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STREETS NEAR THE NORTH GATE - AFTERNOON
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Ragnarr was a hulking shape of a man, a coat which was a relic of a thing. a officers coat that has long seen better days. the wolf wore the scars and brands of battle like a badge of honor. one hand held a sack over his shoulder the other the tongue of a cart he pulled along the road. "Horse would have made this alot easier." he mutters as he comes to a stop in front of a small shop front with a large shop at its side. he spent his savings and a large amount of his hoard to start fresh. where no one knew his name or what he had done. he parks the cart near the long dead forge as he begins to unlock the front door.
Narrator: From a little behind the forge location, a few streets over, was a distant Thoom then a crackling discharge. A moment later, a small reptilian creature dashes onto the street. A shade under 4 foot tall covered in burnished red scales, except for his left arm, which had been replaced by some kind of metallic prosthetic. He appears somewhat excitable "Yes! Large person!" He points at Ragnarr "Come! Need Help! Quickly! Strix can pay in Ham. It's cooked!" He then dashes back out of sight again, confident that the allure of ham, and whatever the fuck is going on is enough to get someone to follow him.
Ragnarr puts the sack away and heads back out into the open forge area, it was in disrepair but hearing the call for help he turned not really understanding. "Wait... ham?" He said as he grabs a large wood chopping axe from his cart and heads towards the commotion. He planned on keeping his nose clean but his stomach out out weighed his brain.
Strix: "Yes! Ham!" The distant voice confirms, as it leads him to a small alleyway connecting two rather unimportant streets, selected because of an alcove in the middle, where Strix had his little workshop. There were scattered tools all over the place, and in the center was a long wrapping, with wires interwoven through it, crackling with energy "Okay! Strix needs help!" He points at a button behind the crackling piece of cloth "Strix needs that button pressed. Strix make coat for guards that push away metal. Strix make it! Problem. Now Strix can't turn off, because it push away metal, and Strix's arm made of metal. Wolf not metal. Wolf can push button, then eat ham. Also Wolf not explode. Or lightning blast. Strix almost sure"
Strix: "...Strix like..9 sures out of ten"
Ragnarr laughs a deep low grumble as he partially crouches and hovers his hand over the button. "if it hurts me ill eat all your ham, then you." It was hard to tell if he was joking or not. He was very curious of the armor he explained that would be something to truly behold.
Strix: "Strix wouldn't. Strix very tough and chewy, and meat not nice at all. Kobolds very unappetizing. Important survival trait. Wolf can have ham anyway. Strix already offer that" The button is pressed quite easily unless Ragnarr is secretly a ferrous metal, and everything winds down with a gentle whir, the wrapped cloth ceasing to crackle. "Strix not get that when Strix wire button to wrapping, button would be pushing away metal too. Strix learn something new" Strix heads over to another contraption, two metal rods jammed through a single large piece of ham. He hefts the ham off, and puts it on a simple wooden plate "Payment. Strix always keeps bargains."
Ragnarr: "Ragnarr, i am glad to help, and yes never had the pallet of my tribe. they would eat anything, living or dead." he takes the plate with a nod of thanks. "You are quite the tinker from what I can tell. Truth be told alot of the modern technology is leaving me behind ssdly." he takes a bite of the ham his stomach now driving his body to consume.
Strix: "Strix shinymaker. Strix try to make shiny for nice snakeybird, but Strix not done. Shiny push too much" He picks up the cloth, folding it away and sliding it into a shelf "Strix not really doing 'modern'. Strix make things for Strix. Or if Strix needs money, then Strix give out shinies. Strix's name is Strix. Glad to meet Ragnar" The Ham is..pretty decent. Cooked even through. Not really seasoned though.
Ragnarr: "well we have that in common, after the old days ive turn back to smithing, tools, tack, I've been known to do farrier work too. Well horses don't like me much." he speaks with a hint of accent, and between bites having made quick work of most the ham before offering it back to the little one. "Strix you don't know a good place to get good forge coal at do you?"
