the pookas

[instar]

The following day, Bella goes with Trouble, when he heads for the park.

Comments

[aeskhyne]

Snuggle snuggle.

[megale]

"Was he a cultist?" Rhea whispers when he's out of earshot.

[aeskhyne]

<No way to tell,> says Trouble. <Unless I follow him around for a while to see if he does anything culty.>

[megale]

"Like what?"

[aeskhyne]

<Culty things. My talking pigeon friend - call her Titania - might get cranky if I tell you the details.>

[megale]

"She's already cranky."

[aeskhyne]

<Crankier.>

[megale]

"How's that even possible? What'll she do, hang you from the ceiling of the pooka nest by your thumbs?"

[aeskhyne]

He giggles. <Nah, that'd be fun.>

[megale]

"Weeeeirdo pooka."

[aeskhyne]

<Yep!>

Coo coo.

[megale]

"What would she do? Are you gonna be okay with a cranky pooka queen to go home to?"

[aeskhyne]

<Yeah, I'll be fine, don't worry about me.> He nibbles her fingers.

[megale]

"Okay." Pet pet.

[aeskhyne]

Snuggle snuggle.

[megale]

"Titania's the queen, right? Fairy queen? Her and Overlong or whatever his name was?"

[aeskhyne]

<Yeah, from Midsummer Night's Dream, I figured I'd go with the Shakespeare connection,> he says. <Since she didn't pick a nickname herself.>

[megale]

"Is there a pooka king too?"

[aeskhyne]

<Maybe.>

[megale]

"Aww." She sighs. "I don't know whether I wanna tell her I'll help. I don't know what she'd want me to do."

[aeskhyne]

<Me neither. We haven't really done that much yet.>

[megale]

"And it sounds dangerous." She shivers.

[aeskhyne]

<It is.> He coos and snuggles up and gives her tiny nibbles.

[megale]

She pets him.

[aeskhyne]

<You don't have to do the really dangerous stuff, though,> he says. <Nobody's gonna hurt you if you decide not do so something 'cause you're scared. We're scared too; we get it.>