Obligatory Fanservice Episode 2: Electric Boogaloo

Log Info

• Title: Obligatory Fanservice Episode 2: Electric Boogaloo

• Emitter: Ravenstongue

• Characters: Ravenstongue, Telamon

• Place: Ravenstongue and Telamon's house

• Summary: Ravenstongue is the most dense girl that has ever lived. She's gone and bought what she thought was a swimsuit and, due to her sheltered childhood--okay, her existence--she thought it would be nice to show Telamon. Once they get past a moment of tension so tense that it that could crush a bug if it was sentient, she retreats into the bedroom to change, and Telamon spots the reason why the garden has been flourishing with aplomb since he planted the flowers: the two friendly pixies, Mirabilis and Lily-of-the-Valley. A bargain is made with the pixies: a bowl of honey and cream weekly in exchange for continued gardening efforts and the occasional rumor from other Ea-bound fey in Alexandria. Eventually, soup is served.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Dramatis Personae =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-      
Ravenstongue         5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.             
Telamon              5'6"     140 Lb     Half-Elf          Male      A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-=-= NPCs of Note =-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-    
Lily-of-the-Valley                       Pixie             Female    A blonde pixie who is a massive fangirl.
Mirabilis                                Pixie             Female    A green-haired pixie who tolerates Lily's existence.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

"Cor'lana..." Pothy says in exasperation, followed by a sigh.

"What?" Cor'lana replies as she looks up at Pothy. "You've been sighing all day since we got home from the marketplace!"

"Did you even pay attention to where you were in that clothing store? Telamon's going to get the wrong idea," Pothy replies, his blue eyes fixated onto what Cor'lana happens to be wearing.

"What do you mean? I didn't spend a lot of money, so Tel's not going to think I blew all of our money buying a swimsuit," Cor'lana says cheerfully. "I don't think he'll get the wrong idea at all. Besides, I think he'll appreciate I'm trying to be fashion-forward like he is. Bikini swimsuits are popular for a reason, even if it's more skin than I'd normally bare--but I have to be brave!"

Except Cor'lana is blissfully unaware that the garment--well, to be specific, two garments--that she's purchased and wearing do not constitute as a swimsuit. The bra and underwear set happened to be /next/ to the swimsuit section, yes, but they have a bit more lace and little violet bow-ties than a swimsuit really ought to have.

Pothy opens his beak and seems to try to figure out the words to say, but the inheritor of knowledge eventually decides that some things are best learned... from experience. "Suit yourself," he says, "but I'm not sticking around for the aftermath."

The white raven flies out of the bedroom and into the study. Cor'lana looks puzzled as she looks at herself in the mirror. "It's just a swimsuit. I don't see what all the fuss is about," she says.

She seems to contemplate this, and then she shrugs. "Oh well. Time to go check on the soup," Cor'lana announces to no one besides herself, and she continues to wear the 'swimsuit' into the kitchen.

Before long, there's the familiar tread at the doorstep, the clicking of the key as Telamon opens the door. He calls out, "It's me!", cheerful for a change, as he doffs his cloak and steps out of his boots. The routine always pleases him -- leaving his cares at the door, along with his boots. Running a hand through his tousled hair, he ambles out of the entry hall into the living room and attached kitchen area.

"Something smells good, love. What's cook... er..." He kind of trails off, getting a -good- look at Cor'lana from behind. Alright, it's not like the two haven't seen each other in much less, but the lace and ties and purple... his eyes are quite wide, as -this- is a bit of a step up from 'soup technique' as they like to joke. "Ummm..." Furiously, his mind attempts to engage his wits, but all it's spitting out is, 'Oooh... so pretty.'

And there she is, stirring the soup in all of her glory in the kitchen. Cor'lana gives him a little grin as she turns around to look at him. "Hi, love!" she says.

That's an innocuous enough greeting, except she bounds right over to Telamon and hugs him tightly. A little /too/ close for comfort. "The soup's for later," she says into his ear. "Do you like what I'm wearing?"

Then she pulls back and smiles. "I bought it earlier today at the market. The lady said you'd love it."

There's not any of her usual trepidation or fumbling over words like when she /tries/ to flirt. To her, it's as innocent as day.

After all, it's just a 'swimsuit.'

It's been a while since Tel's been at a loss for words like this. Reflexively, he puts his arms around her, which... doesn't help. How does she -not know-? He looks into her eyes and sees that guileless joy, and realizes... wait, didn't she say something about shopping today? But...