Strix: "Strix not. Strix not do forging. Could never use hammer right. Not very strong. Maybe go to general store. Or other smithy. They might know. Carvo? Varco? Strix can't remember name. Not ever met" He shrugs, and puts the rest of his stuff away "Could try use other things for forge. Strix always suggest new ideas"
Ragnarr: "I will have to give that a go." he moves to stand wiping his hands om his pants. "thank you for the meal, should you need anymore help please do not hesitate to come by." He looks around the shop again quite obviously impressed with what the kobold has done.
Strix: "Strix will keep this in mind. Wolf closer than other smithy. Might be useful. Strix also give help to nearby people. Makes them less complaining about work. Strix usually offer heating, but Strix can't for forge. Strix will think of something"
Ragnarr: "You've already proven to be quite resourceful Strix, i moved through many frontier towns who would have killed to have someone like you in their town." he sighs and rubs his neck in thought. "Don't be a stranger Strix please come by sometime." Ragnarr offers a large leather wrapped hand to the small kobold.
Strix shakes the hand "Strix always somewhat strange people say. Strix not agree, but Strix probably stranger than other people, so Strix can't agree to that. Strix will visit though, but Strix hope people don't kill for Strix. Strix not like people dying for Strix. Makes Strix unhappy"
Ragnarr: "Well I'm sure no one is dying for you round these parts." He gives him a toothy grin. "But it is important to keep people close who'll kill for ya." he raises the axe he had brought with him before heading out of the shop back towards his new 'home.'
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GUARD TRAINING GROUNDS - MID-AFTERNOON
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Louma is spending a chunk of free time at the training grounds, having found an odd burst of energy that brought her in to the barracks with a new fire. Brun hadn't even arrived before the captain had blown through half of the morning reports, leaving both of them free for most of the day. She finds herself standing face to face with a straw dummy, a blunt short-sword in hand. Her movements are fluid and practiced as she jabs and slashes vital points, ending the set by denting the wooden forehead with a decent pommel strike. She turns back, expecting to begin another set.
Nesseth stands near the edge of the ring of dummies, watching Louma practice with surprising vigor. Once she finishes her set, he smiles and waves to catch her attention. "Hey there, Captain. Seems like you've gotten a lot of your fire back from before you got promoted!"
Louma looks towards Nesseth, smiling and waving back. Though she still turns in preparation for another round, Louma pauses to greet him. "Hello Nesseth, yes, I seem to have found a bit of energy today. I've been awake since before the sunrise, I forgot how cool it can be around here before the streets are kissed with light." She rolls her right shoulder, switching the sword to that hand for a little offhand practice. "How does the day find you?"
Nesseth grins a little more brightly. "Pretty well, myself. I was pretty surprised to hear you've been in such a good mood as of late, though. Folks at the barracks were saying you just kind of tore through most of the paperwork before Brun even arrived."
Louma chuckles lightly, glancing at Nesseth. "Like I said, I suppose I'm feeling refreshed. Besides, Brun could use a wind down from the guard to give her more time for her studies and the generator. And have you read some of the other guards' writing? Not something one should pore over too long anyways, probably not healthy for the mind. One moment, please." She bobs in place for a second, turning her attention to the dummy again before ducking low to the ground, taking off across the dirt with a beat of her wings. She pulls up near the dummy, bringing the sword upwards in a close arc that tears the potato sack body from hip to neck, straw stuffing puffing out from the 'wound' as Louma twists aside and lands nearby, huffing with a big grin.
Nesseth waits silently as Louma rips the dummy a new one quite literally. As she lands, he chuckles again. "All that with a blunted sword, too... That's what I remember from back when I first started practicing with you, some years back." He smirks as he looks at Louma, "Think you'd like a sparring partner again?"
Damina has taken up her perch on a nearby rooftop, but has not quite made a stealthy approach. If anyone nearby cared to listen, they would have heard her coming.
