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@havvwah | The Fantasia War, part 1

Hazel eyes peered through dark-tinted spectacles at the device in her hand. While she struggled to recall how she had gotten ahold of such a thing, she was grateful for how easy it made her job. A pale finger tapped the screen of the device that was somehow not magical and brought it to her ear.

“Alina, my dear! So good to speak with you again. I was hoping we could catch up over some spirits. Perhaps you could tell me about the research you’ve been helping with?” Ada was of course not interested at all in something so trite; A hopefully knew better than that. This was a spy setting up a rendezvous with another spy.

“The usual place, of course.”

There was a quirk of her lips when she heard the voice. There was something about the fact that the other held a similar job that impressed A. Perhaps, a certain style and prowess it took for them to carry out their work? It was no secret between the two that Ada’s requests would come before this fairy tale world’s, which made it less a game of rivalry and more of... nurturing their friendship.

“If you weren’t happy with it, you’d have handed the keys over by shoving them down my throat.” He took another swig from his mug and wiped the head from his mouth with a smack of his lips. No, he wasn’t getting used to it at all, but a drink was a drink.

“Of course!” he said, beaming. Another swig.

“You’ve already made time to meet me, didn’t you? I don’t think your horns can stab me, anyway. For some reason, my skin has become a bit more durable.” Probably because even the parts of him that looked human were, upon closer, really uncomfortably closer, inspection actually tiny scales.

“What would you like to order, anyway?”

“I’m sure the ridges on the keys would make a fascinating incision on the insides of your throat.” With the stuff coming out of his mouth, she surely was tempted to stuff it. 

“Yeah?” With that she’s snatched his arm, pulling back the sleeve just the slightest and allowing her fingers to run beneath it. Ah. When the attention was turned to her for an order, she simply gave a sweet smile. Like a charm the owner knew, turning back to minding their business, as did she with her inspection.

“You look like you’ve been enjoying yourself there,” he noted, genuinely glad she did.

He motions to the mug of alcohol before her just after taking another swig of his own. The alcohol around here was somewhat thicker, more frothy, due to distillation being kicked back a couple millennia. He was getting used to it.

“I am disguising myself. I’m keeping up appearances here, but I can show you in private.” Mainly because if he wanted to keep travel to Opalaria as easy as it had been, he needed to maintain it a secret.

“Aside from that, would you mind stabbing me with those horns?”

“That’s what you think.” She gives a disdainful sniff, though he wasn’t far form the truth. It was stressful, as proven by her fever weeks prior, but she was surprised how well everything ran under her watch.

“...What, did changing forms make you horny? There’s a time and place for everything, stupid.” She glared at him, with some measured amount of incredulous disgust. “A drink and meal here isn’t enough of a deal breaker for me to make time for you, you know.”

“You’re really diligent when you’re not eating me out of house and home,” he teased, “Good work today. I’ll pay for you as always.”

Funnily enough, given their difference in professions, he was more than likely making less dust than she was. A simple foot soldier, and one without fealty to any kingdom at that, wouldn’t be paid much.

“Was I even human to begin with? Would you believe me if I said I didn’t change?” he asked.

Looking at his loose robes (which were covered with dirt, grime, and blood), he nodded in resignation that his clothes certainly were downgraded. He was going to wash them after this meeting.

“I love your new look, though. It’s breathtaking,” he said, staring directly at her horns.

“Compared to running a flower shop a certain someone gave to me, this is nothing. All I have to do is follow instructions.” She gave a noise of mocking at his offer, though she didn’t stop him. “I told you not to raise suspicion, but here you are, looking like you belong in a kingdom because you can pass as human. You better not be, or I’m leaving.”

@havvwah

The setting sun’s myriad of colors painting the sky near the horizon a somber hue intermingled strangely with the light emanating from the pools and pathways glowing with magic. It was a light pollution he’d never seen, another alien experience.

Though he didn’t put much mind to it, sitting at the bar of a tavern as usual, drinking mug after mug as usual, hiding his scales as unusual, waiting for someone he had texted–texted in a fantasy world. Could they not have at least disguised the phones as magic scrolls?

He was nursing his mug, the only thing he nursed, until there was a sudden lull in the noise of the tavern as someone entered, which brought his attention towards the door, finding that the cause of the silence was a certain someone entering and drawing attention for a second until the tavern’s patrons realized where she was headed, causing them all to turn back to their business.

“Took you a bit, didn’t it?” he commented, knowing she was one not to care for punctuality. “What’s been going with you, A?”

“I’m a busy girl, so get back in line.” She spoke as she made her way to the seat near him settling down with a small sigh. After all, she was off of work. “You know, the usual. Did some research on old spells, delivered some stuff here and there. Just being little miss researcher at the local academy.”

With that she gave a scoff, raising her hand to signal for a drink. The world may be new, and so are the powers she’s been given, but she knew if nothing else on how to blend in. It almost felt like she was living back home, in a way. She tugged off her hood for some air, eyeing him dryly. 

FANTASIA WAR INFO.

BASICS:

Name: Alina Race: Faekin       - Racial Traits: Small, flat horns (affectionately deemed cat-like), slightly pointed ears, magical fissures on arm ( covered ) Allegiance: Kingdom of Xalphina Occupation: researcher assistant by day, spy (for kingdom) by night Political Stance: doesn’t give a hoot, but certainly plays the part for the sake of security. She will do what the kingdom asks, whether it being her day job or… alternative career choice. Perfectly fine giving a finger to allegiances and meeting with those she recognizes from the city, so call in that favour today.

