)(( Relieving the Tress of Their Burden )( Open ))(

[Arcadia Caughey]

Damnable winter. Thanks to the beast within Arcadia didn't feel the chill no matter how extreme the cold. But as one chosen to tend to Nature's earth-planted wonders the near dormancy of this region trapped in chill created a sullen itch inside of her. Most of her time was spent great distances away from here, either in Wallachia in service of her hospital or Adrian's needs, or she wandered to lands that were enjoying the heat of summer. Those who were closest to her all had means to find her, so she'd felt no guilt taking a 'vacation'.

No matter where she was, the Great Mother could find her as well, and so She did. The call was much like the pull a magnet must feel when attracted to its opposite pole. The sensation worked like a compass, guiding Arcadia as she travelled to where Nature deemed there was need. On this occasion, she was called to the Eastern Forest.

Here in New Haven even the streets were still claimed by a snow which had yet to cease. The trek from Archer's lab (for she had made use of his mirror to return here) was one of eerie winter quiet. The precious few that she passed on the street were hurriedly finishing whatever task they had to go back to the warm indoors.

Snow storm or no, the Irish lass wasn't dressed for the occasion, at least nothing as savvy as snow boots, suits, or even a heavy coat. Her knee-high lace up black leather boots while worn had fair traction and were treated to keep the water from seeping in. She wore thick dark grey stockings, but they wouldn't keep the wet of winter out if she had to trudge through feet of snow. Nor would her black sweater dress, or long grey duster. So, as she walked the near mile to her destination Arcadia put her wind to good use. Her will directed the invisible tendrils of air that always surrounded her downward, blowing the snow to either side and clearing a path that was just big enough for one person to walk. Namely her, but considering no one was out here with a snow shovel in her small way she was also doing a public service.

She only needed to stand at the mouth of the forest to see, feel and even hear why she was called here. The trees were aching and in their way crying to Mother for help. Subject to two heavy storms, snow-laden branches sagged to a point that was dangerously low. From her vantage point she could see some limbs had snapped under the pressure already, and as the blanket of white was still falling the situation would only worsen if she did not lend her aid.

This heavy snow was about to be treated to a heavier wind. But first, she would make her way deeper into the forest, where she could work in true private.

As she tread, under her breath she murmured words to her wind, and it dove to the ground and worked diligently to clear the way. Knowing that Arcadia was headed 'out of sight', the lively tendrils - which had a spirit all their own - became playful in how they flung the fallen snow away. She smirked as she watched the antics, and shook her head as she headed into the forest.

When she was deep enough to feel secure, two more words were uttered and the wind reached outward, seizing the natural wind in the area. Stretching her arms out towards the snowy sky she slowly pulled them back inward, turning her palms over so that they eventually faced the ground. This pulled the sum of wind inward and directed the cyclone at her feet, tossing the snow in all directions until she stood in a clearing that was five feet in diameter.

When she closed her hands into fists, the wind died down. Her indigo black hair settled in a wild nest past her shoulders. A faint pink verve flushed her skin, and she seemed to possess a faint glow. Even the shine of her eyes had a radiance that was almost golden. Weather working always thrilled her, ever since she was a child. Already the glamour she used to cloak her true appearance was faltering, and with a simple shake of her body she shattered it entirely. As a ritual of this scale would bring out her true being regardless, there was use trying to hide it.

As her hair bled to its proper gleaming blonde, the tangles smoothed themselves out as if ironed by an unseen force. The gold claimed her eyes completely, matching the radiant light that was her aura and power as one of the Chosen. Even her wind was visible now - as she knelt on the cold hard ground and extended her arms once more towards the sky, the thin tendrils of silver shot upwards. Into the moisture-heavy clouds. Tapping the storm. Stirring it up so that she could pull its potential downward in the form of Air.

The winter storm grumbling with thunder in protest, but she was experienced in this magic and resolute. She murmured a single word under her breath repeatedly as she carefully drew her arms downward, drawing down a torrent of wind that would be mighty enough to knock the branches of this entire forest clean. The gusts hit the canopies of the tallest trees, knocking them free of the snow-weight.

