To Vanilla- I call them by their original ship name, the not-shortened version of their names- Melsie! I've got their normal story going as well, but I wanted to get this one up and running too! (The other one is called When Disasters Meet). And I have two ways to plan out stories- the main one I do is write the dialogue first, just the dialogue. I add in all the details later. OR I've got this roll of wallpaper lining, for bigger stories. I split it into sections- characters (main, middle and background), to settings, villains, main side and twisty plots and how the characters interact with each other and all that sort of thing. Whichever one I do, I've got some people to bounce it off as well, they let me know what they think and I go from there! The best start you can do is just whatever is in your head! It doesn't have to be in any particular order, just write! You can revise it as many times as you want, just keep at it!

When Bibi arrived at the border the next day, she found Lody already there. She was sat just on her side, weaving flowers together and singing quietly to herself. Bibi stopped behind a tree, listening to the song for a moment. She did not understand the words, but the lilt was relaxing, the lyrics were soft and settled her nerves. Distantly, she wondered if Lody was singing to calm herself, but the music steeled Bibi's resolution and she stepped out.

Lody looked up at the movement, beaming.

"You came!" She jumped to her feet, flowers tumbling from her lap.

"You didn't think I would?"

"I… was a little worried. My luck doesn't often run very nicely, so…" Lody hunched her shoulders, smiling sheepishly. "Were you in trouble for crossing?"

"Um… Mama and Papi gave me a massive lecture." Bibi rubbed the back of her neck, pouting. "Mama didn't say why the Fae are scared of her though." Lody pressed her lips together, shifting nervously. "I take it you won't tell me either?"

"I… I can't. It's… not the easiest thing to talk about."

"Does… does whatever happened with Mama affect… this?" Bibi motioned at them. Lody shook her head, offering a serene smile.

"I don't want it to. You're the first person I've met who doesn't talk to me like I'm stupid. And, you know, loving those arms." Lody giggled as Bibi flushed crimson and looked down at her feet. Lody took this distraction to eye up her arms- strong, well-muscled. When Bibi's face looked ready to go up in smoke, Lody changed the subject with a laugh. "I brought food!" She clapped once, grinning. She turned quickly, the skirts of her dress twirling in pink and white. She presented a small hamper. Bibi lifted the cloth on top, peering curiously inside.

"Um, this isn't the kind of fairy food that makes me a prisoner, is it?"

"Oh no, no. We have special recipes for that sort of thing."

"Oh. I was always told that any food from a fairy meant you had to stay forever."

"That's just what we want you to think." Lody shrugged a shoulder. She passed Bibi the hamper, smoothing her skirts behind her as she sat back down. Bibi hesitated for a moment. Lody held her hands up for the hamper and Bibi sat. "I didn't pack much, sorry, I didn't want my father becoming suspicious." She sighed. "He's a bit…" She floundered for the words for a moment, eventually setting on, "strict." Bibi figured that wasn't the entirety of it, but didn't feel it was best to pry. "What about you? Do your parents know you're here?"

"Yes. It's… kind of hard to keep secrets in my house." Bibi smiled, scratched her chin. "Mama and Papi don't push if we're hiding something, but they always know anyway. And there's always Char, he likes to pester."

"Char?" Lody tipped her head to one side. Bibi nodded, accepting a slice of pie. She told Lody about her baby brother, her little sister. She came up with a few anecdotes, splintering from one story to another without finishing the first. Lody didn't mind, she thought the rambling was adorably insane. Compared to straight-forward, composed Fae stories, Imp stories were… warmer. More personal. "And then Char thought it would be a good idea to put the snake in the bath. He wanted to keep it as a pet, but Mama hates snakes. I've not heard her scream like that before, but," she shook her head, laughing softly, "Char learned his lesson."

"What happened to the snake?"

"Papi took it back into the forest. Mama won't touch them."

"My mum hates mushrooms. I don't know why, really, but every time we come across some, she runs in the other direction."

"Wait, I thought fairies used mushrooms to make those fairy circle things?"

"We do. Well, depends on your talent. Mum and I have musical talents, my father is a high-ranking member of the Council. To make the fairy circles, a fairy will either have to cast an extremely powerful spell or be one of Master Talents."

"Master Talents?"

"Yes, um… medical, logical, warrior aaanndd…" She wrinkled her nose in thought. "And the royals. But that's a whooooole different thing."

"So, each talent has a different rank?" Bibi puzzled. Lody nodded, unwrapping a small bundle of berries. "That's weird." Bibi told her. Lody nodded again, offering a berry. Bibi examined them. "I've not seen these before."

