Dice Our Shenanigans

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Earlier, when Moss lightly scolded him, Isa stared at him. His amused grin softened to a flat-line as he blinked in surprise. His frozen cheeks turned pinker and warm.

”Not a cinnamon bun!” Isa replied, frowning a bit. “Not a fluff!”

Now, at the barn, the redhead motorist took a moment for himself, huffing out his sigh. Then he looked up to stare at Moss. A peeking light hitting his left eye, making him squint a bit as he leaned back a bit. In that short moment, the merman could see his cat-like pupil dilating from the light before hiding back in the depths of indigo.

“Yea, thankfully, no one listened!” Isa confirmed and stood from his back, stretching his arms up to get the blood flow going faster. Then he quickly looked around. A familiar curious excitement appeared on the teen’s face.

“I wonder . . . Gonna check the second floor~! Wanna see if we can sleep up there.” Instead of the cold hard ground. Unable to hold back his excitement to know more, Isa practically ran up the ladder. Almost slipping a step when he reached the top and scrambled onto the floor as the ladder wobbled, saying, “I’m okay!” in case Moss got worried.

The merman would hear creaking from Isa walking, cautious steps. One light tap and then he’d step with a creak from the moaning wood. Then a loud thud and creak echoed the barn, with a bucket falling off the second floor and a cloud of sawdust poofed. Followed by Isa coughing.

“I swear I’m okay!”

The redhead couldn’t believe there was a weird machine up here! “Seems like it’s suppose to help plough through the dirt for farming.” He mumbled, reaching in the open chest and started to tinker it. Oh he’s not planning to fix it. He’s looking if he could take some with him in case his bike needs it or sell it to someone who might like old metals. Then he searched the whole floor, in case there was something hidden within the hay or Sawdust.

“Woah . . .” He paused by one of the windows, staring at the setting sun with wide cat-like eyes. Little specks of dust floating around as the sun’s rays heated up his pale face, highlighting his somewhat high cheekbones. Closing his eyes to enjoy the ending warmth. His wild rust colored hair slightly waved from a cool breeze; fresh air. So much better than moldy funky mammoth cheese.

”Moss, we can sleep up here!” Isa said, smiling as he placed his gloved hands on the window sill. Just enjoying the scenery.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Moss did get worried, rushing asking, "Are you o ---" and then pausing when Isa said he was. His brows raised when he heard all the noises. "Are you sure you're okay, Isa?" And when the excitable biker swore he was okay, Moss chuckled. "Alright! I'll trust you!" he called up at him. "I'll search for things down here."

Isa would hear an "Alright!" from Moss down below when he said they could sleep upstairs. Below, he could hear the merman moving things aside.

He came up just as the last of the sun's fire sunk down into the horizon. "Didn't find anything good. Hey, this is a nice view." he said, moving to the window to look at the clouds. The sky was a magenta in the west, purple and dark blue in the east. Stars winked awake in the darkest parts of the cool sky. From the north, a grey storm seemed to be coming, the fog from the past few days seemed to thicken as night came on. Snow began to fall and the two travelers knew that a blizzard was coming.

"Hmmm, I'm going to start pushing the hay stacks against the walls." said Moss. "Looks like we're going to be in for a cold night."

Isa changed his mind about sleeping up here. Moss agreed they should sleep on the first floor and asked his help putting up the hay stacks around their little corner that had the least amount of holes to form a comfy little hay wall that curved around them. They tossed some loose wood into the the bucket and Isa started a small fire, just as the wind began to pick up, and a flurry of snow started whipping inside the barn.

That night the blizzard howled and raged above them. Seven in the evening found Isa and Moss enjoying dinner that they had cooked together, fish soup made from the last of the monster bones and a simple pan seared Barneclaw fillet that had been salted with a dash of citrus and some butter mixed with dried sea weed. Moss' vintage oriental kettle was steaming next to their firebucket, tonight's tea was chamomille, peppermint, lavender, and roses mixed with the tea leaves and some chopped dried fruit from the Forbidden Forest. Moss went all out with the tea to help cheer them up in the howling cold.

Now he was lying down, half cocooned in his plush sleeping bag, his spellbook open on his belly, his tin can of tea at his side, his hands tracing glowing blue runes in the air as he practiced the Ailment Dispel incantations. There was a black oil smudge on his arm from helping Isa bring down the metal bull for him to tinker in case he wanted to, but Moss didn't seem to notice it nor mind.

