26. LOL

[heisrisen]

[Public]

[The Emperor stands the hallway of Level One, awkwardly clutching a beehive shaped like a small griffon, with soot smudges on his face, dirt on his clothes, a few drowsy bees bumbling around him, and the door of his room, smoke billowing gently through the sliver of open door behind him.]

No need to be - alarmed.

[His breath catches wrong, and he coughs hard for a few seconds.]

Planned incineration. Perfectly contained.

If nobody claims the bees they're going to the greenhouse.



[Private to Barbara]

I'm going to need a new room.



[Spam - deliveries for Bush, Morgana, Hannibal, and Sylvanas.]

[Hours earlier, but not many- On the morning of the 10th, each of them will open their doors to find neatly potted plants. Bush recieves one elegant apple bonsai, less than two feet high. Morgana gets several pots of pansies, in different colors, arranged so as not to block the door, Sylvanas gets catnip, and Hannibal gets herbs - basil, sage, rosemary, and thyme.]

Comments

[beingdifferent]

You don't mind?

[heisrisen]

Only if you bother them. Bees are wonderful creatures.

[People should appreciate themmmm.]

[beingdifferent]

Then I'll come to have a look.

[She arrives quickly, as drowsy bees are much better than fully alert and possibly angry bees.]

Why is the hive shaped like that?

[heisrisen]

To fit the aesthetic of the rest of the garden, I suppose. It was like this when it appeared after Christmas, they can be all sorts of shapes.

[One particularly intrepid bee buzzes drunkenly over, wobbling and meandering in midair, to investigate her hair clip.]

[beingdifferent]

I never knew that. The only bees I've ever seen have built their own hives.

[She goes still, trying not to tilt her head and view the bee more directly.] What is it doing?

[heisrisen]

It probably thinks that's a flower.

It's a bit confused.