|
Post by Xentus on Dec 8, 2020 7:38:54 GMT -6
With the leaf now in its hold, it pulled and tugged, and finally, the unfortunate stem snapped under the tension. Success! Its act of aid didn't go unnoticed by its beloved bonded one, who was peering down and examining its work. A rumbling chuckle escaped the man as he reached up to take the leaf from the golem's grasp. "Your help is much appreciated, Atlas", the leopard quietly murmured to the creature, "Quite the perceptive one, hm? It took Xentus half an hour to teach one of your brethren to do this exact thing." The action taken by the aforementioned golem was a little more complex, consisting of uprooting weeds from a flowerbed, then dropping said weeds. More work than plucking leaves, but seeing the initiative taken by the little seedling was charming. Even if it plucked a leaf from his strawberry plant.. Ah, a little misguided pruning wouldn't kill it.
|
|
|
Post by Xentus on Dec 8, 2020 7:48:51 GMT -6
Xentus mused on what menial tasks he could assign the seedling, since it seemed keen on acting upon his wishes. Unfortunately, the garden's upkeep was a little more complicated than pulling leaves off plants. A hum escaped the leopard's throat as he looked around the polytunnel. Instead of plucking leaves, it could pluck fruit! The blueberries were looking ripe enough. And then hopefully, it would be able to drop the berries into a strategically placed bucket. While employing the golem wasn't more efficient than using a berry rake, it would be much more entertaining for the little creature, and himself. The process of pruning and weeding would be saved for later, he supposed. Xentus rounded past the row of herbs and examined the potted blueberry bushes. The harvest looked plentiful enough. Enough to make some tarts or decorate some parfaits. That was plenty for his uses, he didn't think this kind of produce high enough quality to sell.
|
|
|
Post by Xentus on Dec 8, 2020 7:54:12 GMT -6
A single berry was plucked from the bush and popped into his mouth. For quality control, of course. Juicy, sweet, with a hint of tartness. Perfect. "Alright now, Atlas. Pull these to your heart's delight", the leopard chimed to the creature and began to pluck more berries himself. They were dropped into a bucket right beneath himself, so that the golem could more aimlessly pluck, drop, and pluck again. Atlas seemed to be more than ready and able to do such a thing. Yes, it had this. Its little pseudopods reached for one of the berries it spotted (which thankfully contrasted well against the greenery, else it might've had more trouble with this..) and wrapped around it. With a pull and a squeeze, the berry burst. The purple tinted juices splattered about the leopard, the golem, his bag, his pants.. Thankfully, the pants were already purple, and the leopard himself could do with a few more spots.
|
|
|
Post by Xentus on Dec 8, 2020 7:58:54 GMT -6
But, obviously there was some sort of misguidance going on here. Xentus couldn't help but to laugh, despite feeling a bit exasperated. Not a problem, though this went a lot better in his mind. "Hm, Atlas, your technique needs a little bit of work dear", the leopard sighed, "Have more ah.. Finesse. A light touch goes a long way." Though the meaning of his words were lost upon the golem, it was receptive to his tone. That hint of disappointment. The feel of misunderstanding. Displeasure. It hadn't pleased its master, as it was aiming to. The man was busy now cleaning himself and the golem from the blueberry juices, though the bush before them was still just within reach. It could try again. The master's will still guided it so. The seedling reached for another berry, wrapping its tentacle arm again around the succulent fruit. The malleable appendage flexed in an odd manner, as if it were trying to regulate the pressure within.
|
|
|
Post by Xentus on Dec 8, 2020 8:05:02 GMT -6
Such precision and care was.. Difficult for the young golem. Not that it couldn't learn to be careful, but fine tuned control simply wasn't within its normal modus of operation. Rarely were golems employed for such handiwork. The species was designed to be more of a guard, companion, robotic servant with care only for its one.. Not to be a berry picker. Though it could try to be, should its master willed it. Atlas squeezed the grasped berry again, though with a lighter touch this time so not to displease its bonded one. And with a lot more force than what was necessary, the berry was ripped from its branch, flying off the bush and landing on the ground far to the left. Xentus flicked his eyes and ears in that direction, mildly confused at how the little creature managed to perform so poorly at what he thought was a simple task. Ah.. Perhaps it wasn't cut out for this job.
