they used to sing about the birds and the bees;

[tippytoes]

dirty paws and furry coat; (a)

It’s easier, now, to be human. Now that she has something like a pack. It doesn’t mean she prefers it by any means. Being human is still difficult, still something she doesn’t ‘get’. It might be easier to blend into the streets of London as a human, but Malia’s never really cared about easy.

Which is why she’s back to old habits, trotting around an area with multiple coffee shops, looking for breakfast. Or lunch. It’s late enough in the day to be either, at this point. It’s a particularly busy one that’s she decided to poke her face into the dumpster for, and she’s just managed to catch them after their morning rush, which means a lot of half eaten scones or donuts or toast or some kind of breakfast sandwich.

Her back paws are scrambling on the side of the dumpster as she tries to climb inside, and she finally does with a loud ‘Oof’. With that, she starts tearing through the bags.

After she’s eaten, she sticks to the shadows as best as she can as she makes her way around the city, doing her best to stay out of the way of people. She’s really not in the mood to deal with animal control now, thanks.


she ran down the forest slope; (b)

Sometimes, she remains human, because it’s the right thing to do. She has to learn eventually to navigate her way through this space. She can’t stay an animal forever. It helps having a family, even if it’s a small one. The gaping wound in her heart is still there, but it’s slowly starting to scab over.

She really hates having to pay for things, though. Malia may have found a family, but she has no income to speak of, and absolutely no job. She probably couldn’t get one even if she wanted one; she never went to school, still doesn’t go, and she has no credentials that she knows where to find them.

Malia’s standing outside that same coffee shop she was at for breakfast, now at the front door instead of the back. She’s got her arms crossed and she’s glaring at it like it’s personally offended her. It smells great, and her stomach is growling and she’d like to go inside, but--

But she can’t buy anything. And she’s sincerely contemplating just turning into a coyote and snagging lunch that way.

Ugh. Humanity.


the forest of the talking trees; (closed to derek hale)

Malia wasn’t going to argue that she probably needed a phone. Allying herself with her cousin’s pack meant that they were going to need a way to communicate with one another when they weren’t close by that wasn’t a series of complicated howls.

She was seated in the passenger side of his car, wrinkling her nose a little at the plastic smell of it.

“You really don’t have to do this,” she says, fastening her belt. Even though she knows that, yes, he kind of does. There was just some vague memory of her mother teaching her to be polite when it came to expensive gifts, and maybe still a little bit of wariness because of who Derek shared a surname with. She knows enough about Peter to know he probably won’t be an issue. It doesn’t keep her skin from crawling when she thinks about it.


( brackets or prose is fine, and if you have a different idea for a thread you'd like to use, feel free to leave it as a starter!! )

Comments

[tippytoes]

Malia just nods. There's too much, and it'll tide her over for now. She waits for their order, crossing her arms and fidgeting a little and glances around the cafe, ostensibly looking for a place to sit.

[rules_winter]

The tea and scone make it over first, followed by Malia's sugar shock concoction and her additional sugar shock. Mab is always judging, it is how assessments are made. The fae woman takes her saucer of tea and scone and turns to slip through the crowded room toward a table. The people currently at the table pause, frown and look around nervously before murmuring about having forgotten something and Mab slips in, to sit in a chair that is still pulled out it was so hurriedly vacated.

The tea and saucer settle down and she pulls a napking from somewhere. And honest to goodness cloth napkin, and sets it in her lap before taking a sip of her steaming tea. Once she is properly settled in she looks up at Malia who she expects to have simply followed along and waits to be certain she has started sating her hunger before asking, "You have difficulties around others as well?"

[tippytoes]

Malia blinks, having followed and sat down, but doesn't question it, the faint hint of magic making her nose twitch. She picks at her food, glancing around at the other patrons, who seem to have suddenly all found better things to do with their time than stare at the two new people who'd come in.

She's not relaxed, not by a long shot, but it's still better than being stared at.

"I don't really know how to deal with other people."

Woah so many typos, sorry about that last post

[rules_winter]

"Mmm," Mab lifts her tea and takes a sip, savoring for a moment before setting it back on the saucer. "I can deal with people." She looks thoughtful, "It is the changes in customs and phrases with which I will need to reacquaint myself."

Her eyes scan Malia's face for a moment as though she is trying to see into the young woman's soul, find the things that make her tick. "What has stunted your social growth, child?" Malia, unfortunately, does not hold the patent on blunt questions but Mab thinks she might be the type of person who can appreciate getting to the point.

i didn't even notice!

[tippytoes]

Mab's right. Her bluntness doesn't faze Malia. She does break eye contact, though, rubbing her thumb over the handle of the mug her mocha is in.

