[Open] Sh'Ka In Bloom

[stitch_witch]

WHO: Lark, Open
WHERE: Sh'Ka Greenhouse and Estate
WHAT: Lark's Gathering Party
WHEN: May 9th through June 11th (Namely, during Calibrations)
WARNINGS: N/A
NOTES: This is Lark not going to Calibrations. Anyone who signed up to hang with her project, who would otherwise be in Sh'Ka, or who was in Sh'Ka before returning to Temba and getting trapped in Calibrations, is welcome.

I. A Comfortable Base Of Operations | Location: Estates
Sh'Ka was, in Lark's opinion, a bit more welcoming than Temba. But with everyone preferring Temba, she spent much of her time there. This, though, was a trip that gave her an excuse to indulge in this place. And indulgence in this place meant the wonderful shelter of the place the little drones moved around in, fretting for people who were not there. Except there were people here now.

"Well, I think we should get rooms near each other," Lark tells her companion, one of those who had come this far with her. She smiles as she moves forward, dog at her side, bag on her back. "I have come to Sh'Ka a few times to gather supplies, and in the time since Sh'Ka came available to us, these little devices have set this place somewhat to rights. There is comfort here that even Temba seems to lack at times."

Of course there's also a sign near a place that is clearly a dining room declaring tea time is about to start and there is nothing out for service of food, but hey, you took what victories you could.


II. Hunting For Pigment | Location: Greenhouse
This was exactly what she was after. A lovely morning, the air pleasantly warm in the greenhouse but humid in that lovely way that reminded her of home. So did this part, the harvest. Normally it was Rosethorn's work, but she had grown used to helping her love over the years.

For now she moved around, Little Bear following at her heels, with a large woven grass basket under one arm. The trees were lovely, but not her goal. In fact, she rounded a bend and...

"Ah!"

And there was the tree she wanted, one draped with vines drooping with pods.

"Here they are. I needed more blue," she says, putting her basket down and carefully taking out her shears. Carefully she takes grip of the vine below the pod, in spite of how sticky it is, and carefully cuts above it.

"You are going to be a glorious color," she tells the pod as she carefully lowers it, by the vine, into her basket.


III. Communication Fretting | Location: Sh'Ka Fountain Square
There had been no real communications from Temba for days. It had been working Lark up to quite the state of anxiety, but not enough to drive her to take the train back. It wasn't often that she could be away and not hear from anyone, but going back without hearing also seemed dangerous.

"I don't know how I'd even save any of you if something has gone wrong," she told her communicator, frowning at it. "Someone, please answer."

Her concern must be contagious, because Little Bear whined from where he laid beside her. He even rose up, his head coming to rest on her leg to try and comfort her.

Comments

II

[the_tailor]

It's okay. He'll be back soon. Don't panic, this never lasts for long.

It's good that he's signed himself up for this activity, because gods, does it suck to be apart from his fiancé. He knows well by now that it's not uncommon to be unable to travel between cities for periods at a time. Unfortunately, this time, Keith and he were split apart for this one.

He couldn't do anything but wait and pray for his safety.

But... He knows Keith can take care of himself, and Kosmo is with him, so it'll be okay. Breathe. Focus. Get his mind off of things.

Lance gives Lark a little smile as he approaches her.

"Gotten started already?"

[stitch_witch]

He isn't the only one scared. Lark was missing Shiro quite a bit right now. At least she had Bruno and Lance around to keep her sane.

"Yes. I... I needed an early start this morning. First I washed Little Bear, then I came here. These pods are good for three different colors."

[the_tailor]

"Little Bear?" he questions, head tilted. Sounds cute. Either or, he looks over the pods and nods. "I don't think I've ever really gotten a good luck at these before..."

[stitch_witch]

The dog in question thumped his tail at hearing his name from Lance. And Lark smiles.

"He got himself all dirty. Silly dog. And yeah, these ones are a mess. I've learned how to carefully harvest them for color. I try not to touch the pods themselves. I need the pollen for blue anyway."

[the_tailor]

"Oh!"

Lance's eyes widen, and he looks down at the dog, beaming. "Oh my god, he's so cute! We have to totally set up a playdate for him and Kosmo. I dunno if you've met him, but Kosmo is my fiancé's space wolf, and he's pretty much a big puppy most of the time."

He misses them so damn much right now.

"Blue's totally my color. Just let me know what I need to do."

[stitch_witch]

The dog kept wagging his tail. And he was not a small one either. The dog was easily the size of a wolf hound, and he looked very energetic, but was at least being still for now.

"I've heard of the dog. I intend to try and see if they can handle playing."

She carefully tucks away the pod and then produces another pair of shears.

"You have to hold the vine very still at a point above it, and then cut above that. Do your best not to couch the pod itself."

[the_tailor]

"I'd love to see that. I don't have a dog myself, though I guess I'm Kosmos' other dad... I do have an otter though! He kinda plays with Kosmo? But he's really small in comparison... But super cute! And then there's Kaltenecker--that's my cow--"

He's rambling as he takes the shears from her, as he often does. Lance is definitely a chatty kind of guy, and rambling on keeps him from the anxiety of being away from Keith (and not just him, but Shiro! Tommy!).

"Gotcha, gotcha," he answers to the last part as he goes close to the vine, peering closely at it. He can see now where he needs to cut, and thankfully, he's got good precision with his hands.

