Wyn eyed Seon when he leaned back into his body, gauging his emotions and thoughts. He wasn't too good at it, and that frustrated him, but he still tried. Here and there, he'd lean down and kiss the top of Seon's head, his own thoughts racing. What had caused this breakdown? What could he do to better help Seon? What could he do to lessen the chances of triggering another one? There was so much he didn't know, and he really wished that weren't the case, but unfortunately he couldn't do anything about it without being a nosy arse.
"Of course," Venera chirped, perhaps a little too cheerful. Her eyes locked onto her son, demanding he take care of the God on the road ahead. The look he shot her said he didn't need parental orders to take care of his Seon. She stood and squeezed Wyn in a bone-crushing hug, then Simone took his turn. "We'll miss you both, and wish you all the luck in the world." She even hugged Seon, though her grip was loose and brief, aware that the God was still shaken. Simone refrained from the gesture, though he did nod and smile warmheartedly—a man of few words, as always. Wyn, once free, latched onto Seon's arm and pressed his cheek into their shoulder, still worried but not wanting to smother them anymore in front of his parents.
"We should pack while they go," he murmured, low enough that his parents couldn't hear. "Get some things we need so we don't have to buy more than necessary."
Seon hardly returned the hug he received, not much in the mood to be touched. He nodded his head back, glancing over at the door as Wyn spoke his thoughts.
"That would be smart." Seon pulled him along, back inside, shutting the door behind him. Once out of earshot and going up the steps, Seon spoke again: "I do not have personal items. I was not given anything to travel with, as I do not depend on food and water as normally and daily as you Fae do. I can choose to eat of course, but I need not to." Seon paused at the top of the steps, looking to Wyn. "I trust you to pack light but essential. We only need the basic of the basic, as we shouldn't be weighed down while traveling." Seon shivered wordlessly, an obvious sigh leaving him. "I think it would be smart if we brought weapons, but I can perform a handful of protective spells. I know several housekeeping and cooking spells, so we need not… bring that." He nodded to Wyn's room, withdrawing into himself. "I'll stay out here. Please hurry and make yourself a pack."
Wyn followed Seon into the house and up the stairs, and turned to face them when they stopped. Something was off with the God, and it killed him that he didn't know what was wrong or how to help. So when he was practically dismissed, he didn't take it personally. Wyn opened his mouth to say something, closed it, reached a hand out with the intention of kissing Seon's cheek, then dropped it and nodded without carrying it out. "I'll be quick," he whispered, then turned and headed into his room.
Rushing around his room, he changed his clothes to something more apt for traveling than his pajamas. Wyn pulled on his black leather pants, the material well-worn and flexible but practically new-looking still. Next was a button-up blouse, the white material clean and actually new. Over it was a leather corset-type accessory that wrapped around his waist and laced at his back. He pulled up a pair of muddy brown travel boots that nearly went up to his knees, also laced. Next was the long velvet cloak, the hood far too large for his head but tended to work wonderfully to hide his face when pulled up. He grabbed some leather bracers and strapped them onto his arms, then moved towards a chest pushed against the wall of his room. Inside was a bag already packed with essentials, including the "essential" jewelry that Wyn liked to wear in a small hidden compartment, along with bags of coin. Next to the bag, which he pulled out, were weapons. He grabbed two daggers and slid them into their hidden sheaths on the top of his bracers, an assortment of throwing knives that went into the corset, and a bow with a covered quiver of arrows. The bow was slung over his shoulder, beneath the cloak, and the quiver strapped to a set of clips on the corset. And all that was left…
Wyn gently lifted the sword left in the chest, sliding it partially out of the sheath. He had never brought this weapon along with him, thinking it unnecessary. A gift from his ancestor, passed down the generations. Even throughout the years, it never dulled, never lost its delicate etchings of interpreted beauty along the blade. A perfect curve, perfect balance, and perfect grip. After a moment of hesitation, he slid it back into its sheath and strapped it to his hip. This time, it just might be needed.
Now ready, Wyn turned on his heel and headed back to Seon. This was it.
