TRP: Goro, Hansel, and Larkin (Kash)

**Izzy:**

 [SETTING: Day 173, after Scam. The war room at Morningstar
Keep.]

Hansel had been looking over maps for a fucking while. He
liked sticking near the library, because he was fuckin' antsy about Ombre
finishing with Jonn's journal -- it was taking her longer than she'd thought it
would, because apparently the little shit used more than one type of code. She
also said she had to keep putting it down. Other shit to do, she said. Real
important work. Looked really fucking troubled when she came out from under the
table, though, which he couldn't say he was surprised by. He really was going
to owe her for this shit.

But the other reason he kept coming back to the war room was
the fucking maps. It'd been twenty years since he'd been home and he honestly
didn't know if he could goddamn find it anymore, on his own, and it was too
small to even be on these maps -- he kept having to cross-reference shit, find
places he knew on other maps, sketch out about how far away they were from
Shepherd Hills, try to fuckin' triangulate the place.

It was tedious and it made his head ache, and he couldn't
help feeling like it was busywork -- like once he set out he'd be able to just
fucking get there -- but here he fucking was anyway, rubbing at his eyes and
grumbling to himself.

He heard footsteps coming up the stairs and glanced over his
shoulder, glad for the distraction.

**Lina:**

 That whole incident had been fucking stupid, and Goro wasn't
going to dwell on it, but also he needed to get to his fucking room before he
screamed at somebody.

He told Larkin he didn't have time to talk about it, and he
started up the stairs, one hand hovering over but not touching the fucked-up
side of his face. Once he had some privacy he'd ascertain the damage and get to
healing himself. Peace and quiet was needed first, though.

**Jen:**

 "Goro," Larkin said a few steps behind him, for
the third or fourth time. They'd let that scamming bitch go and Goro had taken
off, with that look on him that said he'd be in a mood for Mask knew how long.

"You got all the fucking time. Just stop 'n talk to me,
dammit. Fuck." She sped up again to follow beside him. "At least let me
help fix your damn face."

**Lina:**

 "You can't fucking help me. I can do it myself."

**Jen:**

 "Well, then how about you fucking do?"

**Izzy:**

 Hansel frowned and turned around entirely when he heard what
they were talking about, half going over to the stairs so that they'd have to
pass by him more closely on the way to the east tower. "Hey. What? What
happened to Goro's face?"

**Lina:**

 Goro ducked his head and attempted to hurry by. "Just
got... fuckin' hit. I'm going to heal it, Larkin. What do you think I'm fucking
doing?"

**Jen:**

 "Goin' to sulk is what." Larkin trailed after but
made no attempt to stop him. Don't touch the hurt cat with the bristly fur.
"Goin' to be a miserable little shit to yourself and each one of us,
except maybe loverboy over there. I know this dance with you, jackass."

**Izzy:**

 Hansel stepped in front of Goro, and grabbed his shoulders
to stop him. "Hold the fuck on. Who fuckin' hit you?"

Since Goro was acting shady, already, he looked over to
Larkin. Couldn't get a clear look at Goro's face, anyway.

**Jen:**

 Larkin rolled her eyes. "Glimmerton guard did it."
Goro shot her a glare at that but she flipped him off. "What, he was gonna
find out anyway."

**Izzy:**

 "Which one?" His eyes narrowed. He kept talking to
Larkin, and kept his grip on Goro.

**Lina:**

 "Oh, what, like you're gonna go have stern words with
him?" Goro rubbed at his good eye, lifting his face enough for Hansel to
see. He actually had no idea how bad it looked.

**Izzy:**

 "Fuckin' ... maybe." Or I'll kill him. We'll see
how I feel. He left go of one of Goro's shoulders to tilt his face towards the
light, getting a better look. "For fucksake." He looked back to
Larkin. "Which goddamn one?"

**Jen:**

 Larkin tilted her head at Goro. "Should I tell him or
do you wanna go take the guy up on his offer later? Tell me if so, I wanna
watch."

**Lina:**

 "Can I go now?"

**Izzy:**

 Hansel looked at Larkin expectantly and didn't let go of
him.

**Jen:**

 She glanced at Goro again but he didn't put up an actual
fight, only sulked in that way of his that said he was mildly okay with what
was going on, just didn't want anyone to know. That motherfucker.

"Name's Kash," she said to Hansel. "Looks
like you, only uglier."

**Lina:**

 "Hey. What the fuck."

**Izzy:**

 "All right." He patted Goro's shoulder, kissed the
top of his head -- carefully, in case the blow to the face was worse than it
looked -- and let go of him. "Fucking take care of yourself, idiot."

He started towards the stairs.

**Lina:**

 "Hey, wait. Where you going?" Goro followed him,
shooting Larkin a help me out here look, for all the good it would do.
"Listen, you should know the whole story. This lady came and--okay, not
the whole story, but Larkin shot a lady, and..."

**Jen:**

 "Hey, what the fuck man? I was fucking helping!"

**Lina:**

 "I know you were, but it didn't look good, is all I'm
saying!"

**Izzy:**

 Hansel kept walking.

**Lina:**

 "Hansel, fucking--wait. God damn it." Goro's face
was fucking killing him, jarring with every step. So much for the meticulous
tending to it he'd hoped to do up in his room. Now he had to heal like it was the
middle of a fight. He stopped walking to lean against the wall, pulled his wand
out, and gave the area a cursory tap to clear up the worst of the damage. He
shoved the wand away and darted down the steps after Hansel. "I said
wait!"

**Jen:**

 Larkin followed a few feet behind, watching.

**Izzy:**

 Hansel stopped and turned back to look at him.

**Lina:**

 Goro skidded to a stop in front of him and grabbed his
shirt, like that would be enough to keep him from going anywhere. "You're
not really gonna go fucking talk to him, are you? That's fucking embarrassing.
Look, there was... a scuffle, and he came up to see what was going on, and I
guess I kind of ignored him when he told me to freeze. I mean, don't get me
wrong, guy was a motherfucker, but honestly. I've had worse."

**Jen:**

 Behind them, Larkin snorted. "It was just Goro being
Goro. Didn't do anything, really. His face just attracts fists."

**Lina:**

 "Hey."

**Izzy:**

 "Mmhm." Hansel gave Goro's face another looking
over. Good. He had actually fucking healed himself. "Gonna go talk to him.
That's what I'm gonna fuckin' do." He gently pried Goro's hand off his
shirt and moved around him. "Larkin, you comin'?"

**Jen:**

 "Eh, I'm no good at talking," she said just as she
moved to follow. "Need to get back to town, though."

**Lina:**

 "Oh, my god," Goro muttered. So this was just
happening, he guessed. He figured he might as well go along, keep it from...
what? Getting out of hand? Well, he could fucking heal people, at least.

Plus, it'd be good for Kash to see his face again, get it
through his head that messing with any of the Graverunners was a bad idea.
Yeah. Yeah, that was alright.

**Izzy:**

 Hansel glanced at Larkin, appraising her for a moment.
"Gonna be a real animated talk, I'm guessing. This fuckin' guy got friends
that'll join in the discussion, you reckon? Other guards?"