"That's because they can only grow in Fae lands. They're Pri berries."

"Pri?"

"Yup. They're really sweet. Try one."

"If they only grow in Fae lands, would that make them poisonous to Imps?"

"Ooh, I don't know." Lody moved the bundle away, studying them closely. "Best not risk it. Would be a rubbish first date." Warmth turned Bibi's cheeks rosy and she smiled down at the last of her pie. "So, if Imps don't have talents, what do you have? Wait, that sounded a bit harsh." She gave a nervous laugh. "I mean, you're not untalented, but you're not- you know what I mean, I'll shut up now." Bibi was trying not to laugh. Lody rolled her hand and Bibi answered her ramble.

"We're all born into a nature. It all depends on heritage and stuff, different coloured marks for different natures." Lody nodded. "So, I'm water, like Mama. Char is fire, like Papi. Okia is earth, she got that from literally everyone else in our family. Mama was the only water Imp in a family of earth Imps. Papi's mother was an earth Imp too."

"I have a question."

"Mm?"

"Fire and water, that's out of Correspondence, right? We have something similar over here, but not with natures- it's with talent ranks." Bibi inclined her head, encouraging her to continue. "So, if you don't mind me asking, how do you and your siblings exist? I thought- well…" She trailed off, pulling a face.

"I don't know. We've asked for years, but Mama and Papi won't tell us. I suspect they know how, but they won't share."

"Rude."

"I know right?" Bibi ate the last of her pie with her fingers. Lody looked amused, popping a Pri berry in her mouth. "What made you choose singing as a talent?"

"Mum told me I was always singing as a child. My father wanted me to follow in his footsteps. Well, he wanted a son, actually, because he would have been more likely to take up Father's mantle. But he got me. And I sing." Her expression was tight. "Singing doesn't help run Councils." She looked Bibi in the eye, tipping her chin up defiantly. "So I've decided I'm going to be the most powerful, singing talent fairy ever and I'm going to show his sexist, uppity snoot what's what."

"Um, snoot?"

"Yes. Snoot."

"What's a snoot?"

"By the sun," Lody laughed, "a snoot is… well, it's… you know, something you call someone who's being irritating or…"

"Oh, like butthead."

"Butthead?"

"It's better than snoot!"

"No it's not!"

"Butthead is devastating." Bibi protested. "Snoot is like nose."

"No, that's snout!"

"I know that, but that's what it reminds me of!" Bibi stuck her tongue out. Lody mimicked but got the giggles seconds later. "Anyway, your dad sounds like a butthead." The fairy rolled her eyes, but she was smiling.

"Yes, he does." She shifted, uncrossing her legs. She stuck her feet out before her, stretching her legs, pointing her toes. She shoved a couple more berries in her mouth. "What do Imps do for fun?"

"Depends on the Imp."

"OK, what do you like to do?"

"We go round to see Ward quite often; he's one of our neighbours, makes the best tea. I'll see if I can bring you some." Lody smiled politely. Bibi hummed indecisively for a moment. "There's not a lot to do in our village. We're, um, we're an Exiled village." Lody blinked in surprise.

"Exiled? Why?"

"Well, Mama and Papi were exiled for being Marked with each other. Me, Okia and Char were born Exiled." Bibi pressed her lips together. Lody squished a berry between her finger and thumb.

"For falling in love?" She asked, brow furrowed.

"Yep."

"Huh. How… cruel." Lody wiped her hand on the grass, picking up her abandoned floral project. She began weaving again. "Tell me more about your family." Bibi picked through the hamper, recognising an apple and nabbing that.

She told Lody about her parents, told her stories she had heard about their family and friends, Imps Bibi had never met and probably never will- Aunt Pip with her infamous pies; Uncle Erseus, Isa's twin brother, one of the most powerful earth imps Isa knew; Nana Aly, whose cooking was supposedly to die for and Nana Sica whose cooking you would die from.

She spoke of their village, about Ward and Ferd and Crazy Lady and Oti and the rest. She told stories of Char at three winters old running out of the house completely starkers with Isa rushing out behind him with a towel and Ward cackling unhelpfully on his doorstep. She described Okia's love for reading and how she had read every book they could get their hands on, except their Exiled library was for their education rather than entertainment, to make sure they knew their place; how she went to Crazy Lady for more stories and wrote them up for everyone. She explained her mother's artistic side, her father's inventive nature and modifications he had made to the village when the Guard weren't looking. Ward's tea and abundant knowledge on most things and his insistence that rocks had sentience- his favourite was Ory, a lump of sandstone. "Pretty sure Papi has a thing for Ferd, Mama likes to tease him about it."

