Indeed ^^

It’ll wear off, luckily for him

Thank you, my friend ^^

Looks like Nico

We have a winner! ^^

Yay! Chocolate covered cool points!

Acrathia: *clearly amused* Trouble, Love?

Nico: *scrambles to his hooves, mortified, and tries to kick the book behind himself*

Acrathia: *laughs* I've already seen the book love, plus the results of such meddling is quite obvious. What were you hoping to gain from delving into a tome that was not yours to read?

Nico: *fumbling his words* I… eh… A couple of things a once. I was looking for a curse-reversing spell, and I thought that if I could figure something complex like that out on my own, I might… h-hhhh… I might get your attention.

Acrathia: Well, you succeeded on one of those fronts at the very least. Is your desire to gain my attention due to your ill advised infatuation with me? Or do you have another reason to seek me out?

Nico: *ears falling* Ill-advised because I haven’t got a chance, or ill-advised because a wolf god might eat me? I can only handle one of those options, Duchessa.

Acrathia: *Raises an eyebrow* Ah so you know about Imoldra, yet you are undeterred... of course assuming that wasn't the unbearable option. I wouldn't even say you would need to worry too much about him though, he's sworn off of being a man-eater. What I was referring to was the fact that the majority of relationships I've had with mortals did not end on good notes. When I am with a mortal, they usually end up becoming too possessive, too dismissive, too morally pure, too corrupt... many mortals I have been with have ended up in far worse forms than a donkey...

Nico: *smirks ruefully* The Phoenix King and I had drinks. He warned me.

*he begins to pace* I have a cousin that might as well be my own bambina, a powerful enemy with curses pointed at my throat, and a creature stalking me, so everything points to “don’t start a fling with a temperamental goddess”, but… but accidenti, Duchessa, you playing just out of my reach is driving me mad. I just wanted to know whether I had a shot. *swishes his tail involuntary and blows a breath through his nostrils* There. Now I’m truly un asino.

Acrathia: *groans* Ugh... Lassiate...

*expression remains neutral, deliberately hiding whether she is angered or amused*

What is happinging to your cousin is tragic... under such circumstances... * reaches out her hand as Cassandra's stolen tome flies flies past Nico's head, and into her open palm.* Stealing my dearest ward's tome... a ward whom I also regard as my "bambina" would almost be understandable. But if I am interpreting what you are saying correctly, you did not take Cassandra's tome in an attempt to break your cousin's curse, but to draw my attention... not even to ask me out... but to see if you even stand a chance with me... Would that accurately sum up the awkward situation we find ourselves in?

Nico: *shamefacedly* Non entirely. I do want to free my cousin from her curse. Stealing from your ward and having a chance to speak to you was much better than the alternative. And, to be clear, I fully intended to give the book back as soon as I was finished.

Acrathia: *still remaining expressionless* If that was the case, why l did you not ask Cassandra to borrow this tome? She also knows how to summon me properly, and is usually more than willing to help.

Nico: No offense to your ward, but I had hoped to keep this private… not that I know how her gifts work. She might know about our meeting anyway. *sighs* Not the best plan. È chiaro.

Acrathia: Well, you were successful in one front of your plan...

*Acrathia looks at the book then back to Nico*

I gave this book to Cassandra when she unwittingly turned her ex-boyfriend into a ferret. While it is useful for normal curses, I fear that generational curses, amplified by a fae like Lady Moth, are a bit beyond this book's scope of practice...

Nico: *ears sinking further* I see. Then… I have wasted everyone’s time. Spiacente. *he carefully picks up the book between his teeth and offers it, avoiding eye contact*

Acrathia: *smirks slightly as she takes the book* I wouldn't say it was a whole waste....

*she circles him as she lightly traces her sharp nail along his back* You wished to know if there is a chance between us, and I will tell you here and now, I am not at all adverse to the idea of you and I...

*She stops in front of him looking serious.* However l, there are some things you must be aware of if we are to continue this at all. Firstly, I am unwilling to ever fully bind myself to any being. If any notions of the mortal pact you call marriage start to enter your head, dismiss them. Bring it up to me, and it's over, persist... and you will know my wrath...

