7385/Garden Greeting

Garden Greeting
Date of Scene:	15 August 2021
Location:	The Gardens
Synopsis:	Small scene where people meet and chat.
Cast of Characters:	Clarice Ferguson, Rahne Sinclair, Dyani Zitkala

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Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Honestly - how many place can offer a better view than the Asteroid's Garden? There really aren't many. So Clarice, still intent on getting to know her sister better and building positive memories with her has decided to have 'A Garden Party.' That's a thing, right? ... Alright, it's just your average, run of the mill picnic, to be honest. But she has a blanket laid out on the grass with sandwiches from the cafeteria, along with other picnic foods - potato salad, macaroni salad, and a heaping helping of chips with various dips. There's also a cooler of ice with water and juice and a few different sodas.
    All of this she got set up before she went to get Rahne.
    "She said she had some homework to work on, but I figure she needs to take a break for lunch, yeah? I told her to meet me here - we're moving into our new quarters later..." Lots of eager, nervous energy from Clarice, as she beams at the smaller figure beside.

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Rahne nibbles on a cookie as she listens. She's started eating more lately, something she isn't entirely sure about, but nobody has called her on it. She swallows then looks around, bumping her hip against Clarice's. "Be there chicken?" she asks, her tummy becoming unhappy with her in a general fashion.

Then she looks around, hoping to see the new girl. "Hey...what does she look like?" she asks, maybe a little quietly. She's a bit frightned to meet newgirl 1.0.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
It was rare to find a teenager actually interested in school, but Cynthia was. Although her education came over the computer, she was very serious about learning. Her hard work had paid off as she was in all advance classes, some even college level. She still didn't know full what she wanted to do with her life after high school, but her advanced classes in mathematics and science leaned toward something in the sciences.

A glance at the clock told her it was time for a break, so she closed out and saved the files, set the screen saver and headed out the door to the garden. Along the way she pulled her jacket from thing air, the Asteroid was colder than she was used to. Living in tropics makes you used to warm and rain, not space bound asteroids, but she was adjusting.

Stepping out of the elevator and into the garden, she took a deep breath of the more natural air and visibly relaxed. Wide open spaces were preferred. Spotting her sister with another woman, she immediately put on her, 'Honest, I'm really lovable' smile and walked that way.

"Afternoon," she offered once she was in range. "Picnic in the garden?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I can have chicken sent up?" Clarice suggests. "I mean - one of the sandwiches is a turkey sandwich, though, if that works?"
    Solicitous concern over wanting to meet Rahne's needs quickly changes into a broad smile of greeting as Cynthia arrives and is welcomed with a cheerful, "Cynthia!" This level of joy was still a strange feeling for her, but she hoped it'll last forever. "Yeah, if that's alright? I brought up sandwiches and things. We might be sending down for some chicken though? Umm - Rahne, this is Cynthia. Cynthia, this is Rahne. She's, umm-" Oh, God, they never did define things - did they? "...I like her," she offers a bit awkwardly.

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
"Ah swear, ahm always hungry," Rahne says. But she tosses that concern aside as she sees the group upgrade to three. She alt tabs and adds to party, then gets her brain working again and grins! Raising her hand high she waves enthusiastically!

Without a word she's defined herself almost entirely. Then she opens her mouth and ruins it. "Come eat! An sit. Or both. Did ye hae homework?" She sounds so funky.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Looking over the food Cynthia smiles brightly and licks her lips.

"This is perfect Clare, stop worrying so much!" She plops down on the blanket across from the two, still eyeing the food and trying to decide what she'll have.

"I finished the first three classes of homework, still have three more classes to go." She finally looked up, offering Rahne a smile. "It's nice to meet you Rahne."

Cornbeef sandwich on rye, with swiss cheese and lots of mayo, that is the winner. She takes a plate to put it on, then adds just a little potato salad beside it. "So um... you like her? Like... like-like, or just like?" Cynthia wasn't speaking in code, she was speaking teenager, good luck.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
5t"I, well, like her a lot...?" Clarice offers a bit uncertainly as she settles onto the blanket next to her sister, offering Rahne one of the plates, and letting her choose a sandwhich if she wants one - while she opens up some of the dips. There's a package of artechoke jalapeno dip that she digs into eagerly. "Honestly, we're still figuring it out," she adds, grinning at Cynthia. "I'm figuring out a lot of things lately - but that's a good thing. Yeah?"
    She leeeeeans over so she can pull out a ginger soda from the cooler of drinks - blinking the cap away with a tap of her finger.

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Rahne doesn't talk for a moment. If one were to look they'd see that she's engulfed a sandwich almost without chewing. She has a second one in her left hand, and has the grace to look embarrased. "Sorry," she mumbles. "Am bein' starvin' all day."

