middaeg | [open] 🔶 it's a sad, sad situation

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[open] 🔶 it's a sad, sad situation

Who: Ferran & YOU
When: Iuneril
Where: Aefenglom (the river somewhere, the haven, aristocratic district)
What: Teleportation mishaps, accidental traps, and disguised run-ins (with bonus bad decisions) + any closed threads. Possibly more! Only time will tell.
Warnings: n/a

A. 2nd

[Although Ferran had felt an inclination towards building shapes for some time, it wasn't too out of the ordinary... being a hopeful architect and all. What was odd, initially, was the inclination towards one specific shape, which admittedly took some time to realize the reasoning behind, but the request from the company of native fairies the other month only solidified the idea, and although teleportation certainly sounds amazing, there are so many things that could go wrong:

What if he doesn't go to the right place? How does it transport him? Can something else happen to someone aside from being misplaced? What if his particles don't get put back together correctly??? And so, he decided he needed to fully comprehend the technique before giving it any serious attempts.

It's taken some time, but now he feels confident enough to transport an actual person, rather than the simple, replacable objects he'd been using for his tests—himself, that is. He's had a few mishaps, losing a few pencils and blocks in the process, but he's ready to make the jump. He thinks.

The first couple of tries go well enough, being only a short distance from each other. But the third?

He ends up in the river.

Of course, it's a much better outcome than landing himself in the Wilde, especially given that he's always been a decent swimmer, moth wings or no. It is, however, an unpleasant surprise, and he ends up taking in a bit of water, possibly making his emergence on the surface a little alarming with the way he coughs to clear his lungs.]

Jesus— [hack] Christ, [he gasps, paddling just enough to stay on the surface.

If he doesn't catch someone's attention immediately, he'll definitely end up resorting to calling out to whoever's nearby—not necessarily because he needs rescue, but in the hopes of making his exit from the water much less messy.]

Hey!

B. 3rd-7th

[It's fine this time, though. He's got it sorted out, a circle set up just inside his yard's shrubs and the other halfway across town. He's made a successful trip from here and back. It's working, and as long as he concentrates and keeps them up, he's confident they'll continue for however long he holds them together. He's making progress!

Brushing his hands (and a bit of accidental fae dust) over the construct, he looks up and happens to spot a passerby, who he greets with a smile.]

Hello there.

[He's in a good mood, apparently.]

Where are you headed? I might be able to get you there faster.

[What he doesn't realize is that he might end up getting them absolutely nowhere and stuck for some time. Fae magic isn't known for its reliability, and it's nearly as fickle as its users without enough experience.]

C. 4th-9th

[A tall, dark-haired man makes his first appearances in the aristocratic district this month, claiming to be from Dorchacht and gathering what information he can about the local politicians (aka nobility) and their tendencies. He's polite and subdued, frequently with a mild smile on his face, winning over at least a few locals with his looks, deep voice and pleasant demeanor.

When the man stops speaking with someone, however, the smile fades fairly quickly, and he seems to be in a hurry to retreat when he turns and knocks into someone with much less force than his size would imply.]

Ah, excuse me.

[In reailty, the man is in fact a young Fae who's completely concealed himself under the glamor of his guardian and the source of most of his troubles. Is this healthy? Probably not. Does he care? ... well, yes, but that doesn't mean he's not going to do it. Rion's persona is perfect for gathering information: he's charismatic in a number of ways, and Ferran knows his face, mannerisms and voice incredibly well, making him easy to imitate and remain constant. Plus, if he ends up saying or doing the wrong thing, it's less likely to paint a target on his own fluffy back, and he won't feel bad for ruining any reputations.

(Wouldn't that be fun, if the man showed up only to have everyone already hate him? It would almost make such a development bearable.)

In his hurry, he doesn't notice that he drops a golden quill, which looks valuable even outside of its enchantment and sentimental value. Hopefully whoever he's run into will be kind enough to try to return it to him...]

Wildcard.

[OOC: Feel free to play with these prompts as you please; jump in halfway, interrupt him, whatever! You can see Ferran's info and current goings-on over here and hit me up over pm or at

lumieresdedragon to plot something else out! Or just toss me a starter out of the blue! I love surprises!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ferran doesn't have the kind of clothing or parts that allow for easy drying; even though he tries to flutter his wings to help the process, they're still heavy and useless. Having a particular image he likes to portray, he doesn't want to try shaking himself off like a dog, and instead resorts to wringing out his bangs first, then what he can of his sleeves while keeping his shirt on.]

