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]

I suppose. [so long as that lady stops being the ceiling!

he removes his boots and belts (sword gets propped somewhere out of the way), slipping out of the trousers--

well, peeling; it's wet cloth off stone, after all.

for his dignity's sake, his tunic is long enough to cover if he just thinks about this perhaps being an unconventional bathhouse changing room full of beets and potatoes while he does as Emery suggests, toweling up before pulling the rest of his clothes off.]

[fair_trouble]

[Emery finishes stripping down to his underwear, which is fortunately dry and mud-free, and bundles up the rest of his clothes under one arm. That done he turns and quietly watches the rest of Zel's progress. As soon as Zel's down to a towel:]

It didn't get you anywhere else, did it?

[Emery's eyes are narrowed, peering thoughtfully at the exposed parts of Zel's body. He doesn't see anything unusual- well, unusual for Zel.]

[chimerad]

No.

[not for lack of trying; there were a couple slashes along the tunic in the back.]

It was a lucky shot. [and he wasn't going to let it happen again - doubly true, surely, when he sees the residual damage for himself.

that said, he turns his head a bit and looks away, letting himself be surveyed without outwardly fussing about it...except for the leery glances skyward he gives. see? proof: he's not lacerated.]

[fair_trouble]

[Blue, stone body speckled with darker rocks protruding from the surface. Zel's clothes may be considerably worse for the wear but his body below the neck really does look untouched, and Emery breathes a little sigh of relief.]

I'm glad.

[Assured for the moment, he'll gather up Zel's discarded clothes as well and call for Tantabel. Zel may want to scooch into a corner while Emery and Tantabel exchange damp clothes for their bedrolls.

"Remember, don't touch anything in there." With that one last warning, Tantabel finally closes the trunk and leaves them alone.

Emery turns back to Zel and holds out one of the bedrolls.]

Here.

[chimerad]

[this time, it's Zel's turn to cast a lighting spell while Emery's hands are full; once that orb is softly glowing overhead, he returns his focus at Emery's prompting, accepting the offering.

what a weird circumstance this is...]

I don't think...I've ever had to hole up in a root cellar before. [it's spoken softly, dryly.

with a sidelong glance:] Have you?

[fair_trouble]

[Once Zel has his bedroll, Emery stoops and sets his own on the ground.]

Nope, I guess this is a first for the both of us~

[He straightens then, and steps over to set a hand on Zel's chest. There isn't any particular intent behind it; he just wants to touch him.]

...Do you really not get colds?

[chimerad]

[Zel watches the hand, more aware of it by sight than by touch.

a bit sheepish:] Not...from wet clothes, anyway. From people, maybe. But--

[he's cool and stuff, but not invincible cool.]

[fair_trouble]

[That fact has been rather dramatically demonstrated today, hasn't it!]

Mm. Then if I get sick I expect you to wait on me hand and foot.

[And Emery's just going to lean against Zel and wrap an arm around him. Which may be overly intimate considering they're both half-naked right now, but hey. Surely not the worst thing Zel's had to endure.]

[chimerad]

That's not an invitation to try and fall sick. [he lifts his chin while Emery slips in, slowly lowering it when he's sure he won't bump or graze him unduly. he lets his hands find their way to set on Emery's waist - a bit fumbling and less delicate than he'd like, but ultimately harmless in the effort.]

But...I guess I can do that.

[fair_trouble]

Good.

[Emery finds he does believe that Zel would fuss over him if he somehow wound up sick. He has Zel well-trained, huh?]

Hey. Can you kiss me?

[It's not exactly a romantic setting but when has that stopped Emery before?]

[chimerad]

[Zel is well-trained and smitten, yes: he exhales a sound that's not quite a scoff nor a laugh, just a fond, amused at the ask - as if that wasn't to be expected at all! such a thing will still delight him, even now. especially now, honestly.]

Probably.

[but also definitely; he turns and tilts his head to acquiesce, ever-mindful of avoiding grazing Emery's skin with his hair at a rough angle. even so, once he's certain he's in the clear, he doesn't just wait for Emery to meet him halfway, pleased to enjoy the tickle of pressure against the back of his lips when he kisses him.]

[fair_trouble]

[Touches and kisses assure Emery like nothing else can, taking him away from that terrible scene at the spring and grounding him in the moment, where Zel is certainly at least well enough for kisses. Emery is happy to partake, and the press of Zel's body against his helps to rebuild his sense of contentment.

Alas, the wet and the lack of clothing catches up to him eventually. Emery shivers, and it's not a horny shiver. He pauses between kisses to speak.]

We should probably bundle up before I really do catch a cold.

