Neeva and Kaz do a theft
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Kazdram — 06/16/2021
It was near midnight on the UGHQ block, and Kazdram was making rounds on the sidewalks around the cluster of buildings, scoping out the lush community gardens scattered about the grounds. There were few places more unsafe for him to be, but the siren song of fresh produce couldn't be ignored. Even the smell of rich dirt lured him closer.
Sure he was more than a little stoned, but what else was new? He showed up with a purpose, and a massive craving to make shakshuka.
He had never heard of the dish before an elderly woman in UG introduced him to it by cooking some. The free meal was an expression of gratitude for pushing a wheelbarrow around for her. She was also glad to show him her own personal garden plot, and offer him vegetables from it. At first Kazdram turned down the offer, but now, about a week later he was strongly reconsidering taking Mrs. Esmeralda up on her veggies.
He knew there were tons of peppers and onions just waiting there, but being so purple he couldn't just walk in during the day hours. So he had on his darkest yoga outfit for the operation, and chose a garden that was not gated to see if sweet Mrs. Esme's plot was there.
In his arms were a collection of weird looking garden decorations on wire stakes- birds, pinwheels, things that spun and glittered. They were offerings to any plots he took veggies from.
“Wait a minute this sounds like rock, and or roll.” Kazdram snicked to himself as psychedelic organ played in his head while trying to find dear Esmeraldas plot while being distracted by the many overgrown greens in the garden.
Neeva — 06/17/2021
Neeva could be particularly sneaky when she wanted to be and she wandered around that night, on shoes rather than skates. It helped the sneaking about, especially so late in the current district. As always, it was the sound of someone's voice that drew her in and she walked up from behind him.
As he walked, she followed along, until they got to the garden. "What are you doing? Are you stealing?" She asked with a gasp that was drawn out and melodramatic. "If you do not want anyone to see you, you must wear dark blue." Even if he was, she would make the suggestion anyway.
However, he was soon stepped around and she made her way to the little plot. "There are many things here." Neeva commented, turning her head to Kaz. "I am going to take them." It was almost a challenge and she raised her eyebrows, as she waited his response to that comment.
Kazdram — 06/17/2021
Kazdram jumped at the interruption of another voice. "Uhh? Nooooo?" He immediately denied, before slowly turning around to see who had caught him so early. He didn't recognize this girl, and she wasn't in UG colors, though that didn't mean much. "Were did yo-??" He squinted through the dark at her.
"No c'mon don't take all of em. Some nice old lady put a lot of work in these. Probably." Then again he wasn't sure if he even found the right garden to take from, they weren't exactly labeled. Or were they? It was hard to tell in the dark and he wasn't about to call attention to himself with a flashlight. "I mean, unless it's your garden?" Kazdram highly doubted this even if she claimed so.
"I'm just here for a couple things. It's not really stealing if it's a trade y'know." He shifted the garden decorations in his arms, out loud his reasoning sounded....... solid enough.
"You seen anything that looks like a bell pepper?" He asked her, bringing his face in very close to a tall plant held up by a wire cage to get better look at it.
Neeva — 06/17/2021
"I was always here." She lied, though she had been faintly amused when he jolted at the sound of her voice. Those who weren't environmentally aware always made certain antics too easy. "I do not need them all." She only had two little arms and a single hoodie pouch. "Oh yes, it is mine." She said with a nod to confirm, and Neeva moved away to go through the vegetables she would be mostly interested in.
"Yes, I will take a trade." If she was going to play that charade, well... "I want a garden gnome." Her hands were held out, but whether or not he gave in, she went back to snooping. "Do you want a certain color?" Whatever his decision, she'd soon stomp over to one of the pepper plants. "These."
And she was active again, but situated herself behind Kaz and if he went plucking peppers, she'd try to wiggle a hand into one of his pockets.
Kazdram — 06/17/2021
Kazdram was many things but gullible was not one of them. He didn't buy Neevas bluff for a second, but it was a harmless lie and most importantly, it didn't seem like she was going to try to stop him or alert anyone to what he was doing. So he surrendered a happy garden gnome with sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt over to her.
"Hah. Okay, sounds fair." Kazdram helped himself to the plant Neeva pointed out, not that he was waiting for permission but it actually looked the most like a bell pepper. "Red is better than green right? Like aren't the green ones not ready or something?"
He wondered out loud, twisting a few off the vines to put into a canvas bag he brought with him. 4 must have been enough, but what if they were really good? Maybe a few more, he wasn't the greatest cook after all there needed to be more room for error.
Kazdram did not notice Neeva searching his enormous pockets, and she wouldnt have a hard time lifting the lighter items from out of there without him noticing.
"So like- who exactly are you mysterious garden gnome collector?" He stood upright, shifting through the other decorations he brought. He picked out a metal blue jay, and stabbed the stake into the dirt giving it's wings a spin. "You haven't told anyone some Mafia guy is about to raid the tomatoes."
Neeva — 06/18/2021
The garden gnome was taken gently and she looked it over, only to set it down for now. "I guess it depends on what you are wanting. Green peppers are bitter, and red ones are the sweetest of the choices." As he started plucking the peppers, she slipped whatever she'd taken from his pocket into one of hers. Couldn't go wrong with a free small bag of drugs, right?
"What is it that you are making?" She would ask, and sought out one of the yellow ones for herself and she'd seek out a carrot, green onion and a couple cucumber. Those would all be shoved into the pouch of her hoodie. Now, though, she'd snoop through his offerings to the gardener.
"I am Neeva." A quick introduction, but then he mentioned tomatoes and she went looking for one of those. "Ah yes." Next came the fact that she wasn't snitching. "Because I do not care. You mafia people will do it anyway and if I tell, one of you will probably decide I am to die for the horrible crime of ratting you out."
Kazdram — 06/23/2021
Kazdram didn't notice any changes from his pockets, too preoccupied with picking what he needed from the garden. "Hah? Wha?" Kazdram jerked his head back squinting at Neeva in the dark. "Psh. Okay sure- that's? That's fuckin crazy." He shook his head slightly as he let out some chuckles, of course this girl was exaggerating and that made for a decent laugh.