Arcadia was no novice. She was not about to let this wind of this power reek havoc and clear the trees all at once - the last thing she wanted was to bury any creature in an avalanche.

[Arcadia Caughey]

It just so happened that Jamison was also in the forest, and his purpose, although similar was not quite the same as Arcadia, she was clearing out physical snow, to ease the trees' burden, Jamison was easing their burden by clearing out a dryad who had been causing a ruckus. Jamison's solution for there being two feet of snow on the ground, big snow shoes. not literal ones of course, his where enchanted grains of sand, that multiplied and spread out his weight when he took a step, only to dissipate when he took another step.

the wind was about to pick up.  it was not a natural wind, moving from north to south or west to east.  instead it started from a fixed point - arcadia and her small clearing - and spread outward like a wave and then inward like draining water.  as it moved in this curious fashion, it also moved lower in the canopies in the trees.  once she pulled the wind down into the meat of the trees, the snowfall grew heavier and erratic in how it fell as the trees were relieved of their white burden.  a source of power pulsed in the wind, belonging to the very lass who was making the storm continue to rumble thunder and  mild lightening in objection to her harnessing its energy. she stirred quite an impromptu, cranky and messy blizzard.

With the great rise in the winds in his area, Jamison rose a hand, palm out towards the snow, a short breath which exhaled a single word was immediately followed by a spike in his magical energies. That spike was then channeled through the wizard's wristwatch, an action that brought to life a dome of energy around the wizard, the dome itself slowed the snow within the dome to a light snowfall. curious eyes wandered the forest then, searching for the cause of this unnatural blizzard.

if it were late in the spring or the dead heat of summer, there would have been no way that jamison could see arcadia from the distance between them.  but because the majority of the trees were barren besides one or two evergreens, he would be able to spot first the center of the winds and then the one who caused them.  when arcadia pulled the winds down to nearly her height, it kicked up the snow around her in what looked like the start of a tornado.  but with a smooth finish arcadia released the energy which went ripping back up towards the sky in one last blast of unusual nature.  once the snow fell for the last time to the ground and settled, the trees were bare, all fell quiet and arcadia could be seen.  one would think she would be covered with snow, but she wasn't.  she didn't look like she had a single flake on her, and she stood quite dry, only shaking her head to get her hair to fall properly around her shoulders.  she seemed not to notice him, until quite suddenly her head snapped in his direction.  she was one who always looked people in the eyes, but surely the distance between him would prevent such a gaze from landing.  the golden aura that pulsed around her, interrupted only by those silvery tendrils of wind, snapped off like a light switch.  that wasn't obvious.  at all.

She may have looked people in the eyes, but Jamison was two hundred and sixty years old, and having spent an entire life that long avoid eye contact, you got pretty good at it, so when her eyes met his, his expertly avoided hers. it was her eyebrows that got his eyes.  his direction changed and he started towards the woman. a brow raising as the visible torrents of air were dissipated." Please, do not allow my presence to stop you... I apologize for my interruption."

Arcadia considered it a fault of this land that when people saw a stunt like she'd just pulled they walked towards her, and not away from her.  Back on Earth...most would have run away.  As it was if he was watching her eyebrows he'd seen them quirk as she made a face and couldn't resist rolling her eyes.  "First of all, for someone who's apologizin' for interuptin' it's sort o' ironic that you're comin' closer.  But second, I was finished."  Her voice carried clearly through the nighttime quiet.  While it sounded youthful, vibrant and pleasant to the ear (if not a bit wry), she was no employing any sort of thrall.  She did not move towards him, but stayed at the center of her small clearing as she observed, "This isn't the conventual sort o' weather that y' see people wanderin' about on a pleasure stroll."

