Lord Ash of Tir Na Nog

Atticus smiled smugly as Adrian listed off the compliments, thinking there was going to be a trick at the end, and was genuinely surprised that there wasn’t.  “No, by all means keep going, my head hasn’t gotten there yet. What were you saying about how handsome I am?” He should have known his joke about taking Adrian was bound to be one-sided.  While Atticus wished he didn’t care that much about appearances or what his parents thought, it was something he couldn’t seem to escape from mentally or physically.  “I’m thinking an iced latte, your highness.  You get a drink, and then you get the ice as a snack afterwards,” he explained as he pulled himself off the bed, grabbing his shirt and pulling it over his head.

Adrian rolled his eyes, not even surprised at Atticus’ lack of modesty. He reached over and gave his ass a firm squeeze before clicking his tongue. “Hmm, I’m sure you could benefit from a few squats, but that’s not really going to stop me from eating you out, anyway,” he said breezily, before peeking through the portal and flagging over the barista for their drinks. “Who would have thought that a seelie fae would want ice for a snack. I'm sure you'll find the Unseelie court to be quite appealing, assuming they don't shoot you on sight at the border,” he said with a chuckle as he pulled out a latte and a cold brew for the pair of them. “Here you are, your majesty,” he said, closing the portal with a flick of his wrist. 

Jane was pretty sure she’d never experienced anything weirder than looking at herself. “Jane, my name is Jane.” She said, chewing on her lip. “What’s your name?” She watched as the person in her body tried to heal and saw that it did seem to heal a bit, but not fully. “You did good for someone who’s never done this before.” Jane was trying to be encouraging since healing could be really hard. 

“Jane,” he repeated with a huff. “Well, that explains things. I’m assuming this is your body, then? A few people called me with that name,” he said. He wasn’t sure why he would actually need a weak hybrid’s name, but he supposed the more the merrier. One never knew when a healer might come in handy. “Yes, well, I never saw the need to do this. How would you do it?” He asked, trying to hide his frustration.

Chloe moved to load her boxes back, and found… a box. She did not suspect foul play, but did find this quite strange. While she loved a little chat, such a baffling conversation as this must have rattled her more than she had thought. “I do have so many friends, and I am grateful for all of them. Sometimes I don’t get to see all of them I would care to because they live their own lives, but I always want to make more friends. Do you want me to help you meet more friends? Time and communication can be built, and can be so worth it.”

Adrian bit his lips for a second to keep from laughing before he nodded along like nothing was amiss. Chloe was definitely an odd sort of species of Disney Princess that he didn’t think actually existed in real life. “Right. Well, I wouldn’t mind meeting new people, so sure, why not?” He said, wondering if her friends were anything like her. He wasn’t sure if he could handle a group of wholesome people without gagging. “Where are you off to next, after this?”

“I think she mighta found something kinda similar? I dunno, I couldn’t make heads or tails of it,” Mike admitted with a shrug. It was probably a good thing he wasn’t a witch most of the time, because he was pretty sure he’d make a terrible witch. Not that he made all that great of a werewolf either, but that was probably fine. “Healing’s a pretty cool power though. And besides, didn’t ya say a goat was looking for its mom? That must mean she has some kinda animal power too, right?”

He couldn’t remember when exactly was the last time he heard her voice, before, but he remembered how he used to hear her sing at clubs before that little car accident she had that hit headlines on the papers. He had to admit that it was a little odd to hear her speak after he spent time learning sign language just to piss her off. “I expected no less from you,” he said with a sigh, but he was grateful for someone to actually have a drink with. He flagged the bartender for a drink and handed it to Mike. “Is Allegra fine with you talking, by the way? Last I checked, she was mute.”

“Really, all pixies?  What if one heard you say that right now?  It feels a little like a generalization,”  David shrugged his shoulders.  He got the feeling Adrian didn’t exactly care about that kind of thing.  In fact, he wouldn’t have put it past him to say it to a pixie’s face.  “Have you?  You know, ever gone back to nature, or whatever you said?”  He knew the guy was a lot older than he looked, but he didn’t act old.  As he took the pen from Adrian, something in his expression gave David the heebie-jeebies.  Maybe we was going to regret taking the pen, but he didn’t see how.

