Green's Greens ~112 Sunrise Blvd~

The plant shifts in reaction to the three quick knocks at the door, it's instincts kick in and it's hidden lasher vine rises up with its sharp thorn pointed at the door. Up until this point Neither Kate nor Vito had actually seen the plant's defense mechanisms.

Intruder. Defend Caretaker. 

The plant had no idea what was at the door, if it were an attacker or what. It was prepared to fight though to make sure it's caretaker survived.

Naoki is taken somewhat aback as Kate very nearly stumbles right out the door into her. Kate doesn’t seem to be quite herself this morning, that much is evident. Naoki stands quietly with a slight smile, unyielding under the barrage of questions.

However, instead of proceeding inward, or offering some trifling verbal greeting, Naoki does as she seems to have developed a tendency to, surging forward to wrap the individual of her affections in a tight embrace where she stands. After a moment of silent closeness, Naoki speaks softly, face partially immersed in that disheveled silvery hair, “It’s good to see you. Today is Thursday, the twentieth of June. Happy Birthday.”

After a brief squeeze- putting those biceps to use, Naoki provides a peck on the cheek as she disengages, and proceeds into the shop as invited, tail held high. As she looks around, examining the greenery surrounding them on all sides and how it has changed since her last visit, she continues, “Also, the first day of our trip, if all goes as I would like. The carriage is being prepared for the journey, fitted with new wheels and loaded up with food and such. But I couldn’t stand waiting, so I came a bit early. They should be along…”

She trails off, unsure, before firmly settling on the ambiguous: “Presently. We have a few minutes to spend. How are you? Ready? You don’t seem as if you’ve…”

The first thing that springs to mind is ‘bathed’, but Naoki opts to go for, “... slept well.”

She lingers just beyond the entryway, hands clasped behind her back, waiting to be directed in one direction or another.

Kate dismissed the plant’s comment with a swatting movement and a hiss, a gesture akin to an attempt to ward off a flying raccoon. She was actually really pleased to see Naoki now. One more day and she would have not been this clear minded.

But because she had come for her, she was able to return her embrace in full, bursting with a surprised giggle. "Birthday? My birth-“ Kate had completely forgotten, and it showed. Her face was the image of astonishment. How could’ve this happened? “You remembered! D'awww you dear!” She tried to mask her own forgetfulness with more than chipper reactions, but she was still visibly ashamed for not paying attention to the passage of time.

“I think that birthdays are important, you know!” she continued. “Things like signs and horoscope can be really helpful sometimes, and they tell you more about yourself than you might realise! Besides, who could say no to a celebration all about yourself. Even though a woman might want to keep her age a secret-“ Oops!

Kate had went on and on without thinking about how Naoki felt about birthdays. Of course, knowing her, she would probably shrug it off as not a big deal to her. Still, Kate decided to swiftly change the subject. “Hum, so anyways. I’m completely fine, save for just a little bit tired. It’s, uhh, something work related.” She glanced at the direction of Savage Garden , which, even in it’s minute form seemed to be looming like a bad omen. “But it’s fine, really, I might take a nap on the way, but-“ As she was moving around she began to realise how icky her work clothes felt. “I’m just going to change into something more presentable if you don’t mind. Have a seat, I won't be long.” Kate pointed towards a wooden table circled with garden chairs, newly cushioned. She scuttled towards the back, happy to have caught onto Naoki's little word play. On the way, she made good of her promise of tea, and lit a hot-hot fire on her stove with some Pyre Seeds she kept around for situations like this.

After a time shorter than most gentlemen are used to wait for the ladies, Kate emerged in a yellow dress and brown heels ready to take on the Land Tillers. By now, Vito had most likely arrived for work. Kate would inform him of the situation. His grumpy demeanour vanished as Kate mentioned the amount of bonuses he would garner during her leave. She smirked at the naive little boy, then at Naoki, once he was off to his routine. "He's a good lad. I'd rather he'd kick his habit but, you know. He works for peanuts and he's passionate. The perfect intern."

"I took the liberty of making some tea for us while we wait. There is a garden table and some chairs over here or... Is the carriage here already?" She peeked outside for signs of anything ridiculously exuberant. "If so, well, I'll have Vito to serve it to the customers." 

“Alright, good. I’ll be here.”