Jamison stopped his walking, sand pooling at his feet." Fortuitous I would say, at least from my point of view... I'm afraid it is not a pleasure stroll that brings me to the forests today... though they are rather nice, I'm certain the trees are rather grateful." a small, polite smile offered to her. his tone was genuine,  Magic was all about the flow of energies and when trees where happy, they flowed with energy and thus fueled his abilities.

It was the crunch in his steps that drew her eyes downward.  She watched the sand pool around his feet and slowly her brow arched quite high on her smooth, blemishless and slightly pale forehead.  It wasn't often, even in this land with so many creatures who had A to Z of abilities, that she came across someone who applied magic with such logical practicality.  It left an impression.  "They are grateful.  They cried for help, only moments ago.  That's why I came.  And you, your pleasure stroll in the dark o' the  night durin' a storm, it's t' what end?"  She wasn't paranoid, she was cautious.  It wasn't so long ago that the Order had been after her, and while that problem had been taken care of...sometimes loose ends remained.  As one of her silver tendrils wafted by her, rubbing the top of her cheek, she noticed it wasn't invisible.  A little flick of her wrist, and the tendrils of wind faded from view.  When one knew what to look for, however, they could see the tendrils still moving in how her long grey coat moved and her strands of blonde hair blew in said breeze.

"One of the Wyldfae informed me that several of their number haven't gotten back home... and that there was a new Dryad in the area, i'm seeking her out in order to see if she is responsible...The little ones are so very emotional And I owed them a favor, Hence, being out door during a storm." his energy still pulsed around him, the speed of the projectile snow lowered to a gentle snowfall within the dome around him."Might I ask if you're familiar with these woods?"

Now that the trees were bare, the snow was falling at a regular rate.  Not exactly a flurry, but it was no longer a torrent.  It was enough of a different that Arcadia could see the dome of energy that surrounded the man.  Again, such a practical usage.  Noted.  When he mentioned the Dryad and the Wyldfae's complaint, a ruckus stirred in the trees within 'earshot'.  It was not a wind.  They were actually laughing.  Yes, trees laughed.  Those erratic breezes that come out of nowhere and are gone before you know it?  Not breezes.  Laughing trees.  And these trees apparently found the rumor mill very funny.  Arcadia gave the nearest chittering tree a scolding glance, clucking her tongue at it.  "Shut it, wee one."  She muttered.  Her lips pursed as she stepped to the edge of her clearing, violet eyes looking rather intensely into Jamison's eyes even if the gaze wasn't met.  "I've no interest in the fae o' these woods, laddy."  Ooo.  Laddy.  The corner of her lip curled into a rather smart little smirk.  This entire time they conversed, of course her lips parted no more than to show her front teeth, if that.  She was careful of that as always.  Even her true appearance worked in her favor.  Even if this man happened to follow the news, she didn't look her sometime photographed self.

Jamison's brows rose in question, his power lightening up, which brought the dome to an end, shimmering like water and sliding down like water does against glass, but there was no actual water. the energy, simply returned to the world around them. "But you've an interest in the woods? a Dryad who's looking to start trouble,can start a lot of trouble my dear... you haven't seen anything amiss have you?" yeah he tossed back a 'my dear' implying she was a little girl, see he could shoot little jabs back just as well as she can.

When he called her 'my dear', Arcadia actually let out a laugh.  It was  low-toned laugh, and short lived.  Literally something like a "Heh.  Heh.  Heh."  Despite her dry laugh, Arcadia did not at all miss the glow of Jamison's magic and the manner in which it concluded its task.  Her sardonic set of her lips turned into a thoughtful frown, violet eyes leaving his face to study the area round him.  As she did so, she gave him the rest of her reply.  "No more interest than in any other.  I tend here when m' called, as it is for any other bit o' Earth.  I've seen nothing else amiss other than you, champ."  Champ.  How did she manage to keep a straight face.  Her cheek was because whether or not he intended to, he'd caught her doing what she preferred to keep private, and it rubbed her ego a wee bit sour.