"No one gets killed over being a rat." Kazdram was mostly positive. "And if anyone's gonna go after folks for picking veggies its UG." Right? He said as he pulled what he thought were garlics out of the dirt. "Hmm yeah, red then." Kazdram repeated Neevas advice, putting his nose up to a tomato plant to make out what color it was.
"Anyway, I guess youve just been taking to the wrong guys." He added a few tomatoes to his bag.
"Well Miss Neeva, I'm Kazdram." He put an emphasis on the M and ducked his head to her as he introduced himself. "And I just wanna say thanks for being a champ and keeping this little shopping trip between the two of us." He picked a metal pinwheel from his collection of garden decor, and stuck it in the plot that he took tomatoes from
"How are you at cooking?" He asked over his shoulder as he was drawn to a different plot. "Im hoping I can get everything together to make a decent shakshuka. I'll settle for decent since I've never made it before. But I think I need something called harissa to like- pull it together? And I doubt even the greenest of UG thumbs can grow that out here."
"Not that I could point it out if I saw it. Oh-"
'This smells good.' He said to himself, quickly distracted by a monsterous basil plant.
Neeva — 06/23/2021
"Hm, no. I clearly recall murder being threatened on me on account of telling people something someone has. From your side." Neeva figured Harpur would go that route for something simple he could just say was a lie. "Maybe you should tell your Mafia's bruiser that." She doubted he had much sway there, but who knew. "The UG have never been rude to me." Zeta hadn't either, but she assumed he just needed to realize he was in the wrong faction.
Someday.
"I have talked to the one that's all over Stepbook, the public face of your faction." She gestured sarcastically with her hands, as if to demonstrate how she felt about that. "It is nice to meet you." Genuine, because he was nice and not telling her to buzz off. "Who would I even tell? If I told other banditos, they would come and take it all." And she didn't want to share with everyone. "I am very good, because I like to be by myself a lot."
And it was better than the vendy bars. "Oh, perhaps not. Have you thought of checking any stores? Ask around?" Neeva would ask curiously, and she followed him. "That is a very good herb."
Kazdram — 06/24/2021
"Ehh, this whole thing is uh, like? A bit of an impulse, to be totally honest. So, no I haven't, asked..... yet." Kazdram admitted, checking a store was probably a good idea, but that was more of a day time sober task. He picked a leaf of basil rubbing it in his fingers just to smell. Pesto immediately came to mind, and he started plucking springs of it.
"Dito, huh? I see. Well considering this little space isn't gated, there must be something keeping you guys from stripping the plants." Kazdram looked over his shoulder almost expecting a patrolling UG to have been summoned by his paranoia. But the two were still luckily unnoticed.
Kazdram gathered from 'Public Face', and the sarcastic use of spirit fingers, that must have been; "Did you mean Frankie? Heh, yeah, our poster Boss. Makes sense, he's a pretty friendly dude."
Kazdram gave Neeva a handful of basil springs, assuming she might want some. "If you're gonna be cool with anyone on our side- he's definitely the guy you'd want to like you." He left a decoration offering in the plot and moved on. "Kinda makes you bullet proof."
Kazdram didn't know very many bruisers, in fact he only knew one by name. For some reason acquaintances like that didn't stick with him, but it wasn't from lack of trying. This girl looked relatively harmless, what reason would Harpur have to threaten her? Well, it was his actual job to be threatening, that could be as shallow as it went.
"Who's this bruiser you mentioned?" Kazdram asked anyway, making another glace over his shoulder as the cover from the plants did very little to hide him as he stood upright.
Neeva — 06/24/2021
"No? Well, now you must or the whole thing will be ruined if you do not have this one specific thing." It sounded like a jest, probably, but with her monotone, who knew right? "It is probably because they do not know about it, I do not know. Maybe the owner is also very nice....or smart. If there is something better offered, I am sure my fellow Banditos would go for that."
Or, in the same concern as Kaz, maybe they didn't want to deal with patrolling UG. "What is keeping you from taking a great deal?" She assumed respect for the person, given they were leaving offerings, but she wondered if there was more than that. Was it a sneaky agreement? "No. Frankie is not mean to me, he has offered me a dance, but he has not followed through. I do not know if he was being honest, but I guess it does not matter."
She was sure if her vibe went off during said dance, they'd have more of an issue with her.
Neeva accepted the sprig readily and shoved it with the rest of her little haul. "Harpur." She replied immediately and looked away, but had her phone soon out in her hands. "You seem very alert now. Are you worried more like me are going to show up?"
Kazdram — 06/25/2021
"I mean more like you would be cool, at least you're chill. You haven't robbed me, so, thanks for that." As far as he knew.
Kazdram shifted through his garden decor, there were only three stakes left. "It's what could come out of the Gardens of Babylon over there I'm worried about." He pointed up to the massive collection of buildings that made up the UGHQ, apart from the sleepy night streets, the clubs and bars that connected the block were still obviously full of life. "Or maybe I'm just a little paranoid, cause.... hah y'know." He chuckled a little smiling to himself while inspecting more plants.
Hearing Neeva confirm it was Harpur was no surprise, a bit weird to hear, but Kazdram usually made a point to stay ignorant of other friends 'family related business'. Especially if it was things he knew could get a bit heavy. "Huh, yeah. I know that guy. I guess they're both the sorta dudes you don't wanna mess with." Was all he said in return.
Back to the task at hand, "I mean, I gotta few more a these, so I'll just get a little extra and be outta here hopefully before anyone catches on." He showed Neeva the decorations he had left; a little metal frog, a fish, and a reflective thing that looked like a helix. "No need to get greedy y'know?"
"Were you planning on making anything with your haul? Or just here to collect, for the thrill?" He laughed, "Oh shit, you could start one of those container gardens."
