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 thinks about it, and... huh.] You know, I haven't heard so much about that? Maybe they're too busy flying around to study music.

[Emery tries to remember what he's heard and observed of air fairies, but he's soon distracted by, as they pass a few buildings, the sight of masts and sails peeking up between buildings and over roofs. He raises a hand and points them out to Zel.]

Look! We're getting close to the docks!

[chimerad]

[Zel perks up, now on alert for potential nonsense. last time he was at a dock, nonsense came in the form of Filia and Lina nuking half a multi-national fleet... that level of mayhem is unlikely, but not impossible! and even then, mayhem less intense is still inconvenient, you know?

he can't help the little twinge of wanderlust that hits in seeing the dock laid out before them - that soft prickle of maybe this time there's a clue. this isn't what he's here for, but even so. maybe.]

Looks like we got options. [which is good! bumming a ride off a freighter or fishing vessel isn't hard, but the smell...and the lack of privacy...

looks like there's a ferry. hell yeah.]

[fair_trouble]

[This isn't Emery's first time at a harbor, but the amount of times he's been to one can be counted on one hand. Stoyard Valley and the Field Lord's territory were both very much inland. So's Fairford, technically, but the Ganaranth River is wide enough here that the other side is just a strip of green on the horizon, leaving more than enough room for a respectable dock.

All this to say that Emery is greatly enjoying gawking at all the boats and hubbub. It's lucky that Zel is here to keep them somewhat on task, else he'd probably waste a few hours just wandering around looking at things and getting into idle conversations with dockhands. Still, Zel's words do remind him that they're meant to be looking for a ride.]

Yeah? Which ones are you thinking of?

[chimerad]

[he points them out.]

Those ones seem designed for passengers. That means it'll cost more, but it'll be better than sleeping with potatoes.

This crossing's taking a while, right? So it'll be worth not cutting corners.

[fair_trouble]

Mm-hm, I agree.

[Emery examines the boats Zel points out, considering the designs. He soon picks out one he particularly likes the aesthetic of- it's got flowers painted on it- and points at it.]

How about that one? We'll ask if they travel as far as Zennor Lake.

[chimerad]

Let's have a look.

[if they're lucky, it won't be at capacity. or a ripoff. or full of goblins.

checking his hood to ensure it doesn't fly off while moving to the windwhipped docks, he'll strike their path toward that ship, head on a swivel for some staff or captain-looking sort to approach and inquire about passage.]

[fair_trouble]

[Windwhipped, and fairly busy besides. But it luckily doesn't take long to spot someone who obviously work for the ferry boat: There's a froggy looking fairy swabbing the deck while humming a tune.]

Hey~!

[Emery waves and calls out, interrupting the frogry's work. But judging from the curious look the frogry gives them, they don't seem to mind.]

We're looking for passage to Zennor Lake. Does this ship have accommodations?

[The frogry confirms that there's space available and scurries off to fetch the captain to handle the rest of the negotiation.]

Now I guess we just hope it's in our budget.

[chimerad]

[Zel gets the sense that, maybe, the mask and hood isn't necessary if citizens are as diverse as goblins and...frog-sorts? but the moment he eases up on that, he's sure something will come of it; maybe he'll remind someone of some gargoyle who owes them money...

speaking of money, Zel digs out his coin purse while they're waiting for the captain.]

If magic is a draw for the folks here, I can probably barter help in...whatever needs magic. [any giant lake monsters he needs to electrocute?]

[fair_trouble]

[Emery looks puzzled for a moment, wondering what sort of magic Zel could provide that the ship's crew wouldn't already have, but then he remembers something that the goblins mentioned.]

Maybe the river pirates? You could offer to take care of any that show up.

["You must be very confident in your skills to make an offer like that."

Emery turns. It seems the boat's captain has arrived, right on cue. The captain is probably far less odd looking to Zel's eye than the frogry- he has a similar pretty, elfin look to Calanthe or Emery, but with blue and green tinges to his skin, eyes, and hair.]

[chimerad]

[Zel stiffens, turning and squinting to size the captain up.]

Hyperbole. Your vessel isn't prone to being targeted, is it?

[fair_trouble]

[The captain is shorter than both of them (though taller than the goblins or the frogry) with a friendly, almost grandfatherly air that combines oddly with the bishonen face. When he speaks, one can get a glimpse of shark-like teeth.

"We've had the odd encounter over the years but it's really the merchant ships that have trouble with that sort of thing."]

Ferry passengers aren't profitable enough?

["That's the size of it."]

[chimerad]

Then what's the fare?

[Zel keeps his coin purse faintly out of sight just in case this guy's gonna pull the 'how much you got' schtick.]

[fair_trouble]

["Bile said you're heading up to Zennor Lake?" The captain pronounces Bile's name close to belay. "If you're going that far, the price for two cabins-"]

Oh, we were planning on sharing one.

[Emery smiles innocently, while the captain obligingly names the price. No mucking about with haggling here- there's a moderate fee for traveling a cross-country distance and the two of them can either take it or leave it.]

[chimerad]

[Zel's face gets hot, but he's mostly masked, so hopefully there's no sense of a purpling of features behind there. instead, he just doles out the requested cost.]

When are you setting out?

[fair_trouble]

[The captain tucks the money away and digs out a little notebook. As he's jotting down some numbers, he glances up at the sky and squints. "When the sun's just past the top of the sky."]

