'Gabe! Gabe! Have you seen it yet? The pet human has finally published our first big adventure.'
Hmph. 'I look grumpy on the cover & my part is underplayed.'
Giggle. 'Oh, Gabe.'
Available now on amazon as ebook & paperback.
or
Psst... don't tell Gabe... the pet human has made our first big adventure into a book. Publishing mid 2024. To find out more & get a free short story THE FIRST BROWNIE please subscribe to her newsletter.
Who could resist such a delicious treat.
'Gabe, what kind of
#animal
has the snout of a crocodile, the claws of a lion, horns, spikes & breathes fire?'
'Oh, I do like a guessing game, Pixie. Let me think... hmm... Sounds like a hybrid...tricky...'
'Could you hurry it up, Gabe, because it's getting mighty close.'
#vss365
'What's a
#horse
, Gabe?'
'It's like a unicorn but without the horn, Pixie'
'Do they fart rainbows?'
'No they don't do that either.'
'Hmm. So they're like Pegasus?'
'No wings.'
'...what can they do, Gabe?'
'Well, they run fast & carry people.'
'Ooooh. Can I have one, Gabe?
#vss365
I
#explore
Gabe's bedroom for treasure. In his underwear drawer, I find a little box with human writing on it, filled with foil wrappers. Inside are boring coloured, kind of sticky balloons. Still, Gabe's Mama is coming to tea, so I'll blow them up & decorate the place.
#vss365
'Pixie, why is there a huge
#timberwolf
sitting on the lawn.'
'Oh, that's Fenrir, Gabe. I've been teaching him some pranks to play on Odin.'
'Pixie, are you trying to bring on Ragnarök?!'
'There's no mention of a pixie in Norse legend, so I figure we're probably safe.'
#vss365
'Noooo, Gabe! What have you done!'
'I've vacuumed, Pixie. Though why I should clean your mess is beyond me.'
'So the pile of
#ash
I left, is in the hoover bag? Hmm...'
'What's happening, Pixie? The vacuum is rattling...& smoking!'
'You're about to meet one angry phoenix.'
#vss365
'I need to be super careful today after yesterday's portent, Gabe.'
'What do you mean, Pixie?'
'
#Vermillion
sky at night,
Pixies take fright.'
'You just made that up, Pixie.'
'No, Gabe. It's a well known pixie saying.'
'OR, you want to wriggle out of your chores again!'
#vss365
We
#invade
under the blanket of night. A hundred pixies in ninja black, swarming over Gabe's house. They disperse as dawn whispers the horizon & the angel stirs.
Will Gabe like my surprise?
He blinks in the light of countless candles.
'Happy 2000ish birthday, Gabe.'
#vss365
'The atmosphere is
#electric
. The crowd holds its breath. The angel, no stranger to danger, balances, one legged, on the rickety stool. Gabe gives a quick, decisive twist, & the crowd goes wild-'
'Shut up, Pixie, & do something useful, like handing me the new lightbulb.'
#vss365
'Pixie! There's a human in my bed, wearing my nightshirt, reading poetry.'
'Ah, you've met DeRicki. He stumbled thru the veil & needed somewhere to stay. And you do say
#charity
starts at home, Gabe.'
'I'm glad you feel that way, Pixie, because now he's in your room.'
#vss365
I take a tiny slice off Gabe's brownie, so small he'll never notice. But it's sooo good, I take another & another, & suddenly it's so tiny I might as well just finish it.
I stuff it in my mouth & put on my best smile as Gabe comes into the room. He's sure to
#forgive
me!
#vss365
'Can't we
#discuss
this, Gabe?'
'No, Pixie. My house, my rules.'
'You sound like a dictator, Gabe.'
'I don't care. Run along & stop annoying me.'
I add a log to the fire & check its covert occupant before I leave. Maybe Gabe will change his mind when the dragon hatches.
#vss365
#Awake
in the velvet hours of the night, listening to the settling susurrations of the house, the flutter of moth wings against windowpanes, the scuttle-scurry of stirring night creatures, & wondering how Gabe's getting on with the deathstalker scorpion I hid in his bed.
#vss365
'Pixie, what do a Basilisk, a Gorgon & a minotaur have in common?'
'Oh, Gabe, I love these brain teasers! Apart from being deadly... I don't know.'
'They're all sitting on my
#lawn
. But I doubt that's all they have in common. I reckon there's a Pixie connection!'
