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"I've been meanin' to ask, but why'd you still wear those, chainy shackly thingies? Asides for fightin' and keepin' your muscles nice n' strong. Seems like they'd be such a burden to keep luggin' 'round? Can't you take'em off?? Unless you are some kind of autumn-aton mechanical man?" The goblin carelessly gestured towards his friend, sloshing his cup of liquor (or what the folks around here were claiming was liquor. The four gentlemen seated at the table were at least feeling the effects of it, even if it tasted of paint thinner mixed into piss poor wine.) The brown grey liquid poured over the lip of the glass, somehow making the table both more and less filthy than it had been moments before.
"Oooh oh!! Party foul!!!" Gideon chuckled and leaned away from the table, ignoring the question and the spill, all while taking another sip from his own larger glass. A micro twitch of his brow and a glance to the side, the fire genasi shook his head with a smile. A champion of hiding his true feelings from others.
Kremy was all too aware of Gideon's reaction. He'd seen the man shrug off similar questions what felt like a million times before, with varying degrees of truth to the answer if he was so inclined to give more than a charming nothing to make some well endowed beauty swoon into indifference. He had hoped for better from their soon to be business associates. "Dammit Gricko, here you go again acting and sounding like a jackass and a fool. You can't just go asking people about how they accessorize! " The gatorkin snapped his jaws and furrowed his brow as he pushed himself up from the table to avoid the spill getting on his suit. Sure he could wave his hand and make it as if it had never happened but his mind was preoccupied by the quiet twist in his stomach at the pointed question to his partner in crime.
The four of them had been traveling and working together for a while now, Gideon had been by his side for years, but the last six months traveling alongside Morning Frost and Gricko had the carnivále looking more promising by the day. Recruiting volunteers, employees? with little word of pay, eventually? Maybe? (Probably not) had taken them longer than he'd expected. This trip was banking on a few people down on their luck who'd be thrilled to join a jaunty traveling fair. Kremy figured one more day of charm to these folk and they'd be able to leave this shady little village, more staff to soon be on his side for his dream…
After running the numbers of their rented board and supplies for the night, Kremy was a little on edge. The drinks had gotten his mind off the the stress of planning his latest scheme - but his new acquaintance's intrusion tilted the previously jovial mood to drunken uncertainty.
"Oh geeze I'm so sorry fellas!" Gricko clasped around the edge of the table and made a goblin arm dam to keep the liquid from pouring any more onto the floor, honestly just causing for himself to get soaked in the alcohol alongside their table. The spill quickly found it's way from his short arms and directly into the lap of Frost.
Their tabaxi compatriot hopped up from the spill. "Gricko your fucking mess!!!" Frost's, well, cat-like reflexes and dislike of being sticky caused for him to skid his stool back noisily. "Your asinine behavior is going to get us kicked out. More importantly you almost got your backwash on my robes." The tabaxi huffed and stood up from the table. "Also It's automaton not autumn, that's the season." Frost frowned and beelinied to the barkeep to retrieve something to clean the table, floor, Gricko's person up with.
Kremy straightened his vest as his long tail swayed with annoyance. He leaned his weight against his cane and flexed a hand around the gauty skull handle. Thankfully for Kremy, who in his cups began to feel he may have overreacted to the spill, Frost's equally as loud reaction took the heat off of him for a moment. He shook his head. They should have just camped again. He knew saving a few gold would mean traveling with sore backs and light bellies, but there was so much to do before his big carnivále could finally be real.
Just as soon as Kremy's tipsy overthinking had begun it was interrupted by a stale rag slamming Gricko in the back of the head, causing the goblin to face plant directly into the remaining table of filth with an unanticipated thud.
Boisterous room shaking laughter poured from the genasi. A hand slapping his knee and he instinctually reached over to pat Kremy's arm, both as a way to say "look at this dumb shit" and "hey it's okay Krem" a silent reassurance in the gentlest squeeze.
Kremy froze upon Gideon's contact, the agitated swaying of his tail stopping mid-swing. The heat that radiated from the casual and kind touch made his stomach flip. He needed some fresh air. Or maybe more paint thinner. Or maybe to go lay facedown in a bath for a little while.