[stitch_witch]

"An otter?" she asks, confused. Otters aren't domesticatable, right? She would have thought so.

"If only there was a cow here. So many good things could be done with milk. I miss fresh-churned butter so much. And here, let me hold the vine for right now."

This should make the first time easier.

[the_tailor]

"An otter! I got him a few years ago. His name's Oliver, and he's adorable. You gotta meet him."

And... Snip! Thankfully, it's a clean cut.

At the talk of a cow, though...

"You know, funny story about that," he says with a grin. "Kaltenecker is actually here! She's a little smaller than she usually is, but! Milk's great, but I honestly have no idea how to make butter..."

[stitch_witch]

That sounds strange. What does it even eat? Well, that's a whole other matter. She's more interested in the cow.

"You churn it, of course."

[the_tailor]

"Oh. Right, yeah, that makes sense."

There's a bit of a pause.

"...I have no idea how to churn milk, though," he admits sheepishly. "My family had animals back home, but we just sold the cow's milk, didn't bother with the cheese part of it."

[stitch_witch]

No idea how to churn milk. Oh dear.

"Well, you need a churn. And then it's just all manual labor. It's good for the mind. If I can get one made, I will show you, if you wish."

[the_tailor]

"That'd be great!"

Well, at least he knows how to milk the cow... He'll just have to learn the rest.

"And then we can make even better food and stuff here," he says with a smile.

I - Precalibrations for Shiro - sorry this is so late.

[lionunchained]

Shiro hadn't spent that much time in Sh'ka relatively speaking. He tended to spend more time in Temba. The longest he had been here before was when he had managed to escape... something strange completely by chance.

But he was here now with Lark and was fully willing to explore.

"Sounds good. It will certainly make it easier to find each other and keep track of everyone just in case something happens."

I truly channel Lark when I assure you it is completely fine

[stitch_witch]

"Indeed," she agreed as she led them past the dining room to where she remembered there being some now furnished rooms. Most of the furniture's structure was nice, properly made too, though some of the linens were less than pristine.

"This reminds me, in some ways, of visiting nobles. Their manors were expansive, and they always seemed to have rooms they did not make much use of. I wonder if this was a place of nobility."

yay! :3

[lionunchained]

Shiro really should have explored a lot more while he was here before. As they walked, he couldn't help but look around with interest as they entered, periodically glancing down at Bear with a smile.

"Interesting. I guess if they had large families, it might have more sense. Or they just had more rooms to show off who much they had."

Could have really been either he thought. Not that he lived in a time with nobles, but what he remembered for history classes.

[stitch_witch]

"Nobility rarely, in my experience, had large families. But there are plenty, I suppose, that are like that. That have families. Mostly I am used to things like this happening because they are showing off. But the Duke I know, he maintains it for emergencies, if his people must come into his keep."

This means she's got a bit of an idea of what to do, which is turning into another hall, lined with bright windows.

"Here, the rooms off of this hall are pleasant."

[lionunchained]

"Showing off definitely makes sense. They want to show much money that they have. But that's nice of the Duke, keeping it to be able to help people out. If he has the means to help others, it is important that he does."

Shiro followed after her, watching as they emerged into this room full of windows.

"Yeah it is. This must be very similar to the Duke's place then."

[stitch_witch]

“The Duke has always been like that. An older man with a kind heart.”

HE had even taken in his niece, and that was no minor thing.

“Oh no. This is… There is a lot more stone and white washing in an Emelan hold like this. And tapestries on the walls and thick curtains to keep them warm. And many, many fireplaces. This place is far more open and free. No big halls with windows, and the rooms are often done in color themes.”

[lionunchained]

"That's good to hear. Sounds like he would be a great guy to meet."

Even though that may not be possible, Shiro sincerely thought that he would be good person to talk to.

"I see. I've never really been in a big house like this so I'm not really familiar with it. Many fireplaces makes sense though. Have to keep it warm somehow."

[stitch_witch]

“He is. I’ve known him for years, mostly in passing. But it’s been a comfort, the way he helps his people.”

They needed far more nobility like him. Sadly that was a rare breed.

“Warmth is very wonderful, actually,” she notes with a smile. “Come, let’s choose these rooms, quite close to each other. Once we put our things down, it would be nice to take a walk.”

[lionunchained]

"I'm sure that it would. There aren't as many as you would hope would want to take care of the people who are under them."

He would agree. They needed more people like him.

"Sounds good. I think there's several down this way that might be good."

Not that he had seen them, but it seemed like they were a good location in the mansion.

[stitch_witch]

It seemed good indeed. "Something with a view of the gardens might make me happy. To remind me of my Rosethorn."

She missed her love quite a bit, but there wasn't anything she could do to bring the woman here. ANd it was better that she didn't.

"I guess you're not the only one missing someone these days."

[lionunchained]

"A view of the gardens would be nice. Not something that I often got to see much of."

He'd never really had a room with a view of gardens before. If he had any point, it was before joining the Garrison and was so far away in his memory that it was hard to remember as clearly.

At her comment, he smiled faintly before reaching to put a hand on her shoulder. "If you ever want to talk, I'm here to listen."

Since she had listened to him, it was only right that he do the same for her.

[stitch_witch]

Ah, so kind of him. She offers a sad smile. If only it was that easy.

"I almost lost her once back home, quite recently. To be here and not know if she is okay is... worse than being home and not knowing if she's okay."