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 sags against the railing, withering under the brightness of that cheer. local chimera scorched by the glorious sun of being cherished. this must look so uncool...

(it looks normal, Zel. it looks like a guy utterly down bad for his boyfriend and that's very normal. very normal to see that sort of thing on a ferry.)

...being happy in general as opposed to in spite of things is rather novel. hell, he even briefly forgets to remember he's still a monster-freak undeserving of the affection in the state he's in!

and it's thanks to Emery - exclusively Emery. Zel can't really pretend anything otherwise, can he?

being happy isn't uncool, but he's pretty sure crying suddenly would be.]

[When Zel sags like that, Emery's cheer fades a bit as concern moves in. He briefly thinks Zel might be seasick but from what he can see of Zel's face... Yeah, he's probably fine, physically speaking.

Emery steps forward and sets a gentle hand on Zel's shoulder while he waits for Zel to compose himself a little more.]

...Want to head back to our cabin?

[This is asked not for Lascivious Reasons, but because Zel appears to be suffering from Feelings at the moment and Emery suspects he might want a little more privacy for that.]

[maybe a bit too quickly:] Yeah. [he at least looks embarrassed to justify it, straightening up and clearing his throat.] I mean-- anything's fine. Two, two days, right?

[two days! it almost...? feels like a vacation? there's an apprehension to that sense of eagerness, dictated by past experiences on boats.

...but those experiences involved Lina and such.

...but they did get attacked by a water spirit not even a week ago.

...

yeah. yeah, cabin time.

Zel's hand lingers on Emery's back, less as a lead and more as an anchor while wandering away from the upper deck and into that little cabin. it's honestly not the most enchanting of lodgings, but anywhere small and quiet with Emery feels a million times better than being in the open unknown, exposed to other eyes and expectations.

maybe he's secretly a fourth dragon, what with that itchy need to be reclusive and hoard a treasure. the thought isn't even in the stratosphere of his mind once he's pushed the door closed with his back and slumped slightly against it, eyes on Emery, and the apprehension oscillates back to a fluttery, twitterpated feeling.

beat. blink.]

We didn't even get walked around the vessel. [he frowns. how are they going to know where things are!!

...not the general things. he knows boat layouts. but like...where on this vessel they're to go to grab food or avoid being underfoot from the crew...]

[There's a feeling of warmth where Zel's hand lingers on Emery's back, perhaps less from Zel's body heat and more from the pleasure of the contact. Emery's always been a physically affectionate sort, and he's usually been the one initiating from the earliest days of their relationship. The way things have been shifting and how much more comfortable Zelgadis has gotten with doing this kind of thing is heartening.

Once they've gotten back to the safety of their cabin, Emery takes a seat on their bunk and looks over at Zel.

Walking...? Ah. Emery shrugs.]

Eh, we'll have time to walk around when we need it.

[It'll probably be easier to find the dining hall or whatever than it is for Zel (and maybe Emery a bit, shhh) to process the whole Official Relationship Upgrade.]

[reasonable enough. Zel nods faintly, pushing away from the door and shifting his weight with the movement of the vessel, and carefully sits down next to Emery, eyes wincing a little while the cot has to negotiate with the weight.]

When you want me to find out, tell me. I'll look around.

[Emery lifts an eyebrow.] Hey now, I can manage walking around a boat without getting into too much trouble! [Probably.]

[they didn't mean it like that!! >:T]

I-I know, I only... [they deflate a little, unable to come up with a good reasoning that doesn't sound lame.] Right. Might be better if I don't tilt the boat just by...standing around. I guess.

[it's just so easy to make the problem his problem.]

[Zel pls]

Are you always this protective of people, or is this a dating privilege?

[Is Emery ~special?~ *sparkle sparkle*

~~Or is it because Zel normally hangs out with way stronger people than an effete lad whose primary skill is Looking Pretty~~]

[Zel's face darkens with a blush, prompting a pointed look elsewhere.

dry:] M-maybe I'm the one needing protecting. Foreign land and all.

[Zel can avert his gaze all he wants, but that won't stop Emery from looking at him. And smiling.]

Don't worry. I won't let anyone take advantage of you.

[Because that's Emery's job, of course.]

[they breathe out a hmph, features softening a bit (in a way); even just the peripheral sense of the smile he can hear is a kind of ghostly tickle under his skin.

he reaches for and takes Emery's hand gingerly by the fingers, kissing his knuckles. the silly feeling he gets in doing so is beat out by the delight of being able to do so.]

My hero.

[Emery laughs a little at the kiss to his knuckles, a bubbly delighted sound.]

Anything for you~

[He bats his eyelashes teasingly at Zel. His sweet, chivalrous dork.]

[the teasing won't go unanswered, even if Zel did set himself up for it. he gently nips at a knuckle before releasing the hand so he can curl his finger under Emery's chin and tilt in to kiss him.]

[And Emery is as obliging as ever, slightly parting his lips for Zel and tilting his head to receive that kiss. Stone lips meet Emery's warm, pliant ones. If Zel wants to take things further? However far he wants to go, Emery is eager to go there with him.]

[for now, it's languid taste and proximity: Zel pulls Emery into his lap and reclines, comforted by the sense of weight he can feel regardless of impassive skin. with the l-word out in the open, it's become safer to just want to be cozy, rather than stand be on the anxious business of trying to stay desirable (or cool; he's still cool, right?), and that's one helluva relief.

the interruption comes from outside - the clatter and bustle of the rest of the ferry. it's barely past midday, so that's no surprise. and while they could just lounge all day, a notion strikes.]

...Think they'd let me copy whatever map they got on board? [he could try and discern just where they are in relation to the other world; he's curious how the landscapes overlap or diverge, because of course he is.]

[Emery's happy to drape himself over Zelgadis like a cat stretching out over a sunny rock. It's a surprisingly gentle time for both of them, exchanging kisses back and forth, reclining in a berth with the sounds of the river drifting in. In the security of the moment, Emery can forget about his job and their various worries for as long as this lasts.

Eventually there's a particularly loud bit of footsteps from the hallway outside their room and he feels Zel pull away a bit.

Huh? Map? What? Emery blinks a few times, processing. He's not sure if they'll particularly need a map but...]

It wouldn't hurt to ask, right?

Probably not. [unless they're really cagey about their maps. which, while weird, wouldn't be the weirdest thing Zel's ever encountered asea.

he inhales a deeper breath, if only to better appreciate Emery atop him before gently nosing Emery's cheek.] But I won't do that until you set me free.

Hmm~ [Emery's eyes drift shut at the proximity.] I don't know. Where else am I going to find such a lovely captive?

Pfh. [lovely. his mouth twitches. he can't just plainly be pleased by a silly, teasing compliment!

...he is.]

Who knows? I'm not in the business of looking for such.

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fairyland fun! (your levels of fun may vary)

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fae bae is back

ayaya

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