video; un: constance von nuvelle

[noatic]

I have a question for you all.

[Good morning/afternoon/etc Lunatia! If you're tuning into the network this fine day, you'll be greeted by the (gorgeous and perfectly made-up, of course) visage of one Constance von Nuvelle, seated neatly in front of the camera and framed by purple roses. She's clearly gone to some effort to make her message attractive (not that much effort needs to be expended in that regard, but you know!), and her tone is tinged with...well, the usual haughtiness. Listen well!]

What's a skill you've learned here in Lunatia that you wouldn't have had access to, back home? I'm always seeking to better myself - as arduous as it is to try and improve upon perfection! - so I'm open to suggestions. I'm already innately talented in magic, battle and horse-riding, so please don't bother proposing that I join the Moon Knights. Other than that, however, I find myself enthused by the thought of hearing what you've managed to achieve!

[Once that's done, she'll reach out and gently run her finger along the petals of one of those flowers.]

I'm also quite interested in speaking with someone who has a good deal of experience in rearing roses. Do get in touch if you fit the bill, won't you?

[And with that, she'll depart!]

Comments

video;

[herbmixing]

[ Gosh, if this girl doesn't have the highest level of confidence she's ever seen... ]

I think I've mostly been polishing the things I already knew, funnily enough. I'm getting a little better at hand-to-hand combat, improving my customer service at work, and getting a lot more chances to play an instrument.

I know a little about botany, too...what were you wanting to know?

[noatic]

[It's....practised. Fake it 'til you make it, etc! Just don't meet her under the sun...]

I see! Nothing wrong with building upon the foundations, I must say. That's actually why I'm asking about the roses - I want to build a magnificent garden of them in my grounds, when I return home! So why not get some practice in?

[She's well aware she won't remember anything she learns here, but! No sense in being idle. You never know, perhaps something will stick!]

[herbmixing]

That's a good idea! There's a lot of things to know that you don't even realise you know.

Are you only looking to grow roses, or all sorts of flowers? They're not too much harder than any other flower or herb.

[noatic]

Just the roses for now. As far as I'm concerned, I might as well focus on my favourites.

[Living in an apartment could makes things....difficult, but that just means she'll have to buy a house! Simple.]

Do you have a favourite yourself?

[herbmixing]

[ That's what window boxes and balconies are for! But also...valid. ]

Hm...roses are really pretty, but I always liked the look of tulips.

[noatic]

[Oh, she's got every intention of filling up her balcony with her first forays into the wonderful world of botany...whether or not there will be any room left to get out there once she's done is...a good question.]

Tulips, is it? Also a fine choice. We had a small collection of them at my family's estate, but the main attraction was the rose garden. Hence why I would like to learn how best to take care of them! The garden simply must live again.

[Not going to end on that note, because that invites awkward questions! Moving on.]

Have you found there to be any oddities in how plants grow here? I must be prepared.

[herbmixing]

Not particularly. You'd think that there would be, considering there's multiple moons, but everything seems to be business as usual. But then, I mostly just grow herbs, so there might be some differences.

I think there's just the usual advice. Fertiliser, water them the right amount, make sure they get the right amount of sunlight. Did you take care of the rose garden yourself?

[ Because, no offense, the ojou-sama vibes are strong with this one... ]

[noatic]

[You might or might not be right on the money there, Rebecca...]

What, myself? The daughter of the Count? No, of course not! That would have been most unbecoming. We had a team of gardeners.

[And such good work they did!]

It was nothing when compared with the grand rose garden at my dear friend's estate, though. That's why I'd like to learn how to take care of them myself. Times change, you know!

[....that was a lot of. fragments of a story that she's not overly keen to tell in its entirety over the network, so...sorry about that, Rebecca. Hopefully you got the gist.]

Is there a particular type of fertiliser to use? I must admit, I know nothing about them.

[herbmixing]

[ Daughter of a count, estates, teams of servants. Yep, this all tracks. All she's missing is the ohoho.

She gets it, though. No need to go into specifics. Rebecca frowns, scanning through her memory. ]

Anything should work, but I think I remember something about not using manure from carnivorous animals if you can. It's too acidic.

[noatic]

[She does have a rather good 'ohoho', if she does say so herself!]

That is specific! But exactly the kind of insider information I'm interested in. I thank you.

[She'll even make a note in a book off-screen. Manure from herbivores only...as she focuses on her writing, Constance continues to speak into the mic.]

I must say, you're very knowledgeable. Have you worked as a gardener yourself, then?

[herbmixing]

Oh, no, I'm a chemist. I just use a lot of herbs in the medicine I make, so I sort of picked up the basics.

[ She shrugs. ]

I guess I've got that sort of brain that remembers a lot of details.

[noatic]

It's a handy thing to have.

[Right, notes are finished, so she'll turn her attention back to the camera properly.]

A chemist, you said? I'm vaguely familiar with the term. You seem quite young, for one so accomplished.

[herbmixing]

Oh, thank you!

[ She smiles. Slowly but surely, she's getting better at taking compliments. ]

It's mostly used for mixing medicine and curatives, in the lab and in the field. Hopefully it can help some people out, considering how often we get into trouble here.

[noatic]

[Somewhere, in the distance, a weird French man is pumping his fist in victory! Look at you accepting that compliment and not playing it down, Rebecca! You did it!!]

Interesting. I must admit, healing magic is not my main strength, but it certainly has its uses.

[Mixing medicines is a kind of magic, is it not? Hmm. Anyway...this girl is cute, nice and clever. A potential friend, maybe??]

Do you have a name, then? I'm Constance von Nuvelle. Do try not to forget it!

[herbmixing]

[ Character development, we did it!! ]

Oh, I'm sorry! I'm Rebecca - Rebecca Chambers. [ And she laughs, softly, under her breath. ] I think I'll be able to remember it.

So you're from a world where you can heal via magic, I'm assuming?