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]

"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?"

[phouka]

"We can wander anywhere we like," the Phouka said simply. "We are free. We can go anyplace in the world. Here or in the mortal realm. If we travel far and wide perhaps you will find a place you feel you fit in."

[winter_wisp]

"Or maybe I never will," Winter countered quietly. "Maybe I don't belong anywhere, Phouka."

He moved closer to the other creature then, wrapping his arms around him.

[phouka]

The Phouka was quiet as he held him. Minutes passed like that before he said,

"You belong with me."

[winter_wisp]

The words touched his soul, and Winter made a small sound as he buried his face against Phouka's neck.

"I do," he said quietly. "I do belong with you, Phouka. ...My Phouka, mine."

[phouka]

"I am yours. And you are mine. And together we are in love," he said, smiling softly. The creature tipped his head and rested against Winter's hair lightly.

"Whatever you wish to do, we will do it. I will be happy anywhere you are by my side."

[winter_wisp]

Winter relaxed slowly, eventually letting go of his fears a little and settling against the Phouka with a bit more calm in his bones.

"I love you Phouka. ...We should stay. I just don't know if I will be as joyful as I hoped I'd be. I feel a need to be cautious, Phouka. ...I don't want my pain or my fears to infect the others. That's all."