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

[doublethepain]

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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[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?"

[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."

[davin]

Davin loves the marketplace. He fits in here, at least. It doesn't matter that he's a penniless orphan witch, not here. Well, except maybe today. The penniless part is hitting him pretty hard.

His stomach rumbles loudly and he places his hands on it like he's trying to soothe it. It's been awhile since he's really eaten, and he's starting to feel it. He'd lost his job at the pub because he was spending too much time across town trying to soak up any and all knowledge he could from a dark witch who deigned Davin worthy enough to be an apprentice. He was grateful for the knowledge and opportunity, but it didn't exactly pay well.

The smell of fresh baked bread is so distracting that he doesn't realize until it's too late that he's about to walk into someone, and their shoulders collide hard enough to make Davin stumble. But that doesn't exactly take much effort, not with how starved he is.

"Oh god, I'm so sorry." He bends down to pick up the man's cane where it had fallen over and uses his sleeve to brush the dirt off before handing it back over with an apologetic look. The man is dressed to the nines and Davin winces just a bit, like he's preparing to get yelled at. People from the palaces don't often think much of people like Davin. "My mistake, I shoulda been lookin' out better."

[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."

[doublethepain]

When the cane is knocked from his hand, it comes as a surprise, but he can make no evidence of that with more than just his startled expression. It doesn't do Spencer any real harm, he doesn't fall to the ground or anything so dramatic as that, but he does stumble and the pain shoots through him so harshly that it makes him flinch. The young man hadn't meant to hurt him, Spencer is well aware of that, he doesn't want to make him feel any guilt; but there's no helping the way Spencer turns away, clapping a hand over his mouth as he doubles over from the pain and tries to urge the hot tears that are welling in his eyes from spilling down his cheeks.

He takes a few short, gasping breaths, lifting his eyes up to the sky before slowly--ever so slowly, if only to keep this from happening a second time--turning back to face the man and offering a small smile that's meant to be reassuring. He reaches out to take the cane back in his hand, leaning against it with relief because as much as it just barely helps, any help it all is better than none.

I'm fine, he wants to say, but all Spencer can do is wave a hand as if they should forget this had ever happened--which would be fine by him, it hadn't been anyone's fault--but he pauses when he sees the look of concern and what appears to be a bit of distress in the man's eyes. He tilts his head, brow furrowing curiously as the corners of his lips turn down. Spencer taps at his throat, an attempt at indicating that he isn't able to speak and looks around them before gesturing to an empty bench near the end of marketplace. He needs to sit for a moment anyway, if he hopes to look fully recovered by the time Joel arrives from the palace, and he'd like a chance to make sure the young man isn't too troubled by the entire incident.

Besides that, Spencer thinks he'd quite like to make another friend before his weeks here come to an end.

[davin]

Oh god, he made someone cry.

Davin didn't cause whatever injury or ailment the man has, but he certainly aggravated it. The man looks so nice, too, and Davin furrows his brow as he watches the man touch his throat. He isn't saying anything, and Davin gets the impression that maybe he can't. He follows the man over to the bench out of curiosity and contriteness and sits down next to him, hands out in front of him like the man might just fall over.

"I'm so sorry. Are ya okay?" Davin looks him over and bites his lip. "I wish I could - oh!"

He opens the satchel hanging from his shoulder and digs through it, pushing past scraps of paper and wrapped bits of herb until he finds the vials in a soft pouch at the bottom. He extracts one of the purple ones and holds it up proudly. "Ah ha! I made this, an' it'll help with your pain. Here, ya should have it. Least I can do."

Davin presses the vial into the man's hand with an encouraging smile. Davin has another one if he needs it, but the potion doesn't help with hunger pangs anyway.

