As Whimsy lectured Calvin shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He put up his finger to make a point, then put it down, closing his mouth and looking at Whimsy. He had been rendered speechless and whatever she might think, it was not by the audacity of what she said, it was by the memories they conjured up as well as the truth. He lamented his empty beer mug. He ought to sing for some more. Instead he picked apart his bread crumb by crumb. Be a fairy. Sometimes it was a bit difficult adjusting to such norms and this was one of those times. He pouted as prettily as he knew how, but she had plaid her trump card in her little lecture. It wasn't the song, nor the other options he had available to him that he was ignoring, but that he was worrying Peets. She was his responsibility in a way he had never been responsible for anything before this.
"You know how I kind of mentioned I was a lesson horse?" Calvin asked in an undertone, since this he was beginning to sense wasn't something he wanted to share. His eyes, sparkling with amber flecks, sought Whimsy's and glanced away, "I was gelded." That word was enunciated carefully. It was one of those things he was just beginning to understand as a fairy. "You know, I don't have any... I am never going to have a mate. I just don't have those urges... Being with others I care about is still important," Calvin didn't know what he was defending, but it made him feel defensive. "Er... I think my voice actually has something to do with that," he added. It wasn't really knowledge, but he'd seen a couple bar fights and had a couple of snide comments made in his own direction.
Calvin stared down at the shredded bread all over his plate and smiled awkwardly. Now she knew the craziest thing about him. What the hell was he, really? Fairies didn't have geldings. Of course, neither did hummingbirds. He sure as hell wasn't going to explain any further around here. He hoped he still had some reputation to keep, even if he had fallen for those guys convincing him to sing that song about half-dead people. That made him curious. After all, he'd been dressed up as a skeleton horse before. Those things were popular. Why hadn't he heard any ghost stories yet?
"So, um, yeah. I guess I'll try the academy," Calvin mumbled staring at the table. It was strange how sobering awkward conversations were. Now he just felt tired. "Let's just go walk outside for a bit," Calvin suggested, glancing around. If they were going to talk anything more about awkward things he would rather be outside. He still took a flask of beer with him deciding he would need that, too, if they had any more awkward conversation. He kind of missed being an animal when an awkward conversation meant someone else got too close to your grain bucket.
Calvin went to Peets' side, easily stroking each beautiful curve in the shadows. He turned to Whimsy, thinking of a better topic and remembering their time together in Shaman as everything changed and magic flooded back. He gazed up longingly at the remnants, his normal cheer returning as he took another sip of delicious beer. It was a good time to be alive, for all that things were so strange and new. New things could be good. Those little balls of light and joy reminded him of that, if nothing else.
"You had the occasion to go chasing those thingies across the landscape lately?" Calvin gestured and Peets snorted. He was unquenchable. |