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.

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[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.

[phouka]

"Softer than mine?" the Phouka flirted.

Willy cleared his throat. "He lives in a mushroom."

Phouka leaned in, his skin dark and soft as he put his face closer to the little pixie. "I do miss home," he said. "Everyone in this world lives in a building. Even when the mortals have no homes they gather inside buildings to be away from weather."

[winter_wisp]

"Well you can visit me any time you like, Phouka," Winter smiled, blushing slightly. "I will gladly share my mushroom with you. We can lay on the roof and sing to the stars."

[phouka]

Willy's phone rang and he answered it. There was a short discussion of sets and staging and then he sighed.

"I'll be right there," he said, then hung up and looked at the pair. "I have to go but I'll be back soon. Please, enjoy the food and the comforts of my home."

"You are too kind, my prince," Phouka said, bowing to Willy. "I will keep Winter company until you return."

[winter_wisp]

"Is he off to fetch the mortal?" Winter asked curiously, once they were alone. "I thought he loved him- Why did he sound sad?"

[phouka]

"I do not know. I do my best to not concern myself with the intricacies of the prince's life. I come when he calls and go when I am bid. I have been spending much of my time reading books of mortal philosophy. They think deeply about their mortality," he said, taking some grapes.

[winter_wisp]

"Mortality is the worst," Winter said, pulling a face as he fluttered down to the counter to pinch some fruit for himself.

"Have you been very busy then, Phouka? ...Have you been courting mortals?" he asked, trying to sound casual.

[phouka]

"There is a young woman who I quite enjoy, and I think she enjoys me, but she does little more than blush," Phouka said with a shrug. "She is beautiful. Sunny is her name. But beyond her I do not trouble myself with mortals. Too many of them bore me. I truly do not understand the prince's fascination with them."

[winter_wisp]

"I know a girl named Sunny. she's as pale as my wings," Winter said, confused by the sudden uncomfortable feeling in his belly.

Suddenly he wanted to smash something- So he did.

With a hard shove the tiny pixie shoved a glass off the counter, enjoying the sound it made as it hit the floor.

[phouka]

Phouka tilted his head and blinked, his dark eyes filled with confusion.

"Why did you do that?" he asked.

[winter_wisp]

"I had to. It needed to break," Winter replied, going pink again and taking off, flying away from the Phouka.

Maybe he was sick. ...Or maybe he just needed to not feel so warm. curling up by the window, he used the glass to cool himself off.

[phouka]

Phouka was sure Willy wouldn't care, though Fin might be upset. He cleaned up the mess, mopped up the wine, and soon enough everything was as it had been.

He went to where Winter huddled by the glass and with a fingertip he stroked the pixie's arm.

"Winter," he said softly. "Have I upset you?"

[winter_wisp]

"No," Winter lied stubbornly, wrapping his wings around himself like a shield.

[phouka]

"I have. When I mentioned my friendship with Sunny...that upsets you. Come, Winter, I am ever your friend and you are so dear to me. Does it hurt you for me to befriend a mortal?" he asked in his confusion.

[winter_wisp]

"You will become like the prince, with time only for your mortal," Winter replied, pressing his cheek against the window as he sulked.

[phouka]

Phouka laughed at that and shook his head.

"I do not love her," he smiled. "She is a delight, and deserves love and sweets and all good things...but I do not love her, Winter."

[winter_wisp]

"Willy probably said the same of the Zombie when they first met," Winter huffed, resting his chin on his knees and looking even smaller than usual as he curled up into a ball.

"I shouldn't have left. If I had stayed, maybe you would love me. ...Not that I want that. Love is stupid."

[phouka]

"Why do you think that I do not love you?" Phouka asked, reaching to stroke Winter with one finger. "It may not be a love like what the prince and his mortal share, but, Winter, I do care for you beyond measure and I have missed you terribly."