hadriel | Video

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[a shaky moment as George readies the camera to catch her on the video, technology like this is unheard of in 2003]

So, uh. I've been told that I should get out more. Meet people. I'm not any good at that, so you're just gonna have to--bear with me as I figure this shit out. But I guess I've gotta bite the bullet sometime, right?

[she looks off camera and flushes slightly out of a combination of nerves and embarrassment]

Anyway, I'm George. I'm newish. I have--no fucking idea what I'm doing here. Does anyone? If you do, could you please fill me in.

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See you there.

[ He turns off the feed and gets moving, heading for his garden. When he gets there he stays standing, looking around for the girl in the video. She's kinda rough when she shows up. Rumpled, ill fitting clothes, and her hair could seriously use a deep condition. Pell just smiles anyway, giving a little wave. ]

George? I'm Pell. [ And thanks to Seel, he's nervous saying his own damn name... ugh. ] I'm going to teach you to garden, we'll see if you like it.

[so she hasn't exactly taken the time to keep up with her personal hygiene (much) in the past month. so far as she knows, she doesn't have any choice but to rough it on her own]

Uh. Hi? [waves awkwardly, and don't worry, she saw that rant and rolled her eyes because seriously, jealous ex much?] ...okay. How do we do it?

First you have to learn to tell the plants from the weeds. I'll show you what they look like.

[ He kneels down and starts pointing out to her what's what in the seedling department. It's much easier to tell on the fully grown plants, after all, so when they get to weeding and harvesting those she can feel like she's learned well. ]

You can take some vegetables home today if you want, too, it's nice to cook with fresh things for a change... a lot of the people I used to deliver to have gone back to their worlds.

Okay, 'cause I wouldn't know which was which. Other than flowers, I'm pretty sure I know those.

[kneels beside Pell and pays attention, trying to learn what it is that she's doing

[looks down, embarrassed] It'll have to be stuff that doesn't need cooked. I've been kind of--crashing wherever.

[ He glances up from the plants to give her a second look -- that must be why she's so bedraggled. ]

Oh. Have we finally run out of housing for newcomers? There's room in my house...

[yeahhhh, she's looking rough. like someone who's been sleeping in public buildings, trying to wash her hair in the river, and taking sponge baths in any semi-private area she can find]

...you'd do that? Just let me move in?

[said in a tone of surprise since she's not used to people being nice just because]

If you need somewhere to go, yes. We've got a four bedroom house and are only using one at the moment.... my best friend and his chesna left Hadriel, and I just kicked a roommate out.

You'd need to meet Cal, of course. Come over for dinner and then you can decide.

[still looks vaguely shocked here. people being nice just because? wut?]

I do kind of need a place to stay. And, what time should I be there for dinner?

[ He's very nice! Just ignore Seel. ]

We can finish here and go straight back to my house. Now, which of these is the tomato plant?

[ Back to the lesson! ]

[she's planning to]

That works. And, um. . . that one? [points to the correct plant]

Right. Okay, I'm setting you free to weed. We can finish this quickly with both of us working.

[nods and looks vaguely surprised with herself that she's enjoying this]

Okay. Start over there? [points to a place in one corner of the garden]

Sure. We'll meet in the middle. Can I trust you to pick anything that looks ready?

Yeah. Yeah, sure. I can do that.

[ Go on, then, get to work. He shoos her off and starts on his section of the garden, working towards the center, moving with the skill of having farmed most of his life. When they meet again he opens his bag for her to put the vegetables she's harvested in. ]

How are you liking it? It's something to do that pays off later, right?

[she's a lot slower and more careful as she's never done this before. she thinks she has it right with the tomatoes, though. she eyes Pell from time to time as though she's confused that this stranger is being so nice to her. she's not used to anyone being genuinely nice to her, aside from Delores]

It's cool. [she surprises herself by saying] D'you do this every day?

Every few days. I work at the clinic most of the time... and I used to go by the sewing shop a lot but the girl who ran it left and.

[ He glances away; he misses his friend. A lot. ]

Maybe we'll stop by sometime, get you clothes that fit right.

Oh, you work at the clinic, too? Do you know Will?

[seems to think twice about asking about his friend. she's learned some small measure of tact]

[tentatively] Yeah, I could use some new clothes. I kind of--don't have anything aside from this.

I do... there aren't many of us who work there full time. He's nice.

[ Job done here, he starts to lead George back towards the house. When she mentions she doesn't have any other clothes he blinks. They just got her dirty. Sorry, honey. ]

Okay, we're definitely fixing that, then.

Yeah, he is. Kinda bossy, though. And he's younger than me, so that shouldn't work.

[she's gotten worse on her clothing than a little dirt. like blood!

How will I pay for the clothes?

I don't react well to bossy, it's probably good he hasn't tried that on me.

[ Pell grins at her question, shaking his head. ]

We don't pay here... at most we barter. You can get the shop a new bolt of fabric in exchange for telling Delight a happy memory?

Yeah, probably. He's too good at it for a kid his age.

[Okay, that brings George up short]

--what if I don't have many of those?

Nothing at all?

Well. I mean, I was dead until pretty recently and that wasn't a walk in the park. Aaaaand, I spent most of my life sort of. Avoiding people and experiences.

It doesn't have to be something big. But if you really can't come up with anything, I'll do it.

[ Because it's very sad if she doesn't have even one memory. ]

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