Spirits and Other Houseguests

[Thirteen]

"Protect them? Yes! Led them here, didn't I? Safer than the park! No mean humans throwing rocks! The crows love her!" Jinx was quite proud of this. As a crow-spirit, it was logical that he had a certain amount of influence over crows. Maybe ravens and magpies, too?

Rhonda McDonald? There was an eye twitch, but to the Acanthus' credit, she didn't explode at the clown hair comparison. To be honest, she'd heard that one before, and often, as a child. After a short breath, she responded. "It thinks it's movin' in?"

Thirteen seemed contemplative for a moment. She looked out the glass doors that led onto the balcony. Some crows were perched on the power lines that ran parallel to the street, and she was clearly looking at them and thinking. "I don't want to turn them away, but... I can't have this spirit hidin' invisibly in my home all day. Especially if it's goin' to be obnoxious!"

In Twilight, Jinx waited and watched the redhead.

Brown eyes turned towards Aurora. "Other options..." she echoed the words, "Like what? If I can't even speak with the bloody bird, I don't..." Some idea was dawning on her, but she looked to the Sharman for clarification. "Hey, aren't familiars just spirits? Spirits with bodies? There were a couple in the Consilium back in Inverness. A house cat, and a hedgehog, of all things. I was told they were spirits given form."

[Aurora]

“You’re the one who did that? Quite the feat! And I agree, they would be quite safe here, she does care about them a great deal.” Smiling and looking over to Thirteen. “Jinx led the crows here, because it’s safe for them here. There are no means humans here throwing rocks at them. Though why would someone throw rocks at a harmless bird?! Seems quite rude and uncalled for in my opinion.” Huffing a bit, “But Jinx feels they are safe here and the crows love you.” A gentle smile to the Enchantress, figuring she would love hearing that last bit.

The twitch brought a tiny laugh and she covers her mouth and shrugs, “I mean, it kinda has already. Unless you tell me you want it gone.” Which she would do, but she kind finds the Spirit charming in a way.

Following the gaze, she looks at the numerous crows hanging out. A quick nod, “I don’t think it means to be obnoxious, I just don’t think it knows how to communicate well. Or, well, at all. You might be the first person it’s felt safe enough to try and communicate with.” Just an idea.

As she was going to start talking, it seemed Thirteen already knew a few things. “That is an option. Spirits can be bound magically with someone, a mage, which would make it a familiar. Or it could be embodied. Embodies familiars inhabit a physical body in the material world. A familiar bound to someone while still in Twilight, which is where Spirits inhabit, is still invisible and cannot be interacted with, except to the mage it is bonded to. But I'm sure a Shaman could talk with it. The other takes the form of a living creature and is a bit more,” pausing, “costly.” Grabbing a cookie, “Taking on a familiar in either form is a personal decision, I can’t say which is best, I’ve never come across one.”

[Thirteen]

The Libertine listened to Aurora's translation and questions, before answering, "Crows have a bad rep. They've long been seen as symbols of bad luck, like black cats. Some idjits don't want them around." She gave a humble shrug, "I can relate to them, I guess. So I help them out." She'd been considered a bad omen herself, as a child.

She nodded along as the Master Sharman talked about familiars. The blonde was the spirit expert here, so Thirteen took her words seriously. "Hrmph. I see." The more she thought about it, the more she liked the idea. "Embodied sounds more useful..."

More coffee was drunk as the Enchantress considered the possibility. "What does the... what does Jinx think? If I offered it the chance to have a body and be my familiar? If he's gonna stay here, it feels like the best option."

Obviously having already heard what Thirteen asked, the crow-spirit answered, "Oh? Oh oh oh! What's this? I could have... a body? Hmmmmmmmmmmm??" The entity paced back and forth along the bookshelf, "Bind to her? As what? Pet? Friend? Partner?"

