middaeg | Community Garden Opening

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Community Garden Opening

Community Garden Opening

It had been a challenge to find the space given the overcrowding that came as a consequence of Aefenglom's populace being shuffled about for the sake of the Mirrorbound, the community garden is settled in a semi-spacious lot. The building that once stood there had fallen into such disrepair that the costs to restore it would be far more drastic in price than simply replacing it altogether. But few have that sort of money on the western end of the residential district, and so it was agreed upon by those in the neighborhood with the Council members that had collaborated to bring this motion to life that the land and the adjoining empty lot would be of better use as a green space. One where residents and others in the district or city could grow what their small greenhouses likely could not support or simply have a place to relax in or send their children to play.

But that is the hope for the space and not yet its reality. Because as most within the city are quite aware through fliers, mailed invitations, posting to the Watches, and advertisements within the local paper, the garden is not yet planted. But it's finally, finally ready and there is to be a celebration.

Today, the space is a bit fuller than it otherwise might be. This is not because of the Council members who gathered a bit early on the first day before the first arrivals, the Parliament members who filter in and out throughout the weekend, or the various members of the western residential district. There is simply a lot to do here this weekend in both hard work and fun alike.

I. Good Seed for the Day

A wider path winds its way through the space, leading either to the garden or to an open space in which nothing is necessarily meant to be planted. Following the path towards the garden proper, there is a modest stall set up, occupied with various volunteers throughout the weekend to sell seeds and saplings at a low price for those who have come empty-handed. The sign on the stall itself notes that all proceeds will be utilized to continue supporting the garden itself. They also have all the necessary gardening tools available, although you may need to occasionally share during the peak hours. Then again, those with a bit more of a green thumb might come prepared as everyone is more than welcome to bring their own supplies, whether that be in the form of seeds and saplings or gardening tools.

As for where to plant, following the branching and more narrow paths throughout the garden space, there is a clear divide between food and ornamental gardening but plenty of space exists within each division. Various planters of various sizes and shapes are made available either on the ground or shelving as much as the earth itself has been transformed into something suitable for planting. A small greenhouse has also been constructed, although the majority of the space has been reserved for growing food rather than beautiful flowers.

Those a little uncertain or more curious will be relieved to know they are not on their own. Monsters from the residential district with more experience are available to teach more about how to properly care for the plants and Witches make themselves available to explain more about the alchemical properties or provide magic lessons to encourage growth. For the more advanced, there's even a few who are willing to point out examples of helpful and harmful insects in the garden, and the best ways to handle them.

II. Never a Dill Moment

Those with black thumbs or a dislike of digging around in the dirt needn't fret or feel left out, however! There are other ways to beautify the garden, namely painting pots and plant holders or signs. Tables are set up with the necessary supplies where people can either paint individually or work together in small groups. There is also the option to build birdhouses and feeders that will hopefully be of interest to avians not of the harpy persuasion. Of course, if there is a special someone that might appreciate these painted and built products or maybe you just feel your lawn could do with a bit of sprucing up, everyone is equally welcome to take their creations home and do as they please, too.

And for those who are maybe a little less artistically-inclined or wary of hammers and thumbs mixing, there is always the option to do a little bit of cooking in the outdoor kitchen. Stations with various kitchen tools and portable gas stovetops have been set up with plenty of ingredients and one instructor to teach dishes that can be made with few ingredients and with fairly limited kitchen time as well. Different meals are taught throughout each day, so breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner plans can be made. Completed meals can be shared on the grass or at the provided tables and chairs spread throughout. Just be mindful when spreading out a blanket that you could potentially be in the crosshairs of some form of sportsball being played between the local children.

III. Thyme to Leaf

Already by the end of the first day, there has already been a great deal of progress. Some sections of the garden are already thick with lush green foliage thanks to magical interventions. But as the sun sets and the twin moons rise in the evening sky, the garden begins to empty out. Even the local vampires begin filtering out to go about their nights. But there is still work to be done. Gardening equipment needs to be moved to the shed on-site while chairs need to be carefully stacked onto tables. Leftover ingredients and food need to be packed up and either properly stored for the next day or delivered to the neighborhood and Outer City. Any trash not properly disposed of also needs to be cleaned up. Those who choose to help in this effort will be thanked and asked to come again in the morning to set everything up for those that tolerate the sunlight.

As the number of visitors in the evening of the final day begins to dwindle, the process of cleaning up begins earlier than the first. People are first instructed to take down the tables, stack chairs, and carefully disassemble stalls before anything else. For now, they are to be placed against the shed as they will be collected in the morning. Once those tasks are taken care of, it's more or less a repeat of the night before. However, those who opt to help both nights are given their choice of two leftover packets of seeds or saplings at no charge as a thank you. They are free to do as they please with them whether they choose to plant them at the garden or at home.