Louma huffs, preening her feathers down again as she approaches the bench where a bucket of cold water waits. Blushing under her feathers at the compliment, Louma responds with a laugh behind her voice. "We could, if you're looking to humiliate me again." She turns to him as she wipes her arms down with a cold, wet rag. "Give me a couple minutes , though?"
Nesseth chuckles and rolls his eyes. "Sure, I don't mind waiting. But, I doubt I'll be able to win as handily as last time, considering you've got a lot more energy now." He smirks, "And I'm betting your abdomen's not going to cramp up this time."
Louma laughs, wiping her neck with the cloth. "My abdomen didn't cramp, you punched it, remember? My tail cramped up, though, felt like my scales were on fire." She wiggles her tail, laying it on the dirt in front of her as she plops the rag back into the bucket. "I remember the first time the captains made us spar, you stepped on my tail and tried to grab my wing."
Nesseth shrugs innocently. "Hey, when an opportunity presents itself, right? I seem to remember you grabbing me by the tail and pulling me back in when I tried getting some space between us during that match."
Damina decides to more directly announce her presence. "Well hello there!"
Louma shakes her head with a happy chuckle. "Retreating is not honorable! I was teaching you respect!" She sticks her tongue out playfully at Nesseth before hearing Damina, stiffening up somewhat as she turns toward the familiar voice. "Ah, good afternoon Damina! How are you doing?"
Nesseth scoffs and waves a hand. "Pfft... honorable? When hunting, honor gets you killed." He looks over towards the voice, then waves up at the cat, "Hey, Damina!"
Damina starts hopping her way down to ground level. "Can't help but see that you two were gearing up around here. Were you gonna fight or what?"
Louma chuckles, watching Damina's nimble movements with a bit of jealousy. "Well, we were thinking about it. Don't know how Nesseth feels about an audience, though." She grins at Nesseth, "I'm rested up, I suppose."
Nesseth shrugs a bit as he steps a little more into the ring, meeting Louma's smile with one of his own. "I'm fine with an audience. Not much different than usual practice, really."
Louma sighs slightly, giving Damina a bit of a look before turning and joining Nesseth in the ring. "Alright, same rules as usual? Try to keep to open strikes, no throws, etcetera?"
Damina finds a good spot to observe what's about to happen.
Nesseth nods. "Yeah, we don't need Plume giving us lectures if we can avoid them, after all."
Louma picks up a weighted cloth as she enters the ring, testing it in her left hand as she gets into position. Other than her left arm, she settles into a basic stance familiar to both her and Nesseth as one taught to all career guards. "Oh really? I was sure you'd give a lot to go see Plume during duty hours." She prepares to toss the cloth, waiting for Nesseth to confirm he's ready.
Nesseth settles into a familiar stance, readying up as he eyes the cloth bundle in Louma's hand. He smirks, however, as he responds. "I'm not that negligent in my duties, Louma. Besides, you're one to talk, now~"
Louma feels her face warm up as she catches Nesseth's meaning, though her smile only barely flutters. "Ah... I suppose that wasn't bound to remain a secret for very long, considering current company." She casts a significant glance towards Damina.
Nesseth chuckles. "Heard it straight from the source, actually. Anyway... ready when you are, Louma."
Damina rolls her eyes and groans at this exchange.
Louma nods. "Interesting, sorry for implicating you Damin-HA!" She throws the cloth, which flies slow enough to giver her time to settle fully into the stance, keeping it in her peripheral but mostly focused on Nesseth's eyes.
Nesseth goes opposite of Louma, watching the cloth while keeping Louma in his (more sensitive) periphery vision. The moment the cloth touches the ground, and he sees that telltale puff of dust, he tenses and springs forward, intending to close the gap quickly as he leads with an open-palmed strike.
Louma hesitates for a moment too long, sending the strike aside with a sloppy forearm block with her left. She tries to return the blow with a right hand palm strike at an awkward angle.
Nesseth braces his stance as his strike gets pushed aside, allowing him to better prepare for any counters coming his way. Sure enough, the moment he sees Louma's counter attack coming up he bobs backwards to avoid it, and pushes back in with a forearm thrust.