[Aurora]

Frowning and rolling her eyes, “That still seems like a bad excuse to throw rocks at an innocent animal. Just go about your day and ignore the birds, don’t hurt them, I really hate humanity sometimes.” Shaking her head. Like, it’s so easy to just walk away or just ignore them if you don’t like them.

“In someways it is, the Spirit has a physical body. Again, it’s more a preference for the person and, in my opinion, the Spirit in question. Because it’s the Spirit that would be bound to the body. One should never force a Spirit to be bound to physical body if it doesn’t want it. It’s a belief I have, not all Shamans have it, but I tend to be more respectful to the Spirits I encounter. I like to give them a choice in matters if I can.” It was just how she worked.

“Well, that is the question.” Looking over to where the Spirit was, “What do you think Jinx?” putting her cup down.

Nodding, “You could have a body, yes. You would be in a body, I would think a crows body, unless there was something else. As to what you would be, you would be, a friend, partner, protector. That would be something you could discuss with Thirteen. You would be able to talk to her and discuss it more. You would share a magical bond with her.” Looking to Thirteen, “What would you view Jinx as? Pet, friend, partner? It’s asking, but it sounds very interested.”

[Thirteen]

"Some people will use any excuse to hurt others," Thirteen was rather matter-of-fact about that, long use to the hate humans could inflict on animals and each other. She didn't tolerate it, but the cruelty of man no longer shocked her. The minutiae of spiritual interactions and manners were new to her, and again, she took what Aurora said as gospel. She nodded along to the things the Sharman said that she could hear.

"Bound. Bound to her. Homeward bound. Bound for glory," some of what the spirit said just seemed like it's train of thought spilling out through it's proverbial beak, and that train was not always completely on the rails. "Sounds kinky."

The question caused a raised eyebrow, and the Acanthus had to think a moment. She recalled those mages back home. Their familiars always seemed like assistants, little animal aides constantly at their masters' sides, but she had to admit she didn't have the whole picture of the relationships those mages had with their small allies. Maybe it was more than what it appeared. Were whatshisname and his cat friends? Did that lady and her hedgehog treat each other as equals? Thirteen kept in mind what Aurora had been saying about showing respect to spirits. Looking at them as pets or sidekicks definitely felt disrespectful.

"It'd have to be partners," the Libertine finally said, "Why else would they stay? I'm not promising to be cuddle buddies, but I think we can work together. If it's willin'."

"Giddyup, pardner!" the crow-spirit fluttered his wings again. That... sounded like it was willing, unless it was just saying random things again.

[Aurora]

“Well, those people are asses and should be taught a lesson.” Sounding very matter of fact about it.
Chuckling, “Sounds like Jinx agrees, keeps saying bound, bound to you, and bound for glory.”

Looking to Thirteen, “Seems you’ve made quite an impression on it, and would be able to build quite a friendship with it.” While it felt weird saying it, she wasn’t sure if the bird was male or female, or it mattered.

“The relationship you would have would be up to the two of you. Like anything, mistreat it, and it can grow resentful, treat it well and it will flourish. But it’s where because it’s seen how you care for the crows and how you love and respect them, it sees that you are a good person. So based off that, I think there is the base of a great friendship there.”

As it spoke again, she smiled and nodded, “It just said giddyup, partner, so it sounds willing.”

Putting the cup down, “I can do this, I can bind it to another creature, but it’s vulgar as all get out.” And the Shaman really disliked vulgar magic.

[Thirteen]

Thirteen nodded along, listening as Aurora described relationships with spirits and how not to develop one. So much of this was outside the Acanthus' purview. That this Jinx creature was willing to enter into a familiar bond surprised her, but it felt like the best compromise. She didn't want to turn the crows away from the safe haven she could provide, but she also didn't want this spirit living invisibly under her roof and out of her control.

"You can? Well, that's one question answered." The Libertine considered whether she truly wanted to go through with this arrangement, and after a few more moments, she nodded. "Okay, then two other questions: Are you willin' to make this bond, and what do you want in return?" That the magic involved was vulgar changed matters. She wouldn't make such a request without offering compensation. Paradox was no joke.

