chlorophylliac | 20 || Video + Spam

Since the vampire and now the angel have both resigned their posts but thoughtfully left the door unlocked, I'm adopting the greenhouse and garden.

At least, until one of you idiots decides I'm turning them into my own personal fortress and threatens to hose me down with herbicide.

[Or, more pragmatically, until another Warden gets a key. Of course she can't access the gardening tools, but…she's not the kind of person to be inconvenienced by that.]

[Private to Zev]

There's enough space to seed some of the excess from our collection. Do you have any preferences? I can make chemical adaptations to the soil as necessary.

[Private to Morgana]

I've heard you returned.

Do you remember anything?

[Open spam]

[It's raining lightly on deck, the shower a soft constant drumbeat on the glass overhead. Ivy's still damp from crossing the deck to get here, but the rain and the humidity inside the greenhouse are pleasant, even rejuvenating.

All she's got to do today is basic maintenance. She's mapping plants and soil types in a notebook, occasionally deadheading the spring-flowering plants, and checking for early indicators of disease. Nothing so far; Castiel knew his work. Still, it's nothing to reach into the more vulnerable species and rethread a few strands of DNA, decreasing their susceptibility.

Not having access to the greenhouse equipment cupboard is only irritating insofar as it's also where the less dangerous resources - seed trays, watering cans - are kept. So she's liberated both from her own cabin, along with some fertilizer she made herself, and spends a little time readying a few trays to grow seedlings for the outdoor garden.

It's all easy, meditative work, and it would be quiet if not for the hum and chatter of the plants all around her.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Take that look off your face, rephrase your order as a question and maybe I'll tell you.

[This almost makes him genuinely laugh. He inclines his head, a more sincere expression on his face.]

As you wish. Ivy, will you not tell me what sorts of plants you care for?

Nothing particularly useful, since that's what you were asking. Flowers, herbs, some fruit trees and crop plants.

Those could be useful. What sort of herbs?

Culinary use, for the most part. Mint, rosemary, thyme, that sort of thing. They wouldn't let us play with anything dangerous, after all.

[Of course, Ivy can Grow All The Things and being in her cabin for five minutes would cause severe respiratory distress for an average human, but...Loki doesn't need to know that.]

[He looks closely at the woman who once managed to grow plants with enough acid to break metal chains, as if by some strange magic.]

They would not let us, no.

[But his tone suggests that he expects there to be more.]

[Ivy's tone suggests she doesn't care and also that maybe you should start using people words to communicate, Loki.]

You're assuming ulterior motives. I have none.

[His expression is mock-offended.]

What would lead you to believe that I assume ulterior motives? I was only asking you a question, Ivy.

And I answered it, but for some reason you're still talking. You'll find it's easier to communicate with me in English than in implications and innuendo, Loki.

I wish to know what else you are growing. I know that you can grow many plants that the Admiral might not strictly condone.

Of course, I'm powerless if you wish not to tell me. I know little of the flora beyond my own universe.

There's nothing to tell.

[He looks skeptical. He crosses his arms; he seems to be perfectly willing to wait.]

If I am remembering correctly, when you freed me from bonds all those months ago you had the help of a certain plant. It seemed to do wonders in the corroding of metal. Or - does mint on your world simply react strongly with chains of iron?

As you've said, I can grow many plants that the Admiral might not strictly condone. Given that I demonstrated exactly that, I'm stupid enough to claim I can't.

And what I'm definitely not stupid enough to do is maintain an armory of dangerous plants in my cabin. I have a collection of entirely benign, frankly quite boring experiments - and nothing more.

A very good answer.

[But he's still smiling.]

But - given that you can grow such plants, surely you must be hiding their seeds somewhere. Or are they all, somehow, within you?

[He's not going to pretend he understands any sort of plant magic. That's more the Queen's forte.]

[She lifts one hand; one of the vines wrapped around her forearms weaves around her fingers, sprouting three flower buds from the same stem. They blossom simultaneously - a rose, a lily and a violet.

You tell her, Loki.]

[He watches the plants grow with interest.]

Do you feel compassion for your plants, Ivy?

[She remains expressionless as the vine on her arm withers and dies, the flower petals at her fingertips scorched and twisted by her own toxicity.]

[He watches this with keen interest. What magnificent control she has.]

Then I feel I must ask our of curiosity - Why, if you care so little for your plants, are you taking care of the greenhouse?

[She drops her hand.]

I enjoy their company.

[He can understand that. Plants don't talk back. They leave you in peace to think in their presence, alone but for the life around you. He'd often thought something similar in the Allmother's vast gardens. But then... that is neither here nor there.]

Will you give me the gift of a few leaves?