Foxy - OTA

[prince_of_nymphs]

There were still no textbooks or youtube videos on how to fairy, and so Fin was still learning by doing. Sometimes he would do his best to focus on something, like reviving wilted flowers or forcing the wrinkles out of his bed sheets. Other times he'd try slightly harder things, like changing an item into another item- Something he hadn't yet mastered, but at least had a grasp on the basics now.

He played with elements, toyed with using his magic to tidy up or take notes for him. Nothing huge, nothing grand. It was a slow build after all.

Occasionally, however, he let his magic lead. It was a part of him, yes, but just as his mind was prone to wandering and building worlds for him to jot down on paper, his magic had a tendency to- Create. An extension of his imagination, he assumed, and he often let it lead as he created small items from ice, or even repainted a whole room with idle thoughts. It was remarkable, the things he could do with little more than a spare thought and a vague grasp on his powers. Will was right, he was powerful. He understood now why the other fae had feared them.

Today he was simply laying on the sofa, a pen taking notes by itself on a pad of paper nearby while he drew random patterns in the air with the tip of his finger. He was working on a pitch for a mini series, something prompted by a friend at the network, but his mind was dancing between ideas, and his magic was, for a lack of a better word, getting a bit bored it seemed. Or, perhaps he was bored and just didn't want to admit it.

The pen slowed, then stopped, and Fin closed his eyes as he sighed softly.

"Perhaps I should leave this all behind, go live in the woods on the Other Side, to be a wild thing like my kin," he mused. "You could come, if you like," he told Keats, opening one eye and looking over at the German Sheppard. The dog simply yawned though, then settled back in to finish his nap.

"No? Alright then. I'll just live alone then. Or, perhaps I'll live with Winter's pixie friends," he joked, smiling as his mind wandered to thoughts of thick forest like areas, wild flowers and strange stones. The many wonders of the world that was apparently his true home. The memories of his brief time there made his magic long for it- Or, again, perhaps it was just him. His secret desires, the needs of his blood. Whatever it was, it was powerful, and as Fin slowly got to his feet and headed for the private rooftop garden for a smoke, he felt something shift inside of him- Then outside.

It wasn't an unpleasant feeling, yes, he was suddenly small and a touch fluffy, but the sudden shift from human to fox had been painless- Pleasant, even. So much so that Fin had simply gone along with it. It was just more of his magic after all, harmless enough it seemed... At first.

Three hours later, and Fin was still a fluffed up white fox. He'd managed to get back inside the flat, but no matter what he tried, he couldn't seem to make himself human again. He was sure part of that was due to how worked up he'd gotten himself when his first attempt had failed, but now- Now he couldn't seem to calm down at all.

He'd gone looking for Will first, but the other fae was clearly out, and using a phone as a fox was a lost cause. Even if he could have dialled a number, he was struggling to speak. All he managed were some odd purrs and sharp sounds. Nothing intelligible. Clearly he would have to seek out help elsewhere. ...Perhaps Phouka and Winter might help, though they were quite a way away, and he really didn't think any Uber driver in their right mid would pick him up.

Well, a walk wouldn't be so bad. ...Not if he stayed hidden, right?

He'd barely made it three blocks before he'd been spotted, and he was currently cowering in an alley while a rather large and unpleasant man was attempting to whack him with the blunt end of a broom.

Oh, fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck, he thought, unaware that anyone passing by with magic ability or sensitivities could hear him loud and clear.

(OTA. I was going to put this up on Thanksgiving since I'm off all day, but figured there was no harm in tossing it up early. ^_^ If you think your pup could hear Fin's magic telepathic chatter, be my guest. Or if you just want to save a fluffy fox, feel free! As always, late tags and slowtime are welcome.)

Comments

[wispofathing]

The rub of fur against her legs snapped Curnen out of her reverie and she slipped out of her shoes at the door before following Fin into the kitchen.

"You sound a lot like Winter right now," she teased him, though she opened the fridge to look around for the bacon.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin huffed, looking insulted, then fluffed his tail out.

I'm just hungry, he sulked, This body needs more calories than you'd think.

[wispofathing]

"Yes, I know," she assured him. She found the bacon and held out a strip for him to take. They had a better chance of fixing this if he wasn't hungry.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Standing on his back legs, Fin pinched the strip and trotted off, curling up with it and happily chewing on the strip of meat.

