[VIDEO]

[dust_of_life]

[As always, Fatima's painted her makeup on about an inch thick before addressing the network. And given that this is an extra special announcement, she'd done up her hair in a librarian bun and chosen her most respectable outfit.

Or, at least, what she considers respectable, coming from 2009 Los Angeles: It's a red blazer and short, leather miniskirt, showing off her lovely and shapely legs.

...Los Angeles. What are you gonna do?

But, really, it's never the clothes or the makeup that contribute most to her costuming. It's the attitude, the emphasis on devil-may-care, I've-seen-it-all, too-jaded-to-ever-be-wide-eyed-again. She has it down to an art. If she says so herself.]

Okay, so. Hi. Fatima Merali here. I'm now lord high poo-bah of the hydroponics initiative or something. Which means I'm gonna be in charge of growing us fruits and vegetables. Assuming we don't all go down in a fireball of death.

...could we maybe not go down in a fireball of death? Because that would be super.

Anyway, while I'm truly badass when it comes to gardening, I don't know if I'm badass enough to provide for the dietary needs of everyone on board all by myself. So, I guess I'm looking to see if any of you would be interested in joining me in the initiative. The captains seem to be cool with it, since they let me get out of an otherwise hilariously awful job situation so...

Just something to think about. Here to answer your questions. I have nowhere else to be.

Comments

[vengeance_driven]

I've been volunteering sometimes. I will help if you need it. I grew up a farmer.

[dust_of_life]

[A big, strong man is always useful.]

What kind of farmer?

[vengeance_driven]

...The type that worked on a farm is not the right answer here, is it?

We had a big garden. Lots of vegetables, and animals. A family farm, not big business farm.

[dust_of_life]

That's what I meant.

I've seen the way those big business ones operate. Not gonna work so well here.

[And manners. Yes. They are a thing.]

What's your name?

[vengeance_driven]

Niko Bellic. And you are?

[dust_of_life]

Fatima Merali.

Los Angeles, 2009. Planet earth. If that means anything to you.

[vengeance_driven]

Los Angeles.... Yeah, heard someone mention it. [On Substrata, something he doesn't want to think about really. A doomed version of Earth.] It is Los Santos for me. I've never been there though. I lived in Liberty City. Came from the Balkans before that.

video

[springlocking]

[...

You know what? This actually seems like a really good idea. She doesn't want to fight ever again. She doesn't want to do anything like fighting ever again.

She won't have a choice when it comes down to it, but...maybe having something constructive like this will keep her from losing her head. So here, have a girl with a scar on the left side of her face and a yellow glass eye on the right.]

I don't have any experience with farming, but I'd really like to help.

[dust_of_life]

[Fatima offers the kid a gentle smile.]

You don't need too much experience.

Do you have two working hands?

[springlocking]

[She can't help smiling back. This might be a good turn, after all the lousy things that happened.]

Last I checked, yes, I do.

[dust_of_life]

That's all you need to get started.

[Fatima gives her a wink.]

The rest of it just takes practice. And I'd be more than happy to show you the ropes.

[springlocking]

[... This is definitely gonna work out.]

Okay! When do I start learning?

[dust_of_life]

Well, that depends.

If you wanna make this official, you should probably register with the Captains or...whatever they call it.

[She shrugs.]

If you're looking at a pasttime, I would say the next time the two of us are off duty, you swing by. I don't exactly have a busy social life right now.

[Oh, the tragedy.]

video

[reseal]

Can I lend a hand too? I'd be more than happy to help!

Gardening sounds kind of fun actually! [ Sakura knows she's not here to play games, but really gardening with others sounds enjoyable. Well, more enjoyable than it would be if you were by yourself anyways. ]

[dust_of_life]

[It's the young people being sucked into the multiverse that always boils Fatima's blood. She has to remember, of course, that this isn't COMPASS. The Captains seem to be handling things very differently. But all the same, she feels the indignation rise in her throat a little bit.]

It can be. It can be very fun.

But also hard work. It requires a lot of patience.

[reseal]

Nothing comes easily does it? That's okay. [ This is how the world works. A job is never done on it's own. Sakura nods twice. ]

I'll work as hard as I can so we can grow lots of green! To be honest, I don't know much about gardening. Will you teach me?

[dust_of_life]

I would be happy to.

[She would never admit it, but Fatima's pretty good with kids. Goes with the territory of being the dhampir queen of the compound. Someone has to look out for the younger ones.]

But first, you should probably tell me your name.

[reseal]

Oh sorry! I should have said that first, huh? My name's Sakura Kinomoto!

Nice to meet you.

[ Shes smiles enthusiastically while trying to be polite. ]

[dust_of_life]

Sakura? Is that Japanese?

[Fatima can't speak a word of it, but she'd had to study some ancient texts with...interesting translations.]

text;

[dislocked]

I can help if you need it.

[Text]

[dust_of_life]

I would love some extra hands.

[dislocked]

I don't mind doing the heavy-lifting.

Whoops!

[dust_of_life]

Not gonna lie. There's going to be a lot of that in the beginning. Also a lot of watering.

[dislocked]

That's fine. Are you a specialist?

[dust_of_life]

Well, you could say that. I mean...I have powers.