londoncallingrpg | Foxy

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.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

offthebeatenpath

Once the white fox was hidden away, Em moved her foxes to sit in a line in front of the man, so he couldn't miss seeing all of them. Then, almost like the Cheshire cat, they faded as one, slowly from the dot of their noses to the very tips of their tails. Let him think he was seeing things.

He stomped around the alley a bit, glaring at Em as he passed on his way out, but with her eyes back to their usual color, she'd slid her shades up to hold her hair back and was looking at something on her phone. Nothing to see here. She waited until he was gone before kneeling down beside her bag.

"Please tell me you're Fin, and I'm not crazily talking to a wild animal."

From:

prince_of_nymphs

Yes! Yes, it's me! Fin said, letting out a little squeak. You found me! Take me home? Please?

He let out a low whine of a sound, head poking out of the bag as he gave her a hopeful look.

From:

offthebeatenpath

"Sometimes I'm really glad I don't have magic." Chances were Em would go crazy at some point, beyond the occasional lapse, but her mutation didn't cause problems like magic could.

"I'm guessing you're stuck?" Reversed cards had suggested some kind of block, and if Fin was staying in another shape when it put him in danger, there was probably a magic snafu involved. "I don't know what to do, other than take you to your place.

She stood, lifting the bag with the fox still in it, taking a step in the direction of Fin's building. The paused and turned. "Or Winter's maybe?"

From:

prince_of_nymphs

Fin whined, resting his chin on the edge of her bag. I don't know which would be better. I was going to Winter's, but it's so far. ...So far.

From:

offthebeatenpath

A mostly one-sided conversation with a fox wasn't very helpful, so Em did what she usually did when unsure which option to take - she asked the tarot. A quick shuffle, then three cards pulled from the deck, her eyes losing focus briefly as she saw what she'd drawn.

"Your place," she told Fin as she started that direction. "At least I can get you off the street somewhere safe. Not sure I'm much help beyond that, though."

From:

prince_of_nymphs

Fin whined softly, nudging at her with his nose.

Maybe the cards know how I turn back? he thought hopefully, unintentionally giving her his biggest and saddest eyes.

From:

offthebeatenpath

Em sighed. "Don't look at me like that. You know I can't do anything until we get to the flat. And I'd like to do it without drawing too much attention, because how am I supposed to explain this if we get stopped on the way."

From:

prince_of_nymphs

Finlay huffed, ducking back down into her bag and curling up with the first item he could wrap his paws around. He couldn't see what it was, but he happily rubbed his face against it.

From:

offthebeatenpath

Em couldn't help it; she laughed softly, shaking her head. There was something Fin-like about his actions, even as a fox. Which made sense, but still felt weird. The whole situation was weird, though.

It wasn't that long a walk, and soon they were in the lift on the way up to Fin's floor. "Almost there. Are you doing okay?"

From:

prince_of_nymphs

Fin's head poked out of her bag, and he whined as he tried to jump down to the floor.

From:

offthebeatenpath

Slipping the bag off her shoulder, Em lowered it to the floor. She'd hate if Fin broke a leg or something jumping from a height or getting tangled in her bag, but he had to be feeling cooped up and ready to be home.

From:

prince_of_nymphs

Hopping out, Fin shook out his fur and pawed at the lift doors.

Home, home, home.

From:

offthebeatenpath

Em bit her lip to keep from laughing, and when the lift doors opened, she stayed back, letting him go first. She was afraid she'd trip over Fin in his eagerness to get home otherwise.

She followed him to the apartment and tried the door, hoping it was unlocked. She wasn't sure Fin needed to see her lock picking skills.

Edited Date: 2016-12-03 02:06 am (UTC)

From:

prince_of_nymphs

The door was never locked, and Fin happily scampered in, rushing off straight to the kitchen.

Food, food, food, he chanted, pawing at the fridge. Open, open, open.

From:

offthebeatenpath

So that's what the fox says, Em thought as she followed the yips and huffs through to the kitchen.

"I have no idea what foxes shouldn't eat," she said as she opened the fridge and scanned it for things that looked like they'd be okay. "'Je ne mange pas de pain. Le blé pour moi est inutile.' Fox in the henhouse. I'm guessing you're more carnivorous, huh? And probably need help opening containers."

From:

prince_of_nymphs

I cooked bacon this morning, I know there's some left, Fin huffed, paws up on a shelf as he nosed at a foil wrapped packet.

This! Bacon! Give it!

From:

offthebeatenpath

Em opened the foil package and set it down on the floor where Fin could reach it easily. Then, making sure her fingers were free of bacon grease, she moved to the table and pulled a deck of cards out of her bag. "Don't eat too fast, you'll make yourself sick."

What do I need to know so Fin can unfox? filled her mind as she began to shuffle. She could go back to wondering over the strangeness of her life here once she was done with the tarot.

From:

prince_of_nymphs

Fin ate nearly the whole lot, though he did eventually stop, plucking a piece from the top and trotting over to Em.

Looking pleased with himself, he dropped it at her feet and sat down.

Sharing.

From:

offthebeatenpath

Focusing on the cards in front of her, Em didn't pay much attention to Fin's offering at first. One spread, then another, additional cards looking for more information and it kept coming back to the four of swords.

"That's all right, you can have it," she said when she saw the bacon he'd left for her. "Then I think you need to just chill out. Maybe take a nap or something. You were trying too hard, maybe?"

An idea came to her, and she looked for a card with a single fox. "I don't know if this will help, but if you follow the fox, it might." With the card in hand, Em projected the fox, and had it walk slowly around the room, tracing out an Askani calming pattern.

From:

prince_of_nymphs

Fin didn't follow though, his tail fluffing out right before he attempted to pounce on the animal.

From:

offthebeatenpath

Fin pounced, but Em's projected fox faded as he landed. Maybe she should've explained what she was trying to do.

"So much for that idea. Giving into vulpine instincts isn't going to help you turn back, you know."

From:

prince_of_nymphs

Fin pawed at the floor where the fox had been, then whined as he looked back at Em.

Play. I want to play, he huffed, trotting back over to her and pouncing on her foot.

From:

offthebeatenpath

"Your as bad as my friend's corgy Lenny," Em laughed. "Don't you want to shift back to your usual self?"

From:

prince_of_nymphs

Of course I do! Fin huffed, flopping onto his side and whining a little.

From:

offthebeatenpath

"I'm sorry. Figuring out new abilities sucks, I know. But I don't think I can do anything to help except stay with you until you shift back. Or Willy gets home." She wished she could do more, but it wasn't that different from trying to help with someone else's mutation – at some level, he had to do it himself.