[wakingwakewood]

Essie rarely visited the marketplace, and when she did it was usually only a brief visit and wearing her shawl as a kind of hood to make it more difficult to recognize her. People were only too happy to gossip about seeing the fallen Lady Desdemona out among the common folk, shopping or even bartering for goods she could no longer afford. Essie had no regrets, and never would for her happiness was complete now she was married for love and not politics, but the things they often said about her husband angered her. So anonymity was her preferred method of the day.

After trading some poultices for some fruits, Essie headed off towards the spice merchants. She could get almost everything she needed as a widwife from the land itself, but there were some more effective and exotic plants she could use. She was hoping that the merchants would be amenable to trade, for they were short on coin again this month. However, the well-dressed gentleman with the cane caught her eye. He was clothed like a nobleman, but Essie didn't recognize him from her days as one of the highest class. Which could be a good thing she thought as she approached.

"Good day, Sir. I see you're leaning on a cane, have you become injured?" Perhaps she could sell some of her own wares today, or convince him to let her treat him personally. They certainly could use the coin.

[doublethepain]

Spencer stares down at the vial with a quizzical expression that he shifts to the man, blinking once and then again before looking back down at what's been pressed into his hand. The man had said he'd made it, and Spencer wonders if he's a healer of some kind, like the ones they have down below the sea who attend to the merfolk who have less than pleasant run-ins with unexpected visitors to their parts of the sea. Some of them, like his own mother, don't make it through but those instances often involve something much worse than what Spencer is experiencing now.

After a moment of hesitation, he opens the vial and swallows the liquid with a wince, not because the taste is unpleasant but because there's just something that seems to make his throat tingle as he drinks. Once he's done, he's quiet for a moment--as if he can be anything else--and then, it's as if everything seems to shift just slightly. There's a weight on his legs that feels like it's been removed, the pain that's been a dull constant even when he's been sitting disappearing in almost an instant, and he looks to Davin with a bright, grateful smile, brows arched nearly to his hairline.

He wishes so badly that he could thank the man but seeing as he can't do it with words, he simply reaches out to take his hand, squeezing it tightly before letting go again. This helps more than the man will know, the ease of the pain in his legs, and he's already ecstatic to show Joel that he can walk without burden, even if he is still a bit wobbly from the inexperience. Spencer lets out a happy sigh, leaning back against the back of the bench with a contented expression as he holds the precious vial close to his chest.

He'll keep it, he thinks, even if things don't work out at the end of these two weeks. He ought to have at least one good memory he can physically take home with him and this will do just fine.

[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.

[davin]

Davin watches eagerly as Spencer takes the potion, and he can actually see it work. There's a great relief on Spencer's handsome face, like a burden suddenly lifted. And then there's that smile, and Davin finds himself grinning back. It's always wonderful to see him help people, to see his magic do good things. It makes him feel like he's finally doing something right in his life.

The witch he's learning from isn't quite like that. He's all about not helping people, but doing quite the opposite. He isn't really a good man, but he's smart and powerful. Davin is taking in everything he teaches him, and only putting the good bits to use.

"You're welcome!" Davin says with a happy laugh when the man takes his hand. He looks so pleased to have something as small and simple as a glass vial to call his own and well, Davin knows that feeling. He'll just have to tell Shea that he broke one, is all. "I'm Davin, by the way."

If whatever was keeping the man from speaking was an injury, Davin's potion would have cured it. He's still quiet though, which means either he was born without the ability to speak, or it was magic that did it. "I wish ya could tell me your story."

Davin frowns thoughtfully and goes through his satchel again, looking through scraps of paper with his own messy handwriting on it. He finds one and reads over it, holding his hand out in preparation. Blue sparks wind around his fingers and then he snaps, shooting some into the air. "Ah! I have somethin' here. If ya want t'let me, I can do this spell an' try t'read your mind. I won't go deep or anythin', I'll just hear what you're tryin' t'tell me."

He looks at the man with a bright, happy grin and closes his satchel, turning more towards him. "Wanna try?"

[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."

