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]

[there's something...cathartic? about doing humdrum merc work. cathartic and weird...because rarely has he had such a long streak of said humdrum before something was afoot - some new dark happenings, some prophecy or hijinks...

honestly? he wouldn't be that floored if he walked back into the inn and saw Lina and Gourry going to town on the daily specials. part of him would like that, actually; despite whatever images he conveys intentionally or not, he does like his friends.

most of the time.

that said, he wishes that's who he heard from the other side of the door as he approaches, feeling a jolt of alarm. who is-? that's...Emery's voice and... who-?

he backsteps when the door opens, his eyes sharpening as he attempts to glean whatever he can of face and figure hidden in that cloak, watching it move without regarding him whatsoever. the bad feelings are immediate, and the moment she's out of sight, he steps inside and closes the door behind him, searching for disaster and just finding a smile instead.

unsurprisingly:] Who was that?

[fair_trouble]

[The smile edges a bit into a grimace. It really figures that Zel would have returned while Calanthe was still here.]

The girl with the green cloak, right?

[Gods, where does he even begin? Emery knew this might happen eventually, but he was hoping it wouldn’t be so… sudden.]

She’s an acquaintance of mine. Or a colleague, I guess? Her name’s Calanthe, and she stopped by to relay some orders from the Field Lord.

[chimerad]

"Orders."

[well, he's less immediately offended and more just straight-up suspicious. Field Lord has been mentioned so infrequently as to not even exist, but now they're suddenly real...

he takes his satchel off over his shoulder and drapes it on the back of a chair, pulling his hood back and mask down.]

Are you going to tell me what it's all about? Or... [or is he going to stay in the dark, and Emery's going to be on his merry way?]

[fair_trouble]

[The parroting gets a dismissive hand wave, a theatrical gesture of irreverence.]



What a bother, right~?

[Emery doesn’t like talking about his situation with the Field Lord for a few reasons, but chief among them is that it sucks and right now there isn’t much he can do about it. He thinks he’s been able to make the best of things, all things considered, but it’s still difficult to bring up. And why dwell on something you can’t do anything about?

But he does need to explain a bit about his current job, if only because staying silent will probably just make things worse. The irreverence fades quickly, the pensive look from when Zel first entered the room returning.]

I didn’t get all the details, but the Field Lord wants me to look into some things for him concerning a rival lord. So… I’m getting called back to the fae realm.

[Where he’ll probably get debriefed further by Calanthe or some other retainers of the Field Lord, but that really isn’t the important part, is it? Emery fiddles a bit with an earring before admitting:]

I don’t know how long it’ll be.

[chimerad]

...

[Zel's pensiveness is kind of easy to read when one gets to know him. from the way he goes still while his gaze darts about in thought, it's clear he's troubled, but uncertain of how to immediately respond. kneejerk is fueling him with the fear of being left behind, but what room does he have to complain? he's a chronic leaver! he dips out of party travel all the time!

...not...not since Emery, though.

so he presses his lips into a thin line as he curbs his worries and glances back to Emery.

something Lina's taught him is it's better to beg forgiveness than ask permission, so:] ...When do we have to go?

[fair_trouble]

[Emery eyes Zel as nonchalantly as he can manage, watching those cogs turn. He’s prepared to have to answer more questions, but he isn’t quite expecting the one Zel gives him.]

…Huh?

[Blink, blink. We? Go? When? We?]

Well, I mean, I’ll probably need to leave either tonight or tomorrow night- and you want to go with me?

[But that… That might be possible, actually. Maybe. The thing is, Emery doesn’t want Zel anywhere near the Field Lord. But it’s not like all of the fae realm is his lordship’s territory. Not even close! And there aren’t many hazards that Emery can imagine phasing Zel…

There’s a fluttery feeling building inside Emery’s chest as he thinks it over. He’s never seriously considered bringing anyone into the fae realm with him, but Zel’s been able to handle a lot of weirdness since they met. Maybe an extended trip into a sub-plane won’t be so bad?]

