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[Ariadne's gotten good enough with her Omni that the feed only wobbles a little bit when she turns it on. That's progress! No one's getting sea sick. Hopefully.

She's standing on the threshold, between her building and her garden, moonlight lighting up her silhouette. She's wearing her gold gown, clearly eager to make a good impression. Her long hair is unbound, falling nearly to her calves in rolling waves. It gives her the look of some kind of forest spirit (but she's not one, Maul, shut up).

Arrayed behind her is Serenity Garden. Which would look a bit more impressive in sunlight, but Ariadne's done her best to arrange lanterns to illuminate everything. She does, however, continually cast a concerned glance over her shoulder. You can't trust fire, you can't turn your back on it.]

Well, it's April. So I was planning to announce the opening of Serenity Garden to the public. It's just meant to be a nice place where you can sit, meditate, talk with a friend, court your lover. Just be in nature. All are welcome, but no violence against the other guests or the trees.

...hopefully the sun will be back soon so you can enjoy seeing it in the daylight.

[But it's Trench, so that may not be a sure thing. She can only hope.

Although, on the subject of hope:]

Also, the anniversary of my birth is at the end of the month. Does that mean I should expect some kind of mysterious gift? Any thoughts on what that might be? Just so I can...prepare myself.

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Of course.

[Ariadne ducks her head.]

I can even get you a blanket and tea, if you like. No idea where to get the cakes, though...

[Actually, she rather likes cake. She'll have to find out that one, for herself.]

But yes. Of course!

Oh!! Oh, ma'am, that's far too generous...yo-you really don't have to go to such trouble!! I can get tea, and I'll make the cake myself. A blanket is enough, really, and just letting us enjoy the garden, too.

[Seriously, this kind woman is already offering so much! Ochako would feel terrible asking her to go out of her way any more than she already is.]

I can't repay you with very much, but I can help water the plants for some time, or tidy up around them. Any job you need, I'm more than willing to do it to pay you back.

I'm sure the plants would appreciate that.

[Payment is...still something she's working on wrapping her head around. She doesn't really need much. And doesn't expect anything.

Enjoying nature is something everyone should be able to do.]

[Well, Ochako is just giving by nature, and she never really expects much either. It's partly why she's always so surprised when people go out of their way to get her things, or do such nice things for her. In fact, it's usually the other way around - Uraraka Ochako is a giver, and growing up poor...she never expects or anticipates anything in return. Working hard and earning such niceties is what she grew up thinking, because it's what her mama and papa did.

Besides, do well unto others and all that. This kindly woman is helping her with getting a nice picnic going for Bakugou's upcoming birthday, so she feels indebted to return the favor, because it's for a friend. A really, really special one.]

Then I'll make sure they're well tended to. Thank you so very much, ma'am!! It won't be for a while, my friend's birthday isn't until later this month on the 20th, but I'll let you know when we plan to stop by.

Any time at all. I want this place to be for everyone.

[She pauses, tilting her head to one side.]

And you don't have to call me 'ma'am.' I'm Ariadne. Or Airy, if you prefer.

[Oh gosh, what a cute nickname! Ochako is already giggling like the small, teenage girl that she is. At least for a little bit, before she straightens up and introduces herself politely as well with a little bow forward.]

Airy-san, it's pleasure to meet you. My name is Uraraka - Uraraka Ochako. Thank you again for letting me use your garden, and I promise I'll take good care of the flowers to repay your kindness! Um...can I contact you the day before we need to use the space? I-I don't know if you need to, um...reserve a spot or anything...

[Ochako's never done anything like this before. She never reserves anything, anywhere, ever...never had the money for something fancy like that.]

That's fine.

[She'll keep that spot safe, promise.

But she tilts her head to one side, suddenly curious.]

Usagi calls me that. "Airy-san." Are you from her kingdom? Japan? On Earth?

[Kingdom...oh jeez.]

