|
Post by jarahamee on Jun 4, 2023 3:05:24 GMT -6
“Oh, is that true? It’s a shame you aren’t a believer.”
He glanced back at Casper, eyes half-lidded while wiggling his fingers in the air, as if to exaggerate his answer.
“Where, exactly, do you want to take me, and why?”
Vars asked. His eyes were keen but his smile was coy and playful. Perhaps this had all been some kind of strange mistake, and they were merely two magical beings who met in a pinball arcade. There were worse ways to meet magical beings, and he felt that he had gotten very lucky so far in who he was able to meet, and what he was able to do.
|
|
|
Post by indeath on Jun 4, 2023 5:10:27 GMT -6
“If anyone could make me a believer it’s you.”
Casper grinned. Then his question came and guilt ran through him and Casper shrunk a little. He felt like an eight year old caught with his hand in the jar. The color went out of his face leaving it white as soap. He glanced around nervously then a hush went over the pair as he cast a spell. There was a slight pop in Vars’ ear. Here goes nothing, in for a penny in for a pound and all that.
“No one can hear us now but unfortunately we can’t hear them either. I promised the truth… crap. You saw right through me huh. I’m fae… A changeling. I… belong to a duchess of the unseelie court. She looked after my human family when it seemed all but hopeless. I’m sorry, Vars. It was my intention to take you to the unseelie realm because she wanted you. I uh was having second thoughts though… You’re too… I couldn’t. It’s fine I’ll just accept the punishment.”
Casper looked down though and avoided Vars’ eyes. Why did he have to be so terrible at pinball tonight. .. What was one more person who hated him? He could form a club with that ghost. ~~~ Somewhere in the club, soft paws skittered around the club, keeping to the shadows and watching the pair with keen black eyes. It was distracted for a moment as it noticed some food that had fallen to the floor. A wag of the tail and the dog chewed happily, still watching.
|
|
|
Post by jarahamee on Jun 4, 2023 20:09:40 GMT -6
Vars stared at him flatly, his dark eyes wide. Take him to the faerie realm? Of all the things he could have expected, that was not one of the answers he thought he was going to hear.
“If I go there, will I be trapped?”
He asked, looking at Casper expectantly. He didn’t want this man to suffer some kind of punishment for his failure. It just didn’t sit quite right with him. He twisted his hands together, considering.
Faeries and demons were much alike, and often came to people who had no other choice but to make dealings with them. He imagined that his new friend probably had no other options but to agree to be her slave, and accept punishment if he failed.
|
|
|
Post by indeath on Jun 5, 2023 2:22:11 GMT -6
Casper was relieved the guy hadn’t flat out left or punched him. He would have punched himself. He looked Vars in the eyes trying to maintain his cool. What little he had.
“No… I mean only if you eat or drink anything or fail the practically impossible riddle or task that the duchess asks of you. She gives you a chance… This was waay easier in the 70’s, most people didn’t even notice the difference and all I had to say was that I knew a place with top notch drugs. Then pow! One more person and one step closer to freedom… Most people call me Casper by the way. It’s my realest name.”
He thought of shaking Vars’ hand but that seemed weird, so he bowed slightly instead. It felt nice to be honest with someone. Sometimes the truth seemed as slippery as an eel. It was hard to know what was real.
|
|
|
Post by jarahamee on Jun 5, 2023 10:25:29 GMT -6
Vars took a moment to think about everything that the changling had just said. So this was not a human, but a fae creature. Or some kind of hybrid. Fascinating. He leaned in a little, as if to get a closer look.
“Casper… Your real-est name. My realest name is still Vars, but it’s good to re-meet you.”
He blinked at the changeling, who had now started rambling. He was grateful that he only had one or two drinks, and not a bunch, or he might have very well ended up kidnapped forever by a faerie mistress. Then how would he complete his tour? What would his assistants do? Would he ever see Pinkerton again?
“So. If I don’t want to be challenged to a faerie rap battle, but I might want to meet this faerie lady, what do I do? Is there a Get Out Of Faerieland Free pass?”
|
|
|
Post by indeath on Jun 5, 2023 19:04:05 GMT -6
Casper cocked his head considering the man’s question. No one had ever come quite so willingly to see Madigan. He liked the idea of taking her down a peg, it’d be well worth the cost.
