[ he seems to float when he walks, it's true, though for the most part, he tries to remain grounded, content with this human form he had been given as a child. despite his open face and his eagerness to help others in need, there is much that briar would rather keep in the dark. ( if the boy wants to unravel a few small mysteries, however, he is welcome to try. ) when briar does turn around, he doesn't expect to see that kind of smile on his face. curiously, he cants his head to the side in a silent question, waiting for him to explain or continue. ]
I won't laugh.
[ but as soon as that sentence leaves his lips, the boy is gone, a cat in his place. a very pretty cat, though not quite the size he expected to see. though his eyes do not widen in wonder, he does observe bemusedly for a moment before slowly lowering himself to sit on the ground, feet tucked under his rear. ]
You mean to be bigger, I see, [ comes a murmur finally as he leans forward, folding his arms across his lap so he is just about nose to nose with the cat before him. ]
It sounds to me like you just need more practice along with a calming remedy. There is a lot rattling around in that brain of yours, [ he points out, lightly tapping the top of the cat's head. ]
( there's that pause between his transformation and briar's reaction that feels like an eternity, and jase wishes in that moment that he were capable of spreading those paws of his nice and wide and shout ta-daaaa, or really just do anything to break the relative silence other than stare meekly up at the boy with widened pupils and ears that turn outwards and threaten to press flat back against his head. and then.
and then briar simultaneously diagnoses his exact problem and makes him nervous as shit all in one fell swoop, tail fluffing up to twice its size as that boy kneels in front of him, bending lower so jase ends up eye to large, doe-like eye with him. ohhhh, no, why does he have to be so ... beautiful ...
there's a boop to the top of his head, and jase would very much like to even try articulating to briar just what is rattling around in this brain of his β a silly crush based almost entirely on attraction, excitement at this new world he's stumbled right into, a fear that he might not be able to find a solution, and their family's genes will grow more and more dormant by the day. it's a lot of weight to bear, especially for such a small cat β and goodness, does he wish he could ask how briar is capable of reading him so accurately.
despite the very telling body language, this cat tips his head curiously, lets loose another series of meows, head tilted. what else are you able to tell about me? )
ββ[ββ without thinking much on it, briar lifts his fingers to nudge them behind a folded ear, scratching behind it β yet anther way to ease his worries. it is a brief thing, a small thing, smoothed away by the tips of his fingers before he takes his hand back, keeping his arms folded over his bent knees.
he cannot officially speak to animals but he does have a certain sense for their intentions and he mimics the way jase tilts his head, light brown hair falling in his eyes that he doesn't bother pushing away. ββ]ββ
Mm, that looks a little bit like a challenge.
ββ[ββ a small laugh escapes him, never mocking. ββ]ββ You said this wasn't your usual scene. Have you never been around magic before?
( jase can't help it β despite the way his eyes seem to quadruple in size as briar's hand draws nearer and nearer, the moment those fingers scratch so softly behind his ear, he's toast ... complete and utter toast, bright eyes closing in satisfaction as an unfamiliar feeling in his throat starts, a pleasant hum, and β oh, no, he's purring, feeling it carried on each and every inhale and exhale that he takes, even once that hand is withdrawn.
gods, if he could go back in time β if he could know what was in store for him here in the magical world β he would've turned himself to a cat and back at least a hundred times, because he's far too uncomfortable in this form the way it is, constantly surprised by each new thing he's presented with. never has jase been so happy with his lanky, occasionally awkward human form. at least that is something he can handle, having had twenty-five odd years learning how to.
briar is speaking now, though, so that brings jase right back to attention, his whole body shaking from his ears to the tip of his tail as though trying to rid himself of his nerves. phew.
he supposes that there are about a million ways he could answer that question β have you never been around magic before? β but most require far more explanation that his current linguistic abilities are capable of, so he just shakes his little head no. he's gonna have to work on his communication skills before next time.
[ there hasn't been a more endearing sight than this confused kitten purring after the briefest scratch behind his ears. contrary to what has been experienced so far, he actually cannot read minds though his intuition and ability to read people have helped him 'diagnose' others in the time he has been behind the counter.
briar sits back on his rear, folding his legs and gesturing to the inside of the shop. ] Stay a while, then. I would say this place is the best way to get your feet wet at the very least. You are among friends.
