The world is burning to the ground [Carina]

[Timothy Linn]

Timothy's return to the school this morning after a long break from the school wasn't so welcoming. Not only did it practically pour all night and morning, but he had a cold along with his journey back to the school. He arrived with his soaked luggage, heading into his dorm, and putting his things away after drying them and taking a hot shower himself.

The day consisted of making his schedule for the new term, which he was very excited about of course. He got to know almost every student last term, but he would hope that this time around he'd have a ta to take over for his lower years. After he posted his schedule up, Timothy spent the remainder of the day trying to feel better. A visit to the hospital ward helped only a little bit.

As he returned to his office, clearing things up a bit, he sat down at his desk and contemplated what to do for the rest of the day. He wouldn't start classes until next week, so he had the rest of this week pretty much open. But what he missed the most was Carina. His and her busy schedule kept them apart, and she seemed distant to him during the past term.

Sitting there momentarily, he grabs a piece of parchment paper and his ink quill, scribbling a few words with love from himself, and then sending it off with his owl. He hurried and slipped on a coat and headed down the corridors to a particular place that the school centered around. The enchanted gardens still looked as beautiful as ever when he arrived. Taking seat on a bench under the tree, he hoped that Carina would meet him there soon.

[Professor Carina Erikson]

All and all, the new term was starting out rather well, Carina thought. She had managed to spend a few hours with Eric this morning, talking about everything under the sun. They had retreated back to the castle just before the sky opened up with a horridly cold rain. Eric had returned to his tower to finish unpacking and Carina returned to her quarters.

While she had chosen not to leave the castle during break, much to Eric's step mothers dismay, she knew that Timothy had left. She felt rather sorry for him, knowing that he would be returning in such nasty weather. Hopefully, this term, they would be able to see more of each other. Their schedules had been hectic last term, and Carina had to admit, she had been rather distant.

She would have to make sure to make up for that this term. While she wasn't really the romantic sort, she was sure that she could come up with something special for him. The potions professor turned up her wizarding radio, full blast, and sat down on her sofa, plotting. It was then that the owl made it's appearance.

Offering the owl a few of the treats she kept around for Pete, Carina read the note quickly. It was from Timothy, which meant he had made it back to the castle. Good, she had been worried with everything going on. Glancing down, Carina figured she was still nice enough to meet him, as she still had on the jeans and black pullover from this morning.

She didn't bother with a coat, as living in the dungeons for so long left her to enjoy the cold. Walking through the hallways, Carina pulled her hair up in a ponytail. One last time, she smoothed a hand down her shirt as she entered the Gardens. Seeing Timothy sitting on a bench, Carina made her way over. Carina leaned over and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek as she sat. "About time you decided to come back. I've missed you." Carina said with a cheeky grin.

[Timothy Linn]

Timothy hadn't bothered to look up for the time being as he waited for Carina. His thoughts still distant from reality as he thought over the future. Term would be good hopefully. He looked forward to the next few months, especially with Halloween coming up and then Christmas. It would definitely be an eventful term for everyone.

Footsteps entering the garden caught Timothy's attention. Carina hadn't failed him this time, not like she has ever since they first met. He felt more responsible if anything did happen during their relationship for the past several months. Not ever inclined to actually send a simple message or drop by her office when he did have the time.

But at least now he did have plenty of it and he was glad when Carina joined him. His cheek tingled in the place she kissed and a smile appeared across his face. He turned to look at her and kissed her on the cheek in return. "I missed you as well. I'm pretty sure my expedition group can vouch how much I missed you," he chuckled. "But I'm glad to be back and just in time. How are things with you?"

[Professor Carina Erikson]

Carina grinned at the returned kiss and settled back against the bench. She quirked an eyebrow at the mention of an expedition group. “Expedition group? Where did you go? I thought you just went to see your family.” Carina said with a slight grin on her face. Expedition. It certainly did sound exciting though, much better than sitting around the castle.

“Things are good.” Carina said with a nod. “I didn’t leave this break,” she explained, though she didn’t try and explain why. If he asked, she would explain it, but she didn’t see the point in adding worry to his schedule. “Eric’s step-mother was a little upset over it. I usually try to stop by, at least for a few days during breaks.”

Shrugging her shoulder, Carina swung her feet back and forth under the bench and looked around, just taking in the beauty of the gardens. “It was rather calm though. It gave me a good chance to work on some potions I’ve been experimenting with. I managed to dye myself orange.” Carina couldn’t help but to laugh at herself over that. Truth be told, she had been missing Timothy and hadn’t paid attention to what she was doing. “I think it’s finally faded now.”

