[ Claire leads her to a more modern sort of outdoor seating area than Lallybroch ever had. But if the weather's perpetually nice, then why not? And it's just cool enough that the hearth fire is nice, but warm enough that it isn't uncomfortable. All of her best days at Lallybroch seemed to be during this temperature. ]
We'll sit first, then. There's something I wanted to show you as well, but you go ahead.
[ Whatever it is, the answer is probably yes, but she'll at least listen first. ]
[ Hilda had never seen anything from Claire's original time yet, but the set up before her is undeniably different from the backdrop that is Lallybroch. She gives her a nod of thanks, before launching right into her request before she can second guess herself. ]
How possible do you think it would be to make a plant? There's something I want make for Claude's birthday but I'm not sure how feasible it'll be.
[ Claire sits quietly as she ponders the question for a few seconds. ]
I'm honestly not completely sure. Any plant requires a seed at the very least, I should think. But that does lead me into what I wanted to show you. I finally have a touch of magic.
[ Claire has a little pot of dirt, the sort small plants arrive in at a nursery. The seed, which will one day grow into a pepper plant, is laying on top of the soil. Pushing it into the dirt, Claire covers it, then presses two fingers to the damp soil. Within five seconds, a tiny sprout pushes up out of the dirt and unfurls its leaves. ]
That's as far as I can get them so far, but I seem to be able to encourage plants a long. Perhaps this is something that could help in making a present for Claude?
[ As the little green sprout shoots up from the soil, Hilda's eyes go wide with wonder. There's no doubt that it's amazing, but she's more invested in the fact that Claire now has magic of her own. Everything that she had been told about Claire's world so far didn't have magic in the sense where people had the ability to cast it. Having grown up with magic being common, Hilda can only imagine how exciting it would be to have the ability to cast magic.
Her wonder lingers but she still turns a little sheepish. ]
I was hoping to get your advice on it, actually. It's not so much of a plant as it is a tree. There's this tree that provides nettles for his favourite tea back home, but I don't expect it to get that big. I was thinking more along the lines of a miniature one that I could put into this thing I saw in the market called a terrarium!
[ Claire laughs in sheer delight at Hilda's enthusiasm as well. It's such a new concept to her, this idea of being able to do something she's only read about in books, as far as magic is concerned.
At the mention of the tea, Claire perks up again. ]
Oh! I've had it We made our favorite teas for one another. It was nice, not quite my specific taste, but I would have it again. That's a quite thoughtful gift, Hilda. I'm sure we could find a way to make that work, between the two of us.
You've met him? He didn't give you trouble while he was here did he? [ Familiarity sparks in her eyes, disguising the mild discomfort she feels at the mention of Claude. Quickly she dispels it before she can dwell on it too long, instead pulling a faux stern face. ] If he did I can have a word with him.
[ Her stern expression fades into a pleased expression however. ]
As long as it isn't too much trouble I'd really appreciate it. I know someone in the Free Cities' that might be able to help but I didn't want them thinking that I was being too ambitious or anything.
He was perfectly delightful, I promise. He's a nice young man and a good conversationalist. He had plenty of kind things to say about you.
[ Claire smiles at Hilda, hiding the small sadness of knowing what happens to her. She's known, from Hilda's own mouth, but hearing it from another felt like an awful confirmation. It makes her feel more protective, though she knows everyone is quite capable of taking care of themselves. Still, she worries. ]
I can't imagine it would be trouble, only a bit of a puzzle. There's something called grafting that I can try, but it isn't a guaranteed solution. It may not work, but at least we'll know rather quickly based on the size of what grows from the seed.
[ It will take quite a bit of trial and error, but the nice thing is she can practice in the Horizon. ]
How soon would you like to be able to give him this?
Claude is very good with his words so I'm not surprised that he was perfectly pleasant.
[ There's little point in denying that and there's some fondness to her tone further pushing the discomfort down. But fondness quickly turns into mild embarrassment. Instead of a flush though she huffs. ]
He better have. We're supposed to be really good friends.
[ Supposed to be — said like she's joking, but there's a small, bitter part of her that might actually not be. She doesn't dwell on it though, moving past it onto Claire's solution and question. ]
I guess it depends on how long you think the grafting will take. His birthday is what people here call June so we have some time.
Does grafting have something to do with putting a piece of a plant on another?
