15075/Consider the lilies of the field

Consider the lilies of the field
Date of Scene:	03 June 2023
Location:	A random empty lot, Gotham City
Synopsis:	Poison Ivy encounters The Magdalena in the remains of a community garden after fighting and killing a demon spawn of Famine. The two discover that not everyone is as quick to judge by reputation instead judging by actions.
Cast of Characters:	Patience Alperen, Pamela Isley

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Patience Alperen has posed:
The Magdalena had been searching for this demon for weeks. She been contacted by The Church and made aware that there were a series of murders with strange circumstances - each had been a figure active in their respective communities, helping to encourage converting unused property around the city into community gardens to help lower income families and, really, anyone in need to have fresh food. Each had been found murdered in the center of their respective projects, every plant and growing thing rendered withered and lifeless where they had been thriving and green just hours before.

This demon minion of Famine was intent on ending this growing movement, yet it had not expected to meet an Agent of the Church.

The fight was long and vicious. Eventually the Magdalena was able to gain the opening in the demon's defenses she needed to kill the demon, impaling it with the Spear.

Silence. After so much noise and movement in the fight, the aftermath was filled with glaring silence. Only the pounding of her heart, the sound of her breathing as she began to calm down were all she could hear.

Sitting heavily on one of the repurposed railroad ties that formed the wall of a raised garden, Patience pulls her hood back. Closing her eyes she sits there in the silence.

All around her, the former garden space looks like a desert. There is no moisture to be seen in any of the dirt. Not even weeds are green and growing.

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Naturally this was a project Ivy was interested in. It entangled nicely with one of her current projects as well. The goals of housing and improved ecology for the world, not the murdering part. She was not so eager to get too involved because she didn't want to get the 'wrong kind of attention' and as such tried to listen to The Green for clues.
    While she totally missed the fight, the nature of it was something she felt through that mystical connection to plant life and she donned her 'work clothes' to go see what was going on. Maybe she can salvage the garden this time. The site before her makes her want to weep. She can feel what was healthy. Fortunately not ALL the roots are dead. She starts to walk closer to the unknown woman sitting there even as life slowly begins to return to the area.
    Ivy walks steadily forward arms out to her side to try and lend her strength to the land to speed it's recovery. "Who are you?"

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen heard the soft footsteps as the other woman approached. Her eyes were still closed, her expression almost serene. Across her lap was the Spear of Destiny - radiating its own sort of power. Holy. Terrible. Alluring.

After a moment longer, Patience opens her eyes and looks toward Ivy. "Hello. I'm Patience. The Magdalena. I work for The Church."

Pausing to look around, she offers, "There was a minor demon of Famine seeking to destroy these gardens and those who maintained them. It has been killed. Unfortunately so was the organizer of the garden space." The look of regret and sadness she offers is genuine.

Pamela Isley has posed:
    "Lot more information then I'm used to getting right up front. You clearly do not live in this city." Ivy still keeps a wary eye on the woman as she continues to slowly feed life back into the garden. At least as much as the land can handle. "Minor? Then I hope a major one never comes out." Looking over at the church woman she says, "are you hurt?" She looks over at the dead body and casually shrugs. "That is a loss. Not enough care about the ground. But if you like I can use him to help restore this land some." Recycling if you will.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen studies Ivy and shakes her head, "No, I don't. Even if I did, I would have no reason to lie or withhold the truth. It is difficult for many to believe that demons, let alone heaven and hell, exist. It is rather a daily occurence for me, I suppose."

With a knowing nod, she agrees. "You're right. Major demons are nothing anyone should ever want to encounter. Forunately they are less likely to engage in lower level corruption such as this. That is what they use their spawn for."

Looking to the slain man, Patience shakes her head, "It is a noble gesture. But it would prevent his family from having proper closure." Tilting her head, "What do you mean restore the land?" A soft frown creases her brow, "Who are you?" she asks, as if she is just seeing the redheaded woman properly.

Pamela Isley has posed:
    "I live in Gotham. Stay here long enough and it's hard not to believe in almost anything can be true. Or you're insane, but some could say the majority of Gothamites are mad." Ivy's efforts are, forgive the pun, bearing fruit as at least she can get the grass and base root systems to get to work and a fighting chance. She's in triage and not looking to undo everything.
    Ivy smiles and seems amused, "You must be tired if you aren't noticing the changes around you. Most in this city know me as Poison Ivy." At least with her dressed like this. "Don't worry I'm not going to hurt you or anything. Though maybe you could do with some fruit to help recover faster. Got a particular favorite, Maggie?" Ivy wants to see how coherent the woman is and how sensitive. Also while staying WELL outside what she thinks that Spear's reach is.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen watches and listens. "I'm sorry. I don't tend to frequent Gotham often. I'm only here because the Church asked me to find the source of corruption and stop it."