Hello, friends! Welcome to the community garden opening. First, I would like to give a big thanks to Skai for helping write this log! Second, please direct any questions you have here. Otherwise, please enjoy digging around in the dirt and picnicking! I'm real sorry about the puns. I can promise you that as much as they might hurt to read, they probably hurt me double to write.

Threaded | Flat

There's a few things to attend to in terms of organization before people begin to arrive in earnest. Last-minute directions on this or that, setting up tables and supplies, and where help should best be directed. Little things. But most of the work is done and the garden is nearly ready to receive the first members of the community. Now seems as good a time as any for a small, private celebration.

It is a modest affair. Not likely proportional to the joy at least some members of the Council are experiencing but keeping with the spirit of the garden, Council members and their companions (Bonded or otherwise) are invited to gather beneath a temporary pavilion tent that had originally been set up to shelter some of the supplies prior to their placement. Now the space has been converted for this purpose, just until the first wave of volunteers arrive and then the rest begin filtering to take part in this beginning. Available to those in attendance of this brief celebration are a small variety of cold drinks (alcoholic and not), as well as a few trays of pastries from a nearby bakery. Nothing ostentatious or extravagant, or that should offend any sensibilities of Parliament members that might stop by but certainly enough that the Council can take a moment of pride in the hard work that has brought all of this together.

[She flits from place to place, once she's done touching base with the familiar faces among the Mirrorbound Council. First, to the gardens, to watch people work their tools, then to the other places and buildings, just watching the whole goings-on with the enthusiasm of an extrovert in her element.

Eventually, she does settle, though, at one of the spots, on a picnic basket, with a plate of some kind of barbecued meat that she picks at only semi-elegantly with her fingers. Her diet's definitely gone more carnivorous since that full moon, as well.

Her ear twitches at the sound of someone approaching.]

You! If you're looking for a spot - come sit!

[1: Garden]

[You know what Maria doesn't need to have? A third garden.

You know what Maria immediately wants to start? A third garden.

She restrains herself for now, though, and rather than bending down to immediately start work tilling soil, and digging spots for flower seeds, and testing the soil for enrichment, instead... she arrives with a basket full of different kinds of what appear to be seeds. Or at least, satchels of them.

She approaches the kiosk where they're handing out the saplings and seeds, and immediately starts setting down the satchels. One, in particular, she hesitates before setting down.] Be careful with these... they are the roses from Dorchacht. They cause mild hallucinations. [She is either talking to the person manning the kiosk, or whoever is eyeing the differently-colored satchel.]

[2: Picnic Area]

[She thought she'd take a break, and just enjoy the smell and feel of being among nature, and flowers. What she ends up doing, is sitting sullenly near the edge of the green, and watching the children kick a ball around, watching the people milling, watching the happiness, and smiles, and she looks across from the picnic blanket she'd commandeered, and frowns.

Before standing abruptly, like something nipped her on the ass.] You. Take this one.

[Looking for a new place to sit? Not looking? Doesn't matter, she's giving it up and... trying to get away, rather immediately.]

Edited 2020-08-08 16:51 (UTC)

i. good seed for the day

[Although he keeps himself busy mostly by ensuring that every aspect of this event continues to run smoothly, at multiple points, Ozymandias ends up behind the front stall himself. His sphinx cub sits patiently on the countertop beside him, idly flicking the tip of its tail.]

Here is a list of what we have currently available, [he says, passing over the aforementioned list. A few things have already been scratched out by the time he first takes up the stall. More are crossed out as the festivities continue and more people show up.] Prices are listed beside each. State what you like and my assistant will fetch them for you while we settle the matter of payment.

[And if there was any question as to who his assistant is, the sphinx cub puffs its little chest out a little further with pride. He's doing a very good job helping his master with this (and also probably wouldn't mind getting a few scritches as a tip).]

ii. never a dill moment

This is the finished product?

[Whether it is something you've painted, built, cooked, or magicked up, Ozymandias is here to provide his genuine assessment. Even if you didn't ask for it. In fact, it's entirely possible you didn't ask for it. Although he's primarily over here to check on the instructors and be sure they feel they still have everything they need to continue instructing or guiding folks through to the end of the day, he thinks it is important to encourage those who are attempting to better themselves. So, why not take a look at how everyone's various projects are coming along?]

[After a brief moment of inspection and assessment, he offers,]

You have my praise for all of your hard efforts! I hope you will continue as such potential left unexplored would be such a waste.

iii. thyme to leaf

a. ota
[When it comes to the end of each day, Ozymandias remains until everything is cleaned up and put away. Although he appears to operate more in a supervisory sort of role than necessarily providing any sort of direct labor. Instead, he sits on a stool at the stall responsible for gardening supplies, running through inventory. His sphinx cub sprawls itself over the countertop, clearly tuckered out from its busy day while Ozymandias occasionally brushes its tail off his logbook when he needs to read or write something else down.]

