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Zinnia Gallagher · August 23, 2025 – 7:03 PM

30 Aug 1895 -Padmore

Zinnia hadn’t been out of the house in days, as was expected of her, but she was starting to feel like she couldn’t breathe there. Five minutes is what she told herself, to get some fresh air because if she didn’t the grief might consume her. It wasn’t like Padmore Park was very far, and with Calla watching Emery for her, Zinnia could make it there even faster. She wasn’t going to do a full lap around the park, no, she’d walk just enough to let the sunshine soak into her bones.

The park was luscious and blooming, flowers spilling onto the edge of the path, and she couldn’t help but pause as she passed one of the rose bushes lining the path, drawn by the sharp tilt of a branch and the faint spatter of petals on the ground. It wasn’t the bush that was spattering petals onto the path but rather someone standing too close to it, their hand… body, maybe? Tangled in the thorny stems.

In fact it looked as if the bush was keeping them hostage, the stems having curled with uncanny precision to keep them caught, but not clamping down hard enough to maim. Zinnia knew a sulky plant when she saw one, but this was stubborn even by magical standards.

“They’ve got you good, haven’t they?” She finally asked. Hesitating then, because she promised herself she wouldn’t stay here long but she couldn’t let this person remain stuck, Zinnia stepped forward. Her fingers itched for secateurs that weren’t there. “Roses don’t like to be bullied. May I?”

Bee made this beauty<3

Anthony Alderton · August 23, 2025 – 7:20 PM

Anthony didn’t know how in the bloody hell he always got himself caught in these scenarios. First it was tripping into the fountain in France and now this? He was 2/2 every month so far this summer. Tugging at the vines that had curled themselves into his hair, he muttered slightly under his breath.

The curse of having curly hair was always a danger when one was too close to any kind of wild thing, but bushes and brambles in particular. He’d long since learned as a child never to hide in foliage when he and Lucy played hide and seek. One time had been so bad the governess had needed to shave a part of his head to clear the mass of knots that had wedged themselves in his hair! (It had been magically regulated so he didn’t look like a buffoon for long, but the memory was still traumatizing.)

Anthony growled under his breath again and reached for his wand. He was done trying to play nice with this bush! He was seconds away from zapping it to high hell when the sudden sound of a soft, feminine voice interrupted his vendetta. He couldn’t turn to face the woman who offered her aid but he stilled, and waited as she reached forward to help him with it anyway. “Er— yes, thank you,” he breathed, gratefully. “I don’t know what happened.”

Zinnia Gallagher (Sniping this WHOOPS #notsorry they're cute baha)

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Zinnia Gallagher · August 24, 2025 – 1:55 AM

Zinnia laughed quietly. The sound surprised her, catching inside her throat like she hadn’t meant to let it go. It was probably the first time she’d done so since Rhys’s death, and she felt her chest loosen from it, just enough to notice the absence of that heavy weight she’d been carrying.

She leaned in without thinking, careful of her skirts so the branches wouldn’t get her too. Up close she could see the way the plants had angled themselves, digging themselves into his curls so it was difficult to pull himself free. “You stood too close, that's all.” Zin murmured.Her fingers brushed carefully at the vine, testing how deeply the thorns had worked themselves in. One tug, and it only tightened, digging spitefully against his scalp.

“They need a little coaxing. A little patience, a little respect. It might take me a moment.” She slid her fingers in carefully, coaxing at one of the thorny loops that had woven itself into his hair. It came away only halfway before tightening again, as though the bush resented her for taking away its prize. She frowned and tried another strand. That one shifted, but not enough to set him free. Zinnia worked at another stubborn coil, thumb brushing against the warmth of his scalp as she maneuvered the vine.

Not wanting to fall into a weird hush, Zin kept talking. “At least it chose your hair and not your ear. That would be far more unpleasant.”

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Anthony Alderton

Bee made this beauty<3

Anthony Alderton · August 24, 2025 – 4:15 AM

Whoever was behind him had laughed quietly and Anthony felt his cheeks heat. He was glad she couldn’t see his face; he was embarrassed, of course he was embarrassed, but he didn’t want her to know that if he could prevent it. He was quiet as she explained that he must have just stood too close, flinching instead as a thorn dug down into his skull. He hated plants… This was the defining moment in his future memoirs where he would be able to look back and point to a turn in his long, tenuous relationship with herbology— for the worse.

