Logan went to Arcadia.
Before leaving, he took several hours to tame his hair into whirling cornrows, seemingly deliberately crafted to show off the white streaks. He put on a high collared, shimmery white coat that whispered at his calves and crackled with frost when he moved.
He carried only an ornate, Fae-crafted suitcase.
He looked like a Winter Court Faery.
He was breathtaking.
He did not tell them how long he intended to be gone.
#
Exams finished for the semester, and Logan remained in Arcadia. Virgil spent his free time in his room, painting; or walking Nic alone in the evenings.
The solstice came and went, and Logan remained in Arcadia.
Virgil avoided Charming entirely, knowing if the two of them fought now, he'd probably turn the entire dining room table into a floral centerpiece. His nerves hummed tighter than a coiled spring.
Four days until Christmas, then three, and Logan remained in Arcadia.
#
Charming caught Virgil's arm as he was taking Nic out for a walk that night and suggested they go Christmas shopping.
"Are you out of your mind?" Virgil sneered. "We don't even do Christmas. Logan celebrates Yule, which he's missed, and I don't give a shit."
"Well, both of you are missing out! Christmas is—"
Charming drew a deep breath.
"Princey, if you start singing, I swear I will turn your toothbrush into poison ivy," Virgil warned.
"The most wonderful time of the year!" Charming belted, making Virgil groan.
"Besides, I need a new sword!" Charming added. "And you need to get your mopey-dopey ass out of this apartment."
Virgil gestured pointedly at the dog.
"I mean out, with like, other human beings." Charming rolled his eyes. "You turned my last sword into a weed. It's only fair that you help me replace it."
Virgil hated that Charming did kind of have a point there. He would need a weapon, especially if Logan came home with news about Deceit's whereabouts.
"And plus," Charming waggled his eyebrows. "I know you want to get me a Christmas present."
"You're delusional, Princey," Virgil grumbled.
But that reminded him; he didn't have a gift for Logan yet. He'd done a painting last year, so that was out. Logan wasn't really into witchy shit, and the only big store within walking distance was Walmart.
Tame.
Virgil chewed his lip.
"You know what? Fine. We'll go shopping or whatever," he muttered. "Just quit bugging me about it."
Charming clapped his hands.
Virgil gratefully escaped with Nic.
And Logan remained in Arcadia.
YOU ARE READING
Mahogany and Teakwood
FanfictionYou've seen the posters. You know, the ones for missing kids. The ones hung on grocery store bulletin boards and gas station walls, dog-eared and ancient-looking under their scratched, yellowing glass. All those names and dates and blurry, weather-s...
