Otherwise it seems like a lovely evening.

It is quite peaceful ^^

Ah, so these two share a past of some description, do they? We still don't know a great deal about Nico yet.

They do, indeed. Though, only MoOTF currently knows it.
Nico’s a surrogate dad who’s just trying to survive. It helps that he knows a smidge if magic.

Is he, in fact, Nicodemus ben Gurion?

Ooh, cool idea, but no. His bloodline is very Italian.

All roads in this saga lead to Rome.

Either Rome or the sidhe. XD

Such a beautiful piece. I love MooTF's expression here. What form is this, anyway? I'm curious.

Weasel, says the info. Though at first I thought otter, given the river.

If we want to get nitpicky, he’s meant to be a stoat, but weasel was the closest option available. ^^

*ha-hems from the shadows...

You know, I'm a lot less surprised that it's you, than I am that before I discovered for myself, I somehow knew it was going to be you.

And so belated in the game, mayhap we ought not even be that.

MoOTF: *turns and narrows his eyes* I want to believe you aren’t here to interfere.

What possible reason could I have for doing so? Project your grudge against the White One through me if you wish, I shan't hold it against you.

Half of us, mayhap.

You can butt out. This is 'personal' talk. You'll have your turn to bitch at me when he's done with his.

*to Puck...

You and I, we're both chesspieces of fate and the White One in particular, in our own seperate ways. Perhaps that's how we're more alike than you care to admit. But you know as well as I that Moth and Azura must be prevented from meeting or catastrophe will ensue and the contents of that bell will beyond your rescue forever. And if Moth can get to Azura through Nico, or through me, from your former positions she can get to her through you too.

*looks sadly...

Once I asked what you would do if you ever succeeded. Retire and spend time with your liege and family, you said. It's only sunk in now that the 'family' part might not be rhetorical.

MoOTF: *turns his gaze back to Nico as he speaks* Not everything is about those two. Plenty, certainly, but this… this unabashed cruelty from the White One is all about my potential to ruin everything my son cares about. All I can do is watch and wait and watch for a loophole where I can get close enough just to meet him.

My own human family are all dead now. Both parents, then two siblings, for nigh on thirty years - over a third of the lifespan I was accustomed to. But I can't even begin to imagine the level of 'bereavement' this must place upon you, on top of everything else.

This little sticking point is about leverage, though. Not the White One's. The bigger picture is that while she is running now, Moth believes she can ultimately 'win' if she can stack the deck enough - stall Azura's pursuit long enough while causing enough grief to burn her out early - rub it in her face that everything she's ever worked for to improve the lot of others will have been for naught.

*scowls...

And that has to be stopped. There is a line, and Moth has crossed it. I'm watching over Nico too, now - a bit of scientific knowledge that Moth is ignorant of, coupled with a bit of scrying from afar to watch for results. That's how I detected your proximity to this. You can hide when you know I'm seeking you, but not when it's through pure luck.

Or pure fate.

Whichever. But on this matter I am dedicated, firm, and one hundred percent on your side, Puck. Both of me. Remove the leverage Moth has over Nico, and that's one less reason for a restraining order to remain unchallenged. And damn me to the depths of the Regency dungheap if I don't do my utmost to save Nella from torment as the hands of that bell-wielding bitch.

*headturns to Puck...

You might even be able to help me. And wouldn't that be one in the eye for an entity or two.

MoOTF: *draws his eyes away as Nico recedes into the dark* I am sorry for your loss. Loneliness, and especially loneliness stemming from death, always hurts.

*he shapeshifts, this time taking the shape of a cloaked human. He holds out a hand* Finally. I was hoping someday we’d end up on the same side of the battlefield. I’ve been aggravating my geas almost nightly to look out for him. It will be nice to avoid the agony now and then.

*glasses float from the unicorn's face and the human ghost-image coalesces behind them, walking to and 'holding' the outstretched hand...

Hey... I'm good. Really.

*gestures to watching body...

I have all this. I've seen beyond many veils, and got to keep my sanity. What other mortal has ever had this level of privilege? I can help myself... quite literally. My greater concern is with helping those who can't. And nobody is immune.

So... *spreads hands with fingers intertwined and mimes knuckle-cracking* ...wait say we make use of your portfolio of memories and knowledge as a former Court Seeker?

MoOTF: *smirks, his mouth only just visible* It would be my pleasure. Which dirt do you want? I have a veritable mountain of it.

Do you recall that very first time, from your perspective, that you encountered me? Back when you lost... you know. And you identified me as, in your words, "one of Azura's puppets." Then suggested I ask her about the 'experiments' that failed to go so well as the original she's memorialised for in literature.

I would imagine, like all good 'scientists', she would have written and kept copious records and details of her experiments. I would also surmise that being the fastidious and attentive sort, she would keep them organized, legible, and secured away somewhere they'd never ever be thrown out.

