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

[fair_trouble]

[Emery listens carefully, trying to get a proper understanding of the late men from Zelgadis's description. Both of them must have been a strong influence on Zelgadis, not only in terms of the skills they passed on but as a natural consequence of having a close relationship with Zelgadis. Closer than his own blood relatives were.

Even-tempered Rodimus and passionate Zolf...]

So you were somewhere in the middle, huh?

[...And Emery thinks Zel probably falls closer to the Zolf side of the spectrum, but hey. Zel definitely has his cool-headed moments.]

I bet you were real cute as a kid.

[chimerad]

Tch. [cute?! who cares about cute he's supposed to be COOL. cool and balanced, so the being-in-the-middle remark is acceptable...not the cute kid remark!!!] How should I know? That was a long time ago.

[fair_trouble]

[Emery scrutinizes Zel thoughtfully, trying to imagine a smaller, squishier version of the man beside him.]

I guess Zolf and Rodimus never told you because you were the kind of kid who would take offence at the idea of being considered cute instead of being taken seriously.

[Emery, by contrast, was one of those kids who 1) knew he was cute, 2) revelled in it, and 3) would shamelessly use it to manipulate adults.

He grins.]

Of course, the problem is that your seriousness and stubbornness would only have made you cuter~

[chimerad]

[if Emery was looking to color Zel's face a shade darker, he's succeeding! if it was to see his eyelid twitch in tandem with an ear, he also did that, too!

jeez, he can feel Emery's grin. it's annoying how endeared he is by it now.]

Who cares? And--and why are we talking about that anyway, huh!?

[fair_trouble]

[A Zelgablush and multiple, simultaneous Zelgatwitches? Bless. What an accomplishment for Emery.]

You were the one who started on the subject of our pasts~ I think this direction was inevitable, really.

[What, were you expecting angsty revelations or something? No. Only Zel-bullying. By calling him cute.]

[chimerad]

Be, because I was trying to better understand your ties here! Before and after! I don't have any, so stuff about me doesn't matter right now. [GOSH!!!!]

[fair_trouble]

You do have ties here now though, don't you? You've got me! [The sunniest of expressions is directed at Zel. Though, really, Emery is a pretty tenuous connection, being not-local and only half fae... Emery muses on this.] But y'know, maybe you should try forming some more while we're here. That might come in handy eventually.

[chimerad]

[he glances at him sidelong.]

How's that work? [will there be tricks? there are often tricks in the stories.]

[fair_trouble]

I mean, you should talk to people! Get to know them! That's always the best thing to do when you're somewhere new. [Of course, there's may be a slight disparity in how easy that is when you're a sparkly blonde youth vs. when you're a chimera... And since Emery expects Zelgadis to say as much, he already has a rebuttal handy.] You don't need to worry about your appearance so much, because most people will just assume you're some kind of earth fairy. [Like a knocker or coblynau.]

[chimerad]

[he can't help but make a face, though he does hastily mask it. talk to people? unsolicited? eugh.

flatly:] And when they do find out I'm a chimera? [what then!!!]

[fair_trouble]

Who says they will? Most people don't just go around asking "What are you?" do they? [Maybe not to non-chimeras.] That would be rude. And anyway...



[Emery levels Zel with a more serious look.] Anyone who's already gotten to know you would realize that doesn't make you a monster.

[chimerad]

[he can feel the gaze, but doesn't move to meet it, feeling a self-conscious twinge. he's grateful to hear the assurance, but it doesn't mean he knows how to gracefully accept it.]

...Guess we'll see. [look. it's not a scoff, at least.]

[fair_trouble]

[Emery's almost surprised that Zelgadis doesn't attempt to argue back or otherwise bristle more at his words. Perhaps Zel knows that if he did, Emery is fully prepared to extol at a greater length just how likeable Zelgadis is.]

Then how about this? Once we get to the next village, you get to be the one who does the talking!

[Won't that be a treat?]

[chimerad]

[eughhh.]

How many towns are along the way to your target destination, again?

[fair_trouble]

Well it's quite a distance between here and Zennor Lake, so... Lots, probably!

[Okay, maybe not that many if they're gonna mostly be travelling by boat. But hey.]

[chimerad]

Great...

[just what he wants: more socializing!

at least Emery will be there to course correct...even if that in of itself might be a bit emasculating. Zel should be able to handle things on his own! and he CAN...when it's haggling, negotiating, sizing up enemies or targets...not...small talk.]

Until then...let's see how far this road will take us before we see town lights.

[fair_trouble]

[And so the journey through the woods continues on. It's a few hours of steady walking before the first sign of civilization makes itself known, not in the form of visible lights, but in the sound of distant chatter and the scent of wood smoke. The sound of running water is also audible.]

Seems like we're almost there. Ready to meet some people?

[Whether Zel is or not, they're drawing close. The road curves, the treeline breaks, and...

To say it's a town might not be entirely accurate. What they've found is a rocky glade intersect by a stream flowing from a spring and cliff at the southeastern edge of the clearing, with a bunch of people camping out in the area. There are a few permanent structures, most of them close to a spring, but otherwise it's an assortment of tents and wagons.

The glade is populated by various fae sorts, but most of them are small, wrinkled folks with high, pointed ears, and skin and hair all the colors of the leaves- rich vibrant greens, dull reddish-browns, and various shades in between. Common goblins, in other words.

(Most of them appear to be unarmed, but not all of them.)

