[Action]

[albionchanged]

[Moving to a new town that's still very alien to what he remembers of the world is very very intimidating. But the forest farm is calming even though it needs so much work. Farming is in his blood so it's much easier to simply start pulling weeds and breaking rocks, chopping the small logs and working to clear a small plot for himself. So much easier than talking to strangers and learning less familiar things in town.

It also leaves him time to think about his decision to come here. And to talk to the rat hidden in his hoodie's hood.]

Do think that Kyle and the others will be okay now? I mean now that they don't need to look after me anymore?

Is that really your question?

[Esme pauses at the return question whispered near his ear and then resumes pulling the weeds.]

I don't know...maybe not completely. I guess I just wonder if I made a rash decision by coming out here. I'm worried, even though it's so nice here.

Don't be. You heard the woman. You can go back. And I think they'll miss you. They seem attached. They like you.

[The reassurance is comforting and Esme smiles, straightening and rolling his shoulders to work out some stiffness before his slouches comfortably and turns around without noticing that he's got company to see him apparently talking to himself.]

You're right, as usual. We should call it a day.

Comments

[alloutoflove]

That's good though! You're getting into it!

[ She says, having been kind of slacking herself at the Actual Farm Work, but shh. She's been working around her home, mostly, to get it looking nicer and feeling more actually homey. ]

Ah-- it's Yukizome. Don't worry about the "miss" part!

[albionchanged]

[Esme is simple. Furnished and with a bed are all he really asks for.

That name though...he's never heard anything remotely close. It shows on his face too.]

You...ki...zoo...me...?

[He's trying. Really.]

[alloutoflove]

Not bad! Yu-ki-zo-me.

[ He's not the first person who's wrecked her name, but she has to give points for the effort. It's better than some of her boyfriend's coworkers have managed. ]

You'll get used to it.

[albionchanged]

[Well at least he didn't butcher it. His smile returns, less uncertain this time.]

I'll try. Um, how long have you been here exactly?

[alloutoflove]

Ahh, only about a couple of weeks. I arrived with some friends! So we were scoping out places that looked good to us, that sorta thing.

What about you? You look like you've been making some progress here!

[albionchanged]

Just today, actually. I felt it was better to start so I can plant soon.

[alloutoflove]

Hehhhh, not bad, not bad! That's the right attitude to have!

[ Is what she says, though: ]

I've mostly been cleaning up my place, so we haven't really started on the actual farming part yet.

[albionchanged]

There's nothing wrong with that.

[Well he is mostly doing this to not actually go into town yet, so somewhat avoiding things is a mutual thing right now.

Do you need any help?

[alloutoflove]

Ahh, well...

[ Yes, but that's kind of embarrassing to admit, especially to a nice stranger. She shrugs a little, rubbing the back of her neck, rocking on her heels. ]

Probably? Eventually! Right now we're still figuring out what all we need.

[albionchanged]

I used to live on a farm before now, so I might be able to help there.

[The offer is genuine. Things might be a little...well a lot, different from his time 400 years ago now. But farming can't have changed too much, right?]

[alloutoflove]

Eh? Are you sure? You don't have to put yourself out for that! Especially if you're doing this on your own... I mean it, when I say we're only getting started! I don't know how ready we are for anything!

[ Her home itself is flawlessly put together, but the land... hm... ]

Or, if you're going to help us, you should let me help you, too! I'm a good cook, and I'm the best at cleaning.

[albionchanged]

I don't mind. I enjoy the work.

[And really, he also kind of wants to have someone else to talk to when possible. Being helpful is a good way for that to happen, right?]

Help with cooking would be nice. I'm not used to most tools when it comes to cooking.

[alloutoflove]

Mmmmm... well in that case, fair is fair! You help me with this, I'll help you with that.

[ She doesn't have her apron, since she's going about, but she tugs absently at her skirt in the same way she would the apron, adjusting something not there. ]

I can teach you how to cook for yourself too, if you're interested! It really isn't hard, and you know your tastes better than anyone.

[albionchanged]

That sounds fair.

[Learning to cook won't be that hard, it's mostly just that picking up cooking 400 years later isn't exactly just relearning to ride a bike.]

When would you like to start?

[alloutoflove]

Mmmmm... we could start whenever! Now, even!

[ Chisa, weren't you headed home? Shhh, no, never mind that. ]

We're already here, though, so maybe starting with the cooking is better... ah, but our farm is kind of a mess... hm.