Drabble Self-Challenge - Day Six!

[thistledear]

Yet another day late! But I came really, REALLY close this time!

Day 6

　

008. Weeks

"Two weeks! Two weeks!" Wasp chirped, zipping around in excited circles. "Two more weeks until the con!"

"I still say this is a terrible idea," Rose said, chewing on her lip. "You in public can't be a good idea. Especially when said public contains a bunch of nerds who might not be as, ah, adverse to the idea of faeries as the average person. You know?"

"I don't care. I have a glamour for invisibility, and it is worth the risk to find the collectibles I want."

"Does the word 'Ebay' mean anything to you?"

"Honestly, you are no fun."

　

017. Brown

"…You are such a nerd, Wasp."

"What? What did I do?"

She looked at the pixie, wearing a long brown coat and very tight pants with boots and tried to stop giggling. "That is SO wrong, dude."

"What, are you Alliance or something?"
"No, I'm a Buffy fan."

"One doesn't preclude the other!"

"The world's tiniest browncoat, that's your Halloween costume."

"And you're dressed as…" He blinked and set his fists on his hips. "Oh come on, now you're trying to piss me off."

Rose giggled and twirled in green, vines twisted in her hair. "The dryad thing is fun!"

　

025. Strangers

They were tall—too tall, dressed in dusty black, with their faces shadowed by the wide brim of old worn hats. They carried sacks over their shoulders, and they moved through the trees with sinister purpose. Neither noticed the pair by the old pine, and she was glad of it.

"What are they?" Rose asked, burrowing under the safety of one wing.

"Demons."

"Are they dangerous?"

"To us? No. They're more interested in children."

"Wha—should we do something?"

"And deny Bonnie her fun?" Aerael asked, eyes wide as inhuman cries sounded from deeper inside the trees. "Perish the thought."

　

036. Smell

When Wasp left for a week for a quick pilgrimage back to Faerie, Rose decided to stay with Bonnie for a couple of nights. She lay curled in the guest bed, the scent of cinnamon surrounding her. The house always smelled of baked goods. It was a comforting scent.

And then there was another scent, cold and sharp. She opened one eye and peered at the incubus leaning over her.

"Yes?"

"I thought you might be lonely," he murmured. "Would you like some company?"

"Don't you ever give up?"

He raised one brow and she groaned, rolling over. "Go away."

　

043. Square

There was a gazebo on the downtown square, with a table and benches, perfect for midnight tea with Hat, the Hare and Bonnie. The Hare was bipedal for once, a short, nut-brown fae with very long ears, and cute as a bug. Rose kept playing with his long hair, and the Hare seemed to enjoy scratches no matter what his shape.

"No Wasp?" Hat asked politely, pouring her another cup.

"He had a long day. Said he wanted sleep."

"Poor thing," Bonnie sighed. "So tired he can't even stay up late for his love."

Rose shrugged. "More tea for us."

　

052. Fire

Salamanders, he called them. Fire elementals. More of Bonnie's children, he said. Mostly her children were his own get—demons—but every once in a great while something like this came along.

They were beautiful: long, lithe forms within the flames, dancing along the dirt road. They beckoned sweetly, called for her to dance, and she stepped forward, feet itching to join. But an arm curled around her waist and hauled her roughly back.

"Not a good idea," Aerael murmured in her ear.

"It's true," Bonnie added from beside him. "Just because you're family doesn't mean they won't devour you."

　

067. Snow

"It snows in Texas?" Rose asked, watching the weather report on Channel 8. "But…it's Texas. That is so wrong."

"Usually more ice than anything," Wasp said, enjoying a thimble of hot chocolate with a drop of whiskey. "Turns the roads into Slip-N-Slides, breaks electric wires. Nasty stuff. Not exactly anything to go make snowmen out of."

"So I should probably go ahead and get groceries today, huh?"

"More whiskey, too." He grinned, cheeks reddening from his drink. "We'll need to keep warm."

"Right, like you're not just going to crawl into my cleavage again."

"I fucking love being a pixie."

　

077. What?

"What the hell?"

Rose had stumbled upon a secret room in her new house, and it appeared some sort of strange and purple bird had exploded there. There were feathers all over the place, ranging from violet to a deep plum, and they were especially thick across a nest of pillows thrown carelessly in the far corner. She picked one up and twirled it as she stared thoughtfully at the mess, and then she went and got Wasp.

"Do you have any idea what this is?" she asked.

He shrugged. "Secret love nest? You should ask Bonnie about the feathers."

　

086. Choices

"What do you think? Long black dress or this two-piece thing here?"

Iolanthe frowned at both of the offered choices. "I think you should really let me take you shopping."

"Well, it's too late for that now. This is what I've got."

"Sweet Hades…the long black dress. It's the less horrifying of the two. And that's not saying much. Did you dye your hair again?"

"It's semi-permanent. Didn't think I should show up for the theater with green hair."

She rolled her eyes. "It's the Music Hall in Dallas. There will be people there in jeans. Don't knock yourself out."

　

099. Tavern

Rose loved The Dragon's Ire in town. She had always loved a pub atmosphere anyway, and the tavern combined Old World charm and crazy with…uh-oh.

"Karaoke?" Rose giggled. "Seriously?"

"The vampires," Siana sighed, rolling her eyes and leaning on the bar. "They started it, the werewolves picked up on it, and you know how the fae love to hear singing."

"Do they?"

"They used to steal talent to take back to Faerie with them." The dragon lady winced in pain as someone began to butcher a Britney Spears song. "I don't think anyone here needs to worry about that, though."