|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Sep 17, 2011 10:42 pm
"Well, we don't have to now," Barth said. He wouldn't mind staying in bed all day, really.
This whole affair...having his own apartment, then his own dorm, had been in some ways like a camping trip. Roughing it. No servants to dress him or run his bath. Still, he managed.
Then Calder brought to Barth's attention his clothing situation.
"Err," was all he said. Although he was aware that Calder was flushed, half-dressed, covered in slime, moaning quite a bit, indulging in Barth's sin branch, and in his bed, he had not so closely considered all of these facts at once, and the realization made him flush.
"I'll err, I'll get something for you," he said, rather more quickly than usual.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 4:15 pm
Calder was rubbing his eye, not taking notice to any feelings Barth might be having at that moment, but noticing the quickness in his voice. Fast in any sense with Barth, be it talking or moving, was strange. A little too strange.
Calder paused and dropped his hand into his lap, before tilting his head and trying to get a better look at his face. His features were a little red, and that alone caused him to worry. Was Barth getting sick now too?! Maybe he really was contagious!!
Scooting, Calder moved closer. "Are you feeling okay?" He asked, reaching out to touch the boil's brow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 5:27 pm
"Yes," Barth squeaked, flushing more deeply. "Yes, quite alright. I'm not sick. Perfectly healthy."
"You're sick though," Barth said, as if reminding himself.
Barth forced himself to sit up, and work his way towards the edge of the bed. Handsome had still been pressed against his opposite side, and yawned, wriggling deeper into the covers.
"You can, err, wear- that is, some of my- I have some spare clothes that I could put out for you. If you wanted to use the bath first. I might, err, be a while."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 6:03 pm
Calder frowned, still watching Barth as he flustered about. "You don't look okay to me. You look really warm." Calder scooted closer, still concerned. They had been sleeping right beside together. Was it a bad idea to move Handsome? Was just clinging to Barth's coat too close. "Maybe I slept too close. I didn't think you could get sick by me, but maybe you can. I don't know. I never slept around a demon before when I was sick. Are you super sure you're okay. You're getting really red." He moved closer, touching Barth's shoulder.
He settled beside the boil. "Maybe I shouldn't sleep so close then." They didn't have to be too far for the thorns, but maybe he should sleep with a pillow between then. Maybe he was doing more harm than good. He sniffled once, and looked to the spot he was sleeping. Maybe he should change the sheets....and sleep on a towel. Maybe Barth had a spare blanket that could provide a layer of protection from touching Barth.
Maybe I should tell Barth he should sleep with someone else. That thought alone he kept to himself though, not wanting to not be needed. Barth had gone to him for this secret request. He didn't want to let him down, but he didn't want to make Barth ill either.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 8:52 pm
"That's...that's alright. I'm alright. You're err, you're fine, really."
The thorns had disappeared completely now. Barth stood, to go find his dresser. It was just over here, wasn't it. He did feel...warmish, but he was relatively certain it wasn't a fever. Calder wasn't...intentionally...? Barth knew about the horn thing, that wasn't hard to figure out, but- no, of course he wasn't. Dresser, his dresser was around here somewhere. It wasn't as if he usually thought of Calder in those terms, it was just damned difficult not to while he was clinging to him and covered in ooze. Calder's clothes being transparent didn't help. He didn't think Kelpies had nudity taboos particularly, and it wasn't like he...well, it shouldn't be that big a deal, one of the seven sin sets and all that, and it was perfectly reputable...
Barth felt himself blushing again, to his own irritation.
"How about this shirt?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 18, 2011 9:20 pm
Calder watched Barth get up, and knew that if the sloth could get up, then he could get up to. It just bothered him that Barth wasn't really looking at him, and yet he still was red in the face. Maybe the boil didn't know he was sick, and didn't notice he was all red in the face. He needed a mirror. That way he could see and take a rest. Then Calder could ask if he even wanted him to stay. They could do this another time, couldn't they?
Calder got up to his feet, and gripped the bedpost to notice the vine was gone. Good thing too considering he was clinging to it. His legs felt like weak twigs, and he moved slowly, head feeling heavy and warm as the room turned on weird angles. Mirror. Mirror. There was one on the table, and Calder slowly moved to it, grabbing onto furniture as he moved, before he managed to retrieve it. His tail left a trail of slime behind him.
Taking it, he moved over to Barth, standing behind him just at the demon moved to show the shirt. Calder was teetering, but held up the mirror. "No, really. Look." He breathed, feeling winded. "You're red. You really are sick." His ears were dropped. "I'm sorry."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 3:14 pm
"I'm not sick," Barth said, not giving the mirror a second glance and trying not to be preoccupied with the slime trail. "And you shouldn't be unnecessarily up and about. ...I have a thermometer in the bathroom, if it's worrying you." Calder looked like he was on the verge of collapsing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:54 pm
Calder slowly lowered the mirror, seeing as Barth wasn't even looking at it, and gave another sick sniffle. "..okay." He said, ears dropping, and then turned to head to where he knew where the bathroom was. He stopped only to look back. "That shirt is nice." He answered, looking at the one Barth was offering him, before heading to the bathroom, his tail dragging behind him and leaving a slick trail in his wake.
A moment later, the sound of water could be heard.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:27 pm
"Good. I'll, err- right." Alright, Calder was running the bath, and Barth could manage the rest of his very slow but necessary mid-afternoon routine. He looked longingly back at the bed. But he was up, and Calder would need something to eat. And fresh clothes. He did this for himself most afternoons, he could do it for Calder. He looked all the way from the dresser to where the kitchen was. Not far. Manageable.