"This should be a lesson to you Gricko but fuck if I know what that is right now." Frost huffed and flipped his robe up over the back of his stool as he sat back down. His ears were laid all the way back, a deep scowl across his fluffy face.
"Wooooooooeeee ooooh Frosty that was so meeeean," the Goblin fake cried and went from wiping off his face to clutching the rag to his chest to punctuate his wails. Gricko broke into a shit eating grin before wiping it around the table to his best ability. "I coulda broke my face."
"Moreso? That's actually impressive. " Frost raised his brows.
"Mores so broken, yeah!!!" Gricko took a big breath as he was about to go off on yet another unrelated tangent when he was interrupted.
Gideon cleared his throat and the back and forth of the two trailed off. "Now if you two are done fussin n' flirtin', I'll answer your questions Gricko."
"Gid-" Kremy anxiously mumbled but was cut off by a small waving gesture of the genasi's hand.
With further nonchalant cracking of his knuckles, a bit of smoke fled from Gideon's nostrils. "I'm not some mechanical man, Gricko. I mean I'm a man who knows a lot about mechanical stuff, and I made these work the way they do I guess I'm pretty fucking great with it, but I'm not made of it! Asides from my manacles helping me be ready for a tussle at a moments notice, they just help me look cool and mysterious like."
"Just to look cool??!" Gricko seemed disappointed at this and visibly checked out, instead focusing on fidgeting with a hangnail while Gideon continued in vain.
Gideon sighed and took a long swig from his glass before continuing, "Listen man, I was on the train for a long while. And I sure the fuck didn't want to be. They kept me locked down tight… between my raging and attempts to escape… and the massive heat was too much even for me to handle sometimes. I wrecked my arms. I mean they still work wonders you've seen them in action." Gideon flexed an bicep to punctuate his words. "But my wrists man, fuck my whole forearms really. Shits covered in scars. Nasty and deep, ugly stuff... After I managed to make it off that Train I never wanted a man's pity but I will take his fear. And while we're at it I'll take his daughter's eye from my being all mysterious and cool. But yeah I can take'em off but I'd feel more naked than my whole hog out in a church."
"If I recall correctly you you did tell us about that once. In Southswood was it? What a surprise those folks on the equivalent of Sunday morning were in for." Frost piped up.
"Ohh ho ho yeah! I had that dad madder than all the hells combined. Both his daughters ran out of there the fastest I'd ever seen a gnome move." Gideon's dire tone from moments before evaporated as he laughed, reminiscing on the wild conquest.
Kremy felt a tinge in his chest. "If we're done with storytime we have an early morning of talking to more rubes- I mean future employees and I'd like us all to be awake and present while they sign the contracts. Liability with witnesses and all." He threw back the last of his drink and dropped his glass back on the table with a careless clink. "Good evening gentlemen. Gid you coming up?" Kremy took a step before his partner could respond.
"I'll be there in a bit. Frosty said earlier that he was going to show me some of his mind tricks and I don't really think he can make me forget my name." Gideon didn't look Kremy's direction as he responded, instead he repeatedly ran a finger over a chip in the lip of his empty glass and offered a tight smile to his tabaxi friend.
"Gideon thats just hypnosis. Any corner quack can pull that off, it ain't even magic." Kremy frowned, teeth starting to clench.
Gideon finally glanced over his shoulder to the gator. "Ahh come on man, that ain't fair. Frosty does all kind if magics, you said yourself you wanted him to do his ooky spooky mind shit for the carnivále!"
"I assure you that I am no quack, or any other participant in fowl play; but Kremy's not wrong, Gideon. That one is a simple trick of suggestion to the mind. I can do it because I'm a man of multitudes, my psionic abilities are just one of my many many skills. It doesn't matter this evening; I'm too tired now to do it from these, hopefully not poisoned drinks anyway. I'd love to show you the art of suggestion another time." Frost nodded at Gideon, Kremy, then Gricko in turn. "You ready? I'm sure Hootsie is excited for her bedtime story. " Frost didn't wait for the drunk and distracted goblin to respond as he stood and pushed in his chair.
