One With the Plants | Rae

Will wasn't entirely sure how he'd found himself in this position. He was pretty sure it wasn't his idea. But he didn't think Ruth was quite insane enough to have suggested it. Which pretty much left him with either spirits, the universe, or some other strange external force.

And if it was the latter three that were the case, he probably shouldn't be questioning all of this anyway. Some things you just didn't ask questions about.

But however he'd ended up there, he thought he made a quite striking plant. Sure, the green paint on his skin was a bit on the streaky side, but really, it gave the whole image dimension. It looked far more plant-like than if he was all perfectly one colour. And the flowers, pink and white with a couple of yellow ones mixed in, dotted along his arms and legs and hair really just added to the whole thing.

It had been quite peaceful to be a plant for the first little while. He didn't need to be concerned about his new school, his new friends, his family back at home, or anything else. He just had to sway in the breeze and soak up the sun and take in a little oxygen. Plants really had it good.

Unfortunately, after some time baking in the sun, the paint was starting to get itchy. And he was going to need to make a washroom trip soon. And his attempts at photosynthesizing were not going well and a burger sounded really good about then.

"How much longer do I gotta stay like this?" he asked Rae. "Or can ya at least bring me a snack?"

William was an absolute delight.

From the moment they'd met, by Mirrowveil Lake, it had become clear as day to the young Slytherin that he was the sort worth keeping around. In the earliest days, she'd remained optimistic but sceptical, waiting for her newest friend to do a sudden 180 and become the sort she'd have to actively avoid. As it turned out, not only did it not happen, but he was funny...although a part of her was starting to suspect that Will wasn't trying to be amusing on purpose.

That probably didn't matter.

What did was his willingness to indulge her whims, no matter where they happened to take them. It worked, in moments like this, while she sat using her friend for shade.

He was a plant, wasn't he?

Rae had already added a few flowers to complete the look, and now she was making him his own flower crown. He'd be the most beautiful plant ever...uh...planted in the gardens. Will was already doing a phenomenal job competing with the other peonies and only needed a bit more colour against his painted skin to really make him pop.

With her back leaning against the back of his legs, Rae's fingers worked with delicate precision. Every now and then, she looked at him, wanting to ensure she kept her colours straight. The girl's disappointment would know no bounds if, in the end, she had to start over. She didn't think her friend would survive much longer in the sun either. There was simply no room for mistakes.

"How much longer do I gotta stay like this?"

"Until I'm done with your crown." It would be the culmination of everything they'd spent that portion of the afternoon working on.

"Or can ya at least bring me a snack?"

"Hold on...almost...just need..." Rae plucked the final flower from her lap, twining the stem into the rest of her work. "There!" The girl hopped to her feet, rounding on him so he could see her again. "TA-DA!" She beamed, extending the flower crown so he could have a look for himself. Peonies. Pinks and whites, darker pinks, and the occasional splash of a salmon-y orange.

"What do you think? Isn't it perfect?"

Will really wished that they had a camera. He couldn't exactly tell what he looked like, but he was sure that Ruth had turned him into quite the sight and he was even more sure that Elise would have loved to see him in this get up. And maybe also whatever rash he ended up with once this was all done because there was no way he was coming out of this with his skin fully intact, based on the itch that was beginning to develop on his neck.

"So I'm gonna be a king plant?"

There were worse things, he supposed. Though he doubted that Ruth was going to let him outrank her at anything, so he'd probably be stuck as a prince or something. He'd caught on quickly in their friendship that she was always the boss, no questions asked.

"Damn, that's fancy. Ya gotta teach me how to do that so I can make 'em for my sister."

Elise would be over the moon with those. It'd be worth getting stuck playing faeries with her to make her that happy.

"I think I'm the prettiest plant that ever existed."

His neck was getting really itchy now though. He wriggled a little, but didn't want to move too much, lest he wreck Ruth's little project. He'd heard that she sometimes held funerals for living people and he wasn't too keen on being one of them.

"So... How long do I gotta stay here now? 'Cause I ain't a real plant, you know?"

You never knew. She might have forgotten.

"So I'm gonna be a king plant?"

"You can be anything you'd like when I'm done," Rae encouraged. She'd already been allowed to have her fun decorating her friend into the verdant and vibrant plant he was probably always meant to be. That Will wanted to be a king of sorts after held no consequence for the girl who'd already received her reward. "Hell, I could make you an entire plant kingdom to rule. Get you a nice setup out here among your new kin." She could even come by daily to water him and ensure he was well nourishe--

SHE COULD MAKE AN ENTIRE FLORAL DISPLAY.

He could be at the centre. The other plants and flowers could be posed as if bowing in deference to his mighty kingship. Then she'd track down whoever had a camera and have them snap a few photos of Will so he could see that he'd become the truest form of natural art.

Rae beamed at his declaration of her crown's fanciness, her features radiating a newfound pride as he continued to affirm the work she'd done. Seldom did boys have nice things to say about her labour.

"You haven't seen anything yet. Here, hold this." Reaching up, she plopped the flower crown atop his head, then reached into her holster for her wand. The perks of volunteering--one of the only ones, honestly. The girl conjured a small mirror, thin and frameless, then held it out so he could have an idea of what he now looked like.

"So... How long do I gotta stay here now? 'Cause I ain't a real plant, you know?"

Oh.

That.

"What's the hurry? We're having a good time. We haven't even practised swaying in the wind yet. There's still so much planting you have to learn!"

The game had only just begun.