July 15th, 1890 — Podmore Zoological Gardens, Irvingly
Beau Miller & @"Eavan MacKay"

"Jackrabbits!"  Wallace roared, causing a few zoo visitors to stare at him in confusion.  They were viewing a bird exhibit, after all.  He unceremoniously spat upon the ground and strode toward the pair of lovebirds he had traveled on a damned boat to see, a fond grin making his face appear almost wild.

It had taken Wallace a little longer to arrive than some of the others in their little research group; he'd had a few more loose ends to tie up and things to ensure before he could embark.  Travel by sea had been nauseating.  Murphy was sure that he had lost weight due to the fact he couldn't exactly keep any of his meals down.  At least Fergus had made it through unscathed.  He had let the lad loose to explore the zoo on his own.

"Aren't you two a sight for sore eyes!  How the Hell are you?"  Wallace came to a halt as near as he could to Beau and Eva, which might mean that he nearly shouted his greetings.  A nearby woman looked positively appalled, but he never cared much what bystanders thought of his manners.  It wasn't often he was in civilization long enough to truly to practice the etiquette that had been drilled into him as a child.

"Let me get a good look at you."

  

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Bee is the best <3

When the raucous roar shot through the air near the entrance to the aviary, Eva all but squealed in delight, "Murphy!" Before flinging herself for a hug against the giant who strode their way. She and Beau had been looking at some damage to the outside of the structure itself, thanks to a recent thunderstorm, but this was a most welcome distraction. She'd been fighting some nausea all morning, but trying not to let it show as she was still only assuming what the cause was and she was even less likely to let onto that just yet.

Wallace's joke was not lost on her, nor the implication behind it, but he'd been calling them that for several months now, which meant their secret was not nearly as secret as she wanted it to be. However, Eva didn't overly care too much as she hardly thought any of the boys actually gave a damn, either. "I've missed that ugly mug!" She teased gently as she gave him a tight squeeze and set herself back down on the ground, twirling round in a small circle at his request. "It took you long enough, the boys have been here for weeks! It wasn't the same without you." She lamented, clearly pleased to see him. Casting a careful look over her shoulder at Beau and wrinkled her nose to let him know she was just teasing.

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Despite knowing Eva was capable of surveying and repairing the mininal damage done to the aviary on her own, Beau leapt at the chance to assist her. Ever since he moved out of the house a few weeks ago moments alone with her became far and few between, and Beau sorely missed their quiet banter. He snuck her into the house on the few occasions they dared, but he didn't dare often. Irvingly wasn't like Arizona. The dirty looks he received were constant and he was remiss to think what his presence was doing to Eva's professional reputation.

Eva ran off to greet Murphy before Beau had even fully registered the elder man had arrived. A grin as wide as the Atlantic threatened to split his face as he quickly moved over to greet his former mentor. "Murph," Beau nodded and extended his hand to shake. "We were beginning to think you drowned."

  

Murphy returned Eva's hug enthusiastically, nearly lifting her off the ground in the process. He'd missed her spunk. Many of the magizoologists back in Colorado were much too serious for his liking. He was eager to fall back in step with with the small group of 'children' he had grown rather fond of.

The young woman's joke had him erupting in a belly laugh. "You've had another ugly mug to tie you over, 'ey Miller?" He beamed at Beau fondly, taking full stock of him as if he were assessing his health before reaching out to return his handshake. Wallace never had the best restraint, so his squeeze was rather bone crushing.

"It would take more than an overcrowded boat to drown the likes of me," he teased, though he hadn't been sure that he wouldn't die of dehydration from all the puking he'd done. "I had a few loose ends to tie up back at the zoo. Avery nearly let the fucking Nogtails out." Beau would likely remember the squinty man from his days in Colorado. If he wasn't so skilled with birds, he would have lost his positions ages ago. "And Fergus's tutor was still to be around for a few weeks."

Scratching at his beard, he finally looked around, taking in the outside of the aviary more fully. He hadn't yet made his rounds around Podmore Zoological Gardens; he'd been on a mission to locate the pair first. However, he had taken note of its size. "This is a mighty grand zoo you've got here! I can see why you dragged Miller here." The last comment was accompanied by a wink and a sideways smirk.

  

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Bee is the best <3

Eva laughed aloud at his appraisal of having Beau around as an "ugly mug." As that was most certainly not the case, it was absurd enough to elicit a full belly laugh from her. "Well, we're happy to have you and Fergus finally!" Though being home in Irvingly was nowhere near the same as their expedition in Arizona, Eva was grateful to have them all back together, even if it would only be for a short while.

