I was happier than most to escape the city of death.
My journey through had been long and arduous. The initial weaving between the worried and bedraggled masses taking longer than expected. There were more arrivals than last the decade when i was here last. It was a combination of some ingenious idea to start a trend of collecting venomous snakes and not-so-shockingly another war. This one in particular was between two previously peaceful neighbours. Apparently there was an untasteful comment from one side about how an archbishop's mother on the other made record profits from largely horizontal employment... It triggered a wider discourse on which side had larger hotdogs which of course escalated to the dusting off of the ceremonial cannon balls and pointy metal sticks. As such i get to enjoy the great honour of rush hour traffic.
I darted into a quiet side street grateful for the cold embrace of undisturbed fog. I fished out my coins, enjoying the way they clinked between my bony fingers. The door to the shop was appropriately rusty, pleasantly creaky, and nicely mold speckled. I cast my empty sockets across the spiderwebbed shelves looking for something in particular. Upon spotting it i gleefully hopped over and took it to the shop keep. He was a ghastly fellow, maggot crawling from a flap of cheek next to his chunk of missing skull, complete lack of manners! He did all but scoff at my comment on how the infrastructure was going to struggle with so many new souls. I was just being nice! Making polite conversation with someone who seemed by all estimates utterly miserable. The dead these days are so rude.
I pondered about which way i should take home. The ghostly carriages were up and running but slightly too packed for my liking and i didn't really have enough coin for the whole trip anyway. I could go back the way i had come in, shuddering at the thought. Tunnel network it was. I didn't mind having the dirt between my bones anyway. I carried my happy purchase safely hugged to my ribcage the whole way home. Opening the trapdoor, I nestled back into my coffin. Delighted with my new pillow, i drifted off to a peaceful rest.
It was typical for an english train to shy away from an honest days work.
I was waiting calmly, app in hand. The time delayed ever increasing, apparently it would be arriving in 45mins. It had been admiment in its estimates for a good hour and a half. It had really really promised it was nearly there, or at least close to nearly there, or in fact it was definitly somewhere and therefore probably not too far so long as you were willing to give it the benefit of the doubt... It's empty promises wounded me deeply.
The tracks stayed diligently still, loyally silent, lest a creak give some poor sod a brief hope of depature. I listened very closly for that tell tale rumble, or sweet little bing bong over the loud speakers. Alas, no such luck. My heart sank a little more, feeling down trodden and ever so slightly forgotten about. I sighed and stretched, atempting to arouse it from such typical angst. I pointed out that the weather was in fact lovley (quite the suprise im sure you can imagine), and the birds across the road were putting on a smidge-too-loud but still beautiful concert for us. My heart rose a little, glumly looking out instead of tearfully burying its face into my lung.
Eventually the train did come, with a few cheers of relief and plenty raised eyebrows and passive aggressive watch glances. Said eyebrows would switch in a instent to an air of humble understanding if asked if the delay was too much trouble. Thats just British eyebrows for you.
The train didnt bother apologise. It simply ushered everyone on board whilst repeatedly reminding everyone to please watch the gap. That's just british trains for you.
The clickity clack was a relief at last, as we pulled away from the little stop, hidden in the middle of nowhere.
-Sleep-
I just had the best nap of my life. I'm talking wake up drooling, limbs akimbo, wondering where I am type nap. Wait, actually, where the hell am i? And why was I covered in sleep dust!? What mischief were the pixies cooking up, and why did it have to be me!
-Magic-
I wished for a relaxing afternoon. I was thinking nice drink, little music, cozy blanket... I was not thinking the little darling pixies would hear and decide to whisk me away! The lovley little angels had taken me to a fairy ring, transported me to the land of magic, and then run off. I hate it here, its so fluffing irritating. The anti-swear charm over the place being the first of many catastrophic annoyances. The second being the smell. Like a sweetshop, florists, and knock off perfume shop got put in a horrifyingly large blender and the resulting sludge pasted into every nook and cranny of the forest. This would take a week to wash out of my hair. The plants were the next issue. They're all gigantic making it near impossible to move or see any significant distance. I kick the 11 foot tall mushroom in frustration, enjoying the sound the chunk made when it hit the floor. "OUCH, YOU beloved fellow" i shout, holding my cheek. "See how you like it" the mushroom mumbled before plodding off, pushing the chunk back in place. Of course the mushrooms are sentient.
-Fairy-
I hope i get out if here soon. I'd been wandering around for several hours, doing my best to not direct violence towards anything i didnt think i could win against. I stopped for a moment, looked around, and gave up. Uncerimoniously, I plopped myself down and stared up at the sky, i couldnt see much beyond the thicket of obnoxiously neon leaves. At least it wasn't raining i thought. Panicked, I looked around, i didnt want any pixies getting ideas... Satisfyed i wasn't about to get drenched i settled back down. It was time to come up with a plan better than aimlessly wander. "Excuse me traveler, are you in need of assistance?" squeaked a silvery voice. "Oh my a fairy! I'm saved." i said sweetly, beckoning it to come closer. It flounced across to me, dripping in white fabric, face slathered in makeup. "I esmerelder of sugarhollow -" it began, but i snatched it from the air. It let out a series of squarks and shrieks. I smushed the makeup off its face on a nearby leaf, and shook off the bug it had bartered with to be it's wings.
"Pixie.' I greeted it 'Not very convincing. What was the plan, raise my hopes do something highly irritating then dissapear?" i said, absent mindedly picking off the grass it had used for hair. "Pretty much" wriggling, the now deep voice grumbled. "Take me home right now, no tricks" I said sternly, eyebrow raised. "Or what" it rolled it's eyes. "Or i squish you" i threaten. "You wouldn't resort to murder' it snorted. "No?" i frown, squeezing a bit. "Get off, get off, okay okay il take you home! Spoil sport, you humans are no fun." it said hurredly.
He waves his hands around in a whimsical manner, far more spritly than i would expect for a pixie it's age. I blink, the next time i opened my eyes i was back in my own kitchen, no pixies in sight. I really must make sure to ask the local witch for some protection charms. Never again with those bloody pixies.