[ he's been there before, having discovered at a younger age exactly what he was capable of doing, straddling the line between the human world he was raised in and this new world just around the corner. it's scary, perhaps even scarier when you have been living a certain way for much longer. though it doesn't show on his face, he feels a measure of sympathy for him, wanting to at least provide a welcoming introduction if only to help that transformation process. ]
( get your feet wet β ha, that's kind of funny, considering the bad reputation cats and water have; he'll go so far as to mimic dipping a front paw into a puddle and recoiling, a faux-shudder rattling through him from ears to tail. could he laugh, he would, a goofy thing. if this whole pursuit of his doesn't work out for him, maybe jase ought to just start a career as a cat-pantomiming act.
staying a while sounds pretty damn good to him, though, if it means standing in this boy's aura for even a little while longer.
despite the way his little heart seems to jump into his throat each time briar looks down at him so calmly, it's reassuring to have someone so β well, sure of themselves to guide him through his uncertainties. jase still feels too big for this body he's rocking right now, but he's maybe becoming a little more comfortable with this idle sway of his tail, the way his whiskers twitch when he thinks he's smelled something or someone new wafting through the back alleyway. all things considered, this is somehow the longest he's spent in this form; previous attempts left him so shaken by the unintended result that he leapt right back into human form as quickly as he could.
[ he doesn't coo like most people would at the sight of a cat, knowing fully well that there is a grown boy there. he brushes his fingertips against that cat's chin and offers him a rare, knowing wink. it's endearing, watching him figure himself out.
hmm.
briar giggles softly at the brush of a nose against his hand and his eyebrows disappear beneath his hair as he watches that cat make his way towards the shop again. pushing himself onto his feet, he brushes himself off lightly and makes his way into the cafe once more. the antidote should be easy, mildly effective in nature as the ingredients he has in mind have helped many others get over their magic blocks, though in truth it's more of a placebo for jase's sake. ]
Oh, I think you're having a wonderful time, [ briar teases once he feels the brush of fur against his calves. ]
( jase is practically walking on sunshine as he trots right on into the shop, head held high and basking in the glow of briar's wink as that lithe little body of his darts between briar's legs, brushing up against him and far too pleased with the amusement that he's brought to that lovely face of his.
he is having a fun, wonderful time, thank you very much.
somehow, even though he's about maybe an eighth of his prior size, he feels far more at ease in this shop β or maybe it's because of that, considering he can now slink gracefully through this place practically unnoticed. no one pays a cat any mind, certainly not as much as a tall, gawky boy might think they'd notice him when he stands tall, all limbs and lankiness, carrying the weight of such uncertainty on his shoulders. no, it's much easier to stay here relatively out of the way, only obligated to focus on himself and briar at the moment β and that little concoction that he's going to brew for jase.
ah, that reminds him. the view is terrible from down here, so catch jase leaping from the floor and up onto the countertop, landing gracefully on his feet before sitting and looking at briar so purposefully, very ready to watch how this happens here, food safety inspection grades be damned. )
[ he knows instantly that this poor creature is instantly smitten with him and the notion doesn't make him as uneasy as it has been with anyone else who happens to take a gander at his otherworldly face. it's the fae in him, the part of him that had been suppressed for so much of his life. he must have had another form as a child but the current one, the near-human one that he has grown up with seems to suit him the best, setting him apart from others just enough.
briar understands that feeling, being out of place, unsettled in your own skin. it's something he continues to contend with but the older he gets, the closer he comes to acceptance.
it's why he's keen to help jase, understanding inherently what he might be going through, pesky new crushes aside. it's sweet, however, the way that cat follows him in, brushes up against him in a way only a cat can get away with. he doesn't mind when he sits up on the mixing counter as briar himself begins chopping up ingredients, grinding some with a mortar and pestle. ]
Come back if this doesn't have any kind of effect in a few days. I will try another recipe.
( it's in this moment that jase decides that he could watch briar for hours, no matter what he's doing; he has an effortless way about him, the way he moves so easily throughout this space of his, fingers plucking ingredients without taking a single glimpse at the shelves. it's such a silly, simple thing β but jase watches with wide feline eyes, bright as ever, head canted slightly to the side as his gaze flicks down towards those delicate fingers curled tightly around the pestle as each ingredient ends up ground down.
briar is fascinating β just about the epitome of everything that jase is not, with his delicate features and soft voice, his aura that's β okay, and this is cheesy, and he knows it β practically magical, alluring. maybe he's projecting all of his wide-eyed and bushy-tailed amazement onto this boy but ... who could blame him?