“Have you actually met a pixie?” He asked, raising an eyebrow at him. “I could pull one out of a portal to show you, if you’d like,” he said with a devilish grin. “Well, I’ve a few brushes with death, but nothing really permanent like that,” he said with a shrug. He’d like to think he was capable of avoiding getting himself killed for the most part. “Right, so what do you plan to do today? What’s on your schedule?”

Adrian’s hand patting her head had Elaine narrowing her eyes and playfully glaring at him. “I can’t say I totally disagree with you, their life spans are so so short….But there are some that really do improve over their short lives, some humans are just more talented than others.” she mused and spun around to actually look at him. “Long run on sentences and purple prose is not something I enjoy when it comes to my relax reading.” Her eyebrows raised as he mentioned having met Hemmingway – and having slept with him, “Of course you slept with him. I expect no less.” Elaine rolled her eyes but smiled. “Rude.” she quipped as he cut in front. “Do you ever sleep with the same person twice?” Elaine asked raising an eyebrow.

“Yes, well, as I said, Hemingway just isn’t one of them,” he scoffed with a chuckle. It must have been a part of her job description to find out all she could about the different species. Within a fae lifetime, that was probably a possibility, but nothing beat first-hand experience. “And yet you brought this book. What a conundrum,” he said with a roll of his eyes. He opened a small portal and pulled out a book from one of the libraries in London, before handing her a copy of Hemingway’s The Sun Also Rises. “I believe this might be more of your speed. That biography doesn’t really do his writing much justice,” he said with a shrug. “I do if they’re a good lay. Why? Think you could do better?”

His backhanded compliment made her roll her eyes and she slapped his hand. “Don’t be so damn rude.” She muttered head shaking. “Steffinie is fine but you can’t deny I’m prettier.” She grinned, “Though, this may be an upgrade for you too. At least you’re decent to look at now.” She teased, it was all in good fun and in reality she thought Adrian was actually a decently handsome fellow she just… enjoyed their dumb banter. “I could drink a whole bottle of whiskey right about now” she grumbled not liking being in another’s body.

“Maybe you should stop taking everything so personally,” he said with a shrug as he sipped his drink. “Oh please, don’t flatter yourself. Stefanie’s gorgeous. You’re... a questionable specie of fae,”  he said teasingly, wrinkling his nose in disgust for good measure. “I didn’t know this was your type, dear Ellie. Odd taste, but I suppose I could put on a Glamour for you when I return to my own body,” he said with a wink, flagging the bartender over to bring them a bottle of whiskey. “As always, love, put it on my tab. Leave the bottle. This one seems like she could use it.”

Dominic’s face continued to turn pink as Adrian spoke embarrassment flooding his system but also excitement. The idea of getting to experiment, to try something new that he hadn’t done…. Beth would be proud of him. They had been a generally open couple, maybe not to the extent of adding other people in without something like this, but they had talked about experimenting they had been planning – He shoved Beth’s memory away and just smiled at Adran. “I’m looking forward to it then.” he said with a little chuckle. “I look forward to satisfaction bringing me back.” he winked back. “Though, both ideas, sound like fun… I wouldn’t say no to some solo time.”  he said his voice dropping an octave and becoming a bit huskier as he felt Adrian’s fingers running over his wrist eliciting goosebumps over his skin. He could feel the heat stirring between his legs and his blood changing direction to accommodate.

“I’m sure you are.” Adrian chuckled lowly and looked him over, his gaze lingering on his eyes. He honestly wasn’t expecting this to go through easily, but he had always had that affect on people. If there was anything he was proud about, coming from the Unseelie court, it was his competence with his Glamour and Allure. “Thanks for the drink. Mind if I ask for you number and name?” He asked with a grin as he handed him his phone. “Well, I could always come back and pick you up right after your shift. When do you get off?” He asked with a raise of his eyebrow. 

