(no subject)

[fry_sandhu]

It's not unnoticeable to Fry that Dad has been a little... stressed. He didn't seem to appreciate the excellent worm farm he had created. Apparently digging up the neighbour's lawn to get worms isn't the done thing.

It looks like someone has recently done a lot of digging out back, though it's covered with tarpaulin. Carefully clutching his box, Fry peeps under bits of tarpaulin and picks out some of the worms that have wriggled their way under the plastic, as worms tend to do.

Each one he finds he holds against a ruler, measures it, puts it in the box, then writes down the length in a notebook. It just seems like the right thing to do.

Comments

[witchfinder_general]

It's warm enough in Milliways to walk round outside without a coat. You don't even need a long shirt any more, so Father Harman is taking his walk today just wearing a simple black polo shirt with an odd red logo.

He's taken off his shoes on the warm sand of the Caribbean inlet's beach, and then went to sit and think for a while in the hidden little clearing with the water-lily pond. Now, he has come to have a look at the dormant church building site and finds something moving underneath the tarpaulin.

Demon bunny? Cat? A very small patron?

Father Harman audibly clears his throat, hoping for a reaction.

[fry_sandhu]

He gets none; Fry is entirely absorbed in his task.

The lump in the tarpaulin shuffles along slightly as he crawls to retrieve a particularly good worm, 18cm long.

[witchfinder_general]

It is quite a large lump. Gavroche's dog?

"Excuse me?" Father Harman calls out.

[fry_sandhu]

Eventually, Fry peeps out.

"Why, did you make a smell?"

[witchfinder_general]

"Oh, Fry!" Father Harman says. "No, I was just wondering who or what it was under that tarp."

[fry_sandhu]

Fry crawls out.

"I made a worm farm, it has twenty three worms in. A worm has boy and girl bits and Archie and I tried to see them make more worms but they didn't want to."

[witchfinder_general]

Father Harman smiles.

"Perhaps it wasn't the right season for it?" he says.

[fry_sandhu]

"Archie's sister said maybe they didn't fancy each other, and Coral said maybe they wanted to get married first." Fry says. "And Mum said it probably needed to be dark. So I made a worm farm."

[witchfinder_general]

"That all sounds very sensible," Father Harman says. "Where is your worm farm now?"

Hopefully not in Javert's church. Harman can't imagine Javert having much patience with anyone's worm farm in his foundations, least of all Fry's.

And then, somebody would really have to smack down the man good and hard, for whatever he'd do about it.

[fry_sandhu]

"Here." Fry shows him the box.

"We were going to get the worms from Archie's garden but Dad said it wasn't allowed to dig up his mum's lawn."

He thinks for a moment.

"If worms are girls and boys do I need an even number?"

[witchfinder_general]

"No, you don't," Father Harman says. "They don't pair off like people."

[fry_sandhu]

"I guess they might never find the same worm again because they're blind and the earth is quite big and if they wanted to stay together they'd have to stay stuck or they'd get lost."

[witchfinder_general]

"And then they couldn't get about the rest of their wormy business, like eating or crawling about," Father Harman agrees.

[starrydome]

Elrond has been walking in the forest. He likes to do that when he comes here. It clears the mind and calms the spirit.
That he is walking past the church foundation is a coincidence. That he stops when he notices the child is not.

He likes children.

"Hello," he says.

He is very tall with long dark hair and luminous eyes. His clothes are grey and blue and white, slim trousers and a tunic. His boots are soft and made of leather as is his belt. He is wearing a thin circlet and an intricate brooch holds his tunic closed by the neck.

And his smile is very warm and friendly.

[fry_sandhu]

Fry peeps out of the tarpaulin.

"Hello." he says.

He doesn't quite make eye contact, but it's nothing personal. His focus rests on the intricate brooch.

[starrydome]

Elrond crouches down, as he would when speaking with any child.
It brings the brooch closer too.

"Are you finding anything interesting under there?" He asks. He sounds as if he is genuinely curious.

[fry_sandhu]

"I'm making a worm farm." Fry says, showing him a box with some mud, leaves and worms. "I have found 23 worms. The largest was eighteen centimetres and the smallest was three centimetres."

[starrydome]

"That is very impressive," Elrond says, looking into the box.
"Do you think your worms would like some more food? And perhaps some shade?"

Worms are living things.

[fry_sandhu]

"They're going to dig." Fry says. "They eat leaves."

[starrydome]

"Can I touch the earth in there?" Elrond asks, politely.
It looks a little too wet perhaps.

[fry_sandhu]

"Why?" Fry asks.

Ignore the picture above, too old!

[starrydome]

"Worms do not like it when the earth is dry, but neither do they like it when the earth gets too wet," Elrond replies.
"And the best way to tell is by touching it. I do not know how much worms can feel but they live and they help us with our gardens and so we must take good care of them in turn."


{ooc: bedtime for me in a bit}

[fry_sandhu]

[ooc: No worries :) ]

"You won't hurt them, will you?" Fry asks.

[starrydome]

"I shall be very careful," Elrond promises and rubs a bit of the mud between his fingers, minding the worms. "I am a healer. I make people - and animals - better."

"I think this needs a bit more soil," he concludes. "And perhaps some more leaves. Preferably some mushy ones."

[fry_sandhu]

Fry looks worried when he touches the mud.

"Tommy at school stamped on a worm." he says.

But he does get some more leaves.