...So just a bit after noon?

["Aye. Bile can show you to your room when you're ready to settle in."

So they've got a few hours to kill, but not too many. Emery turns to Zel.]

Did you want to spend more time at the market, or would you rather we relax? [Or "relax" as the case may be.]

[chimerad]

Unless there's something you want to restock on, I'm find to get sorted here.

[he's had enough of interacting with the general population, thanks.]

[fair_trouble]

[There's a flicker of thoughtfulness in Emery's expression as he tries to gauge Zel's stress levels behind the mask and cowl, and then he nods.]

Got it. Hey, Bile?

[The frogry luckily happens to be nearby, having resumed swabbing the deck. They unresume upon Emery's speaking up, depositing the mop in a nearby bucket.

"You'll be in cabin eight-" Bile looks to the captain, who briefly nods. "It's right this way."

Bile leads them into the ship, giving a brief explanation of the layout, where to go for food or if they need to relieve themselves. Their cabin is close to the entrance, so they're there within a few paces.

"Let us know if there's any trouble, aye?"]

Thank you.

[Emery suspects that short of the cabin actively being on fire, Zel would put up with a thing of sackcloth on the floor as long as he could get away from having to interact with more whimsical fairy folk for a while.

As it turns out, the situation isn't that dire, though the cabin is a small one. There's a bunk and a thing of drawers built into the walls, an overhead magic lamp, and a small window with rose-embroidered curtains. Also, a chair. Not exactly luxury class, but certainly livable.

As soon as Bile's clear and the door's shut:]

What do you think?

[chimerad]

[from the moment Zel's climbed onto the ship, he's quietly cast a small levitation spell on himself that lightens his steps, his ears sharp to the natural groaning and creaking of the vessel with just the lighter load. in hindsight, a heavy freighter would be more trustworthy for his extra whole-ton of weight, but most vessels can handle it unless they're really overburdened.

this one seems to not be the case, which is a relief; it'd be a pain in the ass to have to train focus and resources to keep the thing afloat. he's just a second anchor. in...in a weight sense. not a logistical sense. he's never doing that again. the indignity.

he quietly surveys the room, crouching and checking the stabilization of the bunk, looking for any egregious holes or wood-wear that would suggest leaks. straightening up and finding none, his tense posture relaxes as he releases the spell, holding his breath only a beat longer while he feels the wood settle under his weight.

no falling through to the lower decks here. nice. he lets himself actually exhale in with some genuine relief - both for that and the reprieve from more socializing.]

It'll work. [he pulls his mask down and hood back, looking over his shoulder.] Nothing seems fishy at surface level to me.

[fair_trouble]

[While Zel examines their accommodations Emery stands back and watches him. Emery's not sure what Zel's looking for- bed bugs? Dubious blood stains? Tiny fae that might be hiding under the furniture? Whatever Zel's concerned about, it looks like he doesn't find it.

Emery smiles at the sight of Zel pulling down his disguise. It seems they have a reprieve. Although...]

The walls seem a little thin. We might need to keep our voices down.

[Emery can hear other people puttering about the ship. Muffled and indistinct, but there. Still, it's more privacy than they've had recently.

Emery steps over to the bunk and sits down, gesturing at the free space beside him.]

Sit~ I think you've earned a little break.

[chimerad]

[Zel shrugs their bag of gear off his shoulder (definitely always there in cape hammerspace) and sets it against the wall, doing a slight double-take at the call. he hesitates, giving Emery a contemplative look before moving.

instead of taking the spot offered him, he kneels in front of him, his movements slow and telegraphed so it's no surprise he's moving in to hug him around his waist, carefully turning his head to avoid scraping at him with his hair while meaning to rest his head against him.]

[fair_trouble]

[The move is unexpected, though not startling courtesy of the telegraphing, and honestly? Emery finds it really, really cute. He definitely melts a little and has to bite back the urge to go awwww.

He sets a hand on Zel's back and leans a little over him, lowering his voice.]

There we go. Comfortable?

[chimerad]

[it's not cute unless it's also somehow badass and cool, and since that's impossible, Zel is not cute!

once he can feel the vague press of the hand on him, he lets some of his carefully tensed-up posture settle. it's not a complete relaxing, but it's a start. he gently squeezes at Emery's waist in response, prior to a soft grunt.]

Mn. No more haggling or entertaining for a while.

[fair_trouble]

[Cute or not (it is though), Emery's definitely grinning about it.]

You did well. I think you only ran away once.

[Emery looks down at Zel's head and contemplates for a few moments. Then, very carefully, Emery reaches his other hand down and slips his fingertips in between the wires of Zel's hair. He strokes slowly, with the grain, so to speak, much as one might pet a porcupine or hedgehog.]

[chimerad]

[the action is picked up more by sound than by feel, but once some of his hair starts tickling at his ear, Zel finds himself beset by a tingling down his neck that makes him want to fidget. he fights that, wanting to keep where he's at.]

...That can't feel pleasant for you. [it's not soft at all!]

catcoded lad finally getting pets

[fair_trouble]

It's fine~ As long as I'm careful I'm not actually getting scratched. [So ruffling and mussing is out of the question, but slow, rhythmic stroking down Zel's scalp is doable. It may be limited but it's better than nothing, hopefully. Sensory-wise it's mostly just kind of odd on Emery's end- carding his fingers through dense, stiff, metallic fibers.]