[video of a large, dad-shaped goat]

[alphyswhatsabara]

::When the video feed turns on, a pink flower shirted Asgore is clearly somewhere very sunny. There's also a number of potted plants set up around him. Some low, long boxes as well. Tall purple fountain grass, tomato plants just going into flower, low sweet potato vines, fuzzy green lambs ears, large clumps of blue false indigo and dusty purple lavender, and even a little trellis with the beginnings of some golden honeysuckle clamoring up the sides. Asgore is sitting on a low, wooden bench with a pot of bright yellow coreopsis in his lap.::

So... I am something of a gardener. And I putter around the gardens here. It is probably my favorite hobby.

::Asgore picks up the coreopsis off of his lap to hold it out to the camera just a bit::

These coreopsis, for example, are quite hardy. Such a beautiful yellow color, they'll flower for months if you care for them well, and they are a favorite with butterflies, and they also provide seeds for birds in the fall. Such a wonderful little plant.

::Asgore pulls the pot of flowers back from the camera, and sets them down on the ground next to him. He looks back into the camera. Somehow it all feels a bit like the Queen of England giving her annual Christmas message.::

I find a great deal of comfort in tending to a garden. I have slowly been... moving a few things, now and then, to the roof... during those long stretches between events. Spring is such a busy season for a gardener. Seeds to plant, seedlings to transplant, vegetables to stake, vines to train, there's so many little things to do. But, I'm glad to do it. I have made this little corner of the roof to... create a comfortable space. And I would like to welcome you to it. If you see a ripe tomato, please take one, although they will not be ready for a few weeks yet. Cut a flower or a spray of lavender, take a sprig of spearmint or peppermint or apple mint, just leave some for anyone else who wishes to visit and enjoy the space. There is a bench. It is quite sturdy.

::Asgore looks around a bit, trying to find something else to comment on.::

The sweet potatoes will not be ready for several months, yet, so please do not dig them up prematurely. I think that is everything. Please enjoy your time in the Roof Garden.

::Asgore stands up to shut off the camera feed, and after a few moments of just a wall of bright pink Hawaiian shirt, the feed goes off::

Comments

audio

[softspokenlandlord]

[...After everything that had happened recently, Ryou actually appreciates the little things. He appreciates them enough for him to answer back with at least some audio. He won't show his face today.]

That's really nice of you, to put that all together. I think I shall help myself to a bit of peppermint. Goodness knows a little tea would never go remiss. Don't worry, I'll leave plenty.

[Kid sounds like he needs more than a little tea right now.]

[video]

[alphyswhatsabara]

Oh, you are more than welcome to it. Fresh peppermint can be lovely in an herbal tea. The apple mint is also very nice as a tea, especially with just a tiny slice of lemon. Please feel free to try it.

[softspokenlandlord]

I shall. I've never tried apple mint, that sounds perfectly lovely as well.

I wonder...how long did it take you to set everything up for the garden anyway? I understand you enjoy gardening, of course. Butthis must have taken so much effort and time.

[He's never asked...but wonders how long people would have to be in Wonderland to develop their hobbies.]

sorry was on hiatus

[alphyswhatsabara]

Oh, I've had many decades to practice my gardening. Setting it up was just a... few trips to the closets for the proper materials. A few weeks to get everything set up and then further time to propagate and grow my the plants.

°video

[beautifullies]

[ This, of course, grabs Claire's attention as a proprietor of the greenhouses and her own little section of garden. She's already smiling when her reply begins. ]

Botany is sort of an amateur hobby of mine. A passion, really.

[ Chasing a flower: the reason Clare traveled through time and space. ]

A roof garden is a lovely idea. Have you noticed all of the herbs in the gardens? I planted those and I routinely take them to the kitchen, what I don't use for poultices and salves. It's wonderful to see someone else take such an interest.

[Also video]

[alphyswhatsabara]

I have spent several decades in gardening. Mostly flowers, myself, although I did plant a few mints up here in the Roof Garden. It is so good to meet another gardener. If you have planted any lemongrass or lemon balm, I may have borrowed a small amount for tea.

[beautifullies]

I did plant the lemongrass. I’m very glad someone has found a use for it. I have other herbs too, and of course, you’re free to help yourself. I may have to ask for some mint in return. I’ve always had a hard time keeping control of it, it grows so quickly.

[ And honestly, she didn’t want to deal with something that couldn’t be tamed. But she’s quite glad someone else was up to the task because she can use it for so many things. ]

[alphyswhatsabara]

Ah, well, if you keep your mint in a container, it can't spread as easily. So, mint works very well in a container garden, so long as you leave little space between the pots.

