Queenmabsim - Unseelie Court

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the rest of Havana Howl

Drown me in your twisted melodies

jupiter, having just finished updating some of the ownership documentation in town, breezed through the threshold of the old place. he stepped over a kitten and noticed a pup staring longingly at the fireplace which was somewhat abnormal considering when he'd left the house, there had been no pets.

"dearest?"

"yes darling?"

the sound of water tinged with metallic reverberation as it hit the drain. mab was standing in the kitchen methodically rinsing all the lost glasses and plates that she found hidden away in a corner cabinet after the renovation. jupiter entered the room and crossed to the sink. he rested his hands on the curve of her shoulders and pressed a chaste kiss to her cheek before preparing his question.

"why are there animals in the house?"

mab smiled and merely picked up a sponge to continue her task without falter.

"those are our children."

a booming bolt of laughter bounced off every bare wall in the eerily vacant kitchen. the amount of noise was unnerving, really. the new countertops were sleek and the tiles nice, but hopefully the room would feel more alive when it was no longer a husk.

"yes. shockingly enough, I was already aware of those, but I am, in fact, referring to the much smaller, much newer ones."

mab nodded knowingly.

"oh yes. well, those animals found our children today."

"they found the children?"

the diction of that sentence stood out as strikingly specific. words were the magic by which mab winterdream weaved precisely no more or less than what she wanted. there was decided purpose in such particular phrasing.

"lysander said those two little things were fighting off a fox right near the front gate. they've taken a quick liking to the twins so I've told them they can keep them. we'll be going into town in the morning for groceries anyway. we can pick up some food and toys then."

if not by the clearly defined circumstances, then certainly by the tone of voice his wife used, jupiter could tell that this matter remained settled.

"a fox, huh?"

"a hungry fox."

the faucet cut as the last plate was set on the countertop to dry. jupiter's brow furrowed in consideration. when was the last time they'd had a pet?

"hm. well, have they been given names yet? who has taken to whom?"

the couple walked out of the kitchen, turning the lights off as they stepped through the adjoining room on the way to the staircase.

"lysander is calling that little kitten by jester, and helena... helena hasn't decided yet."

that was cause for pause. jupiter hesitated with a hand on the banister. helena had always been direct and piercing as an arrow, not unlike her mother, so it was highly unlike his daughter. he rubbed his jaw.

"is that right? go on up. I'll follow suit."

mab climbed the stairs to their bedroom. thankfully, the new mattresses had already been delivered. everyone needed a good night's sleep before such a big day upcoming. jupiter remained with his hand on the base of the banister while lysander was in a vicious cycle of snatching his hand away from the kitten just long enough to entice her to bat at him more, and helena studied an ancient fae tome.

they could change their nature no more than a scorpion and a frog.

"lysander, don't stay up all night playing. get enough rest to help unload the moving truck tomorrow." there was a stern foot down in the way he spoke to his son that softened for his daughter. "helena, give that pup a proper name before bed, understood?"

both teenagers gave some combination of eye rolling and vacant nodding, with a mutual grumbled agreement. that was the best he was going to get. satisfied, jupiter started to ascend the stairs.

"goodnight."

lysander hopped over the back of the couch, landed haphazardly next to his sister, and tried to catch a glimpse of whatever was on the page she was reading. it looked like one of those old fairytales their mother used to read them before bed. he yawned.

"so what's his name?"

the next page in the book turned without being touched.

"finn."