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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[Zel stifles a little flustered noise in his nose, the bristle making his head tuck a little against Emery's shoulder, momentarily cutting off a means to be heard coherently.

after a beat and a swallow, softly:] It's more, yeah.

I knew it. [Truly, Emery is the wisest of souls!

Emery tilts his head, looking down at Zel (what he can see from this angle, anyway) thoughtfully.] ...Would you mind indulging my curiosity? When did you start having feelings for me?

[Zel's grip slacks, and he sits back on his legs, his head tilted down to hide his expression while he chews on the question, uttering an unsteady sound while he's fishing for words. it's not that he minds, it's just...]

I don't know if...it was just one instance. [his chin tucks a bit further. damn - he should have that kind of shit written down, or at least cemented in memory, right? is he just going on a whim, here?!

no. but...fully capturing a feeling in one form, words or otherwise, isn't easy. or maybe it's not even possible! otherwise, some idiot poet or artist ages ago would've done it and that'd be the end of art.]

I've just been realizing that...being around you makes things better. And thinking about being apart...well, it's the last thing I like to think about. [he shakes his head a little.]

I don't want to go back to that. Being alone. Even with friends it's not the same.

[Emery stays quiet while Zel puts his words together, giving him time to express himself. When he's finished, Emery's expression is soft and serious, lacking his usual teasing edge.]

You've been very lonely, haven't you?

[Not that Emery didn't already know that. It had been one of the first things he'd realized about Zelgadis: That this tough, curt mercenary with stone skin was also a lonely young man. Even if he hadn't been in love with Zelgadis yet, that sense of loneliness had drawn him in. He'd ached to soothe it somehow.

Emery has a better understanding of loneliness than most people would think.]

Shall we make it official, then? Say we're officially... [Emery pauses. Boyfriends is the first word to come to mind but it doesn't feel right when he's a girl sometimes.]

...Sweethearts?

[Zel makes a bit of a scowly face, still downcast. it doesn't feel good to be called out on being a pathetic, lonely weirdo - he doesn't want pity! though that's not what Emery offers. sure, Zel thought it was pity at first, but it's become clear that's not the case, thank goodness.

he looks up with a more neutral frown as Emery muses aloud, his brow ridge lifting a bit with a blink.

at sweethearts, he flushes; there'd be cartoonish steam coming out of his ears.]

Y-you want to use that word?

[Emery nods, having gained some extra enthusiasm from seeing the pretty purple color that it makes Zel turn.]

I like it. It's gender-neutral, which is important considering my whole, um, situation- [Emery lifts a hand from Zel's shoulders in order to gesture briefly at his own chest. Currently flat, but not always!] -but unambiguous in its meaning. If we tell people we're sweethearts there aren't many ways to misinterpret it.

[Of course, considering how private Zel can be...] But what do you think? I don't want to use a word you don't like.

[an ear twitches, his expression growing more bashful as his gaze trails away from Emery's chest and askance.

they're sweethearts...and they're telling people. guh.

he gulps.

well, it--it's not like he's grabbing a bullhorn and yelling it out like a Seyruun princess or whatever!

...unless that was Emery's stipulation.

but he wouldn't do that!

right?

wait.

he looks back up, eyes big.] Is your boss going to have a problem with that?

[The question earns Zel a blink. Followed by a grimace that Emery fails to suppress in time. Ugh, why did you have to bring up that guy!!!

Emery shrugs.]

I don't think he'll care as long as you don't get in the way of whatever he wants me to do.

[Which, for the espionage stuff, isn't likely- if anything, Zel's an asset there! Not that Emery likes the thought of that either. Zel's a free agent who deserves better than to be under the thumb of a selfish fae lord.]

My love life is none of his business anyway, so I have no intention of saying anything to him about it.

[and if he wanted to make it his business, Zel would have to step the fuck up, he figures. he draws in and lets out a larger breath, nodding.]

Then... [his grip slacks then tightens back on Emery.] This is how it's going to be. Us. I mean.

[sweethearts.

gawrsh.]