"Even though they're married?"

"Oh, it's a running joke with them." Bibi waved it off, clearing her throat. Lody offered her a crystal flask. "Fancy."

"It's just water." Lody said, confused. Bibi took it gratefully. Lody looked up at the sky, frowning. "I have to go in a bit. Father will expect me home, studying." She grimaced. Bibi handed the flask back, trying not to look too annoyed. "I'm glad we met up, but I've got so many questions about Imps."

"I've got many about fairies."

"Well, this fairy can tell you she'd like to meet up again. Not tomorrow though, Father is off from his Council duties."

"After that then. Same time?"

"Here." Lody confirmed, smiling. "Thank you for crossing the border. You're far more interesting than anyone this side."

"I don't know if I should be complimented or worried."

"Neither do I." Lody twirled her hair around her finger, looking behind her. Bibi stood, brushing her hands on her trousers. She offered Lody her hand and helped her up. "I'll find out if Pri berries are poisonous to Imps; you've not lived until you've stuffed your face with as many as you can. They make your tongue go green."

"Green?" Lody stuck her tongue out. It was a little bit green. "Oh, green."

"And if you have too many in your mouth and start drooling, it makes that green too!"

"Very nice."

"I know you're being sarcastic, but you're not putting me off my Pri berries."

"I wouldn't dream of it." Lody beamed at her. She stood on her toes and kissed Bibi's cheek.

"Until next time then. You're bringing food."

"Uh… yeah, OK. I can food." Bibi stammered, hand on her cheek. Her face felt warm. Lody smiled sweetly, gathering her hamper. She spread her wings, startling Bibi as they gleamed with iridescence, sparkling in the setting sun. She waved and took off. Within seconds, she was gone. Bibi stayed where she was, staring after her, hand still on her cheek. "I can food." She repeated. "I can food. By the moon, Okia would kill me."

"Soooo, how did it go?" Nidas grinned slyly. He was sat on the floor, clearly having been waiting for her to return, but pretending he hadn't been by surrounding himself with blueprints. Bibi felt her face flood with heat once more and Nidas laughed. "Aw, Bibi! What's she like, tell me more!"

"Oy!" A paintbrush smacked him in the back of the head. He turned and glared at his wife. "Leave her alone, she'll tell us if she wants ta."

"Nooo, I need to know now!" Nidas's head snapped back round and he fixed a frown on Bibi. "Please tell me you're seeing her again." Bibi nodded, wringing her hands. Nidas beamed. "That's my girl! Break the rules!"

"Bibi's got a giirrrllllfrrieeend!" Char burst seemingly out of nowhere, singing at the top of his lungs. "Bibi's got a girlfriend, Bibi's got a girlfriend!" He scampered up to his sister, grinning cheekily. "You got a girlfriend!"

"She's not my girlfriend." Bibi protested weakly.

"Na-uh, you got the Mark! You got a girlfriend! Mama, Bibi's got a girlfriend!" He looked at his mother over his shoulder, pointing accusingly at his sister. Bibi hid her face in her hands, counting to ten quietly.

"Come here, ya little pain." Isa said, just a little bemusement creeping into her tone. Char hurried to his mother and she scooped him up, playfully tweaking his nose. "Just like ya Papi- cause trouble, burn things 'n' more trouble."

"I make things too." Nidas pouted.

"Things that burn."

"No, not always!"

"Oh, yeah, my bad. They blow up on occasion too." She smiled sweetly.

"I'm going off you." He muttered, hunching his shoulders. Isa pouted sarcastically, blowing him a kiss. Nidas mimed throwing it away and she gaped at him.

"Char," she said, "get him." Her son burst with wicked laughter, kicking his legs to get down. He sprinted straight at his father, who simply sat and watched him advanced. Char tackled him, Nidas 'fell' backwards.

"Aw, no, he's got me. Death awaits, I can feel myself slipping away…" Nidas lay the back of his hand on his forehead, in the throes of 'dying'. Char sat on his chest, giggling. "So much to live for… my time… slipping away…"

"You already said that." Bibi pointed out. Nidas glared at her for a split second and went back to 'dying' in 'agony'. He gasped and choked and waxed lyrical about his unfinished life and missed chances and then he was 'gone'. Char leaned forward, scrutinising his face carefully. He patted his father's cheek, pinched his nose.

"Drama queen." He decided. Nidas's façade crumbled and he cracked up. Isa was snickering to the side, Bibi rolled her eyes. "Mama, he not dead!"

"I can see that, Char!"

"He put biscuit in Drama Jar!"