"OH HOOTSIE'S GOTTA BE SO READY FOR HER PAPA AND UNCLE FROSTY TO DO ALL THE FUNNY VOICES FOR HER STORIES!!!" Gricko fumbled for a moment getting up from his rather tall for him stool. "I guess thanks for your sad cool explanation Gideon. It wasn't as cool as an automation-man but yuh know, fine I guess. If big flashy bracelets are your kind of thing." Gricko waved as he followed behind the tabaxi, Frost's tail fell behind the goblin's back to offer support.
Kremy gave the genasi one last look and Gideon narrowed his eyes in return. A moment to breathe. Got it. The years of partnership had aided the two in being able to speak without words. Kremy knew that opening up isn't the easiest (or smartest) thing to do, and allowed his best friend a moment to ruminate before heading up. Kremy gripped his cane and had his other hand firmly on the wall the steady himself up the stairs to the room, a little more drunk then he meant to be.
Gideon closed his eyes, sipping the whisper of liquor that remained, and was the last one to stand from the table. He slipped the four empty glasses to the bartender and with a wink made his way down the hallway, up the stairs, and into his room for the night.
-
"Alright. I guess ending the night on a moodkiller is my bad." Gideon's voice filled the room even as he tried to be quieter than normal. He slid his suspenders down his shoulders and let them hang from his pants while fumbling around the cramped room. His attempt to cut the tension was followed by a long silence that made his stomach knot around the liquor. Felt fucking terrible when Kremy sat on his feelings and didn't just tell him what he thought. The genasi sighed.
As rare as it was for Kremy to be the one to suggest staying at an inn properly, paying several gold for the group rather than sneaking in or conning the staff, it was nearly unheard of for the man to suggest two rooms. In all the time he'd been traveling with the gatorkin Gideon could count on one hand the amount of times they'd stayed legitimately, but while traveling with Frost and Gricko it seemed Kremy had been quietly asserting his need for space.
Kremy had already changed into his pajamas, a silk set still finer than anything Gideon had ever owned. He never quite figured out if it was real cloth or just prestidigitation. Gideon was one to just strip to his boxers and pass out so figuring pajamas wasn't a big concern of his.
Kremy laid nearly on his back, angled in a way where his tail wouldn't be pinned beneath him. The palms of his hands were pressed against his eyes, like he was thinking deep or fighting off a migraine. Kremy always slept most comfortably on his stomach, years of being together, traveling together, sleeping together (well not like together together but as a couple of guys staying warm, you know how it can be up on mountains and such) Gideon knew the man was wanting to talk even if he was currently letting the silence get loud.
The room was hardly big enough for the two beds, the sliver of a table between them that held a candle, and chest that was storage as much as it was a seat; it wasn't like Kremy had anywhere to go avoid talking to Gideon. He could feel his emotions getting the best of him before he sat up and glared at the genasi, who was currently halfway through taking off his boots. "You don't gotta go telling people the truth about things Gid. Just lie. We always lie. Me and you are a coupla' liar extraordinaires. We don't gotta tell nobody about ourselves, our pasts. We are gonna be Carnivále Lecroux and there is magic and mystery in that! You yourself said you liked the mystery! Spillin' your guts to Gricko like that, that's dangerous Gid. That's ammunition for later." Kremy's words were steady and practiced, thankfully as stressed as he was he managed to reign in his tone to remain a demeanor of business like professionalism.
"Wuhh? What the hell man? Gricko is our friend! I was just telling my friend about myself, Kremy. It's no big deal." Gideon, perplexed, nearly chuckled his reply as he popped off his boot and haphazardly tossed it aside before rolling his eyes and starting on the other.
The gatorkin sat-up and crossed his legs, hands firmly planted on his knees, slightly leaned forward to balance. "Gid. These people are gonna be my employees soon, they don't gotta be more than that. I don't want to see you spillin' your heart for people just here for a buck at the end of the day."
