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 squeezes his way into the caravan, holding up a small box with flowers carved into it.]

Hey~ I got the tea! I do hope you two weren't terribly bored without me.

[Emery grins as if he's entirely oblivious to any tension within the wagon... Though his gaze goes from the Hob's suspicious face to Zel's pricklier expression, then back again.

Alright. What the fuck did these two talk about while he was gone.]

So. Are we drinking this or what?

[The Hob accepts the box Emery holds out, but he doesn't open it and still frowns. After a moment's thought, he seems to come to a decision.

"Are you a human?"

Emery blinks.]

No. I mean, I have some human ancestry, but the rest of me's seelie.

[The Hob's brow furrows but after a moment he shrugs. "Oh, I see. You're one of those situations. You'll pardon my directness, but your bodyguard was being evasive."

So saying, the Hob turns to the little wood stove and begins preparing the herbal tea.]

[chimerad]

[irritably:] I'm not in the business of airing out other people's business behind their backs.

[the pout is hidden by his mask, but Emery doubtless can imagine it lining his features as he shoots a glower his way.]

[fair_trouble]

[Emery's expression is sunny, as if the Hob just pointed out a silly little quirk of Zelgadis's and Zel had laughed it off.]

He's very protective. And terribly loyal. I couldn't ask for a better guard.

[Emery doesn't actually see any pouts directed his way, as he's keeping his eye on the tea making process. But the Hob doesn't do anything untoward, and when he hands Emery a steaming cup of minty tea Emery can't detect any whiffs of magic to it.

The Hob raises his own cup as if to propose a toast. "Your silver in exchange for room, board, and transport to Fairford."]

Cheers~

[Emery blows on the tea and takes a swig; if Zel hesitates to do the same Emery will carefully elbow him and give him a smile. It's fine, don't worry.]

[chimerad]

[Zel does look for that cue, though he does feel a bit of indignation. what, like he should be embarrassed about being wary? no way! he's doing his best, dammit!

that said, he ducks his head a bit after taking the tea, hoping his hair can obscure much of his face when he pulls his mask down to have a small sip, after which the mask goes back up and his hand moves to push the silver toward the Hob, nodding.

done is done. he hopes they won't have to talk with the Hob every night of the trip...]

[fair_trouble]

[The Hob accepts the silver, slipping it into some secret pocket within his vest, and Emery downs the last of his tea. He gives the Hob a genial bow, insomuch as the size of the wagon allows for it.]

Thank you for your hospitality. I look forward to the rest of our trip.

[Emery dearly wants to ask about the conversation Zel had with the Hob, but when they get out there are a bunch of random members of the caravan loitering around the Hob's wagon. Doubtless curious about the weird, tall guests they have, but trying not to make it obvious.

Resigning any proper conversation and privacy for later down the road, Emery stretches, then turns to Zel.]

Tantabel mentioned there's rabbit stew cooking. Want to grab some?

[chimerad]

[despite the usefulness of being in secure company, part of Zel wishes negotiations had turned south, given them an excuse to bug off, be alone... how many days was he going to be under goblin scrutiny now? he's not secure enough in himself to be the boyfriend-bodyguard in such company, so he must now be punished by boiling in frustration.

the prompt pulls him out of said boil:] Hmh? [what? food?] Oh. Sure.

[he'll follow Emery along to the cooking fire.]

[fair_trouble]

[A few flimsy benches and chairs are arranged around the fire, where various other goblins have gathered in anticipation of supper. Tantabel and another, slightly younger goblin woman are busy attending to the rabbit stew. The pot is big enough that they have to stand on a stool in order to comfortably stir it.

Not trusting any of the chairs to hold Zel's weight or fit either of them comfortably, Emery opts to sit on a blanket that's been laid out instead, and gestures Zel to sit with them.

And naturally Emery and Zel attract attention, so Emery takes it upon himself to chat with the goblins that sit near to them.]

The Hob's letting us tag along to Fairford. [...] I'm Emery, that's Zelgadis. He's my bodyguard. [...] Yeah, I do! And we're just sightseeing, what about you? I hear you've got a stall at the Fairford Market? [...] Oh, what kind of boxes?

