Re: Svarik and the company II

[VisAnastasis]

Zephir blushed, seeming a little flustered and insecure with the mention, as if not feeling safe enough to latch onto the offer freely yet, not secure enough to dare believe it'd be so easy, with no catch.
" I... I was thinking, three is safest number. " he replied instead, and he pointed at three biggest sunflowers there. " Those are the strongest vessels... We wouldn't want to have the little changeling to skip our grasp to some more distant vessel  if some child throws stone at it and hurts its first body. I'd plant three in the garden, just in case, s- sir king. And I'd also advise you to find secure garden locations to plant strongest plants, to make sure it has secure vessels to spare, not just those, on public property. I'm afraid... " he admitted. " I'm afraid, as soon as someone sees this place, people are going to rush in, and began picking... "

[Mirach]

"I hope that won't happen... But three seems a safe way, for the garden. Let's start with that, and then we can come here regularly and pick a few plants to replant somewhere else every time, maybe?" Svarik said, looking at Conrad, since it was his "child" and he didn't want to make decisions about it.

[VisAnastasis]

" Yes, I was actually thinking, that plan, but on megalomanic scale. " Falcon smiled faintly at it. " A little fun fact... In many last years, people have called you meadow king... but since you became literal ruler, after you began actually appearing in public enough so crowd can take a better look at you and talk of it... You've kid of gained a reputation of being the sun king. It's the hair, I imagine, but none the less - I think it goes well to my advantages. That is, I planned us to announce the sunflowers our state flower, after first King, Svarik the I, Sun King. It'll have pretty cool ring to it, and naturally, we'l claim those big flowers to come as blessing from the Bull and all, and we'll spread the seeds throughout the land to your most loyal servants, so they can grow new sunflowers and new sunflowers from those seeds on and on, till I make a hugeass army of sunflowers throughout the land, heh! I kind of can't do that without your cooperation, though, so that was, too, one of topics on our to do list... "

[Mirach]

"Heh, alright, I'm in," Svarik smirked. "Sunflowers are great anyways."

[VisAnastasis]

" Especially giant ones, right? " it was Zephir that tried to tie in the conversation, noticing the two's darker moods, a little shyly. " They're wonderful, especially so happy ones, like those. S-shall you join me, you too? We should first water them properly, and then we need to carefully dig around the roots to make sure they're unharmed... "

[Mirach]

"Yes, we will do that," Svarik nodded. "How will we transport them then? Do you think they will fit inside the carriage?"

[VisAnastasis]

Falcon rolled his eyes. He just dramatically pointed aside, near the stream, on the other side of the path, concealed - there, there were shovels and buckets and enough place for around five flowers, if needed.
" I'll take one horse from carriage to tie it to the cart, and I'll drive the cart myself, and you and Zephir will take the carriage with remaining horse. " he explained simply. " I'm always prepared, you strawman of a king, heh... I've put had this adventure pinned down on my to do list for three days now, I just waited for free time... "

[Mirach]

"Alright, we can get to work then," Svarik nodded, and just followed Zephir in taking care of the flowers before digging them out.

[VisAnastasis]

Falcon hesitated, glancing at Zephir once again, as if not sure if he should just join in as freely to them. But when he sow man is mostly tolerating him, he took part in the work too. He seemed more distant at first, but as time passed and more they were in that peaceful place, amiss the soft flowers, with sound of soothing river, the calmer he felt. Same was true for highlander, who was truly in his element when gardening and listening to the needs of plants, and it was a joy to watch how gentle he was with them. The work between them was quiet, but relaxing - in a way, just what they needed, after turmoil of last months.

[Mirach]

Working with plants was also relaxing to Svarik, since he could focus on it and forget other thoughts. They worked slowly and carefully, until the three sunflowers were safely packed in the cart.

[VisAnastasis]

Zephir patted the plants at the end, and he was whispering something to them on some archaic language similar to demon one, quietly, as if soothing them, his words gentle, like a words of lullaby, despite they couldn't understand them.
When he was done, he turned back and nodded to them.
" It's ready. " he said shyly. " I told it, about bright gardens, and lot of care and love... about basking in sun and warmth of attention. " he dared grin lightly, clearing out some of mud he got on his face. " It'll look forward to its new home, I hope, so replanting shouldn't be stressful. There's already plenty clean space behind Simbel's home, on side opposite to the pond, on safe distance, where they'll be most comfortable. There's only left for us to build roof and little stone fence around Simbel's residence, sir, sir king, so there'll be no disturbance to flowies tonight while we're continuing to build, I think. "
" Yes. " Falcon agreed. " Simbel was insisted that he wants sunflowers to be planted behind the little parcel of his home. It'll be good for them to always be in his close sight. I think it'll do him good, too, to have opportunity to tend to the demon plants that can't hurt him.  "

[Mirach]

"So our main concern is to avoid Melody accidentaly seeing us replanting them," Svarik noted.

