Video; un: R.BECKET

[righthemisphere]

[Hey all, been a few months. You remember this guy. The shirtless guy with the giant mech. Well he's back. Clothed, this time. Though he might get more help if he were shirtless again, huh. Alas.

Raleigh is outside, sitting next to a planting bed, lush with vegetation. Like so much. It's a suspicious amount of plant life for Trench.

He smiles and waves. It's dark, but there are little torches all over so it's got a luau kind of vibe.

The camera pans so you can see the garden properly. It's two huge raised beds full to the brim on either side of the walkway to a huge, newly finished greenhouse . Lit from the inside, she looks something of a crystal palace.]

Do you all see this? This is the future.

I dunno about all of you but I'm sick to death of mushrooms.

[He pans through the veggies, all growing happily under warded netting. Lettuce, tomatoes, squash, beans, corn. Familiar for a lot of people. Very rarely seen in this world.]

Last month all my powers turned into plant stuff so I've been making and growing as much as I can. Things are hard here and the soil is awful, but it can be done.

[Raleigh moves towards the green house. Free range chickens dart around his feet as he goes, looking for food. He's the mama. Some of them are wearing little crochet hats. Inside the greenhouse is table after table after table of seedlings. The other side is all planting beds full of soil ready to go.]

I've been thinking about how important food is to all of us. Not.. well, obviously it's important, but I mean culturally, too. Making food from home.. having ingredients from home.. that's kind of our last connection.

[He sets his Omni down and reappears in frame. He looks tired, but when doesn't he.]

So.. Is there anyone out there who cares about this stuff? Because honestly I have the land but I'm learning as I go along and I could use the help. I'm not a gardener but I think we can scale this in a way that means we all get access to fresh produce. Like a co-op thing? I dunno. The land needs purifying, water, there's no sun.

I was part of a seed bank back in Deerington. Has anyone saved seeds from last month's growth? Would you donate them towards the cause?

Oh- also dairy. That's something I want to work on. This is a stretch but if you have goats or cattle let me know.

Yeah.. okay. Okay, thanks.

Comments

[killtime]

[ Big boy. Noted. She may or may not put that to the test. ]

Is this what qualifies as fun for you?

[righthemisphere]

Sure, why not.

[Giving Dean hell is fun for him, in the way it's fun to torture one of your few remaining friends. But also if Dean and this chick do vibe then that's great. Dean is even more isolated than Raleigh is and the guy could stand to catch a break. He's dependable, works hard, shows up when it counts. What else do you need to be?]

Why, do you want a list of my hobbies?

[killtime]

[ Seems cruel of Raleigh to inflict this woman on such a dependable friend, but a drink's a drink to Andy. The rest is just collateral damage. ]

I already know you're an optimistic chicken farmer named Raleigh. That's dangerously close to acquaintance as it is.

[righthemisphere]

Mm, it would be if I knew anything about you. What's your name?

[killtime]

[ A half-beat. Then, with a deceptively casual tone: ]

You can call me Andy. [ Dryly then: ] That makes it official.

[righthemisphere]

[Oh you're too kind. This humble chicken farmer thanks you.]

Deernet Official is almost as sacred as Facebook. Don't let me down, now.

[Raleigh no one cares about your stupid gen z memes]

[killtime]

[ She barely knows what Facebook is, Raleigh. She's MUCH TOO OLD FOR THIS!! ]

You've talked to me this entire time — you have some sense of what I'm like. If you end up disappointed, that's on you.

[righthemisphere]

[ok boomer]

Huh, yeah I guess that's valid.

Where'd you serve?

[killtime]

Middle East.

[ Technically true. TECHNICALLY THERE ARE NO LIES HERE. Even that barely scratches the surface of a centuries-long personal history of warfare. ]

You?

[righthemisphere]

[No pussyfooting around and no unnecessary details. Easy banter. Raleigh knows a soldier when he hears one. It’s oddly comforting.]

Pacific rim.

[Not that he thinks she’ll know why.]

Split between Anchorage and Hong Kong.

[killtime]

[ Funny, but it is comforting. Something familiar, a common thread. ]

At sea?

[righthemisphere]

Coastal.

[killtime]

You miss it?

[righthemisphere]

Not really. Kinda over watching everyone I love die.

[Really over being the one who lives.]

[killtime]

[ She's quiet for a tangible moment. Then, a bit distantly: ]

Leaving the fight doesn't change that. People die. That's what they do.

[righthemisphere]

Sure.

[No denying that. But it's different and he knows she must know that.]

Doesn't mean I wanna carry their tags.

[A beat.]

But you follow a calling to do what the world needs. And in battle you make choices. Those choices have consequences you have to live with.

My fight's over, anyway. I'm retired.

[Only he isn't. A quick search on the network will see a darkblood recruitment drive headed by yours truly in preparation for The Battle of Farther Shores not three months ago.]

[killtime]

[ She does know. Too well. To the point of fucking exhaustion. She also knows that their kind never really quit either. The rotting gods know she's tried enough times. ]

Right. [ Does she sound a bit unconvinced? Maybe. But she doesn't press him on it either. ] Hence the chicken farming.

[righthemisphere]

Hence the chicken farming.

[There's a thoughtful quiet. That's the dream, isn't it? Finish your fight and retire to the countryside?]

My husband's grandparents had a farm. He thought it would be a good idea.

[killtime]

[ She had a husband and a farm once too. It was nice. It was good. ]

You've probably earned the peace and quiet. However much of that you can get in a place like this.

[righthemisphere]

[Earned.. he isn't sure. The collateral damage during his career was enormous and heavy. Even this last battle, though successful, came at a price. They all come with a price.]

More than you'd think, but I spend most nights on patrol to make sure. I just wanted to do some good. People need to eat and it's harder to do here than you'd think. Thought I'd try my hand at building something instead of breaking it for once.

[killtime]

[ The guilt is part of it too. Always is. ]

Well. [ And maybe this is a gesture as much as anything, one soldier to another: ] Call me if you want a night off. I don't fucking sleep well anyway.

[ He should spend as much time as he can with the farm and the husband while he's got it. ]

[righthemisphere]

[Raleigh sees the gesture for what it is, appreciating the unspoken conversation just as much as the one out loud.]

You know Andy, I just might hold you to that.

We'll speak soon. If you find yourself restless, you know where to find us.