Where do you suppose they might be found?

MoOTF: Why, in the good Magister’s personal collection, where all awful, potent, and otherwise dangerous information goes for safekeeping. With the Judicator’s illness, he thought it best that he would take custody of the story of her failed darlings.

Well then, here's where I could use your particular brand of talent. I can hardly just walk up and ask the Magister to borrow them, because he will tell the Judicator, who after God knows what punishment she inflicts upon me will trace the trail of what I'm looking for back to Nico and Nella, and everything is back where we started, with Azura and Moth another step closer. So Azura can't be allowed to catch wind of Nella's condition either. She'll know instantly and precisely what it means, and from whom.

If I told you what, specifically, I needed to find, do you suppose you could discretely 'liberate' it for me? Because under your present geas, it wouldn't be any use to you, otherwise you'd probably have come to the same conclusions already.

MoOTF: Take up my watch, and I'll happily skip off to the Magister's abode tonight. It has been a while since I've had a peek at his latest defenses... maybe it'll even be a challenge this time. *winks*

Don't get carried away though, and don't push our luck. Only remove what's going to be necessary here; the White One herself may be turning a blind eye to this little escapade, if the outcome strengthens her position or my own 'value' to her in my unorthodox way. Part of the 'challenge' is also going to be covering it so that nobody notices that the most 'important' record of all has gone missing.

Because I don't want any of the failed experiments. I need the one that worked, in particular everything related to the two spells to come out of it. Inanimate wood being brought to sapient life, and then changing the state of living wood to a living body. The first I lack the ability or power to cast, but should yield some very valuable theoretical potentials for the future. The second, however; a simple boost to the original bloodline enchantment, warded to the rafters to prevent Moth tampering, and Nella should be as right as rain. Which, unfortunately, you can't get close enough to cast... but I can.

After that, you and I need to put all three of our heads together and come up with a satisfactory yet subtle means of ensuring Nico and Nella's protection, because Moth will hit the roof when she discovers what's been done.

MoOTF: *strokes his chin* There’s the rub. If it were anyone else I’d cast a glamour on an ordinary book, put it on the shelf, and not bother looking back, but this is the Magister we’re talking about. He knows illusion enchantments inside out, upside down, and backwards. No… I think I shall take a page out of your human book and take some rubbings. No magical trace to be had.

*he pauses, a thought occurring*
On the other, far more entertaining hand, you could do a bit of burglary yourself and study the real thing first-hoof. *he drapes an arm across the spirit body’s shoulders in a convincing bit of pantomime and points out a building with older architecture than the surrounding businesses* Just inside those doors in a lovely glass case is Nico and Nella’s great-great-great-etcetera, etcetera’s honest-to-Magicks former wooden vessel. I’d offer to go snatch the puppet for you myself, but I don’t fancy a hemorrhage.

*removes his arm and casts a glamour to hide the two of your from the view of a passing car*

So, am I playing the thief tonight, or are you and your good self?

It's tempting, but too risky for me to go and leave magical fingerprints at the scene of a 'crime', even if I'm in this spirit form. Moth has eyes and ears and other agents trained on this area, she'd find out for certain. Is that a museum, open to the public, or kept on private display? Either way it's useful to know the option to look at it second hand through another's eyes is there, if need be, later down the line.

Those particular notes and spells, on the other hand, I can start to make more immediate use of. Any kind of copy should suffice as long as it's good legible quality. I'd suggest taking photos or scans with an iPhone or the like if I could be sure such a device would function in the Sidhe. But it's those two spells that are vital... I can feel vibrations through the chains of Fate as I think about it - somehow, sometime, that strand of magic is going to become an integral link again, after this.

MoOTF: *nods* Fair point. The place is a toy shop. A bit of tourist attraction, too, since even the mortal realm knows the story. Though, it has been closed lately for a “family emergency”.

Electronics and ley lines rarely mix, so phones and cameras will hardly be reliable. Transcribing the notes would be preferable, but I doubt I will have the luxury of time once I’m inside… unless… Mm. There’s an option.

*claps his hands together*
Either way, you shall have your spells, Two Minds. Give me until morning. Oh, and do keep an eye out for cats and foxes. *he opens a portal in the ground and drops through it*

*blinks...

He doesn't know. He genuinely doesn't know that shop was theirs, and that's where Moth caught them. Part of his geas? It's not hard to put two and two together.

*returns to the waiting unicorn side and merges back, huddling down for a night's lookout duty...

How long must this business been going on, and what else is Puck not privy to, or made to forget?

*to self...

Look, I hope you're, uh, comfortable with me doing this.

One hath to be impressed in thy passion. Had I been of similar wiles, for one such as Nella my actions would be the same.