002 ~*~ Sprucing things up a little

[notsogreatwall]

Flandre was right: the houses all look the same and it's rather dull. She's used to living somewhere that stands out from the rest of the world, so it was time to make this place a little more like home!

[Action : Johnathon's Tools]
[ Meiling is just picking up a 'few' supplies for her home landscaping projects. Hoes, spades, buckets, etc. You

Comments

[vertulpen]

[Naturally, Holland notices a cute girl carrying gardening tools immediately. Though it might have had more to do with the shovel poking into his ribs, he doesn't hesitate to talk to her. After all, he was shopping for the same reason, carrying a garden hose over his shoulder and a small shopping basket full of trowels and other hand tools.]

They have baskets.

[notsogreatwall]

[ Meiling pauses in reaching for some nails that were in a box high up - she's not short, but she's too busy to grab a stepladder. ] Hm? They do?

[vertulpen]

They do.

[He effortlessly takes the nails off the shelf, being the very tall guy that he was.]

Perfect for things like this.

[He gives the box a little shake, nails rattling inside.]

[notsogreatwall]

Oh, thanks for the advice, then! [ She reaches out her hand for the nails. ]

[vertulpen]

[Instead of handing it to her, he drops the nails in his basket, taking out the trowels and lastly holding it out to her.]

So . . . you're gardening?

[notsogreatwall]

[ She blinks at that. He's... offering her the basket? Odd! ] Mm, I am! Well... overhauling the entire yard. It's just so ...boring, you know?

[vertulpen]

[He holds the basket out a little more. . . unless, maybe she didn't want it. He's about to drop it to his side, but at the mention of boredom he rubs a little at his temple, thumb still hooked around the basket handle.]

I know exactly what you mean.

[And he holds up his trowels for further explanation. Seems they were thinking the same thing. He hated how boring it got here.]

[notsogreatwall]

[ After another moment, she takes it, and begins unloading the smaller items into it; all except the shovel, really. ] Thanks!

My name is Hong Meiling, by the way. [ She bows her head a bit. ] It's nice to meet you!

[vertulpen]

[He can hold the basket while she puts things in it, it's okay. And anyhow it gives him an excuse to try and talk to her; she was pretty and he'd definitely remember her name.]

You can call me Holland.

So the whole yard . . . sounds like a lot of work.

[Small talk, what is it. But he's trying.]

[notsogreatwall]

[ Meiling tilts her head and blinks owlishly at him for a moment.

But then realization settles on her features and she snaps her fingers. ] Oh! Are you one of those countries-as-people, too?

[vertulpen]

[W-wait. How did she . . . ]

You must have met some others.

Yes, though.

[Irritating. But more importantly, does this ruin his chances gardening. He takes some carpentry nails for himself off the shelf, too.]

[notsogreatwall]

That's right, I met Taiwan, and she did her best to try and explain the situation. [ A weak laugh. ] I admit I've heard a lot of things over my long life -- [ She doesn't look that old, does she? ] --but nothing quite like it. I think it's interesting!

[vertulpen]

Taiwan. . . she's enthusiastic. It's involved, so. . .

But if you wanted to ask anything, that would be okay.

[notsogreatwall]

[ A giggle. ] That's a good word for her. [ But she enjoyed that.

Meiling shook her head. ] Mm, nothing right now, but thank you! I don't really get it, but this place does have all kinds of people so... I guess I can't be too surprised by something like this.

[vertulpen]

[Hnn, cute, the way she giggled like that. He's just going to take anything off the shelf so he can turn away a bit and recover from that giggle. Holland is sure he'll use that box of galvanized steel whatever they are-s for something, someday.]

That's reasonable.

[Keeping talking, keep talking.]

So what's your world like?

[notsogreatwall]

Mine? [ She ponders that a moment. ] Hmm, have you ever heard of a place called Gensokyo?