Heritage
by K. Stonham
first released 11th September, 2022
"There, ah. There might be a problem with that," Douxie said as Jim and Claire went over the array of venues they had spread across the table.
Claire looked up. "A problem, Teach?"
Douxie grimaced. "I promise I am not trying to harsh on your groove or throw monkey wrenches into your wedding plans, but... ah, if you still want me as one of your groomsmen." A large grimace crossed his face. "I can't technically go inside churches."
Claire blinked. "Don't tell me you were excommunicated in the 1500s or something."
"Would that it were that simple." Archie leapt up on the table and nudged his head against Douxie's arm even as the senior wizard buried his face in his hands.
"Douxie?" Jim asked.
An incoherent mumble came from Douxie.
"Sorry, Doux," said Toby, leaning forward across the table, hand cupped around one ear, "gonna have to ask you to repeat that."
Douxie curled in even more on himself before straightening and looking determinedly away from the three of them. "This is something I probably should've gone over with you before, Claire..."
"Douxie." Claire let a measure of impatience color her voice.
"You're a bit of an outlier among wizards because you got your magic awoken by another wizard..." he rambled.
"Doux. Ie."
He bit his bottom lip before saying "Most wizards have non-human heritage."
Claire exchanged a glance with Jim and Toby.
"So, what, you're part... I dunno, Fairy or something?" Jim asked.
Another grimace. "Ha. No. I wish."
"Then...?"
Douxie sighed, a huge rush of air. "My dad was a demon. Like, a literal 'from hell' demon. I can't step foot inside a church without ending up in excruciating pain."
There was silence for a minute.
"All right," Jim said, sweeping about half the pamphlets to the side. "So maybe we start looking at a domestic venue."
"My mom's going to have a conniption fit," said Claire. But she was grinning.
Douxie looked at them curiously. "You... really don't care?"
"Well, I care that you don't, you know, burst into flame in the middle of my wedding or something," Jim said. "Hey, maybe we could go outdoors and have it at the overlook?" he asked Claire.
"On one hand, scenic, romantic, and nostalgic all rolled into one," she said. "On the other hand, there's all that trash."
"We can get the trolls to do a clean-up sweep a few days before," he suggested.
"You know, dude," Toby told Douxie, "not to make a stereotype of it or anything, but this totally explains a lot of your personal style."
Douxie chuckled. "Believe me, I know. Zoe's forever making a thing about it."
Author's Note: So Tenyai did a couple pieces of art of Douxie possessed by a demon. But my brain heard "demon!Douxie" and went in another direction.