Spoiler: Loot

Isa:

1. x1 Clockwork parts | Requires 1 hour and a tool kit to remove. Weight 1. Can be used to repair 1 Hp for the motorbike.
2. x1 Copper bull head | Looks cool. Can be sold for 60 Metal.
3. x1 Runed metal braces | Requires 1 hour and a tool kit to remove. Hardy copper braces found in the joints of the metallic bones of the bull, enchanted with ancient runes that Isa translated "Ironhide". It seems the enchantment's purpose was to strengthen the metal, make it endure the strains of heavy pulling and carrying the metal bull had done in ancient days. Can spend 1d4 hours with a toolkit to make the braces fit around the staff and link the metal with runes to the wood so that they will share the enchantment permanently.
4. x44 Metal

Moss:

1. Scrap | Can be sold for 16 Metal. Or forged into steel ingots for 32 Metal.

- Condition -​

+2 from Moss' and Isa's Cooking
+2 condition from good company and having a long rest with a player character.
+1 from sleeping inside a warm shelter.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

After making sure the hay covered their little corner, Isa went outside with a curved piece of loose metal from the bull and came inside with snow to melt. “For Smokey’s steam engine .” The redhead explained to Moss as he melted another pile of snow.

Later that night, Isa huffed as he stretched his arms up and arching his back; a wrench in his gloved hand. Hearing a pleasant crack, the redhead leaned away and looked down at his findings. Counting at how much metal he found as he picked up a hot cup of tea; still feeling overly satisfied warm from the soup. His sleeping bag next to Moss’ with a lit lantern that the redhead set up for him to read easier. His indigo eyes would peek at the fire sometimes before going back to tinkering the metal bull and-

‘thunk!’

The metal bull head fell down when Isa loosened a nut from within the machine, causing him to flinch and land on his butt from his knees. He snorted. “That’s creepy.” The redhead said as the winds outside howled, snow and hail pelting down on the barn walls. It’s something about the bull’s lifeless eyes just staring at them like it knows more than it should . . .

Isa shuttered and turned the head away from them. Then he looked at the metals. Then at Moss’ bag. Then back at the metals. The merman would hear a few shuffling noises getting close, his bag moving with light metallic clinks thudding. If he looked away from his book, he’d see Isa putting in metals inside his bag before closing it. With an accomplished nod, the redhead walked back to tinkering the bull and took out some sort of braces.

”Hmmmm~ Maybe I could-“ Isa muttered under his breathe as he stood up again to grab his blackened staff and cake back to sit beside the bull again. Like he didn’t just give Moss all the metals he found.

Spoiler: Gift

Isa gave Moss:
- x44 metals
- Hollowed Unicorn Horn | Can be sold for 10 Alchemical.
- Box of Blue Volcanic Ash | Can be sold for 5 alchemical

Spoiler: Isa’s items

• Weapon: A Black mage staff with raven sitting at the top. Indigo ragnite for eyes.
• Equipped: A ring of visions, blessed by Loki | hit by the enemy, Isa can see either the past or future of said enemy.

1. x1 Clockwork parts | Requires 1 hour and a tool kit to remove. Weight 1. Can be used to repair 1 Hp for the motorbike.
2. x1 Copper bull head | Looks cool. Can be sold for 60 Metal.
3. x1 Runed metal braces | Requires 1 hour and a tool kit to remove. Hardy copper braces found in the joints of the metallic bones of the bull, enchanted with ancient runes that Isa translated "Ironhide". It seems the enchantment's purpose was to strengthen the metal, make it endure the strains of heavy pulling and carrying the metal bull had done in ancient days. Can spend 1d4 hours with a toolkit to make the braces fit around the staff and link the metal with runes to the wood so that they will share the enchantment permanently.
4. Giant's Belt of Shriveled Hands | Can be sold for 5 Alchemical.
5. Cobra shaped Mithril Earrings | Can be sold for 15 Alchemical
6. Scrap metal | Can be sold for 14 metal. When smelted and turned into steel ingots, can be sold for 24 metal.
7. Potion of Blandishment. 6 uses. +4 to charm rolls on ladies if you are a man or look like a man. Same works on men if you look like a woman. Doesn't work on creatures not similar to your race.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Moss appreciated the lantern, deciding not to call Isa a cinnamon bun --- he had called him that enough times for a week --- and just thanked him properly. He glanced at him when he heard a thunk, hands in mid-air, before returning to his spell when he saw he was alright. Shuffling metal noises made him look at him again.

