Hey, Vanilla, look! I lied.
Nidas finished the communication Bibi had requested within the quarter, just as he had promised. He called them Proof-Nidas-Is-A-Genius-Scrolls. No-one else did.
"And… they work?"
"I'm hurt, Bibi."
"I meant over distance, Papi."
"Of course they work. And without fire now, too! Aren't you lucky?" He grinned. Bibi forced a smile and he wrinkled his nose at her. "Fine. If you have to have proof." He tapped the scroll, moving his fingertip across the surface. A bright blue line followed his movements and he simply wrote 'hi'. The greeting stayed for a few moments and then the scroll's surface rippled and cleared. The pink crystal embedded in the bronze casing at the top pulsed with a soft light.
Bibi opened her mouth. Nidas held up a finger, shushing her. The scroll's surface rippled again and red words appeared- Fuck off. Nidas smirked at his daughter, folding his arms smugly. Bibi squinted at him. "Really?" He pouted, the red message fading. "Bibi, you're hard to impress."
"Thank you." She inclined her head. Nidas muttered mimics of her under his breath, making faces as he wrote 'where r u?' in blue. Again, it took a moment for the message to disappear and the crystal began pulsing once more. The reply took a little longer- I ran away.
"No, don't leave me." Nidas blew a raspberry at it. The red lines wiggled and changed into a new message. Near border. Found berries. Want some? His smile returned and he sent back a large grinning face.
"Does it work over the border?"
"It can work over the ocean, Bibi, have some faith! Those crystals come in pairs, they're really hard to get and you're lucky I sto- uuuuuhhhh… liberate stuff like this. Occasionally."
"You steal from the Guard?"
"They have all the cool stuff, leave me alone!"
"Papi!" Bibi protested, trying not to laugh. "What kind of example are you setting for your children?"
"The fun one, now go and see your girlfriend!"
"She's not- don't tell Mama I'm- you're being horrible!"
"Um, who broke our entire understanding of communication between lands in a quarter?" He stuck his tongue out. Bibi replied similarly. They settled for poking each other incessantly until the red message came- no berries for Bibi. "Ha!" Nidas grinned victoriously. "I'm a well-fed genius!"
"Well-fed fathead!" She dragged the scroll towards her- Papi stinks.
"Rude!"
Yes he does.
Nidas gaped. "Double rude! I'm not talking to any of you anymore!" He crossed his arms, tipping his nose up sulkily.
"What about me?" Okia called from the next room.
"Do you have food?" Nidas called back.
"No!"
"Then no!" Bibi pulled on his arm. When he pretended to ignore her, turning his head away, she pulled again more insistently.
"Papi-"
"Not talking to you."
"Then I won't say thank yo-"
"No, no!" He whipped round, gripping her shoulders and leaning down until they were practically nose to nose. "Give me the thanks, I thrive in gratitude."
"You thrive in madness." Bibi pointed out, going cross-eyed to look at him.
"I can thrive in many things." He kissed her forehead, grinning. "Go on, go and find Mama and then go and see your not-girlfriend-girlfriend. Don't forget to tell her how clever I am."
"Of course, Papi."
"I know that was sarcasm-"
"Oh no, never."
"-but I'm feeling very proud of myself right now."
"More thriving?"
"Yes."
The scrolls were probably the best thing Nidas had ever come up with. He was rather keen to get his hands on some more of the pink crystals, but they had been difficult to acquire in the first place. "We used to use them all the time," he explained, nodding at his wife, "before we got Exiled and she couldn't ignore me as easily."
"I never ignored you."
"Liar. But anyway, each of you hold a crystal, and you can hear each other's thoughts, but like… only when you're talking to each other. Not, like, eavesdropping on all your thoughts."
"Although there was that time you-"
"Hey, hey!" Nidas aimed a finger at Isa, who looked pleasantly surprised and trying not to laugh. "You promised!"
"I know, but-"
"Ah!"
"But-"
"Ah!"
"Can I-?" He flailed, pressing a finger to her lips and shushing her for as long as he could. Isa was trembling with compressed laughter. "You done?" She asked as his shushing faltered breathlessly. He took a deep breath, gave another quick shush and then nodded.
"Yes, done."
"OK," Isa looked to the kids, "so I was tryin' get hold of him 'n'-"
"Foul demon!" Nidas declared. He swooped her up over his shoulder and rushed out. Okia was the first out the door after them. Nidas dumped his wife on Ward's doorstep, pounding on the door until their neighbour answered. "She's mean!" Nidas pouted, pointing at Isa accusingly.
