thehauntedfrequency | fairyland fun! (your levels of fun may vary)

fairyland fun! (your levels of fun may vary)

[New day, new town, and hopefully new opportunities. Specifically opportunities to make some money because Zel and Emery’s funds have been running kind of low after their most recent misadventure. This has meant a temporary separation while Zelgadis goes to look for merc-type work and potential cure leads and Emery goes around chatting up the locals without terrifying them.

Or at least that was the plan, until Calanthe showed up.

By the time Zel gets back to the inn, Emery’s still busy talking to Calanthe in their inn room, although the conversation’s just about wrapping up. If he’s perceptive he might even catch a bit of Emery’s words.

“...some funds this time? ...Seriously, is that it? He’s always such a cheapskate. …Okay I got it. I’ll see you later.”

A few moments later a woman wearing a green cloak exits their inn room. Her hood is up, partly obscuring a pale face and hair, and she barely spares anyone a passing glance as she drifts down the hallway.

Emery is still standing inside the inn room looking pensive, but when Zel enters he’ll give him a bright smile.]

Oh! Hey, Zel. Did you manage to find anything?

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[he concedes that point with just a grumpy sound.]

When I get a chance to look at a mirror, I'll see about it. For now, it feels about how a healing wound is supposed to.

[Emery closes his eyes.]

Okay. I trust your judgment here.

[With that matter settled, it seems it's time to try getting some rest... Presuming Zel doesn't have any questions or anything else he'd like to say.]

[thing about Zel is that he might have things to say, but it'll be well after Emery's breathing levels out in sleep before they come to mind. typical.

...it can wait. or stay kept to himself while he spends some sleepless hours mulling over the events that led to where they lay, idly poking at the inside of his cheek with his tongue and wondering if it'll always feel strange from here on out.

he tries to pivot his focus and instead meditate on Emery: the weight of him against him, his scent now mingling with some lingering notes of the water and earth he trudged through to save Zel's hide, the gentle drumming of his heart...

of course, he lets himself angst over not being able to properly feel him, because he's Zel. but to his credit, he moves on with things! and actually lets himself sleep.

at least until he hears a click from on high that makes his eyes snap wide open, bloodshot.

what now. what year is it.]

["Oh good, you're awake."

From overhead appears the wrinkly face of that goblin woman they're becoming so well acquainted with. Beside Zelgadis, Emery stirs and blinks blearily in the dim light that pours in from the opening.]

Mnmngh?

["Here's your clothes back, they might still be a little damp but they'll do." As she says this, Tantabel goes ahead and drops their clothes down on them.]

Mmph!

[A few folded piles of clothes paffs Emery's head and Zel's torso. Emery startles himself into a sitting position, pressing a hand hard against Zel's chest as leverage in the process. Which might be uncomfortable for Zel if he wasn't made of rock and all.

"We'll be moving on after breakfast. Pass up that jar of peas, will you?"]

[the correct response to the sudden invasion of privacy would be to hastily dislodge Emery from him and protect their flimsy cover as guard and guarded - for what that's worth.

of course, doing that would've launched poor, featherlight Emery into a rack of canned beets and corn and honestly...not a good day-starter. if it's day at all.

so instead of doing the worst-correct thing, Zel just freezes, eyes big and bloodshot as he rolls flat on his back, arm dropping hard to his side.

this woman is going to give him heart failure. after raining clothes on him.

he is a mute mannequin as Emery processes the pleas for peas.]

[Seeing that Zel has decided to play dead, that leaves a still bleary Emery to handle the procurement of peas.]

Uh. Peas. Right-

["Bottom of shelf, to your left."

Emery obligingly locates the desired legumes and stands up to hand Tantabel the jar, which then leads into Emery also having to locate some spice jars, and a small wrapped up package of cured meat (origin unknown.) So Zel will get to watch Emery step back and forth across the pantry space (and occasionally over Zel) in order to get everything.

When this is done: "Thank you kindly. You'd best stay down there for a few more hours 'til we're well out of town, but if either of you need to relieve yourselves it should be safe to step out for a few minutes."

Emery blinks, looks down over at Zel, then back again.]

-Can you give us a minute to get dressed first?

["Right then."

Tantabel looks at Zelgadis in particular for a moment, then her head withdraws. Emery crouches back down next to Zel.]

Come on, looks like it's time to start the day.

[As he says this, Emery also takes a moment to subtly examine Zel's injury.]

[to his credit (or testament to his unwillingness to let himself openly fuss in front of giant onlookers), Zel is still throughout most of the process, save for sitting up and ensuring his dignity is still intact (ma'am he does not care how many children you have you have no business seeing his bits).

he eyes the bright-open sky suspiciously even as Emery returns to his level to encourage him; there's still hairline cracks between the stone protrusions below his eye and the ones lining his jaw - like the way a teacup that was close to shattering would have. they're less like divots and more like someone took a pencil and traced lines to connect these "dots."

after a beat, he turns his head to peer sidelong at Emery, catching the concentration on his face.]