[Timothy Linn]

"I actually spent a day with the family before leaving," he grinned. "I went to Greenland this time. It's very beautiful and we studied the vegetation up there. We found a new plant up there and have actually studied this more than the others. I'll be teaching it this term luckily. It's Lace-of-Frost," very content with himself and proud, he looks to Carina.

Listening to how things have gone over break for her, he examined her arms for traces of orange from experimenting with potions. "Good to hear that things are well though. Luckily you're not all orange though. It'd be a perfect Halloween costume," he joked with a wink. "An oompa loompa, but since the colour has faded, I guess we can't appear on Halloween as midgets."

Halloween was right around the corner. It's been a year since the two have known each other, but it'll be a year when they first attended the ball together that was fateful for the two to be paird for the masquerade. "Any intentions of going to the Halloween ball with me this year? I mean, surely they'll need a couple more chaperones around."

[Professor Carina Erikson]

“Greenland sounds beautiful. I’ve never been there, but it sounds just lovely.” It was one of the few places she hadn’t been. She’d have to take that trip sometime. “A new plant, huh?” Carina smiled at him, very proud of him for finding it. “Lace-of-Frost. So, tell me about it. It sounds pretty at the very least. Of course, I’ve seen a lot of plants that sound pretty but their dangerous.”

Carina gave Timothy a look that clearly said, Ha ha, very funny. “An oompa loompa. Really….I think I could come up with something a bit better, though on the other hand, you might not look too bad with green hair.” Carina said with a smirk. “And while I know I’m a bit on the short side, I don’t think I could pass as a midget. I know you couldn’t.”

Merlin, she had forgotten all about the Halloween Ball. They had gone to the masquerade together last Halloween. Had it really been a year already? She supposed it had been though. “To be honest, it slipped my mind, but I’d love for us to go. They always need more chaperones.”

[Timothy Linn]

Greenland was magnificent. You'd think it was mainly green though, but part of the island itself was ice and snow. He smiled at her interest in the new plant discovery, but he was hesitant to tell her since it would be apart of his new lesson to the students. But what could it hurt anyway? It wasn't like they were lurking around and spying on their teachers.

"Well Lace-of-Frost has to be handled carefully because if it makes contact with your hand, the plant immediately begins draining warmth from you. We found that out with one of our travelers. Also we found out that when the plant is slowly distilled for a period of sixty days, the resulting potion will be just as effective as it's plant-like state. However one single drop will drain every bit of heat from whatever it touches before evaporating."

Timothy knew that it hadn't been sixty days since the expedition, but it was rumored of the plant's effectiveness by strange people. "We only heard about the potion part from a tribe nearby. I guess they use it for some other means, but we've been doing our own experiments since then," he smiles. "And no worries, we really didn't have anyone hurt during the process after the first mistake we made."

The suggestion about oompa loompas obviously wasn't a get-go, but of course he wasn't really serious about the idea. Orange skin and green hair wasn't his style. "Then I guess we'd just have to go as a lovely couple or a dreadful pair of zombies, vampires, and whatnot. Who knows. Or..." a grin appears across his face. "We could blow it all off and instead have a wonderful dinner just the both of us and a night out in London. Forget about the kids, it can just be the two of us," he winked.

[Professor Carina Erikson]

Carina shifted around on the bench, turning to face Timothy as he explained Lace-of-Frost. It sounded like a most amazing plant and her ears perked up even more at the mention of distilling and potion. A knee came up and propped on the bench and Carina absentmindedly leaned her elbow as she placed with her lip ring, thinking.

Not only was it a good plant because of the distilling process, but Carina’s mind ran wild with all the other potions it could be used in. Of course, it being new, she would have to experiment with it, but she did that anyway. “It sounds amazing. Not only could it be distilled, but there are so many potions it could be used in.” Her eyes lit up with excitement as she met Timothy’s eyes. “Do you think you could get me some? For potions?”

Her reasons for wanting a few samples weren’t completely selfish. As Timothy said, they were doing their own experiments. Carina, while still young, was a Potion Mistress at heart. She kept extremely detailed notes on her experiments. Her research would help theirs as well. Normally, she would have a problem just handing over her findings to someone else. But these were people Timothy knew and she was sure that he would make sure she got proper credit. Carina snorted a bit at the mention of no one else getting hurt. “Well, I should hope not. If something had happened to you, I swear I’d have brought you back to life just so I could kill you again. I’ve gotten rather attached to you.”

Dinner and a night out in London sounded wonderful…but it also meant leaving the castle. Leaving her safety. Closing her eyes, she argued with herself. Stay in the castle and stay safe from some invisible threat or go out and have a wonderful time with Timothy and find out your just as safe with him. It was, in the end, a very short argument. Opening her eyes back, she grinned at Timothy. “I vote for London.”