"Okay Marnie, I'll think about it."

"Alright, you take care dear. And remember, my nephew Shane is really good with chickens, I'm sure he'd be happy to help you out."

Rei waved her off and looked at the basket of goods by her feet. Some wool, chicken and duck eggs, fresh milk and goat cheese were all nestled in there carefully. It was Marnie's trade, seeing as Rei made sure to deliver her some summer crops this season, always placing in the spiciest peppers for Shane. She had a nagging feeling he was putting extra eggs in the basket, because she wasn't sure Marnie meant to give her two -dozen. Still, she wasn't ready for a coop or animals yet, she still had so much else to focus on.

"Looks like you got some cream for coffee." She snapped her head up and saw Sebastian, holding out a thermos.

"I'm surprised you've risen this early."

"It's like 8am."

"Exactly, shouldn't you be nocturnal or something?"

"Haha, very funny."

She smirked at him and grabbed the thermos anyways, ready to pour them some coffee. They sat on her porch for a minute with Miso in Sebastian's lap purring contently. The sun was already high in the sky, and Rei could feel that it was going to be extra hot that day. She was adding a dip in the pond and maybe some fishing to the list of things she wanted to do when Sebastian interrupted her thoughts.

"So Sam's birthday is coming up and Abigail and I wanted to surprise him."

"How so?"

"Well, we bought four tickets to see a favorite band of his play."

"Oh that sounds nice."

"Rei, we bought four." She looked over at him, his eyebrow arched in that infuriating way of his.

"I'm guessing this takes place in the city."

"Look, I don't know much about your past and what Zuzu means to you, but we would all have more fun if you were with us."

"You just want me to be your tour guide."

"You'd be the best tour guide."

She sighed and looked at her garden. She was currently growing some gourds. The vines were all twisted, and the fruit had just started to take shape. Sebastian noticed where she was looking.

"You could maybe ask Leah to help out with crops while you're gone? We were only thinking for a few days."

"Did you know gourds were one of the first crops to be domesticated by humans?"

Sebastian was not expecting that. He just stared as she continued to speak.

"They have a long season, starting in the summer and often ending in fall. They date back to 10,000 years ago, and unlike most vegetables, weren't used for eating so much as decorating. Art, instruments, you name it. We still continue that tradition today, placing pumpkins out during Spirit's Eve." She looked wistful as she said all of this. Sebastian stayed silent, wondering where this was going.

"We use them as ornamentals you see. But hardly anyone uses the whole gourd anymore. It's only a decoration, a thing to remind people of a season, a status…."

"Just so you know, pumpkin soup is like my favorite food ever." Sebastian said mock seriously.

Rei swatted at him as he grinned. She sighed again, "Fine, but, if I get a little angsty while we're walking around, it's because…..the air smells bad there."

He clearly wanted to know where she was going with that, but he didn't press on. Instead he relayed the plans for the weekend and she started thinking of disguises.

Later that day Sebastian finished his work and thought back to the morning conversation. Was she comparing herself to a gourd? That couldn't be right. But her sad eyes when she mentioned "ornamentals" got him brooding. She knew she was so much more than that right? Who just spouts off vegetable art history facts like that? No woman he's ever met. Not even Maru, who was a self proclaimed smarty-pants.