Blissful, this morning, twining vines diaphanous, dream-struck, to actuality, to a hand upon a wrist, the resilient impress of a kiss, 'May I' and 'You may' and 'Now, Faolan,' and 'This, my Love, try this.'
Strange to find this disparate coalescence, this uncommon harmony at all, let alone here in Loch Bien, before the noble gathering Dmitri had half-dreaded, or here, after a night of Faolan's torment, of a man who returned looking flung to ash and lost. (They needed this, need this; both of them. It comes so easily, and they respond to one another with each breath and gesture, hand-in-hand in crossing grounds unknown, knowing no peril, knowing boundless joy and fluttered sights of pleasure as they move, so carefully, eyes kept with one another.)
Dmitri isn't pleased by the entry of the thieves, but there's no scowling, no attempt to shoo them out. (There is work to be done, like it or not.) (And the presence of Sen and Rin needn't mean an end to shared glances, twined hands, or his thumb brushed along Faolan's knuckles, Faolan's palm.) He shifts a little nearer to Faolan, once, again. And though Dima scarcely slept, he looks for all the world as if he's been revitalized, knows nothing of weariness, his eyes keen, the smiles he offers Faolan (his Fae!) (his Faolan, forever by his side, and it's hard not to feel his throat catch at the thought, the knowledge; hard not to know a subtle almost-burn behind his eyes) toned entirely in warmth.
(Strange, to feel alive again— Or for the first time. Strange to feel so shimmered and so certain through his nerves.)
He keeps Faolan's hand as the thieves speak, and as Dima asks what Sen and Rin have found, whether they've heard any word regarding Calabra or his now-absent retinue.
And, because they are the thieves they are, whether they've found luck in their lootings.
<.>
It's an opening Sen can't resist. Here in the privacy of an inn room, where he and Rin have been subjected to abject romantic oozing, the door has been opened. Faolan is only half-paying attention, anyhow: his eyes are on his hand in Dima's, and he smiles at the necromancer in a way that makes Sen think he lost the bet by one fucking day.
So, he hums and seems to consider the question of loot, then shrugs dismissively. "I never did have much luck in this gods-forsaken city. And - well. I've had to lie low, anyhow."
Another shrug, this time with feigned innocence. "Bounty. Absolutely appalling, how they treat their visitors."
"Ah! But!" he interrupts himself, apparently recalling something of interest. "Rin did happen across a ring, didn't you?"
<.>
Rin's fingers were beginning to itch, their eyes going to Dmitri's pockets, then Faolan's pockets, then Faolan's bag lying not so *very* far away. Because they've been waiting all morning! And Faolan and Dmitri have been up here for a very long time and were out of commission yesterday, and really that seems very selfish of both of them! Especially when Rin's pretty sure Dmitri kept his room warded or alarmed or fucking somethingvery wrapped up in Faolan's eyes right now.
And it is a nice ring, and he's let Rin drop it into his palm without too much thought. He holds the ring up, cants his head at it, holds it out toward Faolan, meaning for Fae to take a look, to examine it if he likes.
"What do you think, Fae? Does it please you?"
<.>
Sen freezes midway between eating a piece of bacon, his eyes wide and fixed on the lovebirds. Oh. Oh, this will go far better than he could ever have anticipated. Neither of them seems interested in why Rin would give it away - though to be fair, he and Rin have made a habit of sharing their spoils.
Faolan looks taken aback by the offer of the ring. He stares at it as though he can't believe it's real, then at Dima with soft adoration, with joy beyond words. (And. And if there ever did happen to be another ring, one of a different, more permanent meaning, the expression on his face would be similar.)
Tentatively, he takes the ring, then holds it in cupped palms as though it's precious, and in him there's a seed of fear that he might corrupt it. When he speaks, he does so to Dima - the only existence, the only person, the only world that matters. "You please me. Anything from your hands pleases me."
Sen glances at Rin and winks.
Trying not to seem too eager, Faolan slides the ring on the small finger of his right hand.
There's a heartbeat pause and a perplexed look on the druid's face, and then, with a burst of magical energy, Faolan is replaced by a giant frog.
Sen begins to laugh, starts to crack some terrible joke about princes turning into frogs, but the laughter turns into a very serious, very startled Oh, shit as the frog turns and snaps at him.
Everyone roll initiative.
[INIT f: 5 s: 17 r: 19 d: 15
note: DIMA IS READY TO MURDER THIEVES
dm: Well Rin, what would you like to do with your new frog friend?]
<.>
Rin.
Is going to start by standing up and saying "Ribbit?"