Louma tries to pull away from the thrust, but winds up taking the hit across the right side of her chest, letting out a quiet grunt as she pulls back a little faster. "Nnf, you hit almost as hard as those poles do." Meaning the agility pillars as she grins, using her tail to thrust forward, closing the distance with a left handed palm strike.
Nesseth takes a moment to shake his arm out from the strike, only to realize too late that he just left himself open against an opponent that can recover quickly. He tries to dodge away at the last moment, but ends up taking the hit rather squarely, causing him to tumble onto the dirt.
Louma chuckles as she watches her opponent tumble, taking a moment to rub at the spot she was hit. "One for one!"
Nesseth grunts as he gets up, likewise rubbing at the spot where Louma hit him. He takes a moment to cough a bit, then readies himself for another attack. He can't help but smile anyway. "One for one, but it won't stay that way for long!"
Louma chuckles, starting to settle back into her stance. "You're right, I'm going to send you to Plume with so many more than just one bruise."
Nesseth braces, then charges forward again, clearly putting more speed and power than caution into this next strike. He aims low, not wanting to break anything on accident. "Well, maybe you can join me!"
Louma wasn't expecting him to charge in so quickly, abandoning her stance to try and escape the attack... Only for her own coils to bunch up behind her, leaving Louma wide open to the second gut hit in as many recent fights with the lizard. She lets out a wheezing cough, slumping forward against Nesseth's shoulder.
Nesseth uses Louma to catch himself as he lands his strike, his free arm wrapping around her back to help stabilize himself. Unfortunately, this also leaves him horribly off-balance, and definitely more than a little vulnerable to a counter-attack.
Louma huffs, steadying herself against Nesseth for a moment, then without much warning, she grabs the wrist of the offending hand with her right, pulling it across Nesseth's body and twisting herself out of his other arm's grip until her chest is behind his head. Her tail whips across the dirt in the same second, coiling upward around him from his knees. She lets out another slightly pained breath from above his head.
Nesseth is still in the middle of trying to get himself back up onto his feet when he feels Louma shifting. A short blink later, and he finds himself wrapped up tight in her coils, with his arms well and truly immobilized. However, he wiggles about as usual in a (perhaps fruitless) attempt at escaping.
Louma feels Nesseth wriggling around, still feeling that strike in her stomach and the discomfort his struggling causes it. She sets a hand on his shoulder, using his movements to tighter her constriction as she speaks into the ear opposite her hand. "Now now, my prey, you only have to apologize for hitting me there again and I'll let you go." The breathiness in her voice is mostly from her being nearly winded seconds ago.
Nesseth grimaces a bit as he feels Louma's coils tightening, but continues to squirm in her binds. "Apologize... for hitting you again? Not my fault you keep leaving... nngh... that area open..."
Louma winces as Nesseth's elbow nudges her stomach, the top end of her wrap losing grip slightly. She tries to maintain the binding, but the full-body flexing is exhausting. She hopes he doesn't notice, but doubts it as she tries to think of an easy retreat.
Nesseth continues struggling, though his own strength seems to be flagging as his efforts grow steadily more labored. He grits his teeth a bit as this silent struggle continues with a lot less fanfare than their earlier exchange of blows had.
Louma huffs, shifting her coils as a devious thought comes to mind, the thrill of it sending a wave of adrenaline through her. "That's alright then. I'll forgive you anyways." She mutters sweetly into his other ear. She turn the two of them until the sun is at her back, casting their odd combined shadow in front of Nesseth. Which suddenly sprouts two large wings.
Nesseth blinks when he sees Louma stretching her wings out, and he slowly stops struggling. "You... oh gods... you wouldn't dare, Louma."
Louma giggles, patting him on the shoulder. "Wouldn't dare what? This?" She teasingly beats her wings, though the way she positions them only takes Nesseth's claws about six inches off the dirt.
