Plants & Little Boys

“Oh, I don’t know, I’m sure it’s exciting if you’re interested in it,” he tilted his head slightly in consideration. “Do you find it interesting at least?”

“I love it. I’ve always had a passion for plants, so it was my natural calling.”

“You must be far more patient than I am.” Carter chuckled.

“I guess. Plants are just easier for me to deal with than people.”

“Busy day?” Elgin asked his former housemate. “I know I’ve been swamped, it must be the new year.”

@wilheminataylor

“Yes, but working for MACUSA, I’m always busy. Even plants keep one working hard.”

“Do you think there’s a way to harness the magical properties of a Puffapod? Spontaneous magic at just a touch - it’s a powerful concept, don’t you think?”

@wilheminataylor

“If there is, I’ve never heard of it. It is any interesting concept, but if could also be dangerous.”

“Oh merlin, more power to you. At least people can tell you when they’ve fucked it all up. Plants keep you guessing all the time.” Carter laughed, shaking her head. “I guess I just don’t have a very green thumb.”

“True, but I usually have a pretty good guess.”

“Well, some things you need to let die. Death spreads. Let it die, it will be fine. But keep trying to save it, and disease will spread and kill everything.”

Willa frowned. He had a point. It went against her instincts to stand by and do nothing when a plant was dying, but as he said, it was necessary. She sighed. “You’re right.”

He wasn’t sure why he was there. He had never been a party person, and he certainly didn’t care about a ball dropping, but something about staying cooped up in the hotel room he called home just didn’t seem right. So there he was, wandering the streets of New York to see what all the fuss was about. That was where he saw her, that familiar shade of red hair that had popped up thrice in such a short amount of time. He couldn’t help but make his way over, amused and somewhat intrigued as to why he kept running into her. “I see no kids this time, have they already run off or are they safe at home?” he asked with a chuckle.

@wilheminataylor

Willa pulled her coat tighter around her, shivering. Part of her wished she had stayed home with the twins where it was nice and warm, but she had felt the need to get out. She loved her nephews dearly, but sometimes their rowdiness drove her to distraction and she needed an escape. So here she was. She looked up when she heard a familiar voice and she felt a smile cross her face. “No, they’re at home in bed. Asleep, hopefully.”

“You’re a witch?” Hamish stopped in surprise, a slight smile softening his features. He had never been too good with talking to muggles for too long. “In that case, I’m a hitwizard, what about yourself?”

Willa felt herself relax. “Just an herbologist. I work with the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Flora and Fauma. Nothing too exciting.”

With one arm wrapping around one of the boys, and the other hand going to practically field the other back towards the woman, he offered her a slight huff of laughter. “First day at the festival with them?”

“Is it that obvious?” The twins were still trying to escape Hamish. “Clark, Felix, come here.” The twins stopped their struggle and obeyed. “Don’t run off like that, okay?” They nodded. “Sorry, Aunt Willa,” they said together.

“Have fun, then. I already looked at it and it’s dying. Some things just need to go. It’s the way the world works.”

“Dying isn’t dead,” Willa pointed out. “Where they’re still life, there’s hope.”

“It’s nice to meet you Willa.“ He smiled, ever the polite one, before moving on. “I was hoping to get some Hellebore. Since most of it’s forms are toxic, I haven’t been able to find it in any of the apothecaries.”

“No, you won’t be able to. You’d have to go to a private company for that. I used to work at one such place and I still have contacts there. Would you like me to reach out to them?”

My ships: Wilhemina “Willa” Taylor & Hamish Emerson

Willa has had only two experiences of love. Both ended with her heart getting broken. So now she’s afraid to give her heart to anyone for fear of it happening again. But little does she realize that the man she just met, Hamish, might just change all that. That the third time really might be the charm. That sometimes, a change meeting is so much more than that.

“So am I. But I know enough to know that that tree is beyond our help.” Victor shrugged. 

“I wouldn’t give up on it just yet,” said Willa.

Victor watched the woman inspect the tree. “Are you working right now, or are sick trees just a passion of yours?”

“I’m an herbologist,” Willa said without looking up. “So this is my area of expertise.”