❀ diamond in the rough, a flower blossoming in the slums

[gardeningaia]

Perhaps getting thrown down here was part of the plan. The great quest. The attempt to woo sweet Agrabah princess, or just fetch what that weird rug merchant asked you to get.

More likely this particular stop wasn't on the itinerary. Boy is that Saucer of Wonders picky! The moment you--or a faithful but not always reliable animal companion--got distracted by something shiny, it was down the hatch to a natural desert prison, surrounded on all sides by quicksand. There's evidence that people have been here...and evidence they died here. You're not about to find anyone alive and kicking in the rundown shacks anytime soon.

Look long enough, though, and you'll find a dusty watering can lying on its side. The weathered metal has certainly seen better days, but maybe it could be cleaned up with a little polish?

Or maybe you're more interested in the "water" part of "watering can". This is a desert, after all.

Pick it up?

[ No? But thou must! Not much is going to happen until that can's picked up, and Aerith might get a bit impatient if your character ignores her. Oh yes, indeed, she's in there as the Genie.

In a little spin on the theme, I'm using the Disney take rather than the classic version itself. Also, if you want to find the watering can in a completely different place to better fit your own character's quest, that's fine! (And I do mean completely different, never underestimate the power of cosmic ...powers.) The Gold Saucer/Corel Prison just happened to suit the Cave of Wonders sequence nicely. ]

Comments

It's cool!

[one_one_se7en]

The Spartan may be inside of an iberic set of plate armor, but he notices his rutsack moving -- hence why he grabs a dagger as soon as he opens it... to see nothing else inside, save for the watering can.

Which happens to be moving.

Shaking.

The knight picks it up to stare at it, keeping a weapon ready. The water may be polluted for all he knows...

... So expecting a rat, he taps it.

[gardeningaia]

Does a tap count for a rub? Oh well--she's fudging it. She just has to get out now!

So be prepared for a lot of pink smoke...and some scolding from a disembodied voice as Aerith realizes what else the knight is holding. "Excuse me! Just what is that knife for? I'm here to help, thank you!"

For all her mystical entrance, the genie is pouting petulantly when she solidifies. That's not polite!

[one_one_se7en]

He was aware there was a living being inside. Finding a female djinn inside was not quite what he expected.

His helm stares at the forming smoke.

This is new.

"Thought it was a rat."

[gardeningaia]

She--shudders. "Don't even say that! I don't want one of those crawling in with me. My can is pest-free, protected by my patented anti-intruder smoke alarm system." She curls a wisp of pink smoke around her hair as she says this.

Really it's not patented, because she just puffs pink smoke at any nasty things to either scare them off or (for smaller things) gently push them out. At another time he might have found bunnies, though. She doesn't mind when their little twitchy noses poke in.

[one_one_se7en]

His helm tilts. Given the woman before him was composed of pink smoke, it wasn't farfetched. The knight walks forward looking at the body of the genie... Still finding it a little odd to encounter an abandoned water pot happening to harbor a millennial being in the middle of nowhere.

He lowers the weapon.

"What were you doing in there?"

[gardeningaia]

"Growing my garden, cooking some crepes, you know--the usual." She smiles, but her head ducks away at the same. "What everyone does to make home sweet home."

Especially when they're stuck with it.

"Hey, what about you? Being here." She looks around, tapping a finger against her chin thoughtfully. "Either my can drifted or the climate's sure changed. Whew!" She fans her face--literally turning her hand into a fan. ...Yep. "Not very comfortable, if you ask me."

[one_one_se7en]

"Ran into a trap."

His helm looks behind him. It was a damned wasteland that now happened to hold him captive after wandering too far from his kingdom.

Given how the genie's hand transformed into a fan, maybe too far from his home. He looks at it for a long instant.

"Wanted someplace cooler."

Heat doesn't bother him, living in armor and all.

[gardeningaia]

The staring gets her to turn her fan-hand onto him, though it can't do too much with him in all that armor, after all. Still, her smile picks up--already found one possible wish! "I could make it cold, if you'd like."

[one_one_se7en]

Being in plate armor, it helps little, though to his benefit, thinking he is inside of a suit of armor aids him a little in assuming he has the same sealed environment as the MJOLNIR.

"Someplace out of here."