|
|
|
Post by Xentus on Dec 8, 2020 8:13:55 GMT -6
It tried, at least. And what more could he ask for, truly? The man resigned to keeping the garden tasks for himself to accomplish, despite how nice a pair of helping hands seemed. Perhaps he could get Xio in here to do some things on occasion.. The trod had a lot of work to do at the keep, though. The droid was already spread thin across its work, he felt. Ah, well, whenever Atlas grew its body and limbs, it might be able to help out a bit better. He might even consider.. Enlightening the little beast with one of those twisted charms, to better direct it. It felt more natural to interact with Astraea in comparison to her predecessors. Atlas being much the same sounded like a nice, though expensive, goal to strive for. The leopard didn't want to rob his coffers dry for such a expenditure. He wasn't impoverish by any means, but another one of those twisted charms would swiftly send him in that direction.
|
|
|
Post by Xentus on Dec 8, 2020 8:19:18 GMT -6
Well, better motivation for working on his garden, he supposed. There was so much work to be done.. The perimeter needed to be weeded again, the fence actually and properly erected, a greenhouse constructed, and perhaps a zen garden cleared.. And that was just structural work. His crops needed proper rotation, the flowerbeds could use some tilling, the shrubbery needed trimming. It was a constant stream of work. Work that he more often neglected than not. A nervous laugh escaped the leopard. It was all too much to think about at once. With a sigh, he plucked a few more berries from the bush to have for a snack.. Then was reminded of his lunch tin. While he hadn't worked hard by any means, lunch did sound good right about now. "How about.. A break, Atlas?", the leopard muttered to the little seedling, as if worried he would not be granted its approval.
|
|
|
Post by Xentus on Dec 8, 2020 8:23:11 GMT -6
But the golem seemed perfectly content with whatever actions the man decided to take. A break, well deserved or not, would be in order if he so desired! The green seedling clattered with its approval, though Xentus hardly needed it to find himself a nice bunch of plywood to perch atop to have his lunch. One day, this plywood would be a bench or table. One day. But for now, it was an impromptu chair, with seating his himself and the golem. The creature was lifted from his pack and placed to the side so that he could access the lunch tin buried beneath it. The contents contained within consisted of a simple sandwich. Bacon, lettuce, tomato, and cheese. A light meal for the light work he'd done. Now, what to do after this.. He could just head home and save this kind of work for later. That idea sounded rather appealing right about now..
|
|
|
Post by Xentus on Dec 8, 2020 8:30:35 GMT -6
Ah, there were other things he needed to occupy himself with anyway. Ferrying Atlas about the garden was turning to be more distracting than productive. Hell, he didn't even come here to be productive in the first place really! It just seemed appropriate to wander about the greenery with the green themed seedling.. He'd still enjoyed the time he spent here with Atlas anyway. The leopard glanced down at the seedling nestled beside him, who was peering back up at him through its slightly parted shell. It wasn't judging him. Somehow, the golems always seemed to be so enamored with just the simple act of looking at him. Perhaps he was just imagining it. Another bite and chew of the sandwich, another passing thought. He was reaching the 'half way' point in rearing the golems. This journey was one that was taking a lot more time, effort, and energy than he'd anticipated, but he enjoyed every moment of it.
|
|
|
Post by Xentus on Dec 8, 2020 8:36:54 GMT -6
It brought forth a fun time like this one. Eh, relatively fun. The seedling age was charming, though painstaking. And he was slated to go through this at least.. Four more times, if his calculations were correct. Perhaps more, should he want to go through the process again to recreate golems past. That idea, while tempting, was more daunting than appealing. No, he'd complete his work with whatever seedlings remained, then find himself occupied with rearing some other creatures. That had become his life lately, here in this city. A life which kept him busy. He enjoyed it, truthfully. Another bite, and his meal was completed. It almost seemed too soon. Silently, whilst in the middle of chewing, the man placed the golem back into the pack and headed out, aiming to return home. Papilio was strapped on, powered up, and soon, the garden grounds were bone from beneath his feet.
"Let us return home, Atlas."
> Exeunt Xentus and Atlas (25).
|
|