Keeper's Homes, Forts, Estates and Places

[Rebonack]

[Jace's Place]

The fox makes a huffy sort of sound.

"That can be kinda hard. There's this RULE. Kumiho haven't got Names. I can't call myself-"

And it looks like she's TRYING to say her name here but instead there's just... nothing. She can't even verbally speak the name to imply it is in fact her Name rather than just a Mask that belongs to her.

"I can't call myself anything. I'm just a fox. But... I know what you mean... Maybe when I'm talking about... other me? I should just say 'me'?"

[Keeper]

Jace's Place

"You're NOT just a fox. You're Khannie, our favorite and most special and fluffiest fox." Zebes coos, engaging his claws as he tickles the fox who is small and fluffy but still bigger than him.
"That rule is bullshit and I'll see what we can do about it." There's a glint in his eye when he says that. Not always the best look. Zebes is always willing to go to greater lengths about some things than Jace.
"But start with that, yes. Don't let circumstance make you start thinking like a fairy. Fairies generally don't think in terms any of us ever should."
In a sense, even Fortuna kind of learned that. Which is why she seems to distance herself from Khannie. Physically, at least.

[Rebonack]

[Jace's Place]

The fox makes an adorable foxy chuckling sound.

"I like it when people call me that," she admits. "I just can't call me that. And I love you uncle Zebes, just don't break the universe for me. It might make bigger problems than they're worth."

While the fox isn't a huge fan of not being able to call herself Khannie that's ultimately a thing she can get around in other ways.

"Really, I can use that name if I put one of my Masks on. Well, not Bella since her name is Bella. But 'yknow."

[Keeper]

Jace's Place

"Don't worry, Khannie. The WORST thing I'd do is ask your other mom for help." he says as if that wasn't really bad.
But hey it worked with the magical girl problem didn't it?
"I'll trust your judgement on the Masks. It kind of hurts my head but if you say it's fine I'll trust you."

[Rebonack]

[Jace's Place]

"Ugh. I dunno about getting mother involved," the fox says, saying mother with as much disdain as possible. Okay yeah she DID help get Khannie out of the Magical Girl thing but she also made that anti-witch and that was pretty bad.

She sits there for a moment, then just to make Zebes' head hurt a little more she flips the Bella Mask up to her face and all of a sudden Bella is sitting there. She doesn't look EXACTLY like Khannie but there's a strong resemblance if you ignore the horns and wings and tail.

Bella blinks, slowly withdrawing her hands from her face, and then reaches down to scoop up Zebes and give him a hug that thankfully causes no level drain.

[Keeper]

Jace's Place

"Well, that's why it's not plan A. Or B. Or C. Probably no letter before F at least."
And then Zebes is surprised by succubus! He does not comment that this is one of the squishier hugs he has received. She might feel weird about that.
"Oh, hello Bella. Fancy meeting you here, hmm?" What an amazing coincidence that she would be here at this exact moment in time!

[Rebonack]

[Jace's Place]

Actually?

Sapphira had been in charge of Bella's initial appearance. Which Bella had discarded. Wearing Khannie's face had felt weird since (to her at least) Khannie had died horribly to create her AND her looks were the result of Sapphira's whims. So when she was making some alterations she had very intentionally smoothed out her curves a bit. Let's say clothing that would fit Khannie snugly would fit Bella, too, but the snugness would be a little on the uncomfortable side.

As opposed to NOT fitting her at all, which would have been the case if Sapphira had her way.

She laughs at Zebes' greeting. "You haven't gotta play dumb, uncle Zebes. The fox told me the plan before she picked me up at the palace. Maybe just... think of me as a character Khannie is playing and she's gotta stay in character as long as she's playing me? Oh! Did the fox tell you Mary accidentally made me a princess? Before that I was like... her minion."

She wrinkles her nose distastefully.

"It was super weird. She definitely didn't like it and I was trying to find a loophole to kinda wiggle out of it and it worked!"

[Keeper]

Jace’s Place

”I did get the idea that Mary and her mom don’t really like the having minions thing. I would have objected pretty strongly to anyone using you as one.”
Strongly.
”I also got the idea that accidentally making someone a princess is not all that surprising.”
Sekhmet seemed…kind of clumsy about her demon stuff, to be honest.