Anthony huffed to himself as the woman described what needed to be done. He would be patient for her sake more than the stupid bush. She seemed to know what she was doing at least, and for that he was endlessly grateful. “Thank you,” he said again, quietly. The soft pressure of fingers in his hair soon softened his irritable attitude and Anthony felt the tension in his shoulders ease. He… had never had a woman touch his hair before. Without being strange about it, he could admit at least to himself that it was rather …nice.

A small, surprised laugh bubbled up at the woman’s subsequent comment and Anthony lurched a bit prompting the bush to tighten its grip. “Sorry!” he apologized quickly. “But yes, that would have been much, much more unpleasant. Surprisingly - or perhaps not - it’s not the first time I’ve been caught in a bush either,” he admitted. “These curls are a real curse sometimes.” Was he trying for a joke? The lopsided grin on his face seemed to express as much, not that she could see it.

Zinnia Gallagher

Zinnia Gallagher · August 27, 2025 – 5:09 PM

“I’ll consider myself lucky then, that I caught you on your second offense rather than your first.” Zinnia murmured as her fingers moved carefully, coaxing another thorn to loosen its spiteful hold. She wasn’t sure why Padmore constantly kept bringing in plants (and animals!) whose prime focus it seemed to be to attack people, but she wasn’t on the committee so she didn’t get a say.

She tapped her head. “I’m sure your curls suit you. Though I suppose I might feel differently if it were my scalp at stake instead of yours.” She hadn’t seen his face yet, but it wasn’t like curls were dreadful or terrible to look at. The thorn finally slid loose under her coaxing, and she gave a soft, satisfied hum, fingertips brushing feather-light as she checked the next snarl.

It only took her a few more tries before Zinnia finally felt the last stubborn thorn give way, although as it pulled free, she wasn’t sure if it left a scratch or not behind. She gave a triumphant little hum as she was pleased with her work before easing her hand back from his hair. “There. Give it a shake to make sure I got them all.”

Bee made this beauty<3

Anthony Alderton · August 27, 2025 – 5:24 PM

Anthony felt his lips quirk higher at the woman’s response parry. He wasn’t about to share his shaving incident with her, but he’d have liked to think they had a moment of camaraderie anyway. She could imagine, he was sure.

The following compliment was purely polite, Anthony could read as much, but he appreciated it anyway. At least he wasn’t scraggly and off-putting from behind. It had to say something that a woman he didn’t know was willing to reach so gently into his hair and help him out, by hand. She probably could have used her wand too, to blast these horrendous vines away, but she’d opted to be gentle. With him as much as the bush.

Finally the last of them seemed to pull away and, as her fingers brushed one last time across his scalp, Anthony felt the tension in his shoulders ease. “Thank you,” he breathed gratefully again. And doing as instructed, he lifted a hand to run it through his curls, brushing loose any remaining foliage as he made to turn. A winning smile spread across his lips as he made to grace his savior with thanks. She was remarkably pretty.

Remembering his manners and saving himself from yet another disastrous introduction, Anthony gave the lady a short bow at the waist. “Anthony Alderton,” he introduced. “Exclusively at your service, should you ever need a return favor.” He quirked another grin and flashed her a teasing smile. “I have been your damsel to save today and appreciate the valiant effort.”

Zinnia Gallagher

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Zinnia Gallagher · August 27, 2025 – 6:21 PM

Zinnia was pleased that the man had remained still enough for her to work – on top of that, he hadn’t even complained about the thorns digging into him or how slow she was being. She didn’t step back as he straightened, letting her gaze linger on him as he grinned at her before she inclined her head in return. There was no thanks needed, Zinnia would have done the same for anyone, but it was still nice to hear it.

Her gaze caught his for a beat, and she couldn’t help but smile as he bowed in her direction. It was nice to be treated like a lady. “Zinnia Potts.” She said, because Potts were more known than Gallagher, and well, it might make more sense as to why she was so gentle with the plants if he knew she was collected to a florist family than not. Plus she didn’t want the pity when it came to people realizing that her late husband was the Mr. Rhys Gallagher, slain head constable. It'd be nice to free from that, even if just for a few minutes.

She’d live with this little white lie.