**Jen:**

 "He's got two pals who might have a bit to say."

**Lina:**

 "Oh my god," Goro said again. "What exactly
are you planning on fucking doing? We still gotta live in this town after
you're done with them, you know that, right?"(edited)

**Izzy:**

 Hansel shrugged. "What're they gonna fuckin' do?"
He looked to Goro. Wasn't completely healed, still bruised up a bit.
"Motherfucker hit you. That doesn't work for me."

**Jen:**

 Larkin glanced at Goro, grinning. "He's just embarassed
his boyfriend is comin' to settle his fight."

**Lina:**

 Goro buried his face in his hand. Tried to pretend he didn't
think it was kind of hot. Alright, Hansel could beat up a few guards for him,
for a little bit. Then Goro would step in and be diplomatic, or something. It
was fine.

**Izzy:**

 He snorted. Goro wasn't complaining about it, and he wasn't
one to shy away from complaining, so he must not have too many fuckin'
objections.

Hansel considered, though, as they made their way into town,
that Larkin did have to live there. Not in the castle, away from the townsfolk.
He didn't really know what she was doing there, but it was something, and Goro
might have a point about it causing trouble for her.

So before they got too far, he asked her, "Taking part
in this little talk gonna be a problem for your ... whatever you got goin' on
around here?"

**Jen:**

 Well, was it? Truth was, this whole thing had probably
already knocked down to her flimsy standing in town. She'd have to do enough
damage control as was, even without helping to beat up one of the town's
beloved watchmen.

"My cutlery business you mean? Yeah, well." She
sighed. She really did want to see that, though. "I can drop you off but I
should probably go look after my cat then."

**Izzy:**

 "Cutlery business." God, that was funny. Loved
that kid. "All right, sure. Where to?"

**Jen:**

 "Dude said he'd be waiting at the docks." She
snorted again, more disdainful this time. "Sounded like some wannabe
gangster kid looking to get his ass kicked over who's the boss of the corner."

**Izzy:**

 "Huh. S'fuckin' convenient." Hansel grinned
toothily at Goro. "Guess that makes me the new boss."

**Lina:**

 "Ha, ha, yeah." Goro ground his teeth.
"Listen, don't..." He was about to say something about Hansel
watching his back, or whatever, but honestly, Kash was like half his size. It'd
be fine. "Don't embarrass me too bad."

**Jen:**

 "Yeah, that's my cue I guess. You can come 'round
later," Larkin said to Goro. "Tell me how it went. Anyway." She
waved at the two of them, then slunk away before she could be seen strolling
around with the two of them.

**Izzy:**

 Hansel waved her off and headed for the docks. He'd kind of
prefer it if Goro stayed out of it, actually -- thought about trying to
convince him to keep hanging out with Larkin. Stubborn little fuck probably
wouldn't listen anyway, though.

Some guy named Kash. Couple guys with him. Half-orc, he was
guessing, from Larkin's description. Yeah, this wasn't gonna be a problem.
Better than pouring over maps and giving himself a headache, for sure. And the
closer they got, the more he thought about Goro covering his face, trying to
run off to his room and keep anyone from seeing.

Yep. That did not fucking work for Hansel.

"Hey. We get there, you fuckin' keep out of it,"
he said, in advance. "I'm not gonna fuckin' stick the guy. Just tell him
off a bit. Don't need to escalate to magic and tridents, or some shit."
Well, unless they did first, he guessed. He'd be fine with that. He just needed
a fucking excuse.

**Lina:**

 "'Kay." Yeah. Yeah, this was gonna be nice. Goro
would just hang back and watch, then maybe give Kash a cheeky little smile as
Hansel walked away. While Kash cowered in a corner.

**Izzy:**

 For someone who'd put up a fuckin' fuss before and tried to
stop him, Goro really wasn't complaining now, was he? Hansel glanced at him
again. Oh, he kind of fucking liked this, that's what it was. Well, then.
Suddenly this wasn't just about showing the town guard they couldn't fuck with
the Runners and expect to get away with it, or just about settling down the
burn in his gut over someone hurting Goro. If Goro fuckin' liked being defended
and shit like this, that actually made it fun, not just a matter of principle
or revenge.

He was pretty sure he'd told himself to stop solving
problems with his fists. That decision just seemed a bit distant now -- that
and the vague idea that maybe he should've gone and asked Mishka, Am I about to
fuck up? Should I ... stop and think? Should I breathe? Nah, that was dumb.
Mishka would agree. Mishka'd back him up, he told himself.

When they came up on the docks, he pretty quickly saw three
figures lurking around the walk-up to the pier, fuckin' shady characters if
he'd ever seen any. He took a guess. Seemed like a safe one.

"Kash!" he called, from a ways away.

The stocky half-orc straightened up, and his buddies shifted
beside him, watchful. Human-sized, at least -- half-elves maybe, or smallish
half-orcs. Yeah. Not a problem.

"You got a problem?" the half-orc called back.

"Damn, that's a fuckin' shame," he said as he got
closer. "My friend said you were an ugly sonovanorag, and she was being
fuckin' generous."

Kash bristled and stepped forward. "Excuse the fuck
outta me?" Then he spotted Goro, behind Hansel, and sneered a bit.
"Oh. Huh. You and your little girlfriend had to get someone bigger to
fight for you, is that it?"

He looked back to Hansel and started to say some more shit,
but by that time Hansel was in punching range, and he wasn't in the mood for
talking, as it turned out.

**Izzy:**

 Kash collided with his friend to one side, not hitting the
ground, just looking fucking dazed.

"Don't know what the fuck you expected," Hansel
commented, shaking his head.

The one he hadn't knocked Kash into lunged for him. He had
fucking expected that, and snapped his arm up, knocking the other fucker's
away, and twisting a hand around to grab the back of his neck, and slam him
down into Hansel's knee. That one went to the ground. Wouldn't stay there, but
he'd be there a hot minute.

That'd given the other one time to shuffle Kash to the side,
and he came for Hansel next -- pulled a fucking knife. Which was smart,
Hansel'd give him that. At least in theory.

In fuckin' reality, what happened was that he flipped it out
of his sleeve at just the right time that Hansel couldn't account for the extra
inches it gave his reach, and it slashed a tear through Hansel's sweater, and
also his skin. Shallow, but burned like a motherfucker, like a paper cut in the
cold salty air.

Hansel was already moving when the knife came out. The little
slash in his gut only pissed him off, gave him an extra burst -- pushing
against it and ignoring the pain to grab the front of the guy's shirt with one
hand and drag him into the other fist.

Did it a couple more times, 'cause he didn't want this one getting
back up.

He forgot Kash was even there, for a beat, until he heard
Goro shout behind him, and it snapped him out of it a bit. These other two --
he wasn't sure if they were guards or not. Off-duty, if they were. Maybe just
dockworkers. But Kash, he had some light armor, and a sword on his belt.