[chimerad]

[warily, Zel peers back, his stomach clenching a bit at i'll probably need as opposed to we, and then twisting at the ask.

he swallows, then makes himself lift his chin.]

Do you not want me to go with you?

[thank you again, Lina, for an example of just...inviting yourself to other people's business.]

[fair_trouble]

Of course I want you with me!

[The outburst actually comes out a little huffy. Maybe the situation’s a little complicated, but damn it, he likes Zel, and he’s been silently agonizing about their potential separation since before this even happened.]

It’s just I never thought about taking someone with me before. And I didn’t know if it’d work for you with the short notice and all.

[If Zel had gotten a long-term job while he was out or a lead or something, then he might not have found it convenient to go traipsing through fairyland. But it looks like this isn’t the case, so… Emery exhales, folds his arms, and smiles.]



If you’re fine with it, then it’s fine. We’ll need to prepare a bit first of course- but luckily for you I happen to be an expert on the fae realm.

[Emery is not remotely an expert.

But he probably still has more firsthand experience than Zel, so.]

[chimerad]

[relief threatens to make him deflate, but Zel stays puffed up as he ways.]

I wasn't planning on parting ways anytime soon, so...if I can get there, I'll go.

[though, now that Emery mentions it...can he? his body is magical, but he's still a human. outside of shamanistic studies, all he knows of fae things are the faerie spirits of Mipross Lina mentioned before...]

[fair_trouble]

[Emery hums, thinking back on previous trips he’s made in and out of the fae realm, particularly his first.]

It’s possible for a human to enter the fae realm with a fae guide, and Calanthe told me about a passageway nearby. Getting in shouldn’t be a problem.

[Emery can get in and out on his own at this point, so how hard could dragging along a second person be? :D]

We’ll need to go out late though... Day and night are reversed in the fae realm, so right now it’s the middle of the night over there. The first couple of days are always rough because you have to get used to the time change.

[chimerad]

[he nods. an all-nighter's not new, so he has no concerns there.]

Are there any spells I should avoid casting?

[fair_trouble]

Mm… [Brow furrows.] I’ve heard astral magic can be unpredictable in the fae realm because it’s a sub-astral space instead of purely physical. So astral magic’s usable but it might not have the same effects? I don’t know a lot of the details.



[He’s had a few conversations with guests of the Field Lord on the subject, but Emery hasn’t experimented much himself and frankly, hasn’t studied magic in general anywhere near as deep as Zel has. So it's not like he could follow a super technical conversation anyway.]

Oh, also, mazoku aren’t well-regarded for obvious reasons so you might get a bad reputation if people see you using black magic. And shamanism is fine, but people'll be able to tell you're not a local if they catch you using it.

[chimerad]

Right...

[conclusion? he'll be a freak there, too.

sigh. well, at least he's used to it!]

That's fine. I'll follow your lead. [hell, there might even be something there that can help him with his condition!

...but then. wouldn't...Emery have said so before...?]

[fair_trouble]

[Well, at least Zel is also used to not having help for his condition, right? :D]

Ehehe, so I get to be in charge~!

[And enjoy that wink, Zel. But seeing as Zel looks concerned, Emery does continue on with:]

You really don’t have to worry that much though. It’s not that different from this realm, once you get to know it. Some of the people are just a little… quirky.

[chimerad]

"Quirky."

[quirky like...Xellos? or like a cowboy with steak knives who hunts lake dragons?

he plants his hands on his hips, choosing to not grace Emery with the delight of a fluster at that in-charge remark, he knows it's there.]

[fair_trouble]

Yup. I guess one thing that’s different from the human realm is that there’s a lot more mingling? I mean here you just get human cities and beastmen villages, but fairies come in a lot of shapes and sizes and they all live in the same settlements together. It’s not that there isn’t a hierarchy or infighting, but you will see stuff like a goblin, a glaistig, and what looks like a human all at the same tavern, and this isn’t a noteworthy occurrence.