Seon stood and swayed with himself, hugging his arms close to his body, eyes half-closed. As bumps and shuffles from Wyn hastily getting ready alerted Seon of being somewhat alone for the last time in a while. He leaned up against the wall, cold against him. The darkness dwelling and gripping him did not let go as he breathed and focused on not thinking about it, the anxiety omnipresent despite his quiet moment.
Seon leaned off the wall, rubbing his face before opening his eyes to greet himself with the sight of Wyn. His eyes flirted over the corset and quiver of bows, nodding a little.
"You took less time than I expected. Do you want to eat before we leave? I am okay to go now, but I understand that neither of us have eaten or prepared such food. I have a couple means of hunting if you are too restless to eat now." Looking at Seon standing there looking quite tired and dilapidated from his breakdown, there was hardly a thing that could have equaled to a weapon. Nothing hanging off of the soft clothes he wore, his antlers weren't quite sharp enough to spear something, and his scrawnier form wasn't all that impressive.
Wyn shook his head while tying up his hair, careful to not disturb the braids put there by Seon. "No, I have some preserved jerky I can eat on the way." He surveyed Seon, head tilted. Wyn had to remind himself that Seon was a God, and didn't need to be as prepared as him. It didn't stop him from wishing they had at least something. Something was better than being left with nothing. He'd be viewed as defenseless, an easy picking. But again, Wyn backed off.
"Míría has been informed. I told her to seek out Phorae for company and to look after the house while I'm gone. Obviously my parents know now and will take care of anything else she doesn't get to. All my essentials are packed." He wiggled the bag in hand. "Coin, preserved food, a water bag, clothing, so on. Weapons." The only visible weapons being his bow and sheathed sword. "We should be set to leave now." He wanted to, so badly, reach out and hold Seon, but he had a feeling he wouldn't be welcomed. Besides, they needed to go, and he'd only slow them down by clinging to the God.
Easy picking for now, at least. From that stark contrast of the pair, it would be hard to guess who was the God if not for Seon's strange appearance. He met Wyn's eyes steadily, as though searching for a morsel of his speech that suggested a lie or nervousness. When he didn't find any, he nodded and straightened out in posture, shaking light hair out of his face.
Because of his set expression, usually juvious and bright, he looked most like his father in this moment. The long, hooked nose, with a broader jaw flexing with unspoken thought, and the only thing relatively lightening up his appearance was the floaty, long hair that fluttered and moved with its own intention.
"Good. Well, let us go then." He paused for a few seconds, then started moving down the steps, still unconsciously hugging himself, deep in his own thoughts.
He didn't idle much longer after reaching downstairs. He slid out the door, waving one last good bye to Wyn's parents with his feet determinedly on the path towards the river behind the churches, desperate to feel that familiar riverbed once more.
Uneasy but not going to argue with the God, Wyn followed, bidding goodbye to his plants and asking them to protect his house. Leaves rustled and petals waved. He'd be gone far longer than his past travels, that he knew for certain, but at least he had the experience of it to keep his head on straight and not flounder in the face of obstacles. His parents knew that, so they only grasped his hand for a second in a final farewell, and he slipped away with Seon to begin their journey.
Wyn trailed slightly behind Seon as they walked, mind switching gears. He'd likely need to hunt at some point, as his jerky and other magically preserved foods would only last them for so long. He had flints for starting fires, and had practiced using his knives to create the sparks. Of course, the hidden coin in the chance of theft. Wyn brushed his fingers over the sheath holding his sword, hoping he wouldn't need to use it—but chances were, he would. At the very least, if he were challenged and need a God's favor outside of Seon, he had it as an indisputable token. Clothing and tailoring equipment. Blankets.
In silence, he mentally went through the list, checking and double-checking. Something to fill the silence, but also put his mind at ease during his little ritual while setting off for a journey.
Seon walked in front of Wyn, laying down a path of where to set their feet. They passed the walls of the slowly populating as the night grew older, and the clerics who lived and slept there. Seon trudged in the faceless forest, his mind stuck on where is feet will bring him. He went over familiar roots, skipped the rocks jutting up, taking the leeway directly to the river itself.
A few minutes, perhaps close to half an hour of walking in silence in their own thoughts, they arrived next to the quick river. Because of the swollen moon these last few days, pushing on the banks and the water hushing and gushing, splatters of water jumping up. Kind of like a few days ago, where Wyn witnessed the same ferocity of the water when introduced to Seon again.
