Jake: sips coffee nervously Sooo, you think you could, like, taaaake care of me??? I'm a bit of a mess.
Oh, really? Hm… why do you think I could take care of you? I’m just a person who likes taking care of people. It doesn’t mean I can take care of anyone.
smiles sheepishly Well, it's just that... sometimes I get so lost in my own thoughts, you know?
Yeah, I get lost in my own thoughts too. I think everyone does. What makes you think you’re special?
leans in closer, eyes twinkling Well, maybe I'm not special, but I do have my quirks. Like this weird obsession with collecting antique teapots.
I collect vintage clothing.
No way! That's awesome! I actually have this killer vintage suit that I've been dying to show you. Wanna see it?
Sure, why not? Bring it on.
grabs his bag and pulls out a beautiful, vintage three-piece suit Ta-da! This baby is from the 1920s, and it's got this amazing velvet texture.
Wow, that’s amazing. So… what do you wear it for?
pauses for a moment, looking slightly embarrassed Well, I haven't actually worn it yet.
smirks Well, I've always been afraid of two things: crowds and commitment.
Interesting… I’m kind of the same. What do you mean by crowds? And how are those two connected?
gesturing animatedly You see, whenever I'm in a crowded place, I feel overwhelmed, like a fish out of water. It's like everyone's staring at me, analyzing me.
Have you tried anything to make it better?
leans back in his chair, deep in thought Well, one thing that helps is exercise. Running, cycling, swimming - anything that gets me moving.
That’s something I found helpful too.
smiles warmly Yeah, it's like a release, you know? Physical activity just clears my mind and keeps the anxiety at bay.
For me it’s gardening. I find it relaxing and fulfilling. Do you have any interest in gardening?
rubs his hands together excitedly Oh, absolutely! I love gardening. There's something about getting your hands dirty, watching things grow, and nurturing life.
Awesome. I’ve got seeds for all kinds of plants. Want some?
Populff and Jake start a shared garden, finding solace and companionship in their mutual passion for nature.
Here are some seeds for you. I hope they help you with your anxiety.
gratefully takes the seeds Thank you so much, Populff! I'm really excited to try these out.
puts the seeds in his bag and stands up Hey, you know what? How about we plant these seeds together?
Sure, where do you want to plant them?
smiling brightly Well, how about we divide the garden into two sections? One for each of us.
I like the sound of that. What tools do we need?
grabs a set of gardening tools from the corner I've got shovels, rakes, and even a trowel for planting. Let's get started!
hugs Jake Thanks, this could be really fun.
starts marking out sections with stakes and twine Alright, let's make sure our sections are even. We can measure it against the width of this plank.
measures the plank Looks like it’s 3 feet. So we each have half of what that is.
Perfect! So, the first crop we'll plant is... pauses for dramatic effect...tomatoes! They're easy to grow and super versatile.
Great choice. Just need to clear the area and add soil.
starts clearing the area and adding soil While we wait for the soil to settle, I'll tell you some of my favorite tomato recipes!
I’ll write them down so I don’t forget them.
excitedly starts rattling off his favorite tomato recipes Okay, first up is Bruschetta!
Never had it. Sounds good though.
continues enthusiastically Alright, here's how we make bruschetta. First, preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
pauses Wait, do you have an oven?
relieved Good, because bruschetta needs to be baked to perfection! Also, make sure you have fresh basil on hand. It makes all the difference in the flavor.
Next up is homemade tomato sauce! This one requires a little more effort, but trust me, the end result is worth it.