[Open + Closed] If I Had A Nickel For Every Time My Soul Got Transformed...

[crushed_pearls]

Who: Erin Peters and YOU, but also Phil and Cassandra de Rolo
When: January 21st Onward
Where: Locations
Summary: Fallout of some regains, trying to bounce back still, So Many Animal People On This Ship
Warnings: Lost bullshit, Erin's eyes in a jar, violent transformation. For reference all prompts after 1 feature the post-transformation Erin.


1. Well One Of Us Is Going To Have To Change (Closed To Phil; Sundries)

Avoiding asking Friday why she gets so much fucking mail is getting increasingly difficult for Erin. The curled-up scrap of the Contract with Stone is unexpected but very welcome; at last, she can haul her own sunfish, or at least not spend power like water to do so. The jar with her FUCKING EYES IN IT is disgusting but Erin had given them to Colors for Hedgespinning; maybe she could do the same? Or, preferably, Ossie or Giles or Okie might do the same, as Erin doesn't want these curst fucking things anywhere near her...

The grooming kit arrests her attention, though. Erin knows these tools. She used them often, once Gabby had warmed up to her. They're even etched with a little 'GG' encircled by feathers and thorns. God, it's been so long; Gabby was decades ago, and yet, and yet -

Searing pain, down Erin's shoulders. She lurches, dropping the grooming kit back into its package, crying out in shock. That sound rapidly becomes a scream of absolute fucking agony as raven's wings tear their way out of the meat of her shoulders and shred the back of her dress and coat into tatters. Feathers lace their way into Erin's tempestuous hair, joining the storm, and little scales - like a bird's - grow into place around her wrists and ankles.

"Mother fucker," Erin half-yells, half-sobs. And then, in a louder voice, a call for help: "PHIL!"

There's blood everywhere now. It's gonna be a whole fucking event, isn't it?

2. The Retired Villain's Club (Closed to Cassandra; Cabin 134 & the Hoard)

Love can you come to my cabin at your convenience? I have something I want to show you and talk about. Difficult conversation probably. There is no rush whatsoever.

3. Acceptable Levels of Hypocrisy (Around)

Sometimes you need to resort to weird measures to get around your problems. The issue: Erin has not been eating properly and she knows it. The solution: Erin is now eating in the weirdest goddamn places. Catch her with cups (not bowls) of various foods while perched on the statue in The Promenade, nibbling her way through an improbable amount of carbs while whittling in the Lounge, carefully eating garlic bread with a fork in The Library, or even indulging her endless need for sugar in the shallow reaches of The Infinite Tommy Bahama. Can't be on people for self-care if she's not caring for herself, damnit.

4. A Castle Made Of Clouds (Tauva)

Every few days you might catch Erin at Tauva with her doll's castle, now fully-manned by wooden figurines with operational siege weapons (powered by rubber bands), poking and prodding at it with her stylus and sometimes jotting down notes in braille. If she has reason to suspect you're into building, y'know, buildings, or have experience with interior design, you might have received a text requesting a consultation on a project; if not, well, she's got a doll castle in the smoking lounge, fuck's up with that?

Comments

[not_the_last]

Breed? -- Later.

"If you're getting rid of these ones either way," she says slowly, "what's the advantage or drawback of each option?"

[crushed_pearls]

"Well...in theory the advantages are small. Outside of the porn at the bottom of the stack all of these are available in the library; hell, I've been reading Stardust again since I got here. So while I think, say, Crabb would like one of 'em and probably the porn too, she can just. Have it."

Erin walks over to the stack and gently brushes her fingers over it. "...Their only value is sentimental. And, I suppose, the notes inside. The last writings of scum and wretches. My friends."

[not_the_last]

"But that's only of value to you."

A beat.

"Unless ... you want anyone else to read them. Those notes."

[crushed_pearls]

"...Maybe I do." Erin picks up Eragon (she can't see the cover but it's the only one whose dragon picture can be felt beneath her fingertips) and offers it to Cassandra. "I won't lie to you, this book is garbage. Your life will be made materially worse by reading it. It will haunt you and possibly drive you to write your own competing version out of sheer outrage. Anne hated it so much she made a project out of annotating the book, and, well...she does suggest many better stories in the course of those notes. Maybe she'll do some good for you from beyond the grave."

[not_the_last]

Cassandra takes the book, and doesn't open it.

