"oh? then what were you thinking about?"[break][break]

elijah decides to prod now. like vines traveling up and through a fragile lattice, the apothecary attempts to entangle the other in his green work. his business. for now, he doesn't know if he's doing this out of the good will of mentorship or for some ulterior motive down the line.[break][break]

time will tell, he supposes. team rocket may have other ideas.[break][break]

"i just ask 'cause some of the work i do can be dangerous." he says. "dangerous plants. locations. people."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

wren rourke [break]
mission / repeat for wren

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-florges"]

"a generator?" elijah chews on the idea. literally, for he has plucked a stalk from the ground to extract its earthy taste between his molars.[break][break]

he imagines he can pull some strings. find something from a rocket hideout or two. an abandoned or cleared bunker in the wake of 99943 METENO's diversion may possess one and with Admin Felix Gallagher and jayden cross's work with LOCKBOX, there is bound to be one he can snag.[break][break]

"i'll grab one. meet me here tomorrow and i'll have one ready." elijah says. "wanna go grab a drink? my treat."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

wolfgang volkov

[break][break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-gogoat"]

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]

"naw, naw, y'know what?"[break][break]

the growing gracidea is vulnerable. if an ursaring had come, there is no question that all manner of things—smaller or bigger—could sniff out their prize plant.[break][break]

though elijah is no cheerleader of metal and wire, he understands that this is a shared operation. a gruff grunt heralds his concession.[break][break]

"do that electric fence shit. just let me know what you need." elijah says. "how long you think it'll take?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

wolfgang volkov

[break][break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-gogoat"]

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]

the tonk draws a wince out of elijah's face. the cast is a jarring reminder. to be in a town torn by rift and war one day, then to be in the same place, picking plants.[break][break]

however, the ordinary day hides the quiet suffering of recovery.[break][break]

"'course it'd be more fun." elijah almost blows a raspberry. "there's shit out there that the schools are too afraid to teach."[break][break]

he raises a brow. lowers his voice so that only wren and the plants can hear him.[break][break]

"considering how far deep you were in the sinkhole, i'm guessing you're pretty brave?" he speaks with calculated and subtle sarcasm.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

wren rourke [break]
mission / repeat for wren

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-florges"]

"electric fence?" elijah shivers as if electrocuted himself. he shakes his head, "fuck no. they're unsightly. unnatural."[break][break]

still, little can deter an ursaring should its mind be set.[break][break]

"some natural repellents. you can make some using gloom."[break][break]

however, their special garden plant is hard to prepare for. even elijah's lengthy experience has had little contact with the gracidea. he grumbles at the thought. the gaps in knowledge rolling around his mouth like barbs.[break][break]

"making an electric fence really that easy?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

wolfgang volkov

[break][break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-gogoat"]

[attr="class","milkcredit"] [attr="class","fas fa-cookie-bite"]

elijah is unaware of how his words take root. though his hands exercise utmost care—blunt fingertips instruments of precise detail—his stiff lip hides his clumsy tongue. he's deaf to the turmoil.

as holds the honey jar expectantly, his straight forward gaze remains on klaus like a dull spotlight. finally, it's taken.

it's a genuine product; inside, the honey is silky, scented with the gentlest sweetness.

"savior of ventis, the prince of song's voice. i like the sound of that." elijah says. "maybe business will pick up if you actually did."

a snort.

the vines around the stall shake as the tangrowth, which has fallen into a slight siesta, stirs.

"in a way, i really am saving you." he cranes his neck toward a passing cloud of muffled voices. "and in a way, you're giving me a break too. thanks."

KLAUS CARTIER // KLAUS!!! KEEPING IT TOGETHER!!!

☉

"petalburg huh. i frequent those woods."[break][break]

elijah wonders where the delivery of that admission landed on the scale of normal to serial killer. [break][break]

the apothecary hardens his stern face. though, the expression can soften when graced by the overpowering radiance of wren's enthusiasm or the flickering light of his titters.[break][break]

"can do a lot with it." elijah says. [break][break]

he reaches for a planter with forget-me-nots: cygnoglossum blues. elijah's large hand holds the planter firmly as he tilts the small flowers for inspection.[break][break]

"it just depends if people appreciate your work or not... if your schooling turns out to be shit, and you want some real experience, i could help." he raises a brow.

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

wren rourke [break]
mission / repeat for wren

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-florges"]

"sorta. i sell in slateport market sometimes."[break][break]

elijah rubs the back of his neck. scratches. blunt fingers tow across short, brusque neckline hairs.[break][break]

"online school for botany? seems backwards to me." he almost spits. "gonna have your own farm? own shop?"[break][break]

he grumbles.[break][break]

"better to grow your own gifts than to buy 'em."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

wren rourke [break]
mission / repeat for wren

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-florges"]

"guess that was a stupid question." elijah tightens the cradle of his arms, dull nails scratching idly at his bare elbows. "too busy being a star after all."

quietly, elijah admires the other's obstinance. it reminds him of himself, his own stubborn trudge through the world. the way he had weeded from his life, the nuisance of judgement, misplaced advice and the temptation of some human warmth.

he searches the cupboards. pulls out a jar, tightly sealed and filled with smooth honey.

"here." elijah says. "been meaning to give you this. combee fireweed honey. made from flowers that sprout after a forest fire. i better see a dedication to me in a CD booklet somewhere."

a half joke.

KLAUS CARTIER // ALL THAT KLAUS BACKSTORY MMM DELICIOUS

☉

"nope."[break][break]

not his shop. it's too busy to be, anyway. an eyebrow raises at the mention of winter blooms, the particular vernacular peeking out from wren's tongue like a blade of grass forgotten by the trimmer.[break][break]

"those are pretty. just need to pinch off the dead flowers after blooming."[break][break]

elijah does not prod, but his stern expression is ceaselessly stabbing.[break][break]

"you a green thumb too?" he grunts. "wouldn't take you for one. no offense."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

wren rourke [break]
mission / repeat for wren

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-florges"]

while wren stumbles across his answer, elijah's expression grows flatter and flatter. his sharp, judging gaze is the most jagged of his straight face's features.[break][break]

and it is aimed directly at the ranger's bumbling self. though, in the periphery, elijah can perceive the melancholic slump of his salandit and that is answer enough.[break][break]

"i'm a bit of a wanderer. go from place to place."[break][break]

he stretches out an arm, thick limb surging before wren's face as he reaches to examine a plant.[break][break]

"lookin' to buy a flower for yourself... or for someone else?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"]

wren rourke [break]
mission / repeat for wren

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-florges"]