lilac_eyed_lieutenant | The Gardens; Athoek Station, Thursday Morning [07/01 FT].

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The Gardens; Athoek Station, Thursday Morning [07/01 FT].

Things had been sort of a whirlwind since they'd arrived at Athoek Station a few days ago, and Tisarwat wouldn't have had it any other way. There had been an incredible amount of things to catch up on, both political and social, and she had to balance that with entertaining a guest, to make sure Lucille didn't feel too overwhelmed or excluded or relegated to the sidelines, and she wouldn't have had it any other way. After so long, it just felt good to be back in familiar territory, to start building back up what had crumbled a little from being away, and just to feel like she was actually doing something worthwhile again. She felt like she'd been going non-stop, and probably would have happily continued to do so, but she also knew that it was important every once in a while to slow down, to breathe, and even when making time for a quiet respite in the Gardens, there were still a few things at work underneath it all.

Of course she wanted to show Lucille the Gardens. It would be quiet, they could have a little time to themselves, it would be a place where Lucille might feel a little less out of place for a while, especially before they headed up to Mercy of Kalr.

And it was the place where Tisarwat was most likely to find Basnaaid, who she hadn't seen yet, and who she was sort of holding back from seeking out. She didn't exactly run in Tisarwat's social circles, and rushing right into finding her would earn Breq's immediate disapproval.

But they were finally making it to the Gardens, and if they just so happened to run into the horticulturalist behind it all while they were there, well...

Tisarwat paused on the bridge arching over one of the main ponds, fed from an intricate waterfall trickling down the rocks behind them, as she leaned over on the railing to look out over all the bursts of flowers in the green foilage, while fat and colorful fish darted in the water below. She then turned a smile toward Lucille.

"I wish you could have seen it before," she said. "Then you could really see how impressive all of this really is."

Sure, there were definitely a few spots that didn't seem fully recovered from when things went a bit...awry, but Tisarwat doubted anyone who didn't know what to look for would even be able to tell.

[[ for the esteemed aforementioned guest, anyone else on the station, or, really, anyone who might want to try to get in touch! and NFB for distance, obvs~~ ]]

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"It is a garden floating in space, with a glass dome and living quarters beneath it," Lucille said. "How could it not be impressive?"

A lot of things here had been impressive, and the culture very different. She had also seen a side to Tisarwat that she had been unaware of, the side that was sociable and good at making connections with the right people. She was still unsure how that made her feel.

The response made Tisarwat grin fondly, looking over at Lucille with an appreciation for her ~~uncivilized~~ unique perspective on what was mostly just familiar to her. "I guess it's easy to take things like that for granted," she mused, "even after so long on Earth."

Her lilac eyes then left Lucille, to drift upwards, toward the dome, unable to help remembering when it cracked and wondering if they'd replaced it with something thicker this time, or what other precautions may have been considered.

Then she let out a soft, unrelated laugh, looking back to Lucille. "It's not making you miss your flower shop yet, is it?"

"No," Lucille said. "I do care about the shop more than I expected to, but this is nothing like it."

She paused and turned her head to look at Tisarwat. "Do you have a favourite place here?"

Tisarwat looked around a little, taking note of some of the things that had changed, and just sort of smiled contentedly.

"Probably right here," she admitted. "It's the best spot to sort of see everything. But...there were a few quieter spots, more private, that were really good for just...sitting, and talking with someone, a little more intimate, where you weren't so noticable to the public eye. Maybe we could go see if any of them are still there."

The words 'private', 'more intimate' and 'not so noticeable to the public eye' made Lucille blush slightly.

"Let us see if we can find them, then," she said, lightly resting her hand on Tisarwat's arm.

It was always encouraging when your particular choice of words had the exact effect on someone that you were aiming for. Tisarwat ducked her head almost shyly at the hand on her arm, before tilting it toward the path winding around a large flowering bush, and moving away from the bridge toward it.

"There should be a nice bench right around here..."

