9.19.17 Tuesday Evening, fading dusk
Something was in the air, and I didn't like it. I couldn't place my finger or nose on it either, unable to root out the cause for the nagging feeling that something was about to go sour. Which in the end mean that it was my intuition screaming and the notion would just sit and fester until an actual outcome. I would have chalked it up to self-fulfilling prophecy, but I knew better.
Plus, Autumn was coming, that's probably all it is I told myself as I approached the Red Dragon Inn. Briefly aware that I was frowning as I glanced back over my shoulder, I feigned discomfort as I smoothed the expression out on my face and rubbed at the back of my neck with my hand. The callouses there scratched the nap of it and almost felt good.
I wonder if I have the money to go get a massage or have spa day. What exactly does one do on a spa day? Get mud painted on them and bask in its healing properties? I get coated in it unintentionally when I go through the forests as it is. Maybe it's different when it's intentional. Really just a nice long hot bath would be nice. Someone to wash my hair. Not mind the fact that I smell more like a hardware store than a woman. Maybe hold me close and we could...
Steps behind me after I walked over the threshold of the Inn startled me out of my train of though and I looked over my shoulder to give an apologetic smile to Ed decked out in red. "Oh, sorry. Lost in my head I think," I said while stepping out of the way but continuing in the general direction of the bar.
By the sound of Ed's giggle and energy level I assumed he was hopped up on sugar. He eased around me, light on his feet and radiating joy (or excess sucrose) on his own path to the bar. "No trouble at all. How are you? Aside from lost in your head." Others called his attention and his greetings were passed on to them.
I spotted Nick, the Zombie Detective, there at the bar and hoped I managed to smile in time for a greeting to him, but I was answering Ed while looking for the best way to get to the mail boxes. "I'll let you know when I figure it out," I finally replied as I closed in on the cubbies. Laying my fingertips carefully on the numbered labels, a glanced back over my shoulder to peek at the others inside the common room while feeling for the disguised threads of illusion on my mailbox. Camouflaged veils were something I was particularly good at, and hiding things in plain sight was a common ploy I used.
Upon finding the veil, I slipped my hand inside the box to pull out a few weeks' worth of mail. Glancing down to double check the name on whatever was up on top, I pulled the bundled stack of mail close and turned to walk away. A young woman was smiling and waving, and I had the growing feeling that she was familiar. Had we met? Crap. What was her name again? I am so awful at names. I hoped my smile didn't show my confusion, maybe she was just being friendly. The young woman's friend was smiling too, but I knew I didn't recognize her. Definitely friendly.
"Still getting stabbed Nick?" I asked as I looked his way, late to realize that I didn't have any additional advice for the man, nor was I certain that he was looking for any random passing suggestions. My question drew Ed's attention and shock, who was soon focused on the zombie for the story's details.
As the detective explained, I reached blindly into the cooler for a drink and pulled out a bottle of water. The sudden whirring and churning sound of the machine had me stepping back, though slowly in hopes of not drawing attention to myself. The smoke that followed when the noise stopped led to my frown, but there was little I could do about it. Thankfully, it didn't seem as though anyone had noticed either. Small favors. I knew the entire building was enchanted, but it was always a discomforting feeling when I caused something to blow up just by being near.
I set the water and the bundled mail on the bar counter after stepping up to an empty slice of it to claim for myself, soon slipping the strap of the messenger bag off my shoulder and easing up onto the empty barstool. Ed was gushing a hello and I glanced over to meet the gaze of his boyfriend, a young man with too much self-assurance than your average teenager. I remembered initially thinking that he must have been part fae, his features too smoothed and formed with symmetry matched with the overwhelming confidence that didn't take with someone who looked so young. But I had no intention of keeping his eyes long enough for a soul gaze, that wasn't something either one of us needed right now.
Besides, I didn't see a glamour's woven edges over him, and Ed practically glowed near him. There was no need for me to be concerned. Unsurprisingly, I couldn't remember his name, but I was good at convincing myself that I hadn't learned it in the first place, so it was very possible that I didn't forget it.