“There is but it’s not without risk. Either you make a deal with her which could cost you or someone else… Or challenge her to a game yourself where she’ll owe you a favor if you win. She’s never been challenged before so she won’t be able to resist. I can help. I know the way out. Bring a bag of salt just in case though.”
Casper eyed his new friend. When had he become such a blather mouth? Was it wise to let this fellow know too many fae secrets? It was too late now. At least he couldn’t tell the man his true name, even he didn’t know it.
~~~ The dog settled on its haunches still watching. It’s long tongue licked at the air greedily.
|
|
|
Post by jarahamee on Jun 5, 2023 23:39:59 GMT -6
Vars glanced over at Medieval Madness, which continued to sit there, blinking and flashing enticingly. What else could he do? Try to charm her with a magic show? That was entirely possible.
“Huh, well… I don’t want to make a deal, but a game sounds nice. Maybe we can play pinball together. Or maybe I can try to impress her with some of my magic! ”
He smiled back at Casper, and picked two salt shakers off the bar counter. He placed them on his palm and waved his other hand over them quickly, while slipping them into his pocket. Another magic trick, making the condiments disappear.
He showed Casper his empty hands and bowed low, as if waiting for applause.
“Well, what do you think? Do I need more?”
|
|
|
Post by indeath on Jun 6, 2023 6:16:33 GMT -6
Casper grinned and gave a little clap at Vars as the salt shakers disappeared. It was a neat trick, he had to admit. He could actually be wily enough to pull this off alone.
“Maybe one more for good luck? There’s no such thing as too much salt when it comes to fae folk… Or silver.”
Casper held up his still blistered finger to show his point. The idea of helping Vars get the better of her was filling him with renewed energy. Maybe they could even be friends after this, stranger things had happened.
“So you’re definitely sure you want to do this? She’s quite… distinct. I… look different there too.”
He wasn’t 6’3 to begin with or human. Most humans found his fae form slightly off putting but he was pretty sure it was mostly his eyes.
|
|
|
Post by jarahamee on Jun 6, 2023 23:51:51 GMT -6
Vars did a little flourish, and picked up another couple of salt-shakers from the bar, this time making them disappear from his hand, and reappear behind Casper’s ear. A classic, but one he enjoyed. It then made it directly into his pocket.
At least he still had more silver coins, should he need them. Great for his coin tricks, and apparently for harming faeries, which until this very moment, he had not realized were full-sized men. Or women. Or other…creatures.
He nodded in agreement.
“As sure as I’ll be. I think it’ll go ok. Hopefully.”
He did a half-twirl, and then stopped at a very precise pose, like a Super Sentai character, before turning abruptly to make gun fingers at Casper. He grinned.
|
|
|
Post by indeath on Jun 8, 2023 6:24:59 GMT -6
Casper flinched slightly as the salt shaker came from behind his ear but couldn’t help but smile at the trick. This was going to be real interesting. He dropped the silence spell with another pop of pressure and the sounds of the bar came rushing back to both their ears. He smiled even more widely at the Super Sentai pose.
“スーパー戦隊をいじるなよ。”
Casper returned the finger guns. Then he motioned towards the door.
“Right this way then…”
He opened the door and waited for Vars to go through before he followed him out. Then he made his way to a dank alley nearby. It wasn’t the classiest place to set up a circle but it would do. Casper took out what looked like an incredibly ornate lapel pin. A curling sigil at the top and a sharp point at the end. He pricked his finger and a pearl of blood budded from his skin. He placed it carefully on the earth then slowly but surely but slowly a large ring of inky cap mushrooms pushed their way into existence. A soft earthy musk filled the air.
He looked up at Vars.
“Well, if you want to back out. Now’s the time. Otherwise all you need to do is step inside.”
~~~
Within the club the dog gave a soft happy yip then disappeared.
|
|
|
Post by jarahamee on Jun 9, 2023 1:00:48 GMT -6
Vars followed Casper outside, a little skip in his step. watched the ritual with rapt interest. This was not something even he saw every day, and indeed, he had never met a fairy, much less a noble of the fae realm.
Did making a deal with the faeries change you permanently?
He watched the mushrooms grow, and took a little sniff of the earthy scent. One of his favorites. Now he’d have to be careful not to eat or drink anything there, if the stories were true, anyways.