'Hmm...'
#vss365
Amid the crunch of forest leaves, in the gloaming between
#dark
& light, I find an uncommon flower. It bares its fangs at me, but giggles when I tickle its calyx. Angel's bane. I've always wondered at that name. Now a chance to find out.
'Gabe, come see what I've found.'
#vss365
I thread streamers around Gabe's neck, place a glasses tray on his outstretched hand & balance a platter of nibbles on his halo. OK, I didn't mean for Medusa to petrify him, but he's going to make a great centre piece for the
#party
! And he won't even remember it. I hope!
#vss365
'Pixie! I warned you. No more dragons near the house. There's 100s of them. They'll blow the roof off.'
'I did ask you, Gabe. You said it was fine.'
'What? No! All you mentioned was a
#dragonfly
.'
'Aah... you need to pay more attention, Gabe. Dragon flyby. Not dragonfly!'
#vss365
'What's up, Gabe? Why are you wearing overalls, mask & rubber gloves.'
'I'm heading into the
#abyss
, Pixie. I just hope I make it back out.'
'Huh? I haven't opened an abyss since that time we met your evil alter-ego.'
'Different abyss, Pixie. I'm cleaning your bedroom!'
#vss365
'Let me get this right, Pixie. While I was out shopping, you did zero off your
#chore
list.'
'But Ga-abe, I was sooo hungry, I couldn't move. I'll just have a brownie, then I'll be fine.'
Munch. Munch.
'Right, get to it, Pixie.'
'But Ga-abe. I'm sooo full, I can't move.'
#vss365
'There aren't any Angelic swear words, Pixie.'
'Really, Gabe! But they're such a great ice-breaker when trying to
#communicate
. I can swear in 30 languages. Trollish, Goblin, Ogre. Even Dragon.'
'Suddenly, Pixie, all the predicaments you get into make perfect sense.'
#vss365
I swoop into the Angel Arms.
Gabe freezes, cocktail halfway to his mouth. 'Pixie, you're all sooty! You've burnt down the house again, haven't you?
'Yes... but there's good news.'
'Damage was
#minimal
?'
'Oh no. It's gutted. But I saved your Angel of the Year Certificate.'
#vss365
'Please let Caspar stay, Gabe. His last
#haunting
post went so badly the ghostly council are threatening to banish him to a deserted house.'
'Seriously, Pixie! No!'
'But, Gabe, he's crying.'
'Oh, fine. But for 6 months only & he stays in the cupboard when Mother visits.'
#vss365
'Isn't it
#cosy
, Gabe?'
'Cosy! COSY! There's a dragon in my favorite chair, Pixie, chewing on my crossword!'
'Don't be grumpy,Gabe. It's only till his mum gets back & he's keeping us nice & warm. Oops. Careful not to set that on fire, Digby... I'll get some water.'
Growl.
#vss365
'Hello,Rachel. There's a good spider.' My worst
#nightmare
rattles her mandible & drips venom. I shiver. 'What's the nasty angel been saying about me? Don't you listen to him. Pixie's got you a nice juicy fly.'
She munches noisily.
'Friends, see. But let's not tell Gabe.'
#vss365
'You have to understand, Gabe. I am the
#weaver
of wonders. The brewer of brilliance. The curator of charms. My inspiration needs freedom to flourish.'
'Be as poetic as you want, Pixie. You still blew a hole in my house!'
#vss365
'Do you ever
#think
before you act, Pixie.'
'I'm not like you, Gabe. I'm more of a seat-of-my-pants kind of pixie. Living in the moment.'
'You'll be living in a tree if we can't put this house fire out.'
'Easy come, easy go, Gabe.'
'The last brownie is in there too.'
GASP
#vss365
'Don't give up, Gabe. We have options. You could claim a head injury caused amnesia. Or what about you fake your death & go into hiding for the next millennia?'
'Tempting,Pixie, but I must answer for my mistakes. I forgot her birthday. Now I have to face Mother's
#wrath
.'
#vss365
'
#Plum
jam on your toast, Gabe?'
'Hmmm, thank you, Pixie.'
'Shall I top up your tea cup? Would you like a boiled egg or a-'
'What have you done, Pixie?'
'I don't know what you mean, Gabe. I'm just being kind. No need to cast aspersions!'
'It's bad isn't it?'
'We-ell...'
