roneal | (no subject)

He feels Jade on his shore almost as soon as he arrives. The unwanted presence of another fae makes him stir at the bottom of the lake, blinking slowly through the murky water.

Ugh. He doesn't want to get up.

It's not polite to leave a guest waiting, you know. Hearing Jade's voice, Heine groans and uncurls himself from the mud and finally rises to the surface. The water is deep enough that he can stay mostly submerged while glowering up at Jade.

"I didn't invite you here."

Ah, there he is. For someone who spends so much of his time wallowing in mud, Heine is every bit as fair as his woodland kin. Jade stands on the shore of the lake and spreads his arms out wide in a shrug, looking down at Heine.

"But here I am. Now, are you going to make me welcome or not?"

It's too bad Heine hadn't fallen for his little trap and acknowledged him as a guest. Being a guest confers certain rights - safe passage, for one thing. Hospitality, if Heine is capable of that much.

Not that Jade is very concerned about that sort of thing; it's just the principle of the matter. Successfully tricking Heine would be amusing.

"No." He's not letting Jade into his lake. Even if he offers some sort of gift, Heine isn't willing to allow someone he strongly distrusts into his space of his own free will.

"What are you doing here, anyway?" Finally Heine rises from the water, not bothering to cloak himself in any clothes as he comes to where the water meets dry land. If he doesn't want mortals to see him at the moment, they simply won't. And fae hardly have a reputation for propriety.

Better. At least he doesn't have to angle his head downwards to look at Heine any more; it's wreaks havoc on his poor old neck. His gaze flicks over Heine, from head to toe, then looking back directly at Heine's face when he finds nothing of interest.

"It's been awhile since I've last visited, hasn't it?" He's never given a straight answer, and he isn't about to start now, especially when Heine should know perfectly well why he's decided to come. "Your lake is becoming quite the busy place, I see."

Heine just grunts. Yes, new vacation cabins are being built, mostly around the edge of the large lake, and other mortals are making paths through the surrounding forest so that they can build more. He can feel the vibrations of the ground being broken for new construction.

He doesn't like it very much. Even if it gives him more choice, taking too many into his lake makes them want to stay away rather than come visit. He has to choose the ones that won't be missed as much, the ones that had in their hearts the wish to leave their families behind.

But he's sure Jade isn't here to talk about that. Heine dismisses that topic of conversation with a short toss of his head and changes the subject. "I'm not going to let you take that mortal for yourself." The lake water rises around his feet, lapping higher up the shore. "You can't have him."

It would be tempting to take a step back - he is, after all, right on the very edge of Heine's domain - but Jade stands his ground.

"Oh?" Bickering over this like children will get them nowhere, so Jade decides on a different strategy. "It's not like you to meddle. Is that mortal really so irresistible?"

Water curls around Jade's shoes, not quite touching. Heine crosses his arms across his chest and frowns.

"He's different." He doesn't yet know if this strangeness is good, but Heine has sensed from the mortal is special. He'd guess this is why Jade is attracted to him, too.

Heine wants to take him. The fact that he'd be stealing him away from Jade just makes it better.

He is different, but that's hardly a satisfactory answer. Jade knows exactly why this mortal so fascinates him, but it seems Heine doesn't.

It'd be such a waste to give him up to Heine.

"Indeed he is. Particularly when compared to the ones that populate your lake." He eyes sweep around the lakeside. No one is out at this hour, although he wouldn't be surprised if they're still awake in their own homes, drinking themselves silly. Vacationers are really quite predictable.

"How long has it been since you've left?"

Heine glowers. The water turns a few degrees colder and begins to seep through Jade's left shoe. He hasn't left his lake for some time now. Mortal 'civilization' is already coming to him, so why should he seek more out of his own accord?

"What are you suggesting?" he asks. The sun has completely set by now, and he wonders how late Jade will stay to argue.

His power is at its peak during dusk, and now that night is falling, he can feel Heine's magic close around him, cold and deep like the drowning tide. Jade stands there and allows the cold to seep into him, thinking of the pine trees in the winter, their green needles sharp with frost.

"Oh, nothing much. I was simply wondering if you've ever considered a change of pace." He taps at his chin in faux thought. "No, of course you haven't."

Heine narrows his eyes at him while the water splashes against his ankle for good measure. In the end, though, it's true. He hasn't left the lake in years. Not since the second of the lake cabins was in its first stages of construction.

He knows Jade lives among the humans. "I wouldn't want to pretend to be a mortal," he mutters. "That's what you want."

"Oh? You don't like humans?" Most fairies don't - although dislike is a strong term. It would be more accurate to say they look down on mortals, even as they find themselves fascinated by those very same mortals.

"I don't see why you think they're good company." Humans are boring, and their lives short. So if he wants one, he wants them now.