[astra_inclinant]

Mira has been sent by her mother to the marketplace to choose some vegetables for the next week's meals, but as usual she's been distracted, courtesy of a merchant who has supposedly just returned from a far-off land full of ancient cultures.

She's made a little money of her own, tutoring some of the children around town, and though she knows she'll be scolded for it, she's mid-haggling for a book. "I can read the title," she protests firmly at the merchant's claims, "I don't care who sold you this, it's no older than a century. That contraction wasn't even in use before then."

"Does your father tell your suitors that you teach yourself dead languages instead of cooking?"

"I hope so," she says, "or they'll be very disappointed." Still, the book tugs at her. "I'll pay you a gold piece, no more."

It's with satisfaction that she turns away with a new book in hand, full of maps of land and sky -- a full two pages for constellations from the other side of the world! -- and very nearly knocks over a taller, thin man with a cane. "Oh god. I'm so sorry!"

[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.

[doublethepain]

Davin.

Spencer mouths the name, learning it, committing it to memory as he studies his new friend's kind face and bright smile. He points to himself, slowly mouthing his own--Spencer--and tilts his head cautiously, unsure of whether his effort will have amounted to anything. Even if it doesn't, he has to try. Communicating with Joel hasn't been easy, but the prince seems to be able to read him well enough to understand what he's trying to convey with each shift in expression, which gives Spencer more hope than maybe it ought to, under the circumstances.

When Davin mentions the spell, it's purely instinctual for Spencer to tense, if only because his sole experience with enchantments so far as been with Ersa. He has his legs, a chance to be with Joel, yes, but it's also caused him a great deal of pain. He relaxes just as quickly, though, with the reminder that Davin is the one who has just helped him make that pain go away, and he smiles with a tentative nod.

He'd like for someone to be able to know what he's trying to say, as if he'd said it with his own words, and if Davin can do such a thing... Well, it couldn't hurt.

[doublethepain]

Merchants on either side of him have been shouting at Spencer to come look at their stands, and he's managed not to become overwhelmed even for his first time in the marketplace but when he hears the woman's kind voice, he can't help but to stop. He glances down at the cane, nodding and shrugging sheepishly as he gestures to his throat, hoping it's enough to show that he has just a bit of difficult communicating at the moment.

He hadn't quite thought it through, how difficult it would be to be in this world without his voice, without a way to ask questions or tell people things as simple as his name. It's fortunate that Joel seems to be able to read him so well, even if a great deal of their time together so far has been spent in a comfortable sort of silence, but he has gotten more than few dirty looks from people who don't understand that he doesn't speak not because he doesn't want to but because he can't.

There's no real way to let the woman know all of this, of course, and if she's trying to offer him a service of some sort, there's no way he can pay her. The workers in the palace had clothed him well and kept him well fed at the prince's instruction, but he hasn't been given anything in the way of coin--nor would he ever have asked for such a thing because he isn't here for charity; he's here for Joel.

[davin]

Davin watches the man mouth what is obviously his name, but he can't quite make it out. He's obviously tentative when Davin offers to perform his spell, and that's good. The ones that are too trusting are the ones that Davin worries about. They're the ones Shea preys on so easily.

But this man has agreed and Davin grins, looking around to take in their surroundings. They're off to the side and out of the way, so Davin nods to himself and double checks the spell before putting it away. He's only tried it on Shea, and heard a lot of things that he's been trying to put out of his mind ever since. He thinks this man's thoughts will be a lot nicer to hear.

"Okay, so, I'm gonna say a spell," Davin explains, "an' then just think real loud, aye? An' I should be able t'hear it."

He nods encouragingly and closes his eyes, reaching out to touch the back of the man's hand for a connection, and softly but clearly says a spell. He repeats it twice and opens his eyes, the blue glow in his irises fading quickly. The outward noise of the marketplace seems to have grown dim, fading out and leaving Davin ready. He lets go of Spencer and nods eagerly. "Go ahead."

