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[dangerouswind]

[Community building one. Fourth floor. Early evening. A door slams.

Once. Twice. Three times, each time with a little more force. Finally, a thud and wood cracking; she's punched a wall. There's a crash inside one of the apartments - ceramic against a wall, then falling to the floor. Temari leaves the apartment, leaves the door open, and stalks away.

She's going for a walk.

Just inside her apartment door, a plant lies neglected in a pile of dirt and shattered ceramic.

She spends some time just outside the village, using a tree as a sparring partner. She, at least, has enough sense to not actually connect with the rough bark, but it makes a good enough target to throw a few punches toward. She wants nothing more than to beat something - someone - to a damned pulp, but what is she going to do but live with it?

It's later - hours later - that she makes her way to the Memory Garden. There, physically weary and emotionally strung out, she sits in front of the plants she's tended for so long. Wildflowers are ringed by bright, fiery desert blooms; in front of the small plot is a stone etched with kanji. Beside the stone, she sets one glass bead: a reminder of Kankurou's (second) time in Luceti. The bead will be blown away by the wind, lost to the elements eventually. She knows it; still leaves it there.

That night, she'll go home. Clean up her mess. Start living life again.]

Comments

[dangerouswind]

[Temari glances at her, frowning at the apology. Honestly, she's not sure how she feels about the intrusion, but... well, the garden's a public place. There will be intrusions.] About what?

[therewerefifty]

[Mm... she should have known better. Makie glances down at the shamisen in her lap.] That you've lost someone important to you. But... that isn't my place. I realise.

I can leave, if you like.

[dangerouswind]

[She snorts.] I guess it's pretty obvious if I'm hanging out around here. [Temari glances in her direction.] You're fine.

[therewerefifty]

[Makie gives a ghost of a smile in response, and then leaves Temari to her thoughts.]

[dangerouswind]

[After a few moments' silence, Temari speaks.] What brings you out here?

[therewerefifty]

[The question isn't as startling as it might have been a few weeks ago. Makie glances up, then down at her hands thoughtfully.]

I'm not sure. I like how peaceful it is, but... I think I also come to remind myself that things can't stay the same here. I don't want to start taking this village for granted.

[dangerouswind]

[Temari hums in assent.] Dangerous thing to do, taking this place for granted.

[therewerefifty]

Yes. I imagine that becomes more apparent the longer you are here. [The crisis with Twila showed her just how easy it was to be influenced. It doesn't bother her particularly much, as long as she can pick the pieces up afterward. But even so.]

[dangerouswind]

Do you have any plants here-- [she motions toward the garden] -- or does the garden itself serve as the reminder?

[therewerefifty]

The garden. [She smiles self-deprecatingly.] I'm afraid my only attempt in life to garden met with dismal failure.

[dangerouswind]

[Temari can't help the small -- almost humorless -- laugh.] That bad?

[therewerefifty]

I was very young at the time. [Still a precocious child, actually.] I just don't have a good hand with living things.

[dangerouswind]

It's just a matter of being diligent with their care.

[therewerefifty]

Mm. [She never really had the time, once she grew older. On the other hand, Luceti has all the time in the world.] Perhaps I shall try again one day.

[dangerouswind]

I have some starter plants. Don't kill 'em.

[therewerefifty]

[She smiles at that. And then glances over the various plants in the garden.] How many of these are yours?

[dangerouswind]

A handful. [She gestures to the wildflowers and the cactus blooms.]

[therewerefifty]

I'll make sure to treat them with care. [Amusement touches her voice.] Or at least... keep my poor gardening skills well away from them.

[dangerouswind]

See that you do. I'd hate to have to clean up a mess.