"At the end of the day? We been traveling with them for months now Kremy. Their efforts are helping us recruit more employees. I mean Hootsie is damn near our niece now too. Come'on there's no reason to be so uptight about this." Gideon, now free of his boots went for his barely buttoned shirt and made quick work of shimmying his way out of it, a lifetime of practice to not tear the collar on his horns, or sleeves on the manacles, chains deftly slipping through the arm holes.
Kremy kept his mouth shut as he watched Gideon both painstakingly and more swift than anyone else could have ever done it, pulled his adorned wrists out of the sleeves and stood up, walking the short distance to plop down at the foot of Kremy's bed. "Hey now! I paid good gold for you to have your own."
"I'm not trying to lay down with you jackass. Come'ere." Gideon looked over his shoulder and patted next to him.
Kremy stared at his friend's back for a moment, deep ragged scars decorated his skin, from clawmarks and weapons sure, but if you knew what you were looking at you could make out the older, fainter lines, lashes from years of captivity now hidden in plain sight of newfound adventure. He hesitantly scooted forward and swung his legs to dangle off the side of the bed. Their height wasn't all the different, but sitting next to him now the sheer mass and heat from Gideon almost made his drunken mind spin.
"Here's something I won't show anyone else, Krem. Just me, and now you. Take this latch here. Flip this little guy, twist this, and you have to have a special tool or honestly just any ol' knife if you don't have time for that, and wall-ah!" Gideon had laid his arm out on his thigh and step-by-step, showed the man how to remove his manacle. The chains weighing down the metal fell to the floor with an unceremonious clang.
Kremy gripped his knees again, his claws digging into his scales and damn near threatening to bruise. He was too drunk and not in his right mind to remember a damn thing about the contraption Gideon was walking him through, but somehow managed to answer, and answer correctly when Gideon quizzed him on how to take off his remaining shackle. Again, the mechanical cuff fell away with a metallic ringing danced through the air as the gator held his breath.
Sure, he'd seen Gideon take off his manacles before, caught glimpses of his marred skin, but it was none of his business and he respected the man too much to intrude. Now Gideon sat next to him, trousers on and suspenders slack against the bed, but Kremy understood the pig in the sin den or whatever the fuck they were going on about earlier. Gideon looked exposed. From the way the muscles in his arms and stomach tensed Kremy got the vibe that Gideon felt exposed. His friend hadn't been exaggerating when he'd said he fought against his captors. (He never doubted that. Gid was one of the finest fighters Kremy had ever had the honour of witnessing let alone fighting beside - the genasi was raw power at it's finest.) It damn near looked like he'd cut his hands off and sewed them back on with kitchen twine. The ragged deep lines from metal and smooth webbed explosions from what had to be burns left Gideon's arms pink and red arrays of scars.
"Pretty gross huh?" Gideon twisted his arm around to show both sides and Kremy instinctually reached a hand out to touch. Gideon did something Kremy had never seen in all their years of friendship, the genasi flinched from the touch.
Kremy flung his hand back and held it with his other, appalled at his own action. "Gid I am so so sorry. I did not mean to touch you or offend you and I-" Kremy's grip on himself tightened, angry for his lack of control.
"Hey, hey, It's alright Krem. I wanted to show you…… You're kinda right though. It's not fair to me to tell the others about this so casually when, hell when did I tell you?"
"About a year and nine months." Kremy stared down at his own hands still, they threatened to tremble. Fuck he shouldn't have drank all that shit. Truly was just poison with a thimble of whiskey, had to be. He wasn't in his right mind. Gideon wasn't in his right mind. They shouldn't be this close, he bought them a room with two beds for a damned reason.
"Daaa-amm was it really that long?" Gideon shook his head and reached over to place a hand on Kremy's knee. "Kremy. You are my best friend and I trust you more than anyone in this world. But it's good for us to make more friends. And even if you don't want to call folks friends it's still important for the carnivále to trust them, you know?"
"Y-you're right Gid." Baron help him his mind was full of bees. Bees and poison. Surely he'd die here in this inn and never see his dreams realized. At least his best friend was here he supposed. Too close and touching him and treating him kindly. Oh baron please never let this end. Kremy, who was now tipping into a lightheaded mess, laid back on the bed lest he pass out.