[And so on and so forth. Soon enough, the stew is ready and the women are passing out bowls of fresh stew and hunks of chewy, unleavened bread.

As soon as Zel's had some:]

How do you like it?

[chimerad]

[it feels much more comfortable to be Emery's silent prop sitting at his side, letting the other chat leisurely and leave a far better impression than Zelgadis himself could even in his best mood. he's about as content as he can be in the situation to be as such, but does lift his head a bit when Emery prompts for a response.]

Decent.

[it's just trail food, you know? not like a good sit-down place.

...but also, he almost fucking died at the last sit-down place, so:] ...Pretty decent.

[fair_trouble]

I think it's good. Beats eating fish on a stick over a campfire at least, right?

[Emery can tolerate such simple fare of course, but he prefers his fish cut up and deboned before eating. ymmv

Ale is passed around after a good chunk of the stew has been consumed, and several members of the caravan grow more gregarious, particularly since Emery's proven himself receptive to socialization. Thus, there's quite a bit more conversation to be had by Emery while Zel sits there like a rock.

A few goblins will try and engage Zel in conversation as well... but Emery decides that Zel has probably had Enough by now so he tends to draw those people in as well.

And at the end of supper, despite Zelgadis having paid money for the two of them to stay and not have to work to earn their keep, Emery volunteers to go fetch water from the spring for washing up.

Actually, he volunteers Zel as well.]

Zel's really strong, so it'll go faster if we do it!

[chimerad]

[Zelgadis squints, silently rising to his feet and following Emery, only speaking up when he deems them far enough out of earshot.]

The silver wasn't enough to endear us to them, was it.

[that's why they're doing extra? to up their standing? surely not to just be polite.]

[fair_trouble]

[Emery strolls along, swinging an empty bucket in hand (Zel has been given two) and awaiting Zel to take advantage of the distance to voice any concerns he might have... He isn't really expecting the remark that Zel does come up with, and blinks.]

Hm? What do you mean? I didn't notice any real hostility.

[As far as Emery can tell, the goblins' opinions on them are probably "friendly but slightly stupid nobleman's kid" and "large, quiet."]

[chimerad]

Their boss tried to insinuate I was marching you off to get pawned off on a noble or something. [and from his sour tone, Zel's not pleased by that. it's bad enough he looks a freak, okay, but a nasty trafficking freak?? come on. he's stolen and defaced things before, but...come on!!!]

Is that normal in this realm?

[fair_trouble]

[And now there's the matter Emery was expecting Zelgadis to bring up. Except. The part about Zel pawning Emery off.]

...Ah. That explains the weird vibe I got when I came back.

[Emery hums, looking ahead.]

Most fae don't see humans enough to easily identify them, but the Hob looked pretty old so maybe he's more experienced than most. Sorry. I guess I've sprung surprises on you twice already without meaning to.

[chimerad]

[he's quiet for some steps, his ears picking up the giggling of water ahead.]

I guess that means...looking as I do is actually an advantage. [rare turn of the tables - at least as far as dealing with people goes. combat? easy - not much can take down someone with stone skin, after all!]

[fair_trouble]

See? I told you, you look like you could be an earth fairy. Honestly, you look more like a normal fae than I do.

[Aaand now they're close enough to the spring to see it- a cliff face with various spouts of water burbling from cracks and holes in the rock, filling up a pond below and flowing into a few streams from there out into the woods. Unsurprisingly, there are several other people also at the spring to fetch water, so it's probably best to table the conversation about neither-of-them-being-normal-fae for the time being.]

Ah, we're here.

[Emery steps over to the water's edge and sets his bucket down beside him, before dipping his hand in the water. He flinches a little as he does.]

Ih! It's really cold.

[Nevertheless, Emery scoops some water out of the pond and takes a drink from his hand.]

[chimerad]

[Zel exhales a contemplative sound, taking in the sight of the place, craning his neck to see up to the top. what a peculiar kind of falls...was it natural? was there a river that failed to crest the end of the cliff and simply...bored holes through it in this way?

he lingers in place considering that, his gaze trailing down and then idles on Emery before some reflection or movement in the pond pulls his focus. he blinks, frowns, and stares for a beat, uncertain of what it was.

