Willy

[winter_wisp]

He'd not sent word he was coming, so he hadn't been surprised to find no sign of anyone home the first night he'd stopped by, but the day after he'd happily tried again, knocking lightly on the familiar door and whistling happily.

He'd missed Willy and the Phouka. He may have even missed the blind mortal a bit as well- However, his new life with his own kind had done wonders for the pixie. Time moved so differently there, and Winter almost looked like an adult now. Older, and slightly calmer too. 

His hair had gone from shock white to a pile of red and brown curls, and his skin was ever so slightly sunkissed and pink, rather than pearly white. Changes brought on from living so deep in the woods.

"Willy Silver, Willy Silver, open your door!" Winter sang happily.

Comments

[winter_wisp]

Winter seemed unsure, but he trusted Willy's judgement.

"We will be kin forever," he chirped.

[willysilver]

"Exactly!" he said happily. "Now, wine and fruit and I have the most decadent dark chocolate. You must try it," he said as he went to the kitchen to pour wine and arrange a plate. "And you must tell me of your last two years."

[winter_wisp]

"I've been practising my magic, and teaching potions to the other pixies. Some are stronger than our healing spells," he explained. "And I helped them better hide the village, and they let me attend school! I even have my own home. It's a mushroom! I like it very much."

[willysilver]

"How delightful. Next I shall have to visit you at home," Willy said happily. Surely he could have a long visit and time in the mortal world would pass so slowly.

"Do you have friends? Lovers?" he asked.

[winter_wisp]

"Many friends- No lovers," Winter confessed, blushing slightly pink. "I haven't shared a kiss since... Since the Phouka."

[willysilver]

"Really? In two years?" Willy asked, his brows rising. Then he tilted his head. "You are not pining for the dog, are you?"

[winter_wisp]

"No," winter replied quickly- Perhaps a bit too quickly. "I just haven't found anyone else I want to kiss."

[willysilver]

"I see," Willy said, then smiled. "As long as you do not deny yourself. It does no good to hide from happiness, even if it is only for a night."

[winter_wisp]

"It's scary though. It wasn't scary with the Phouka, but it's scary with others. They don't make me feel warm as he does. They don't make me feel calm and protected," Winter sighed, perching himself on the counter and stealing nibbles.

[willysilver]

"Shadows of the wizard clinging to you, no doubt," he said gently, offering Winter a bit of melon grown in Spain.

[winter_wisp]

"Or maybe my heart is like yours, Will. True to only one," Winter said shyly, popping the melon into his mouth.

[willysilver]

"Do you...do you fancy yourself in love with the Phouka?" Willy asked curiously. He absolutely did not tease about this. Love was a weighty subject when it came to the hearts of the fae.

[winter_wisp]

"I don't know. How would I know? I'm not sure pixies even can love!" Winter squeaked. "We are all so youthful, and my Kin seem to flutter from one bed to another... I only think of Phouka's bed though! ...Maybe I'm broken. Maybe Aspid broke me."

He sighed sadly, sliding off the counter and then focusing his magic to force the potion to wear off sooner than it was meant to. A new trick he'd learned that let him shrink down in his own time.

He had changed before his feet even hit the floor and he freed his wings from beneath his coat so he could flutter up to sit on Willy's shoulder.

[willysilver]

With Winter shrunk down, Willy took up a knife to cut the fruit into smaller bites and then he went to the cupboard to find a pixie size glass for wine.

"Have you seen him since you have returned?" he asked. "Have you spied on him, even?"

[winter_wisp]

"I would never!" Winter gasped. "I haven't seen him yet. Though I did hope he would allow me to stay with him while I'm in the mortal realm," he sighed, standing up and starting to braid a small portion of Willy's hair.

[willysilver]

"You should ask him," Willy said. "I can call him now and you can ask him."

And before Winter could protest Willy called his name thrice and waited. A moment later a large black dog appeared in the room, panting and looking at Willy and Winter.

[winter_wisp]

"Phouka!" Winter smiled, fluttering down and circling the dog. "I have missed you so much! I have so much to tell you!"

It took all his strength, put he willed the potion to take over again, looking a little dizzy as he grew and folded his wings against his back.

[phouka]

In a swirl of magical light the black dog became a man, naked as could be. He smiled brightly, his teeth gleaming white, the canines just a bit longer than any true mortal's.

"Winter, my friend," he said happily, stepping forward to embrace him. "How I have missed you. Look at your hair! You are nearly grown!"

[winter_wisp]

Winter squeaked, blushing a bit at Phouka's nudity, but happily accepting the embrace.

"You are very naked Phouka- And I've missed you so much. ...I've come to stay for the winter, actually."

He stepped back, then glanced at Willy, too shy to ask Phouka to share his home.

"Willy and I are about to feast. Will you join us?

[phouka]

"I would love to feast," The Phouka said happily. "I will find my clothes and then we can eat."

"Winter needs a place to stay," Willy said, not a bit shy about it. "Can he stay with you?"

"Of course! I would be honoured to have you share my home, Winter," Phouka replied with a smile before heading to the bedroom to get a pair of Willy's pyjama pants to wear to cover himself.

[winter_wisp]

Winter let out a happy peep of a noise, bouncing slightly before wrapping his arms around Willy- Only to have his potion finally wear off.

"Oops!" he gasped, shrinking and tumbling, but not fainting the way he once would have. "I may need someone to go get my luggage later," he squeaked, giggling a little.

[phouka]

"I will gladly get your luggage," Phouka said as he came back in, tugging up the Blackwatch plaid bottoms. Willy was steadying Winter after his abrupt shrinking.

"Now we are together once again. Family and food. Wonderful," Willy said happily.

[winter_wisp]

Winter took off again, fluttering excitedly between the pair.

"Yes! I've missed this very much!" he said, circling the Phouka, then landing on his shoulder while he watched Keats trot over to Willy to beg for scraps.

The dog made a sad sound, and Winter wilted as he fluttered closer.

"Oh, I'm sure he hasn't." he told the dog, who whimpered again and lay down.

"I don't think he's left forever. ...Oh, I'm sure you're a very good guide dog. I'd let you guide me anywhere."

Winter happily chatted with Keats for a little while, before fluttering back up to Phouka's shoulder.

"He misses the blind mortal," Winter said. "The zombie."

[phouka]

"Yes, I've tried to tell him he is still loved even if Finlay does not need him to be his eyes. But Keats is used to having a job," Phouka said.

Willy hummed. "Perhaps I should talk to Fin about placing him with another blind mortal so he may work," Willy said.

"Perhaps," Phouka shrugged and took a slice of cheese. "Winter, tell me of your life in the fae realms. Where do you live? What do you do?"

[winter_wisp]

Winter happily told Phouka all he'd told Willy, about how he was attending school and teaching his kin all about potion brewing.

"I have my own house Phouka! It's lovely, and my bed is the softest I've ever known!" he added, bouncing as he spoke of his new life.