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]

[he interprets "too crowded" as "we are bunking with a bunch of goblins" and grimaces.]

They're not going to throw us in subspace again so we don't take up room?

[fair_trouble]

Of course not, silly, nobody's trying to arrest us this time.

[Though really, was it so bad? Sure they slept on a floor and had to fit themselves in with the peas and potatoes and whatnot- but at least they got to be alone together! Emery's extroverted enough to enjoy hanging around the caravan, but that doesn't mean he's not already missing the benefits of when it's just him and Zel.]

[chimerad]

[true: the privacy was nice. the musty vegetable smell wasn't. Emery's smell was. the ergonomics weren't.

sigh. it must be pathetic to be pining for more cozy time after even that much...is he getting spoiled? soft? Emery what have you done to the man.

as is typical, Zel gets quieter as they draw near people; he holds an arm out if Emery wants it for help up into the wagon, himself lingering to scan around the area. it's as much for sniffing out trouble as it is just putting the space to better memory. maybe it's not worth remembering in the long-term, but right now feels right to.

he thinks: were this a stupider trip, these would all be fishmen.]

[fair_trouble]

[Emery takes the arm he doesn't technically need to help clamber into the wagon. It's mostly the caravan's kids sleeping back here, piled up with their limbs tangling together, like a heap of green leaves. Some of them are snoring.

While Zel scans the area Emery also looks around, making sure that everyone's asleep. Looks like they have a lucky moment, and that everyone who's still up is busy elsewhere.

Quietly:]

Zel.

[Once he catches Zel's eye, Emery briefly holds up a finger in front of his lips in a 'shhh' gesture. And then he leans down and kisses him. Just a small thing, a little gesture of affection before they have to get ready for bed.]

[chimerad]

[the act was so inoffensive-yet-unexpected that it leaves Zel rather stunlocked, eyes widening with a flutter. he stands frozen mid-turn, breath stuck and chest aching very suddenly and very intensely; it takes being that still to keep from overreacting in some weird or dramatic way.

he remains stuck in place after Emery's parted, near to the point where it might be worth asking if he just had a brain aneurism, but after a beat, he blinks and remembers to breathe again.

barely audible:] ...Good night.

[he has to go sit up near he wagon and stew in a storm of feelings now, don't mind him. bodyguards just do that.]

[fair_trouble]

[Astonishing how one itty-bitty little kiss is still enough to make Zel freeze up like this. It's simultaneously very endearing and also... kind of sad if Emery lets himself think about it. How few kisses and hugs has Zelgadis gotten in his life that Emery can affect him like this? Obviously not many since he got cursed, and even before that Emery suspects that none of the men who raised Zel- even the ones who actually raised Zel- were probably the snuggly type.

Well, the sooner Emery turns in the sooner it will be tomorrow and they'll be free to seek out some privacy in which Emery can dote to his heart's content.]



Good night. Get some sleep.

[And with a last smile, Emery turns away. He won't be settling in immediately-immediately, still needing to clean up and change into sleepwear, but he does hurry through his bedtime routines. It won't be long until he's curled up in his bedroll, tired enough to easily tune out the snoring of the goblins.]

[chimerad]

[yeah...yeah... Zel's down bad. he can't pretend he's not. maybe he could be inclined to believe it's just infatuation, but even then it's a stretch. as much as attraction plays into it (and it is playing right now, goddamn), Zel keeps thinking beyond that. what he can do to make his life easier. how he can be better for him. how to make him happy.

damn.

Zel picks at flecks of stone on his face, as if he could just...peel them off. find the soft flesh underneath. be normal. better. for him.

he listens to Emery winding down, every rustle and exhalation strident to his ears, aching to touch and taste him. feel warm, not just through his mouth or the tickle of his ears. losing himself in those yearning thoughts, he doesn't sleep too soundly (sitting up against the wagon wheel didn't help either), but he does drift off eventually, blinking blearily awake when he hears some of the goblins walking about to prep for breakfast.

Zel grunts, sitting up and grimacing against the stiffness of his back and neck, turning and listening for Emery.]

[fair_trouble]

[By the time Zel gets up, Emery will... still be fast asleep. Hey, he was working hard late into the night AND he's picked a much more comfortable spot to sleep than Zel did. So the only sounds Zel will be picking up from Emery are those of him softly breathing as he sleeps. Should Zel choose to go take a peek, he will also be able to see that Emery has gone back to his usual appearance.

Alas for sleeping beauty here, Emery won't be able to stay fast asleep for that much longer. The kids, who went to sleep at a much earlier hour, are starting to stir. The snoring green pile in the middle of the wagon begins shifting, wriggling, and ultimately breaking apart as the children get up. They start talking amongst themselves, with various degrees of awareness that other people are still trying to sleep.

"Good morning Roklig, good morning Ganikk, good morning Zibbug, good morning-" "D'you think breakfast is ready yet?" "I want pancakes!" "I'm hungry!" "-morning Shrigglig, good morning Yadsnit, good morning-" "Ew, did you pee the bed?" "Did not!" "Did too!" "-good morning Bloknig-" "Hey, that's my pillow!" "No it's mine! Give it back!"

Needless to say, Emery is just beginning to stir when one of the squabbling goblin children falls back and lands solidly on Emery's stomach.]

Whuff!

[chimerad]

[Zel's ear twitches at the ruckus, at Emery's puff surprise, and climbs to his feet. there is no real danger from the kids beyond a bad precedent set for the morning, but he's not mean enough to leave Emery to that fate.

after rolling his shoulder, he sighs, moving around to the back of the wagon and pulling the canvas flaps back with a tired scowl. unmasked, backlit, it's pretty scary!

that clears most of them. the ones who are frozen in fear get a slight turn of his head.]

Go on.

[they go.

rescue complete. easy.]

[fair_trouble]

[Truly, he is Emery's steadfast dark knight.

Emery sits up, watching the last of the kids skedaddling with no small amount of bewilderment. He hasn't entirely processed what was going on. Like five seconds ago he was dreaming, there were people talking, something knocked the wind out of him, and then there was a stampede.]

What... Um?

[Very eloquent! Emery ruffles a hand through his hair and turns to look at Zel while he tries to settle on a question.]

It's morning, is it?

[chimerad]

[flatly:] Yeah.

[...]

But you can sleep more, if you need it. Nothing's being packed up in a hurry, and we can leave whenever you want.

[fair_trouble]

[Emery examines Zel's expression, considering.]

If I lie down again, will you join me? [Doesn't it look tempting? Curling up with Emery, all rumpled from sleep, the blankets warmed up from his body?]

[chimerad]

[while he forces his expression to stay deadpan, the way his eye squints makes it clear he's trying to not make a face. stop dangling that carrot!!!]

...I'd imagine that'd just be cause to get heckled. Given the company.

[fair_trouble]

[Emery makes a dismissive gesture.]

Pshh. I'm sure it would just be petty jealousy. You've no need to pay attention to such trifles~!

[Who cares if some random goblins make fun of you etc.]

[chimerad]

[he makes a face.]

There's kids around.

[fair_trouble]

[[continuing the Zel torment here.]]