[ it's quieter out here. with beau safely being treated and things finally having come to a halt for a few more days, yin yu has found his way over to the lake for a moment of reflection. in his best moments, he tends to try and melt out of sight, and this wasn't any exception.

he's not expecting company, but he picks up on natalie's presence before she says anything (though he doesn't know who, and doesn't turn to look.) when she speaks up, though, he turns to look back, properly, and then out at the lake itself. ]

...In some ways. It's just as quiet, after. [ after...everything. it's soothing. counting the water that laps the surface of the lake back and forth is something so menial that perhaps it can calm a troubled head. ] It is not often I see places like either in my home, so it is, in some ways, a little novel.

...have you come out for a walk, L-- [ ... ] - Natalie? I can leave if you'd prefer.

[ a small nod of his head as if to say, very well. he's used to being an unobtrusive person.

as for the question...yin yu pauses as if thinking about his answer for a moment. to answer her fully. ] ...I do, but it's not so much that. The domain that I work in is almost exclusively the land; there is a different being than my lord who is in charge of the water, more or less. It is an unspoken agreement between my lord and him, and not one that I wish to step on the toes of by any means.

[ if natalie's quick, she might pick up on the less politely worded meaning of that sentence, which is along the lines of i don't have a death wish: hard pass.

he's been to black water island exactly once, and it was with hua cheng, and he'd rather not repeat the experience more than necessary. especially recently. he will leave the provoking to hua cheng who at least bothers the other calamity himself and doesn't make his errand boy do it... ] So, it has been a very long time since I've seen much water at all, besides on the island.

[ now that things have settled down, yin yu's in the garden, kneeling down in front of a patch of small purple flowers. a few of them have been removed--a closer look will reveal that he's clipping a few stems of flowers, and plucking weeds, as well.

when he's addressed, he glances upwards. yin yu's wearing his mask today, expression completely cut off--at recognizing natalie, he gives a small bow of his head in greeting. ] ...indeed.

[ there's a pause, and it seems like yin yu wants to stop, but... ] ...Do you know anything about weeding? [ he's not turning away the company. ]

They aren't as bad here as they were in the farmlands. It won't be difficult.

[ he's honestly not that much more knowledgeable--its really only the chores of the sect that ever got down to this, and ghost city doesn't exactly have weeds, but the monotony of the act is rather soothing. he moves to the side a little, and points out a few straggler green plants. ] These, here, are invasive.

All you have to do is loosen the soil around it, and -- [ grabbing onto the plant, yin yu pulls upwards. it comes out in one piece, roots included. ] --get it out all the way from the root.

[ ah -- a familiar voice. natalie will find yin yu sitting on a bench in the garden, his brightly colored wings half unfolded behind him; when he recognizes her coming, he offers her a small, pleased smile. ]

...You have no idea. [ yin yu ducks his head, scooting over on the bench. ] Would you like to come enjoy it for a while, too?