poly_chromatic | 129 Howls: Time for a Day Off

Entry tags:

mercy thompson series - mercy thompson

129 Howls: Time for a Day Off

[It had been a while since she'd gone for a good run, one that wasn't intended solely to try and shake off the sadness and lose herself for awhile. But today seemed like a good day to go out and really enjoy the forest and maybe take herself for a little swim in the river. Just be free for a bit. Why not? She deserved a break after all the insane hours she'd put in everywhere trying to keep herself to busy to think, right?]

To whomever might be interested:

I'm taking the day off.

Merlin, if you can hold down the fort at the store, that would be great. Feel free to close it if you have to go.

Penny, maybe tomorrow I can show you some of that martial arts stuff. Come on, you know you want to.

Anyone else who needs anything, I'm around for maybe another hour and after that you can catch me tonight or tomorrow.

[ooc: Feel free to talk to her before she goes or *cough*ARTHUR*cough* find her in her coyote form somewhere. Keep in mind that if she has to shift back to deal with you, she'll be all nekkid-like.]

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I would apologize, but I had been warned of monsters out in the woods. I could hardly be faulted for taking measures to protect myself. [ when startled. He must be losing his skills to let himself get so shaken up, himself. ]

I do apologize however. I should've known you weren't a creature to fear. [ and for that he is deeply sorry for scaring her. ]

It wouldn't have been the first time I was shot as a coyote.

[She had the scars on her behind to prove it, not that she thought she should offer to show him.]

Still, I'm glad you were able to stop yourself in time.

This is - I don't think we've actually met in person, but we've talked on the Network. I'm Mercedes Thompson. Merlin works in my shop?

Probably not the best way to meet for the first time.

[ Arthur stares at her and then he slowly rubs at his eyes. ] Let me guess, Merlin doesn't work at any normal shop does he. [ of course not; why would he? And here Arthur thought it was just a bunch of herbs. ]

Well, it's not exactly an abnormal shop. We sell things. Just like any other shop.

[She shrugged.]

We just happen to sell magical supplies. It's not as if you have to be magic to work there or anything. You just have to be able to be polite and use a cash register and help tidy up and restock shelves.

I sure can't do magic.

[Coyote transformations notwithstanding. And if he thought it was odd that she could stand there and talk so casually when she was barely covered by his tunic, well, she could have done it just as easily naked if he hadn't been bothered by it. You got real used to naked bodies when you grew up in a werewolf pack.]

[ he might have thought it was odd if he still wasn't awkward himself over the whole ordeal. He knew full well what was under that coat! he just wished he hadn't seen it so he'd know even better then usual what exactly was there. ]

Then what do you call that little display you just did? That's certainly speaks of sorcery where I'm from.

My -? Oh! Right.

Yeah. I was born this way. I suppose it's magic of a sort, but I can't do magic - not like spells or anything.

[ Arthur shifts, not taking his eyes off Mercy. ] Were you born a human or a beast? [ there's hope for the former, none of the latter ]

Human, of course.

It was quite a shock to my mother when she walked in to find a coyote pup in the crib one day.

[ he shakes his head ] It's amazing you weren't drowned after such a discovery. It's not many a woman who would take such a risk on herself and the rest of her family.

[That... stung. Not that the 'were you born human or beast' hadn't, but this really did. Maybe because a part of her knew how right he was. And because her mother had quickly given her away, even though she stayed in touch.]

Well... [she tried to speak lightly]

I guess she figured it wasn't my fault that I was the way I was. I was just a baby.

But she didn't keep me. She sent me away to be fostered in a place where I wouldn't be so different.

So she knew of others of your kind? [ he nods his head ] A very wise woman indeed. You should be proud to have her as a mother.

[ even if she might be anything but. However, fostering was hardly an uncommon necessity in his era. No hard feelings? ]

She had a great uncle who was a werewolf. He told her about a safe place where I could be raised with werewolves. They... weren't the same as me, but it was better than trying to fit in somewhere else.