He gives his brain a hard kick to try and get -something- out. "...Ah. I... well, I like it very much, yes." He leans in to kiss her softly on the cheek. "Um... where did you get it? You mentioned going shopping today, but I, uh..."

He's blushing again. He -knows- he's blushing. It's harder to get one out of him than it is her, but when it happens, it shows with his pale skin.

"I got it at a clothing shop at the market," Cor'lana replies cheerfully. "I thought I'd be brave..."

But then she looks a little concerned at the blush on Telamon's face, putting her hands to his face like she's about to lean in for the kill--it's even accompanied by a little pout of her lips--but she says, "Tel, are you okay? You feel /hot./ Are you running a fever?"

She doesn't know. But maybe she does? Every word she's saying could be construed one way or another. And yet... This is Cor'lana. She doesn't know, right? No way. No way!

How is she -doing- this? Tel is positively flabbergasted. And she's so close, the scent of lavender fuzzing his thoughts. Instinct takes over, and he kisses her full on the mouth, pulling her close for long moments. No thinking, at least for a few minutes.

Finally, he comes up for air, still a little flushed, and he says with a small grin. "This is... quite the welcome home, love. Unexpected, but definitely welcome." Holding her to him, looking into her eyes. "Although I wish I'd come along to help you choose the outfit..."

The full on kiss seems to have clued in Cor'lana partially as to what's going on. As he pulls away, she blushes a little. "I, umm--I didn't think you'd like my swimsuit /that/ much," she says.

She looks down at herself. There's the more familiar feeling of trepidation in her body now, the slight nerves suddenly coming up to play. "Oh no, wait--did I mess up again?" she asks. "Pothy kept sighing and telling me if I knew where I was in the store! I bought it because of the cute little violet bow-ties! Oh nooooo--"

Cor'lana ducks her head underneath Telamon's chin, burrowing her head into his skin there as she just lets out a quiet, muffled scream. "I'm an idiooooooot!"

Telamon can't help it. He starts laughing, but he doesn't push her away. Far from it, he wraps his arms around her tighter and burrows his face into her hair. Between giggles, he gasps out, "Oh gods... I am about to embarrass you too. I walked in and you were at the counter cooking, and it looked like the cover of that book Grandfather talked about." He nuzzles against the top of her head.

Letting her calm down again, he squeezes her. "You're -not- an idiot. Just... inexperienced. Sheltered. And that can be fixed." He reaches down, cupping her chin so he can look into her eyes. "Come on, love. If that's the worst thing that happens today, it's a good thing."

Cor'lana's eyes have the beginnings of embarrassed tears when Telamon pulls her back up to look at her. "I know, I just--I wanted to buy a cute swimsuit so we could go swimming together at some point, and... it was really scary trying to buy a bikini, but you're always so well dressed and handsome that I just wanted..."

She sniffles a little and dries her eyes, giving Telamon a tiny smile. "I just really wanted to match you. But they had the underwear right next to the swimwear, I guess, and I got all confused..."

There's another beat before she asks, "Did I really look like that book cover? Did you like it?" Her smile is a little wider.

Telamon brushes his nose against hers gently. "Maybe we should get matching outfits. I wouldn't mind." He strokes her face, soothing her as he looks back. "Never gone shopping for that sort of thing, I guess. But on the upside; you have -excellent- taste."

His eyes sparkle, at her question. "Well, I don't know. I only know the book from Grandfather's description... but you did look absolutely ravishing. Hence my stuttering and blushing." He can't help but offer a sly grin. "No soup seduction needed tonight, I must say."

Cor'lana's blushing crimson again. "Jeez, Tel," she replies, looking away from him. She looks at... the wall! The wall is safe, right? The wall would never hurt her. Just like the grass never would.

"I-I-I... L-later, maybe?" she finally manages to say. "I, umm..."

She breaks out of his grasp and rushes back to the bedroom. "I should change!"

It's like a deer trying to flee from the bear that they accidentally walked on. Just a tiny bit overwhelmed, it would seem.

Sometimes, it's best to let go. Telamon, of course, enjoys the sight from behind -- when she vanishes into the bedroom, he just shakes his head. "Nadina, I swear, could you have sheltered that girl any more?" he says aloud to himself.

"Sisig bursag," he murmurs, gesturing, and the unseen servitor pops into existence. "Set the table for soup," he instructs. While the servant puts bowls down, he stirs the soup, sniffing at it with satisfaction. Glancing out the window, he furrows his brow at the way the garden is taking off with a vengeance. "Did I do something wrong, or something right?" he muses.

GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+16: (8)+16: 24
GAME: Ravenstongue rolls 1d20+16: (2)+16: 18
GAME: Telamon rolls perception: (19)+12: 31

There's laughter from the garden--

But it's not Nadina's laughter. It's the little high-pitched chortling of... butterflies?

No, those are tiny humanoids with wings. One of them is a fair-skinned girl, her head full of blonde ringlets, dressed in what appears to be the petals of a white flower. The other one is dark-skinned with plant-green hair worn in a cascade of braids down to her waist, dressed in what appears to be the petals of a vibrant pink flower. Their little butterfly-style wings match their petals, and the blonde appears to be the source of the laughter.

"Hee hee, we've been doing such good work, Mirabilis! I think Lady Lupecyll's consort will be so happy, don't you agree?" she asks.

The green-haired fairy--Mirabilis--sighs. "Lily-of-the-Valley, don't talk so loudly. You're going to get us noticed...!"

And then they both seem to realize Telamon's gaze is upon them. "Eep!" they both squeak, especially as Lily-of-the-Valley flies over to Mirabilis and holds the girl to her. "Don't worry, Mirabilis, I'll save us! Maybe! I...!"

She sighs wistfully. "Gods, isn't he dreamy? Lady Lupecyll must be so happy!"

Mirabilis squirms in her fellow pixie's grasp. "LILY! Now-is-not-the-time...!"

For a moment, Telamon is caught off guard -again-. Briefly, he wonders if this state of affairs is going to persist. He opens his mouth, then shuts it, regarding the two pixies with a bemused expression. "...Of course." He leans on the windowsill, his starry eyes on the duo. "So," he says casually. "Are you ladies going to introduce yourselves? I mean, that's usually how this works." Switching to Sylvan easily.

"But where are my manners? I am the Lady Lupecyll's consort and husband-to-be, Telamon Atlon. As you probably already know." There's a wry humor in his voice.

"Oh my gosh, you even speak Sylvan soooooo well!" Lily-of-the-Valley says, suddenly shoving Mirabilis away--which prompts a little "ouch!" groan from the pink-petaled pixie--to fly up close to Telamon. "No wonder she loves you sooooooo much!" Up close, the blonde pixie's eyes are glossy-black, like the mantis woman's, but they are filled with a sense of joy that somehow is conveyed despite the lack of a conventional iris, sclera, and pupil.

Mirabilis flies up from behind Lily-of-the-Valley, pouting a little at being man-handled by her fellow pixie. "Don't mind Lily-of-the-Valley, she's just kind of a recovering serial-crusher," Mirabilis says. She has eyes just like Lily's, but these read a little more apologetically. "We're just your common garden pixies, Lord Lupecyll-to-be. You may call me Mirabilis."

"WE'RE YOUR BIGGEST FANS!" Lily-of-the-Valley shouts, her wings doing double-time as she's suddenly full of energy. "It's one of the biggest rumors around town among all the Ea-bound fey we know--so we had to come! And when we saw you in the garden, we /had/ to help!"

Telamon wonders if this is how giants and dragons feel, when conversing with 'normal sized' folk. "I have an excellent teacher," he remarks with a grin. "And she can be quite intent on getting me to learn things. But it works."

He taps his fingertips on the windowsill. "I'm still working my way through the etiquette of this sort of thing -- is there anything you need? I'm certainly not averse to sharing, if it means help in the garden." He looks thoughtful. "Where do you stay, anyways?"

"That is very kind of you, Lord Lupecyll-to-be," Mirabilis says in practical tones--very clearly the more level-headed one of the pair, "but we do not need anything. We have what we need--we sleep in the plants, the trees, wherever it pleases us. We simply like seeing flowers in bloom, and it's a good idea to be in the good graces of the Feathered One's--"

Footsteps come from behind Telamon, and the two pixies immediately bow their heads. "Lady Lupecyll!" they both say at once.

Cor'lana looks taken aback. She's wearing a comfortable-looking gray cotton dress--not exactly stylish, but something that one wears around the house on a nice spring day, and presumably the 'safest' garment that Cor'lana felt she could wear. Which is to say she was not expecting pixie visitors, let alone ones basically greeting her as nobility. "Oh! Umm, please, don't... Just call me Cor'lana, please. I overheard your conversation--I'm sure Telamon is happy," she says, carefully measuring her words as she speaks in Sylvan, "to have received your services."

