Lin said "Chuck is a young mage with a learning disability.  So he's a particular challenge to teach."

Fiona blushed, looking embarassed for asking about the boy. "Oh. Um, I can imagine." She started fidgeting with her tail again, feeling rather awkward. In her embarassment, she let her focus falter, and promptly felt herself losing her shapeshifted form again...

  Her form shifted and flowed, and she found herself becoming a ten foot tall werewolfoid form with claws and dripping pink foamy slobber.  Muscular enough to look like a body-builder, but with enough fur to put anything but a fur rug to shame.

Once again, going from four to two legs threw Fiona off balance for a moment, and she found herself on all fours. In her new form, however, that didn't really look all that out of place. "Whoa..." she muttered, in a softly growling voice, as she stood back up and inspected herself - only to back up quickly when she noticed what could only be mutagen literally dripping from her maw. She gasped and quickly covered her mouth with a frying pan-sized hand.

Oswald looked surprised for a moment, before saying, "Hmm. Oswald said one of the mutants he fought looked something like that. Perhaps it has a few different 'presets' it tends towards?"

He then added, "And yes, Chuck has a learning disability. He's also my legally adopted son. Hopefully I can get the boy the help he needs that he clearly has not been getting in the care of the government."

"I think there were a few who looked like werewolves, yeah... but I didn't really take a close look at them." Fiona concentrated and changed shape again, so she wouldn't accidentally hit Lin or Oswald with that slobber. Within moments, she was back in her human form; but this time, for some reason, she had four arms.

  Lin tilted her head, and admitted "Genetics and mutations are something that I am afraid my daughter understands better than I do."

Fiona looked down at her extra arms for a moment, but then just shrugged, as if saying 'eh, good enough'. "So... where is it that you're ordering those magic supplies from?" she asked curiously, while a pair of pants and a four-sleeved shirt formed around her. "I had no idea there were actual magic shops."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Mon 20 Aug 2012.

Oswald replied, "It's no surprise. After the whole 'witch hunting' craze back in the day, our people went into hiding. We tend to hide in plain sight, our magic giving us an edge in our mundane fields. My second sight allows me to truly see if a potential client is guilty or innocent of their crime, and how best to prove the innocence of those I accept. Having a perfect track record in court is easy when you can see the future, the past, or look remotely at the present. I also know a few midwives who use their healing arts to ease childbirth, and improve the health of both mother and child. Of course, there have also been illusionists who've used their ability to fool the senses to rob or cheat people. It all depends on the mage, and how they use their gifts. Well, except for in the case of infernomancy. That is an utterly, wholly evil practice."

Fiona listened curiously; it was a quite intriguing topic to her. "But... nowadays, most people accept and welcome parahumans. Shouldn't magic be becoming more accepted as well?"

  Lin nodded, and said "Unquestionably.  Daemonologists are better, but not a whole lot."

Oswald nodded, "It is, slowly but surely. But for now, most of us will likely remain hidden. Centuries of fear and mistrust of humankind at large does not go away overnight, Fiona. Especially those like me who are old, and set in their ways. There are many who still remember the days when we were hunted down and slaughtered. We magi have a long memory, and the days of Salem are still fresh in it. The fact that there are still those who would see us burn is not comforting, either. I'm sure you've heard about the extreme reactions people have had to Harry Potter. What do you think they would do if they came face-to-face with a real wizard?"

  Lin nodded, and said quietly "Being Immortal doesn't mean it feels any less bad to be burnt at the stake."

Fiona nodded slowly. Clearly, she had a lot to learn, not just about how to do magic, but also about her place in the world. "Well, I don't think they do that anymore... but I know what you mean. And I promise I'll keep quiet about magic."

Oswald replied darkly, "Apparently, we also don't mistreat or harm people just because they are different, yet that poor young person who could change colors is dead at the hands of anti-para extremists. Though I have to wonder what color bed sheets THEY wear to their meetings."

  Lin said darkly "People like that bring out the worst in me, I am afraid to say.  Lynch mobs make me want to stop them cold and make them UNDERSTAND why mages have been feared before.  And yes, Fiona, I'm strong enough, just from sheer age, to do it.  Merlin wasn't as old as I am.  And age brings power."

 A taxi pulled up to the house and the back door opened out stepping first Bill then Darren both dressed in matching black suits looking somber they both headed towards the house hand in hand.

Fiona stretched her neck as she heard the car and peered around the corner of the house. "Are you expecting guests? Two guys in suits just came in a taxi."

  Lin said thoughtfully "Megaira DID say she invited all her friends to live here if they need to."

"Oh, right." Fiona reeled her neck back in. "How many people live here, anyway?"

  Lin tilted her head, and said "Mmmm.  Meg, Jeff, Candy, Bill, Darren, Bella, Aaron, Ozzy, Clarissa,  well, looks like there's at least nine.  Maybe more.  Oh yes, Matt and his frieds, the aliens, that's four more.  Lots so far.  Not enough to even dent the real capacity of the house though.  The inside is also enchanted to accommodate oddly sized inhaibtants now."

Fiona listened curiously, but then paused. "Hold on... by 'aliens', do you mean, people from another country, or...?" The alternative seemed unbelievable - but then again, considering what had already happened around her since yesterday, maybe not so much.

  Archeirae poked her head out of the back door, and blinked, then asked Lin "Did you see where Ozzy put the arsenic-laced-burgers for me?  I know I see colors differently than the rest of you . . . "  She was about eight feet tall, with a long, silky coat of what looked like burnished bronze fur that seemed to switch between sable and bronze.  Her eyes were an intense metallic silver, and she had claws, and six digits on the hand she had wrapped around the door.

Fiona's eyes widened as she saw the feline, and waved her upper right arm. "Hey there... um, I don't think we've been introduced? I'm Fiona."

Bill and Darren entered the house approaching the group still looking rather somber. "Hi all we're back funeral was beautiful by the way. Dragon Fisr was really broken up not that I'm surprised." He stuck his free hand out to Fiona. "I don't believe we've met I'm !ill this is my partner Darren