Hannibal

[poison_isley]

Rumours spread through the ship like fire, but at least this one was true. They'd taken on an alien no one had ever encountered before. They said she was shy, a few said she might be dangerous, but the most prevalent rumour was the food. The galley, cantina, and various stations to get a meal were all serving the most amazingly fresh and ripe and exotic plant matter. Genuine, real food, unreplicated.

Ivy was happy among the plants. The other gardeners were friendly, but she still prefered the plants. It amazed her know one else could hear their songs and stories. No one could feel what they felt. No one could control them and meet no protest.

She heard the door whisper open and peeked out from behind a gorlax bush in full bloom with hundreds of timy white flowers on it.

"Can I help you?" she asked the stranger. She sounded a bit wary, and even more protective.

Comments

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal smiled. It was beautiful here; the smells, the air... Something he hadn't experienced in quite a while. "This is extraordinary," he complimented. "I heard the rumours, but they do no justice to this place."

[poison_isley]

She slowly emerged from behind the greenery. She didn't seem to be wearing clothes, per se, but her flesh was covered with leaves that seemed to be alive. Her hair was bright red, wavy, and long. Ivy's eyes were a deep green, slightly darker than her verdant skin.

"Yeah, it's nice in here," she agreed quietly. She loved that the chatter of the plants drown out the mechanical thrum of the ship.. "Did you just come to look? You can pick what's ripe. Or...I can ripen it, if you want..."

[anamusebouche]

"Is this your doing?" Hannibal asked, quite amazed.

[poison_isley]

A faint petal-pink touched her cheeks.

"Yes?" she answered.She paused then added, "It's not wichcraft..."

[anamusebouche]

Her beauty was striking and the blush on her cheeks went accompanied by a wonderfully sweet scent. "No, it's... beautiful," he said. "I haven't seen fresh fruit in such a long time... And the smell... so intense that it's almost dizzying."

[poison_isley]

Ivy smiled with a touch of pride. On a whim, she looked to the berry bush and all the white flowers withered and shiny black balls began to swell. A sweet, spicy scent filled the room.

"You can take some. Here, try these," she smiled, picking five berries to offer him.

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal accepted the berries and took one. The taste was almost breathtaking. He closed his eyes and revelled in it for the moment. "Flavour in its truest sense," he said after a moment.

[poison_isley]

"All you have to do is ask nicely," she smiled, touching the plant with one finger. One berry began to swell, tight and glossy and filled with juice. She plucked it and handed it to him.

"Come in and look around," she said, pivoting to lead him deeper into the absolute jungle the greenhouse had become.

[anamusebouche]

"You can ask nicely," Hannibal corrected, intrigued by her and her touch. "I doubt the plants would listen to me." He ate the berry. Had he ever tasted something this good?

"May I ask why? I promise I'm not here to analyze you, but as a medical professional, I can't help but be curious."

[poison_isley]

"It's what we do. My kind," she said as she reached up to coax a vine to bloom. A shower of violet flowers trailed down in a cascading cluster. "It's weird here, no one can talk to them. They were so lonely and confused. Like me. But now we're happy."

[anamusebouche]

She looked happy. Hannibal smiled. "You look it too," he said. "And if I ask for fresh fruits and vegetables, you could provide them?"

[poison_isley]

"Absolutely. Anything you like. I mean...If it's in here. Or if I know what it is. There's some plants in here I've never worked with so we're getting to know each other," she said, leading him to a flower garden. She plucked a vibrant orange flower and handed it to him.

"Try it. It's delicious."

[anamusebouche]

Hannibal smelled it first, then savoured it, much like he would do with a glass of wine. "That truly is delicious."

He looked at the garden; a lot of plant were unfamiliar to him. "I'm a medic here on the ship, but I love to cook. This is paradise."

[poison_isley]

"Oh! A cook!" she beamed. "In that case, come whenever you like and I'll give you only the best."

She missed sharing the fruits of her labor. What she did wasn't hard, and all her people could talk to plants, but not everyone could make them grow the way she did. But she wasn't a witch. Her people had been cruel, but also demanding. When she'd fled to this ship she had hoped to leave that life behind.

But she'd already been accused of witchcraft three times.

It was so nice that someone actually appreciated her talent.

[anamusebouche]

"Only if you'll join me for dinner in return," Hannibal said.

[poison_isley]

Her eyes went wide with shock.

"Cook for me!?" she gasped. "I don't even know you!"

It was scandalous. He'd only just met her and he wanted to share a meal? Cook for her? And she'd just eat? With him?

"I'm not that sort of girl," she said awkwardly. She'd never been in this situation. She'd always thought she'd jump at an opportunity at intimacy, but now she just felt awkward and shy.

[anamusebouche]

"I meant no offense, but please accept my apologies," Hannibal said, earnestly. "I did not know that dining was an act of intimacy in your culture." He clarified. "It's not so in mine. A lapse on my part."

He wondered then what the meaning was of her sharing her berries with him. Probably there was a separation between the two - much like there was a difference between a kiss on the cheek and a kiss on the mouth.

[poison_isley]

She probably looked like such an idiot. Overdramatic, a little unhinged. She heard what the other gardeners said about her.

"It's not, um, well...where I'm from, we share food. There's plenty for everyone. And the way we show love...love of all forms...is by creating a meal. That little door in the wall that gives us food? That was an upsetting adjustment."

[anamusebouche]

"I can imagine," Hannibal said. "In my world, cooking is just a way of consuming foot while enhancing flavours," he added. "But I don't wish to make you uncomfortable. Is there something else you'd like in return?"

[poison_isley]

"If that's how your people do it, I'd like to learn. There's not many of us left. I think I should learn how a lot of people on this ship act," he said, nervously chewing her lip at the very thought of socializing.

"I accept your invitation to a purely platonic meal," she smiled then.

[anamusebouche]

Meals could be foreplay when it came to Hannibal, but he wouldn't be so forward this time. He wouldn't want to shock her. "Come by tomorrow evening. Bring the fruits and vegetables you most like and I'll turn it into a meal."

[poison_isley]

Ivy nodded, her eyes wide at the invitation. She understood he had no ulterior motive, but her upbringing was telling her this was shocking behaviour.

"I'll bring only the best," she promised.

[anamusebouche]

It had to be said; she was beautiful and Hannibal most certainly wouldn't mind a more intimate setting with her. But it wasn't front and center and seeing her reaction, he would not pursue it at all. She was interesting in other ways as well, so he was sure the evening would be pleasant.

"I look forward to it."