Retry ⇒ w/ recluserose

[recluserose]

[There's a few things that are different, but some things don't really change.

Amelia, a.k.a. "The Emerald Witch" a.k.a. the protege of the Witch King is having a normal human day all things considered. Her co-workers at high school have no idea how a "young" woman like her could keep on top of her work and make time for her Literature students (and sometimes she's not sure either), but Amelia managed.

Now that it's early afternoon on the weekend, Amelia wants to finish up a good book, right after doing something she recently picked up on... watercolors! There's something relaxing about the activity, at least when she paints her own garden. She walks outside with her materials, but then she stops after exiting from the back. Her brow furrows and she wrinkles her nose.]

... Strange. Was I supposed to receive a visitor?

Comments

[hadninelives]

[Things have been unsettled at the Beauchamp home after the attacks from the shape-shifter. Wendy knows her sister has the house covered with protection spells, but that hadn't stopped their enemy from casting dark magic at them. Joanna doesn't seem bothered, but Wendy knows her sister better than that. Joanna is downplaying the danger again so her daughters won't worry.

Well, Wendy is worried, and that's why she's wandered so far from home. They need a much stronger protection spell, and that means rare ingredients. Through the magical grapevine, she'd heard of a witch with a truly impressive garden. It's been a long trip, but hopefully it will be worth it.

When she finally finds the house, Wendy takes a moment to wander around the garden, just to check things out. She can see the magical aura around the house that tells her she's in the right place, and the garden lives up to what she's heard as well.

She's about to return to the door and knock when she hears a voice nearby, and turns to find what is undoubtedly the owner of the house and its garden frowning at her. She smiles and walks over to her.]

You must be Amelia. I'm Wendy Beauchamp. Sorry to drop in without warning. You have a lovely garden.

[recluserose]

[Amelia stiffens a little and straightens herself up, keeping her expression as neutral as possible.]

You're welcome.

[Her tone is rather flat.]

Is there something you needed?

[hadninelives]

[Wendy laughs.]

Well, there's a lot of things I need, but I'm only here for one. I'm looking for a silver chrysanthemum. I was told you're the only person around who might have one.

[It's a rare plant, and hard to grow without magic.]

[recluserose]

Considering I'm the only witch that lives in this town, you'd be correct about that. Although, I actually have several in the works with only one actually being available.

[hadninelives]

Any chance I could get you to part with that one?

I'm willing to pay, or to trade, if there's something you need.

[recluserose]

It depends on what you have to offer back. These take a long time to cultivate you know.

[hadninelives]

I do know. I've tried to grow one a few times, but so far I haven't succeeded.

[recluserose]

[Amelia sets her watercolor kit down on the ground to adjust her glasses.]

I'm going to be a little invasive and ask; what you need a silver chrysanthemum for?

[hadninelives]

[Wendy isn't bothered by her curiosity.]

It's a fair question. I wouldn't give something like that away without asking the same thing.

I intend to use it for a protection spell around my sister's house. She has a powerful enemy.

[recluserose]

Haven't we all? Can't live on this green earth without making an enemy or two. Same old story.

[Amelia rolls her eyes, but she's motioning to Wendy to follow her inside her house after opening her door.]

[hadninelives]

Good point. And some of us have had more time than others to make enemies.

[She follows into the house, taking in all the furnishings and decorations, and getting a feel for the magic around her.]

How long have you lived here?

[recluserose]

I've been her for about... Well, let's see I started living here when I was sixteen, and now I'm sixty-six...

Over fifty years.

[hadninelives]

It's nice to be able to stay in one place for that long. The locals don't give you any trouble?

[recluserose]

Well about half of those fifty years, people didn't even know I existed so that helped. [She's peering into her hallway now, squinting her eyes.] Now where is that door...?

[hadninelives]

That's one way to handle it.

[A missing door? That's interesting.]

[recluserose]

[Down the hallway they go!]

How did you find out about me anyway?

[Of course people talked about her in those certain circles, but Amelia had been trying to remain quiet and unremarkable... Well, as much as she can manage. Trouble always finds witches and vice versa.]

[hadninelives]

Well you know how people talk. When someone hears about a source for some rare plants, it tends to get around. You weren't mentioned by name though.

[She can certainly understand wanting to maintain a certain level of privacy.]

I'm not planning to broadcast your name either, by the way.

[recluserose]

Hm. I guess I shouldn't be too surprised. Nowadays, it's hard to find people who can actually make things that's meant for magic.

[hadninelives]

Tell me about it. Everyone is too wrapped up in their technology to believe in magic any more.

I guess that makes it easier for us to hide though.

[recluserose]

I think people need to start making things that are useful for thing. What's the use of magic if it's just used to sling arrows at each other?

[hadninelives]

What do you use your magic for?

[recluserose]

Anything that's useful. If I don't need magic to do it, I won't use it. Usually.

Ah, here we are. The door must have shifted by itself over the weekend.

[Amelia stops before a door and turns the knob. Inside it's actually a very humble looking greenhouse. Heck, most of the plants look very humble despite the promise of magical wonders.]

[hadninelives]

[Wendy looks around the greenhouse with a knowledgeable eye. She recognizes some of the plants.]

This is nice. It's always helpful to have the supplies close at hand.

[It's very tempting to break off a leaf here or there, but that would be rude. She slips her hands into her pockets to avoid temptation.]

[recluserose]

This is a room where the plants don't need much of an eye to watch them. They grown fine in their own privacy.

[There's a pot with gently swaying red vines as they walk past it. It seems to try and reach out with its tendrils, but Amelia slaps it away without batting an eye, as if it was some fly.]

[hadninelives]

Did you cultivate all this yourself?

[She looks on in amusement as the plant is rebuffed.]

My sister and I had an apothecary shop back in the late 1800's. We grew most of our own ingredients.

[recluserose]

I had to acquire seedlings and baby plants and others were already here before I even moved into this house.

Where's home base for the both of you now?