#vss365
Snip. Snip. Gabe has so many lovely dress robes that he rarely wears, it seems daft to buy material for my
#belle
of the pixie ball outfit. Snip.Snip. I know, I know, Gabe will notice eventually. But I've a plan. Take 6 inches off every robe & he'll just think he's grown.
#vss365
My heart tap dances against my ribs as I pull on my pixie ninja outfit, muffle the bells on the toes of my favourite shoes & draw
#charcoal
camouflage wiggles on my face.
It's all or nothing. Time to steal the last chocolate brownie from under Gabe's nose.
#vss365
I sit in the darkness, shaking & hugging myself.
'Pixie?' Gabe cracks open the door. 'Are you feeling any better?'
I sniffle. 'Better! How could I ever feel better. It came out of nowhere, Gabe, & I'm not sure if I'll ever get over it... The
#closure
of the brownie shop.'
#vss365
'I wasn't
#laughing
, Gabe. There's nothing funny about your halo getting tangled in the stage curtain pullies & you dangling over the audience with your tighty-whities on display.'
'Pixie, you laughed so hard you snorted tea out your nose!'
Giggle. 'Maybe a little bit.'
#vss365
'Pixie, you're
#hopeless
. You can't really think the Hydra invited you around for tea.'
'What else would they want, Gabe?'
'Well, you're a small tasty pixie. And they're hungry monsters.'
'Do you really not know me at all, Gabe.'
'...you're right. Good luck to you Hydra.'
#vss365
'I'm sorry, Gabe. I forgot.'
'You are
#beyond
belief, Pixie. How long have you known.'
'Just a week... or 3. I'm sure it will be fine, Gabe.'
'Are you mad, Pixie! This is my mother we're talking about & the first warning I get is her walking up the path with a suitcase!'
#vss365
'I've seen
#aeon
pass, Pixie. Planets formed from dust, stars & galaxies born, all seemingly in the blink of an eye. And yet your niece's birthday party feels like its lasting an eternity.'
'But, Gabe, the pixielings love you, & you look great in bunny ears & glitter.'
#vss365
'GABE! HELP!'
'Honestly, Pixie? You've braved a troll's cave for nail cuttings, a basilisk for a scale, my temper countless times for some ridiculous potion ingredient & casually invited dragons to tea. Yet here you are,
#pale
& shaking,bcos there's a spider in the bath.'
#vss365
'Why, Pixie, you're blushing. There's a
#limerence
between you & Peter.'
'Don't tease me, Gabe.'
'Oh Pixie, I've barely got started. Consider this payback for the love charm you put on me for Tricia the troll. Now let's see. Peter & Pixie sitting in a tree K-i-s-s-i-n-g!'
#vss365
'Where've you been all day, Gabe?'
'I had to go
#north
on human business, Pixie.'
'Really? I thought we avoided them.'
'This was for an exceptional individual.'
'Wow, that's high praise. Do you think I'm exceptional, Gabe?'
'Well, you're often exceptionally annoying.'
#vss365
'Pixie has a
#crush
on Peter.'
'I do not, Gabe. You're being silly. We're just friends.'
'Hmmm... Really? I'm not sure I believe you. Because I saw Pixie & Peter sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G.'
'Oh, shut up, Gabe. It's not funny when you do it!'
#vss365
'Pixie! The neighbourhood is in uproar. Wherever you turn, a tentacle shoots out of a drain or toilet or plughole. I know you're involved somehow!'
'It can't be... not little Kevin... He was just a baby kraken when I gave him his
#freedom
and sent him off down the drain.'
#vss365
I remove each
#screw
with featherlight fingers. The chair is held together by dust & cobwebs.
'Morning,Pixie.' Gabe is all smiles now his mother has left.
Does he realise her departure marks the end of our ceasefire?
'PIXIE!' He vanishes in a flurry of feathers.
Seems not
#vss365
‘I’m going to
#bar
my pet human from
#vss365
today, Gabe. She’s got covid & looks like she might fall over.’
‘I keep telling you, Pixie, you can’t have a pet human!’
‘Why not? I’ve already got a pet-’
‘If the next word out of you mouth is angel, there’s going to be trouble!’
😬
'A dragoon of dragons, a slither of snakes, a
#crowd
of chimera-'
'A pesk of pixies!'
'Don't be rude, Gabe. Maybe help me make these banners?'
'I want nothing to do with this parade of yours, Pixie.'
'Ah... that could be a problem. It's taking place at your house.'
Groan.
