Catching a Dewdrop (Closed for GypsyGirl84)

[GypsyGirl84]

"I think it will be best if I meet Megan for the first time while in your company," she answered. "After which, I will need to pick up a few supplies while I'm in Chicago." One of the waiters rolled a pastry cart past their table, which Tammany looked at longingly, before turning back to Jason. "So how are you set for mortars, crucibles, flasks...those sort of things?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason nodded. "I have a pretty decent set up in my small shed. After reading the book I had first, I saw all the basic potions and realized all the things I would need to make them. I set up a basic alchemist workshop with most of the basic powders and minerals and ingredients from the book, plus all the necessary tools. I just never got around to making anything before it was confiscated and I have been too busy to even open the new book on potions that Miss Redwood gave me."

He looked her up and down and thought of her attitude. He was tempted to say nothing but if she was supposed to teach him she couldn't do that if she was dead or in a hospital bed. "Look just a word of warning, be a little respectful to Megan. She may come off a little crass but never look down on her or she will kick your butt around the world and back for fun. I am not saying bow down to her or anything just don't treat her without respect okay."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

A hint of a smile played across Tammany's lips. "Trust me, I know exactly how to handle her. By the by, I don't suppose your house has a basement, does it?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason shook his head. "No sorry, only the attic where your room is going to be. I suppose if one is really needed it could be put in. There is plenty of space and I think the ground is good enough to support it. Besides it doesn't really need to go under the house does it. I could put it under the sheds and have the entrance in the side of the hill."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"There are arguments both ways," Tammany allowed. "On one hand, you're keeping everything separate, which does provide a modicum of safety. On the other hand, if for some reason you're trapped in the house, you might be limiting your access to potential vital resources. A connecting tunnel might be possible," she said with a frown, "Though I confess that's not strictly my bailiwick. Worse comes to worse, there's a Svartalf who owes me a favor." Blushing, Tammany quickly added, "And no, I didn't do anything like that for the favor. It was a female Svartalf who needed help adjusting her human skin, and she transferred the debt to one of her kin." Tammany actually shivered. "I heard the real story about Freya. No way am I ever getting in debt to a Svartalf." Tammany looked deliberately out the window, not saying a word, until the steward came around to refill their cups.

"So the first thing we'll do," she finally said, "is check your potions lab, and maybe discuss a relocation and reinforcement. Then we'll start work on your blasting rod. And finally your staff. Anything you'd like to address initially, while we start your training?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

"Well no, but I guess you know why I was in St Louis and the deal I have with Cornflower. If you are going to be living with us I don't want you to be making any judgements about what goes on in the household okay. I have to admit I have a few issues about what they are asking but I would prefer them to learn about it from someone who is going to treat them with kindness and respect than a flighty male dewdrop just after one thing. Yes it is probably naive of me and believe me I know that is not the only reason, but those two seem a lot more intelligent than the others of their kind I have met."

Jason looked at her and sighed. "Of course that is probably not what you meant at all, so I would also like to ask about becoming affiliated with elements. Do you choose one, or study them all equally?"

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"Jason," Tammany said, looking him straight in the eyew, "The words 'consenting adults' seems to apply here. My only concern would be that it doesn't distract you from your studies." She pursed her lips in thought before continuing. "Dewdrop fairies, brownies, and others like them tend to be generally dismissed by the so-called 'major players' in the NeverNever, as well as among the more serious practitioners of the Art. As for me, I suspect that they may have more of an impact than we give them credit for." Tammany shrugged. "Bear in mind that the opinion just offered came from the most junior member of the White Council, and judge it accordingly."

"Now, as to your studies, consider what type of potions you might find useful. Something to increase your alertness, for example, though there is no substitute for a good night's sleep," she added, finishing the contents of her cup. "Think of two or three such potions, and I'll demonstrate the method in which a potent potion is properly made." Tammany looked out the window, then stood up. "We should be pulling into Chicago in an hour. I'm going to make sure my carryons are ready. I'll see you when we get to the station." With that, Tammany left the dining car and returned to her berth.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason watched her go and smiled a little. So someone else shared his opinions then. Never overlook the little guy. He was also glad she was ready to let 'Consenting Adults' explore their own boundaries as long as he kept up with his studies.

Well that shouldn't be a problem as he was eager to learn. He thought about what she had asked and at the moment what he really needed were potions that would increase his brain power. One for his intellect and one for his memory at least. That way he would be able to learn at a faster rate and retain the knowledge of what he had learned. Of course he was not sure if this would work. The first part should of course, with a boost to his intellect he should be able to understand the basic principles easily. It was the memory potion part that he was not sure of. He had no doubt he would retain everything he learned while under it's influence, it was when it started to fade that he was worried about. Would he still retain the knowledge as he hoped or would it become lost to him.

Well these were the things Tammany was here to teach him about. After all there were more obvious potions like Defensive, healing and the like. He got up and walked back to his berth to make sure he had packed everything and left no trace of himself in the room. It always paid to be very careful now.