"If you want me to keep all of these for you," she says, "I do have room. And I can read them if you would like me to, and ... perhaps talk to you about what I read. Or I could not do that."

[crushed_pearls]

"Nah if I'm giving them away I'm breaking them up. They were loved by different people for different reasons. Crabb'll get Artemis Fowl, 's a crime story of sorts, she'll like it. I'll figure out the others...but Stardust stays here to burn. It'll get the pyre my crew couldn't."

The decision seems to have lifted something from Erin's shoulders. Her wings flutter as she nods, mostly to herself.

[not_the_last]

She nods in turn. "It sounds like you've decided, then."

And she can't help looking for a long moment at those wings, the way the light shimmers off the feathers.

[crushed_pearls]

They twitch when Erin nods, feathers fluffing up; a sign of relief and comfort, for those who know birds. "Thank you, for helping me reach that decision. It's...yeah. I know Liz's legend will live on, but...it's hard sometimes figuring out what is and isn't inviting her back into my life. Y'know?"

[not_the_last]

For some reason that makes her draw a deep breath before answering. "Yes," quietly, "I think I know."

A pause, and -- "Can I ask you something?"

[crushed_pearls]

"Always, my lady."

[not_the_last]

She hesitates, and then just comes out with it.

"Can you fly with those?"

[crushed_pearls]

Erin laughs lightly. "I can fall with style. They let me glide for a several minutes, and if I can hit a column of warm air I could get height. Still pretty impressive given that humans aren't aerodynamic but no, not true flight."

[not_the_last]

"Oh." She hesitates. "It's just that ... I got a recent package at Sundries myself, and it included an enchanted cloak that ... well ... turns into wings."

[crushed_pearls]

"Love. Cass. My lady. My darling. My dear one. Are you saying. We can go. On flying dates?"

Erin perks up and bounces on the balls of her feet. Flying?? With Cass????

[not_the_last]

"That's what I was hoping?"

She's already starting to smile, and Erin going bouncy just makes the corners of her mouth pull even wider.

[crushed_pearls]

So, cards on the table: Erin was about to realize she said dates and backpedal, but Cass's response puts paid to that real quick.

There is an extended, girlish squeal of absolute delight.

[not_the_last]

Oh, now she can't help but laugh.

"We just have to find a high place for you to glide from ..."

[crushed_pearls]

"Sports deck, we can zoop back in on a lower deck! Taking the elevator back up to go again will be a lil' boring but hey, I'm down for it!"

Bounce. Bounce bounce bounce. Erin takes Cass's free hand on impulse and draws her close. "Let's do it after I torch this place, yeah? You an' me, nice exercise, maybe some private time after?"

[not_the_last]

"... Maybe some private time." That smile isn't going anywhere as she says it, though.

It does dim slightly with what comes next. "Are you ... burning it right away? Do you want me to stay?"

[crushed_pearls]

"...I think early next month," Erin decides. "I'll get some people together. You, Crabb, Ylva...maybe Daisy. Something private, but I don't want to be alone for it. I don't think I can be."

[not_the_last]

"I wouldn't want you to be alone for it," she says quietly. "Unless you felt you very much needed to be. I'm glad you don't."

She tucks the book close to her chest, and holds out her free hand to Erin. "Is there anything else here you want to show me?"

[crushed_pearls]

"...Not really. Some of the unambiguously cool stuff just didn't arrive. My garden in here is fucking barren. I guess...I dunno, I just. Needed to have someone here while I sorted my shit out." Erin takes Cass's hand and sighs. "...Thank you, for coming. I. Couldn't have asked Crabb or Ylva, not really. And me an' Daisy just aren't like that. So. Thanks."

[not_the_last]

Cassandra squeezes her hand gently. "You're welcome, dear one."

A pause.

"... I don't think I've met Daisy yet. Do you think I should?"

[crushed_pearls]

Erin sucks a breath in between her teeth.

"...I promise I'm going somewhere with this; what do the farmers of Whitestone think of wolves?"

Is Erin betting that human self-interest will lead to demonizing the same animals across worlds? Yes. If not she'll try to explain another way.

[not_the_last]

She tilts her head. "Interesting you should ask that. There are wolves in the Parchwood; generally the farmers and townsfolk know to stay clear of them, and vice versa. There can be trouble with them during a hard winter, so ... they're not seen in the best light, if that's what you mean. But there's a wolf guardian of the forest now, sacred to the Raven Queen."