--Faerie--

[stripartist]

[A beautiful white fox sleeps on a stump outside the village. Most of the villagers are unsure of the fox, as white foxes aren't typical here and it might be a bad omen. But so far nothing has happened, so no one has tried to chase it off.

The only reason nothing has happened yet is because Yusuke is recovering from travel. Once he's had a good long nap, he plans on making this village part of his new kingdom and will be inspecting it.]

Comments

[stripartist]

[Yep. Consort.

Yusuke blushes a little.]

Tell me, Takame, what skills do you have?

[And are they in the bedroom?]

[hoshikiri]

[Takame hesitated. Again, he fiddled with his sleeve.]

Forgive me but I, ah, I have very little save for manual labor and impeccable combat ability.

[stripartist]

[He can fix this.]

And being handsome, yes?

[hoshikiri]

Ah?

[Him? Surely he's not bad looking but handsome? He looked away slightly, now pushing loose hair behind his ear again.]

I... I would not consider myself particularly striking. Is it a "skill" to be handsome? I would go so far as to say you are more trained in it...

[stripartist]

[Oh, if only he weren't human.

....Yusuke can fix that.]

Flatterer. Trust me, you are extremely handsome for a mortal. I'll have to make sure no one else tries to take you.

[hoshikiri]

It is the truth.

[It isn't baseless, he was just objectively pretty.

Takame tilted his head.]

Take me? I don't understand what you mean.

[stripartist]

People like me love pretty mortals. Most would resort to kidnapping, including from another of our kind.

[hoshikiri]

I see.

[In all honesty, he disliked the idea of being with another creature of magic besides Yusuke.]

... Will you keep me? Am I handsome enough for you to keep me? Is there anything I can do to make myself more appealing for you?

[stripartist]

[...is he just. Asking that. Outright.

Good gods.

Yusuke smiles and reaches out to caress Takame's cheek.]

Right now? Rest and enjoy yourself. Maybe let me experiment with you, see if you look better as...I don't know, a blond, maybe?

[hoshikiri]

Ah... [Oh, Takame's heart went wild at that touch. He started to blush a little. As he was showering, he had the thought that if he stayed here having eaten Yusuke's food already... would he never be alone?

Would he never have to run again? The more he thought of that, the more weight he felt leaving his shoulders.]

I confess that I am unsure of how to simply rest. But I will try.

[Experiment with him, though? An odd choice of words perhaps but the idea of him going blonde... he imagined it in his head and thought that it would look nice.]

So long as you do not cut my hair... you may do whatever you wish.

[stripartist]

There will be a trim, but just to keep your hair looking its best. Humans need that sort of upkeep, at least until they get used to magic.

[By which he means "transformed"]

But no more than strictly necessary, I promise.

[hoshikiri]

[Takame collected his loose hair, bringing it to his front and hanging onto it protectively. The word "trim" had him reluctant. His hair was what allowed him to feel just a little pretty.

But collecting it as he did, he noticed the many, many, many split ends he had from letting it grow out poorly and being unable to take proper care of it.

So begrudgingly... he nodded.]

If you insist...

[Flicks at a split end. Get used to magic... surely that simply meant the same as getting used to an elevation level or something akin to that.]

[stripartist]

Just the one trim, I promise. Otherwise...is there anything in particular you'd like to try? Appearance wise?

[hoshikiri]

[He'll trust Yusuke and let his hair go free, relaxing. As for the question, he tilted his head.]

I am not sure... I... I would like to try having blonde hair. I have never considered changing anything else.

[He already had a damn good body, he knew that much.]

[stripartist]

[Snap!

Takame's hair is now blond.]

Like that?

[hoshikiri]

[He saw that almost immediately, being used to his hair falling over his face a little. He noticed it was lighter, brought the loose hair back around again and the entire thing was lighter.

He stood up to find the closest mirror nearby to see himself and just... stared in awe for a long moment, running a hand through his now blonde hair.]

Ah... [The way he ran his hand through loose strands and kept turning his head to see how it looked from different angles showed he liked what he saw. Yusuke did this just like that...]

[stripartist]

Do you like it, Takame?

[Yusuke stays in his chair, smiling. He hopes Takame likes it, it'll make this a lot easier later.]

[hoshikiri]

... I do. Very much.

[He's still playing with it, even.]

[stripartist]

[Takame's confirmation makes the magic take. His hair is now always blond...and he will be more malleable to Yusuke's magic.]

A gift from me. We can get someone to trim your hair tomorrow, if that's alright? I don't want to overwhelm you.

[hoshikiri]

[Takame was so into how his hair looked now that "trim" didn't even make him flinch.]

Mm. It is... thank you. Thank you so much, Yusuke...

[stripartist]

Of course, Takame.

[Time passes, though it's hard to tell how much time here beneath the hills. The villagers who had left with Takame are all adjusting nicely; some have become servants, others have joined Yusuke's court, and one or two have left with friends of his. Takame, however, is clearly special and is often requested at Yusuke's side. Yusuke doesn't explain why, and no one seems inclined to ask.

Of course, it's mostly so he can more easily and subtly start transforming Takame into what Yusuke feels is a more suitable form. Takame, to him, is a dragon. He cannot explain it, he just knows it's fact. So that is what he is turning his Takame into, slowly but surely. Starting with scales.]

[hoshikiri]

[How much time was a mystery, but it was more than enough time for Takame to become utterly infatuated with Yusuke. It's rare to see Takame not by his side or close otherwise. Or asking any of the servants if they required assistance in tending to their lord.

There are times early in the morning where Takame still trained and that time was spent on his own. Or times where Yusuke was lost in his art and Takame would dare not disturb him. But Takame couldn't help but wonder if this was love.

Lately, Takame had been getting very... itchy. Seeing some sort of welts appear on his arms and chest where the itching started. Had he eaten something he had a reaction to, he wondered?

If someone were to seek him out, they'd likely find him in his quarters without a shirt on and checking these very itchy spots in the mirror.]

Hmm...

[stripartist]

Takame, Mika was wondering--oh.

[Well, he does like shirtless Takame, but why is he looking at himself like that?]

Is something wrong?

[hoshikiri]

Ah, Yusuke. No, nothing is wrong, I just seem to be developing some manner of... rash?

[He thinks its a rash anyway. Hives? Something like that. But he turned to speak to Yusuke proper, habitually scratching at a patch of developing scales on his arm.]

Am I required for something?

[stripartist]

No, Mika was simply wondering what you would like for dinner. But--a rash? Let me see.