[doublethepain]

He swallows hard as Davin puts a hand on his, shutting his eyes tightly when he's told what to do--think loudly, right, of course--and doing is best to say in his mind what he so desperately wants to be able to say with the voice he's lost.

My name is Spencer, and I came from the sea. A witch gave me my legs and that's why there's so much pain, but I did it for--

His eyes snap open then, remembering what Ersa had said about not revealing what he's here for, else the spell will be ruined. He's meant to do this on his own, to make Joel fall in love with him simply by being himself, and Spencer doesn't know if that will work in the end, but he doesn't want to do anything that might risk him losing everything. If by the end of these two weeks, it comes to pass that there is truly nothing between him and the prince, Spencer will return to the sea and try his best to continue his life without the regret he already knows he'll feel; but until then, he needs to remain strong.

He glances at Davin with a small, sad smile, knowing that he can't offer great detail but figuring that revealing just a bit of it wouldn't be such an awful thing.

I did it for someone I love.

[davin]

Davin gives the man - Spencer - a relieved smile when his thoughts come through loud and clear, and then Davin's expression goes a little thoughtful as he listens to the rest of the story. There's something Spencer isn't telling him, but Davin can hear enough to know that it's not because he doesn't want to, or doesn't trust Davin, but it's because he can't. Davin respects that, and he does his best not to dig deeper and only listen to what Spencer is telling him.

He's doing all of this for love. That makes Davin smile softly, and he nods. Davin loves love, and he loves all the fairytales and romance. It's not something he sees in his own future, but he still likes knowing that it's out there, and that it's real.

"What can I do t'help?" Davin asks sincerely. "I'll do whatever I can, Spencer."

He smiles hugely, feeling happy that he might be able to help make a real love story come true.

[just_another]

Since yesterday, there has been moments -- many of them, in fact -- when Joel has nearly convinced himself that he imagined almost everything that happened on the beach. That Spencer saved him, of course, because he knows he didn't imagine being dragged onto shore, but that everything else was something of a dream wrapped up in his unconsciousness, something fabricated by his mind to explain to him what was happening as he coughed up water and waited to be found. He's almost convinced himself that he hadn't heard Spencer's voice at all, that he'd never told him that story, that their fingers hadn't been linked together. He nearly reaches a place where he can be certain he imagined the brush of fingers against his skin, the kiss on his forehead, the flick of a tail as Spencer had disappeared back into the water because none of that makes any sense. Spencer clearly doesn't have a tail. He can't speak. He's here and Joel knows his face and he knows his name, but he's just a man. That last fleeting imagine he has of Spencer disappearing into the water has to be something his mind had conjured up to explain his sudden disappearance. Spencer had saved him and then he'd been called away by something, but he'd never had a tail.

There are moments when he almost believes that, but then Spencer looks at something as simple as an apple like he's never seen it before and Joel knows what he had seen on the beach has to be true. There's so much more to this man than what is being presented to him right now and rather than finding himself confused by it, rather than worrying something is being hidden from him on purpose, Joel is simply delighted by it. He knows Spencer. He doesn't know how he can think that, not after having known him for less than forty-eight hours, but he does, and he knows Spencer isn't hiding anything from him on purpose. He isn't here to hurt Joel or to hurt his family, he isn't lying in order to gain something, he isn't keeping secrets because he wants to. There's something greater at work here, something Joel is certain will become clear in time, and so when Spencer looks at him with that expression, his eyebrow arched, Joel finds himself lighting up in a smile and that urge to kiss him, to slide his hand around the back of Spencer's neck and drag him forward and kiss him until neither of them can breathe surfaces all over again. And it's nearly overwhelming.