"hm, Indeed, And you are the only being amiss in the forest tonight, that I have come across this evening..." Jamison was adding things up in his head. a slight tilt and he slid a hand into the pocket of his long thick, woolen overcoat. "If you would indulge and old man's curiosity little one, might I ask you your name?"

"Then it seems we are well met, scrapper, aye?"  She cocked her right eyebrow at him, before her eyes dropped to watch the hand that slid into his pocket.  If he drew something out of there like holy water or any other of that nonsense, she was going to get quiet cross.  (no pun intended)  She herself had an old worn drawstring cotton bag slung over her shoulder, but she made no move to reach for it.  "Arcadia."  It was rare that she gave her full name unless asked for it, for no other reason than the fact that she was just that informal and lacking manners.  "It's not every day that I run into someone in the thick o' woods tellin' me they have a workin' relationship with the wee o' the fae folk, sweetie." Sweetie.  The word tasted terrible on her tongue, even in jest.

"Arcadia..." repeated, more for his own benefit then her own. and then a nod."Indeed we are then Ms. Arcadia..." a polite  bow offered to her pulling his hand form his pocket slowly, gripped in his hand a cold iron nut, which was tossed under hand at the woman. "They're living beings too, and need help just as often as the greater Fae...Think fast Young Lady." that was one sure as hell way to figure out if she was the dryad creature he was looking for.

"Just Arcadia.  Unless y' wish t' be callin' me Countess."  Ever since that union with Adrian, Arcadia tended to give people either the ridiculously informal option or the ridiculously formal one, knowing full well that people she met in a happenstance manner were not about to bother calling her by a pompous title.  While her eyes had moved back to watch his face the predator in her had greater awareness than that, and she was 'watching' the movements of his hand.  The fact that he was withdrawing his hand so slowly, it was enough to force her to suppress a growl.  Slow movements were not something predators enjoyed.  So when he tossed the object at her, she was ready.  The command was silent, and the invisible bit of wind impressively accurate as it circled the nut, carrying it back to Jamison where it would bounce off his chest if he didn't catch it.  "I'd think you'd toss at least a few harsh words my way before y' start flingin' bits o' nonsense at me, tot."  She had no clue why exactly he was throwing bits of nonsense - she found it peculiar.  Arcadia chose this moment to draw closer to him.  As she stepped forward, her wind returned to its former work.  blowing the snow in front of her to either side, to clear a path wide enough for her to walk.  "Your name?"

Jamison wasn't a politician, didn't watch TV and seldom read the newspaper. "I'm sorry sweetheart. I only thought to test your reflexes." raising a hand to allow the nut to fall into his hand, which went back into his pocket, only to deposit the iron nut. she'd passed his test thus far. Fae had a rather irrational fear of iron, they called it the Bane. it was poison to them. "LeFey. It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance Arcadia." he used his last name, because it tended to carry more weight then his first name, and since she grew up in Ireland and in the art of magic, she might recognize the name, or not. it didn't matter either way. she might get his first name depending on how she reacted.

[Arcadia Caughey]

So long as Jamison did not move back, Arcadia walked directly up to him, stopping about two feet away.  Her movements had a fluid ease to them, but to a stranger it could be written off as her simply knowing this area quite well.  She came to a halt just far enough away that he most likely wouldn't feel her wind wafting around her, as it kept fairly concentrated around her own body and aura and didn't stray unless it was bid to or being playful.  From this proximity, the wry nature of her smirk would be quite plain to him.  And why the bugger would y' need t' be testin' those, LeFey m' bonny boy?"  Fey.  Fae.  To the ear the words rang the same, and it was no longer curious to her that he was servicing the needs of the wee folk of this forest.  Obviously he was one himself or had some connection to them, for him to be named thus.  As she had a rather sequestered existence in a quite remote part of Ireland, his name rang no bells for her.

"Research, checking to see if you young whippersnappers have both the capacity and the wherewithal to catch a projectile with a minimum of preparation... congratulations... you passed. I've a gold star for you if you'll accept it." she was rather close now, there where a number of things that Jamison could do if needed, raise a gust of wind to bury her in the snow, kick the sand at his feet in her eyes, or simply trigger the ring on his hand, that would push her away with kinetic force, if she attacked.