Hansel heard the scraping metal sound of it being drawn just
the second after Goro yelled to warn him, and threw aside the one whose face
he'd been beating in to face Kash himself.

**Izzy:**

 He'd told himself he wasn't going to escalate. Motherfucker
had punched Goro; Hansel was going to return the favor. But they'd pulled a
knife on him, and now a fucking sword. Wasn't a fuckin' fair fight.

Then again, it hadn't been feeling like a fair fight on them
before, so he left his shield and trident on his back.

The first one he'd dealt with got to his feet, bleeding
heavily from his nose and mouth. He spat and came up alongside Kash, but Hansel
caught him glancing Goro's way. If they tried to fucking distract him and go
after Goro again --

He feinted and dodged around the sword, elbow whipping into
Kash's face and other hand gripping his wrist, fingers digging into the nerve
and twisting the joint until he dropped the sword. Then he used Kash as a
weapon and slammed him into his friend before the fucker could break off to go
for Goro, knocking him off-balance, then shoving Kash in the other direction
just to get him out of the way -- grabbing the human as if he were going to
stabilize him and keep him from falling, but just hauling him back into another
strike to the face.

Hansel heard and felt a crunch, and he thought he might hear
thunder, echoing in the wake of it.

Kash was on his back, then, and Hansel swung his elbow back
to try to reach him but missed. Shouldn't've given them his back. Didn't
matter, though. He was gonna fucking kill all of them, if he snapped his spine
doing it.

He reached back again, finding purchase in Kash's padded
tunic and dropping his weight -- had to drop it pretty goddamn far, down to one
knee -- to lever Kash over his shoulder, onto his own back on the boards. One
hand went around the other half-orc's throat. The other pulled back.

Thunder, again, as his fist made contact, rolling and
rumbling overhead when he didn't stop.(edited)

**Izzy:**

 He seemed to forget that the other two were even there. Kash
wasn't dead yet; that was the only thing that mattered. His nose was pulp and
he was clawing at Hansel's hand, struggling to breathe, but Hansel just
couldn't quite seem to put enough force behind his fist to cave in the man's
head.

He wasn't done. There needed to be more. He wasn't fucking
done.

The air smelled singed, he realized -- realized it the beat
before the pommel of Kash's sword rammed into his face. He fell back, off Kash,
who didn't move, but the other two crowded between him and Hansel, one holding
the sword with his other hand outstretched.

"You're gonna fucking kill him!" he shouted.
"For fuck's sake!"

Hansel shoved himself up, tasting copper. "Yeah,"
he snarled. "I fucking am."

He came at them again, not thinking about tactics anymore,
about anything like feinting or dodging -- just lunged, and felt the sword
sinking into his shoulder as he got a fistful of the man's shirt and jerked him
in, not thinking about what he was going to do, either, until his teeth sank
into the man's cheek. There was a shock, a blue flash of light, a scream -- it
actually fucking startled Hansel a bit, too, and he let go.

He shouldn't be doing this. He realized that. Didn't stop,
though. He spat out a chunk of meat and looked back, and the man whose face
he'd just bitten into stumbled back, yanking the sword out of Hansel's shoulder
as he did, and swinging it. Hansel twisted reflexively, and most of the blade
rang against his shield, but part caught his shoulder again -- the same one.

The other guy had helped Kash up. All three were moving away
from him. Words came out of them, but he didn't understand them -- just heard
the thunder.

**Lina:**

 It happened fucking fast.

Just tell him off a bit, Hansel had said, and when he
immediately threw a punch, Goro thought, Huh.

Was nice, though. Real fucking nice. Goro just standing back
and watching, Hansel taking on these three fucking guys like they were nothing.
Goro barely noticed he was grinning like a maniac, until it fell away when Kash
drew his sword. Then he yelled, as much from surprise as to warn Hansel.

Hansel had told him to keep out, said they didn't need to
bring in magic, like it wasn't going to get that serious. But it was feeling
kinda fucking serious now, and magic was Goro's best option, and--

He held back anyway. Just watching, half paralyzed, not sure
what to do. This didn't usually happen to him, but...

There was something off. Something going on with Hansel. Like
he was losing track of the moment somehow, forgetting why he was even here.
Acting on some instinct.

Then the thunder came, and Goro's blood ran cold. He glanced
up at the sky, then back to Hansel, fear driving a spike through his chest. He
opened his mouth to shout Hansel's name, but it died in his throat. Hansel
grabbed one of the men, and bit him, and--

Do something, do something, he told himself, but fucking
what, they'd never made a plan after all, had they?

As the three men retreated, Goro took one shaking step
closer. "Hansel."

**Izzy:**

 They were pulling back.

Yeah, that wasn't how this fucking worked. Hansel took a
step closer to them, half enjoying the way they retreated faster, helping Kash
along with some difficultly, but more intent on giving chase. Not letting it
end until it was fucking over. His jaw was clenched and his tongue was
bleeding.

(Why was his tongue bleeding?)

If he took his eyes off them they'd run, they'd book it and
hide somewhere, and they knew the town, but he could tear the entire goddamn
place apart if he had to.

Hansel.

He stopped. Ground his teeth. Why was he here? There'd been
a reason for this. Not just killing for the sake of it. Not even supposed to be
killing. Nah, that was fucking stupid, of course that was what he was here for,
the thunder growled his name and said --

That wasn't it, though. That wasn't the voice he'd heard. He
faltered and turned to see Goro staring at him. Didn't move.

**Lina:**

 Ah, jeez. Ah, fuck.

His gut was screaming at him to run, but he was going to
keep ignoring it, because-- because his head said That's a man who looks like
he wants to chase something, and you can't run faster than him. And his heart
said something even more pressing than that.

He took another step closer. "Can you hear me?"

**Izzy:**

 The thunder tried to drown him out.

It said: Listen.

It said: You're not done.

It said: I'm not finished with you.

But it didn't quite manage. Hansel wavered in place and
nodded.

**Lina:**

 Goro let out a long breath. Felt like his lungs were
quivering. "Okay," he said. "Okay."

Hansel wasn't quite with him, though. Not all the way. Goro
could tell from his eyes. The thunder continued to roll overhead, and Goro's
heart kept beating hard, making his limbs feel weak.

Listen to me. Stay with me. He opened his mouth, but didn't
say it. Block it out. Don't listen to it.

Block it out.

Oh. What if--

God. Fucking, damn. Why hadn't they thought... well, maybe
it wouldn't fucking work, Gruumsh was a god and all, but it was worth a fucking
try. Goro raised both his hands, thought the better of it, and dropped them. He
moved fast, so it wouldn't look like anything: put his hands behind his back
and slipped his ring off, palming it. He relaxed his arms to his sides again.
He walked slowly until he was within arm's reach of Hansel, then put his free
hand out.

"Take my hand," he said. "Let's go
home."

Huh, on the other hand, maybe Gruumsh could just... fucking
see what he'd done, there. Omniscience, or whatever. Some gods had it. Maybe
Goro was about to be real fuckin' fucked.