Ahaha, I-I am from Japan, yes! But it's not exactly a kingdom... We have an Emperor, yes, but he's not really the one who makes the rules and stuff. [Gosh, she is not smart enough to talk about this kind of stuff. Politics, government affairs...that kind of thing is absolutely taught at UA in general studies and world history, but those topics...are Ochako's weakest. She's best at math and science.] I'm pretty sure we're more of a, um...democracy these days, I-I think?

At least the Japan I'm from. I-It may be different for others in their worlds.

Oh! I think I’ve heard of democracy. It’s actually quite a beautiful concept.

[Although she feels a bit skeptical about how it actually plays out in reality.]

Forgive me. I think of every country as a “kingdom,” I guess. Where I come from, most places were.

Language can be funny like that.

Eh, I'm not the best to talk about that sort of thing, but...I'm pretty sure it's gone well for my world, ehehe. Nothing bad's happened other than the normal crime and stuff...

[She's not going to touch the uptick in crime since All Might's retirement, and the League of Villains thing but...yeah.]

Ehehe, I guess it just varies from person to person, and all the worlds we come from!! Where do you com from, Airy-san? What's it like? [Ochako might have an idea, but she doesn't want to assume.]

Oh, I'm from Valeria. Don't worry, no one's ever heard of it.

[Which is a little sad, but she's gotten used to the fact. In some ways, being the only one who can remember Valeria makes her kind of special.

And that isn't such a bad thing.

Being special.]

It's beautiful, really. I could go on and on forever, telling you about it. But let's just say that compared to most people's homes, it's a little...slower and quieter.

[Ah, yeah...nope. Ochako hasn't heard of it, and looks apologetic as she shakes her head with a sad smile to note that she, too, if none the wiser. But as Ariadne talks, Ochako can sort of get an idea of what the place may be like. A kingdom, huh...slow and quiet...that sounds really nice.]

That sort of sounds a bit like the countryside in my world - the rice fields, or older villages are so quaint when my parents and I used to visit relatives, ehehe. Where I live now, and the lifestyle I have in the big city...it's really, really busy. Sometimes it's nice just to take a break and relax on the grass or something.

S'why I wanna give Ba--eh, I-I mean...my friend that.

[She catches that slip, but decides to let it go with little more than a smile.]

From what I've heard about Japan, you have the most wonderful technology. I guess we would seem...maybe a little backwards.

But what we lack in technology, we make up for in magic.

[Listen, she's still a little wary about her privacy lock. This is new technology for her, and she's still operating on a crazy old device in her own world, because she and her family are too poor to afford a new device.]

Ehehe, I guess so...? I know a lot of really good design and support gear agencies for Heroes are in Japan. [Detnerat and other places, too. Plus, just working with the Support Class as UA in general gets a lot of really good results. That Hatsume Mei girl is...w-well. She's something, but at least she does relatively good work.] And general technology is coming pretty far, too.

Ah, so your from a place that practices magic!! The world I was in before this one was a lot like an older version of Japan, actually! And magic was a lot more normal there than in the one I know, ehehe. And there were even spirits and magical beasts.

Yes, the Elves of Valeria are known for their magic. They're almost always born with it, and some can cultivate it to good use.

[She, of course, is not an Elf. And has no magic to speak of. But she does think it's wonderful.]

What do you mean by "magical beasts?"

[ELVES!!! So she does com from like a fantasy world!! Omg, that's so cool. Ochako's eyes widen and she has to hold back the tiny squeak of a gasp, and the boundless energy that's starting to make her bounce in place a bit.]

Ooh, th-that's so cool!! [Welp, that failed.] People in my world are born with quirks, or develop them when we turn five!! I guess the best way to describe them is kind of like magic? But mostly they're...superpowers.

Can you use magic too? Did you use it to make the plants grow?

[Ariadne laughs softly.]

No, I'm afraid I don't have any magic. The only real "trick" I have is that I can change the color of my skin and hair to blend in among Humans. But that's not magic. Just a biological quirk.

[She doesn't mean to belittle it. That "quirk" has saved her life an impossible number of times. Enough that it can sometimes feel like magic. But it's not.]

The plants are...just a talent, I guess?

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