5363/The Garden Path

The Garden Path
Date of Scene:	13 September 2018
Location:	Gotham City
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Batwoman, Poison Ivy

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Batwoman has posed:
Ivy has her own little slice of paradise in the city. Provided by Batman, of all people. The idea makes her... Well, it's a confusing emotion. While Kate believes in redemption, it's hardly something that she trusts in. And her entrance is not going to be subtle either - She arrives upon a Batcycle, the heavy, black metal contraption hard to miss even in the dead of night. As she brakes, the guards flare open, revealing something of an arsenal... Which she does take the liberty of checking, and placing a few select items in her belt before it clicks closed. Once she's dismounted, the bike speeds off alone, ready to come back and collect her later.

A slow, slow, deep inhale of the night air. Composing herself. Controlling herself. Nygma might be a weakness for her, but there's no doubt that Ivy would be far more troubling for the vigilantess should things not go the way she intends. And so with that breath, she makes her way into the sanctuary of Gaia's Daughter.

Poison Ivy has posed:
Or you would want to enter the sanctuary. But Ivy has made her garden a fortress. It is completely surrounded by tall trees wrapped in nettles. There's only one entry - a gate that is crisscrossed with spiky vines. The garden is quiet at night. Plants do tend to be dormant when the sun doesn't shine. There is a doorbell there, lit up, with a speaker to serve as a callbox.

Batwoman has posed:
And denied. Kate doesn't exactly struggle to find the ideal entrance, either, but her finger drums her belt as she debates simply making a new one. But perhaps it's best not to antagonise Ivy so soon into their relationship. Instead, one gloved finger presses on the doorbell, and she greets in her signature, rich voice, "Knock knock."

Poison Ivy has posed:
Silence for a bit, then a sleepy voice comes from the speaker: "What is it with you bat people that you always bother me when I'm sleeping. What do you want, Batwoman?" continues the voice of Poison Ivy followed by a yawn.

Batwoman has posed:
"We are the night, hadn't you heard?" Kate allows herself a delighted giggle, "Besides, we do have to make sure you're still playing fair - And I did want to pick your brain about something. I could hardly come here during the day... It wouldn't be batlike at all, and a lady has her image to consider."

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley growls softly. "Fine. Leave your motorcycle there. And don't antagonize the cactus." The vines slither away from the gate as a single light is on in a cottage that at one time could've served as the home of the caretaker of the garden, and does so once more.

Batwoman has posed:
"Of course." Kate is only too happy to agree to that, her motorcycle has left without her anyway. She wanders down towards the cottage, her arms at her side, loose. There's some need to be cautious for sure, but for the most part she's pretty sure she's safe here. A knock follows, at the cottage door.

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley opens the door. Ivy's in a simple pale green nightgown that's almost the color of her skin. "Come in. Seems like all the Bats are checking in on me in the middle of the night. Next time maybe I just won't answer."

Batwoman has posed:
Kate's lips are curved into a rich, red smile, "I wouldn't be so quick to do that. Consider it a condition until we're certain you no longer constitute a threat to the city." Batwoman steps in slowly, her stepped heels producing a distinct click. Someone isn't outfitted for running right now either. "That we would want to check up on you. And before there's any unkind thoughts, bear in mind that for the damage you have done in the past, throwing away the key would have been quite justified. This is a redemption story, no?"

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley sighs softly. "Well - you woke me up in the middle of the night. The only experiments I'm working on is preparing to mass-produce a new perfume and an experiment with sunflowers." She squints. "You didn't come by because of my... online orders did you?" Trying to be very discrete and using back channels, Ivy ordered some yellow-cake uranium that just arrived today in a lead-lined container.

Batwoman has posed:
Kate reaches up, tapping on the side of her temple. "I have other concerns right now, but allowing a woman who can steers other with only a smell the ability to prepare a perfume seems ill-advised at best. I trust Batman knows what he is doing. Oracle," She notes to her cowl, "Digital sweep." A shake of her head. "Actually, I came here on a more personal errand. You see, I'm trying to work out precisely what would lead someone who fell into working only for their own ends, into coming back to... Well, society isn't the right word, is it? But still. From being someone who needed to be caged in Arkham for the safety of others, to relative freedom. What led here?"

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley shrugs. "Batman has a sample." She gazes at you. "You've heard the old saying: if you can't beat them, join them? My ways aren't working. Violence doesn't turn people to your cause. It makes you reject them. I'm trying a new path. My priorities don't always line up with others, but if I can show that my precious plants can ACTUALLY save the world, then people will respect them more." She sighs as she looks down. "I fought against the invasion of the Gray recently - in that, I was in accord with the world."

Batwoman has posed:
Kate samples her lower lip for a moment. "I know that this world is far from perfect for you. But there are many who wish to shape the world in their own image, or destroy it." A pause. "For what it is worth, you have my sympathy for that. I am struggling with someone who I believe has a chance for redemption, and the alternative is... Probably death, one way or another." She shakes her head again, and then there's finally a response from the voice within her cowl. "... Ivy. Surely you've realised that this is a trust based situation. You haven't done anything to put that trust in jeopardy, have you?" Her hand moves slowly to her belt.

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley sighs softly. "So Oracle tattled on me. Fine. I might as well show you what the experiment is. It could revolutionize certain things." She steps into her bedroom, closes the door, and comes out in one of her usual outfits. "What did Oracle tell you?" She heads towards the greenhouse.