Considering the name, she nods. "I have heard of you. But I really don't know much about those in Gotham. We don't tend to travel in exactly the same circles. Although I do know Zatanna Zatara" she adds almost absently.

Looking curious she shakes her head, "I don't think you're going to try and harm me." Of course with that spear, and if she can kill even a minor demon, she must have a good measure of capability. Given the myriad of other monster hunting gear she carries; a pistol, a number of wooden and silver stakes, vials of holy water, and a curiously pale blue gemmed necklace, it seems she wouldn't be easy prey as is.

"I was praying. Consecrating the ground to purify it from the last of the corruption." Looking around, she stands. That she is impressed by the fact anything can be green and growing again so quickly is easy to see in her expression.

Looking back to Ivy, she smiles. "You have a very amazing ability, clearly."

Tilting her head at the offer of fruit, she considers, "I certainly wouldn't mind an apple."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Ivy manages to not comment on the woman's faith beyond. "My faith is more in science then god. Though if you do have a good line to her. Thank her for the plants and ask for fewer people while you are at it for me." She looks around at the mention for an apple and pulls out a few seeds from a small pouch hidden in her 'costume' and looks to what seems a rather dead patch. "This may do," after a nod of study. "Mind using that stick of yours to poke the ground for me and get a hole in this ground about half an inch or so down? I rather not bend over and dig in the dirt with an unknown armed woman near me." Ivy stepping back as she nods to the spot in question. "So does this mean no more murders are likely to happen?"

Patience Alperen has posed:
The comments ear a curious look from Patience, however she isn't one to lecture others on their choice of belief or religion.

Watching as Ivy selects a location she thinks would suit planting, Patience rises. Looking amused she only says, "The Spear of Destiny is not a common tool. But it was rendered holy by the Servant of Man. Using it to assist in the feeding of mankind, even in such a small area, is no less noble."

Taking the Spear, she looks to the spot Ivy indicated. Touching the tip to the dirt, she pushes carefully down and turns the tip to create the requested depression. Stepping back, Patience lowers the Spear though it never leaves her hands.

Pamela Isley has posed:
    "Isn't there a comment about swords to ploughs? Surely spears to trowels is close enough." Ivy wait and watches, mind you stabbing the ground can be rough on weapons but most aren't legendary artifacts either. Once she has a hole Ivy will drop some seeds in and uses her boot to cover up. She points to some water vials. "May I?" She will casually reach over and take one of the water looking vials she saw. Unstopper it to sniff it and then pours it onto the ground to help dampen it. Stepping back she tosses the vial back and then smiles. Ivy always enjoys doing this.
    A small breath is taken and then she gives a small flex of what she can. Taking from small seed to fruit baring tree in just a few moments as it begins to rapidly grow before the two women. Finally ending in an apple that Ivy can pluck down and says. "One apple as requested." Tossing the red fruit to Patience. "And something to encourage more birds and people to linger and.... we'll be polite and says 'till and soil' the ground?"

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen was mindful not to apply more force than needed. It isn't like the ground was hard packed and sun baked.

Watching curiously as Ivy begins to plant the seed. At the question about water, Patience nods, "Of course. It's holy water." Because Monster Hunter and all. "Other than having ill effects on evil, it is still simply water."

She steps back a little more, watching curiously as the tree begins to rapidly form and grow to maturity, complete with ripe apples.

"That is amazing.." catching the apple, she looks at it in wonder. Without hesitation, she takes a bite. Of course it is at peak ripeness. Crisp and sweet.

With a smile, she nods. "It's perfect. Thank you."

Turning back, she sighs. "I'm surprised the police aren't here yet. I need to call them so that this poor man can be properly cared for."

She glances to Ivy. "I may not know much about Gotham but I have enough sense to guess you may not wish to be around when they arrive?"

