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

Started October 31, 2021 by Deleted user

tune

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(an entire cup of cinnamon, got it)

Opening the curtains and giving Honey some space had been the right move. The light made his headache worse, but it also helped calm him down. In his experience, men were always more vicious at night. There were a few that liked the thrill of doing it in the daylight. Some had even wanted to do it in public, which he’d thankfully avoided. Most, however, wanted to hide what they were doing, so they only called him around at night.

Once his nerves finally settled, he groaned and swiped angrily at his damp eyes. Of course he’d been overreacting. Why would Rin try to hurt him like that, after everything they’d said and done? They wouldn’t risk being kicked out, and he doubted they’d harm Arquis in such a way.

“Sorry. Told you, they’re like leaky faucets. Can’t stop ‘em once they’ve started.” Honey pointed at his good eye, then let his hand flop to the comforter. He appreciated their effort with the blankets, though he was too embarrassed to look them in the face. “Pretty ridiculous, isn’t it? Tell you I don’t wanna be touched, then I tell you I do, and when you do, I cry like a damn infant. Shit. Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. You alright?”

(noooo you'll burn your mouth!)

Rin came back after opening the curtains, but didn't touch Honey again, hands wringing together very faintly. "It isn't ridiculous. It's a trauma response." they replied softly, sitting down on the bed, but still giving Honey plenty of room. "It's fine. I'm fine. It's just htat I…my primary love language is touch, and so it is counterintuitive to me to…to not touch someone who is upset." they glanced away for a moment. "Not that that is a problem!" their gaze flicked back to Honey. "I will not touch you when you do not want me to, it is just…it feels counterintuitive, and I am sorry." he ran his hands through his hair, grimacing faintly.

(worth it)

Honey frowned. “Aw, don’t say sorry for that. It’s not that I don’t want you to, it’s just, y’know. I get all dramatic. Weepy. Whatever you said. And it’s all weird and tough to deal with.”

That was the moment that Arquis reached the room. He opened the door and proudly set the tray on the bed. He was about to make a comment about the change in lighting when he saw the blotchy tear stains on Honey’s face. Rather than ask, he simply gave him a comforting nod and passed him the tub of ice cream. For the first time all day, Honey looked actually excited. He tore the lid off and stuck a spoon inside. It slid in as easily as a hot knife through butter. Without waiting, he shoved the spoonful in his mouth and let it melt on his tongue.

“Hello, my love,” Arquis murmured to Rin. He kissed them on the lips and, as if he was performing a magic trick, held out one of the thermoses. He was very clearly pleased with himself. “One cinnamon hot chocolate for my lovely partner.”

(lol)

Rin leaned into Arquis's touch, taking the thermos. "Thank you, darling." he said, taking off the lid and taking a small sip of the hot chocolate. They looked over at Honey again, watching the young man for a long moment, then turning back to Arquis. "You are an angel." they pressed a kiss to Arquis's cheek, leaning against him a little bit as they sipped at their hot chocolate.

Arquis grinned when they kissed his cheek, and he went absolutely scarlet at the compliment. “Well, I am not sure about that. But thank you. I hope it is alright.”

Honey was apparently on cloud nine. He was running the edge of his spoon along the top of half of the ice cream, creating curls of vanilla with thin streaks of caramel. After each bite, he automatically smiled. His face gradually regained some color, and while he was still very emotional and tired, he didn’t look quite so peaky.

“For someone who adores ice cream so much,” Arquis remarked, “I find it odd that you do not have a favorite flavor. Surely there is one that you prefer.”

Honey dug out another spoonful. He pondered the question before eating and swallowing it to give an answer. “I don’t know. Caramel is real good, but I don’t think it’s actually my favorite. I’ll take any kind. Vanilla, strawberry, lemon, whatever. I didn’t get to have it that much growing up, ‘cause we didn’t really have money to buy it. Would be dumb to buy sweets when you’re starving.”