#vss365
'I'm so proud, Pixie. You've gone 3 days without playing a prank, brewing a potion or using a charm. As a reward, I've baked you this.'
'Wow, Gabe. A
#blueberry
muffin. That looks scrumptious. But, if you don't mind, I'm going to use this charm to turn it into a brownie.'
#vss365
I can cut the
#tension
in the air with a knife. Literally. It's a kind of swirly purple smoke that parts with a hiss when I slice.
Gabe peers into the room. 'What is that noise...? Not again, Pixie! Stop playing with the ectoplasm & send it back to where you found it.'
#vss365
'Batten down the hatches, Gabe! There's rumour in the village that a
#snollygoster
is about.'
'Enough with your made up monsters, Pixie. We have a visitor. This is Lorenge.'
'I am a very important member of the angel council, little pixie.'
'Eek. Too late on the hatches!'
#vss365
A
#wisp
of smoke trails from Gabe's wings as he smothers the flames.
Dolly the dragon gives a toothy smile & wraps her tail around her feet. 'S-sorry, Gabe.'
'Not your fault, Dolly.' He turns his scowl on me. 'STOP making her laugh, Pixie.'
Of course, I get the blame!
#vss365
'Gosh, Gabe. My excuse is 100% true but I never expected you to believe it. Why do you?'
'Well, Pixie, while I may never have heard of a Snuggleflufficus Giganticus, I know from long suffering experience that the wilder your story, the more
#credence
it's likely to have.'
#vss365
'Ga-abe... You know my magic beans that you said were rubbish and threw out the window... They've grown.'
'Honestly, Pixie, use your head. Just go outside & dig them up... Oh...'
The 6-foot
#flower
glowers at us through the glass & bares its fangs.
'You do it, Gabe!'
#vss365
'Wow, that was
#scrumptious
, Mama G. Thank you.'
'Pssst, Pixie. I thought you hated my mother's meatballs.'
'I do, Gabe. But I'm not admitting it. She's seriously scary.'
'What are you two whispering about.'
'Gabe was just saying he hates meatballs, Mama G.'
'Pixie!'
#vss365
'I need an enlargement charm, Pixie.'
Giggle. 'What for, Gabe?'
'Don't be childish, Pixie. It's to make writing larger.'
'Ah, that's easy. Here's one. Just wave it over the book. Yes, like that &... hold on... that's my
#diary
. Gabe! Give it back!'
'Sweet revenge, Pixie.'
#vss365
'You just have to know how to handle him, Goblin.'
'But, Pixie, aren't you on parole with Gabe?'
'He thinks so. But if I want something, I subliminally drop an idea, let it
#percolate
in his brain &...Here he is...Hi, Gabe. Hot chocolate. Thanks!'
'Wow! It worked, Pixie.'
#vss365
'Hsst, Pixie. Come here.'
'What's up, Gabe?'
'I
#draw
your attention to clause 3 of our new house agreement. No fire-breathing creatures within 100 metres of my house.'
'And?'
'And there's a dragon in the sitting room!'
'Ah. Common misconception. Igor is an icedrake.'
'!'
#vss365
We flatten to the floor, hearts pounding, palms sweaty.
'
#Nobody
move,' I hiss.
Seconds stetch into moments, stretch into minutes. Then Rachel waves a leg & gives us away.
'Gabriel! Pixie! Open the door this instant.'
'You go, Pixie.'
'No way, Gabe. She's your mother.'
#vss365
'Gabe, any chance you could come in here & lend me a
#hand
.'
'I'm busy, Pixie. You'll have to wait.'
'...I'd really appreciate it, Gabe.'
'Unless it's the end of the world, Pixie, I... hold on, is it?'
'Well...not the end...but things could get dicey if you're not quick.'
#vss365
'Look, Gabe, just touch this button & swipe here, & it works. Easy.'
'That's far from easy, Pixie.'
'Ah, Gabe, you're an
#analogue
angel in a digital world!'
'I am nothing of the sort, Pixie.'
'Yeah, you're right, Gabe. You're more a smoke signal & flaming arrow type.'
#vss365
'Call me suspicious, Pixie, but when I go out, I always come back to
#mess
. So why none today?'
'I'm trying to be considerate, Gabe, & only carry out experiments in the basement from now on.'
'Pixie, we don't have a basement!'
'Well, I found a little stick of dynamite...'
#vss365
'It's true, Pixie. There are no swear words in the angelic
#language
.'