**Izzy:**

 He swallowed. Tried to loosen up his jaw. Fists were loose
already. He really fucking -- wanted to do what Goro said. Just stop, and take
his hand, and go home. Seemed like a bad idea though. Felt like he might still
be electric -- felt like he shouldn't touch anyone. Especially not Goro. Hadn't
he fucking done enough to Goro last time?

He took a step back and shook his head, swallowed again,
choking down blood. God. Eldath. Fuck. He might be sick. His fingers twitched,
feeling for the current, and he stared at Goro's hand.

The voice growled again, wordless, quieter this time. Felt
like the storm was passing, but it wasn't quite gone yet.

**Lina:**

 "Come on," Goro whispered. "Please.
Please." He kept his hand out, and when Hansel didn't take it, he stepped
forward again, reaching for his face. Forgetting about the ring for a moment,
just... wanting to touch him. Make him feel better. It made Goro's heart hurt
to see him like that, afraid to reach out.

**Izzy:**

 "Mm." He shook his head again, leaned back.
Couldn't explain it yet. His eyes darted around for -- something else to touch,
something to pass the electricity onto, discharge it, like static built up
against wool -- if it worked like that. He didn't fucking know.

He'd only had the idea, before, that he was still buzzing
with the power afterwards. Hadn't actually been true. When Roddy had touched
him, in the dungeon, he'd been fine. It'd been fine. And the clouds were
clearing, and he didn't hear thunder, didn't hear anything but the river, and
Goro asking, so softly, for him to come closer.

Fuck. Fuck, he was weak. He'd fucked up, and he needed this.
He leaned back in, put his hands behind his back and clenched his fists,
anticipating -- let Goro touch him and closed his eyes and waited for it to go
wrong.

Nothing happened. No shock. No thunder. Nothing screaming
his name from the sky, no red eye beating down on him. His jaw relaxed, a little.(edited)

**Lina:**

 Goro slid his hand to the back of Hansel's neck, tugging him
down. "Come here." Hansel had fucking blood all over his face--some
of it his, some of it from--taking a fucking bite out of that guy, but--Goro just
wanted to touch their foreheads together, or something. Be closer. "It's
alright. You're not going to hurt me."

He put a quiet confidence into his voice, even though he
wasn't certain. Maybe if Hansel believed it, it could be a self-fulfilling
prophecy.

**Izzy:**

 He sounded pretty fucking sure about that for someone who'd
just watched Hansel beat the shit out of a few people and walk into a sword.
And for someone who'd seen this happen before, had front row goddamn seats to
it. Like he didn't realize what was going on, that it was happening again -- no
-- that it had happened. It was over now.

Hansel wondered if the thunder had even been real. He
remembered -- after the Crucible -- asking Mishka if he'd heard it, and he
hadn't. Maybe Goro hadn't either. Maybe it was just him, and it had always just
been him, and he was just fucking insane --

He slumped against Goro, dropping his forehead down onto
Goro's shoulder, screwing his eyes shut. Not useful. Not helpful. Fucking --
fucking Gruumsh. They'd all been there, they'd all seen the storm, Kheman had
seen the storm, it was fucking real, goddammit.

"Did you," he managed, through his teeth.
"Did you hear the thunder?"

**Lina:**

 "Mhm." Goro slid his hand down Hansel's arm,
guiding it forward. Laced their fingers together. Good. He gave Hansel a quick
kiss on the cheek. He rolled the ring around in his palm. Diva had sized it for
his own slender fingers, but... maybe. Maybe.

Quickly.

He pulled Hansel's hand closer and shoved the ring onto his
pinkie, making it as far as the second knuckle before it wouldn't fit any
farther. Then he brought Hansel's hand up and kissed his knuckles, lips coming
away bloody.

**Izzy:**

 All right. All right. Okay. That -- objectively that wasn't
actually fucking better, he didn't think, but it was some mild reassurance
anyway. He swallowed more blood. Eldath, his tongue was bleeding like a
motherfucker. He didn't remember biting it, this time, but he must've. Must've
... tried.

Goro took his hand and Hansel felt him slipping a ring onto
his little finger. He pulled back a little, recognizing it as the one Goro'd
gotten from Diva, the mind-shielding one. Hansel felt fucking -- hungover and
drained and defeated, and now he was confused, too, but he managed to wrench
the tension out of his jaw and take a harsh breath.

"What're you doing?" He thought, Mishka needs
that, for the dragon -- I don't need that -- you need it more, it makes you
feel safer, but none of that came out.

**Lina:**

 "We'll get you a bigger one. Or we'll get that one
resized, or... and we'll get Mishka one, too." Goro pushed against him,
putting his arms around him and squeezing tight. "So you can't hear
Gruumsh's voice anymore. I don't know. Maybe it won't work on a god. But
maybe."

**Izzy:**

 "I don't ..." He was going to say I don't think
that'll fucking work, but the hell did he know? Or I don't want it, because
he'd rather Mishka had it, but -- maybe it didn't fucking matter right now
whether he wanted it, or whether it worked. It was over. (Clear skies, calm
seas.) Goro was just trying whatever might help.

What'd helped, though, hadn't been the fucking ring. It'd
been Goro saying his name. Staying. And coming closer, and being calm and
gentle and persistent. Fucking indomitable.

So Hansel mumbled, "Okay," instead, and wrapped
his arms around Goro, and let himself lean on him.

January 26, 2019

**Lina:**

 Goro spoke a prayer of healing under his breath. Closed the
wound on Hansel's shoulder, and cleared up the rest of the bruising on his own
face too. Hansel still wasn't good as new, but Goro could tend to that later.
Search him over under the guise of just wanting to touch him everywhere, make
note of any remaining injuries, then... fuckin' fix them while he was sleeping,
or something.

For now Goro just stood, holding him close.

"I love you so much," he said. "So fucking
much. He can't fucking have you. You're mine, and Mishka's. He can fuck the
fuck off."

**Izzy:**

 Hansel felt the warmth of the healing spell sink into him,
settle him a bit. Serena's magic -- it hadn't felt like that. It'd fixed him,
but even after they'd become friends, it'd never been ... comforting, like
that. Luci's, either, on the rare occasions she'd had to heal him. Fuck, Goro's
hadn't, used to.

He closed his eyes and tried to let himself feel better, let
Goro make him. It was safe. Clear skies. Quiet.

His gut ached, though. Gruumsh had had him for a long
fucking time and he didn't think there was anything Goro or Mishka could do
about it. It was older than them. It was a fucking god and it'd had a grip on
him since he was sixteen.

"On the ship." Too disorganized. That wasn't the
right place to start.

He took a step back, keeping his arms around Goro, to lean
against the wooden railing so something else could support his weight. Focus.

"I tried to -- fucking forget." Spent a lot of
fucking time telling himself it'd never happened, he'd just imagined it, he was
just crazy. "But on the ship -- that wasn't the first time. Happened when
I was a kid, too. Like this time, not -- not all the way, but --."
Hansel's grip tightened, and he whispered, "It's already had me for so
fucking long, Goro."