Nico: *stifles a small involuntary bray at the contact, and when he can regain himself…* Don’t worry, Duchessa. Commitment isn’t my forte. Vero, it’s a relief to hear you say you aren’t interested in anything like that.

Acrathia: You would be surprised how many men say that at first, then become possessive once the relationship dies down. Secondly, I am currently carrying on another physical relationship with another being, which I am not ready to end. I have no issue with seeing you both, and likewise you are free to pursue other physical relationships and fear no jealousy from me, but know I expect the same from you..."

Nico: *nods* And if, say, we do find that these other people do fit us better than we fit each other, no hhhh… ahem, hard feelings?

Acrathia: If I found another that I found myself attracted to, I would probably see them, and continue to see you. If you f0und another you wished to be with and wished only to be with that one, at worst I just would wish that our fling had gone on a little longer, but would ultimately be relieved that you had not become possessive of me... provided it wasn't a ploy to try and make me jealous to win me back... just as before you would be surprised how often that has happened to me.

Nico: That is fair. Glad we understand each other… I just, eh, wish I were a little more presentable for the conversation. *gives a whickering chuckle, but his ears betray how thoroughly uncomfortable he is*

Acrathia: *gives a dark laugh as she lightly runs her nails down his back* I'm enjoying you in this form... which brings us to point number three... I am a sadist who rather enjoys humiliating my partners...

Nico: *can’t contain the bray this time* That… that explains the look you’ve given me every time I’ve tripped over my boots around you. Would you… eh… be doing this sort of thing to me often? *slight concern knits his brows*

Acrathia: Only as often as you are comfortable. It's meant to be enjoyable for the both of us, not just me.

Nico: *Nods, weighing the options* Then, Duchessa, I will be pleased to trip over my boots… or hooves, as it may be, for you.

Acrathia: *Smirks* Good boy... your "assification" will wear off in an hour or so, then... *smirks deviously* we'll have some real fun...

Nico: *ears swinging forward and smoldering smile reaching his lips* I like the sound of that.

Oh dear. Is Nico in need of some ass-istance?

Quoth the comedian, "I kill me".

Do you mean that figuratively or literally?

GUESS.

...This is becoming a running joke, with us. What persuaded Nico to attempt that, with his family history? I smell trickery afoot... hoof.

Nico: *raises an eyebrow* Haww haww.

That beith what I spake.

Eeeeeverybody's a critic.

*sniffs the air for residual magic, and peers at the book...

What happened here? One cigarette too many around the wrong enchantment? Not that I'm judging, but certain curse types consider that a vice.

Nico: *ears swinging back* I was trying to learn a new spell, and it backfired. I guess two types of curses in my bloodline got some wires crossed… or something. I should just stick to fire magic.

You can still speak without help. So that at least suggests a minor curse at best, or just a temporary effect.

*squints at Nico's aura...

Isn't transformation-based thaumaturgy somewhat advanced for your innate level of energies?

And where DIDST thou obtain yon tome?

Nico: Può essere… it did come pretty easily to me when I tried it… but, eh… *glances over his withers and murmurs under his breath* I may have borrowed it from Acrathia’s protege without her knowledge. *scowls at the look* Non preoccuparti, I’m going to return it.

Oh, don't mind the scrutiny, I'm not questioning your aptitude or talent. That's a whole other matter than raw power, I'm sure with the proper methodology you could learn to cast this level of magic, if you were more attuned to tapping the ley lines. But I've never seen you do more than a small flame. Without the energy there shouldn't be any effect at all, 'backfire' or no -

Oho, thou art overthinking once more, thy force of habit.

Alright then cleverdick, what's the obvious I'm missing here?

Our misbegotten friend liberated said book from Acrathia's oracle. Dost thou not see?

...Who would be able to predict it would go missing, and what spells the culprit would try to read, and prepare an appropriate spelltrap ahead of time. Because of course Acrathia would also train her gifts that way.

