So, the 'present-day' Wanda may not always appear right off the bat and we may just jump right into Caelia's part of the story. Such as this chapter. Just so there's an easier way to transition.
acorntree1: Yeah, Caelia and Big definitey have a balancing nature and I think that contributes to their love. But, the Fairywinkle 'standards' I think are partially rooted to Wanda's kind of perfectionist nature. And yeah, I figured Cadabara was her first name. Knowing Big Daddy, Fairywinkle is definitely his given last name, I don't think he'd ever change it. Also for the record, love platonic friendships. But yeah, I dropped hints about Finch despite his long-term friendship with Caelia. I'm glad it threw you off, I tried hinting at it but not making it too obvious. Caelia may have cut ties, but if we have seen the last of Jessamine is debatable. And yeah, we'll see more of Didi plenty.
TriceTokushu: Lmao, Jessamine might keep her distance. But as similar to Mama Cosma, sometimes they jump back when you least expect it. Finch? Well, to say things will be the same again is a yes or no, but that doesn't necessarily mean goodbye...and in terms of the dark turn, there's prob gonna be a lot of details that keep turning the story around until we get to that 'how did we get here' point. Idk if that makes sense, but y'all will see.
DoggPocky: Despite Caelia and Finch's moment, I hope to make clear Finch is a good friend. He ain't just some player. And yes, I think it was the Caelia's sex and gender that made Jessamine oppress her compared to her brothers. Internalized misogyny. Caelia might be in vain not listening to Finch. Her mother's arguments are kind of continued judgment, going to show Caelia may just not ever satisfy her mother even in marrying someone she approves of. Which is, well, straight-up awful. Caelia did wanna marry Big...but considering how quick it was and how much she hated the Oakbelle house...? I think the story will tell the rest. And hell yeah, amazing how powerful friendships between women can impact the world. I can tell Didi is going to be a favorite character.
Piperamitt: Glad you could join, again! Yeah, I think there were mixed feelings on how shocking Finch's move was and the fact that Caelia returned it. BUt, glad they could mend it too. Firo definitely reminded me of fire and I thought just fit Big perfectly. Caelia is also fun to write, and I'm trying to do their relationship justice so far. Jessamine's definitely a trip, alright. Moving that meeting maybe had to do with loyalty, or maybe just any excuse to have Caelia miss it, who knows.
. . .
. .
.
250 years later...
Big's Trash Removal had become one of the biggest chains of industrial magic, if not the best primary removal service, in all of Fairy World. Standing on the shoulders of what was once known as Garbage Incorporated, but had become the name of the inherited CEO himself, Firo Fairywinkle. Better known as Big from how he'd been addressed a lot of his life. Due to his large personal presence and the power it's earned him. Passed as the eldest by blood from his father and mother decades before, built from the ground up of Cadabra and her husband's marriage. As the eldest of the three Fairywinkle sons, only a ton was expected of Firo. And no results came by any less than perfect with his work ethic.
A man of respect amongst offices and corporate jobs abroad, known well for his way of business and his skyrocketing success. Big never once wavered in the flaws the corporate world dumped upon him. Taking on opposing threats with a grain of salt and crushing the numbers dominantly every time. The Fairywinkles were relatively well-known to begin with, but it was in a very communal sense with other business-blood families. Things picked up across different cities of Fairy World and weren't slowing down anytime soon by the looks of it.
In the marble white foyer of the Fairywinkle Manor home, a loyal caretaker known as Didi floated through the front room. Using a dusting cloth and cleaning spritz to wipe clean the glass table centered in the middle. Satisfied with her dusting, she replaced the marble vase of sunflowers back on top. Adjusting them to her liking. As she did so, the front white ornate double doors opened as another fairy entered.
Sorting through the mail, the pink fairy's pastel pink curls were trimmed into a bob. Puffed gently around her heart-shaped face, as she sported a white fitted turtleneck tucked into her high-rise jet black pants that hugged her legs all the way down to her black velvet glove boots. A white string of pearls looped her neck as well and matching white pearl earrings.
