A Human’s Guide to Surviving Magical Mishaps

I spend the afternoon on my laptop. I was originally planning to teach Ashton how to browse the internet and social media for hints as to where the assassins might be, but I forgot how confusing a computer might be to someone who has basically had zero interaction with technology. So it turns into more of a tutorial with about a million questions that I am probably not qualified to answer and more than a few that I have to search up on my phone to give any kind of intelligen response. But Ashton catches on quickly and eventually he has the basics down. Turning it on, typing and entering a password, although admittedly slow, using the mouse track pad and working out how to open and close links and windows. I make sure he knows which icon leads to the internet and I give him about a hundred warnings about being careful what he searches for. Then again, his limited understanding of slang, idioms and double meanings in our language might make it a little difficult for him to actually be aware of what he's searching. But whatever, he's an adult. I don't need to censor his internet access. I just don't want him to accidentally stumble onto something and be scarred for life. We don't get a lot of actual searching done, but I have links open to the sites that I think would be most likely to report weird happenings in town and we have started brainstorming what kinds of events we might be looking for. People struggling with technology, unexplainable events that might be caused by magic, sightings of fae (we have no idea how good these assassins are at maintaining glamors. They might have purchased them and that makes them unreliable at best.) The topic of glamors leads me to a whole new line of thought.

"If fae can have glamors and can change their appearances however they like, whenever they like, how do you know if someone is being genuine? You could know someone for years and not know what they really look like. They could be pretending to be someone else. How can you trust anyone?" I ask. Ashton considers how to answer, tapping a hand to his cheek thoughtfully.

"Glamours are not perfect. You learned how to see through mine easily enough. If you know someone well, you know their mannerisms, their tone. It becomes hard not to recognise them, glamour or not. You might be able to pretend to be someone else temporarily, but when people are paying more attention to how you act and less to how you look it generally does not take long to realise that something is amiss. If someone were to give you two letters, one written by your best friend and one written by someone pretending to be your best friend, do you believe you would be able to tell which is the true letter?" He questions. I nod.

"Sure, I doubt that anyone could be as forthright as Lucy is. Plus she knows so much about me, I could just check for the letter that includes personal information or private jokes." I conclude, seeing his point. “Exactly. Appearance is only one way to identify a person, for fae it is just a little less reliable. Do you really think someone could come home pretending to be your father and you would not immediately notice?” He asks. "You're right. Although I suppose it might be harder if it was someone I don't know well that they were pretending to be. Plus when I meet someone new I wouldn't know for sure if I'm actually seeing what they really look like. Then again, does it matter? I mean I can plaster on makeup and wear fancy clothes to disguise myself. I am going to consider glamour as just really effective makeup." I determine with a grin.

"That sounds reasonably accurate." Ashton agrees.

A knock at the front door draws my attention and I can hear Lucy outside.

"Kaaat? Hurry up. My arms are full and I don't want to drop my dress in the dirt. Answer the dooooor." She calls out. I laugh and jump to my feet.

"Speaking of makeup, Lucy is here. Be prepared, she has very strong opinions on how much effort a person should put into a night out. I am mildly afraid of what she has in store for me.” I wink at him as I reach for the door. Ashton allows me to open it myself since we already know who is here, but he does hover VERY close behind me. I suppose it is possible for someone other than Lucy to be waiting out there, but it's not likely. Lucy sounds far too much like herself to be under duress. Lucy stumbles in and immediately shoves an armful of stuff at me.

"Here, hold this." I find myself holding a dress, shoes and a random bag. Lucy is rubbing a hand up her arm where the strap of the bag was cutting in and left a red mark.

"Oh thank goodness, I thought my arm was going to fall off." She remarks. She turns to Ashton with stars in her eyes.

"Hi Ashton." I can practically hear the sugar in her voice. She says it so sweetly and I have to fight the urge to laugh. I might love Lucy and she is definitely my best friend, but she is nowhere near that sweet.

"Good afternoon Lucy." He greets her politely, if a little awkwardly. I doubt he missed the adoration in her tone. She sees how uncomfortable he is and breaks out in a grin.

"You don't have to worry, I'm not going to eat you. I just think you're interesting is all.” She tries to reassure him, but I'm not sure it worked because Ashton just gives a single nod. "Right." She turns to me with a delighted glint in her eyes that terrifies me. What is she planning?

"Take me to your closet. I think I know what you should wear but I need to check it out to be sure. We don't have a lot of time." She insists. I frown and glance at my phone for the time.

"We have hours, it's not even six yet. Also how did you get here so fast? You only finished at five thirty and you must have made a trip home to collect your things because you didn't have them this morning." I point out. Lucy grins. "I convinced Marcus to let me take my second fifteen minute break at the end of my shift so I could just leave a little early." She smirks and I roll my eyes.

"Of course you did. Do we really need that long to get dressed? I can do my own hair and makeup.” I argue.novelbin

"Of course you can, but I want to take my time with mine. Plus we still have to figure out what you're wearing. What about you fae boy, what are you going to wear?" She demands. Ashton shrugs and glances at me for assistance. "I am not sure. What is considered appropriate?" He asks.

"What would you wear to a party if you were at home?” Lucy asks curiously. He considers a moment.

"Those pants I wore this morning probably." He decides. Lucy waits for him to continue but he stays silent.

"What else?" She prompts him and he tilts his head to the side.

"What else? Is that not enough?" He sighs, probably thinking about how snotty my dad was about his half dressed state.

"Apparently the fae dress a little less conservatively than we do. Shirts and shoes are actually optional." I tell her. Lucy's eyes widen and she looks Ashton over from head to toe, probably trying to imagine an entire realm of men who look like him and walk around without shirts.

"How do you get anything done? I'd have to spend all day just staring at hot people." She declares. Ashton processes what she says and raises an eyebrow.

"I assure you it is not usually a problem. Besides, it is rude to stare. Is that not the case here?" he asks.

"Sure it is, but since when is anyone as polite as they should be?" I comment.

"That is true. I suppose it is just something a person gets used to. I find it strange that everyone here is wearing so much when it is so warm. It hardly seems efficient." Ashton answers.

'We're getting off topic. What is Ashton going to wear? I doubt you bought him any nice clothes this morning. Probably just the basics, right?” Lucy seems agitated.

"I'm sure we can figure something out." I assure her.