doublethepain | get in, loser, we're going shopping [open; fairy tale plot]

An entire day has already passed, and Spencer is no closer to being used to walking on these legs than he'd been when April had helped him reach the shore. Each step is pure agony and for that alone, he is admittedly relieved that his voice has been taken from him for the time being; but in spite of his fears that Joel would tire of him quickly, that the prince would send him on his way after seeing him fed and clothed, he's been invited to stay in the palace for-- well, for as long as any of the royal family sees fit, he supposes.

Joel had demanded--in as princely a way as possible, of course--that Spencer be seen to, and the workers in the palace had been quick about putting him in a shirt and trousers that he supposes fit him well enough, not that it matters much to him, seeing as he's never had to wear clothes before in the first place. Joel hadn't left his side once, though he'd been very gentlemanly about keeping his back turned while Spencer had been helped into his clothes, and though they hadn't been able to converse, Spencer doesn't think he's ever felt more attended to in his life. The way Joel had looked at him as the evening continued on, as he'd sat across from him at the table while Spencer had been unapologetic about shoveling the stew laid before him into his mouth, is unlike anything he's ever known.

Only the introduction to the king and queen had made him flush terribly, though they'd been nothing but kind to him upon discovering he had been the one to save their son from drowning the day before. Joel's father had laid a gentle hand on his shoulder while his mother had offered a near tearful thanks punctuated with a kiss to his cheek and that had been that before Spencer had been ushered off to a large room with a bed that could certainly fit three of him comfortably on it.

Worse than the pain in his legs had been when the time had come to bid farewell to Joel for the evening, though he'd been assured that if he needed anything, he could call for him anytime. Spencer had slept soundly, though, exhausted from everything that had happened in so short a time, and by the time he'd woken up the next morning, he'd been more than ready to face the day. Now, he's exploring the marketplace, brought here by carriage and equipped with a cane meant to assist him with his walking. Joel had promised to come find him after he'd finished with what Spencer can only assume are his princely duties, though he hasn't the faintest idea what that might entail, but he's content with that for now. He can almost grow numb, in fact, to each sharp jolt that shoots through him with every foot forward as he admires the jewels and fruits and vegetables that are all for sale here, smiling and shaking his head at every merchant who calls out to him.

He has thirteen days left to make being human count for something; but in this moment, Spencer just wants to allow himself the chance to enjoy it the best he can.

[OOC: Open to all!]

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From:

just_another

It's been barely an hour since they've had to separate, but the longer Joel is kept at the palace, the more impatient he finds himself to leave. His parents wish to discuss the upcoming ball, the one in less than two weeks, the one at which he'll be expected to finally pick a bride and as this is truly the last thing in the world Joel wants to do, he knows he's not the best conversationalist when it comes to such things. His mother is discussing what he'll wear, what to look for in the princesses who are being brought forward as potential wives. His father is trying to tell him which unions would make the most sense politically and it's as his mother brings forward one more tie for him to try on that he realizes whether or not he's in love with the woman he chooses doesn't matter at all. Not to her, not to his parents and apparently it isn't supposed to matter to him either.

It isn't that they don't want him to be happy. His mother is still encouraging him to pick someone he feels he would be compatible with, but in the end what matters most is the state of the kingdom. And Joel just doesn't think he can do it. He's not a politician, he isn't a leader, he's never asked to be either of those things. He'd had them thrust upon him and while he thinks his adoptive parents do truly want what's best for him, he also know that he's a prince and there are certain duties he's expected to perform. For such a long time they had seemed too far into the future to be realistic, but now he's here and those duties are looming over him and Joel is beginning to feel as if he's suffocating under the pressure. Never before has he wanted so badly to just run away from all his responsibilities.

Run somewhere and take Spencer with him.

"This one is fine," he says, taking the tie off and then pressing a quick kiss to his mother's cheek. "I promised not to leave Spencer too long unattended at the marketplace. I have to go. I won't be long." He has no idea how long he might be. Maybe he won't come back. Maybe he and Spencer will find somewhere else to go and they'll disappear and he won't be expected to attend this silly ball in two weeks.

But even as he rides in his carriage to the marketplace, even as he spots Spencer in the crowd and heads toward him, Joel knows he'd never do such a thing. He'll never be able to put either of his parents through a loss like that. And so he'll have to figure out some other way to deal with everything that seems to be bearing down on him like an oncoming freight train. Something too heavy and too fast to be stopped.

"Hello," he says when he reaches Spencer's side. "Are you enjoying yourself?"

