[action] We don't need greenhouses where we're going...

[made_of_science]

[So there's all this snow. Snow is a novel thing for Vitalia, and a troublesome one, because 1: it's uncomfortably cold and 2: it kills plants. But Srta. Ruiz is not one to take this affront lying down! No, she has been cultivating things! Things which are now thriving happily near the treehouse! Things like pretty roses, and lilies, and several fruits! And a plant with fanged, snapping jaws! And a plant that grows eyeballs instead of berries! And a horrible, shriveled black thing that occasionally spits a fireball out in a random direction. (Thankfully that one's range is only about a yard, so there's no damage beyond a blackened circle around it.)

[And in the midst of this is a cheerful and heavily-bundled young lady, inspecting each plant and noting its progress down on a pad of paper, humming as she goes.]

Comments

[mutation_is_great]

My, those certainly are a departure from the remainders of the Gardens.

[Melia had bundled up in her winter robes, that she'd previously rustled up with some magic dirt. Far thicker, but still colorful.]

[made_of_science]

Ah, good day to you, Miss Melia!

Yes, I believe I've found a sufficient counter to the deleterious effects of the cold weather. My specimens appear to be the very picture of health thus far!

[mutation_is_great]

Quite interesting specimens they are! It makes me almost nostalgic after the sameness of the plants here.

[made_of_science]

Oh, certainly! Her Highness simply has no ambition with her garden! Why, even a small segment of my garden back home would dwarf this entire area in variety! I suppose that must be why she chose to bring me here.

[mutation_is_great]

I must greatly doubt that as I have seem little to show such intent and purpose to her actions.

Every time you walk out of the towns in my homeland, you find something new. Such is the touch of Chaos.

[made_of_science]

Well, I certainly can't speak for chaos on my own part; I merely provide the ordered hand of Science to the disordered and unfocused meanderings of Nature.

[mutation_is_great]

The number of gods it takes to create a beast is one to create the design, and a thousand to muddle it with their meddling.

[histrionic]

[Kuja doesn't mind the cold or the snow and is dressed as usual. Most would find her dress even more odd in this weather because of the fact that she isn't wearing much, but as she's so fond of saying, her flesh is all but invulnerable.

None of the plants strike her as horrifying or worrisome in the least. She's particularly fond of the fireball plant and has entered the charred circle without fear to pet it with a manicured hand. The plant seems to be enjoying the attention.]

[made_of_science]

I shall never cease to be impressed at your way with living things, Miss Kuja! And your, er, natural insulation. [Vitalia: Still not 100% used to Kuja's less-than-underwear preferences in clothing.]

[histrionic]

My mastery over beasts is simply a natural ability. [She can poison the minds of humans as well, but she feels no real desire to do that here. Well--maybe a little.] You have a way with them yourself. Look how quickly you've rebuilt.

[Underwear is so overrated.]

[made_of_science]

[Yay, she was praised!] Oh, this was a very simple affair, for the most part! I'd spent some idle time pondering the question of prevention of the deleterious effects of the cold; I'd merely never been given the opportunity to test my hypotheses.

I shall need a new greenhouse soon... it would be inconvenient to have cross-contamination of my specimens with the native flora. Though I must say, I am pleasantly surprised that the native fauna have not tried to make meals of anything.

[Not when you are a wuss from near the equator, suddenly transplanted to a seasonal climate!]

[histrionic]

Too modest--I believe you're the only one here who would be capable of such a thing. Most others here have no ambition and fewer ideas. At least there are some benefits to this place.

[Being impervious to cold is helpful, where underwear-eschewing is concerned.]

I believe there's enough for the fauna to eat without risking consumption of these hardier plants.

[Kuja nods, walking over to the plant with jaws, allowing it to nibble on her fingers fondly.] Fortunately, structures are so easy to create here.

[made_of_science]

Ah, I suppose that is true. Though I must admit, it is not so much modesty as it is that this is a mere trifle for my abilities. There are much greater challenges of horticulture for me to overcome!

Even in places of plenty, creatures oftentimes will take their meals as they will, with little distinction between one food source and another. I suppose the natives here are intelligent enough to know that their depredations are unwelcome here!

[Or maybe they don't want to get fireball'd or eaten. Or stared at.]

Yes, though I believe I shall delay any plans until the weather is more agreeable. I shall require several infusions of tea before I feel at all like a living thing again!

[manymasked]

Wow, you grew all that in the snow?

[made_of_science]

Oh, good morning, Miss Minako! Yes, I believe I've found the secret to hardiness in this abominable climate. Of course, I'd speculated on such a thing before, so it's no bolt from the blue!

[manymasked]

Even so, it's pretty impressive!

I'm... a bit worried about the fire-breathing one, though.

[made_of_science]

Oh? [She peers over at it.] Ah, don't let its appearance trouble you! I assure you, it is entirely healthy.

[manymasked]

... Oh, well, that's... good! Don't you worry about it damaging your other plants, though?

[made_of_science]

Not at all! The ones near its radius have already been made fire-resistant, so there is little to worry about. I suppose there may be a slight risk for explosive growth or inconvenient cross-pollination, but it is of little consequence.

/casually tags this a week late

[dragoninstalled]

[Life in the Gardens gets pretty damn boring when the Queen isn't busy screwing things up, so Sol has taken to occupying her free time with walks. Lots and lots of walks and occasionally swinging her sword at nothing (because, the effectiveness of sparring alone aside, she has spent enough time trying to avoid fighting Ky that she isn't going to do so voluntarily). With that being the case, it had only been a matter of time before she stumbled across Vitalia's little garden.]

[She has to do a double-take at first, because the one spitting fireballs reminds her of the roses that had popped up not long after her original arrival, only in reverse. But, no, that can't be something of the Queen's. It isn't dressed up pretty enough. Deciding it's probably safe to leave it without putting it out of its misery, she passes by it, and then... stumbles across a bush with a disconcerting number of eyeballs sprouting from it instead.]

...the hell?

Fashionably late!

[made_of_science]

Oh dear, Miss, do be careful! That is a rather delicate specimen! I haven't quite worked out a good protective sheath.

[dragoninstalled]

[She glances up at the sound of the voice, her expression dubious at best. She should probably just nod and walk quickly in the opposite direction, but she can't help but be curious in spite of herself.]

You made this thing?

[made_of_science]

Oh, yes, indeed! Of course, it was due to a great deal of aid from Papi-- I'm sure I should have had a difficult time of it without his aid in the structure of the eye-- but it was reconstructed from memory.

[The bush stares up at Sol with interest. Possibly. It is difficult to gauge a bush's emotions.]

[dragoninstalled]

[She was going to comment with her usual lack of tact that it looks like it needs to be put down like a rabid dog rather than improved upon, but the fact that it's looking at her is extremely uncomfortable. She rips her gaze away from it, jerking her head toward the various other plants instead.]

And the rest of them?

[made_of_science]

Of course! Why, I can't think of anyone I've met here who'd have the wherewithal to perform such botanical work. I'm sure I would have noticed were there anyone with such skills!

[The very idea! Sol, you wound her!]

Are you perhaps interested in the botanical sciences?