fantasy au @ jennomaly

[makingsouffles]

[The werewolf really was just a coincidence.

After a particularly strenuous trip back a couple of thousand years, Idris had needed more than her usual amount of time to rest, and that left Oswin and the Doctor stuck for a day or two in the village where they'd landed. And, of course it just happened to be one that was being terrorized (supposedly) by a werewolf. Oswin hadn't actually heard of it attacking anything more than a couple of sheep, so she doubted it'd actually terrorized anyone just yet.

Still, it was a magical creature, and there was nothing better to manage a magical creature than a mage of her caliber. Or, at least, that was what the Doctor told her, and considering that ego-boosting happened to be one of Oswin's weak spots, she'd agreed to go have a look.

With a ball of light that hovered just over her open palm illuminating her path, she headed into the dark forest that surrounded the little town. The full moon overhead did its best to provide light, but the branches and leaves were thick here. Best to keep to her spells just in case. Being stuck in the dark in a place haunted by a werewolf did not sound like a good place to be, even if she did have magic on her side.]

Comments

[jennomaly]

[Jenny shivers a bit and pulls the coat tighter around her.]

Proper clothes would be nice. ...What happened to all those people last night?

[makingsouffles]

Right. Just a mo'.

[Clothes are a bit difficult, but after a few failed attempts, Oswin manages a simple shirt and trousers. Not exactly proper by lots of people's standards, but she's got a feeling Jenny won't mind.]

Gone. [She hands the clothing over to her, smirking slightly.] They had a bit of a change of heart. [In a tone that suggests she had everything to do with that.]

[jennomaly]

[Jenny watches with wide eyes. She hasn't seen much magic before, and certainly not magic being used to help her.

She takes the clothes with a murmur of thanks and turns around to get dressed. There's scars down her back, along her shoulders, chest, just about everywhere. It feels strange to be wearing clothing, but it's more comfortable than being naked around a stranger.]

You...magicked them away?

[makingsouffles]

Just a bit. Wasn't really all the difficult, considering. [She's not a magical prodigy for nothing, after all.

It hurts a little to see the scars running all of Jenny's body and too much of a painful reminder of the ones of her back, her own reminders that she's lucky to be alive at all. Oswin averts her eyes to give her a bit of privacy.] Lots of people with the same goal, it's easy to just sort of divert it elsewhere.

[jennomaly]

...Where did you divert it, then?

[She finishes dressing, smoothing the creases out of the trousers and smiling faintly, remembering a time when all she wore were nice dresses and skirts.]

[makingsouffles]

Just back to the village. [She shrugs lightly, turning back to Jenny.] Didn't really have a lot of time for anything creative.

[Looking Jenny up and down, Oswin nods her approval.] Not bad. Sorry it's not anything impressive, I haven't been able to manage a dress yet.

[jennomaly]

I haven't worn a dress in ages. [She manages a small smile, shy and hesitant.]

Why are you helping me?

[makingsouffles]

Have I got a reason not to? [Oswin furrows her brow slightly, puzzled. She's not naive enough to think that people haven't tried to hurt the other girl before, but Jenny hasn't done anything to her.]

[jennomaly]

You know what I am. [She pushes a strand of blond hair back behind her ears, looking down at the ground.]

[makingsouffles]

Well. M'taking the fact that you haven't eaten me yet as a good sign. [She smirks faintly]

And like I said. I've seen weirder than werewolves.

[jennomaly]

[Jenny blanches slightly at the comment.] I don't hurt people. Not... I just don't.

[Weirder than werewolves? Jenny's half tempted to tell Oswin what she really is, but now isn't the right time.]

[makingsouffles]

Good. Then we haven't got a problem. [She smiles.]

So! D'you need anything else? I've got a bit of food back at...where I'm staying, if you like. [Oswin doesn't mention that 'where she's staying' happens to be more of 'who she's staying with', given that she's a rather large, fire-breathing dragon.

Sue her, she likes showing Idris off to people who probably won't freak out too badly.]

[jennomaly]

[Jenny relaxes a bit then, biting her lip.

She glances down at her slightly blood-stained hands and shakes her head.] I...ate last night, I'll be alright for a while.

[makingsouffles]

[Oh.] Right! Yeah. Well. We can at least get you cleaned up a bit.

Come on. [With another smile, Oswin sets off back towards the village. Or rather, the edge of the forest close to the village.]

[jennomaly]

[Jenny swallows, visibly nervous as she notes the direction Oswin's taking.]

We're not...going to the village, are we?

[makingsouffles]

'Course not. What, you think I'd stay there? [She wrinkles her nose.] I've got something loads better.

[Dragon > village. Obviously.]

[jennomaly]

[Jenny's now wondering just how mad this girl is. There's no other villages around here for miles, and she's not sure where else Oswin might be staying.

But then again, she is a mage. She decides to change the subject.]

...You came looking for me. Why?

[makingsouffles]

[Oh, Jenny. You have no idea.

She shrugs lightly.] Werewolves, not exactly something you see every day. Seemed like you'd be a lot scarier from what everyone else was saying, I just thought I'd have a look. Just in case.

[jennomaly]

[She gives her a strange look.]

...I could have killed you in a heartsbeat.

[Oh damn, she just referred to her hearts in the plural. Hopefully Oswin won't notice.]

[makingsouffles]

[That makes her take pause, because there's only one other person she knows with hearts plural. But, for now, Oswin leaves it, because coming right out and asking something like that might be just a bit forward.]

Nah, not me. [She wiggles her fingers briefly.] Like I said, I've got a few tricks that would've helped.

[jennomaly]

[She lets out a quiet breath of relief that Oswin doesn't comment on it. Jenny knows she's not normal. It's strange enough that she's a werewolf, but to be a Dragon Lady too...she'd fetch a hefty reward.]

Oh yeah? [She glances at her.] You know if it came down to it, you'd have to kill me to stop me. I...usually have control but...

[makingsouffles]

[She sobers, looking back at Jenny for a moment.]

There's plenty of magic that would've stopped you without that. [Oswin doesn't kill, not anymore. Not again, if she could help it and she bloody well could, even if it was the last thing she did.]

[jennomaly]

Killing me wouldn't last long anyway... [She mutters it to herself under her breath, hopefully quiet enough that Oswin can't hear.]

...So where are we going?

[makingsouffles]

Just a bit farther.

[Eventually, they come to the edge of a clearing and Oswin pulls a leafy branch aside for Jenny.] After you.

[Once she steps though, she'll get a rather nice view of the enormous, bright blue dragon napping in the filtered, early morning sunlight.]

[jennomaly]

Oh...

[Jenny's eyes widen in amazement, and she takes a few steps forward, staring.

Despite her heritage, she's never actually seen a dragon before. Despite herself, her eyes well up with tears and she steps forward carefully.

The dragon opens a blue eye and fixes her with a long stare. Jenny trembles. Her voice is almost a whisper.]

I found you.