From:

doublethepain

It takes a great deal of constraint not to let his grin grow too wide when he hears Joel's voice, but Spencer can still feel the happiness radiating from his expression as he looks to the prince with a shy smile. He nods, tucking a tendril of hair that falls into his eyes behind his ear, and points at the sign of the stand he'd been observing that touts 'Potions and Other Oddities.'There are a great number of strange objects, some Spencer recognizes from finding them buried in the sand and others that he's never seen at all, and he's about to pick up one peculiar chain with the charm of an unfamiliar symbol hanging from it when a man--the owner of the stand, seemingly--turns toward them with a bright, friendly smile.

"Hello, there, the name is Shea, and I'll be happy to be of service to you today," the man says, coming out from behind the stand to take a spot beside Spencer. He looks down at the cane with a sympathetic expression before reaching for a small bottle and holding it out for Spencer to see. "I already have a recommendation for you, my friend, a healing potion. It won't quite fix whatever your condition is, but it'll make the pain disappear like it was never there in the first place, doesn't that sound like something you'd want?"

It does, really, and Spencer is already nodding before he realizes he's doing it but then he stops, looking up at the man before sheepishly biting down on his lip with a helpless shrug. He has no money, nothing to offer, and it isn't like being at home where a shell held more value than a coin, though only in beauty.

The man seems to understand his plight, placing a heavy hand down on Spencer's shoulder, making him stagger slightly under the weight. "Don't you worry, maybe your friend here can-- Oh.. Well. Well, well, well, would you look at what we've got here," Shea says, crossing his arms over his chest with a wicked smirk.

Spencer's gaze flickers between them curiously, wondering just how the pair would know each other and trying to ignore the burst of jealousy when he notices the way Shea's eyes travel down the length of Joel's body.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he continues, raising his voice as he takes a step from his cart and garners the attention of passersby, "a prince walks among the peasants today. May we bow in honor of our great majesty, our heir to the throne and mighty kingdom, our most devilishly handsome of royalty, Prince Joel." Shea turns back to them with what seems to Spencer a bit of an evil glint in his eyes. "Come on now, you wouldn't let your little friend suffer like this, would you?"

Spencer tenses at the near-accusation, lowering his head before shifting his body toward Joel and tugging at the prince's sleeve in an effort to convey that they ought to just leave. He hadn't wanted to cause any trouble, that isn't what he'd stopped to listen to Shea's sales attempt for, his interest had simply been piqued by something that might ease the pain in his legs. It isn't necessary, not really, he knows he'll grow accustomed to it with each passing day and gladly so because in the end, it won't have been for nothing. Even if Joel can't make his promise or offer a kiss, the time they spend together now will not have been for nothing.

"Just ten gold pieces for a week's supply, that's all it'll cost you. I don't think that's too much to ask for the sake of his comfort, what do you all think?" Shea gestures at the crowd, urging them for a response, and a few scattered agreements and cheers are returned. "It's guaranteed to work and if it doesn't, you come back and I'll get you another week's worth for another five. You won't find a better deal than that."

From:

just_another

The moment Joel hears Shea's voice, his lips press into a thin, irritated line and his brows draw together. More than anything, he would like to drag Spencer away from this man, but at the same time he doesn't want to give Shea the satisfaction of knowing he's once again made the prince uncomfortable. He's a showman and a sorcerer, one that worked at the palace for far longer than Joel would have allowed had he any say in the matter, and now that he's finally been shown the door, it only makes sense that he finds himself here in the marketplace. Where he can wheedle unsuspecting victims into buying potions Joel is certain are only as potent as they need to be in order to make the user need more and then more still. He can't prove it, of course, especially with as little knowledge of his own suspected powers as he has, but he's sure of it all the same. This man is not to be trusted, not with anything, but especially not with this. Not with these healing potions and not anywhere near Spencer. Even having him this close to Spencer bothers him deeply and Joel finds himself moving between them, shielding Spencer from the other man with his body. He won't dare try anything, not here in a public arena, not now that he's drawn the attention of the crowd, not when they all see the prince is here. But Joel doesn't trust him to keep his hands to himself and he doesn't trust him not to arrange something for later.

The crowd gives a few cheers, some sounds of agreement and Joel doesn't turn toward them, refuses to even look in their direction and instead keeps his attention focused on Shea. They don't know him, all they know is this showman, this act, they've never seen him the way Joel has. They don't know the things that have led to him being here instead of back at the palace and while Joel hates the thought of making a scene of any kind, there is a part of him that wants them to know. That wants to shout accusations and point fingers, but he doesn't because he knows how that will look. He's the prince and much better behaviour is expected of him. He isn't allowed to make a scene. He's expected to tip up his chin, ignore any remarks and act as the benevolent leader he's expected to one day be.