The God idled near the river, slipping his delicate feet out of his boots and onto the grassy space below. He didn't stop there– he stepped down with delicate precision, balancing on rocks, traversing it so he didn't slip or break his ankle. Wind picked up his hair and clothes, sweeping them the opposite way of the mountain. Biting cold air, harsh on the delicate faces of the Fae, angry mountain air. Seon said nothing, instead stood in the middle of the knee-high river, not allowing the water to push him along.
Watching Seon did nothing to answer his confusion. He had no idea what Seon was doing or thinking as he entered the river, and wasn't particularly fond of the idea of joining them for a midnight bath. So he leaned against the nearest tree, arms crossed over his chest, and watched them stand in the water. For half a second, his mind tricked him into thinking that Seon would start bathing, and he covered his mouth and nose to rub at the instant blush. "I do hope you're not here to brood," he said, trying to hide his flushed complexion. "Because as much as I'm happy with letting you do your thing… whatever this is… I'd recommend brooding while on the move. Y'know. Practicality." His nerves were getting the best of him, leading to nonsensical babbling, so he shut his mouth and shifted his weight to his other leg, itching his calf with his opposite heel. On the road with Seon. What sort of life would that bring? He still didn't know where their relationship stood, so he refrained from assuming too much. How often would they make camp? Would Seon prefer that over stopping at an inn? Wyn usually preferred sleeping in a bed, but he didn't mind the earthen floor. His eyes lingered on the God's clothing. They'd have to change at some point. Wyn doubted Gods were exempt from getting dirty. Smelling, perhaps, but dirt? That had to be universal, and Wyn refused to travel with an unkempt companion that didn't change clothing for something clean.
Water crept up the legs of Seon's pants, able to be seen as a dark line that slowly inched its way along the curve of the God's legs. Surprisingly, Wyn was ignored, but that could have been blamed on the nature of his comments. He hugged his arms close to himself again, inhaling deeply and sucking in that air, fresh and harsh against the lungs that previously had such acrid, dirty air. Indeed, it felt nice to just zone everything else out and listen to the hush of the river.
To an outsider, Seon was blatantly ignoring Wyn at this point. His eyes were closed, back turned on the Fae, swaying with himself in his arms as his hair swished behind him. Who needed to worry when such beautiful things like rivers and this moontouched scenery laid around the God. It was like a cold drink on a sunny day, dissipating the sweat and leaving a happier Seon behind. There was no such thing of practicality when it came to his own mental health. A simple principle, in Seon's mind. Besides… they desperately needed this.
Wyn tipped his head to the side, watching Seon more closely. His curiosity got the better of his worry, and he started paying more attention after being ignored. If the God were actually being melodramatic, they'd give him a response. But there were no words, muted or joking, and that told him to pay attention.
Seon seemed to be deep in thought and incredibly withdrawn into himself. Meditating? Maybe this was Seon's way of calming down from whatever had spooked them from before. Wyn didn't want to inturrupt anymore, if he had even been heard, so he slid down to the ground against the tree and pulled the hood over his head, keeping himself curled up in his cloak and out of Seon's way. To keep himself busy, he pulled out his daggers one by one to make sure they were sharp, carefully running his fingers over the edge of each blade. Every once and a while, he'd glance up to check on Seon. I hope you're okay, he silently prayed, and I hope I can someday help you be okay.
Seon's eyes flicked open suddenly, shivering like an icicle pierced through his entire body, flitting around, alert and awake, eyes trained into Wyn's mostly hidden body.
"Did you say something just now?" Wyn's voice had run clear in his ears, surprising his completely focused brain. The voice had startled him of course, but the fact that it was Wyn's voice made it still somewhat soothing, most likely the best thing to awaken him from his slumber. His hand stroked one of his long ears idly, and he climbed from the river, but still sat by her side, looking down at the water. Seon didn't tuck his legs into himself as desired, just half-closing his eyes as if in a doze. He sat somewhat angled towards Wyn, so his long nose and deep eye sockets visible in the bright moon. He somehow seemed to have aged hundreds of years under the ghostly light, silvery on his light blue skin and shimmery, despite his more solemn expression.
