'Pixie has a #crush on Peter.'
'I do not, Gabe. You're being silly. We're just friends.'
'Hmmm... Really? I'm not sure I believe you. Because I saw Pixie & Peter sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G.'
'Oh, shut up, Gabe. It's not funny when you do it!'
#vss365

'Please, Gabe, it's only a mile or two as the #crow flies.'
'Well, I'm not a crow, Pixie. I'll have to file a flight plan & avoid human habitation. And I'm certainly not risking getting attacked by those geese again!'
'But, Gabe, you have to go. We're out of brownies!'
#vss365

'I think you should experiment with modern #architecture , Gabe. Lots of glass & heat resistant metal. You could even build a special dragon perch on the roof so Dolly never caves in the roof & sets the place on fire again...Don't look so angry, Gabe. She really is sorry!'
#vss365

'Gabe, have you seen #Willow ?'
'Who is Willow?'
'A wisp.'
'Oh, very funny, Pixie. No, I haven't seen a will-o-the-wisp. Now if you'll excuse me.'
'Willow? Willow? Where are you?'
'Aaaaah!'
'What's up, Gabe?'
'I found Willow, floating out of the toilet just as I sat down!'
#vss365

'If dragons live in a #drey , basilisks in a burrow & griffins in a ground nest, where would a flock of phoenix be comfortable, Gabe?'
'Well, Pixie, perhaps an ever-burning perch or... hold on... why do we have a fire in the summer... Pixie! What have you done?!'
Squawk!
#vss365

I sit, white faced & trembling, eyes fixed in a 1000-yard-stare, chomping on a brownie as I try to #slough the memory.
Gabe singing in the shower is bad enough, but the glimpse I caught of him jiggling in front of the mirror,belting out Hot Stuff, will give me nightmares.
#vss365

My eyelids droop. I snap them open & instead think of chomping brownies or playing fire-tag with Dolly's dragonlings. Anything but listen to Gabe #ramble on & on &-'
'Pixie! Are you listening to me?'
'Every syllable, Gabe. You're absolutely right. Is there anything else?'
#vss365

'Helleborus, night jasmine, an owl's feather. What are you brewing, Pixie?'
'It's a charm for Vince. Ever since the eclipse, Gabe, he's all confused. Can't tell night from day & is looking a bit singed.'
'Hmmm... A #diurnal vampire. I can see how that would be a problem.'
#vss365

'Pixie, you can't bring those in here!'
'But, Gabe, Dolly the dragon is laying eggs & talk about #fecund . She's run out of room in the volcano, so we're using fireplaces, ovens, anywhere hot.'
'Fine. If you must, but you're not keeping any of them.'
'...course not, Gabe.'
#vss365

'Ga-abe, how much #lichen would a reindeer eat?'
'Stop right there, Pixie, you are not having a reindeer.'
'But-'
'No!'
'But-'
'No!
'Pleeeease.'
'No!'
Waaaaaah
'Fine, if you start clearing up after your hippo, I'll consider the reindeer.'
#vss365

'Gabe...... Help......'
'Pixie, what's wrong? Hmmm... You don't have a temperature, but you're #delirious . Have you been bitten by a basilisk? Or has one of your charms backfired again?'
'Too. Much. Sugar.'
'Oh, Pixie. No! You've eaten all the brownies again.'
#vss365

Gabe shakes his #brindled coat & scratches behind his ear. Perhaps I shouldn't have stored the transmogrification potion next to the sugar jar. Still, Gabe doesn't seem to have noticed anything. But I should probably keep him in the house...I wonder how long it will last?
#vss365

'To be a truly great prankster, Gabe, you need to milk the #element of surprise. I mean, you spend your entire time trying to make me behave, & now you're a nervous wreck. Because either you've succeeded, or I'm preparing the ultimate prank. Which? I'll let you guess.'
#vss365

'No, Gabe, you're thinking of faery rings. This is a pixie #bower . Entirely different. They're dangerous for anyone but pixies.'
'It's not that you're trying to hide stolen brownies then, Pixie. Because your friends are giggling & munching.'
'Hey, don't start without me!'
#vss365

'Pixie, you are such a #magpie . What is all this rubbish?'
'Hey! These are rare & valuable potion ingredients, Gabe, not rubbish.'
'Oh really!? So what is this? And this? And this?'
'Hmm... Fossilised yeti snot, troll toenails &-'
'Eugh! No. I need to sterilise my hands.'
#vss365

'Good luck, Gabe.' Gulp. 'I hope to see you afterwards.'
'Any last minute advice, Pixie.'
'Hmmm... keep them in a #cluster . It's when 1 goes rogue that you have to watch your back.'
'OK. Understood. I can do that. I'll be fine...I mean, it's just a classroom of pixlings.'
#vss365

I flitter through the #gloaming on mossy pathways, sipping nectar from the skirts of night flowering jasmine, twirling across faery rings & tap dancing on toadstools until, reaching my favourite spot, I lift leaf litter & logs in the hunt for succulent sluggy snacks. Yum!
#vss365

'But, Gabe, you've always wanted to live near a river. Now you have the convenience of a #riparian chair where you can fish or just cool your toes.'
'NEAR is the pertinent word, Pixie. Not through the middle of my kitchen. Get those mermaids & that stream out of here!'
#vss365

'Look in my slug #terrarium , Gabe. All those baby slugs are growing up sweet & juicy. I've decided to call that one Dave & that one Simon & that's Ursula... would you like to name one?'
'Eugh, Pixie! I am not helping to name your food.'
'Shhh, Gabe. They'll hear you!'
#vss365