petty_dabbler | Fin and John

People had this idea of the occult. All dark and spooky, like. Or else they thought of crystals and incense and vagina detoxes or what have you. For John it was just shopping.

He'd stopped at the butcher's and picked up pig blood, then went to Tesco for the rest, like candles and a sharpie. Salt. Lots of salt.

He looked down his list and scowled. John raised his head to try to see where he should go, but only saw...the man had been much thinner in the asylum but John was sure it was the same bloke.

"Well enough to shop? You look better without that tube," he said. He had already accepted that if he wasn't the same man then he'd just look like a nutter. Except...he wasn't usually wrong when his gut told him something.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

petty_dabbler

John turned around to take a glass from him.

"Modest," he accused with a grin.

From:

prince_of_nymphs

"I imagine it's more to do with feelings of inadequacy and imposter syndrome, but sure- Modest sounds nicer," Fin quipped, sipping his wine.

From:

petty_dabbler

"That's awfully philosophical," he chuckled. "So. I know you want to know. What do you want to know?"

From:

prince_of_nymphs

"Everything. What you are, how your magic works... All of it," Fin replied.

From:

petty_dabbler

"I'm just a bloke from London," he said. "I'm a warlock. But through my life I've pissed off a few people. I send demons back to Hell, that sort of thing. I draw power straight from the aether, which, if I understand correctly, ain't where fae magic comes from."

From:

prince_of_nymphs

"No, fae power- Or at least my kind, draw from organic matter. Trees, nature- People. Passion, I find, spurs mine on the most," Fin replied.

From:

petty_dabbler

"That's about the shape of it," John nodded. "You use yours for fame and money, huh?"

From:

prince_of_nymphs

"No," Fin replied, looking insulted. "The money was- Well, inherited, sort of. The fame's mine. I earned this. I don't bewitch people into giving me shiny trophies. It's my passion. The magic part just sort of happened. I'm only half fae- A late bloomer."

From:

petty_dabbler

"You just get more and more interesting," he said before knocking back a large swallow.

From:

prince_of_nymphs

"Just wait until you see my crown if you think I'm interesting now," Fin said dryly, sipping his own wine and settling in on the sofa.

"When did you learn what you are?" he asked.

From:

petty_dabbler

"I fell into it in my twenties. Dabbled in the 'dark arts'," he said, quoting with his fingers. "Black magic. Not even once," he chuckled as he thought of old public service slogan.

From:

prince_of_nymphs

"You learned it, you weren't born into it?" Fin asked curiously.

From:

petty_dabbler

"Nobody's born a warlock, love. You learn it as you go, and the longer you go without blowing yourself up the more cool points you get," he joked.

From:

prince_of_nymphs

"Wait, so does that mean anyone can learn magic?" Fin asked, looking confused.

From:

petty_dabbler

"It's not easy, but anyone can learn some," he said. "Though, all things considered, I'd tell anyone curious to leave it be."

As would almost every other warlock he'd met.

From:

prince_of_nymphs

"Why?" Fin asked, still sipping his wine.

Edited Date: 2020-06-17 04:12 am (UTC)

From:

petty_dabbler

"Because there's a balance in the world, and wielding the power always bites you in the ass," he said. "For most people, it's just not worth it."

He took a swallow.

"...Or they lose their bloody minds and try to take over the universe."

From:

prince_of_nymphs

"...Oh," Fin replied.

He studied the man a moment, considering his clothes and appearance. He was handsome, older, kind of scruffy. His magic wasn't sure how it felt about the other man's, but it still crept towards him slightly.