**Lina:**

 Goro fought off a smile, knowing it wasn't fucking
appropriate--but he couldn't help thinking of the talk he'd had with Amari a
couple weeks back. In another ten years, Mishka will have had him for twenty.
Ah, so it's a race to a finish line?

Goro anchored his arms around Hansel's neck and straddled
him, stepping up onto the lower rung of the railing so he was a few inches
taller. Taller than Hansel. Hansel probably never got to be hugged by someone
bigger than him, but as Goro well knew, it was a nice fucking thing.

"Well, too fucking bad," Goro murmured, kissing
his hair. "I intend to have you longer."

**Izzy:**

 Hansel rested his face against Goro's chest. He wanted to
argue -- Good fucking luck. I'm not gonna live long enough for that. Twenty
years, at least. He remembered being younger, being afraid of storms -- thought
it was probably just a kid thing. Kids were afraid of storms, sometimes. Wasn't
sure now. Maybe it'd been his whole fucking life. Luci thought that his body
couldn't take being possessed or hosted or whatever by Gruumsh that many times.
How many times had it happened already, he wanted to ask -- how many did he
have left? What fucking counted? Did this? Did the storm when he was sixteen?

None of that was going to be helpful. Just arguing. Goro
would just argue back, and then they might get fucking angry at each other
because Hansel wouldn't just listen to him.

Didn't matter if it was true or not, either. Just mattered
that it was being said. It was supposed to make him feel better, and it would,
if he'd fucking allow it to. He managed a noncommittal sound, and a slight nod.

**Lina:**

 Sounded like Hansel didn't buy it--that didn't fucking
matter. It was true. Goro would follow him to the ends of the earth, and the
fucking afterlife if he had to, to pry him out of Gruumsh's stupid hands. He
didn't say that, though. Hansel'd probably get stressed about it, or something,
the idea of Goro going toe-to-toe with a god.

"How old?" Goro asked, and gave him another kiss.
"How many times has it happened?"

**Izzy:**

 He fuckin' wanted to argue with that, too, say it didn't matter,
say they should just go home -- that Goro had said let's go home and that was
all Hansel wanted to do; go home, and find Mishka, and lay down, and be quiet
-- say he didn't want to talk about it.

He realized, though, that he kind of fucking did. It wasn't
... it wasn't helpful. It wouldn't make anything better. No tactical sense
behind it -- Goro couldn't answer how much longer do I have? any more than he
could and there was no reason to dump questions and fears and useless
information on him. But he was asking. He got frustrated when Hansel wouldn't
answer his questions, no matter how pointless they were, or how upsetting the
answers might be. He just seemed to prefer knowing. Even the unimportant shit.

And Hansel kind of just fucking liked telling him things. It
went against most of his instincts, but it was there, anyway, like it was with
Mishka, the drive to say listen to me, help me with some reassurance or at
least a hell of a lot of hope that it would actually pan out for him.

"Not sure," he said, reluctantly despite himself,
muffled. "First one I remember, I was sixteen. Then on the Albatross. Then
at the keep." No, there'd been that moment --. "And at the Crucible,
in Skyport -- the coliseum. Mishka and I fought there and -- it was like this, kind
of. Heard the thunder. But it wasn't like on the ship. Or the castle. Quieter.
Like the first time."

**Lina:**

 Goro rested his lips on the top of Hansel's head and ran his
fingers through Hansel's hair, lightly dragging his fingernails to give that
nice tingly feeling. "What stopped it? I mean, the times it's been
quieter."

Seemed like Hansel had managed to stop it himself this time,
long before Goro put the ring on, just by Goro talking to him and calling him
back. They could work with that, maybe.

**Izzy:**

 It always started off quiet. He wondered if the better
question might be what made it worse, but -- he couldn't put a pattern
together, for that. He'd been alone the first time, and fucking terrified, and
he'd been alone the last time in the castle, and fucking terrified.

"Mishka," he said slowly, "at the Crucible.
Got me somewhere quiet, underground." He'd've probably fucking died.
Hadn't had much fight left in him, even with Gruumsh pushing him on. "You.
Talking to me. Helped me remember -- where I was." His skin crawled and he
pressed against Goro tighter. "It tried to drown you out." Like it
knew. Like --. "Like it's fucking scared of you."

**Lina:**

 "It should be. I'm gonna fucking murder it."

**Izzy:**

 Hansel made a quiet distressed sound.

**Lina:**

 "Hey. Hey, it's fine." Goro kissed his head
several times. "I'll be careful."

**Izzy:**

 Luci had been researching how people -- mortals -- could
kill gods. Usually they just fucking got killed.

Hansel figured this was probably how Mishka felt when Hansel
and Goro talked about just fighting the dragon. (That was different, though. It
was just a dragon. Dragons bled. Dragons died. Gods, though --.)

He sighed against Goro's chest. He wasn't going to argue,
but he wasn't going to fucking agree to it, either.

**Lina:**

 Like it's fucking scared of you. Huh. Goro smiled.

It had made him so happy when he realized Diva hated him.
That was just fucking delightful. Because it meant he'd won. He'd gotten to
her.

So yeah. Fuck Gruumsh. If he was scared, Goro was thrilled.
Sure, Diva hating him had resulted in her tormenting him with his worst
nightmares, and Gruumsh being scared of him might mean getting his skull
shattered a couple more times, but... or not. Hansel had the ring, now. And
maybe he just needed to be with someone who loved him, when Gruumsh came
calling.

"And the first time?" Goro said. "What
stopped it then? Somebody talk you down?"

**Izzy:**

 Hansel shook his head. He felt ill, again, and swallowed it
back. Almost fucking hilarious now to think there'd been a time in his life
that that'd been the worst day of it.

All he had to do was say no. He didn't even think Goro'd
push it further. And -- knowing that -- knowing that there was a choice, here
-- made him reconsider being terse and blunt and flat. Made him consider what
he actually wanted to say.

"My little brother went missing," he said quietly.
"I was sent out to look for him in the woods, by myself. S'fine -- I was
-- out there a lot, I was sixteen, it was fine. But I couldn't find him and I
got fucking scared about ... stupid bullshit. Started hearing the thunder. Then
this fucking torrential rain. And I hid in this little cave, 'cause -- if I
couldn't find him --." He struggled with it for a moment. "He was my
responsibility. If something'd happened to him I knew it'd be my fucking fault,
and -- I thought something'd happened to him.

"And the sky was just fucking -- screaming at me, and
it knew my name. And -- I just hid. 'Til is was over. Passed out, maybe. Don't
remember. Went back home the next morning and, y'know -- Leigh was fine, at least.
No one'd -- come for me, or told me." He shrugged. "Just ... blacked
out and it was over with, I guess."

**Lina:**

 The tension in Hansel's voice, how much it pained him to
tell this story--it made Goro hold him even tighter. But by the end, Goro was
so fucking rattled by it all, by the weight that lay behind a few innocuous
phrases, enough to put a picture together of what Hansel wasn't saying--

I was sent out to look for him in the woods, by myself.

He was my responsibility.

No one'd -- come for me, or told me.

