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

[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]

[chlorophylliac]

Too forward?

[Ivy chuckles.]

I'm fine. The port was more exhausting than anything else.

[She looks alright, at least. There's a set of scratch marks just under her collarbone like something clawed at her, but they're already well on their way to healing.]

[Spam]

[wedonot]

In more ways than one. [But he felt a lot better than he'd thought he'd be. The scrapes and bruises were healing, everyone he cared about seemed to be back on board, and things could have gone much, much worse.

But that didn't mean it hadn't been upsetting, or traumatic, so there's a part of him that wants to argue that there's no way she's fine after something like that, but he knows better than to push the issue. God knows he wouldn't really appreciate it if someone pushed him on it.]

Well, I'm glad to hear it.

[Spam]

[chlorophylliac]

[Maybe it's something in his tone, or maybe it's just the fact that 'fine' seems like an inherently dishonest remark given what they've all just been through, but she smiles fleetingly.]

I know how dismissive it sounds. Quite frankly I'm just relieved. The Overlook wanted me, and I'm pleased not to have been the focus of that sort of attention all over again.