Witch.tv/DCA-One-Shots

"Strix Is My Mommy"

Strix is preparing a pie to go in the oven, while Dierne is manning the front. Perloque is gone getting supplies, and Critter is messing with the chickens. "Come back, chicken!" He says, chasing one outside. Strix slides the pie into the oven with a sigh.

She feels someone to tug on her robes. "Mom?" Squiddley says, looking up at her. She groans. "Squiddley, for the 100th time, I'm not your mother." He frowns, and makes a pouty face. "No." Strix says, her voice stern.

He sighs, and starts to leave. Strix clenches her fist. Don't indulge him, Strix. She tells herself. But he's so sad. Like Diath… "What did you want, Squiddley?" She says. He stops, and turns around. "I was wondering if you could fix my bow."

She sighs. "Where is it, Squiddley?" He points out of the kitchen door. She walks over, to see he placed it on the bar top. She nods. "Yeah, I'll use my magic." He grins. "Thanks, Mom!" He says. Strix grabs his shoulder.

"I'm not your mom, but you're welcome." She walks out, and grabs the two ends of the bow. She casts her spell "Mending" on it, and it reforms. Squiddley climbs on top of the bar, and sits on the counter. "Wow! It's as good as new!" She passes his to him.

"Be more careful with your things, and get off the bar top. Paultin wouldn't like that." He hops down. "Sorry!" He holds his bow up like he is going to fire an arrow. "I'm gonna be a great adventurer when I grow up. Like you!"

He turns to Strix, and grins. She feels something inside that she can't identify. It's like she wants to support him, and some kind of happiness is drawn from that. She smiles. "You'll need a real bow for that." Strix says.

He gasps. "Can I get one?" Strix frowns. "I think Diath would say that it's too dangerous for you to have one." Squiddley groans. "Nat has a real knife! Jenks has a real wand! Why can't I have a real bow?" Strix sighs.

"Look, I can't make sensible decisions, ask Diath about it." Strix says. "Ask me what?" Diath says, from behind them. Strix yelps. He frowns. "Sorry, didn't mean to spook you, Strix." Squiddley clears his throat.

"Can I have a real bow?" He asks Diath. Diath scoffs. "What, are you kidding? You're still a kid, absolutely not!" Squiddley sticks his lip out, and sighs. "But Nat and Jenks have real weapons, why not me, Dad?" Diath's eyes widen.

"'Dad'?" He says, frowning. "Please, Mom and Dad! I promise that I won't shoot it in the house! I'll make sure it doesn't break and-and…" Diath and Strix sigh. "What do you think, Diath?" Strix asks. "I mean, you know he's not gonna shut up until he gets it."

Diath nods, scratching his chin. "Tell you what, Squiddley. I'll let you have it." Squiddley gasps. "If you earn the money yourself." Diath says. Squiddley frowns. "Like get a job?" He asks. Diath nods again. "Yeah, if you actually keep a job long enough to make enough money, I'll know that you're mature enough to handle one."

Squiddley jumps up and down in excitement. "Thanks, Dad!" Diath frowns. "Now, you don't have it yet, don't get ahead of yourself. Also, I'm not your dad." Dierne walks over. "Yes you are, and your his mom, Strix. I'm sorry, I don't make the rules."

She walks back to the counter. Both Diath and Strix scoff. Squiddley went out, and got himself little jobs from the druid across the street, and it took a few weeks, but he managed to scrape up enough money to buy a nice bow. He walks up to Strix, holding a small box.

He sets it on the table. "I think I have enough money here, Mom." Strix's ear twitches. "Talk to Diath. He understands money, and all that." Squiddley nods. "Okay, see you later, Mom." Strix heaves a big sigh. "Goodbye, son." He gasps. "You called me 'son'!"

She shrugs. "I'm embracing the whole 'mom' thing. Now, go! Talk to Diath!" He grins, and runs off in search of Diath. She smiles, watching him leave. Is this how Evelyn and Paultin feel about Simon? Because I think I understand them a little better.