“Oh my goodness, I am so sorry!” A fairy squeaked as they ricocheted off of Milo’s cheek. Milo gasped as she spun, landing on the pavement with a bounce, sliding as she transformed, a ring of light exploding around her. Apolonia shoved the bottle of wine and glass in Milo's hands, rushing forward. Milo looked down at the bottle, and back at the woman now on the ground.

Then back down at the bottle for good measure.

What was happening?

The fairy had her hands over her mouth, wild eyed. Her blonde hair was cropped short, wind torn and tousled and Apolonia knelt beside her.

Milo looked back down at the bottle and glass in their hands frantically, before finding a place to set them down.

"Are you alright?" Milo asked as they joined Apolonia on the ground.

"I am so so sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going." Milo shook their head to tell her that it was fine, really, but was cut off by her fingers brushing their cheek.

"I-" Milo stared, dumbfounded as she pulled her fingers away, a trail of blood staining the tips.

Oh.

Calm down, Milo.

They swung their bag in front, letting it hit the pavement with a thud. The two of them stared as Milo dug through their bag. Someone remind them to organize it again. 

Oh- where is it? Milo had just used it earlier that morning and they knew damn well they shoved it back into the hell of a bag they carried around with them. Found it!

Milo pulled out a thin package that, at first glance, looked like standard wipes. Apolonia and the fairy stared at them, and Milo realized that they were likely taking too long. They waved the packet to show them what they had found.

"Wipes." Milo kept their smile in place, unfaltering. They just stared. Smooth, Price. Keep up the good first impressions. "Here, try it." They opened the packet and took one for themself, and gently dabbed it across their cheek. They pulled away the blood stained wipe and smiled reassuringly as they were sure the wound itself was healing. It wasn't deep, by any means and it should be done already.

Milo held out the packet. Apolonia chuckled, head tilted at an angle, watching them. Milo continued to smile, gesturing the wipe forward. Milo's eyes flicked down to the fairies' knees, no longer bloodied or scraped. She smiled up at them. Right.

Milo let the wipes fall to their lap. Fairy. They can heal themselves. Minor wounds and whatnot. Whatever.

They knew that.

"Thank you," The fairy said softly.

“Milo, this is my girlfriend, Louella. Lou, this is our new roommate Milo.”

“Oh, that's great!" Louella grinned. "I’m really sorry, again. I hope I don’t scare you away. They're all really sweet.” Her face pulled into a grimace. Apolonia intervened before Milo could once again, ask what it was about. 

These people could be serial killers.

Okay, that was a bit much, considering that Marisol had lived with them at one point, and Marisol was alive and well. Thriving, even.

Then again, Marisol could be a bit… strange as well.

Okay, Marisol isn't ruled out.

She could be a part of this.

What if Marisol wants to kill you too?

It's going to be fine.

Calm. 

Down.

Apolonia helped Louella to her feet and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Milo followed to stand, clutching their bag close.

“I think we’ve got that part handled.” Apolonia sighed, and Louella just rolled her eyes. “I’m gonna take Milo to meet the others,” She glanced at Milo, “We’re well behaved. I promise.” Apolonia ushered them along.

“Sounds good- umm,” Their gaze wandered and trailed over the pool where hundreds of fairy lights flickered in the afternoon sun. It was much warmer here than it had been outside and their coat was starting to smother. Some formed clusters in different sections, some floating by the pool, somehow bouncing an inflatable ball back and forth. Milo gestured to the fairies as they followed close behind. They barely had a chance to say goodbye to Louella by the time Apolonia was making quick strides to the gate. “Do they all live here?”

“Oh, yes! Of course. Most of them at least. Some are visiting from out of town but I would say that number is only a small portion of the group. It’s Matilda’s birthday, so we’re having a party.” Milo didn't know who Matilda was and Apolonia didn't elaborate any further. Milo caught a glimpse of the pointed ears that peeked out from under her curls.

“How big is the building?” Even for a witch, the magic that flowed through the foundation of the building was impressive. They could feel it.

Not from outside, surprisingly enough.

“As big as it needs to be."

Okay, be mysterious then. They didn't ask any other questions— certainly not because there weren't any, but Milo felt that they were best saved for a later time— as Apolonia pulled them through the front gates.