*shakes head...

Nico, I think you're going to have to swallow your pride and offer a direct apology and penance if you want out of this little mess more quickly.

Nico: *quietly, and slightly embarrassed* That was, in part, kind of the point of me taking it from her. That and the power of the spell.

*wry smirk...

Still have the hots for Acrathia, then. It's plain as day.

Fie, these mortal men and their impish infatuations. Short of life, long of lust? Be it not so?

Rude.

Thou art minded to lecture me on matters of etiquette? That be a rich one.

Yes, but I have the excuse.

Nico: *ears swinging back* Sì, probably stupid, but I can’t outrun it.

You admit the addiction at least, like your nicotine. That's a measure of wisdom.

Forsooth, the Queen of Witches doth possessthat ambience of entrapment about herself.

...That's one way of looking at it, I suppose.

Nico: *smirks* It is not wise to be as addicted to as many things as I am, signore. It runs in the family. At least, the one side I know about.

You mentioned two different bloodline curses tangling up? If this a show of one of them, what would be the other? Were you also hoping to find answers in the book?

Nico: Turning to wood. My little cousin suffers from it… that was the cure I was looking for.

Is she the only one of your family line to be struck with this? An actual curse, or... a reversion to the original state of your ancestor? Could the Blue Lady's spell over generations be becoming more diffused and weakening?

And the other curse... that was more like a 'donkey skin' that had to be torn off. I wouldn't have expected that to be passed down.

Nico: Sí, only her. Reversion would be right, but it’s being used as a curse against us. I cannot say how strong it was before, but I know it is moving fast now.

*shrugs* I might have just read the spell wrong. I barely know the language, and I’ve never used a book for magic before.

Anything I can perhaps help with, over and above this present little incident?

Fates be willing.

Mm. The 'story' here does seem a trifle complex, goes back a long time and is driving Nico especially. I think there's a lot more to learn about it.

Nico: *pawing* Short of striking down a fae witch and her magic bell, non lo so.

Ah geeze, her AGAIN?

*telekinetic rubbing of temples...*

Is this her taking a pot shot at Lady Azura in the most indirect way possible? Moth has to undo like, everything of hers, just for the hell of it? Has she nothing better to do?

Be yon question rhetorical-

We are not going THERE again!

Nico: *bitterly* It’s to keep us quiet. If this Azura learns anything from my cousin or myself… *his tail swishes in agitation*

*disgusted...

Blackmail. Up until now I'd held Moth to at least have higher standards than that.

Accede always that such things be and thou shalt never be disappointed.

Forget it. You know I'd sooner become fully human again than slip into Auris' fatalistic mindset.

*paces...

I think you should tell me all about this. At least get some of that built-up pressure off your chest and feel better about confiding with somebody, while I have a serious think about what best to do with the information. If at all. It's also up to what you want to do, or have happen.

I've had a theory brewing for some time now about my purpose in all of this and why I'm always contrived by Fate to sooner or later end up smack in the middle of it. It's because somebody who might be capable of it in an analytical way has to break the logjam. The one thing that becomes blindingly obvious after you spend time around magic-users is that power limits the imagination. If one doesn't have more pressing concerns outside of it; if you're born to magic or come to accept it as natural to your daily life as breathing, you start to think of magic as the catch-all solution to any possible problem, and thus is does, when you reach for the easiest option every time without considering the most efficient or appropriate. It's not 'showing off' that's the propensity for overkill that the powerful have; it's laziness.

Here's a 'riddle' for you. I promise the answer will make sense in context, maybe convince you at the same time why I hope you can trust me.

Two wizards are about to engage in a duel of magic. They have equal knowledge of the same library of spells. They also have exactly the same level of magical power at their disposal. One of them casts a spell, the other knows instantly how to counter it. But one wizard is going to win.

Which one is it?

Nico: *twitches an ear* I’m tempted to say the one with a gun, but that doesn’t seem right…

It's not right, but it's not a bad answer either.

*to self...

So what would you say the answer was? No cheating looking into our collective head.