...Well? [what's your verdict, nurse?]

They look better. Thinner.

[Emery carefully reaches out a hand and brushes his fingertips over the cracks, gradually pressing a bit harder if Zelgadis doesn't seem to flinch.]

Does it hurt at all?

[the way it's described is still confusing to him, but Zel's too scared to ask for better detail. his imagination would run far, far away with that until he could get in front of a mirror.

his eyes nearly close when Emery's hand draws near, and he braces for the slightest chance he could feel how gently his fingers graze his skin.

...nothing. as usual. that's...probably a good thing, but still.]

...I don't feel anything. [good or bad.]

Well, that's probably better than pain.

[Emery removes his hand and leans in to give the injury site a brief kiss before withdrawing to look for the clothes Tantabel tossed down. He finds Zel's tunic, cloak, pants, and underwear all bundled together and hands them over.]

Here's your stuff.

[It smells faintly of cypress and sesame from whatever soap the goblins were using.]

[honestly, the fact that there's no surprise holes or missing pieces is what surprises Zel; he's used to not only foul play, but just...hijinks in general, even from the assumedly good-natured.

especially them.

maybe it's expecting the nonsense that's keeping it at bay? but, no, no...Zel had expected nonsense with the fish-people, and got precisely that. and hit by a cart for his trouble, so...

so he's going to just be grateful he can climb back into his clothes without event and everything fits right and there's no comically-positioned tears or holes to be seen; despite not being able to properly, fully feel them, it's a relief to have it all back on him. his sigh says as much while clipping his sword-belt back into place and grabbing said sword off the side of the wall.]

So how does this excursion rate so far compared to your ones in the past? [is it more harrowing? more stupid?]

[Emery also sets about getting dressed and in some semblance of order. A root cellar isn't the best location for him to get dolled up but c'est la vie. At least he can comb his hair and put a shirt on. Emery's just pulling his boots on when Zel asks his question.

This excursion...? Well, when he compares this foray to the last one...

Emery flashes Zel a smile.]

I'm glad I have company this time.

[Disasters with spring guardians aside. Technically he'd been escorted by Calanthe the first time around, but while Emery wouldn't say he dislikes her or anything, he definitely prefers Zel's company. Helps a lot that his loyalty isn't to the Field Lord.

And also that Zelgadis is so very sweet and fuckable.

With a little hup Emery grabs the edge of the hole in the ceiling (even though it looks like it should be too high up to easily grab. spatial magic is fun like that.) and pulls himself up and out into the back of a wagon.]

[it's a positive note, but...vague. company this time leaves things open to speculate that such things as water guardians and ambushes were still as rampant without him there.

he'll take the approval, but not without carrying the weight of what if along with it.]

What the--

[in hoisting himself up into the spatial shift, Zel nearly shoves Emery over, but catches himself by the edges of the suitcase, grimacing and blinking through the daylight and change of scenery.

where the hell is the ground?!

...there it is. okay. wait--

wagon??

he looks around, over his shoulder.]

How far have we gone...?

Looks like we're not out of the woods yet. Er, quite literally.

[As Emery says, there's still a lot of familiar greenery surrounding the road. The donkeys are pulling the wagons along at a leisurely pace. So leisurely, in fact, that a few of the taller and youthful goblins are opting to walk, and not struggling to keep up with the rest of the caravan.

Emery's crouched nearby, holding out a hand to help Zelgadis out of the trunk... Even though he can't actually lift Zel... Look, it's the principle of the thing.]

[it still quietly astounds Zel that these goblins - strangers - haven't just hung them out to dry (or drown, as it were). sure, most people are decent and not cruel...to other people.

~~maybe they'd be decent to you if you interacted with them more than just in transactional situations, Zel.~~

he fully climbs out, perching on the lip of the trunk before getting a foot out and onto the wagon properly. what a weird (useful!) contraption... he closes it shut once he's free, quickly noticing his weight starting to register on the wagon and hopping down, starting to walk behind it, eyes sweeping the area.]

...If something like that happens again, we may need to cut our losses. [and lose the entourage, no matter how helpful they've been.]

[Emery follows partway after Zel, taking a seat at the back of the wagon rather than opting to hop out.]

Cut our losses? I thought we got out of there pretty quick. [Not as quick as he'd like, of course, but Emery thinks it goes without saying that "before anyone got injured" would have been the ideal.]

I mean-- [he gestures at the wagon before looking around to see if any of the goblins are in earshot, lowering his voice all the same.] Bothering these people. Silver aside, they have no reason to save our hides more than once.

[Ah, Zel being a paranoid mctrustnobody. Still Emery glances briefly at the back of the goblin driving the wagon and considers.]

