Garden

[asoftermeme]

— garden meme

Sometimes, all you need is a brief retreat from the rest of the world. A place filled with the soothing scent of flowers and the gentle touch of the passing breeze. Might be real nice to just lie down in the grass and relax for a bit...

— scenario prompts

1) RELAXING.
A garden's a good a place as any to read a book in peace or get an impromptu nap, right? The sun is out, it's nice and warm, and—well, now you can just close your eyes for a spell and bask in the warmth as you drift off to sleep.

2) OUTING.
You've come here to look at the flowers with friends, or you thought it might be a nice place to bring a date. Settle down for a picnic, or have a nice, scenic stroll.

3) EVENT.
You've been trapped mingling with other guests or foreign dignitaries or greasy bigwigs or just about anyone else you might find in a stuffy banquet, so it's time to escape into the garden of the venue for some air. There could be others trying to catch a break just like you are. Just be careful not to overhear anything you shouldn't be listening to.

4) ASSIGNMENT.
You've come here for a reason. There's a target you've been assigned to tail or neutralize, or something valuable you have to pilfer from an estate. Infiltrating through the garden seems like your best bet for remaining undetected. If you're lucky, everything will go as planned. And if not, have fun getting away unscathed.

5) GARDEN WORK.
You've been tasked with fixing up the garden in some way, whether it means planting new things or tending to what's already there. Are you slacking off on your duties or hard at work?

6) TRAGEDY.
The garden is merely the stage for a disaster. The birds and insects have gone silent; another threat lies hidden amidst the foliage. Someone is hunting you—or you, them. Is that the smell of smoke and the beginnings of a fire? Perhaps this will be the setting of a cataclysmic battle.

7) SOMETHING DIFFERENT.
What started as an ordinary stroll through the garden has turned into something else entirely. There's something unearthly about this place, like you've stepped into a different world. Perhaps it's a gateway to another realm, or you've otherwise stumbled across some mythical secret. Or, alternatively, you aren't really in a garden—you're just here in a dream.

8) OTHER.
Anything else you can think of!

— setting prompts

A) PARK / BOTANICAL GARDEN.
The garden is part of a well-maintained park with a large variety of plants. There's a pond somewhere lined with a series of willows. Sometimes, geese, ducks, and other waterfowl pass through.

B) PALACE GARDEN.
If there's a magnificent palace, it stands to reason that the garden is just as beautiful, right? Think countless species of flowers, beautifully maintained trees, fish ponds with gorgeous water lilies, butterflies fluttering in the distance.

C) FIELD OF FLOWERS.
It's not quite an actual garden, but if you go to a field of flowers, you could make a wreath. Or flower crowns, if that's more of your thing. There could be four-leaf clovers hidden among the wildflowers.

D) MAZE.
Hedge mazes can be fun sometimes, right? Maybe there's a legend to go alongside it: if you and your beloved start at opposite ends of the maze and meet again in the center, your love will be eternal.

E) SHADED GARDEN.
There's a walkway lined with flowering trees. A shaded area with a gazebo, a table, a set of chairs. Today could be a fine day for some tea or coffee. You could host a little garden party.

F) GREENHOUSE.
It's warm in the greenhouse and long rows of plants line every available surface inside. Are you tending to the plants or looking to make a purchase?

G) HOUSE GARDEN.
It's nothing spectacular, but you have your own little garden that you've been taking care of, growing flowers and vegetables and anything else that strikes your whimsy.

H) WINTER GARDEN.
With the cold weather, the flowers have withered and the trees lie dormant, their barren branches coated in frost. Snow covers the grass and lines the benches; a hush has fallen over this place. Are those footprints in the snow? Have you come here for a purpose?

I) OTHER.
Anything else you can think of!

meme by sockupo.

Comments

jannah || star wars || ota

[uprising_storm]

[ooc; gen okay but prefer shippy more.]

[videostore]

[ the warm sun, food, and maybe some hand holding action? ]

[uprising_storm]

[ooc; yeah,that sounds great!]

[videostore]

[ the garden is perfect - the right temperature, birds singing throughout the air, flowers blossoming. steve rolls out a blanket, then sits cross-legged. he cracks open a soda, then nods near him, small smile spreading across his lips. ]

C'mon, it's pretty out here.