She leans into Telamon's ear and says, "I trust Grandfather, because he's used to being around mortals, but fey can be... odd, about gift-giving, and gratitude. 'Thank you' often can be construed as an acknowledgement of an oath."

Telamon nods ever so fractionally to Cor'lana's murmured advice, and continues as if nothing was amiss -- still in Sylvan. "Very well. I am sure Grandfather -- the Feathered One -- will not disapprove of your work here."

He puts his arm around Cor'lana, smiling at her. "I did warn you, dearest, that you might begin to attract friends. However, in this I defer to you, since you are the 'Lady' of the house."

Is he teasing her? Well, a little. He inclines his head. "I -think- the soup is nearly done. I'll check it, while you talk to our new friends."

The pixies look up at Cor'lana once she behests them to simply call her Cor'lana--and then Telamon indicates he's about to leave them alone with her, and they bow their heads again. "Of course," Mirabilis says, "the consort is to provide for the Lady. We understand."

Cor'lana seems to be supressing a remark at that notion, biting her lips so she doesn't smile too widely. She leans in and kisses Telamon on the cheek. "Go ahead. I'll be in the kitchen when I'm done."

There's a little chat that follows that Telamon can overhear from the kitchen--and then the pixies fly off. Cor'lana sighs as she walks into the kitchen and says, "I might have arranged to give them a small bowl of honey and cream every week in exchange for their future garden-tending efforts," she says, "as well as giving me any rumors they might hear about other fey locally. They seem nice, although the one named Lily seems a little /too/ enthusiastic about our pairing."

The soup is done evidently, because Telamon's ladling it into the bowls and sliding them onto the table. "Sorry to toss you under the wagon like that. But I realized it might be a bad idea to start negotiating when I'm not as educated on the fey as I need to be." He smiles at her. "Like you said, they can be a little odd about gifts and oaths."

He smirks at the remark about Lily. "Oh, gods yes. When they realized I'd seen them, Lily was squealing about how they were my biggest fans." He looks at Cor'lana with a grin. "Evidently we are. Um. Famous, at least among some fey." He pours tea for each of them, before pulling out 'Lana's chair for her.

"It's okay--you made the right call. Like you said, I'm the one trained in those matters," Cor'lana says with a smile as she takes the seat that Telamon's pulled out for her. She nods appreciatively as the bowl's set down onto the table, too.

"Here's hoping they didn't witness me in my brand-new underwear looking like I was trying to seduce you," Cor'lana remarks, blushing a little at what happened not that long ago. She takes the soup and stares into it for a moment before tasting it, and she nods satisfactorily. Chicken soup is delicious no matter the season or occasion.

Then her eyes narrow. "Wait a second. You're not about to soup seduce /me/, are you?" she asks.

Telamon slides into his seat next to her, starting in on his soup. "I have probably more experience in diplomacy, but it's usually with... well, people from Ea. But if you want me to help run interference, you know I'm in."

He snorts softly at the comment about Lana in her underwear. "Those dresses were made out of flower petals. I'm not sure they'd realize the significance." He flicks his eyes up to hers, twinkling. "Who needs soup? I'd just take off my shirt, and away we go."

Cor'lana blushes again at the mention of shirtless Telamon, her eyes wandering to Telamon's chest as though she's about to start mentally undressing him...

And then she recalls her senses, tearing herself away. She looks at the soup again. The soup is safe, right?

No it's not! The soup seduction technique's at hand and it's being played on /her!/ "I guess I'd better eat this quickly," she murmurs.

Telamon purrs, "Maybe you should. But don't worry, we'll eat it together." He grins at her. "And then you can show off the underwear you bought today again. After all, it'd be a shame to not inspect it in detail."

Yes, he's making her blush, but hey, fair play after greeting him at home like that. Deliberately, he begins eating his soup, just a -little- quicker than what might be decorous.

After all, the soup seduction technique does work on both of them.

Cor'lana's thoroughly crimson in color now that Telamon's putting the moves on. But she admits between bites, "I'm still wearing it underneath the dress, so..."

There's an implied promise there. Maybe Telamon will be able to determine whether or not it's a swimsuit once and for all.

Pothy's about to walk out of the study when he overhears the flirtatious talk. He just backs riiiiiight into the study and shuts the door using careful manipulation of his talons and beak to push the door into place. "I'm not responsible for the aftermath, I'm not responsible for the aftermath!" he murmurs to himself, seeking shelter as he flies back to the book nest.

Surely somewhere, Nadina's laughing.