Solstice War - Gathering

[willysilver]

The Solstice was upon them. When the sun went down the magic began to swell, the veil between this world and the Other Side thin as vapor. Mortals could sense it, even, though they may not have a name for it. They gathered together, not realizing the animal instinct of safety in numbers.

But all around the city, from the dark parts, fae began to come together as well. Unseelie filled the city- boggarts and Red Caps and things unseen for many a year with bright eyes and sharp teeth. But they were tricksy, dangerous and malicious but no worse than they ever were. The real threat, the ever present danger this year, were the Milesian that crawled out of the sewers and tube tunnels to prowl they city. They were hunting tonight. They had eyes black and soulless, eyes too wide for their white, gaunt faces. Larger than their eyes were their mouth. The smile of needle fangs glinted in the street lights. Long arms ending with spidery, spindly fingers reached and clawed at passers by from the shadows.

There was a war in the city tonight and the nature of the foe, the Milesian, meant no bound mortal needed to be near any battle. Death would come to one or the other if a killing blow came down.

But there was hope. Seelie fae prowled the city as well, fighting for Light and Air. Even the Queen had seen fit to step through with her sword and shield. Such was the threat to the Fae way of life that the Milesian presented.

The longest day of the year dawned but the sunlight did nothing to frighten off the dark forces. The longest day of the year simply meant the things that went bump in the night were attacking in the light.




(Tag in, tag around! Open all week so check back. Have fun with your adventures. If you don't want any Milesian, there are plenty of Unseelie, too. Day or night, whichever works for you.)

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[phouka]

"I would protect these mortals as I would protect the queen," he replied. "This is what I was made to do."

[winter_wisp]

"But you are more than that, Phouka," Winter said, leaning into him as they walked. "You know that, don't you?"

[phouka]

"Yes. I know. But I like how it feels to let myself fight. It is very exciting," he beamed, wrapping his free arm around Winter.

[winter_wisp]

"You could get hurt. You could die, Phouka," Winter said softly, resting his chin on the other man's shoulder.

[phouka]

The Phouka laughed at that.

"I cannot die, my love," he said with warm amusement. "I can only be unmade. And no villain can do that to me. Fear not."

[winter_wisp]

"You don't know," Winter whined. "None of us know anything. The world is chaos, Phouka."

[phouka]

The Phouka stopped and looked at Winter with bright, curious eyes.

"Do not fear, Winter. All will be well. The dawn will come and we will be victorious. You will see."

[winter_wisp]

"You sound sure, but you have no reason to be, Phouka. That's not how the world works, my Phouka. Things are not always good or right, or the way we want them to be," the pixie whispered.

[phouka]

That made the creature's brow furrow and his mouth turn down.

"Winter...what is wrong with you tonight?" he asked with deep concern.

[winter_wisp]

"I just... Do not like war, Phouka. I don't like it. ...It is how my parents died. Aspid may have burned my home, but war took my parents," Winter said quietly.

[phouka]

"War will not take anything more from you," he replied gently, rubbing Winter's arm. "It will not take me, nor our home, nor anyone we love. I will not let that happen," he promised.

[winter_wisp]

"You swear it, Phouka? You swear it?" Winter asked softly, squeezing Phouka's shoulder and looking worried.

[phouka]

"I swear it to you, Winter," he said with sincere gravity. "I will never leave your side. If you prefer to go home and hide safely, I will guard the door. Trust that this night will be over soon enough."

[winter_wisp]

"I'm not leaving you," Winter said quietly. I feel like you are safer if I am here too."

He exhaled a nervous breath, then flung his arms around the phouka, pulling him closer. "You are my love, my best friend. I will always be at your side. Forever."

[phouka]

There was a rushing in his blood and the Phouka pulled Winter close to kiss him. It was heated and yet restrained. The Phouka knew he could too easily get lost in Winter's kiss and this was not the night for that.

He kept the blade in his hand at the ready.

"Forever," he promised when he broke the kiss. "Forever and always."

[winter_wisp]

Winter nodded, a slow bob of his head as he let go.

"Forever and always," he agreed, taking a calming breath and looking around. "When this is over, we should ward this whole park. Make it safe, just for us."

[phouka]

"An excellent idea," the Phouka said with a bright smile. "We will make it the safest place in all of London. But first we must pass the night. If any of the villains come here I will slay them. And you can write a song of my bravery."

[winter_wisp]

"A ballad. The Ballad of My Phouka Mine," Winter grinned, bouncing a little as he patrolled at the Phouka's side. "The bravest Phouka of them all. A free Phouka. ...Mighty Phouka."

[phouka]

"I think it will e the best ballad," the Phouka replied. He puffed up a bit at the praise.To be brave and mighty and free were all qualities that ought to be sung about, and that Winter would sing them about him made his swell.

But then he stopped. There was a rustling in a bush and he held Winter back to stop him. The rustling grew louder and then appeared a creature.

A creature...

It was a disembodied foot wearing a jaunty green hat with a long black feather. Out of the ankle there sprang a small arm and clutched in its hand was a wee lantern. The light was magical and beckoned them to follow.

But the Phouka did not follow. He only stared at the creature in confusion.

[winter_wisp]

Winter cocked his head a little, then looked over at Phouka.

"Is that a foot? Are people feet sentient? Oh my god, poor feet. Do you think they know they smell?" the pixie whispered.

[phouka]

Phouka couldn't help but laugh at that.

"This is what passes for the enemy?" he asked. "It might hop us to death."

[winter_wisp]

"It could be a trap. Like those fishes that pretend to be small, but they're big, and then they go, RAWR!" Winter argued, baring his teeth and growling.

"...Or maybe not rawr. Fish probably don't rawr."

[phouka]

"I am sure they do not," he chuckled. "It is Unseelie...I should challenge it to battle."

He paused.

"I do not know how to battle a foot."

[winter_wisp]

"You could... Kick it?" Winter suggested quietly. "Step on it? Put it in a sock?"

[phouka]

The creature had kept hopping away, its lantern bobbing back and forth as it went.

"A sock might work. Or a sack. I feel it would be an unmatched battle if I used my sword," he said, and each passing moment the foot got farther and farther away.