Fae Encounter Tips
1. Always be polite, smile, stand up straight, make eye contact. If you MUST count their fingers to ensure they're a fae, be very careful to do it subtly - staring for too long is very rude.
2. When they ask for your name, do NOT give it. Say "I cannot give you my name, however you may refer to me as [Insert Fake Name]".
2a. "Ainsel" (short for "Me Aan Sel", meaning "My Own Self") is a good fake name - any Fae trying to use said name to put a spell on you will only end up applying it to themselves. However, beware that this comes from a fairly famous fairytale, thus older and wiser Fae may be aware of the trick and not take kindly to it.
2b. A Fae may also extend their hand to "take" your name - the handing over gesture further solidifies the power they are taking over your identity. Do your best to avoid the handshake, even with a fake name - consider wearing an iron/silver/metallic ring. Not wanting to touch the Fae with it for fear of hurting them can be a believable and polite excuse.
2c. Do not ask a Fae for their name - they might take it as you trying to claim power over them. Ask them how you may refer to them, instead.
3. Do not refer to Fae as such directly to their face - call them one of the euphemistic terms, such as "Good/Fair/Blessed/Wee/Hill Folk", "The Good Neighbors" or "The People of Peace". Remember that "Fairy" and subsequently "Fae" is a shortening of "Fair Folk", designed for humans, and is essentially impolite slang.
4. Do not accept any gifts or favours. Fae do not give gifts without expecting something in return, and you do not want to owe them anything if you can help it.
4a. Accepting food will forever bind you to their realm - you will not be able to find your way back, and will soon forget your human life. This might be something you want - I can't make that judgement call for you.
4b. Decline politely - do NOT say thank you (as even without accepting the gift/favour, this will count as a debt), but do acknowledge their generosity. Have a good excuse ready.
4c. Should you, unwittingly, end up owing a Fae something, be sure to put out a dish of cream/milk as soon as you return home. Hope that they accept it as payment.
5. Do not follow a Fae to a third location. You never know when you'll be able to get back from it - even if a Fae is not malicious or mischevious, time does not pass for them as it does for us - you may return home to find that centuries have passed.
6. Do not lie, do not be rude, and do not yell - do try and use double-talk and thick quickly on your feet. Fae thrive on technicalities and loopholes, and exploiting them yourself will not be considered rude.
7. Ensure that the Fae doesn't owe YOU anything, either - insist you aren't able to help them if they ask, do not save them if they appear trapped, etc. A Fae owing you is no less dangerous than you owing a Fae - unless you're in DIRE need, make your best effort to leave the encounter with neither of you owing anything to the other.
8. Once you return home, check to see that nothing is missing, that nothing is broken, that your pets are safe and their fur isn't tangled, watch for small footprints or various little items that weren't there before - if you did everything right, there should be no signs of Fae interference.
8a. If you do find signs of Fae interference, put out an offering far away from your house as soon as possible.
8b. Items left by Fae in your house should be given back with said offering - loudly acknowledge their generosity and that you simply can't accept their offer. Return home quickly. Consider putting a horseshoe on your door.
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