Rin stayed close to Arquis, sipping at their hot chocolate quietly. He listened to Honey's words, nodding faintly. "I see." he said softly. "Are…are you feeling better, now?" after the panic attack that Honey had had before Arquis's arrival, Rin just wanted to make sure that he was okay, that he wasn't upset or anything right now. He really didn't want to have upset Honey very badly.

(heading to bed, goodnight!)

(night!)

Honey pulled a face and let the handle of the spoon fall to the side of the tub. “I don’t know. I mean, yeah. I am. But I’m also not. Or I think I’m not. It’s like, I know that I’m safe here. You guys haven’t hurt me yet, and I’m pretty gross right now, so I kinda doubt you’re gonna. But my mind’s still telling me to get outta dodge. It’s making me jittery. Sorry about that.”

“Did something happen while I was gone?” Arquis worried aloud. It was obvious that something had, but he didn’t have enough context to figure it out. Had Rin upset Honey in some way? Or was he crying in response to what had happened with Lovey? Her knowing was obviously a massive deal, so he wouldn’t be surprised if Honey had needed to shed some leftover tears.

The blonde scooped a massive mouthful of ice cream. It was impressive how quickly he was going through the tub. Then again, he hadn’t had anything to eat for breakfast, and he’d thrown up what he’d had for dinner. No wonder he was famished and desperate for a comfort food.

“Nah, nothing important.”

That was an obvious lie, but Arquis wasn’t going to press him on it. “Ah, alright,” he responded.

A moment passed. Honey ate more ice cream. He was slowing down a bit, muttering something about getting a brain freeze. Arquis watched as he stuck the pad of his thumb to the roof of his mouth. He’d never seen anyone do that before, but it was oddly fascinating.

“You didn’t get yourself anything,” Honey pointed out after the brain freeze ended. Arquis, startled, looked around. It was true; he hadn’t even thought about it.

Rin let Honey tell the lie; he could explain to Arquis in private later. They stayed close to him. "We aren't going to hurt you, Honey, and we can…we can do anything we need to to help you feel safer." they said in a soft tone. At Honey's statement, they blinked, looking up at him. "Darling, why didn't you get yourself anything?" they asked. Then he held up his thermos. "Try a sip of my hot chocolate, it's delicious and I think you'll enjoy it."

Arquis felt mildly cornered. It wasn’t that he’d consciously avoided picking something out. He’d just forgotten, that was all. He had been looking out for Honey and Rin. This was supposed to be about them, but now he was in the spotlight, and he hated it.

He took a tiny sip from the thermos and nodded. “Yes, quite good. Now, Honey, as Rin was saying—is there anything we can do to help?”

Honey stuck the spoon into the ice cream and twisted the handle back and forth, creating a sort of channel down the side. He stopped after a bit and looked at Arquis. There was something curious and calculating in his gaze. Even exhausted out of his mind, he was still in many ways the man that had come to their room. Incredibly perceptive and impossibly smart. Annoyingly smart, even.

“Want some?” he asked, and when Arquis shook his head, his face softened. “You sure?”

“Quite. It is for you, Honey.”

“Can’t eat all of it, and I don’t want it to go to waste.”

“Well, I apologize.” He gave the blonde a forced smile. “I do not particularly enjoy sweet things.”

That was a lie, but Arquis wasn’t quite sure how Honey recognized it as one. He’d never told him about his sweet tooth. But Honey instantly glanced at Rin, trying to convey his concern, and Arquis had to hold back a sigh.

Rin sighed very faintly. "We're working on it." he told Honey, giving the young man a faint smile. "I promise. It's just slow progress." they wrapped their arm around Arquis, holding him gently. "Now, you haven't answered our question: what can we do to help you, Honey?" they kissed Arquis's cheek softly, giving him a faint look. They knew that Arquis had eaten earlier, and they were proud of him for it, which was why they weren't going to press him to eat now.

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.