Neeva — 06/27/2021
"Yes. You are very welcome." It was without remorse, but she was sure he could handle one missing bag. Clearly he had to have more, or a decent source, right?
Neeva moved from the plants and instead, sought to sit down on something solid with her hands pressed to her knees. "That is fair. I would be paranoid, too." Atleast if she was him, because she was obviously not paranoid at the moment, given how casual she was about lounging about. "He is also someone that is not good as a public face if the Mafia wants to recruit people." They needed someone nicer. Like Zeta.
"That is a good plan. You better hurry, we have been talking a while and eventually, someone will hear us." She pointed out, and looked away, even if she couldn't really hear or see an approach. "I like the decorations." Hence why she'd probably find a nice spot in her home for the little gnome given to her.
"Yes, I will make a few dishes. I can stuff the peppers, and use the rest for a salad."
Kazdram — 06/29/2021
"I agree, the strong arm approach doesn't work on a lot of people. It definitely didn't work on me. But have any of our guys given you.......... a gnome? Maybe that's exactly the flavor to sweeten this pot." Kazdram was joking of course, but with his long he rambled it was hard to tell if he wasn't invested.
"Hey thanks, I do too. Be good to your new friend there." Kazdram referred to the decorations as he scoped out more plants through the dark, there were many he just didn't recognize, and a lot he couldn't see fruit on. So they were safe from him taking anything. "I hope these guys end up liking em too. Guess I'll find out next time I come back, and see a fence around here."
"Y'know those funky little dudes are supposed to be like- good luck or guardians or something?" He thought to tell Neeva about the gnome he gave her, "Like watch out for your shit, heh. Guess I should've brought more." Kazdram found the bigger heads of onions and pulled a few out of the dirt, leaving the fish with spinning fins behind.
"Man I hope I don't get knocked around on the train with this bag, that could get really embarrassing." Kazdram laughed, shifting it from one shoulder to another. "How far do you stay from here? Did you wanna- oh shit no way." He was going to ask Neeva a question but was distracted by a skinny tree in the middle of a plot.
"Is that what I think it is?" Kazdram went directly up to the small tree to see it had avocado fruits. He left the helix stake in the plot before taking many more of that fruit than he probably should have.
His bag was now heavy with produce and dirt, he tried to rearrange so the lightest and easiest to bruise were on top. "Geez now it'll really look like a massacre if these tomatoes get busted."
"Anyway, yeah-" No longer distracted Kazdram came up to Neeva, spinning the metal frog in his hand. "So Miss Nee, are you gonna stick around here, or do you want some company if youre headed outta orange?"
Neeva — 06/29/2021
"It is too late. I will not go, even if the gnome is nice. No one with sense will join with Harpur around." And Neeva had decided she had all of it, and anyone else did not. "It is a shame, all the good ones will go elsewhere and then you will all be in trouble." It was more a statement than a threat, even if she was sure it could be perceived as such.
Thankfully, despite her compliment of the decorations, she didn't try to take any more for herself. "What do you think will happen if they do not? They may get upset and think you are stealing." She pointed out, and wrapped her arms around the gnome. "Good, I will put it around my herbs, even if no one has ever tried to get them." Not yet, she was sure. "You must bring more next time. For them, for me."
"Ah...you should probably put it under a seat, and hope no one kicks it." Neeva suggested of the bag and when he started with a question, she dismissed it to follow him again. "Oh good." She wouldn't take any of those, but she didn't come prepared enough. A shame! They'd be a good addition to...anything. "You will just have to be very careful." A ghost of a smile followed, but she relaxed after.
"I will come with you, you will need protection and so will your haul." And who better?
Kazdram — 07/06/2021
“Heh protection," Kazdram couldn't help but chuckle a bit, not that he doubted Neeva, more that he was amused to be a rather obvious target. "Thanks though, thats cool of you.” It might have been difficult to make out in the dark but there was a genuine smile in return.
“Next time huh? Will you be here?" Kazdram had a look around the gardens, convinced there was nothing more for him to take, not that he could fit anything else in his bag. "I mean so long as this stays between us, I dont see why we can’t make this a thing.” He shrugged at his offer, unsure if Neeva would commit to such a plan.
“I don't know if I can find many more gnomes tho, but the shop I got these from had a lot of lucky cat figures.” He held up the only decoration he had left, the final frog, maybe he would hang on to it if they were approached by a UG.
Neeva — 07/06/2021
"Yes." Even if he doubted her, Neeva wouldn't mind. "You are welcome, though I will not go into the Mafia place." The smile would be missed, but she was more interested in keeping an eye on their surroundings, incase someone decided to waltz up. "I can be, if you are bringing gifts. I do not usually go here often, and I can just use the seeds from these to grow my own if I need to."
Maybe she'd try to get a greenhouse set up. "Yes, we can do that." She waved her phone, but didn't give out her number yet. "Who would I tell?" No one else needed to know. She followed along, and raised her eyebrows.
"I will take a happy cat figure, yes." Those sounded just as nice.
Kazdram — 07/13/2021
"Really? Cool." Kazdram sounded pleased about the potential to meet up and collect more produce in the gardens again.
"Well if we do run into each other here again. I will have a lucky cat for you next time." Kazdram ducked his head a bit at the promise, adding a light chuckle to the end. "Yknow it was a little easier not going alone this time. Kinda helped my nerves to have a second looking out." He mentioned as he led them out of the unfenced garden and back to the streets. The more distance between them and the gardens the more comfortable he became.
Neeva — 07/13/2021
"Yes." Neeva said with a nod and once they were further away, she'd take out her phone for the sake of its built in flashlight option. "Why do you go alone? Why do you not take your friends?" Surely he had some that wouldn't mind playing guard, right? "If you need my protection, you can tell me on Stepbook anytime and I will wait for you somewhere."
Because protection from her was surely greater than the others.
"Besides, it would not be good to be caught out at this hour. You should consider skates or a board, like a Bandito. You would get away very quickly."