[Emery gestures a bit as he talks, becoming more animated as he gets to share stuff he hasn’t really gotten to talk about much before. The opportunity has even distracted him from the possibility of Zel-flusters, it's tragic.]



There’s a lot of stories out there about fairies- one of them is that fairies can’t lie. That isn’t true, but I have found a lot of people tend to be honest and literal-minded. And you won’t be trapped there forever if you eat the food, although after I spent a year there and came back, it took a while before food from the human realm had any flavor to it. That was really weird

[chimerad]

[Zel moves to lean against the wall, folding his arms to listen. Emery's...well, he's always attractive, but this side of him is still relatively new. more often than not, Emery's the one prying details out of Zel and rare is the time when he'll go on about something without asking for Zel's input.

it's kind of nice.

helps that he's interested in a new land; exploration always means new opportunity.

a mingling of different species...kind of reminds him of working for Rezo. the beastmen and trolls and kobolds...

the stony ridge of his brow raises a bit at mention of food.]

So are you saying we stock up now and bring it with us, or no need?

[fair_trouble]

Mm, I think it wouldn’t hurt, but if we’re there long enough we run out then it won’t be a disaster either. But that first month after I got back from the fae realm was pretty rough. I wound up losing some weight because I didn’t want to eat much, it all just tasted way too bland. But I got my sense of taste for human food back in the end.

[So it partly depends on how willing Zel is to eventually deal with food that tastes like drywall. Since Emery knows he’d get his taste back eventually he’s willing to put up with it, but maybe Zel is fussier.]

I’m not sure what causes it. The food in the fae realm is good but it’s not hypnotically good. Except maybe the wine. There’s a winery in the Field Lord’s territory that makes some good stuff~

[That, however, is edging a bit into less pleasant territory to think about. And they’re supposed to be thinking about practical logistics! They can work in carousing later… Emery taps at his chin thoughtfully.]



Ah, come to think of it, currency might be an issue if we have to buy anything. Most fairies don’t go to the human realm, ever, so our money’s only worth as much as its materials. But Calanthe did give me some funds for travel expenses. It's not a lot, but I'm good at making do.

[re: talking people into giving him stuff]

[chimerad]

...

[Calanthe. he never got a good look at her and he wishes he had - just to have better footing in all of this! he doesn't like being taken by complete surprise or look a fool, after all.]

So the provisions we already have should suffice. Unless this...task you need to do takes a deal of time...?

[fair_trouble]

[A hum.]

Calanthe didn’t give me an estimate. She wanted to speak about the specifics somewhere more secure. [With a dry look, Emery adds:] I think she also wanted to wait until she had a full night’s sleep before talking about it.

But it sounds like it should take a few weeks, depending on how secure the information we’re looking for is.

[chimerad]

Mn. [then it'd make no sense to pack a whole ton of stuff, especially if there was going to be food there. a full night...]

Then...we stay up tonight, rest up in the day, and go the following evening? To match the day-night cycle you mentioned.

[fair_trouble]

[That is a very practical suggestion from Zel and naturally the part Emery zooms in on:]

Staying up late? We’ll need to find a way to pass the time~

[Emery gives Zel a grin that is distinctly predatory.]

[chimerad]

[right on cue, Zel's face flushes and he turns his head away, eyes closed.]

Tch-! [and yet:] I'd wear you out too fast.

[damn!! a slick line!

...he's embarrassed!!!!!!!! but it was cool right. RIGHT??]

[fair_trouble]

[Cool or not, Emery is delighted! He’s genuinely proud whenever Zel manages to flirt back without sputtering.]

Oh, is that a challenge?

[And now he’s sidling up into Zel’s personal space.]

Or a promise~?

[chimerad]

[his mouth twitches into a faint smirk, shooting a sidelong glance for a split second before he's too bashful to look at that expression head-on.]

More like...a prediction.

[he hesitates, then shifts his posture so he isn't so slumped against the wall and he can lean in Emery's direction.]