As the pink fairy continued to sort through the mail, Didi kindly approached. "Oh, miss. You know I could've gotten that."
The pair of pink eyes looked up as she grinned softly. "I'm a fairy myself as well, Didi. Not a trinket. Don't you worry."
Caelia Fairywinkle led a comfortable life. Content in the beautiful home she'd put every ounce of love into. She received love from her husband, but no less than a rant over his work that always seemed to amuse her. Funny how easily he could allow things to tickle that, as Caelia would put, 'pissed-off' bone of Big's she sometimes thought to be adorable.
Never had her compassion for her husband nor others wavered. She always had a tendency to put others before herself, to the point where sometimes she even forgot to leave some sympathy for her own being. It was surely lovely to have someone like her be the moral compass as the heart of the Fairywinkle shrine, and she certainly kept everyone on their toes for that matter of staying sane and considerable towards others.
Finding work of her own a number of years back had been proven slightly difficult now that she was under the Fairywinkle name. Big's company had already been big enough when passed down to him, and it was growing to an empire now. The more Caelia was dismissed because of her associated name, the more she questioned just how much Big's usually firm hand he developed with clients was getting a little too heated. Of course, the name stuck anyhow. It would probably be best for her to take a step back on certain things, but not everything, and here she'd been.
She focused many of her days coordinating some pointers and advice for Big's work, if she could get a word in amongst the busied company. They definitely didn't mind her ethic, anything that contributed to their company's benefit. She as well took on the responsibility of hosting and organizing parties, banquets, and other such events that were to be hosted at Fairywinkle Manor or down at Big's business, which was quite a lot and felt like a job as is. She certainly tended towards her relationships with friends such as Apple who worked as a software consultant, and the recently married Windy who had started her own veterinary service. Her hands were both full but waiting and always willing to take more so long as she felt she was making a mark somehow. Whether it be with her husband, friends...whomever whether there was an office of her own or not. The world was her oyster, and with eternity in her hands, she didn't feel rushed.
Caelia planted the mail before the vase, observing the flowers. "Are these new?"
"Sent by the Pepperbreeze family." Didi mentioned. "They wanted to thank you for organizing that benefit event regarding Mr. Fairywinkle's lucky strike of stinky magic down in the Elf Lands."
"Oh, they didn't have to do such a thing." Caelia said, observing the flowers adoringly. "Remind me to send them a thank you note, Didi."
"Of course, ma'am."
Entering from the back lounge, Caelia's husband spoke in a mutter from planning the course of a workday he still had ahead of him. Over the years, Big had become slightly broader, but of course handsome all the same to Caelia. His sharp-edged jaw remained now with a five-o' clock shadow and the same head of jet black hair. He wore a suit set of navy blue with a black tie in derbies, grumbling audibly to himself as he shrugged on his matching blazer roughly.
"What?" Caelia asked, sensing her husband's aggravation.
"Couple of birdbrains down at manufacturing. I have to get down there before they wreck our whole stock."
Caelia exchanged a quick look with Didi, before approaching her husband as the peach fairy left for the other room. "Who was put in charge for that to happen?"
He pulled the flaps of his jacket in adjustment. "Flamo."
Caelia gave a slight look of remorse, yet amusement. "Ouch."
"Yeh, last time I trust him with anythin'."
"Darling," Caelia reached a hand forward to clutch his large cuff, Big's tough demeanor softening from her assuring touch. "Do you really need another fired employee on your part?"
"Urgh.." Big battled with the decision. "I'll stick him with the guys in marketing analysis, but he's on thin ice."
"Look, I know this proposal with that Tony Two Cans corporation has you under pressure," she rubbed his arm in assurance. "But there's nothing you don't have to show them that's not impressive already."
"Yeah, yeah," he raised a knuckle to her chin in teasing. "Don't flatter me too much."
She smiled warmly, following her husband to the door.
