001 ♞ video ♞ open to both courts ♞ backdated to late afternoon on the 11th

[noflying]

[ The locket is in Jake's hand, fingers loosely curled around it. His other hand has a hand-rolled cigarette, while a small group of fairies seems to have settled on Jake's chest. Several of them are still faintly glowing red; one of the ones still glowing rather fiercely flicks a hot coal.

Jake immediately snuffs the coal out with the butt of his revolver. ]

What've I told you about that?

[ The fairies chitter, and the cowboy takes a drag off his cigarette before blowing the smoke in their faces. The red glow diminishes, at least one fairy fading back to its normal color entirely. It immediately shuffles away from the other Ainsel, pointing at Jake's locket. ]

Hm?

[ Turning his head, he seems to realize that the locket's recording. Oh. Well then. Raising an eye at the locket, as if daring anyone to comment on his actions, Jake places the cigarette back in his mouth and reaches up to adjust his hat. ]

Anyone else been hearing about treasure from these folk?

Comments

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[knavishness]

[There is a lot of drama going on with a bunch of people he really shouldn't care all that much about, so here he is in his room, once more shaking a jar with a spiteful little fairy inside.

At least he made sure to punch holes in the lid]

An' you're really going to believe these thing? I mean, they ain't got much reason to lie, but I'm not one to go trusting the word of a fairy even if it's about treasure.

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[noflying]

Didn't say I believed it.

[ Several of the fairies are Jake's chest chitter angrily, shaking little fists -- whether it's at him not believing them or at Will's treatment of the other fairy is up in the air. ]

That one's going to be spittin' mad when it gets out of there.

video

[knavishness]

But you're thinking...right?

[He sets the jar on a nightstand and starts to turn it slowly]

I'd be nicer if it didn't try taking my stuff. [There's a bit of frowning at the trapped fairy] Changed colour though, used to be red. Maybe it's dying.

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[noflying]

Wouldn't mind treasure, after all.

[ He takes another drag of his cigarette. ]

Or goin' back to normal.

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[knavishness]

Yeah, ain't like those boons happen too often and honestly I don't trust that sort of magic.

Normal? [shake] Huh, maybe I should let it out...

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[noflying]

Tell me about those boons?

[ He's new, after all. ]

Some of 'em are mighty generous, after you help 'em.

[ringbeast]

Aw, I didn't listen to their treasure talk, mostly. Seems kind of like probably lies. Also they'd shout about it in between tryin' to claw my eyes out and stuff? So yeah.

[He shrugs]

But if you heal them, they give you a little magical boon spell that lets you turn some stuff into gold? So I have a ton of stuff I changed into gold. Mostly apples and like... this log... Otherwise I end up turnin' stuff to gold I really want, haha.

[noflying]

Probably, yeah. But some of 'em [ and he gestures at the fairies on his chest with his cigarette ] keep on insistin' even afterwards.

[ "Apples and this log". Jake's lips quirk. ]

Hope they're big apples.

[bird_brain]

I have heard what you have. [His wings lift and settle -- a gryphonic shrug.] It seems to me that we should pay attention.

[noflying]

[ the fuck ]

You from 'beyond the stars' too?

[ He certainly doesn't look like one of those demons... ]

[bird_brain]

[Beyond the stars, huh? That's a new one.]

I am from my home and this is not it.

[noflying]

[ He doesn't quite huff, but it's fairly clear that Jake doesn't think that's an answer. ]

But you're not from Earth.

[bird_brain]

I do not know Earth.

[noflying]

[ So that's a yes. ]

Long as you ain't planning on rounding people up.

[gardienne]

Are... Monsieur, are you friends with the fairies, for them to sit on you in such a manner? I should like to be friends with the fairies like that - they are like birds, you know? I always thought it would be pretty to have a bird in a cage. But no. Never have I had one. Not even a sparrow. Do they really have treasure?

[noflying]

[ Jake blinks at the locket. He's not a talker, as a rule, but after a moment he shrugs a little. ]

I think they like the tobacco. And I don't know that I'd say they're like birds.

[gardienne]

I shouldn't think they'd like tobacco, you know ? It tastes so horrid. I know - I tried the end of my Pa's when he left it - God I were so hungry I were almost mad for it, and all my Franc he spent on tobacco, so it were mine really anyway. But it tasted foul and he liked me tasting it even less so that were the end of that . Why do they like it?

[noflying]

Calms the nerves, maybe.

[ He's honestly mystified; he's never met someone who's shared so much to someone they've just met. ]

You ain't supposed to eat it, you know.

[gardienne]

I know that, Sir! But honest, I have put soil in my mouth and swallowed it down a bit, just so that I might feel a little bit full, you know? Tobacco is a bit better than mud, I should think. Do fairies have nerves, Sir? I always imagined that they were just... happy. Like in the stories. I feel like I am in one of those stories now.

[noflying]

Haven't seemed too happy lately.

[ She's clearly not all that old, and used to the rougher side of life based on what she's saying about eating dirt and tobacco. There's a faint pang of- not quite sympathy, but understanding. ]

Plenty of food in the castles, it seems.

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[erythristic]

Treasure, dear? Can't say that I have, they've been rather more keen on drawing blood than talking about gold.

voice

[noflying]

Dear?

[ w h a t ]

The imps I just shoot.

[erythristic]

I've taken a liking to evisceration, but we're all different.

Would you prefer "handsome" instead?

[noflying]

You always this forward?

[ He sounds a mix between amused and genuinely curious. ]

[erythristic]

I can be a blushing maiden if it suits the atmosphere better.

[but generally speaking yes she is.]