Both combatants be evenly matched, thus neither canst have an advantage, for certain?

...And that's the conclusion any natural fae being of power would come to. But you, Nico, you're human, so you look for answers beyond the equation. Moth would simply dismiss the question, when the real answer is 'whichever one can get the other to use up all their magic power first'.

And thus the powerful become easier to outwit. Blindside them with a factor outside their sphere, or present them with consequences they may have overlooked. Impose restrictions upon yourself and your own usage so you never lose sight of your other knowledge to back yourself up with. Even Acrathia and her lofty ambitions haven't been immune to this.

How did that sound? Reassured at all? Even if nothing active comes of having done so, peace of mind from confiding in me accomplishes something. Unless Moth has your thoughts permanently bugged, but that ought to be the sort of thing I should pick up on, and that my other self would take a very dim view of as unsporting. And the sheer numbers that Moth has cursed one way or another over the centuries... even she can't keep constant tabs on them all.

Nico: *ponders the concept* It helps… grazie. Thank you for making me see from this new perspective. And you’ve made me see something else, too. *he paces* The witch may not be able to see everything all the time, not on her own, anyway. But if she had other eyes that told her everything they saw… everything that happened in my family’s shop from a pub across the street… that would explain some things.

What manner of 'things'? What could be important enough or scare her enough to resort to unsophisticated mob tactics to silence it?

Begin at the beginning, and don't stop as long as you're comfortable. I'll throw a protective psychic barrier, to ensure we can't be 'overhead'.

Nico: *sits back on his haunches and heaves a sigh* The beginning? Mah. I guess it was when she first came to the shop. She started talking about the Pinocchio story --we've used it as a gimmick for tourists for ages-- but then started adding information that I had never heard and going on about the nature of magic. I dismissed it, saying she had made it up, but then she proved herself. She cast some manner of spell on Nella, my little cousin, and her fingers began to turn to wood.

That was when the witch told me that Azura would likely be asking around for any information about her, and if I gave away anything Nella would become a puppet. She said that she had eyes everywhere and that if I tried to use magic to defend us she would know and Nella's curse would worsen.

Since then, notes have shown up on our door about things that she couldn't know without having watched us somehow. I don't know much about magic, obviously, but I've sensed some around our doors and windows sometimes, too. Worse, at night, I've heard noises. Some kind of creature sneaking around in the dark.

I'm always looking behind my shoulder... or however you say it. I never used to smoke --or drink-- as much as I do now, but the stress is too much. If the magic were only on me I wouldn't worry so much, but Nella...è solo una ragazza. I have to find a way to remove the magic... to reverse it without the witch knowing.

So... being on the lam has brought her down to this. Find Azura's 'evidence' and try to silence it. Beard of Auris, if I didn't already know of the history and her personal grievances, that would have sounded petty even by Moth's standards. Oh Candle, I hope it wasn't you she coerced into spying Nico out.

*smugly* Thou art regretting thy pact thou madeth, years passed?

It wasn't a 'pact'. It was a truce. And it was the right call to make at the time - if I hadn't suppressed the urge to fight, new and before you were fully formed, either she or I would have gone down, causing incalculable damage to the tapestry from what we've been privy to since, as well you know.

Then what dost thou propose to do now?

I propose to think.

*paces for a number of minutes, an internal unheard debate going on, until...

Maybe. Mayyyy...be. When is a 'curse' not a curse? Can one really stick on a bloodline born out of two blessings?

Nico: *confused* Cosa? How do you mean?

Two blessings. The first, wood brought to life. The second, wood turned to flesh. Much easier to perform if the wood is already 'alive' as we'd call it.

See, I'm wondering if we haven't been looking at this backwards. Think about what a curse is; an active set of magical instructions. Simply put, 'if you do this then this will happen'. But blackmail and extortion are more passive: 'if you do (or don't) do this, then I will find out, and then I will make something happen'. One is automatic; the other isn't. So if it's a curse, why should Moth need agents to keep an eye on your behaviour?

