(no subject)

[herr_bookman]

Autor didn't realize he'd be this resentful--or angry. It flares up suddenly at times, choking him. He doesn't belong in the bar anymore, and his mind often strays to the front. The zest he had during his youth has quietly died--he doesn't even want to read anymore--and nothing has survived about his past life.

Nothing, that is, except the garden. Autor sighs at first. Looking over the weeds, leaves and minor debris, he wonders if he should let this part of his old life quietly die, too. Rae's efforts to care for them help him try to muster up the energy to work on the asparagus.

He can see the little sprouts already pushing through the mess. He can't bear to see them go to waste. It'll be a challenge, and he may still give up, but for the moment, he forces himself to kneel and get to work setting the asparagus garden to rights.

He'll be willing to speak with most anyone who stops by, though he'll be lost in the work at first.

Comments

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato -- actually hadn't realised the asparagus was Autor's. It's been a fixture of the lake area since before he arrived, but he'd never really seen anyone tending it.

(Which makes sense, he supposes, given what he knows about Autor.)

He has Gabumon settled on his shoulders as he approaches, careful not to disturb the asparagus. "I didn't realise this part of the garden was yours."

[herr_bookman]

Autor glances up, shaking out his hands to dislodge the dirt on them. Apparently he forgot to don gloves today.

"It's not," Autor says, looking out over the garden. "I'm taking care of it for someone who has died."

He stands, brushing off his knees. "How are you two?"

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"Someone who died? Who did it belong to?"

People dying and not just coming straight back to Milliways seems like a deviation from the usual pattern, somehow.

"We're -- busy, mostly. Well, I'm busy, Gabumon's not busy enough."

"It's really easy to get bored in Koushiro's office," Gabumon agrees.

[herr_bookman]

"A man called Urquhart," Autor says, his eyes glazing over as he turns his focus to the garden again. "He was dead already, but he passed permanently from Milliways during the zombie attack. He blocked the door, and gave up his afterlife protecting the bar."

[souffle_girlek]

Something rattles across the lawn, making slow and painstaking progress.

Oswin may have forgotten about mud when making her bots.

...

The bot makes sad little beepy noises to itself as it trundles along, dragging a box in its wake. Thankfully Oswin sealed it well, because...

Yeah.

That bot is finding all of the mud.

[herr_bookman]

It takes Autor longer than he really should to notice the box and its delivery. He straightens, holding his sore back, and blinks at the package.

First, he addresses the bot,picking it up and cleaning the little robot off with his handkerchief. Then he pokes at the box, running his thumb along one of the sealed edges. Finally, he gets it open.

[souffle_girlek]

Inside are two chocolate chip cookies, thankfully unburnt and un-goofed-up.

The little bot, evidently pleased at its non-muddied state, settles on a nearby rock.

[herr_bookman]

Autor considers this gift for a long while before rubbing at his eyes with his dirty fingers. He must have gotten some soil in them before because he's not crying, no. They're just a little watery, that's all.

He stuffs both cookies in his mouth, chews, and swallows. Then he heads inside to find the gift giver, taking the little bot with him as he goes.

[a1enzo]

It's been so long since Enzo's run into Autor that he does an actual double-take as he passes by.

"Autor! Hey!"

heirDrosselmeyer, agrees Minus, although he displays no particular surprise. Time means less to a transtemporal chat client.

[herr_bookman]

Autor's taller than when Enzo saw him last, packed with lean muscle. He's also more sullen, more withdrawn, and his face is gaunt while his eyes are sunken.

He starts when Enzo calls him, his dirty fingers resting on the weed he was about to pull. "Hello, Enzo. It's been a while. How are you?"

[a1enzo]

"No kidding! I almost didn't recognize you! I'm pretty good. How... are you?"

He falters just slightly on the question, because while Autor looked fine bent over his work, when he looks up... not so much.

[herr_bookman]

Autor looks away, his eyes glazing over as he turns his focus to the garden. "I'm fine. I'm always fine, nothing changes for me."

He glances back at Enzo, ashamed of complaining. "What has life been like for you since we last saw each other?"

[cook_the_rude]

Did he think Hannibal Lecter would let the opportunity pass?

He doesn't.

So, he turns up by the asparagus garden, carrying four small dead birds with orange beaks.

[herr_bookman]

Autor doesn't notice the good doctor at first, too wrapped up in the work. Eventually, he glances up, his face gaunt and his eyes sunken. When he speaks, his voice is hoarse, as if he hasn't spoken in weeks.

"What do you want?" the boy snaps, brushing his filthy fingers off. "And why do you have dead birds?"

[cook_the_rude]

"Good morning to you too, Autor," the doctor says, smiling. "And it's called hunting."

[herr_bookman]

"I know what it's called," Autor says, gritting his teeth. He sits back on his haunches and tugs at a weed. "Why are you hunting? Are you going to eat them?"

[is_the_motion]

"You need a hand?" Bonnie asks, the garden looking rather like her own right now.

[herr_bookman]

Autor starts when she speaks, glancing up at her. His face is gaunt and his eyes are sunken, and when he talks, his voice is hoarse, as if he hasn't spoken in weeks. "Sure, thanks," he says. "It's good to see you."

[is_the_motion]

Bonnie crouches next to him, looking him up and down.

"What happened to you, honey?" she asks gently.

She reaches to put a hand to his forehead. "You look sick, do you have a fever? You should be in the warm."

[runningred]

A motorcycle comes up the path, stopping a respectful distance away. Jay takes his helmet off and walks over. "Autor. It's been a while." He's smile is honest and warm.

[herr_bookman]

Autor doesn't start when Jay speaks, because the boy heard the motorcycle and was prepared to meet him. Autor's face is gaunt and his eyes are sunken. When he speaks, his voice is coarse, as if he hasn't spoken in weeks.

"Jay," the boy says, lighting up. "It's good to see you. It really has been a long time."

[runningred]

Jay takes Autor's state in with a brief sweep of his eyes. And then offers Autor a hug. If he wants it. "I've missed you."

[the_cupbearer]

Ganymede is out walking when he sees Autor, brows lifting at the mess of the garden he's tending.

"Left your weeding a little late, have you?" he asks.

[herr_bookman]

Autor starts when Ganymede speaks, having not noticed him. The boy's face is gaunt and his eyes are sunken. When he speaks, his voice is hoarse, as if he hasn't used it in weeks.

"Ganymede," Autor says, brushing dirt off his bare fingers. "Hello. Yes, I haven't touched the garden since I came back from the war."

[the_cupbearer]

"There was a war?" he asks, and it's not unkindly, but with the air of someone who has seen many wars come and go, and the desolation they leave behind never changes. He kneels beside Autor gracefully, sweeping his hair back from his shoulders, and waits.

"Would you like help?"