Monday, April 25, 2011








The big Viking looks up from his meal as Ike sets a glass vase in front of him. Twillon and Dmitri shrug, continuing to eat. They were due on patrol in about an hour. His glance goes to Weebit as she runs a tiny palm along the crystal. Her patched wings hum as they vibrate, a happy, and welcome, sound.

"Tis lead crystal, and big...."

Movement in the glass catches her eye and she turns. Guunnar follows her gaze. Two Fae from the Limonaid's flower shop are heading to his table, each bearing a box.

The smaller of the two women stops before him.

"Guunnar Nordstrom?"

At his nod, the Fae sets her box on top of the other Fae's, opening it to reveal roses of several colors and greens. She begins to arrange the flowers in the vase, reading off the names on a strip of ribbon on each stem. The men stop eating, sitting back in awe.

Hands on her tiny hips, Weebit exclaims, "Guunnar, what did ye DO? Sleep with the entire college?"

The big man flushes, his ear tips and nose rosy with his chagrin. Twillon laughs at the man's discomfort and Weebit twirls on him. "An I'll be guessing ye forgot what day this is...." She waves a dismissive hand. "Aye, I know, tis not our Place."

The first box gone, the second is opened to reveal baby's breath, carnations, and several other flowers.

"This box is from Chastity House."

She begins to add them to the vase, filling in around the roses. Weebit whirls on him. "I vow they no longer have THAT virtue...."

"It ist nae like dat... I valk dem home from..." He blushes more. His voice drops to almost a whisper. "I valk dem home from vork. Dey... model for local artists." He reaches out and touches a rose. The roses are from..." Under Weebit's glare he puffs out his moustache before going on. "I vas invited to a party. I not know I only man invited. It vas..."

Twillon chokes on his coffee as Dmitri laighs aloud. The Greek can't help himself.

"Fun?"

Weebit covers her face with her hands, shaking her head. Guunnar grins slowly, keeping an eye on the demifae. "I vas going to say a long and blissful nacht..."

The Fae smile, bowing and move away. Moments later one returns with a single full bloom rose. She lays it before Weebit, saying, "Sleep well tonight." Weebit stands before the card, taking in the words. Tears fill her large almond-shaped eyes, making them glitter in the Tavern lights. Her healing wings lift her just enough to make the short flight to Twillon's shoulder, where she buries herself in his hair to whisper in his ear. Twillon hides a smile, telling her, "That better be a promise." She giggles, hidden in his long golden mane.

Dmitri rises, bowing to his friends, and takes his cup to the bar. He watches as Ob lays a wreath of flowers in Pandora's hair, the brilliant daisies like jewels against her black tresses. He smiles as the Fae deliver more flowers to patrons, some opening boxes to find candy. He turns to the bar sliding his cup to Patti.

"Just coffee, I have a patrol soon." She nods and fills the cup. He turns to head back to his table, only to be stopped by one of the Fae.

"Are you the Rider known as Dmitri?"

He nods warily and the woman hands him a small box. She glides away and he works his way to the table. Putting down his cup, he stays standing, fingertips barely touching the ribbon on the lid. One of Miko's brothers glides down from the beams. He hovers over the box, sensing Dmitri's hesitation. Darting between the Greek's fingers and the ribbon, he lands on it, hands tracing the box and pretty trim.  "No danger... feels clean, no spells of any sort."

"No card either." he observes. The demifae lifts off the gift as Dmitri opens the box.

A set of earrings lay in black velvet. The blue eyes seem to stare at him and Dmitri sets down the box, removing one of his habitual silver blade earrings. He replaces it with one from the box, after Miko's brother again declares them spell free. He settles the silver earring in the box, closing the lid after plucking a small card from inside the box. He reads it answering Weebit's curiousity about the eyes.

"They are a traditional Greek beads. Evil Eyes are given to loved ones to protect them from, well... evil." His eyes widen as he looks around the Tavern. He hands the card to Guunnar and he reads it to the table.

"Qviet man, accept dis from those who appreciate vat you haff done fur dose on Jansen Street." He looks at Dmitri. "Jansen Street?"

The Greek nods. "Turns out my patrol takes me right through a Greek dominant neighborhood. Jansen Street is the main street."

"So who sent them?"

Dmitri shakes his head, still looking around. "I have no idea."

No comments:

Post a Comment

Comments... we get comments....