Nico: *shudders as the spell wears off, leaving him human and, thankfully, clothed* Oddio. *he shakes his head to clear it* Then… how do we undo a backwards blessing?

Well, that's what a curse is, when you think about it... a 'backwards blessing'. No, what I meant by 'backwards' is that everything suggests that instead of putting a new spell on, she's taking the effect of an old one off. And to do so gradually in stages, she needs to perform each step herself. Thus she has to be informed when to do it.

As I think I said a bit earlier, magic decays over time. A few basics. You cast a spell to make a flame appear; you stop the spell, the flame goes out. Say I cast a spell to bring forth lightning to strike a tree. Bang. The magic is gone, but the tree remains charcoal. Both cases, the cease is immediate once the magic is no longer needed.

A curse, on the other hand, requires magic in order to keep active and operating. A spell to induce a change to a living being without destroying it also has a time factor involved. Just now, you changed back once your genetic birth template asserted itself harder than the spell did. For a transformation to be permanent, the spell must be strong enough, and last long enough, to overcome and overwrite that template so that the new form becomes the 'natural' one. The magic that recreated me in this fashion had to be particularly potent and complex to work; by now, even if you could somehow break the spell, the unicorn side of myself possesses the will and the ego to uphold its right to exist.

Ego? Art thou insulting me?

Not at all. And neither of us wants to change back anyway.

Hypothesizing a stage further. It's my reasoning that a spell or curse passed down through whole generations would, in a sense, be cast again from parent to child, weaker each time, but on the same level there is less of an effect it needs to have, as the state of the original progenitor is diluted as the bloodline continues, if you follow me. Pinocchio became human, each descendant is from birth naturally more human. A common theme in fairy tales however is that anomalies or side effects from the original spell can pop up from time to time. Your affinity with magic, limited as it is, would be one of those. Another could be that the 'humanity' in your cousin's birth template is weaker, and closer to that of Pinocchio's. Or it may not be, and the spell isn't as dormant as it would appear yet. But the upshot is the same - separate her from the original spell, and she reverts to being a puppet.

The solution? Acquire a duplicate of the original spell to change living wood into living flesh, and buff Nella with it. Cover it with enough wards and magical signiatures to give Moth SUCH a headache if she even starts trying to decipher and untangle them all.

Nico: *nods, following, but pauses* Would it matter if one of the blessings was… removed before Pinocchio died? I don’t know the details, but the witch said that he went back to his old ways and lost some of Azura’s favor. I don’t know what it means, but it seems important if she mentioned it.

That may very well be so, yes. It would be entirely in keeping with Moth's style to find a magical weakness and exploit it, the same way I do with the blinkered thinking of others.

Nico: *rubs his sinuses, lights his thumb, rummages in a pocket for a cigarette, and pauses* Probably shouldn’t smoke around a unicorn, huh? *he shakes out his hand* What I wouldn’t give for a drink. *a martini appears in his hand and he stares at it, confused* That’s new.

*blinks...

I didn't do that. Did you do that?

Hardly. I abstained from thy misadventure with the jester, usefully informative though 'twere.

Then if Nico didn't mean to do that...

Nico: *he drops the glass and it vanishes* Vero? *snaps his fingers and it reappears* So, fire and alcohol. Maybe I ought to take up gambling, too. Though, this hardly helps Nella.

Huh. *chuckle*

Well it looks like there's been one breakthrough of sorts today, perhaps even a confirmation of the truth.

*brow furrows, considering how best to parse the next train of thought...

You might want a few more of those handy, now we're getting to the difficult part.

Nico: *frowning* It gets worse?

Pffft, in theory restoring your cousin to normal should be a doddle. We just need to get the spell, and then I can handle the rest. As long as it's a copy of the same one, changing one state to another, it doesn't matter who casts it if they're able.

No, the 'difficult' part is what do we do afterwards, because Moth won't give up just like that and you won't be able to hide it from her. She can always make things worse in some way if she can get to you. Protective custody may almost certainly have to be involved.