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Ivy seems honestly surprised at Patience actually tasting the apple so quickly. "You really don't know about me if you took a bite so quickly. Don't worry. That's just a fresh apple though. Even if it is ironic using holy items to have me plant a fruit tree in a garden." She may not be religious but everyone knows THAT story.
    The redhead can't help but laugh at the mention of the cops. "Oh they won't be here anytime soon. It's Gotham, and you're more likely to have some mentally unsound person show up in a costume before the cops." You know like what DID happen. She moves through the garden to look at areas here and there but is being easy about the growing more. "I want to do more but the ground is strained as it is. They'll need new soil and minerals to recover this area." She shrugs and says, "I can handle the cops. They're so not a threat to me."

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen looks to her curiously. "I've done nothing to harm you. You said you meant me no harm. Why shouldn't I trust you and take you at your word?" She can, admittedly, see the hearts of others and whether they are truly evil. But she hasn't in this encounter. So far she has had no reason to. "It seems as though your time in Gotham is difficult and filled with conflict. I am sorry for that. But until you provide a reason that I should stop trusting you, I have no reason not to take you at your word. Your actions so far have spoken volumes about your character I think."

Offering a polite smile, she nods, "I would think they would gladly welcome your help when they can get the soil replaced."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Ivy shrugs and says, "Most people don't seem to trust a woman that calls herself Poison." She leans against the new apple treat then to stroke it some and murmur to it. "Just be a good tree. Use your roots to gets strong and help this area for me alright? I'll look in on you in a month or so."
    Ivy then looks over at Patience for a long moment. "Too bad I probably can not call you for a character witness if I ever need one. Gotham is an interesting city. She's harder then most but there's a pride to surviving here." She shakes her head, "My own private gardens and the world needs me more then this small area. Shame about that gardener and the others. They shouldn't die while disgusting violators of Earth drive gas guzzling monstrosities four miles twice a day."

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen looks over "Perhaps. Most people are unwilling to see beyond the surface." She offers a smile between bites of the apple. "I can't promise that many would care what I have to say, but I would speak in your favor based on my experience, Ivy. A difficult past can be hard to get out from under. But it is not impossible. As long as you have the support of those whose opinions matter to you, there is just noise. There are always doubters. Those who will not accept that someone can change their ways. I have seen it done. It is never too late to change for the better."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    Ivy arches a brow at Patience when she comments about looking past the surface. She pointedly holds to the side of the tree and leans out like many a dancer with poles and then looks down at herself. "Sister was that a dig at my appearance, an observation, or a compliment?" Seeming amused at the choice of words. She shakes her head, "Some of my rep is well earned. I mean I have killed people before. There's even a few mass graves in the Amazon thanks to me, but they all had it coming." She stands up normal and Ivy warns, "Don't try to save me. I'm not a 2.5 kids and picket fence woman."

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen shakes her head, "It wasn't an insult, no." She finishes the apple, holding the core. She does the logical thing, moving over to dig a little place in the dirt to toss it in. She covers it and again, parts with a vial of water to soak the ground. Willing to do her part as it were.

"I didn't say you were innocent. I said that underneath the danger, there is still a soul that is more than able to make better choices." She shrugs gently. "I am not here to tell you how to live. Only assure you that there is a better way. If you wish for it."

"Thank you for the apple." Taking out her phone, she pauses, "I need to call the police now. If you want to leave I will wait for them. Mr. Randalson shouldn't be left alone. It's cruel."

Pamela Isley has posed:
    "Looking to be the new Jane Appleseed?" Ivy can't help but to ask after Patience does her part for the recovery of the park. She looks then to the distance as she is sure cops will be coming sooner than later. "You're welcome woman of The Church." She looks down at the dead man and says. "I hate when the good ones suffer. Oh well. I wil get out of your way. If you're ever in Gotham again. Nose around the gardens and Green. You may meet me again. Fare well." With that Ivy does her best slink away walk into the the city.

Patience Alperen has posed:
Patience Alperen laughs. "No. I can honestly say that is the first time I've done it. But it feels like the right thing to do. Symbolically if nothing else. A new beginning for this garden. For all of them."

With a shared nod of sadness about Mr. Randalson, she offers a soft smile.

"I just might. If you are in Manhattan, or ever find reason to contact me, you can leave a message with Father O'Malley at the All Saints mission on Third Street."

Offering a wave, she nods, "Good by. Have a safe night."

As Ivy leaves, Patience dials the number for GCPD and turns to look over the parcel of land as she listens to the line ring.