forum The Strangers in the Palace (Closed)(Fantasy)

Started October 31, 2021 by @LovelyRose

tune

Arquis felt his face burn. He knew he shouldn’t be so embarrassed over it, but he felt like a child being admonished by a parent. That wasn’t what Rin had done, he knew, yet he couldn’t shake the feeling. He accepted their kiss with a slight frown.

Honey watched him for just a moment more, eyebrows drawn, before shrugging. He’d apparently eaten his share of the ice cream because he popped the lid back on. His expression was hard to read.

“I don’t know. I really wanna go to my room, but…” He made a noncommittal sound and tapped his spoon against the side of the container. “Y’know.”

“You are afraid of being out in the halls?” Arquis guessed, voice gentle once more.

“And I don’t know if I can be alone right now. Or if I should?” Honey glanced away. His jaw clenched, and his mouth did that thing again, slanting to the side. “Don’t feel too great.” He laughed, but it was humorless and brittle. “Not in a good place, if you catch my drift.”

Arquis recalled what he’d said earlier, the comment about damaged goods and finishing the job. His heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to say something, Honey plowed on.

“I know, I know, I’ve made you deal with too much of my crap already. You don’t gotta come with me. I’m old enough to take care of myself. It’s just a slump, and I’ll bounce back. Be on my feet in no time.”

"You can stay in here, Honey. We aren't going to kick you out, and we don't mind helping you." Rin responded in a soft tone. "Okay? Please don't feel you have to leave, especially when…" he trailed off, unsure how to finish the sentence. Especially when Honey's words hinted at suicide? At self-harm? At things Rin could hardly bear to consider, not when he had tried some of them before? The scar on their throat was faint enough that most didn't notice it, but it was still there.

Honey rubbed the back of his neck with his good hand. On the one hand, he wouldn’t mind staying there, but on the other, he really, really wanted to be back in his own space. He dropped the spoon and did the same thing he’d done earlier. Rubbing his thigh, irritating the scratched skin underneath. His eyes were dark and stormy.

“It’s just hard,” he remarked absentmindedly, pausing only to gesture at his head, “to turn this thing off. Doesn’t ever stop going. Running round and round in circles. Telling me I’m not worth shit, that I’m never getting outta here. That I shoulda given up a long time ago. That I still can, and that it’d be easier. That people don’t like me, not really. I think that one’s right on the money. I’m a pain in the ass. Always have been.”

That explained, Arquis thought sadly, Honey’s fear of being hated. He thought people liked him only if he did what they wanted. Which was clearly untrue. The woman in the kitchen had clearly been fond of him, as was Arquis.

Honey was speaking again. “If- if I did go, uh, to my room. Would you guys come with me? I can’t- being here. Is hard. ‘Cause it looks like- all of the guest rooms are decorated the same. They all look the same.”

Rin listened quietly, shaking his head a little bit. "I…your brain is wrong about that. I like you. I know Arquis does too. Your sister does. I'm sure there's others, too, I just don't know them. And yeah, we can…we can come with you for a bit. Not forever, but…for as long as you need, as long as Arquis is alright with it too." he glanced at his partner, then back at Honey again.

(this will hopefully lighten the mood a bit :D)

Honey nodded silently and moved to the edge of the bed. He seemed nervous. Unlike Lovey, who tugged on her hair, he fidgeted with his clothes. Tugging his collar, adjusting his sleeves. After a moment, he stood. His legs weren’t quite steady. He staggered to the nearest wall and used it to prop himself up. His complexion was so unusually pale that he stood out in the relative darkness of the room.

Arquis stood, tucked the ice cream under one arm, and picked Honey’s shorts up from the floor. There was a key inside the left pocket. After getting permission, he wrapped his free arm around Honey’s shoulders. Honey leaned on him as he opened the door. He could feel the blonde’s every shallow breath, the way he tensed when the hallway came into view. He was putting on a brave face, but it was obvious that he was terrified. As they stepped out together, he instantly scanned the hall before giving any directions. First was a left, and then, after a little while, a right. There were sounds still coming through doors, but nobody else was out of their rooms.

They ended up at a random door that looked like all of the rest. There was no identifying label on it. Arquis figured this was a safety measure and slid the key into the lock. It opened with a click.