And the bitter irony? For reasons that are too complicated and delicate to go into detail right now, we can't let Azura know about any of this either. Moth and Azura must not be allowed to meet, and thus Moth's interference with you is actually a complete bloody waste of everyone's time and energy.

Just as well at least that I have an official court status, allies there among the advisors, and access to browse more than one large personal library, if I'm discrete about it. Leave it to me, I'll think of something. Let's hope the tools and answers we require are within easy research reach.

*sighs* I'm resigned to the role of being the Sidhe's 'janitor', having to clean up everyone else's mess.

Nico: So… cosa… what do I do until then? We can’t wait for the not-curse to spread.

I think it's more about what not to do. On no account must you let slip any indication of this encounter with me, because of my associations with Azura. I am not about to blab to the Blue Lady, but Moth isn't going to know that. It would mean merry hell for both of us - she would then try the same leverage over me.

This 'spread' of the puppet-state... it happens without warning each time? Or always accompanied with a note? Can you tell me if there is anything you know you must have done before any time it got worse? Moth, or her spies, can no doubt sense any magic that you cast? With curses, she delights not only in misery, but the sufferer's certainty... or uncertainty, if it proves more entertaining. The anticipation is part of the 'game'.

Nico: *scratches his goatee* Non lo sei… At first I thought it had to do with me and what I was trying to do to fix it, but the pattern doesn’t fit. Sometimes it happens alongside the notes, but sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes it happens when Nella misbehaves, too, and then sometimes it doesn’t. I don’t know the “rules”.

*thoughtful...

Hmm. There have to be rules and connections. A spell or curse may be cast on a whim, but once put in place it has to follow the pattern that's set for it. You can't cheat and change the rules on the fly without some manner of backlash of your own. There is one possible tangential connection that immediately springs to mind... I should have a chat with that certain other former brown jackass.

*ears perk up...

Oh hell. Nora.

Thou recalleth the Bronze Warrior.

And the boy. The boy... urgh. I must not be supposed to be able to remember his name.

And the quest to her father's native land?

...Is here. Italy. Where they would likewise seek out whatever answers they could related to Il Paese and Pinocchio.

I questioned to mineself the passage of time in thy perception of the links of happenstance.

And you didn't tell me?

Because thou gainest satisfaction from the adjoinment of puzzle pieces.

But not when others' futures may be at stake! Good heavens, man -

I beith not 'man'. That also beith the lesson.

Nico: *raises an eyebrow * Who?

Candle's daughter. Candle was a friend of your ancestor - yes, yes, I know, two hundred years ago. It's complicated. Look, have you had any particular newcomers turn up at your shop during this time? Perhaps recently? Two high-school aged teens, a boy and a girl. The girl would seem local, but would be wearing foreign-styled clothes. From how she was when I saw her last, she would have also worn gloves and a hat. Possibly a facemask as well.

If you haven't seen her, has Nella mentioned anything of the sort to you before?

Nico: *brows furrowed in confusion* No, nothing like that. We’ve been keeping everyone away since the blue witch did what she did. The shop is closed, and Nella hides in her room most of the time. Someone or something has been watching through the windows at night, but neither of us have actually seen it.

How do you know when it's there?

Nico: Sometimes there is rustling or scratching, but more than that is a… a feeling?

*tilts head...

What sort of 'feeling'? Is it a presence? Or like being watched? Something large or powerful? Or can you detect the emanations of magical beings like myself?

Nico: It is like when you first arrived here… maybe magic is it.

This might possibly help then...

*horn glows, and a perfect red crystal appears in the air within Nico's reach...

Take it. It's just an ordinary crystal, nothing magical at all about it. Keep it on your person, in a pocket or somewhere, and prying eyes won't be any the wiser. But I will know it's there. Crystals have resonant vibrations, and react to certain kinds of charges. That includes magic. If I keep an identical crystal, enchanted with analogue magic and linked to pick up and mimic the vibrations of that one, from any active magical signiature that isn't yours, mine can signal an alert. I can then analyse those vibrations and perhaps indentify the kind of signiature, of being, that they come from. If it's one of Moth's own agents or anyone else that I've encountered before, I'll know who it is.