Mrr~? ( jase asks, streeetching his neck down so he can sniff at the concoction taking shape within the mortar, too many new and different scents for him to fully parse and identify. so many that it makes him sneeze, a small, pathetic thing, and he sits up straight again, shaking it off.
[ that. might have been the cutest thing briar has seen all day, the sight of a curious cat sticking his nose into mysterious places, only to sneeze at the mixture of scents. he can't help himself around animals, even if animals happen to be instantly enamored boys on the inside, and he scratches jase behind his furry ears. ]
I hate to say it, they do say things about cats and curiosity, [ he teases lightly, ducking behind the counter to find little biodegradable satchels beneath, pulling out about ten of them. he begins to fill them with his crushed mixture, the leaves and such now tiny specs. ]
Root of dandelion, [ briar explains finally, tapping his tiny spoon against the rim of the bowl. ] lavender, black tea from England, aconite, a pinch of nettle...
You're to drink this as tea. I would recommend drinking with a little milk and some sugar.
( oh, he's purring again, warmed immensely by the soft scratches behind his ears, a natural reaction to such a natural thing, the very human tendency to give animals affection and receive it in return. jase likes these silly little quips, practically preening about them and basking in their glow.
it's a weird thing, owning what he is, if only briefly. he's never fully embraced his feline side mostly out of obliviousness and then, as he grew older and learned about his family's roots, about their abilities ... he almost thought they were ashamed. but how could they be ashamed of something so wonderful that, in this moment, brings jase so much unbridled joy? he simply can't fathom it.
the dark cat eyeballs these little satchels, can hardly believe that this boy just created this magical mixture right before his eyes. with a small nod of his tiny head, jase stands up, pads delicately over the satchels so he can, unabashedly and only a little inwardly ashamedly, brush against briar's hand so he can receive one final pet from head to tail, giving this beautiful boy a small flick of his tail on that beautiful nose.
and just like that β it's in the blink of an eye but that cat shifts very quickly back into a boy, exhaling sharply because the whole thing feels so strange and it happens so fast, looking a little shellshocked, and also.
and also because he realizes that maybe he should have leapt off of the counter and onto the floor before trying to clumsily change back, if only because he's now a too-large boy sitting on the lip of a too-small counter, legs dangling off the edge and finding himself situated right in front of and extremely close to the bright-eyed shopkeeper, a tall boy made even taller by the height of his current seat. )
[ which may or may not be the answer to one of the questions that could be rolling around jase's brain. it's amusing, watching a cat have very human reactions to these things; that image doesn't get old, regardless of how long briar has embedded himself into the world that has surprisingly accepted him for who he is. or who he has shaped himself to be.
he tuts, however, at that last-ditch effort to get one more bit of affection from him βΒ it's nothing terribly grouchy but he knows what that was about.
standing completely still, briar's expression barely changes when the cat decides to become a boy again, a hulking mass of limbs now settled on his counter and he raises his eyebrows so that they disappear behind light brown bangs, lifting his chin so that he can assess this silly stranger once more. ]
I don't think that can hold your weight for very long.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 14 Mar 2019 01:27 (UTC)I won't laugh.
[ but as soon as that sentence leaves his lips, the boy is gone, a cat in his place. a very pretty cat, though not quite the size he expected to see. though his eyes do not widen in wonder, he does observe bemusedly for a moment before slowly lowering himself to sit on the ground, feet tucked under his rear. ]
You mean to be bigger, I see, [ comes a murmur finally as he leans forward, folding his arms across his lap so he is just about nose to nose with the cat before him. ]
It sounds to me like you just need more practice along with a calming remedy. There is a lot rattling around in that brain of yours, [ he points out, lightly tapping the top of the cat's head. ]
no subject
Date: 14 Mar 2019 03:09 (UTC)and then briar simultaneously diagnoses his exact problem and makes him nervous as shit all in one fell swoop, tail fluffing up to twice its size as that boy kneels in front of him, bending lower so jase ends up eye to large, doe-like eye with him. ohhhh, no, why does he have to be so ... beautiful ...
there's a boop to the top of his head, and jase would very much like to even try articulating to briar just what is rattling around in this brain of his β a silly crush based almost entirely on attraction, excitement at this new world he's stumbled right into, a fear that he might not be able to find a solution, and their family's genes will grow more and more dormant by the day. it's a lot of weight to bear, especially for such a small cat β and goodness, does he wish he could ask how briar is capable of reading him so accurately.
despite the very telling body language, this cat tips his head curiously, lets loose another series of meows, head tilted. what else are you able to tell about me? )
no subject
Date: 14 Mar 2019 20:50 (UTC)he cannot officially speak to animals but he does have a certain sense for their intentions and he mimics the way jase tilts his head, light brown hair falling in his eyes that he doesn't bother pushing away. ββ]ββ
Mm, that looks a little bit like a challenge.