[ Claire has learned so much about this trio, and it makes her warm to know they've managed to hold onto one another here in Abraxas. ]
I think if I can prod along the plant and it's only miniature we just might eke it out. But yes, you graft the plants you want to one another, and then you keep repeating the process until you get the result you want. Do I have until the end of June at least?
[ This one of the most daunting, non-serious tasks she's undertaken, but she's determined. ]
[ Would she still be warmed to know that there's some level of trouble brewing? Or that Hilda was trying to desperately put a temporary, awful patch over something she thought she had done wrong?
Maybe that's why she's trying so hard to make a seemingly impossible present, possible. It's perhaps the reason behind her sounding so hopeful and chipper. ]
That should be plenty of time since his birthday is at the beginning of July - but you're the expert here! And if there's anything I can do to repay you, just let me know. Now I just have to figure out a present for Sylvain. Why do their birthdays have to be practically a month apart?
[ Hilda shoots Claire a look that clearly says that she absolutely will be repaying her even if she turns blue in the face trying to do it. Never underestimate her willpower when it comes to repaying or gifting someone something. ]
He like horses; he spends a lot of time with them in the stables in Cadens working there. But he enjoys cooking and puzzle games like chess. [ She hums. ] I can't really make him anything to do with those things though. And I'm not about to buy him a horse.
when u go all caps u gotta check for typos i'm so mad lmao
[ It'll be a battle of wills then; Claire would never think of needing to be repaid, and Hilda is already making a necklace for her. So really, Claire is already repaying Hilda. ]
I'm unfortunately not crafty enough in the way that would mean making a nice chessboard and pieces. You could offer to cook with him though, anything he might like? Or ask someone else who enjoys cooking if they might be willing to teach Sylvain how to make a dish from their home.
[ Claire likes brainstorming ideas like this, but she never got to do it enough when it was for fun. Her scheming always surrounded politics and wars. ]
[ Sounds like they're going to be stuck forever in a loop of repaying each other back then.
Claire's ideas are sound - and she really likes it in fact. But her response comes almost immediately with no hesitation or second thought. ]
He's banned Claude and I from being in a kitchen with him so I think us not cooking will be more of a gift. [ Her eyes light up however at her other suggestion. ]
Getting him some cooking lessons might be fun though! I think he'd really like that. And that'd be way easier than trying to get chess pieces to move on their own. You're so smart, Claire!
[ Claire can't help but laugh at the comment about being banned from the kitchen. ]
I don't know about so smart, but I do try. You're a very creative and thoughtful young woman, Hilda, you would have come up with something, I've no doubt about that.
[ There's a flush at the compliment that she doesn't quite take to heart. She smiles bashfully all the same though, flattered that Claire thinks highly enough of her to say things like that even if they aren't necessarily true. ]
Maybe, but he might have thrown the next hat I gave him away. [ As annoyed as she had been at the time, annoying Sylvain had been the real purpose of that particular gift and it had served its purpose. ] I'll tell you all about it later though. I don't want to waste more of your time when we have a lesson to do!
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no subject
We'll sit first, then. There's something I wanted to show you as well, but you go ahead.
[ Whatever it is, the answer is probably yes, but she'll at least listen first. ]
no subject
How possible do you think it would be to make a plant? There's something I want make for Claude's birthday but I'm not sure how feasible it'll be.
no subject
I'm honestly not completely sure. Any plant requires a seed at the very least, I should think. But that does lead me into what I wanted to show you. I finally have a touch of magic.
[ Claire has a little pot of dirt, the sort small plants arrive in at a nursery. The seed, which will one day grow into a pepper plant, is laying on top of the soil. Pushing it into the dirt, Claire covers it, then presses two fingers to the damp soil. Within five seconds, a tiny sprout pushes up out of the dirt and unfurls its leaves. ]
That's as far as I can get them so far, but I seem to be able to encourage plants a long. Perhaps this is something that could help in making a present for Claude?
no subject
[ As the little green sprout shoots up from the soil, Hilda's eyes go wide with wonder. There's no doubt that it's amazing, but she's more invested in the fact that Claire now has magic of her own. Everything that she had been told about Claire's world so far didn't have magic in the sense where people had the ability to cast it. Having grown up with magic being common, Hilda can only imagine how exciting it would be to have the ability to cast magic.