...maybe a fish or a frog. or some...fey variant of such? possibly.

he tries to put it out of mind while walking over toward the cliff wall and stake a claim at one of the nearby falls.]

[fair_trouble]

[After taking a drink Emery lets his hand drop back into the water, letting it acclimate to the cold temperature. He watches the water flow around his fingers and meditatively swirls his hand around for a few moments. It had a refreshing taste, and it almost seems a shame they'll be using it for washing dishes.

Emery finally withdraws his hands from the water and glances around until he spots Zel by one of the falls.

He wonders exactly what the Hob said to Zel, and whether Zel's still thinking about it. Emery kind of hopes he isn't. It's not that he doesn't trust Zel, it's just- Well, that's sort of the problem. Zel's a good man. He's not likely to brush off Emery's situation if he figures it out, but there isn't much either of them can do about it. And Emery can't imagine Zel taking that well.

Zelgadis has enough burdens as is. Emery doesn't want to add to that.

After another moment of thought, Emery turns back to the pond and scoops up some water, then moves over to where Zel's standing. Emery holds out his hands to Zel, cupped together with water pooled in his palms.]

Here, try it~ It's good.

[Never mind that there are other people- including possibly some residents in the spring- around to observe them. Emery certainly doesn't!]

[chimerad]

[Zel flashes the ghost of a smirk sidelong - a kind of really? energy to it that lacks bite. the offer is endearing, even if he would feel truly awkward acting on it.]

It's already half-spilled out of y--

[the bloop of a sudden water shift is all the warning he gets before something bursts out of the water to his left, and it's all he can do but elbow Emery further out of the way while twisting to face...whatever it is. in the speed of the moment, all he's getting is the sense of a large, blurry, amorphous shape lunging and grappling him, inadvertently given advantage by Zel turning at all and setting his own balance off.

he pitches forward when the weight of the thing yanks him down.]

[fair_trouble]

Ah?!

[Emery's all ready to make a returning quip about Zel needing to hurry up and drink, but the moment is abruptly, brutally killed by some thing bursting out of the pond and Zel elbowing Emery aside. Emery stumbles, twisting unsteadily to try and see what the hell is going on.]

Zel-!

[Operating on instinct, Emery's response is to grab at Zel's shoulders the instant he sees the man pitch forward. This does not work very well because Zel is a very heavy rock person and Emery is not remotely within his weight class.

Zel gets yanked into the pond, Emery isn't able to keep his grip but momentum still carries him down until he splashes into the muddy bank of the pond. He gets to his knees and elbows, sputtering and soaked from the chest up.

The various fae that were innocently going about their day are unsurprisingly freaked out, though Emery barely notices their shouting because a weird pond monster just stole his boyfriend.

Emery scrambles to his feet and stares frantically out at the churning water.]

Zel!

[Where is he, does Emery just- grab his sword or-]

[chimerad]

[it's hard to rein in the animal impulses to thrash and flail when he's cut off from the air, but this isn't the first time Zel's been in a life-or-death situation. it takes some effort, but Zel forces himself to go still while he takes stock of what he can.

no air - he's underwater, clearly. something heavy is grabbing at his shoulders, trying for his neck. arms, legs? appendages. some creature. without air, he can't breathe out the power words for magic, so he has to rely on his strength.

Zel's legs kick around in search of purchase, of some sense of place and the ground, leverage to press back - hard to do while being throttled, but after twisting a bit, he can get a knee under him and push up with the beast on his back and catch a precious burst of air.]

KUH-!! [if he needs air, he should rely on a Ray Wing, the force of it possibly enough to destabilize whatever's--

whatever's got claws and raking a this face. Zel squeezes his eyes to protect them, but one of the talons snatches at the corner of his mouth and hooks as though he were some goddamn fish.

so much for coherent words.]

[fair_trouble]

[Seeing Zel burst from the water is only a partial relief. There's this hairy thing on his back, like someone stuck a bald old man's head on a green gibbon's body- it's hard for Emery to get a good look at it, but it's clearly trying its level best to claw Zel's eyes and tongue out.

