rope

I'm so very sorry, I was preparing the soil for some plants just now, and didn't notice I had a guest, and for a moment I overreacted...

How shameful of me.

Uh, no biggie. Don't mind it. I shouldn't have come in without permission.

Oh, not at all. All my Rhodes Island friends are free to enter as they wish. There's no problem with that.

But really, Miss Rope, you could've just called for me if you were here.

Oh, I kinda called my lungs out. You didn't answer...

Whatever. As long as there's no danger, that's good.

Danger?

Nopety-nope, nothing. Don't mind it.

Hmm... In any case, thank you for your concern~

However, there wouldn't be any danger in the Convalescent Garden, you know. After all, this is a place for guests to unwind in. Safety is guaranteed.

I guess, with all the security systems outside the cabin. No-one from outside Rhodes'd ever get in.

Exactly~

Speaking of which, when did you come in, Miss Rope? It's strange, there ought to be a bell in front of the door.

Bell? Oh, you mean the device thing hidden in the entranceway? I'm guessing if you touch it, it sounds a little ringy thing?

Right, that's the one. I've always treated it as a visitors' bell.

Since there were times I was so busy I wouldn't notice any guests, Closure installed the bell for me. As long as the door sounds that bell, it'll notify me even when I'm working.

I gotcha.

Heheh~ You meant that thing, huh. I jumped straight over it.

Eh? Jumped...?

Uh-huh. Of course I'm not gonna randomly step on stuff if I don't know where it came from! Walk without a sound, climb without a trace. That's essential survival skills.

Closure spent an hour hiding that device properly. She said nobody would ever notice it!

You really are something, Rope!

Aw, shucks, heckie darn. This stuff's my field of expertise~

Oh, wait, Miss Perfumer, on your face!

Eh?

There's some mud stuck to it... uh, here, here.

Ah, er, on my face?

Hereabouts...?

Uh, forget it. Just lemme.

Alrighty, wiped that for you.

Oh, thank you!

Hm?

(Oh, this is a different aroma. It's...)

What's up?

Ah, nothing, not in particular. Thank you.

(Hm...)

(Should be no problem if it was just a little, right?)

Oh, right, Rope, what did you need me for?

It's very unusual to see you around here. Ah, could it be you have a new interest in perfumery? If so, you're always welcome here~

No, that's not quite it.

Oh, then what?

Uh.

It-It was the Doctor! Yeah, right, the Doctor!

The Doctor begged me to get some aromatherapy stuff from here. The, uh, the regular stuff, to help with sleeping.

Ah, is the Doctor having trouble falling asleep again?

I guess? Seemed a little out of it on missions the past two days.

Still forced it to support the team, too... (Muttering)

Hmm? Did you say something just now?

Nothing! You heard wrong!

Hmm... I see, then. Alright.

You want the Doctor's usual, the lavender scents, right? Of course.

If you're not pressed for time, Rope, could you wait while I finish sorting out these cultivation soils before I get the aromas for you? My hands are all muddy right now; it'd be a little hard.

You can stroll about in the greenhouse for now. I'll be all done in just a moment!

Of course, no problem~ Strolling here'd be my pleasure!

(Stirring)

Hey, this flower's pretty cute. All tiny and... woah woah woah why's it so big now?

(Stirring) (Stirring)

Whew, I felt my heart stop here.

Even a flower gets to be all dangerous. Wh—Who knew greenhouses went so deep?

(Stirring) (Holding in laughter) (Stirring)

Hm? Is this... spice? Whoa, it smells great too, nm, mm?

Ha, ha, ha—choo!

Pfft.

Eh?

*cough* *cough* *cough*.

Hachoo, hachoo. Hic. Whoof...

Are you okay?

I'm... I'm great. Hachoo.

Don't exert yourself. Those flowers and spices are all ingredients I use in my perfumery, and their scents likely aren't as nice as any end-product form. They can be a little stronger...

Try a lot stronger! Ha, hachoo!

Feels like my nose could just fall off... You deal with this stuff everyday? And you make it smell so good somehow. I'm beginning to admire you now...

Now that's just exaggerating. Oh, right, on the long table over there is a small green bottle. If your nose feels uncomfortable, you can give that a small sniff. It should be much better after that.

Oh—! Thank you!

Lemme see, green, green... hachoo! There it is!

Ah, this smells sooo so good.

I'm glad you like it. Do you feel a little better?

Ah.

Wow. I'm not sneezing anymore.

This thing does work! Real work!

My, my. Did you perhaps doubt the power of aromatherapy? That it was just placebo effect? That they were excessive hobby goods?

Uh.

It's... it's not like I ever thought that.

No need to be nervous. I don't mind at all.

Any amount of people will have misconceptions when they first come into contact with perfumery and aromatherapy. After all, it's a field you've never learned about. It's very normal you'd think that, Rope.

It's something I have to strive hard for—how to give people a true approach to perfumery. The willingness to approach it.

Huh. How do I put it...

I might not get perfuming all that much, but I still know your work's real important, Perfumer.

After all, the Doctor—heck, and even Dr. Kal'tsit—if they're both saying it's good, then it's gotta be, right?

Eh? The Doctor and Dr. Kal'tsit both...?

Yeah. I've heard them mention it a whole lotta times.

'Lena's aromatherapy stands dominant at the forefront of the treatment and rehabilitation domain.' ...In words kinda like that.

And you gotta admit, there's a lotta operators who love scrambling for this place, right? I hear there's even people who just sleep in the greenhouse and don't wanna leave?

There are a few...

I recently added a few more beds just because of that, but free space is still a concern as ever.

If things keep going on like this, I might need to ask Dr. Kal'tsit to see if the greenhouse can't be enlarged a little.

You see? You got it.

It's pretty awesome, isn't it? You already got a bunchload of people who know the deal with perfumery.

I mean, I might not super understand it, but there's way too much I don't understand. Just 'cause I don't get something myself doesn't mean I have to say it's pointless, right?

Heheh.