in this town, don't we love it now

[afoolsgold]

Characters: The Fool, Klaus, Devin, Rutile, Trahearne + you!
Date: Early October
Location: Throughout Aifaran; specifically, the Fool’s apartment, Die Rosa Tulpe.
Situation: A catch-all for October.
Warnings/Rating: None, will update as needed.




I. Some Uninvited Guests (Die Rosa Tulpe; Open + Klaus)

On a bright, early tropical morning when the Fool ventures downstairs to set up his display table for the day, he hardly makes it three steps beyond the stairs when he trips over--a pumpkin? Startled, he nimbly skirts beside it, catching himself against one of the cafe tables, and then looks after it, shocked.

“What--?” he begins, but the rest of his exclamation tapers off abruptly as he takes in the sight before him: Die Rosa Tulpe, besieged by--well, small gourd people.

Dealing with this mess is evidently his task for the day, so whomever happens upon the cafe today will be greeted by this spectacle. Enjoy.


II. Rude Awakening (The Fool's apartment; closed to Devin)

The change to the Fool’s relationship with Devin has his heart singing even when he and his paramour aren’t in each other’s company--but there are few joys in life more fulfilling than waking up beside the object of one’s affections. That is the Fool’s prevailing thought as he comes to one morning, peering across the blankets at Devin’s profile with the tiniest of smiles curling up the corner of his lips.

His second thought arrives abruptly, and is far less pleasant: they aren’t alone in the bedroom.

Seated at the foot of the Fool’s bed is a small child with uncanny, unnaturally exaggerated features, and it’s looking right at the pair of them.

The Fool stares back at it, then takes a breath. “Devin,” he begins rather too cautiously, “don’t be alarmed.” That’s always a good way to begin a conversation, isn’t it?


III. A Business Arrangement (Die Rosa Tulpe; Open + Rutile)

At some indeterminate point early in the month after the pumpkin pests are dealt with and the Dreaming Sickness is no longer a constant drain on his energy, the Fool is at last able to redirect his attention to his chosen vocation here in Aifaran: his woodcarving.

(And prophesying the future but--well. That gift doesn’t pay the rent.)

His latest pieces are staggeringly intricate; small posies that could have been plucked from a garden, were they not clearly of wood grain and solid to the touch; a bird upon a nest, its folded wings deceptively soft. There are many others, of course--all for sale.


IV. The Messenger (closed to Trahearne)

[in the middle of the night early on in October, Trahearne will receive a peculiar text message from the Fool.]

I have something important to tell you.

[a span of a few moments, and then another message follows:]

I think.
 

Comments

[afoolsgold]

The Fool watches as Devin reaches out to touch the childlike spectre--and of course, his fingers pass straight through its arm. Still, it turns its too large, dark eyes towards him, as though aware of the attempted gesture; but already it is dissipating like mist, and before long, it is gone.

"I've never heard of them selectively interacting with Dreamfolk like this," Devin had said. The Fool sighs. Well. Better get the lecture out of the way sooner rather than later.

"Yes--about that..." He takes a sudden interest in a bit of loose thread in one of the blankets tossed across them, fiddling with it absently. "Perhaps no other Dreamfolk have ever given them the opportunity to do so." He lifts his eyes to Devin's again; the unspoken until now is clear in his expression.

[annihilist]

Maybe the avatars don't have to be solid, and maybe it doesn't matter one way or another (since even if this is a waking dream, the turtle is still showing up in the Fool's sleep). Devin studies the Fool in silence for a few moments, taking in his fidgeting and absorbing the meaning in his expression.

Rather quickly, his mind wants to jump to all sorts of unwise conclusions; it's always been his tendency to consider the worst possible outcomes. Devin takes the Fool's hands before he can start unraveling the blanket. "Tell me," is all he says.

[afoolsgold]

The Fool allows his hands to be taken, looking at his fingers as they curl against Devin's palms. What an unexpectedly gentle touch his lover has; doubtless few others in Aifaran would believe it even if the Fool was of a mind to share it. (He isn't. Not yet.)

He draws in a slow breath, lets it out, then gently lifts his hands from Devin's to tug that ever present soft leather glove from his hand. As soon as his silvered fingertips are in view, he looks to them, and then to Devin. "I believe I told you something about this strange, borrowed magic," he says quietly into the space between them. "King Verity used it to pour his soul into a stone dragon that he carved with his own hand. But he was also born with this silver in his blood. It enabled him to speak into the minds of other men, among other things. Mine is an overly simplistic explanation, I'm sure."

A pause, and he reaches for his glove again to replace it. "My talents are nothing in comparison, but with a physical touch..." He lifts a shoulder in a slight shrug. "Now, it seems the turtle and I have a connection."

[annihilist]

Devin stares at the Fool's hand in silence even after the glove is replaced, doing his best to consider the situation analytically and running up against the problem of how he feels. There's worry, first and foremost - he's only ever heard of groups managing to communicate directly with the turtle and then only for short periods of time. Granted, Tu Vishan had been much, much larger and older than the turtle they currently reside atop, but that doesn't make it any less serious.

"Why did you do that?" It's a softer question than it could be, and his eyes are empty of accusation when he looks up. Devin really is trying to understand first and be upset later, though there's an edge in his tone to indicate his middling success. "We're not built for that kind of contact, you could've been hurt." Or worse. Permanently brain damaged or even dead, and neither of those things Devin is really prepared to consider right now. "Are you okay? How long has this been happening?"

[afoolsgold]

"...Are you okay? How long has this been happening?"