"Hey? Er, what did you just do, Isa?" he put his spellbook safely aside and wiggled out of his cocoon, then checked his bag. He pulled out the hollowed unicorn horn. "Why did you put these in my bag?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Isa turned the wrench, loosening a nut as he started to combine the braces to his staff. He didn’t answer the first question but he peeked over his shoulder. A grin grew on his face.

”To show appreciation.” Then he continued to tinker with his staff and metal brace.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

"Huh? For what?" said Moss confused.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

“For the food. For getting us out of the ruins.” He ruffled his rust-colored hair. “For being a friend . . . Might need it more than I do anyways.”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Moss's stared at him for a moment, then his face blossomed into a warm smile, like the way he did after sipping on hot soup. "Cinammooon buuuunnnnnnn~ Come here, filos mou." and hugged his neck from behind and squeezed tight.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

“I’m not a-ugh!”

Isa flailed his arms as Moss hugged his neck from behind and leaned back in hopes to breathe again. Gloved hands tucked themselves on the merman’s curled arms, but did nothing as the redhead just accepted his fate. Swaying along with Moss as he hugged him; pale face turning completely red. He can feel his soft breathing blowing his red hair.

”. . . Not a cinnamon bun . . .” Isa pouted.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

"So very cinnamon bun~" insisted Moss. He stopped hugging him and sat beside him, still smiling. "Why do you deny it?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

“Not-!” Isa insisted, letting go of Moss’ arms as he backed away to sit next to him.

”Because I’m not that nice of a person.” He replied, reaching for another tool to use for his staff. “Nice people don’t seek for revenge, Moss.”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

"Well, I think that you seeking revenge doesn't cancel any of your good deeds, Isa." said Moss gently. "I think that at this moment you are nice. And this moment is separate from other moments."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Isa just huffed, feeling his heated cheeks getting hotter as he screwed in a screw. His shoulders slumped.

”. . . You’re nice . . .” Suddenly, the redhead stared at the merman. Frowning with furrowed brows, his dark eyes swimming in worry and a bit of fear for him. “Too nice. Be careful of bad souls. They might betray you for who knows what reason.”

”Betrayals leave horrible scars.” He mumbled at the end, eyes shadowed as he stared at his gloved hand. Clenching the screw driver tightly.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

A strange expression came over Moss. A kind of calm that seemed to bring back memories. And then his smile didn't reach his eyes, as he looked down at the floor with guilt? Sadness? That he was trying to blow off as nothing. "I'll remember that." He said distantly.

Then he looked up and he was cheery Moss again. "Anyway, I think that I must be getting through you, because you're not denying being nice!" he grinned.

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Isa glanced at Moss just as he turned cheery. His eyes sharpened.

”Moss?”

Suddenly, the redhead pulled him in close and nuzzled his head between his friend’s shoulder and neck. Hugging the merman, opened gloved palms tenderly pressed on his back. Isa smelled like oil and smoke. He felt warm—- and the merman can feel a familiar heart pounding against Isa’s chest as the redhead gingerly squeezed him. Wanting to comfort him again.

”I’m sorry.” He mumbled on his shoulder.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Moss was surprised. He sat there not moving. Then his hands tentatively rested themselves on Isa's shoulder, testing the hug . . . Bad soul . . . Leaving horrible scars in his friends . . . Tybalt crying for his wife and daughter . . . Moss lifted his hands off Isa's shoulder. Part of him wanted to be comforted, another wanted to withdraw to himself, blow this off as nothing and pretend he didn't know what Isa was talking about.

He closed his eyes. He knew Isa was talking about his uncle, not him. But Moss was a bad soul . . . He didn't deserve to be hugged . . . If Isa knew what he did . . . He . . . He closed his eyes when Isa gingerely squeezed him and willed all his bad thoughts away.

"Hey . . ." He said gently, patting Isa's back. "It's alright, you weren't talking about me. I just . . . remembered things."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Isa squeezed him tighter.

”It’s for that reason why I’m sorry.” He gulped and huffed. He shuddered. “Even when it wasn’t about you, I still poured salt in your wounds. I should be more careful with my words- you and my uncle are different!”

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

"You did nothing wrong, Isa, and wellll. . . " he looked like he didn't want to talk about this. ". . . We sort of are?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Isa leaned back a bit, still keeping his arms around Moss as if he wanted to comfort his fears of being judged again. Indigo eyes stared back at his teal colored ones.

”To me, you’re not the same.” The redhead gently insisted. “Your friends stayed with you, no one at our home followed my uncle. You’re repenting and doing something about your mistake. My uncle . . . My uncle is probably planning to do more harm to others like he did with me . . . and my mother.”

