OTA

[phouka]

The first day of Spring had come and gone. The prince had left to the Seelie lands, but only for battle preparations. He was back with the full moon. Phouka had remained behind to see after Winter and Fin, though for them the days were much the same. In truth, Phouka was a bit bored. He longed for court intrigues and gossip. As a guard he'd never been a part of things, always on the outside, but he'd heard and he'd seen. Now he got his entertainment from the telly. He found it to be so contrived. It lacked fire. Passion.

And so with the prince back he had been given leave for the day. He immediately set out to find intrigues. He wandered the park, found a market, sat outside in the chilly air to sip a coffee and watch. Watch and see. Everywhere he looked he saw people with lovers, with friends. He didn't know their lives so some of the drama was lost. But at the cafe he found hope. On one side of him sat two women chatting incessantly about the one's disasterous love life. The friend concurred with the righteous anger over many, many men. On the other side sat a couple who, at first, were the picture of romance. But then he checked a text and the woman...well, she became a bit mad. Angry, yes, but Phouka thought she was absolutely nutters as she questioned him on who he was talking to, grilling him with such jealous fury the Phouka kept waiting for the man to leave. Watching them he saw what others might not see. The man was positively eating up her jealous outburst. It stroked his ego, clearly.

"Hmm." Just that. One small sound. And he sipped his coffee.

[Find him at the cafe or in the park, market, or on the street, wherever works best!]

Comments

[winter_wisp]

Winter hadn't been looking for Phouka, but he'd felt him nearby and had instantly set off in that direction- Or, rather, sprinted in that direction.

Winter could be a bit of a troublemaker, but usually he didn't run through the city like a menace. However, given that he was currently being chased by two very large and angry men, he was sure he could be forgiven for being just a little bit naughty.

Zipping through the cafe door, he glanced around and then quickly darted over to Phouka's table, sitting down and then turning himself invisible before he could even offer a proper hello. A little pixie magic, and no one around them seemed to even notice him- Though many heads did turn towards the door when his two hulking pursuers came crashing through.

With any luck they'd simply decide they'd lost him in the crowd outside.

[phouka]

Phouka was a bit surprised but the only way it registered was with raised brows. He sipped his coffee and watched as the two brutes came in, one going to the back to check the loo.

"You seen a snot nosed little brat run in here?" one asked the man who was eating up his girlfriend's jealousy. He looked shocked and shook his head.

He moved to Phouka.

"Did you see him?" he asked.

"I think I'm looking at him," the Phouka replied.

[winter_wisp]

Winter giggled, the wound like tinkling bells, and the hulking man looked around, growing more and more annoyed.

"Where is the little shit? He scammed me out of twenty quid! That stupid shell game of his was rigged!" the man snarled.

[phouka]

"Why were you playing a shell game? They're all rigged. Shame on you, sir," Phouka replied. That only angered the bloke and he grabbed the front of the Phouka's silk shirt and brocade waistcoat to pull him up.

"Look, wanker..." he said. But that was all he said. The Phouka was a guard for the Queen herself, and now to the prince. He was far from helpless, possessing the speed and ferocity of a beast. He bent the man's wrist and kneed him in the groin, then when he doubled over he slammed the man's head into the table. His friend came out and the Phouka dispatched him similarly. He was incredibly fast, too fast to be human, and both men lay bleeding and moaning on the floor.

And that was when the police came in, called by the server when the men first came in. They found the blokes on the floor and the Phouka smoothing his waistcoat.

"What happened?" one copper asked.

"They attacked me and I defended myself," Phouka answered. He thought of the telly and the movie he had seen. "Like Bruce Lee," he added.

"All right, go on. Get out of here. We'll take it from here."

Phouka looked at the blank space where Winter was sitting and subtly nodded his head for the pixie to join him.

[winter_wisp]

Winter giggled again, and one of the officers looked around in confusion, but the pixie slipped out of his seat and followed the Phouka. He didn't appear until they were outside, and he covered his mouth as he smiled brightly.

"You were fierce, Phouka. You moved like the wind through the trees!" he peeped.

[phouka]

The Phouka smiled with pride.

"Yes," he said. "And they deserved it. Were you up to mischief, little one?" he asked, wholly pleased with the turn of events.

[winter_wisp]

"I was selling fantasy... Then I snatched it away," Winter replied with an impish little grin. They got very cross though. Crosser than people usually get."

[phouka]

He chuckled and slipped his arm around the pixie's narrow shoulders.

"Very good," Phouka said. "There's no harm in that. But you must be careful who you trick."

[winter_wisp]

"I know. I got greedy," Winter admitted, wiggling his ears a little, then giggling as he leaned into the Phouka and happily walked at his side.

"What have you done today Phouka?" he asked.

[phouka]

"I have wandered the city in search of mortal intrigues," he replied. "Before you came there were fine dramas at the closest tables. I enjoyed it. Between the intrigues and the fighting I feel much more myself."

[winter_wisp]

"You were growing restless?" Winter asked, tilting his head thoughtfully.

[phouka]

"Very much so. I find myself missing the palace and the other Phouka," he said. He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I would like very much to go home for a bit to visit."

[winter_wisp]

"But Phouka, I have just decided to stay," Winter whined, a mixture of hurt an heartbreak painting his features as he looked up at his best friend. "You would leave me?"

[phouka]

"You...could come with me. I could show you the palace and introduce you to my kind..." he suggested.

[winter_wisp]

"I don't know, Phouka. I don't really want to go back. Not now. I feel like I've just found my place here, I'm not ready to take a break from it," Winter admitted. "But if you wish to go, I understand. I will be here waiting for your return."

[phouka]

"It is only a visit, my favourite. I will not stay. And I do not even know if the prince will give me leave to go, no matter how I plead my case," Phouka said.

[winter_wisp]

"You should be free to go if you please though, Phouka," Winter said softly.

[phouka]

"Things that should be are not always so, Winter. You know I cannot simply go," he replied. "It worries me not. If I stay then I shall have you," he added with a smile.

[winter_wisp]

Winter cooed softly, but it was hard to tell if it was a happy or sad sound.

[phouka]

The Phouka tightened his hold around Winter's shoulders and gave him a kiss on the head.

"Enough of this. The future is uncertain. What shall we do now that we are together?" he asked.

[winter_wisp]

"We should go on an adventure. Something exciting," Winter whispered. "We should go on a search for something shiny."

[phouka]

"What a fine idea," Phouka said cheerfully, always up for a bit of Winter's brand of fun. "What kind of shiny? Gems? We should find the most beautiful gems."

[winter_wisp]

"Yes, something glittering. Something precious," Winter nodded, looking thoughtful. "We should go to a mortal museum, and pinch something. It will be the day the mortals worship pink rabbits soon, imagine how impressed Fae Willy will be if we gift his mortal something precious. He will be so pleased he will have to allow you to go home for a visit, Phouka."

[phouka]

"A very good idea. I wonder what Finlay will like? We should go see what the museum has to offer. The things only sit there to gather dust. They should be loved. Come," he said, slipping his arm from around Winter's shoulders so he could take hold of his hand instead.

[winter_wisp]

"I don't know, he likes dumb things," Winter replied, taking the offered hand and wrinkling his nose slightly as he thought of the things the zombie enjoyed. "He likes weird smelling cigarettes and sad music."