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If possible, Fashion Bug flies up to avoid the gas and keep the room illuminated (20ft radius from her luminous skin). Else...
Fashion Bug is constantly detecting good and evil. She had already sensed the good in Caledon, and in Henry as well. What of the fading spell? Can she feel a change in Uncle Henry? Does the spell make him evil? She assures the guests, particularly Hank and Lance, "If any of you can help us understand what is happening to our dear host Mister Splorer, that would be most welcome. I can assure you, the angry man you saw moments ago was not the 'Uncle Henry' you see now.
The fairy contemplates the relevance of her story—how it connects the connection to Henry Splorer's current situation. The very small person addresses the room with a rather bold demand from such a tiny pair of lips: "The spell that appears to be changing Mister Splorer, and not for the better, is his 'cage.' Whatever evil he may be rendered capable of can be stopped in two ways. One is to—as hunters say—put him out of his misery, which would not take more than an instant in his vulnerable state. The other is to free him, which may seem nearly impossible should the magic overtake him, potentially granting him immense power while simultaneously pitting him against us.
The fairy grows bigger and stronger. "I can carry his gun without becoming a giant, Miss Vixen." The fairy calls herself 'giant,' despite her height being less than half the length of the rifle she carries into the air. She follows the Vixen to whatever sofa she is bringing Henry to, and looks for a table where she can safely place the rifle. Knowing nothing about guns, she simply makes sure the muzzle is never pointed at a person.
Fashion Bug zips straight up out of the way. She holds her action for now, but is prepared to cast a harmless spell if need be. For now, she warns the Vixen: Without the remote control, I can sense an evil aura around the Doctor. It is rather overwhelming.
The tiny fairy is taken by surprise at the sudden aggression! She clings to the Vixen's wild red curls instinctively, though she looks ready to flit straight up out of the potential fray—
Like fineprint, the fairy's tiny brain is nigh impossible to read.
Upon closer inspection, the Vixen's companion is a girl (or woman?), mere inches tall with glittering dragonfly wings. Her voice is like a tiny bell as she greets the visitor by name. "A pleasure to meet you, Sir Whitetree. I remember you from Crystalhue after you defeated an abominable creature. I was unable to properly introduce myself at the time, but my name is—" The fairy's polite demeanor remains, even has her voice momentarily falters. "When I am in this state, you may refer to me as Fashion Bug. And this is the Vermilion Vixen," she says of the redhead walking alongside her, stiletto heels clacking as woman and fairy join the emotionally-disturbed butler.
Fashion Bug blushes, both embarrassed by the piggish giggle and piggish word-play, a jest she hopes was told to her telepathically. "Gesundheit, Miss Vixen." The fairy smiles innocently, not entirely certain that her words effectively covered up her friend's faux pas. Laughing at your own joke? Indeed, Miss Vixen.
The fairy smiles as the Vixen and Wendy walk back to the table. She notices the Vixen's heels seem magnetized as they clack along the floor, but she says nothing of it. "Did you enjoy your swim, Miss Vixen?" Of course the fairy knows this to be the case. She could feel the Vixen's joy as she swam in her evolved form, gills and fins adding to the pleasure of a proper swim—and even the glamered armor surely felt as if a part of the woman's own flesh. The fairy suspects her earlier bath in the soup bowl gave the Vixen the urge. She asks that via magical whisper, to which the Vixen replies, True, Cutie. But me swim was for a purpose, and I was successful. I've the permission to use me powers on the hunt—and that extends to yers as well. I also learned o' something else. The fairy did feel a disturbance in the Vixen's absence, this it is no surprise that there is news. In fact, the negative emotion came at an odd time. The fairy felt a deep feeling of love—not the feeling she detects when the Vixen gazes lustfully upon her married straight friend, not the curiousness about any prospect regarding the doctor (of which it appears there are none), but true love—the love felt when Miss Vixen prays for dear departed Victoria Finn, but this newer, ever-growing love is arguably stronger—still accompanied by a hint of sadness, but also a glimmer of hope. The fairy feels that now too... but earlier, she felt that deep love, followed by nauseating disturbance. Something flat out offended the Vixen, and the offense grew worse, bubbling into a rage. The Vixen conceals this well, but she is a dormant volcano as far as Fashion Bug is concerned. Very concerned. Don't be, the Vixen reassures her. We enjoy the meal, hear Uncle Henry's speech, and when the party's o'er, I'll tell ye what's eatin' me. Given all her talk about finally starting work as a crime-fighter, Fashion Bug wonders what isn't eating Miss Vixen.
