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cross your heart && hope to die

[An August catch-all! Please note that Nancy has been cursed to compelled to tell the truth. This curse lasts until she reveals 3 things that she never would have otherwise, or until the next full moon (Aug 29). Please mention if a thread occurs AFTER the 29th as for now, she's defaulting to cursed.

Lots of fun. Please see these lovely starters, and check the comment section for a few starters. Want something specific? you know where to find me (

sheakespeare).]

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Option A
The day after Lammas, Nancy woke up like any other day. She fed her cat, had some coffee and cooked up a bit of bacon to keep her hangover at bay. Today was supposed to be like any other day, grab a few bottles of Blood Replenisher to give to Cooper, more VT for her, and maybe stop by a local cafe to read for a while. And everything was going just great.

At least, until she got to the apothecary. When she was asked how she was doing, instead of just saying 'alright' and moving on like any normal person would do, she found herself looking at him and saying, "I'm bloody hungover and I don't know what just happened." But she'd said those words, even if they weren't the ones she wanted to. Blinking, she tried again, but the results were the same. Even after a third time.

"Fine, just ring me up I can tell you're impatient and think I'm crazy." He gave her a look, but rang up her purchases. Nancy was only too glad to get out of there.

Once on the street, that's where she was able to take stock of herself. Putting her bags down, she leaned against the wall. "Alright, Nancy. What's going on with you? This isn't like you." And that was the first of many incidents that day, where she thought one thing, and wound up saying something entirely else. Something, she found, that was true, and only occurred when she was lying.

Someone had cursed her. And she still had to run errands.

Option B

Nancy was determined not to let this curse keep her from working. So here she was, another night, another bar, dolled up. Whenever she approached men, however, she still couldn't, try as she might, even dance around telling the truth.

She sounded desperate, awful, and her game was at an all-time-low. At this rate, she'd have to ask Fagin for money, and he was notoriously tight with his purse strings. The only thing worse than that would be asking someone like Killian to help her out. Completely unacceptable.

Another failed solicitation, and the bartender finally nodded to the bouncer. said bouncer, who had once happily checked Nancy's ID, marched over to the petite girl and promptly informed her that this bar had no room for prostitutes, and she was therefore banned from the establishment for the rest of forever.

Shoulders sagging forward, Nancy trekked through London, trying to keep her tears at bay. Tonight, she decided, she was just going to walk home. Usually, she'd find herself at Fagin's, pouring herself a drink of gin on nights like tonight. But seeing the old man would only be a disaster tonight. Besides, she needed some time to think to herself.

Option C

If anyone has cared to notice, it's been a few days since Nancy'd been seen around London, or even responded to any sort of texts or anything. Her phone is off, and she's more than happy to spend her time right now sitting on the couch with her cat in her lap and read. Reading would lead to drinking and watching television, or even practicing videogaming but all the same, the fact remained she was lonely. Lonely and bored. First July kept her in the house for the Hunt, and now August had her nearly unable to open her mouth at all to have any sort of normal human interaction.

And, when it was feeling like it was going to be impossible to ever lift the curse, she started researching. She had a few books hidden away from when she lived at the Den, and poured over them, attempting to find a solution to her problem.

Option D
Wild Card. Make your own prompt.

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Nancy nodded, placing her water glass a few inches in front of herself on the table. "You're right." Unfortunately, she had a tendency, in these situations, to act before she even had time to really process. She was an impulsive sort of girl.

Another nod, and Nancy found herself lowering her hands from her eyes, resting them on the edge of the carved-up table. She'd heard stories, legends. A curious girl, she'd asked Fagin to explain all sorts of fae to her, sitting on his lap. She was stupid and naive then, unaware that she was a witch in the first place.

"I don't know," it was the truth and her opinion. "Everything just comes out automatically."

That was better, Nancy was taking time to think, and breath. It would help her. She was not completely powerless in the situation. If worse came to worst she could always work with her fellow witches to take her voice away for a time. Not that Mab would make the suggestion just now. It never hurt for a witch to deal with something of this sort. A human would say it builds character.

"Well then, let us test it." She was quiet for a moment, considering. "Something benign, or obvious." Her eyes did not drift from Nancy's face before finally offering, "Do you fear me, child?"

The question was not one she had expected. Or, perhaps, she should have expected.

But she tried. She honestly tried as she opened her mouth and hesitated, her mouth trying to form words that she didn't want to say, that she couldn't say, but had to say. It friggin' sucked, even if the result was almost comical "I- I don't-" she looked at Mab, her eyes wide as she practically begged for help, to not have to say the truth. But there was no resisting.

"Yes."

Mab puffed out a breath and reached out to pat the girl's hand. "It would be foolish of you not to." It was almost dismissive. "You have not told me anything I was not able to determine on my own. An unfortunate failure against your curse though." Comical or not, Mab did not laugh at Nancy.

She tapped her free finger on the rim of her own glass of water and it re-chilled, glass frosting over.