Kazdram — 07/14/2021
"Well it's kinda like?" Kazdram pinched his lips in as he thought about how best to answer why he was alone. "Like, yeah I could ask people to come but, I'm sure they wouldn't want to go all the way out here just for some tomatoes. But to be uh, ahaha, brutally honest......I don't want them to know I'm actually a, dirty veggie thief." He started snickering, adjusting the bag bulging with delicate produce.
"Oh man I would love a board honestly. That'd be so badass." Kazdram straightened his back at Neevas suggestion of a get away vehicle, mostly it just sounded fun to have. "But y'know, last thing I need is an invitation for Ditos to get in my face. Besides I'm kinda, recognizable I think, definitely don't want em turning up at my shows asking for a challenge or something insane."
Neeva — 07/15/2021
As he explained his reasoning for being there, Neeva nodded along. "Hm, I guess. It is not like it is stealing. You are making a trade. You left things each time you took something, that is how it works and if anyone thinks otherwise.....well, is it your fault they are an idiot?" She asked with a shrug, and continued to walk forward. "It is fine, though, I will be here now."
When he mentioned the pros and cons of owning a board, she knew he had a point there which made more sense to her than worrying about what others thought. "Yes, that is true. I am not sure how many would come to Purple, to do so. Too risky."
Kazdram — 07/24/2021
Laughter bubbled out of Kazdram at Neevas comment, "God help those idiots. Heh."
He led her toward the west bound tram station, music could be heard as they passed several buildings but since it was getting later in the night there weren't many people roaming the streets. Kazdram tossed a glace over to a small group gathered under a street lamp in the distance, sharing a smoke and likely too distracted to notice anything around them.
"Well would you do me the honor of stepping into a purple neighborhood with me?"
Neeva — 07/24/2021
"Yes, I agree." They would need all the help, especially against her, she decided. As they continued on, Neeva shut off her flashlight to avoid attention and walked a bit quicker. The group was given a look, and she remained close to Kaz, even if her expression barely showed hint of nerves. Once they got closer to Kaz's district, she paused at his question.
"Will any of your friends sneak up on me?" Neeva knew he probably hadn't contacted them, but now she wondered about the possibility he might live with or around someone like Harpur.
"If I go, you cannot call out to friends."
Kazdram — 07/25/2021
Sneaking didn't seem like Harpur or Zetas style, plus Kazdram was positive no one knew what he was up too, but most importantly- he didn't want them to find out. He shook his head with confidence since Neeva seemed a bit concerned. "Of course not. I most definitely won't and I'm sure they won't pop up either, besides, I don't wanna ruin this-"
He leaned to one side drawing an invisible line between himself and Neeva with a hand. "'Veggie harvest, gathering under the moonlight' bond thing we got going now."
"I mean it almost feels like a pagan ceremonial ritual at this point, and it'd just be like.....rude to break that, you know." Kazdram huffed a single laugh, "Pretty sure there might be a curse involved. So yeah heh, you got nothing to worry about." He added and continued guiding them toward the purple district.
"But if you wanna keep it short and sweet, I understand. Don't wanna move too fast." Implying she was of course free to leave whenever she wanted.
Neeva — 07/25/2021
Neeva happily accepted all that confidence and she stepped closer, one hand reached out for Kaz's wrist. "Yes. Because we are friends now." She just decided, but it wasn't as if he was sending her away. Now that they were obviously close, she also decided they had to walk close like friends, but she was mindful of making sure her glove and his sleeve were in contact.
Even if they weren't actually dancing.
"I will give you my number, it will make it easier to contact, incase I am not looking at Stepbook." As if she'd take a break outside sleeping or something. "Hmmm, yes, a curse. I will bring things to appease the person who owns the garden, too. I knit things." Maybe a couple hats or something.
"I do not want short friendships, unless you start being mean to me."
Kazdram — 07/26/2021
"Ehh, I'm not very good at being mean. Maybe a little bit of an ass, but not too often. Hopefully." Kazdram took his phone out to exchange numbers. As someone who frequently titled people as 'friend' upon first meeting them, he nodded in agreement to their new relationship. " Not a fan of short ones either if I can help it. But sometimes things just go that way." He shrugged, "Though I mean, none of those were veggie bonded." He added Neeva as a contact and tucked his phone away.
"Oh? What kind of things do you knit?" He asked, looking to see if she had anything on her that was knitted, very interested in learning something about her.
It was then Kazdram looked down at Neevas hand around his wrist. Did she want to hold hands? He might've still been a little stoned but he certainly didn't mind, it was pretty cute, and he hadn't held someone's hand in a long time. He pulled his arm upward so his hand could fit into hers.
Neeva — 07/26/2021
Neeva nodded as she added him back, but likely put his contact name as something other than his actual name. Nothing mean, but likely something like 'Gardener' given where they met. "Atleast you are not a Harpur." That much was a relief, despite his claims of being a little rude. "I knit clothes, but mostly hats and scarves, they don't take as long."
Even if she had the time in the world for them.
"I may try other things in the future." When he took her hand, Neeva offered a rare smile. But it was still mixed with something close to anxiety, and she seemed much more interested in their surroundings. "How far?"
Kazdram — 07/28/2021
"Yeah, he and I are pretty different. It's not so far. Probably 30 minutes, but it always feels like, wayyy longer than it really is." Kazdram accompanied Neeva through the fringes of where the orange met the purple district, holding her hand as long as she allowed. "Did you teach yourself? How to knit I mean?" He asked, among other things.
He offered the same amount of confidence in their shared journey through the night, in exchange the Bandito girl also unknownly put Kazdram at ease since he didn't have to travel alone. They hopped a tram and made it safely into Funk Mafia territory without attracting any attention, and miraculously without crushing any precious cargo.
In a show if trust Kazdram guided Neeva to his apartment, offered her a place to relax and a cat to pet (if Gelato allowed) and tried to make the dish he gathered veggies for, despite not being the best cook. Whether or not Kazdram was successful is something up for debate.
