Eat, drink, and be fairy. (Casper, Vars, ??)

[indeath]

A reflection of the real you… The words stung like thorns in his skin. There wasn’t a real Casper to reflect, he was all reflections. Nothing of him was his own except his personality. Which wasn’t the greatest obviously. It was a work in progress. Though perhaps if Vars thought that it was a persona, it would give him a second chance at a first impression. Although this Urisk was a spanner in the works. Casper tried to move out of its sight, he was even less popular here than earth.

The creature in question seemed enraptured by Vars. The entire environment seemed to bend towards him, listening in. A small cat-like creature began to slither towards him, it had several sets of paws that turned with its movements.

The faunish creature smiled widely at Vars with grubby teeth, shaking his head a little.

“Can’t tell ye that… can’t tell ye that. Call me Handbasket. Yes that’s what ya shall call me. I don’t change or pretend ta be somethin’ I ain’t. It shoulda died at birth, most changelings don’t last long. Not meant to… I guess this one was just unfortunate.”

Casper hands were in tight fists and he clenched his jaw. This was why he hated coming here. He didn’t want to kick the urisk in front of Vars but he mentally noted that he would get revenge. One way or another this shitball would get his.

“We… have business.. Handbasket…”

He yanked his head towards the castle.

[jarahamee]

“It’s fortunate that he did not. I kind of like him. Just like I like you, Handbasket.”

Vars’ expression did not change, and while he did not frown, his correction was a gentle one as he wiggled his finger. As if he was correcting a dog that had snarled at his fellow over a bone. He was a stranger here, and loyalty did not mean much, but it meant something to him.

Vars smiled, making a gold coin appear between his fingers from nothing. He flipped it over his fingers, making it appear to walk it over the surface, before causing it to vanish right before the Urisk’s eyes. He then made it reappear behind the creature’s ear, before placing it in his hand.

His skin was soft, and his black nails were carefully manicured, finished with lacquer for strength. There were no calluses from hard labor. He must moisturize every day.

The magician’s attention was then drawn by the strange cat-like creature. He could stay here all day if given the ability, just watching all manner of creatures and monsters. This place was a wonderland, virtually speaking.

“Oh yes…we have to get going.”

Vars remarked regretfully, rising to his feet.

[indeath]

Casper’s heart missed a beat at ‘kind of like’, it was at least not outright hate. It was almost on the way to liking. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d made a friend. Not one that didn’t live in a nursing home anyway. Though it was always hard to know if those people were just being polite. There was always something they picked up on, something off about him. Same way this Urisk knew he didn’t belong either. At least Madigan cared about him… on some level. Like a trinket you hated but couldn’t bare part with because of nostalgia. He smiled at Vars and motioned him forward. Hopefully he wouldn’t screw this up.

Handbasket took the coin and bit it hard then gave it a lick. Then it disappeared into a little leather bag he had at his hip. He seemed reluctant to let Vars go.

“Ha! Hear that, Oaf! He likes me nah you!! We’re friends ain’t we? Friends do friends favors and I be reckoning I owes ya one for these gifts. So call me name times three and I’ll come ta help ya…”

The cat creature continued crawling against the ground, little hairs shifting about like magnetic ink. It brushed against Casper’s leg making the fibre in his pants stand on end. Casper frowned a little, trying to resist picking it up. It would probably bite him. Instead he began walking steadily towards the castle in the hopes Vars would follow.

[jarahamee]

Vars smiled down at Handbasket. Maybe one day the strange little creature would come to his aid. Today he just had to be a new friend. He really wished he had brought his camera to take a photo, but maybe he could make a little doodle and add it to his notebook later.

He glanced towards Casper, and noticed that the changeling was heading towards the castle. The castle where he was supposed to be going too. Right, of course.

The magician tipped an invisible hat down at Handbasket, and grinned broadly.

“I got to be going, but it is good to meet you. If ever I am in need, I will be sure to call for you, Handbasket.”

Vars’ eye caught the sight of the strange, cat-like creature, and he jogged after Casper. Would the odd animal bite him? Would it also rub up against him? He wondered.

From his ear, he removed a single golden earring. A shame he was going to lose it, but the felid might appreciate its finer qualities.

“Oh, yeah, castle, right.”

He said to Casper’s back. Hopefully that was less awkward than he had intended.

“Sorry about all this. It doesn’t sound like you asked to be a part any of it either.”