But Joel has never been particularly good at that. Something Shea knows well. Something he's likely trying to drag out of Joel now. The only thing that keeps him from shoving the other man away from Spencer entirely is the knowledge that he doesn't want Spencer to see him like that. Whatever their relationship becomes, whatever might follow, he knows he would be ashamed of himself if Spencer were to see his anger, the way he can sometimes let it get the best of him when the people he cares about are involved. And it's this sudden wave of anger in Shea's direction that reminds Joel of why he'd come in the first place. He's here for Spencer, nothing more.

"These are the same potions you sold my mother under the pretense they would ease the pain in her knee, are they not?" he asks, keeping himself between Shea and Spencer as he reaches for one of the bottles. He holds it up to the sunlight, peering at the liquid and twisting it between his fingers. He's not prone to playing to the crowd, he has a tendency to stumble over his words, especially in anger, but this is important. This is something he can do. "The same potions that would have led her to greater dependency on your specific brand of magic had someone not intervened?"

Joel had been the one to intervene. Even now he can't explain it, the way his vision had shifted that day, the dark spots he'd seen floating around Shea, the spikes of colour and energy that had been hovering around the bottle. He had known in an instant that the sorcerer was lying. Such a shift hasn't happened since, though he's tried to make it occur, and he still doesn't know what to call it or why it happened, but whatever it was, he trusts it. Shea is a liar.

"It seems that one who would purposely swindle the queen should perhaps not be trusted," he says, tossing the bottle back onto the table. It spins, knocking over two others, and while it's hardly the scene Joel wants to make, it satisfies him all the same. As to the murmurs and dark looks members of the crowd are suddenly shooting in Shea's direction, and Joel smiles as he reaches out and curls his fingers over Spencer's elbow. "We should find a better stall to spend money at."

From:

doublethepain

Whatever history exists between Shea and Joel, it's more than obvious that it isn't a good one. Of course, the brief explanation of Shea's lies and mischief is enough to make Spencer's cheeks burn red with humiliation at having been such an easy target in the first place, and it had only led to being the center of attention when he's certain Joel would rather be anything else. Despite his status, it has become clear that the prince isn't one who enjoys being showered with attention or being fussed over, something that Spencer admires greatly about him because he knows of royalty below the sea and many of them aren't half as modest. He's sure that some of them wouldn't even deign to be out in the marketplace with those below them if they'd had legs like his and it's that thought that makes him feel all the more ashamed at having stirred up such trouble.

The crowd is already dissipating after Joel's revelations about the potion, and Spencer isn't sure whether the fury on Shea's face is due more to Joel getting the best of him or losing his audience. Either way, Spencer feels a twinge of satisfaction at being able to say--or think, at least--that he's walking away with the better of the two men, though it doesn't come as a surprise to him that Joel would be just that.

"Enjoy your pretty little street urchin while you can, your majesty," Shea spits as they turn away, his voice dripping with a venom that seems to penetrate the air and makes Spencer flinch. "It won't be long before someone comes to steal that pet project away, and we'll see who's making such grand gestures then."

Spencer can practically feel Joel tense beside him, but he takes a tight hold of Joel's hand to usher them along before Shea can say anything more offensive within earshot. He knows the words had only been said out of rashness and anger, Shea has absolutely no idea who Spencer is or why Joel keeps his company, but now that they've walked away, he can feel hot tears pricking at the corners of his eyes. People are watching them as they pass, he can feel the stares, and he quickly releases Joel's hand because surely, it isn't befitting of a prince to be seen this way with someone like him. It isn't fair to Joel to be thinking these things, Spencer knows that, but he's caught in such a web of confusion within his own mind that he fears he might soon lose sight of how to navigate it.

He risks a glance at Joel, hoping against hope that he'll be spared of seeing any anger directed toward him, though he supposes it wouldn't be unfair. Spencer had been an easy target, he can see that now, and he should have been more cautious but at least he knows better for the next time.

After a moment of walking in tense silence, Spencer sighs heavily and steps into an empty alley, pulling Joel behind him. He watches as others in the marketplace walk past them, entirely unaware that their prince is a mere few feet from them with a man who isn't truly a man at all but so far someone who doesn't quite belong. Slowly, hesitantly, he turns to face Joel, trying to fix his gaze but finding it difficult as his eyes flicker between the prince's and the ground. I'm sorry, he wants to say, for being foolish and gullible but instead, he just slumps back against the wall, shoulders dropping.