Nesseth tenses in Louma's coils, his hands trying to grasp whatever part of her scales he can as he feels his feet leave the ground. "W-woah! Yeah, exactly that! J-just don't let go!"
Damina: "Oh dear, is this really happening?"
Louma feels a thrill as he tenses up, giggling more as she slips her arms under his armpits. "Hold tight, my prey." she whispers as the ground briefly coming up to meet Nesseth's feet before Louma grunts and casts her wings down with gusto. From their view point, the training ground wall vanishes, then the building behind it does the same, as the town stretches out before them.
Nesseth does his best to not look down as Louma sails up into the sky, though his wiggling starts up again more out of nerves than anything. "I swear to all the gods in the world, Louma, you better not let go of me, or I'll haunt you 'til the end of your days!!"
Louma chuckles, craning her neck to make eye contact with him through both of their peripheral's. "Do you really trust me that little, Nesseth?" She grips him tighter in response to his wriggling. "Just take a moment. See if you can find your house from here." She keeps them as steady as possible, though they bob up and down slightly with each wingbeat.
Nesseth stops wiggling again as he feels Louma's coils tightening. "Oh, I trust you, alright. But there's always that chance of an 'oops!', and then I go splat!" He takes a breath, "You really want me to try and search for my house from up here?"
Louma feels the adrenaline subsiding as the training and sparring match start catching back up with her. They start descending slowly, losing a bit of altitude with each flap. "Mmn, maybe next time... You're way heavier than you look..." She makes sure to keep her grip as comfortably tight as possible.
Nesseth can't help but laugh a bit as his initial panic starts to subside. "Heh... I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or an insult..."
Louma chuckles huffily, "Well, the denser something is, the heavier it is. I guess you're probably lighter than most lizards." She brings them down slowly, setting the lizard's feet down gently before uncoiling herself from him and slumping back in exhaustion, laying back on her coils and staring up at the sky, technically dropping outside of the ring. "I'm going to regret that. Please be gentle in my beating."
Nesseth rolls his eyes as he feels his feet gently touching down on the blessedly firm ground again. "My, even though you're only a half-Snake, you're still slippery with your words, Louma." He sighs and stumbles forward a bit, catching himself on his hands before the ground greets his face, "What is it about our sparring matches that always ends with both of us feeling like we just got the crap kicked out of us...?"
Louma huffs from where she lies, closing her eyes as she tiredly laughs. "It's always been this way, hasn't it? Started from the hatred, but don't you start pulling your punches on me just because you have a thing for hybrids now."
Nesseth rolls over and takes a seat facing Louma. "A thing for hybrids, hm? Well, I guess my dating Plume would kind of give that away." He smirks a bit, "Though, are you sure your binding doesn't mean you've got a thing for Lizards, as taboo as that is back in Orela?"
Louma pushes herself up off the ground, blushing deeply. "N... No..."
Damina watches as the two finally come down. "I can't say that wasn't harrowing to watch."
Nesseth laughs a bit. "Nah, I know you've got a thing for Stoats instead, Louma. The binding might have given me other ideas, if I didn't know better, though." He looks over at Damina with a grin. "The way my heart's ready to jump out of my chest says it was about as harrowing as it looked from down here..."
Louma looks around to Damina with a weak grin, glad for the distraction. "He wasn't in danger... Unless he did something silly like bite my tail."
Nesseth snorts in amusement. "I mean... the thought did cross my mind while we were still on the ground. I could still bite you if it'll make you feel better."
Louma wiggles the tip of her tail well away from Nesseth. "Try it, we'll see what that gets you." She pushes up off the ground, trying to duct herself off fruitlessly. "There's only one place I want to go right now, and it's not to Plumes for a bandage."
Nesseth laughs as he likewise stands up and dusts himself off with a little more success. "We'll just call this little sparring session a draw, then. And tell May I said hi, when you get to her place."
