[He spares her the repetition--you got you a plant--given that Peggy is quick to carry on. It would seem, on the surface, that she's given quite a great deal of consideration to plants and their placement within living spaces. Indeed, Rip can recall seeing a few touches of greenery in Peggy's room. Small signs of life, though he cannot say he's fully convinced that this little gift is the result of decorative notions.

But just then, with her pressed against him, the echo of a song still resonating in their dance, Rip finds himself less inclined to pick apart truth and lies. Later, perhaps, when he's been left alone with his new roommate and the silence.]

I suppose I'll have to attempt to take care of it then. [And there's the rub: Rip hasn't exactly kept houseplants before. Water is part of the process, as anyone knows. But a trip to the library might be advised for anything more intensive than that.

Unless--] Any advice on ensuring I don't force it to suffer a slow and agonizing death?