"You know, honey." Caelia spoke. "If you really wanna wrangle those naysayers, tell them about the profit growth. Nothing says more authenticity in stinky magic by showing how that has made bigger bucks than other methods of disposing of bad magic."
Big turned to her as to smile. "Oi, Baby. Always keeping me on my feet."
She smiled. "So, you'll propose it to them then?"
He took her hands. "If I can. We gotta lotta guys on the project already."
"Of course, and I'm so glad they liked my transport suggestion."
He nodded. "Y'know it's been a while since we've gone out.."
A smile curved her lips. "How can I say no to that?"
Mr. and Mrs. Fairywinkle exchanged a kiss, before Caelia watched her husband off from the door with a wave of her fingers. Feeling like the world remained in her hands in knowing that he loved her all the same despite the crazy headspace work could get him into from time to time.
Didi reentered the room as Caelia closed the front door.
"Did he take it?" Didi asked.
Caelia approached her worker and friend. "He says he'll try, but we both know what that means."
"I'm sorry, miss."
"Oh, no need to be sorry Didi. He's busy, and I don't plan to turn my back on that. Have I ever turned on the Oakbelles before?"
The housemaid looked unsure. "Well...you've only spoken to your mother by little in over two-hundred years."
Caelia licked her lips. "Touché. I speak more about my brothers."
"And Mr. Oakbelle?"
Caelia blinked in slight remorse of the situation. She'd been noticing how much more distant Elm had become in traveling rather than how he'd always use to call years ago. Perhaps the strain on Caelia's relationship with her mother had unfortunately taken her father down with it, and it drilled a small hole in her heart she couldn't say didn't bother her.
"Briefly." Caelia looked at her watch in consideration. "I have tea soon with a few friends if things are all prepared Didi."
"Oh, of course. Silly me." Didi said, in floating off. Caelia smiled from Didi's moment of forgetfulness. The houseworker had become very close with Caelia in all these years that her goof-ups were never taken under fire from her.
In the beautiful foyer of her home, the pink fairy poofed up a pen and pad, writing her thank you note to the Pepperbreeze family.
Situated at fancy table of a ritz lounge, Caelia drank her white wine as she waited on her husband after he'd gotten an emergency call. By emergency, something at work that could not wait. The ritz consisted of the large white marbled columns amongst the baby lavender hotel luxury lounge of high ceilings and painted portraits of Ancient Fairy Warriros, some of the original works even. The hustle and bussle of black-tie and white-jakceted waiters floated around serving the fancied guests. Caelia's evening attire consisted of a black, long sleeve bodycon dress. As well as red-laced pointed-toe heels and a silver jeweled choker around her neck with matching diamond earrings lovingly gifted in a set by Big for their recent anniversary. She waited patiently, knowing Firo and his team were particularly overstressed from some clientele who'd recently dropped them and went to gain service from some rival business of Big's.
Caelisa lifted her wineglass for another sip, before halting by the tense return of her husband. Big came in tucking his phone and wand away, dressed in a black polyester suit and satin plum tie. His wife watched him with curious eyes as he sat down across from her in a huff.
"Hon?"
"Knuckleheads...all of them."
She put her glass down, tilting her head. "Hey."
He looked up from clutching his head of hair with a large palm, noticing her reaching open palms across the table. Despite Big being the half of the couple who was warier about public affection, Caelia's magnetizing calmness was often too hard to say no to, and exactly what he needed now. He reached to clutch her hands in return.
His wife smiled gently. "So what if those guys dropped you? Look at the customers that brought you to where you are. And if those clients wanna go waste their money on Tony Two Cans, they're only gonna regret not sticking with you."
He sighed a ragged breath. "You're pure in the heart, baby." One of his thumbs stroked her skin. "Don't you dare ever lose that."
She smiled warmly. "As long as you don't lose that charm."
"I could never without you."
