SvS side stories by writtenelision
Mar. 29th, 2014 03:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
a_sporking_ratAs you know, many of the characters in SvS were donated by writtenelision, who is a fabulous writer and great fun to roleplay with. She wrote these two shorts concerning her characters in scenes that happened during SvS, but were not written by me in the larger story. Imagine this basically as the bonus scenes on a DVD. The first is Pryderi "Fidget" Smith confronting Rowan about secretly being a fey rather than a werefox like they pretend, and the second is Sig (who belongs to Cygnusrex) and Odette discussing her role as Herald (and just what that entails) before the final battle.
Enjoy! I did!
Rowan wasn't stupid. You didn't survive long being stupid, in either of the worlds ever fashionable feet walked. Especially now. Once they had been powerful, ruled the night, took children and ran the Wild Hunt. Look at the Lords and Ladies now. Vampires had stolen away the myth of their greatest force, they'd been forced to flee their lands, forced into hiding...
But Rowan was old, and had learned to adapt. Horses had given way to automobiles, candles to lightbulbs, letters to e-mails. Years had honed a bright child into a cunning adult into someone... something able to survive.
Some people Knew things. Not had some special knowledge or insight. But a bone deep Knowing, beaten into their genetics over generations. For them, to Know was to survive. Even if it was no longer needed, such things lingered. And some of them dug deeper than others.
That's why Rowan (who took pains to always be prepared, to do whatever was needed to survive) went to Pryderi Smith. Who's last name was not always Smith. And Rowan told the strange little pyromaniac accountant just what they were, beneath the smile and scent of fox. Because Knowing could pierce glamours. And more than that...
There are few things the Fair Folk fear. The full blooded fae (not one of the wretched halfbreeds, the result of ill-considered liaisons with mortals) were within walking distance of true immortality. Be they boggles (like the lost Rawhead) or members of the Court, or the Lurkers in the Dark, there was little in the world which could touch them, beyond their own powers. Humans, thankfully, tended to forget those few things which could. But not those who Knew.
Rowan's own kind came from the Isles. And Wales, alone among the Isles, had clung to itself, the old ways, the old language. Had clung to Knowing. And that's where 'Fidget' was from.
And Rowan wasn't taking chances. Rowan wasn't stupid after all, and had felt the burn of cold iron once already. That lack of stupidity also made sure the knowledge wouldn't be used. Mutually assured destruction was something fairies were very familiar with after all...
"Keep my secret, and I'll keep yours."
"Mine? Do you mean my OCD? Just about everyone I know knows about that. It's not necessarily the easiest thing to hide."
"No. I mean your real secret. The way you feel when you strike a match. The truth behind those buildings burning down..."
"You can't prove that."
"And you can't necessarily prove what I am, now can you?"
"...Fine."
"My oath then. That as long as you do not breath so much as a single word, write a single line, type a single letter, or think a single thought where something might see, of what I am and what I can do, I will keep the secret of your love of fire safe, and wipe away whatever lingering evidence of your crimes might survive."
"My oath. As long as you keep quiet about my fascination with fire, my explosive making and the arsons I commit and wipe away any evidence that might result in my capture, I will keep your secret and not speak, write, sing, type or even think about it if I should so much as suspect that my thoughts might be overheard."
Rowan offered Pryderi a smile.
"Excellent. Now, I'll be on my way."
It wouldn't be hard to keep track of Pryderi. And it was good to have a mortal ally. If nothing else, it was someone to shove into the path of something that might actually harm the ever shifting elf. And now... Now to go shopping for a new suit.
***
Odette shook ever so slightly as she walked up to Sigmund.
"I'm going with you Daddy."
Sig looked up from where he was polishing one of his guns to give Odette a Look. "No, you're staying here where it's safe Cygnet. I don't want anything to happen to you. Gaspard would probably try to skin me."
"No. I'm going with you."
"...Cgynet."
The Prince of the New York flock stood, drawing himself up to his full height, making it very clear just how tall he was.
"You are staying here. If I remember right, all your friends wanted you to stay here where it's safe. I want the same. You'll stay at the school and run if anything shows up."
The small blond drew herself up as well, although in contrast to the older man's towering form it wasn't exactly impressive.
"No. I'm not. I'm going with you, Daddy. I'm not staying here at the school, and that's exactly what I told my friends."