He toys with the cane in his hand, twisting it one way then the other and focusing on the impact it makes in the dirt at his feet. What Shea had said as they'd walked away, the comment about being a street urchin, a pet project, suddenly resonating in his mind. That's not what he wants to be, someone worthy of another's pity, but between the limp in his step and the voice he lacks, he wonders if maybe it isn't so far from the truth. Joel hasn't look down at him once since they'd found each other again, Spencer tries to remind himself of that, but the accusation is strong and cutting. He couldn't have expected this to be easy but at the same time, he'd been hoping it would at least not grow to be full of self-doubt or apprehension.

The hours are passing quickly, more quickly than Spencer will be able anticipate, and it won't be long before his time is up and either he'll be returned to the sea without any hope of this again or... He shuts his eyes tight, willing himself not to get lost in the image of a life of love with this man, and when he opens them again, Spencer is ready to keeps his eyes locked on Joel. He gives the prince a tight smile, nodding toward the direction of Shea's stand before giving a slight shake of his head. He won't be wasting his time there again, the man isn't worth the attention, and it's a promise he's more than happy to make.

From:

just_another

They're barely out of the crowd at all, still only a few feet away from the crowd, but Spencer pulls Joel into the alley and he can't seem to control the way his heart beats faster in his chest. His mouth has gone dry and he thinks if he were to try and speak now, he'd be unable. Dealing with Shea has never been something Joel has been particularly fond of, it's always left him feeling faintly violated and as if he's just run a mile, his heart galloping and his hands shaking as the adrenaline leaves him, but it's always worse when Shea's attention is turned on someone he cares about. When it had been his mother Shea had been taking advantage of, Joel had been furious, ready to physically remove the other man from the palace, but there had been others to take care of it for him. And now, standing in this alley, his gaze flicks over Spencer quickly and carefully, taking stock of his appearance, because even though he knows Shea hadn't laid a hand on him, he has a feeling the sorcerer's reach extends further than the physical and he hates to think he's done anything to Spencer that Joel might not notice.

And Joel knows words can cut just as deeply as a physical blow. The things Shea has said have been said in anger and there's no truth in them, but he suspects that doesn't make them any less hurtful. It had seemed like a threat, too. The idea that someone might steal Spencer, might force him to leave the palace against his will, and Joel feels his stomach turn at the thought. He can't keep Spencer there if he decides he wants to leave, but Joel doesn't want him to think he'll ever be unwelcome and he doesn't even want to consider the thought that someone else might force him to leave. But Shea is capable of many things and Joel plans on letting the palace guards know that some kind of threat has been uttered and to keep a very close eye on the sorcerer.

When Spencer finally meets his gaze, the smile he gives Joel isn't entirely relaxed or genuine. He's forcing it, making a promise not to go near Shea again, and Joel feels something in his chest wrench tight. His fingers flex and tighten into fists before he relaxes his hands by his hands and finds himself wishing he had something to do with them. There's an itch under his skin, a need to do something, to reach out and touch Spencer, and although he likely thinks it's a bad idea given everything, given their proximity to the street, given that Shea might still see them and find some way to use this against Joel, given how little he really knows about Spencer, he lets himself give in to the urge. His hand lifts and two fingers sweep back some of Spencer's hair, tucking it behind his ears and although he's barely touched him at all, though it's such a simple gesture, one that doesn't necessarily have to mean anything at all, Joel's fingertips feel like they're burning where they've grazed Spencer's skin and his heart is beating so hard in his chest he feels Spencer must be able to hear it.

This is love, he realizes. He's never felt anything like it before and it should be impossible. They've known each other for less than a day, but there's no mistaking what he feels. This isn't infatuation, it isn't lust, this is love, and Joel's hand shakes briefly before he drops it again and clears his throat.

"Don't," he says, his voice soft. "Don't think about him. He's not a good man and he tries to prey on anyone who crosses his path. There's no way you could have known. My mother was fooled by him. I was fooled by him. He's very charismatic and he has powers to back it up, but you're not at fault."

He wants to kiss him so badly that he feels it like a physical presence on his shoulder. Something pushing him forward, pushing him toward Spencer, but he can't. Not here. They have nothing in the way of privacy and he and Spencer haven't even been able to talk. Presuming that his affections are in any way returned is not something Joel can do. They need to be able to speak, to tell each other what they feel -- or maybe don't feel, he can't predict what Spencer might do -- and so he has to wait until the other man's voice returns to him.