The fairy is hesitant, recalling the emptiness about Dr. Amp. Her reply to Madam Zulu is simply, "Come to think of it, I cannot feel anything from the Doctor. Which means your assessment is correct." Fashion Bug considers whether Shivers might be as much a non-person as Dr. Amp... bit for now, she alerts her 'master'—or perhaps Miss Vixen prefers the term 'mistress?' Oh. Or perhaps not.—via their empathic link...
Seeing the way Madam Zulu looks at Dr. Amp, the fairy also becomes a little uncomfortable. Much to her relief, the Vixen and the Doc are doing something innocent and scientific. She suspects VV has a motive, but nothing kinky. Oh, you are trying to get on the good side of one who controls the magic dampener, are you not? Though the Vixen does not hear the thought, Fashion Bug feels VV's joy as she swims like a mermaid. She says to Zulu, "I would not worry about what those two ladies are up to. Miss Vixen can use a feature of her outfit to breathe underwater, and in addition to that, she can outswim a dolphin. I believe she simply wanted a proper facility to test this before tomorrow's hunt, and she trusted Doctor Wendy would be more than happy to provide such a facility." Judging by the way Wendy rushed out the door, Fashion Bug says with an innocent shrug, "She looked more than happy to me."
The fairy says, "I think you have inherited your grandfather's talent for giving advice. I will try to come up with a thank-you gift that will make Mister Splorer happy, but not so happy he will be bored." Thought Fashion Bug did notice Madam Zulu failed to appreciate her brother taking the blame for her, she suspects the old woman missed out on becoming a grandparent like the one she so honors. Perhaps in her diminutive form, she is like a child to the elder. Similarly, the fairy lost the elders in her family, and her childhood died the day her mother was slain. Surely the Vixen feels her fairy friend's connection to Zulu.
As Madam Zulu is interrupted, the fairy considers her own words on the fairies' intent... "Maybe they did wish me to become one of them... though even at my current size, I could not have flown from my cage. It was... made of many tiny little X's, like in a chicken coop, but even a hummingbird could not pass through. Some fairies so small they fit in my hand came to me, and some who did not enter were twice my size. I am knee-high to the fairy leader. Even in the form of a fox, she was bigger than me, with grand butterfly wings!
"Thank you," the fairy says to Madam Zulu. "You honor him by quoting his words of wisdom. Has your grandfather traveled to the East? My father was a samurai. I am half kitsune, in fact." Her hands trace her own diminutive body. Not sure how else to explain her appearance, she says, "Before Uncle Henry rescued me, I was kept alive by the yousei—woodland fairies of my island in the East. I do not know if they intended their magic to transform me into one of their kind, but I am grateful for what I have." She uses her chopsticks to snatch a tiny piece of mashed potato from the Vixen's spoon. The entire spoonful is more than a fairy could possibly eat! "I almost starved before the fairies came. Now every meal is a feast."
Whether fox or fairy, Fashion Bug only eats what is given from VV's plate. The difference is that VV tries to make dining more dignified for her little friend. After the Vixen cuts the fairy's food into fairy-bite-size pieces, the fairy reaches into her hair and pulls out a pair of chopsticks (made from whittled-down toothpicks). Her bun comes undone, and the tiny person daintily sits on an overturned teacup. Her table is a saucer stacked upon another cup and saucer. The heights of the makeshift table and chair are not ideal, but Fashion Bug magages to eat in comfort. Once she has enjoyed a taste, the Vixen tilts her glass so the fairy can drink. Drinking is tricky, as VV didn't think to pack the tea set from her dollhouse at home. While there is no food in her mouth, Fashion Bug turns to Madam Zulu. "You mentioned your grandfather earlier, Madam Zulu, and on more than one occasion. He has many sayings, so I think he was—and still is—a strong influence for you. I would enjoy hearing about this interesting man if you do not mind sharing a story about him."
Fashion Bug finishes her pina-colada bath with a quick dip in a water bowl VV left for her. She dries and dresses, and takes a seat on VV's shoulder on the walk to the dining room.