Nico: *takes the crystal and lifts it with a nod* Grazie, amico. The faster we get to the end of this, the better.

In the meantime, just behave as you normally would. Don't do anything different that might tip a spy off that you know something new that you shouldn't. I'll try and get my hooves on that spell. No matter how long that takes, any new information we can glean from that crystal, and then plan around, means the time won't be 'wasted'.

Nico: I’m grateful. Nella will be, too, in time. *he grins* She will be thrilled when I can tell her how you have helped us. She loves unicorns.

Remember, the operative word there is when.

Oh. And...

*applies some quick healing on Nico's lungs and liver to remove damage and built-up chemical deposits...

If you're going to be smoking and drinking, even if just to keep up pretence, your organs have to take the strain as well.

Nico: *with an embarrassed smirk* Sí, I have let the stress of it get the better of me. Grazie

*nods head...

And now, if you'll excuse me and me, there are some discrete enquires to start making.

The potential of traps to make ready and spring also.

*disappears through a portal.*

I thought it was Eala Dubh at first, but apparently not.

Do me a lemon. Last time was decades ago, relatively speaking.

Why would you want to be a lemon?

'Lemon flavour' - favour.

I hath stopped questioning, take mine word.

I can see the resemblance ^^

It's the beard and messy hair.

Nico, you have learn to use these misspellings to your advantage.

Nico: *cocks his head to one side* Now that’s clever.

Oh, Nico. Did you bother to ask who's spellbook it was?

Oh, he knew EXACTLY what he was doing, right up to the moment when he didn't.

I'm guessing that moment was when his fingernails decided to join up together to become one hoof.

Acrathia: It was Cassandra's tome, love. Evidently he was trying to get my attention. Well... he got it...

He certainly has. Thankfully, I've been wise enough not to blindly open whatever spellbook comes from your realm. Although I have been blind enough to accept any of Lassiate's mugs of alcohol. Mainly because he keeps trying to force me to try some.

Acrathia: *sighs* Evidently he was blind enough to do that too. Went out drinking with Lassiate a while back...

I swear I smelled alcohol on Sebastian's breath after Lassiate's last, and unprompted, visit. I dread to think how bad it was for Nico for his first time.

Nico: I thought I knew what I was getting into…

It's a spellbook. No one really knows what they are getting into once they open those pages. Was there a name attached to the spellbook?

Nico: *one ear swings out to the side* Not exactly, but I knew whose it was.

Cassandra's spellbook by any chance?

Nico: *raises a curious eyebrow* You're asking questions you already know the answers to, amico. Yes, Cassandra's. And yes, I'm going to give it back.

Look, let me take it to her with you. I'm sure Acrathia will be understanding... I hope. Just be thankful that it wasn't anything from Lady Moth that you opened without her permission. I guarantee that you would be kept in that form for a while.

Nico: I was hoping… *blows out a breath* I was hoping she might find me. There’s something I’ve been wanting to discuss privately, amico.

Oh? ...oh. Best not to pry, then. ...best not to pry. If I did, I might end up with ears and hooves like yours if I did.

Nico: Hhhnn… I might end up with worse, honestly. This is a gamble in a lot of ways

With Cassandra? Or with a member of the three?

Nico: *nonplussed for a moment* Three? Oh! Sí, sí, one of the three.

Hmmm... if one were to gamble with the Three, which one would it be? Lassiate, Acrathia or Imoldra... Lassiate would probably be the most likely to gamble for fun, so if you were dreading it with fear, it wouldn't be him. Dreading it, sure, but not with such nervousness. It would make sense that it was Acrathia, but as for the gamble, it wouldn't be as punishing, knowing that you are kinder than most. Whatever this is, it had to be Imoldra that you gambled something with.

Nico: There’s only one I’m interested in, if you understand my meaning…

Well, I'm definitely not smarter than the average bear, so your meaning could be anything... unless it does mean that you are planning on dating one of them.

Nico: *swishes his tail involuntarily, but stops himself* That would be it, sí.

...