[chimerad]

[the remark quickly undercuts the little sense of dismay Zel feels in their small parting and it gives him cause to straighten up and look about.]

...Right. Here-- [while withdrawing his hands from Emery, he toes at the unrolled bedding fare he'd been given and unceremoniously dumped on the floor in favor of empty hands.] You can use these, too, if you need them.

[hell, he'll even set this shit up, trying to maximize the amount of space they can get out of this cramped cave of carrots and tubers before Emery gets his chance to fluff things to his own preferences.]

[fair_trouble]

[Emery takes a step back to let Zel fuss with the bedding.]

We can share.

[He's genuinely not sure how much of a difference things like blankets make to Zel's comfort levels, but surely he has no complaints about cuddling! It's not the first time they've done it and with any luck won't be the last.]

[chimerad]

[ah, yes: snuggling in a pocket-dimension cellar. peak romance.

...it's honestly not that bad (it'd be better if Zel had awareness of where his pants were and control over when he could have them back, but--).

Zel settles in first so he can do most of the unobtrusive adjusting to cater to Emery's comfort, letting him dictate where or how he ought to move without complaint. it's just embarrassing to complain, especially when he's the uncomfortably built one in this equation.]

[fair_trouble]

[It's always peak romance with the two of them!

Emery easily takes over the process of settling in, adjusting the bedding and scooching the two of them around so that they're not lying on any vegetables. Eventually he winds up curling up against Zel's side, with an arm resting on Zel's torso, rather as if he were cuddling a giant stuffed animal made out of rock.

It's a comfortable enough position for him; not as good as a proper bed would be, but better than sleeping outside, and none of Zel's sharper bits are digging into him. And there's something pleasant about the sensation of Zel's rocky skin gradually absorbing the warmth of Emery's body.

Still, because Zelgadis is the one who got injured and all, Emery will check in:]

Is this position okay for you?

[chimerad]

[he's never said so aloud, but Zel likes when Emery rests the bulk of his weight on him; he can't feel the texture, but the pressure and ambient warmth is present. it's comforting in that angsty, wish-there-were-more kind of way - the kind of sweet torment he's naturally gotten into given his circumstances.]

I'm fine. Are you? [because he can endure a sore back or shoulder if it meant Emery rested soundly.]

[fair_trouble]

[For a moment Emery blinks- and then he smiles over at Zel and you can practically hear the sparkle filter and shoujo bubbles as he replies.]

Yeah!

[chimerad]

Uh-- [oh no the shoujo bubbles do their thing and cause the dokis.] G-good...

[godsdammit he's in love with this guy. while being made primarily of rock. why is the universe like this. Zel can't help but carefully tilt his head down and kiss at Emery's forehead in light of all that.]

[fair_trouble]

[The kiss prompts a happy little hum from Emery. He's not at a good angle to return the kiss properly, but he does shift enough to press a kiss against Zel's collarbone.

...He kind of (very much) wants to do more than that, but he's pretty sure that fucking inside the goblins' root cellar could get them in trouble. And Zel is injured. Even if that spring guardian got his face instead of his dick.

Still, as Emery settles back down, remembering makes a little concern well up again.]

Do any of your injuries still hurt? I could try using another healing spell or something...

[chimerad]

[it's fine, he's already blue-skinned; Zel can spend the night blueballed as well. it's for the sake of optics! he can't piss off whomever has his goddamn pants by sullying the vegetables.

once Emery settles, Zel drapes his arm over him, as much covetous as it is protective in nature. he doesn't even get the time to second-guess himself (yay!) because he has to think about his injured face (oh no!).]

...It's still pretty dulled out from the spell for now. I can't tell much yet until the mend has settled.

[surely it can't be that bad! he's made of rock! he's weirdly certain of that, especially since he hasn't seen the way the hairline marks still linger like marks connecting the raised ridges under his eyes to his jawline.]

[fair_trouble]

[And Zel's already naturally hard as well! Funny how it all works out.]

Well if it gets any worse you'd better say something instead of trying to tough guy it out. We can always detour to look for an expert healer.

[It's the fae realm after all- surely there's more than a few who have the power and skill necessary to heal an injured chimera.]

[chimerad]

[with a pass at being grouchy without having to commit:] Why would I want to make things worse for myself on purpose?

[fair_trouble]

Trying to be manly and cool? I don't know, some guys can be pretty dumb about this kind of thing.

[Zel, Emery loves you dearly, but you do seem the type to convince yourself you must Stoically Bear With It. It's the whole emo boy thing.]

[chimerad]

[hey--] I'm not stupid. Long-term injuries would only inhibit how strong I could be down the road.

And you got to me almost immediately...is there some reason to doubt your magic didn't take?