ββ[ββ a small laugh escapes him, never mocking. ββ]ββ You said this wasn't your usual scene. Have you never been around magic before?
no subject
Date: 17 Mar 2019 06:37 (UTC)gods, if he could go back in time β if he could know what was in store for him here in the magical world β he would've turned himself to a cat and back at least a hundred times, because he's far too uncomfortable in this form the way it is, constantly surprised by each new thing he's presented with. never has jase been so happy with his lanky, occasionally awkward human form. at least that is something he can handle, having had twenty-five odd years learning how to.
briar is speaking now, though, so that brings jase right back to attention, his whole body shaking from his ears to the tip of his tail as though trying to rid himself of his nerves. phew.
he supposes that there are about a million ways he could answer that question β have you never been around magic before? β but most require far more explanation that his current linguistic abilities are capable of, so he just shakes his little head no. he's gonna have to work on his communication skills before next time.
next time? next time. )
no subject
Date: 17 Mar 2019 18:10 (UTC)[ there hasn't been a more endearing sight than this confused kitten purring after the briefest scratch behind his ears. contrary to what has been experienced so far, he actually cannot read minds though his intuition and ability to read people have helped him 'diagnose' others in the time he has been behind the counter.
briar sits back on his rear, folding his legs and gesturing to the inside of the shop. ] Stay a while, then. I would say this place is the best way to get your feet wet at the very least. You are among friends.
[ he's been there before, having discovered at a younger age exactly what he was capable of doing, straddling the line between the human world he was raised in and this new world just around the corner. it's scary, perhaps even scarier when you have been living a certain way for much longer. though it doesn't show on his face, he feels a measure of sympathy for him, wanting to at least provide a welcoming introduction if only to help that transformation process. ]
I will go and prepare your order in the meantime.
no subject
Date: 20 Mar 2019 01:45 (UTC)staying a while sounds pretty damn good to him, though, if it means standing in this boy's aura for even a little while longer.
despite the way his little heart seems to jump into his throat each time briar looks down at him so calmly, it's reassuring to have someone so β well, sure of themselves to guide him through his uncertainties. jase still feels too big for this body he's rocking right now, but he's maybe becoming a little more comfortable with this idle sway of his tail, the way his whiskers twitch when he thinks he's smelled something or someone new wafting through the back alleyway. all things considered, this is somehow the longest he's spent in this form; previous attempts left him so shaken by the unintended result that he leapt right back into human form as quickly as he could.
jase certainly doesn't intend to wait it out by himself if briar's going to make his β what, potion? antidote? something? he's clueless β and as such, he nudges a small, wet nose against the back of briar's palm, trotting towards the door to the inside of the cafΓ© again before looking over his shoulder at the boy.
expect a cat weaving in and out of your legs as you re-enter the shop, briar; call it instinct. )
no subject
Date: 20 Mar 2019 02:46 (UTC)[ he doesn't coo like most people would at the sight of a cat, knowing fully well that there is a grown boy there. he brushes his fingertips against that cat's chin and offers him a rare, knowing wink. it's endearing, watching him figure himself out.
hmm.
briar giggles softly at the brush of a nose against his hand and his eyebrows disappear beneath his hair as he watches that cat make his way towards the shop again. pushing himself onto his feet, he brushes himself off lightly and makes his way into the cafe once more. the antidote should be easy, mildly effective in nature as the ingredients he has in mind have helped many others get over their magic blocks, though in truth it's more of a placebo for jase's sake. ]
Oh, I think you're having a wonderful time, [ briar teases once he feels the brush of fur against his calves. ]
no subject
Date: 21 Mar 2019 03:55 (UTC)he is having a fun, wonderful time, thank you very much.
somehow, even though he's about maybe an eighth of his prior size, he feels far more at ease in this shop β or maybe it's because of that, considering he can now slink gracefully through this place practically unnoticed. no one pays a cat any mind, certainly not as much as a tall, gawky boy might think they'd notice him when he stands tall, all limbs and lankiness, carrying the weight of such uncertainty on his shoulders. no, it's much easier to stay here relatively out of the way, only obligated to focus on himself and briar at the moment β and that little concoction that he's going to brew for jase.