It was near midnight on the UGHQ block, and Kazdram was making rounds on the sidewalks around the cluster of buildings, scoping out the lush community gardens scattered about the grounds. There were few places more unsafe for him to be, but the siren song of fresh produce couldn't be ignored. Even the smell of rich dirt lured him closer.
Sure he was more than a little stoned, but what else was new? He showed up with a purpose, and a massive craving to make shakshuka.
He had never heard of the dish before an elderly woman in UG introduced him to it by cooking some. The free meal was an expression of gratitude for pushing a wheelbarrow around for her. She was also glad to show him her own personal garden plot, and offer him vegetables from it. At first Kazdram turned down the offer, but now, about a week later he was strongly reconsidering taking Mrs. Esmeralda up on her veggies.
He knew there were tons of peppers and onions just waiting there, but being so purple he couldn't just walk in during the day hours. So he had on his darkest yoga outfit for the operation, and chose a garden that was not gated to see if sweet Mrs. Esme's plot was there.
In his arms were a collection of weird looking garden decorations on wire stakes- birds, pinwheels, things that spun and glittered. They were offerings to any plots he took veggies from.
“Wait a minute this sounds like rock, and or roll.” Kazdram snicked to himself as psychedelic organ played in his head while trying to find dear Esmeraldas plot while being distracted by the many overgrown greens in the garden.
Neeva — 06/17/2021
Neeva could be particularly sneaky when she wanted to be and she wandered around that night, on shoes rather than skates. It helped the sneaking about, especially so late in the current district. As always, it was the sound of someone's voice that drew her in and she walked up from behind him.
As he walked, she followed along, until they got to the garden. "What are you doing? Are you stealing?" She asked with a gasp that was drawn out and melodramatic. "If you do not want anyone to see you, you must wear dark blue." Even if he was, she would make the suggestion anyway.
However, he was soon stepped around and she made her way to the little plot. "There are many things here." Neeva commented, turning her head to Kaz. "I am going to take them." It was almost a challenge and she raised her eyebrows, as she waited his response to that comment.
Kazdram — 06/17/2021
Kazdram jumped at the interruption of another voice. "Uhh? Nooooo?" He immediately denied, before slowly turning around to see who had caught him so early. He didn't recognize this girl, and she wasn't in UG colors, though that didn't mean much. "Were did yo-??" He squinted through the dark at her.
"No c'mon don't take all of em. Some nice old lady put a lot of work in these. Probably." Then again he wasn't sure if he even found the right garden to take from, they weren't exactly labeled. Or were they? It was hard to tell in the dark and he wasn't about to call attention to himself with a flashlight. "I mean, unless it's your garden?" Kazdram highly doubted this even if she claimed so.
"I'm just here for a couple things. It's not really stealing if it's a trade y'know." He shifted the garden decorations in his arms, out loud his reasoning sounded....... solid enough.
"You seen anything that looks like a bell pepper?" He asked her, bringing his face in very close to a tall plant held up by a wire cage to get better look at it.
Neeva — 06/17/2021
"I was always here." She lied, though she had been faintly amused when he jolted at the sound of her voice. Those who weren't environmentally aware always made certain antics too easy. "I do not need them all." She only had two little arms and a single hoodie pouch. "Oh yes, it is mine." She said with a nod to confirm, and Neeva moved away to go through the vegetables she would be mostly interested in.
"Yes, I will take a trade." If she was going to play that charade, well... "I want a garden gnome." Her hands were held out, but whether or not he gave in, she went back to snooping. "Do you want a certain color?" Whatever his decision, she'd soon stomp over to one of the pepper plants. "These."
And she was active again, but situated herself behind Kaz and if he went plucking peppers, she'd try to wiggle a hand into one of his pockets.
Kazdram — 06/17/2021
Kazdram was many things but gullible was not one of them. He didn't buy Neevas bluff for a second, but it was a harmless lie and most importantly, it didn't seem like she was going to try to stop him or alert anyone to what he was doing. So he surrendered a happy garden gnome with sunglasses and a Hawaiian shirt over to her.
"Hah. Okay, sounds fair." Kazdram helped himself to the plant Neeva pointed out, not that he was waiting for permission but it actually looked the most like a bell pepper. "Red is better than green right? Like aren't the green ones not ready or something?"
He wondered out loud, twisting a few off the vines to put into a canvas bag he brought with him. 4 must have been enough, but what if they were really good? Maybe a few more, he wasn't the greatest cook after all there needed to be more room for error.
Kazdram did not notice Neeva searching his enormous pockets, and she wouldnt have a hard time lifting the lighter items from out of there without him noticing.
"So like- who exactly are you mysterious garden gnome collector?" He stood upright, shifting through the other decorations he brought. He picked out a metal blue jay, and stabbed the stake into the dirt giving it's wings a spin. "You haven't told anyone some Mafia guy is about to raid the tomatoes."
Neeva — 06/18/2021
The garden gnome was taken gently and she looked it over, only to set it down for now. "I guess it depends on what you are wanting. Green peppers are bitter, and red ones are the sweetest of the choices." As he started plucking the peppers, she slipped whatever she'd taken from his pocket into one of hers. Couldn't go wrong with a free small bag of drugs, right?
"What is it that you are making?" She would ask, and sought out one of the yellow ones for herself and she'd seek out a carrot, green onion and a couple cucumber. Those would all be shoved into the pouch of her hoodie. Now, though, she'd snoop through his offerings to the gardener.
"I am Neeva." A quick introduction, but then he mentioned tomatoes and she went looking for one of those. "Ah yes." Next came the fact that she wasn't snitching. "Because I do not care. You mafia people will do it anyway and if I tell, one of you will probably decide I am to die for the horrible crime of ratting you out."
Kazdram — 06/23/2021
Kazdram didn't notice any changes from his pockets, too preoccupied with picking what he needed from the garden. "Hah? Wha?" Kazdram jerked his head back squinting at Neeva in the dark. "Psh. Okay sure- that's? That's fuckin crazy." He shook his head slightly as he let out some chuckles, of course this girl was exaggerating and that made for a decent laugh.