And also tell Faolan the Frog they're very sorry they didn't know but ALSO, “Faolan you make a pretty cool frog!"
They are meanwhile reaching for frog wand no reason it's fine.
And if Fae Frog responds they will maybe do something more if they can; otherwise, that's their turn for now because '???' but also hey that's a cool ring and now they kind of want it back??
Messaging Sen: [ We could make so many frogs?? ]
<.>
Fae does NOT respond.
Sen, having been snapped at by Fae the Frog, is going to put some distance between himself and the frog - which is not much in even a generous inn room. So, he puts the bed between himself and the frog. He does this while swearing as his action.
<.>
Dima, horrified by the transformation thrust on Faolan (the transformation he played into by holding out the ring) (Fae had looked so happy, so near to blissful, and then this falls upon him?).
Dima is going to point at Rin and Sen and snap that he will fucking murder both of them, and if either of them touches Faolan, he'll resurrect them and murder them again.
He is then going to place a hand on Fae the Frog's head and try to give a soothing stroke, Messaging [ Faolan, Faolan, can you hear me? I'm here, Fae, I'm here. ]
Liv, from her perch nearby, is going to try to telepathically communicate with Fae the Frog through a series of images - a hearthfire, a pond, Dima, an image of Fae himself - whether Faolan is still Fae in there.
<.>
All telepathic communications are met with radio silence.
And I am so sorry Dima but you're in snapping distance.
The Frog snaps at Dima with a mouth that could theoretically take off his arm; when it misses, it begins to jump - off the floor, off the wall, off the floor again, using up its 30 feet in a blind rage.
<.>
Rin is going to cast Color Spray, and attempt to aim so it hits only Fae the Frog, though they're not opposed to catching Dima as well bc he seems pretty mad.
[r: 29
The frog, Sen, and Dima are all now blinded.
So circus music plays as the frog is ballistically jumping around the room and everyone is blind.]
Rin is going to use Dodge. And shouts out "Sorry Sen! ...alsosorryDmitriIguess."
<.>
Sen tries to shout, but is overruled by Mykola's buzzing cries of [ WE CAN NOT SEE WE CAN NOT SEE ].
Mykola casts tentacle of the deep right in the middle of the room. It takes a blind swipe with a reach that hits just about everywhere, so everyone make a dexterity saving throw.
[s: 3 f: 20 d: nat 1 r: 13 liv: 15]
So Rin, Sen, and Dima are all swiped at by the tentacle. Dima takes 2 points of cold damage and is slowed 10ft until the start of his next turn, Rin takes 3 and is likewise slowed.
And that'll do it for Sen, who is now trying to regain control of his own body.
<.>
Dima, who is blind and cursing Rin and Sen and Mykola between calling for Fae, is going to make an attempt that he doesn't necessarily expecT to work but figures it might be worth a try.
And Dima is going to speak in his In Control Not-Yet-Called-Daddy-but-Absolutely-is-Daddy voice, "Faolan. My— Frog. Stay still.”
<.>
The frog does not appear to heed commands.
<.>
Liv is about to cast Blindness on herself so she doesn't have to witness this. :/
What she wilL do is attempt to grab a blanket and drop it on Frogge.
<.>
Liv drops a blanket on the giant, angry, blinded frog.
And now we come to Fae, who is hopping around under a blanket like a ghost, feet tangling up in the fabric enough that he crashes.
[DEX save s: 16 d: 9 r: 13 liv: 16]
Fae crashes into Dima and Rin; each of them takes 2 points of bludgeoning damage.
<.>
[q: what isss the highest surface in the room? a: probably the washstand, although that’s not a stable surface, so, bed.]
Rin's going to stay where they are, engage Dodge, and try to use the frog wand on Dima.
[WIS save, d: 16; Dima is unaffected by the spell.]
Dima— Doesn't know what happened. Because I believe he is still blinded until his turn begins.
<.>
Sen’s up!
Sen's vision clears and he very quickly dispels the tentacle, shouting all the while at Mykola and trying to not get hit by the ballistic frog. And as he has nothing he can really do otherwise, he's going to cast Prestidigitation, attempting to create an illusory fly-looking object.
Which will do nothing as long as the blanket is on the frog, but you know. It's there.
<.>
Dima is going to back up as far as he can, and try to assess what is happening magically slash figure whether he knows anything about this kind of transformation slash whatever magic would have led to this and what to do abouT it.
[PERC, d: 16; Looking at the frog, Dima can see the ring is on one of the digits of its right front leg.]
Dima shouts, "Do something useful and get the ring. Right front foot you absolute shits."