[Rebonack]

[Jace's Place]

"She didn't; she was telling me she didn't want me to be her minion and it was like... I gotta do what she says but she's saying she DOESN'T me to do what she says so does that mean I gotta listen to her or not listen to her?" Bella replies, trying to suppress a giggle at the absurdity of it. "I kept rolling the 'gotta obey Mary' thing around until it broke. I told her I loved her like a sister and was my sister not my master and she said the same thing and I guess that made me a princess?"

Beats being a minion.

"When unicorn me wakes up I'll poof back into her shadow since that's what happens to the fox. But... I think I'll still know what's going on? Since I'm Khannie? I was hoping we could have some pancakes for breakfast? I promise dad and I won't vanish on an adventure this time."

[Keeper]

Jace's Place

Zebes nods, but there's one important question in regards to this.
"Do you mean right now? Or like...in the morning?
Because it's three in the morning right now."
Right. Some people aren't forced nocturnal or magical creatures from Hell that may or may not have to sleep.

[Rebonack]

[Jace's Place]

"In the morning! I don't wanna wake up dad for pancakes, especially if he isn't feeling well," Bella says right before her suddenly fox-like tail hooks her right below the jawline and removes the Mask.

Suddenly the fox is back!

She licks Zebes on the snoot.

"I'll see you guys in the morning. I think someone's having a giant monster battle right outside the dorms and I'm about to-"

Whoop.

She's gone.

But she'll be back when it ISN'T three AM.

[Morty]

[Dancing Fox Inn]

Askeladd has returned here to give Mist some advice. Poor Mist needs it. The Lunar Exalt is familiar with the weight of responsibility, even if he took a more hands-off approach to the people he watched over. Right now he is leaning against the outer wall of the inn, sipping a mug of beer, looking at the sky and thinking.

[Keeper]

Dancing Fox Inn

A strange sight walks past Askeladd. A long creature of lavender fur, simultaneously leonine and avian. Its rider seems to do a double take as he passes and pulls the creature to a halt.
He hops off and one thing is immediately apparent: the lad looks almost alarmingly like Krayger, aside from being under half his age and his coat having a slightly reddish hue.

"Oh! Are you Mister Askeladd? My lord Mist and Uncle Krayger mentioned you. And well I uh. Kind of figured there couldn't be multiple bearded human guys named Askeladd who give good advice." And shapeshift into moose, but he isn't doing that right now. But the rest, Krayger's description was pretty spot-on.

[Earl of Purple]

The Bluewood

Newcomers enter the forest, heading towards the cottage at its heart. (It's in a forest, of course it's a cottage. The thatched roof is coming any day now.) The first is a woman, tall and pallid and very thin, with a skeletal build and a skull-like head topped with lank blonde hair. She's wearing a loose grey dress and a pair of sandals, and using a long, slender bone as a walking-stick. Following behind her is a black-furred unicorn, even more skeletal than the woman it follows. Its eyes glow red in recessed eyesockets, and its swirled horn has a notable bend to the left. The unicorn's hooves don't leave prints, except where it trots over stone, tarmac, or solid earth; then, they sink in as though it were mud. It's far too bony to ride, the ribs stark against its coat, and the knobbles of its spine sticking uncomfortably out.

Baccata didn't know when they were going to visit, and they certainly haven't told Jace or Khannie their plans, so their arrival might be completely unexpected or at best inopportune.

[Keeper]

The Bluewood

Jace's place is a three-story building that is not a tower but is also not entirely unlike one. Cottages can't be three stories tall. There is also the chapel that followed him from its last resting place, which is at least the right size.

Within a few minutes Jace comes trotting out, his familiar clinging to his shoulder but otherwise as bare as the other unicorn. He doesn't like wearing his shoes when he's at home with his nice forest. Without them on his hoofprints make quiet, pleasantly musical tones on the earth despite how soft it is. He stops as he sees them, recognizing them from the vague description Baccata gave Khannie who gave it to him.
Ah. You're the ones that Khannie's friend mentioned? I had thought we would agree on a day.
Jace can use his telepathy as he doesn't expect another unicorn will mind.