[uprising_storm]

[What Jannah appreciates the most is how peaceful it is, what she thinks may be a rarity when the rest of the world seems to be moving so quickly. But she doesn't find it much of a hardship at all to tear her attention away from the breeze and the birds and the feel of sunlight of her face to turn her gaze to Steve.

Steve, who has invited her out on this perfect afternoon, who's brought the blanket and the drinks and doesn't mind teaching her things most people consider common knowledge and never makes fun of her for it.

Teases, yes, but never in a mean-spirited way. There's no one she'd rather be here with, and Jannah hopes that's obvious in how easily she returns Steve's smile and takes him up on the offer to sit, stretching her legs out in front of her with a contented sigh.

At the risk of sounding cliche ... ]

So. You come here often?

[Nailed it.]

[videostore]

[ steve likes jannah. she's smart, she's funny, and she's someone steve can see spending much more time with. he likes telling her whatever she wants to know, eyes always on her while she speaks. he listens, he understands, and they've had a few moments of sweetness. steve hears the question, long legs stretched and crossed at the ankle. his eyes blink slowly, then he laughs, but not to attack. he sits up a bit, then smiles broadly again. ]

That's a pickup line here.

[ another laugh, but jannah has his full attention. he offers her a drink, then shakes his head gently. ]

You just flirted with me. Where's a cameraman? We need to document this moment.

[uprising_storm]

[It's been a surprise, this whole ... thing with Steve, but a most welcome one. It's just nice to have a friend instead of feeling so unmoored. Jannah can't begin to know if this can be home, but at the very least, she doesn't feel quite so out of place when they're together.

It's got to count for something, right?

She isn't put off in the slightest by his laughter - she can tell the difference between derision and amusement, and when Steve laughs like he is right now, it's always the latter. Maybe it's a little greedy, but Jannah really likes Steve's laugh. And Steve's smile.

And Steve.

It's easy to return the smile without thinking, and then accept the offered drink, although she doesn't yet take a sip. Not before doing a little teasing of her own.]

You've taught me well.

[videostore]

[ you've taught me well. a lone finger gun is pointed at jannah, and with a click of his teeth, he winks. another smile blossoms, and he sips his drink, one elbow holding him up. he glances at jannah, swallowing, and he tilts his head. he likes her, he likes her company. she's a sweetheart, and teaching her the ways of planet earth has been fun. he loves telling her things, and she's such a good listener that steve sometimes feels guilty. he loves hearing about her life, and it's all so interesting that he can't wait to spend time with her when they're apart. ]

You'll be a regular flirt machine soon.

[ it isn't condescending, but playful. he elbows her knee a little, then sits properly up. he looks in the basket and nabs a sandwich and a box of crackers. he hands jannah the sandwich, then digs more for his own. ]

I'm starving. I threw these together this morning.

[ a sheepish, near-shy smile and a quick flash of pink cheeks frames steve's face as he looks over at jannah. he stares for a little too long, he realizes, but then decides to save it: ]

I can help you. Plastic wrap is kind of tricky.

[ good one, harrington. ]

[uprising_storm]

You say that as if there are very many people I'd even want to flirt with.

[There's not.

Maybe just one in particular.

And maybe she's already here with that person.

She finds Steve charming, so there's no rolling her eyes at the finger gun or the wink. If Jannah feels a little warmth in the pit of her belly, well, she'll just keep that to herself, is what she'll do. It's not uncomfortable in the slightest, just odd. And new. He's always so patient with her, and more than willing to help her learn everything she needs to know in order to navigate the new space she occupies. It's a good dynamic, what they have. Seems selfish of her to indulge in the growing want for more.

She'd just end up monopolizing all of his time, and the last thing she wants is for this man to get tired of her.

Thankfully, he seems to be anything but as he teases her, and then hands over the food he's prepared. It doesn't have to be fancy, the fact that he'd thought of her and taken the time to make enough for her is enough, and she thanks him while smiling brightly.]

Looks good. I can't wait to dig in.

[If she's aware that his eyes linger a little longer than necessary, she doesn't bring it up, but her cheeks heat up, and she glances at her hands until he makes the comment about plastic wrap, which makes her laugh, a long, loud, pleased noise.]

I appreciate it. Is it harder than the self-heating meals I grew up on?

[She already knows the answer, but shh.]

[videostore]

Hm, there might be. You never know. Flirting is fun, anyway.

