disableism:

Finally met my new “niece” today! I promised to introduce her to all the things her mama says No to. Cant wait to spoil her by taking her all the places, buying her all the things, letting her stay up too late, eat too much sugar - all the good aunting stuff.

The Gardener - Part 5

Parts 1 & 2-Part 3- Part 4

Nipti looked out the large bay window from the Fritik Conservatory. It was one of his favorite scenic views to look out over a large section of his gardens. Or at least, it used to be scenic. Marley’s ship did manage to be no small eyesore while it slouched next to his shop just behind a few sparchel shrubs. The human’s beloved piece of junk was missing a few exterior panels, exposing cracked insulation foam.
That would be Marley’s work. The old panels were shredded and melted in huge patches from atmospheric entry and stars knew what else. There was no way they could be trusted in space flight. After tearing them off, Marley ended up using a small piece of one slightly less melted corner and etched some alien symbols onto it to fashion a “name tag” of sorts.
When asked, Marley said it was for their job so people would recognize their authority. Nipti just figured that meant it was some odd human power-move and went on with his chores. Well, he figured if people respected his “employee,” because of a badge, then all the better. He chuckled to himself as he hung his safety vest on the hook by the exit. Visitors didn’t usually last long if they didn’t respect his human anyway.
He was already out the door when Nipti finally realized what he’d just thought. His human? The door to the conservatory shut behind him as he stood there on the stone path. Since when was Marley his human?
A fresh breeze blew fresh scents into Nipti’s face. He turned his head a bit to his left. Beyond the decorative shrubs and his shop, the various gardens, greenhouses, and lots spread out serenely. Somewhere out there was the human who had nearly crash-landed in one of his fields, helped themselves to dangerous fruits, and offered security service and a helping hand to an alien stranger in exchange for shelter and aid with their ship. What an odd creature.
Nipti treasured his home. He loved his gardens and the peaceful solitude walking through them or working in them gave him. The more he expanded, the more attention they received, the more visitors came. Visitors who, unfortunately, brought a whole new set of troubles that overwhelmed Nipti. Between keeping sightseers in line, repairing damages incurred, maintaining inter- and intra-ecosystem balances between and within his gardens, finances, legalities, and general maintenance, his once peaceful haven had been shifting into a dark source of stress.
Then Marley came.

At first, it seemed like having the human around would be an added thing to worry about. Now, as Nipti gazed at the ship that had brought them here, he realized he wasn’t sure if he really wanted the ugly piece of junk to get fixed. Afterall, that would mean Marley would leave. As much as he loved his privacy, he had found Marley’s presence comfortable and unimposing. What would it be like once they finally did leave? Where would they go or do? Would they be safe? Would they ever come back to visit?
Or maybe even decide to stay?
Nipti stared at the clouds on the horizon as the setting sun began painting them in soft, then vibrant colors. He should go and turn on the lights for the pathways before it got too dark to see, but he couldn’t seem to pull his eyes off the clouds and the way they bathed his gardens in their beautiful glow. Nor could he seem to pull his mind out of thoughts of his and Marley’s future.
Finally, he shook his head and sighed. He’d been standing there staring so long that it was now almost completely dark. As he turned down the path, he began picking up his pace. The longer it took for him to get to electrical and open the control box, the more likely it would be that he wouldn’t be able to see the dang switch if it was right in his face. And then to add to it all, the faster he ran, the more his stomach decided to remind him that he hadn’t eaten much today. He’d snacked on a few tender shoots of bakt, and the first toom berry of the season he’d seen when he first got to the conservatory, but that had been hours ago. And bakt shoots and a single toom berry do not a meal make.
He was about a third of the way to electrical when the pathway lights flickered on. Nipti slowed and paused. The ornate trellises through this part of the pathway were soon twinkling with strings of lights he’d painstakingly threaded through them. The brickwork he was standing on was lit up by small concealed path lights placed intermittently to light the way, along with a few luma-reactionary bricks in the path that glowed in response. It was beautiful. But he hadn’t turned them on.
It must have been Marley. Good for them for taking the initiatory. Once again, it seemed having a human around was a fantastic benefit.
Now just to get back home and figure out dinner.
“Hey Nipti!”
Nipti nearly jumped two lengths into the air. As he turned around, he saw Marley coming up the path behind him.
“Marley?” Nipti’s head swiveled between the approaching human to the path in front of him towards electrical and back. “But? But how did-? Where are you coming from?”
“My ship,” the human happily quipped and tossed him a small metal lump. Nipti caught it. It wasn’t just a lump, it was… well he wasn’t quite sure what it was. Some sort of ship part with two frayed wires sticking out of them.
“Found the culprit behind why the starboard elevon kept jamming. Spent half the afternoon getting that dang thing out, and the other half getting its replacement installed.” Marley laughed and paused next to Nipti on the path.
“I thought you were at the electrical shed.”
“Why would I be there?”
“The lights,” Nipti gestured around them. “I was on my way to turn them on and thought you did.”
Marley looked down the path in the direction of the shed in question. “Oh, no. Yeah I forgot to tell you. I needed a break from the ship this morning and I’d noticed that a lot of your systems around here aren’t automated. So I started with the lighting. As soon as it gets dark, sensors will send a signal to the controls and turn the lights on for you.” Marley looked very satisfied with themself. “I have a part coming soon that will let you manually control the lights remotely from anywhere in the gardens, and give you system reports and power expenditures!”
Nipti stared at them and blinked silently. They had what? Where had they gotten the parts from to do that? Had they used their own funds? That was supposed to be used on their own ship, and they used it to fix his lights? They didn’t need to do that. That was… that