Fashion Bug isn't sure the virgin coloda was a good idea. She can't possibly drink it unless she really does bathe in it. Hmm... She then asks the Vixen, "Would you kindly take this to our room? I will gladly enjoy my drink there, while you converse and consume alcohol."
It's a work-in-progress, but VV and her diminutive friend are dodging a yet-to-be-drawn threat. Not 100% settled on the bare midriff, and I meant to have ladybug spots on the dress. However, I am very happy with how I drew the hair for both characters. Hopefully, the link works. DeviantArt links seem to expire after a while.
Fashion Bug plunks her bottom into the virgin pina colada, and takes in the sweet tropical scent of the drink. When she sees VV and Cashara ready to down a bottle—or perhaps bottles plural—she winces. Looking up to Rorx with a concerned expression, she says, "I hope Miss Vixen does not drink more than she can handle. She has been off the proverbial wagon since Crystalhue." She then asks, "Do you drink to forget as well, Mr. Rorx? Or do you simply like the taste of your oxymoronic beverage."
Not sure where VV's going with this, Fashion Bug chimes in, "Whatever motivates Henry to hunt, he never aimed his weapon at me when he saw me. He thought I was simply an animal, yet he freed me and sent me to you, Miss Vixen.
"I prefer pina colada, if you serve it, Mr. Shivers. Otherwise, anything with a sweet citrus smell would be lovely."
"We are a team, Miss Vixen." The little fairy is able to flip through the book, though the pages are bigger than her six-inch-tall body! The Vixen opens the envelope while Fashion Bug flips through the book.
"It's like home! Though I do not require such a large sleeping mat."
The fairy looks rather uncomfortable with the Vixen's implication that she weighs eight ounces. "Miss Vixen, I believe the correct fraction is tenth, as in one tenth of a pound. Your Fruit Scale confirmed my weight in fairy form to be one-point-six ounces."
Fashion Bug flutters over to Mr. Hank and Prince Lance. She says, "Prince Lance, I hope someday to learn fairy healing magic. If a nice man like Mr. Hank did fall asleep among the fish, I would plunge into the sea to wake him up!"
The fairy flutters over to the bigfoot (though not within arm's reach) and says to him, "I understand, Mr. Buckley. My mother and I were hunted because of our ability to turn into a fox."
"Mine too," the little fairy replies. "I believe I can scout. Hopefully, Mr. Buckley does not object to the luminosity of my skin."
The fairy answers the Vixen's unspoken question aloud. "Only our transformation is magic. If Uncle Henry activates the dampener, we cannot change our forms. It is best I remain as a fairy, and you remain as you are."
Fashion Bug zips around some more, fascinated by the two butlers, and Mr. Splorer himself. GM:
"Speaking of paradise, this island is very beautiful!"
"It seems everyone here is connected to Mr. Splorer. Miss Vixen was close to his niece, Miss Vikki Finn, and as I said at the gathering, I was rescued from my cage.
Fashion Bug doesn't want to stay in the purse. "I am the fox you rescued from the cage, Mr. Splorer."
She politely curtsies as he hovers before the trio. "I am known as Fashion Bug in this form, and Miss Lane is to be addressed as the Vermilion Vixen. VV or Miss Vixen will do.
"It is a pleasure to meet you and finally, with my own voice, to thank you for rescuing me. Thank you, Mr. Splorer!"
Seated in the palm of VV's hand, Fashion Bug looks up at her friend, gives a shrug, and casts a spell. The spell creates a pale pink light that resembles a ballerina, complete with a wispy tutu and a ball of light atop her head that resembles hair in a bun. The vaguely feminine silhouette dances at a pace matching Frogmouth's hum. It's not clear whether this Dancing Light answers the Vixen's question, but the dancer remains for about a minute before separating into several shimmering stars that fall and fade like a gentle snow. The fairy casts immediately, replacing the dancer with four floating lanterns—red, gold, pink and green—and in near a minute, the lanterns converge to form the dancer, this time in periwinkle blue. As long as Frogmouth sings, the fairy remains cupped in VV's hands, puppeting her dancer across the surface of the water, leaping over the boat, changing from stars to lanterns to another color of the rainbow. Her intent is to keep the show going until either Frogmouth ends his song or the island is in sight, at which time her dancer will curtsy before vanishing in a shimmering cascade.