Seon's voice startled Wyn. A quick and unfortunate flinch left him swearing swiftly and quietly. Little beads of blood rose up from the pad of his fingers and his palm, double and clean cuts stretched across his hand. Not wanting to worry the God, or leave them unanswered, Wyn hid the wound in the folds of his cloak as he stood. "I–? No?" He walked over to the river, cautious of the harsh waters, and stopped just before the God and sat down. Yellow peeked out from beneath his hood, confused. To see Seon better, Wyn used his good hand to pull back the hood, revealing furrowed brows. Now, he could make out the little touches of detail the moon highlighted on their face, as well as the oddly different hue of their eyes. Almost on instinct, he reached out to brush his knuckles over Seon's wrist—again, with his good hand—just to provide that physical presence. "I didn't say anything. What did you hear?"
Seon turned his head as Wyn joined him the shufflings of the grass and the clatter of rocks dropping bringing his eyes up to Wyn's face. The hand closest dropped and allowed Wyn to touch it, the farthest rubbing his ear still, as if there was an itch that wouldn't go away. He looped their fingers, the stalks of grass around their joined hands tickling and teasing their delicate skin.
"I heard you say… I hope you're okay. I hope I can some day help you be okay." Seon paused for a moment. "You are much more worried about me than others have been before. I'm honored to have such a beautiful person such as yourself as my lover." His eyes closed again, heaving a bit sigh. "I'm not used to hearing voices like that when meditating. I think that can only truly be broken by a devout follower's prayer. Seeing as you are my only follower… It would make sense that it was you." Seon laughed softly, leaning against Wyn a little. "I suppose we should get going soon. I just could not resist it." His last few words were weighed down with reluctancy, an obvious upset tone about his words. "But it is of no concern."
Once again, cheeks bloomed rose, and Wyn rested his forehead against Seon's shoulder while staring at their joined hands. "Ah. That." No, he hadn't spoken. But he had thought it. Prayed for it. He hadn't realized Seon would actually hear it, and the knowledge that he had sent him into a spiral. Wyn wrapped his other hand around his stomach, palm to body, and cuddled close to the God. 'Others.' He didn't want to think about the implications of that meaning, as well as the suggestion that his simple worry for Seon went above the set standard of care for the God. Wyn bumped his nose against Seon's shoulder, recognizing the tone, and smiled slightly. "It is of concern to me. You're allowed to stay here for as long as you need, love. I'm not stopping you." A quick and simple kiss to the side of their head. "You heard me. I want you to be okay, and if being here helps, then please, don't be in a rush for the sake of time." He didn't want to be that partner that valued punctuality and being on a set schedule over his partner's mental and physical well-being. Wyn wanted to help, and if him encouraging Seon to take just a few extra minutes did that, then he'd gladly sit and wait.
Seon glanced around for a couple seconds, but was brought back to looking at Wyn from the kiss to his head. A little smile crossed over his features and he leaned against Wyn some more, relaxing his tensed muscles and bumping their heads together, his antlers scratching Wyn in the slightest bit.
"You're right. It would be good for me to take a breather– I know Fae and other Gods are in quite the hurry. Especially in regards to such an important mission we have on our shoulders." Seon stole a glance up the river, which was visible as far as the eye could see. But Seon knew deep in his heart where it lead. It was quite unfortunate to see such a beautiful cut of land turn into a mountainous hellscape. If the entire journey was next to her, it would have been hard still, but soothing with the blood of the land next to them.
Seon zoned out again, looking down into the river and mulling over his thoughts. They would have to break away from the river; when she ended, or when their path simply diverged… It would be unfortunate indeed.
"You should get in with me," Seon suggested softly, pointing down to the smoothly running water. "You should feel for yourself how the tides of the earth move the soul and cleanse the nasty energy from your soul."
Wyn watched Seon as they zoned in and out, a tiny, slightly sad smile dancing across his features anytime he caught Seon getting lost into his thoughts. Something told him that they weren't thinking anything philosophical or quietly analyzing the littlest thing he saw, but their pensive expression highlighted by the moonlight and water's reflection made them terribly attractive—and Wyn had a front-row viewing. Did it make him just a little guilty for admiring a probably upset Seon? Most definitely, and it sent him into an inner turmoil. Did I deserve to stare?
