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Who: Beverly Crusher
Broadcast: Video
Action: Iskaulit
When: Now!

[Hello Fleet, it's been a while since you all have seen this particular redhead's face on the network. Months, really, since she's made a public broadcast like this. She appears to be in a good mood, offering the fleet a smile, and even if her address is rather formal, her tone is warm and welcoming. Behind her is the greenhouse of the Iskaulit, with lots of tropical-looking plants and even what looks like fruit! Weird fruit! But fruit nonetheless.]

Good afternoon! For those of you who don't know me, I'm Dr. Beverly Crusher of the SS Blue Fish. I, along with Ino Yamanaka on the Three Twins, run the garden here on the Iskaulit. I've spoken with many of you who have expressed an interest in learning how to garden. In light of this, I've decided to offer classes of a sort... nothing too formal, just a weekly meeting where I can teach people the basics of taking care of plants in the environment of a starship. Though of course, if people want something more extensive, I'm more than happy to accommodate for that! But it seems best to start simple, see what people are most interested in. So, if this is something you think you'd like to be a part of or if you have any questions, you can either respond here or I'll be on the Iskaulit the rest of the afternoon should you prefer to talk in person.

Thank you for your attention!

[And Crusher out!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

No, I evidently do not.

[Someone human might be embarrassed about admitting ignorance. Daneel just admits it, although perhaps a little regretfully.]

This was never a duty of mine.

Would you like to learn?

[As always with him, she is trying not to let her own desires bleed into questions like this but it's impossible to completely dampen her excitement at the prospect. Gardening is something she loves and he's someone she loves so naturally, she wants to bring the two together.]

Certainly.

[New skills are always good, and potentially helpful.]

I am at your disposal.

Wonderful! [Which gets him an excited kiss on his other cheek. She's very much looking forward to this opportunity to teach.] I already have about five or six others who have expressed interest as well, so this hopefully will shape up to be a good-sized class.

[She leans against one of the tables.]

I have to admit, I was a little worried people wouldn't want to do it.

I'm not surprised. It's a useful skill in the Fleet, even for those who don't enjoy it.

[Kisses. Such kisses! Why is he only now learning that kisses are so nice?]

As, I think, you do.

I do. It relaxes me, and makes me feel closer to my grandmother. She always, always kept an extensive garden when I was growing up. [A brief shadow passes over her thoughts, a reminder of what happened on Avarda. But it doesn't stay for long and she smiles.]

Besides, it's nice to help bring life into the world.

That's a nice sentiment, and, I think, a worthy goal.

[He can guess at that passing thought; he's familiar with that texture by now. The idea makes him a bit ill, or the positronic equivalent anyway.]

[No doubt Arvada something she'll talk to him about just... not right now. It's a heavy thing and not something she wants to get into when other people are very likely to be coming around.]

I'm glad you think so, because we're going to pick you out a plant! I have a decent stockpile of seeds now so you'll be able to see it through from the very beginning.

[That's... an odd offer. Not that he's ungrateful, but he was so completely not expecting that. His puzzlement shows.]

That is very kind of you.

[She tilts her head at the confused look on his face.]

You’re puzzled about something though. What is it?

[He shakes his head slightly.]

It's nothing terrible. I am merely... perplexed that you phrase this as a gift.

... is it a gift?

It is. You could say it's tradition among humans, and lots of other species as well, to give people you care about plants.

[She ducks her head and laughs lightly.]

Though admittedly most people give the other person the flowers, not the seeds.

Ah. I believe I've seen this, but not quite in this form.

[He pauses, then leans over to kiss Beverly, briefly.]

In that case, thank you.

[His kisses continue to make her heart flutter, all the more so because she knows how much thought and care he puts into every one of them. Brief they may be sometimes, but never perfunctory.]

It's my pleasure.

[Then, sliding her hand into his, she straightens up and takes him over to a special temperature-controlled cabinet full of seeds and bulbs, all in tightly sealed glass jars neatly lined up and labeled. It's doubtful most of the names will be familiar to him: most were not known to her either.]

So what are you most interested in growing? Food, medicine, decoration?

[He gives this serious thought. Decoration doesn't appeal to him, exactly; he knows it's important, but it's not for him. Medicine is Beverly's department. And that leaves food, which is important in the most basic sense.]

I believe I would prefer something edible.

Hmm... [She studies the seeds for a moment, trying to decide what would work best.] How about...

[She selects one of the containers and hands it to him. It's full of tiny brown seeds.]

This! They'll grow into a plant similar to raspberries, and their flowers are a little like tiny roses. Unfortunately, our current plants aren't fruiting or in bloom right now but I can still show them to you.

That sounds ideal, Beverly. I'm sure many would be glad for the change.

[Because yes, he's likely to give the fruit away to everyone.]

[Of course he will. She would expect nothing less from him.]

I know I can't wait for the berries to start popping up. The Nunnalis said it shouldn't take too long to fruit, once the plants are big enough. Unlike raspberries, these plants produce fruit three times a year - they don't really have much of a dormant stage.

[She takes him over to the ones she and Ino planted a few months ago, the stalks already wrapped around a trellis along one section of wall.]

Oh good!

[Leaning in, she points to a few spots where the plant is starting to bud.]

The flowers are coming in!

[He looks, leaning in with genuine interest.]

So it is. This is good. I admit I was concerned about our success with a garden here, but perhaps this is a good sign.

For shame, doubting my gardening abilities!

[Her tone is chastising but the corner of her mouth quirks playfully. More teasing.]

But you're right, it's a very good sign. The flowers will bloom for about a week or two, and then the berries shouldn't be too far behind.

Hardly your gardening skills. I simply wondered about the suitability of this place.

[Yes, he knows she's joking. Yes, he's going to clarify anyway.]

Are they considered sweet?

[It's cute that he does. He's cute and it makes her smile.]

Yes, though not cloyingly so.

Then it's considered pleasant.

[He would hope so, anyway.]

Is there a tartness to it?

[He picks his words carefully. Tart. He thinks that's the right word; it's all outside his experience.]

A little.

[She tilts her head.]

I assume you were not programmed with the sense of taste?

[Unsurprising, but it always has struck her as a bit of an oversight with androids.]

I wasn't. Nor do I possess a sense of smell, except for the detection of the most basic of potential dangers; smoke, for example. A full simulation wasn't... thought to be necessary.

[Which generally doesn't trouble him. He doesn't feel hindered by that. It just is.]

I've been attempting some cooking for the crew of the Wonderduck. While I've had some success, this has been a minor inconvenience.