Here's a very large Bengal tiger bounding through the Nexus. Incongruously enough, he has a light dusting of flour on his fur, and smells faintly of baked goods and candied fruit. Around his neck, a still steamy-warm packet of fruit-cake has been tied like a Saint Bernard's barrel of brandy
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He nods, blinking several times. "Well, I'm sure the bloke that had the bullets in 'im was quite grateful. I sure would be." He nods along with her mentioning her uncle. "Well, he does sound like he's trying to look out for you. I rather like 'im already. Really, though...most of the problem here is wandering off into the wrong side-world. Or LOLs."
He snuffles. "Mrr. I'm really not certain what this Doctor's going to do. I only know there's a life at stake, and it's one in the eye of that insane robot trying to ruin Christmas. I'm not even Christian and I'm not for that. I've a kid! Well, a cub...but he's lookin' forward to his first year with presents under the tree and the whole lot."
He catches her question and chuckles. "Oh yes, it was terribly difficult. I hope he doesn't mind the fact that it's as much a fur-cake as fruit now. And it was such trouble getting the paw-prints out." Blinkleblinkleblinkle.
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Courtney nods a little. "Every now and again, something big will happen, like the timeflood. Then, if your world's affected, all you can do is duck and cover, but...usually it's a safe place. And there's so much you can learn here. I just can't keep away."
"...There's an insane robot trying to ruin Christmas?" This is a new one on her. "Well. It's good that you're helping to stop it. I guess fruitcake is more powerful stuff than I realized."
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He nods as she explains. "Timeflood? Yeah, I agree. I moved here full time for a number of reasons, really. But being able to live openly was definitely one of them."
He looks a bit baffled himself, chuffing softly and composure-grooming his shoulder a moment. "That was what happened. I nearly conjured an army of giant four year olds to go after him, but that would have caused too much collateral damage. Not sure what the Doctor will do with the fruitcake." He snickers. "Perhaps have a munch while he's figuring a way to free his friend."
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"I don't live here; I just visit. I haven't been here for a while, actually. Been studying at home. I bet living here full time is interesting. The timeflood happened several months back. A lot of people de-aged and that kind of thing. I lost a few inches of height, nothing serious."
She smiles a little, reminded of her cat-companion, Fisher, and his behavior. Of course, Fisher is missing a limb and an eye and is generally not as pretty as a tiger. "Giant four year olds? Can you do that? That sounds terrifying." She laughs. "Remind me to stay on your good side."
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He sneezes with amusement and his tailtip thwips back and forth. "Well, what else would a giant robotic Santa fear?"
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"...I'm curious what the Bugs Bunny Trick is, but don't let me keep you from your mission, if you have to go."
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That weird noise is a tiger snickering. "It's fine. I can make up the extra time running in this form. The Bugs Bunny Trick's a minor fire-cantrip she cobbled together watching Loony Tunes. You snap your thumb against the inside of your fingers like a big match-stick, and the pad lights on fire without burning you. Terribly handy."
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She sits next to the tiger, looking amused by the snickering. It's not every day you hear a tiger laugh. "That sounds incredibly cool. I'd like to see that done sometime."
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He shrugs a massive shoulder. "I'll change back for a second if you'd like. Just promise me you won't do anything with that cantrip that will make your uncle angry, right?"
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"My uncle is surprisingly tolerant of my escapades." She grins. "But I promise not to set anything on fire. I don't play with matches, lighters, or inflammatory spells."
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"But Fae...well...the few I have met I love to pieces, but you have to keep your sense of humor, stay on your toes and make sure never to piss them off. The stablest one I know is Haldir, and he's got PTSD."
The tiger nods, and blurs, his shape shrinking and darkening until he's a big, muscular Indian-looking man in flour-smudged jeans and a dark T-shirt. The crystal still gleams at his throat, and the packet is now hanging off one shoulder. "Right! Here, like this."
He flicks his thumb, and a small, cartoonish flame appears.
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Oddly, she looks more intimidated by him as a human than she was when he was a tiger, but she's interested in this spell, so she sits up on her knees and leans in to watch. "Haha, awesome!"
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His stripy eyebrows go up. "Your house has...goblins?" That's even weirder than a squirrel infestation.
He seems used to that sort of reaction. This right here is why I didn't focus on child psychology instead of general... To offset a bit, he makes sure to sit down, and talk a little more quietly.
"I had to study a real flame for a long time to get it right."
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She holds her hand close to the cartoon flame gingerly to feel whether it has normal heat. "That's really neat. Does it actually light things on fire or is it just for pretty?"
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"This will actually light things on fire, now. I specialize in illusions, but since I came here my ability to conjure real things has increased a great deal."
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She shakes her head and manages another smile. "Illusions can be very useful. But it's interesting the Nexus has had an effect on your power. I think my capacity's increased, but that may just be because I'm growing up."
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