The genasi sighed and laid back on the bed as well, reaching his arms out above him in the air, examining the marks. He whistled. "Been a while since I took them in. Proud we made it this far man."
"I'm pretty proud of us myself, Gid. In a few months you and me are gonna have our carnivále."
Gideon twisted over, resting his chin in his palm as he propped himself up on his elbow to look over at Kremy. "Our carnivále?" The tips of his beard and hair sparkled with a bit of flame. Gideon had been just as generous with his cups as Kremy had been, if not moreso. A flush reached Gideon's cheeks and never before had the gatorkin been more thankful his blush was hidden beneath his scales.
"Don't get your suspenders in a twist. You're the one who's helped me brainstorm the most of any of the chucklefucks, helped me map out who and where we should talk to people and what kind of folks to bring in to cover all our acts. You are an important part of this operation Gideon and I'm glad I have you." Kremy gestured with his hands, over exaggerated and over explaining in his anxiety.
"Well I'm glad I can be so much help. And here I just thought you were keeping me around for my good looks and convincing muscles." Gideon smiled, big enough to flash his large canines, light crows feet crinkling at the edge of his eyes with his grin.
"Well those are helpful yes." Kremy laughed and looked up with admiration at his best friend. He couldn't keep blaming the alcohol. This twist in his gut had to be paint thinner. For sure. Half a roll and Kremy laid out on his stomach. Don't look. Close your eyes. Picture tomorrow, the next day, a few short months in the future and they'd have what he'd been dreaming of.
Kremy heard what he assumed to be Gideon's suspenders hitting the the ground, as he then felt Gideon drop next to him and heat radiating yet again, closer than it had been previously. Gideon had also flopped onto his stomach, stretching his arms flat out in front of them like a resting cat.
"If you look close enough, you can make out little pictures. Not for real, but like when you look up at the stars and stuff. It can be kinda neat to find some good in it all. See right there?" Gideon pointed to one line on his arm and followed it down and around. "Sorta like a boat. A shitty boat but still a boat."
Kremy opened his eyes and once again examined Gideon's arms. There was a kind of beauty to the shapes, the different shades and textures like an expensive art piece folks would say they understand when they clearly don't. But Kremy was starting to think, that like usual, he was maybe a little better than other folk, because this art was shared with him and only him, and he was understanding it. He freed an arm from under his own body and raised a claw to trace a shape. "It's like a bunny rabbit."
Gideon let out another one of his infamous belly laughs. It was enough to make any hot (or cold) blooded person swoon. "Ooooooh, I guess it is, two ears and a nose..." Gideon caught his breath from his laughter and exhaled.
"And the little fluffy tail." Kremy chuckled and let his touch linger on Gideon's arm. Their eyes locked. Yellow slits and dark grey meeting in the dimly lit room. They were so close and the heat under his finger suddenly felt like Kremy was poking a stove. "Ye-ouch!" He pulled his finger back and put it in his mouth.
"Shit Krem! I'm sorry I-"
"Gid. It's 'ight. Your turn."
"My turn?"
"Booze has got my mind all spinning, I'm sure yours is doing the same. Let's just keep finding constellations until it settles."
"Yeah. Okay. Absolutely Kremy. Uh, this one has always reminded me of a fork, but one of those fancy kinds with an intricate handle." Gideon's voice was near breathless as Kremy snuggled up closer to his best friend, both finding shapes that Gideon had and hadn't seen before, painting pictures together in his skin that'd be their secret masterpieces.
The candle eventually burnt down to a nub, flickering out to the snores of two fools who wasted perfectly good gold on two beds. In the morning, the carnivále would be one step closer to having it's staff. In the morning, they would awkwardly laugh and avoid eye contact, slap cold metal back on wrists ready to greet the day. Hidden away from stares. Receiving no pity. Kremy would walk away with a twinge in his chest, unmoving even after he sobered up, with the memory of Gideon unshackled for him.