Honey’s room was lovely. His bed was smothered in a mess of fluffy blankets and pillows, and he had drawings hung up all over the walls. There was a massive wardrobe that was neatly arranged to show off an array of clothing. One half held clothes that were likely worn for work, including shorts, small dresses, sheer tights, various undergarments, and ripped shirts. The other was full of sweaters, sweatpants, and soft socks. Something also smelled fantastic. It was likely some kind of perfume, one that was scented like vanilla and buttercream.

Honey pulled away from Arquis and whistled softly. “Sugar? Sugar, you in here?”

The blankets on the bed began to wiggle, and a snout poked out. Seconds later, a little, longhaired dog emerged, blinking groggily yet wagging its light brown tail. It trotted to the edge of the bed, and Honey scooped it up.

“This is Sugar,” he said happily, and Arquis realized he was in fact introducing them to the dog. Sugar stuck out her tongue and wagged her tail furiously. “We’re not supposed to have pets here, but her mama died when she was a puppy, and, well, I couldn’t just leave her, y’know?”

(awww a puppy!)

Rin stuck close to the two, a faint smile tugging over his face when he saw the little dog. "She's adorable." he commented, reaching out to let Sugar sniff their hand, before they gently scratched between her ears. They checked, too, that they had locked the door behind them; they had. He just wanted to be safe, so no one would potentially come in and cause trouble. Lovey, or anyone else, would knock. It was those that wouldn't that they needed to be cautious of.

Honey grinned as the dog wiggled in his grip. She was desperately trying to lick their hand. “Yeah, she’s the best. Lovey and I share her, but she’s mostly mine.”

Arquis had not offered the dog his hand. He hadn’t moved since he’d walked in. Pets definitely weren’t allowed in the Palace, and even if they had been, Muria never would have let him own a dog. It would have been something smaller. He used to know some boys in his childhood that had owned and sold hunting dogs, but they’d been massive, muscular, frightening animals.

“Um. Yes. Hello,” he said stiffly to Sugar. She didn’t look his way. Her focus was entirely on Rin.

“You can sit down, if you want,” Honey offered. He pointed to the bed with his bad arm, winced, and then tilted his head to a plush chair by a vanity. The top of the vanity was covered with clutter: used makeup, worn medical books, perfumes, and jewelry.

Arquis sat robotically on the bed next to Honey. The blonde laughed as Sugar finally broke free from his grasp, leaping towards Rin with reckless abandon. She landed on the ground and began to paw at his legs. Honey picked her up again, flopped back on the bed, and set her on his stomach. Arquis tried not to stare too hard; she was beginning to frighten him. Which was odd. He didn’t know he had a fear of dogs, but he suddenly felt very much like leaving the room.

Rin grinned when Sugar pawed at his legs, smiling down at the little dog. His smile faded a little bit, though, when he saw how Arquis was behaving. They moved to sit beside him, wrapping their arm around his shoulders. "You alright, darling?" he asked softly, quiet enough that Honey probably wouldn't hear them. "You seem a little bit off." was Arquis frightened of Sugar? They weren't sure if that was why.

Arquis melted into the touch. He pressed his cheek against their shoulder and exhaled slowly. Even when he wasn’t looking at the dog, however, he could still hear her, and it was rather upsetting. He was even more upset that he was somehow bothered by a creature that weighed under six pounds. She couldn’t have hurt him even if she tried, yet he feared her like he’d fear a great beast. It was humiliating.

“I am fine,” he replied softly. This wasn’t about him. It was about Honey. He would manage. He fondly cupped the side of Rin’s face and kissed it before looking back at the blonde. He was still toppled over. Sugar was nibbling on the drawstrings of his sweatpants. When she saw Arquis looking, her tail happily thumped against the bed. He tensed and accidentally grabbed onto Rin’s arm.

Honey propped himself up on his forearms, clearly confused. “Something up? You look, uh, kinda sweaty.”

“Nothing, nothing. It is just a touch warm.”

“I can open a window?” Honey suggested.

“That is not necessary.” Though Arquis was beginning to feel a bit nauseous from fear, which was, again, ridiculous.