Emery takes an automatic step forward, already intending to greet the nearest cluster of goblins eyeing them (and their swords) warily, but then remembers the assignment he'd given Zelgadis and instead turns to Zel and looks at him expectantly.]

[chimerad]

[Zel got his hood and mask up well before stepping within eyeshot of any locals, and yet even with most of his face obscured, he can still manage to flash Emery a sour pout when he feels eyes on him.

seriously?! already? man...!

sigh.

well...just...start out with what he knows: transactional dialogue. he's got coin, he has a means to bargain. with that in mind, he stiffly approaches the wary little creatures, his hands lingering at his sides, cape obscuring his sword.]

...We're passing through. Does this town have lodging for rent?

[nevermind greetings and idle comments on the weather - TRANSACTION PLEASE.]

[fair_trouble]

[Emery hovers near Zel's shoulder, his expression relaxed and friendly even if he's not the one doing the talking this time. Lodging, huh? So that's the tactic Zel's going for...

The goblins, meanwhile, ease a little at the mention of "lodging for rent" although none of them look like they're planning on inviting Zel to their wedding about it.

Goblin A, a pale green one, briskly says, "The inn's fully occupied," and glances at their companion, a goblin who's a darker reddish brown. After a moment of silent communication, Goblin A shrugs and adds, "But there may be someone in the caravan who'll rent you a tent or let you sleep in one of the wagons."

Emery immediately wants to ask about their caravan- who they are, where they're going, why they're traveling together- but restrains himself so that Zel can try asking instead.]

[chimerad]

[were Emery not standing right at his shoulder, Zel would've left it at that, turned heel, and wandered off. but doing so now would mean bumping into Emery and enduring the shaaame, so...]

...

...What sort of caravan. [please don't be a circus please don't be a circus pl--]

[fair_trouble]

[The universe is truly being kind to Zelgadis, because after another assessing look, Goblin A says "We're merchants."

At this point, Emery, remembering some of what the bookseller in the last town said, lightly claps his hands together and interjects.]

Oh! Are you guys also headed to Fairford?

[Goblin A and B look a little surprised but nod, and Goblin B says "That's right. We've got a place at the market. Every year we go and sell odds'n'ends- and our boxes of course."

Goblin B: "What're you two headed to Fairford for? You don't look like peddlers."

Emery, cruelly, leaves the answer up to Zel.]

[chimerad]

[Zelgadis' shoulders relax. not a circus. he's even more relieved to hear Emery jump in to press on with the chatter, but his reprieve is painfully brief. despite expecting Emery to jump in there and roll with the momentum, the silence grows a bit awkward in its length, jabbing at him.

Damn you, Emery.

Zel works his jaw a bit while his mind races. he didn't exactly plot out a whole, detailed backstory for this quest - honestly, maybe he was being lazy, relying on Emery being familiar with the land to take the lead. but if he's going to be like THIS...!]

It's his decision. [Zel tilts his head in Emery's direction.] I'm just the hired help.

[why yes of course he's going to lean on old tropes. it's easy to lie when he has a lot of truth to work with from the past.]

[fair_trouble]

[Apart from a brief blink Emery rolls with the story that Zel has settled on. Right, Emery's the feckless rich boy, and Zel is his faithful manservant/bodyguard who is secretly in love with him. It is pretty close to the truth!

Anyway, Emery pouts and carefully nudges Zel's arm.]

I said you should make suggestions too, you know. It's not as fun if only one of us is enjoying ourselves!

[The goblins look a little dubious still- that was a noticeable pause- but Emery's acting natural enough that they don't press the issue, apart from Goblin B going "...You're just traveling for fun, then?"]

A little vacation~ I've never been to the Ganaranth before. I hear there's pirates and all sorts of exciting things!

["Ah. You don't really want to meet any river pirates, do you?"]



Oh, my man here [A couple of pats on Zel's shoulder in case it wasn't clear who Emery's man is.] can handle a few pirates if it comes to it. And it'd be quite the story to share! Why, have you run into any pirates before?

[-And then Emery and the goblins get into a conversation about when their caravan (apparently known as the Yakkak Caravan) used to travel by the river and got attacked by pirates. The gist is it didn't go well, it happened when Goblin B was young and before Goblin A was born, and they've stuck to land travel and known safe routes ever since. Emery makes appropriate sympathetic noises even as he contends that Zel can deal with it all handily.

At the end of it all Emery brings up the matter of lodgings, and Goblin B agrees to take them to speak with "the Hob." Thereupon, the goblin starts walking towards one of the nicer looking wagons.

It's a very slow walk. The goblin has short legs. Emery takes advantage of the pace to take a moment and quietly ask Zel:]

Think you can handle the negotiations for me?

[Emery's quite capable of handling them himself, and might well do better than Zel even! But still. It's an opportunity to socialize the Zelgadis.]

[chimerad]

[Zel doesn't mean to puff up when Emery says 'my man,' but it happens all the same; it's nothing to worry about, since the topic moves to pirates rather quickly, and from there? the mysterious Hob.]

Mm-? [he tilts his head to lend Emery the ear of discretion, but he straightens back up to stare at him a touch incredulously at the ask.

haa?]

You sure? [what about secret...goblin social cues? faux pas?]

[fair_trouble]

[Emery flashes Zel a thumbs up.]

Yeah! Come on, you've got lots of experience with negotiation, right?

[Mr. Mercenary and all that. What's the worst that could happen? Emery looks at Zel with big, trusting eyes.]