Fashion Bug sees the look Cashara is giving DeVille. As much as she would like to flutter over to the cowgirl and whisper in her ear, she remains in VV's lap and keeps a white-knuckle grip on the fabric of the spider silk qipao. Weighing just over an ounce and a half, the little fairy is certain the wind will take her.
The fairy giggles at the touch of the hedgehog's nose. "I wonder if you can tell I am the fox you met before. I will become the fox in front of you later, but I do not think the Vixen wishes to transform us on this crowded boat."
Fashion Bug waves to Harrison. "Oh, yes, thank you, Captain Nayler." She then waits for VV to speak. When the woman fails to introduce herself, the fairy takes it upon herself to do so. She pats the lap she's sitting on and says, "This is my partner, Miss Vixen, and I am Fashion Bug. This is my second time on a boat. The first time was with Uncle Henry. I look forward to seeing him again! Will he await us at the island dock?"
When she dulls the luminosity of her skin, her hair becomes jet black. Her wings are pink like cherry blossoms. When she resumes her golden glow, her wings glitter and strands of her hair resemble fine wires—gold and copper and bronze streaking across the black. Her hair is naturally short in back so as not to tangle into the wings' rapid flutter. In answer to the you-were-a-fairy question...
Sonix & GM:
Fashion Bug nods and flies ahead of VV. She hovers in front of Martha.
The fairy giggles at the fake name, once she realizes it is a fake name. "I understand, Lance. I mean... I need Hank in order to understand your words, but I spent many years trapped in my fox form. Only Addison could understand me, and she translated so I could talk.
How Fashion Bug ended up as a fairy is a long story, which she is happy to tell in the boat if Hank and Lance care to listen. For now, she says of her fairy form, "Miss Vixen and I have a special bond which gives me wings—and optionally green hair—" The fairy's luminosity changes from violet-white to pink-gold to emerald-green. Her hair color matches the aura around her. "And how about you, your highness? What are you Prince of? Are there many fey creatures in your land?" In Sylvan, she asks, <Do you understand Sylvan, the Tongue of the Fey?>
Of the strangers, Fashion Bug is most comfortable around the elf and dwarf. She flutters over to the pair. "I like the way you laugh," she says to the dwarf, and to the elf, "And you have a lovely smile when you try not to. "My name is Hanako, but kindly address me as Fashion Bug. Miss Vixen and I spent the past month finalizing code names. I fear I will hurt her feelings if I opt not to use mine. "What are your names?" The fairy has another question on her mind, so she asks, "Do you know what Uncle Henry's island trips are like? I have never been to Patchwaork Island, but I am very excited. My father's surname, Kojima, means 'small island.' And now I am going to one!"
As Cashara talks to the man, Fashion Bug darts around the air. She was used to humans being giants while in her fox form, but being a woman who fits in the palm of another woman is a feeling entirely new. She flits about, noting the warm feeling she has when close to the Vixen and Cashara. Do all people give this feeling? GM:
"It is my pleasure," the fairy replies. She wipes a tear from Cashara's eye. The dewy drop is like a wiggly golf ball to the very tiny person. She flies back a bit and chucks the tear over her shoulder. "Uncle Henry invited us here to forget our sadness. I cannot forget mine either, but I can also not reverse the tragedy. Perhaps what we can do is cheer each other up." She zips around among the strangers, paying extra-special attention to the man with too many cases of guns. She then flies to Cashara and whispers, "If you talk to Man With Many Guns, he may see you are an authority on the topic. Maybe you can strike a conversation with him?" The fairy shrugs. She's not sure what her tiny body can do, but she loves having wings!
Fashion Bug replies in the common tongue, her voice like a tiny bell, "I could not find the opening to your purse in all that smoke, Miss Vixen." The diminutive fairy zips into VV's open purse, then in a few seconds, she flies back out in a backless sundress with a pleated hem. The pattern is black, white and vermilion, like the scales of a red-tailed koi. Now clothed, the fairy dims the luminosity of her skin so the features of her face can be perceived. She flies up to Cashara, hovering a few feet from the cowgirl's face. "I am glad you and Miss Vixen had the chance to talk on that Crystalhue night. I was unable to speak, but now that I can, I am sorry about your partner. I believe you honor him in the way you continue to fight for justice. I hope in this form, I am able to help you and Miss Vixen in your next mission together." |