text; un: beatrix [1]

[fiendennor]

Do you believe in magic?
If so, what do you know about it?

Comments

[fiendennor]

...and that strikes you as not "magic"?

[notwagging]

Well... I guess it might look like magic! But it's not. I'm not magical in the slightest! Nope, nope.

[fiendennor]

To be perfectly honest, that does seem like an overly specific denial.

[notwagging]

If I was magical, I could shoot fireballs and gusts of wind and throw bolts of lightning.

Instead, all I can do is... smash those same casters into the ground!

[fiendennor]

Hm. Well, if you insist. May I ask what kind of creature you call yourself, then?

[notwagging]

Wolfskin!

And what kind of creature do you call yourself?

[fiendennor]

Human.

Or witch, if that was more your question.

[notwagging]

A human witch.

[ the light bulb finally goes off, but maybe not in the way Diana expects.]

So you're a mage of some kind, then.

[fiendennor]

That's not a commonly used term where I'm from, but yes.

I use magic.

[notwagging]

Hm...

[ thinking. ]

... well. You seem kinda nice. Do you think you are?

[fiendennor]

[That's not the question she was expecting. It catches her a little off guard.] ...do I think I'm... nice?

[notwagging]

Yes! Do you think you're a nice human?

[ yes, even doggos can have interesting, introspective questions sometimes. ]

[fiendennor]

I... certainly try to be. Kindness, compassion, and charity are the values that my mother tried to instill in me from a very young age, and I try to live up to those expectations. [A beat.] Which isn't to say I succeed flawlessly all the time, of course.

[notwagging]

[ he hums thoughtfully as he thinks about her response. ]

... sounds good to me!

[ then, Keaton claps his hands together. ]

You can live.

[ and he snickers. ]

[fiendennor]

[A little sigh.] I would certainly hope so, yes. Though if you're making it a life-or-death case, perhaps don't go on self-reporting?

[notwagging]

I'll remember that for next time!

[ the next time he... low-key threatens someone, anyway. ]

[fiendennor]

Out of curiosity, what would you have I done had I answered differently?

[notwagging]

[ that earns her a snort. ]

Well, you're still human. You'd reveal your intentions eventually. Actions mean a lot more than words.

But I trust you. Trying to be kind is the best kind of trying.

[fiendennor]

I don't disagree that actions speak louder than words. But you can't exactly go around threatening someone just because they aren't nice.

[notwagging]

Hm...

Did you feel threatened?

[fiendennor]

Myself? No. [She has magic, sir.]

Others might have.

[notwagging]

Good! Good.

I wouldn't want to threaten you, anyway.

[fiendennor]

Even so, I would be careful about joking about that sort of thing.

Others might take it seriously.

[notwagging]

Okay. I'll be more careful next time.

[ both ears droop slightly, his tail doing the same--- though it's probably not in view. ]

[fiendennor]

[She crosses her arms, giving him a nod.] In a place like this where we're all new, consider that people might not understand your own particular brand of humor yet. It's better to err on the side of caution until you get to know people, I think.