"Aw, baby-"
"Unbelievable, that guy still here?" Big suddenly was heated again, looking over Caelia's shoulder. His wife turned her head to a man who as just leaving with his group. Prior to Big and Caelia being seated at their table, one of the guys from the group had attempted to hit on Caelia when he was unaware of the existing husband. Only to cower at Big's large, and knowingly threatening, return. Caelia was able to brush off those things easily, but Big, certainly wasn't. Even something as small as that.
"Oh, relax you." Caelia batted his cuff. "I'm still here."
The vexation in Big's eyes cooled once again by her assurance. "You are babe. And I'm so lucky."
She hummed a small smile.
"And," he continued, lifting his glass of scotch. "I want tonight to be about us and avoid this trash I'm having to deal with?"
"Magic trash, or the trashy clientele?"
"Ha, ha." He mockingly laughed. "Don't make me kiss that mouth of yours."
"I'd never mind that," she winked. They both clinked their glasses and took a sip. In lowering her wine, Caelia still noticed her husband's tension over work. "You know what might help?"
He looked up at her.
Caelia gave a crucial look. "The proposal I sent about better classification establishments? Another office location, maybe..?"
He blew a breath. "I dunno.."
"Firo," she encouraged gently.
"I need the board's votes, babe." Her husband reminded, holding two palms out to the table. "And even then, the minor amount of votes could still have an opposing argument better than the majority."
"Honey, you're on the board. You are the board."
Big rested his drink on the table in looking at her.
"Sam Hill! Is that you Big?"
The coupled turned their heads to two approaching fairy men. Decked in their evening attire as well as one of a navy blue hair and eye color known as Olli and the other an electric yellow known as Dew approached the table in following their waiter.
"Oh, you're kidding!" Big laughed, greeting each of them with a firm handshake. "What're you morons doing here?"
"Same reason you are. What is that you drinkin', a light beer?"
The men wheezed in loud laughter as Caelia smiled in amusement.
"Here to discuss work." Olli explained.
"Really? Would've expected you two to be on a date." Big joked, the three men still laughing. "Think you might need it after we lost those bozo clients today."
"Ah chill, you knucklehead." Dew calmed. "They wouldn't be worth it if they're willing to drop us for Tony. We could do much better."
"We have done much better," Big reminded. "And will only do that from here on in."
"That's a lot to promise, boss." Olli commented.
Big chuckled lowly, before looking at Caelia's waiting gaze. "Oh, you two remember my wife?"
"Sure, Caelia." Olli said. "As beautiful since your wedding."
"Aye, keep your hands in your own pants there Olli." Big warned though he still joked. The group of four laughed innocently. "Baby, you remember Dew and Olli."
"Oh, briefly." His wife smiled. "My loving husband here introduces me to more than enough men."
"All of the same type." Dew joked. "I think you know my wife Posey?"
"Yes, of course." Caelia immediately remembered. "She's lovely, congrats on your wedding by the way."
"Ah, thanks. Finally found one who got me to settle. You know that, eh Big?" He suggested. The few continued their hearty laughter.
"We'll be at our table." Olli said, nodding the couple goodbye as the men left for their seats.
Big shook his head, still smiling as he turned back to his wife. "Sorry, sweetheart. Bunch of idiots, sometimes."
"Nothing but a little banter I enjoy, darling." Caelia said, lifting her wine glass. "I too can joke."
Big smiled warmly, lifting his scotch once again. "Well, here's to the most chill woman I could ever ask for."
They clinked glasses again.
In the gold-trimmed, white-walled women's washroom of the ritz lounge, Caelia washed her hands in the seashell-like designed sink as the water ran from the golden tap. In turning off the water, she took one of the rolled towels of the little pyramid they sat in and used it to dry her hands before throwing it into a hamper underneath the sink. She proceeded to uncap her bubblegum-pink lipstick in reapplying carefully in the mirror as another woman emerged from one of the stalls and proceeded to wash her own hands.
