fairyland fun! (your levels of fun may vary)

[fair_trouble]

[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?

Comments

[chimerad]

[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?

[fair_trouble]

[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.

[chimerad]

[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.]

[fair_trouble]

[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.]

[chimerad]

[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.

[fair_trouble]

[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.

[chimerad]

[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?

[fair_trouble]

[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.

[chimerad]

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.

[fair_trouble]

[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.]

[chimerad]

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.]

[fair_trouble]

[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.]

[chimerad]

[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.

[fair_trouble]

[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.

wow. i can use these icons. wow

[chimerad]

[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.

Shocking!

[fair_trouble]

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?

[chimerad]

[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]

[fair_trouble]

[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?

[chimerad]

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

zel genuinely hurt emery's feelings a lil bit here, rip

[fair_trouble]

[Emery blinks and bites back a frown before nodding.]

If that's what you want. [He reaches out to brush his fingertips over Zel's ear- not so much to tease but because it's the bit of bare skin that's easiest to reach.]

it HAS been a while since he's been a proper dingus

[chimerad]

[Zel blinks a few times in exchange, ear twitching at the barest of touches.] As long as I'm--I stay worth it.

[he has to earn his keep, doubly so because he's so...him. his head dips as his fingers slip out from under Emery's trousers. he rises up on his knees so he can cradle Emery's waist at the belt.]

You'll be the judge of that.

[fair_trouble]

[Emery's expression softens at the bit of self-deprecation. When Zel moves his hands to Emery's waist, Emery leans back and spreads his legs slightly, instinctively giving Zel more access.]

I can tell you that you're on the right track here.

[Those hands feel very nice cradling his waist like that.]

[chimerad]

[it'd be nice to be able to parse temperature with his hands. of course it would be. but angsting about it doesn't change circumstances, and the circumstances are pretty nice right now despite that... Zel lips at his lips and moves to unbuckle the belt and pull it free, sending his hands under Emery's tunic to feel for the give of his trousers.]

You'll have to sit up for a second, til I can-- [slide all these barriers down his knees once he's leaned back enough to let Emery do that, heart hammering faster with the process.

his hands can't feel the warmth under them, but Zel's tongue can, so once Emery's bare flesh is exposed to him, he lowers his head to his thigh to kiss and taste at that skin.]

[fair_trouble]

[There's another flutter at the tickle of Zel's fingers as Emery is unwrapped like a present.]

Like this?

[Emery does his best to cooperate, sitting up as instructed and wriggling a bit to help Zel pull his pants down. He watches Zel's progress with a sort of wide-eyed interest, until Zel lowers his head over Emery's thigh.]

Oh.

[Zel's mouth is hot and moist and his tongue touches Emery's skin like a live wire. Emery presses a knuckle to his mouth as a kind of distraction from the spike of arousal. It's about all he can do to stay relatively still outside of a shiver.]

[chimerad]

[Emery's startle and subsequent muffling of it is very satisfying; Zel briefly smiles against his skin, skimming his lips against him while tilting his head up to see that flustered gesture through his bangs.

he's so pretty it kind of hurts.]

My hair might be irritating here. [fair, pointless warning while he's moving a hand under Emery's knee.] So move it if you need to. [because he doesn't want to let that get in the way of very important work.

it's not just that every i love you Emery's said needs a reciprocated kiss - which they do - it's that all the ones Zel's kept unsaid needs saying in this way.

he gets Emery's ankle free of a pantleg and underwear, which is enough leeway to scoot in and, after gently lifting the leg under the knee, continue a trail in, hesitating but not stopping when he can hear his hair brushing at the tunic.]