OTA - Good as New?

[prince_of_nymphs]

Less than three hours ago Tevaughn had come crashing into his life. He should have been reeling from it still, and yet- No, not so much. If anything, the world seemed a bit more stable now. Things that had seemed strange or unexplained now made sense. The troubles of his past had a new context, and Fin- Fin found himself feeling more like himself than he had ever had before. 

He was no longer cold, and though his heart was still filigree and enchanted, it no longer beat at random- It was steady, rhythmic and calm. The hate in his gut had been destroyed, and all seemed well. ...Everything had a price though, and this time the price had been something he was supposed to have surrendered a long time ago. Finlay Flynn was no longer mortal, undead or otherwise. Finlay Flynn was fae. Had always been fae- Only lost, then damaged, then nearly destroyed. 

His skin was warm to the touch now, though it was still ever so faintly blue in certain lights, as were the whites of his eyes. He seemed taller now too, as though his bones had been stretched out slightly, everything sharper, less delicate.

The strangest thing, however, was the buzzing feeling in his blood. Magic, Tevaughn had said. Too weak now to do anything, but something that would grow in time. It might take weeks, possibly years,  to come through, but- It was there. It was there, and it felt- It felt wonderful. It was like having something returned to him that he'd never even known he'd lost.

He knew he ought to go directly to Will, to hunt him down and tell him everything he'd missed- But for the first time in years, everything in the world just felt right, and Fin found himself sitting outside a cafe instead. No cigarette in hand, no pills or poisons, just a cup of coffee and an understanding that the world as he knew it was about to change quite drastically.

Comments

[jageskro]

"I'm good," Jag replied with a smile. He did look far less on edge than last time they'd seen each other, but that was more to do with the change in location than anything else having changed. "Are you waiting for someone?" he asked, gesturing at the other chair at the table.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"No, I'm not waiting on anyone. I just wanted to sit for a while," Fin confessed with a soft and warm smile.

[jageskro]

"Mind if I join you?" Jag asked, unhooking his bag full of gear from his shoulder.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin was certain he'd already silently invited the other man to sit, but nodded and did so again.

"Of course."

[jageskro]

Jag put his bag down before sitting, taking another drag on his cigarette. "How are you?" he asked, smoke wafting out with his words. "You look good," he realised now that he was seated across from Fin.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I feel good," Fin purred, smiling faintly. "I feel warm. I very much missed that..."

[jageskro]

Jag frowned even as he smiled. "Wait, what - did something happen?" Something good, clearly.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"So much happened," Fin admitted, wetting his lips, then leaning in closer.

"You see, a few months ago I reconnected with my sister, Pippa..."

He told jag all about how she'd been looking into their family, how she, like himself, had encountered magic of a sort and been changed- Only not as she'd expected. How she'd suspected there was more to their family than they knew. Then he spoke of Tevaughn and his fae blood, and how only hours ago everything he'd known about himself had been changed.

"All the odd occurrences, all the shit luck, it was all tied to this. Will kept talking about fate and destiny- and I think this was why. I was always meant to become this- But there was always another force getting in the way.

[jageskro]

The waiter had come and gone during Fin's story, and Jag had finished his coffee by the time his friend finished his tale. "Fuck," was Jag's very eloquent response. "Couldn't he have told you, though?" Will, that was.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I honestly don't think he knew," Fin replied. "I think he could feel something, he spoke often of us being fated- Or me being chosen, but he never seemed terribly clear on why that was. If he knew, it wasn't on a concious level."

[jageskro]

"Right." Jag was frowning, but then he broke into another smile. "Anyway. It's brilliant, all of it. You're finally who you're meant to be."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Well, I hope so at least," Fin replied, "Either that, or I've dug an even deeper hole than usual for myself this time."

[jageskro]

"Does it feel right? And did any of the rest of it?" Jag went a lot with feelings, rather than intellect.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"None of it felt like this. I feel- I don't know, connected to something inside of me that I just wasn't before. ...If that makes any sort of sense," Fin replied.

[jageskro]

"It makes perfect sense," Jag confirmed with a smile. It was what the fire felt like. "I'm really happy for you."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"That means a lot to me, Jag," Fin said softly, reaching across the table and gently squeezing the other man's hand. "Thank you."

[jageskro]

Jag turned his hand the other way around to squeeze Fin's in return. "Everything's going to be better now, you'll see."

Just like everything was better with the fire, even when it was shit.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin smiled at that- Though it eventually faded to something softer, less pleased.

"He did seem certain trouble was coming for Will and I though. ...It makes me worry. Not for me, not Will, but- Winter and Phouka."

[jageskro]

Jag pulled his hand back, frowning at the news. "Have you talked to them about it?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

"It only happened hours ago, Jag. I've not seen any of them yet," Fin replied honestly. "I believe I'll have to speak to Will first, see what he makes of it all. ...I was sort of hoping he'd be here to be honest. He plays his guitar on the corner over there quite often- Though not today, it seems."

[jageskro]

"And here I am, delaying you," Jag stated with a quick smile. "Yeah, go. Ring him, or whatever."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"No, no I- I chose to stop.," Fin assured him. "I wanted to just- Enjoy feeling this way for a while. I know I need to see him, but- I know, in my heart, that big things are coming. I just wanted to saver the calm a while longer. Before I learn anything more about what this all means, you know?"

[jageskro]

Jag mulled that over for a second. He could see the appeal, but... "What if the bad stuff catches you unaware?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I only have to say Will's name thrice, and he'll come for me," Fin replied, soothing Jag's nerves with soft words. "I plan to tell him before sundown, really, I just- I just want to have a moment of calm, that's all. It's been a very odd day."

[jageskro]

That was sort of fucking beautiful, in a fairy tale kind of way. Which was appropriate, really. Jag nodded with the rest of Fin's words. "Yeah, no shit." He paused, and then had to ask, "Wait, can you do magic now? Make deals? Cross over to the Fae world?" He couldn't help but ask those questions, although if Fin pointed out that they weren't exactly the quiet he thought, he would stop.