Wild Flower

Merry Christmas from Daisy and Topaz! 🎅

"Huh?" He turned around, his camera in hands, and set his eyes on the young woman, mouth agape as he thought of something more eloquent to say. "I'm not trespassing, am I?" Well that wasn't worse, at least. With a small smile, he approached the front of her home, which looked both out of place and perfectly in place all at once. He was reminded of that movie The Piano, and his gaze dropped to the garden as he went to lean against the front yard's fence.

"What are you doing?" Gardening, obviously, but he didn't really have much of a clue of what that entailed. He had never really done anything like that. He'd grown up in New York, his parents had a penthouse and the closest he was to the dirt was when the nanny took him to Central Park to give the ducks bread.

Daisy couldn't help but giggle at the man's reactions. Apparently she had caught him off guard in some way and it was as amusing as it was adorable. "Oh no not at all! I don't mind. And neither does Topaz it seems" She assured him with a smile, as the niffler looked up and greeted their guest with a lazy thump of his tail. The witch truly didn't mind passer-bys, as she knew her home was unique and actually took a great deal of pride in that.

"You're observant" The redhead teased with another giggle, pushing back her tumble of curls. "You can come closer if you want! I'm planting some daisies, like me! I'm Daisy, and this is Topaz. He's a niffler"

Beth's mind was in decorating overdrive that she needed to step out of the gallery and find a change in scenery before she went crazy. She had her pups off-lead as they walked next to her, enjoying the calmest day she'd had in a while when a voice caught her attention. Beth turns to the redhead with a smile and a wave of her own. "Hey. It is, you having a good one?" She asks, making sure the dogs don't wander off too far.

Daisy's smile turned from half-hearted to genuine when she noted Beth and especially her dogs. The pretty witch was a sight to see for sure! "Well it's a lot better now that I can you and dogs to talk to" She giggled softly, already feeling more happy. She then remembered what she'd heard about Beth's gallery and her smile fell as soon as it appreared. "Oh Miss Beth! I'm so sorry to hear about your gallery! How is the rebuilding going?" She asked, feeling a twinge of guilt. How lucky she had been that neither her home or shop had been damaged! It just made her want to help those who hadn't been as fortunate. "Is there anything that I can do?"

Legs needing a stretch, Auggie was back on his solo-walks by himself. Which, granted, were all solo-walks by himself right now, as the keen observer had yet to find the guts to approach anyone first and ask if they wouldn't mind taking a stroll. Did anyone take a stroll these days? Was that something that people these days still did? Were they over-analyzing again?

Deep breath, Auggie, you're overthinking again.

Choosing a pebble to kick along the path, the reaper is making a point to keep his senses as open as they could, listening to any sounds of other students or overall islanders in approach from either direction so there wouldn't be any accidental collision. Unfortunately for them, their keen sense of direction isn't quite up to speed as the voice sent out in greeting causes him to miss kicking the pebble entirely and he trips over himself.

Arms flying out in front to catch his balance, steadying along some kind of shrub, they're quick to stand up straight again, grinning innocently in the speaker's direction. Close call.

"Hi, yes! Bonjour to you too!" He calls back, trying to save face by clearing his throat, stretching arms over his head. "Beautiful day!" Hadn't noticed. "But then it begs the question, are there any ugly days here?" A forced laugh, feeling their face warm, bringing their hand up to rub over their eyes. Why was he like this?

Oh..no.. Daisy watched in horror as she startled the poor man enough to where he actually tripped. Was she really that loud? "Ohmygod I am so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you! I guess it is kinda quiet out here huh?" The witch jumped to her feet and rushed to the man's aid. Topaz, her beloved niffler, woke from the commotion and waddled after her.

"Are you hurt? Gosh I am so sorry.." Daisy apologized again. She was careful to not further embarrass the poor guy by going into full fuss-over mode but it was all such a good distraction from her sorrow that she almost couldn't help it. His bonjour made her smile, a real smile that made the dimples in her cheeks pop.

"You must be new. It wasn't so pretty here a few weeks ago" She told him, with a wry chuckle. "I'm Daisy, and this is Topaz. He's a niffler! Now..you'll tell me if you're hurt so I can help, right?"

Gina had gotten lost in her photography lately, something soothing about being behind a lens again and she used every opportunity she could to wander around with it in hand. In her own little world, the blonde didn't notice the other woman as she passed by until she called out and Gina stops, a momentarily look of confusion on her face until she spots who spoke. "Oh, h-hi. It is, I think if I d-don't see another storm for a while I-I'll be happy." Gina adds with a smile.

"Gosh..isn't that the truth! I'm so grateful that neither my shop or house was damaged in everything that happened" Daisy agreed with a friendly smile. While she didn't really know the other girl she did recongnize her from around. She was claimed by that pretty vampire who owned the antique shop, if she wasn't mistaken. Seeing her camera, Daisy's interest was piqued. "What are you taking pictures of today? You're Gina, right? You live with Miss Grace"

"Generally speaking, at least when you're the one that's brightening it up," Ethan quipped as he neared the garden Daisy was wandering in. Dressed in a pair of tan slacks with white button up shirt, half unbuttoned in the warm sun, Ethan looked far too dressed up as usual for an Island resident. Sunglasses adorning his nose, a bit of light stubble clinging to his chin.

"Sorry to barge in, but saw this beautiful woman just standing in a garden and thought, I need to make sure to brighten my day and seeing her smile always helps. Whatchya gardening, love?"

He did note the small smile, and the half hearted wave, "Or am I wrong and it's on me to be brightening YOUR day for once?"

