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[He shrugs, looking slightly uncomfortable.]

I've read the books you gave me.

[Because what is preamble and small talk?]

[She eyes him a little, before turning to head to the kitchen to make them some coffee. He's free to follow.]

You're very quick. What did you think of them?

I have some questions.

[How could he do otherwise than read them as fast as he could? They were the story of someone he's come to think of as a friend.]

From what I know of you, they don't seem like they're accurate. How close do they follow your life?

Some of them are more accurate than others. Humans like to exaggerate and anthropomorphize when it comes to animals. Beowulf's story overall followed his life more closely than my stories.

[She'll get a teapot on, and prep the french press.]

I liked his story, reminded me of Steve.

[They both have dumb friends who are too heroic for their own good.]

Renart-- the stories told me about murder and other ways of hurting people, did you really do that?

[She shrugs. Yeah, okay, he's going to be wondering about all of that. Maybe she should have given him a book that explains the symbolism and historical context of her stories.]

It sort of... depends. That one with Bruin was very similar to what happened. I was harassing a bear, he got stuck, and my gekkering drew the attention of some peasants.

[She doesn't feel bad about that one.]

Keep in mind we were all normal animals. We didn't actually have our own kingdom or monarchy, or human things like trials and executions. I was exceptionally clever, but I was still a regular fox. Humans just saw some of our antics and based the stories off them, or came up with entirely new ones.

[That actually makes him feel a bit better.

He knows that she's told him before that she used to be a fox, a proper one, but it hadn't really sunk in. To know these were tales that had been made up after watching animals and being inspired, it's different. Foxes don't have the morality of people, and so the tales can't be taken literally.]

I think I get it.

[It's still weird.]

So how did it change? How did you become-- who you are now?

[Aha, another personal subject. She's slowly getting better at explaining what she is. Frankly, it's a little easier to discuss when she doesn't have to worry about people naturally Forgetting about her. That and as she's the only Fairy Tale here, it means that she can explain it as she likes, without worrying about any other Tales barging in and offering their unwanted opinion.]

My stories became popular enough that after I died I became this. [She gestures towards her body.] We're called Fairy Tales. That healing I have is part of it.

As far as we've been able to tell it has to do with our lives being significant enough to become folklore or fairy tales, and enough of the human population believing in our tales to bring us back.

[This? This is far easier to discuss than her children. It isn't something she bothers talking about with most people, but she's comfortable enough with Bucky that she knows he won't get scared or angry about it, or think she's lying.]

[It's a bit far fetched, all magic and belief, but he doesn't think that she's lying. Just because his world doesn't work that way, it doesn't mean that hers doesn't, and he has some pretty far fetched things in his world too.]

I'm sorry.

[Probably not the response he should give, but it's what comes out all the same.]

That must be really hard, not to be given a choice and then suddenly-- suddenly you're not what you were before, and you're around for good.

You can relate to that, I bet.

[From what he's told her the similarities are there, which is unfortunate. Even though she's fine with being a Fairy Tale, it isn't something she'd want to see anyone go through. That they're friends makes it even worse.

She's getting a little more sober.]

It is what it is. I can't change how things are, and despairing over it doesn't do anyone any good.

[He nods, that's a fair attitude to have, but it doesn't always make it easier to think so logically.]

Would you?

[It's a quiet question with unusual gravity.]

If you could change how things are, and go back to what you were, would you do it?

[She's quiet for a few moments, but she has something of an answer. She has ever since Zephyr gave her her old body back.]

... I don't think so. I'd be trying to go back to a life that's long dead. Everything and everyone I knew back then is long gone, and I'd be abandoning what I've built up as a Fairy Tale.

[She certainly wouldn't be able to maintain the same kinds of relationships as a regular wild fox. Chances are she'd run off into the forests and live with the other foxes, avoiding people and only being concerned about food and raising kits.]

I'd be abandoning what humans gave me.

[That's where they differ.

He's glad, actually, to know that she feels that way. It means she's more accepting of who she is now, and maybe of the benefits she's gained from having this change. It might not make it less painful, but it might make it easier to bear the pain.]

If it's worth anything, I'm glad to have had the chance to meet you.

[He wouldn't have, if she were just a normal fox.]

It's worth a lot. [She smiles at him, despite this being such a depressing topic.] Relationships are just about all I have now.

[That's not a bad thing, of course.]

I'm guessing you'd go back if you could?

Mm.

[He's silent for a few moments, but he doesn't think she's going to tell John or freak out too much if he tells her a secret.]

There was someone in Norfinbury who had the ability to erase people from existence, before he died we made a deal that he'd erase me after I fell from the train. Guess he stayed dead, since I'm still here.

[That... is extreme. Very extreme. Frankly, she has to work to keep herself from being outwardly shocked and asking him what the fuck.

So there's mild surprise on her features, raising her eyebrows.]

You know, if he had followed through on that we wouldn't have had the chance to meet.

I know.

[He shrugs, expression neutral although his voice is slightly apologetic.]

Sometimes, in order to do the right thing, sacrifices have to be made.

[She chews on her lower lip.]

Why do you think it's the right thing?

You saw how quickly I tried to attack you, I haven't been a good guy.

[That was putting it incredibly mildly.]

[She sighs heavily. He's right, if she had been a normal human who knows what kind of damage he could have done.

Who knows what he's done to other people.]

As horrible as thing as making someone disappear is, I understand why you would want to do it.

You really think it's horrible if it's to save the world from something evil?

[Would she think it equally as terrible to disappear one of the more well known murderers, just because they didn't stick to the shadows as much?]

There are some people that the world would be better off without, I'm one of them.

I'm a very selfish person and don't like seeing my friends disappear.

[It hits close to home.]

That's something that happened to certain Fairy Tales. If their stories stopped being popular, then the belief from humans ran out and they faded away. It was something that could happen to anyone in Between too, if they didn't have enough sex.

I'm sorry.

[Obviously he hadn't known, but now he wishes he hadn't said anything to her when the subject of people disappearing is difficult for her. It doesn't change the fact that he genuinely believes the world would have been better off without him, but it does change his perspective on wanting to talk to her about it.]

That place sounds awful. Norfinbury was bad, but at least it didn't make us prostitute ourselves to survive.

It is what it is. Obviously it means I'm biased when it comes to this kind of thing, but at the end of the day you can only do what you think is right.

[She gives him a little shrug.]

The people you've met since you fell from the train, the ones you didn't hurt. They'd miss you.

Maybe.

[His eyes are hard and unyielding, though.]

The world would still be better without me in it. I didn't know about what happened to the people where you're from, I'm sorry, I should never have brought it up. Forget I said anything.

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cw: suicide

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