Unforseen Consequences and Such . . .

Sigin

Now, obviously Allan had been more than a bit taken aback by this latest development (and so am I for the record). Still, he does calm down a bit as I reassure him that this had NOT been intentional and I promise him (my word as a gentleman) that I and my friends shall do what we can to fix this!

"I just must say that I have never heard of any kind of side effect from the Fountain of Youth," I finish up. "Much less this kind!"

Allan

After taking a deep breath to steady my jangled nerves

"I . . .fear that the ‘side effects’ go a bit further than you think, old chap." I put in, seeing after a few seconds of looking at his face that he did not understand the whole import of what has just befallen me.

Oh, we had parsed out much of the "medical" implications of both these potions I just ingested a scant few moments ago. Some of it had been . . .somewhat embarrassing to me, of a rather private nature (I DID not want the entire world to know about my special ‘needs’, even though I DID feel that Sigin had been a possible means to fulfilling those needs). Yes, I had a VERY long talk (one I rather did not feel like repeating) with Miss Murray about such things, but still I had . . .that need. He’d paused only a few seconds, with an unreadable look on his face (but one that I felt was hiding disgust), and then had quietly said that my need for "drugs" would most likely be expunged with the application of the Healing potion (what with it returning a person to a "natural" state): meaning that the "physical dependence" would be erased along with the lingering wounds from that lion who’d chewed on my leg like a wad of tobacco.

. . .

Apparently his medicinal studies had classified "dependences" into two categories: implications that my addiction (his rather blunt term for it) was more due to physical needs (it not being just a matter of willpower, as my fellow countrymen see the matter). . . . Well, he said that there were programs out where he haled from that could help.

Do NOT look at me like that, old chap! I dare say I don’t care for it!

. . . .

Well . . .

He also hinted that I bloody well BETTER put myself into such a program if I still had my needs after drinking those draughts if I was going to run with his group, because he was NOT going to see to my feeding my "habit".

Who the bloody Hell is HE to tell me what . . . ?!

Er, right. He's the chap that saved my life, copper hair or bloody well NOT! Pretty small of you, Allan, for lamblasting one who clearly has the best interest in mind for you! After all, it's well and clear he has MUCH more knowledge on medical matters (even IF it's via mystical/magical means) than anyone I have ever heard of, for God's sake.

. . .

Definitely care more for his fellow human . . . er. . . his fellow "sentients" (as he puts it), than that fatty Bond, I'll tell you!

He had then thawed, Sigin, a little bit, nodding in some sympathy and compassion as if accepting me as I was (vice what my public image was).

Well, I shan’t say I’d cared to have been judged by this dragon (looked down upon for a few moments there), but . . . He does have a point, I wager (and I’ve come to trust his judgments. . .he’s very competent).

The other implications, he’d gone onto say, was that it also meant that my less "noxious" habits would also take a hit. I’d asked exactly what he meant and . . .

Well, I guess I can learn to build up the tolerance for smoking and strong drink like I had upon coming into age, you know!

Then again . . . . I had begun to notice that my breath had become shorter than what my age should account for . . . .

And also there is the fact that I usually only drank on social occasions. I at least never got into the bad "habit" of drinking to excess . . .

Well, that’s by the by and not really important.

What IS important is what I should have realized from the start! Of course due to me being . . .er . . .having been in my twilight years so of course I hadn’t seen it happen to me immediately when Sigin had taken his true shape! Indeed!

I have NEVER, EVER been so frightened of ANYTHING then and there and might have thought myself loosing my nerve (my manhood) after that if Sigin hadn’t told me it had been magical in nature, bypassing my courage to strike me . . .so deeply. See, there is that one . . .peculiar "science" that some doctors of medicine (quacks I had thought) saying that that one "man lion" that P.T. Barnum has on his horrid freakshow tour (my God, where was his pride!) saying that his (the man lion) had been due to his mother having been frightened by a lion whilst he’d still been in the womb.