Batwoman has posed:
Kate doesn't stop her, when Ivy retreats, and when she returns, Kate's holding a slim, crimson container in one hand - Her thumb holding a button upon the top. No obvious markings upon it, though. "She has sent me everything she has on it. I'll review it shortly, but it's best to hear it straight from you, if you're truly wanting to keep this relationship alive. Lies can burn a relationship like this, Ivy. Even well-meaning ones. So explain."

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley frowns as she sees the item. She's quite sure that it's some kind of herbicide. "You can put that away. I am not doing anything to attack, harm, or restrain you." She heads towards the greenhouse and opens the door, turning the lights on but very dim, barely able to see. "Did you know that sunflowers are more than just pretty? They can absorb toxins from the soil." She heads to the lab and opens the door with a key, waiting for you to join her inside. "They planted them all over the area hit by the Fukushima disaster in Japan - and I hear that they put them ALL over the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone." She smiles faintly as she looks at the last area of the lab, which has a locked door with a red light over it. She heads towards a radiation suit. "Is your armor proof against radiation?" She hasn't exactly said what she bought yet, but she's obviously getting there in her own way.

Batwoman has posed:
It's significantly worse than herbicide. A special blend of phosphorous that would be a special kind of agony. Kate purses her lips for a moment and then notes. "I'd love to, Ivy, but right now we're still experiencing a breach of trust. Until that's remedied, I'm not sure I'm willing to put this away." She reminds, listening. "I do know that, but I don't see what that has to do with... Oh." Maybe something clicks. Her free hand reaches up, pulling down on her cowl from the nose - Another shielding slides out, to cover her mouth, giving her voice a metallic tinge. "It is resistant, somewhat."

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley gets into the rad suit and goes into the small room in the lab. Inside are some rather LARGE sunflowers, the soil having a definite yellow tinge, and there are rad meters on it. "It's behind leaded glass but you can never be too sure. I'm doing an experiment to find a sunflower that can REALLY work to clean up radiation. But I had to have some to see if it was working."

Batwoman has posed:
"And you thought it might be easier to get forgiveness than permission?" Kate suggests, although she doesn't explain whether or not this is what she thought it would be. "I've found that thinking normally nets a promising lover a slap across the face, at least for starters." The armored woman folds her arms over her chest, as she observes the sunflowers. "What is the return here, in terms of sieverts?" A pause. A more considered tone. "And if this can do this, is that not something you can also do?"

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley nods. "Tests have shown absorption rates triple that of normal sunflowers. I'm still working on my specimens." There is very little radiation outside the lead-glass room wtih the sunlamp. "The radiation level is already measurably lower, and I just started this today." She blinks. "I'm not sure of the last part. I'm not plant enough for this kind of trick. And the sunflowers once they reach capacity - they'll die. But not before they do their duty."

Batwoman has posed:
"I see." Kate sounds almost disappointed by that idea. "Flora and fauna can survive the radiation, even in the exclusion zone. Many thrive there. Humans are substantially more vulnerable. Would be that this research could be used to make treating gray radiation more effectively." She does seem to perk up after that. "Well now. Thanks for showing me yours, but I've nothing to show in return. Do you need to keep this kind of thing a secret from us going forward, Ivy? Because if I'd found out otherwise..." Three quick taps of her cylinder, and it's put away a moment later.

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley frowns. "I'm quite sure that me smuggling in uranium would make nobody happy. My plan isn't to adapt humanity to deal with the radiation. My goal is to neutralize the radiation so the exclusion zone can be abolished. It takes time to craft the right plant. Trial and error. But this shows promise."

Batwoman has posed:
Kate sighs, reaching up to remove the lower part of her cowl again, revealing the flesh beneath it. It's... Frowning. "Ivy... Have you ever been there?" To the Exclusion Zone, presumably. The Batwoman's eyes have dimmed a little bit. "It is far away, or I would take you there. It's not what you've been led to believe. While yes, it can be harmful for humans to live there long term, the Zone is..." Another pregnant pause. "...I wish I could show you."

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley shakes her head. "Just on television. I'm trying to do the world good in a way that only I can. Nothing else seems to be cleaning it up." She blinks. "Why does this subject interest you all of a sudden?"

Batwoman has posed:
Kate doesn't answer. Instead, she looks back at the sunflowers, and then Ivy, and then sunflowers, and then Ivy. "It would take at least half a day to show you what I mean. But it might help you to understand a little more about us. And maybe, help us to understand you somewhat." She draws upon her red-painted lower lip for a moment. "However as I've interrupted your beauty sleep, I'd understand if you're shy about a date."

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley blinks. "Are you asking me out on a DATE?" she asks, eyebrow raised. "You want to show me the Zone? Why is this so important to you? This is a pet project of mine... but it sounds like it has deeper meaning for you..."

Batwoman has posed:
"Because a lady doesn't tell what she can show, Ivy." Kate suggests. "Because I don't know how else to explain what I want to explain. I cannot. Because if you know the truth, it will consume you, but if you discover it for yourself, you can rationalise it. Understand it. Because in the Zone, Mankind showed their own truth, and Nature showed it's. And I care about this because, well," A soft, but sincere chuckle, "Even a soldier loves a sunrise."

Poison Ivy has posed:
Pamela Isley nods. "Very well. I accept your offer." She smiles softly. "When would you like to do this?" She yawns as she gazes at you, blinkblinking.

Batwoman has posed:
"We can leave now." Kate reviews the time on her HUD, and then looks back out of the greenhouse. "I would say you could catch up on your sleep en-route, but the Foxbat is neither comfortable nor particularly spacious. It is however capable of getting to the zone in a few hours." A glance back at Ivy. "I think you will want to see this. Besides, if we leave now, we might be there in time for dawn to break."