"No one gets killed over being a rat." Kazdram was mostly positive. "And if anyone's gonna go after folks for picking veggies its UG." Right? He said as he pulled what he thought were garlics out of the dirt. "Hmm yeah, red then." Kazdram repeated Neevas advice, putting his nose up to a tomato plant to make out what color it was.
"Anyway, I guess youve just been taking to the wrong guys." He added a few tomatoes to his bag.
"Well Miss Neeva, I'm Kazdram." He put an emphasis on the M and ducked his head to her as he introduced himself. "And I just wanna say thanks for being a champ and keeping this little shopping trip between the two of us." He picked a metal pinwheel from his collection of garden decor, and stuck it in the plot that he took tomatoes from
"How are you at cooking?" He asked over his shoulder as he was drawn to a different plot. "Im hoping I can get everything together to make a decent shakshuka. I'll settle for decent since I've never made it before. But I think I need something called harissa to like- pull it together? And I doubt even the greenest of UG thumbs can grow that out here."
"Not that I could point it out if I saw it. Oh-"
'This smells good.' He said to himself, quickly distracted by a monsterous basil plant.
Neeva — 06/23/2021
"Hm, no. I clearly recall murder being threatened on me on account of telling people something someone has. From your side." Neeva figured Harpur would go that route for something simple he could just say was a lie. "Maybe you should tell your Mafia's bruiser that." She doubted he had much sway there, but who knew. "The UG have never been rude to me." Zeta hadn't either, but she assumed he just needed to realize he was in the wrong faction.
Someday.
"I have talked to the one that's all over Stepbook, the public face of your faction." She gestured sarcastically with her hands, as if to demonstrate how she felt about that. "It is nice to meet you." Genuine, because he was nice and not telling her to buzz off. "Who would I even tell? If I told other banditos, they would come and take it all." And she didn't want to share with everyone. "I am very good, because I like to be by myself a lot."
And it was better than the vendy bars. "Oh, perhaps not. Have you thought of checking any stores? Ask around?" Neeva would ask curiously, and she followed him. "That is a very good herb."
Kazdram — 06/24/2021
"Ehh, this whole thing is uh, like? A bit of an impulse, to be totally honest. So, no I haven't, asked..... yet." Kazdram admitted, checking a store was probably a good idea, but that was more of a day time sober task. He picked a leaf of basil rubbing it in his fingers just to smell. Pesto immediately came to mind, and he started plucking springs of it.
"Dito, huh? I see. Well considering this little space isn't gated, there must be something keeping you guys from stripping the plants." Kazdram looked over his shoulder almost expecting a patrolling UG to have been summoned by his paranoia. But the two were still luckily unnoticed.
Kazdram gathered from 'Public Face', and the sarcastic use of spirit fingers, that must have been; "Did you mean Frankie? Heh, yeah, our poster Boss. Makes sense, he's a pretty friendly dude."
Kazdram gave Neeva a handful of basil springs, assuming she might want some. "If you're gonna be cool with anyone on our side- he's definitely the guy you'd want to like you." He left a decoration offering in the plot and moved on. "Kinda makes you bullet proof."
Kazdram didn't know very many bruisers, in fact he only knew one by name. For some reason acquaintances like that didn't stick with him, but it wasn't from lack of trying. This girl looked relatively harmless, what reason would Harpur have to threaten her? Well, it was his actual job to be threatening, that could be as shallow as it went.
"Who's this bruiser you mentioned?" Kazdram asked anyway, making another glace over his shoulder as the cover from the plants did very little to hide him as he stood upright.
Neeva — 06/24/2021
"No? Well, now you must or the whole thing will be ruined if you do not have this one specific thing." It sounded like a jest, probably, but with her monotone, who knew right? "It is probably because they do not know about it, I do not know. Maybe the owner is also very nice....or smart. If there is something better offered, I am sure my fellow Banditos would go for that."
Or, in the same concern as Kaz, maybe they didn't want to deal with patrolling UG. "What is keeping you from taking a great deal?" She assumed respect for the person, given they were leaving offerings, but she wondered if there was more than that. Was it a sneaky agreement? "No. Frankie is not mean to me, he has offered me a dance, but he has not followed through. I do not know if he was being honest, but I guess it does not matter."
She was sure if her vibe went off during said dance, they'd have more of an issue with her.
Neeva accepted the sprig readily and shoved it with the rest of her little haul. "Harpur." She replied immediately and looked away, but had her phone soon out in her hands. "You seem very alert now. Are you worried more like me are going to show up?"
Kazdram — 06/25/2021
"I mean more like you would be cool, at least you're chill. You haven't robbed me, so, thanks for that." As far as he knew.
Kazdram shifted through his garden decor, there were only three stakes left. "It's what could come out of the Gardens of Babylon over there I'm worried about." He pointed up to the massive collection of buildings that made up the UGHQ, apart from the sleepy night streets, the clubs and bars that connected the block were still obviously full of life. "Or maybe I'm just a little paranoid, cause.... hah y'know." He chuckled a little smiling to himself while inspecting more plants.
Hearing Neeva confirm it was Harpur was no surprise, a bit weird to hear, but Kazdram usually made a point to stay ignorant of other friends 'family related business'. Especially if it was things he knew could get a bit heavy. "Huh, yeah. I know that guy. I guess they're both the sorta dudes you don't wanna mess with." Was all he said in return.
Back to the task at hand, "I mean, I gotta few more a these, so I'll just get a little extra and be outta here hopefully before anyone catches on." He showed Neeva the decorations he had left; a little metal frog, a fish, and a reflective thing that looked like a helix. "No need to get greedy y'know?"
"Were you planning on making anything with your haul? Or just here to collect, for the thrill?" He laughed, "Oh shit, you could start one of those container gardens."