ah, that reminds him. the view is terrible from down here, so catch jase leaping from the floor and up onto the countertop, landing gracefully on his feet before sitting and looking at briar so purposefully, very ready to watch how this happens here, food safety inspection grades be damned. )
no subject
Date: 23 Mar 2019 03:59 (UTC)briar understands that feeling, being out of place, unsettled in your own skin. it's something he continues to contend with but the older he gets, the closer he comes to acceptance.
it's why he's keen to help jase, understanding inherently what he might be going through, pesky new crushes aside. it's sweet, however, the way that cat follows him in, brushes up against him in a way only a cat can get away with. he doesn't mind when he sits up on the mixing counter as briar himself begins chopping up ingredients, grinding some with a mortar and pestle. ]
Come back if this doesn't have any kind of effect in a few days. I will try another recipe.
no subject
Date: 26 Mar 2019 02:27 (UTC)briar is fascinating β just about the epitome of everything that jase is not, with his delicate features and soft voice, his aura that's β okay, and this is cheesy, and he knows it β practically magical, alluring. maybe he's projecting all of his wide-eyed and bushy-tailed amazement onto this boy but ... who could blame him?
his tail flicks back and forth idly and jase nods, probably a weird thing to see a cat do very purposefully, but that's okay. in all honestly, he can't help but start planning his next visit to the cafΓ© already; he's a sucker. )
Mrr~? ( jase asks, streeetching his neck down so he can sniff at the concoction taking shape within the mortar, too many new and different scents for him to fully parse and identify. so many that it makes him sneeze, a small, pathetic thing, and he sits up straight again, shaking it off.
what's in there? )
no subject
Date: 30 Mar 2019 17:57 (UTC)I hate to say it, they do say things about cats and curiosity, [ he teases lightly, ducking behind the counter to find little biodegradable satchels beneath, pulling out about ten of them. he begins to fill them with his crushed mixture, the leaves and such now tiny specs. ]
Root of dandelion, [ briar explains finally, tapping his tiny spoon against the rim of the bowl. ] lavender, black tea from England, aconite, a pinch of nettle...
You're to drink this as tea. I would recommend drinking with a little milk and some sugar.
no subject
Date: 31 Mar 2019 22:20 (UTC)it's a weird thing, owning what he is, if only briefly. he's never fully embraced his feline side mostly out of obliviousness and then, as he grew older and learned about his family's roots, about their abilities ... he almost thought they were ashamed. but how could they be ashamed of something so wonderful that, in this moment, brings jase so much unbridled joy? he simply can't fathom it.
the dark cat eyeballs these little satchels, can hardly believe that this boy just created this magical mixture right before his eyes. with a small nod of his tiny head, jase stands up, pads delicately over the satchels so he can, unabashedly and only a little inwardly ashamedly, brush against briar's hand so he can receive one final pet from head to tail, giving this beautiful boy a small flick of his tail on that beautiful nose.
and just like that β it's in the blink of an eye but that cat shifts very quickly back into a boy, exhaling sharply because the whole thing feels so strange and it happens so fast, looking a little shellshocked, and also.
and also because he realizes that maybe he should have leapt off of the counter and onto the floor before trying to clumsily change back, if only because he's now a too-large boy sitting on the lip of a too-small counter, legs dangling off the edge and finding himself situated right in front of and extremely close to the bright-eyed shopkeeper, a tall boy made even taller by the height of his current seat. )
I, uhhhh β thank you?
no subject
Date: 2 Apr 2019 03:57 (UTC)[ which may or may not be the answer to one of the questions that could be rolling around jase's brain. it's amusing, watching a cat have very human reactions to these things; that image doesn't get old, regardless of how long briar has embedded himself into the world that has surprisingly accepted him for who he is. or who he has shaped himself to be.
he tuts, however, at that last-ditch effort to get one more bit of affection from him βΒ it's nothing terribly grouchy but he knows what that was about.
standing completely still, briar's expression barely changes when the cat decides to become a boy again, a hulking mass of limbs now settled on his counter and he raises his eyebrows so that they disappear behind light brown bangs, lifting his chin so that he can assess this silly stranger once more. ]
I don't think that can hold your weight for very long.