[Morty]

[Dancing Fox Inn]

The young man's similarity to Krayger is rather visible, but any lingering doubts are dispelled when he mentions him as his uncle. Askeladd bows his head slightly.

"I am indeed Askeladd, yes. Krayger has mentioned you, but he hasn't given me your name."

[Keeper]

Dancing Fox Inn

"Oh! I'm Koshal. And this is Faye." Koshal's shadow returns to him as it had been drifting off to examine Askeladd's. It emerges from the ground into the shape a jolly black dog.
"It's okay that he forgot to mention my name. You were probably distracting him. He talked about you a lot." Koshal grins mischieviously.

[Morty]

[Dancing Fox Inn]

Askeladd feels flushed, a feeling very unfamiliar to a centenarian demigod. What... does Krayger really... by Luna's grace. What is he supposed to do now?

"Ah, yes. Your uncle and I seem to have hit it off quickly. Kindred spirits, perhaps. Someone I was glad to find in this strange land."

[Keeper]

Dancing Fox Inn

Krayger grins, noticing the Lunar's flush.
"I think it's nice! Uncle Krayger hasn't had someone like that in a while. But..." Koshal looks like he's not sure if he should tell Askeladd this.
"Last I saw him he was holed up looking for some specific materials. Which means he's making something. Where we're from, if you see someone a few times but you don't think they've picked up you like them you make them a gift. It's to show what you're good at! Unless you think the other person is like, SUPER above you. He's gotta be making you one of those little golems he knows how to make. Just warning ya." Koshal winks.

[Earl of Purple]

The Bluewood

"Yes, we have a mutual acquaintance with Baccata. She said it was important, so we made time to visit as soon as we could. Is 'as soon as we can safely leave our work' poorly timed for you? For we do not otherwise have a gap in our schedule." Ingrid speaks first, a bit harsh in her tone. The black unicorn behind her remains silent, not sending any telepathic messages that Jace or Zebes can hear, and standing forward to rest its head on Ingrid's shoulder.

[Keeper]

The Bluewood

Of course not. I simply did not expect you to come so swiftly for someone you do not know. Jace responds coolly, not showing any annoyance in Ingrid's tone.
Would you like to sit in my parlor? If you are more comfortable out here in the Wood that is also fine. There is a stump over there so you need not stand. Jace is host here, after all.

[Morty]

[Dancing Fox Inn]

This is bad. Or rather, this would be good if it wasn't for... all that history weighing down on him. Krayger is a good man, he deserves someone who hasn't run away from his challenges.

"Thank you for the advance warning, Koshal. I will make sure to look properly surprised when your uncle presents his gift. I admit, I wasn't certain if he was... interested this way."

[Keeper]

Dancing Fox Inn

"Well, I maybe shouldn't have told you, but it's maybe good for you to have time to think about it? Our people are capable of being more subtle than people think. But um. Plan B is still to basically yell your intentions. Uncle Krayger's too shy about this stuff to do that, though. In public."
His ears droop and he leans in a little, speaking in a hushed tone.
"I uh, kind of exist because he botched this once. So um. Be nice if you're gonna say no, okay?"
Given that Koshal is Krayger's nephew, thinking about that opens up quite a can of worms.

[Morty]

[Dancing Fox Inn]

That does indeed set Askeladd to thinking what happened. Krayger waited too long to confess his feelings to someone... and his sibling beat him to the punch? Unpleasant. But if he's willing to put himself out there after that... well, then perhaps Askeladd shouldn't be afraid of it either.

"I do appreciate you warning me. And I'd never think about hurting your uncle." He's obviously not going to ask for details about the history behind Koshal's birth. "You're a fine young lad, Koshal. I see why Krayger is so proud of you."

[Keeper]

Dancing Fox Inn

"He is! It gets kind of awkward sometimes since he looks just like Father. I admit I slip and call him that sometimes." Twin problems. "Well! I'm Lady Leah's squire. That's Mist's wife. I guess that makes him Lord Danir but he hates when I call him that. So if you ever need me he'll know where I am." Koshal smiles as he gives Faye a good rub on the ears before she disappears back into his shadow and he pulls himself back onto the saddle of his strange mount.

