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XOCHI'S GARDEN - AFTERNOON
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Xochi rests upon her coil, looking proudly at her little garden with its handful of different flowers, a good majority of them having bloomed over the summer, but now as the fall has begun to set in, the progress has slowed down, but it is still a beautiful little patch of greenery staked out in an otherwise dusty back alley of a yard.
Erika saunters towards Xochi's place, the okapi in a cheery mood. Nearing the corner of the house, she hollers out (because of course she does): "Xochi! I'm here to check on your-" She looks at the patch of definitely lively greenery: "-oh wow. I mean, your garden, but oh wow."
Xochi grins, twisting to wave at Erika, "Ah! I was expecting you, Erika! As I told you, I am most proud of my progress. Kira has been helping, of course."
Erika stops at the edge of the garden, then looks at Xochi, grinning: "You should be! Proud, I mean. Not helping. Or you should be helping, but Kira's got that covered." She shakes her head: "Anyway! Lookin' great, really is."
Xochi laughs with her typical hoarse hissing, "I thank you! It would not be so far along without your expert advice, of course. I enact your instructions, that is all."
Erika shrugs as she steps closer to Xochi: "Well, yeah, but it was still all your work. Be proud!" She lifts a fisted hand to her chest and grins: "You've done great here!"
Xochi bows herself to Erika, "I am! Most proud. This patch of dirt has brought me much happiness, believe me."
Erika hums, lifting her hand to her chin: "Can dirt be happiness? Seems so. Then again, can dirt be proud?"
Xochi tilts her head, "I... cannot say for certain? I have never considered the dirt in and of itself."
Erika shrugs: "Me neither! Just wondering." She turns to look back at the small garden, finding a bigger smile as she looks at it.
Xochi settles back into her position resting upon her coil, "It has been most good for me, yes. It keeps my hands occupied and my thoughts centered." She watches Erika a moment and smiles. "It is good to see you so happy as well. Though I am doubting that it is only my garden which is making you smile such."
Erika blinks and turns back to look at Xochi in slight surprise: "What do you mean?"
Xochi chuckles. "I am thinking back, that is all. It feels like not so long ago you had been inflicted with a curse. You are restored now, though I cannot say if you have found your center or not, but you are happy once again."
Erika blinks again: "Oh. Yeah, that's good. Makes me happy to just be as things were." She smiles: "Just nothing to really worry about, been able to focus on my garden and Cavro and growing beautiful things and Cavro and tending plantlife."
Xochi considers. "You have mentioned the garden and the growing three times... and Cavro twice?"
Erika shrugs, grinning: "Maybe?"
Xochi smiles, "Well, I am happy that you are happy, and that you have these things." She glances away with a short sigh. "You and Cavro... it is..." She stops short, suddenly realizing how she feels in that regard. "What I don't have..."
Erika tilts her head: "What you... don't have?"
Xochi perks up, "The answer to the riddle! It is you! You and Cavro! It is what I don't have! For the ritual!"
Erika blinks, lifting a hand to her chest: "Me and Cavro? What ritual?"
Xochi lifts her hands in a disarming fashion, "Ah! Ah, this must be most confusing! I shall do my best to explain. I am friends with a young old water one, by the falls. She knows a magic ritual, which will help me find some ease, and forget old regrets, yes?" She glances at Erika to make sure she is following so far.
Erika is definitely not quite following, but she nods as though she is cause she doesn't really know what else to do. "Yeah...?"
Xochi nods, glad to see Erika is getting it. "And Sammi, my friend, has asked me to find things for the ritual. Such as eggs!" She lowers her voice a bit, "And... more difficult... to find things that represent what I will not miss... and things that represent what I do not have. I am not sure how I look to you, Erika, but I am quite old. And I have many regrets."
Erika nods slowly, feeling more than a bit befuddled: "I uh... so where do I help with that, whatever your regrets are?"