He really, really missed servants.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 6:47 pm
Calder had never used Barth's bath before, and was surprised about how deep and large it was. Sinking deep. Resting deep. Candles in various stage of use sat unlit about him among far too many strange bottles. Calder only stood there, debating which temperature he wanted. Freezing cold water was what he wanted. He preferred it, and he felt far too warm. He wanted to cool off. He wanted to just sink in the chill waters and try and get back to a normal temperature.
How water however, as unpleasant as it was, was what he should use. His body was trying to sweat out the sickness, and the slime was a good thing. Still, he hated being that warm when it came to water. He also wished he had some of the herbs that grew back at home to throw in and help him feel better. He was stuffy and his head felt like it was made of stone.
His mind wandered back to Barth. While it was nice to stay here, being sick and making the boil sick wasn't fun. The boil wasn't even looking at him. Frowning, Calder reached for the hot water. The sooner he got better, the better for everyone - though he did think that, if he stayed sick, Barth would let him stay here longer than just needing a buddy to watch his thorns at night.
He turned on the cold water and decided lukewarm was fine. Undressed, he sank under the water, deciding to drink up his fair share and as much as he could, before he laid there, taking a rest.
A good half-hour later, Calder woke up and got out, draining the now green water and drying off lightly. He then pulled off as many mushrooms and clumps of moss as he could and flushed them, before putting on the oversized shirt Barth had set aside. The fabric was worn and soft, the color of dark navy. It made Calder think of the river. He wanted to go swimming but was too tired.
Less slimy- for now - Calder stepped out and looked around for Barth. He found him on the couch, and didn't go over immediately. Instead, he walked over where a sleeve of crackers had been left for him, and then to the kitchen, grabbing the biggest pitcher he could and filling it with water. Calder felt sick and his mouth was like sand. Despite the lukewarm bath, he was still feeling hot. Taking the pitcher which, despite monster strength, felt like a million pounds, Calder sat on the couch and set both items on the end table. He then grabbed a cushion and watched the TV as Barth played a video game.
"Thanks...for the shirt.....and the crackers." He had never spoken so little around Barth. He wondered if the boil was angry with him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:20 pm
"You're welcome to err, help yourself if you need more."
The bone-crackers had fortunately been out on the counter. And the trip had been shorter than his journey to the punch bowl. Barth looked over the couch towards the bathroom. Long baths were...honestly the only reason he didn't smell and look like a trash heap.
Still, he had just gotten settled.
Calder was thankfully no longer dripping in slime, and if it got to that point, the dark shirt wouldn't be quite as...revealing as the other. On the other hand, that shirt had been decidedly Calder's, while this one...wasn't.
"I'm going to finish up this level."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 7:42 pm
Calder nodded, holding the cushion before turning on his side to rest his head against another pillow. It was the good thing about Barth's things. There was always something soft to rest on. Still, Calder was wary he might fall asleep again and get the pillows messy, and he wondered if he should have grabbed a towel from the bathroom. It was too late for that now, and despite feeling fresher, he certainly didn't feel energized....and the pillows were too soft and warm to give up.
Hair spilling about, Calder sniffled once more before watching Barth shoot at strange objects to a techno beat. Calder wasn't very good with games. He learned with Barth, and was growing more familiar with "controllers" and "televisions" and things like "graphics". Still, it was nice to just watch. Tucking his legs closer to him, he looked over at the demon, only able to see the back of his head and just a bit of the side of his face.
"Barth, why do you have thorns? Do all demons in your family have thorns?" It seemed a little strange as he didn't pick up any ....woodland vibes from the demon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:14 pm
"Impediments," Barth said. "The way of the slothful is as a hedge of thorns. They sort of...come with the territory. I don't have err...any living relatives that are sloth demons. My mom's side is all earth elementals, though. That's where my name comes from. Mudd. My father is Avarice. Gluttony demon."
As he talked, on-screen enemies exploded in patches of vibrant colors. His HP bar dwindled.
Barth looked briefly back at Calder.
"I don't...interact much with my father, if I can help it. He's got a lot of wives, I've got a lot of siblings, and he's not someone whose attention I want. He was the one that...well, when I was younger, err, I got into a bit of trouble over the thorns- it was a long time ago. Any way, he err...made it clear he didn't want to see them again."
More softly, he said, "My mom never had any trouble with them. Slime elemental, you see. She could always get through them."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:22 pm
Calder never really heard much about Barth's family, and despite being groggy, cleared his head to listen. He wondered why Barth had never talked about his family or home on only passing by, just necessary, bare bones accounts. Calder had given a good history and culture lesson on his kind, but well, not to much into depth. He guessed he was guilty of that as well, but he knew that he could talk on and on about his family and kelpies without really addressing anything at all. The more words there were, the less anyone noticed how little you were saying.
He listened, and smiled at bit. "Your dad must have a big harem. I guess greed makes him powerful for a demon?" He knew from his parents that demons were powerful and rich, usually because one helping the other, and he guessed that that would be attractive for fetching a few partners. The bigger the herd, the more impressive you were.
Still, Barth's father wasn't someone he would like to meet, having seemed to scold Barth for just doing something natural. He did, however, get a nice impression of his mother. "I guess that's why you don't mind slime. Your mother sounds nice." He reached over and petted the demons head, a sigh of comfort in his culture. "I think your thorns are nice. If you make them, they must be natural. No point in scolding someone for what they can create. You should make more of them."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 9:13 pm
"Gluttony, but yes. And...thank you, that's err...that's what Professor Malcolm said. That it was...that it was natural, and that I should...let them...you know, so I am. I told you, with the slime. It's my Fear. A good, thick ooze is healthy. I think err," Barth paid attention to the game again. "I think that your slime is nice. But I am sorry that you're sick."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