was an unexpected kindness. Marley had become a huge part and help to his life, he didn’t realize that Marley might have, in turn, also felt close enough and friendly with him to feel like doing such a thoughtful, unasked thing for him. Nipti tried not to show how shocked he felt at the gesture, worried it might seem he was ungrateful to the human.
“That’s amazing. Thank you.”
Marley smiled rolled their shoulders.
“No problem.” They started walking down the path together, Marley occasionally rolling or rubbing at their shoulders. “I had a pretty busy day. I think I’m going to need a lot of hot water tonight. My back is need of a good soak.”
Niptii groaned internally. He wasn’t sure his house could heat enough water quickly enough for what Marley was talking about. Especially not if he himself wanted any hot water tonight. He voiced his worries, adding, “I know, I know, I need a better water heater, but the one I have is one I got thinking it was just going to be me using it, you know? Though if you do need the hot water all at once, we could probably supplement what my water heater can do with some buckets from the hot spring, though they’re a bit of a hike down to get to in the dark.”
Marley paused. “You have hot springs and didn’t tell me?”
Nipti frowned in confusion. “I assumed you knew. I have lots of springs around here. I use a few of them as water sources for the gardens farther away from the central canal and the west river.”
“How hot are they?”
“I believe the hottest one is around 320 degrees solaric.”
Marley nodded and frowned. They seemed to be whispering something under their breath, but Nipti could only just barely make out bits like, “five over nine… round it up a little… carry the two… just to be safe…”
Finally, Marley nodded, a huge smile on their face. “That sounds wonderful! Would you mind if I actually just went and soaked directly in the springs?”
Nipti’s jaw nearly dropped. “Did you not hear me? I said they’re 320 degrees solaric. I know at this atmospheric pressure that’s not hot enough to boil, but it’s still hot enough to be dangerous!”
“I’ll double-check my math when we get back, but if I’m right, I’ve been in hotter water back on Earth.”
Nipti looked dubious. In the time Marley had been here, he’d learned a lot about humans and how hardy and adaptable they are, especially while living on a planet that seemed to be out to kill them, but this was too outlandish!
Marley must have seen his expression in the dim light. “I’m serious! Humans seek out hot springs all the time. They turn bigger ones into resorts that people will travel and pay money to go to and soak in. You just have to be careful and not soak too long. You’re supposed to get out every 15 or 20 minutes or whatever so your body temperature can regulate itself back to normal. That’s why they don’t let kids in the hotter pools, they get too hot too quick, but I’m an adult and can handle it. I’d not only handle it, I’d really really like it. And I mean REALLY like it. I feel like my shoulders are made out of stone and my poor stiff neck is going to get squished by them and fall right off.”
Nipti hummed. This still sounded crazy, but then again, going out of their way to nearly boiling themselves alive in hot water sounded like a very human thing to do.
“I’ll show them to you when we get back. You tell me what you think then.”
That seemed to do the trick to pacify them. Marley nodded with a huge smile, and the pair turned the last corner before reaching Nipti’s house.
The lights were on here too. Across the clearing, Nipti could also see path way and decorative lights spreading out along other paths, or lighting up flower beds and vine-covered trellises.
It looked good. Marley really outdid themselves today with getting the lights automatized on top of everything else they did for their ship. If anyone deserved a good soak, his human definitely did. As long as it did turn out to be safe, that is.
Nipti paused a moment. He’d done it again- referred to Marley as his human. He didn’t

mean it in a possessive way, certainly, and he still didn’t know when or how exactly Marley had become ‘his human,’ but it seemed like it was something he had already subconsciously accepted.
And, well, Nipti would certainly and happily take Marley as ‘his human’ for as long as he was able.