"Nothing of the sort!" Ward despaired. "Isa, come in, my dear, I'll make you some tea."
"Aw, thanks, Ward." He offered his hand and pulled her up, tucking an arm around her shoulders. He led her inside, looking at Nidas over his shoulder the entire time. Nidas swore under his breath.
"She's still my wife!" He called as the door swung shut. "Ward! She's my wife!" He hit the door and turned back, plonking himself on the top step. He noticed his children watching him. "What?"
"What did you do?" Okia grinned.
"Nothing!"
"No, come on!" Bibi laughed. "You have to tell us!"
"Nope!"
"Please!" Char bounced excitedly. "Please please please please!" He slipped on the step, Okia catching him by the arm. Nidas had shot to his feet, sighing in relief when Char was set back down. He ushered them back inside, swinging Char up onto his hip and blowing a raspberry on his cheek. "Tell!" Char insisted, pinching his father's nose.
"No."
"I have a question." Bibi piped up, before Char could protest further. "If you used the crystals to talk to each other, why did you make the scrolls?"
"Because you asked me to make a relatively illegal communication something or other, not hand one over."
"But the crystals would have been easier."
"But then I wouldn't have surpassed literally every other form of communication. Listen, the crystals are great and all, but they need recharging after a few uses. With the scrolls, though, it's not sending thoughts, it's sending bursts of energy that bounce between the crystals and don't actually drain their power. 'Cos I'm smart."
"You just took your wife to Ward's." Okia reminded him. "You know, your rival?"
"He's not my rival!" Nidas defied. "He's just… someone I've learned to tolerate over the winters, that's all! Here, take your brother, I need to go and get my wife back."
Bibi was quick to update Lody on her father's shenanigans- the fairy loved hearing about Nidas and his antics, and was just as curious as Bibi and her siblings as to what the secret with the crystals was. I bet it was something super embarrassing, Lody wrote, but do we want to know?
Good point.
Did he get Isa back?
Eventually. She and Ward were having tea and chats.
"Is that Lody?" Char demanded excitedly, scrambling up onto Bibi's bed. He wiggled himself onto his sister's lap, poking at the scroll. He left blue dots over the surface. Bibi held him gently by the hand, helping him write out his name with his finger. "Oh, that's me!" He beamed once the 'r' was finished. Bibi helped him write a little more. "Wazzat?" He asked, curious amber flames in his hair.
"It says 'Char says hello'."
"I do say hello!"
"And look! Lody says hello back."
"Yay!" He clapped excitedly. "Now what?"
"She's asking if you're being trouble?"
"No, I is lovely! Tell her I's lovely!" Bibi nodded, but she didn't put that. He's always trouble, but insists he's not.
That's boys for you. Lody replied. Char yawned and stretched. He slumped back against his sister and, before long, was snoring softly. Bibi patted his head, his flames cool and sky blue. My dad is being a total snoot.
Oh no, what's he done this time?
He caught me reading some of our history books. Bibi's brow furrowed. The next message rippled in. I was looking for more info on your mother, on what happened. And then- All the accounts are more-or-less the same, nothing about a human.
Makes sense.
But it makes more sense now I know the whole story! The next message was in much smaller writing, filling the page. Maybe Lody had found something to actually write with, rather than her fingers. The whole colourless eyes thing, the unprovoked attack, the fire imp (which I'm guessing was Nidas) tackling her, what you said that Ward said about how Isa was afterwards, there's been no repeats and no real incursions with imps since then. The only serious thing worth noting is when you crossed the border, and with your mother being who she is, our Guard are on high alert and refuse to stand down. Things are tense, I've heard talk of history repeating itself, some have left town already, heading to more remote villages for safety.
There's no need to?
I know! Father overhead me talking to Mother, I was asking her about the village. She was a child when it happened, she told me she remembered it being taught in school the following morning.
What did your dad say?
Took my books. Told me to keep my mouth shut and practise my stupid singing
It's not stupid!
To him it is.
He's stupid!
He probably thinks I'm spying for you all or something.
That's ridiculous, you totally have no contact with imps!
Of course not, that would be insane and dangerous! On an unrelated note, are you free late shift tomorrow? I can try and sneak out for a little while.
Yes, can do. There was a pause in the messages. Char snored. He had tipped to one side, his head falling on her thigh, drooling slightly.
I have to go, talk tomorrow!
OK, stay away from imps.
No.
The defiance made Bibi smile. She gently rolled the scroll back up and set it to one side. Okia wandered in, scribbling in her notebook. She glanced up once she had plonked herself down on her bed.
"Can't move?" She asked.