Smacking her lips once from the lipstick, Caelia recapped it before puffing her curly pink bob and drawing her hands away when she was satisfied. She proceeded to make her way to the washroom's exit but couldn't help and stop before the door when she heard the familiar obnoxious laughter of two men right outside. The men and women's washroom was situated in a small corner right across from one another, so it made sense for fairies to easily be outside. And Caelia knew that laughter to be Dew and Olli's.
For some unknown reason, Caelia felt the need to pause with the barely opened door. Remembering these men were in fact an essential part of Big's team. They, like many, needed to see things through before allowing certain projects and proposals to be passed. That could've included Caelia's input, for all she knew. She figured there was no harm in listening just for a tiny second, as she used a light palm to crack the door open just the slightest to allow the conversation to be heard.
"I think we're better off without them, anyway." Dew spoke, obviously referencing the clients they had lost. "Didn't buy any of our exposition."
"No kiddin'." Olli agreed. "How we supposed to function if we keep getting dunces for customers?"
"Like those pixies we sold to last week? Yikes."
Caelia listened intently, momentarily shifting out of the way to let a woman behind her exit. Though Caelia stayed clear of the men's view. Once the door came back, she edged it open once more in continuing to peep in on their little conversation.
"Whatever the bossman wants, I guess."
"Big's looking well, though."
"Yeah, no kidding. Guy is living in the lap of luxury."
They snickered lowly as Caelia stayed stiff on the other side of the door.
"Still can't believe those clients went to Tony and his stupid team of all people." Dew argued.
Olli scoffed. "Their loss, but also Big's. Might dip into our sales just a bit before we regain it. He didn't seem too mad about it though."
"What about the wife?"
"The pink glamour-puss? Pfft." Olli tapped his cellphone with a thumb profusely. "Kiddin' us with all those 'proposals' or whatever."
Caelia felt her chest heat up.
"Ha," Dew said. "Pissing you off?"
"A bunch of useless extra work we don't need to be discussing with those crap papers she sends. We can do that ourselves. So much of our time wasted on something as useless as..."
"..Flamo?"
Both men barked loudly in laughter, causing Caelia to flinch behind the barrier.
"Why I always tell my Posey," Dew reminded. "Stick with the dinners."
They continued to laugh. Caelia rolled her flattened palm into a fist against the door.
"Guess Big had it coming for him in marrying an Oakbelle. Freakin' nags."
"She should just run the company."
"Ha! And turn it into a pushover wasteland? I'd rather be fired first."
The laughter continued and continued until Caelia could make out its fading into chatter as the two men left. Seeing the coast completely clear, Caelia pushed her way out of the women's washroom in standing in the emptied in-between of the two washrooms. Looking off into the rest of the ritz, before proceeding to go back to her husband.
Big had just offered the paycheck to the waiter, awaiting his wife as she grabbed her purse from her chair and shrugged a strayed curl from her bob behind her ear as she narrowed her irritated gaze to the floor. "Let's go."
He adjusted his suit jacket. "You good?"
"Yes."
Big watched her intently, before drawing forward and lifting her chin. "I'm gonna wrangle more clients back, don't you worry about how it'll affect us."
Though that was far from the reason as to why she was upset, she gave a fake-relieved smile. Big drew an arm around her waist in leading her to the front of the hotel lounge and back to the coat-check place.
"Honey?" Caelia spoke. "About that office party next week? I just remembered I already made plans."
Maybe she'd forever have plans if it meant avoiding those fake jerks...
"Alright," her husband didn't protest. She accompanied him quite a lot to events and it's not like this party was as important. "You sure you good?"
"Yeah," she said, turning to him. "Just promise you'll try for that proposal I sent-"
"Sh," he said, holding a finger to her lips. "A night out for us ain't about work, sweets.."
She would've protested, but he lingered so closely...
In the large king-size bed of their tall-windowed room, Caelia sat up in bed staring at her husband to her right. Watching him sleep contently on his side in the afterglow of their much-needed lovemaking. Caelia kept the duvet above chest level as she leaned against the large cushioning of her fluffy pillow. She sighed contently in staring at the vast openness of the master bedroom, focusing on the moonlight's pitch against the tiled floor and carpeting. Feeling far more restful than she had hours before at the hotel, but still having that eavesdrop on her mind.