But as she turned around the bend, she stopped almost abruptly.

"Oh! There's Basnaaid. The horticulturialist."

Of course Tisarwat expected they'd stumble across her eventually. It was inevitable. But she didn't think it would be so soon after they'd arrived.

Her attention shifted back to Lucille beside her. "Should I introduce you? Maybe she's not too busy."

Lucille had been introduced to quite a few people since they arrived, but judging from Tisarwat's reaction, Basnaaid was someone more important to her than most of them, and besides, saying no would have been rude.

"Please," she said. "I would love to meet her. So she is a horticulturalist here?"

Tisarwat nodded. "This," she said, with a gesture toward the gardens as if it needed the extra distinction, "is all mostly her work. She's very passionate about what she does, though I'm sure that's obvious. I think you'll like her."

Everyone did.

Tisarwat passed over a grin. "The two of you can share tips and trade secrets."

"I think her knowledge of the subject surpasses mine," Lucille said, smiling back. "But please, let us talk to her."

By now, Basnaaid would have noticed them, as well, so the horticulturist's attention was on them as they approached. Tisarwat gestured a greeting and smiled. "Hello, Basnaaid," she said, and, even with her imagining this reuinion in her head so many times, she couldn't keep a faint wistfulness out of her voice. "It's been a while."

"Lieutenant Tisarwat," Basnaaid nodded, smiled faintly in response. "I heard you and Lieutenant Seivarden were back on the station."

"It must be quiet around here lately," Tisarwat said, "for news like that to travel so fast. But it's good to see you. This is Lucille," she gestured her way. "She's from Earth, the planet where I've been stationed."

"It is a pleasure to meet you," Lucille said, smiling at Basnaaid. "Tisarwat has told me this garden is your work. I could never imagine one could build a garden in space."

"I have a crew that does a lot of the work," said Basnaaid, but there was no denying a small bit of pride in her voice. "And it's really all just standard practice these days."

"Basnaaid's modesty," Tisarwat interjected to inform Lucille, "is clearly one of her greatest charms." And, before the compliment could manage to embarrass anyone, her next statement shifted toward Basnaaid, "Lucille here actually owns a flower shop on Earth, so the two of you have some common ground."

"Oh?" asked Basnaiid, attention shifting toward Lucille as well. "Are you a horticulturalist as well?"

"Oh no," Lucille said. "I merely do my best to keep them alive until someone buys them. I had never expected to own a flower shop, but I find I enjoy it."

She also enjoyed the attention, she found, and that they did have a shared interest, even if Basnaaid was clearly the expert.

"Would you like to show me one of your favourite plants?"

Basnaaid seemed to hesitate, her eyes considering the garden and the amount of work she had to do that was not getting done right now, but she nodded.

"Of course," she said. "It's hard to pick a favorite, but the hydrangeas we planted recently have just started to bloom, and their color array has been a pleasant surprise. Let me show you."

She supposed walking that way would also afford the chance to point out other things, although it seemed Tisarwar was already doing so, unable to help commenting on the things that had been changed in the reconstruction.

"I received some beautiful pink hydrangeas in the last delivery to my shop," Lucille said, following Basnaaid. "I took an arrangement with them home to our apartment, but then ~~handwavily~~ gave them to a friend before we left, although I admit I appreciate withered flowers too."

She added: "Having them grow in what looks like the wild is different though."

"Ours are mostly blue right now," Basnaaid said, which would be evident as they were now making their way into a thoughtfully landscaped section of them, spaced out among benches and other well-matched bushes and shrubs. From the sound of it, they weren't too far away from a fountain of sorts either, though it was not visible from where they were. "Maybe I should bring in some pink, as well. It's nice to keep a variety, keeps people interested to see what colours are around each week."

"I still stand by my request for more purple," said Tisarwat, with a grin, because of course she had to.

"Then you'll have to be sure to find the violets before you leave," Basnaaid noted. "And some of the lavender closer to the dome."