Louma chuckles as she blushes, looking aside. "I see where your mind is at. We've only been on one date, don't think she'd be okay with that. I meant I'm heading to the bathhouse. You're both free to tag along, I wouldn't mind the company." She gathers up her things from the bench, sighing. "Either way, thank you for the match, Nesseth, I appreciate it."
Nesseth hums a bit as he takes a moment to stretch his muscles a bit. "I might take you up on that offer, actually... A good soak would feel nice after all that."
Louma turns to head out through the gate, shaking her wings slightly before folding them against her back. "Good, I've got a few non-work things to discuss with you. Don't get any ideas, you're not getting constricted in the bath, no matter how nicely you ask."
Nesseth laughs and shakes his head as he follows Louma out, waving at Damina to come along if she wants to join them. "Aw, you sure about that? Fine, I guess I can deal with it."
Damina shakes her head a bit. "Wait, are you serious about me...?"
Louma pauses and looks toward Damina. "Well of course, I asked, didn't I? If you're not comfortable with it, that's up to you."
Damina considers it for a bit. "...okay, I'll come... not like I got anything better to do on my own time."
Louma chuckles, leading the way on to a much needed hot soak and discussions of various unofficial natures.
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ERIKA'S GARDEN - MIDDAY
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Xochi 's exploration of the town has led her to find the most unusual little oasis. She slithers in curious, peering about the garden, stopping at some flowers that seem familiar to her, leaning down to cradle her hands around the bloom as delicately as she might, not touching the flower itself as she speaks to it, "Ahh, a good omen, you are. I wonder, is this reality, or vision, for this place should not be."
Erika looks down from her perch on one of the bigger tree's branches, craning her neck in what seems to be an awkward pose: "I'm pretty sure my garden is real." She then waves at Xochi from her pseudo-upside-down position, smiling: "Hi!"
Xochi glances up, spotting the hanging okapi. "Ah! Hello! You are the caretaker of this place, then?"
Erika giggles as she makes her way down more lithely than her tall frame would have you think: "Well - ungh - I've certainly been called that and accused of worse."
Xochi tilts her head slightly in confusion, "I am making no accusations, and did not wish to offend."
Erika giggles again as she lands, then shakes her head: "Don't worry about it. This is my place and caretakering is what I do." She offers a her hand with a big smile: "I'm Erika, welcome!"
Xochi extends her hands to take Erika's, not to shake but grasping it gently between her two hands. She then bows her head down, "Greetings, Erika. I am Xochi, forgive my trespass, but you have a beautiful garden."
Erika giggles, blushing a bit: "Thank you. It's really my Mom's garden but I guess it's been mine for last few years."
Xochi settles her hands back in front of her and smiles, then points to the flower she was investigating. "This flower is one from my homeland. We called it the adder's blood. It is displaced, yet here it still grows and thrives. That is encouraging for one who is new to Respite."
Erika looks at the flower: "Adder's Blood? I just named it 'Serpent Toe', which I guess is close enough." She shrugs and looks back at Xochi: "New to Respite? I guess I'd remember if I'd seen you before."
Xochi chuckles at the name, nodding to Erika. "I have just moved here recently, settling in, finding my paths. Today, my path led me here. Always to new surprises!"
Erika giggles, waving her hand: "Well, I can certainly think of worse places to randomly find yourself in than here!"
Xochi nods. "I used to dream of having a garden..." She sighs a little wistfully, "My name... it means 'Flower'."
Erika smiles warmly: "It's a pretty name."
Xochi bows her head bashfully, "Ah, thank you. My father gave it to me. I was told he wished me to know no worries in my lifetime, only beauty."
Erika shrugs, smiling: "Dunno if Respite is entirely no worries, but it's like borderline no worries, sort of?"
Xochi smiles, tongue darting out, "So far, it has given me little worries. Not that my life had been full of worries before, but..." She shrugs, then chuckles. "I have gone from nothing to do to doing nothing! Perhaps I could finally start my garden?"
Erika smiles excitedly: "You could! It's way fun." She gestures around: "And you don't need to do all like this, either! There's like... umpteenthy-seven different plants you can go with."