"He should put a biscuit in the Drama Jar," Isa agreed, raising a brow at Nidas, smirking, "yes, he should." Nidas tucked his hands under Char's arms, lifting him up over his head. Char squealed delightedly, holding his arms out as he 'flew'. Isa cast her eyes heavenward and retreated into her room, shaking her head. Nidas watched her go, grinning wickedly once she was gone. He swayed Char to one side, then the next, lowering him a little to throw him up in the air, making 'whoosh!' noises each time he did. Char laughed and whooped with each up and down, kicking his legs.

"Again, again!" He demanded gleefully. "Whoosh!"

Bibi left them to it. She found Okia sat on her bed, scribbling in her handmade notebook.

"How'd it go?" Okia asked without looking up.

"OK."

"Just OK?"

"I'm seeing her again."

"Good for you." She crossed something out, sighing. "How do you spell 'confrontation'?"

"Uh…" Bibi ran it over in her head before slowly spelling it aloud. "I think." She added.

"Looks close enough. Thanks, Bibi."

"Bibi!" Isa called from the other room. Bibi turned and stuck her head back out. Nidas was on his feet now, still swinging and throwing Char about, whisking him around with appropriate sound effects. Isa stood to one side, watching them. She smiled when she saw her daughter, holding up two buckets.

"It's not my turn."

"Okia's legs are hurtin' her, so yes, it is your turn."

"OK, but she has to do it twice when she's better."

"Deal!" Okia called from behind her. Bibi took the buckets from her mother, ducked Char 'flying' past and ventured out. She waved at Ward on the way out.

"Heard you had a date today!"

"How?"

"Ory told me!" He smiled simply. Bibi nodded- yeah, sure, the sandstone told you. "How'd it go? Going to see them again? Who was it?"

"Um…" Bibi dithered for a moment. "Her name is Lody." She decided that was the safest option. "I'm seeing her again after tomorrow."

"Aww. You grow up so fast." Ward pouted, proud tears glistening in his eyes. "Tell her I said hello! She's more than welcome to come for tea!"

"Um, yeah, I'll let her know. Thanks, Ward!"

"Anytime, mija!" He waved her on and she made it to the well without any further distractions.

She was filling the second bucket when a hand gripped her arm. She yelped, dropping the bucket on her foot. Crazy Lady shoved her face in hers, grinning a little too widely.

"Oh, h-hi." Bibi smiled, silently demanding her heart to quieten. She gently removed Crazy Lady's hand, stooping to retrieve her bucket. Her foot throbbed, but she did her best to ignore it.

"I know where you went." Crazy Lady whispered, still smiling. Bibi looked into her eyes, biting her lip. "You be careful with that Fae, little one-" did Crazy Lady ever blink? "-you can't trust the Fae. They'll have your head sooner than they'll have your heart. Especially with what your mother did." Ice squirmed down Bibi's spine. She snatched up the buckets, one full, one empty. Crazy Lady's markings glowed softly. She took a step back, tipping her head to one side. No she didn't blink. That too-wide smile remained. She began to sing, in a slow, hoarse fashion- "They'll take your head… before they take your heart… they'll take your head… before… they take… your heart…"

Bibi did the only sensible thing she could. She dropped everything and ran.

She ran, straight home. Ward called out to her, but she kept going. Isa was still standing where Bibi had last seen her, still watching her husband spin around with Char. Bibi crashed right into her, clinging to her and hiding her face in her shoulder.

"Whoa, whoa, what's wrong?" Isa hugged her back, confused, one hand gently running through her hair. Her daughter trembled. The door opened behind them.

"Is everything alright?" Ward asked.

"I… I don't know. Bibi?"

"Mija, what's happened?" Nidas joined the hug, Char balanced on his hip. The boy wiggled in a gap and wrapped his arms around Bibi's head, squishing his cheek on her hair.

"I saw her talking to Crazy Lady." Ward said quietly.

"Oh." Isa said. "Bibi, it's alright." She rubbed circles into her daughter's back. "You're alright, Crazy Lady has that effect on people, ya know that. Whatever she said, ya can just ignore it."

"She knows about Lody." Bibi croaked, eyes stinging. She squeezed them shut. Isa held her more tightly. Char let go of Bibi's head and was set down, holding onto her legs instead. Nidas's warmth disappeared from the hug and the door opened and closed. Ward threw his arms around them instead, pressing a kiss to Bibi's head.

"Crazy Lady told me my rocks are just rocks! Like, honestly, what nonsense! Ory isn't just a rock!"

"Of course not." Isa agreed. "He's sandstone."

"Exactly! They've the most personality of all the rocks I've got!"

"I'm sure they do, Ward."