Liv’s up and casts Guidance on Rin. More specifically, Liv swoops over and casts Guidance. Giving Rin an unnecessarily sharp beat of her wing.
<.>
Fae is still tripping around under his blanket, so everyone make another dex saving throw.
[s: 22 d: 14 liv: nat 1 r: also 22 high five sen!]
Liv takes 3 points of bludgeoning damage and is knocked to the ground. Dima takes 2 points of bludgeoning damage.
<.>
Rin’s up; they will take the hint and accepT this challenge. And dive in for an attempt to take that ring.
[ACR, r: 23]
<.>
Rin manages to grab hold of Fae's foreleg as he's struggling to get up from his recent trip on the blanket. Quickly, they yank the ring off. With a second burst of magical energy, the frog becomes Faolan again.
He is still tangled in the blanket and considered restrained.
<.>
Rin is going to very quickly attempt to stow the ring in a pocket.
<.>
Sen starts laughing hysterically.
Faolan starts shouting, "You assholes, get this off of me!"
<.>
Dima immediately diving to help Faolan untangle.
<.>
From outside the room, a pounding on the door begins; the innkeeper shouts, "What is going on in there?!"
<.>
Rin shouts "Private party, sorry!!"
In fact.
Rin slips over to the door. Cracks it open. Smiles very winningly!!
"Were we interrupting?? We must have gotten carried away very sorry shhh shh."
And shuts - attempts to shut - the door.
[DEC, r: 6]
<.>
The innkeeper is not fooled and forces his way in to see the room in shambles, Faolan and Dima on the floor with a blanket, Sen laughing hysterically, a raven on the ground, and Rin.
He looks apoplectic.
<.>
Liv hops uP immediately like you did not see thaT.
And Dima, who has been speaking to Fae "It's all right" and "I'm sorry" and "Please, Fae, please be still, I've got you" over and over, now looks up at the innkeeper and exhales through his teeth.
Hands not moving from Faolan, he speaks, "A prank gone awry.
"You'll be paid for everything; I assure you. And you will have the room back in one piece.
"On top of which. Our dynamic duo here—" Pointing at Sen and Rin "—Would be happy to provide an extra hour's entertainment for your guests. Tonight, and every night we remain."
[PERS, d: nat 1]
<.>
The innkeeper looks beyond the point of bribery. He shouts, "Get out of my inn or I'll have the guards drag you out!"
<.>
Dmitri is going to continue staring down the owner as he continues to untangle Fae.
no subject
Strange to find this disparate coalescence, this uncommon harmony at all, let alone here in Loch Bien, before the noble gathering Dmitri had half-dreaded, or here, after a night of Faolan's torment, of a man who returned looking flung to ash and lost. (They needed this, need this; both of them. It comes so easily, and they respond to one another with each breath and gesture, hand-in-hand in crossing grounds unknown, knowing no peril, knowing boundless joy and fluttered sights of pleasure as they move, so carefully, eyes kept with one another.)
Dmitri isn't pleased by the entry of the thieves, but there's no scowling, no attempt to shoo them out. (There is work to be done, like it or not.) (And the presence of Sen and Rin needn't mean an end to shared glances, twined hands, or his thumb brushed along Faolan's knuckles, Faolan's palm.) He shifts a little nearer to Faolan, once, again. And though Dima scarcely slept, he looks for all the world as if he's been revitalized, knows nothing of weariness, his eyes keen, the smiles he offers Faolan (his Fae!) (his Faolan, forever by his side, and it's hard not to feel his throat catch at the thought, the knowledge; hard not to know a subtle almost-burn behind his eyes) toned entirely in warmth.
(Strange, to feel alive again— Or for the first time. Strange to feel so shimmered and so certain through his nerves.)
He keeps Faolan's hand as the thieves speak, and as Dima asks what Sen and Rin have found, whether they've heard any word regarding Calabra or his now-absent retinue.
And, because they are the thieves they are, whether they've found luck in their lootings.
<.>
It's an opening Sen can't resist. Here in the privacy of an inn room, where he and Rin have been subjected to abject romantic oozing, the door has been opened. Faolan is only half-paying attention, anyhow: his eyes are on his hand in Dima's, and he smiles at the necromancer in a way that makes Sen think he lost the bet by one fucking day.
So, he hums and seems to consider the question of loot, then shrugs dismissively. "I never did have much luck in this gods-forsaken city. And - well. I've had to lie low, anyhow."
Another shrug, this time with feigned innocence. "Bounty. Absolutely appalling, how they treat their visitors."
"Ah! But!" he interrupts himself, apparently recalling something of interest. "Rin did happen across a ring, didn't you?"