She was fighting the greater grin.  As suspect as his presence was to her still, she respected the manner in which she's seen him use magic thus far and he was entertaining in his turn of phrase.  "Do y' then?  I don't know truly if I've earned it, moppet, as I didn't actually catch it.  Call me presumptuous, but I'd like t' learn the correlation between you lookin' for a trouble makin' dryad and checkin' me reflexes."  She lifted her brow to punctuate her question, her golden eyes keeping watch on his avoiding ones quite closely.  While she folded her arms across her chest just then, there were many options Arcadia could employ if this man decided to get fresh with her, physically, magically or verbally.  Not to mention the fact that the trees here were rather loyal to her, especially right now.  She'd just done them a great service, after all, and trees were not as still as most people thought.

A smile from the Wizard who tapped a heel of his foot, which pushed the sand down and around his feet downward to lower him in the snow until his feet rest upon the ground, and he stood, not much taller then she did, average height for a man."I would be a rather poor teacher if I did not quench the thirst for knowledge within the minds of Babes..." His hand went into his pocket again and he pulled out the lug nut once again." A Dryad would have fled in terror if she saw this tossed in her direction. Where you to do just that, I would have found the Dryad I was looking for." The lug nut went back into his pocket  and his hand stayed there.

Arcadia smirked.  This bloke considered himself a teacher to boot.  She had taught many a class on many a topic, mostly centered around healing or the magical arts.  She saw no need to mention this fact, however.  His explanation seemed to put her at ease.  Truth be told, she interpreted his need to check her reflexes as testing her to see if she was a vampire - to be called out as one was something she suffered far more often than she'd like around these parts.  It's  not that she wished to hide, it's just that she thought people had more good sense or manners than to go around pointing fingers at people and announcing what wasn't their business.  Still, she was not at all convinced that she wasn't the lass he was looking for.  But she was not going to say that outright until asking one more question first.  "And should y' find this Dryad, what exactly is it you're plannin' on?"  Her golden eyes watched his face for a moment after she asked that, before they settled on the hand that was tucked away in his pocket.  She made no attempt to hide the fact that she was looking there.  She couldn't care less if this man knew that she didn't quite trust him.  And yes, Arcadia stopped the name calling.  It was a purposeful choice.

" it was only a small lug nut, it wasn't going to hurt you. but, I do apologize for that." Her statement caused him to raise a brow. but that was quickly followed by a small smile and a nod." I'll make sure to let them know, as well as delivering your message to them... You know how they can get when something exciting happens."

She'd walked a few steps down the path her wind had blown her, stopping and turning around when he made that last comment.  "Aye.  I do.  Tattlers!"  She tilted her head back and called that out clearly into the quiet winter night.  Golden eyes wandering over each of the trees and the mounds of snow with a wry scrutiny.  Once she was satisfied, she dropped her eyes to watch him before she said with a faint scoff. "O' course it wasn't."  She looked at him with clear expectation on her features, before she had a faux-realization.  "Oh are y' still plannin' on lingerin' here then?  Even though y've done your knightly duties?"  She was assuming that the wee ones had actually been watching this exchange the whole time.  Little drama queens, getting the big fae on campus to do their dirty work for them.

"Of Course not, I was merely dissipating a ward." his sand enchanted had faded, since he was walking with her for the time being he didn't need his snow shoes while doing that. "I've still a pair of their number to locate... I promised them chili fries when they're reunited." he slid both hands into his pockets; taking a few steps forward showing his intent to follow.