[VisAnastasis]

" Come on. " Falcon snickered a little faintly. " We are two Listeners and one Singer. True, it's sneaking out around one Listener, too, but honestly? Between three of us, I think we'll manage this little stealth mission. Besides, this is the mission of most vital  importance to our realm. " he said innocently. " I was prepared. I told Simbel to talk her up and keep her attention. They're together now, she's teaching him to speak some more of Lowlandian. My plan is just right - but then again, is it surprising, at this point, that it's so? I bet you're already used to my obsession over details, aren't ya? "

[Mirach]

"Yes, I think at this point I'm just trying to come up with something to say, because you always think about everything and it's impossible to find any improvement to your plans..." Svarik snickered a little.

[VisAnastasis]

" Well, if you insist on improving it... it's a long ride home, and I should probably stretch my hands first, if I'm going to be driving a card all way to the mansion. Those arms need some warm up before we go, so, if you're up for it, I just thought of a great improvement to the plan, and you're just the person I need for this vital role... just like this.... " he whispered gently and gracefully, and he spread his arms with a wink, and, unexpectedly, what he didn't do for a while now, he did again - suddenly, he embraced meadow king, and he rose him up from the ground and spun him lightly in the air, as he used to do sometimes, in endearment; with little less energy than usual, but with equal warmth.

[Mirach]

Svarik also didn't laugh as freely and readily as usual, but his laugh was still sincere, enjoying the moment.

[VisAnastasis]

Falcon spinned him only little, so they'd not lose balance, not wanting to act too big of a goofball before Zephir - so after a moment, he contentedly lowered Svarik down, leaning against him a bit as the world was spinning around them lightly. He seemed a little smug and pleased for some reason.
" What do you know... My hard work of showing sweets down your throat is finally paying off... " he whispered a little hoarsely. " You're gained a bit of weight there, you goofball... I'm glad... "

[Mirach]

"But you didn't change a bit - everything you do has a hidden motive," Svarik smirked.

[VisAnastasis]

" Well - mostly everything has hidden motive, naturally. But not everything, though. " Falcon smirked back a bit. " For example, if nothing else, this at least, has no hidden motive at all... You can savor that one.. " he teased faintly. " Because I get absolutely no use out of that empty head of yours, but a merit of being able to do this.... " he whispered, and with it, he put his hands around king's head to lower it, and he kissed his forehead lightly, but sincerely, in rather loving way, tousling his hair lightly with the left hand as he ended the kiss.

[Mirach]

Svarik embraced him once more, in a short by sincere hug before they went to transport the flowers.

[VisAnastasis]

The little moment of sincerity seemed to have given some strength back to Conrad, and a bit of his resolve. He nodded to him, and then, after arranging the horses, they parted - Falcon drove the cart with flowers steadily behind them, while Svarik drove in the safer carriage, with Zephir shyly following him to it.

[Mirach]

Svarik was quiet during the journey back, letting Zephir have his space too.

[VisAnastasis]

Highlander was a bit wary at first, as it felt strange to just sit quietly, like that, and he wasn't sure what king expects from him. When it became obvious it was nothing, though, he seemed more relaxed. He seemed to enjoy, the calm and sights through the window - he probably didn't get to drive often, if ever, in his life, having been riding animals in Highlands, while just barely able to walk since he was free in the city. He was enjoying in the beautiful nature, and caressing the sweet little flowers in his bag a little absently as they were going back, seeming content with that, and appearing to feel more free and safe, now that he was alone with meadow king and Falcon was driving seperately.

[Mirach]

Only when they arrived to Falcon's garden, Svarik offered his help with getting out of the carriage, and then waited for instructions as they went to replant tge flowers, since Conrad had tge plan and Zephir had more knowledge about them.

[VisAnastasis]

It was really sneaky mission, almost to some entertaining extent - it was almost as if they were smuggling some goods through enemy territory, something Falcon was, expectedly, great at. He gave them instructions how to come in unnoticed, taking Zephir's slower speed in account as they moved the giant bright plants.
When they reached pond, Svarik was pleasantly surprised, as he sow how far work on the house went - vampires  indeed had the strength and endurance of hundreds of builders - not that there weren't enough human workers to aid them too. Base was already set, and what was left was finishing roof and then some more refined work - like floors and painting walls and such, but it already appeared set and firm, and there was presence to it.

Back of the house was muddy from the building work still, but tense was not yet made either, so access to it was easy, and they could get to replanting right away.