[Earl of Purple]

The Bluewood

"Hmm. That is fair, I suppose." Ingrid concedes the point about being unexpected. "My unicorn was curious, it is not often he meets others, and blue unicorns are... usually more social than your predecessor. I have visited the Bluewood before, though it wasn't here then. Your predecessor did not wish to speak to us and we never found the church." The black unicorn tilts its head and leans forward to lick Ingrid's ear, who smiles happily. "The... parlour sounds best, to me. I could do with sitting down. Offer bread and salt, for hospitality. It's old-fashioned, but polite, and some more... people-facing unicorns and similar entities put a deal of importance on it." Ingrid and her unicorn don't, but have enough interaction with other petty gods to know about it. And think it's unlikely that Jace knows to do it on his own, as Baccata isn't social in the right way for etiquette to matter to her.

[Keeper]

The Bluewood

Oh, have you met others of…my kind? I’ve only ever met Jastes and it was a rather short conversation. Did Baccata explain my erm, situation to you?” Jace starts walking towards the house. He’s not sure if Baccata explained to Ingrid and the unicorn that he was a mortal or just that he’s a unicorn out of his depth.
Well I suppose there is also my daughter but she is a strange case. And not blue either way.
Jace waves his horn and the front door swings open. On the first floor is a sitting room with cushioned seats and a television. There is a small couch off to the side of the large main one that is low to the ground; it’s intended for quadrupeds which Jace picked up when Geneva lived here and simply kept for when he had guests of that shape. Nowadays he uses it himself. Though he will offer the seat to Ingrid’s unicorn as Zebes fetches them plates, a loaf of crusty brown bread (pre-sliced), and a little rack containing salt and pepper shakers and a tiny bottle of olive oil.

[Earl of Purple]

The Bluewood

"No, I have not. They are typically found in monasteries and schools of learning, with more people than I am strictly comfortable with." Ingrid likes people in very small doses.

"I know Jastes died and passed on his mantle to you. I know he didn't explain anything. And I know your daughter got also turned into a unicorn as a result. I'd assume she was generated or altered by a magical accident of yours somehow, and maintains a spiritual link to you. We're here mostly to help answer questions. You are unique, however, so there may be a limit on what we can advise you. There's going to be differences between you and Jastes, let alone you and any other blue unicorn. My own partner is black, and the differences will be greater still there." Ingrid sits next to her unicorn, which takes advantage of the quadruped seat and lies down. She's also going to put salt on a piece of bread which she shares with her unicorn.

[Keeper]

The Bluewood

Ah. Well. That's alright. Oh, and do tell me if you would rather I speak out loud. I have a charm for that, but I find it's a little more comfortable to use my real voice, and I thought it wouldn't bother you since you have your own partner... Most people are a little unnerved by people talking to them with their minds. Which is frustrating since as a blue unicorn Jace has very quickly gotten comfortable with it. It helps he had experience as a psychic pokemon.
Yes. I'm honestly not sure of the workings of unicorns in general so I wasn't even aware they could pass their mantles to mortals. Am I more unique than any other who has had this happen? I suppose it can't be common or I'd have heard of it. Baccata was able to explain to Khannie that we need the living to sustain ourselves. And I know I have felt that around some people. But...everything else has been guesswork and feelings. I would appreciate any wisdom you think will be relevant.

[Earl of Purple]

The Bluewood

"It's fine. Our relationship means he can hear all you say regardless." Even if Jace isn't transmitting to it, the unicorn is listening. Which might be a bit worrying, depending on how things go. "I didn't know it was possible for a unicorn to pass their mantle on. My partner doubts he could do it, so I cannot help you there. Unicorns are purity; mine is purity of death, specifically linked to starvation. Blue unicorns are primarily mental purity. Determination, curiosity, certain forms of innocence, possibly ignorance though that's rarer. Jastes was linked to determination, purity of purpose, and to pass on his mantle he must have felt you were determined enough to take up the role. Which you were, as you have." That should help Jace a bit in the immediate, at least.