--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]

Some mortals, when exposed to magic for a long period of time, begin to change. You must be one such mortal.

[Helped by Yusuke, of course.]

[hoshikiri]

Do you think so...? I... I never would have considered that.

[Takame had special sight but was not meant to be anything more than... fodder. Now he had scales?]

... What sort of scales are these, Yusuke? Do you know?

[stripartist]

If I had to guess? Dragon.

[He runs a hand over the welts, soothing the itch for a little while.]

We're too far from water for them to be merfolk.

[hoshikiri]

Dragon...?

[He was forming scales of a dragon?

Before that thought could take off, Takame felt himself leaning into Yusuke's touch for the relief. It felt nice. Being touched by Yusuke was nice... but he pulled back a little.]

My apologies... it's been very... itchy. These places where I've gotten scales. It is more than my arms, my chest and back are the same.

[stripartist]

Hm?

[Oh, cute.]

No, it's fine. If it'll help, I'll happily apply a lotion or even just cast some soothing magic, Takame. I don't want you to be uncomfortable.

[hoshikiri]

You would? I would have simply opted to bear with it, I've no issue doing so. My comfort matters little.

[This was clearly a habit he hadn't broken yet from those humans he was with.]

... But... if you would, I would not decline. [It is very very itchy if he's accepting the help.]

[stripartist]

[Yusuke frowns.]

Your comfort matters a great deal to me, Takame. I'm not like those humans, you know.

[hoshikiri]

Forgive me, I did not mean to offend...

[Said fidgeting a bit, then stepping a little closer. It's true. Yusuke was not like them. Yusuke was always kind. Has been this entire time. Yusuke made him see color in life. Made him feel warmth in his chest.

Yusuke smelled nice, he thought. But that was probably just because he was getting hungry thinking of steak.]

Will you help me? It is... very, very itchy.

[stripartist]

Of course. Tell me what you want for dinner, and I'll tell Mika and grab some lotion that might help.

[He smiles softly.]

[hoshikiri]

[Yusuke might be expecting "whatever you would like". Or due to his hand in this transformation, might be expecting a slight shift.]

I think that... I would like steak. And... may I ask that it is cooked rare?

[stripartist]

Of course, Takame.

[Off Yusuke goes to get the lotion and inform the kitchens that it's steak for dinner tonight. Soon enough, he returns to Takame's room with the lotion, as well as a bowl of water and a rag.]

The water is medicated, so it should help your skin not itch so badly as your scales grow.

[hoshikiri]

[Takame waited patiently for Yusuke to get what he needed and has since tied all of his hair up into a messy bun. He gave Yusuke a nod.]

I see. Thank you for helping me, Yusuke.

[...]

Will I still be handsome to you? Even if I am growing dragon scales?

[stripartist]

[Cute. So. Cute.

Yusuke nods, gesturing for Takame to sit so he can tend to him.]

Extremely so. You might even become more handsome to me, who knows?

[hoshikiri]

Do you think so?

[Takame certainly hoped so. He wanted to be as appealing as possible for Yusuke.

But he sat down as asked so Yusuke could help him with the itch of hell.]

[stripartist]

[Yusuke starts with washing the welts, hoping that will help.]

I do. I like dragons, actually, I find them gorgeous and mysterious.

[hoshikiri]

Ah--.

[It helped. It helped a lot, and Yusuke's hands on him made his heart start racing and so much warmth envelop him. There's a sharp but relieved sigh on having the welts washed, already feeling a lot better.]

Mnh... The gorgeous and mysterious one is Yusuke...

[stripartist]

Flatterer.

[It seems to be helping. Good.]

I'm just a fox.

[hoshikiri]

A gorgeous fox... a beautiful fox that saved me.

[Saved him from loneliness and grey. It was working very well as Takame sounded so much more relaxed.]

[stripartist]

You say that a lot, that I saved you...how did I save you, Takame?

[hoshikiri]

... I had nothing before. I had a life on the run with a young lady who wished to live her own life and a man who was selfish... Before that I had a life of endless strife and war...

[Takame leaned into his touch unconsciously. He was clearly only speaking so much because he was so comfortable it just came flowing out.]

I was alone before Yusuke... There was nothing for me before Yusuke... There was no color before Yusuke...

[stripartist]

[Hm.

Yusuke casts a small spell on the water to encourage Takame to speak more.]

So you were barely living?

[hoshikiri]

[And he does. Most of the time Takame's tone contained little emotion. But some leaked into it here. Sorrow.]

I was not living... I have felt nothing since the last time I saw my mother alive... Yusuke makes me feel alive... he brings light and color into my life...

[stripartist]

I try. ...your mother?

[hoshikiri]

I've not been called by my given name since the last time I saw her. She was killed. Then I was taken to help occupy territory in the west.

I have been known as Tsurugi for most of my life... Yusuke calls me Takame. I like how Yusuke says my name... how his song sounded the day he took me here...

[He was leaning even more into the touch and not thinking about his words at all.]

[stripartist]

[It's almost as if he's forgotten he's talking to Yusuke.]

...my mother was taken from me, as well. She was sick, and my former teacher let her die. I wonder if that's why my song affected you so strongly.