♡ blankets & mini houses ♡ intro ♡

One of the staff asked Tim to serve a meal and some coffee to someone in the foyer and the young man, coffee set tray on hand, briskly walked towards the task at hand. When Tim arrived at the foyer, he saw a familiar blonde with an equally familiar green-white-gold outfit.

“It’s a good thing I picked a good set of beans.” Tim muttered to himself.

He had learned over the few times he had interacted with his guild mistress that she liked coffee. A lot. Tim is no coffee expert, not by a long shot, but he had served his old bosses Edna and Dr. Schwartz who were very particular about their coffee. While they weren’t the most unreasonable people he had met, they had ‘moods’ for a particular type of bean in a given time. Tim had dabbled in brewing which he bet would be good enough to serve his new boss, as well.

Tim was about to call for her when he heard Leona introduce herself to thin air.

Or, more accurately, a bunch of rolled up blankets which formed a rolled-up mound. This had Tim think of the second bit of information he had been told about Leona. Apparently, she tends to be very etiquette-conscious. Again, a lot. If this was anyone else Tim would just walk away and avoid an awkward interaction altogether. But he had a task of serving whoever was in the foyer which, in this case, was likely Silver Wolf’s guild mistress during her practicing how to make conversation.

Tim took a good breath and stepped closer.

Looking closer to the rolled-up blanket Tim found a floating tree right beside the mound. Again, this was something he should take in stride. The young man opted clear his throat, instead of asking about it. Tim let go of the tray, letting it levitate with his Grav-à-tête spell.

Tim adjusted his gloves and tie. Servant, his black and white cat-person themed butler armor, was something he had never gotten accustomed to. But when in situations like this, serving people within the guildhall, this was the perfect outfit to bring. This was definitely a better fit than his casual shabby looking vest and trousers which, while Tim loves to wear, wasn’t the best look for him when interacting on behalf of the guild.

Presentation is important, after all.

“Mistress Jarnefeldt?” With a slight bow he took to his role and greeted her. “I was sent here by the staff. I assume you’ll be needing your coffee?”

Without missing a beat Tim took a saucer and a cup and let the pitch-black brew pour off the pitcher. “The Strictly Hard Bean from Iceberg had just arrived. I took liberty in brewing some up and I think you would especially appreciate its citrus hint.”

Tim held out the saucer for her as the freshly brewed aroma slowly filled around the room.

“Capital…?” Tim quirked his brows, the twinkle in his eyes still evident. “Faeries have cities?”

No way! How would that even look? The buildings, the shops, the streets— more importantly, could he somehow visit there? If her dollhouse was to be the basis, the city would look like a very intricate and lively diorama! Tim remembered a diorama of the Neutral Grounds in an office of his father’s co-workers years ago, it was so painstakingly designed, it even had mechanically moving monorails. Even just remembering that marvel of a sight made Tim betray a slight smile. If this faerie city Miss Blooms described was even half as detailed as the diorama, something he just knew would blow any and all of his expectations out of thew water, it would be one of the few childhood-wishes he definitely would not mind fulfilling!

Then Tim recalled what his prospective faerie guildmate said, she made a ‘pilgrimage.’ Does this mean she wasn’t already a faerie before? She did use magic to turn into her miniature form, not to mention she mentioned receiving a gift— no, this was not something he wanted to pry without her consent. People are entitled to a couple of their own secrets; Tim had his own closet of skeletons, after all. But the fact remained: one could do this ‘pilgrimage’ and visit the place. That was more than enough for the nostalgic Tim, a hopeful little opportunity he could ask her once she’s settled down.

But listening to the miniature lady did made Tim let out a breath.

Healing Magic, huh.

