Baby, It's Magic

"The phrase "yeah, no," is midwestern colloquial for absolutely not. Plus, you're acting as if you asked a question, which, for the record, you did not. Had it been a question, and I started with yeah, you might have a leg to stand on, but, as it stands, you made a statement, not a request. Which means, in all technicality, I did not agree to anything."

"Oh, I'm well-aware of mortal colloquialisms. I understand the nuance of them, but magic tends to be much more literal. I staked a claim, and the first thing you said in response was, 'Yeah,' which is a recognition and acceptance of the claim that was staked."

"Oh, so your lack of chill is my fault? I think not, thank you very much," he laughed, trying to let the simple joy of being near him outweigh everything else going on in the moment. "Slightly bad idea? Vanya, I can count on one hand with fingers left over the number of times we've seen one another in the last six months. And I hate it because this, right here? This is all I fucking want but it's also like, super not fair to either one of us."

“You know who could have totally figured out the magic to do that? Me. But, no, couldn’t do it because you let Ambrose know first and then colluded to keep me in the dark. And with more than one of us knowing, it’s only a matter of time before all of us know.”

"okay, fair points, but consider also: i didn't want anyone to know. because then everyone will ask questions and try to help and nope. no. i'm good. don't want it, don't need it. so i wasn't going to tell anyone at all. and ambrose just... stumbled across something."

“it was extraordinary really, we never meant to fall in love and now here we are.”

"and here you," she agrees. "how fortunate for drake, and for everyone who would have missed his presence in the court."

"I'm still stuck on the fact that you sometimes have thumbs. And that you let Ambrose find out before me."

"Excuse you. I didn't let Ambrose do anything. He found out and it's a little hard to be like 'Nope, you didn't see that, actually.'" He tips his head a moment, considering that. "Well, it's actually pretty easy with the right spell, but it's not the kind of magic I have."

"I'm psychic enough to know that when you say keep, you mean that very literally and I am neither property or a pet."

"Oh that's very fun, actually. I love mortals with special talents. You did already say yes, you know. It was the first word you spoke."

Gareth doesn’t like visitors. He especially doesn’t like uninvited visitors. It doesn’t matter how many times his siblings tell him not everyone is a threat or to be more trusting in the powers that be. They can keep their positive beliefs and he’ll keep his skepticism and the court will be safe. He watches the man as he moves and debates making his presence known, but decides it’s for the best to do. “Everything alright?” he asks, even though he’s sure the answer is that it’s not. Mess and alright generally don’t go hand in hand.

ah fuck. he should have known there was someone or something nearby. he would have known if it was a cosmic horror, but the fae are something else entirely and his magic isn't tuned to them in the same way. is this stranger helpful? fifty-fifty shot. well... maybe more like sixty-forty, not in amir's favor. "it could be better, but i'm sure it will work out eventually. do you happen to know where the court of fortunes is from here?"

He sighs. "What a fucking mess."

Silently, she held out her hand, vibrant blooms growing between her fingers before she offered them to him.

“I think you know how to love better than any of us. That’s why you find it all so painful.”

what a statement. the kind it takes him a moment of contemplation to consider. "i think we all know how to love. i think i know the cost of love more than the average person. but i think you know the cost of it, too." maybe they all do. he knows what al and lina have gone through. florian and mikha have been more reserved, but he suspects they've both lost their fair share. "sometimes love is a gamble."

"Yeah, no," Rochelle started, looking the other over. "I feel like that wouldn't end well for me."

A faint smile pulled at her lips. Human expressions could be so convenient. She tipped her head to the side, curiosity overwhelming her. "What makes you say that?"