17046/Fledging Out

Fledging Out
Date of Scene:	30 January 2024
Location:	The Crowe's Nest
Synopsis:	Joshua Foley-Crowe has decided to head to Oxford, to take up on their spring semester. He shares a farewell with his adopted mother, Nettie Crowe.
Cast of Characters:	Nettie Crowe, Joshua Foley

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Nettie Crowe has posed:
    The Crowe's Nest was possibly one of the most secure places in New York, magically speaking. There are wards burned into every wall in blood and fire, and then covered with cottagey wall paper and painted walls, with Victorian-levels of decorative 'Maxmimallist' clutter.

    Elizabeth, the robotic cat, is lounging on a cat tower, batting passively at a couple of motes of dust in the air, while Nettie is wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, her hair braided and her eyes behind her half-moon glasses. She's reading a thick book that appears to be, of all things, a yearbook

Joshua Foley has posed:
There's a gentle knock at Nettie's door. One she had probably been expecting since the letter of acceptance to Oxford had come. Opening the door, Johsua is dressed in a fresh new 'Oxford' sweatshirt, jeans and tennis shoes, the golden mutant paused at the entrance, as if scared to enter. Mainly because what will happen when he does.

"I couldn't catch Sara. I left her a letter, I hope she understands." he offers quietly, glancing at the duffle bag at his side. "The Uber's here to take me to the airport. Are... are you sure about this?"

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    It could be the last time he does. Nettie is aware of this. Her son, excited to travel across the ocean and attend her Alma Mater. Nevermind that she went in the 50's. His 'Great Grandmother' left a legacy there.

    "If I know our Detective Pezzini, I know she will. She's had a lot on her plate." the old witch states quietly, and she goes to stand up, pushing her glasses up. No, she wasn't crying.

    "Let me take a look at you. Already rockin' the Oxford drip." she jokes, using new slang correctly as she reaches up, and clasps Josh's shoulders.

    "Are *you* sure about this, lad? It's your life. Your study. An' the Crowe company nestegg from the school is nothin' ta sneeze at, so no one should be giving you any trouble." she pauses, and gives a sniff.

    Corvax and Torny then make their appearances, both with OXFORD pendants in their beaks. Torny tries to speak in nervous excitement, but can't get anything clearly around the felt material in his beak.

Joshua Foley has posed:
There's a deep breath drawn. "I thought my life was already drawn for me, Nettie..." Joshua starts, feeling the tears welling up in his eyes. "I thought nothing of the worse for myself from the day my skin turned this color. But then this old witch pulled me out of the trash. She dusted me off. She showed me that there was way more to me than I was selling myself for."

"And then she took me on her adventures. She showed me how to make friends. She showed me how to love myself. And in turn, she taught me how to love." Joshua closes his eyes for a moment to break the tears that fill as they stream down golden cheeks.

"She gave me more. She taught me my value." He reaches up to touch each of the crows in turn, an appreciative smile to the pair. "But most of all..."

"That crafty old witch that put a contract on me when I picked up her bags? She gave me a gift that noone else ever will."

"She gave me a family. When he pulls out his paperwork to show it to her, he has filled out.

Perferred name: Joshua Foley.
Given name: Joshua Foley-Crowe.

"I love you, mom." he whispers quietly. "I hope I do your legacy proud."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    The special thing about all those everythings that Nettie has put up here, is that she can touch people with no issue. Just in this livingroom space. The silver-white haired witch with the too-blue eyes, and she reaches up with her thumb to brush away Josh's tears.

    "Hey now. No tears, my boy, you'll make an old woman cry." she states with a thick voice, and as he shows the paperwork, she looks it over. She picks it up, sets it to the side, and then she throws her arms around Joshua Foley-Crowe. Her son by adoption, in spirit, in any way that matters to the heart.

    "You don't have to do the legacy nothin'. You make me proud. I opened the doors, Joshua, but you walked through them. You built your value with your hands and mind. /You/ are making the decisions in your life. And I couldn't be more proud of you, this old heart might just burst." she whispers, and she pulls back a moment.

    "Second oldest magic in the world--" she states, and she pulls up one of her knit Afghans, in Oxford Blue and Gold, with little black birds supporting the corners.

    "Is when you wrap yourself up in something made for you with love." she states, offering the blanket.

Joshua Foley has posed:
Her touch is a better balm than any of his healing powers will /ever/ be. Closing his eyes, Joshua just enjoys the warm touch of her hands.

A mother's touch.

"And I will walk through them still until they bring me back to you." he promises. That's when he feels the afghan on his shoulders. How long had she been working on that? How long did she know this day would come?

It breaks his heart. In a good way.

And she may have meant that the blanket was love - but his arms are around her waist and he presses into her for a good, long hug. No crying. No sobbing. He'll do that in the car. This is a new adventure. His next step. From here, it is only onward and upward.

And he holds that hug until the Uber driver honks, reminding him it's time.

Reluctantly, he lets go. "I'll write. Often. Or at least text. Phone service, right?" A weak smile. "I need to go. Take care of them, mom. They need you as much as I do."

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "Hold up, they will wait a moment more!" Nettie complains, and she holds up her hand. "OLDEST magic." she states, and she draws his shoulders down, and places a kiss on his forehead. And then presses her forehead to his.

    She utters something in something Old, and then releases him. Her lips are pressed tight, and her eyes are shining.

    "As you need to. No chasin' tail when you should be studying. You shouldn't reach out for the first month. An' if you whistle White Cliffs of Dover the crows'll come to you." she states quietly, and then she gives a nod of her head.

    "Don't miss your flight. The Besom's hard on the bollocks."

Joshua Foley has posed:
The kiss causes Joshua's eyes to widen and he presses his forehead to hers in a gentle butt. He doesn't know the words, but he understands a blessing by this point. Especially a powerful one. "Tell Mister Katz thank you for the sandwich."

A wrap all the way back to when they met.

At her advice on the song, he nods. "I will." he promises her. "If I need you. And I'm done with tail chasing for a while." A blush in his cheeks.

Another blare of the horn. "I'll tell him you cast a curse on him and if he complains all four of his tires will fall off." A wink and he steps back, taking up his bag. Grey eyes meet blue ones and he swallows. "Wish me luck?"

And before he can delay a second longer, he heads out the door.

Nettie Crowe has posed:
    "You're clever enough to not need it!" Nettie calls out behind him. Nettie takes a deep breath.

    "All old spirits of my ancestors, 'cross the gray Atlantic, mind you my boy, for my spark of my heart an' soul go with him." she whispers, quietly. She didn't often call on her own family... something weird about that in Necromancy.

    Corvax spits out the felt pendant with a 'bleh', and hops to Nettie's shoulder.

    "You're gonna cry a bit and then chase the plane, aren't you?" Corvax asks. Torny also drops his felt flag and shakes himself out.

    "... of course not. He's a big boy. He's able to handle himself." Nettie states. Then she turns to Torny.

    She sighs.

    "Fetch me my hat, least we can do is make a show of it, yeah?"