013 - [Action]

[lostinmyway]

[After breakfast, after Norma has broken the news of Stella going home, Grune walks outside to the little vegetable garden at the side of House 34. For the longest time, she simply stands in the middle of it, staring blankly, a packet of seeds in her hand

Comments

[shadedsunlight]

[Ginia is coming out of the item shop with a bag of assorted goods and heading over to Cloud Nine when she sees Grune gardening. Always one to say hello, she quickly goes over with a smile, but slows slightly when she notices her cheerful friend's subdued demeanor.

The bag is set down on the edge of the garden before she approaches.]

Hi, Grune. Isn't the weather beautiful today?

[lostinmyway]

[It takes Grune a little longer to notice Ginia, and a little longer for her smile in response. But smile she does, and she says:] Yes, it's such a lovely day. It's a good day to go on a little vacation.

[shadedsunlight]

It is a good day for a vacation. Or for being outside. Or for doing a lot of things.

[A small pause before she writes her next question.]

What are you planting?

[lostinmyway]

Oh, I'm planting golden crocuses. They'll look very nice in the spring.

[action]

[frost_jewel]

[Not too long ago, a certain blond fairy took Mia to this garden. Of course, she was much smaller at the time, with some of the flowers towering over her like trees.

It's still beautiful. She's here to admire it today, from a much more human perspective. When Grune arrives - looking so sad - she maintains her silence, at least for a while.]

[action]

[lostinmyway]

[Grune is the first to break the silence. It takes her a little longer than usual to notice that Mia's there, but she makes sure to smile when she does.]

Hello, Mia. Are you here to visit the flowers?

[puppet_paladin]

[Cecil is not one to interrupt busy people, but he happens to walk by the Memory Garden this afternoon. And it's been some time since he last saw Grune in person...]

Readying the garden for spring?

[lostinmyway]

[There's just a little pause before she reacts, and when she looks up, her smile isn't as full as usual.]

Yes, that's right. Some flowers need to go into the ground now, so they can sleep all winter and be ready to wake up in the spring.

[She carefully sets another bulb into the hole she's just finished digging.]

[puppet_paladin]

[Cecil is not the most emotionally aware person there is, but he has no trouble telling that something is upsetting her. Which is why he keeps his conversation on a subject he knows she enjoys.]

What sorts of seeds are they? Do they come from your world?

[lostinmyway]

[She holds out a bulb for him to take, if he wants.] They're golden crocuses. They're nice and pretty, and they're one of the first flowers of the spring.

[bemyused]

[What a coincidence! Pommy was passing by the Welcome Center on his way to House 34 when he sees Grune working on the Memory Garden. He quickly scurries over to say hi.]

Hi, Grune!

[lostinmyway]

[Grune looks up from where she had been staring at a bulb. For a moment, she looks at him blankly--and then she smiles.]

Hello, Pommy.

[bemyused]

[Pommy will wander around the garden a bit to admire the flowers, not far from Grune.]

Myu, the flowers we planted during the summer are doing pretty good, aren't they?

[lostinmyway]

[Grune looks around a little. Even feeling the way she does, the flowers still bring a smile to her face.]

Yes, they all grew up to be nice and strong, didn't they?

[lightningcute]

[Meanwhile, Pao-lin is on her way back from the Battle Dome and headed to the grocery shop to pick up some snacks when she spots Grune working in the Memory Garden. Unsure of whether Grune is just doing maintenance or if she's planting something in honor of someone who's left, Pao-lin will approach Grune but she won't say anything at first.]

[lostinmyway]

[It takes Grune a while to notice Pao-lin, but when she does, she sits up and smiles at her. All the same, even to a recent friend like Pao-lin, that something is wrong should be clear.]

Hello, Pao-lin. Are you here to visit the flowers?

[lightningcute]

Ahh...yeah, kinda. I've seen this before but I haven't actually, um, visited here. [Pause.] Those are nice flowers you're planting. What kind are they?

[lostinmyway]

[She holds out a bulb for Pao-lin to look at, if she wants.] I'm planting golden crocuses. They always look so pretty in the spring.