'You're kidding me, Gabe.'
'No.'
'There MUST be some.'
'No.'
'Even angels get tetchy, Gabe.'
'No.'
'You can whisper, Gabe. I won't tell anyone.'
'For $*&%# sake, Pixie. There are no swear words!'
'...'
#vss365
I follow the unrolled scroll from Gabe's room, down the stairs, around the sitting room (twice) across the hall & into the kitchen.
'Gabe, what is this?'
'I'm composing an epic poem of my life, Pixie.'
'Wow, do I get a
#verse
?'
'Pixie, you've taken 250 verses & counting.'
#vss365
'It's pointless, Pixie. It won't work.'
'It will, Gabe. The
#ritual
went perfectly. We're completely hidden. No one can find us.'
'But she always gets through. Whatever we try, Pixie.'
'Have some faith, Gabe.'
Rat-a-tat-tat
'Told you, Pixie... Good morning, Mother.'
#vss365
'Pixie, this latest batch of anti-fungal cream isn't working. And it smells ghastly.'
'Not my fault, Gabe. I had to substitute ingredients after you put me on a
#budget
. Slug slime instead of bees wax. Ogre snot instead of coconut oil. Frog toxin instead of-'
'PIXIE!'
#vss365
'What's going on, Pixie?'
'That be Pirate Pixie to you, Landlubber.'
'Fine, Pirate Pixie, why am I locked out of my house?'
'Arr! The Crimson Cutlass be flying her
#skull
& crossbones. No entry without the password.'
Sigh. 'Brownies. A whole box.'
'Yummy! Come in, Gabe.'
#vss365
'Buuuz-bz-buz. Do you think the bee understood me, Gabe?'
'It flew away, so I doubt it, Pixie.'
'Pity. I invited it to tea... Ah well, there's a big storm cloud anyway. We should go inside, Gabe.'
'...that's not a cloud, Pixie. That's an awful lot of
#bees
expecting tea!'
#vss365
'Pixie, I've decided it's time to trust you & allow you to go to the
#harvest
festival unsupervised.'
'Really, Gabe! Thanks. But... I thought you weren't going because last year you drank too much barley wine & sang raucous songs?'
Cough. 'Completely unconnected, Pixie.'
#vss365
'Why, Pixie? My home has been your safe harbour.'
'I know, Gabe. But if all you do is
#moor
your boat safely, it gets mighty boring. With me you've sailed exciting seas. Yes, there's a risk of hitting rocks when-'
'Cut the metaphors, Pixie. You blew up the house again.'
#vss365
'Who's a good, girl.' Gabe strokes the spider. 'Would you like another fly?'
'Eww! You can't keep it, Gabe.'
'Why not? She's put a stop to your
#endless
pranks, Pixie. Haven't you, Rachel?'
'You named the spider!'
'This from the pixie who names her farts.'
Giggle. 'True.'
#vss365
Angels don't lie. Which is why I can tell when Gabe is skirting the truth. His eyebrows do this little dance like a pair of
#randy
caterpillars.
'So you are going out tonight, Gabe?'
'Ahem...well...hmm... I'd rather not say, Pixie.'
'Gabe's got a date! Gabe's got a date!'
#vss365
'You shouldn't give me such a hard time, Gabe. Lots of people consider pixies a lucky
#talisman
& are more than happy to have them in their home.'
'I entirely agree, Pixie.'
'What? Wait! You do?'
'Yes, Pixie. You see you're the exception that proves the rule.'
'!'
#vss365
'Look at it, Gabe. How it glitters & gleams & seems to gather all the light around it into a hallowed sphere. It amazes me how
#sumptuous
the last brownie always is.'
'Needs eating, Pixie.'
'No, Gabe. Stop! Give it back!'
Munch. Chomp. Snarf.
Sob. 'How could you, Gabe?!'
#vss365
#Elf_glory
blushes the horizon, turning dew-decked cobwebs into filigreed wonders & brushing my face with warmth.
'A beautiful sunrise, Pixie.'
I smile & hand Gabe a teacup, take a sip from mine, pondering how soon he'll discover the salamander-eyes-surprise in his drink.
#vss365
'I
#cherish
the memory of my 1st time, Gabe.'
'I'm not sure I can remember mine, Pixie.'
'Gabe! I'm shocked.'
'I suppose it was during the week you moved in. I was trying to cheer you up.'
'THAT was your 1st ever brownie?'