[indeath]

The cat-tipillar trundled over the earring then with a pop it’s fur turned gold at the tip, then a line shimmering and gleaming ran through it until it was once again inky black. Then it burped, purring appreciatively. Another pop and it seemed to stretch and it now had a little shiny gold tip on it’s tail. The trees shook, their leaves whispering to themselves. They seemed to be moving closer.

Casper turned and growled at them, waving his hands threateningly with little flames dancing on the tips of his fingers. They backed away hissing at the changeling. He slowed his pace allowing Vars to catch up.
He smiled at Vars, rubbing at his nose.

“Uh please be careful. Attention is the last thing you want here. Trust me.”

There was a moment of awkward silence as Casper considered his response to Vars’ question. He had a tendency to over share. The path ahead seemed to move with them, disappearing behind them making it hard to track where they’d been.

“No… I didn’t but I am a changeling and my human family didn’t ask for me either. Nor did they ask to be sent into poverty because of something they had no control over. I would have done anything to stop them suffering. So… here I am in servitude. Sometimes I wish I could go back to believing I’m just a regular human but the magic is fun. Have you ever done anything like that?”

[jarahamee]

Vars looked vaguely disappointed as the cat-erpillar disappeared. He had watched with rapt interest as its colors changed and the creature transmuted. There was just something so charming about a being so beautiful and mutable in this world. If only everything could reflect him so well.

The slender man followed behind Casper, running a hand through his long hair before flicking it over his shoulder. There was a certain kind of movement inherent in this place, like the bottom of the sea, swaying and moving everything within it like the tides.

He trotted up to Casper, nodding as the man shared his story.

What a strange tale of woe.

“I’m sorry. What do they say; we are all players in the game of life. You and your family didn’t do anything to deserve where you are.”

Vars smiled sadly, and patted Casper’s shoulder gently, as if to provide him with comfort. For what it was worth, the man’s dark eyes were truly somber.

“And I don’t blame you for where you are or what you do… For me… I’m glad I know magic because it helped me escape where I was stuck in life. I didn’t know what happiness could look like. And now I do, and I’m here, and I love everything that I’ve discovered in this new world.”

He made a half-spin. This strange place wasn’t exactly it, and he would like to return to his real world, but the magical world he hadn’t seen before his powers manifested were a completely different story, and something he absolutely loved and would never have took back for anything.

[indeath]

Casper looked back at Vars, it was too soon to say but at least he was odd enough to be his friend. He definitely took to this world far better than Casper did but then there were so many bad memories attached. Perhaps Vars wouldn’t like it so much when he met Madigan. Though from what he’d seen perhaps he’d like even her.

“I appreciate that… No one has spoken so kindly of me before. This might surprise you but I don’t really have friends. I am trying to be better but… it’s hard. Already made a fresh enemy recently. Enough about me though… What made you stuck? How did you unstick? I feel more stuck than ever and I have magic.”

He also was prone to verbal diarrhea around pretty men. Which sadly wasn’t endearing. The path continued winding towards the castle a couple trees seemed to take the two men’s form like a reflection in a lake. Small invisible hands touched Var’s hair from branches.

[jarahamee]

Vars stopped spinning, catching himself in a dance pose, arms out. It felt good to be out and active, even if it was somewhere in an alien world, with strange fae creatures.

“What do /you/ want, Casper? I think that’s the question. That was definitely the question that I had to answer for myself.”

He twirled the other way, and caught the changeling’s hand, as if they were dancing together. His dark eyes glittered and caught the moonlight, his gaze intelligent but soft. He paused, dipping himself low in a half-bow.

“You can accomplish so much. You could be anyone, but you aren’t free….”

The magician drew himself close, mirroring Casper’s pose as he continued to hold his hand, delicately balanced on one leg.

“Or are there many steps in your plan to happiness?”

He tilted his head back, spilling his inky hair across his shoulders.

[indeath]

Casper allowed himself to be led into the odd dance with the magician. He was quite graceful in this form and he couldn’t help showing off a little twirling himself and lifting off into the air. His ability to avoid answering questions was definitely magical, Casper couldn’t blame him though. It must have been rather personal and they barely knew each other. Not everyone overshared though he felt like he owed at least a bit of the truth to Vars, considering.


“Honestly, I don’t think happiness is for someone like me. What I really want? Not to belong to anyone but myself or at least not her… I.. I also want their names back. My family’s I mean. Though honestly… that all seems out of reach, so I’ll settle for a friend.”


Not to mention any magic he had was nothing compared to Madigan’s. She had him and he was sure he’d never be completely free of her.

[jarahamee]

Vars’ smile dropped immediately.

Happiness was not for someone like him?

