Phouka - A Small Vacation

[winter_wisp]

Winter had spent all morning filling out postcards, using up three whole glitter pens as he wrote them out for everyone they knew. Postcards were important when you went on vacation, and since he couldn't send them from the village, he'd decided to send them now, promising to bring back souvenirs. His hand was sore by the time he was done, but he looked pleased with himself as he placed the final stamp.

"This is exciting Phouka. Are you excited?" he asked, glancing over at the other creature, then looking to his luggage. He'd packed far more than phouka, wanting to show his friends all his cool mortal stuff (specially his light up trainers), but he knew it all needed shrinking down. He'd hoped Finlay or Will might do it for him, but neither had answered his texts. He knew his own magic could likely do the trick, but he was nervous, and he fidgeted a little as he looked at the pile. ...Maybe he should bring a little less.

Wandering over, he began to sort through and wittle everything down to one bag. One bag would be so much easier to shrink.

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[winter_wisp]

Winter was perfectly happy to admire Phouka's bum, and he was smiling as he spoke.

"Wear what you have, we'll head over to Spring Raindrop's and see if she can make you a few items. I shrank some candy to trade, I imagine that'll be payment enough."

[phouka]

"You would use your candy to trade for clothes? Winter, you are truly the best, most wonderful, most loved pixie in the entirety of the world!" the Phouka said, bounding from the drawers to Winter to pounce on him and kiss him all over his face.

[winter_wisp]

Winter squeaked in surprise, then let out a happy sigh as he wrapped his arms around Phouka. "I'd trade all the candy in the world to bring you joy, Phouka," hr promised quietly.

[phouka]

The Phouka smiled brightly before kissing him. It was a wet smack of a kiss, but tender enough that it was obviously fueled by adoration.

"I do love you so, Winter. You are so kind to me. If I had any candy I would give it all to you."

[winter_wisp]

"Phouka so generous," Winter said softly, embracing the other creature tightly and nuzzling against his neck. Phouka truly was so sweet and pure, and Winter worried often that he had changed so much that the Phouka might not love him anymore. After all, while he had bursts of joy still, he could be quite a serious pixie these days.

Sometimes a sad and troubled pixie.

And yet Phouka was always light and joy for him when he needed it most.

[phouka]

The Phouka was content to hold him close, bending to snuggle in against his shoulder. Winter was the first to love him and the creature could think of none other he would prefer to cleave to. Winter was wise and fun, beautiful and thoughtful, and though he sometimes had flaws, the Phouka hardly noticed them.

"Winter, I am so thankful you brought me here," he said.

[winter_wisp]

"I'm glad you came," Winter said softly. "I need to be with my kin for a while, I've talked to many people, and they all agreed this was something I should do, but I'm thankful I can be here with you. I want you to be part of this."

[phouka]

The Phouka smiled brightly at that and nodded. He was so happy to be a part of this.

"When can we go play with your kin?" he asked. And then, more importantly, "When can we eat?"

[winter_wisp]

"We'll change, then see if there is food to be had, then play," Winter smiled. "Wear something comfortable," he added, moving to dig through his bag, then changing his mind and going to the chest of drawers instead, pulling out a long and flowy tunic.

He changed quickly, bouncing on his heels while he waited for Phouka.

[phouka]

The Phouka sifted through his bag, looking at vests and shirts and jackets, then settling on a simple pair of trousers. It would allow him the most amount of movement and protect his bum. He shimmied into them and fastened them before looking at Winter.

"You look a proper pixie!" he said, rushing to him to pull at the tunic and admire the little one's wings. "Now we can go. Come! Come!" he said, taking hold of Winter's hand to practically drag him out of the mushroom home.

[winter_wisp]

"Rude! I am always a proper pixie," Winter protested, letting himself be pulled along. "I am the most proper pixie to ever pixie."

[phouka]

"Yes, yes. Yes, yes," the Phouka laughed.

Outside there were many pixies gathering round. Word of Winter's return had caused a stir. When the pair emerged there was an eternal pause, a hush in the crowd, and then all at once there was a rush of wings and Winter and the Phouka were surrounded with tinkling laughter and hugs galore.

[winter_wisp]

Winter squealed cheerfully, thrilled to be reunited with his kin, and letting him and Phouka be led to a big table near the center of the village where there was a huge spread waiting.

[phouka]

There were no crispy, crunchy mice to be had, but all the treats on offer were delectable. The Phouka ate and ate, laughed and talked, hugged and kissed and even got up several times to play chase with the youngest of the pixies. He kept looking to Winter for approval- sometimes he caught his eyes, but sometimes he didn't.

He could stay here and be happy, he thought.

[winter_wisp]

Winter wanted to be at ease, he did, but- The more he sat and talked to his kin, the more lost he felt. They all were so carefree and calm, and Winter-Winter wasn't anymore. Not like he'd once been.

Phouka was having such a good time, and so Winter slipped back to the mushroom by himself.

[phouka]

The Phouka played chase and roughhoused with the young pixies until he noticed Winter was nowhere to be seen. He stopped and whined softly, then left the rucus to go search him out. He looked here and there, then finally found him in the mushroom.

"Have you eaten your fill?" he asked, easing right up against Winter to touch him and pet him.

[winter_wisp]

Winter was sitting on the bed, toying with a little lanyard he'd made last time he'd been here.

"Yes," he said quietly. "I am full, Phouka. You can eat more if you want though. You should eat and play."

[phouka]

The Phouka frowned. Gently, he began to rub Winter's back.

"You do not seem as happy as when we arrived," he said. "Did someone say something unkind?"

[winter_wisp]

"No, nothing like that, Phouka. Everyone is wonderful and kind, my spirits are just- I do not feel the same joy. I am changed."

[phouka]

"You are grown," he replied gently. "But you are not so very changed. You can still be joyful. You are still free..."

[winter_wisp]

"I don't want them to be changed like I am, Phouka. They are so happy," Winter whispered. "They're untouched by mortal woes. ...And they should remain that way. I am a changed pixie, and- I can be at peace with that. They don't need to be what I am though."

[phouka]

"Perhaps...do not change them. Let them change you. Let them help you find the lightness in you that has slipped away," he suggested innocently.

[winter_wisp]

"How?" Winter asked quietly. "How do you keep from changing others? We change others by being in their lives, sometimes just for a moment, Phouka. It's not something you can control, I don't think. ...It's like a cold, you never see who is catching."

[phouka]

"That, I do not know," the simple creature said. "But if you fear it so much, we could move on. A journey. We could have many mushroom homes. Meet many fae. We could travel the realm far and wide and seek a peace for your troubled head."

[winter_wisp]

"I am scared, Phouka," Winter said quietly. "What if I no longer fit anywhere? I am not yet passing as mortal, but I am too dark to be here among my kin. Even if we travel, where would we go? Where would we wander?"