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

[prince_of_nymphs]

"How often do you change your act?" Fin asked curiously, looking for a reason to take the focus off himself for a moment.

[jageskro]

"Whenever the mood strikes," Jag answered, "sometimes on the spot. You've got to know how to read a crowd, if you want to make it work."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Are there things you never do though? Things you wish you could, but know would draw too much attention?" Fin asked curiously.

It wasn't unusual at all for the actor to go off on a tangent or to try and get others to talk to him about things one might not assume he'd be terribly interested in. It was in Fin's nature to be curious about everything and everyone around him. ...Especially when he was sober.

[jageskro]

"Oh, I don't do half as much in the street as I can get away with at the circus," Jag answered with a quick smile, playing with his spoon. "Pretending we have great pyrotechnics. Here it's more small stuff. Once in a while I do something I probably shouldn't, when I feel it, but as long as it's just this one thing and it's not too often... I've got away with the odd fire bird, you know? Just, small ones."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin smiled and nodded once.

"Do you miss the circus?" he asked softly. "I imagine that's a very different life."

[jageskro]

"I was glad to go back for Christmas, even just for a few days," Jag stated, his tone clearly fond. "But I found some things, settling in one place, I couldn't have found on the road." Em, Val, and Fin sprang to mind.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"No, I suppose not- Though there's something very romantic about the idea of always being on the move," Fin sighed. "I imagine it wouldn't suit me though, even if it's a lovely daydream. I'm too much a creature of comfort."

[jageskro]

"We've got some very comfortable trailers," Jag replied with a half-smile. Okay, probably not by Fin's standards, but what did Jag know?

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin laughed at that, grinning and shaking his head. "But do they have wifi?" he asked with a teasing smile.

[jageskro]

"They make devices for that," Jag replied, smile widening.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin smiled, then leaned back in his seat. "Alright then, you've sold me. Circus it is," he quipped. "I'm sure my agent wont be upset at all."

[jageskro]

"He can spin it, I'm sure," Jag stated with a confident nod.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin laughed again, the sound rich and deep, different now than before. Like his voice was laced ever so slightly with the faint magic growing inside of him.

[jageskro]

It was different, but not enough for Jaf to find it weird. It was just Fin now, and he was going to go along with it. "I don't really want to go," he added, after checking the time on his phone. "But I ought to go charm a little dosh off some tourists."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Of course," Fin smiled. "Don't let me keep you. ...I should go find Will anyway."

[jageskro]

"Right," Jag stood up, pulling a handful of coins out of his pocket and picking a few of them to leave on the table for his coffee. Then he picked up his bag, hoisted it on his shoulder, and turned to give Fin a hug. "I'm so happy for you, mate."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Thanks, Jag," Fin smiled, turning his head to kiss his friend's cheek, then giving his shoulder a firm squeeze.

"Come by the flat soon, wont you? Come share a drink with us."

[jageskro]

"Yeah," he agreed easily, as he pulled back. "And let me know about that - doom thing, yeah?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin's smile faded, but he nodded. "I will," he promised. "I'll let you know if anything comes of it."

[jageskro]

Jag nodded, then frowned. "Are you taller or something?" Now that they were both standing, it had registered.

[prince_of_nymphs]

"I think so, yes. ...I like it, don't you? It suits me," the actor replied confidently.

[jageskro]

"Well, not just that," Jag amended. "You... you look really good." He couldn't really put words on it, beyond the fact that Fin looked healthy again.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Jag's words sparked something in him, the part that liked to be praised and wanted to be wanted, and Fin shifted his posture slightly. It was subtle, but there was something inviting about him now. That ever so slightly nymph-esc playfulness and sexuality.

"Being well suits me," he agreed, letting his gaze flicker over Jag and looking as though he was about to say something more.

But no, they were parting ways. Best not to go any further.

He smiled instead, then nodded his goodbye as he put down a few bills to pay for his drink.

[jageskro]

"It does," Jag agreed, and smiled at Fin, not noticing anything. "I'll see you around, mate," he added, then went on his way, mostly happy for his friend, if troubled by that impending doom.

Hadn't Fin gone through enough already?