Completed [Gardens of Black Diamond Cosmetics] Curse of a Green Thumb

[Shayna]

Timestamp: 21 Fall 513: The early morning sky was blue for once, the white clouds drifting lazily across the vast expanse. It would be a perfect day for lazing in the grass, looking up at the clouds to imagine what shapes one could see. Well perfect, that is, unless you happened to be a slave. When your a slave that sort of idle time is not afforded to you, and it was no different for this slave Shayna, property of Katherine Morealis. No, her lot included being marched into the locked gate, unceremoniously 'dumped' -ok not really dumped but definitely with no further ado left- inside the gate and then hearing the sound of the lock clicking home. Shayna can not decide which she hates more, the tones her Mistress used on her yesterday when she was delivered or the sound of the lock clicking in place. Shayna was a slave of good stock, properly trained. She was rarely ever punished because she was good at being a slave. To be mistrusted and spoken as if she did not have the brain to figure out that this garden needed weeding was something that she was working hard to deal with. She understood on a cerebral level that it was natural that her new Mistress did not know her true potential -at least the potential she herself fancied in herself- and that she had to prove this to her new Mistress, but it was seriously a burr in her side. Shayna moved inside the garden, sighing softly as she scanned the expanse of unruly undergrowth. Where to start today, no place like the beginning. With a resigned nod of her head, Shayna's short legs propelled her forward with a swish of her black hair. Today she pulled her unruly curls into a pony tail, using the same frayed ribbon that she had picked back up off the auction house floor after the dolt there had pulled it from her hair. Kneeling, moving the skirts of her plain shift-dress out of the way knowing that she would get them dirty but acknowledging that there was no need to get them filthy, she begins the arduous process of repairing the gardens. Her delicate fingers easily slipped between the choked good plants to grasp the dandelions, the thistles, and the especially painful cockle-burrs that love the moist ground of a swampy area. Occasionally she will mutter under her breath, talking more to the plants then herself, but mostly complaining about the state the garden is in. Once she stopped what she was doing, settled back on her haunches, wiping a dirty hand across her brow to keep the sweat from dripping into her eyes. Already the fresh brand that was applied the day before stung and smarted every time a salty drop of her sweat fell into it but she didn't mind that. Soon enough the wound will heal and the brand will no longer be painful and sore, but still will provide her with protection of sorts. Unlike those slaves who were captured freemen, Shayna has always been a slave. She sees the mark as insurance that she would not be retaken, and resold, or worse mistaken for something worse --- She stopped that thought in its track, paranoia settling in briefly so that she looks around as if someone could 'hear' her thoughts. Those...slaves...made it dangerous for honest hard working slaves, and even a mere rumor that a slave was in cohorts with those could ruin any chance of attaining any freedom or trust. Hurriedly, Shayna renews her work vigorously, yanking weeds and trying to keep them in a certain pile. She knows that she will have to dispose of the weeds else they will simply re-root, and it is much easier to dispose of the weeds if they were all orderly. Once, when the sun was half way up the eastern sky not quite the noon bell, she found a little treasure beneath the massive foliage. After clearing the brush aside she found beneath the tangled weeds a small outcropping of mushrooms. They were very small, as their dark dank place was not that big to encourage large growth, but Shayna knew that often times mushrooms were a good find. She did not know if these were edible, poisonous, or useful but she figured she would give them to Mistress Katherine, and see if she can use them. Otherwise the day wore on, without much note though Shayna was starting to notice that more and more she was leaving behind blank soil. The garden was so neglected that much of the plants that were planted were a lost cause. There was some flowers that she plucked, some leaves that she salvaged but for the most part it looked as if she was going to have to start from almost scratch. She did not realize how late it had gotten until she saw the little twit that worked in the shop step out the back. Shayna's green eyes narrow as she straightens, her hands wiping the dirt onto the skirt of her dress with a little pang. Perhaps next she had a chance she will ask Mistress Katherine for a rag to use for simple cleaning up to try and save her on cleaning time. The young girl smiles brightly as she nears Shayna, in her hand was a small tin of water and the other carried a small plate with a couple of slices of bread. Nothing royal but suddenly Shayna's mouth was parched and her stomach gurgled reminding her it was almost noon. Shayna does not say anything to the girl, her green eyes just as icy as her Mistress' blue ones could be, animosity boiling beneath the surface, especially since her Mistress was not here to witness it. Shayna had little love for those she perceives as competition, and it seemed to Shayna this one had curried a little favor with the Mistress. That would have to be taken care of, at a later time. For now, the girl's smile falters and perhaps the expression on Shayna's face told her not to try and make small talk because she hurriedly hands Shayna's lunch rations and scurries back into the building. Shayna settles down, crossing her legs to balance the cheap plate on one thigh and in several continuous gulps finished the water in the tin. Next she quickly picks up one of the pieces of bread, folding it over in half she stuffs half of it into her mouth. While she wolfed down her lunch, she surveyed the work she had already done. In the hours since she has been here she has unearthed three rows of the garden. Such a paltry amount considering the size of the estate gardens. It would take her several days to finish just the clearing debris. Once she finished the second piece of bread she gathers up the tin and plate and rose. Her back ached gently, nothing that caused more then a mild discomfort for the slave as she moves toward the back of the shop to deposit the meal time dishes near the back door before turning back around, and with a heavy sigh begins toiling again in the dirt.

[Poppy]

...because you've EARNED it!

Shayna :

+1 Observation
+1 Gardening
+1 Cleaning

Kenash Flora: Weeds
Mushroom Type, Cantharelles: Where to Find

Rewards: Handful (5) of small mushrooms (Cantharelles). These are edible and delicious!

Notes :

You're the proud owner of some mushrooms! Whether or not this will anger your mistress, I cannot say...

More Notes :

To answer your question: A slave must complete a minimum of three work threads per season in order to remain in good standing with their master.

Please PM me with any questions, comments, or concerns!