[ jannah is a breath of fresh air, as long as steve's concerned. she's kind, she's funny, and steve enjoys his time with her. he's made sure that she's informed, but there's fun to it. when they're eating ice cream down at the shop, steve makes sure to explain any and everything in animated detail - hands waving, eyes widening, his ice cream melting as he talks about this, that, and other things. she's perfect, and steve has to admit that he's developed a crush, something that he can't stop. his heart flutters when he sees her - the way she looks at him makes him smile, always.

he hopes that she likes spending time with him like this. steve feels a short prick of insecurity, but he gets past it quicker than it came. if she didn't, she wouldn't be here. they wouldn't be eating sandwiches, laughing at each other, or even staring for a little too long. steve smiles, bright, sweet. he knows it's just a sandwich, but he's glad that jannah is here, glad she's about to eat something, as steve worries. maybe the jokes about him being a mom are correct. jannah asks about the self-heating meals, and steve's brows jump, eyes trained on her. he's never heard of that, but it makes sense. in space, it seems like all necessities are taken care of in a way. he's seen star trek. it makes sense for things to work out that way. ]

Yeah, I can't even imagine what that tasted like. This is just a sandwich, but you might like it? I did turkey and cheese.

[ steve feels a little bashful at that admission, so he rubs the back of his neck. he then nods at the sandwich wrapping. he wants to help her, wants to do it for her, but he also wants to see how she does it. he doesn't want to push, but there are times when she learns and steve practically feels as if he's soaring. ]

Give it a shot.

[uprising_storm]

I'll take your word for it, at least until I get more practice.

[Oh, the ice cream days are her favorites. There are so many flavors to try and it seems like each other is better than the last. Mostly, though, Jannah enjoys Steve's company and conversation. She doesn't feel like she's taking without giving even though there is so much for him to explain, not when she can find commonalities with her own experiences and relate them to whatever they're speaking about. Or when those experiences are markedly different and she can share them with Steve, her rapt audience.

It's so easy to lose track of time when they're together. It's so easy to be honest with him without being scared of what he might think. He simply accepts her for who she is, no strings attached.

Clearly, he doesn't find her too needy or helpless, or like she's taking up too much of his precious time. They wouldn't be here if he felt that way, sharing food and drink and talking about anything and everything that comes to mind.

She laughs as she works at unwrapping the sandwich carefully, rubbing the plastic wrap between her fingertips just to test it out, to get used to the feeling.]

It's got to be better than those meals. We were just troopers, you know? Not worth a meal that tasted of anything pleasant. They were mostly just meant to give us vitamins and nutrients. This looks far tastier, anyway. There are actual textures!

[She does glance up then, catch the way Steve rubs at his neck and recognizes it for the anxiety that it is. In an attempt to distract and divert, she asks - ]

What other types of sandwiches can you make, anyway?

ten years later i'm so SORRY.

[videostore]

Practice makes perfect, though like. Flirting isn't perfect. It's just going off of the way someone else goes for it. For example - if I were to tell you, right now, that you're insanely pretty - what would you say?

[ a chance, one thrown into the wild, one that helps his nerves as jannah looks at him with those gorgeous eyes. steve smiles again, this time in a flirty way, a wink offered to jannah with a click of his tongue. he's flirting, no doubt about that, as he watches her unwrap her sandwich. his eyes hit the cling wrap, how she handles it. it's strange, knowing these things, but he often feels like he takes things for granted.

with jannah here, steve feels comfortable, he feels at home in his own skin. there's no popularity to be had, no king steve to worry about. he's just him, she's just her, and together - they've been unstoppable, so why stop now? steve laughs, reaching forward to test the cling wrap she takes off. he rubs it between his fingers, the crinkling sound making him laugh again. ]

See? Weird. It sticks to everything.

[ when jannah speaks about being a trooper, steve listens, giving a nod of understanding. while he's not going to pretend he gets what jannah's saying, as he's never been in that situation, there's sympathy for a life that wasn't jannah's own. he's glad she's here, that she's taken this step. he's proud of her, in so many ways. ]

That sounds disgusting. Sorry, but it does. Here, you can have whatever you want, sandwiches? Yes. Ice cream? Oh yeah.

[ steve smiles at her question, head tipping to the side before he gazes down at his own wrapped sandwich. he rotates it in his hand. ]

Oh, all kinds. There are savory ones, like this, then sweet like peanut butter and jelly.