Video

[romsapience]

[Turing is as close to the screen as possible, as if getting as close to the screen as possible will allow them to see as much detail in Asgore's garden as possible.]

This is an incredible garden. There's so many varieties, and they all look like they are well taken care of. It certainly puts my own garden plot to shame.

[With them being so wrapped up in researching for the war, there hasn't been enough time for them to tend to their garden...]

Video

[alphyswhatsabara]

My, what a very blue face you have. Are you a Monster of some kind that I do not recognize?

Video

[romsapience]

[Turing perks up!]

Oh! Haha, no, I am not a monster. I am a ROM. Er, that stands for Relationship and Organizational Manager. There are a surplus of us back in my world, although I am currently the only one that is sapient.

Video

[alphyswhatsabara]

Oh, I see, so you are some sort of robot, then? Are you programmed to exterminate all humans? Do you host television shows?

Video

[romsapience]

Wh-

[Okay, that question takes Turing by surprise. They gesture wildly, waving their hands in front of their face.]

Absolutely not!! I am designed to help others, not exterminate them! But, yes, otherwise, you are correct. In layman's terms, I am a robot. Although, I do not host any television shows. The ROMs in my world were more programmed to help behind the scenes, given jobs like cameramen, for example.

[Hmm, didn't they find out that Mettaton was a TV show host...? That sounds much more like his alley, anyway.]

sorry was on hiatus

[alphyswhatsabara]

Oh, I see. Where I am from, the only robot is assigned to exterminate humans and appear on television. I have been on his cooking show, once.

Video

[oneagainstall]

[His voice is the same, but Gren sure looks a lot different from their first meeting. Not that Gren draws any attention to the fact, of course. ]

I ain't got much skill in the garden, but shit man, nice to know you got a hobby. You got to take what you can get from this place, right? Make it fuckin' bearable.

Video

[alphyswhatsabara]

::The video reply you get shows Asgore looking closely into the camera, narrowing his eyes at this sudden exchange::

Excuse me but... are you... Grendel?

Video

[oneagainstall]

The one and fuckin' only. This is my less pretty face.

Video - Beard Talk with Asgore Dreemurr

[alphyswhatsabara]

I was unaware that you could transform. You have some very interesting facial hair when you look like this. You might consider growing it out a bit more. I find a full beard to be more... regal.

Video - Followed by Best Booze with Grendel

[oneagainstall]

Well, I can't really transform. It's a glamour. Magic y'know? My kinds gotta hide from the regular human folk where I'm from.

[He snorts. ]

Hey, the soul patch is pretty damn popular right now. ['Right now' being the mid 80s, so not really.]

Video - They do a crossover where Grendel teaches Asgore how to make a Hot Toddy

[alphyswhatsabara]

::When you say the phrase 'soul patch' for some reason Asgore looks uncomfortable.::

That is called a 'SOUL patch' ? That is an odd term... a... very... odd term.

I don't really... hm. Does it... Is it your SOUL?

[video]

[punful]

asgore, that garden looks amazing. how the heck do you do it?

[video]

[alphyswhatsabara]

Ah, well, I asked the closets for a large number of pots... and seeds and potting soil... I got in quite a good workout in carrying barrels of water up the stairs... and then I planted everything, and have been tending to it, when not otherwise occupied... and there you are. A rooftop garden. I have often had, in the back of my mind, plans for what to do with a potted-plant garden.

[video]

[punful]

i meant more like, uh...how do you, yanno, keep a plant alive? i, heh, i tried having some forget-me-nots awhile back but i kinda killed 'em. plants are even harder to take care of than a cat.

[He pauses.]

but, uh, point being, if you had any sorta tips or tricks, maybe i could...get back into it.

sorry was on hiatus

[alphyswhatsabara]

Well, sunlight, fertilizer, and the appropriate amount of water are all a good start. They also appreciate nice conversation while you tend to them.

Forget-me-nots aren't particularly suitable as potted plants, either. You lived in Snowdin, yes? That may have been your first mistake. They like good, moist soil, preferably deep. You may have not watered them enough. You should try growing something more... forgiving... if you wish to have a houseplant. Philodendrons are particularly hardy. Mother-in-law's Tongue is particularly well-suited to being ignored indoors; it can go for weeks without being watered.

how DARE

[punful]

oh...i see.

[Then the ones he gave to Chara and Frisk probably did end up dying. That...sucks.]

yeah, it's, uh...i have a problem with diligence. heh.

[He probably forgot to water it and probably left it in a spot with little or no sun.]

so what exactly is a philo...what you said? or the other one? and what about like...there's those plants that grow in really dry places, uh, deserts, right? i forget what they're called. they've got spikes?

[He remembers seeing a couple potted ones underground.]