Excuse You I Had Vows to Keep

[hollystrike]

Who: Katie and you!
Broadcast: Yes!
Action: Vanquish / Iskaulit
When: Today!

[Last thing Katie remembers is literally dragging a troll's battleaxe through a town on the verge of rioting, a large collection of stray cats nipping at her heels.  (Look, life is complicated.    Don't ask.) 

Waking up to absolute stillness after that?  Disconcerting, to say the least. 

There's a dreamcatcher above the bed she's lying on, crafted with familiar wool and laced with magic, and it's the familiarity that pulls at her memory before she rolls over to see a collection of woolen dolls.  That she crafted, she remembers suddenly.  She'd forgotten.  When did she--?

Then she's out the door and into the hallway, wide-eyed and disoriented.]  No, no, no--

[It's the Fleet.  Worst possible timing, oh my god.  Or someone's god, anyway.  You can find her in the halls or in the blanket fort, much beloved and missed cat winding around her ankles as she... starts pulling the blankets down and folding them neatly into a pile.  Goddammit.]

-----

[And much later, a video broadcast, cheerful British accent warped slightly by a little American influence--]

Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies.  Do we still have a theatre?  A fox park?  If all else fails, I suppose people would consider me old enough to drink for once.  [It's not a familiar face, except for the same bright green eyes.]  I have all the time in the world to waste, and I'm new.  Tell me where I can waste it?

[She'll be on the Iskaulit anyway, trying to match old-new memories with what she finds and feeling more than a little displaced.  Find her pretty much anywhere.  Later, she'll head out to the hotel and the planet, but that's a different post.]

Comments

[hollystrike]

[Now, there's a scent and voice that stir up memories.

Bigby was complicated. She liked him plenty but for his friendship with Sascha. But she's seen plenty more greys in the world by now; too many, and she'll never quite forgive the world for it. Be that as it may...

She's older. She can deal with these things in less than absolutes.]

Hello, Bigby. [She does them both a favour by distancing herself from the foxes, and her voice is warm.] Will you call me Cat now? It seems less fun, somehow.

[bb_wolf]

[The wolf hasn't changed. Not in such a short time for him. He lies there like any wolf at rest, ears pricked and gaze following her.

But there's not little reality devouring shadow. No sign of Sascha hiding in his fur or clambering over him. The magic that he generates and exudes is unmarred by the pull of the Sheol's presence.]

Mm. No. You're still a kitten to me. Even if you've got a bit bigger.

[hollystrike]

[A relief, then. Sascha is obviously nowhere nearby-- he's one of the people she did remember almost straight away. The answer makes her grin.]

Here I was hoping to outgrow it. I suppose it's not so bad still being a kitten to someone.

You're not here to eat the foxes, are you? [Though from the lopsided nature of her smile, she's teasing.]

[bb_wolf]

Well... I have a whole planet of decent sized meals, but the foxes are right here...

[No, he doesn't eat pets. Or such tiny things that barely make a dint on his hunger.]

Nah. If I was going to eat anything on the Fleet, there's a couple of people I'd have in mind before the foxes.

[Probably a joke. Probably.]

Hm. Given people don't seem to stay dead... wonder if you'd stay full or if their bits would be removed form you somehow...

[hollystrike]

That would be rather awkward. Not at all fulfilling, either. But I suppose the opposite would be that you could meet your meal walking about while still somehow picking them out from between your teeth.

[More awkward.]

[bb_wolf]

But I don't eat anything sentient anymore.

Except the Atroma. I might manage an exception for them. Anyway, you look younger. How much younger are you?

[hollystrike]

[Well, we were discussing just idle theory. Her lips twitch up.]

They might give you indigestion. I can't think anyone that plastic would be terribly good for you.

Young enough to know better. A whole century, give or take ninety years.

[She's 20. Turning 21 in less than a week. Though she looks closer to mid twenties.]

[bb_wolf]

[She does look a bit older, but physical ages and actual ages are very malleable for Fables, so he's not really surprised at her answer.]

Well... maybe not. But I'd be willing to take that hit for the team.

And so you know. He's left the Fleet. No risk of running into him. Left... few days ago.

[hollystrike]

[She knows. It was one of the first things she asked Clay. But the fact Bigby goes out of his way to say as such is relieving, and she gives a soft sigh.]

Is it hard for you?

[bb_wolf]

[He shrugs, large head flopping down to rest cheek to decking.]

I'll live.

[hollystrike]

What a silly thing to say. [Mildly.] You're immortal. Of course you'll live.

[bb_wolf]

Exactly.

[He's survived worse. Physically, emotionally, all of that rubbish.]

And you've lived. Or done some ageing in death.

[hollystrike]

Oh, yes. Lived through stories that curled my hair. [Lost some of her connection to glamour. It's a wistful thing, knowing the erosion has begun.] Made friends with some vampires. Repaired family ties. All the usual.

[bb_wolf]

I wasn't sure your type of fairy did age. Some don't. Some do.

[He'll miss the exuberance of the young kitten, though. Genuine youth is so rare to his kind.]

[hollystrike]

Yes and no. Eventually I'll need a new coat of paint.

[She's technically immortal. Very technically.]

[bb_wolf]

Just make sure you don't go the route of nip and tucking. It's not a good look on anyone.

[hollystrike]

[Hah.]

Nips and tucks are for people who never get old.

[bb_wolf]

[Bigby chuckles, winter breezes curling around them from his breath, tingling with magic.]

Of course.