She licks a crumb off of her fingertip, then says, "We ate sandwiches together an' kissed." Then she takes another bite of food. "Laird, am not normally like this! Claire, do ye ha' anyone ye like?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Cynthia has just taken a bite of her sandwich when Rahne asked Claire if she has someone she likes. The question made no sense to her, since Clarice has /just/ said she like-liked Rahne. Chewing up the bites, she reaches for a ginger soda and repeats the same motion her sister did, only when she touches the top of the can, there is a tiny puff of purple and the top is gone.

"Uh... didn't she just say she like-liked you? You two hadn't defined what you are yet?" She offers after taking a drink. "I mean, I didn't just make that up in my head did I?"

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "I think she meant to ask you," Clarice says wryly, giving Rahne a nudge with her shoulder. "Cynthia, Rahne," she reminds the other woman, before taking another sip of her soda. "...But I'm curious, too. What about Pete?" she asks. "Just friends, or...?" She gives her sister an encouraging smile, before digging up more of the dip to enjoy. Mmm. Crunchy, creamy, salty, spicy.... What's not to like?

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Open mouth, insert foot. Rahne tries again, with "Cynthia. Am pure sorry, Cynthia nor Claire. Ah'm stupid." She looks at the top of the soda, tilting her head a tiny but with hesitant curiosity. "Did ye jus' make et..." She pauses, then moves her fingers magically. "Poof?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Cynthia frowns, setting the plate down.

"You aren't stupid, why would you say that? Clearly you've got Clare on the brain, and that's just great!" She offers Rahne a smile before taking another sip of her soda.

"Pete's just a friend. He's gay, and I'm his beard." She says this with no hesitation or embarrassment. "Besides, I think I'm a lesbian. Have yet to see a guy that didn't make me want to poof his parts into my pocket."

Grabbing a chip she tries out Clarice's favorite dip, "Oh wow," she mumbles through the food in her mouth. "That's really good."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "You're his beard?" No, Clarice is not up on the 'lingo.' Her puzzlement soon melts into a big grin at Cynthia's reaction to the dip, though. "Isn't it, though? We never got anything like this in the-" She changes directions on that abruptly saying instead, "Growing up. I don't, after I was freed, I just- I really like chips and dip. Any of them. But this is a favorite."
    She digs up another scoop as she adds, "Sooner or later I'll introduce you to Mister Creed, too," she offers. "But it's alright if you don't care for him much. He can be a bit gruff - with most people."
    Her attention shifts to Rahne as she adds, "Cynthia's power seems to be similar to mine but where as I send people and things //to// a place she just... sends things away. And stores them... somewhere. Nowhere."

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Rahne doesn't know what a beard is. Her dad had a beard, and nothing in that made sense so she focuses on what she does know. "Intae her pocket, ah ken," she offers from available data.

She's already blushing a little as she's told compliments, her normal self unused to them. While they're talking though she eats another two sandwiches, not sure about the chips exactly.

"I like some guys," she says, trying to keep up with the convo. "Es nae abou' th' parts for me. Es who you are." Pause, then she says, "Am a werewolf."

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Picking the plate back up, Cynthia takes another bite of her sandwich as the two women talk. How do they not know?

"Uh... a beard is a woman who pretends to be a gay man's girlfriend so other people think he's straight," she explains, then another sip.

Looking over to Rahne she adds, "See, most the guys I've met aren't worth the time of day. You say it's who they are, well then sum it up, they're shit. The threat to their parts is just cause... well that's what they're thinking with." She shrugs. "I ain't looking to jump in bed with some moronic teenaged hormone."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    "Yes, well, any guy who tried something I didn't like I could send to visit the cold vaccum of space," Clarice remarks simply - before glancing aside at Rahne. "Err - I mean, I could. But I'd probably just drop them in the nearest lake." Or possibly the farthest lake. Hey asshole - fancy a trip to Tibet?
    "So if you're his beard - then is he sort of your beard, too? How do you say that in reverse?" she asks with puzzlement, claiming one of the sandwiches to nibble at finally, rather than simply eating chips, dip, and soda.
    As tempting as that may be.

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
But Rahne is looking at Clarice for a moment. If it's about who you are, then she's admiring who Clarice is right this moment, and smiling like she loves what she sees.

She seems to shake off the effect after a moment, then nods and looks at Cynthia. "Es fair," she says, clearly not wanting an argument. She listens, she lets herself be quiet. She kind of feels better like that sometimes.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Cynthia looks between the two as they are looking at each other, so much looking. She sees it, the expression on Rahne's face, and knows exactly what it is, which makes her smile go huge.

"Oh uh," she stammers, looking away to her plate so she's not staring. "It's the same term, male or female. He's my beard, I mean if I'm a lesbian, which I think I am given I think Rahne is hawt."

Getting a fork, she scoops up some of the potato salad. "I'm not trying to pick up on you," she mumbles through the bite, then finally chews and swallows it. "Just saying, yeah... hawt."