Daisy's russet head jerked up at the sound of that familiar voice. Typically it brought her nothing but joy and a wide smile. And even though it still made her happy, her emotional state at the moment caused a reaction that likely scared the pants off the poor man. Bursting into tears, she jumped up and launched herself at her dear friend, burying her face in his chest as she sobbed.

"I'm s..sorry! I'm just so happy to s..see you." The witch sputtered, hands gripping his shirt as she held on for dear life. Daisy took a deep breath and tried to calm herself, least Ethan became too umcomfortable and bolted.

"Sorry. I'm okay, really" Daisy assured him as she pulled back enough to give him his space while still keeping contact. "Dhani left. And Dakota too." She explained in a whisper, knowing she didn't need to say more than that.

"Seems a little cloudy to me, darling." Clara heard from Arthur all that had befallen Daisy. She couldn't imagine the hurt that the other woman must be going through. Even with an optimistic outlook, there was only so much that a person could handle before breakings. She was such a ray of light. Clara refused to see it dimmed for a few minor setbacks. Of course she could call Dhani, but it wasn't the same as having him close. "How are you really doing?" The cottage was lovely. It made everything all the worse that Daisy was so close to getting everything she desired only to not have as many people to celebrate her successes with.

Daisy nearly teared up when she saw clearly who it was. Miss Clara was one of the most kind and compassionate people she knew and oh..she needed that right now. Dropping her gardening tools, she jumped to her feet and ran over to the other witch, embracing her tightly. "It is a little cloudy. But I'm trying to just focus on the sun" Daisy mumbled against the woman's shoulder. She stayed there for a long moment, soaking in the comfort, before finally remembering her manners. "Oh! I'm so sorry. I'm a terrible hostess aren't I?" She giggled shakily. "Come in, please! I can make us some tea or lemonade and show you my new house" Daisy insisted. The fact that this was how she answered Clara's question should have told the other everything she needed to know.

James had been out a while chasing after Caesar who took his keys for his new ATV that he finally got after the compensation for his destroyed one. He was not mad it took a while some had lost their home or business so a ATV was lower on the priority list. Though Caesar was having fun playing keep away it seemed he had not even realized he was by someone's house til he heard the voice "Oh yeah great day. My crazy monkey stole my keys." As he said it Caesar looked like he was dropping from a branch but held on just taunting him now. James sighed exasperated then saw it was Daisy "Oh hi Daisy sorry just irritated not at you though." He was going to ask if she was on rental then remembered she was a mistress now got promoted not long before the chaos.

Daisy's face did light up a little when she noticed it was James. He had been one of the masters who had always been nice to her as well as fun to be around, and she considered him a friend. So it was super nice to see him now. Especially since that adorable moneky of his was there too. Covering her mouth, the witch let out her first giggle in days as she watched the two. "Aww he's just doing it because he loves you" She grinned, shaking her head at his apology. "Don't worry about it! I know the feeling, you know my Topaz and his affinity for shiny things" At the sound of his name the niffler lifted his head and regarded their visitors lazily, tail thumping at the sight of someone new to play with. "How have you been? It's been forever" Daisy asked with a small smile, as she tucked a loose curl under her straw hat.

“Pretty day!?” The question sounded harsher than he intended. It was possibly a side-effect of being chronically irritated. Strix stopped in his tracks to face the young woman, studying her in that half-bored, half-distracted way he had. People who had been with  him for long would know that it was best not to interrupt him when he looked like that.  “I’ve never heard someone call it pretty”, the professor continued eventually. “Good. Nice. Beautiful. It’s hardly ever a pretty day” As he looked over the fence and past her figure, he discovered at least part of the reason. Her cottage stood out among the other residences. It was as if this entire patch of land was frozen in time. She is a dreamer, he thought to himself, she is living in a fairytale. Strix almost even apologized for his manners but reminded himself in time that this wouldn’t be necessary. “Where are you from?”

Daisy blinked a little at the reaction from the man, russet head tipped to the side in confusion. If she had still been a slave she would have instantly apologized for what was an obvious blunder, for whatever reason. Even as a mistress now there was still that almost gut reaction. But not today; she was in no mood to be sorry for not doing anything wrong. "Guess you don't get out much then huh?" She replied instead, with a small smile. "I hear that all the time. And a day can be pretty" The witch insisted with a small shrug. The way that he was so intently observing her made Daisy squirm just a little as her grip tightened unconsciously on her wand. "Kansas. Alta Vista, it's a little town" She answered proudly. "What about you? I'm Daisy"

[text.] understandable, hope it'll be ok. [text.] I'll be right there. Scott wasn't surprised about her answer so he picked up his coat and headed out to go and see her at her home. It was strange to think there would be Daisy without her Dhani around but he knew she'd be fine in the end. Only when he arrived, he realized he hadn't even visited her since she got her new place. Even the outside though looked typically Daisy-like. He announced his arrival with a subtle knock on the door. "Kitten? It's me."

[text] I knew I could count on you..

~

Daisy let out a low sigh as she read Scott's text, already feeling just a bit better. After all that had happened with them he was still one of her best friends and someone she could always trust and depend on. And that was something she really needed right now. Being Daisy, she felt she needed to do something for him as well, and instantly set about to make him some cupcakes infused with her own blood. But also being Daisy..everything seemed to go wrong. Her sorrow affected her magic, the cut she made for her blood wouldn't heal, and by the time Scott knocked on her door all she could do was cry. And answer it dripping in chocolate cupcake batter and blood. "Hi.." The witch greeted him, a truly pitiful sight if there ever was one. "I was making you cupcakes..."

[text] Oh thank you Dr. Quinten! You're so nice.

[text] Are you okay? I know he's going to miss you so much too.