Pocket Full Of Posies

[Astrea Flowerchild]

Astrea Flowerchild was more than happy to be back in New Zealand, covered in bug spray. She had a very important buyer interested in a few healing potions, and considering she only gave the best to her customers, she needed to visit where she knew some Dittany grew. It happened to be nearly in the middle of Waipoua Forest that the young witch had come across some of the plants, which were semi-hard to find in areas such as this. She knew of others, but since her buyer was in New Zealand, it seemed that this was going to be her best bet. She wreaked of bug spray, but didn't mind so much as it kept her from being eaten alive. She had delicate shin after all, and having a bug bite on her tattoo was torture.

Astrea rounded a bend to the left, vaguely remembering where she had to travel. She had a hand made map in her hands, from her other times traveling through here. She'd found that in the darker parts of the forest, where thick trees grew, there were small arrangements of nightshade. She'd also planted a few sections of flowers - such as Belladonna - to find how it grew in these conditions. Coming from a village that respected the earth, and loved her abilities, she always was fascinated by the resilience of any plant in many climates. She came across the first patch, which was planted some distance from the Dittany. She knew she was on the right track, but was disappointed to see that the flowers weren't growing as well as she'd hoped. Perhaps with the trees around it, they were not getting enough water. "Aguamenti." She mutter, with want pointed towards the plant. She wanted to give them a little boost and conjured water around them, before making her way further in. After about ten more minutes she was finally able to harvest the Dittany. However, she had an uneasy feeling in her stomach. "Is anyone there?" She called out, her wand in her hand for defense. This was not an area many muggles would travel to after all - it was a good days travel into the forest and often Astrea found herself camping outside and making the trek in the morning.

 

[Ioan Finch]

Ioan Finch wasn't the leader of the potions subgroup for nothing. He knew that the sacrifices that he made for his work would never be understood by others. Growing up, he certainly wouldn't have believed that one day he'd sleep in a forest overnight to take advantage of the new moon to enhance his potion's strength. Ioan had big plans for this particular potion, once he tested it of course. It was one of his own creation, and he was confident that it would be monumental in the Scitorari's rise to power. Stretching his hands over his head, Ioan worked the kinks from his back that had come from spending the night on the forest floor. He'd had nothing but a sleeping back which was now rolled up and on his back and some supplies. Bending down, Ioan took a deep sniff of the potion that had remained brewing beside him all night. Somehow, it had come out just how he'd hoped it would. Taking note of the slate gray color, Ioan wondered if there was a way to change that without affecting anything else. He'd have to consult with some of his colleagues on that.

Ioan began to collect samples, filling up 3 vials before vanishing the rest of the potion away along with the rest of his supplies. He'd taken note of the ingredients and the steps, so he was confident that he could re-create it. For now though, he needed to head home for a shower and some food. Ioan knew that he could simply apparate away, but on this day he chose not to. There was something peaceful about being in the forest, and in Ioan's life, peace was not always easy to come by. With nothing but the forest sounds and his own knowledge of this forest to go by, Ioan began the long hike back towards civilization. Ioan crashed his way through, slowing his steps though not stopping as he heard a female voice call out.

Ioan could see no one in the area, so he rounded a grouping of trees slowly, his hands up in an attempt to make himself look harmless. His wand was at his back. He only had to keep moving his arm over his shoulder to arm himself. Finally, he spotted the woman - a witch- holding a wand out. Ioan kept his arms up, his voice deep as he spoke. "It's alright. I'm a wizard too. Good thing, right?" he smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring manner as he slowly put his hand down. "Or you'd have a lot of explaining to do to the Ministry." Ioan knew that the Ministry was fond of punishing individuals who tampered with the secrecy decree. It was disgusting how much effort was put into keeping muggles 'safe. ' As if it was the wizards who were the danger. Ioan knew it was usually the other way around. This was an interesting spot to run into someone though. Ioan never had before, though it had admittedly been a while since he had been here. Still, he was curious to find out what had brought a woman, a very much alone witch, so deep into the forest. "I don't usually run into anyone this deep into the forest" he noted. She didn't have to know that it had been years since he'd been here last.

Out of Character:

Here is how he's dressed minus the watch

 

[Astrea Flowerchild]

Astrea was more than surprised that another person - another wizard at that - was out in the deep woods. The woman's summer dress picked up in the wind, fluttering like butterfly wings, kissing her thighs. She didn't appear to look like much, and Astrea was no good with physical fighting. However, she could use her wand, thankfully without repercussions. She eyed the man with a hint of disdain at first, unsure who was also stepping through the beautiful nature she generally called home. Home for herself and her plants it were, hoping to grow new life in a beautiful way that would only be cut away by skilled hands. Her hands. Was he stalking her for her potion ingredients? That thought was enough to boil a deep pride in her that made her eye him with her dark brown orbs as if she were trying to see through him to his intentions. "Good thing, yeah." She murmured. In all honesty this was uncharacteristic of how she acted in a general group of people. When her ingredients were in danger - perceived or not - she became like a mother bear to them. They were like her children after all; though her only hep to them was occasional water and helicoptering over them to make sure they were protective.

"Nor do I." She responded, looking to him. Finally she was able to open up and speak in a full sentence. "I am a skilled potions maker. I am here to check on the Dittany. You aren't here to do the same are you? Because it's all coming with me regardless." There was a hint of passion that lit her voice into a flame. Had it manifested she'd have burned down the forest with the words. "You're here as well, just a hike in the wilderness? Or have you followed me?" Astrea had no enemies she could think of, except maybe those burned by her insults to their magical preferences. After all, she did believe that charms were silly - potions the most practical magic.