Ooooooooh! Well, well, well! All I can say is this is extremely fascinating and terrifying to imagine. The terrifying bit is if things don't go well, you might end up worse than a donkey.

Nico: *ears swiveling backward* That’s what I’m afraid of

Well, if it is who I think it is, you probably still have the chance to apologise to them before they turn you into a rat.

Nico: At least there’s that… though I hope my asking her out doesn’t have the same result.

Well... from experience, she isn't a keen hugger, so affection is on the same level as respect. If you show her an incredible amount of deserved respect, I think that it could start things off well.

Nico: *nods* Hhhhhawwrd not to respect a storm like her.

Storm is right. I'm just glad that you are somewhat identifiable so that she or any of the Three don't confuse you with someone else. Although, I imagine that it wouldn't matter to Lassiate. Anyone is a drinking buddy. ...same might go for Bottom, depending on his mood. Acrathia is also someone who is keen to have someone to teach. I think that if you were to join and learn from her, and hopefully don't misread or fail any spell, then maybe that will give you more of a chance.

Great work Dearshul, supper cool to see a post from ya!

Aw, thanks, my friend! ^^

Hmm. I think I see my old friend Nico, and a scroll down the comments confirms it. I'm surprised he found a curse in a spellbook to turn him into an ass, though. How strange.

Weird how bloodline curses react to different kinds of magic… 🧐

Bloodline, you say? Are you suggesting that he's descended from one of the victims of the island on one of his parents' (you know which one) side?

Mmmmhm ;)

Oooh, this just got a lot more interesting. And it also explains much about why things happened the way they did between Nico and his father. Dearshul, you are just full of surprises. Also, WELCOME BACK! *hugs*

Indeed, their relationship and things on his mother’s side are VERY complicated

*hugs* Aw, thanks! How are you?

XD Been working my butt off at work. I have a great job, but I've had to shoulder front and back desk work while we try to get a replacement for an employee we lost. So I've been secretary and medical assistant/IME scheduler/File Review Scheduler/chart sorter. LOL. We're managing in the meantime. It's just been a bit of a struggle. I'm grateful for the growth experience, though. :D and the doctor has been incredibly understanding about what things I'm able to get done with everything else I have to handle while they try to get the new hire.

Sheesh, that’s a lot to take care of! I’m glad the doctor has been so easy to work with, though. It sounds like you’re in a good place, busy though it is ^^

Yeah, definitely had help from the big man upstairs with that one.

No doubt about that at all ^w^

Also, is it just me, or are those mulish traits I see in Nico's design there? His tail looks a bit more horselike. Or is that more a result of his general grooming/appearance before he was transformed?

His luxurious locks help to give him that look. XD Just like his thick eyelashes make people think he wears eyeliner. (More on that later)

Oho! I look forward to it. :D In the meantime, it seems my friend may need a hand. ... And maybe another. ... And a couple of feet. ^^;

Seriously, Nico, just where did you find that book and what possessed you to mess with a type of magic that you should have known would resonate with your bloodline?

Nico: Why do I do anything, amico? Nella. *ears swivel backward mischievously*

The fact that it happened to belong to the ward of una Duchessa that I find frustratingly attractive… well, that’s just a coincidence.

*he lifts an eyebrow* My nose isn’t growing, too, vero?

Not anymore than it has when you turned into a donkey, mi amico. Though I am curious who could have captured your heart so completely as to merit such words.

Nico: *murmuring, slightly embarrassed* She is called Lady Acrathia... I do not know if you know of her.

We've spoken from time to time. She certainly has a captivating personality, and I have a great deal of respect for her from our interactions. Her history is a little on the tragic side, but the way she perseveres truly is admirable.

That particular mystery, the whos and the whys and the what-to-do-about-it's, has been unraveled just a bit further, leading on from the long exchange above.

https://www.furaffinity.net/view/33.....#cid:163918920

❤️🤷‍♀️

❤️😊

Hehe, his face is a bit like he was saying 'But how am I now supposed to swipe pages in this book without fingers?' or something like that. ^.=.^