@SwimwithGamers_is_getting_BodyKunandChan
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(Great!)
Halm smiled, picking his plate up in one hand and Cas in the other arm. He went over to the sink, seeing the plate down and moving his hand to secure Cas better.
"Do we have to do anything today?" Cas asked, turning on the sink to try and wash the plates from where he was.
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Halm shifted so Cas could reach better, he himself helping.
"Yeup. Today is harvest day."
"Mm…" Cas thought for a moment as he finished rinsing his plate. "Do you want me to help? I can if you do."
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Halm thought for a moment.
"Yeah, you can help. There won't be anything like yesterday." He smiled, turning off the water, and drying his hand, offering the towel to Cas.
Cas nodded and dried his hands as well. "Alright, then. I'll try my best." He handed the towel back to Halm. "Do you want to go now?"
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"That'd be for the best." He set the towel down, thinking.
"There anything you need to do beforehand?"
He shook his head. "I'm ready when you are, Halm."
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"Okay then." Halm smiled, carrying Cas out of the kitchen. He stopped in the kitchen to grab a bag, then headed out. Zia appeared, trotting behind them as they moved through the garden.
Cas looked down at the kitten when he noticed her, smiling fondly. "Is it okay for her to come with us? I wouldn't want her to damage anything."
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Halm glanced down, spotting the kitten.
"I see no reason why she can't. She's done a good job of not damaging anything yet." Halm continued for a little, then stopped. The flowers in this section had all bloomed, revealing the souls seated in the center. He set Cas down, kneeling.
Cas nodded and knelt beside Halm when he was sat down. "I presume you have the jars for this?" He asked.
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Halm pulled out the bag he had grabbed from the living room before they left, shaking it out once as it shifted into a large barrel.
"Something similar," he said with a smile, setting the barrel down.
"Now, there is a certain way to do this." He reached out to the nearest flower, one finger slipping under the soul seated there. He slid it under fully before picking it up.
"It's best to break the tie to the vessel before you try to take the soul away."
Cas watched closely, seeming almost a little worried. "I… I won't damage the soul or anything, right? They're okay to be touched by mortals?" Zia sniffed one of the flowers curiously.
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Halm set the soul in his hand down in the barrel.
"It's perfectly fine, Cas," Halm assured with a smile. "I wouldn't have agreed to you helping if you couldn't."
Cas nodded, seeming a little bit reassured, but still nervous. He watched Halm do another before he tentatively attempted it himself, making sure he did it exactly as Halm had done. He lifted the soul and held it extremely carefully as though he expected it to just shatter in his hands.
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The underneath of the soul was… gooey. It quickly evaporated when Cas pulled it away from the flower, however. The flower itself withered almost instantly.
Halm looked over, smiling softly with a nod.
"You're doing good," he said, cupping Cas's hands in his. "Don't be afraid. Souls are very resilient. You won't break them."
Cas glanced up at Halm nervously and gently passed the soul to him to put into the barrel. He picked up another soul just as carefully, always seeming a little anxious when the flowers withered.
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Halm set the soul in the barrel, quietly working with Cas.
"You're doing great," he said, smiling. "Thank you for helping."
"N-No problem…" Cas handed Halm another soul, eventually getting into a rhythm and relaxing a bit.
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Halm smiled when he saw Cas was relaxing, falling into the rhythm with him. It wasn't long before they finished with this section, barrel full. Halm stood, holding his hand down to help Cas up.
Cas took Halm's hand and allowed him to help him up, though he didn't let go of his hand once he was up. "What now?"
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"We need to take the souls to the creek," Halm said, picking the barrel up in the other hand.
"You okay with coming with me?"
He nodded, picking up Zia so she wouldn't have to run after them. "Lead the way."
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With that, Halm led Cas through the gardens, approaching the creek. He made sure he could easily step between Cas and the water if he was drawn to it again, setting the barrel down.
As soon as Cas caught a tiny glimpse of the creek, he tightly closed his eyes and squeezed Halm's hand harder, now relying on the other to lead him.
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Halm, holding Cas's hand in his still, set about doing his task as fast as he darned; one by one, he lowered the souls into the waters, careful not to touch it himself. He went quickly so they could get out of there faster.
Cas wanted to watch, but he was scared to be drawn to the water again. He decided to bury his face in Halm's arm to help himself resist the temptation to look.
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Halm continued, eventually emptying out the barrel.
"I'm done," he told Cas, putting his free hand on top of his head.