"Taste it," he says, still smiling, then nods to the merchant to add more to the basket. His mother has supplied him with a list and he offers it to the merchant instead of doing the shopping himself. Usually he would have no problem doing the work, usually he would never hand off his duties in such a manner, though he's certain there are members of royal families who wouldn't even find themselves in the marketplace to begin with, but Joel has always loved coming here and picking up items for his mother. It's relaxing and it reminds him of who he really is, just a boy who was found in a basket, just a boy who was lucky enough to be picked up by the queen. He's no one special, not really, just someone whose luck was very different from the man behind the stall, and he doesn't think himself above tasks like this. But right now he's so transfixed by Spencer that he can't imagine trying to divide his attention between shopping and Spencer.

And it's not without selfish reasons that he wants to watch the other man bite into the apple. Even here, out in the open, people occasionally shooting glances in their direction, his gaze is drawn to the full curve of Spencer's lower lip, to the way one corner of his mouth lifts just the slightest bit more than the other. There's love here without a doubt, but there's a warm fire burning low in Joel's belly, something he's never felt for anyone else, and whenever he looks at Spencer it's like the other man has stoked the flames just by being there. Joel wonders if he has any idea the power he has, if he knows that he could command Joel of anything and he would do it in an instant if he thought it might one day garner him a kiss.

He wants Spencer to have anything and everything he wants. Joel wants to be able to give him his voice back, to ease the pain in his legs. He wants to give him the apple and a hundred more just like it. He wants to give him reasons to smile, to laugh, he wants to see him relaxed and content. More than anything, he wants to be by Spencer's side as he discovers things, because that's what he's seeing here. New discoveries in every moment and Joel doesn't know if he's ever seen anything quite so beautiful as the expression on Spencer's face when something else crosses his line of vision. He's been watching him nearly every moment since bringing him back to the palace the evening before and Joel doesn't know if he'll ever be able to stop.

[doublethepain]

Joel gives his permission to try the apple, and Spencer wastes no time in obliging. He wets his lips, grinning excitedly as his gaze shifts from Joel to the fruit in his hand, and before long, he's eagerly biting into it. His eyes flutter shut as the juice of the apple fills his mouth, sweet and yet just the slightest bit tart, and it's unlike anything he's ever had at home. The stew he'd had the night before had been hearty and filling, very enjoyable for someone who hadn't eaten for nearly the entire day, but this is truly a treat to his palate. If he'd had his voice, he would have let out an embarrassing, pleasured moan, and a small part of him is a bit disappointed that Joel won't get to hear it. On the other hand, it's probably for the best, considering this only one piece of fruit. He can't imagine the involuntary squeaks he'd make if ever Joel were to get as close to him as they'd been in the alley again.

"You'd think you'd never 'ad an apple before," the merchant says, bagging all different manners of fruits that are listed on the piece of paper Joel had given him as he eyes Spencer with what looks to be more amusement than distaste. "What sad sort of life is that, boy, not even 'avin an apple? Take yourself another, else I won't spend another minute of this week in good conscience."

With another glance to Joel, just to make sure he isn't being taken for a fool again as he had with Shea, Spencer quickly grabs another apple and stuffs it in the pocket of his trousers with a grateful smile and nod of his head. It's strange to comprehend, that someone like Shea would demand so much for a vial so small that Joel claims doesn't even work at all while a kind merchant as this is willing to give away not one but two apples without even a bit of cost. Spencer isn't sure how this works, when these decisions are made and why or how any would arrive at them. In fact, there are many things about this world that Spencer cannot yet hope to understand, things that he may not ever understand depending on how long he ends up being able to stay here, but he makes a promise to himself in this moment--and to Joel, though the prince doesn't know it--that he'll spend much of his time learning. He wants to be able to be a part of this world because otherwise, pursuing a relationship with a man who wouldn't ever be able to join him in the sea would be quite futile.

