Sanctity - Open - Mid-afternoon

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

Golden sunlight poured down on the garden behind Zhaan's shop. It gilded the leaves and gave even the rocks a golden cast. The tiny sprig of sanctity root seemed, for a moment, to flower and bud sprouting a thousand seedlings and then just as quickly was quiescent again. But it was all merely an illusion to the minds' eye.

While the garden held all of the delights, all the rest that a dedicated Pa'u of the Delvian Seek might want, Zhaan wasn't inside of it.

Instead, she perched on a stool inside her shop, carefully going over the new shipment she'd received, cataloguing the tiny seedlings and cuttings carefully, her hand-writing spidery and slanting left-wise on the paper.

She could have used the small computer terminal, but found writing to be a more concrete form of record.

A small radio blared out music, commensurate to the planet--if not the time period. For Zhaan had found herself growing fond of old rock'n'roll.

Comments

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

After his trip to the movie theatre,John takes a slow stroll through town. Upon coming up Zhaan's shop, he slows down.

It's a new place and he's not sure who owns it.

"Hello?"

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

Having met his doppleganger, she was eventually expecting to meet him. Still, the stab of happiness she feels makes her smile as she looks up. "Hello, John Crichton."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

He frowns. "Hi. How'd you know my name?"

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

Regretting the impulse, she sighs, "My name is Zhaan, and I knew you in another lifetime, John." She doesn't add that she still rather misses he and Aeryn. At least now she knows Stark is alive and well, as is Chiana.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Another lifetime? What?" He scratches his head and doesn't approach any closer. "Why're you blue?"

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

"Why are you pale-skinned with dark hair?" Zhaan returns, amused.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Because I'm a human." He frowns again. "And you're blue and talking about other lifetimes that I'm involved in. You're not a human are you?"

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

"Correct. You always were a bright boy, John." She pauses, "I apologize. It's good to see you again, even if this is in your past. His past." The grin on her lips might be considered a little manic. "It gets confusing, at times."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, confusing is the right word," he replies. "So, what...are you? I mean, what race are you? And my past? Whose past?"

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

"Delvian. And it's my past. And your future, possibly. Although the John Crichton I knew had not gone to this school, and certainly, he didn't know Aeryn Sun before meeting her out there."

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

"You're a Delvian," John says and files that away. This is what Aeryn had asked him about earlier. "And you know Aeryn too? This Aeryn?"

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

"I knew a different Aeryn. One who was older, less..." Open. More bitter. One who took her time at learning to love.

[ZOMG. You saw nothing.]

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

John's head is starting to hurt. "So, that Aeryn and me? Were we...together?"

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

"Yes." It's the simplest answer, leaving out death, neural clones and two years of pushing each other away.

[whitedeathpod.livejournal.com]

Well, that's good at least. "So, you've met the other Aeryn then? The Aeryn's that here?"

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

"I have, yes," Zhaan sighs, "I believe I... disconcerted her, unfortunately. Peacekeeper training tends to leave one rather rigid."

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[Some time later, the Doctor wanders through the streets. CJ's still away, Geoff's gone off in search of adventure...but it's Sunday, and bright and lazy, and he spots a shop across the cobbles. The sound of James Taylor comes from inside, and he smiles, pushing open the door.]

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

[Having had time to recover her equanimity after Crichton's visit, Zhaan smiles pleasantly at the man stepping into the shop.]

Good afternoon.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He can't help but smile back. The shop is warm and pleasant, with golden light filtering through every window. It smells green and alive, and it is just what the Doctor needed. He revels in it for a moment before realising he's been spoken to.] Oh, I'm sorry. Hello. Are you the proprietor?

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

I'm Zhaan.
[She replies without completely answering his question.]

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[The Doctor nods his head to her.] A pleasure, Zhaan. [His gaze moves up a lovely flowering vine.]

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

Indeed it is. [The smile on her lips deepens, and she carefully inscribes another line on her list.]

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[He reaches a hand out, wanting to touch one of the leaves, but stops himself before finishing the movement.]

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

It won't bite. [She smiles again, and nods towards the small leafy fronds of the plant on a higher shelf.] The Verrakaian Florae, on the other hand, has been known to take the hand off even a luxian.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[Ten squints at the other plant, brow furrowed.] It's been too long since I dealt with anything but Earth plants...I need to be more careful.

[notavegetarian.livejournal.com]

Care should always be taken with exotic plant species.

[ten-and-chips.livejournal.com]

[quietly] Care should be taken with almost everything. [He lightly strokes a leaf on the first vine, drawn to the colour.]