Summertime [Open]

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi sat by a the mirrored black water of a small pond. Nearby, a wisteria plant was coming into bloom, dangling its delicate, curved violet flowers toward the earth.

As promised, a tray of chilled watermelon slices was set to the side, near the wooden steps leading down to the garden and free for any passersby to take. For his part, however, Zouichi occupied himself with feeding a small group of googly-eyed baby goldfish, who darted back and forth through the water to gobble up stray flakes of fish food.

It was nice to take a break from exploding ghost wolves lions once in a while.

Comments

[carrieswar.livejournal.com]

"Watermelon?" Jr. looked over the tray curiously. "You get these down on the planet?"

He glanced over to Zouichi chilling near the pond. "What'cha doing over there?"

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, in exchange for some farm work. Once everyone's done eating the melon, I guess I can hand the seeds off to someone who actually knows how to grow them."

Zouichi motioned for Jr. to come over. "I got some baby fish at that shore leave planet. Do you want to name one?"

Fish are TOTALLY THE BEST, okay?

[carrieswar.livejournal.com]

"We can ask someone who hangs around Hydroponics, maybe. ... Also, asking them to teach us how to do it wouldn't be a bad idea! We could grow maybe at least one out here somewhere."

He moved over to the pond to peek in at the little fish swimming around. "Ha! You actually got some like you said you would!" He crouched down to get a better look. "And sure, I'll name one!" He went quiet, thinking for a moment before speaking up again. "How about Aronnax?"

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

"We could probably ask Alastirra about it." Except whoops, the two of them had broken up. ...but that didn't mean he could ask about gardening, right? "It would be nice to grow a plant here. Then we could enjoy it without having to hike out to Hydroponics."

Hmm, now why did that name sound so familiar? "Sure. ...wait, isn't that the name of the professor in that Jules Verne book?" Zouichi pointed to one of the little spotted fish. "I think this one looks the most like an Aronnax, personally."

[carrieswar.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah! She hangs around there a lot, doesn't she?" He nodded. "Not a bad idea. How's she doing, anyway?" He had finally gotten to meet her a few weeks back, and she'd seemed nice enough from his first impressions.

He smiled. "Yep, that's the one! Nemo's too much of a common name from the book, especially for fish."

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi hesitated for a moment. "Well, I think. Er, we broke up a little while ago, and I haven't seen much of her since."

"Nemo, huh? Perhaps I'll name one Captain Haddock." Twice the references, twice the fun.

[carrieswar.livejournal.com]

"I like that idea!" They were going to have fishes with the coolest names ever.

His smile fell slightly when Zouichi mentioned that break-up. "Oh..." he trailed off. "Sorry. I didn't know." From Zouichi mentioning the possibility of asking her for help, though, it sounded like they did it on good terms, though? He didn't want to ask. Awkward.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

THE BESTEST, COOLEST NAMES. Or perhaps just the dorkiest.

Zouichi shook his head. "No, it's all right. We're still friends. We just haven't really seen much of each other, what with Lirath and everything. It happens."

[carrieswar.livejournal.com]

"Well that's good, at least. Hope you don't doubt your hunk levels any less!"

Yeah he just said that.

[zouichi.livejournal.com]

Zouichi began coughing suddenly at the unexpected remark, looking... well, kind of taken off guard.

"'Hunk levels'?" he managed.