The next time he looks to Joel, making every attempt to pretend that he hasn't noticed the fond expression he sees gazing back at him, Spencer looks rather proud of himself, as if earning two apples is to be celebrated in some way. For all he knows, that is noteworthy, something to be toasted later on while they're hopefully dining together again, and Spencer wants so badly to be able to take Joel's hand in his and never let go because being here in this place with this man has already made him happier than he's ever been. Even after the incident with Shea, Spencer can't see how anything could truly tarnish this, not when Joel is looking at him like this. It's all he wants, to lose himself in those beautiful eyes and feel like the rest of the world has faded away, leaving him only with Joel. For the most part, he already feels that way, his attention is always most demanded by Joel, and it's starting to become clear to him that if this doesn't work out between them, he won't ever feel this way about anyone else.

Barely two days have passed, it's true, but Spencer has never been more sure or more terrified of anything in his life. The more his love for Joel grows--and it is growing, every second--the harder it's going to be to fail, if he does indeed fail. His mind keeps tugging him in different directions, sometimes convincing him that they're on the right track and other times feeding him what Spencer has to believe are lies about how Joel couldn't possibly want him, that what Shea had called him--a project--is true. What he's finding, though, is that love seems to triumph over the rest. His heart has never been so big, it's never beaten this hard for anyone, and even as he lets the merchant take him in a brief tour of his fruit cart, sampling different things like watermelon and peaches and bananas before they're finally sent on their way, Spencer's eyes never drift from Joel's for too long.

Ersa had been the first one to say it, but she'd been absolutely right. Spencer is in love, the kind of love he's never dreamed of before, the kind of love he hadn't even known existed; and he won't stop fighting for that until the last seconds of his time here run out.

[just_another]

By the time they leave, Joel is laden with fruit and vegetables, more than enough to make his mother happy, and even as he settles the coin with the merchant, he has a hard time looking away from Spencer. He knows what he's doing lacks a certain sense of propriety, letting himself be seen staring at Spencer with undisguised affection, but he's so tired of having to be proper and having to worry about what others might think. There is so many for whom life isn't fair and Joel understands that he's been dealt a much better hand than most, but there comes a level of responsibility with it that he thinks he would be very willing to give up if it meant he could do what he wanted with whoever he wanted. If he had to come and run his own stall here every day just to make ends meet, but got to go home at the end of it all to Spencer, then he would do so happily. Better yet, if they had to run a stall together, a place where they could sell their wares to others and then talk or even just smile at each other in the moments when the customers were few and far between, he thinks he might very well be the happiest man alive. His life has been wonderful, full of things he knows many people will never see, but he would give it all up for a chance at a life with Spencer.

He would give it all up in a second.

"You look so happy," he says without meaning so as they head back in the direction of the carriage. Joel needs to set down the fruit and vegetables before he visits the butcher and he wants to take Spencer deeper into the market as well. His mother hasn't specifically asked him to bring home any flowers, but there's an area he loves in the back corner, a place kept cool and in the shade where people sell their flowers and other plants, blooming bushes and quiet, slow creeping vines. It's where many of the plants in the gardens have come from and while Joel plans on taking Spencer on a tour of those, there's something different about them here in the market. They seem just a little more wild, a little more free.

"I mean... not just with the apple, I just..." He smiles faintly, shaking his head at himself as he hands off the baskets of fruit to the men waiting for them at the carriage. He's asked if they should wait and Joel shakes his head, sending them on their way. They'll come back once they're done unloading and they'll wait for their prince, only because he's made them promise they'll be here to take Spencer back to the palace. There are times when Joel enjoys the walk back, the silence that comes with being alone on the road, the peace it allows him to feel, but now is not the time for that. It pains Spencer to walk and although Joel doesn't know why that is or what he can do to help, he does know that he can limit just how far Spencer needs to walk. As much as he would love to walk that road with Spencer, their fingers threaded, their palms pressed warmly together, he won't cause him any more pain than he can help.

As the carriage pulls away, Joel lets himself touch Spencer again, his hand against the small of his back as he guides him toward that back corner he'd been thinking of. The butcher can wait until it's time for them to leave, but he wants to take Spencer into the shade of the trees, to show him the plants and the flowers, to see his expression. "I mean being here," he says finally, realizing he still can't really explained himself. "You look happy being here. In the marketplace."