"Lavender? It is a favourite of mine," Lucille said. "The scent is very calming."

Was it odd that she felt almost a little intimidated by Basnaaid? She shouldn't, really, and when she noticed she blushed slightly.

"The quality is not quite the same as what you might get planet-side," Basnaaid noted, almost as if in apology, "but it suits the station well."

"Maybe we can convince Fleet Captain," Tisarwat mused, "for a trip down to Athoek at some point, too." She smiled over at Lucille. "Then we can compare. And I always have wanted to have the tea there."

"It's the same tea as on the station," Basnaaid pointed out.

"But it's not really the same," Tisarwat countered, amused, "is it?"

"Either way," Lucille said, "I wouldn't mind seeing the planet, although I understand shuttle travel can be unpleasant. Or is that just to other ships?"

"Do you grow tea in here as well?"

"I've yet to meet a shuttle to anywhere that actually agreed with me," Tisarwat admitted, hand to her stomach and a roll of her lilac eyes for emphasis.

Basnaaid's smile seemed a little indulgent in response, as most of her attention went back to Lucille. "Not here," she said. "It's much more difficult to grow tea on a ship, and it would be foolish to compete with the quality you can get on the planet. There's definitely no shortage of it around here."

There was a pause, a consideration for manners versus work needed to be done.

"Would you like some?" Basnaaid asked. "We keep some in the workhouse. Nothing fancy, of course, but good for a nice break."

"Thank you. I would love some tea," Lucille said, after a quick glance at Tisarwat. Her impression so har was that that was the appropriate answer, which went well with actually wanting to have tea with Basnaaid.

"Perhaps you could tell us more about your plans for the garden while we drink it."

Tisarwat considered both of them carefully before saying, "Of course, we wouldn't want to intrude. I'm sure you must be very busy."

To which Basnaaid responded with the expected, "Oh, no, not too busy at all" despite the fact that she did, in fact, have s lot of work to do. "Let's head that way.

"Do you have any particular favorite flowers, Lucille?" Basnaaid then asked. "Although I'm sure this...Earth? Has many different kinds we might not have heard of."

Or a shocking amount of the same kinds, too.

"I am very fond of white lilies," Lucille said. "Do you have those? On Earth they are used both at weddings and funerals, which perhaps seems odd, but to me it makes sense."

Lucille hadn't figured out yet that 'wedding' might need an explanation here.

And, sure enough, a curious look passed over Basnaaid's face. "Weddings?" she asked, her question hanging there as if she was unsure if it was better to pose it to Tisarwat or her guest for the explanation.

"A type of union," Tisarwat supplied, both eager to help and to seem knowledgable, "usually between two people. Earthlings tend to be monogamous in their relationships."

"You don't marry?" Lucille asked. "At all?"

She had never considered the possibility that might not be the case, but of course, with all the differences between their cultures it shouldn't be a surprise, really.

"So, as weddings are supposed to be about love and virginity, the connection with funerals is a bit unexpected."

"It's sort of like exchanging certain pins," Tisarwat offered helpfully when the confused curiosity remained on Basnaaid's face. "In fact, rings are usually involved, too, aren't they?"

"We have pins for loved ones, alive and dead," Basnaaid said, with a hand momentarily on the ones she wore, "so maybe the connection isn't that strange at all.

"Either way," they had approached a small building tangled up in the growth of the garden, and she gestured toward a bench, "please, have a seat. I'll be out with the tea in a moment."

"Rings are involved," Lucille confirmed, smiling. "So that is why everyone wears pins? I assumed they were just popular jewellery."

She sat down on the bench, arranging her skirts, and then, as Basnaaid disappeared to get the tea, she said to Tisarwat:

"I never expected to end up taking an interest in plants, and I certainly never expected to discuss the subject with a horticulturalist in a garden in space."

She added: "Do you know each other well?"

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The Gardens; Athoek Station, Thursday Morning [07/01 FT].

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