"Don't dare." Bibi confirmed. Okia smirked.
"Rather you than me."
"Thanks, love you too." Bibi blew a raspberry at her. Okia replied similarly, distracted by the scroll.
"Ooh, been talking to your girlfriend?"
"She's not-"
"One day you'll stop denying it. How is she?"
"Her dad's a snoot."
"A what?"
"A snoot. Basically a butthead, but they say 'snoot'."
"Sounds like 'snout'."
"See, I said that!" Bibi threw her hands up. Char started and murmured restlessly. Bibi quickly quietened, continuing in a hushed voice. "The scrolls are cool, though, almost instant. Don't tell Papi, he doesn't need any more ego inflation."
"I'm sure he'll try for some anyway."
"Definitely. What are you writing?" Okia sighed and scribbled something out.
"I'm just trying to work on one of Crazy Lady's stories, but… well, she's not always the best story-teller. Always leaves bits out." Bibi nodded in agreement. She had avoided Crazy Lady since the encounter at the well. They'll have your head sooner than they'll have your heart. Okia was still talking and Bibi tried her best to listen, but all she could hear was Crazy Lady's twisted singing of her warning.
A knock on the doorframe drew their attention. Isa hovered in the doorway, smiling nervously.
"Bibi, I- oh, you're stuck."
"Help." Bibi pleaded. Isa's smile lightened. Char stirred as his mother picked him up, but he settled into sleep fairly quickly, snoring softly on her shoulder. Isa massaged his back. Bibi stretched her legs.
It took a bit of wiggling to get Char to detach so Isa could settle him in his own bed. His thin arms were locked almost defiantly around her neck and she couldn't get free, laughing softly and doubled over his bed. Okia bounced up to stuff a teddy bear in her brother's arms. He was quick to cling to that, Isa tucked him in.
"Thanks, mija." She squeezed Okia's shoulder. Okia returned to her writing and Isa looked back at Bibi, wringing her hands. She didn't say anything, motioning with her head and taking her leave. Bibi hesitated, but followed.
Isa stood by the hearth, chewing her thumbnail, shoulders hunched. The coals glowed softly amongst embers. Bibi took a seat just to her mother's right, picking up the poker to stir the coals. Isa sat, but slowly, as if she had forgotten how.
Neither spoke for a moment. Bibi managed to stoke the fire into a small assortment of flames. Nidas would want the fire going for dinner. Isa shifted, drawing her knees up to her chest, toying nervously with her boot laces. Bibi watched her from the corner of her eye. Isa may have begun to speak several times, but the words failed her.
After a few minutes, she steamed through the sentence, mumbling so her voice did not carry to the others. "I'm sorry, Bibi, I am, I didn't wanna tell ya 'cos I didn't want ya thinkin' I meant ta do that 'n' I get why you're mad, I do, ya know what I'm like 'bout secrets, like big important secrets-"
"Mama-"
"-but ya needed ta know the truth 'n' now ya do 'n' I-"
"Mama-"
"- I'm sorry, Bibi, I just wanted ya'll ta be OK, I wanted ta bring ya'll up like normal kids, but with everythin' that's happened, I don't know if-"
"Mama!" Isa started, eyes darting to her daughter as if scolded. "I'm not mad. I'm not, I promise." Isa still didn't look convinced. "I get why you didn't tell me. I don't know what happened with that human and you don't have to tell me if you don't want to." Isa shook her head. Bibi set the poker down, reaching out to squeeze her mother's hand. Isa's fingers were cold in hers, trembling. Isa's mouth tightened, a dull ebbing glow within her marks. "I know it wasn't easy to talk about and I'm sorry I asked, but I… but thank you for telling me."
"Did… did ya tell Lody?" Bibi nodded. Isa closed her eyes, frost speckling her fingertips.
"She believes you, Mama. She said… she said knowing your side made more sense. I think she wants to help, or… or at least let others know the truth."
"N-no, it's… it's too late for that."
"Is it? Think about it, Mama," she pressed on as Isa nodded, "why would I Mark with a Fae if the two sides are doomed to forever hate each other?"
"I dunno, you're weird."
"Runs in the family." Bibi deadpanned. Isa smiled weakly. "Please don't think I'm mad at you, Mama. Or that I think you're some kind of monster, I know you're not. You told me the truth, even when you didn't want to- I saw how hard it was for you and I'm grateful, but please, I don't hate you for it." Isa studied her face, sea green fixing on deep, earthen brown. She wiggled her hand free, brushing Bibi's hair back from her face.
"Thank you, mija," she said softly, kissing her daughter's forehead, "I don't deserve you."