"Thanks. Shifting's always been easy for my family, at least on my father's side of the family. Technically, I could take on forms other than that of a man, or my natural appearance. But I'm content as either. I'm a man some of the time, and a wolf all of the time. Anything else would be dishonest."
He explained, before taking another long drag. He gazed at her appreciatively.
"Red's always been color I'm comfortable with. I wouldn't mind seeing it on you."
He challenged, curious to see her appearance. It wasn't though he expected to find it off putting. He was a wolf, after all. Sometimes he was amazed he found humanoid women as attractive as he did.
"Naz eh? What's that short for?"
He asked, curious to know who she believed would take to him so easily. It would be nice, he thought, to simply talk to people who wouldn't be overly distracted by events that had taken centuries ago.
Bigby's thoughts quieted, as the memory of grief brushed across Evelyn's features like a cold wind. There was anger as well...but Bigby knew what powered it.
"Thanks. I'm glad your boy's alright too. I don't have any children, but I did have a good mother, and in that respect, you two aren't tha different. I'm sure that pup of yours knows that. Or at least he should, if he's got any sense about him."
Bigby stated, confident in his assessment. A warrior and a parent could be one of the fiercest things he'd ever seen in a battlefield, and Evelyn emanated the strength a of a refined steel blade. He nearly pitied the fool who'd thought to threaten her boy now, after she'd already lost him once.
A more neutral look settled on Bigby's features, even as his eyes lit up at the possibilities.
"I can think of a few tasks you'd be well suited too, though I'd like to see you in action before I commit you or your allies to anything. Plus run it by a few people to see where you'd be best put to good use. I can assure you though, if I did hire you, I'd pay you well for it, and the assignments wold require absolute precision on your part. A mercenary with your talents would be invaluable, due to your skills, and the fact that the people I'd sent you against wouldn't know you...most likely."
He amended, frowning at the prospect of the Adversary having access intelligence of that nature. Bigby doubted that was the case...but the arch nemesis of Fabletown wasn't to be underestimated. Whole worlds were bound in chains in testament of that fact.
Then she touched him on the nose.
The Wolf blinked, rapidly caught off guard by the simple gesture. He almost reached out to catch her intruding finger, but relented after a moment. She hadn't meant harm, he was sure. Human noses weren't nearly as sensitive as his, after all.
"I don't have anything against the locals, believe me. I'm just reluctant to form any sort of serious relationship with them. Barring any sort of odd circumstance, I'd have to keep lying to them everyday to maintain secrecy. It's not healthy to have any sort of relationship with such a weak foundation. In your case, clearly you were honest enough with them."
He took another puff, a contemplative look on his face.
"I'll have to disagree with you on one point though. The worst part aout being friends with a mundy isn't that death comes suddenly. Death can come for anyone suddenly, that's Her right. The worst thing is seeing them age right in front of you. I made several friends during WWII. Only one of them is alive right now. He's a good man who's kept my secret, and it's not easy seeing him wither away. Aren't you reluctant to become friends with people you'll know you'll outlive?"
He asked, somewhat reluctantly. It was something of a sore subject with more than a few Fables, himself included.
He shrugged a moment later. "No idea where Charming is now. Probably in Europe, mooching after some poor woman who was at the wrong place or time. I make a habit of ruining his day whenever he's in Manhattan, but the fucker's a sleaze who can oil his way out of anything. You find, him feel free to do as you please."
He murmured, eager to move on to another subject. A moment later a thought occurred to him, and he flashed Evelyn a wolfish smile.
"Not into a fairytale prince huh? Then what are you looking for in a man, hmm? Something a little more off the beaten path?"