December 14th, 1894 - Knightsway, Bartonburg North

Nearly six long months in which Eugene had packed up his son and his nanny and spent some time abroad. He'd been sent to work with MACUSA on some of their Creature legislature and he'd found the whole thing quite enticing. If it weren't for his sisters here, Eugene had half a mind to up and relocate to the States permanently. Still, he wanted Theseus to have the same opportunities he had at Hogwarts, so that also kept him on Scottish soil. It would be fun to visit though. They'd made good friends and had an open invitation. Perhaps next summer again.

Coming home to cold and dreary Scotland had been an adjustment, but it was nice to be home. The vast improvement in Eugene's leg had him walking with only a slight limp now, still using the cane, but far less pain than before. Whatever the healers over there had done, had worked much better than any treatment he'd been getting here. Truthfully, he was extremely thankful. The trip had healed a lot of wounds, given him room to breathe like he hadn't in a while and now he had returned home with a clear head. Things could only look up from here.

The snow had fallen gently overnight, coating the garden with a blanket of fresh powder. Eugene knew the park was still closed, which was unfortunate for them, as he and Theseus had always frequented the expanse of greenery, but now they were stuck in the confines of their own fences. It was fine really, they didn't need too much room for just the two of them. His son would be six in just a few short months and it still astounded Eugene just how much he'd grown over the last year.

The pair were currently engaged in snowball warfare, Eugene far more capable of playing in the snow this year than he was at this time last year. That was probably what he was most thankful for. If he was going to be Theseus' only parent, he was going to be a damn good one and that meant spending time. They were both hunkered down behind opposite bushes, the collie they had acquired abroad (and promptly named Luna by Theseus) was running between them happily barking. She seemed quite taken with the snow and had settled into their home easily. It was nice for Theseus to have someone to play with during the day. Eugene was casually lobbing snowballs in his son's direction, eliciting squeals of delight in return. Theseus, for all of his six years, mad a pretty good arm and had hit Eugene more than once. His latest throw however, went over the fence behind Eugene and hit someone square in the back.

Jumping up from his hiding spot with only a small twinge to his leg, getting hit as well, he called over to Theseus to wait a moment before checking on the snow-bitten stranger. "My apologies, kid's got a better arm than I do, are you alright?"

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Hurling maybe? MCAB 21-29ish, but flex! Open for anything really though!

  

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It was Lorelei's second winter in Scotland, and although she thought she was a little more accustomed to it than she had been last year, she'd forgotten how the cold seemed to seep into everything. She was feeling particularly envious of creatures who hibernated just now as made her way through the snow in Bartonburg. She had charitably offered to deliver potions to an elderly client, given the weather, and while the client had been very appreciative, Lorelei was regretting it a little bit now as she trudged back towards home. No good deed or something like that.

Lorelei was contemplating stopping at the Greengrass' for a brief visit just to warm up when something wet suddenly struck her in the back. "Oh!" Whirling around, more surprised than anything, Lorelei took in the sight of the man and child for a moment before the appropriate connections were made in her brain. Bloody snow. Still, she made herself laugh, because she could hardly blame a child. "I'm all right," she said, pulling back her coat a bit to shake off whatever snow was still clinging to the back. "Practice his aim a bit, and he'll be a shoo-in for quidditch, I'm sure." Lorelei only knew the very basics of quidditch, but a sport was a sport, surely?

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Bee is actual magic

Theseus had come to a screeching halt behind the fence, barely tall enough to look over it. "Do you think?" His eyes were wide and Eugene had to chuckle. While he hadn't shied away from letting Theseus get into the sport, especially considering he'd played in school himself. Bending to whisper something in his son's ear, Theseus added belatedly, "Sorry I hit you with a snowball!" Before careening off back to no doubt make more to hurl at his father in the near future.

"I wish I had half of his energy sometimes. Are you sure you're alright?" He did feel bad that she'd been caught in the crossfire. Eugene cast a leery eye over his shoulder, watching Theseus start in on what would hopefully be a snowman and not something he would try to chuck at Eugene. Luna was bounding around barking excitedly, no doubt herding Theseus to stay within a certain perimeter and he couldn't help but to chuckle.