There was a subtle shift in Sig's demeanor, and it was suddenly very very clear that he was not 'Sig' any more, but 'Prince Sigmund'. Even his voice changed, from affectionate exasperation to firm command.
"Odette Advaire, as your Prince I order you to stay at the school and not go anywhere near the Circus, or the battlefield. You will stay here unless danger knocks at the door, in which case you are to fly away as fast and as far as you can."
At his tone of voice, Odette seemed to bow, almost against her will, kneeling on one knee with her head bowed. But as soon as Sig stopped speaking, she looked up.
Odette was loyal to her Flock above everything else. She didn't question her Prince. If Sig had ordered her to give up ballet, she would without a fight. But this...
"I am sorry Sire, but I cannot obey. If you leave, I will be at your side. And if you leave me behind, I will follow. No matter what punishment you might impose. Because I am the Herald of this Flock, and I will not shirk my duty. I will stand beside you, and lead the retreat if it comes to that. And until then, I will offer you all of my faith and the certainty that you will triumph."
She was shaking again, but her eyes were fierce. Being Herald was important, not just to her, but to the Flock. In battle, the Heralds led the retreat, getting their people to safety if something went wrong, and it was a Herald that saved the Advaire family. And the Heralds were the swanmanes' secret weapon. They were the cheerleaders, the supporters, the believers. It was their job to have faith, no matter what. And Odette refused to allow her Prince to go into battle without her.
They stayed like that for nearly a minute, gazes locked, bodies still.
"I was too caught up in trying to protect my Cgynet that I forgot that she was my Herald. I am sorry. But you must stay as far away from the battle as you can. I don't want you in any more danger than need be."
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Odette launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tight. "Thank you thank you thank you Daddy... I didn't want to have to sneak out after you. I don't have any good sneaking clothes."
"Just be safe Cygnet. I wasn't kidding about Gaspard skinning me if you get hurt."
"Gaspard wouldn't skin you. Just stab you a bit."
"Now, go find something that'll pass for decent body armor and let me finish cleaning my guns. All the faith in the world won't help me if my gun jams."
With a smile, Odette leaned up and kissed Sig's cheek.
"Don't be silly. If your gun jams you can just hit them with it. That's what Odile would do."
"Odile doesn't use guns. Thankfully."
"You know what I mean."
"Shoo Cygnet."
"Going Daddy!"
Nervous energy wiped away, Odette skipped off to get ready. Shame she hadn't thought to bring pom-poms. Oh well, she could improvise.
Enjoy! I did!
Rowan wasn't stupid. You didn't survive long being stupid, in either of the worlds ever fashionable feet walked. Especially now. Once they had been powerful, ruled the night, took children and ran the Wild Hunt. Look at the Lords and Ladies now. Vampires had stolen away the myth of their greatest force, they'd been forced to flee their lands, forced into hiding...
But Rowan was old, and had learned to adapt. Horses had given way to automobiles, candles to lightbulbs, letters to e-mails. Years had honed a bright child into a cunning adult into someone... something able to survive.
Some people Knew things. Not had some special knowledge or insight. But a bone deep Knowing, beaten into their genetics over generations. For them, to Know was to survive. Even if it was no longer needed, such things lingered. And some of them dug deeper than others.
That's why Rowan (who took pains to always be prepared, to do whatever was needed to survive) went to Pryderi Smith. Who's last name was not always Smith. And Rowan told the strange little pyromaniac accountant just what they were, beneath the smile and scent of fox. Because Knowing could pierce glamours. And more than that...
There are few things the Fair Folk fear. The full blooded fae (not one of the wretched halfbreeds, the result of ill-considered liaisons with mortals) were within walking distance of true immortality. Be they boggles (like the lost Rawhead) or members of the Court, or the Lurkers in the Dark, there was little in the world which could touch them, beyond their own powers. Humans, thankfully, tended to forget those few things which could. But not those who Knew.
Rowan's own kind came from the Isles. And Wales, alone among the Isles, had clung to itself, the old ways, the old language. Had clung to Knowing. And that's where 'Fidget' was from.
And Rowan wasn't taking chances. Rowan wasn't stupid after all, and had felt the burn of cold iron once already. That lack of stupidity also made sure the knowledge wouldn't be used. Mutually assured destruction was something fairies were very familiar with after all...
"Keep my secret, and I'll keep yours."