“Refugees” she scoffed between kisses, “Max wouldn’t know a good thing if it smacked him in the face.” Sofia added with a laugh but continued to kiss him, happy that the man had walked away – and sure she could stop but this was actually fun and who would want that to end? “Oh really? my way? I could do whatever?” she teased kissing down his chin and to his neck, her lips hovered over his neck before she brushed a phantom kiss onto his skin.

“Hmm, I’m going to have to agree with you there,” he said between kisses, chuckling lowly. His fingers grazed her sides and settled around her waist. He squeeze her hips lightly, pulling her closer as the kissing got a little more heated. “Of course. Now, I wouldn’t mind an audience, but if we start getting raunchier, I don’t think Ivy and Max would take to well to the complaints. I don’t know about you, but I like to stay in their good graces.”

“Adrian, huh? Good to see ya, man.” Not that he was really seeing Adrian, but - close enough. “Nope, no idea,” he answered, popping the ‘p’ sound in nope. “Allie’s been lookin’ at some books, so she might figure somethin’ out, but I figure she woulda told me if she had somethin’ already.” Contemplating the matter but failing to come up with anything else to add, he downed a shot. “Sounds rough,” he sympathized, though he had no idea what Adrian was talking about when he mentioned a half-breed. “Frostbitten, though? Being Jane ain’t that bad, is it?” 

He couldn’t really say he returned the sentiment, so he just nodded in Mike’s general direction and watched as the bartender made his drink. Thankfully, it still seemed like they knew what they were doing, at least. “Has she found anything, yet? Being in this body is rather humiliating enough,” he said with a roll of his eyes before he downed his drink and flagged the bartender to send them another round. “It’s not necessarily a walk in the park, either. So far, her powers seemed to be limited to healing. Now, whether it’s because I haven’t figured out how they work yet or if this is all there is to her powers, I’m not sure yet, but I believe my latter assumption might be correct.”

“That’s good!” Chloe was satisfied with the delivery, and decided it would be best to exit the kitchens. Adrian really should not have been back there, and Chloe did not want Griselda or any of the other people at the café to get upset with her. Although she was apparently related to the owner of the café, Chloe did not want to take advantage of the connection. “Uhm, if I’m honest, I don’t need any help right now. Being a friend isn’t very difficult, though, I think. At least, it never has been for me. I completely understand that not everyone finds the same things easy, though.” Chloe had the impression that Adrian might not be used to offers of friendship, which seemed like a deeply tragic situation.

“Well, friendships don’t always come naturally to me, but I was under the impression that friendships are cultivated through time and communication, right?” He asked with a smile, opening a small portal and taking one of the ice coffees from the cafe’s bar. He took a sip and glanced at the boxes she just arranged, wondering how long she would notice that she still hadn’t emptied out her truck yet. “Do you have a lot of friends, Chloe?”

“Yes, I’m sure. Looking like someone isn’t the same as being them. I can’t promise I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference if you pretended to be one of my friends, but I would be hurt if you did pretend to be one of my friends without telling me,” Chloe said, very direct on her sentiment about this hypothetical situation. The bonds that she had with the people in her life were incredibly important to her, and she would be deeply upset if someone toyed with those. She sighed, and tried to sum up her feelings. “Well… disrupting me while I am trying to set up delicate objects in a food service environment isn’t very kind. From above- that’s, uh, even more worrying. It wouldn’t stop me from being friends with you, but it would make me feel better if you respected general food and personal safety.”

“Well, I wouldn’t want that,” he said, feigning a serious look. He would much rather make her as uncomfortable as possible, but the way she responded to him made him rather curious about her. She was incredibly set in her ways and seemed a lot more powerful than she let on. Then again, maybe she was just immune to his Allure. It was uncommon, but not impossible. He tilted his head and curiously looked at her as if she was a monument at a museum. “Right, well, I’d love to be your friend, Chloe, so please let me know what I can do to... help.”