"My mom died when I was little. I've been alone since then. It was easier to just pretend to be an animal instead of trying to be human."

\O/

[rules_winter]

Malia's drop of her eyes, a sign of submission in a werewolf, is not so much in a Coyote. But it is interesting to see none the less. And Mab still isn't sure what kind of animal the girl is.

"Ahh." Mab considers this. "My sympathies for your loss, and at a tender age it can leave scars on the soul." Not everyone could retreat into a bestial nature to deal with loss. But one had to question if it was something to envy when it left her now on the outside trying to fit back in. "You make an effort now, though." And it was as much a question as a statement.

[tippytoes]

"I'm trying," she says, looking back up at Mab. Her show of submission is all human and nothing more. The look she gives Mab now is one of earnest.

"I have to try. For my family."

[rules_winter]

"Family." Mab let the word sit between them as she considered it. Humans places such weight on these things but she had seen the things families could do to one another. It was not so much a thing show reverence to as some might. But the attachments were quite useful. "I hope they appreciate you efforts? It is no easy thing, coming back after such a time in a baser nature."

[tippytoes]

"I don't know. I think so." She looks down again, reaching for the cup with her untouched coffee in it and wrapping her fingers around it. She looks up at Mab again and narrows her eyes a little.

"Why do you need help?"

[rules_winter]

Malia has given her a good deal of information, and Mab deems it useful to make it clear what she is. She is all for fair trade to some degree. "I have interacted only marginally with mortals in the last few decades." Harry Dresden barely counted. "I spent a good deal of time up north in the fae courts and their contact with humans is negligible." She tilts her head a little, "I find my communication lacking and as we have decided to take a more proactive role in your realm, I find it necessary to ... update my skills."

[tippytoes]

It takes Malia a moment or two to fully process what it is Mab is saying. When she does, she frowns, leaning back in her chair. She's suspicious; she doesn't know much about the Fae, never really had a chance to learn, but she knows enough to know they can be dangerous.

This is bad. This is really bad.

"I don't know anything about humans either. Do you still think I can help you?"

[rules_winter]

Mab watches Malia assess the new situation, and come to the conclusion she might be in a little over her head. Which is really too bad as she already agreed to help in whatever way she could.

"You might, perhaps, be the best person to help. You are in the unique position of trying to fit back in. You will know more of the challenges I face than most others possibly could. You have people you know well enough that you can ask complicated questions without being questioned." She smiles a little and there is definitely a hint of predator in there. "Yes, I believe you can help me."

[tippytoes]

She's in over her head, but it's too late now. Malia swallows, and nods slightly, trying not to look like she's wanting to bolt. She knows the signs of a predator when she sees them, and while Malia's usually at the top of the food chain - right now, she isn't.

"So what do I do?"

[rules_winter]

Mab smiled again, almost beatifically and lifted a hand to her scone to take a bite. "You spend time with me, we visit somewhere humans frequent casually and you tell me or show me how to interact in such a situation." That's right, Malia, she's asking you to take her out on at least one friend-date. "Is this task manageable? I can provide more food when needed."

[tippytoes]

There doesn't seem to be any catch, there. Perhaps other than having to come directly when summoned — but Malia has no job and really no obligations. It's unlikely that's ever going to become an issue.

She nods.

"Yeah. I think so."

[rules_winter]

"Excellent. Then we are of an accord." She set the scone back down and sipped her tea, savoring it for a moment, the heat rising from the glass. Then she set the glass down and passed Malia a card, sliding it across the table with one well manicured finger. "You will have a week in which to decide on a particular activity and consult with others. Let me know what you decide to do at your earliest convenience." This is sounding very business arrangement-y.

[tippytoes]

Malia nods numbly, mind already racing. She has no idea — but she has someone she can ask.

"I don't know if that will be enough time. Can I just call you when I find something?"

[rules_winter]

Mab is not particularly fond of leaving anything quite so open ended. She studies the girl for a moment longer than is particularly comfortable but Malia isn't really used to social cues anyway so she might not even notice. "Within reason," Mab finally acquiesces the the request. "I would like to avoid unnecessary delays." She lifts her tea and finishes the cup, setting it back down on it's saucer. "Very well child, I will let you finish your meal in peace." She stood, chair moving back silently.

[tippytoes]

Malia doesn't even realize she's holding her breath until she releases it, nodding at Mab as she stands up. She doesn't bother telling Mab she doesn't have a phone; that'll be the first thing she does when she gets back. Derek will know how to get one, and what she needs to do to keep it.

"See you soon?"

God, she was so screwed.

[rules_winter]

"Quite soon." Mab agreed, looking at the girl once more, almost as though she was pleased or proud. Then she turned and left the shop, letting Malia finish her food in peace.