[u][b]What We Have Here (Sequence: Four)
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I trusted Smokey. Somehow, I thought she could be a mini Master of Things. I believed she could keep the fairies under control - never again. "Heyo' Master o' Tings, I tried ta' keep em in order, but they are not really in a mood to jus' hang out," is how Smokey awoke me that morning. She was hovering just above my face, "Oh, and I tink' uh - jus' take a look down at Nipper's box."

I just woke up and was not ready for this bullshit. This is the first time in forever that I ever had to wake up immediately and I do not know how the corporate 9-5 slaves do this, "Give me a sec..." I mumbled as I begun to drift off to sleep once more. I could hear the chirps and blips of free fairies doing whatever they please about the house. Of-course, this is a really big problem, but in my sleepiness I did not register. I could convince myself that the house was secure enough that they would not be able to slip out. After-all, it was a nice three story (plus basement) brick and mortar castle that stood well on its own with minimal maintenance. That is how I internally justified my apathy and at the moment I was not upset at Smokey. I could not be mad because it was only natural she would fail - the she have only failed in my life.

Of-course, this would not do. A high-pitch shrilling screech woke me up from my half-sleeping stupor. It was just enough to get me out of bed, and it was more-so because the cry was in my room. Smokey was nowhere to be seen, so it had nothing to do with her. I remembered what she told me about Nipper's box. In nothing but my birthday suit (look I sleep naked - it's not weird) I hopped out of my bed to see what the commotion was. A party of three fairies had infiltrated my bedroom, either by flying through the holes in the door that use to make up Lucy's pathways, or by squeezing under the doors. Two were cowering on the other side of the box, while atop it was a lone fairy rolling about screaming its heart out. It took me a moment to process what was happening. These fairies were interested in freeing Nipper, or finding more food maybe? I am not sure if they were smart enough to think about freeing their fellow bite sized bitch - so they had to be just searching for more resources, right? They probably have enhanced smelling and detected the residue of the supplies in the box. Well, then why did they not bust into the supplies left downstairs? Then again, all of the items are in sealed containers and I do not think they are smart enough nor strong enough to open them. So it was only natural they would wander in here.

Anyways, that aside the little howling fairy somehow managed to open and close the top of the box on her hand, which cleanly severed it at the wrist. You have to be really fucking stupid to open and then close it immediately on your own hand. What to do - what to do - "Smokey! Escort these ones back!" Strange, no response, where did she go? I rolled my eyes and picked up the howling fairy who was in far too much pain to resist me, "You two - Geez, fucking just stay away from the box."

I walked on out of the room, still naked, and continued downstairs. So, these three fairies had to travel all the way up the stairs, presumably scour the second floor, and then scour the third floor in the quest of a box that might contain food. Eh, maybe they really were looking to free Nipper. Whatever, this howling fairy is getting on my nerves. Once I got down to the ground floor and ended up in the living room I saw the full extent of how Smokey failed me. They were everywhere - the bright side of the situation was the mass of them implied that no escape had been found yet, or at-least the majority have not made use of any hypothetical escape routes.

It seems that many had docked in the television stand trying to hide from prying eyes. A few seem to have crawled up into the light-fixture and were resting, or doing whatever fairies do. Some sat about on the couch, a few in little groups, and others just reclining alone with still full bellies from last nights meal. I wandered down into the basement as a few trailed behind at a distance - interested, or scared, of what I was doing with the howling fairy getting blood all over my hand. Down in the basement was where the ones who wings were just aesthetic remained. They were scattered about the pool table, and a few made it to the ground. It seems their size had dampened the fall, so they could leap down with minimal damage. Once they saw me, a naked bearded giant, the things scrambled for cover. I walked over to the utility room and found a craft kit that my mom, through another one of her wayward artistic pursuits, ended up with. Working fast, like a true master of things, I tied string around its hand to stop the bleeding and then prepped a hot-glue gun.

"Masta' o' tings!" Smokey seemed to just show up out of nowhere, "I wuz' just outside."

"Wait what?!?" If she got outside, then others might have too! Besides that - why was she roaming around outside? That is endangering us all, "You were outside?! Do y- you not know-"

"Shuddup' I can't take you seriously wit' ya' yelling all naked..." Smokey began to laugh uncontrollably, "I can open doors, but dey' can't - so don't worry."

"Open doors? Uh..." I turned my attention back to - Hobble "I named this one Hobble. I'm about to do surgery on it- put some hot-glue on that nub to seal it."

"O dats' great," she managed to choke out amidst her laughter, "Kay' so you really wanna hurry dis' up. Put sum' clothes on too - I'll resort ta' big measures to get em all ta' stay down stairs."

"What the fuck do you mean?" I am not sure what Smokey was talking about - did she know something? "Wha-"

"Just seal tha' deal already. I'm gonna' get em' all down ere!" Smokey fluttered on off.

I lathered hot-glue all over the wound then left it on top of the washing machine. It was now chirping quietly with little droplets of tears streaming from its eyes - interesting. The sooner I got dressed the better because somehow Smokey seemed like she knew something. You know, for all the shit I talk about Smokey, when she is around things seem right. Anyways, I darted on upstairs, slapped on gym shorts and a hoodie. Came back down to the first floor - no fairies anymore. Smokey did this?

Smokey flew upstairs, "Dey' be contained Masta' o Tings' - should stay passive for da' next hour."

Knock Knock

Someone was here, who? Oh fuck, was it the cops? Did the Snow-Whites detect Smokey or something? "Dun worry - go answa' it," she slipped into my hoodie pocket, "Oh, take a shower lata'! Ya' reeks of - eh I'll leave dat out."

Rude remark aside, I went to answer the front door, electing to peek out of it.

"Bubs? I- is that you? M- m- mom didn't want me visiting you for so-"

And shut!

"Hey! Open the door! Bubs, you weren't like this when you were younger! Please, let me in - I uh, have nowhere to go, mom is off on drugs and my boyfriend kicked me out."

That thing, a sister who I pretend does not exist, "G-" I could not choke out a word, "Please, uh, second! One second!"

A burning hole began to sear through my heart, metaphorically of-course, and that hole was dormant instincts of familial obligation. Okay, so what to do? Smokey seemed okay with me answering the door, so it seems like letting her in will not spell the end of the operation. I cannot turn her away because she might call the cops for a wellness check and this shred of familial obligation was killing me. However, to be fair, if she cannot see reason when it comes to the fairies, then I can just kill her with the gold mallet. She is tiny, far smaller than me, and I am just a bag of bones almost. Yes! I will finish her off and dispose of the masterfully - maybe make all of the fairies eat her? No, that would be really unhealthy for them.

"C- come on in,"

So I opened the door and let her in - apprehensive, but ready to try and include her in my world of fairies.​