Coyote Walking

I was... drat.

Where was I going?

I'm just standing out here in the middle of some street and I'm sure I was going someplace, but...

I guess I should probably just go home. If only I could remember how to get there.

All right, I'm game.

Come on, hit me. I'll take either one - truth or dare. Ask me anything.

1. Make a list of 5 things that you can see without getting up.
A mostly built VW, tools, a mug with now cold hot chocolate, an oily rag that must have fallen out of my pocket, and more paperwork than you can shake a stick at.

2. How do you style your hair?
I mostly just stick it in a braid or two.

3. What are you wearing now?
A mostly clean T-shirt and jeans

4. What's your occupation?
Mechanic - though here I actually earn a living by running a magic store.

5. Who was the last person you hugged?
I can't remember the last time I hugged someone. Does my cat count?

6. What is/was for dinner?
Who knows. Maybe some mac and cheese?

7. Dog person or cat person?
I have a cat and I like them both, but they're not always so fond of me.

8. Where do you see yourself in five years?
I hope I'm home. Working in my garage, avoiding the werewolves, trying to keep myself out of trouble.

9. What are you doing this weekend?
Nothing exciting. Maybe take tomorrow off and go for a run. A real one.

10. If you could play any musical instrument, which one would you play?
None. They made me take piano lessons, but I was really bad at it.

11. How are you?
A little homesick today.


Um... what the heck is this? I didn't intend to... *sigh* Must be a curse.

Mercy's hard at work in the garage, only her feet visible from underneath the nearly completed VW Bug. There is the sound of metal on metal as she fiddles and adjusts, but over it all you hear her voice, talking to herself.

"Love can transpose to form and dignity:
Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind;
And therefore is wing'd Cupid painted blind:
Nor hath Love's mind of any judgement taste;
Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste:
And therefore is Love said to be a child,
Because in choice he is so oft just totally lost.
As stupid boys in game themselves forswear,
So the boy Love is perjured every where:

... Oh, this is ridiculous. Why the hell do I keep speaking...? Damn."

And she's back to muttering under her breath about stupid City curses. Someone's been having dreams about a certain pair of werewolves back home.

Mercy's working in the garage, oblivious to the festoons of mistletoe that have begun encroaching. All that can be seen of her is her lower torso, the rest hidden under the partial VW Bug she's working on. After a moment there's a clank, a muffled ow, and some mechanic's power words as she slides out from under the car and gets up rubbing her head.

Not nice, Car.

She tugs her shirt down where it's ridden up exposing her tattoo and then notices the device and goes over and turns it off.

Silly thing.

Well, since it's on... I'm working on some stuff here in the garage if anyone's looking for me or wants to come rescue from this bloodthirsty car later.


[ooc: Open for action from anyone interested. Yay mistletoe!]

Have a rather pregnant Mercy, looking a bit concerned.

Samuel? Where are you?

Where are we?



[ooc: Road Not Taken curse. Mercy never returned home to her mother's, she ran away with and eventually married Samuel instead.]

When Bran caught Samuel and I kissing he told me he was sending me back to live with my mother and to pack my things right away. I packed, but Samuel and I planned to run away together. Bran found out, of course, and, well... he filled me in on the real reason Samuel wanted to marry me and I just... I couldn't live with that.

So I left. Without saying goodbye to anyone, without explanation. I should have had the guts to face Samuel directly, but I was so in love I was afraid...

Anyway, when I turned up on my mother's doorstep I discovered that neither her husband nor her other two children had any idea that I even existed. They were very kind and welcoming to me, I have to say that for them - they always have been. But that time was... well, let's just say it was a particularly miserable one.

...

Why am I talking about - ? Oh man, I'm cursed, aren't I?

Priestly? Did you slip something in one of the things you brought me?

'Cause I haven't felt like this since that night we... well, you know.

Mmmmm...

If you - or somebody - is gonna get me stoned, they ought to hang around so we can have some fun.

Or maybe you're still here? Come out, come out wherever you are!

Feelin' snuggly and happy and... wow... boy, am I gonna be hungry in a bit.

[An image is glimpsed through the half-closed bathroom door, a long haired figure on her knees, complete with the sound of retching. After a time the figure stands and one can hear water running. A moment later Mercy comes out of the bathroom holding a washcloth to her face as she collapses into the comfy chair by the bed, feet tucked under, curled up as much as possible. She's mumbling to herself, completely unaware that she's being recorded.]

I don't understand, maybe some flu bug? Doesn't really seem like it though, seems more like - No. Oh no. Oh no, please.

[And she's turning to scrabble through her journal on the table, counting frantically to herself as her face becomes even paler than any viewer might have thought possible.]

The last time was... Oh no. Please. Not this. Not now. The timing... Things couldn't possibly get any worse.

[And then she's on another mad dash to the bathroom, knocking the network device off the shelf to the floor in her heedless hurry, and shutting the video function off.]

Yes, I'm affected. And trying very hard not to think about it, though I'm sure if anyone pushes the issue I'd be forced to rate them.

Right now though, I'm thinking about the gorgeous full moon last night and tonight. Any of you seen it? They call it the Wolf Moon.

Makes me homesick.

Not that any coyote with half a brain in her head's going to join in when the wolves start howling, but wow is it incredible to just let loose on a night like this. There were a bunch of nights like this when I was away from all the pack crap that I'd find an out of the way desolate place and just... yeah.

If anyone's looking for me after moonrise I'll be out communing.

Well, I can shift again, but there seems to be another little problem.

Two curses? In a row.

I... don't want to say what I'm cursed with today.

Which is 100% the truth.

Samuel...

I really wish you were here. Not that I want you stuck here too, but I wish could tell you I understand what you did - why you did what you did.

And to let you know that I forgive you and that I hope I didn't hurt you too badly by running instead of staying to explain.

I hope that you forgive yourself as well.


Wow... don't know why that's so strong in my head right now. Probably a curse, but well, I do mean it. And I'd give anything to be able to tell him.