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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[Were Emery a bit more scientifically inclined, he might be interested in running some experiments with the levitation spell. But ehh, they have other stuff to do once they reach Fairford.

In the meantime, idle chatter.]

Have you sunk very many boats before?

[Very kind, empathetic question brought to you by Emery.]

[flatly:] No. That's Lina's work.

[Emery laughs.]

Well I don't expect we'll find her in Fairford, so I don't think we have anything to worry about.

The fact it's even possible makes it more likely than not, Emery. [you don't understand. she has ways. even when she's not intending those ways, she has them!

he sighs.] It'd be fair cover for whatever you have to do if she's riling up the countryside...

As long as she wouldn't get in the way of our fishing trip. [Y'know, their cover story, in case anyone overhears.

Emery looks thoughtfully at Zelgadis for a silent moment or two.]

-Is she really as bad as everyone says? [Because Emery has heard plenty about bandit killing, dragon spooking, abominable fiends, and most of what Zel says about her follows along the same lines, but-

But she is Zelgadis's friend.]

[behind the mask, Zel's mouth twitches, wry.]

The claims that she's a mazoku are false, but the rest is...technically correct. In a roundabout, situational kind of way.

[because she does kill bandits. dragons do get spooked. but the being party to the monsters? is...circumstantial!]

Care to elaborate on that? Like... [Emery hums, trying to pick out one of the many, many rumors and stories that are out there.] Is it true that she turned into a dragon and blew up the initial delegation to the Outer World?

[the smirk is audible behind the mask:] She wasn't the dragon. That was someone else. But she did blow up the delegation, yes.

What, was it between her and the dragon? [Emery's eyebrows raise. He thinks he's getting the idea here.]

A negotiation tactic. [he bobs his head with a single-shoulder shrug.] And to be fair, the dragon started it that time.

"That time."

[So sometimes Lina's the one picking fights with dragons, huh?]

So what was the negotiation over? Was there some impressive treasure involved?

Prophecy about the end of the world.

[it's delivered flatly, but not grimly. it worked out, after all...despite the horrors.]

Lina was getting "tested" to ensure she was the right person for the job...The unified fleet was more or less just collateral in that.

[Emery blinks, staring at Zelgadis for a long, thoughtful moment.]

...And this was a different incident than the one where you met her?

[~~Damn bitch, how many near-apocalyptic situations have you gotten involved in?~~ Okay, Zel hasn't specified if the prophecy was ultimately legit or not, but even if it wasn't it feels a bit wild that Zel was not only involved with Rezo's attempt to revive the Dark Lord but also an apocalyptic prophecy serious enough to get a dragon involved.

(To say nothing of whatever happened during the time Lina Inverse killed the Hellmaster?)

(Why is Zelgadis here instead of retired to a fancy Seyruun manor or whatever it is world saviors do after they've done their heroics?)]

[he grunts an affirmative.] Year or so after the start.

[and that's been...a couple years since. the time is going by. Zel feels a little twinge at that, one that he's not in a time or place to ponder on.]

Not sure...what she's up to right now. [with Gourry in tow.] Haven't heard of anything blowing up lately.

Maybe she's finally settled down! You know, now that she's gotten the entire continent terrified of her. She's from Zephilia, right? The next time I'm in the area maybe I can ask around for you.

[Emery deliberately doesn't mention the Field Lord but as he'd told Zel the other day- some of the villages in Southern Zephilia are part of the Field Lord's territory, so the odds of Emery being in the region at some point are high.

Possibly on the wrong plane, but still.]

[Zel scoffs. the notion of Lina settling down involves way fewer humble vineyard towns and way more palaces and lines upon lines of tribute. gods forbid that happen, honestly.

Zephilia...] Already planning the road ahead of here?

[without him?]

[Emery laughs.]

Planning is kind of a strong word for it. It's more like... [He makes a vague gesture.] ...Considering my options? The possibilities. I'm leaving myself open to possibilities.

[Though it occurs to him that once they inevitably part ways, Emery is unlikely to have a way to get in touch with Zel and update him on Lina's hypothetical situation or anything.]

