winter_wisp | Willy

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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."

From:

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."

From:

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?"

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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.

From:

phouka

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

"Why did you do that?" he asked.

From:

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.

From:

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?"

From:

winter_wisp

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

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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."

From:

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."

From:

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."

From:

winter_wisp

Winter perked up slightly at that, eyeing the Phouka curiously.

"Really?" he asked. "...I suppose I love you too. A bit. ...And I missed you very much."

From:

phouka

"There, now. You see? You didn't need to break the glass and worry me so," the Phouka said, reaching to scoop Winter up and bring him close so he could kiss the pixie on the top of the head.

From:

winter_wisp

"I'm sorry Phouka," Winter said, ducking his head to accept the kiss. "My heart got very angry.It's never done that before."

From:

phouka

"All is forgiven, little pixie," the Phouka replied. He brushed his lips against Winter's hair and breathed him in, enjoying being close.

"Perhaps we should leave te prince's flat and go to mine. We can set you up a space to sleep. A bed your own size, hmm?" he suggested.

From:

winter_wisp

"I'd like that very much," Winter cooed happily.

From:

phouka

Phouka held him close to his bare chest and left Wily's flat to go to his own. The door wasn't locked, it never was.

Inside everything was tidy, in its place. The whole flat was decorated in jewel tones and various textures. The curtains were purple damask, the sofa black plush, rugs of blood red and sapphire blue, pillows of purple and saffron. It smelled of incense and spicy food.

And then Phouka took him in the bedroom where the bed was made up and all his clothes clean and hung in a neat fashion.

"Now what shall we use for a bed for you?" he asked, humming to himself.