Gently, he reaches up to touch Devin's cheek and reassures him, "I am fine." But it does not sit well with the Fool, to know that he is responsible for the wounded look in Devin's eyes now; that is reason enough not to look away now. He presses his lips into a thin line and admits softly, "Since early August."

(So. Quite some time, then.)

There are no good reasons, no good excuses, for his reticence on this subject; whatever the tumultuous events of the past three months that might have preoccupied them, the Fool has had the better part of a month to share this secret with Devin, and he hasn't. Keeping secrets was one of many old habits, old survival instincts that have made up the only armour that protected him in the Six Duchies; he had not lain them aside even for Fitz, who had known him better than anyone else in his old life. But he and Fitz had had decades to build a bond of trust that could bridge each other's need for secrecy. This--this new, wonderful bond he's nurtured with Devin, demands some concessions if it is indeed going to thrive.

He will have to do better.

"I should have told you," he confesses quietly, a pained wince at the corners of his eyes. "I am sorry, Devin." He strokes his thumb gently across Devin's cheek, before letting his hand fall back to his lap.

[annihilist]

The length of time at least indicates that the Fool is not in any immediate danger, and that is some reassurance. Perpetuating the connection, however, could expose him to other, completely unknown and unforeseeable hazards.

Devin almost, almost lets a sharp agreement escape him, but the rational part of him can recognize the hypocrisy of lecturing his lover on keeping secrets. Secrecy has defined most of Devin's life, too, and he has by no means learned to be fully unguarded yet in this private space. It would be unfair of him to lash out simply because he isn't used to these kinds of hurts and because a century of hard living has crafted instincts against this sort of vulnerability. Those instincts are useless to him if he wants this relationship to work.

He breathes deeply and runs his fingers through his hair, resting his head in his hands. "At least now I'll know about it in case something does go awry," Devin reasons, trying for neutral and missing again. He is not the Fool's keeper, Devin can't and won't try control him, but he also can't help if he doesn't know what's going on. He straightens. "Just-- explain to me why, please. Why would you put yourself at so much risk?"

[afoolsgold]

It is a stumble, but not a fatal pitfall. Some of the anxious tightness that had wound itself about the Fool's heart begins to ease, though he doesn't relax entirely--in part because answering Devin's question is... difficult.

He smiles thinly, a bittersweet sort of expression. "Why? I am a Fool," he points out, but knows that is not an answer that will satisfy. (Though in many ways, it is explanation enough for much of his behaviour.) He looks away, letting out a slow breath. "We're at the edge of a precipice here, aren't we? The city, the archipelago--the whole of Konryu. After what we have all seen here, I realized that there was one being we had not yet tried to consult. It seems to me his perspective could be a meaningful one--if only I could truly parse what he tried to share with me."

Reluctantly, he reaches up to touch the side of his head, and admits, "It was reckless, even for me. Rutile helped me back to the cafe afterwards, though I am sure that Klaus would have preferred it had I gone directly to a hospital." He looks guiltily towards Devin again. "I will make the appointment in the morning."

[annihilist]

Learning that Rutile and Klaus knew before he did is not a welcome realization, though he sees why they would. The rest of the explanation isn't enough to mollify Devin (aside from the promise to go see a doctor in the morning), but it does give him more insight.

"Good." Devin pauses when he realizes how that might sound and adds more gratefully, "Thank you."

He reaches for the Fool's hand again and holds it between his own. "It was reckless," Devin agrees without condemnation. The ghost of a smile crosses his lips for just a moment. "And had I been there, I'd have carried you off kicking and screaming if I had to." His gaze drops to their hands. "If there is anything I've learned here - however grudgingly - it's that it is better not to do this sort of thing alone. This precipice-- we're all standing on it together, Fool. This is not a responsibility you should have taken on your shoulders, or had to carry, without support."

Devin's shoulders hunch a little and he squeezes the Fool's hand gently. "I'm hardly one to talk, I am terrible at relying on other people, but-- that's my job now. Being there for you, whether you need me or not."

[afoolsgold]

"...whether you need me or not."

"I need you." The reassurance is offered softly, sincerely, and coupled with another thin smile. The Fool gently frees his hand from Devin's grasp so that he can touch his cheek again; touch, he's discovering, is capable of conveying so much more than words--even for a wordsmith like the Fool. "Please," he insists nevertheless, "never doubt that."

This was undoubtedly not the relaxing early morning lie-in that either of them had been hoping to enjoy together, but the Fool resolves not to become melancholic over it. He leans in to kiss Devin gently, savouring the intimacy before his own promise requires him to pull away. "I should call the doctor to arrange an appointment."

[annihilist]

The Fool says he needs him without hesitation, as though it's only natural, and Devin wonders if his lover knows the power in those words. Most likely, even if the Fool doesn't know the full extent. It cannot have escaped his attention that Devin is bad at accepting kindness and care from people, and his expression now makes up for his silence. He closes his eyes when the Fool kisses him, and keeps them closed for a breath or two after.

Everything is alright. Probably. A doctor will have the best tools and skills to recommend next steps, if any. Devin finds himself confronted with peculiarly intractable anxiety that just lingers in the background in the short time until they get any answers; it's low-level, thankfully, but this is a brand of worry he's rarely experienced. This must be what partnership is like, which ironically he's grateful to feel.

He manages not to hover. He does, however, start diving into the Academy's resources to search for anything related to communications with the turtles, and the related effects on people. It gives Devin somewhere constructive to put his concerns while they wait for results.