...Do you have a base of operations anywhere? Maybe not a home per se, but a place you return to a lot?

[open to possibilities. Zel considers that, but only briefly; being on the road, not alone, makes it harder for deep introspection. he can't deeply misconstrue the meaning into something that hurts him when there's people around to judge him for it, you know.

that aside, Zel looks askance at some of those people ahead of them.]

Not really.

[home died when Rodimus and Zolf did.

beat.]

Seyruun, I guess. [because Amelia will break his spine if he doesn't visit with some level of regularity.] But I don't really... [like establishing himself anywhere with a face like this. he keeps pushing out that notion of home to the after of when he finds his cure. keeps that future more attainable, even if it's so far away.]

It doesn't really help me much to go to places I've already been. [because he's already scoured for his answers there.]

Seyruun, huh? [Well, he did tell Emery he was friends with the royal family! Emery taps a finger against his lips, considering.]

You should use your connections there to set up a residence of some kind! Considering the stuff you've been involved in, I don't think anyone would begrudge it if you got a small townhouse or cottage or something, somewhere people could leave messages for you in between your travels.

[Because even Zel has to take breaks sometimes, right? Ignoring all the evidence to the contrary, Emery forges on.]

I mean, if I'm ever away from you and maybe I find some information that I think you might need, I'd want a way to have at least one way to reach you. I'm sure your friends and past acquaintances would like having that option too.

[his gaze returns to Emery, at first wide with incredulousness, then softened to something more contemplative, a little sad in a comfortable way.

it's not like he doesn't want somewhere to belong or feel at home at, right? home has only been in people for such a long time, and he can't tie people down like that, can he? even Emery wants to get away for a while - it's what he's implying right now.]

...

[that is what he's implying, isn't it?]

Where would you want it to be?

Eh, me?

[Emery blinks. For a moment, he thinks Zel's asking Emery where Emery would want to live, and it's flummoxing because he's never seriously considered it. But then he thinks that might be kind of a tangent from Zelgadis...]

You mean- Where I think you should live? Or where I would want to live?

[he flinches a little, starting to feel uneasy about the topic.]

I--where--you'd...want...to travel to. If I were somewhere. I guess.

[he sounds like an idiot!! he hates it!

hastily:] Never mind. It doesn't really matter if I don't have a place anyway.

[Emery continues to look thoughtfully at Zelgadis, not even really acknowledging poor Zel's flustering.]

...What would matter most to me is just that you're there. It doesn't make a difference if that's Seyruun or the Kataart Mountains.

Gih-- [he scuffs a step and nearly pitches forward, but thankfully he's not going to fully embarrass himself right now. so what if what Emery says is what he'd want to hear? hearing what he wants is still staggering!

also it's kind of a torture right here and now, when he can't just smother his mouth with kisses. too many people! too open!

huffy:] It--I'll! Think about it later! [are we there yet!!]

[Emery smiles. It's a soft expression, and only a little amuse by poor Zel's staggering around.]

Sure. But still think about it, right?

[Emery's not so dense that he's unaware that Emery's sentimental answer is what provoked this reaction, but he does wonder why the idea of making a home, or a homebase anyway, is unappealing for Zel. Maybe he's been a wanderer for so long the idea of putting down roots anywhere is just unfathomable.

Emery genuinely hopes Zel does, however. Even if it's in some distant, inconvenient place, it would be nice for there to be somewhere Emery might have hope of finding him.

They are, sadly, not quite there yet, though the roads get wider and more crowded as they're getting closer- a sure sign that they're approaching an important hub of transportation and commerce. The sun hovers overhead, bright and hot enough to make it difficult to believe it's midnight in the mundane realm. It isn't long before members of the caravan start passing around trail rations and thankfully Zel and Emery are included. Emery accepts his serving of travel bread and water with the politeness and delight that would normally be merited by a restaurant meal.

(Less thankfully, several goblins, particularly the kids, will be sneaking glances and stares at Zel after he's given food, wanting a glimpse at the mysterious face under the mask.)]

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