socialcapital | [ JACKSON HEART ]

[It's a scene worth committing to memory.]

The princes Firuz and Azir, is it?

[I'm glad you still have these moments, too.]

They both startle at the same time - not the kind of startle of someone with something to fear, but the kind of children who frequently get up to mischief - and turn to look at you, curious.

"Yeah!"

"That's us!"

This is a wonderful garden.

Of all the things that grow here, what are your favourites?

They both rattle off lists of fruits and vegetables that don't have a lot of overlap, at the same time, with lots of 'and-and-and-' interjections as each item on one twin's list reminds the other twin of another item for his own list repeatedly.

That sounds very close to "everything".

How about this -- if you were each to pick one thing for the other, what would it be?

"Just one..."

"One is hard..."

"Azir likes sweet berries! The sweeter the better! So I'd pick sacred ruby berries!"

"Oh yeah... well, Firuz likes things with more than one flavor, so... I'd pick the sunrise fruit. They're kinda spicy and sweet."

Those are both good choices.

Could you show me where they are? I have a friend around your age, and, well... it probably wouldn't hurt to bring just one or two back with me, would it?

"We can show you!"

"We've got lots of everything here."

"Enough to feed everyone in Mahalen and then some!"

"So you can have a couple."

Thank you both. Mahalen is very lucky to have you.

They both puff up proudly.

"Yep yep! We're working hard too."

"Berries this way!"

Each twin offers a hand for him to hold, like guiding people around like this is totally normal for them. It might be a game they play with their parents or siblings?

[He takes both those small hands, hold gently firm.]

Lead on.

They Very Seriously lead him through the greenhouse, with the slightly meandering gait of young children in a garden full of distracting snacks. The berries are in a grove of low-lying bushes with soft green leaves - they're bright red and slightly teardrop shaped.

"Berries here!"

Azir picks one to eat now that he's been reminded they exist.

[He follows Azir's lead, picking two ripe sacred ruby berries.]

All the plants here are in wonderful shape. Everyone must take very good care of them.

"Yeah!"

"Mom and dad put a lot of work into it."

"Fruit this way!"

Lead the way.

[Idly, he checks to see if his phone has accompanied him on this journey.]

His phone is safely in his pocket. The twins lead him to another group of trees where the leaves are gold and orange - but they still seem to be in peak season, based on the amount of fruit in the branches.

"Sunrise trees!"

Do either of you want a boost up? It looks like there's some big ones there on the higher branches.

They look at each other, and then Firuz does the universal arms-up sign for requesting uppies.

[And uppies he will have.

Satin knees down, gesturing Firuz to turn around, and with the ease of more than a little practice, sets Firuz up on his shoulders.]

Here we go.

[Sitting there puts him high, but Satin standing makes him go higher, up to where branches completely unmolested by small hands are fully in reach.]

He giggles, clearly thrilled with being The Tallest, and starts picking out the best looking fruit.

Azir, meanwhile, copies what he's seen the adults do when reaching high fruits and grabs Satin's leg like he's bracing a ladder.

[He's a good kid. How this became crazy goth murder fighter remains an inexplicable mystery.]

Thank you for the support.

[He keeps one hand around Firuz's ankle, keeping him braced and steady, and briefly reaches up to nab two for himself.]

Azir nods seriously. He's concentrating!! He's helping!!

Firuz holds the fruit out like a demonstration.

"You can just peel it with your fingers and bite it. It doesn't take a knife or anything."

Is it the kind of fruit with one big seed in the middle, or a lot of little seeds?

"One seed! You eat around it."

Impressive.

[So an orchard would likely need two for cross-pollination... assuming they could adjust to a world without Creation's particular patterns.

Still. Worth noting.]

Have you picked the ones you'd like to?

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