She stepped neatly aside from the bush, freeing him a proper path, though she lingered close enough to still count as company. “Mr. Alderton, would you like to walk with me for a little bit?” Zinnia asked. Although no thorns had come out of his hair, she had a sneaking suspicion that the bush wasn’t done with him. “Before another wicked plant decides you’d make a fine trophy.”

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Bee made this beauty<3

Anthony Alderton · August 27, 2025 – 6:33 PM

The lady was polite and she lingered close enough for Anthony to get a good look at her. Strangely enough, he didn’t feel uncomfortable with the close proximity. It felt like they’d been through something together and she’d more than earned her place in his good graces. He smiled as she introduced herself. “It’s lovely to meet you Ms. Potts,” he returned. (Idly, Anthony wondered if it was the same Potts as the flower shop Lucy liked. He wasn’t himself too familiar, but he was sure he’d heard the name before.)

He laughed at her following query and gave an easy nod. “Of course,” he responded with the hint of a tease. “I shouldn’t like to stray too far from my knight in shining— petticoats.” A cheery smile full of pearly white teeth graced his visage and Anthony felt himself relax into step beside her.

Lacing his hands behind his back, Anthony admired the path before them. It was a little overgrown with hedges and foliage but the many (hated) bushes provided a shade from the sun that even Anthony could appreciate. It was a sticky, humid day to round out the summer and he was frankly looking forward to a good chill. “So, Ms. Potts, what brings you to Padmore Park today?” he asked, hoping to make friendly conversation.

Zinnia Gallagher

Zinnia Gallagher · September 2, 2025 – 1:32 AM

Miss Potts. She hadn’t been called that in over a year, and it was weird to hear it now. Still, it was better than seeing the pity in his eyes over her dead husband. Zinnia’s lips twitched into a small smile, especially as he agreed to take a walk with her. The company would be nice. Maybe it would bring her out of her funk of sitting in bed while she replayed Rhys’s death in her head over and over again.

She laughed quietly, shaking her head free of the thought. Now wasn’t the time. “Knight in shining petticoat?” Oh, if only Mr. Alderton knew that Zin was a damsel in distress. People saved her often. “Well, I guess if the shoe fits.”

At his question, she folded her hands loosely before her as she walked. “A bit of fresh air, mostly.” Zinnia wasn’t going to spill her entire story to him; it would be awkward and then he’d know she lied about her last name. She tilted her head toward him, curiosity getting the better of her. “And you, Mr. Alderton? I can’t imagine you came looking to quarrel with hedges.”

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Bee made this beauty<3

Anthony Alderton · September 2, 2025 – 1:55 AM

Anthony couldn’t help but laugh at her statement about quarreling with hedges. He supposed he had done that, hadn’t he? He flashed her a knowing smile but didn’t say anything. He would remain grateful to her for awhile and hoped she knew it.

As the question was returned, Anthony debated briefly on how to answer. He certainly wasn’t going to tell her the truth— that he was here in search of a wife, as he was any and everywhere these days, and had hoped to run into someone in the park he might know from France— because the last time he’d done that it had been a complete mess. He was not ready to make a fool of himself again quite like that in front of another woman, thank you. Not all could be trusted, he was sure, to be as graceful as Ms. Bonaccord. (Besides, Ms. Potts had already saved him once today. They needn’t make it a habit.) Instead, Anthony gave a small shrug.

“I’m meeting a business associate in Hogsmeade and thought a cut through the park might be a peaceful change of scenery,” he offered, casually. “Evidently not.” Anthony grinned again and rolled his eyes playfully.

Zinnia Gallagher

Zinnia Gallagher · September 8, 2025 – 2:35 PM

Zinnia nodded, because she understood how the park could be harmful, and not just from the fact that two random strangers murdered her husband here. “There’s a goose,” she started, although she wasn’t sure if should say is or was in terms of it, but then again Zinnia was known to be a magnet to bad luck when it came to things like that, “around the lake that chased me one day. The creature had no fear at all. Wings flapping, honking loud enough that they probably heard it in Irvingly, and there I was shrieking like a child.”

Well, in reality the goose had chased her, Rhys, Mr. Blackwood, Mr. Harvey and Mr. Prewett, but she wasn’t going to drag four gentlemen’s names through the mud who had failed to subdue the goose. Zinnia’s lips curved faintly as she shook her head at the memory. “Tell me Mr. Alderton,” Zin glanced at him, “are you brave enough to walk the lakeside path knowing there’s a giant goose, or would you rather we stick to this path?”