<.>
Rin's fingers were beginning to itch, their eyes going to Dmitri's pockets, then Faolan's pockets, then Faolan's bag lying not so *very* far away. Because they've been waiting all morning! And Faolan and Dmitri have been up here for a very long time and were out of commission yesterday, and really that seems very selfish of both of them! Especially when Rin's pretty sure Dmitri kept his room warded or alarmed or fucking somethingvery wrapped up in Faolan's eyes right now.
And it is a nice ring, and he's let Rin drop it into his palm without too much thought. He holds the ring up, cants his head at it, holds it out toward Faolan, meaning for Fae to take a look, to examine it if he likes.
"What do you think, Fae? Does it please you?"
<.>
Sen freezes midway between eating a piece of bacon, his eyes wide and fixed on the lovebirds. Oh. Oh, this will go far better than he could ever have anticipated. Neither of them seems interested in why Rin would give it away - though to be fair, he and Rin have made a habit of sharing their spoils.
Faolan looks taken aback by the offer of the ring. He stares at it as though he can't believe it's real, then at Dima with soft adoration, with joy beyond words. (And. And if there ever did happen to be another ring, one of a different, more permanent meaning, the expression on his face would be similar.)
Tentatively, he takes the ring, then holds it in cupped palms as though it's precious, and in him there's a seed of fear that he might corrupt it. When he speaks, he does so to Dima - the only existence, the only person, the only world that matters. "You please me. Anything from your hands pleases me."
Sen glances at Rin and winks.
Trying not to seem too eager, Faolan slides the ring on the small finger of his right hand.
There's a heartbeat pause and a perplexed look on the druid's face, and then, with a burst of magical energy, Faolan is replaced by a giant frog.
Sen begins to laugh, starts to crack some terrible joke about princes turning into frogs, but the laughter turns into a very serious, very startled Oh, shit as the frog turns and snaps at him.
Everyone roll initiative.
[INIT
f: 5
s: 17
r: 19
d: 15
note: DIMA IS READY TO MURDER THIEVES
dm: Well Rin, what would you like to do with your new frog friend?]
<.>
Rin.
Is going to start by standing up and saying "Ribbit?"
And also tell Faolan the Frog they're very sorry they didn't know but ALSO, “Faolan you make a pretty cool frog!"
They are meanwhile reaching for frog wand no reason it's fine.
And if Fae Frog responds they will maybe do something more if they can; otherwise, that's their turn for now because '???' but also hey that's a cool ring and now they kind of want it back??
Messaging Sen: [ We could make so many frogs?? ]
<.>
Fae does NOT respond.
Sen, having been snapped at by Fae the Frog, is going to put some distance between himself and the frog - which is not much in even a generous inn room. So, he puts the bed between himself and the frog. He does this while swearing as his action.
<.>
Dima, horrified by the transformation thrust on Faolan (the transformation he played into by holding out the ring) (Fae had looked so happy, so near to blissful, and then this falls upon him?).
Dima is going to point at Rin and Sen and snap that he will fucking murder both of them, and if either of them touches Faolan, he'll resurrect them and murder them again.
He is then going to place a hand on Fae the Frog's head and try to give a soothing stroke, Messaging [ Faolan, Faolan, can you hear me? I'm here, Fae, I'm here. ]
Liv, from her perch nearby, is going to try to telepathically communicate with Fae the Frog through a series of images - a hearthfire, a pond, Dima, an image of Fae himself - whether Faolan is still Fae in there.
<.>
All telepathic communications are met with radio silence.
And I am so sorry Dima but you're in snapping distance.
The Frog snaps at Dima with a mouth that could theoretically take off his arm; when it misses, it begins to jump - off the floor, off the wall, off the floor again, using up its 30 feet in a blind rage.
<.>
Rin is going to cast Color Spray, and attempt to aim so it hits only Fae the Frog, though they're not opposed to catching Dima as well bc he seems pretty mad.
[r: 29
The frog, Sen, and Dima are all now blinded.
So circus music plays as the frog is ballistically jumping around the room and everyone is blind.]
Rin is going to use Dodge. And shouts out "Sorry Sen! ...alsosorryDmitriIguess."
<.>
Sen tries to shout, but is overruled by Mykola's buzzing cries of [ WE CAN NOT SEE WE CAN NOT SEE ].
Mykola casts tentacle of the deep right in the middle of the room. It takes a blind swipe with a reach that hits just about everywhere, so everyone make a dexterity saving throw.
[s: 3
f: 20
d: nat 1
r: 13
liv: 15]
So Rin, Sen, and Dima are all swiped at by the tentacle. Dima takes 2 points of cold damage and is slowed 10ft until the start of his next turn, Rin takes 3 and is likewise slowed.