Xochi grins, spinning herself in place as her tail pushes her upwards, "I can see that! Many choices! I did not even know this many different plants existed!"
Erika grins as she spreads her hands: "These and so many more I can't even imagine. I find something new every time I go on a discovery trip."
Xochi lowers herself back down and nods, "More? You are an explorer as well then, yes?"
Erika shrugs, smiling: "I guess I am. I go out there to find more plants, anyway. It's exciting!"
Xochi: "It sounds exciting to me! I am still finding new and wonderful things within the town, but I have been told it is dangerous outside the gates."
Erika nods, musing: "It is... at least a bit dangerous. I gotta have my wits about me when I go."
Xochi hums, "I have little I could do if confronted. I am no warrior, nor terribly clever or fast. I suppose I have... ways to escape, if absolutely necessary. Still, you must be most skilled to have gathered all of this."
Erika shrugs, blushing slightly: "Well, some of it. ...Most of it." She smiles: "You just gotta know what to stay out of, out there. Downwind, out of sight, quiet."
Xochi grins, "Ah, well, there is a lot of me to keep out of sight, I am afraid." She laughs again, "Perhaps I could start small... are these flowers, these 'serpent's toes' easy to grow?"
Erika glances at the flower and shrugs: "Pretty simple. It's a bit fickle on the kind of ground it wants-" She points at the notably darker mulch around these particular flowers: "-But beyond that I haven't noticed anything much."
Xochi bends down to once again examine the blossoms. "They remind me of the best of home..." She pauses. "Do you have a favorite as well? Something to recommend?"
Erika hums a bit, glancing around: "Not really, I think... I just kinda like everything I guess."
Xochi shakes her head, but can't help but laugh, "I am thinking everything is too much for me to begin with."
Erika giggles, waving a hand: "Probably! Just, I dunno, pick a few. Most everything grows decent in this climate."
Xochi nods, raising a hand to her face in contemplation as she moves a little deeper through the garden, looking at all the plants. She stops to examine a rather intricate purple bell-like flower. "I like this one. It is unique looking."
Erika smiles, stepping over: "Ah yeah, the Blue Bell Stem. It's used for pain killing remedy, mostly. But it's also pretty."
Xochi pauses, strangely taken off guard by that. "Pain killing? Fasincating!" She looks over at another flower, a tiny yellow plant. "Ah, and these are cute as well. Do they also do something?"
Erika smiles, shrugging: "They look pretty. Or at least, I haven't found out if they're good for anything else."
Xochi laughs, "I suppose they are not all good for something then. So, if I wished for these three, what would I need to do to begin a garden?"
Erika hums, lifting a hand to her chin: "Not that much. Land with decent mulch, a lot of water, and patience."
Xochi: "I have none of the first, enough of the second, and ample amounts of the third."
Erika shrugs with a grin: "Well, when you have a place, I'll be happy to help you get started!"
Xochi thinks on it, "I will need to do something in the back of my home. There is a small patch there, but not much. It may be enough?"
Erika gestures at the flowers Xochi was looking at: "I would say so."
Xochi chuckles, "Well, they are not big. But I do not wish to... stymie them... such things should be allowed to grow as they please, not be trapped."
Erika smiles warmly: "I'm sure we can figure out a space for them."
Xochi returns the smile, "You are welcome to my home, perhaps, to be seeing if it is enough?"
Erika grins: "I'd be happy to!"
Xochi claps her hands, "Ah! Lovely! This is a dream come true, Erika!"
Erika smiles widely: "Awesome! I'm happy to have someone else that's interested."
Xochi nods, "I'm happy to have someone to teach me! Thank you!"
Erika lifts her hand towards the nearest gap in the bushes out from the mini-jungle: "Show me the way?"
Xochi bows to Erika, then ducks through the gap, "Follow me. I hope it shall not be hard to keep track of me." She laughs again, then begins to guide Erika to her home.
Erika giggles as she follows Xochi, excited to get another garden up and running in the town.