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
And suddenly Rahne is choking on half of a sandwich, as she tries to fail at the simple acts of breathing in and out.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice blinks at her sister in surprise, then looks at Rahne, then back at her sister... She's a strange mix of conflicting emotions for the moment. Defensive and possessive - those are definitely there. The urge to get between Cynthia and Rahne.
    But- this is her sister. Her //sister//. And, well, she did say she's not trying to 'pick up on her.' Right? So that means- it's fine? All of this is fine?
    "Uhhh..."
    For a moment she doesn't know how to respond so she goes with what is always a good response. Change topics! Deflect, and redirect!
    "I got you both presents!" she exclaims, digging down to the very bottom of the basket of food where she'd hidden... three jewelry boxes. Two are long and thin - to hold bracelets. One is more square shaped - to hold a necklace. "I... well. Here." She sets one of the bracelet boxes in front of Cynthia without checking the contents, and the necklace is set in front of Rahne.

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Give that Rahne has to handle her oxygen supply for a moment, she seems to finally decide that she's had enough to eat for a while, putting down the remnants of her sandwich. She breathes, hand on her tummy, and looks both horribly embarrased and confused as hell.

She manages a squeaky, "Thank ye?" in Cynthia's direction, then finds herself presented with ..something. Something something.

She looks at her box, then actually sniffs at it one time. She's still blinking a little bit fast, her attempt at self-murder having mostly passed. Then she looks up at Clarice with a shy smile. "Yours first then," she nudges Cynthia.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Cynthia tries not to laugh at Rahne's attempt to kill herself with food, or at Clarice's inability to decide how she will react... it was her face, how could anyone miss it. And then there are presents!

She stares at the box for a moment, then looks up at Clarice. "Uh..." she starts, picking up the box to look at it. "I don't need presents, but... thank you." Then she unwraps the package.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    As Cynthia opens hers, Clarice snaps open her box as well - to reveal a matching bracelet. "I know neither of you //need// a present but I- I don't know. I just... I feel so... happy, and excited, and I wanted to give presents. Because- I don't know. I just wanted to. Besides, I guess I missed a few birthdays in there. And Christmases. And I- I mean, if you think it's..." what? Dumb? Silly?
    She nudges at the silver chain, studded with its large green, and smaller white catseye gems uncertainly.

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Cynthia stares at the bracelet for a moment, then immediately takes it out of the box and puts it on.

"Oh my god it's so pretty!" She exclaims, then once the bracelet is secure, she leans to hug Clarice. "Thank you! My first piece of jewelry!"

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Rahne has opened her own, but the matching bracelets hold her attention. She smiles, she runs her hand over her short hair. She glances at her own little box.

She gasps, lifting the silver cross from the tiny box. She looks at Clarice, who has shown respect for her faith in the choice, and her eyes bud with tears.

"Ah hae a dress, thes would swatch pure bonnie weth." She runs the back of her hand over her cheek, sighing. "Too good tae wear for normal-a-day though."

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Clarice beams as Cynthia appearantly likes the gift after all - and after a moment's fumbling, gets her own ont her wrist as well, adding, "I don't have a lot of jewelry either. But I'm glad you like it.
    Then towards Rahne she adds with a little embarrassment, "If- well, if you wanted to wear it today, you put that that one in the box for now, and I could put this one on for you?" she offers.
    "I picked it- well, I picked it because of planting the trees, right? That was your idea. And- well, the lady in the shop said this sort of design is a Scottish sort of design. I- is it? She wasn't wrong about that, was she?"

Dyani Zitkala has posed:
Turning her wrist this way and that, Cynthia smiles brightly as she looks at the stones.

"I got my ears pierced, but only have the hoops I wear," she comments, then goes back to eating while they discuss the cross. It was a lovely cross, but Clarice seemed really distracted or upset that it might not be perfect, like she made some sort of mistake, and Cynthia just can't grasp why.

Rahne Sinclair has posed:
Rahne hushes, letting Cynthia talk. She nods though, giving Clarice the answer that she needs. Sure, Scotland and Ireland share a lot of religious connections. The Scottish Kirk is not Irish Roman Catholicism. But both wear the cross, and if she were to see something that was amiss...she'd overlook it because she thinks it's braw anyway.

Clarice Ferguson has posed:
    Since Rahne does not protest - that seems to be permission. That's how consent works, right?
    ...yeah. We'll get the finer points of consent figured out eventually.
    Still - she gently removes the necklace Rahne is currently wearing - setting it in the bracelet box for the moment - so she can remove the new necklace, and get it tucked gently into place. She considers a kiss but- whether it's because she feels too exposed in the Garden, or because Cynthia is right there watching, she pulls away instead, and busies herself with getting the other cross settled into place the necklace box to hand back to Rahne.