So he smiles and touches his fingers to the back of Spencer's hand, the one holding his cane. "Come. My mother wants us to bring home fresh fruit and vegetables and she'll have both our heads if we linger too long to have pick of the best wares."

From:

doublethepain

Everything, all that he's been fearing and worrying over, seems to disappear in the moment Joel reaches out to touch him. It's not the first instance of physical contact they've had, Joel had helped him to the castle from the shore just last night, and Spencer had leaned so heavily on him then; but this is different. Somehow, this one gesture seems to mean so much more, and it's as close to the way they'd linked their hands together the first time they'd met.

So much has happened so fast that in certain moments, Spencer forgets that it's only been a day since he'd let himself fall for this human, this prince, and it's beyond his understanding because it's not something he's ever felt before. He doesn't know how this is meant to work, not only because they can't communicate beyond Joel having to interpret every change in his expression and Spencer smiling or frowning or nodding or shaking his head at everything that's said, but because up until now, the idea of being in love has been something of a foreign concept to him.

There have been mermaids and other mermen back home who have tried and failed to court him, and it's always to his father's poorly masked disappointment that Spencer would return from time spent with another and another only to say that their interest isn't returned. He thinks he knows now why that must have been; he's always been more intrigued by the world above the water than the one down below it, the one he knows so well, but he's seen other humans before. It'd been Joel who'd pushed him to this, though, Joel who had captured Spencer's attention and heart so easily, and Spencer is certain that can't be a coincidence.

That Joel seems to be able to understand exactly what he's thinking with just one look is remarkable, it makes the weight Spencer feels on his shoulders lighten just enough that it isn't unbearable, and there's a moment so full of heated tension between them after Joel tucks his hair behind his hear that Spencer naively thinks that this might just be it. The spell Ersa had cast might be fulfilled in just one day because Joel is looking at him in a way Spencer is so sure he returns, it would be practically effortless just to lean forward, to let his eyes slip shut and press his lips against--

But then the prince is smiling, dropping his hand to Spencer's, and in the mere blink of an eye, the moment is gone. Something is said about fruit and vegetables, about the queen, but Spencer is scarcely paying attention because he's still thinking about how close they'd come to sharing that first kiss that would change everything. He feels a bit foolish now at having thought it would happen in the first place, and he wonders if he's really just imagining all that's between them. April had said Joel had looked ready to follow him, but he supposes that could mean anything. Still, he thinks, there's time yet, and he doesn't want to waste it.

If Joel feels even a fraction of what Spencer does for him, there's hope, and Spencer thinks that just might be true. Whatever this is, whatever keeps sparking between them with each touch, can't just be in Spencer's mind because that would just be too cruel an outcome. By no means is he an eternal optimist but about this, he's willing to be patient. They might have only known each other for a day so far, but Spencer is already certain that Joel is worth the wait.

So he ventures follows Joel back out of the alley, shooting him an appreciative smile at the way he slows his stride to keep in pace with Spencer's limp, and very carefully avoids making direct eye contact with any of the merchants they pass. There are others who shout out at him, offering all manners of potions that would supposedly help him with his plight, but Joel keeps a steady hand on the small of his back and that alone is what gives him the strength to lift his chin up and pass each and every one of them on by. As long as Joel is beside him, he thinks, he'll feel strong. Capable. None of the royal family has treated him as an invalid just because it's difficult for him to walk, not the way some of the people in this marketplace seem to want to do, and Spencer much prefers that than any bit of pity that might be given him otherwise.

The pain is a burden he must carry if he means to carry out his quest. If he can find something to ease it, he knows he won't deny it but as long as he is certain that it doesn't tarnish Joel's view of him, Spencer will be just fine.

It isn't until they've stopped in front of a nearby stand that Spencer lets himself forget about the cane, about the pain in his legs, about how badly he still wishes Joel had kissed him. Instead, he gives his rapt attention to the shiny, red orb-like object that looks so deliciously inviting, reaching out for it so he can give it closer examination. He looks up at Joel with a questioning look, holding what the merchant is already telling him is part of the best selection of apples in the kingdom out for the prince to see, and arches an eyebrow as if to ask whether he'd be allowed to have one.

and miles to go before i sleep, and miles to go before i sleep.

get in, loser, we're going shopping [open; fairy tale plot]

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