winter_wisp | Debut

It was a perfectly normal morning, Aspid was busy making something in his cauldron, and Winter was fluttering around in his cage, watching the wizard work.

"If there's no chores to be done, and you don't need me- you could let me out in the garden for a while," he said, fluttering as high as the delicate chain that was locked around his ankle would allow, then settling at the bottom of his cage and using the big toe of his other foot to draw playful swirls of frost that swiftly melted away. "I need some sunlight, I need it desperately," he sighed.

"Don't be dramatic, little one. I will take you out when I have time. Now stop chattering, you're distracting me. If I burn this potion because of you, you'll be very sorry," the wizard warned.

Winter's wings drooped, and he sank down to sit on the floor of his cage, picking up the sliver of cake he'd been given that morning and nibbling at it. He supposed he should be thankful to be ignored. It was certainly preferable to the days when Aspid demanded his full attention. As much as Winter enjoyed being made so very tall for a few hours, he didn't like the way Aspid touched him, or the things the wizard expected him to do.

No, this was much better. A quiet morning in his cage, with cake and a thimble full of cream.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

willysilver

Some time ago a wizard had asked of hi a favour and now owed him a debt. Willy had almost forgotten, being a fae of selective memory, but when he'd awoken this morning e thought he might find a way to cure Fin in the wizarding community. He could go to any of them (were he willing to risk it. Wizards did love to harvest the fae for their more magical qualities) but he thought that today he'd see Aspid to see if he could help. It would benefit Fin and it would clear the debt. To Willy it only seemed practical.

He arrived at the wizard's doorstep and knocked politely. When Aspid opened the door he loomed there, two meters of black clad fae prince. He smiled but the way he blocked the light was intimidating. He exchanged pleasantries and was invited inside.

Willy noticed the cage right off and anger flared up in him. These wizards...savages, the lot. Though he'd intended to help Fin, his intentions changed when he saw the pale pixie chained inside the cage.

"You owe me a debt, wizard," he said. "I have come to collect. You will pay today."

From:

winter_wisp

Aspid narrowed his eyes at the fae, then sighed as he invited him in with a wave of his hand.

"Of course fae, of course. What will it be? A potion, perhaps? A charmed dagger to aid you in battle? Perhaps the sweetest cream you've ever tasted?" he offered.

Winter had perked up at the knock on the door, always curious when Aspid had visitors. He'd finished his cake, and was fluttering in his cage again, looking a touch awestruck by the looming creature. He'd forgotten just how tall fae could be.

From:

willysilver

"With the time that has passed there has been interest," Willy said. "Potions and daggers are hardly enough."

He began to wander around the wizard's home, peeking in the potion cauldron, looking at the books on the shelves. He examined some drying herbs and flowers and herbs, then stopped at the cage.

"I want this," he said. This, not him. He was sure that is Aspid had the pixie caged he thought of the creature as a belonging, not a being. Willy would not shatter that lest he face resistance.

From:

winter_wisp

Winter gasped in surprise, falling out of the air and hitting the bottom of the cage with a soft thump. His eyes went wide, pale blue and full of uncertainty as he looked at the large fae.

"Absolutely not!" Aspid snapped. "Winter is my muse, my faithful pet. I need him- And he needs me."

Winter, however, wasn't certain he needed Aspid at all though. His memories of freedom were faded, yes, but he knew it had been good. He knew he missed it. ...Though was this freedom? Was being owned by a fae any better than this life with the Wizard?

From:

willysilver

Willy turned on the wizard and his eyes burned cold and bright.

"You would refuse my demand? I granted your wish in good faith and you knew that one day you would have to repay me. You are lucky I do not demand a pound of flesh so I can claim your black, deceiving heart," he said sharply. His magic made the air shudder.

"I want this and you will give it to me," he said, unwilling to bargain further.

From:

winter_wisp

Aspid may have been infactuated with the tiny pixie- But there was nothing he loved more than himself. He wasn't about to risk Willy's wrath to keep his pet.

"Fine, take him. I'm getting too old to enjoy him properly anyway," the wizard snarled at Willy, before turning his attention to Winter. "How tiny you must feel now, petal. How tiny you'll be forever now. You can thank this fae for that fate."

Winter hadn't even considered that. Without Aspid, there was no potion. No chance of being tall again. ...Oh, he so liked being tall sometimes. He'd never even known he'd wanted it until he'd been given it- And now it seemed he'd never have it again.

Silent, he wrapped his arms around himself and ducked his head.

From:

willysilver

Willy's lip curled in distaste.

"Thank you," he said, his words biting like acid as he reached out and touched Aspid's forehead. The wizard immediately crumpled, asleep as deeply as any mortal could be.

Willy turned to look at the little pixie and the curl arced into a smile.

"What does he mean?" he asked. "Does he make you larger with something? A draught, perhaps?"

Edited Date: 2014-10-11 04:51 am (UTC)

From:

winter_wisp

Winter nodded a little, his wings beating nervously as he pointed at a red bottle on a nearby shelf.

From:

willysilver

Willy took the bottle and opened it to peer inside. It was quite full. He wondered how much it took to enlarge the little pixie...if he'd even wish for that once he was free. He took the bottle and returned to the cage.

"Now, petal, what is the name I shall call you? Winter, is it? Or is that his name for you?" he asked.

From:

winter_wisp

"No, that's my name," the pixie chirped, relaxing a little. "Winter Wisp."

His silvery wings fluttered again, and he got to his feet to study the fae again.

"Who are you?" he asked quietly.