"Isn't it? I've been fortunate to work here since they opened in '85." It had grown quite a bit since then, mostly thanks to her and Una, but now with Amelia here and many others, it was looking as good as possible these days. "That aviary is my pride and joy, I practically built it myself." A lot of her blood, sweat and swears had gone into that structure and cultivating its inhabitants. She was incredibly proud of it. Zach Podmore had pretty much given her free reign once he'd found out that was her specialty and she had contacts to bring in birds. Even now, Eva had her hand in running most aspects of the zoo itself, behind the scenes.

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Beau chuckled and returned the bone crushing squeeze, having gotten used to Murphy's way of greeting long ago. "Fucking Avery," he muttered. The small man was among Beau's least favorite magizoologists to work with. "Everything alright now, then? Who's caring for Dmitri*?" With Murph gone Avery was next in charge, but the squint knew better than to approach the demiguise. Dmitri despised Avery even more than Beau did.

"Someone had to help her with Astra," he returned cheekily. Like he was going to allow Emmett to spend that much time alone with Eva over him. Besides, Eva had asked him specifically, who was he to say no?

  

"Happy to be here!" He boomed with a wide grin. The zoo in Colorado had certainly grown lonely without youthful exuberance around. It had become filled with stodgy old people who groaned any time he even suggested an expedition.

Murph gave Eva a proud, fatherly expression and declared. "Well, if you practically built it yourself, I do think a tour is in order!"

He looked about to ready himself for such a tour when Beau mentioned Dmitri, "Philpott. He's the only one who can keep up with Dmitri's tricks. That's left, anyways." Philpott was quick-witted, which was likely his only saving grace when it came to Dmitri. "I have a feeling I will be receiving some panicked letters having to do with ol' Dimitri."

A smirk graced his face, and he nudged Beau rather sharply with his elbow. He wasn't the most gentle when it came to other men. 'Help with Astra,' indeed. "Is that all?"

  

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Bee is the best <3

Delighted, Eva clapped her hands together once sharply and then hooked her arm through Murph's (with a little difficulty, these American men were so tall!) and started leading the boys toward the aviary.

She listened contentedly as the pair discussed the zoo back in Colorado and Beau's demiguise, Dmitri. Eva was still hoping they'd get the transfer here for the demiguise so she could meet him. They were such fascinating creatures and she hadn't ever had much of a chance to work with them. "Wait until you see the Phoenix I've been rehabilitating!" He was her pride and joy. Frankly he should have been released a little while ago, but Eva was still thinking he wasn't quite ready. His burning days didn't seem to be on a regular schedule yet and she wanted things to settle before she did. Otherwise he might become a permanent resident, like her Fwooper and Snidgets.

Merlin she'd missed this!

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Philpott was tolerable, he supposed. Dmitiri was bound into to escape a few times throughout Beau's absence (departure? It wasn't as though he had any future plans to return to Colorado), but hopefully the wards surrounding the zoo kept the invisible smartass from escaping into the general populace. Beau gave a noncommittal hm and made a mental note to write to Philpott sooner rather than later. If he was to become Dmitri's new keeper Beau ought to share a few tips.

He smirked but kept his gaze straight ahead at Murph's nudging. Obviously he had come here to do more than help with Astra. He'd come because a certain red head kept popping into his thoughts so frequently he thought himself crazy. Then, when he found out wanted him as a more permanent fixture in her life as well, Beau realized there wasn't anywhere else in the world he'd rather be. Eva was it for him, and some day he'd prove that to her.

"Watch for the nifflers," Beau warned quietly. Bastien still got his laces twisted if Beau wasn't paying attention.

  

Bending down slightly, Murphy allowed Eva to hook her arm with his and lead the way to the aviary. He beamed at Eva's obvious pride for the phoenix, "I can't wait to see! Phoenixes are magnificent creatures." And he had no doubt she had done a wonderful job rehabilitating it.

Wallace barked out a laugh at the mention of nifflers, "I'll try and keep a lookout. Those creatures are about as troublesome as ol' Dmitri. Poor Fergus was robbed blind last he was in that exibit."

As they walked that way, he took in the sights and let out impressed noises at the sheet construction of the aviary. "You put the zoo in Colorado to shame with this."

  

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Bee is the best <3

Eavan had to laugh, the nifflers were nowhere near the aviary, so they were probably safe for now. It was Bastien and his band of diricawl buddies they had to keep an eye out for.

Eva sighed contentedly as she led the boys down the wide path toward her other home away from home with every intention of showing Murph every inch of her carefully crafted aviary from the snidgets to the fwooper and everything in between.

She hadn't anticipated having her American cohorts all join her in Scotland so soon after their dispatch in Arizona was over, but she was pleased to continue the shenanigans for as long as she could. Having the two worlds collide was odd, but distinctly pleasant as she was fond of them for so many different reasons. "You'll love it." She said as she unceremoniously pulled open the door to the aviary and shoved them both in.

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