[wispofathing]

Curnen burst into a fit of giggles and grabbed a couple more strips before she put the plate back, chewing on one of them herself as she settled next to Fin.

She held out another strip in wordless offering for him to take while her own dangled from her teeth. One was never enough.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin bounced a little, taking the strip and shaking it a bit before holding it between his paws and ripping a bit off.

Bacon is amazing, why do I ever eat anything else? Fin asked, rumbling happily.

[wispofathing]

"Pretty sure that way lies constipation," Curnen quipped. "But yeah, bacon is pretty awesome."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin made a happy sound and finished his strip, letting out a low rumble once it was gone and then moving to sit on her lap.

More? he asked, looking hopeful, white paws primly together as they pressed into her knee.

[wispofathing]

Curnen sighed and surrendered the final strip she was holding. She'd hoped--but hadn't expected--to eat it herself.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin took it, eating it in one bite then putting his paws up onto her shoulder to lick her face.

Thank you, he said cheerfully, yawning a little and then stretching. Suddenly a nap sounded like a fantastic idea.

[wispofathing]

Curnen laughed at the tickle of that tongue on her face. She liked Fin this way, less reserved and more affectionate. But... "You're welcome. We should try again to fix this."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Yes, Fin agreed, putting his paws down. I think being a fox is having a strange effect on me.

[wispofathing]

"It's cute as hell, though," Curnen had to point out. "So... what've you tried?"

[prince_of_nymphs]

I've tried relaxing, I've tried focusing on being human again... I don't know what else to do though, Fin confessed, letting out a low whine.

[wispofathing]

"Well," Curnen pointed out, "when you turned into a fox, you weren't thinking about being a fox. You were thinking about... impulses and daydreams 'bout the Other Side. Maybe what you need to think about ain't being human, but what attaches you to this world. What you can only do here. Because you're human."

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin seemed thoughtful, an odd look on a fox, but he nodded a bit in agreement.

Yes, alright. That makes sense. ...I'll just think about what I'm missing as a fox, he decided, laying down and closing his eyes. ...He was silent and still, but it was obvious he was thinking too hard, and after a few minutes he stood again.

It's not working, he huffed, pawing at the floor as though trying to dig a hole, and then letting out a low whine.

[wispofathing]

"You're pushing too hard," Curnen said softly, slowly stroking her hand over his fur. "Our magic don't work that way. That's wizard stuff. We want things, and let ourselves have 'em. You've seen it happen. Calm down."

She started to hum, a lullaby passed down from her mother from her mother, an old song from back in the homelands.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin whined a little, but her humming was soothing, and he settled down a little as he started to relax.

This time when Fin flopped onto his side and closed his eyes, his magic listened. He didn't even feel the shift, it was only the feeling of his shirt drifting up past his navel as he flopped onto his back that alerted him to the fact he was human again.

"Oh," he said softly, sitting up a little. "Well, that was a touch anticlimactic, wasn't it?"

[wispofathing]

Curnen squealed and pounced him, wrapping her arms around him. "You did so good!"

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin looked startled, then smiled and laughed softly.

"Not really, nearly got bludgeoned to death with a broom," he reminded her with a soft smile. "Thank you though, for helping. ...Not just helping me change back, but getting me home."

[wispofathing]

"Of course," she said, like it was obvious that she'd help. He'd needed help, and she was there and could give it. And she liked him. "Besides, you were really fucking adorable."

[prince_of_nymphs]

"Is that your way of telling me I'm not usually adorable?" he teased, wrapping his arms around his knees with a smile and remaining on the floor for now.

[wispofathing]

"There's a world of difference between 'adorable' and 'really fucking adorable,'" Curnen said with a sage nod.

[prince_of_nymphs]

Fin laughed again, a bright and warm sound that echoed in the small kitchen.

"Fair enough," he allowed. "Thank you though, really. I'd probably be digging in a bin right now, thinking with my belly rather than my brain if you'd not found me. I'm still barely competent when it comes to magic. ...I didn't even know I could do that at all, if I'm honest."

[wispofathing]

Curnen possibly dimmed a little bit at that mention of eating out of the trash, but she brushed right past it and ruffled his hair. "You're barely more'n a baby. We all start somewhere. And there's prolly always gonna be something you don't master."