Thanks again!

Kitsune showing their true forms in reflections is a fairly standard part of the lore in my understanding, much like vampires not having reflections. Whether it's solely in mirrors due to a silver/pure backing or all reflections is a little more of a question. (Usagi Yojimbo had a scene where Usagi realized the person behind him was a kitsune by the reflection from his sword, and Stan Sakai is generally good to the point of being obsessive with his research.)

I expanded a bit on that in my stories with Mercedes where much of the shape-shifting is a mental illusion, so they only look human if you're looking directly at them, so cameras are a problem as well... and that means that in a more modern time where cheap security cameras are everywhere, and things like driver's license photos are a requirement for participating in society, spirits and shape-shifters have increasingly been having to isolate themselves completely from humanity for their own safety.

That's part of why she wears the hat and trenchcoat; minimizing the amount of real 'her' that people can see unless they're looking directly at her also minimizes the chance at an accidental discovery. And being a licensed private investigator means she can get people to just think she has a noir fetish rather than that she's really hiding something.

It's been a situation where that one decision about 'how does this work' has driven a lot of the story ideas.

According to some lore, you can also see through a shapeshifter's glamour by wiping saliva across your eyebrow or looking though the 'fox window' created by folding your fingers into a special configuration (I can barely manage it).

I really like your take on it.

That really isn't an easy position to get your fingers into, is it? I did manage it, at least. (I used to play piano.)

And as I said, my take really did create more jumping-off points and inspirations for other stories. Vampires don't 'show up' in mirrors because their true form is basically a cloud of mosquitoes; they do have a reflection, it's just not an obvious one. Also there are people who have 'the Sight' and are never fooled by the shapeshifters; illusions... but there are also those who only see through the illusions when drunk.

I've got four stories on this posted here on FA, and at least one more idea that I haven't written yet. I'm not exactly short on ideas that I need to get back to writing, though.

I just read through some of your more recent prompts; excellent work! I very much enjoyed 'Lift'. And I just recognized you as the author of 'Vivian' from The Furry Future anthology -- a pleasure to meet you!

Yes, that's me. You presumably already noticed that I posted a prequel to Vivian on here; I was working on a sequel bit as well but never quite finished it, as I have so many other ideas in my head jostling for which gets written out first.

And yes, 'Lift' was fun; I was very deliberately going for a Twilight Zone feel on that one, and I think I got it.

That I did. It was nice to revisit the setting.

"Consider if you will, a revolutionary new kind of elevator allowing multiple cars to use the same tracks by sidestepping into the fourth dimension. Rest assured, it's passengers will reach their stop eventually, even if it's the top floor...of the Twilight Zone."

Oooh, this one is beautiful! :D

I love how she looks in human and kitsune form, and I imagine that the guy behind her is getting a shock, because he can feel her tail - or the wispy spirit, thereof - brushing past him?

Also, you've been SFW all month? Even in the case of the entry about Room Party? O:

This hits really close to home.