[She met his gaze squarely.]

She is very wise. And I'm very proud to have her as a mother. Not that things were perfect or were always easy, but she always did what she thought was best for me - even if it was hard for her.

[Mercy honestly believed that, even though there was still some old hurt there.]

[ he never had a mother; he hardly knows how one is supposed to act. ] Then you have nothing to regret now do you. Still, I'd hate to be in your shoes. It hardly sounds like you had an easy life.

You must have been afraid to let anyone clue in to your... other side. [ he says it almost distastefully but more so because of the awkwardness he feels. This whole needing to be understanding towards magic and magical being is, well... foreign to him. ]

It wasn't.

[Her voice was matter of fact, but an observant person might notice an underlying tinge of remaining sorrow there.]

Especially when I had to leave that safe place and come back out to live with, well, with normal people.

[She shifted, shrugging off the memories.]

But coyotes are adaptable creatures and I made a decent enough life for myself.

[ That catches his full and undivided attention. ] They were hunted down and killed, weren't they?

[ he's certainly done his share of leading men against such dangerous creatures. It was his duty as a knight of the realm and heir to the throne of Camelot. However, he's certainly seeing things in a new light since his time in the City. ]

I'm starting to suspect you're a resourceful woman. [ anyone who escapes the chopping block has to be. ]

[She shook her head.]

No, they're all fine. It's just... wolves hate coyotes. And some werewolves decided to let those instincts view how they felt about a coyote shifter.

Some tried to kill me. More than once.

And, well, I found out the man I'd thought was in love with me only wanted me because he thought I could have healthy children. His father stopped us from being together and I was upset about that until I learned that truth.

End result was still that I was sent away from the pack to live back with my mother and her new family.

[She took in a deep calming breath.]

And yes, I'm pretty darn resourceful. I've had to be.

I... see. Yes, that would be a bit of a let down. If one's going to bred purely for children it's best to be upfront about it. At least then you have a fighting chance at finding real happiness.

[ and it is possible, but he can well understand. His own father has refused to remarry after losing his wife even if it could be for the betterment of the country. Love doesn't often come twice. ]

[ and then he shifts, looking back toward the City. ] Should we had back to the City? I can't imagine you're comfortable just standing around in my coat.

[That was... an interesting way of putting it. But probably fairly accurate.

She nodded.]

Yeah, I guess. Or to decide to say no.

[She glanced down at his coat and chuckled a little wryly.]

Actually, I live in a house on the beach, if you don't mind going there.

No... no objections there. [ because how could he say no? ] Just tell me where to go and I'll start walking.

[She nodded in the right direction and started walking.]

It's not too far. Much closer as a coyote, but not too far.

Thanks for not killing me, by the way.

[ yes, yes. Rub it in why don't you. Just because he can't afford a horse here is no cause for pointing out the obvious short comings of needing to walk. ]

Thanks are hardly needed. It was your own skill as much as my own that kept you from being injured.

[ he's learned a small amount of humbleness since arriving here. Expect the sky to fall any minute now. ]

Still... I know a little bit about how... uncomfortable you are with magic.

I didn't know how you'd respond even once you realized what had happened.

[Sure, she wouldn't have stayed dead, but she had no desire to be City dead.]

Some of the werewolves I knew back home would have been quick to take advantage of my weakness and kill me.

[ he takes a deliberately long time pushing a branch out of the way ]

Back home, I very well may have, but here, even I know I can't stage a one man crusade against magic. I do like keeping my head you know. [ and there were certain reveling things that Merlin has dumped on him. He can hardly fight against magic without also losing his friend. ]

Yeah.

[She was quiet for a moment.]

Even if you decided to, I think there's more magic than non-magic stuff and people here - even if you didn't include the deities and the curses. Which I could totally do without.

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129 Howls: Time for a Day Off

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