Meanwhile, the crow-spirit had wandered over to Thirteen's bedroom area, where it was examining some old posters of '70s and '80s rock bands on the walls. Aerosmith, AC/DC, Poison, Guns n' Roses, and so forth. "Oh, White Snake! Here I go again on my owwwwwn!" Birdsong never sounded like that before. Not bad.

[Aurora]

A slight, maybe embarrassed, shrug, “I’m a Master, there isn’t much I can’t do.” She just didn’t tap into the Spirit part of herself as much as she should. And maybe this was that part of herself telling her it was time to pay attention to it more. To learn more about it and talk to Spirits more, to get to know them, to get more comfortable with them. Oh questions, so she gives Thirteen her attention. Ah, seems the Enchantress understands nothing was for free. But what did she want for it?

There was a moment of silence, as she clearly thinks it over. She’s never done anything like this for anyone, nor has anyone asked her what she wants in return for something. Usually, she does things because she wants to help. But as a member of the Mysterium, things had changed for her, and her services were not free anymore. “I am willing to do this for you, seeing the bond you have with the crows outside, and seeing and hearing the way Jinx speaks so fondly of you, makes me this would be an excellent pairing. You would both take care of each other, almost like it’s meant to be. But this is high level magic, and the universe and I tend to not agree on letting me slide this level of magic in without me taking a few blows first. Which, I get, vulgar bad, yah yah. But I believe I should ask for something that will help me, and believe it or not, I’m big into studies. And would like to request a Grimoire.” Pausing, “I know you are busy, so it’s not something I will ask for immediately, I know they can take time.”

Her eyes seemed to be looking at something, following something, “Jinx is on the move, not sure where.” She then describes where it was walking to. Laughing, “It just said, White Snake! Here I go again on my owwwwwn!” laughing again, “Seems this one like music, and doesn’t sound that bad. Nice one Jinx!” calling to the bird.

Still smiling, “Quite a talented crow that one. But what are your thoughts?”

[Thirteen]

The price surprised her. Thirteen wasn't sure what the Thyrsus would want, really. It could have been anything, but a Grimoire wasn't something she had considered as a possibility. Then again, she had done much dealing with other Mages before. Maybe this was more normal of a request than she thought.

"Your studies? Are you learnin' Fate or Time magics? I'm afraid that's just about all I have for rotes." Inscribing a Grimoire was something she could do, but the Acanthus had never actually done it before, for the obvious reason: It removed a rote from her Awakened soul, and stuffed it into a book or whatever. She'd have to re-learn the rote somehow, afterward. She wasn't against the idea, it was just unfamiliar ground. "Did you have a rote in mind?" And did she even know it?

Red eyebrows rose, and brown eyes followed the Sharman's gaze towards the bedroom area. "It knows White Snake?" Thirteen seemed impressed. "Glad it likes my taste in music." It was good that this little spirit had something in common with the Enchantress, aside from a fondness for corvids.

The spirit in question had perched itself atop a shelf of old CDs. "Let's see... is there any Warrant? I need to hear Cherry Pie again!"

[Aurora]

A single nod of her head, “At some point I will be studying it, Time and Fate magic have always fascinated me.” Of course, she had at one point in her life been an Acanthus, but that wasn’t something she was willing to share. “I don’t have a Rote in mind, as I know this is something that will be quite an undertaking for you. Any Rote you are willing to part with will be a tremendous aid to me in my studies. Though I have always been curious about the connections between things, the little threads of Fate that connects everything. But remember, this is your call to make.” If she didn’t want to do it, she didn’t have to. “If you want time to think about it, that’s ok.” She wasn’t about to pressure her.

Smirking, “It seems to, and can hold a tune pretty good too.” Laughing, “I’m just picturing you singing White Snake around your flat with it." now that would be a sight.

“It’s now looking at your CDs, looking for Warrant, wants to hear Cherry Pie again. You know, there could be some badass karaoke nights here.”