I’ve been reading folk horror stories—old ways of explaining reality with mythology instead of science. In the old stories, the Fae embody wild, dangerous energies, but also (oddly, and obviously magically) are endearingly powerful. And honestly, we’ve all encountered fae in places like writing groups, deciduous forests, at spelling bees, on public transportation, and in our minds when we read those fairy tales.
1
Fae have “hard to stop” energy.
Magical people shrug at setbacks that would devastate a normie. And while it may be possible to slow them down a little, their momentum seems often immune to the friction of circ*mstance. This unbotherableness makes them intimidating foes and, but, if friendly toward you, diabolically helpful friends.
2
The age of a Fae does not match their aura.
The children seem thousand-year-wise and the elderly exude a disconcerting sprightliness. Their eyes reflect light in ways that baffle and charm. When they smile, you feel like you are lacking vital information as to why, but cannot help to return the facial gesture.
3
Fae have compelling dexterity.
To a magical person, any item can be wielded in the production of novel magic. They know how to utilize the contents of kitchen drawers and craft stores and can DIY broken things that the rest of us would need to call in a professional to repair. A fae can also direct you to exactly the implement you need at the Home Depot with frightening accuracy.
4
They are constantly muttering spells.
They KNOW things and casually answer questions you didn’t even ask. They enthusiastically talk about board game loopholes and gossip about how to save the world with stuff like twine and diplomacy. They blurt out an alarmingly high percentage correct answers while watching JEOPARDY. They can quickly conjure a human representative when phoning a bank. They speak in powerful tongues.
5
Fae have snacks.
The very good kind. The very special kind. The kind with specific nutrients that have been proven to propel them through this fraught-with-yuck world. If offered some, realize that you have been welcomed into an inner circle of respect and friendship. If you want to learn to bake sourdough, seek out the fae.
6
They appear in non-general places.
Because they navigate the world differently, they tend to end up in the more unusual corners of it. Their hobbies and interests send them down rabbit holes and into niche industries, into realms where their magic is more easily conjured. Conventions of all kinds—art, technology, geology, dog shows—are absolutely and always swarming with fae.
7
They creep out the incurious.
They may seem dangerous and mysterious, troublesome and socially confusing—but only to those without magical inclinations of their own. Set aside your hesitancy and approach them. They will open vast dimensions of potential to you.
8
Fae know ancient & dangerous things.
Chemistry. History. Which mushrooms are edible. How to dispose of dead enemies. COBOL. The mind of a fae is a library of antique weaponry. They have a lot of reference apps and can get stains out of anything. They’re great to go camping with.
9
They sound subtly & mysteriously foreign.
Some share stray trivia and unusual experiences from a lifetime of vagabonding. Some are infants who’ve never traveled anywhere, yet somehow cry in a language nobody has ever heard. But a magical person always sounds like they’re from elsewhere, or even from another time. Get to know a Fae, and it’s like you get to travel a new world.
10
Fae have odd jobs.
They run chocolate factories that are unsafe for children. They take impossible pictures of black holes. They craft dizzyingly complex spreadsheets and design escape rooms and supply chains. They daydream and document and they ask questions that infuriate their non-magical counterparts. They have patented practically everything. No wonder they’re in charge of so much.