 

[GypsyGirl84]

At the station, a vivacious redhead dressed in camouflaged attire was holding a cardboard sign that had "Jason" on it, along with little hearts drawn on the sign. She had a big grin on her face as she saw Jason step off the train, which immediately disappeared when she saw Tammany step off behind him. She stared daggers at the pair as they approached her.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason saw Megan and her sign and smiled shaking his head. Who would have thought the woman who had first knocked on his door a few days ago would be doing something like this. He walked towards her and then saw her face darken and she started to stare daggers at him. Oh Oh what had just happened. Her staring daggers could literally get him killed. Looking around for the source of her anger he didn't spot anything except Tammany. Why would she be mad at his new teacher?

Then a possibility clicked into his mind. One she might not know she was his teacher, and therefore two she was jealous. It was really way out there, after all this was Megan but there was really nothing else he could think of.

He moved quickly up to her holding up his hands. "Megan it is not what you think. She has been sent out by Donna Redwoman and the White Council to train me," He whispered as he got closer making sure no one else could overhear. "She is my teacher okay, that's it. Now stop looking as if you want to rip out our throats and give me a hug before I think you don't like me anymore."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

Megan hugged Jason, but her body remained as stiff as the proverbial board. She continued staring balefully at Tammany.

"Teacher, huh?" Megan asked, her voice dripping with scorn.

"Perhaps we should take this discussion somewhere private?" Tammany said, her voice remaining calm and neutral of any emotions. The only odd thing she did was begin unbraiding her long hair.

"Yeah, that's a good fucking idea," Megan responded, storming off towards one of the lounges near the deboarding area.

"I believe we should follow her," Tammany said to Jason, shaking her hair loose. "After you?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason looked at both girls and knew their was trouble brewing. He just wanted to run and hide. This was not going to be good and although he knew he was not at fault he still felt like he was to blame.

He followed Megan towards the lounge room she had chosen and once Tammany was inside he held up his hands again to try to forestall any violence between the two.

"All right you two, what is going on? I get that this is not really about me is it? Do you two have a grudge against each other or what is it, and please remember that although it is pretty private in here, if you two start chucking magic at each other people are going to notice."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"That's easy enough to handle," Tammany responded. She closed the lounge door, pulled out a small yellow triangle from her pocket, muttered something and placed it on the door, where it stuck.

"It's a glamour. An illusion. There's a sign on the outside that says the room is closed for repairs. It even looks a little in disrepair," Tammany added. "It will actually make people want to avoid the door."

"So you're really a wizard?" Megan asked, wide eyed. Tears started gathering in her eyes, and her lower lip began quivering.

"Newly elevated to the White Council," Tammany answered.

"Then...then..." Megan began, tears running down her cheeks.

"Hush," Tammany answered, stepping forward and running her thumb from between Megan's eyes to the tip of her nose. "I'm going to put you to sleep, if you'll let me, and when I wake you up, we'll fix what's upset you, okay?"

Megan nodded her consent. Tammany continued stroking Megan with the same thumb, from between her eyes to the tip of her nose, and back again. Soon, Megan's head had fell forward, her eyes closed, as she was fast asleep, standing up.

"As to your previous question, Jason, no I've never met Megan before, but I have met her kind, and I had a suspicion on how she would react. And we will discuss that in a moment. But first, tell me, have you ever heard of a Fae Lord who calls himself the King of Forgotten Hope?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason chuckled again and shook his head. "How many times do I have to explain to people. I am literally a Virgin when it comes to all of this. I found a diary and a spell book written by a kid when he was about nine or ten and just started practicing magic three weeks ago. I did my first spell ahh what is it, wow just over a week ago now I think and since then my life has been turned upside down. That Diary is all I know about the magical world and it only had the basic creatures in it sorry."

He looked at Tammany and shrugged while looking at Megan with a worried look. "So who is this King of Forgotten Hope and what has he got to do with Megan being like this?"

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"In the future, a simple yes or no in answer will suffice," Tammany began. "At the end of the seventeenth century, a wizard summoned a Fae Lord who used the title The King of Forgotten Hope. The fiancee of an important nobleman had died, or had supposedly died, and the nobleman wanted her restored to life. You do know the restrictions concerning the Dead, I presume?" Tammany asked.

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

"Yes. No bringing the dead back to life right?"

 

[GypsyGirl84]

Correct," Tammany replied with a nod before continuing. "Part of this tale is apocryphal, because I have never found any telling or writing of the story that definitively said the fiancee was indeed dead, and not simply at a point so close to death that the methods of that age could not distinguish between the two. Some assert that it is impossible to bring the dead back to life. But I will leave that metaphysical debate for another time."