Once settled on the stool, I decided to tackle the stack of mail. The rubber band found a new home along my wrist and I began the dull process of sorting. Tim's. Tim's. Tim's. Junk. Junk. Ju...No mine. Mine but probably junk. Tim's. Wait what is th-
"Ah ****," out loud as I read the gold lettering on an orange envelope.
Knight of the Wyld.
Leaving the rest of the mail on the counter, I held the envelope up and wondered if it would be possible to throw it in the hearth and watch it burn. The throbbing pulse of energy and magic suggested that this plan would not be successful. Maybe I could wait until I got home to open it, maybe it wasn't even something that important.
But who was I kidding? I could see who the letter was addressed to. Better yet, the envelope could pick up on my hesitation. The lettering soon shifted to: Open immediately.
Recognizing the wax seal didn't make me want to open it either, and any false hope that I had thinking that it couldn't be that bad was suddenly dashed as light flashed in my hands and quick blasts of glitter and leaves exploded everywhere. What was more disturbing was the way the glitter gathered together and formed into small pixies dancing with the leaves. I stared blankly at them as their message chimed clearly for my ears only.
"Knight of the Wyld. Madam Huntsman. You are cordially invited to this year's Mabon Festivities on the eve of the 21st in September at sundown. Your escort will arrive one hour prior to allow time for travel. Remember to honor our Mothers and the Green Man in this time of harvest..."
I stopped listening and nervously chewed on the inside of my cheek. As if being decorated in glitter wasn't bad enough, it was faerie glitter and I was certain that meant it wouldn't come off any easier. To make matters worse, I had hoped that by moving away this year that they wouldn't have been able to find me. A weak hope sure, but a hope none the less.
I folded up the envelope, attempting to warm the wax with the heat of my thumb but it didn't seal the envelope once more. I didn't give my full attention to much else after that, feigned going through the rest of my mail and made a mild attempt at making conversation with the pair of girls, Mai and Saori, afterwards. I had lost the desire to be social tonight and hoped I was polite enough when I told them I was heading off.
Gathering my things, the sorted mail was shoved into my messenger bag and I started for the door. Only to curse the faeries again when the fallen leaves rustled and followed me.
I wondered how long my night was going to be because of this. And could I get out of having to go to the Mabon event?
Something was in the air, and I didn't like it. I couldn't place my finger or nose on it either, unable to root out the cause for the nagging feeling that something was about to go sour. Which in the end mean that it was my intuition screaming and the notion would just sit and fester until an actual outcome. I would have chalked it up to self-fulfilling prophecy, but I knew better.
Plus, Autumn was coming, that's probably all it is I told myself as I approached the Red Dragon Inn. Briefly aware that I was frowning as I glanced back over my shoulder, I feigned discomfort as I smoothed the expression out on my face and rubbed at the back of my neck with my hand. The callouses there scratched the nap of it and almost felt good.
I wonder if I have the money to go get a massage or have spa day. What exactly does one do on a spa day? Get mud painted on them and bask in its healing properties? I get coated in it unintentionally when I go through the forests as it is. Maybe it's different when it's intentional. Really just a nice long hot bath would be nice. Someone to wash my hair. Not mind the fact that I smell more like a hardware store than a woman. Maybe hold me close and we could...
Steps behind me after I walked over the threshold of the Inn startled me out of my train of though and I looked over my shoulder to give an apologetic smile to Ed decked out in red. "Oh, sorry. Lost in my head I think," I said while stepping out of the way but continuing in the general direction of the bar.
By the sound of Ed's giggle and energy level I assumed he was hopped up on sugar. He eased around me, light on his feet and radiating joy (or excess sucrose) on his own path to the bar. "No trouble at all. How are you? Aside from lost in your head." Others called his attention and his greetings were passed on to them.
I spotted Nick, the Zombie Detective, there at the bar and hoped I managed to smile in time for a greeting to him, but I was answering Ed while looking for the best way to get to the mail boxes. "I'll let you know when I figure it out," I finally replied as I closed in on the cubbies. Laying my fingertips carefully on the numbered labels, a glanced back over my shoulder to peek at the others inside the common room while feeling for the disguised threads of illusion on my mailbox. Camouflaged veils were something I was particularly good at, and hiding things in plain sight was a common ploy I used.