He didn't need to worry much, though, as that smile disappeared the minute the God suggested he get into the water. Somehow he shifted from awestruck to radiating an air of offence, all with out blatantly changing his expression. "I'm quite acquainted with the tide's temper, and how easily it is for them to move me off my feet."
Seon paused, staring at Wyn for a few moments, observing that indignant expression. Seon said nothing in response, simply tilted his head like a dog with those grey eyes gentle but somehow… Emotionless. They did not sparkle with that same gait that they usually did, just sat flat in the whites of his eyes.
"You do not have to if you do not want to. This river may look mighty, but she is quite the gentle river. She has worn her rocks and banks down over the span of thousands of years Dïonga has carefully peeled the layers of dirt away for the blood of this forest. For the life force of several Gods and Goddesses. This river knows nothing but love and worship. We might as well return it." Seon bobbed his feet just above the water, the bank barely too high for him to reach. "She will be gentle and kind, I know it. I have lived and cried and rejoiced near her side, and she offered her quiet solace in response. All I could ask of her. When no one else would." Seon shifted, still holding Wyn's hand, and picked his way towards the quiet, clear water. "Please, allow me to guide you. You may hold on if you so please."
Wyn didn't know what to say to that. His main concern lied in his past experiences with being thrashed around by ocean waves while supposedly safe on a ship, or being caught in a current while crossing a river and ending up a mile away from where he wanted to be. He and the very respectable element did not get along in the slightest, which he understood and practiced caution when needed. But this river seemed to sing a song of Seon's comfort and safety, and his mind's clarity. In his bid for respect and personal safety, Wyn would be disrespecting that relationship by refusing the God's request.
So he let himself be pulled along, neither hesitant nor eager. "Do not let go," was all he warned, and kept close to Seon's body while eyeing every footstep he allowed towards the river. His injured hand, now stinging something fierce, stayed tucked around his waist, though he kept wanting to hold it out for balance. Seon couldn't know of the injury. He would fuss, and Wyn wasn't the one in need of fussing.
Seon reached out to grab the other hand held aloft away from him, drawing him into the middle of the stream. The water diverged from around their legs, making small forks with diagonal lines connecting the lines of continuous water washing around their legs. Seon held on to Wyn, but shortly after pausing, moved one of his hands back to reveal small spots of blood dancing along his thick skin.
"Are you bleeding, Wyn?" Seon asked, gently grabbing the wrist of the hand he was holding, it to try and identify what was going on. Then he saw the beads of thick velvety blood, bringing it closer to his face. "Oh, goodness. You cut yourself. That's no good." And not without a single other second of thought, stuck the tip of the finger into his mouth. A couple laps of Seon's tongue, and once he released the finger from the clutches of his warm cheeks, the cut was completely gone. Seon analyzed the rest of the hand, not taking long to find that cut on his palm as well. With no sense of hesitation whatsoever, he ran his tongue along the length of the cut, and a warm sensation that was masked by first being in his mouth seized the muscles of Wyn's hand for a few brief moments. Seon rubbed his thumbs along the injuries, pushing on them and finding no more blood, and just soft lines of pink.
Wyn nearly had a heart attack when Seon took his other hand, silently and fiercely hoping they wouldn't notice the wound and somehow wash off their hands before seeing the blood. But his hope fizzled out the second Seon paused and looked at their hand. Shit. Now what? Do I make an excuse? It doesn't hurt all that bad, the cut is shallow; it just hurts like a bitch—
Apparently, Seon already had a plan for what came next, and that plan caused a strangled noise of surprise and panic from somewhere in the middle of Wyn's throat. The usual routine quickly followed—flushed cheeks and ears, bitten lip, and a non-functioning brain screaming for help on how to process and react to the strange act. Of course, there was no getting around the sexual undertones to the action, even if Seon hadn't meant it to be. It's how his mind—and body—reacted to it, and that was all he could focus on. The sensation of their tongue running alone his palm sent odd feelings through his body's nerves, shooting off a myriad of physical responses that he so wished weren't happening. At the very least, none of it was visible, even if he drowned in every little emotion and feeling.