The beautiful man smiled, bowed, and took a single step inside of the ring. He was ready for anything now. Hopefully there really was a way out of here.
|
|
|
Post by indeath on Jun 9, 2023 5:35:35 GMT -6
Vars found himself in a dark forest full of bioluminescent flowers and plants that seemed to reach towards him. The trees themselves moved too, roots crawling like spider’s legs. Small alien creatures ran from sight into crevices and bushes. Whispers and laughter twinkled between branches. Hidden bodies swayed and moved like the ripples in a lake. Braver fae peered at him, colorful alien creatures ranging from the whitest snow to the blackest night. The sky above was a dark moonless magenta. Ahead of him, large and imposing was a castle of jutting onyx. It glowed with light from within, pulsing like a heart.
An unfamiliar figure came up from behind him, dressed in a dark ornate outfit of lace and ruffles. He looked uncomfortable in this form. Casper gave an awkward smile, his canines pointed. His skin was white with a blue pearlescent gleam, large white pupiless eyes framed with white long lashes. He had a shaggy mop of white hair that fell over his pointed ears and face.
He was shorter than Vars, slim and androgynous. The only thing similar to his previous form were the three freckles that sat like a triangle on his cheek. Casper made a face at his outfit, slightly embarrassed but Madigan insisted and he wasn’t going to rock the boat unnecessarily.
“It’s me… Casper. Heh you look good from this angle. That’s her place ahead. Gaudy isn’t it?”
|
|
|
Post by jarahamee on Jun 10, 2023 1:15:45 GMT -6
Vars’ eyes widened as he took in the sight of Casper. He was beautiful this way. Almost like a Martian prince. The color of the outfit nicely complemented his complexion. “She has a castle? Wow. Hey, that’s quite a get-up. You could have a place in theater too if you wanted. You can do so much; shapeshifting, acting, taking on personas. That’s the first step to having a great stage presence!”
Vars surveyed the alien world. Yep, definitely not Earth.
He paused, leaning over to inspect one of the strange little creatures. What were they? Are they unique species? Were they unknown to science?
An idea occurred to him. The magician held out his hand, brandishing a playing card towards the hiding Fae, as if to say that he wished them no harm.
“It’s ok. You can come out. I’m a friend.”
He called.
|
|
|
Post by indeath on Jun 13, 2023 6:16:47 GMT -6
Casper blushed a deep blue spreading across his cheeks. Vars must think he looks like a clown or jester. That’s what he felt like and he was pretty sure that’s how the fae folk saw him.
“She is part of the royal family, so she’s gotta have the right pad. Ha… this isn’t my idea of style. I did consider joining a punk band in my youth…”
Casper wasn’t sure if the attention was really for him but then groupies could be fun for several reasons. Some less enticing than others. No it was better he was bad at drawing people in.
A small twisted creature crept out from a shimmering orange bush. He was a small man with goatish features and hooves at the end of his legs. Goose feathers lined his crooked back and neck. He had uneven patches of fur all over his form. He was also covered completely in cement dust. His eyes crinkled with a smile as he trotted to the card.
“Ain’t cha a pretty one! Are ya in need of a friend? This one here is no good. Reeks of hypocrisy! Ain’t one with his fae nature… still thinks he’s ‘uman!”
The creature took the card and filled the empty space with his own hand and gave it a squeeze. He looked lovingly at Vars, completely ignoring Casper who looked both mortified and slightly insulted.
|
|
|
Post by jarahamee on Jun 13, 2023 15:39:16 GMT -6
“A punk band. I can see that from the clothes you were wearing at the bar. I did not realize that was a reflection of the real you too.” Vars, for his part, seemed to be completely enthralled by his courtly outfit, and was all smiles as he looked over this strange place. The magician seemed much more at ease than he had been at the bar, and looked far more in his element in this magical realm than being flirted with by a mortal man.
He half-turned like a dancer, swaying slightly and took a few steps; “What is your style?” He was immediately distracted when the little fawnish creature crawled out of the bushes. Another friend, and a little one, who apparently did not like Casper very much at all. Vars was delighted when the card was taken, and smiled. “Hello there. I’m always happy to meet new friends. What’s your name?” He asked, making sure to divert their attention from Casper.
|
|