“Gotcha, gotcha,” Mike nodded. He wasn’t really sure if the goat needed help or not, but figured it was probably fine. “Sure, I’ll have a round with ya,” he agreed, plopping down onto the seat nearest to not-Jane. Was it the best idea to drink in a body that wasn’t his own and had a very different level of alcohol tolerance? Probably not, but that detail hadn’t exactly occurred to him. “Oh, my bad - nah, it’s Mike. Wild, right?” He didn’t have a clue how any of this had happened and assumed that this person probably didn’t either. “What about you? Who am I talkin’ to?” It was very obvious this wasn’t Jane, but it wasn’t obvious who it was.

“Oh absolutely not,” Ivy spoke with a snort at Adrian making the assumption that she wasn’t Dominic. Ivy considered coming right out and explaining herself but at this point why not have a little fun with it. She listened to Adrian ramble, playfully rolling her eyes at his words. They sounded weird coming from someone else, but the meaning behind them was all too Adrian. Dominic’s eyebrows rose at Adrian’s last words, “Oh does it? Didn’t realize DomyDom swung that way. Interesting-Interesting,” she mused with a tap of her nails on the bar. “Care to take a guess who you’ll be taking to this next swinger’s party instead?” The male wagged his eyebrows up, returning his devilishly flirty smile back to him.

Adrian raised an eyebrow at her vivaciousness and smiled. It was interesting to see this much energy and flirtation coming from Dominic, and he quite enjoyed it. “Well, I’m sure I can bring the both of you in your swapped bodies, if you’re interested, but this one doesn’t have the power to create portals, apparently, so I might have to call in a favor. Though, there is the possibility that the other fae might have gotten their bodies swapped as well, so we shall see,” he said, shaking his head and flagging over the bartender for a drink. “Ivanya, is that you?”

Chloe didn’t pick up on the innuendo that was thrown back at her whatsoever. All she could tell do was guessed that she was being teased, but she wanted to give Adrian the benefit of the doubt. “I prefer women, but, uhm, I’m just- I don’t need you to be anybody else.” Chloe had been single for longer than she would have preferred, but that didn’t mean that she was looking to fall into bed with a stranger that irritated her and absolutely did not seem like her type. She didn’t do one night stands anyway. “I’m not interested either way, but we can be friends if that would suit you. I love making friends. No matter what, please have safer, uhm, behaviors in the kitchen.”

Adrian raised an eyebrow at that. Everyone always needed something from him, and his powers weren’t usually shot down so easily. He might have just underestimated her. “Are you sure? I could always look like someone you really like,” he offered, not sure if she really understood him. “Friends, you say?” He asked. He figured he shouldn’t push the topic lest he want to appear desperate for her affection, which he wasn’t. It was just... odd that she didn’t seem the least bit attracted to him. “What kind of behaviors are we talking, here?”

“You got hit by the ol’ swaperoo too, huh?” Mike sympathized. He wasn’t really sure who he was talking to, but he was positive it wasn’t Jane. “Uh, I dunno how old Jane is - you could ask her? Do ya need help finding her, or somethin’? I… don’t really know where we’d find her. Maybe somewhere you’d normally be? Or maybe where the goat’s mother is, if she likes goats?”

Judging by the fact that she spoke, he assumed she probably wasn’t herself, either. Last he checked, this one was mute. He was rather pleasantly surprised at how melodic her voice sounded. “I left the goat outside, not that it should be any of your concern. Care to have a drink with me?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. “I’m assuming you aren’t Allergra, then?” He rolled his eyes and flagged the bartender down for a drink. 

Jane shrunk in on herself and could feel herself tearing up. Staring at herself was not a fun feeling and it was obvious whoever was in her body wasn’t happy. “I’ve had lots of papercuts but they always just heal. They don’t stay. I got pecked by a bird, not a papercut. I was just trying to be nice but I couldn’t hear it talk to me.” She wiped at her eyes. “I don’t know why I’m in your body, I don’t know what happened.”