'Yes & we've been fighting over them ever since.'
#vss365
‘No one is going to want to read a story about you, Pixie. You’re a troublesome miscreant.’
‘I think
#picaresque
is the word you’re looking for, Gabe.’
‘Ha! Picaresque, my halo. Me, on the other hand, they may want to read about… oh, stop laughing, Pixie.’
#vss365
'Oh no, Pixie. I'm on to you. You're just trying to make me feel sorry for you in a
#hustle
for the last brownie. Well, it's not working. That brownie is mine.'
'What a terrible thing to say, Gabe. I'm not after sympathy... more forgiveness... I already ate the brownie.'
#vss365
'Gabe, how do you
#spell
pertinacious?'
'Look it up in the dictionary, Pixie.'
'Hmmm. OK. What about curmudgeonly?'
'Why on earth do you need to know, Pixie?'
'No special reason, Gabe. Just filling in this questionnaire the Angel Council sent me...'
'!'
#vss365
'Why do you bother with human books, Gabe?'
'You should really try the literary greats, Pixie. Here, you might like this one. It's about someone who creates a monster.'
'I don't think so. Why would I
#create
one when I know plenty of perfectly nice monsters already?'
#vss365
'Stop twirling like a
#ballerina
, Pixie. You're making me dizzy.'
'I'm soo excited to be visiting Faery Valley, Gabe. I've packed all my best pranks.'
'You're meant to be keeping a low profile!'
'But, Gabe, for a pixie to not play pranks is the opposite of a low profile.'
#vss365
'Pixie! Stop! Throwing rubbish out the window is not the same as tidying.'
'But it works, Gabe. The place looks better & it's very
#cathartic
. You should give it a go.'
'I might just do that, Pixie.'
WHOOSH
'Hey! Throwing me out the window is not what I meant.'
#vss365
'P-P-Pixie... There's a giant snake in the kitchen.'
'Wow! Sebastian has grown. He was just a little fella when I let him
#slither
in last night. He must have got at that enlargement potion I made you, Gabe? Hmmm... you never did tell me what you needed that for.'
#vss365
'Pixie! Pixie. What is it? You're as white as a sheet.'
'G...g...g...'
'Speak, Pixie. Use your
#words
.'
'G...g...g...'
'It's all right. You're safe. You can tell me.'
'Gone. They're all gone, Gabe.'
'What do you mean?'
'No more brownies.'
#vss365
'PIXIE!' Gabe's wings close with a
#thunderclap
& his voice growls like a gnome's fart.
'What's up, Gabe?'
'Don't play innocent, Pixie. You know exactly what's up.'
'Hmmm... Are you referring to your house?'
'No, Pixie, I'm referring to the lack of my house! Where is it?'
#vss365
'Don't get up, Gabe, I've brought you breakfast in bed... What? No, of course I haven't done anything wrong... Hey, no need to open the curtains. It's an awful day. Ah...'
'...'
'...'
'Pixie, I'm going back to bed & when I get up I expect the
#sun
to be its usual colour.'
#vss365
'Pixie, what is all this dreadful
#clamor
?'
'Me & my friends are starting a band, Gabe.'
'Oh no. Not in this house, Pixie!'
'But, Gabe, you & your friends have harp practice here.'
'Unlike your band, our harp playing is melodious & relaxing... why is everyone laughing?!'
#vss365
I
#plop
an ice cube on the table, toboggan around Gabe's breakfast bowl & rattle his teacup. 'Morning!'
'Go away, Pixie.'
'Why so grumpy, Gabe?'
'I like a quiet start to the morning, Pixie.'
'Hmmm. I'm more of a get up & go type.'
Sigh. 'Really, Pixie?! I hadn't noticed.'
#vss365
In my hidey-hole, I smother a giggle & keep the camera steady. Music fills the Angel Arms as Zeke shows off a foot stamping display.
Gabe snaps his castanets & takes to the floor with a flourish.
This angel
#fandango
dance off is going to break my FaeTube viewing record.
#vss365
Gabe shuts his eyes. 'Did I just
#hallucinate
, Pixie, or are there lots of you?'
'Don't worry, Gabe, they're just visiting from other dimensions. We're comparing notes on charms & potions & of course pranks.'
He cracks open an eye. 'Oh, boy. It's going to be a long day.'
#vss365
'There's nothing wrong with me, Pixie. I just don't find your jokes amusing.'
'Well, everybody else does, so it must be you.'