Speaking of which... Heine shifts his weight slightly, eyeing Jade. He wouldn't be surprised if the idea forming in his head is why the twisted fae is here in the first place, but even after considering it for himself he can't find any glaring faults in it.

"Jonathan," he says abruptly. "We can have a game. For him. I'll go to the city."

"You must want him badly." He smiles, sharp. Heine had picked up on his intent quickly "Unless you're bored of your lake?"

Despite his little jab, he has to admit Heine's lake isn't a bad place. There's still much about it that's clean and wild, in a way that he can't find in the city.

"I'll come back to it afterwards," Heine replies. He wants the mortal, yes. He wants him with water in his lungs.

Jade knows better how the human city works. Still, Heine refuses to ask him any questions, instead taking the initiative to pull the water up over him to shift. He's quick about it, no sense of theatrics, and simply shakes water from short white fur a second later. His true collar and lead are almost as pale as his fur, a circle of white-green around his neck and a short strap connected to a ring at the front—too short to grab without some effort.

Dogs are less often suspected of mischief. It also gives him the opportunity to follow Jade around like his companion without issue.

Tipping his head at the road, Heine barks shortly and lopes towards it a moment later.

"A dog...?" A handsome dog, with fur like winter frost. Jade would not have been surprised to see him lying at the foot of one of the nobles in the Winter Court.

But a dog is still a dog. "Hmm. An interesting strategy. And what do you hope to accomplish while you're in this form?"

He doesn't expect a reply as he follows after Heine's loping form. It's a long way to the city; he had come through a portal, but he isn't particularly keen to show Heine all his little tricks.

Walking will take more than an hour. Heine, regardless, ignores Jade's comment and starts at a quick trot through the woods. He knows roughly where the city is, he'll be able to follow the scent trails of gasoline and mortal, and as far as he's concerned, Jade can just walk with him.

He keeps pace beside Heine easily, hands tucked in his pockets, looking for all the world like he's going for a casual stroll in the woods despite the quick pace Heine sets.

Inviting Heine into the city may mean inviting Heine into his domain, particularly considering how closely he and Jonathan work together. How much trouble can Heine cause as a dog? Not enough to disrupt his carefully-built life, Jade hopes.

While traveling, Heine lets his mind wander as a dog's does, catching hints of others who'd gone along this path before—and hints of scent from Jade. The mortal is close to him, he can tell.

When they reach the city proper, Heine puts his nose to the ground for a moment. Jade lives... in a building. In a real, brick-and-metal building. Huffing softly, Heine glances once at the other fae before following his scent to his current residence.

It doesn't take long for him to realize where Heine is leading them. Now, just how did Heine know where he lives...?

Of course. He's a dog. A dog with unnaturally strong senses, apparently. This could be troublesome later on - Jade isn't keen on the thought of Heine being able to find him whenever he pleases. Perhaps he should buy something to aggravate Heine's sense of smell - cologne, maybe? What do dogs even dislike?

"Are you really going to follow me all the way home?" He asks aloud. "You won't have permission to enter, you know."

Even if he can't enter Jade's home, he can wait outside or look around on his own. Heine looks at him out of the corner of his eye, ears twitching slightly to manage an expression of dog-disdain.

After they reach the apartment building, Heine does manage to enter through the automatic doors and look around at all the glass, metal, and tile. It stinks of chemicals.

Out of the corner of his eye he can see the man at the desk watching them. He doesn't get to his feet, but raises his voice to speak to them.

"Mr. Curtiss—is that your dog, sir?" the security guard asks. "It needs to be on a leash."

He looks down at Heine, raising an eyebrow. How did he enter...? Oh well. Apartment buildings don't have the strongest thresholds, what with people coming and going all the time. Besides, it seems everyone will think of Heine as his pet, giving him implicit permission to be here.

"Oh, my apologies," he says, careful not to confirm or deny whether or not he owns Heine. "I wasn't aware. Come along, Heine."

An opportunity to put Heine on a leash? He isn't about to pass that up.

A leash. He forgot humans were so picky about animals. Heine snorts but follows Jade out of the apartment building once more.

He'd hardly felt a tingle when crossing the threshold since the lobby is almost a public space. Going up to Jade's actual apartment will likely require permission.

Unable to speak audible words, Heine expresses his displeasure by poking his nose into Jade's leg.

He doesn't look down at the sudden cold poke. "Now, now. Why don't you behave? I could buy a muzzle for you too, you know."

He doesn't actually know where the nearest pet store is, and pauses outside the apartment building to look up directions on his phone. Heine is attracting some looks, both for his snowy coat and the way he seems so obedient, even without a leash.

Like he would let Jade put a muzzle on him. Heine huffs softly. While looking around the street lets him get a better idea of how the city has changed, he becomes distracted by the item in Jade's hand. Cocking his head to the side, Heine looks up—and then promptly paws at his legs so he can either knock it from his grip or get him to lower it so he can see.