Upon finding the veil, I slipped my hand inside the box to pull out a few weeks' worth of mail. Glancing down to double check the name on whatever was up on top, I pulled the bundled stack of mail close and turned to walk away. A young woman was smiling and waving, and I had the growing feeling that she was familiar. Had we met? Crap. What was her name again? I am so awful at names. I hoped my smile didn't show my confusion, maybe she was just being friendly. The young woman's friend was smiling too, but I knew I didn't recognize her. Definitely friendly.
"Still getting stabbed Nick?" I asked as I looked his way, late to realize that I didn't have any additional advice for the man, nor was I certain that he was looking for any random passing suggestions. My question drew Ed's attention and shock, who was soon focused on the zombie for the story's details.
As the detective explained, I reached blindly into the cooler for a drink and pulled out a bottle of water. The sudden whirring and churning sound of the machine had me stepping back, though slowly in hopes of not drawing attention to myself. The smoke that followed when the noise stopped led to my frown, but there was little I could do about it. Thankfully, it didn't seem as though anyone had noticed either. Small favors. I knew the entire building was enchanted, but it was always a discomforting feeling when I caused something to blow up just by being near.
I set the water and the bundled mail on the bar counter after stepping up to an empty slice of it to claim for myself, soon slipping the strap of the messenger bag off my shoulder and easing up onto the empty barstool. Ed was gushing a hello and I glanced over to meet the gaze of his boyfriend, a young man with too much self-assurance than your average teenager. I remembered initially thinking that he must have been part fae, his features too smoothed and formed with symmetry matched with the overwhelming confidence that didn't take with someone who looked so young. But I had no intention of keeping his eyes long enough for a soul gaze, that wasn't something either one of us needed right now.
Besides, I didn't see a glamour's woven edges over him, and Ed practically glowed near him. There was no need for me to be concerned. Unsurprisingly, I couldn't remember his name, but I was good at convincing myself that I hadn't learned it in the first place, so it was very possible that I didn't forget it.
Once settled on the stool, I decided to tackle the stack of mail. The rubber band found a new home along my wrist and I began the dull process of sorting. Tim's. Tim's. Tim's. Junk. Junk. Ju...No mine. Mine but probably junk. Tim's. Wait what is th-
"Ah ****," out loud as I read the gold lettering on an orange envelope.
Knight of the Wyld.
Leaving the rest of the mail on the counter, I held the envelope up and wondered if it would be possible to throw it in the hearth and watch it burn. The throbbing pulse of energy and magic suggested that this plan would not be successful. Maybe I could wait until I got home to open it, maybe it wasn't even something that important.
But who was I kidding? I could see who the letter was addressed to. Better yet, the envelope could pick up on my hesitation. The lettering soon shifted to: Open immediately.
Recognizing the wax seal didn't make me want to open it either, and any false hope that I had thinking that it couldn't be that bad was suddenly dashed as light flashed in my hands and quick blasts of glitter and leaves exploded everywhere. What was more disturbing was the way the glitter gathered together and formed into small pixies dancing with the leaves. I stared blankly at them as their message chimed clearly for my ears only.
"Knight of the Wyld. Madam Huntsman. You are cordially invited to this year's Mabon Festivities on the eve of the 21st in September at sundown. Your escort will arrive one hour prior to allow time for travel. Remember to honor our Mothers and the Green Man in this time of harvest..."
I stopped listening and nervously chewed on the inside of my cheek. As if being decorated in glitter wasn't bad enough, it was faerie glitter and I was certain that meant it wouldn't come off any easier. To make matters worse, I had hoped that by moving away this year that they wouldn't have been able to find me. A weak hope sure, but a hope none the less.
I folded up the envelope, attempting to warm the wax with the heat of my thumb but it didn't seal the envelope once more. I didn't give my full attention to much else after that, feigned going through the rest of my mail and made a mild attempt at making conversation with the pair of girls, Mai and Saori, afterwards. I had lost the desire to be social tonight and hoped I was polite enough when I told them I was heading off.
Gathering my things, the sorted mail was shoved into my messenger bag and I started for the door. Only to curse the faeries again when the fallen leaves rustled and followed me.
I wondered how long my night was going to be because of this. And could I get out of having to go to the Mabon event?