Voice: Un: Diggs

[justoscar]

[It had been nearly a week, and Oscar was becoming worried.

Lessons he has learned on the other side of the Dream had taught him that sitting in the worry and letting it overcome him did no one any good-- least of all himself. Knowing this, Oscar tentatively turned on the Audio function of his new device and, with an obvious case of awkward nerves, started talking.]

Um... Hi.

I'm Oscar Pine and... I'm sure some of you know me already, but some of you don't and that's okay.

There was just a couple of things I wanted to say.

First: I know that things have been stressful lately and that we all need something to do, so I'm willing to teach people how to garden if they want a hobby that lasts a little longer than baking all the time. I'm a farmhand... And I did the baking thing. Growing and taking care of your own vegetables helps a little more, for a longer time.

And-- you can share your extra zucchini with your friends and loved ones. Isn't that cool?

I managed to bring along some seeds to get started. Just... Contact me if you're interested.

... and thanks, Mako, for the idea.

Second: is anyone else having trouble sleeping since they got here? I know being nervous makes sleeping hard, but this feels different. Anyone have any ideas about why this is happening, or how to help?

Last: ... I don't know about everyone else, but there's still some people I'm looking for that haven't come ashore yet. Can people just...chime in to let everyone know that they're safe? And let us know if there's anyone else you're looking for?

Maybe we can make everything a little easier if we work together. I don't know...

I'm just kinda worried, and some of you all probably are too.

Comments

[VIDEO]; UN: [USERNAME NOT SET]

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne's face pops into the feed, absolutely delighted.]

You have seeds? I would love to know what kind!

I'm thinking of starting a garden. Flowers and herbs. Everyone needs a nice garden where they can just sit and think, you know?

video

[justoscar]

[Hi, stranger! Oscar flipped on the video to reply and blinked owlishly at her.]

Just some herbs and vegetables. You know, the usual ones: mint, oregano, basil, peppers, zucchini, tomatoes. A few others too, but nothing as big as corn. There's some sunflowers and marigolds in there as well.

Most of my stock was actually lost in a fire during the spring. I salvaged what I could of my little kitchen garden, but the town had become a desert at that point and a lot of what was left had died before I got there.

...Do you have a space for a garden? Mako and I were talking last spring, and we came up with an idea for a garden that everyone can use. Space is just a problem in a city this tightly packed, and a few people mentioned that the quality of our soil might be a problem.

[demonicbeauty]

[She smiles brightly.]

Well, it's the strangest thing! I was walking through the area known as the "Willful Machine" and all of a sudden, I saw my entire orchard from Deerington. All of my trees are just...here. And healthy and growing! I thought it might be nice to arrange the garden there. Somewhere public, where anyone passing by could see and use it. And purchase dried herbs, if they need them.

...although, I must admit, I know a lot more about tending plants than I do about arranging any kind of business.

[justoscar]

[He grinned as well.]

It sounds like we had a similar idea. Maybe we can grow herbs that can be used for tea, so people can enjoy it during the winter? And, if we can grow the right herbs, it might even help with the sleep troubles a lot of people are having.

[Oscar was bouncing on his bed in his excitement-- it was great to see that someone else understood!]

I don't know much about business either, but I've got a few friends that do. We can make that part work too, if we work together.

[demonicbeauty]

[Ariadne is absolutely delighted. Kindred spirits are hard to come by!]

My home from Deerington appeared beside the garden. We could clear out the entire lower floor, make it a great room. And we can use it to store herbs and flowers. And as a place for people to go if it suddenly starts raining.

[And she's getting ahead of herself.]

I'm so sorry, Master Pine. In my excitement, I completely forgot to introduce myself. My name is Ariadne. But most people call me "Airy."

[A name that suits her, given the way she talks, the way she moves. As if gravity is just barely holding onto her.]

[justoscar]

Master?

[Oscar quickly waved his hands.]

Please, you don't need that. Oscar is fine.

[He honestly wished more people back home saw him as just Oscar-- but, small steps. Returning to Remnant was no longer an option, and for that he was relieved.]

[demonicbeauty]

Oscar.

[She bows her head.]

Well, Oscar, hold on a second. I'll take this thing out to the orchard.

[Ariadne starts walking through her house, the camera feed bouncing. She makes her way down a small, spiral staircase, to an empty room, filled with large windows. The great room she had in mind. She quickly crosses the wooden floor and bright sunlight fills the screen.

And she holds up the camera to show him her orchard, her trees lining a large open space. Some of them are even growing late season fruit.]

See?

[justoscar]

Whoa-- that's a lot of trees and a lot of room!

[There was no resisting blurting out the words while he watched the feed with obvious awe. The orchard, and the space offered, was more than Oscar had imagined possible.]

Don't feel pressured to do any of this, okay? Isn't that your personal home? It might be a little weird to have strangers in there all the time!

[demonicbeauty]

Oh, no. I don't need much. The second floor is enough. Anyway, I grew up in a castle. I'm used to having a lot of people around.

[She continues to sweep the feed back and forth, showing off the orchard.]

Anyway, this place is too beautiful not to share.

[justoscar]

It really is-- and thank you for offering such a gorgeous home for this project.

We might not get anywhere big right away, but the fact that your orchard is still thriving means that the soil and resources there are pretty good. With what Fern said before about how the land here might be polluted by something, we need to really be careful with how we plan things.

But, a place to get your hands dirty, enjoy time with friends, and maybe pick a few flowers or fruits on the way home? That kind of place would be really cool to have.

[demonicbeauty]

[She smiles.]

I'm sure between the two of us--or more--we can figure it out.

The more the merrier.

[justoscar]

[He beams in return.]

Yeah, definitely!

With all the smart, creative people here, we can definitely get this to work!

[demonicbeauty]

[Oh, Ariadne likes this fellow. He thinks the same way she does.]

Well, how does this work?

Do you want to come see the orchard?

[justoscar]

Is it okay?

[He asked eagerly, like the teenager that he was.]

Where are you at again? I can be there if it's okay.

[demonicbeauty]

It's an area called the "Willful Machine."

[A pause. Apologetic:]

I'm not sure why it's called that. I don't see a lot of machines. No more than usual, anyway.

[justoscar]

Maybe it means something else?

[He was a bookworm as well as a farmlad-- he could read between the lines, but he had yet to discover the correlation between all of the district names. Gaze, Cassandra, and Willful Machine all made little sense to him in that moment.

It was possible all the names were metaphor, like so many of the deeper details in Deerington.]

I can be there shortly. Just look for the orchard, right?

[demonicbeauty]

Yes. I'll hang a red banner from the cinnamon tree.

[She frowns a little.]

I've lived in villages before. But never one without any street names. It's a bit strange as well.

[justoscar]

Thanks.

I haven't quite figured out why there's no street signs either. It must be part of the local culture? But a red flag on one of the trees helps.

...It's not often you get a chance to see a cinnamon tree!

[demonicbeauty]

Just wait until you smell it!

It's woooonderful!

[justoscar]

Probably like someone baking for the winter, right?

[Fruits and cinnamon were popular ingredients in the cold, dark months after the harvest-- they reminded people of the warmth that was going to be returning to them.]

I'll be there soon, okay?

[demonicbeauty]

Like the best kind of warmth.

[She giggles.]

See you soon.

[justoscar]

See you!

[With a chuckle, Oscar closed the feed and gathered his goods. It wouldn't be long before he arrived, but the shape he took was not expected...]