willysilver | Winter

It wasn't warm but it was pleasant. The wind was light and the air crisp. Willy needed nothing to guard against the weather but knew mortals would look at him strangely if he did not wear a jacket. So he wore his leather with the buckles and studs that he was so fond of. It was punk as punk could be and was a signature look for him. He wore a black Blue Oyster Cult t-shirt, black jeans, black belt- his uniform, practically. The only color was his white forelock and the silver triple moon earring he wore that was so shiny it glinted in the merry light.

The London Eye was a popular destination. The sun was only just beginning to set and people clammored to ride the wheel to see the sunset over the Thames. Willy played not far from the queue. Tonight it was his violin that filled the air with music.

So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama, any way you feel
Ooh, ooh mama rock me...

He sang the original, not the newer country version. Willy was quite partial to the Old Crow Medicine Show's repertoire.

He was to meet Winter soon and they would spend the night together. Willy had promised the little one dinner and was thinking Indian food would be a delicious treat. On an autum night like this perhaps a pumpkin curry. He kept his eyes out for the pixie, unsure if he would have taken his potion or not.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

willysilver

"It may work. He seems to be, mm, too ill. I used my own power and yet he almost died. His heart may be too weak for magic. He may be beyond help, Winter," Willy said gravely. The truth of that crept up on the pixie. Fin was Willy's beloved...and all fae and kin knew what happened when they loved a mortal. No fae was spared- not a single happy ending among all the tales.

From:

winter_wisp

The thought of something happening to Willy made the pixie turn grey, and he made a sad sound as he tried to think of another option.

"What if we were to get him a new heart? A magic heart," Winter whispered, aware that dabbling in the dark arts wasn't something one suggested lightly.

From:

willysilver

"I have thought of that," Willy admitted. "I do not know if he would consent..."

From:

winter_wisp

"He would not need to if your hearts were bound," Winter pointed out.

From:

willysilver

Willy had not thought of that, that much was obvious. But he turned the idea over now and his eyes grew wider at the notion.

"Winter, you are right!" he said happily. "I shall simply get him to bind with me. Surely that will be easy enough with the love we share. And then I will not need any further permission!"

From:

winter_wisp

"Is he familiar with our rituals though?" Winter asked, looking thoughtful. "I fear some mortals may find them unsettling."

From:

willysilver

"He is not. I believe he is eager to learn, but I go home so seldom..." Willy said thoughtfully. "I wonder if I could get my mother to do the binding ritual. Unlikely. She would realize the risks."

From:

winter_wisp

Winter hesitated, biting his bottom lip for a long moment, then speaking up.

"I have seen Aspid do it," he said quietly.

From:

willysilver

Willy's brows rose high and his eyes grew round.

"You? You could do it?" he asked. "If you would help Fin and I become bound it would erase all your debt to me, my friend. All of it. Would you really do this?"

From:

winter_wisp

"I would, of course I would, but- I have never done it before, Willy," he warned nervously.

From:

willysilver

"But you watched Aspid. How many years did he have you, petal? Surely you know the details of the ritual," Willy insisted. He could see Winter was nervous, but Willy believed in him. He had faith and trust- more than enough to bolster the pixie.

Or perhaps the cream had him just drunk enough he was willing to charge headlong into a binding that he hadn't even asked Fin about.

From:

winter_wisp

"I- I will do my best, Fae Willy," Winter offered. "Now all you need is the mortal's agreement. That shouldn't be hard though, I imagine."

From:

willysilver

"I will ask him tonight," he said, nodding at that notion. "I will take you home and when you are settled I will find him and bring him back. We can go to the river. Or perhaps not. Perhaps somewhere not so polluted..."

From:

winter_wisp

"Oh, Willy, there is time to plan," Winter assured him. "I am not strong enough yet to do the ritual. It may be weeks still before I am."

From:

willysilver

The fae huffed and scowled at the news. "Weeks?" he said, and huffed again. Then he nodded and took a large sip of his coffee, savoring the rich cream.

"Very well. Then I shall woo Fin. I shall bring him over to the idea of being bound."

From:

winter_wisp

"Are you not afraid Willy?" Winter asked softly. "If his new heart works, he may live forever. He may never grow old, if his body accepts it... If it fails though, you might die with him," he whispered.

From:

willysilver

"I have already accepted that I will die with him. Or, if not die, diminish. I will become little more than a shade, some kind of mourning sidhe..." He grew somber then, no trace of mirth in his eyes or at the corners of his mouth. He was a shadow of himself. Melancholy settled heavy and dark on his shoulders.

From:

winter_wisp

Winter wilted, then pressed close, offering Willy some of his warmth as they walked.

"There is always another option. ...There are potions that will cause you to fall out of love," he said softly.

From:

willysilver

He turned his gaze to Winter and though he was sad, he smiled then.

"I would rather die," he said. "Such is the pain of love...I would rather endure it a thousand years than live without it at all. Finlay is as a part of my body. I could live without my sword arm sooner than I could live without him."

From:

winter_wisp

Winter made a sad cooing sort of sound at the thought of loosing the fae, and he shook his head.

"Then he must agree, and it must work."

From:

willysilver

"He will and it shall," Willy said with such certainty that it must be true. "You have yet to truly meet him, is that true? I have not brought him to the cottage since you have joined me."

From:

winter_wisp

"I have not," Winter chirped, perking up a little. "Is he nice? Is he kind? Does he know of pixies?" he asked.

From:

willysilver

"He is the most nice, most kind, most artistic, most gentle, most creative..." Willy said, then in his tipsy state he went on, listing trait after trait, singing Fin's praises.

"...And he is beautiful. Not as the fae are. He is beautiful for a mortal. With eyes that are gray and green, lips so soft you must taste them, and hair that begs to be touched. He is slender as well. And his voice is exactly a reflection of him- warm and soft, gentle but with an edge. He is delight and desire."

He paused.

"He knows of pixies. He calls me his wicked pixie...it took me some time to realize he did not mean it as a slur."

From:

winter_wisp

"Why would it be a slur?" Winter huffed. "There is nothing wrong with being a pixie, fae Willy."

From:

willysilver

Willy arched a brow and then chuckled warmly. "No, no, there is nothing wrong with being a pixie. But I am a prince, little one. Calling me anything beneath my station as a Daoine is...not polite."