It's got to be colder than this trap, in any case.

[gardeningaia]

"Someplace cold and out of here..." she muses, before smacking her palm on her open fist. "I've got it!"

And that's how they ended up--

On Gaia's North Pole. Or Knowespole, silly translation. It might be a little colder than planned for, although Aerith at least takes care to start pulling up coats.

[one_one_se7en]

.......

Well, to be fair, it's his own damn fault. This is the sort of thing that happens when he is too brief in his words.

"Is there a town nearby?"

[gardeningaia]

"Ooooh."

That pause in handing him a coat--though he really doesn't need it over all the armor, huh?--is saying no. But she quickly smiles again.

"Don't worry. This is covered under 'customer satisfaction'!"

Which means she's going to do something.

...Which means if there's any other specifications he can think of, he might want to speak up before she pulls it off!

[one_one_se7en]

... Armored or no, he takes the coat. God knows in his months of traveling, any and all resources come in handy at one point.

"There was a city near the desert before I found you here. A big one. If we could get there with all I was gathering after I got stuck in there, we'd be back on track."

And come think of it... Having a Djinn would be good company in the middle of the deserts. Far too many mercenaries and bounty hunters for him to go alone.

[gardeningaia]

"So you just wanted it cooler, not cold? You could have said!" She huffs, putting her hands on her hips as she leans toward him. But then she straightens up and smiles. "On track, though..? Ooh, sounds like a trip. I haven't gotten to stretch my legs in a long while. Usually don't need to!" Genie powers, after all. "Let's get going!"

With another puff of smoke, they're in a big city--definitely hot again, and Aerith sheds her coat immediately. But not as blistering as the desert, certainly.

"Okay. That was wish number one."

[one_one_se7en]

In spite of how small Aerith the genie is in comparison to the massive knight, he somehow finds the need to stand his ground against her initial glare. But at least she smiles, even though his helm briefly wanders around where her legs should be amidst the smoke.

After a brief feeling of translocation sickness, he's back in the city. Although in the middle of a marketplace with people staring baffled at the renowned knight that appeared from thin air.

"Good."

... And nonchalantly, he walks as if nothing had happened, nodding Aerith to follow her. And everyone staring baffled at what had just happened.

"Let's find a tavern first."

[gardeningaia]

Though she doesn't always have legs, once they're in the desert town they're there, making long strides to keep up with Mr. Knight. Speaking of Mr. Knight.

"Do you want to do introductions there or now? It's a little funny not to know my new master's name."

[one_one_se7en]

With the question, the knight turns towards the immaterial companion. The helm slowly tilts in curiosity, before straightening, staring at the genie's coy smile. She looks familiar. But in any case...

"John."

... It used not to be a rarity to not know his name until recently. His helmet

"And the genie's...?"

haha I'd forgotten they did exchange names last time ^^;

[gardeningaia]

"John. Funny. If I didn't know better I'd say we'd already met!" The name is familiar...something about the helmet, though the rucksack seems new. "But I only come out once every few thousand years. Oh--of course, I'm Aerith."

It's cool! It can be handwaved for the different appearances!

[one_one_se7en]

His helm tries recognizing the features. Like the genie at his service, the name is familiar on the back of his mind. But, having never found a female genie at his service in the past, he shrugs it off.

He nods to her. He checks his rutsack for things that might be worth selling as loot.

"Think we can buy something better than a watering can?"

[gardeningaia]

"Wait! You can't sell the can, I need it."

[one_one_se7en]

"Can't we get you a better home?"

A lamp. Something more dignified. Magic is too finicky for his taste, sometimes.

[gardeningaia]

"What are you saying, I picked that!" Pouting, she folds her arms. "What's wrong with it?"

She does like gardening after all. And lamps are too fussy!

[one_one_se7en]

"It's a rusting gardening can."

And the loot he found could get her a more fancy home. He hopes.

"...

Can't we get a new one?"

[gardeningaia]

"I suppose," she says slowly, "I can be open to new suggestions. But it's only rusting a little.'

They might have different definitions for that word. Just possibly.

[one_one_se7en]

He nods his head to the gardens of some noble. Even the watering can held by one of the vassals tending the flowers seems to be overly adorned.

"... How long did you spend in it?"

A little may be an understatement.