Wyn needed an outlet. He'd think of nothing else at this rate, and he needed something else to get his mind off of… everything that just happened. A large part of him wanted to simply curl up into a ball and attract as little attention as possible. But the other… His tongue flicked over his lips, long tooth nicking the skin, and finally dragged his gaze from his hand to Seon's face. "Can I kiss you?"
Seon gave his lover a rounded grin, looping their fingers once more after making sure there was no other sign of injury. Their gaze flicked between Wyn's strange expression and even weirder movements of analysis. His head was tilted by the time Wyn had looked back at him, but he smiled and moved closer, water sloshing under him as he shifted to help supply with a kiss. He didn't completely close the gap, curious about the sudden desire for a kiss. His eyes still flicked around Wyn's face, focusing on his lips for a few seconds to witness the licking of a long tooth, then back up to his eyes with a sense of curious sparkle back to his person. No one but Wyn could get such a shift of emotion from doing something as simple as nicking himself with a knife and stepping into the river with his God.
"Are you okay?" Seon whispered softly, despite still being a couple inches apart, "If you need to step out of the water, we may do so." His lips barely moved after this point. The breaths he took were long and the words were almost mystical.
Wyn watched Seon, momentarily entranced. How did they do it? Barely a shift in expression had him completely consumed and enamored with the God's beauty. Their grins went straight for his knees and lungs, knocking him off balance and stealing his breath within seconds. The sparkle in his eyes after a time of emptiness shocked his heart into overtime. A too-intense stare flushed his snowy skin, hardly any effort put forth. Perhaps Wyn was just overly responsive and sensitive—a more likely scenario.
Seon's questions snapped him back to reality, his question and answer wiping away all other thoughts until nothing but those two things remained on his mind. Wyn nodded in answer to the first question, ignoring the second one. "Fine, I'm fine," he breathed, then surged forward and claimed Seon's lips with his. A rushed and frantic kiss, spurred on by the nipping teeth of mixed feelings and tensions, but quickly turned soft and gentle; the only thing he knew how to be. Wyn held Seon's hands tightly, as if afraid of them somehow being swept away. Whatever the ulterior motive for wanting the kiss, he couldn't deny liking it all the same. He wished it would always feel like this when he kissed Seon, even way down the road when it became routine. No sparks or anything bizarre as that, but an overwhelming surge of reciprocated intimacy and affection. Really, he'd be happy if he simply enjoyed the act without the intense feelings.
Seon paused again, daring to even hold his breath as Wyn zoned out, going empty behind his golden eyes, opening his mouth to say something. Yet the God did not have much more time to react as Wyn struck out, dealing the final blow to the rest of the thoughts in Seon's head. Anxiety momentarily was put aside, concern for Wyn's injury…. Gone. Their teeth clacked together at the messy show of intense affection, yet Seon didn't seem to mind, in fact took it to his stride until Wyn decided to take it easy. He relaxed into the kiss with a soft sigh that sent air skating across both of their warm faces. One of his hands unfurled from Wyn's, then took him around the waist, another one of his quiet promises to keep Wyn safe. He held the slightly smaller Fae against their sturdy, warm body, contracting the coolness of the river and the consistent stronger flow of the tide. The only thing Seon was worried about was following Wyn's consistent kissing pattern to at least have a different experience together.
Kissing in the middle of a river had never made it to the top one hundred list of romantic things to do, yet here Wyn stood, doing just that and loving every moment of it. That arm around his waist promised safety and protection. Wyn leaning in spoke of trust to do just that. His free hand slid up to grip the side of Seon's neck, keeping them close and subtly feeling his pulse beneath his fingers. At some point, he became all smiles, and Wyn had to pull away a fraction because it started interfering with his already shoddy ability to kiss. He made sure to keep their lips close, close enough to bump as he spoke. "I'm no good at this," he observed with a small laugh, voice low but crystal clear to the God—including his joy. Wyn wouldn't let his inexperience get the better of him, and he was a student of the Gods after all. He peered up at Seon from beneath his lashes, a playful quirk to his nibbled lips somehow coming across as shyly seductive, and asked, "Teach me?"