When Rin noticed the way Arquis grabbed at them, they let out a faint breath. It was because of Sugar. While they weren't sure why, they didn't really know how to fix it. They turned to Arquis again, holding him close. "Darling, would it help to pet her? She's very small and wouldn't hurt a flea." sometimes fears were best taken head-on, rather than avoided? But if this didn't work, then either Sugar would have to go or Arquis would, most likely.

Honey pulled the little dog close against his chest and let her sniff at his shirt. Her tail was a blur as it swished through the air. She made a pitiful whine when he kept her from returning to Rin’s side, burrowed her snout in his stomach, and wiggled pathetically. Her small legs dangled uselessly.

“She’s a sweetheart, really. Doesn’t bite. She does kinda scratch, but her nails are trimmed, see?” Honey took one of her paws and held it up. Sugar’s tongue poked out of her mouth. “She won’t hurt you. Promise.”

“I know that. I am not scared of her,” Arquis insisted. “She is not a threat.”

“Go on, then. Give her a pet, like they said.”

Arquis and Sugar stared at each other for longer than necessary. He felt a little dizzy. She, on the other hand, looked ecstatic. She was squirming around in a wild, desperate attempt to get to him. He was grateful that Honey was strong enough to hold her back. Or, he supposed, that she was small enough to be held in the first place. It would’ve been worse if she’d been a giant thing, all meat and bone and flashing fangs. If that had been the case, he thought he would’ve passed out. He still felt as if he might.

He stretched his arm out and, as quick as he possibly could, touched her head. She yelped in excitement. He yelped, too, and stood. His face was impossibly red.

Rin reached out to gently scratch between Sugar's ears, looking up at Arquis worriedly. "Are you alright, darling?" he asked softly, concerned. "Was this too much?" he liked dogs; but Arquis clearly did not. Which was fine, it just worried him a little bit, how frightened Arquis was.

“Fine, fine. It was just fine,” Arquis muttered, walking to the window. He could hear the dog bouncing around on the sheets, chasing after Rin’s hand. It made him shudder. Why was he so nervous? Honey and Rin were right. Logically, she couldn’t hurt him even if she lunged for his throat. She was smaller than the length of his forearm.

Then, in a flash, he remembered. He didn’t know how he could have possibly forgotten. Sirisa had owned two dogs. They used to sit at her feet, snapping at anyone or anything that came too close, including Muria. He’d been a toddler when one of them had latched onto her leg. She hadn’t been seriously injured, but the monstrous thing had slashed right through her thin stockings, leaving drool and blood behind. That was one of the reasons why she wore long dresses; to hide the bite scar. Arquis himself had never been bitten, but he could recall the vicious barking, the horror of red flowing from pale flesh.

Honey inched closer to Rin. In a whisper, he said, “Didn’t know he was scared of dogs.”

Rin watched Arquis for a long moment, then back at Honey. "I didn't either." they replied softly, clearing their throat. "I really didn't." they didn't know what to do now. What they could say to Arquis to help. Was there anything they could even do? They ran their hands through their hair with a faint frown, looking down at Sugar for a moment.

Sugar had finally sensed that something was off. Her tail drooped as she came to sit on Rin’s lap. She didn’t even perk up when Honey scratched under her snout, just watched Arquis as he leaned against the windowsill with his hand over his mouth. She whined very faintly when he didn’t return and looked to her owner as if expecting him to solve the problem. He just shrugged.

After a bit, Arquis gathered up his strength and forced his legs to walk him over to the bed. He looked, as Honey had said earlier, sweaty. Though there was something different about him. He knelt down before the bed so that he was at eye level with Sugar. She barked eagerly. He groaned but didn’t move. She barked again, stuck her tongue out, and wiggled closer until she was close enough to lick his forehead. Which, of course, she did. He flinched and let out a very impolite string of swears that would have made even Quirisa blush.

Honey looked both impressed and a little amused. “See? She’s a sweetheart, like I told you.”

“I think I might be ill,” Arquis croaked in a weak voice. He clambered up onto the bed and into Rin’s arms, shoving his face into their chest. They smelled familiar and felt safe.

Rin watched Arquis and Sugar carefully, keeping his hand on the dog's back to keep her from launching herself at him. He stifled a faint laugh, not wanting to hurt Arquis, and then wrapped his arm around Arquis. "That was very brave of you, darling." they said softly. They reached up to feel Arquis's forehead, checking for a fever.