[And Emery nods in return. Us. Now there's a word that he's not used to.]

I'll do my best to fulfill your expectations.

[The expectations of Zelgadis, his sweetheart.]

[there's an impulse to bury his face into Emery's waist, but that'd likely result in getting stuck to his clothes or worse.

he swallows, shaking his head a bit.] You're...already more than I deserve.

[Emery huffs. He really shouldn't be surprised by poor Zel's self-deprecation.]

That isn't true. I could search the fae and mundane realms twice over and I wouldn't find a better, nobler man than you.

[-However, Zel is a chimera, and Emery knows that Zel's also terribly conscious of his appearance as a result.

So:]

And you're hot.

[an ear twitches in tandem with the corner of his mouth, face coloring again.] You just--have weird taste.

[the better, nobler compliment makes him all squishy inside, but being called hot is as absurd as it is delightful.]

I won't complain about it, though. If it means I can be close. [he scoffs, trying to keep abreast of a wave of embarrassment.]

I can...touch you a bit more right now, can't I?

[Emery might huff about Zel insulting his taste! Or point out the hypocrisy of Zel being into a half-fairy shapeshifter, which would be, by most people's standards, kind of weird in its own way.

But they have more important matters at hand, and Emery's expression visibly brightens.]

Please, touch me wherever you want.

You'll have to do something about all this. [he lightly pulls at a bit of Emery's tunic. he hesitates half a beat. awkwardly:] Or I can, if...you prefer that.

[Emery likewise considers for half a beat, or possibly a bit less:]

Mm. I think I would~

[Emery lowers his arms to his sides, and looks down at Zel expectantly.]

Alright...

[Zel braces against a flustering feeling for a beat before sitting back on his legs. his heart pounds in his ears and mouth starts to go dry as he gingerly lifts and settles one of Emery's feet on his thigh so he can unlace his shoe. it's more meticulous than seductive, but that level of care can be alluring, right? it's kind of Zel's thing - handling Emery like he were a work of art, like something that could break if he were to mishandle or exert too much pressure.]

Tell me if I'm too rough. Or light, I guess. [because being held like a feather can't be enjoyable either. he runs his thumb along the sole of Emery's foot after the sock's been cleared, pressing in a bit.]

[Emery blinks when Zel picks up his foot, having expected him to start with the tunic, but he obligingly lets Zel strip his foot bare. Just as he means to strip the rest of Emery, Emery is sure, and he bites his lip as he watches Zel carefully pull at the laces.]

Of course. Mm...

[It seems almost absurd that the light press of Zel's thumb against Emery's foot should be enough to rouse that flicker of heat, but gods it does. Maybe it's the anticipation, maybe it's the emotions already roused by their confessions, but it's like the first sparks struck off a flint.

Emery hesitates for a half-second, then sighs.]

I love you.

[No reason not to say it now, whenever he has the impulse.]

[Zel's mouth tugs, flashing a glint of tooth with his little smile. it's nice to hear. it's just...it's just nice. what a concept - a nice thing just being nice!

while massaging his ankle:] I love hearing that.

[Who would have thought? A nice thing for Zel, the sky will start falling and pigs will be flying any minute now.

Emery laughs at both the reaction and the distracting touch. It's a breathy little sound.]

Then- I love you, Zel.

[Zel hums a soft scoff, unable to hide the delight crinkling in his eyes.

while gliding his fingers up Emery's leg, under the pantelg:] If you say it too much, it might not sound genuine.

Zel. You don't really believe that, do you? [He tilts his head, casting a very deliberate pouty look down at Zel.] You would have me suffer in silence?

[he closes his eyes, smirking, withdrawing his hand to go and take care of the other foot.] Of course not. It's just like saying a word too much that you forget its real meaning.

[like typing 'nice' in a tag like 20x in a row]

[Emery chews on that for a few moments while Zel handles his footwear.] So how many times am I allowed to say it before you forget?

Oh, I won't. But you might. So don't. [he peeks up through his bangs.]

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wow. i can use these icons. wow

Shocking!

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