Aaron

[poison_isley]

This little life was actually kind of nice. Restorative. She had her estate and its sprawling gardens. She had anything she wanted- because she took it. And from time o time there were the strangest industrial accidents. That put a smile on her face.

Every other day Ivy went to Klaus's little church. He was losing interest, she could tell, but the church fed the needy and Ivy had opinions about nutrition. The least she could do was coax the church garden to grow.

She didn't think anyone was here as she worked. Dressed in a pair of denim overalls and a plaid flannel shirt, she looked every bit the part of a farmer. She was encouraging the tomatoes to ripen when she heard a noise and whipped her head around, a dozen thick vines springing from her hair to protect her.

What she had to be nervous about in London of all places was was a mystery, but a girl didn't just let her guard down.

When she saw it was Aaron, the vines slowly, slowly retreated.

"Oh. Hey."

Comments

[poison_isley]

"Hey. I have a reputation to protect," she said, quite seriously, then burst out a braying laugh. It was real and completely broke her facade of being a tough as nails bitch. Deep down, acceptance was...nice.

[quitollis]

She was very pretty when she laughed. Aaron wasn't going to mention that, though. "Your secret is safe here."

[poison_isley]

Ivy calmed a little and bit her lip as she thought a moment.

"You really believe you were, like, divinely picked for this?" she asked. "Why? Like, how do you believe it?"

[quitollis]

"For this? No," Aaron answered, foregoing the explanation of an angel literally summoning him to go to Italy. "No, this is what I made for myself. What I believe I must do for myself." Also foregoing mentioning he was kicked out of his former Church.

[poison_isley]

"Wild. Well, good for you. Follow your dreams," she smiled.

[quitollis]

Not so much dreams as redemption, but he appreciated the sentiment. "I hope you do too."

[poison_isley]

"A good Christian man probably shouldn't support my work," she noted.

[quitollis]

"What work?" Aaron asked. "Surely you're not speakimg of the garden? "

[poison_isley]

Ivy bit her lip and gave him a quizzical look.

"You don't read the news?" Ivy asked skeptically. It wasn't as if she was subtle.

[quitollis]

"I read the news," Aaron supplied. He knew who she was and what she was accused of. "But I hope to appeal to the side that wishes to cohabit with mankind, not the side that wishes to destroy it."

[poison_isley]

"Mankind sucks," she replied, then tilted her head and gave a little shrug. "Some people are okay, though."

[quitollis]

"To put it very plainly; you could have chosen not to come here, every week, and help out the humans that come here to this church, but you do. I see before me someone who wants to contribute and someone who is not used to be included. I'm not here to judge or accuse you. I appreciate what you do here, for the people of this church. I'm perfectly fine leaving it at that," Aaron explained.

[poison_isley]

Ivy was quiet for a long moment.

"I guess you don't suck," she conceded. "...And I like coming here. The garden is happy."

[quitollis]

"I can see that she is," Aaron agreed.

[poison_isley]

She. Ivy's smile was slow, but warm. Yeah, he didn't suck at all.

"You want to see how I do it?" she offered.

[quitollis]

Aaron smiled a little, as though he was admitted into some great secret. She had, after all, always worked when no one was around. "I'd love to," he said, genuinely.

[poison_isley]

Ivy polished off her tea and left the cup when she rose.

"Canon. You'll love this."

[quitollis]

Aaron smiled again and conceded with a nod that he probably would, yes.

He opened the door for her and joined her outside in the garden. It was a truly astonishing place, with his wood-shed in the back, now covered in vines beautifully.

[poison_isley]

It was December, and a cold one to boot, but the tomatoes had blossoms anyway. In fact, flowers grew amongst the fruits and vegetables.

"What could you eat? Right now, I mean. Fruit? Veggies? Pick something and I'll show off."

[quitollis]

"Oh..." Aaron thought for a moment before choosing. "A- a peach?"

[poison_isley]

She walked over to the tomato and caressed the leaves tendly, then tickled the blossom. It immediately withered and a small, hard green ball appeared. There was a faint colour around her hand, like vapor. It took a couple minutes, but as she coaxed it to her will, the healthy, robust tomato plant began to produce a delicious looking peach. It even had a bit of a pink blush to it.

She plucked it and handed it to him, the sweet, heady perfume of it filling the air.

"There you go. A peach," she said.

[quitollis]

"That's incredible," Aaron said, impressed. He took the peach, looked at it, and tentatively took a bite. "What a beautiful power you have."

[poison_isley]

"Not everyone sees it like that," she said. "Even I thought it was a curse at first, until I learned to control it. Now that I know what I'm capapble of, things are better."

[quitollis]

Aaron might have insisted how much good she could do in the world, but he guessed that would only make her more certain that mankind was only there to use her and abuse the planet.

"I can only imagine. Those of us with powers carry a very personal burden. I'm glad you've grown comfortable with it."

[poison_isley]

Ivy folded her arms, but nodded. She paused for a moment, then said, "You know I don't feel bad about trying to save the planet, right?"

Her methods were questionable, she knew, but her reasoning was sound.