You may take these, [he says without looking up, gesturing with his pen in the direction of the communal gardening equipment. If one were to take a look at his book, they will see he's accounted for each piece already.] Smaller pieces will need to go in their caddies on the shelves. Larger, just stack carefully against the wall.

[And that appears to be all he has to say whether you were actually approaching to ask what you can do now or not. But it doesn't appear to be out of any particular rudeness so much as efficiency. He moves on to unlocking the container with money and pulls out a small pouch from underneath the counter. All of it he will deposit in the Council's office, but he'd rather go ahead and take out the excess now to save him a bit of work later.]

b. established cr only
[At the end of the second night, Ozymandias performs the same duties of monitoring the breakdown of the festivities. But once things get to the point that the work can be completed nearly independently, Ozymandias steps away for at least a few moments of privacy, followed knowingly by his sphinx cub. Although Ozymandias is certain not to step on any of the foliage that manages to spill over onto the path, he isn't all that attentive to the greenery around him. He simply follows the path through until he comes to a specific planter near the center of the more ornamental portion of the garden. It is filled with a mix of various flowers, all of which have been magicked into bloom already and subsequently arranged. Pulling something out of his pocket, he crouches down in front of the planter and digs a little hole to place that something, packing in the dirt enough that it stands on its own. Whatever it is that he's placing there, it's easy to tell even from a short distance that he handles it carefully.]

[It is an ugly, ugly little thing, but it was a brooch that was important to Giorno. And so, it makes sense to Ozymandias that it should be placed here in this garden. Even if it is hideous.]

[He dusts the dirt off his hands, but doesn't stand up immediately. Instead, he quietly lingers, absentmindedly petting the sphinx when it begins insistently headbutting one of his hands.]

iv. wildcard
((ooc: feel free to riff or slightly modify any of the above prompts. if you'd like a more private starter, lmk and i'll whip something up. or if you want to go way off-script and write up something completely new, go for it! ozy will be around more or less all day on both days, so he can be found more or less anywhere throughout the event. you can feel free to even catch him when he's pausing for some food! if you want to run something by me [or reach out for the aforementioned custom starter], either pm this journal or hit me up on plurk [

rebreather]!))

i. sharing is caring

Huh?

[Akko's ears move in the direction of who is speaking to her before her head actually turns. Her eyes then drop back down to her hands where she is, indeed, holding the requested trowel. She smiles and nods.]

Oh, [she says with a small laugh.] Sure! I'm almost done with it. If you gimme just another minute, you can actually take it for as long as you want.

[Akko says this with a wave of her free hand before returning back to what she was doing, picking up the pace a little. One might wonder and guess why a Puca of all creatures is using a trowel to dig rather than her own claws, but considering how much digging she did around the full moons? Well, Akko would rather play it a little safer and finds it easier to wrangle that instinct to burrow while using an instrument rather than her bare hands like that. Once she's done digging with it, she holds the trowel out.]

Here you go!

ii. arts & crafts

[It's difficult to tell what has more paint on itself right now: the pot that Akko is currently decorating or Akko's clothes and face. But she doesn't seem to particularly mind all the paint getting on her. Akko's brow is furrowed in concentration, her tongue sticking out just a liiiiittle bit from the corner of her mouth as she's putting some fine details on a butterfly she's painted on. It's...not the most beautiful or well-painted/drawn butterfly on the planet, but she's clearly taking this very seriously.]

[Abruptly, her expression shifts into a giant smile as she more or less tosses her brush down and proudly folds her arms.]

Done!

[It's a sudden, loud announcement that nobody really needed or necessarily wanted, but here it is! Please compliment? She worked really hard and took this very, very seriously.]

iii. snack time. or maybe nap time??

[Akko more or less throws herself down towards the end of the day, starfishing the moment she flops onto the blanket with a deep and content sigh. Akko closes her eyes for a moment, appreciating a gentle breeze the moves through, rustling all the leaves and grass. The blanket underneath her has been warmed from sitting in the sun all day, which just adds to the peacefulness of it all. It's been a really good day, just busy. So this little bit of quiet? It feels just right for right now. While the sun is beginning to dip lower and lower in the sky, Akko herself begins to feel a little more relaxed and is likely starting to look a little boneless where she lays.]

[It does not last long though.]

[As the smell of food being prepared begins to waft and drift over to her, Akko's stomach lets out a loud rumble. Her eyes pop open and she slaps a hand over her stomach as if to shush it. Propping herself up on an elbow, she looks around and spot the nearest person with a plate of something.]

