video/action:

[charring]

[It's video. On purpose. Charlie's making sure it's done on purpose. She's on the roof of her building and she's filming a row of large, white buckets with dirt in them. And there are green things poking out of the dirt. Some of the buckets have green sticks poking out and with the way the green plants are carefully tied to the green sticks, they're for support.

There's a row of smaller bucket with the same dirt-and-plant combination, some of the plants with small flowers on them.]

This took way too long to do. But, thank God my landlady was cool with this. I have to share some of the strawberries when they grow and some of the tomatoes, too but that's fine. Haven't had a garden in forever and figured I needed one.

[There's more shots of the rooftop garden, even a brief glimpse of a few big coffee cans on a table, again plants-and-dirt and they're labeled things like 'chives', 'oregano', 'parsley', 'thyme' and 'dill'. Someone's been having fun on the roof.] Oh! Also...

[And then the camera is pointing at strands of various lights hung on a frame. The sun is setting so the effect of the white lights on the sky is pretty neat.] These were so cheap to by after Christmas and the frame was already up here. What it was before, I don't know. I just saw the frame and suddenly wanted lights.

[And the camera turns again and there is Charlie on a long, cloth lawn chair. There's an old looking bedside table next to her. It has a couple books and a soda on it. There's a blanket on the back of the chair and the flicker-glow of a nearby fire. And Charlie is grinning.]

Worth every second of work.

[End feed.]

Comments

[othersdie]

It looks good.

[charring]

It's lookin' fantastic. Very relaxing up here.

[othersdie]

I imagine.

[It looks more relaxing than being at work.]

You didn't strike me as a plant enthusiast.

[charring]

I used to live on a farm so I kind of missed being surrounded by green things. Xanadu is awesome, but I wanted something of my own.

[othersdie]

[He nods.] It's not the same if you don't grow it yourself. I had a greenhouse at home.

[conesoldstober]

Have a bit of a green thumb, have you?

[charring]

I like to think so. Or pretend so. Whichever.

[conesoldstober]

It seems to be turning out alright.

[charring]

Thanks. Wanna come see it?

action - he's so landing there

[beyourarmy]

[He might be strong and determined, but Setsuna still gets tired. He doesn't really notice much about the roof he's landing on until he's actually there and it's hard NOT to notice.]

What the-? It's like a miniature garden. [He flaps his wings a little, then settles them, staring about in curiosity.]

action: YAY!

[charring]

[Charlie's seated on one of the lawn chairs. Well, still seated. She hasn't exactly moved much except to go downstairs to get a bag of marshmallows and some skewers. Setsuna gets a smile.]

That's because it is. We have Xanadu, sure. But I wanted something of my own. Hi, Setsuna.

action:

[beyourarmy]

[He startles for a second, THEN bothers to realize she's there.]

Hey.... It's the bagel lady. You live here? Uh...in the apartment building, I mean. Though, I used to live in the garden. [He says that absently, not thinking about it much. It wasn't really him.]

action:

[charring]

[She grins, nodding once.] I live a few floors down, yeah. Settling in okay>

action;

[candothat]

[It was only a matter of time before Chekov's (incredibly thorough) exploration of the twelfth apartment building brought him to the rooftop. He's quite happy to see Charlie there--the ticking has been growing tiresome--and not the least bit surprised to find a garden of sorts.

The seventeen year-old also seems even more energetic than usual today. Surely the City didn't give him 3.14 times more energy...]

Charlie! Hello! [Chekov is quick to inspect all of the labels, the lights, and the lawn chairs.] I did not know that you were moving up here.

action;

[charring]

Not moving up here. Just wanted to make it pretty. [She's watching Pavel, almost amused.] Feeling alright, Pavel?

[If he's cursed with 3.14 times more energy, she's going to laugh.]

action;

[candothat]

That was a joke. [beat] Not a very good one. But it would not be so bad, living up here, especially at night.

[Inspection complete, he becomes slightly more subdued.]

Yes! No. I do not want to complain, so yes in most ways. Are you well?

action;

[charring]

I'm bad with humor, anyway, so I'm sure it was a fine joke. [She really does miss most people's humorous moments. It's kind of awkward. She tilts her head to the empty lawn chair, inviting him to sit.]

Yes in most ways is still good. And...yeah, I'm alright. Got my hide-out fixed exactly as I want it so, I'm doing awesome.

[Video]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

That's... really quite pretty.

[Video]

[charring]

Come visit. It looks better in person.

[Video]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

I was just about to ask.

[Then he'll just happily be on his way!]

[action]

[charring]

[She'll be on the roof, roasting marshmallows. There's stuff for s'mores on a tray nearby. Figured it'd be cool if she could introduce Merlin to such things.]

[ Video ]

[latenightfondue]

It's looking good, sweetheart. Never knew you were much'a gardener.

[ As he pops onto the screen, Howard is entering a building, the entrance doors closing behind him, and he climbs up the stairs. ]

Y'ain't too comfortable, are you? 'Cause unless your door's unlocked you might wanna let me in.

[ Video ]

[charring]

I can get up. I'm all the way on the roof, though. I can meet you at my place in a couple minutes.

[She's getting up already. Lena always has time for Howard. The roof access door squeaks open and shuts behind Charlie and the video shuts off as she heads downstairs. She'll be at her door a few seconds after Howard gets there.]

[ Video | Action ]

[latenightfondue]

[ He beams into the device, eyebrows giving a teasing wiggle, and then switches his own off, tucks it away as he climbs the stairs up the building.

Howard knocks at the door a few minutes later, cheeks slightly flushed from the exercise, and breath a little hitched. ]

[ Action ]

[charring]

[Charlie answers the door, grinning as usual and waving excitedly.] Hi! Come on in. I need to put shoes on.

[Petrichor is peeking out from behind Charlie's leg, watching Howard. There's a mostly destroyed catnip mouse in his mouth. Charlie glances down and sighs, shaking her head.] Really, Petrichor? I just got you that four days ago.