He slowly pulled back so he could look Hansel in the face.
"Wh... what the fuck? What the fuck?" Then he grabbed onto him again,
squeezing Hansel's head against his chest.

**Izzy:**

 Hansel didn't object to being held again, but he did shift his
face so that he could say, "No, y'don't ... No, that was fine." Goro
didn't get it. He'd have to explain, for some reason. "That was the best
time it happened. No one got hurt."

**Lina:**

 "No, jackass. What the fuck's wrong with your
parents?"

**Izzy:**

 "Nothing. I mean, I dunno, they're probably fine."
Goro knew he hadn't seen them in twenty goddamn years. What kind of a question
was that? "What?

**Lina:**

 "They fucking--" Goro stopped and swallowed.
Literally swallowing down his rage. "They put you in charge of minding
your little brother, and then they--they don't even--who the fuck was looking
out for you?"

**Izzy:**

 That question didn't make much sense either. Hansel'd looked
out for himself. Goro should get that -- he'd grown up fucking literally on his
own. At least Hansel hadn't gone hungry.

"Leigh's ten years younger than me," he said,
instead of answering. "It wasn't like it was fuckin' hard."

**Lina:**

 "You don't--that's not--" Goro squeezed tighter,
fingertips digging in. "They fucking send you out to look for him, and
they don't give a shit when you don't come back? What the fuck."

He swallowed again, this time not so much from anger as from
that awful feeling like he was about to cry. It wasn't just Hansel, it was...
it was mostly Hansel, but it was himself, too; a kid no one had looked out for.
And it was Jonas, and it was that little boy being shoved in the bushes
earlier, and it was--too fucking much.

"That's not fair," he managed. "It's not
fucking fair."

**Izzy:**

 "Wh ... Hey. All right." He didn't know where to
go from there. He drew back a little, just to pull Goro back down to his level
and kiss his cheek. "It's fine. I'm fine." He paused. "I mean --
I know you're not gonna fucking agree with me, 'cause -- Mishka doesn't either,
but -- it's not --."

If he said something like it's not a big deal that'd just
make things worse.

"I mean. It's not fair," he said softly.
"Yeah. But it happened and it's over. Doesn't matter." He pressed his
forehead against Goro's chest again. "I'm here now."

**Lina:**

 Goro nodded, even though Hansel couldn't see him. He kept on
trying to swallow down whatever fucking feelings were trying to crawl out.
"You're here. We're here."

It should have made a difference. It should have made all
the other hurt, the old hurt, fade away. Goro fucking hated that--with physical
wounds, once you healed them the pain was gone for good, barring some aches
that sometimes wouldn't leave, but--if you fucking got cut open, you stopped
hurting once you weren't cut open anymore. If no one wanted you when you were a
kid, that didn't stop hurting even years later, when you were finally wanted.

Well, Hansel said he was fine. Like he wasn't actually
hurting anymore. God, though, imagine growing up knowing you didn't matter
except as a babysitter. That explained some fucking things, it sure did.

He was seeking refuge with Goro now, though, like he
deserved to. And that felt like a fucking miracle. Goro had to handle it
delicately, like something that might break. It'd be fine if he said nothing,
probably--Amari had told him, You do all your work through words, but Hansel
needs quiet.

He couldn't let this chance get away, though. Just a few
words. Just a few.

"You are here," he said. "And I'm never
letting you go. Wherever that thing takes you, I'll come fucking find
you."

**Izzy:**

 They were big fucking words, but then, Hansel guessed that
was the kind of shit he'd said when Diva'd had Goro. The kind of shit you
didn't know that you could back up, but you said anyway -- never and wherever
weren't promises people could actually make. It just felt better to say them.
So Hansel closed his eyes and let himself believe it.

He wondered if now was a good time to ask if Goro'd come
home to Shepherd Hills with him. Hadn't even asked Mishka yet. Wasn't sold on
not just going by himself. Might be easier that way. He fucking wanted them
with him, though.

Probably wasn't the right time. They were ... here. That was
more important; that was what mattered.

Luci said that if it happened too many times, Gruumsh's
power would burn out his body and kill him. Elitash had talked about the great
war in the afterlife, and being young and strong and bloodthirsty again when
she joined Ilneval's army. It'd sounded fucking awful to Hansel, had even back
then. He grit his teeth. It was fucking painful to even consider saying -- to
open himself up, to fucking ask to be hurt -- even though he trusted Goro quite
a goddamn lot --

"What if it kills me?" He dug his fingers into
Goro's back. "You gonna come ... fucking get me back?"

**Lina:**

 "I sure fucking am."

**Izzy:**

 He let out a breath. Still knew it didn't actually fucking
mean anything -- not anything tangible, concrete, fucking real at all -- but
that didn't make it a lie. He'd told Goro We're gonna kill her and get you
back. Don't fuckin' worry about it and had no goddamn idea how to do that, and
they'd pulled it off.

So ... sure. Sure. He'd believe it, then, for now. Because
it felt better to believe it, and whether he did or not didn't really have any
fucking impact on the outcome. He'd just -- fuckin' feel better, then.

"All right."

**Jen:**

 At first there were just the clouds, and the wind. Then came
the thunder and Larkin thought how fucking inconvenient that was because they
hadn't gotten around to fixing the roof of the hut yet. Then came the
realization. And then the fear.

She was halfway out the door before stopping to wonder how
the fuck she would go about doing this. Just her and Goro against Hansel? If he
was alive still. God. Mask, help.

She spun on her heels, dashed back inside to grab her
crossbow, then bolted down to the docks at a dead run. Cat had been calling
after her, wanting to know what the fuck was going on and she should've told
him to stay but fuck that, no time to babysit him now. If he had any shred of
common sense, he'd keep away.

Larkin readied the crossbow while running, repeating the
same prayer for Goro to still be on his feet over and over again in her head.
The bolt slipped her fingers and she almost tripped trying to pick it back up
without stopping. Fuck. Why did the dock have to be on the other end of town?

She skitted around a corner, using a wall to make the turn
without having to slow down too much. A form appeared before her and she
collided with in, getting knocked onto her ass. One of the guardsmen from
earlier stood over her, face bloody and eyes wide, and Larkin expected him to
kick at her or something, but he just stumbled backwards, then bolted past her.
She was back on her feet and running even before the implications of that had
really sunk in.

Arriving at the dock, Larkin found a scene that was at the
same time terrifyingly close to, and not at all what she'd expected. The blood
was there, the dropped weapons and the busted wood works. But Goro was on his
feet, thank Mask, and he was clinging to Hansel against the railing.

Larkin kept running but slowed down as she approached,
calling out to her friend.

**Lina:**

 Goro pulled back from his extended kissing of Hansel's
forehead to look over his shoulder. He waved to her, took in the crossbow
positioned to fire, and yelled, "It's fine."

He stepped down off the railing and turned to face her, but
kept one arm around Hansel's waist.

**Jen:**

 He did seem fine. Actually fine, not just lying about it.
She lowered the crossbow and came closer, looking back and forth between Goro,
Hansel, and the bloody mess around.

