fandomhigh | Plants: Thursday First Period

The class had once again been told to meet at Portalocity for today's outing. "We're going to visit my home," Nell said. "Or at least my home away from Fandom. It's called Soulwood and, well, let's step through and I'll show you."

The portal let them out in a strand of immense trees through which a very large farmhouse could be seen across an open stretch of mowed grass and gardens. As Nell set foot on the land it almost seemed to rise up to meet her. A gentle breeze sprang up, rustling the leaves on the trees, and a hushed expectant feeling fell upon the land. Nell reached out to touch the closest tree and the nearest branch bent in to brush against her gently.

She slipped off her shoes and dug her toes into the ground sending her mind questing across her land, noting the new dens of the animals, the small herd of deer across in the glen, the stream down the hill being visited by a family of rabbits, and most importantly, the lack of any other human anywhere on or next to her land.

Nell let out a soft sigh as she pulled her focus back to the class. "Welcome to Soulwood. It's about a hundred and fifty acres of woods bordering the flatland by the house where my gardens are. Let's go take a look."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Marveling at the beauty

Eleanor Zarrin

Gladiolus Amicitia

Nell pointed out the various things she was growing in her gardens as they passed each of the beds. "Normally I'd have a lot more here," she explained, "But since I'm not living here now it would be hard to maintain the gardens I once did when I counted on them to completely support me.

"There's a steep hill heading down into a gorge off that way, so be careful if you head over there. Across the glen and into the woods that way you might be able to spot a small herd of deer with two fawns. They don't spook as easy as some might, so if you're quiet they'll just keep going about their business. Please feel free to wander the trails through the woods and don't worry about getting lost, I'll always know where you are on my land."

The biggest of the trees were large enough that you'd need a couple of Gladios with arms outstretched to reach around them and it was those Nell went to once the class was settled, laying out her pink blanket and sitting down with her back against one of the trunks. She'd be here if anyone had any questions or just wanted to commune with her.

It was a good thing Gladio had already been introduced to Soulwood, because if he was paying just a bit more attention to Nell herself than what she was showing them as she gave her little tour. And could you really blame him any? Her love of this place and her connection to it was evident, and he loved seeing it there in every little thing.

And obviously, wandering the trails wasn't going to be half as enjoyable by himself, although he did think of going just to keep an eye on Eleanor if she decided to do that. Ultimately, though,he just drifted over to join Nell under the tree on her blanket, but not without first asking, "anything you need me to take care of while we're here?"

She patted the spot next to him. "Nope. Just set yourself here and enjoy or have yourself a wander. I'm just going to commune with the early a bit and keep an eye on Eleanor through the land."

"Now that," Gladio said, "I can do."

And, of course, he made a big, groaning show out of lowering himself down on the blanket beside Nell. He leaned in to give her a quick kiss once we was down, then stretched forward to loosen the laces on his boots, to better kick them off in a second before fully stretching out his long legs and leaning back on his hands with a contented sigh.

"Good day for it, too, huh?"

"It's a gorgeous day," she agreed dreamily. "But even bad days aren't as bad on Soulwood."

Nell set a heads on his shoulder and pointed. "Look, right over there. An eagle. Could have been a model for your tattoo."

Gladio followed that pointed finger, even though he didn't really have to, before grinning.

"I don't know about that," he mused. "Think I should just pop this shirt off so you can make a better comparrison?"

Because of course that was immediately where he'd go with a comment like that.

"I'm very surprised it's lasted this long," Nell said with a smile. "Please, let's compare."

Eleanor was distracted and worried about leaving Kamala in her room as a sloth while she went to class and work today,but she tried to focus on Nell showing them her home and appreciating how lovely it was.

The temptation to explore the woods was strong, but she also knew it would be potentially dangerous, in her current state, especially with the deer out there. They didn't spook easily, they said, but would they, with her around? Would they be able to tell what she was, or would they end up being easy prey?

And it was thoughts like that that kept her from venturing too far away, instead focusing on just learning more about the garden set-up and maybe checking out the view of the gorge.

She'd come earlier in the week to do what needed to be cared for and now she was just going to relax and enjoy the peace that came with being in Soulwood.

I wish I lived in a place like Soulwood. Well, minus the cult on the other side of the land, that is.

Plants: Thursday First Period

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OOC