What's this???

[burlapbibliothecary]

The sky was brighter than 3 had ever seen. It was likely dumb luck that they hadn't been stepped on as they just stood staring up dumbfounded, given the little doll-creature stood maybe six inches at best. It was so blue! They had seen paintings that showed the color but there was something different in the color of fading, weather-cracked paints and the real thing. They likely would have stood there all day, lens-like eyes flickering as they cataloged the sky, the clouds that drifted across, the birds, the change of color as day shifted to evening, then to night-

But the little doll was distracted by someone walking a bit too close for comfort, sending them scurrying for the cover offered by a nearby bench, nonexistent heart in their throat as they stopped to watch with no small amount of amazement as people were passing through the plaza.

They should be cautious. They should avoid people they should find somewhere safe to hide. That would be the thing 1 would want them to do, the thing that he claimed was the smart thing to do.

They were very bad at doing what 1 said though.

They spent the next hour or so just skittering along paths and around corners, staying close to walls and fences to help keep out from underfoot as they just watched the people and animals that moved through this strange new place. Another half an hour spent following the progress of a ladybug through a bush.

It took some time to get up the courage to actually approach anyone, but curiosity over something near them that was just out of the little stitchpunk's field of vision encouraged them to creep close enough to reach out, and whoever they'd happened to come across would feel a light tug against their pant leg. If they happened to look they'd see the little doll creature offering a uncertain little grin and wave by way of greeting, before their gaze skipped towards the object of their curiosity, a little hop and point that they hoped got their point across following.

They want to see! Help them up?

Did they know what they were trying to get a better look at? Nope! Hope it's not someone's lunch, because this was one little stitchpunk who did't ascribe to the wisdom of 'look don't touch.'

Comments

[burlapbibliothecary]

Oh!

They knew that their new friend was tall, but it was so very interesting to see just what things looked like from his point. Things looked so very different from high up!

At the question, 3 pointed towards the table, with it's pot of riotously colored flowers. They had never seen plants before this place, and in the plaza this was the brightest bunch of green growth that they absolutely wanted a closer look at. It was so pretty!

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Being so tall his strides are long and doesn't think much about how fast they are moving for his tiny companion as they head toward the table. Once close enough he slides into the bench and lowers his hand to the table.

He looks at the flowers with furrowed brows. He knew a lot about Earth but he can't immediately place the flowers at first. "I think these are Petunias and marigolds."

He's not sure though but the riot of color is pleasant. If it wasn't apparent from his attire, Ziggy adored bright and colorful.

[burlapbibliothecary]

Oh! Ziggy is very fast indeed compared to a tiny stitchpunk!

Not that 3 seems to mind it- the other's hand is wide enough that they're at no real risk of falling, and the speed is actually a bit thrilling. They pause at the names of the flowers offered, little eyes flickering a couple times in brief thought before they were nodding their agreement. Yes, They think Ziggy is right. The little doll carefully slips down to the table, giving their new friend's hand a light pat in gratitude before they're scampering closer to the pot, eyes flickering nonstop now as they went all the way around it, before gently grasping one of the lower-hanging blooms to get a better look at.

And maybe to just put their face into out of sheer delight at the sight of something so bright and alive.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Once 3 is off his hand Ziggy slides into the seat. It's fascinating to watch the little doll discover things. Maybe a little nostalgic too. It reminds him of coming to Earth, and how he still was curious about everything.

While 3 examined the flowers, Ziggy plucked one of the bright orange marigolds and tucked it behind his ear. When the doll sticks his face in the flower Ziggy starts laughing. "Do you want to get up in the pot?"

[burlapbibliothecary]

Oh! Their new friend was picking a flower! 3 watched the process with keen interest, nodding as if in approval for how the bright orange suited Ziggy. None of the flowers were small enough, and the little doll didn't have ears, but they picked up a fallen petal and after a moment's consideration tucked it into their cowl in mimicry of the action.

Well! It certainly made them feel prettier! And Ziggy's kind offer just had a crooked grin on their face as they nodded their cheery agreement.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

This little thing, whatever it is, is really beautiful to the alien; kind, innocent, curious. He straightens their cowl around the petal.

"You look fabulous."

He's happy to help the little doll up into the pot with the plants. After 3 is safely in the foliage, he begins folding some of the fallen petals together into a chain to make the little doll a crown of 'flowers' while he waits. Ziggy always liked costume design, among other things, and often made his own clothing, especially his stage clothes. His hands were skilled at working with small details like this.

[burlapbibliothecary]

3 draws up to their very tallest at the compliment, delighted at their new friend's assessment. They certainly felt fabulous!

Unaware of Ziggy's little project, 3 rustles around in the flowers, quite happily cataloging all of the parts of every one, from where the stems buried into the dirt to the leaves and the petals they were for the most part hidden under given their short stature.

If Ziggy looked he would be able to spot the little stitchpunk near the edge of the pot, eyes flickering with rapt fascination as they followed the ambling path of a ladybug along one of the flower stems.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy had finished his little project and looked up to see what his little friend was up to. With eyesight far better than a human, but not as wild as his mother's people he can easily see what the stitchpunk is looking at. His father was an explorer, in love with the Earth, and taught him a lot about the natural world when he was young.

He reaches out and tilts a leaf where another ladybug is busy eating the aphids off the flower. "They're protecting the flowers from things that will damage them."

He's not usually a teacher, in fact a lot of people saw him as a dumb Rockstar but here he fell easily into the role.

[burlapbibliothecary]

Oh! 3 was positively entranced to watch this, listening intently to Ziggy's explanation as they carefully cataloged every moment of the ladybug's tireless work. They remembered reading gardening manuals that said as much- that aphids were bad for plants, that ladybugs were a natural way to deal with them, but reading and seeing were two different things and 3 was fascinated.

With no preconceived notions about Ziggy? 3 could absolutely believe the friendly, eccentric stranger was a teacher of some manner.

[ziggyplayedguitar]

Ziggy held the leaf for a bit and then gently returned it to the natural position. The leaf returned to position Ziggy picked up the little crown, petals folded and twisted to look like tiny trumpet shaped petunias with one orange mock marigold in the front. With delicate precision he places the crown on 3's head.

He was distracted soon by a bee. Using his natural presence, he coaxed it onto his finger to show it to the little doll. The bee was tolerant and took the moment to clean it's self while sitting on the finger.