"What the fuck happened? I heard thunder, did
you-" she squinted at Hansel, his face streaked with gore. "What
happened?"

**Izzy:**

 Ah, fuck. He was torn between claiming everything was
completely fine, and the thunder had been nothing -- so she wouldn't drag Goro
away to keep him safe -- and coming clean, because he was shit at lying anyway,
and she kind of deserved to know.

"S'fine," he said uncomfortably. "Didn't get,
y'know, out of control." He wanted to tell her Goro saved me, because that
was how it felt, but she'd probably be more concerned with the fact that Goro
had stared him down under the storm instead of bolting.

**Lina:**

 Goro put his other arm around Hansel and kissed his
shoulder. "He fought it off. Or I talked him out of it, or some fuckin'
shit. Hey, look at this, Lark." He lifted Hansel's hand to display the
ring halfway on his little finger. "Am I fucking brilliant, or what? Don't
actually answer that."

**Jen:**

 "Fucking dumbass you are." Still, she couldn't
keep the relief off her face. She crossed the last of the distance and glanced
him over, looking for any injuries. Nothing. It was fine.

Larkin sighed and unloaded the crossbow. "You fought it
off?" she asked with a sceptical look at Hansel. "Is it getting
weaker then? You're getting more control?"

**Izzy:**

 "Uhh. Wouldn't say that, nah." Goddammit. What a
reasonable fucking question that he didn't have a good answer for. "S'just
-- Goro being here. Kinda talked me down before I got in too deep. I
guess."

**Lina:**

 "Gruumsh is scared of me," Goro added, kissing
Hansel's shoulder a few more times.

**Jen:**

 "Uh-huh."

Well, there were some shit fucking implications in that. It
was still getting into Hansel's head, making him go berserk, and the only way
they seemed to have of getting him out was Goro being nearby? Well, fuck that,
Larkin thought knowing full well not even a crowbar would be enough to pry that
stubborn idiot loose from Hansel. Mask, look at him. All but crawling into his
blood-soaked boyfriend even now.

"So, that's it? You just never leave his side again and
hope you'll scare the fucker off before he snaps your neck?" She said it
jokingly, but he could probably still hear the worry in her voice.

**Lina:**

 "That's the plan, yeah." Which neither of them
were going to accept, but eh. He could still say it.

**Izzy:**

 Hansel grimaced.

**Jen:**

 She glanced at Hansel, then tilted her head back at Goro.
"Looks like it's two against one here, bud."

**Lina:**

 "Alright, then what exactly is it you're proposing,
smartass?"

**Jen:**

 "I don't fucking know, man. But even you gotta see
that's a damn weak plan, right?" Larkin gestured at Hansel's hand,
frowning. "Maybe that'll help, though. Let's fucking hope. I was gonna
shoot you but to be honest, I had no idea if it'd fucking stop you."

**Izzy:**

 "Go for the throat," Hansel said without
hesitation.

**Jen:**

 "Throat's a bad target. Too small and moves too
much."

**Izzy:**

 "Well, I'll try to fuckin' hold still."

**Lina:**

 "Fucking stop. Stop. You fuckers want me to start
carrying the Leech around again?" Yeah, he had the gem and the crystalline
wand now, but he wanted to get his fucking point across.

**Izzy:**

 "No. Listen, when it happened at the castle I didn't
fuckin' die, did I?"

**Lina:**

 "Yeah, 'cause I was there to fucking stabilize you when
we beat you within an inch of your life."

**Izzy:**

 Hansel scowled.

**Jen:**

 "Yeah, speaking of which," Larkin interjected and
gestured at the bloody scene on the ground. "No body so I don't s'pose you
offed anyone but, y'know, would be smart to get outta here still."

**Lina:**

 "Oh, yeah, sure. Should we go cozy up in your dank hole
of a house? Or maybe waltz into a tavern while me and Hansel are covered in
blood. Pff." Goro waved vaguely at the surrounding area. "There's no
one around."

**Izzy:**

 "Nah, she's right." Hansel thought to wipe the
blood off his face with the back of his hand, but dragging his knuckles across
his face only reminded him that they were raw and bloody, too. Useless fucking
effort. "Might send more guards." Or he might've fucking scared them
off permanently, which'd kind of be the desired effect, at least. Just didn't
get there the way he'd wanted.

His mouth still had that metallic taste. Made him nauseous.
"You got somewhere we could hide out and get cleaned up?" he said to
Larkin, reluctant to ask her for anything. "Don't wanna endanger your, uh.
Cutlery business, or anything, though."

January 28, 2019

**Jen:** at 11:37 AM

She scoffed. "Not much to endanger there." Playing
the inconspicuous cutler looking to escape the city air had never really
worked, Cat and her being strangers as well as the only tieflings in town.
Larkin was sure she'd found the only Sanguines hiding out in Glimmerton
nonetheless - all of which must know who she was anyway. Maybe it was time she
and her gang broke their flimsy pretense and started going about their business
the good old fashioned way: Bribery and siding with the hools that beat up the
town guard. Maybe there was even something to gain here - people would want
protection from the violent bunch up in the castle.

"If it's not up to your regal standards, though,"
she said with a glance at Goro, "maybe just fucking go back to the
castle?"

**Izzy:** at 12:33 PM

Hansel scoffed at the comment. The idea of shambling back up
to the castle all covered in blood, though -- Roddy might see him, or Samantha
might, and get scared, or Mishka might and get fretful. Or Ombre. She'd just
give him that look that reminded him she would set him on fire if he hurt Goro.
Larkin was actually being a bit more charitable than that, which he couldn't
quite decide how he felt about.

"Thing is, though, y'know," he hedged, "kinda
be better if I didn't go back all, y'know." He gestured to his face.
"Don't wanna fuckin' ... scare everyone."

**Lina:** at 3:49 PM

"Why would they be... ah, well, right. Never mind.
Makes sense." He gestured for Larkin to lead the way. "We'll slum it
just this once. Hey Lark, you know what I like about you?"

**Jen:** at 3:50 PM

"What," she prompted, turning to lead them off.

**Lina:** at 3:55 PM

"You're fuckin' nuts. Rolling up here, crossbow out,
ready to take down any son of a bitch who might try and hurt my sorry hide.
Most any other person would hear that thunder and think 'Yeah, not today' and keep
booking it in the other direction." Goro let go of Hansel so he could run
up and walk beside Larkin for a minute. "And people give me shit for not
knowing how to keep myself safe. You just think, yeah, I'll go ahead and
single-handedly take on this fucking thunder god. I love it." He grinned
and put an arm around her shoulders for a quick squeeze. "Thanks, sis. But
seriously, don't shoot my fucking boyfriend in the neck."

**Jen:** at 4:08 PM

Larkin side eyed him, scowling.

Most of the time, she didn't give a shit about Goro's
fuckery. But sometimes it stung, especially when she was trying to help.

Fuck, though. She loved this motherfucker. A smile stole its
way onto her face, so she distracted Goro from it by punching his shoulder.
"Asshole."