Her wonder lingers but she still turns a little sheepish. ]
I was hoping to get your advice on it, actually. It's not so much of a plant as it is a tree. There's this tree that provides nettles for his favourite tea back home, but I don't expect it to get that big. I was thinking more along the lines of a miniature one that I could put into this thing I saw in the market called a terrarium!
no subject
At the mention of the tea, Claire perks up again. ]
Oh! I've had it We made our favorite teas for one another. It was nice, not quite my specific taste, but I would have it again. That's a quite thoughtful gift, Hilda. I'm sure we could find a way to make that work, between the two of us.
no subject
[ Her stern expression fades into a pleased expression however. ]
As long as it isn't too much trouble I'd really appreciate it. I know someone in the Free Cities' that might be able to help but I didn't want them thinking that I was being too ambitious or anything.
no subject
[ Claire smiles at Hilda, hiding the small sadness of knowing what happens to her. She's known, from Hilda's own mouth, but hearing it from another felt like an awful confirmation. It makes her feel more protective, though she knows everyone is quite capable of taking care of themselves. Still, she worries. ]
I can't imagine it would be trouble, only a bit of a puzzle. There's something called grafting that I can try, but it isn't a guaranteed solution. It may not work, but at least we'll know rather quickly based on the size of what grows from the seed.
[ It will take quite a bit of trial and error, but the nice thing is she can practice in the Horizon. ]
How soon would you like to be able to give him this?
no subject
[ There's little point in denying that and there's some fondness to her tone further pushing the discomfort down. But fondness quickly turns into mild embarrassment. Instead of a flush though she huffs. ]
He better have. We're supposed to be really good friends.
[ Supposed to be — said like she's joking, but there's a small, bitter part of her that might actually not be. She doesn't dwell on it though, moving past it onto Claire's solution and question. ]
I guess it depends on how long you think the grafting will take. His birthday is what people here call June so we have some time.
Does grafting have something to do with putting a piece of a plant on another?
no subject
I think if I can prod along the plant and it's only miniature we just might eke it out. But yes, you graft the plants you want to one another, and then you keep repeating the process until you get the result you want. Do I have until the end of June at least?
[ This one of the most daunting, non-serious tasks she's undertaken, but she's determined. ]
no subject
Maybe that's why she's trying so hard to make a seemingly impossible present, possible. It's perhaps the reason behind her sounding so hopeful and chipper. ]
That should be plenty of time since his birthday is at the beginning of July - but you're the expert here! And if there's anything I can do to repay you, just let me know. Now I just have to figure out a present for Sylvain. Why do their birthdays have to be practically a month apart?
no subject
But for now, Claire is pleased that she may be onto something. ]
Repay me? Please, there's no need for that. What does Sylvain enjoy doing, perhaps I can help you brainstorm.
no subject
He like horses; he spends a lot of time with them in the stables in Cadens working there. But he enjoys cooking and puzzle games like chess. [ She hums. ] I can't really make him anything to do with those things though. And I'm not about to buy him a horse.
when u go all caps u gotta check for typos i'm so mad lmao
I'm unfortunately not crafty enough in the way that would mean making a nice chessboard and pieces. You could offer to cook with him though, anything he might like? Or ask someone else who enjoys cooking if they might be willing to teach Sylvain how to make a dish from their home.
[ Claire likes brainstorming ideas like this, but she never got to do it enough when it was for fun. Her scheming always surrounded politics and wars. ]
i saw nothing
Claire's ideas are sound - and she really likes it in fact. But her response comes almost immediately with no hesitation or second thought. ]
He's banned Claude and I from being in a kitchen with him so I think us not cooking will be more of a gift. [ Her eyes light up however at her other suggestion. ]
Getting him some cooking lessons might be fun though! I think he'd really like that. And that'd be way easier than trying to get chess pieces to move on their own. You're so smart, Claire!
no subject
I don't know about so smart, but I do try. You're a very creative and thoughtful young woman, Hilda, you would have come up with something, I've no doubt about that.
fin!
Maybe, but he might have thrown the next hat I gave him away. [ As annoyed as she had been at the time, annoying Sylvain had been the real purpose of that particular gift and it had served its purpose. ] I'll tell you all about it later though. I don't want to waste more of your time when we have a lesson to do!
[ There's a pause and a sweet giggle. ]
What were we going to do again?