Tim had a single healing spell in his increasingly horrible magical repertoire: the magical band-aid spell he often used when he needed to stop any bleeding. It wasn’t anything remarkable too; it did nothing but accelerated a body’s clotting and natural healing capabilities. Honestly, a skilled surgeon could do its job a lot better. But the company lacrima Tim was given from his old job wasn’t made for any specific function. It was to bolster his old company’s work efficiency. And that objective didn’t really have a single aspect of a worker’s function in mind. It kept a lot of people from bleeding out, and that was more than enough for the company at the time.

His light magic was another matter entirely. Does using it to burn off his curse from time-to-time count? Nah, he didn’t think so. That would be akin to cauterizing a wart rather than outright healing a person. Tim might be able to make some sort of healing spell with his light magic had he been creative enough.

But as it stands, he was a dullard when it comes to spell craft.

Not to mention the source of his power was something he had little to no personal experience being used as a means to heal someone. Tim’s chest felt heavy from even remembering his first attempt at ‘purifying’ a cursed relative.

Tim then found himself looking at his guild mistress.

She was listening in to Miss Blooms’ explanation, but Tim noticed a particular look to her. He wanted to call it somber, no, melancholy? He hadn’t really been given a chance to sit down and have a proper conversation with his boss, huh. She looked like she was a very contemplative girl, at least. Tim knew the feeling; he had been told by his old co-workers he spaced out a lot too. Then again, it might just him projecting. His guild mistress told him he was allowed to assist Miss Blooms, something that brought back his earlier mood. When talking to him, at least, she had a very genuine look to her. Tim nodded at her, keeping his smile.

Leona then steered the conversation to Miss Blooms’ magic. It was more an acknowledgment on what she said earlier rather than an actual question, but Tim did wonder if that caused Leona’s little ponderment.

Rather than fall into idle thought, Tim added.

"I admit, my magic is extremely horrible when it comes to healing people. I only have a single spell that's nothing more than a glorified band-aid. It personally keeps me from bleeding out in dire situations, but it doesn't really do wonders to others." Tim huffed out a laugh. "I'm what you would call a blunt instrument, I'm afraid, only good for labor and for beating someone senseless— and little to nothing else. So I appreciate having a wizard specialized in healing in our ranks."

Tim looked over Leona. "Would you also be coming along with us in planting this tree, Mistress Jarnefeldt?"

Tim’s thoughts landed about the sort of paperwork the staff told him she had been burying into day in and day out, that is on top of also doing field jobs. It wasn’t his place to say, but she might need the time off. And doing something labor intensive is the best way to tucker yourself off to a good night's sleep. It's still technically work, sure, but Tim could personally attest how both fulfilling and distracting it can be—wait, would inviting the Guild Mistress of all people to doing menial work the wisest decision hierarchically? Tim tucked the additional thought aside and trusted the approach another guildmate had used on him before, one that left quite an impression.

"I don't expect us having a tête-à-tête, but this is a fun alternative." Tim, saying the words both as politely and as casually as he could, looked expectantly at his superior before turning back to the faerie. “That being said…”

"How should we go about planting this tree, Miss Blooms?" She mentioned that 'gift' she had been given, that would definitely come to play somehow. "If you’ll have me, I'll follow your lead."

The excitement in his voice was barely hidden.

“I do not mind.” Tim let out a breath he didn’t even realize he was holding. “It would mean quite a lot to me, Guildmistress, being given your invaluable time.”

Helping to take a light load off his boss was its own reward. But being able to actually spend some quality time with the two would be a fun experience, if not also insightful. For all intents and purposes, Tim was still a greenhorn in all this. Leona, meanwhile, was a wizard saint. He even needed to remind himself, every once in a while, that she was still younger than him! Yet despite being so young she was someone who, without even looking things up too deep in the Lac-net, he had heard and read very impressive things about. In fact, the reason Tim even had Silver Wolf included in his little job hunting not too long ago was because of a piece in one of Edna’s older volumes of Sorcerer’s Magazine.