Neeva — 06/27/2021
"Yes. You are very welcome." It was without remorse, but she was sure he could handle one missing bag. Clearly he had to have more, or a decent source, right?
Neeva moved from the plants and instead, sought to sit down on something solid with her hands pressed to her knees. "That is fair. I would be paranoid, too." Atleast if she was him, because she was obviously not paranoid at the moment, given how casual she was about lounging about. "He is also someone that is not good as a public face if the Mafia wants to recruit people." They needed someone nicer. Like Zeta.
"That is a good plan. You better hurry, we have been talking a while and eventually, someone will hear us." She pointed out, and looked away, even if she couldn't really hear or see an approach. "I like the decorations." Hence why she'd probably find a nice spot in her home for the little gnome given to her.
"Yes, I will make a few dishes. I can stuff the peppers, and use the rest for a salad."
Kazdram — 06/29/2021
"I agree, the strong arm approach doesn't work on a lot of people. It definitely didn't work on me. But have any of our guys given you.......... a gnome? Maybe that's exactly the flavor to sweeten this pot." Kazdram was joking of course, but with his long he rambled it was hard to tell if he wasn't invested.
"Hey thanks, I do too. Be good to your new friend there." Kazdram referred to the decorations as he scoped out more plants through the dark, there were many he just didn't recognize, and a lot he couldn't see fruit on. So they were safe from him taking anything. "I hope these guys end up liking em too. Guess I'll find out next time I come back, and see a fence around here."
"Y'know those funky little dudes are supposed to be like- good luck or guardians or something?" He thought to tell Neeva about the gnome he gave her, "Like watch out for your shit, heh. Guess I should've brought more." Kazdram found the bigger heads of onions and pulled a few out of the dirt, leaving the fish with spinning fins behind.
"Man I hope I don't get knocked around on the train with this bag, that could get really embarrassing." Kazdram laughed, shifting it from one shoulder to another. "How far do you stay from here? Did you wanna- oh shit no way." He was going to ask Neeva a question but was distracted by a skinny tree in the middle of a plot.
"Is that what I think it is?" Kazdram went directly up to the small tree to see it had avocado fruits. He left the helix stake in the plot before taking many more of that fruit than he probably should have.
His bag was now heavy with produce and dirt, he tried to rearrange so the lightest and easiest to bruise were on top. "Geez now it'll really look like a massacre if these tomatoes get busted."
"Anyway, yeah-" No longer distracted Kazdram came up to Neeva, spinning the metal frog in his hand. "So Miss Nee, are you gonna stick around here, or do you want some company if youre headed outta orange?"
Neeva — 06/29/2021
"It is too late. I will not go, even if the gnome is nice. No one with sense will join with Harpur around." And Neeva had decided she had all of it, and anyone else did not. "It is a shame, all the good ones will go elsewhere and then you will all be in trouble." It was more a statement than a threat, even if she was sure it could be perceived as such.
Thankfully, despite her compliment of the decorations, she didn't try to take any more for herself. "What do you think will happen if they do not? They may get upset and think you are stealing." She pointed out, and wrapped her arms around the gnome. "Good, I will put it around my herbs, even if no one has ever tried to get them." Not yet, she was sure. "You must bring more next time. For them, for me."
"Ah...you should probably put it under a seat, and hope no one kicks it." Neeva suggested of the bag and when he started with a question, she dismissed it to follow him again. "Oh good." She wouldn't take any of those, but she didn't come prepared enough. A shame! They'd be a good addition to...anything. "You will just have to be very careful." A ghost of a smile followed, but she relaxed after.
"I will come with you, you will need protection and so will your haul." And who better?
Kazdram — 07/06/2021
“Heh protection," Kazdram couldn't help but chuckle a bit, not that he doubted Neeva, more that he was amused to be a rather obvious target. "Thanks though, thats cool of you.” It might have been difficult to make out in the dark but there was a genuine smile in return.
“Next time huh? Will you be here?" Kazdram had a look around the gardens, convinced there was nothing more for him to take, not that he could fit anything else in his bag. "I mean so long as this stays between us, I dont see why we can’t make this a thing.” He shrugged at his offer, unsure if Neeva would commit to such a plan.
“I don't know if I can find many more gnomes tho, but the shop I got these from had a lot of lucky cat figures.” He held up the only decoration he had left, the final frog, maybe he would hang on to it if they were approached by a UG.
Neeva — 07/06/2021
"Yes." Even if he doubted her, Neeva wouldn't mind. "You are welcome, though I will not go into the Mafia place." The smile would be missed, but she was more interested in keeping an eye on their surroundings, incase someone decided to waltz up. "I can be, if you are bringing gifts. I do not usually go here often, and I can just use the seeds from these to grow my own if I need to."
Maybe she'd try to get a greenhouse set up. "Yes, we can do that." She waved her phone, but didn't give out her number yet. "Who would I tell?" No one else needed to know. She followed along, and raised her eyebrows.
"I will take a happy cat figure, yes." Those sounded just as nice.
Kazdram — 07/13/2021
"Really? Cool." Kazdram sounded pleased about the potential to meet up and collect more produce in the gardens again.
"Well if we do run into each other here again. I will have a lucky cat for you next time." Kazdram ducked his head a bit at the promise, adding a light chuckle to the end. "Yknow it was a little easier not going alone this time. Kinda helped my nerves to have a second looking out." He mentioned as he led them out of the unfenced garden and back to the streets. The more distance between them and the gardens the more comfortable he became.
Neeva — 07/13/2021
"Yes." Neeva said with a nod and once they were further away, she'd take out her phone for the sake of its built in flashlight option. "Why do you go alone? Why do you not take your friends?" Surely he had some that wouldn't mind playing guard, right? "If you need my protection, you can tell me on Stepbook anytime and I will wait for you somewhere."
Because protection from her was surely greater than the others.
"Besides, it would not be good to be caught out at this hour. You should consider skates or a board, like a Bandito. You would get away very quickly."