But why not? He seemed a nice enough fellow. He had not done anything wrong to deserve being enslaved by the faerie lord. He had just wanted to save his family’s lives. His family who were also trapped in a contract with the wicked faerie lord.

“A friend I can be, for sure.”

Vars’ smile returned without a hitch. A name, a name. They could get a name back.

Maybe some day he could barter with Casper’s master. Faeries liked contests, and Vars was good at winning them.

But for now, he would just observe.

“Don’t lose hope, there are many ways to outwit a faerie… And I am sure I can help.”

The magician puffed out his chest, and beamed, optimistic.

[indeath]

Casper stopped dead for a second, face turning a deep blue around the nose and cheeks again. Swirls of yellow danced in his white eyes. A friend. Was it really that easy or was Vars just taking pity on him? It felt nice either way. A small smile on the changeling’s lips seem to grow. A friend.

There was a skip to his walk until they found themselves outside the obsidian castle and his face matched its stony edifice. The door opened for the pair with the tiny flutter of wings. Small creatures moved about the walls inside like spiders. The walls were a shimmering white covered in pink flowers and large portraits of small dogs.

In fact the inside of the castle was rather tacky if Vars was honest. A hot pink fluffy carpet lined the large hall. A tall imposing being stood in front of large white doors lined in shiny gold. Casper seemed to shrink slightly and a familiar sick feeling rested in his stomach.

The being resembled a large doberman in humanoid form. Big inky eyes, sharp bushy eyebrows and his ears were sharp and pointed. Sharp teeth jutted from his bottom lip. His outfit was not dissimilar from Casper’s but the form underneath rippled with muscle.

“Changeling… Have you actually brought someone of worth? This must be some kind of mistake.”

Casper just shrugged.

“This is Aonghus. Aonghus this is Vars. She’s expecting us.”

[jarahamee]

Vars’ eyes widened at the sight of the faerie. Stunning. Just beautiful. Sleek and strange and utterly marvelous.

His expression looked even brighter as he regarded the strange creature, absorbing its details, and taking in the walls, floor and ceiling of the castle.

“No mistake! I’m Vars! Nice to meet you Aonghus! You’re a handsome fellow!”

He put a hand on his hip, smiling coyly. He wasn’t sure what made him a person of worth, but he was pretty sure it had to do with his magic.

And now that he was in a castle it would be difficult to escape. Much more so than staying outside where there were places to run.

“Do you do this often? Finding people, I mean?”

Vars’ tone was conversational, but he carefully placed a hand on Casper’s arm, his smile never fading.

Stay friendly, look oblivious.

That was usually the best way to extract himself from situations he didn’t want anything to do with. Especially ones like this.

[indeath]

The large fae barked out an unkind sounding laugh and strode forward, towering over the two men. Casper moved so he was In between Vars and Aonghus which illicited a smirk from the giant. He wasn’t sure how but he wasn’t going to let anything happen to his new friend. Aonghus didn’t scare him nearly as much as what lay behind the door.

“Me? Certainly not. We leave it to ones like this whelp. See normal fae of this realm can’t spend too much time in yours. This one is special, hence why it’s still breathing. Trouble is… He likes to pick up strays and junkies. Then sometimes they mysteriously go missing… Never seen one so pretty before. Are you sure you’re human?”

Casper knew better than to engage, not without giving more information than he wanted Aonghus to know. He looked at the door expectantly instead, tapping his foot.

[jarahamee]

Vars smiled at Aonghus, gently touching Casper’s shoulder. He wasn’t afraid of Fae, and he certainly was not afraid of this one, but he was appreciative of the effort that the changeling had made to protect him.

“I am afraid I am just a human, but a talented one. I’ve been recommended by the Society of American Magicians!”

He bowed low to Aonghus, buying time, and hopefully keeping the fae’s attention off of Casper until his master came to fetch them.

“And what about you? Were you born here? What do you like to do in your spare time?”

[indeath]

Aonghus smiled widely showing sharp pointed teeth, his mouth growing with the expression. He stretched over Casper so his face was close to Var’s. Casper’s heart trebled but he remained put, ignoring the urge to extract himself from this awkwardness and posturing. He didn’t want Aonghus getting any closer.

“American society of Magicians??! Well, slap my face and call me Sally. That’s like fake magic, right? I love tricks. Me? I was made right here. Grown and nurtured by our lady Madigan. I enjoy torturing mortals… or seducing them. Sometimes both. “


Casper looked to the door again, willing it open so they could ditch Aonghus. He was pretty sure at this point she knew he was there, she just liked watching him squirm.