In nearly any other circumstances, the hand pat would have been condescending, but Nancy softened again at the touch. The lack of laughter, now that was a mark on Mab's character, and a good one at that.

"It is..." She watched with mild interest the way the glass frosted itself at her touch. Ice. She'd hazard a guess that the fae in front of her was Unseelie, given their rule over winter. But she didn't press the matter. "Do you think there's anything I can do?"

The poor girl was starved for affection as far as Mab could tell. It left her sweetly vulnerable. She had grown up quickly under Fagan's care but under it all there was still a lonely child.

And even so, she was still alert, watching Mab's magic touch her glass. Mab squeezed her hand once and then released it to lift the cup to her lips and sip.

"There are likely several things you might attempt." She offered. "I am ... somewhat limited in what I might do to assist or even inform. You understand these limitations, I think." Balance. Some fae required it more than others. The stronger a sidhe was the more tightly they were bound by the need for balance.

She was thoughtful for a moment. "I might have one offer for you." Setting her cup down she considered the girl. "A geas. If there is something specific you do not wish to reveal, something very important, I can put a gag on the topic." And as always there is a catch. "I will, however, need to know enough about it to properly lay the geas." Even if Nancy tried to say it, no sound would leave her mouth. "It would be dangerous to do more than one specific topic at a time but, it would cost you the least."

A geas. The idea was amazing, and it alone was almost enough to make Nancy jump at the chance. But it wasn't enough. She knew what such a favor would cost her, and she did not want to be in debt to the fae.

No, Nancy couldn't accept. She couldn't give a fae that much information willingly, either. Besides, what would she choose when there was so much she didn't want revealed?

But to reveal something to someone, something that could cause catastrophic results? Was it worth it? There was always a chance it wouldn't work. Or a chance no one would ask her about what she feared. Then she was in the debt of a fae for no real reason at all.

"I can't ask you to do that, ma'am," she said softly, tracing the R+L scratched into the table however many years ago.

She smiled a little as Nancy first looked excited and then reconsidered the implications. Smart girl. Desperation often bred stupidity, but this girl was good under pressure. Fagan had taught her well.

"Understandable." She replied and considered the girl again before pulling out her clutch and plucking a card from inside. She slid it carefully across the table to the girl with two fingers. "Should the need outweigh the cost in the future you may contact me." She snapped the clutch shut again and it disappeared somewhere below table level.

Like coal, she was best under pressure. It's when you could see her true worth.

Nancy picked up the card and glanced at it briefly, admiring the embossed snowflake for just a moment before she slid it into her own purse. "Thank you, Ms. Sommerset. I appreciate it- you've been kind to me." She bowed her head to show her just how much.' "Thank you."

Ahh a thank you, a dangerous thing to give around fae. It implies obligation. A favor done. If one wasn't careful one could be cooking a fae's meals the rest of their life after a thank you. The girl's respectful bow of the head made Mab's lips curl up a little in a smile. She sipped her water again.

Setting the mug aside she touched the girl's cheek once more. "It is always pleasant to hear that my help was appreciated. Take time to collect yourself. All is not lost."

Despite her years under the thumb of a fae, even nancy was prone to making small mistakes, chalking it up to the stress. If it came to Mab deciding that was indeed a favor done, she'd fight it as best she could. Hopefully, hopefully she wouldn't.

The touch brought Nancy's gaze upward again. "I will. You've been wonderful, Ms. Sommerset. I didn't realize how much I needed this." It was good to have someone removed from the whole situation, but still close enough that she didn't have to worry about breaking any statutes of secrecy. The Night Council probably wasn't fond of her to begin with.

Mab could enforce a favor owed. But she thought she might get more out of this dear child with a little honey and patience. She could wait until Nancy found she desperately needed help. It's so much sweeter when your vassals come willingly.

Her fingers trailed up to brush across the girl's cheek tenderly once before she pulled back and moved to stand. "I am sure you would find some way to help me, if I had such need as well." No demand entered into her voice just the soft reminder of what she was or perhaps a moral theory. "I will leave you to collect yourself without fear of needing to answer more questions. No one in the pub will bother you for another half an hour unless you request it."

Truth be told, if she ever wanted something, she would rather go to a female fae. Despite being, well, friends with a number of male fae, she thought the warmth would be much, much better.

She gives Mab a watery smile. "You're wonderful," she told her honestly, green eyes still shiny with tears. Half an hour was all she'd really need, then she needed to get back home. Start figuring out a way to break this curse.

The girl is delightful. Almost innocent especially considering who raised her and what he raised her to do. Mab is pleased with her decision to court the black witch with kindness.

She certainly is not going to deny that she is wonderful. Instead she smiles, an entirely human expression that mimics the real thing wonderfully. "If nothing else your life for the time being will be exciting. Take care, child." With that farewell, she turned and left the pub, leaving Nancy to consider her offer and collect herself before going out to face the world.

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cross your heart && hope to die

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