”He’s a bad soul, your soul is not.” He leaned back some more, hands sliding from his back down to his arms and stopped at his elbows. Lightly squeezing them.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

"My friends didn't stay with me, I sort of . . . I don't know . . . cling to them or something?" He kept quiet when Isa said he was repenting, but still didn't look like he believed he was a good soul, like he was keeping something secret from Isa. He did look up and smile at him after he squeezed his elbow, then looked up at the snow falling beyond their hay shelter in the light of the bucket fire.

"I wish I could see the southern lights again." he said randomly. "I hoped to glimpse it tonight before we travel too far for me to see them."

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

“They came with you still.” Isa said quietly, frowning a bit.

He knows that he is the last person to comment about Moss’ situation, not just because of his ignorance to the whole situation, but also because of his own situation being somehow similar to Moss’ past actions. The redhead is assuming. Assuming too much, perhaps, but Moss is trying to fix his situation somehow. That’s a whole lot better than what his conniving uncle will ever do.

The redhead perked up when he saw Moss’ smile, smiling back in a bit of relief. His smile turned confused when Moss suddenly talked about the Southern lights. Then he grinned widely, showing his canines as he hopped to his feet. He bowed dramatically with an arm out, trench coat billowed behind him.

”Then let me make your wish come true.” Isa said teasingly and straighten his back. Taking a deep breathe, an elegant wave of his gloved hand, and purred out his muttering with his eyes closed. The area around the pair warmed up. The fire flickered. Suddenly the world around them started to waver, blurring their reality as familiar snowy peaks appeared where the walls once were. The ground softened a bit as if they were on recently fallen snow, but it wasn’t cold. The ceiling darkened into the starry night sky and there, a stream of wavy colors flowed across. Purples, pinks, and oranges danced along with blues and teals, melding and morphing new colors.

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Moss stared in awe. He had just been trying to change the subject, though his desire to see the Southern lights again was the truth. The lights were so pretty. He chuckled, running a hand over his white hair, happy, and touched. He stood up and hugged Isa again.

"Thank you, filos mou. You are very sweet." he said without a hint of teasing, and ruffled his hair. "I want to do something nice for you. Do you want to snuggle in me orca bosom tonight? Enjoy the warm plushness of my whale belleh if you like?"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

His eyes snapped open when he felt Moss hugging him again. Smiling warm and happy like an puppy with a wagging tail. He was about to correct Moss— he wasn’t sweet! — until he heard something that was very hard to refuse.

Isa pursed his lips, his smile looking awkward as he looked away from the merman. Twiddling his index fingers together in a spiral motions. He didn’t want to look eager! He didn’t-! But his sparkling too bright eyes gave his too-eagerness away as he cleared his throat. Huffing and acting as if he wasn’t-

“I . . .” He cleared his throat again in hopes to get rid of his squeak. “I . . . A-are you sure? I-I don’t want to impose . . .”

Yes, he does-! He wants to impose very much so! Fuzzy warmth is the greatest thing in the entire world-!

“Also wouldn’t it be strange? Two men snuggling?” Aaaaaaaahhhhhhh, he wants to snuggle into fuzziness! B-but! His pride-! Gaaaaah!

Zer0

 

[Zer0]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Moss laughed. He knew from his sparkling eyes that Isa wanted to. "I'm sure!" grinned Moss. "I want to show my thanks to you." he raised his hand at the beautiful lights that surrounded them. "Oh, just say yes, Isa, I know you want to. O! But if it's strange to you, we don't have to. I don't mean anything romantic or untoward with the hugging." he added immediately.

He was surprised, or maybe Isa didn't mean what he was saying, since he was so free in touching and hugging the merman when he was sad. Or maybe that was the exception. He only allowed touch if it was necessary?

"I can do something instead! Whatever you like! It doesn't have to be now, I can cook a breakfast of your choosing or something tomorrow! Or some other day! Maybe a nice book from Elunore? I can't read, but I can bring in a couple of books that my turn out nice!"

Katsuya

 

[Katsuya]

- Barn -
"Western Outskirts of Elunore, Eastern Edge of Windshear"​

Isa looked like he was caught, biting and chewing his bottom lip. Eyes wider than usual and he seemed younger. Vulnerable even. Then he sighed, face in intense red like his hair as he reached out and lightly cling on Moss’ sleeve with his thumb and forefinger.

“I . . . Can we s-snuggle? With y-your orca form?“ He looked down, not willing to face Moss’ teasing face as he just can’t take it. His pride is cracked in giving to his urges.

Zer0