"Mine? Do you mean my OCD? Just about everyone I know knows about that. It's not necessarily the easiest thing to hide."
"No. I mean your real secret. The way you feel when you strike a match. The truth behind those buildings burning down..."
"You can't prove that."
"And you can't necessarily prove what I am, now can you?"
"...Fine."
"My oath then. That as long as you do not breath so much as a single word, write a single line, type a single letter, or think a single thought where something might see, of what I am and what I can do, I will keep the secret of your love of fire safe, and wipe away whatever lingering evidence of your crimes might survive."
"My oath. As long as you keep quiet about my fascination with fire, my explosive making and the arsons I commit and wipe away any evidence that might result in my capture, I will keep your secret and not speak, write, sing, type or even think about it if I should so much as suspect that my thoughts might be overheard."
Rowan offered Pryderi a smile.
"Excellent. Now, I'll be on my way."
It wouldn't be hard to keep track of Pryderi. And it was good to have a mortal ally. If nothing else, it was someone to shove into the path of something that might actually harm the ever shifting elf. And now... Now to go shopping for a new suit.
***
Odette shook ever so slightly as she walked up to Sigmund.
"I'm going with you Daddy."
Sig looked up from where he was polishing one of his guns to give Odette a Look. "No, you're staying here where it's safe Cygnet. I don't want anything to happen to you. Gaspard would probably try to skin me."
"No. I'm going with you."
"...Cgynet."
The Prince of the New York flock stood, drawing himself up to his full height, making it very clear just how tall he was.
"You are staying here. If I remember right, all your friends wanted you to stay here where it's safe. I want the same. You'll stay at the school and run if anything shows up."
The small blond drew herself up as well, although in contrast to the older man's towering form it wasn't exactly impressive.
"No. I'm not. I'm going with you, Daddy. I'm not staying here at the school, and that's exactly what I told my friends."
There was a subtle shift in Sig's demeanor, and it was suddenly very very clear that he was not 'Sig' any more, but 'Prince Sigmund'. Even his voice changed, from affectionate exasperation to firm command.
"Odette Advaire, as your Prince I order you to stay at the school and not go anywhere near the Circus, or the battlefield. You will stay here unless danger knocks at the door, in which case you are to fly away as fast and as far as you can."
At his tone of voice, Odette seemed to bow, almost against her will, kneeling on one knee with her head bowed. But as soon as Sig stopped speaking, she looked up.
Odette was loyal to her Flock above everything else. She didn't question her Prince. If Sig had ordered her to give up ballet, she would without a fight. But this...
"I am sorry Sire, but I cannot obey. If you leave, I will be at your side. And if you leave me behind, I will follow. No matter what punishment you might impose. Because I am the Herald of this Flock, and I will not shirk my duty. I will stand beside you, and lead the retreat if it comes to that. And until then, I will offer you all of my faith and the certainty that you will triumph."
She was shaking again, but her eyes were fierce. Being Herald was important, not just to her, but to the Flock. In battle, the Heralds led the retreat, getting their people to safety if something went wrong, and it was a Herald that saved the Advaire family. And the Heralds were the swanmanes' secret weapon. They were the cheerleaders, the supporters, the believers. It was their job to have faith, no matter what. And Odette refused to allow her Prince to go into battle without her.
They stayed like that for nearly a minute, gazes locked, bodies still.
"I was too caught up in trying to protect my Cgynet that I forgot that she was my Herald. I am sorry. But you must stay as far away from the battle as you can. I don't want you in any more danger than need be."
As soon as the words were out of his mouth, Odette launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and hugging him tight. "Thank you thank you thank you Daddy... I didn't want to have to sneak out after you. I don't have any good sneaking clothes."
"Just be safe Cygnet. I wasn't kidding about Gaspard skinning me if you get hurt."
"Gaspard wouldn't skin you. Just stab you a bit."
"Now, go find something that'll pass for decent body armor and let me finish cleaning my guns. All the faith in the world won't help me if my gun jams."
With a smile, Odette leaned up and kissed Sig's cheek.
"Don't be silly. If your gun jams you can just hit them with it. That's what Odile would do."
"Odile doesn't use guns. Thankfully."
"You know what I mean."
"Shoo Cygnet."
"Going Daddy!"
Nervous energy wiped away, Odette skipped off to get ready. Shame she hadn't thought to bring pom-poms. Oh well, she could improvise.