Xochi sighs. "Something that represents your relationship, I suppose? You two... childhood friends, yes? You grew up together... you grew close. Fell in love." She sighs, thinking back to Aktzin. "That is... something I wished for. But the friend I had... we grew apart."
Erika awws a bit, looking Xochi over: "That's awful to hear... me and Cavro, we grew together I guess. Sort of?" She blinks: "Wait, so what would represent our relationship?"
Xochi looks down at the garden. "I do no think it matters. Sammi said it was only a representation of my feelings. It could be as simple as one of these flowers." She pushes her body forward off her coil towards the garden, cupping one of the flowers in her hand. "I... did not mean to burden you with all of this, Erika."
Erika looks at the flower in confusion: "Burden? I don't really... get it, but-" She smiles brightly once more: "I'm happy to help if you need it?"
Xochi rises back up and smiles at Erika. "I would not ask you or Cavro to make a sacrifice for this old snake, of course. Whatever you have to offer... I would much appreciate."
Erika tilts her head: "But uh... what do you need us to, well, offer?"
Xochi frowns, "Whatever you think... represents you? I have already been assured by Sammi that no one will be hurt by this ritual. It is only my regrets and old sorrows which shall be eliminated... including this pain of what I did to Aktzin..."
Erika nods slowly at first, but then faster: "Oh. We'll think of something? Not sure what, but Cavro's always been the smarter of us two so we'll figure something out."
Xochi bows again, "You would honor me to spend even the smallest amount of time in my consideration."
Erika giggles, waving a hand: "Folks always accuse me of 'having too much free time', whatever that means."
Xochi chuckles, "I am 'retired', whatever that means. I believe I have nothing but free time."
Erika giggles some more: "Works for me." She subdues her laugh a bit, smiling warmly: "But we'll get you something that, uh, represents."
Xochi chuckles, "That is the last piece. The other is..." She pauses, frowns. "I already know what it is."
Erika hums curiously, looking at Xochi.
Xochi waits a moment, then glances away.
Erika shrugs: "You don't need to tell me if you don't want to." She smiles, genuinely meaning she's not going to pry.
Xochi sighs, "I am sorry... it is very personal. I would tell you but... I cannot, even though you are my friend."
Erika nods, smiling warmly: "It's okay." She steps close to give Xochi a hug: "I hope it all goes well, then."
Xochi takes a deep breath and returns Erika's hug. "I do as well. Thank you. For all of this. The garden, your time, your friendship."
Erika smiles: "Hey, what are friends for?" She lets go of the hug, grinning: "Happy to help in whatever way I can!"
Xochi smiles. "I shall owe you much! But I have little to offer. Should you ever require help, I shall offer whatever I am capable of giving."
Erika shrugs: "Friendship works. It has worked so far for me."
Xochi grins, "Friendship has been something I have always been in short supply of. But I am quite happy that this has changed."
Erika laughs: "Yay! More friends is always better!" She gives a little happy twirl, just because she can. She then stops when it makes her dizzy. "Oof. Gotta remember to not do that. Anyway! Your garden is awesome, and now I need to find Cavro for representation reasons."
Xochi giggles. "I am glad you enjoy it. Feel free to stop by anytime, of course."
Erika grins and gives a bit of a bow: "I will! Your garden looks great, an' I think you want help with getting it ready for the rainy season too."
Xochi nods. "I am unaware of when the rainy season starts, so yes, I shall!"
Erika smiles brightly: "I'll be there when, uh..." She looks up at the very clear sky: "Well, obviously not yet. Whenever."
Xochi grins, "When it rains. Or, before it rains, I am hopeful."
Erika nodnods: "Yeah, before is better." She looks up for a moment more as though searching for clouds that aren't there, then shakes her head: "Anyway! Thank you for taking my advice, and now I better go find Cavro, for... reasons."
Xochi chuckles again and waves, "I will wish you luck then! And tell Cavro I said hello."
Erika this time only half-twirls, thus keeping her balance. She waves at Xochi: "Will do! We'll figure something for you."
Xochi bows to Erika, smiling as she watches the okapi go.