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Lorelei laughed, unable to help herself. It wasn't so bad, and she supposed she'd already decided to seek the warmth of the indoors as soon as possible, anyway. "I'm fine," she reassured the man, turning to face him fully as the boy ran off. "I'm relatively new to Scotland and the cold, but I like to think I'm at least made of sterner stuff than this." Whether or not this was actually true was a question, certainly, but Lorelei would rather be kind about something that was clearly an accident.

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Bee is actual magic

"Been here my whole life and I'm still not used to it." Eugene admitted with a wry smile. The accent he'd detected made sense then, if she wasn't from around here originally. "From somewhere warm then?" He assumed. He couldn't quite place where she might be from, but if the cold was something new, he had a couple of guesses.

Theseus was back at the fence, eyes fixed between the two. "Papa, my hands are cold." He announced with little fanfare. "Can we have cocoa?" He asked, eyes wide. It was a face Eugene was familiar with and one he had a hard time saying no to. Especially with a reasonable request like that. Theseus tugged him down and whispered something in his ear when Eugene obliged.

Looking between his present company, Eugene nodded. "We would like to know if you'd like to join us, to make up for the snowball?" Theseus turned the puppy-dog eyes on the pretty blonde in what Eugene would describe as an admirable display of appropriate apology.

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"Australia," Lorelei answered. "It's only my second proper winter, I'm afraid." The summers, at least, were better, which was something of a comfort. Though Lorelei thought Scottish summers were far too wet to really count, so it wasn't a perfect trade.

Turning toward the boy as he appeared again, Lorelei couldn't help but laugh at the invitation. "Well, I can't say no to such an invitation," she said. Something warm to drink sounded lovely, and she was amusedly charmed by the company. "I'm Lorelei Owens, by the way."

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The following 1 user Likes Lorelei Owens's post:1 user Likes Lorelei Owens's post
   Eugene Scamander

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Bee is actual magic

Theseus was beaming and Eugene couldn't help but to smile too. He moved a little further down the fence to the gate and swung it up with a bit of difficulty thanks to the snow piles. "Australia, that's quite the ways away. Vastly different here in Scotland." He chuckled as he stepped back to let her through.

"Eugene Scamander, that is Theseus," he motioned to the now-retreating form of his four-year-old. Maybe he was heading into get a start on the cocoa. "And Luna." He said of the dog as she barked happily, running beside Theseus toward the house. What an adventure this was turning out to be. "I can assure you it's much warmer in the house." He said as he motioned for her to go ahead of him on the little cleared path that led toward the back door. His hip was bothering him more than he would like to admit, so this would be a good break.

Once inside, he shook the snow from his hair and ran a hand through the damp mess. No fixing it now. He found a pile of Theseus' discarded snow clothes and wet dog prints leading into the sitting room where the fire was roaring in the hearth. "Is cocoa alright or would you prefer tea?" He asked as he offered to take her outdoor items.

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Lorelei followed Mr. Scamander gesture onto the path, saying, "Scotland has its charms, but I'm not convinced the weather is one of them," she mused. At least the people seemed to be warmer than the weather was. Though Lorelei wasn't one to focus too much on negativity when it could be avoided, so certainly her memory was selective.

Indoors was a relief, and she gave a little residual shiver as she took off her coat. "Cocoa would be lovely, thank you." Tea was starting to grow on her, though not nearly enough to drink it as much as some seemed to. "Is Mrs. Scamander at home?" she asked. It occurred to her that she ought to have asked when she accepted the invitation, but it was easier to think inside where it was warm.

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Bee is actual magic

"You'll get no argument from me." Having just spent the better half of the year abroad, coming home to the bitter damp and cold of Scotland was not one of the things he has missed while he was gone.

He had managed to hang their things close to the fire in the kitchen when her question caught him off guard. It was a natural assumption. A four year old, a house and a dog, naturally he would also have a wife, no? "No Mrs. Scamander," he admitted. If she wasn't from around here, she wouldn't know any of his very public romance failures. It was refreshing actually, though he would hate to have to explain it. "It's just Theseus and me." It was enough for him. Most days.

In an effort to continue on, Eugene led the way to the sitting room where Luna was already asleep in front of the hearth and Theseus was playing with his wooden trains behind the sofa. He motioned for Miss Owens to take a seat wherever she liked while he rang for their cocoa. With that settled, he limped his way over to his favorite armchair and settled in with a sigh. "Has Scotland treated you kindly, snowballs aside?" He passed her a wry smile.

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