Garden Buddies

"Garden Buddies" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread written on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
Jari hummed as she made her way through the village, her destination clear. As she finally arrived she leans on the fence and calls out. "Hellooooo? Anyone home?"
Dec 4, 2020
Dario kicked the front door open with his left leg, careful to balance on the right without dropping any of the new plants he had acquired for the now overgrown garden. He wouldn’t be able to plant them quite yet; at least not until he and Milae finished expanding the soil to accommodate them. He had the path down by heart, and didn’t need to see beyond the vines and leaves obstructing his vision. Once he was certain that he’d reached the fence line, he carefully lowered the plants to the ground.
The sudden appearance of the girl’s shape in front of him nearly stopped Dario’s heart in an instant.
“Gods above, what-!...”
He dropped the entirety of his haul, dirt and stray foliage scattering at the pair’s feet. He pressed his hand to his chest, unsure if he’d finally been taken out by his own fear. It was due about now.
“Hello, I am so- oh Gods, what a mess... please, forgive me, I just need to get these...”
He began to salvage what he could of his new additions, trying his best not to seem visibly distraught at the potential loss. Why can’t I just garden in peace?
“I am not sure I’ve had the pleasure.” He dusted off his torso, smiling to the girl. “My name is Dario -- it’s good to meet you!”
Dec 4, 2020
Jari was quick to help clean up the mess she'd helped make. "Sorry about that. It's nice to meet you! I'm Jari." She said energetically. "Sorry to bother you, I just saw your garden a bit ago and wanted to see if I could help out around here, I love plants and experimenting with them."
Dec 4, 2020
Dario chuckled a bit as he took the loose plants from Jari. She seemed genuinely excited to help, and after his last encounter here in the garden, it was a welcomed sight.
“I wouldn’t mind that in the slightest; if anything, it’s much appreciated. My partner is away for the rest of the day, and any extra hands to help expand this lot means a ton.” He tossed a pair of gloves to the girl. “What do you know about gardening? Probably way more than I do, I’ve only been doing this for a short time, but I think it’s really fun and relaxing!”
Dec 5, 2020
She's quick to put on the gloves, used to the protection such implements provide. "Not of gardening necessarily. But I do know a bit about plants. I'm the chief scientist around here and I'm doing research to see how we can garden and/or grow crops more efficiently. Need to be able to feed the army were growing. Anyways what do you need me to do?"
Dec 5, 2020
He stopped nearly dead in place when he heard the list of credentials. You are far too smart to be told what to do by someone like me.
“Well, I think the main thing I’m trying to accomplish right now is expansion. I don’t know what these plants I brought out are called, but I thought they looked nice. I’m sorry I don’t know more about these things... this is all still very new to me.” He pointed over to the western edge of the tilled plot. “I’m hoping to push it out just a bit further, at least enough for these guys for now.”
Dec 5, 2020
She nods and smiles. "Sure! No problem." She says as she makes her way over to where he indicated and starts digging a hole deep and wide enough to transplant the things he had. "So, how are you guys doing? I haven't seen much of you guys since the trial?" She asks idly.
Dec 5, 2020
He remembered in an instant that the entire island knew who the pair of goat and deer were from the trial -- even if he didn’t immediately recognize any of them. It was a limelight rather unwelcome to the stag.
What a wildly loaded question.
“I guess we’ve been... surviving? Laying low, mostly. Milae works closely with Grey and the rest of leadership a lot lately, leaving me here to my own devices.” He struggled as he carried over more plants than he could reasonably handle. “I thought it would be productive to start doing something with my time that will benefit the island as a whole.”
The hole Jari had begun was already shaping up nicely -- though she claimed to have little experience in the physical portion of gardening, she seemed to be a natural.
“How about yourself? You seem far too young to have come here to Haligan of your own volition. Would I know your family?”
Dec 5, 2020
As she finishes up the current hole she starts up on the next. “I think so. I’m of the Ericson family and my aunt is chief Grey. Well, not really my aunt, not by blood at least. But she might as well be. I can imagine this hasn’t been very easy for you guys. Is there anything you guys need or I can help out with?” She asks as she reaches up to move her hair and rabbit like ear out of her face.