I'm fine... just way more damp than I was anticipating.

[He lets out a huff, at least grateful that it's not winter—he'd be freezing.]

Thanks for the help.

[ Zack also starts to wring out his shirt and his hair, taking care not to squeeze too hard and harm the feathers that are now woven in with the rest of his mane. The weather is warm enough that he imagines both of them will be dry before long, at least. No harm done.

Even if the guy he saved does seem kind of put out about the whole thing. ]

Guess you didn't mean to fall in, then? [ Obviously. ] What happened?

[ Come to think of it, it's odd that Zack didn't hear an initial splash. But it's not like he'd been paying that much attention. ]

[Ferran shrugs, disappointed in the outcome of his testing. He blames the Fae. And leylines. And the moons. Talam, just in general.]

I was trying to be careful, but apparently Fae portals are even less reliable than I thought.

[He flicks off more water from his hands, trying to identify where exactly in Aefenglom he is by the landmarks and nearby buildings. It may take him a while without a map...]

Hey, are you any good with those wings?

Fae portals? Those are a thing?

[ Now that Zack has the chance to get a closer look at the other's wings, it does make sense that he's a fae. He's definitely not a dragon or a harpy, and he doesn't have any other obvious animal parts that would mark him as a chimera.

Zack just doesn't happen to have much experience with fae, so this will be a first of sorts.

When his own wings are mentioned, he reflexively looks back over his shoulder at them, giving them another shake and a good flap to dislodge more water. ]

Good? What, like can I fly?

[He watches the spray of water come off of Zack's feathers, reconsidering his idea.]

Actually, never mind... I'd probably just get more wet that way...

[ferran you can't just treat strangers on the street like your personal fan

With a sigh, he undoes the buttons around his wrists and pulls his arms out of his sleeves, somewhat grateful that the backless shirt he has to wear lets him stay decent as he does.]

Anyway, it was news to me, too—which you can probably tell by how mine spat me out in the middle of the river. I really wish there were books on Fae magic.

Edited (that's an important word to forget.) 2021-06-20 20:33 (UTC)

[ Zack tilts his head, still not fully processing what it was that this guy had in mind. It seemed to be less about flying and more about, what, drying off? Well, they're moving past it, which is probably for the best. Zack hasn't treated his wings as more than an additional obstacle so far, and he should probably change that.

It's not really a surprise that the stranger didn't intend to land in the river. Most magic takes practice, and if this brand allows people to portal around, Zack can see how that would get dangerous (or embarrassing) real quick. ]

Huh? [ He blinks. ] Why aren't there? Is it considered secret knowledge or something?

[ Really, he doesn't know much about the fae, and now he wonders if that's by design.

After another beat, though, Zack extends his hand forward. ]

Name's Zack, by the way.

I have to assume it's more like a dead language, with how few of them there are. [And are Fae generally inclined towards writing encyclopedias? Ferran thinks not; his own obsessive note taking is much more of a human thing.] And getting anything relevant out of the ones I've met has been like pulling teeth...

[He takes the offered hand to shake in greeting without any real pause, his grip average as far as these things go.]

I'm Ferran. It's nice to meet you, river aside. You're Mirrorbound, too?

[ The more that Zack hears, the more he can understand why he hasn't run into any fae until now. They're rare and not exactly forthcoming with information, which means they're likely not seeking out random Mirrorbound to talk to. ]

Yep! Been here long enough that I guess I can pass for a native now.

[ He gives his tail a quick swish to punctuate his point. The changes had been gradual enough that he's almost used to them by now, even if having to alter so much of his wardrobe had been a pain. He can't even wear proper shoes anymore... ]

I've never met a fae Mirrorbound before. [ One of his eyebrows ticks up as he grins. ] Are you one of a kind?

[Ferran nods at the gesture; he's definitely felt wardrobe pains, although he has been... mildly grateful that they've mostly been with respect to his back. He likes having human feet and hands and things, thank you.

Although Zack's question seems to be meant as a playful tease, it strikes an unpleasant chord with him, and he folds his arms with a deep sigh. He manages to keep all of his existential loneliness from seeping into his expression, but... well.]

That might be the case now. The ones I met before are gone now, it seems.

[... enough about him, though.]

What about you? Friends with any other griffins?

