The Preserve: Sunday late afternoon/evening

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The woods were cool and quiet, and Jack was following random paths, in search of distraction after his rather interesting morning. A flash of colour caught his eye, and he wondered if he'd found it.

As he drew closer, it resolved into a girl, perched on a rock, grinning up at the sky, seemingly oblivious to his presence. She was all long, elegant limbs with a shock of red hair, and her eyes flashed gold as she turned to watch him.

Hello," Jack called, picking his way across the clearing towards her.

[ooc: initial thread locked, but open for all your empty clearing needs afterwards.]

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Her eyes flicked over him, but she remained silent, turning her attention back to the sky, still grinning.

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Jack found her unaccountably fascinating, and hauled himself up on the rock to sit next to her. "Are you a new student? Because I know I'd remember if I'd seen you before."

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She turned at that, teeth glinting as she inclined her head towards him. "Would you?"

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"Of course," he replied, answering her grin with his most charming one. "You're entirely unforgettable." And he bumped her shoulder gently with his own.

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Startled, she stared at him. "Why did you do that?"

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Jack smiled at her. "This?" he asked, again brushing his shoulder against hers. "I like to touch people."

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"Do you." There was the barest whisper of warning in her voice. "Do you intend to touch me?"

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"If you like." A wicked smile crept out, but his voice was completely innocent.

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She held out a hand, palm up, more challenge than invitation, her sharp smile temptation and warning all at once.

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Blind to any danger, he brushed his fingers across the pulse in her wrist. Heat rushed through him like a tide, like golden honey, oozing under his skin, through his veins.

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Warning gave way to surprise, which gave way to speculation, and she tilted her head to look into his eyes.

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Senses overwhelmed, unable to resist, Jack brushed his fingers across her face and leaned in to kiss her.

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Her smile was a strange combination of curiosity and regret, but she didn't move away.

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When Jack's lips brushed hers, his world exploded into russet and gold, light and heat flooding through him and swirling him down into blackness.

He opened his eyes and looked up. Way up. A high pitched yip escaped him, and he snapped his jaws shut, eyes crossing as he peered down the length of his nose. His long nose.

Eyes wide, he staggered backwards, staring frantically at his paws, whirling in a mad circle as he tried to see the rest of himself, finally collapsing into a small breathless heap.

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Face impassive, she crossed to stand above him.

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He flinched, then forced himself to be still. //I''m a fox.//

It was a bark-whine-yip, not English, but she seemed to understand.

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"You are a fox."

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//Why am I a fox?//

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"There's always a price to be paid," she said simply. "It's beyond my control."

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//I don't want to be a fox.//

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"Take it as a lesson learned." She bared her teeth in a grin. "Things are always more than they seem, Jack Harkness."

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She knew his name. He hadn't told her his name. But in the face of his sudden foxness, it really didn't seem important. //I'm a fox!//

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She crouched in front of him, holding out a hand, her grin shifting into a smile that warmed her eyes. "Be grateful. If you weren't so harmless, you'd be one forever. Or worse."

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//Harmless?// If a fox could look insulted, Jack did. He slanted his ears sideways and glared at her. //I am not harmless.//

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"Go easy, I meant no offence." Her eyes were laughing at him, but she tugged gently on his ear. "I simply mean that you intended no harm, and that can't be said of every person who'd seduce a stranger in the woods."

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Mollified, he pushed his head against her hand as her fingers scratched behind his ear. //It's not permanent?//

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She leapt gracefully onto the rock. "It will pass, and you will learn." Teeth glinting, she grinned down at him. "And you do wear it well."

She was changing, sharpening, dissolving into fox ears and fox grin and six tails fanning out behind her as she spun in a graceful circle and disappeared, leaving behind only sunlight and shadow.

And one small red fox.

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Jack sighed and snapped absently at a drifting leaf. //I'm a fox.// Head cocked, ears flicking, he gave it some thought. She'd said it wasn't permanent and it had been one hell of a kiss.

Bounding to his feet, he shook himself and trotted in the direction of the dorms. //I need to find a mirror.//