“As much as I really do appreciate it, I think it’s more of a waiting game at the moment.”
He thought back to each night that Milae returned home, both when he could jump timelines… and now that he couldn’t. Regardless of what the goat could do, he led a busy life separate from Dario, even if unintentionally. The conversations the two had were often the same as what the stag was hearing now.
Is there anything I can do- I don’t wish to burden you with these things. Do I just exist here? I know we’ve carved out our little piece of Haligan, but at what point can I step in and help? I know your intentions are well placed, Dario. In time, I assure you. …of course, Milae. I know.
“For now, you’re an incredible help here. I didn’t realize how much work this would end up being if it were just me – I can’t thank you enough for wanting to help me.” He placed one of the larger plants in the already crafted hole, shifting dirt into any remaining gaps. “I know of your family; you come from good people. It’s no surprise to me that you’re ready to provide a hand at a moments notice.”
Dec 5, 2020
She smiles. “Thanks. I’m like, a quarter Pooka so I’m good at digging.” As she finishes up digging the next hole she pauses for a second. “Would you mind if I tested something I’ve been working on out here?” She asks politely.
Dec 5, 2020
“Absolutely!” The deer stood aside, curious as to what she had planned. “This garden started out as me testing out what worked and what didn’t, so it’s only fitting for others to do the same.”
Dec 5, 2020
“Nice.” She says. The half-breed reaches into her bag and pulls out a jar. “You may want to plug your nose.” She says as she begins to unscrew the lid. “Phew, that is stinky.” She says as she begins to pour it over the soil of one of the plants they’d already planted.
Dec 5, 2020
Dario heeded the warning just a fraction of a second too late – the unpalatable stench filled his nostrils and overwhelmed every sense he had. He took his shirt and tossed it over his nose and mouth in a vain attempt at stifling any further torture.
“That… is foul.” He coughed a few times in between words. “What is it?”
Dec 5, 2020
“Um…” She tried to think of a way to explain it without it sounding absolutely nasty. “It is… A combination of several things that… Encourages… Plant growth.” She says as she screws the jar back on.
Dec 5, 2020
The concoction was equal parts fascinating and abhorrently terrifying to Dario. The lack of details regarding it was unsettling, but he could hear in her voice that she was sincere in her efforts. He didn’t want to diminish any of her excitement or curiosity about gardening.
“So… how long does this… thing take?” He took a small step back, wanting to distance himself from the smell without being outwardly rude. “I’d imagine we’ll see the results once the plants begin to get a bit bigger, right?”
Dec 5, 2020
She nods and let’s out a cough of her own as her noses twitches. “Well it’s not instant. Technically it’s already working. It’ll get into the soil and enrich it… At least, in theory. “If you plant one of the same type next to it, it’ll act as a control group so we can see the difference.” She explains without going too into detail
Dec 6, 2020
The stag took to placing an unseated plant into the hole next to the… “experimental” one. As strange as the circumstances were, he was looking forward to see how they would further bloom.
“I would have never thought of this! Who knows, if it ends up working out, we might have the best garden here on Haligan.” He turned and leaned down to tend to the next plant. “I suppose you’ll be here every so often checking in on it, yes?”
Dec 6, 2020
She nods. “Oh for sure, gotta check in on how our little buddy is doing. But besides that, I like hanging out with you. We should do it more often.” Jari smile.
Dec 7, 2020
“You’re welcome here anytime. I’m hoping to do exactly what you’ve helped me do today – make this a community garden. I know that some on this island don’t… they don’t take too kindly to the idea that Milae and I are here after the trial ended, so I thought this could be a good way to show that we care.”
He looked around the lot that wrapped around the side of their home, admiring the hard work that the two had put into it. Well, mostly Dario, and occasionally Milae when he wasn’t away on business.
“If you know of anyone looking to grow some things, I’m sure we could make more room.”
Dec 7, 2020
She sighs. "Yeah, no one was really happy when we heard about it. But... We move on. Grow and forgive. That's what separates us from Central. Besides things were going to Hel, and people do crazy things for love. Anyways I'll pass word along. And maybe sometime I can show you my lab. Anything else you need me to help out with?"