journal 🔶 psa from a former fairy

[noblegarnet]

[Ferran isn't unaware of how these journals work, but he's still working out what pages are "public" and which are for his own private use.

Thus, one evening, a sketch of a building slowly comes together, distinguished by its tall stone towers, walls topped with battlements, wrought iron fences, and a large courtyard. The artist pays special attention to the detailing in the texture, making it easy to imagine what materials the imposing place might be made of. To those familiar with the city of Aefenglom, it's clearly a representation of the Coven.

After he's done, he writes in neat print:]

Don't trust the Fae. Whatever else I've forgotten, I know that much.

Comments

[skews]

Those little pest tampered with the tea at tha café, so I'm inclined to agree.

What kind of dealings have you had with them? That you can remember, in any case.

[noblegarnet]

[It's good to have his suspicions confirmed.]

I thought as much.

[What kind of dealings...? Ferran has to pause for a while, trying to think back. One of his strongest impressions helps him to recall the vague outline of one incident... and his ink dots the page a few times on the margins as he considers how to word it.]

I remember them charming people into serving them, only to abandon them to die.

[skews]

[ Hm...that's a great deal more alarming than some simple spiked tea, and worth bearing in mind, if they continue to encounter Fae in this world.

For his part, hell will freeze over before Akechi allows anyone, Fae or otherwise, to bend his will to theirs again. ]

That's a sobering thought. Compared with what you're used to, how would you say the Fae of this world line up?

[noblegarnet]

[It takes some more digging through his memories to come up with something helpful and concrete. Focusing on his encounters with them in Songerein, however, does help him with yet another memory from the other world.]

They're better at putting up a front here. [Still, Ferran doesn't trust his initial perception of people even on a good day, so that's not much of a credit in their favor.] But we don't know about the history of these ones, unlike where I was before. More than just me, people knew not to trust them. Kidnapping children was something they were infamous for, for instance.

The ones here are just as willing to retaliate at the slightest provocation, though.

[skews]

[ If the tapirs were to be believed, then there isn't much of any history to this world or the Fae in it, though Akechi has his doubts on that matter. Still, until proven otherwise, it would be prudent to assume they're just as untrustworthy as they are in so many legends. ]

Oh? And what makes you say that?

[ He hadn't tried to take out his ire on the fairies at the café, so this is the first he's heard of retaliation in this world. ]

[noblegarnet]

One of those things with the trunks threw me from the edge of the woods to the plaza, just for suggesting the idea of exploring further out.

[He's nursing a grudge about it.]

Hardly an appropriate response.

[skews]

[ Wow, what the actual fuck. A grudge is more than reasonable. Akechi would have crushed it where it stood. ]

I must agree. There must be something out there they don't want us to find, in that case, as I doubt they're worried about our wellbeing and safety.

[noblegarnet]

Clearly not, if they're that willing to use force.

[Ferran might have tried something himself, if he hadn't been exhausted at the time.]

Whether it's something specific out there or just wanting to keep us here, I couldn't say.

[skews]

[ It's absolutely something Akechi will bear in mind. It's something that might even eat away at his curiosity until he can investigate for himself, even. ]

If you asked it what was out there, did it refuse to give an answer?

[noblegarnet]

All it said was that it was dangerous.

[The barrier by itself would have been more than reasonable if that alone was the case, but noooo...]

[skews]

How utterly unhelpful.

[ And unsurprising. Why is it always this way with places like this? The suspense is so unnecessarily dramatic. ]

Next time I would suggest not relaying your intentions to our four-legged keepers.

[noblegarnet]

It wasn't exactly avoidable. I was heading out that way, and it showed up.

[He's not in the habit of telling strange magical beasts what he's planning to do for no good reason. Just as he's not in the habit of disclosing the entire truth about the matter, apparently, like that there was another, much more aggressive party involved...]

[skews]

Ah, I see. Then it was either unfortunate timing, or they have some method of keeping track of us.

[ So that's a comforting thought! ]

Now you have me curious how they would respond to force, if we were to take the offensive.

[noblegarnet]

I'm curious about it, myself.

[... and this is basically a kind of written public record, so that's all he's going to say about that. Talking of keeping track of them and all...]

I have more than a few questions about them.

[skews]

Likewise, but it would seem there is no one to get our answers from just yet. We'll need to make conclusions based off our own observations.

[ But yes, as much as he might like to go recklessly threaten their keepers, a little discretion might be in order. If they can talk, they may as well be able to read. ]

Should you need assistance seeking answers to your questions, I can provide it.

[noblegarnet]

I appreciate the offer. I think I want to look into it a little by myself first, but I'll let you know when I'm up for more discussion.

[It's easier to spy when it's one person versus two, usually.]

[skews]

Understandable. If you change your mind, you can contact me here. My name is Goro Akechi.

[ Which the journal already said as much, but it still feels better to introduce himself directly. ]

[noblegarnet]

I'll definitely keep that in mind. I'll look forward to meeting you sometime.

[Sorry, Akechi. Ferran is still too paranoid about adding his name to a magical correspondence more than it's already being displayed...]