"O' course.  Chili fries," replied dryly as she cast a look over her shoulder.  She honestly wasn't sure how she felt about this forest prowler, and part of the reason she gave that backhanded invitation for him to follow her was to escort him out of here.  "And you're suggestin' without suggestin' that I should give y' me aid because it was my gales that colored them missin'?  I had t' tend t' the trees.  The wee ones were mad flittin' about in a storm in the first place, they should o' stayed tucked into their fairy beds."  Clearly Arcadia was trying to defensively explain away her guilt.  She really hadn't intended to get any creatures caught under an avalanche.  "I can help t' locate them.  If y' wish."  Added with just a hair of sheepishness once Arcadia realized just how defensive she sounded.

"Now Arcadia, it would be rather impossible for me to say something without saying it. But if you would like to assist me in my search, I would be more then grateful for the assistance." another smile and a polite nod from Jamison. who slid both hands into the pockets of his jacket. "I know, i'm told that the ones that had gone missing where looking for food, which i why i promised them chili fries… one order will feed their entire colony for a day or two depending."

"Really?  I find it quite easy."  She did.  Arcadia was expertly skilled in saying things without actually verbalizing them, which is probably why she looked so smug at the moment.  When he said the little ones went missing while they were out hunting, Arcadia grimaced.  It was a brief twist of her expression, allowing a short view of her teeth.  Considering that she was not facing him directly, the view he was provided was partially obstructed at best.  The reason for the wince was a nice pang of guilt straight in the gut.  What she'd said to him a moment ago was true - she really didn't mean to cause trouble.  Her dry attempt at humor was slightly mumbled, "Goin' t' whip those up yourself?  I doubt a lot o' places'll be deliverin' in this mess...."  She adjusted the direction she was facing, so that her back was to the mouth of the forest a short distance behind her.  She whispered a short command under her breath in her mother tongue, both hands gesturing outward.  Jamison would perhaps feel the bits of wind rush by him as they followed Arcadia's bidding, but he wouldn't see them.  "It'll just be a moment."

"I'm afraid not, I'm a dreadful cook when it comes to anything edible... There is a small restaurant that serves them, they're still open in this mess. I believe I'll go in and order for the small ones." To her second statement, it was only going to be a moment, Jamison gave a nod, taking a step back, watching her work her magics over the forest. He was not skilled with natures magic, The wiccans did not accept the offer for entry into the council, and are rather guarded over their secrets. though the art fascinated him.

[Arcadia Caughey]

She said nothing about his plans, unless one counted what she said without saying - through the slight smirk that curled the corners of her distinctly red lips.  Part of her silence was so that she could better apply her preternatural hearing, focusing her attention on what her loyal wind stirred in the distance.  The wind she sent to the north returned first, and she closed her golden eyes and drew in a deep breath through her nostrils.  Nothing.  The same was done with the northwestern wind, and the western wind, and both brought no scent reminiscent of the small folk.  The wind of the southwest, however, proved a different story.  To her nose the scent of the fae always had another layer to it, something mystical and sweetly smelled.  "That way.  No great hike, but more so in this great white."  The rest of her winds returned at their leisure, slowing to waft around her as always, her invisible little companions.

"Indeed... If you'll allow, I'd like to make the walk a bit easier..." from his pocket he pulled a pinch of sand. which was then sprinkled onto he ground before them. "Snelle Reizen" the words spoken clearly and they resulted in a rise of his power around them, the sand spreading, multiplying to a small pool. on that Jamison rubbed the soles of his shoes in. "Help yourself, it will allow us to travel on top of the snow, it'll make the trek less arduous."

Between his scent and the particular feel of Jamison's power, he would be hard pressed to sneak up on Arcadia in the future.  Such were details that she never forgot - or rather, that the predator within never forgot.  This was obviously the enchantment that he had been employing earlier when they first ran into each other, and now she'd been given the opportunity to see how he cast it.  It was clever, and the man used no more energy than was necessary.  He certainly was a rarity.  When he bid her help herself, Arcadia's lips parted.  What she was about to say nearly hopped off her tongue until she thought better of it.   No need to disclose that bit of information, no need at all.  She promptly closed her mouth, and would do the polite thing - indulge him.  Crossing to his small pool of sand, she extended her legs one at a time to rub her feet in.  She did it this way to keep a respectful distance between the two of them, but she was close enough that he might feel the cool of her wind wafting by him in its small independent bits.  It wasn't until her second boot bottom was coated that she thought to murmur, "Thank you."