I believe that I had been frightened MUCH more than that poor man’s mother, thank you! Meaning that in addition to having my heart almost giving out in fright, it had . . . effected my body much further than what that man’s mother had EVER been effected!

If that . . . If Inquirer had been right about this "axiom wash" thing (stuff about the very underpinnings of reality been changed to her world’s vice what I’d grown used to), perhaps if Hyde had waited a bit longer . . . This wouldn’t have happened to me . . . .

How . . .dragon like will my offspring be?

I must have said that last aloud because he takes me by the arm and sits me down in a nearby chair, and then with great sympathy says that . . .

There are means at reversing what had befallen me. Something about how my very makeup could be . . .fixed.

. . .

Awfully . . . Sporting of him.

"But we cannot fix you up right and proper here," he goes on, glancing back and glaring supposedly at his former friend (who’d he’d gotten into some kind of bad argument over something I’m not exactly privy to). "I take it you know why?"

Oh yes, I do INDEED. A year of service (read almost bloody "slavery"?!) for an answer to a simple question (any question). Not bloody likely, I wont!

I nod, and he then after seeing that I do not wish to burden my fellow League members with this latest . . .development (rather embarrassing, really), he gives me a bottle that he states shall hide my condition. It is hair dye, you see . . .

He then suggests I apply where needed . . . Meaning in spots that might not just be . . . On the top of my head.

Er, right.

He leaves and a quick . . . Private inspection proves to show that he’s right on . . .such matters.

I . . . Believe I’ll just stick with the head for now. Not like I’m going to be dropping my bloody trousers any time too soon in front of my friends, right?

. . .

But somewhat bawdy suggestions aside near the last . . . I must now admit that . . .human though he really isn’t, Sigin is INDEED a gentleman . . . And scholar!

I . . .am indeed happy to have him accept me. . . As a friend. Shan’t forget this, ever . . .

Plot devices can be fun! It’s called forshadowing and . . .

Well, here it is right now.

Out of phase with reality just enough to avoid detection, a blue furred and winged cat like being watches malovently. These Champions had done him a bad turn, spoiling his fun with that one Jasmine and Alladin he’d changed into female gryphons (and then put "other" spirits within, to eventually . . . ) . . . .

Well, that business will be made more clear here sometime in the future! As for who this cat like creature is . . . . Well, here's the thing: a rather vile Alladin (the Disney cartoon) villain named Khaos (the cat/god of chaos) had/will have had (a bit of time travel involved here, folks) transformed Chi into an oriental dragon (and much more). The offshoot of that murky business was that Chi was suffering from memory loss from that episode (and much more . . . being the basis for why the Champions had to come to the League's Earth in the first place).

Yeah, a of time travel was involved and a LOT of unanswered questions were involved. We know that Khaos had had his way with Chi (now a dragoness and all that, and somehow having twisted time to have allowed her to become Champion in a decidedly NOT recommended way).

It may be . . .that something within that chaotic heart of Khaos that he wants to settle scores for foiled plays. Perhaps by "fixing" things, rearranging time to his liking and. . .

But that’s telling too much, but I fear that maybe some like Allan and Mina get swept up in those events . . . which'll get them also "Championed" as well . . . but it'll also get them in the paws of Khaos as well...who seems to have been on some kind of transformation kick going on here (and Chi's one example)...

He’d probably smile if you complained about it to his face, saying that he "Hopes that's not . . . too over the top" and then change you into a gnat for your problems!

Change you, no matter what s your feelings on the matter? Of course, he’d do it! He feels he’s a god and besides . . .

Transformations are always fun!

Meanwhile, in another room in the castle . . .

Inquirer is wondering if she should just wish Mina a "Creator speed" and leave her to her own device about whether or not she should decide to take the Healing draught.

1. Well, maybe she should try to explain a bit more or talk about this a bit more, seeing that Mina has questions and all that…before she decides to take the plunge or not…

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