(ah yeah I agree with rin getting sick then! cause I think it’d create an interesting parallel, and it’d be less stressful for you to write ari’s introduction with rin really ill—when would they start getting symptoms, maybe that night or the next day? ooh and maybe they wouldn’t be especially noticeable cause he’d already be feeling bad about the whole honey situation?)

“Mm. Not that kind of ill, my love,” Arquis murmured and nuzzled into their chest. “But thank you for being so considerate.”

“Think he means the lose his lunch kind of ill,” Honey supplied helpfully. Arquis lifted his head to give him a look, and the blonde grinned. For the first time all day, he looked boyish. He wasn’t a mature, confident man with enough charm to flatter a whole bar. He looked young, barely surpassing the cusp of adulthood. It made Arquis’s heart ache.

Sugar wormed out of Rin’s reach back to her owner’s side. He let her tackle him again, sending him sprawling onto his side. His laughter was bright and contagious as she nibbled harmlessly at his nose. She showered him in licks before turning to bark at Rin. Arquis shivered and clung onto his partner for reassurance.

(alright perfect! yeah maybe they start showing symptoms that night but they don't say anything about it bc they wanna focus on Honey, but then at some point they're just,,, undeniably sick. Like. coughing and feverish and stuff?)

"Alright, darling." he replied softly, continuing to hold Arquis. He rubbed his lover's back softly, clicking his tongue at Sugar when she barked at them. "Hush, Sugar." he told the dog, reaching out to gently tap her nose. "You're scaring my partner, naughty thing." he was still smiling, just a little bit, as he watched the little dog.

(ooh yeah like maybe they lose their voice eventually too and start having fever dreams at some point?? also question would they go back to their room for this to happen or stay with honey, cause staying with honey would give rin more reason to cover it up)

Honey scooped up Sugar and carried her over to a small crate in the corner. It was covered with a heated blanket of some kind. The little dog whined as he set her inside, but he slotted a treat through the bars and she gave a content yip. He poked another one inside before returning to the bed.

“I wanna take a bath,” he said awkwardly, grabbing one of the drawstrings on his sweatpants and giving it a yank. To even them out, he grabbed the other string and tugged it, too. “Pretty sure I don’t smell too great, and I… I don’t feel clean. Um. Yeah. So, I’m gonna do that, I think, and then… I don’t know.”

Arquis raised a brow. Honey seemed lost in thought, just as he had been earlier. He was dazed and unsteady on his feet. It wasn’t quite as bad or obvious as it had been beforehand, but the signs were the same. His gaze stuck on one point. His motions were absent, lacking clarity or purpose. His lips were slightly parted, like he was halfway through either drawing in a breath or letting one out.

(oh yeah for sure! mm idk, I was thinking maybe they stay with Honey tonight and hten the next night they're back in their room, and by then it's gotten pretty bad? what do you think?)

Rin watched Honey, getting up from his seat and coming over to the young man. "You feeling alright?" they asked, not touching him but carefully checking over him to see if they could figure out what was wrong. Something seemed off, and they wanted to help, though they weren't quite sure what to do in order to do so.

(yeah I like that!!)

Honey startled. He gave a slow nod, then gestured with his chin towards the bathroom. “Yeah, I’m just gonna… like I said, just gonna…”

Without saying another word, he walked into his bathroom. It was like watching a ghost in action. His steps had a glide to them that was somehow both heavy and light. He left the door open as he turned on the faucet, only realizing it wasn’t closed when he began to peel off his shirt. He stumbled back through it, eyes wandering aimlessly, and finally went to his wardrobe. Out of it came an oversized sweater and flannel pajama pants that looked well worn. He exited the bedroom once more, this time remembering to close and lock the door.

Arquis stood and took his partner into his arms. As worried as he was for Honey—the blonde locking himself in the bathroom was likely a safety precaution, he knew, but it was still concerning—he also had to take care of Rin. They’d had an exhausting morning. It was, according to a clock on Honey’s vanity, about three in the afternoon, and they hadn’t had a break since the two of them had found Honey in their room. Rin had to be emotionally exhausted, especially given the subject matter of the situation.

“How are you doing, my dear?” he asked softly, kissing them on the nape of their neck.