"The wizard in question summoned the Fae Lord known as the King of Forgotten Hope and made a deal with the creature. In return for half the girl's life, the King would bring bring her back to life. The wizard thought he was doing the girl a favor. He thought the King would take the girl's life when she was his her middle years. Instead, the girl lived to be ninety years old, quite an accomplishment for those times. And she was insane for most of her life. The King of Forgotten Hope, you see, would come visit her in her dreams, and took her to the NeverNever during her sleep."

"Dealing with the Fae always has it price, because the first rule of the Fae is that there is no spirit of the law, only the latter," Tammany said in a solemn tone. "Even when the Fae have some noble purpose in mind, they have no concept of the mortal soul, and it rarely fares well for the mortal that deals with them. So even though I have never encountered Megan, I have met others like her. And she now stands on the threshold of despair," Tammany said, gesturing toward the red headed woman, "Because she feels that now that you have a new magical companion, myself, that she will be cast out. And what would be a minor disappointment in someone like you or me is magnified twenty times in someone like her. So I need to ask you, would you be willing to give her a place in your home, and permission to always cross the threshold of your door, for as long as you dwell under your roof?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason was incredulous. Tammany needed to ask that and Megan really thought he would cast her out. "Of course I would do that. I would never cast Megan aside. She is my friend and always has a place under my roof no matter what. Heck she has an invite to Christmas dinner and if she doesn't turn up I am hunting her down and dragging her home. Besides her and I have a deal, the details of which are private, and I expect her to pay up when I fulfill it. Now how am I supposed to collect on it if she is mad at me," he smiled.

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"She's not mad at you," Tammany said, her face remaining serious. "It's an oversimplification, but in many ways, she's like a five year old. She has no control over her emotions and sadly, all her emotions are amplified to excess. For the time being, I would suggest you put her in my room when she stays at your house." Tammany sighed. "We'll probably need to buy bunk beds."

Tammany paused, then asked, "I assume your secret pact involves the eventual loss of her virginity?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason stared at her then blushed. "Well yeah, but you should hear the condition I have to do to fulfill that promise. I don't think I will be claiming my reward any time soon," he smiled sadly but gently. "Really I just told her that to make her laugh but then I realized she was taking me seriously so I did too. I do understand about her emotional state as well, just maybe not all the implications."

He looked down at Megan as she stood sleeping and a look of determination crossed his face. "I meant every word I said though. She is family now and my house is hers to come to any time she wants." He looked at Tammany and smiled at her. "Of course if you are going to be living with me, this is the sort of thing you are going to have to put up with. Still think you want to be my teacher? I wonder who you rubbed the wrong way to get this assignment," he chuckled.

 

[GypsyGirl84]

"To be frank, I was surprised that I was entrusted with the assignment," Megan replied. "Quite a few things have surprised me recently," she continued. "I would not have thought I was skilled enough to be elevated to the White Council, and yet here I am. And I might have been one of Donna Redwoman's most thorough and studious students," Tammany allowed, "but certainly not her most innovative. But perhaps I am the one best suited to ground you in the 'basics.'" Tammany shrugged. "In any case, a wizard does have to be adaptive."

Tammany looked at the sleeping Megan. "I'm going to wake her and convey to her your feelings. But remember, in many ways she is like a child. You cannot expect her to 'know' things without telling her those things. Do you understand?"

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

He nodded at her. "I get it. Lot's of reassuring her right and making sure she understands that she is still part of my family."

He approached Megan then looked at Tammany. "You know I think you are right. A lot of other Wizards might not be able to handle this sort of situation, yet you seem to be handling it with ease. I bet you will also be a great teacher."

 

[GypsyGirl84]

Tammany shrugged. "It really isn't magic. I had some experience at being the outsider when I was a kid. Now, if you'll step back," she asked Jason, "I'm going to wake her up."

 

[Aussie_Wolf]

Jason did as he was told but made sure he was in her line of sight when she woke up. He was not going to have her think that he had abandoned her. That would not help matters at all. He stood there and waited for Tammany to wake her up already going over in his mind what to say to her.

 

[GypsyGirl84]

Tammany looked at where Jason had positioned himself and gave a nod that said 'You're Learning.' She then took out a Ziploc baggie that had a half-burnt birthday candle and miniature candy cane in it.

"You really don't appreciate plastic baggies until you travel a lot," Tammany said. Tammany pulled out a small hammer and began smashing the candle and peppermint in the bag. "This is going to be a mess washing out," she muttered as she dumped the contents on her head and began working them into her hair.

"When she wakes up, she's going to look to you for confirmation," Tammany said. "Just nod and look reassuring. I'm going to work on stabilizing her a bit, so I don't need her distracted by a second line of reasoning. And before you ask, no, I'm not going to change her or put her under some mind control spell. I wouldn't do that, even if I had the power and it wasn't forbidden. She may be mentally unstable, but she is one of the good guys. More so than some of the members of the White Council," Tammany wryly observed. "She just needs some connections to help her be....less unstable. I'm tapping into some sentimentality to help accelerate the process of establishing those connections. And that's an end result we'll all need if we're living in close quarters."