ABILITIES

Unlocked Powers: Shapeshifting for an hour, five times per day. Race Abilities: adept magic usage Event Magic: utilizes Silence, Charm, Lock/Open, Poison most. stealth based to stay on the dl but will rip you a new one if needed. Weapon: A knife.

OTHER:

found in educational buildings by day, various places at night ( bar, infiltration missions anywhere, etc )

best way to meet up with her is by text on your phone. ( or, asking for her at a directory at her day job, if you’re welcome in Xalphina )

will shapeshift to blend into other kingdoms

kinda chillin, kinda looking out for her back in whatever way necessary

“To work,” he said, not specifying where he was planning on going and for whom he was going to fill in. She knew he wasn’t holding a steady job currently, so his ambivalence would serve as his own form of hint to what he was up to.

He continued to fix his tie in the mirror, fresh out of a quick shower, in front of his mirror. Then he slipped on his jacket and set it in place.

“I caught your cold while we were in bed. I had a high fever and was coughing for about half an hour before my body recovered. How did you not notice that but you noticed when I got off?”

“’Cause you’re still suffering at my side.... it’s when you leave that it’s bad.” For someone whose head felt like it was stuffed to the brim with cotton and aching to high hell, she sure still found it in her to give a retort. 

He’s not exactly sure what he expects to find here, at this place known as the Water of Styx. All he really knows is that its sort of a public pool and people come here sometimes to hang around. It’s pretty late into the evening, though, when he arrives. So much so that the sun has almost completely set and the underwater lights situated into the pool begin to shine to life. What he doesn’t expect, however, is someone else to be here. “Oh! Excuse me–” And he’s startled so much so that he ends up fumbling around, feeling like he’s disturbing something.

And drops his camera into the pool. 

“No! My…my camera…” Dejectedly, he watches as it sinks down to the bottom. It’s a pretty cheap disposable thing but he’d already used so much film. “So much for taking pictures of the art. And I must look like an idiot, too…” He’s cursing himself out loud, having completely forgotten that she’s still there.

— @havvwah 

“Oh dear.” She watched, almost comically dumbfounded at the dramatic drop of the camera to the tiled precipice of the pool. Her eyes followed as bubbles of air floated to the top, unmoving like some sort of deer-in-headlight reaction. Was... it her fault that he dropped the camera? She didn’t think she was that silent, but then again, she was hardly leading a conversation with anyone. 

As the other mumbled on, she casually kneeled by the edge, rolled up her sleeve, and picked up the soaked thing, the water cascading off her arms as she held it. 

 “A little...is perhaps understating it. I …desire much to return back to home. Even if its at war, the people I cherish the most remain there. Perhaps if they came here…. I would be happier. this place? Its…peaceful.”

He offers a dumpling, steaming hot to the chesire cat. He means the woman, now so used to the unknown and weird that he didn’t even become startled when she dropped in. 

 “Here, thinking works better with full stomach, yes?”

“I guess having one or two absolutely chaotic days beats a violent war any day, but I dunno how to feel about the whole ‘brought against my will here’ deal, you feel me? Especially when I don’t even know who’s running this big cage.” She did, however, accept the dumpling with as much gratefulness a cat has ( none, visibly ).There was no need to explain she usually ran on stuff other than physical nutrients.

“how unfortunate. no donuts.”   looks like the other still remembered her. that was actually kind of nice. they had a rather short conversation during the sunset festa so she wouldn’t have been disappointed if she wasn’t remembered.  “just a walk. i’ve been doing daily trips here since arriving. it … reminds me of home.”   and by home, she means the sylph’s home.

“Does it, now? You lived near nice scenery like this? I’m kinda jealous. If I wanted to view something remotely similar I’d have to take a vacation.” Vacation being a generous synonym to her business trips outside the city ( which certainly involved more painstaking work than leisure ).

“I admit my heart is weak for fine faces and charming words. It’s a bane of poets, I’ve found, but I embrace my vices.” Requiem chuckles into her hand, and tilts her head at the mention of the blowdryer. “That isn’t something I’m familiar with. When I had servants, I would lay with my hair spread out behind me, and it would be brushed until dry. Though, I learned to manage after.” 

The change makes her beam. “Oh! Oh my. Is that a partial polymorph? Or minor illusion? I’m sorry, I’m getting excited. Would you mind if I took a look? I’m quite interested.” 

“I can't help but encourage your indulgence, then. Perhaps my sin lies in vanity?” She hummed with some thought. Servants, huh? That was a rather lavish lifestyle, judging by what she’s said. “Maybe you could try the blow drying deal then? Modern styling tools do save you time. I hear it’s great to maintain volume too.”

Once again, he was left amazed at her strength. He wasn’t someone so light as to be easily dragged around even when surprised, and she was supposed to be too sick to use her strength to boot.

“That’s great, but I still have to do the laun…dry…” He was already out like a light.

The two of them drifted into sleep without a second thought. She didn’t know how long they’ve been sleeping before she eventually felt the shuffling of the cover, and the lifting of a weight off the bed. At that she gave a sleepy pinch of her face, displeased at the disruption. She was suddenly very aware of how sweaty she felt under the covers, and she was tempted to toss it all to curl up only in Mercutio’s shirt.

Oh, it’s the love shot.