'Stop winding me up, Pixie!'
'But it might be serious, Gabe.'
'...really?'
'Yes, really. Show me your arm. Hmm... As I thought. No funny
#bone
.'
#vss365
It's just the
#ghost
of a whisper of a sound. My pointy pixie ears quiver & a chill of fear licks up my spine. I slip from under the bedcovers, flitting between shadows to find the source. In the darkest corner, a muffled crunching.
'GABE! Stop eating my brownies!'
#vss365
Wow. My new slingshot is amazing. Look at this elastic. I need a target. Hmm, what luck. There's, Gabe. Take aim aaaand... oh... oh dear. That's more powerful than expected. Ummmm... Gabe, are you ok? Stop messing. Get up. It was only a glancing blow...
#between
the legs.
#vss365
'This is it, Pixie.
#Endgame
. There's nowhere left to run.'
'I never expected the end to come in the jaws of a 3 headed basilisk, Gabe.'
'Really, Pixie? I'm not at all surprised.'
'Well...gulp... goodbye, Gabe... Wait, I know this dude. Bas! It's Pixie. How are you mate.'
#vss365
The soil trembles.
#Gnarled
hands break thru the surface followed by a wizened head. Crimson eyes regard me & a forked tongue flickers across pointed teeth as the creature writhes free.
Not quite what I'd expected to summon but... 'Cup of tea?'
'Hsssss. Thank you, Pixie.'
#vss365
Gabe hums, making a cup of tea. He does a little shimmy to the fridge for the milk then tap-taps his spoon against the sugar bowl. His fancy, sparkling robe is another clue. But the real giveaway... his halo is a lot less shiny than usual. Naughty Gabe.
#Romance
is afoot!
#vss365
'Hypothetically, Gabe, if I needed to
#save
a friendly Hydra, how would you feel about it living in the bath? Temporarily, of course.'
'Hypothetically, Pixie, it's not happening.'
'Hypothetically, Gabe, if it already had, how cross would you be?'
#vss365
Gabe nudges the footplate, casually upturning the cauldron & washing the other competitors away in a flood of slime. Expertly pranked. The pixie crowd goes wild.
'Wow, Gabe. You've gone
#native
.'
He straightens his halo. 'If you can't beat them, Pixie, join them.'
#vss365
'Oh no, Pixie. You've got that look on your face which fills me with
#foreboding
. Have you blown up my house, or created a demon portal, or invited Medusa for tea?'
'None of the above, Gabe.'
'But..?'
'Hmmm...maybe wear gauntlets next time you open your underwear drawer.'
#vss365
'Phew, tough morning, Gabe. I went for a
#hike
with Goblin in the forest. I really deserve this extra brownie.'
'It's not a hike, Pixie, when you fly.'
'Hey, I kept Gobby company at ground level!'
'Let me guess. On his shoulder? Put the brownie back, Pixie!'
'Meanie.'
#vss365
'It's too windy for my wings, Gabe. Can you fly me to the wood to play with my friends?'
'I'm not a
#taxi
service, Pixie.'
'Course not, Gabe. You're a very kind friend.'
'Oh, I suppose I can... Hold on! Why are your friends here?'
'Pixie said you were a taxi service.'
😬
#vss365
'Pixie?'
'...'
'Pixie!'
'...'
'How long will this go on for, Pixie?'
'...'
'You're being childish.'
'...'
'Fine! I've had enough of you. You can just sit there &
#brood
.'
'I'm not brooding, Gabe. I'm plotting revenge. You ate the last brownie!'
#vss365
I
#bimble
through the woods, pausing to salute bumblebees & sip nectar from honeysuckle. Ladybirds entice me into a game of tag, but not for long. It's imperative I find the deadly dapperling toadstool. Usually poisonous, but vital for my potion if I'm to unpetrify Gabe.
#vss365
'You know that quiet drink you had on Saturday, Gabe? Well, I was talking to Gobby, who knows Mrs Gnome, whose son works at the Angel Inn. Apparently, you were the life &
#soul
of the party.'
'Don't believe everything you hear, Pixie.'
'Really? Because I've got pictures!'
#vss365
The
#livid
plumes of fire explode windows in a rainbow spray of glass, lick along the roofline & wave merrily from the chimney pot.
Gabe, silhouetted by the inferno of his home, casts me a suspicious glare, but for once it isn't my fault. At least...not that he can prove!
#vss365