[ While Zack's intention had been one thing, it's obviously taken a different way judging by the way that Ferran's face falls. Whoops. Zack should keep in mind that most people here have lost someone. Their numbers have dwindled pretty rapidly in the past few months, for whatever reason, and he should watch what he says.

He offers a conciliatory nod but doesn't say anything more, not wanting to dwell on a sore subject with someone he's only just met.

The question draws an unexpected smile out of him. This is the first time he's been recognized outright. Before his transformation was complete, people often struggled to pinpoint his monster type. He must really be getting used to it, if the immediate understanding makes him feel better rather than worse. ]

I've got a few chimera friends, but none of them are quite the same as me. Which I guess is kind of the point of us? [ He taps a finger on his chin. ] Chimeras are supposed to be a sort of hodge-podge.

— Although, huh. I think all of them are gone, too...

[ Welp. ]

[The initial reaction does help bring the Fae back to a more even mood, and he unfolds his arms, setting aside his more negative feelings to think about later. He's moped enough about not being understood for the time being.

Ferran is nothing if not a quick learner, and not having the structure of a school to occupy his time, he'd dived into the local libraries and familiarizing himself with Talam as much as possible early on. Harpies don't have lion legs, and dragons tend towards being scaly rather than furry—so the conclusion would have been an easy enough one to make, even if Ferran hadn't been a bit of a fantasy nerd before.

He hums thoughtfully, combing a hand through his hair as if he'd be able to get it back to its proper state. That's not happening anytime soon, but it's a habit.]

I think you're the first Mirrorbound one I've met, too. [He wonders how many of them there are at this point—witches and monsters both. The city is so big it feels like they'd be more likely to fade into the background than stand out. When he returns his eyes to Zack after that train of thought, though, another question occurs to him:] Can you fly, by the way?

[ It does make sense that Zack would have been drawn more to other chimera, but he is a little surprised when Ferran admits he hasn't met any of the others. Now they're not here, so it all becomes a moot point. Are there any other Mirrorbound chimera left other than him? He has no idea.

Watching as Ferran tries to tame his hair, Zack feels compelled to do the same, carefully tucking a few feathers into their correct position. Smoothing them into place does help him to feel a little better. ]

I can at least get some height with them, but I don't think I can fly quite like a harpy or dragon could. I haven't actually practiced yet, though, so that's going on the list.

[ A pause, and winks playfully. ]

Hopefully it doesn't end with me falling into a river.

[Ferran shrugs with an exasperated sigh, just barely keeping himself from rolling his eyes. You mess up one portal...]

Flying's useful, so I recommend figuring it out sooner rather than later.

[It's a struggle to say the Fae likes any of the changes he's undergone, especially when Witch magic would serve just as well for the few upsides, but he can't deny the practicality.]

It's nice not having to figure out what roads to take to get somewhere, for one.

[ There's really no denying that being able to fly would be amazing, and there's plenty of useful applications that Zack can think of pretty much right away. Naturally, what first comes to mind is how he could get around in battle.

Those wings... I want them, too.

Who could have thought his wish would come true like this? ]

You're right. [ He gives a firm nod, as if he's come to a decision about it, before pointing a finger in Ferran's direction. ] How did you learn? [ Those fae wings look so delicate. It's hard to imagine they could really carry a full-grown adult. Then again, magic. ]

Very carefully.

[Even in the moon-fueled state been in when he'd first practiced, he started small; he's not particularly inclined towards breaking his neck for no good reason, chaotic Fae instincts or no.]

I guess it's like most physical things... you have to work up to it and learn how it feels.

[His wings are a significant size compared to some other Fae, but yeah—it's probably magic. He tries not to think too hard about it.]

[ Zack laughs at that initial answer. That much is obvious, really. As foolhardy and willing to jump into the action as he can be at times, he also has no intention of breaking his neck or his back or anything else.

So, start slow. Learn what he's capable of, and then work up to the more dangerous or risky tasks. He can do that. ]

Makes sense! [ With a grin, he lifts a hand and clamps it down on Ferran's shoulder, gripping it in what's meant to be a friendly and grateful gesture. ] Thanks for the advice.

[ Slowly but surely, the sun's drying them off, which means that they've done enough standing around. ] Now, where were you trying to go before your portal spat you out?

[He's a little surprised by the gesture, but more due to the force of it rather than any aversion to touch.]

Sure. Our wings are different, but... some other things are probably the same, if you need any more.