"You're most welcome." a wave of his hand send the pool dissipating, returning to nothing more then the sprinkle he had dropped. a step up, and he was on top of the snow, kneeling slightly in order to offer her a hand, in assistance to get her on top of the snow as well. no he wasn't a chauvinist. he was just trying to be helpful and polite. after all she was a rather young girl. we couldn't have her skinning her knee.

If Arcadia had heard that thought in his head, he'd have received a nice healthy smack for it.  Appearances were deceiving and she was not as young as she looked.  She took her time accepting the offer of his hand.  A skilled observer would have called it stalling, but she made it look far more natural than that.  It gave her time enough to decide if she really wished to disclose the bit of information taking his hand would reveal.  In weather like this, Arcadia's hand would feel colder than it normally did.  Much like a rock absorbed the cold, so did her body.  Because she knew this and she didn't want to cause him discomfort, Arcadia took his hand as briefly as possible, stepping up on top of the snow with ease.  "I suppose I'll lead the way then."  She was the one who knew more precisely the location, after all.  Now it was she who slipped both of her hands into the pockets of her long coat, and she started off.  The direction they tread had no straight path, but he would find her rather skilled at spotting a way through the weave of trees, even when they seemed too tangled to easily pass.

"Lead on, I will follow closely." The coldness of her hand, did not escape the Wizard, but his mind went in a different direction then she might have suspected. he was thinking that it was extraordinarily cold out, and that could be why her hands where cold. however, if she where a vampire, Jamison was prepared for that as well. a small pouch of silver dust in his pocket. the supernatural tended not to like it... unless you where fae, but thats what the lug nut was for. "It is not often i meet one who is as skilled as you are in Nature's art, It's rather impressive."

She cast him a brief, sly little smile.  "It's not often I meet a practitioner who isn't zappin' themselves dinner, tissue boxes, or all sorts o' other ridiculous nonsense just because they can.  It's left an impression."  She did not say it was impressive because Arcadia was rather set in her beliefs when it came to how she felt magical energy should be spent.  To use it as it should be was not impressive, it was to be expected.  Normally she would have made her way through the trees as a more clipping pace, but she put a lid on her usual speed so that he might follow her closely as he wished.  In what might seem like out of the blue to him she slowed her pace even more and instructed, "Step exactly where I have stepped."  It was hard to tell why she gave that instruction, since everything was covered in snow.  Suffice to say she knew the area well.

"Thank you, though i worry of the state of this land when to use the art as it should be leaves an impression." it was true,  Sure people abused magic back home, in the council even, but it was either kept to yourself. or, you where a practitioner of the dark arts and you where tried and found guilty, to which there was only one punishment. Dark arts were no joke.

Arcadia snorted.  Despite her warning to Jamison to step in her foot tracks, she herself was not even looking down at the ground.  She didn't need to.  She could feel the ground below her feet, even when separated by a solid two feet of snow.  Her connection to the earth was a strong one.  "Aye, well.  Join the club.  I held classes for years, but y' can't teach a dog a new trick if he's content just sittin' around and lickin' his own arse."  Rather choice words, but they demonstrated the esteem in which she held most of the practitioners in this land.  There were exceptions to her distaste, of course.  She, Jamison and those exceptions seemed to be in the gross minority, however.  They came to a rather formidable mountain of snow - there was a hedge somewhere buried under all of it - and Arcadia gesture to said mountain.  "Your destination, laddy."  Yes, she slipped that in. Or maybe, just maybe she didn't care to call him LeFey.

[Arcadia Caughey]

"Thank you, Arcadia... and please, Call me Jamison, it is my given name." he rose a brow at the mound of snow and then leaned over to dust a majority of the snow away, allowing the pair of freezing fae sprites to zoom out, one yellow and one blue. bolted from the mound of snow and started off in two entirely separate directions."Sorry about them, they're rather shy around new people. They'll both make it home safely."