Kazdram — 07/14/2021
"Well it's kinda like?" Kazdram pinched his lips in as he thought about how best to answer why he was alone. "Like, yeah I could ask people to come but, I'm sure they wouldn't want to go all the way out here just for some tomatoes. But to be uh, ahaha, brutally honest......I don't want them to know I'm actually a, dirty veggie thief." He started snickering, adjusting the bag bulging with delicate produce.
"Oh man I would love a board honestly. That'd be so badass." Kazdram straightened his back at Neevas suggestion of a get away vehicle, mostly it just sounded fun to have. "But y'know, last thing I need is an invitation for Ditos to get in my face. Besides I'm kinda, recognizable I think, definitely don't want em turning up at my shows asking for a challenge or something insane."
Neeva — 07/15/2021
As he explained his reasoning for being there, Neeva nodded along. "Hm, I guess. It is not like it is stealing. You are making a trade. You left things each time you took something, that is how it works and if anyone thinks otherwise.....well, is it your fault they are an idiot?" She asked with a shrug, and continued to walk forward. "It is fine, though, I will be here now."
When he mentioned the pros and cons of owning a board, she knew he had a point there which made more sense to her than worrying about what others thought. "Yes, that is true. I am not sure how many would come to Purple, to do so. Too risky."
Kazdram — 07/24/2021
Laughter bubbled out of Kazdram at Neevas comment, "God help those idiots. Heh."
He led her toward the west bound tram station, music could be heard as they passed several buildings but since it was getting later in the night there weren't many people roaming the streets. Kazdram tossed a glace over to a small group gathered under a street lamp in the distance, sharing a smoke and likely too distracted to notice anything around them.
"Well would you do me the honor of stepping into a purple neighborhood with me?"
Neeva — 07/24/2021
"Yes, I agree." They would need all the help, especially against her, she decided. As they continued on, Neeva shut off her flashlight to avoid attention and walked a bit quicker. The group was given a look, and she remained close to Kaz, even if her expression barely showed hint of nerves. Once they got closer to Kaz's district, she paused at his question.
"Will any of your friends sneak up on me?" Neeva knew he probably hadn't contacted them, but now she wondered about the possibility he might live with or around someone like Harpur.
"If I go, you cannot call out to friends."
Kazdram — 07/25/2021
Sneaking didn't seem like Harpur or Zetas style, plus Kazdram was positive no one knew what he was up too, but most importantly- he didn't want them to find out. He shook his head with confidence since Neeva seemed a bit concerned. "Of course not. I most definitely won't and I'm sure they won't pop up either, besides, I don't wanna ruin this-"
He leaned to one side drawing an invisible line between himself and Neeva with a hand. "'Veggie harvest, gathering under the moonlight' bond thing we got going now."
"I mean it almost feels like a pagan ceremonial ritual at this point, and it'd just be like.....rude to break that, you know." Kazdram huffed a single laugh, "Pretty sure there might be a curse involved. So yeah heh, you got nothing to worry about." He added and continued guiding them toward the purple district.
"But if you wanna keep it short and sweet, I understand. Don't wanna move too fast." Implying she was of course free to leave whenever she wanted.
Neeva — 07/25/2021
Neeva happily accepted all that confidence and she stepped closer, one hand reached out for Kaz's wrist. "Yes. Because we are friends now." She just decided, but it wasn't as if he was sending her away. Now that they were obviously close, she also decided they had to walk close like friends, but she was mindful of making sure her glove and his sleeve were in contact.
Even if they weren't actually dancing.
"I will give you my number, it will make it easier to contact, incase I am not looking at Stepbook." As if she'd take a break outside sleeping or something. "Hmmm, yes, a curse. I will bring things to appease the person who owns the garden, too. I knit things." Maybe a couple hats or something.
"I do not want short friendships, unless you start being mean to me."
Kazdram — 07/26/2021
"Ehh, I'm not very good at being mean. Maybe a little bit of an ass, but not too often. Hopefully." Kazdram took his phone out to exchange numbers. As someone who frequently titled people as 'friend' upon first meeting them, he nodded in agreement to their new relationship. " Not a fan of short ones either if I can help it. But sometimes things just go that way." He shrugged, "Though I mean, none of those were veggie bonded." He added Neeva as a contact and tucked his phone away.
"Oh? What kind of things do you knit?" He asked, looking to see if she had anything on her that was knitted, very interested in learning something about her.
It was then Kazdram looked down at Neevas hand around his wrist. Did she want to hold hands? He might've still been a little stoned but he certainly didn't mind, it was pretty cute, and he hadn't held someone's hand in a long time. He pulled his arm upward so his hand could fit into hers.
Neeva — 07/26/2021
Neeva nodded as she added him back, but likely put his contact name as something other than his actual name. Nothing mean, but likely something like 'Gardener' given where they met. "Atleast you are not a Harpur." That much was a relief, despite his claims of being a little rude. "I knit clothes, but mostly hats and scarves, they don't take as long."
Even if she had the time in the world for them.
"I may try other things in the future." When he took her hand, Neeva offered a rare smile. But it was still mixed with something close to anxiety, and she seemed much more interested in their surroundings. "How far?"
Kazdram — 07/28/2021
"Yeah, he and I are pretty different. It's not so far. Probably 30 minutes, but it always feels like, wayyy longer than it really is." Kazdram accompanied Neeva through the fringes of where the orange met the purple district, holding her hand as long as she allowed. "Did you teach yourself? How to knit I mean?" He asked, among other things.
He offered the same amount of confidence in their shared journey through the night, in exchange the Bandito girl also unknownly put Kazdram at ease since he didn't have to travel alone. They hopped a tram and made it safely into Funk Mafia territory without attracting any attention, and miraculously without crushing any precious cargo.
In a show if trust Kazdram guided Neeva to his apartment, offered her a place to relax and a cat to pet (if Gelato allowed) and tried to make the dish he gathered veggies for, despite not being the best cook. Whether or not Kazdram was successful is something up for debate.
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