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Bee made this beauty<3

Anthony Alderton · September 11, 2025 – 9:49 PM

Anthony stifled the laugh that threatened to bubble up and out at Ms. Potts' comment about a goose. It wasn’t funny, and he of all people had absolutely no right to laugh at the poor woman’s misfortunes given his own propensity for disaster as of late. But… just the thought of her shrieking and running amok with a goose on her tail was just ridiculous enough for Anthony to have to purse his lips, failingly. Oh she would certainly know he was laughing, but he hoped she knew it wasn’t at her. “I’ll take my chances,” was all he said before he had to cough into his hand.

Zinnia Gallagher

Zinnia Gallagher · September 27, 2025 – 2:33 PM

Zinnia’s cheeks flushed pink at the sound of cough disguised as a laugh, and she couldn’t help but duck her head as her fingers fussed with the end of her sleeve. “Oh, I know it must sound awfully silly,” she murmured, a small, sheepish smile tugging at her lips. Now that she could think back on it, it was quite the humorous situation, but still… Zinnia never wanted to come face to face with that giant goose in her life ever again.

She peeked up at him then, her smiling softening. “I don’t suppose you’d have fared any better.” Zinnia teased as she turned toward the path to walk down the path that would lead them closer to the lake. She glanced at him. ”But if you had been there, perhaps it might’ve chosen you instead,” she said, her lips curving into a shy little grin. “You do look far more… goose-worthy than me.”

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Bee made this beauty<3

Anthony Alderton · October 6, 2025 – 1:29 AM

The woman blushed almost instantly and Anthony felt a pang of regret for laughing at her. (Well, not at her but… anyway.) He hadn’t meant to make her feel badly. Knowing better than to say anything about it though he was quiet. She was rather pretty blushing like that, he couldn’t help but notice.

At the subsequent tease, Anthony scoffed playfully. “I’ll have you know, Miss Potts!” he started in, jokingly. “That I have rather a reputation for saving damsels!” Everyone knew it. How many times had he swooped in to save Ms. Malfoy, hm? Still, saying as much seemed unsporting in any real capacity so Anthony let his feigned affront melt into a smile. “Though I’d happily trade myself as victim to save you the anguish,” he added.

Zinnia Gallagher

Zinnia Gallagher · October 20, 2025 – 2:27 PM

A small laugh escaped Zinnia before she could help it, blue eyes finding Mr. Alderton’s. She returned his smile, amused at what he was saying. “I’m in good company then, Mr. Alderton,” she said, “Because trouble has an uncanny way of finding me, no matter how well I behave.” It was how she wound up pregnant before marriage, although amortentia was more to blame for that than she was.

Zinnia clasped her hands in front of her. “But if you insist on changing places, well, I’m afraid I already used up my quota of playing hero by saving you from the roses. I’m not very good at it.” As if summoned by her words,, a low-hanging branch snagged the edge of her sleeve as she stepped forward. Zinnia yelped, stumbling slightly. This would be her luck, wouldn’t it?

Anthony Alderton

Bee made this beauty<3

Anthony Alderton · October 20, 2025 – 3:16 PM

Anthony grinned at Ms. Potts, finding himself slightly enthralled by her laugh. It was a dainty, elegant little sound that matched her perfectly proportioned, beautiful face. He tried not to think about it more than he ought. There was nothing good to come of entertaining whims. “Somehow, I doubt it,” he teased back, not quite fully able to believe her words. Trouble did not merely seek out a certain type of person without cause; fate was not wholly biased.

He was however proven dubious as she walked into a branch and yelped as if a banshee had come zooming out. Anthony raised a hand to catch her stumble and laughed. “That doesn’t count,” he assured her gently. “You just weren’t paying enough attention.” She was warm under his fingertips and he pulled back quickly. He wasn’t sure he believed she was bad at playing the hero either. She just seemed too gentle not to try.

Turning towards to the path that had come onto a fork and clearing his throat, Anthony laced his hands behind his back. “Well, this is where I have to turn off unfortunately. I only meant to cut through Padmore on my way into town for business.” And no better timing either. He flashed her another grateful grin and gave a small bow. “I am indebted to you Ms. Potts, thank you. Perhaps we shall meet again?” He certainly hoped so, even if it seemed unwise to feel that way.

Zinnia Gallagher

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