"What, y' don't care for laddy?"  She made a little face after she said that.  She just admitted the man had made an impression on her, so why was she still making needling comments like that one?  Behind her closed lips, her tongue lightly rubbed against the bottom of one of her sharp teeth.  A hunger test, to see how much the rub would stir an ache.  It was dull, hardly sharp enough to sharpen her tongue.  Perhaps it was the lug nut that he'd pitched at her, the fact that he'd been 'testing'.  As he made his apology, she gave a little wave of her hand.  "Think nothing on it.  M' a gorgon as far as they're concerned.  Because I only tend t' the plants and not t' their nonsense, if y' ask me my opinion on it..."  She folded her arms across her chest, and gave it her best to appear like she didn't mind that the little ones of the woods were at odds with her and saw her so.

"I see it as no bother, but I felt that as you've done me a service, I'd offer my given name on top of my family name. You're free to call me laddy though, Makes me feel a bit younger." a smile and a nod, Jamison offering forth his hand again. this was for a shake. no tests on his part on this one." Yeah, I'd be careful when you're getting into bed, they're not above petty revenge, like placing a tack on your pillow, or something akin to that.

"M' glad I could put a bit o' youthful steam in your stride."  Her golden eyes dropped to the offered hand, but this time there was no pause before she clasped it.  He'd already felt the cold that came with her touch, and she'd already been near enough for him to feel that the faint movement of wind seemed a constant around her, so what other secrets were there for a handshake to reveal?  Besides, while he may not feel so in the chilly outdoors to Arcadia he was warm.  How she coveted warmth.  "Aye, well.  As they say, what's revenge t' one is a pleasure to another."  Funny, that sounded a bit less candid in her mind.  Still, it was the truth - what could a thumbtack possibly do that her precious thorny jasmine vines didn't do and then some?  Shedding blood was something Arcadia was absolutely not a stranger to.  "Gods bid y' good evenin', Jamison m' lad."

Why that was rather candid wasn't it? good thing Jamison was too much a gentleman to speak more on the matter. all he offered was a rather firm handshake and a retrieval of his hand, which went into his pocket." And may the mother guide your steps safely. Arcadia My Dear." that was a proper well wishing right? admittedly he had never dealt with many nature magic wielders. another small salute, fingers tapping at his brow and Jamison was on his way to make sure the faeries had gotten home safely.

It wasn't until Jamison showed her his back that she remembered.  She'd wanted to give the man something.  That he could pass on, or keep, depending on his inclination.  She ducked her hand deeply into her shoulder bag, seeking something that was quite valuable, though most would not be smart enough to realize it.  Once she pulled it out, she called after him.  "Laddy."  Her voice sounded clearly in the quiet, with a hint of a bells to it that suggested something more than the ordinary.  She waited until he turned, or at the very least looked over his shoulder.  "Think fast, youngin'."  Just as he hadn't bothered to wait with her, she did not wait for him.  Instead she pitched it - a smooth, underhand pitch that was quite masterful in its aim.  Arguably perfect.  Coming his way was one of the golden apples from her tree in Asgard.  This particular one had been plucked by the Thor when she'd tended to the Asgardian garden last.  She'd slipped it uneaten into her bag that day, and the apples of Idunn - the goddess of rejuvenation and fruits of healthful immortality - did not spoil.  "For you, or the little 'uns.  For the trouble."  A cryptic little smirk punctuated the sentiment, and as she now considered her business here truly fulfilled, Arcadia turned to depart.


Jamison turned to look when she said 'laddy' reacting just in time to catch the fruit that she had tossed on his way."An apple? thank you.  I'll save it until after dinner." yes apparently Jamison was the kind of guy to eat fruit for dessert in stead of sweeties. better for you that way, and besides, who doesn't like apples? especially if they where superpowered apples. the wizard didn't know that though.

[ the end! ]

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