∞ 92: Warming weather [action]

[chikaidestroyer]

[He didn't send out an announcement of any kind when they returned home. Others had already announced their dead and offered any words of encouragement or frustration.

Instead, Albert spent the days following the draft ... working on his flower beds. March had brought with it a warm spell, meaning that his seeds would be germinating and eventually sprouting. This is also the time for pulling down the dried vines from his trellises.

It's a lot of work (and a lot of garden), so he'll be out and around the house until late in the day. It's as dusk approaches that he can be found sitting on the porch, watching three tiny owls perched on the porch fencing.]

...Welcome back.

Comments

[chikaidestroyer]

Good afternoon. [He turns to face her better, nodding in greeting.] Taking a walk?

[silversnowfall]

Yes. It makes it easier to think, sometimes.

[chikaidestroyer]

Deep thinking in this warm weather?

[silversnowfall]

It's not too different from deep thinking in cold weather. ...The walks are much longer, at least.

And you? Preparing your garden?

[chikaidestroyer]

[He smirks faintly at the mentioning about longer walks, nodding to Nephry's questions.]

It's that time of the year now, yes.

[silversnowfall]

What do you grow?

[Surely she knows and has seen it before. It's just conversation, really. Too many things she needs a break from thinking about.]

[chikaidestroyer]

Poppies, marigolds, irises, morning glories. [That's just a few of them. Albert is watching Nephry carefully.] Have you been taking these long walks often?

[silversnowfall]

[She looks pretty much like herself. A little less cheerful, maybe.]

I suppose that depends on what you consider to be 'often.' Moreso, recently, with the change in the weather.

[chikaidestroyer]

The change in the weather occurred around the change of the month, so the natural question would be how often you have taken your walks in the last week.

[silversnowfall]

Once or twice. You seem to be unusually concerned about walking.

[chikaidestroyer]

Or perhaps I am wondering why you are taking your long walks. As you said, they help one think. The longer the walk, the longer one feels the need to contemplate.

[silversnowfall]

Sometimes, yes, that's true.

[chikaidestroyer]

Sometimes. [He doesn't sound convinced.

But since Nephry isn't about to divulge, he'll go back to focusing more on his gardening.]

[silversnowfall]

It just seems like several things worth contemplating have come up, recently.

[And she'd been worrying about people in the draft.]

[chikaidestroyer]

That's always the case with Luceti, unfortunately.

[silversnowfall]

So I've learned.

I apologize for taking up so much of your time.

[chikaidestroyer]

[He pauses again in his gardening, looking at her.] You are welcome to converse, Nephry. But I'm afraid I am not much of a small talker.

[silversnowfall]

Thank you, but I'm afraid I don't have much to converse about, at the moment.

[chikaidestroyer]

[He nods.] Indeed. Do enjoy your walk, if you are continuing it.

[silversnowfall]

I at least need to get home from here.

[chikaidestroyer]

[He manages a brief laugh at the comment, nodding again.] Then yes, enjoy your walk, Nephry.