{HAZE-2} Watering — Tranquillitas

The buds break free from their restraints as time flows, the deep blue hue of the leaves bloom forth and reach ever closer to the sky as they seek the light of day, to be purged from their feeble lesser shells just as a bun seeks their greater vice amongst the stars.

That is to say… the initial hazebloom seeds that Calcifer had planted with Hops his first go around had indeed started to sprout. Of course there were plenty of other plots to tend to—high risk, high reward yield as Hops said—but… well, it felt nice to see the work and dedication you’ve put into something grow fresh leaves… to reach their ultimatum, the climax of their lives… so to speak.

Calcifer contemplated this as water cascaded in a thin sheet across the field, emanating from the pinched hose he carried. Supposedly Hops said there were automated sprinkler systems integrated through some of the fancier plots… but fancy, this was not. Most of the watering for the hazeblooms was to be done by hand… as is “tradition”. Hops said something about how the “plants can feel the love you put in”, but… this fact has yet to be proven in writing. Will Calcifer have to be the one to prove it, perhaps…

“Lord Calcifer!!! Hey!” With a pep in her step, the titular Damsel of the Drink appears… with a watering pail. “Can you lend me that hose for a bit to fill up this pail? I gotta take care of some of the other plants too.”
“Have at it, if you dare!” Calcifer thrust the hose out towards Hops and she took it up with all the grace of a three-footed rabbit. Momentarily he watched as water poured in…

“Damsel Hops.”
“Y-yeah?”
“If I may be so bold as to inquire… there are other plots besides the hazeblooms?” Was Calcifer genuinely curious, or just trying to strike up a conversation? Who knows.
“Ooooh, I guess regular customers wouldn’t know. Yeah, we grow a lot of produce back here for the casino and bar — cutting costs where we can and all that! Normally I don’t work back here so I’m not too familiar, but I do know where a couple things are… so I can grab a fresh leaf or two when I need a garnish for a drink. Actually I can show you around some of the smaller plots without sprinklers! They’re for things like herbs that can be managed without all those big, fancy gardening machines.”

Leading Calcifer forward with a pep in her step, Hops went around to other parts of the gardens behind the Casino… despite how it originally looked, there was quite a rich assortment of different fresh spices to be had here. Thyme, rosemary, all the regular sorts… plus a couple unique ones that Calcifer hadn’t seen before. Though… he wouldn’t dare touch for longer than a second, lest Angora get onto him about making a deal for more of Calcifer’s precious time.

Well… maybe one leaf of this weird plant won’t hurt, right?

As he helped Hops water the remaining plots, he couldn’t help but take a couple… samples for further investigation.