Something I can keep in my weyr, but something pretty. Flowers just die slowly over time in front of you. It's depressing." She was staring at him, seemingly without the need to blink; still is.

Lifting a hand from his pocket, he wags a finger with a smile as she describes what it is she's looking for. "I think I got just the one. The Balen Snowblossom. C'mon, this way." He turns and gives a motion of his head for her to follow, the motion swift enough to make some of his dreads flail. "It ain't really got flowers in the traditional sense. It just grows these weird white leaf clusters tucked into the normal green. S'why they call it the Snowblossom. They live for-fuckin'-ever. Y'can keep one goin' for turns." He rounds a bend to find a small cluster of the very plants, all in their own separate pots on a high shelf. "They don't serve no purpose other than lookin' good, so I only got a few. Gotta use most of the space for useful plants."

Enthusiastic but not overly expressive of it, Liv follows along after the inked up gardener and on the way casually scans the plants they pass by. And then she watches him once the greenery becomes boring. Once they come to the Balen Snowblossom she tilts her head and considers it for a long moment while listening to his description. Her final decision? "It's perfect. I'd like one." She pauses before asking him, "Do you have one of those plants that eats things?"

There's a big grin on Bones' face at her decision, reaching up to tug down one of the potted plants. Despite the thick tufts of underarm hair put on display by the motion, there's thankfully no masculine stench at her range. "... eats things." He raises an eyebrow at the stranger, not out of unfamiliarity with the concept of carnivorous plants, but out of curiosity as to what kind of girl would want one. "Y'know those are real hard to take care of." A smirk emerges. "They're fickle about moisture, and diet. If you were willin' to put down some marks, I might be able to get one brought in for ya but uhh, I ain't got none here."

Liv has no comment regarding either a) armpit hair or b) body smells or lack thereof, though it can't be from lack of notice since she's still watching him. "Thank you," she politely tells him for his efforts and frees her hands to accept the Snowblossom, only to relax them when he advises her re: bitey plants. "Oh I see. Probably need somewhere a little more hospitable than a cave? Still, I'm willing to pay, if you could teach me how to take care of one." Pause. "How did you find out so much about plants?"

"Well if you really want that kinda thing..." he still sounds a bit incredulous. "I can get you one in maybe a seven or two. They start small though, so don't go gettin' all excited bout throwin' full size wherries into it." There's a wink and a grin for Liv, up untill she asks him a question nobody else had bothered with up till that point. "Actually, I didn' know dick about 'em when I showed up here. But I just had to step into the greenhouse once and.. I'unno, just fell in love."

She returns his grin though hers is quiet; she's both amused and something else, there's something undefinable in her eyes. He said /something/ right. "Now I know I'm going to like you. Something tells me there's a lot to you to know." Liv smiles again and puts her hands out for the plant if he's so inclined to hand it over. "How much for this one? And any special instructions?"

"Hey now, don't start takin' a shine to me so quick. That leaves me no place t'go but down. Hehe." As he speaks, he reaches down to the loose cord that serves as a belt for his workpants, and seeks to tighten them around his waist. "For the snowblossom? Y'could feed that sucker nothin' but whiskey and it'd survive. But if you want it grow up happy? Give it mug of snow every few days. They like the cold." Bones can't help himself but to yawn big after his explanation, mouth wide enough to envelop Liv's fist. "Mmph. I think I need a little shuteye. Think I might be able to bribe you with a free plant so you don't tell nobody I nap on the job?"

"Okay I take it back. I'm entirely neutral, you could go either way." She cradles the pot of the plant in the crook of her arm, her nose tipped down towards one of the nearest little white clusters. "Mm. Mug of snow. Got it." Liv gives him her full attention once more when he yawns and lifts both eyebrows. "So the circles under your eyes don't lie. Just don't let it get around that I take bribes. Because I do." She gives him one last smile, ducks her head and turns to make her exit and leave him to his well-deserved nap.