“If you would permit me to speak freely.” Tim paused, before smiling towards the Saint. After their interaction earlier, letting go of formalities for a bit would be prudent here unless she’ll say anything that’ll indicate she doesn’t like him ignoring the guild’s hierarchy. But Tim had a hunch she wasn’t unlike his old boss. “You see, the staff have been worried you’ll ‘work yourself to death’. Their words, not mine. They know well how much you’ve lifted the guild up, but they really aren’t in the position to force a vacation out on the boss. So, I’m the Joe they sent to ease their worry, so to speak. If it isn’t really that obvious, well…fighting’s pretty much all I’m good for! So what I honestly had in mind was to ask you out on a job sometime, something to take your time other than your duties. But an opportunity to plant a magic tree is also a good change of pace. Definitely beats going on a cross-country man hunt…”

Tim trailed off.

It was a little out of the blue, telling pretty much the guild’s entire staff on her. But while Tim already had an idea the guildmistress had a very close-knit relationship with some of the staff, the rest that usually worked on jobs that doesn’t let them see the wizards as often also worry. Tim has the horrible workaholism to have the opportunity in doing guild tasks with these people, and in the time he spent around the guild he came to know some of them. Even if they don’t get to meet, let alone talk, with her often, they still worry. And Tim picked up a bad habit of being nosy while he was a preteen urchin in the Neutral Grounds’ workhouses.

“That being said, I’d feel bad about this tree being stuck in this room, Miss Blooms.” Tim scratched his chin.

The prospect of seeing this tree growing to its usual height without being trimmed up caught Tim’s attention. It’d be a shame not to see it for himself. If he wasn’t going to be seeing the city Miss Blooms mentioned, he’d be damned not to at least see a fully grown magic tree! “It’s pretty impressive it being able to survive harsher conditions and all, but I think the guild can do better than let a pretty looking tree cooped up in some corner. After all, we have multi themed gardens and courtyards around both the guildhouse itself and the grounds around it!”

“That reminds me.” He flicked his fingers. Tim pulled out his iLac and navigated around the menus. “The guildhouse is pretty big, and the spaces also covered a lot of opportunities to have courtyard gardens. Aside from housing wizards this place also doubles as a hotel and hot spring, after all. See?”

Tim moved the iLac’s screen in view for the faerie. “This one’s midi-themed. It’s pretty close to the hallway into my room, actually.”

The courtyard was more than large enough to house an oak tree if it needed to. The pebbled ground was elegantly raked, as if drawn with a paint brush. Cascading around it was a carefully laid out stone path that crossed around the sides of the garden. Smaller trees coiled around the sides, giving patches of shade to the wooden benches laid by the path’s sides. On center of the whitish garden was a circle of rich green grass, perfectly untouched.

“The center of the garden was still free for any tree to be planted, and adjusting the path around it wouldn’t be too hard.” Tim swiped the picture aside and let another one take stage. “Now, this one’s right outside my room when you look at it from the balcony. It’s way bigger than any of the courtyards here so even if it’ll grow to its full potential, you won’t be needing to trim any of it off.”

The stroll gardens of Naromoto deemed these grounds its fierce competition, and with good reason. Showcased in the iLac was one of the side gardens. It was one that had a lot more people in compared to the ones inside the guildhouse. Guests were walking by the network of redwood bridges and islets, some of which went over a river that ran across the entire garden. Unlike the compact courtyard, the outdoor garden didn’t hold back. Above the sculpted river, into the grounds themselves were trees that might belong in the deepest regions of Midi, or at least from the blush jungles of Sakuramori. The trees were tall, yet never imposing. It was a tranquil vista, one that would evidently be more striking when seen in person.

“I’ve seen only half of the other courtyards. If there’s a particular ideal scenery this tree you want planted to, the other ones would definitely have it.” Tim closed the iLac. “And don’t worry about the manpower, I’ve helped dug a trench for a pipeline back in the day. I’m sure one tree won’t be worse than that.”

“Unless you have a neat spot that I don’t know, Guildmistress?” Tim turned towards Leona. “You probably know this place inside and out.”