**Izzy:** at 4:18 PM

Hansel watched them, amused. Sis. God, that was fucking
cute. He was glad to hear it, too, and see Larkin's grin and the prickly way
she deflected it -- made him think of Serena, a bit. Closest thing to a sister
he'd had, himself, he supposed, and there'd been a time he'd trusted her the
way he did Larkin.

He came up alongside Goro again, catching him as he recoiled
from the punch, and caught Larkin's eye to surreptitiously draw a thumb across
his throat. Tried to make it look like an idle motion, then dropped it.

**Jen:** at 4:27 PM

She caught Hansel's look, and the gesture, and held his gaze
for a moment letting him know. They held peace, but only as long as Goro was
safe. And happy. Once that changed... well, maybe Larkin needed to buy a bigger
crossbow.

**Izzy:** at 4:43 PM

Understood, then. Hansel nodded slightly, pleased, and
tucked Goro against his side. He didn't seem to've noticed, or he'd just
decided to not address it. Honestly, Goro's certainty did make Hansel feel
better -- I'm never letting you go and I'll come fucking find you.

But so did Larkin, skidding around the corner with her
crossbow already loaded, returning his look silently.

He really fuckin' wanted the kid to like him, but he never
wanted her to stop being the bloodthirsty little punk she was, either, so he
never fucking knew what to say to her. "How, uh. How's business,
anyway," he asked awkwardly.

**Jen:** at 4:50 PM

Fuck me sideways, small talk? Really? Would've been fucking
weird any other time but Hansel with various people's blood all over his face
and body fucking topped it. Larkin raised both eyebrows at him before being
able to come up with a suitable reaction.

"Well, we're in the middle of fucking nowhere, and I'm
a city dweller with horns. What d'you think?"

**Izzy:** at 4:56 PM

"Yup." Eldath, he was dumb. "Yup, fair. Well.
Y'know. Least you didn't just openly maim a member of the town guard. That'd
probably be bad for your whole fuckin' thing, eh."

**Jen:** at 5:06 PM

Larkin snorted in agreement. "Though after today, shit
like that's probably gonna be my whole fucking thing. Eh, what the hell."
She glanced around as they walked. No one outside. The commotion seemed to have
driven them all in and no heroes among the villagers to take action. Good.

**Izzy:** at 5:08 PM

"Oh." He automatically went to apologize, but then
remembered Goro saying something about her shooting someone. "Well. You
need any help fuckin' strong-arming people, I got fuck-all left to lose,
reputation-wise, so."

**Jen:** at 5:16 PM

Huh. She wanted tell him no, but actually... considering how
the townspeople might view Hansel now, this would actually be a neat thing to
have up her sleeve.

"If you're looking for excuses to break some arms, I
got 'em. But y'know, this isn't my thing," she said, feeling the need to
point it out, even though it would hardly matter. "It's my uncle's.
Renar."

**Izzy:** at 5:21 PM

"Yeah, yeah." He waved it off. "Fuckin' ...
whatever. I wouldn't be working for him, I'd be working for you." He knew
that wasn't really how it worked, but she'd probably get the idea.

**Jen:** at 5:22 PM

She shrugged. "Sure, then. Why the fuck not."

**Lina:** at 8:10 PM

"Hah. Freelancing, eh?" Goro patted Hansel on the
chest. "I assume you're gonna pay him in drinks at the tavern?" he
asked Larkin. He fuckin' hoped so. He wanted the two of them to be friends. No,
that wasn't accurate; he wanted them to realize they were already friends.
Couple'a dumbasses.

**Jen:** at 8:23 PM

"I pay in hard coin, buddy. What, you think they'll
still serve him drinks without spit in it now? Eh. Might be we gotta go get
that point across, too."

**Izzy:** at 8:31 PM

Hansel snorted. "Good, 'cause you know I survive off more
than booze, right?" Maybe not by a hell of a lot, but still.

They reached Larkin's place. Bit of a shit hole, up on
stilts like some of the places around Glimmerton -- looked like a tree had been
growing through it, but they were working on sorting the place out.
"Fuck," Hansel said mildly. "You need a hand with this fuckin'
piece of work? Y'know I put Mishka's estate back together after the plague,
right? I can handle this."

**Jen:** at 8:43 PM

God no. Last thing she needed was Hansel trying to play dad
by fixing her place. "Yeah, no, I don't fucking need you to," she
began, but stopped with a look at Goro. "Yeah. No. We got it."

She walked a bit faster to bring some distance between the
three of them, and led them around the house where they had a water pump and a
laundry line.

**Izzy:** at 9:00 PM

"All right, well." Felt stupid to've even asked,
now. "I didn't mean need need. Just, y'know. I ain't got shit else going
on. I can help out."

The occasional possession by a fucking god notwithstanding.
This shit with the Sanguines, he wasn't cut out for it -- going undercover,
getting information out of fuckin' gang bosses. When they needed someone to hit
things real goddamn hard, he'd be there, but until then he felt like he was
useless. This'd be a project. It was self-serving like that, and, shit, it
probably was just because he knew it'd give him an excuse to hang around with
Larkin in a friendly way. He'd really enjoyed that night the two of them had run
the fake barfight scam, and then the next morning. Still felt like he should
keep his distance, but he really didn't want to.

Well, anyway. He went over to the pump to wash his face and
rinse his mouth out. Shoulder still ached from the sword, and his gut from the
knife, and he was steadily losing the ability to pretend like he had his shit
together. Deep breaths, though. He'd make it home.

**Lina:** at 9:27 PM

"Hey. Come on, let him fix your goddamn house."
Goro switched to Infernal. "He's looking for shit to keep himself busy. I
don't know, he's out of sorts lately. Out of his element."

**Jen:** at 9:34 PM

Larkin slumped down on the steps to the back door a few feet
away, crossbow beside her. Fucking Goro, trying to force his boyfriend onto
her. He knew too damn fucking well she didn't want to have more to do with
Hansel than necessary.

"Wow, rude," she said, feigning indignation.
"Draggin' your lover right in front of him? Would've never thought that of
you."

**Lina:** at 9:40 PM

"Bah." Goro waved her off. He glanced at Hansel,
washing off his face. "You might want to look away for this next part. I'm
about to get disgustingly sweet."

Goro walked up to Hansel and tugged at his sweater.
"Take this off, so I can check on your shoulder, and that knife
wound." Then, for Larkin's sake, he switched to Orcish. "And so I can
fucking ogle you, if getting healed isn't reason enough."

**Izzy:** at 9:46 PM

Hansel scoffed and started to say something about how he was
fine, but he had just fucking been rolling his shoulder, testing the edges of
the pain. He offered a long-suffering sigh and shrugged his bandolier off,
stabbing the trident into the ground and tugging his sweater over his head,
holding it loosely in one hand.

"You happy? Now I'm fuckin' standing here in the cold,
wet."

**Lina:** at 9:46 PM

Goro ran his hands over Hansel's chest. "Ooh, yeah.
Maybe I could warm you up."

**Jen:** at 9:51 PM

From the doorstep, