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Which brings up the most troublesome situation in this mess. Karen has invited you to go dancing with her. You grudgingly accepted, but she claims that she eats werewolves, ghouls, and apparently is part of a species that drove vampires to extinction. Or into hiding, which makes slightly more sense since no one has ever seen or heard of vampires as they exist in most myths. While Karen did say she would keep her hands to herself (which you are thankful for) and that she would take you to a more sedate club, she is far more familiar with the kind of club Max's sister Belinda was last seen hanging out in: a BDSM club called the Luminous Arc. The fact that she is apparently a shapeshifter above and beyond the pale, may not even be organic, and her claim that she can hunt and eat werewolves all make her a viable ally for dealing with whatever can enchant and hold a werewolf away from her pack at Belinda's tender age of sixteen.

It also makes her equally a liability for trying to rescue a werewolf, so there is that.

Rubbing the bridge of your nose, you shake your head, causing Kiora to look up at you from your shoulder with some concern. You haven't had nearly enough coffee for this sort of thing, but you're still headed to the gym to watch Lynne's volleyball meet and meet with Cinnamon for more in-depth discussion about werewolves. You're hoping to catch sight of Jack there, and actually looking forward to your date on Sunday with him. Lynne suggested he might be worth discussing both witchcraft and assisting in your investigation, but you're doubtful about both.

Still, first things first.

[] Pick up some coffee on the way; you'll still beat Cinnamon to the gym.
[] Gym it is; you'll have a better chance of catching Jack there if you get there before the volleyball game.
[] Drop by the library; Mrs. Finch may have recommendations for good werewolf books.
[] Write in?

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WHICH, CRAFT, WITCH
XS !!6xEfm/rXmY7

Twitter: @XsQuestmistress
AskFM: https://ask.fm/XSQuestmistress

Previous thread: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2471762/
Character & Archived Threads: https://pastebin.com/EP5wUbjSSpellbook (in Progress): https://pastebin.com/q9WUkeBM
Archive: https://pastebin.com/iCGEYi3h

People of Note:
Lynnette: The over-tall volleyball player and gal-pal, BFF, wing-gal, etc.
Professor Tanner: Preternatural Biology Teacher.
Mrs. Finch: Head librarian at Berkeley.
Eddie: Rock hound and computer geek.
Adele: A young woman who once needed Caitrin's help.
Max: A werewolf with a problem.
Belinda: Max's problem - a werewolf who might be enchanted.
Rebecca: Hateful, stuck up, snobby bitch, Jack's sister.
Christina: Rebecca's flunky, hates and fears Kiora.
Valerie: One of Caitrin's friends, though she's usually trying to set her up on dates.
Shelby: A rather nice young man, friendly with Caitrin and Lynne.
Cam: Local and rather infamous artiste.
Paul: Wants to be a member of the Preternatural Investigative Team with the police.
Jack: Yummy would-be MMA star, potential dating material, Rebecca's brother.
Evian: Aos Si who works at Saks Fifth Avenue, potential contact.
Cinnamon: A werewolf with a clue.
Breanne: Leader of a tribe of fairies (demifey) in the Westfield Center Mall.
Bettany: A minor psychic that shares preternatural biology class with Caitrin and Lynne.

>>2489465
>[x] Pick up some coffee on the way; you'll still beat Cinnamon to the gym.
I really doubt the books will offer much that Cinnamon couldn't.

>>2489465
>[] Gym it is; you'll have a better chance of catching Jack there if you get there before the volleyball game.

>>2489465
>[] Pick up some coffee on the way; you'll still beat Cinnamon to the gym.

>>2489465
>[] Pick up some coffee on the way; you'll still beat Cinnamon to the gym.

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[X] Pick up some coffee on the way; you'll still beat Cinnamon to the gym.

Kiora glances at you when you head towards the cafe rather than the gym, and you smile at her. "Need more coffee. I'll get some whip cream for you though." Her eyes light up and she smiles at you in appreciation. It isn't that much out of your way of course - it's a regular stop for you and Lynne on the way to the gym after all - and you're certain Cinnamon will be talking to the professor for at least a few minutes regardless.

Just for giggles, you look up 'cinnamon' in Dutch on your phone, and agree with her; Kaneel definitely doesn't sound like a name you'd want to be stuck with. Not that Caitrin hasn't had some annoying problems, of course, but Cait and Cat sounds better than Kan.

As you put your phone away you duck under a jay's swooping, screeching assault, and Kiora is instantly off your shoulder and chasing the bird, teaching it a lesson once again. You shake your head and slip into the cafe, still grinning at your protective little friend's antics. A medium mocha with whip cream and chocolate powder on top later, you head towards the door, only to find your way partially blocked by Rebecca, Christina, and two fairly good sized young men, probably from the football team. The men are both looking at you, through one seems wary as opposed to threatening; he apparently knows who you are. His bigger and less asware companion simple smirks as Rebecca whispers to him.

The daggers in Rebecca's eyes are not quite cancelled out by the fear in Christina's.

It's pretty clear to you that she's enticed some help from them, or is at least trying, and you can't say you're terribly surprised. she's done it before in high school, but things are different in college, and you're not the same girl you were a few years ago. Witchcraft is hardly the least of your experiences. Kiora is outside, watching curiously through the window, but calm; she could get in if she seriously exerted herself, or charmed someone into helping her. She trusts you, though, not the least of which because you've dealt with far worse.

You just have to be careful.

[] Ignore the stares and walk past - keeping an eye on your feet and their shoulders, in case of an 'accident'.
[] Step out of their way and watch them pass you, giving as good as you get in the stare depaartment.
[] A mild verbal warning isn't exactly out of place, if they try and move towards you; otherwise just leave.
[] Side exit it is; no reason to be confrontational at all if you can avoid it, even if it makes you seem like you're afraid.
[] Write in?

>>2489503
>[] Ignore the stares and walk past - keeping an eye on your feet and their shoulders, in case of an 'accident'.

>>2489503
>"Say something, do something, or fuck off."
Not that I'm hugely in favor of being aggressive, but this bitch is going to be a problem eventually.

>>2489511
And another line in case it comes up:
>"I am dealing with multiple potentially dangerous situations, I do not have time or patience for your middle school antics."

>>2489503
>[] Step out of their way and watch them pass you, giving as good as you get in the stare depaartment.

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[X] Ignore the stares and walk past - keeping an eye on your feet and their shoulders, in case of an 'accident'.
[X] Step out of their way and watch them pass you, giving as good as you get in the stare department.
[X] Write in? Say or or do something, or fuck off; I've dealt with worse and you're acting like grade-schoolers.

You give a little wave to Kiora - prompting the more nervous man to look out the window to try and spot any friends you may have out there and making Christina so nervous she puts one hand in her pocket - and she settles on a vine, watching you with interest. For your part you simply walk towards them, starting to step aside while meeting their gazes fearlessly. Unfortunately the big fellow purposefully moves into your way. You slow, then stop as he looks down at you, and you can feel the tension in the room rise.

He just stands there and grins and you glance down at Rebecca's walking cast. Sprained it pretty badly it looks like. When you look up at him your melancholy expression makes his smile falter. "If there isn't anything you plan on saying, and there isn't anything you plan on doing....then get the fuck out of the way. I've got actually terrifying and dangerous crap on my list to deal with, and we're not in grade school any more." That makes him angry, but he hides it well. Christina pulls her fisted hand out of her pocket and you glance at her. "I'm not a faerie. All that's going to do is get me dirty. Nothing a magnet won't fix."

The big guy leans over and sneers. "You better be careful, little girl, or you might meet something nasty in the dark."

You stare at him then step back and slowly lift your blouse. Even Rebecca's eyes widen at the scars there. "If you're not a dragon that tried to gut me, or an Aos Sí warrior who tried to burn me to death with magic, you're not going to rate. Even in the dark." You lower your blouse and step towards him. He hesitates, then steps aside, not willing to risk getting accused of touching a woman inappropriately on a California campus, even incidentally. Hecate, even the threat he made could get him suspended or even expelled.

Too much work. You have better things to do.

It's a lot harder to ignore the stares and the murmurs in the cafe as you leave, but you ignore them anyways. Kiora flits to your shoulder and rubs your cheek, grinning proudly at you. Giving her a wan smile you offer the heavily whip creamed coffee, and she digs up a handful of foamy treat and chocolate powder and daintily licks at it as you walk purposefully towards the gymnasium while trying to still your thoughts of sidhe magic and the terrors of the unseelie court.

Jujitsu class is already dispersing, but not all of them, and there's a number of students filing in as well. Volleyball games attract just as much attention as the martial arts, though it's a lot more guys than girls entering as opposed to the inverse number leaving. You smile as Jack comes to a halt, grinning at you in an earnest and friendly way. "Hey Cat! Sorry you missed the show!" He's got a duffel bag, but no book bag, and it doesn't look like he has any books in his duffel. Might have a locker in the main buildings though.

[] Depends, are you off to class or would you care to join me and meet an honest to God and Goddess werewolf?
[] I dunno, I kind of like this one, especially that smile.
[] I was going to catch the next one - want to watch Lynne slap some balls with me?
[] Write in?

>>2489532
>[] Depends, are you off to class or would you care to join me and meet an honest to God and Goddess werewolf?

>>2489532
>[x] Depends, are you off to class or would you care to join me and meet an honest to God and Goddess werewolf?

>>2489532
>[] Depends, are you off to class or would you care to join me and meet an honest to God and Goddess werewolf?
>[] I dunno, I kind of like this one, especially that smile.

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[X] Depends, are you off to class or would you care to join me and meet an honest to God and Goddess werewolf?
[x] I dunno, I kind of like this one, especially that smile.

"I'm sorry I did, but that smile is a pretty nice sight to see," you reply as Kiora waves to Jack. Jack grins and gives her a wave back, which prompts her to look up and you and give a knowing nod. "Oh, how kind of you to approve," you murmur to Kiora a touch sarcastically, and she smiles beatifically while Jack's grin widens significantly. "Actually, I might have another show for you, if you're not on your way to class."

Jack steps aside for another student and you follow his lead, stepping off to one side of the walkway, pretending your heart is beating faster because of what happened earlier rather than meeting your possible boyfriend and making conversation with him. Kiora pats your cheek and you stop biting your lip. "Nah, I don't have another class for two hours. Anthropology," he comments and suddenly his ease at your nature becomes clear. Not that you think he's just curious for the sake of his class though - you're not that dumb, and he's been way too up front to be that duplicitous.

"Then would you like to meet a real lycanthrope? An actual werewolf?" His eyes widen, and you really can't help yourself, not knowing he's into anthropology. "She's even gone Native Ameri-cannn~!" you tease, smiling. His laughter makes you giddy, and he runs a hand through damp black hair.

"Yeah, sure, why not? Although I kind of have to ask what on earth makes you want to meet a werewolf in the middle of a gymnasium...." there isn't any fear in him, not that you can see, and Kiora would have noticed immediately. "Or is that a personal question like i'm not supposed to ask?"

That does surprise you and you smile at him. "I'm not a faerie, Jack. Kiora's the one you can't ask personal question of unless she starts it or does something that invites it." The walkway clears up quite a bit and you consider as the two of you - and Kiora - walk into the building. They're setting up for the meet, and you spot Lynne immediately, her shadow twitching wildly under her feet in the heavy illumination. She's studiously working at setting up the net with a couple of other women, and it's clear to you that she's working hard at concentrating on the game.

[] Tell him the truth, though make it clear he shouldn't feel obligated to help.
[] Tell him shades of the truth, because you don't want him too involved or endangered.
[] Ask him if he doesn't mind being in the dark for his own safety, while explaining about your odd jobs.
[] Write in?

>>2489547
>[] Tell him the truth, though make it clear he shouldn't feel obligated to help.

>>2489547
>[] Tell him the truth, though make it clear he shouldn't feel obligated to help.

>>2489547
>[x] Tell him the truth, though make it clear he shouldn't feel obligated to help.

>>2489547
[] Tell him the truth, though make it clear he shouldn't feel obligated to help.

>>2489547
>[] Tell him the truth, though make it clear he shouldn't feel obligated to help.
Damnit I overslept, things seem to have gone pretty well, though I feel that people like Rebecca tend to be slow learners.

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[X] Tell him the truth, though make it clear he shouldn't feel obligated to help.

"You know I do odd jobs from time to time? Finding lost items, getting rid of haunts, curing nightmares, weird little things?" He nods curiously. "I took one from a werewolf - a different werewolf - to help him find his sister. He and his pack think she's enchanted, and I'm going to see if that's the case." You glance around and find a largely empty section of bleachers to head towards.

"Hey, do you do love potions?" he asks with a grin.

"Yes, and they're a curse." His startled expression is precious and you smile. "Seriously, that's your reaction?"

"Well, you're a witch, it makes sense you'd do witchy things like help werewolves with their problems." Kiora grins and pats your cheek. "I mean, the only way you learn anything is by practice, so it makes sense you'd practice witchcraft."

"I hadn't thought of it quite that way, I guess," you admit.

"So, is this dangerous? I mean, if you're talking to a different werewolf, you have some kind of suspicion going on, and all." He takes the steps two at a time; he's got long legs.

Hurrying up the steps with him, you're gratified to see him pick up on your need to be somewhat isolated as he heads towards the open spot in the bleachers without prompting. You catch Lynne watching you and she waves, smiling. Both you and Jack wave back, and you modestly settle your skirt before sitting down, making her grin even wider. Deliberately ignoring her, you glance at Jack. "you're not wrong about the suspicion, but I'm working hard to make it as safe as possible. I have potions and healing spells, and I'm going to try and make a vaccine against lycanthropy." His eyes get wide but he relaxes as you smile sadly. "It won't work except against specific strains, and by specific I mean from the same family. Sympathetic magic can only be carried so far."

"Damn, I thought you could have a lifesaver there." You nod slowly. "Still, you sure you don't want me around to help? I'm not faster than a werewolf, but I have a gun. At the very least I'd feel better if you had Lynne along."

There's no helping the faint blush that heats your cheeks and Kiora pats your shoulder, then turns around, looking behind you. You glance over to see Cinnamon, making her way along the bleachers. Turning back to Jack, you hesitate. "Well, she's going to be with me, and I gave her some of my witch powers for a while, so there's that." You don't mention her gun, deliberately. "while I wouldn't mind you coming along, I'm doing my best to make sure this is a cut and dried situation, and if she's not actually enchanted or anything I don't have to do anything more than let the other guy know. Hi, Cinnamon."

Jack turns to look up at the lycanthrope, who smiles, baring her teeth a little. He looks confused, and she smiles even wider. "You're a sharp one." She sits down on the bleacher below and in front of you, facing you and Jack. "This must be your friend. I'm Cinnamon."

"Jack," he replies politely, offering his hand. She smiles even more broadly, showing lots of sharp teeth.

"Sorry, I'm very high risk. Sure, you can't get it from a handshake, but I'd rather not, if you don't mind." Jack doesn't even miss a beat, placing both arms on his knees and shrugging. Kiora grins and leans back on your shoulder, peering at him from behind your hair. "It's nice to meet you, Jack." Her hazel eyes meet yours and you're pretty sure she's laughing inside, though not necessarily at you. "So, what do you want to know about werewolves that you couldn't ask in class, Caitrin...?"

>To Be Continued....

Thank you for reading and playing; we'll continue tomorrow evening at midnight-thirty approximately once more.

Caitrin will ask certain obvious questions, but the choices will be more focused on what to tell/not/tell/hint at and request of Cinnamon. Her begin a shamankha, she may have insights into other potions or spells that may be of use, which Caitrin will also ask about with minimal prompting.

>>2489582
Thanks for running XS!

Caitrin is working on her headology one step at a time it seems.

>>2489582
Thanks for running, I'll be sure to think it over.

Also, I got a copy of Ghost Story recently, and even though I haven't gotten too far yet, I'm starting to see why you like it since the prologue really grabbed my attention.

>>2489586
Straub is very, very good at surreal.

>>2489588
It's funny, in terms of horror I'm mostly numb to "being has a child's body but it doesn't act as a child" but "being acts as a child, especially an upset child, even after it becomes increasingly unlikely it is one" is something I find surprisingly unnerving.

>>2489608
"Beware the mask you wear, lest it become your face.

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There's a lot to be said about a man who worries about you, and mostly that it's kind of a nice feeling. Jack is worried about you, and not entirely without reason. You're worried yourself; worried enough you're taking the risk of talking to a complete stranger who happens to be a very contagious werewolf about a less contagious werewolf who is having you try and find and disenchant (assuming that's even a word) his underage BDSM involved little sister werewolf. With witchcraft and a ritual shared between you, Lynne has helped you on more than one occasion, and she carries a gun as well.

Jack's offered to carry one in your name too, and it almost feel knightly of him. Kind of cool, and a little scary if you're honest.

Kiora looks at the faintly fey-looking werewolf shamankha named Cinnamon from your shoulder, and Jack studies her with a sort of clinical interest. Her slightly pointed ear, fine bone structure, and exceedingly sharp and pointed teeth are a result of her changing often, and as disturbing as her human appearance is, her wolfen one is even more so. Like Max, her ring and middle finger are the same size, which you now realize is because a wolf's paws have the same length center toes, since the dewclaw is actually their thumb.

Being a shamankha, which is apparently the feminine for shaman, she's got a powerful faerie ointment that makes her aware of Kiora's true form, as well and ghosts and specters; she's offered to trade recipes with you and it's the first opportunity you've had in years to gain some new spells and potions. More importantly, however, she's offered to answer questions about werewolves that have nothing to do with preternatural biology and everything to do with werewolves and their culture. The latter is going to be great for Jack, who is not only studying jujitsu but anthropology as well, which makes the Dutch werewolf in Native American leathers a positive gold mine for him.

[] She mentioned bribery before, when she talked about entering the local werewolf territory. What is that about?
[] Aside from guns, which will slow a werewolf down, how potent is their silver allergy? You might need to know intimately.
[] Pack structure is clearly important. How likely is it that this situation is more than it seems, even if Max himself is on the up-and-up?
[] Write in?

>>2492006
>[] She mentioned bribery before, when she talked about entering the local werewolf territory. What is that about?
>[] Pack structure is clearly important. How likely is it that this situation is more than it seems, even if Max himself is on the up-and-up?

>>2492006
>[x] Aside from guns, which will slow a werewolf down, how potent is their silver allergy? You might need to know intimately.
>[x] Pack structure is clearly important. How likely is it that this situation is more than it seems, even if Max himself is on the up-and-up?
I presume we intend to use our silver/iron dagger as a backup weapon. Might want to ask if that particular alloy is fully effective.

>>2492006
>[] She mentioned bribery before, when she talked about entering the local werewolf territory. What is that about?
[] Pack structure is clearly important. How likely is it that this situation is more than it seems, even if Max himself is on the up-and-up?

>>2492022
It's magically enchanted to be both an iron knife, and a silver knife at the same time, and is equally effective on fae and lycanthropes.

>>2492043
Ah okay then. I guess the only concern then is that it's pretty damn small to be fighting off preternatural maneaters. Not much we can do about that.

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[XX] Pack structure is clearly important. How likely is it that this situation is more than it seems, even if Max himself is on the up-and-up?
[X] She mentioned bribery before, when she talked about entering the local werewolf territory. What is that about?

"Both you and Max hinted that pack structure is very important....how likely is it that this is some kind of play on the part of the pack leaders or some twisted situation meant to hurt someone in some way?" Your question causes the young looking werewolf to narrow her eyes shrewdly. "It's pretty common among humans and faeries, I don't see how werewolves would be an exception."

"You're awfully cynical, you know," Jack mentions, smiling wryly.

You shrug. "I can't deny that."

"She's not wrong. We're not any different than humans that way. Pack politics are still politics, we're just a lot less subtle and far more brutal about it. If a werewolf offends you, be careful what kind of recompense you ask for. A fairly powerful politician was called out by one of my own pack members for graft and corruption, and it was conclusively proven he was innocent. He was joking when the head of the pack asked what he could do to make amends." She looks at you very seriously. "When he said, 'that asshole's head on a platter', he didn't actually expect to have it presented to him the next morning."

Jack draws a sharp breath, and you have to admit your stomach does a slow turn.

Satisfied she's made her point, Cinnamon relaxes and leans back a little. "But with a werewolf that young, it's really unlikely unless her mother or father did something worthy of being tortured. Killing humans, stealing from the pack, sexually assaulting another pack member's mate, an attempted coup....those things might be a reason to torture the parents of a young werewolf, and we are very attached and extremely protective of our young. Keeping a pregnancy is hard for us."

"Excuse me for asking," says Jack, "but how does that work? I imagine transforming is hard on a fetus."

She looks at Jack calmly. "It's fatal to the fetus and horribly unpleasant for the would-be mother. We have to stay in one form the entire gestation period, which takes about seven to eight months, and is tolerable, but transforming is excruciating and aborts the fetus. It gets subsumed into our body." She grins wolfishly at his paleness. "Enough to give you nightmares?"

"Yeah, pretty much," he agrees queasily.

She glances at you. With a mild shrug, you explain, "I've seen the sluagh." She immediately looks contrite, and Jack glances at you curiously, but doesn't ask. "So it's unlikely, but remotely possible. I'll keep that in mind. You said you had to bribe the local pack. If that just about werewolves or does it apply to me too?"

That gives her pause. "Well....if you are a member of a coven intruding into their territory it could be a problem, or if you were serving as a werewolf pack's spiritualist adviser, you might have to do so, but since the pack itself hired you that isn't really an issue. Are you member of a coven." You shake your head. "That's good then. Typically, a bribe is jewels, a fresh kill - and by that I mean a large amount of meat - or blood. In your case, blood is probably the way to go. Magical blood is powerful." Kiora is nodding eagerly and you can't help but smile.

[] You lied about silver earlier; why is that?
[] How difficult is it to drug or poison a werewolf? Do I need to worry about hypnotics?
[] What do you know about the Luminous Arc - I assume that's some kind of moon reference....
[] Write in?

>>2492085
>>[] You lied about silver earlier; why is that?

>>2492085
>[] You lied about silver earlier; why is that?
>[] How difficult is it to drug or poison a werewolf? Do I need to worry about hypnotics?

>>2492085
>[] You lied about silver earlier; why is that?
>[] How difficult is it to drug or poison a werewolf? Do I need to worry about hypnotics?

>>2492085
>[x] You lied about silver earlier; why is that?
>[x] How difficult is it to drug or poison a werewolf? Do I need to worry about hypnotics?

>>2492085
>[] What do you know about the Luminous Arc - I assume that's some kind of moon reference....

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[XX] You lied about silver earlier; why is that?
[X] How difficult is it to drug or poison a werewolf? Do I need to worry about hypnotics?

"Earlier in class you lied about the silver." She grimaces, and Jack glances at you but doesn't say anything. "Why did you do that?" Kiora looks up at you and waggles her hand. "Okay, I stand corrected, you technically didn't lie about the silver, you misled people about it."

Cinnamon sighs softly. "Because humans need their scientific explanations. You should know that; almost everyone you deal with doesn't believe at first, and then they rationalize it after you've delivered, right?" You nod slowly, because she's at least partly right. "How many people believe in faeries even though you've seen them and deal with them regularly, even daily?"

"Not many," you admit ruefully.

"It's the same thing. Silver is a poison to us, but it is a mystical poison, the power of the moon, the purity of the magic in it. Colloidal silver will certainly damage and kill us just as much as regular silver, but silver bullets ruin guns, and silver coating on a weapon might not do the job well enough. But give them a useful tool, a weapon easily obtained and just as deadly, and it reassures them, makes them less likely to rely on something they don't actually believe in." With a shrug she adds, "It's not like it's uncommon knowledge, and even a few .38 caliber bullets are going to slow a werewolf down enough for someone to run away if they place them right."

"What about drugs? Am I going to need to be concerned she's just heavily dosed on narcotics or hypnotics?" That's an actual concern; enough hypnotic drugs and they may as well be enchanted, but you're just going to be wasting time trying to break a spell that doesn't exist.

"The cocktail of drugs needed to make a werewolf stay quiet and controllable are so exotic and potent it would take a doctor to get them together, and it would kill any human. Even then we'll burn through them at a rapid pace - I am not a cheap date." Jack chuckles and you smile, your cheeks heating up. "If she is drugged, she won't be moving around or going anywhere, and she definitely wouldn't be presentable to the public. Even the most powerful mixture wears off in about an hour or so, even for a young werewolf. Poison is pretty much useless, but a good strong hemotoxin is going to hurt like hell, even if it doesn't put us down. All neurotoxins do is make us numb usually."

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"Hold on, you mentioned that she's a young werewolf. How old are you then?" Jacks innocent question is pretty rude for humans, exceedingly so for fey, but Cinnamon just smiles.

"Guess."

"....early twenties?" She grins wider. "Thirties?" he asks in a disbelieving tone.

"I'm forty-two next month." You stare at her. She looks a little older than you, and only a little. "Our bodies regenerate, but when we start to age, we age hard and fast. I'll look about like this for another decade, maybe a little older in my sixties and pretty adult in my seventies....in my eighties I'll start looking like a cancer victim suffering from anorexia, and it won't be pretty. it's pretty painless though. We don't live much longer than that with some exceptions. Snakes live for over a century, while hyenas age normally but either survive for seventy years or so or die in violence. No one knows how old the Komodo get; they're pretty insular even compared to the snakes and hyenas. But cats are more like us wolves."

"She's going to look older because you mature rapidly....so she'll look about twenty even though she's sixteen?" Cinnamon nods. "And you said she's going to be hormonal and agitated if she's thinking clearly?" Another nod, and a curious look. "How well to spells and potions work on your kind?"

That clears things up for her. "Just like humans - magic is magic. A sleep spell or potion will work just as well on me as it will on Jack. And by the way, don't ever try and roofie a werewolf. We can smell it easily, and we'll probably get annoyed enough to fake it." That makes for an awful sort of scenario, especially if they're virulently contagious. "Our senses are insanely acute. I can hear a conversation across a room even without trying, and hear a heartbeat at twenty feet." She blinks and looks at you funny. "Not yours though."

[] I'm a witch, we're naturally heartless, don't you know.
[] Thanks for the help Cinnamon, you've been very kind.
[] Magic. If you're still in town Saturday, why don't we trade secrets and potions?
[] Write in?

>>2492155
>[] I'm a witch, we're naturally heartless, don't you know.
>[] Thanks for the help Cinnamon, you've been very kind.
>[] Magic. If you're still in town Saturday, why don't we trade secrets and potions?

>>2492155
>[] Magic. If you're still in town Saturday, why don't we trade secrets and potions?

>>2492155
>[] Thanks for the help Cinnamon, you've been very kind.
>[] Magic. If you're still in town Saturday, why don't we trade secrets and potions?

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[XX] Magic. If you're still in town Saturday, why don't we trade secrets and potions?
[X] Thanks for the help Cinnamon, you've been very kind.

"Magic, actually. Cat magic, to be exact; a ritual to silence my footfalls, hide in shadows, and see in the dark. I'm currently the most amazing acrobat on campus." Jack looks like he has some questions about that, and you quickly move on before he can ask anythign embarrassing. Not that is helps prevent your cheeks from coloring. "I appreciate all the effort you've been through to help me, cinnamon. It's kind of you to indulge me...." She smiles and shakes her head. "If you're still in town Saturday, I'd like to trade some potions and secrets with you. I realize you're not a witch, but I think we're close enough on the scale to learn from one another." Kiora gives you a curious look and you smile faintly to her.

"I think that would be okay. I'm really sorry about your friend." You glance at Lynnette, who spikes the volleyball hard enough that the thing bounces high, as the girl whom was closest cowers from the powerful assault.

"About that, what did you say to her? It was something important, because Kiora tried to trick you into a duel over it."

Cinnamon glances at Jack, who looks a little on the spot, and you turn to him. "You'd better get used to it if you're hanging around me. Privacy is a very limited concept among the faeries. Your secrets might be safe, but your intimacies will always be on display." He smiles wryly. "In fact, if can be exceedingly rude to tell a faerie to leave in many situations where privacy would be important to humans." Kiora smiles sweetly at Jack and poses rather coquettishly. "No flirting with my date, sweetheart." She doesn't even bother looking contrite, as Cinnamon grins and Jack actually laughs.

"I'm a werewolf, I can hear mice fucking through three walls and a fistfight. Privacy is more than a moot point." She hesitates despite that. "She smelled interested. More than interested. She was very attracted to me, right from when you introduced us." Kiora is looking oddly nonplussed. "So I told her I appreciated her interest, but I'm a carrier for one of the very contagious strains. A kiss would be fatal to a normal human. I suspect, but don't have any proof, that the more pure the lycanthrope blood, the more vicious the strain is."

Kiora is definitely looking abashed; like most fae she has a difficult time hiding her true feelings, regardless of the situation.

[] Tell her you may have an answer to that issue, but you'll know more on Saturday.
[] Ask Kiora exactly why she's feeling guilty....that's unusual, beyond merely noteworthy.
[] ....ask Cinnamon exactly what she's smelling from you then. Because now you're curious.
[] write in?

>>2492224
>[] ....ask Cinnamon exactly what she's smelling from you then. Because now you're curious.
>[] Ask Kiora exactly why she's feeling guilty....that's unusual, beyond merely noteworthy.

>>2492224
>[x] ....ask Cinnamon exactly what she's smelling from you then. Because now you're curious.
>[X] Tell her you may have an answer to that issue, but you'll know more on Saturday.

>>2492224
>[] Ask Kiora exactly why she's feeling guilty....that's unusual, beyond merely noteworthy.

>>2492224
>[] Tell her you may have an answer to that issue, but you'll know more on Saturday.
So is that saying that if we're able to make a vaccine for Max's strain of lycanthropy we should, in principle, be able to do the same for Cinnamon? Even if there's no way to mass produce such a thing that still seems huge if we could pull it off.

Also what's the Fae etiquette about whether it's okay to confront them about them looking like they feel guilty, or does such a thing happen so rarely it doesn't really come up?

>>2492232
If it's an obvious emotion, it invites questions about the emotion - it's not considered 'personal question' as they're actively displaying it to be seen. It's not a secret if it's public; likewise if people are displaying their intimate moments (and not merely sex, mind you) it's considered rude to interrupt, but not to watch.

I will have to start the next session with these votes, since it's a three way tie and I don't have time to complete the posting tonight; all three are relevant plot points, so if you're going to make me write to all three, you'll have to wait.

You will also have to cope with the consequences of all three revelations.

Next session is tomorrow at ~midnight thirty, as usual.

Thank you for Reading and Playing.

>>2492224
>[x] Tell her you may have an answer to that issue, but you'll know more on Saturday.
>[x] Ask Kiora exactly why she's feeling guilty....that's unusual, beyond merely noteworthy.

>>2492224
>[X] Ask Kiora exactly why she's feeling guilty....that's unusual, beyond merely noteworthy.
>[X] ....ask Cinnamon exactly what she's smelling from you then. Because now you're curious.
I'm not super sure about getting Cinnamon's hopes up about a vaccine since we haven't done it yet and I'm not sure how we'd test it, but I guess we could see if she thinks it's possible?

>>2492253
>>2492232
Like that was more a request for clarification though I'm not outright opposed to it.

>>2492253
Testing is actually a simple matter of a blood serum test. Cait is a preternatural biology student after all.

>>2492256
Ah right, I wasn't sure if she had access to the necessary equipment, but if that's her major than it makes sense for her to have lab clearance.

>>2492258
>>2492256
Speaking of, when lycanthropes change form, do their cells/DNA or whatever switch to the animal, or is it somehow still recognizable as mostly human?

>>2492258
Lab is held every other week, one day a week, as there is not a whole lot of subject matter to be experimented with or on safely very often.

>>2492275
It's identifiably lycanthrope, which is neither human nor animal, but lycanthrope.

Infected shapeshifters, onthe other hand, are human with additional cellular structures, a mutated human (as that is what the retrovirus does). Hence why their transformations are painful and their psychology is out of whack.

Oh jeeze, the Native American material just gave me a nightmare vision of us encountering a wendigo in the future.

>>2492467
One hopes not.

A rampant case of wendigo psychosis in a major city would spell the end of that city.

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[x] Tell her you may have an answer to that issue, but you'll know more on Saturday.
[x] Ask Kiora exactly why she's feeling guilty....that's unusual, beyond merely noteworthy.
[x] ....ask Cinnamon exactly what she's smelling from you then. Because now you're curious.
[X] Write in? All of the above, and damn the consequences!

"I am trying to make a vaccine." Cinnamon looks at you with wide eyes. "It would be very specific to the strain and tied to the persons who carry it unfortunately. It's sympathetic magic, not chemistry or standard biology, though there is that aspect too. I have a temporary immunization spell, but it's addictive and not something that can be relied upon for too long. That's part of why I collected the transformation sludge." You look at the middle aged werewolf and seriously consider making some youth potions, because holy shit she looks good for forty! That aside you tell her the other ingredient. "It also requires the blood of the werewolf. I think you can imagine how well that goes over with a witch."

"Considering most people I know burn their hair and fingernail clippings nowadays, I guess blood is even more potent," Jack murmurs.

You smile faintly at him. "With a single drop of your blood I can bind you to my will, curse you to the ends of the earth, make you my very handsome sex slave for life, make you unable to resist my magic or me, and control you like a puppet from afar. Blood is the third most powerful thing you can take from someone." He opens his mouth, looks worried, and then shuts it.

"Your name, and sexual fluids," adds Cinnamon, turning your cheeks red. "A name is even more powerful than blood, but nothing can beat sexual fluids in the hands of a well trained witch or houngan. There's nothing more personal or vital." She grins wolfishly, and you're starting to suspect she can't grin any other way just because of how her cheeks and teeth are structured.

"That aside, please," you continue, "I could make a vaccine specific to you for Lynnette to take. If it works, it would make her immune to your strain of the lycanthropy virus, as well as anyone else in your immediate family who carries it." Cinnamon's expression falls and she bites her knuckle, an act which seems to exasperate Kiora no end. She seems to have a thing about people biting themselves. "That is, if you want me to."

She looks up and shakes her head. "No, no, it's not that. It's just....that's a very dangerous ability if you manage it." Now it's your turn to look confused. "Can you imagine what lengths werewolves would go to to find a universal vaccine against lycanthropy? A way to counter all the worst aspects of our nature and give humans less of a reason to kill us on discovery? That would be priceless, and lycanthropes who are desperate are far less ethical than humans, and you people aren't all that ethical to begin with."

[] It takes blood. Are you willing to give me blood? Would they be willing to give me blood? It's like handing a soldier a loaded gun.
[] I'll keep that in mind, but the offer still stands, if you want it. I've never seen Lynne this....heartbroken.
[] ....um. You can forget I said anything, if you don't mind. That sounds out of my league.
[] Write in?
Also choose one: Kiora's Guilt or Cinnamon's Senses.

>>2496532
>[x] I'll keep that in mind, but the offer still stands, if you want it. I've never seen Lynne this....heartbroken.
>I'm assuming you could keep it a secret, of course.

>Contemplate a universal vaccine?

>Kiora's Guilt

>>2496532
>[] I'll keep that in mind, but the offer still stands, if you want it. I've never seen Lynne this....heartbroken.
>Since such a thing would indeed be important, do you know anything about why any previous attempts failed in the past? I feel like it's unlikely I'm the first magic user with an understanding of science to try such a thing.
That's kind of why I was hesitant to bring it up earlier since it seems like it would be really important if we succeeded.

Also I'd prefer Cinnamon's senses, but checking on Kiora is fine instead.

>>2496532
>[] I'll keep that in mind, but the offer still stands, if you want it. I've never seen Lynne this....heartbroken.
Kiora's Guilt

>>2496532
>[] I'll keep that in mind, but the offer still stands, if you want it. I've never seen Lynne this....heartbroken.
>Kiora's Guilt

>>2496595
Also I'd be unsurprised if part of why Kiora feels bad is she inflamed Lynne's passions and that's part of why she feels bad, though whether it was on purpose for some reason or a side effect of them having sex earlier I can't say.

[X] I'll keep that in mind, but the offer still stands, if you want it. I've never seen Lynne this....heartbroken.
[X] Write in? Do you know of others who have tried? You'll keep the secret I'm sure....
[+] Kiora's Guilt

"I hope that you would keep the secret of it if I'm successful then, because I'm still willing to try." you glance at Jack sidelong, and he looks back at you, curiously. You shake your head, not in negation but in resignation. It's not something humans would talk about with near strangers, but a faerie? Of course they would. Lynne knows that too. So....you hope she doesn't get mad at you. "I've never seen Lynne heartbroken like this. I mean, she hasn't even dated with you and she's crushed, Cinnamon. That's....beyond unusual."

Kiora looks down and clasps her hands in her lap, her wings drooping slightly. Cinnamon notices as well; jack is on the wrong side. "....Kiora?" She looks up at you and visibly steels herself.

Lifting off of your shoulder, she hovers in front of you, her back to Cinnamon. "It is my doing, but not fault of mine,", she tells you, her high pitched voice sweet and melancholy. That's glamour; you're still hearing her voice overlaid with it, but it affects both Cinnamon and Jack normally. Jack, of course, has another reaction.

"She did just talk, right? I'm not hearing things?" Cinnamon, more concerned with you, nods to him shortly. "Okay, good to know." He really does sound relieved, but you too are focusing on the pixie.

"What do you mean it's your doing? Because you had sex with her?" Cinnamon gives a 'what the fuck look', while Jack blinks several times and really, really looks like he wants to ask how it works.

"Yes. It is a blessing to others and a curse for myself, though I have learned to live with it and take what joy is to be had in it." You give her a questioning look and she flits in a quick circle, to hover before you once again. "Those who share a bed with me in love or lust are destined to find their one true love. That love is reciprocated, but that does not mean that it will be consummated or appreciated by others. Still, it is a blessing, to be granted that opportunity." she moves back and half turns, looking Cinnamon in the eye. "But it can be a tragedy in some cases, for which I would apologize if I had any control over the power laid upon me."

Jack's eyebrows shoot up. "You're Cupid?!"

You turn to him, unable to help the smile. "Don't be redicul...." Cinnamon looks just as surprised, and Kiora bows to Jack in mid-air, surprising you as well.

"If you like. I have no bow and no arrows, but then, the power upon me does pierce the heart and bring heart's delight or the most despondent heartbreak, which i surely regret."

"But you've been through the purification ceremonies with me several times, Kiora," you point out.

She looks at you seriously. "You are a young witch, not an ancient warrior of the Aos Sí, mistress mine though you may be. It would take more than your strength yet to rid me of this, and even more to prevent it. Yet it is not usually such an evil thing." The pixie turns to Cinnamon, who is looking a little regretful as well. "For my part in your pain, I am most sorry....if there is ought I may do to alleviate it, I would, but I fear there is no cure for matters of the heart, magical or otherwise."

"So it's not actually a spell, or a curse on them, but just a natural love at first sight thing?" asks Jack. Kiora turns to him and nods. He looks at you. "Could you make her immune to Cinnamon's lycanthropy without the vaccine? You said you had a way to immunize her already...."

"I don't...." Kiora looks at you, her expression pained and yet hopeful. Cinnamon looks at you hopefully as well.

[] ....okay, yes, I could do it, but I'd need an actual coven, and Cinnamon would have to participate, and the results might be....weird. (Utterly Honest.)
[] I'd have to research it, and most likely it would turn out that I'd need a serious ritual, with Cinnamon and Lynne's consent, and I'd need a Black Man. (Hedging.)
[] Jack, you don't know what you're asking here! (Don't Answer.)
[] Write in?

>>2496675
>[] ....okay, yes, I could do it, but I'd need an actual coven, and Cinnamon would have to participate, and the results might be....weird. (Utterly Honest.)

>>2496675
>[] ....okay, yes, I could do it, but I'd need an actual coven, and Cinnamon would have to participate, and the results might be....weird. (Utterly Honest.)

>>2496675
>[] ....okay, yes, I could do it, but I'd need an actual coven, and Cinnamon would have to participate, and the results might be....weird. (Utterly Honest.)
Huh that's much more severe than I assumed and also a good reason to avoiding having sex with Kiora at least until we feel ready to settle down.
Also even though it looks like this won't be a problem, I feel like it might be worth saying (though others may disagree)
>...Even though Lynne is my dearest friend and I want to see her happy, you do have a say in this, Cinnamon, even now.

>>2496731
...eh maybe just scrap that last bit because Cinnamon is old enough to know that and I don't want to give her reason to not want to give it a try.

>>2496675
>[x] ....okay, yes, I could do it, but I'd need an actual coven, and Cinnamon would have to participate, and the results might be....weird. (Utterly Honest.)

[X] ....okay, yes, I could do it, but I'd need an actual coven, and Cinnamon would have to participate, and the results might be....weird. (Utterly Honest.)

....Fine. Fine, this isn't impossible. If you could do this, with what you have now, what would it take?

Consent, of course.
True names. Probably remade ones, you can do that.
Blood, both hers and her lover-to-be.
Consummation, though not necessarily sexual.
Power, more than you have yourself.
Blood of My Blood, Beast Calling, Naming Names, Rune of Weal?
Danu and Nuada's names, a marriage of sorts. Maybe Aibell?
Damn, you'd need a Black Man.
Not to mention at least three witches.
Hecate, Hecate would help. Bitch Goddess, after all. Three again. Shit shit shit.

Lifting your head you look at the trio of people around you. Kiora has landed on the flooring of the steps before you, looking up at you with a glimmer of hope stronger than before; Cinnamon is looking at you with trepidation, and Jack is just looking at you. "I could do it, yes." The joy and hope that flares in all of them makes you hold up both hands and quells it quickly. "It would take Cinnamon participating, a full coven of at least three, and including a man, blood and consent from both of them. It would almost be a wedding, and the results could be weird, really weird."

"How weird?" asks Cinnamon.

"Well, the most likely outcome is that Lynne would become a werewolf - not infected, not like the curse, but a werewolf anyways. Or she and Cinnamon would transform together whenever Cinnamon changes. The chances of you being magically bound together are almost certainly one hundred percent. There would be true names involved and I'd be invoking at least three Gods and Goddesses. I'd need at least one witch to be a man."

"Don't you have a coven?" asks Jack innocently.

"No. I know about....a couple of witches, but one has her own coven and wouldn't approve of the man involved, and the other....well, she doesn't like me much. So that's a no go." Cinnamon glances at Lynne, and you answer the question before it gets asked. "Lynne isn't actually a member of a coven - she's not really a witch, not officially. She is a temporary witch, sharing in my power for a week or so."

Jack looks at you seriously. "So you could make me a witch? Would I be able to help?" Cinnamon grins suddenly, as your cheeks start to burn.

"Uh....yeah, you could but....it's not exactly safe, and it's kind of....well it kind of like a marriage." Jack blinks at you. "....I mean....yeah, I could, but...." Kiora is looking at you, arms crossed and tapping her foot. "Oh hush! Fine!" You throw up your hands and turn on the bench to face Jack, your face burning from ears down to your breasts. "In order to make you into a witch, there would be nakedness, kissing, hugs, and bathing together....and not just me, but Lynne and me! With you! and that's the first part to make you a temporary witch!" He looks startled as you unload on him.

"A coven is marriage, and you can't just leave it or break away from it! You and Lynne would be real, honest to God and Goddess witches, and if you broke from the coven, all sorts of real bad shit would happen to you and maybe us too!" He stares at you, and his face stars going red. "And that's not even approaching what we'd have to do for the other ritual, where Cinnamon would be involved! And you couldn't have any doubts about it either - if you did, the whole ritual would fail and be wasted time and effort!" You're attracting some attention but you're not close enough to be overheard, and right now, you just don't give a fuck!

"She likes you a whole lot. You like her too. But that's asking a lot. You're not in love, but you're both pretty in like." Cinnamon leans back when you round on her, your face still burning. she puts her hand up and you instinctively curl your pinkie and ring finger against your thumb and point your index and middle finger into her hand. "I'm telling it like I smell it, lady, don't hex me!"

You lower your hand and fume for a few seconds. "Well, that's just theory....I can just make the vaccine maybe, but that's a theory too...."

"But that isn't a no, right?"

You turn back and stare at Jack.

He shrugs, though he's still a little red. "I mean....Lynne's a nice lady, and Cinnamon's pretty cool. It just doesn't seem fair to make her suffer for something Kiora accidentally did. If it is true love....I mean, isn't that what people have been trying for most of their lives?"

You turn and look at the volleyball court, and watch Lynne concentrating all her sharp mind into the game. Housewife, heroine, fellow investigator, and maybe a witch who just was born in the wrong time or under the wrong stars? She wouldn't mind being part of a coven....Jack doesn't seem to understand what kind of commitment he's asking for, here.

[] Make it perfectly clear, in no uncertain terms, for all three of them, that this is a serious commitment. Yes, Kiora too.
[] Tell them you'd have to okay it with Lynne. you're not going to assume anything, even if you think her answer would be yes.
[] This is too much. You're not cut out to be the head of a coven! You're barely a witch now!
[] Write in?

>>2496745
>[] This is too much. You're not cut out to be the head of a coven! You're barely a witch now!

>>2496745
>[] Make it perfectly clear, in no uncertain terms, for all three of them, that this is a serious commitment. Yes, Kiora too.

>>2496745
>[] Make it perfectly clear, in no uncertain terms, for all three of them, that this is a serious commitment. Yes, Kiora too.
>[] Tell them you'd have to okay it with Lynne. you're not going to assume anything, even if you think her answer would be yes.
Wow, this really is a lot to unpack

>>2496745
>>2496754
>Ponder and maybe ask if there's a reason why you shouldn't at least attempt
making a vaccine first, beyond being much less romantic, though if Jack is still willing to get involved in this maybe don't him away.

>>2496745
>[x] Make it perfectly clear, in no uncertain terms, for all three of them, that this is a serious commitment. Yes, Kiora too.
>>2496765
This is also a good point. I'd also like to add that this whole mess doesn't have to happen right away even if the vaccine doesn't work. Jack particularly needs to be proven capable of the role.

[X] Make it perfectly clear, in no uncertain terms, for all three of them, that this is a serious commitment. Yes, Kiora too.

Your heart is squeezed inside your chest. It's hard to breathe, and your head is swimming. Clenching your hands tightly, tight enough to hurt as your nails dig into your palms, you try and keep calm. "Jack, you've probably heard the term warlock, right?" You hear Kiora whisper it faintly, the original Old English, 'wǣrloga'. He nods of course, looking confused and a little concerned. "Forget what you think you know about them. They're not magical casters, hurling energy and casting magical spells granted by some power or another. They're witches, but they've broken faith with their coven. They're oath-breakers, and accursed. None will trust them, none will hold truck with them, none will love them. Fear and magic is all they have, and they know it, deep in their hearts and souls. It hurts them, a deep, endless pain that burns their heart and poisons their mind. They're heartbroken, because they had something and they betrayed it, gave up the love and family they had to do their own thing, and their betrayal costs them in pain, despair, and hate, every single day."

Kiora looks down then flits up you land standing on your thigh, her hands placed on the back of yours. You unclench your hand painfully, and she looks sad; you glance down and look at the deep red marks in your palm.

"If we - and we all have to agree - if we do this, you're all making a commitment. Jack, to Lynne and me. Cinnamon, to Lynne. Kiora to all of us. All of us, to very real Gods and Goddesses. You can't...just change your mind and back out, none of you, or me. Not without paying an awful, awful price." You touch Kiora's shoulder and she flutters up, rising slowly as you stand. "I....I need to think." You turn and Kiora goes to follow you. "No, please, Kiora. Stay here. I'll be right down there."

She looks at you but you can't bring yourself to look into her face. She nods, and settles on the bench near cinnamon, looking up at Jack, who looks very much troubled. He should be.

You walk down as the game is ending, and stop at the first row of benches, watching Lynne. She notices you and flashes you a quick smile before the server hits the ball over. She moves with incredible grace, but that's not just the ritual, she's just naturally graceful. She's your friend, your best friend and she's stuck with you despite your weirdness and your odd habits. She's been through the ritual of Waking the Witch....five, six times now? Enjoyed the power and responsibility, never complained about losing that power. Lynne listens to you, heeds your warnings, trusts you implicitly and totally.

You notice Christine talking to a lanky blonde guy, no one you recognize. She's emphatic, he's attentive. You shake your head. Stupid woman. Getting herself into more trouble. Why do people cause themselves so much trouble? Why are you causing yourself this much trouble?

Lynne's in love. True love, like the kind in faerie tales and legends. Kiora gave her that, meant it as a gift. Could you really not help her in any way possible? If you do what they are suggesting, what they would like, you'll also guarantee one more thing, something they probably haven't considered yet; if one dies, they both die, their lives intertwined. You can hope it's old age. Heck, you'd have an even better reason to research and make a youth potion - Lynne's only twenty-two. Cinnamon's in her forties, she won't live more than forty years. Dying together at that age....

Is that such a bad thing?

You lower your head, as the game is called, the girls congratulating each other, and themselves. You wipe tears from your eyes - you didn't even realize you were crying. You take a deep breath as Lynne jogs over. "Hey babe, what's up?"

"Do you love her?" It just...comes out, words blurted without thought. Lynne looks at you, shocked. "Do you love her?" you insist, and she looks down, running her hand along the back of her neck and looking....well, troubled. Go figure.

"Well....I think...." Lynnette looks at you and sighs, and sits down on the bench. You turn to face her looking down at her as she rests her arms on her knees, legs spread unladylike. "Ah, hell, babe, I don't fucking know! Well, that's not true, I do know. I just...." She covers her face with her hands and you step closer. She lowers her hands and looks up at you, her eyes glistening. "I saw her talking to you, and I thought she was cute. And when I got closer, she was more than cute, she was....beautiful, in a weird, strange way. Like Kiora's beautiful, not human but human enough to pull at me. And she was funny, and smart, really smart. You smart."

You start to protest but she waves it off. "You're smart, you know it. But she's special. And when you left, she told me....she told me I smelled like I was in love. And I said, she's my friend and all, not my girlfriend. And she said, I know, but we can't. She's toxic, deadly virus. She has to carry a 'do not give medical aid' bracelet. But you know what the worst part was?" You shake your head mutely. "She said, 'If there was ever a moment when I wished I was human....this is it.' And she said she was sorry. And she was. I mean, she really was." She wipes her face and gives a short bark of laughter. "Sweat in my eyes, right?"

"Right," you agree softly, a faerie's truth.

You sit down on the bench and take her hand in yours, not letting her pull away. She looks at you oddly. "Lynne....we have to talk." She looks at you in confusion and you take a deep breath. Then you tell her.

>To Be Continued....

Thank you for Reading and Playing. We continue next week.

>>2496780
Witchcraft is really serious stuff, huh?

>>2496782
Really serious stuff. There's fun and joy in it, but the big things....those are serious things, things you walk into carefully.

And you hope you get it right the first time.

>>2496782
But yeah I can already see, like, a BUNCH of problems if it is as simple as Lynne becoming a werewolf
>Lynne becoming a werewolf that probably shares Cinnamon's ultra-virulent strain of the virus carries a lot of legal repurcussions, questions we can't answer, and might make doing witch stuff together difficult. Not to mention I don't remember her being an orphan so it could get her cut off by her parents
>Werewolves are tribal and Cinnamon probably wants to go back with them, and Lynne might feel the same need but at the same time she can't be too far from us if we're members of the same coven, not to mention her current academic career
But you know, the hazards of love I guess.

Wow, that was a lot for so early in the story....

We should probably shelve this and worry about it after our actual current stuff...

I dunno that whole thing just spooked me with the intensity, we've just met jack and those two idiots just met eachother too and they're talking about true love and shit. It's way way too quick and way too much. We need to step back from this and focus on what we're doing /now/.

I think anyway

>>2496807
>>2496789
I did warn you that you would have to deal with the consequences of your indecision. But shelving it is a perfectly acceptable option, and not unwise either. There is nothing forcing you to deal with it now, and it's (hopefully) obvious Caitrin is overwhelmed also.

>>2496816
You did indeed say that, but I don't understand what you did exactly. Like I'm pretty certain that you didn't just add in Kiora's curse, in which case we would have inevitably done something to spare Lynne from eternal heartbreak, and probably taken steps sooner rather than later.

I guess the added complications was by asking about the vaccine first, that made it seem less desirable for some reason even though the potential repurcussions of making them seem at worst the same as the ritual? And Jack being a big romantic kind of egging things on?

>>2496829
I had Caitrin try and deal with it all at once.

>>2496829
I wasn't really expecting that spiral of crap let me tell you.

>>2496833
Ah so the consequences are that now Caitrin needs to take at least a few hours to calm down instead of doing anything else due to each new revelation pushing her more off balance? Lesson learned then, we need to keep in mind she's the most human of your protagonists in a while, isn't she?

And what Cinnamon smelled was how much Lynne and Caitrin care for each other?

>>2496837
Actually Cait was mostly just curious as to what Cinnamon would have smelled on her. Unfortunately, things spiraled out of control; her question remains unasked for the moment.

>>2496840
Ah, I wasn't sure if that was covered under
>"She likes you a whole lot. You like her too. But that's asking a lot. You're not in love, but you're both pretty in like." Cinnamon leans back when you round on her, your face still burning. she puts her hand up and you instinctively curl your pinkie and ring finger against your thumb and point your index and middle finger into her hand. "I'm telling it like I smell it, lady, don't hex me!"
Actually I'm not completely sure who's speaking in this paragraph, like did that cat enchantment thing get Caitrin an enhanced sense of smell?

>>2496837
>>2496840
Although, I will point out Cinnamon mentioned she caught the scent of Jack and Cait being in like, with the potential for more.

Lycanthrope senses are exceedingly potent. It also makes them very honest and very blunt, because there's literally no point in lying or hiding things from each other. Smarter ones can lie perfectly well to non-lycanthropes.

>>2496844
Oh so it was Cinnamon speaking but she was talking to Jack about us, kind of backing us up in an embarrassing way. I thought she was talking to us about Lynne but that didn't add up.

I don't regret the trouble we voted for. I might regret us fucking everything up over it, though. Jack's competence as a witch is the biggest unknown, if we take that particular aspect slow and carefully the rest should be doable.

>>2496744
>Power, more than you have yourself.
Sounds like a job for a staff of stolen elf magic.

>Damn, you'd need a Black Man.
No idea what this implies.

>>2496744
>Damn, you'd need a Black man.

What does this mean? Is it an actual black person? Is Jack black? If he were black, would he count since he'd be one of the witches performing the ritual?

I couldn't find anything in the Book of Shadows.

>>2497431
Black is capitalized, which implies it's some manner of title rather than physical description. I have no idea how I'd go about researching the reference, though.

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188 KB JPG

>>2497431
>>2497491
The head of a coven is a stand in for the Goddess. The Black Man of a coven - regardless of actual gender or status in the coven - is a stand in for the God. Formalizing a relationship such as this, especially if making a coven, need a Black Man and a Head Witch. The third participant is no less important - what good are a God and Goddess without one who recognizes them?

>>2497705
Are covens only groups of three, or is that just the bare minimum?

Also, I'd recommend the comic that image comes from if you hypothetically haven't read it yet, and if you have read it then that's cool.

>>2497967
3 is the absolute minimum. Odd numbers are preferred by most covens to cover the three necessary components for rituals (God/Consort, Goddess, and Acolyte).