From:

willysilver

"Ah, how very rude of me," Willy said and he took a step back so he could make a proper bow. "I am Willy Silver, Daoine Sidhe and Prince of the Seelie Court. And I am ever your friend, Winter Wisp, captive pixie. Captive no more."

He opened the cage then and with a wave of his hand the tiny chain crumbled off Winter's ankle.

"How long have you lived in this cage, my friend?"

From:

winter_wisp

Winter hesitated, then zoomed out of the cage, flying around the small one room home, and laughing happily as he flitted around Willy's head.

"Forever," he replied, flying one last lap, then landing on the fae's hand. "Well, not forever. A very long time though. So long I can hardly remember a time without him."

From:

willysilver

Willy softly huffed a breath at that news and a bit of a frown turned his mouth down.

"Have you kin? Have you any home to return to?" he asked, realizing he may have gotten in over his head. This was precisely why the fae did not do things out of kindness. Now he very well may be responsible for getting Winter settled in a home.

And Willy had heard tales of captive fae. How they were never quite...right. Slavery was what it was. Muse, indeed. Willy wished such harm upon Aspid that the man groaned in pain in his sleep.

From:

winter_wisp

"My family died in the Battle of Daisy Valley," Winter said, shaking his head and looking down at his feet. "My home was burnt to the ground when Aspid came for me. ...I have no one. I have nothing. Only Aspid."

From:

willysilver

Willy had never felt regret before and he wasn't sure if what tugged at his heart was that or something else. He couldn't reasonably regret freeing his kin, though, and he swiftly put thoughts of that kind out of his mind.

"Then I would invite you into my home until you find a home of your own, Winter," he said warmly. "I reside in the mortal world, though, in the most glorious city of all mankind, a place called London. If you come to my cottage I will see to it that you are safe and warm. Well fed. Able to be among fae and mortals alike. Let this be the first choice you make as a free being. Will you come with me, my friend?"

From:

winter_wisp

Winter had never seen the mortal world- or even just a mortal. It was an exciting prospect, if not a bit terrifying.

"You would have me in your home?" he asked. "I would be honoured, fae Willy. Very honoured," he added, bowing low, then taking off to fly again.

"How do we get there, fae Willy? Do we fly? I can fly so far- though it's been a long time..."

From:

willysilver

"I can blink us there, but I think perhaps you should stretch your wings and enjoy the sunshine. We can go to the wizard's pub at the other side of the village and use the mirror there to go to my home," he smiled. Willy took the red bottle and then with a wave of his hand he made the cage disappear. Best if Aspid assumed Willy had kept the little one as a pet as he'd had him.

"Come. The wizard will be sleeping for quite some time. We will be long gone before he knows where to look," he said and struck out into the bright sunlight.

From:

winter_wisp

Winter hesitated again, afraid to leave Aspid's side after being there for so long- Then took a deep breath as he fluttered out the door and into the sunlight.

It felt wonderful, and he chirped happily before whistling a happy song to himself as the sun warmed his wings.

He circled around Willy as they travelled, but his wings were weak from not being used quite enough over the years, and he eventually had to land on the fae's shoulder.

"You have such dark hair, fae Willy. Such green eyes..." he said, pulling on the fae's hair, then fluttering up to perch on his head. "And you smell strange. Not like earth and trees at all."

From:

willysilver

"In the mortal world the buildings are made of stone, and there are wondrous machines called cars. And I smell of one mortal in particular. My love," he replied, quite content to let the small pixie hitch a ride on him. It did not surprise him in the least that Winter tired quickly. He didn't think Aspid would let him fly freely much, if at all. Not with that chain on his ankle.

"You will see when we get there. Do you know how to obfuscate yourself from mortal eyes? Did he ever allow you to try using a glamour to do that?"

From:

winter_wisp

"His cage prevented me from doing magic, and his potion made me large, but would steal my wings and most of my power," the pixie admitted, moving to fly again for a while.

"You have a love that is mortal?" he asked curiously, weaving through a patch of wildflowers and urging them to bloom and grow before returning to perch on Willy's shoulder. "Mortals die though. They are like the flowers, aren't they? That is what my mother once told me. That they are born small and sweet, then blossom and bloom, filling the world with beauty- until one by one they shed their petals and wilt away. You will not die, fae Willy- what if they wilt while still holding your heart?"

From:

willysilver

"I am doing what I can to prevent that. That was what brought me to the wizard's door today. I was hoping he might have a way to keep my love from wilting," he replied.

He was beginning to think that might be folly, but he had to try. he had to try even though Fin simply enjoyed him and what they had. The little mortal was not in love with him and it was beginning to take its toll. Willy, who did not usually sleep, could not get enough rest. He could hardly eat. He was also becoming slightly...gray. It was faint, but Willy was sure if Fin never loved him he would pay the toll for losing his heart to the young man.

From:

winter_wisp

"There are many mortals though. Perhaps you need a younger one with more life left to live," Winter suggested, having no idea what love was, and no way of understanding those feelings.

"Or you could take your love to the puppet man, and have them turned to wood- then they would live forever- Just smaller and with strings. ...Or, perhaps, you could drown them in the river of life, and they could be at your side for all eternity as a spirit."

From:

willysilver

"I have considered such things, but...it is a bit more complicated than that," Willy said softly. "But this is all dark subject matter to discuss on your first day of freedom. Come, be cheerful. We need only to go to the other side of the village now..." he added as they entered the cluster of buildings where the wizards had established a small town.

From:

winter_wisp

The moment there were people around them Winter seemed to wilt, practically hiding in Willy's hair as they made their way through town.

"I do not like it here, fae Willy. I do not like it at all."