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.

Comments

[phouka]

"There are so many. So may more than in London," he said, marveling at the glittering sky.

[winter_wisp]

"So many," Winter agreed quietly. "You could see all the stars where Aspid lived. Sometimes he'd set me by the window at night, and it was the best thing ever. I would lay in my cage and count them until I fell asleep."

[phouka]

"How could you count so many?" the Phouka gasped. "The night sky has more stars than there are ants in a field. I could never count so high."

[winter_wisp]

"I never counted them all, I just tried. ...I tried really hard. It was better than laying in silence, listening to Aspid snore," he said softly, wrapping his arms around himself and sighing.

[phouka]

The Phouka didn't let him pull too much into himself. He held the little pixie and kept him close.

"Those were bad times," he said simply.

[winter_wisp]

"The worst," Winter agreed, leaning into Phouka and smiling. Even grown, when Winter smiled it was often all teeth, wide and sharp like the rest of his more pixie-esc features. "But they're over now. Aspid is dead, and I am free. ...We are free, Phouka. Free pixie, free phouka, free."

[phouka]

"I am so happy to be free. I was very scared at first. Unsure of what to do with myself. But now I am comfortable with it. I can do anything I like. I can think anything I want," he replied, smiling back at Winter.

[winter_wisp]

"Phouka so brave," Winter said softly. "I'm so proud of you Phouka. ...I don't think I have told you that before, but I am."

[phouka]

"You are proud of me?" he asked, slightly puzzled. "What have I done to make you proud? I have done nothing of merit."

[winter_wisp]

"You have thrived, Phouka. That has so much merit," Winter insisted softly.

[phouka]

"You are so kind, Winter," the Phouka said softly. "You are always so encouraging. With you I feel as if I can do anything. Anything at all."

[winter_wisp]

"That's because you can, Phouka. With or without me," the pixie assured him, pushing up on his toes and turning to kiss Phouka's cheek.

[phouka]

"I choose 'with you'," he decided with a nod. "I do not want to do things and not be able to share them with you. I am excited to tell you all my adventures."

[winter_wisp]

"You don't have to choose, Phouka. That's the point," Winter smiled. "I'm eager to hear all your adventures though- Always and forever," he added, holding his pinky out in offering.

[phouka]

The Phouka hooked his pinkie with Winter's and curled it to squeeze.

"Always and forever," he replied. "We will have many adventures. And you will tell me of yours, always, yes?"

[winter_wisp]

Winter grinned, squeezing in return.

"Always," he promised, letting his hand fall, then moving closer to kiss Phouka soundly.

[phouka]

The creature melted into the kiss, a soft groan escaping his throat as he wrapped his arms around Winter to keep him tight to him. He could be happy if they kissed forever and ever, he thought. Nothing made him feel as warm and content as Winter's kisses.

[winter_wisp]

Winter giggled into the kiss, balancing on the branch as he embraced Phouka tightly. Up here, under the stars, his troubles seemed to just fade away for a moment.

[phouka]

The Phouka chuckled softly, kissing Winter again and again, a smack and a peck and another smack.

"I love to hear you happy," he said, his fingers playing lightly down Winter's backbone.

[winter_wisp]

"Then you will have to be with me always, because you bring the most joy," Winter grinned, revelling in a moment of pure pixie glee as he giggled again and nearly sent them both tumbling off the branch.

[phouka]

"Aah!" the Phouka cried, grabbing onto Winter roughly to keep from falling. He lost his footing anyway and nearly fell, though the pixie dust kept him from going far. He hovered in the air, the shock of it passing over him. Once he realized he was safe, he laughed.

"You are my joy. Even when you give me a fright," he chuckled.

[winter_wisp]

"Sorry!" Winter peeped. "We can fly back down now, if you like."

[phouka]

"But the stars are so beautiful and your lips are so sweet," the Phouka countered. "We could remain here all night and creep back down when the sun rises..."

[winter_wisp]

"I would like that," Winter said softly. "I'd like to be here forever, if we could be."

[phouka]

"We could be tree top pixies and live here forever and ever. We will drink dew and eat moths and sleep under the stars," he replied brightly. No matter if it made no sense, the Phouka liked the fantasy of it immensely.