What's that? It smells great!

iv. wildcard
((ooc: feel free to hmu via pm or plurk [

rebreather] if you want to run something by me first! but feel free to riff off these starters or come up with something else! also don't hesitate to ask if you'd like something private started up.))

1. Garden

More inclined to leave the digging to others and at least try to keep his tail from getting too dirty, Jin Guangyao sticks to slithering along the wider paths. It seemed a minor thing to lend his support to, in exchange for perhaps a little future goodwill, but he has to admit that the site should do some good -- and it's pleasant to see ornamentals planted here and there as well. Perhaps someone will plant a few peonies?

Examining one of the flowers, already blossoming thanks to an enthusiastic witch, there's an angry buzzing when the petals are disturbed. He stills, and a puffy bee waddles out from deep within the flower with a continued zzz, before zipping over to the next.

Do be careful.

[He suggests lightly when someone else approaches the flowers closely.]

2. Cooking lessons

[At some point, he gets pulled into helping with the cooking lessons - not giving them himself, but handing out bowls and supplies, smoothly making his way between participants, with considerable effort to not trip anyone with his tail by accident.]

How does it taste?

[He asks with a smile as people are wrapping up.]

Wildcard

[Find him around and about enjoying the sunlight, perhaps sheltering from a small rainshower in the Council pavillion, or helping out with any of the tasks that don't involve literally getting his hands dirty.]

Edited 2020-08-08 23:16 (UTC)

[ It had been quite a joy to see something go to plan. Not quite like a political party, a socialization needed to advance goals – this was rooted more in getting the community excited for something new. Something that will make a difference in the health of the city, as well.

She couldn't help but smile, watching over how some somewhat familiar faces take to it. There's no... bitterness or fear, here. Not once had the Targaryen let a draconic anger or feeling spill out like fire from her tongue. She was very much a girl here, not anything else.

Dany can be seen dirtying her hands to transport a rather tall stemmed plant into a pot. The trellis was left behind out of her inexperience. It's stalk fumbling to the side due to its weight, leaving her to continuously try to keep standing it up. Help her? ]

[Normalcy is something that can neither be forced or willed, as convenient as both of those things would be. After a significant amount of time spent growing increasingly reclusive and bitter towards the one who maimed him, L has accepted that he still has duties as a council member, and that rotting further in isolation with his books and his injuries isn’t nourishing him in any capacity. He might be jumpy and paler than usual from lack of summer Sun, and the dark gloves he wears over hands that move stiffly at times are certainly unseasonable… but he’s here, and out, and managing, at least so far. If he’s a little out of the loop, then hopefully remembering the art of in-person conversation with strangers and near-strangers can add a bit of grease to those creaky gears.

He sticks close to his Bonded, Myr, as a general rule. While they aren’t attached at the hip, and split away from each other at times, they’re never quite far enough apart that the faun isn’t somewhere within the witch’s anxious eyeline.

And Myr, by turn, strives never to be out of his witch's sight as he makes his glad rounds of his fellow Council members. This day's been long in coming for his adopted city and his Bonded alike, though the reasons diverge--and it is a relief and a joy both for the faun to be here on it. Even if it is a bit of a balancing act he's managing, mindful not to hover around (and stifle) L while not getting so caught up in his own conversations as to abandon his witch if he's needed. If he errs a little toward hovering, well, maybe that's to be expected given the direct line he's got to the anxieties of the detective's heart.

He's at least graceful about his periodic interventions, whether it's drifting in at the exact right time to offer a distracting snack to all parties in a disjointed conversation or deftly adding himself (and several questions) to a faltering discussion. Where L seems to be holding his own the faun does his best to forebear, though sometimes whatever topic his Bonded's gotten on to proves too much to resist...]

((OOC: This is a joint prompt since they're here together; feel free to specify if your character would approach one of them for a conversation in the subject header! Both are also perfectly welcome.))

III. thyme to leaf

[Salieri is no stranger to doing his part in the grand scheme of things. Whether his skills are needed in the combative or artistic sense he is sure to deliver— and here in the landscape filled with green and blue there is no exception. He finds himself staying later than anticipated. He took his time before admiring the garden and everyone's collective efforts coming into full bloom but now he helps with chairs and left over accessories.

He's in a bit of a dilemma though. There are still quite a few sweets left and as much as he'd like to hand them out... he also wants to take a few home.

Like, a full tray of them home. Or two. Or three.

But how is he going to carry them all back... is what he's wondering as he circles the dessert table like a predator cornering its prey.]

Edited 2020-08-31 23:01 (UTC)

Threaded | Flat

QUESTIONS

COUNCIL MEMBERS (& +1'S ONLY)

Heralia il Gardlanda | OTA

Lady Maria | OTA

ozymandias | witch | ota