Besides the encounter with Shea, which Joel will never forget, it's true. Spencer looks at things with a wonder Joel has never really known himself. These things are as familiar to him as anything else and it's amazing to see this place again through someone else's eyes. He can't let himself believe that any of that happiness has to do with him, but he finds himself wishing it did. He wants to believe that maybe Spencer feels that way when he looks at him, because when Joel watches him, when he sees him smile and catches the light in his eyes, he knows he's never felt happier.

[callmeemily]

She's trying to sell the bread from today - it's not stale - not yet, anyway, but what doesn't sell ends up either in the pig slop or it's part of Raleigh's room and board, and while sometimes she can make fresh for herself, it's only if they're out of everything else. "Excuse me, sir," she says with the winningest smile that she can manage.

"Would you like to buy a loaf of bread? It's fresh, cooked today, from fresh-ground flour." They're supposed to be three pence a loaf, but she's been wondering-- every once in a while, she wonders if she could charge four, every now and again, and possibly pocket the other bit, but that'd be stealing -- and the only stealing that Raleigh's particularly interested in is what she and Sylvie do at night, not that anyone knows. They steal from anyone who's so wealthy that a little less would make no difference.

"Only three pence," she says helpfully, not really sure if he's in the market for it, but she's got to try.

[wakingwakewood]

Essie noted the motion to his throat and she nodded to let him know she understood. "That's alright, you cannot speak, is that it? Just nod, then if you can. I wanted to know if you were in any pain. I can help with that if you like. I am quite a talented healer."

She wanted to help him, if there was one thing she could never stand, even as a child, it was someone in pain. It was why her mother and Nana had begun teaching her in the first place, so they wouldn't have to heal the poor injured animals she always brought to them. And now that it was her vocation and means of supporting her family it was all the more important that she help people.

[doublethepain]

One thing Spencer hadn't quite anticipated when he'd decided to visit the marketplace--which is rather quite foolish of him, he now realizes, all considered--is just how many people would try to call for him to buy their wares that he can't afford. He wonders if people think him snobbish, dressed as he is and waving a hand at every merchant who holds a fish or necklace or potion meant to heal his legs out to him, but there's nothing that can be done about it if that's truly the case.

He hadn't asked for money from Joel, that isn't what Spencer is interested in at all. The fact that Joel is a prince is something he'd learned after he'd gone with April to Ersa, after he'd admitted to the fact that he'd fallen in love after one brief encounter, and it does a temporary human no good to involve himself with matters of money.

The loaf of bread, though, as the woman has called it, does admittedly make him wish he'd been carrying just a few coins with him. He offers her an apologetic smile, patting the pockets of his trousers in hopes that it would indicate his lack of funds, but he finds it hard to take his eyes of the bread. Spencer can smell it from here, which means she must be telling the truth of how fresh it is, and he wets his lips with curiosity and desire before forcing himself to meet her eyes.

[doublethepain]

While he's appreciative that the woman had so quickly understood his inability to answer her with words, Spencer finds himself hit with a flare of panic, and he glances around to see if he can catch sight of Joel. The prince had briefly left his side to go speak with the palace guards who'd accompanied him, and Spencer has already nearly been taken for a fool by a man selling potions promising a healing effect today.

It isn't fair to assume that the woman is making a similar attempt; she's far less exuberant and arrogant about what she can supposedly do than Shea had been, but whether it's true or not, Spencer knows that even if his pain can temporarily be relieved, the pain in his legs is something that cannot be healed.

He lowers his eyes to the ground before giving a slight shake of his head and an apologetic smile, shoulders lifting resignedly as he gestures to his legs and shakes his head again. There's nothing that can be done, he wishes to say, at least nothing that anybody but one can provide me.