22 || Text + Voice + Spam

[chlorophylliac]

[Private to Vesper; text]

I need to apologize for what I did to you in March.

I'm not asking for your forgiveness, and I don't expect it; I just want you to know that I'm sorry for what I did. I know it's long overdue. After what I was put through in Zero I was far too hasty in putting that week behind me.

[Friends Filter; voice]

[Ivy's definition of 'friend' for this purpose is '2+ civil conversations while not under mind control'.]

I doubt I'm the only person who needed a while to recover from the port; still, I'm sorry if I worried anyone. If it hasn't already been made obvious, I'd like to hear that you made it back safely.

[Open Spam - Greenhouse & Garden]

[Of course she ends up back out here eventually. The rain's tailed off; seasonality is muted here but nonetheless the light falling onto the deck is a little brighter, a little warmer, and it's brought a fresh flush of growth to the greenhouse and rows of planters just outside. Ivy's mostly busy with making sure that the (her) plants have the space and support they need: repotting seedlings, staking out climbers, and moving the more delicate plants outside now it's warm enough to sustain them.

She seems - calm, all things considered, moving fluidly and talking to the plants in indistinguishable murmurs.]

Comments

[Friends Filter; voice]

[megamind]

Ivy-- glad to hear you're alright.

[ He knew about Zev. He knew about Zev and Ivy, to a point. He knew that there was probably not anyone closer to her that this woman, not even her inmate, not himself. So he is kind. ]

Did the grow light system in the cabin keep your plants safe while we were all away?

[Private]

[chlorophylliac]

It worked perfectly, thank you. They're in good health.

[Private]

[megamind]

I'm glad. [ And this is where it gets awkward because... how do you touch feelings with Ivy? ]

[Private]

[chlorophylliac]

[Pro tip: You don't.]

Mm.

I hope you're not losing too much sleep over your own experiences in port. Although if you are, I do owe you a favor.

[Ivy, offering to drug someone isn't cool and phrasing it in such a way that implies you're offering to fuck him into unconsciousness isn't cool either.]

[Friends Filter; voice]

[payshisdebts]

I am well, my lady. I hope you are the same; the port was not unkind to you, was it?

[Private]

[chlorophylliac]

I wouldn't say it wasn't unkind, but it didn't want me.

Were you disembarked as well?

[Private]

[payshisdebts]

I was. However, that town did not want me either, and so I feel grateful for it.

[Filter]

[youwillgotohell]

Safe and sound. [So to speak.]

Are you well?

[Private]

[chlorophylliac]

I'm fine. My Warden's mental landscape was predictably grotesque but it didn't prove that great a challenge.

[Read: she helped him out and then tried to shoot him in the head once the danger was past.]

[Private]

[youwillgotohell]

[sounds like a solid life choice to her. which is probably a look at your life, look at your choices moment, really.]

Lucky you, traipsing through his his anguishes.

[Private]

[wecanavenge]

Yes, with no few frustrations. How have you been? [Read: mental or physical recovery.]

[Private]

[chlorophylliac]

I've had worse weekends, but even I need to sleep after four days. Yourself?

[Private]

[wecanavenge]

Spent running from children and paternal minotaurs. [Everything about his tone says 'don't ask.'] But well enough.

[private, text]

[bitteraftertaste]

Thank you for the apology.

[Spam]

[wedonot]

[Charles comes by the gardens and greenhouse every once and a while, and while he's not surprised to see Ivy there - it is, after all, one of the most likely places to find her on any given day - he's still glad to see that she's doing well enough to be out and about.]

How are they doing? [He's learned at this point that it's better for Ivy to say something about them than try to make assumptions on how they were faring.]

[Spam]

[chlorophylliac]

Very well, though there's plenty that'll be happier when they have more room to breathe. And your harebells are coming along nicely.

[She nods across to a small patch of thin leaves and long flower stems, but no actual flowers as of yet. Give it another month.]

And how are you, Charles?

[Spam]

[wedonot]

[Charles follows her nod and smiles when he recognizes the plant, almost a little surprised and certainly pleased that she'd taken his suggestion seriously.]

Brilliant. [He turns back to her with a casual smile.] I'm doing well. Would it be too forward of me to ask the same of you?

spam;

[godsays]

[ He stops by the greenhouse hoping to find her. A message on the network might have done the same, but he prefers communicating in person than over the devices. He still hasn't quite gotten used to the way of speaking to a person who is at a distance. Who isn't truly there.

He ventures tentatively inside, and again he is struck by awe at the plants. He has gotten used to it, more and more, but the green is still a shock to the system. The vitality of it.

When he touches, he does so gently, his fingertip skimming over the edge of a leaf. ]

spam;

[chlorophylliac]

[Ivy's hard at work, very carefully separating a rather rootbound seedling from its pot so it can be rehomed more comfortably; when the visitor arrives her gaze flickers up and across to him.]

Zane.

spam;

[godsays]

I don't think I ever asked your name.

[ If he did, he doesn't remember it.

He still has that urge, to reach out and break a stem. To destroy, for destruction's sake. But now he can step away from that desire, examine it at a distance, the way he couldn't before. ]

Filter

[bodilesswarrior]

[Barbara's smile is a bit shocked, but not unkind. She realises, now, that she did worry; not the way she did for Cass or Chris or Felix or Zane, but it was there.]

I've been through worse.

How are you doing? [There's a weight to the words, a quiet sympathy.]

Filter

[chlorophylliac]

Agreed. I'm fine. [Quiet sympathy completely ignored because then she doesn't have to be mad at you.]

spaaam

[velocette]

[He can't hear her murmuring, but he does notice the gentle way she handles the plants.]

You must be why this place hasn't been trashed by rowdy rebels.

spaaam

[chlorophylliac]

[She straightens up from where she's been crouched to check on a planter, and looks over at their visitor.]

I must be. Though we're a little short on rowdy rebels, you might have noticed.

[velocette]

Nah...I think they're just sleeping. This place could go up in flames if the right people got to it.

What's that you're planting?