Too bad Caelia tended to lose sleep when something was on her mind. It definitely didn't help when she'd much rather sleep her troubles away than to think about them. She chose not to tell her husband of what she heard his employees say about her. Not that she cared for their benefit, but she cared for Big's. Olli and Dew were relatively high in the corporate latter of Big's Trash Removal, and an important asset. She couldn't wedge herself between some of Big's best workers. Then again, knowing Big was smart enough, he'd probably punish them somehow but still keep them around to his benefit.
It wouldn't matter, there was no point in telling. Sometimes with corporate hardheads like Olli and Dew, what you see is what you get. As Caelia had learned profusely through the people her father worked with but as well the ones her distant mother had pushed Caelia's way constantly.
Now that she was completely awake by her thoughts though, Caelia figured she'd much rather not do it in bed. Looking to her husband again to assure he was asleep, she drew the covers down her legs and floated to a nearby armchair where she wrapped her pink satin robe around her bare body and tied it tightly, as well slipping on her matching fuzzy pink slippers. Shrugging her disheveled hair out of her face, she floated to the other end of the vast room and exited through the tall, ceiling-high brown oak doors. Gently closing then behind, she made way down the white-tiled floor hallway as she flicked the hall lights on with her wand. Feeling accompanied by the night alone with only her and her husband in the house. His brothers were back at their own places, and Didi had long gone home by now in wrapping up work hours before. Though an extra room was in this house intended for Didi, she often preferred to reside in her private home with her girlfriend.
The pink fairy floated down one of the marbled staircases in her quest to go to the kitchen. Hopefully a glass of warm milk would soothe her troubles and get her to fall asleep once more. She rubbed her arms and happened to glance at the glass table where the mail she'd been sorting through earlier that day still sat. She'd quickly forgotten about it when making that thank you card to the Pepperbreezes.
Hovering over, and using her wand to raise the lights a little higher in the foyer, she took the letters she hadn't sorted through and began reading the senders. Looking through with no particular purpose before she stumbled upon the last letter and stopped in question. Seeing that the letter was sent by Jessamine Oakbelle.
Had it been the first time she'd sent a letter for yet another party? No. But it was the first time the address hadn't only been addressed to Fairywinkle Manor, but to Caelia Fairywinkle specifically. She knew that the woman she had trouble calling a mother kept trying to get Caelia and Firo to come to an Oakbelle event simply so Jessamine could show off how the Oakbelles were associated through marriage to another successful family line. Caelia didn't need to guess this, she knew. If her mother was at all genuine, there would be a lot more attempts to show it. Caelia didn't even know if she knew what a genuinely kind Jessamine looked like.
"Guess Big had it coming for him in marrying an Oakbelle. Freakin' nags."
Staring at the unopen letter, Caelia tore the thing in half.
. . .
Wanda read the closing to one of her mother's diary entries intently, knowing the events of facing people like Olli and Dew very similarly. It's not like Wanda nor her sister hadn't gotten their fair share of facing some real jerky morons Wanda couldn't believe were so highly-praised.
The pink fairy let the diary tumble into the box for the millionth time. She rested her chin against her arms against the box ledge in thinking of the events following her mother's marriage within those years. The way in which life both changed but stayed the same for Caelia, if that was even possible. Wanda breathed a small sigh through her nose, closing her eyes in wondering if she'd ever find peace with these thoughts that mocked her.
To be continued...
. . .
. .
Was it a bit of a large time jump? Yeah, but I only wanted to focus on her and Big's early days very briefly and make them have a quick progression at the start of their relationship. There will be a few more years passed again over the chapters, but not as big as this. This is just kinda plunging into the basis of their marriage. As you could imagine there's definitely some stuff we haven't reached yet still. Mwahaha.
I also loved writing this chapter, something about it be refreshing, you know?
~McSgwizzle