bloom

[bronwe]

Who: Frodo and YOU!
What: fail gardening
When: morning of April 4
Where: by the orchard
Rating: PG

It is warm enough now that Frodo can walk about barefooted without worrying that he might lose both legs to the frost. He remembers how Sam would start his planting at around this time of the year, just when the seasons turn and the sweet smell of spring is almost here. But not quite.

There is a tin bucket of flower bulbs some ways from the apple tree, set beside the small crouched figure digging little holes into the ground with his hands. He has a pile of pulled weeds and rocks on his other side, having cleared a small patch there for his makeshift garden. Planting the bulbs confuses him though. Which way is up and how deep should it go?

Times like these, more than ever, makes him wish Sam were here to give him all sorts of wise advice, and not only for gardening. He can already imagine one hundred and one quips from the hobbit. But his friend isn't here, yet, so Frodo just keeps squinting at the bulb, hoping some revelation will miraculously come to him eventually.

Comments

[bronwe]

Daisies! Maybe those would be easier to plant...

[ But the comment on his feet just makes him chuckle. He bears them with hobbit pride. ]

No, we are the Little Folk. Hobbits. Some call us halflings but we aren't so fond of that term.

[jthm]

Halflings huh? Basically mini people with big feet, who aren't midgets...yeah okay I get that.

So should I call you Mr. Hobbit, Mr. Halfling, do you have a name?

[bronwe]

Frodo! Frodo Baggins. [ Though he's gotten rather used to being called Master Baggins, too. ]

How should I call you?

[jthm]

Uhm...well my name isn't really that important. You're free to call me whatever you want though.

[bronwe]

[ But names are important. That was why he insisted on calling his guide Smeagol and not the crude Gollum. ]

What did your parents call you? Or your friends?

[jthm]

Here's the thing Mr. Frodo. My parents are gone, and I don't have friends. But if you must...you can call me Nny.

[bronwe]

Nny.

[ He wants to say he's sorry but he was sick of hearing it when he became an orphan, so maybe he feels the same. ]

I would be your friend if you let me.

[jthm]

...I'm not really friendship material. A good conversation maybe, but you wouldn't want to be my friend.

[bronwe]

A good conversation then. Friendship comes later.

1/2

[jthm]

...

2/2

[jthm]

Well I can't argue with that logic

[bronwe]

Good! Then it's settled.

We can talk about bulbs some more unless you have something else in mind.

[jthm]

Yeah...okay...so how's your little plant going? Anything happen yet?

[bronwe]

It would take longer than minutes for plants to grow!

[jthm]

...right

So uhh...how long have you been stuck in this place anyway?

[bronwe]

A few months. It seems only yesterday.

What about you?

[jthm]

Just a month. Not really as long as yours but I'm pretty bored already.

[bronwe]

I can lend you books! Or you can help me with gardening.

[jthm]

Books, not thanks, I might just run them and I'd hate that kind of responsibility. But I have no issues with helping you out with your gardening, I just don't have a green thumb...

[He does a thumbs up and just stares at his thumb for a bit]

It's more black than anything...maybe slightly blood red.

[bronwe]

[ The hint doesn't quite get to him, his thumbs are now literally brown anyway. ]

Neither do I. Between the two of us though it might just work.

[jthm]

Alright then Mr. Frodo, you've got yourself a gardening buddy.

[bronwe]

He grins. ]

Splendid.