Emery's gaze darts around the edges of a pond and he spots an elven-eared fairy running towards the village. Without thinking overmuch Emery dashes over and grabs them by the arm, pointing with his free hand towards the wrestling match going on in the pond.]

Hey! What is that!?

["I- I don't know, he looks like an earth fair-"]

No, the one on top!

["Eh? That's the guardian of the spring. He's angry, so I suggest you keep your distance!" The fairy accordingly shakes Emery's hand off and resumes sprinting back into the village. Leaving Emery to helplessly watch as Zelgadis struggles.

Out of sheer desperation, Emery stoops to grab one of the buckets discarded by the edge of the pond and then throws it as hard as he can at the spring's guardian.]

Let go of him!

[It's honestly probably a pathetic attempt, but maybe if he can at least distract this asshole...]

[chimerad]

[on the plus, any projectile Emery lobs his way won't hurt him, so no harm there. and any musical thunk it might land off the guardian's can rattle it enough for Zel to try and stay upright without such a dedicated mauling.

he reaches up and grabs at what he can of the mass on his back, prompting the return to said mauling, but at least Zel can wrench one of the offending arms free; the tear at the inside of his cheek destabilizes some of the stone on the surface of his face, prompting cracks that fill with blood near as fast as they're made.

that's a new sensation for sure.

Zel reels, tilting and dropping hard on the affected side, rolling so his stone weight pins the creature down beneath him as he coughs and snarls in pain. it also gives him a chance to feel around his waist for his sword.

he's gotta kill this thing. clearly.

(unless reason cuts in before he starts the cutting, of course)]

[fair_trouble]

[Actually managing to hit the thing is encouraging. But then there's a flash of red on Zel's cheek, wrenching a choked gasp out of Emery. How?! This is Zel, a man who catches swords with his bare hands- How is the spring's guardian managing to do that-

-It's a guardian of the spring. That means it must be drawing power from the water. Emery turns sharply to look at the cliff wall, and all the various places water is spouting from.

He starts moving.

So while Zel is wrestling the deranged water monkey imp thing, Emery starts scrabbling up the side of the cliff. It's a slippery process but Emery grimly makes progress hard-fought foot by foot, until he's at a relatively stable position near the top. There, he gets on his knees and starts digging into the dirt with his bare hands, clawing at soil, stone, and root.

Come on... You need to move!

At first, he isn't able to cause much of an effect.

But then, above the din of splashing comes a hoard of creaking, popping, and cracking noises as roots stretch and grow across the rocky face of the cliff at an impossibly fast rate.

Wherever and however the guardian is in relation to Zel, it makes a startled "Wrh?!" noise.]

[chimerad]

[that hitch in struggling gives Zel the chance to roll off of the guardian, draw his blade, and snatch one of the offending claws.

he yanks and hacks it off at the wrist as he climbs to his feet, using the momentum for the strike. staggering backward toward dry land, he chucks the disembodied hand toward the howling creature, trying to keep his eyes on it for signs of greater retaliation. it's hard, though: the pain is almost blinding, infuriating...but it is severe enough that it's keeping him from focusing his thoughts enough to do any brutal, killing spells.

his sword drags a line in the gravel as he takes another heavy step backward, mouth hanging open while blood pumps freely. no chance for making threats or demands like this, either, so all he can do is seethe and watch.]

[fair_trouble]

[The guardian lurches, clutching its bloody stump of a wrist as its howls taper into more of a pained keening, then plunging its arm into the water. The bloody water churns around its arm and then the guardian triumphantly yanks its arm back- revealing a new hand, shaped from a mixture of blood and water, clinging to its wrist.

Emery's too busy manipulating the mana in the earth and plants to keep a close eye on proceedings, but he's watching Zelgadis enough to get an idea of what's going on. Damn it, get out of there!

Proper greenery tentatively starts unfolding and squirming out of the roots that grow further down the cliff wall and begin properly curling into the highest of the cracks and holes that produce the spring water.

Emery's not the only one pulling magic bullshit, however, as the water around the guardian whips up and whirls around, as fast and vicious as a series of drills.]