I guess it isn't fair, since they hadn't intended to bring some fugitives along.

[Not that Emery and Zel were fugitives at the time, or became so on purpose, but- you get his point.]

[he grunts an affirmative sound. that's pretty much what Zel means. making liabilities of themselves that could hurt other people...that's not what this is about. his bumbling around shouldn't be wrecking the livelihoods of the locals.]

We can feel it out. If we get that unwelcome sense as we go, at least.

[it shouldn't take too long to notice angry glares or pick up disgruntled mumblings.]

[Emery gives Zel a thumbs up.]

Got it.

[Does this mean Emery has to reapply some charm? Emery's taking it to mean that he needs to reapply some charm, and he hops off the back of the wagon to walk on the road.

He assumes Zel will follow him- bodyguard and all- as he strolls over to some caravan members leading some donkeys and blithely greets them.]

Good morning!

[They aren't met with any glares but the goblins do seem uncertain and returned greetings are mumbled. Nevertheless, Emery soldiers on-]

Kiestun, right? And Watixi? I remember we talked last night over dinner, but I didn't see you again after what happened at the spring. Did anything happen while we were hiding?

[The goblins give Emery the cliff's note version- apparently the village elder arrived a little while after they did and got into a long argument with the Hob, but everyone denied having seen them.]

We really can't thank everyone in the troupe enough. You've all been such kind, generous people.

[Sparkle, sparkle. The goblins blink a bit, looking rather stunned at the assault of shojo bubbles.]

[by contrast to all that pleasantness and sparkle, Zel is a grumpy silhouette walking just behind him; he'd be something of a boogieman were there any intensity in his stare, but he's just quietly sweeping the area, watching and listening for problems. just like a bodyguard should! look, he's done this professionally, so this isn't really a ruse.

the Hob had to get into it with a village leader, huh... that's not good. burning the reputation of mainstays as a traveler isn't great for anyone, least of all Emery and himself. they're liabilities...unless they turn it around. or leave. but there may be safety in numbers on this road, especially if disgruntled spirits are afoot...]

We won't make ourselves a burden if we can help it. [seems fitting to add that on, just in case there's any assumption.]

[Emery is also a bit dismayed that there was an argument, but all things considered he thinks it could have gone worse! And as Zel says, neither of them have any intentions of being a burden-]

Although I think maybe we shouldn't help get water next time.

[Before Kiestun and Watixi can reply, a cluster of goblin children pop up from behind the canvas flap at the back of the wagon in front of them. The children immediately begin peering at Zel with interest. They're the bright green of fresh leaves and, since each of them is around the size of a cat, there are a lot of them fitting in there.]

Oh-

[One points at Zel and asks "Are you the one who beat up the spring guardian?"

And another asks "And cut off his hand?"

And a third asks "Do you still have the hand?"]

[Zel balks at the barrage of questions, absurd and full of eagerness as only kids can provide. he gawks back at them from behind hood and mask, too taken aback by their brazenness to feel kneejerk offense as he would were they adults.

for a second, he considers leaning into the bit and telling them he ate it or something ghoulish, but...but he's not out here to make their reputation more fraught than the incident may have already been made!

sorry, kids. he has to be boring.

relatively boring.]

I left it there. I didn't need a spring guardian's hand.

[but yes, he is a cool guy who beat up a water monster and cut up his hand. thank you for noticing.]

[Since Zelgadis has proven himself willing to answer questions, he's rewarded with more. Is that the same sword he used? Why was he fighting the guardian? Did he really destroy the spring? And so on and so forth.

While the adult goblins seem a bit bemused by all this, Emery casts Zelgadis an amused sidelong glance; this isn't exactly what he had in mind when he'd suggested Zelgadis should try talking to people in the fae realm, but he can certainly accept it. It's just a pity the hood and mask make it harder to gauge Zel's expression.]

...

[okay, so they just keep going,huh.

Zel used to be more used to kids, back before Rezo altered him. he'd assist in gathering and distributing supplies to orphans, though being younger than Rodimus or Zolf often meant being more the guy - still quite the kid himself - who would wrangle and herd them in some big-brother fashion.

that was years ago now; so much has changed, even beyond his form.

still, even here, kids are kids. he recognizes the exuberance for what it is, even if he can't match up to it anymore. he's buffeted with questions that move too fast to bother answering, and in that time Zel's gaze moves to Emery, finding him smirking his way. behind the hood, his ear twitches; behind the mask, his face gets warm. it's nice, but also...what does he do about it?]

...I'm going to scout ahead.

[yes. that's what he'll do. he'll cast levitation and fly up and ahead to check out the road!

see you in like an hour or whatever, once he's frustrated enough with the pace of the caravan and the fact he's not really getting any alone time with Emery along the way. the pantry doesn't count.

by then, he'll have his feet back on the ground and waiting near a fork, curious to see where the caravan chooses.]

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