Seating herself in the offered chair, Naoki idly wonders, as she looks around, what sort of botany-related business could keep one up late at night. The plants don’t sleep, do they? Not usually, as far as she’s aware. Even if they do, they ought to sleep at night. Though. Not much about Green’s Greens is “usual”, she supposes. There may very well be some… singing tulips or somesuch that would keep one up late into the night, or some plant that subsists purely on moonlight, for all Naoki is aware. That would be interesting, she muses.

However, her speculations are cut short as Kate returns. Naoki opens her mouth as if to speak, but pauses just before speaking a word, whole body going rigid. Her ears swivel off to the left, having apparently heard something. Naoki listens for just a moment more before relaxing and responding, “The carriage is just down the street. They’ll be here in a half-minute, where’s your bag?”

Surely enough, almost exactly thirty seconds later, the very same great iron carriage used to transport the pair of them up to the Chalet comes to a halt just before Green’s Greens However, today, it is adorned not with the Midnight Sun logo, but the red and gold heraldry of Isra. The carriage is surrounded by riders on horseback, their scarves identifying them as Sun Marshals.

Assuming that Kate is as prepared as she is going to be, with all of her bags and assorted accoutrements she’d like to bring on the trip, Naoki offers Vito a perfunctory wave, before moving to the door, holding it open for Kate, and proceeding outside behind her.

Once outside, Naoki casts an inquisitive eyebrow in the direction of the Sun Marshal leading the formation. He simply nods in response. Nodding mostly to herself, Naoki gestures in the direction of the entry ladder, which has been extended from the rear of the vehicle. An attendant stands off to one side, prepared to handle any luggage.

“After you.” This statement is accompanied by the slightest of suppressed smirks as Naoki moves into a position directly behind the ladder, presumably to observe Kate’s ascent.

The interior of the carriage is more or less just as it was, save a few pieces of new upholstery. Artemis is seated on one of the long couches, but if any surprises lie in wait, they are hidden.

Artemis returns the hug, chuckling at Kate's exuberance. "Good to see you too, Kate. You're full of energy today, aren't you?"

[Empress Naoki]

Kate shrugged. “Well, how can I not be. Anything that gets me out of this city for a while is a cause of celebration in itself.” She was over her earlier tiredness, for now, and looking forward the trip ahead. She took a seat next to artemis and invited Naoki, who no longer had a butt to stare, to follow her example.

Kate straightened her dress, and looked out the window. It was a nice, sunny day, perfect for travelling. She started whistling a tune, waiting for Naoki to signal the caravan to move out.

[Dr. Frankeneblin]

Kate nodded. “Yes, that would be correct. I am Kate Green, and I’ve grown all these plants by myself. Well, I had help with money and such.” She gave the dwarf a guarded look when he inferred to the sentience of the plants. His overall chipperness only boosted the suspicious vibe Kate was receiving.

She crossed her arms and said with a quiet seriousness, “Well, people say a lot of things… But before I confirm anything, I’d like to know what you’d do with the information.” Kate was standing back turned to Savage Garden, but she didn’t have to look to know that it was feeling anxious as well.

Kate had just about had it with this man. Not only did he come here with motives murky at best, now he was lecturing her on the sciences of necromancy. She sneered haughtily. "You people just never learn... Even after Aaedan, you take on the pretence of science to temper and meddle with the natural order. People who were useless in life? According to who? Are you the judge of a man's worth? Have you any idea how much suffering your practise will cause?"

Kate had gathered enough steam that she leaned over the dwarf, harshly invading his personal space. There was a newly found strength to her voice, and she wasn't afraid to tell him off for all it's worth. "Suppose even if you had the best of intensions, if you were only trying to survive, to provide for a family, or a loved one, someone will always be there to take what you've learned and kill hundreds, thousands with it! But you don't care, because it's science, and that is justification for enough."

Kate's face was reddened, and she was breathing heavily, as she finished and turned away. Her shoulders were throbbing, but it was unclear if she was angry, or in tears. "Leave. This is you final warning. I have nothing more to say to you." 

If he still remained, Kate would turn after cooling down, and look at the man. She was, indeed, crying. Tears running down her smooth cheeks didn't waver her heated resolve. "As I said, this is nothing personal. Unless you make it so." Beneath her anger was a bitter trauma, and she didn't want to make enemies because of her issues. She didn't ask him to leave anymore, figuring that he'd already got the point.