[Although the smile remains on his face, the way his eyes move gradually to the wall of a shop behind Zack probably displays some of his embarrassment.]

Uh... my neighbor's.

[Their distance from the Haven shows just how well that went.]

[ Their wings are different, and it makes Zack wonder at how much knowledge is really transferable between them. He hasn't put much thought into this whole flying thing until now, but it seems like it's high time that he did some research.

Zack isn't going to give Ferran a hard time over his blunder (more than he already has, that is), already considering how his flying trial-and-error is bound to land him into some sticky situations himself.

He plants his hands on his hips and leans his shoulders forward slightly, offering a friendly grin. ]

Well! If you wanted some company to get there the long way, I'm happy to take a walk with you. Unless you were going to try the portal thing again?

[ Just how determined-slash-reckless is this guy? ]

[Ferran laughs dismissively.]

Oh, no—I'd rather take the scenic route than end up in the forest this time...

[The only time Ferran is reckless is when other people's safety is threatened... although even that has become a much less likely occurrence with the absence of his magic from home. It's harder throwing yourself into danger when you stop being a magical tank...]

I don't mind if you want to come with me, but you must be bored to offer.

[ It's not as if Zack wants to discourage Ferran's portaling practice, but there's also such a thing as too much excitement for one day, probably.

At Ferran's remark, though, one of Zack's eyebrows lifts. ]

You think so? I don't know, having the chance to get to learn more about someone interesting I just met doesn't sound boring at all.

[ He stands akimbo and grins, before stepping forward to stand at Ferran's side. Lead the way, he seems to be saying with a quick forward incline of his head. ]

I wasn't really on my way anywhere, so this is as good a direction to go as any.

[Ferran could describe himself in many ways, but interesting isn't one of them. He shrugs with a smile, turning to walk and expecting Zack to follow.]

I guess I'll take that as a compliment. [He tries once more to get his hair back into place, running his fingers through it in a precise and practiced way. It's still not working, though.] So—what do you do with your time when you're not picking fairies out of rivers?

[ Zack does in fact follow, easily falling into pace at Ferran's side. He's the sort of person who can make friends with someone in a single interaction, and seems utterly unconcerned to be taking a walk with Ferran now. ]

Huh! Well, I guess you could say I style myself as a mercenary, so I take a lot of odd jobs.

[ He glances over his shoulder before remembering he doesn't have his sword with him. Just the wings, which he somehow can still forget are there sometimes. ]

Mostly ones that include monster-hunting. I did a lot of that back home.

The messy kind of work, huh?

[Ferran used to be a monster hunter of a sort, but he wouldn't compare it to what the experience must be like here. For one, there was a lot less blood involved, he's sure. He glances at Zack, trying to get a solid picture of the guy (aka make assumptions).]

How'd you get into that?

[Lower-case-m monsters being common isn't a great circumstance to be living in, and he's honestly grateful he didn't have to encounter creatures like that until recently. ... though it does make him wonder what the difference is between a "monster" and an animal in worlds like Zack's.]

[ The messy kind of work. Yeah, that's not a bad way to describe it. Zack lets out a small breath and nods, and while he has plenty of regrets when it comes to how things turned out because of his decision to join SOLDIER, there's no undoing it.

Better to take the abilities and skills he received as a result of all that and use them on his own terms, now.

At the question, he draws his arms up to fold behind his head even as he continues to walk forward. ]

Well, a war broke out back home, and while I was pretty young when it started, there was this program called SOLDIER that they were trying to recruit kids like me into. Every boy my age dreamed of joining and becoming some kind of hero.

[ Of course Zack realizes now that it had all been propaganda, a way to get willing test subjects, but how could he have known better back then?

He drops his arms and shakes his head to himself. ] Guess I had a knack for it, because I made it to the highest rank in record time. [ For better or worse. ]

[Recruiting kids to fight. Ferran has more than a few personal feelings about the idea, but he understands how easy it could be to get sucked into thinking it's a good idea. He's willing to give Zack the benefit of the doubt, especially since the guy seems so helpful, so he simply nods at first.]

You must have worked hard.

[Talent and knacks only get you so far, after all.]

I'm sure there's no shortage of things like that to do here, huh. Does it all blend together after a while?

[open] 🔶 it's a sad, sad situation

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one day i'll learn how to close my html tags

shhhh i saw nothing

at least it was only italics instead of small tags...

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gonna wrap this up since we have a new one!

o7