 

[Ioan Finch]

Suspicion marked all of the woman's words and the smile on Ioan's face slowly fell away, though the curiosity in his eyes were sparked even more. She was a potions maker, a 'skilled' one though most people liked to think they were skilled potioneers. It was apparent to Ioan that he'd stepped into the woman's garden, a garden that she claimed because as far as he knew the forest belonged to no one. It was like he'd stepped into a manticore cage. Ioan knew that the woman would attack him if she felt threatened, and it was obvious to Ioan that she did. It made the man wonder if she was doing more than just harvesting Dittany. It was a powerful potion ingredient, no doubt, but was it worth going against someone who was obviously more physically powerful and possibly more quick with a wand. Ioan didn't have his out, but he was sure that he could have it out and a spell cast in no time. His dueling skills had always been fairly good.

"Are you sure that you're only here to check on the Dittany?" Ioan asked, his eyebrow rising. "You seem awfully...paranoid" he continued in a casual tone, though there was a slight edge to his voice, " for someone who was just dealing with some Dittany." Ioan reached his hand back slowly and pulled out both his wand and one of the vials, the slate gray liquid sloshing around as he shook it slightly, left then right to show it off. "I wasn't just hiking, but I certainly wasn't following you either. I just finished working on this and decided to take the, uh, scenic route out." Ioan slid the vial into his pocket. His wand remained out.

 

[Astrea Flowerchild]

Astrea's deep orbs fell onto the man, and she could feel he was thinking. She was not sure of what, but it couldn't b good. She did not turn her back, but instead walked around the plants without looking away, and knelt by them. Sh was harvesting them now, with him protesting or not. She allowed him to continue to question her, her patience wearing thin. Her mind raced as he mentioned she was paranoid. "Of course I am. I grow my dittany in the kind of environment some other potions makers don't have available. If someone were to steal this ingredient, then I would not be able to get my customer their potion by time of their appointment. By not getting this on time for the appointment, I tarnish a reputations I've built up for years." She stopped talking for a moment, eyes turned down on the plant as he insisted he was just hiking.

Astrea's fingers were delicate when removing the plant. It was obvious from her work that she was indeed accustomed to the gentle nature of plants. It was simply because she was gentle by nature. Often she couldn't hurt anyone, or anything, her heart what would be considered bleeding. The kind of heart that would beat for mother earth long after death. She was sure that if it could make a sound it would cry out every time something was hurt. Her eyes would water at the thought of the pollution that plagued the planet, but she thought not of that. As she finished up the flowers she looked up at the man again. "There is nothing better than ingredients born in the wild. Now, I saw the vile you slipped away," She stood as she spoke. "Anything in particular? It's grey but I have the subtle feeling from it's lack of bubbles and your lack of invisibility that it's not an invisibility potion." She exerted her knowledge, though she wasn't sure what that meant for her. After all, he most likely wasn't as much an enthusiast as she was. Regardless she did like to show off.

 

[Ioan Finch]

Ioan kept still, his blue-green eyes following the woman as she moved closer to her beloved Dittany and knelt before it. He had to agree with her though. This Dittany would be more potent than most others because of its environment. Ioan wouldn’t have minded becoming one of her customers, and he couldn’t help but wonder who already was. The customers that she had had to be every bit as competent as she was. If Ioan looked impressed, the expression was only fleeting. He watched her in silence, choosing to let her do her work rather than continue to disrupt it. He certainly hadn’t run out of things to say to her, though his mind was whirring around like a machine. As she stood up and addressed him once more, Ioan found himself nodding in agreement. “You’ll get no disagreement from me there.” There were just some things that couldn’t be grown in a satisfactory way in the middle of a city, even one as small as the one that he lived in. “It’s a shame that more people aren’t able to grow their herbs in places like this. I’m sure the Ministry would just sanction it anyway if people did” he replied wearily, with a wave of disgust. Potent ingredients would create potent potions, and Ioan knew that the Ministry was loath to let something like that happen.

A smile crept across the man’s still handsome features as she turned her attention towards identifying the contents of the vial in his pocket. She’d only had a handful of seconds to look at it, but she’d quickly been able to ascertain what it was not, the most obvious guess considering its color. “You’re quite right. It isn’t an invisibility potion” Ioan agreed without adding anything more. Surely, the woman had to have an appreciation for secrets. She’d been so upset by his having come across her secret garden, after all. “Let’s just say that it’s a work in progress” he continued, hoping that by giving the woman a little bit of information that she would relax. Ioan doubted that she would, but he was willing to take the chance. It was obvious that the woman was beyond competent with potions and herbology. She’d be a strong asset to have. “I’m hoping to eventually get it so that the coloring isn’t so…harsh” he added after a moment, his thoughts drifting back to the one particular aspect of the potion that he hadn’t been able to conquer just yet. Ioan wasn’t worried about revealing that much. Eventually, he shrugged at the woman. “We’ll see what happens.”

 

[Astrea Flowerchild]

-insert Nichole Feeling Bad

A small smile formed on the ruby red of Astrea's lips, her cupid's bow stretching out in a pleasant way. She was happy that there was another person whom agreed with her views. She gave a small laugh at his comment, though there was nearly a dark sound beneath it. he felt that the ministry would control everything, and thus her hands clenched and she moved to lean against a tree. "The ministry is always where it doesn't belong. They have tried to tell me what potions I can and cannot sell in my own private practice. It's losing me money." She said with a grimace. "And valuable research as well." She then returned to the smiling demeanor, glancing over the man who stood across from her. "It's hard to find a potions enthusiast who also agrees with my views on the ministries control. "My name is Astrea." She said finally, extending a hand to the dark haired man to shake his. "I hope that I can see the finished product - perhaps I'll sell it when it's finished."