And that'll do it for Sen, who is now trying to regain control of his own body.
<.>
Dima, who is blind and cursing Rin and Sen and Mykola between calling for Fae, is going to make an attempt that he doesn't necessarily expecT to work but figures it might be worth a try.
And Dima is going to speak in his In Control Not-Yet-Called-Daddy-but-Absolutely-is-Daddy voice, "Faolan. My— Frog. Stay still.”
<.>
The frog does not appear to heed commands.
<.>
Liv is about to cast Blindness on herself so she doesn't have to witness this. :/
What she wilL do is attempt to grab a blanket and drop it on Frogge.
<.>
Liv drops a blanket on the giant, angry, blinded frog.
And now we come to Fae, who is hopping around under a blanket like a ghost, feet tangling up in the fabric enough that he crashes.
[DEX save
s: 16
d: 9
r: 13
liv: 16]
Fae crashes into Dima and Rin; each of them takes 2 points of bludgeoning damage.
<.>
[q: what isss the highest surface in the room?
a: probably the washstand, although that’s not a stable surface, so, bed.]
Rin's going to stay where they are, engage Dodge, and try to use the frog wand on Dima.
[WIS save, d: 16; Dima is unaffected by the spell.]
Dima— Doesn't know what happened. Because I believe he is still blinded until his turn begins.
<.>
Sen’s up!
Sen's vision clears and he very quickly dispels the tentacle, shouting all the while at Mykola and trying to not get hit by the ballistic frog. And as he has nothing he can really do otherwise, he's going to cast Prestidigitation, attempting to create an illusory fly-looking object.
Which will do nothing as long as the blanket is on the frog, but you know. It's there.
<.>
Dima is going to back up as far as he can, and try to assess what is happening magically slash figure whether he knows anything about this kind of transformation slash whatever magic would have led to this and what to do abouT it.
[PERC, d: 16; Looking at the frog, Dima can see the ring is on one of the digits of its right front leg.]
Dima shouts, "Do something useful and get the ring. Right front foot you absolute shits."
Liv’s up and casts Guidance on Rin. More specifically, Liv swoops over and casts Guidance. Giving Rin an unnecessarily sharp beat of her wing.
<.>
Fae is still tripping around under his blanket, so everyone make another dex saving throw.
[s: 22
d: 14
liv: nat 1
r: also 22 high five sen!]
Liv takes 3 points of bludgeoning damage and is knocked to the ground. Dima takes 2 points of bludgeoning damage.
<.>
Rin’s up; they will take the hint and accepT this challenge. And dive in for an attempt to take that ring.
[ACR, r: 23]
<.>
Rin manages to grab hold of Fae's foreleg as he's struggling to get up from his recent trip on the blanket. Quickly, they yank the ring off. With a second burst of magical energy, the frog becomes Faolan again.
He is still tangled in the blanket and considered restrained.
<.>
Rin is going to very quickly attempt to stow the ring in a pocket.
<.>
Sen starts laughing hysterically.
Faolan starts shouting, "You assholes, get this off of me!"
<.>
Dima immediately diving to help Faolan untangle.
<.>
From outside the room, a pounding on the door begins; the innkeeper shouts, "What is going on in there?!"
<.>
Rin shouts "Private party, sorry!!"
In fact.
Rin slips over to the door. Cracks it open. Smiles very winningly!!
"Were we interrupting?? We must have gotten carried away very sorry shhh shh."
And shuts - attempts to shut - the door.
[DEC, r: 6]
<.>
The innkeeper is not fooled and forces his way in to see the room in shambles, Faolan and Dima on the floor with a blanket, Sen laughing hysterically, a raven on the ground, and Rin.
He looks apoplectic.
<.>
Liv hops uP immediately like you did not see thaT.
And Dima, who has been speaking to Fae "It's all right" and "I'm sorry" and "Please, Fae, please be still, I've got you" over and over, now looks up at the innkeeper and exhales through his teeth.
Hands not moving from Faolan, he speaks, "A prank gone awry.
"You'll be paid for everything; I assure you. And you will have the room back in one piece.
"On top of which. Our dynamic duo here—" Pointing at Sen and Rin "—Would be happy to provide an extra hour's entertainment for your guests. Tonight, and every night we remain."
[PERS, d: nat 1]
<.>
The innkeeper looks beyond the point of bribery. He shouts, "Get out of my inn or I'll have the guards drag you out!"
<.>
Dmitri is going to continue staring down the owner as he continues to untangle Fae.
<.>