#(not that it doesn't *end* with slight dumb shenanigans but what else am I for)

[ace-malarky]

Snippet Sunday 22/9

I'm takin' a break from the chores of it all to share you a thing :3

from birthday present #2, I present; name games with the Fair Folk!

~~~

Calico tilts his head, thinking. "I don't know. It might not take."

"I'll give it a shot." Briar swivels on their heel to face Calico amongst the graves. "How do we do this?"

Calico hesitates. "Are you sure?" The hunger of it all makes him hesitate, makes him slip and if he had been any younger - if he had known them any less-

"Yes."

He pushes his aviators onto his head and blinks as his eyes kaleidoscope with unbidden glamour.

briar lets out a quiet gasp, their face softening.

"Make your deal, Mortal." The compulsion lies thick on Calico's tongue. A strain to call it up, a strain to keep it in check.

"A name for a name, Faye," Briar says, offering their hand. "I'll give you mine in exchange for the use-name of your cousin." They sound a little dazed, and Calico hopes they aren't about to give him their actual name. "I accept, Mortal. Give me the name your parents gave you." He takes Briar's hand.

Clouds scud across the sky and the sun lights them up in sudden warmth.

Briar tells him their deadname like they're dreaming. It doesn't suit them, but then - it's not theirs. Never ha been. Never will be again.

"My cousin's use-name," Calico says, and stutters over the unknown of it all, "my cousin's use-name is-"

Pink hair and seaweed eyes, a flowing skirt over bare feet, waistcoat whirling about keir as ke spins and darts back, beckoning for Calico to follow.

He feels proud of keir, to have come with him, to have joined his family, despite everything. Despite him and Robyn and what they'd done.

What he'd done.

He adored keir. He'd set the worlds alight for keir.

(He gave up his name when ke asked, gave up his memories when told, gave up - gave up - gave up-)

"Tayse," Calico says, the name sharp on his tongue like a broken key.

He'd drop to his knees under the weight of the memories (the guilt) but Briar has hold of him.

They've stepped closer, hand still clasped in his, and have him against their side, arm looped around their waist.

"Are you alright?" they ask. "Did that - work?"

"Briar suits you far better," Calico says. "I think it did."

"Your cousin is Tayse. Do you... know what happened to keir?"

"Not entirely." Calico pushes himself upright. "But I'm going to find out." He feels more - settled than he has in a long time. More power at his fingers (on his tongue) but more control, too.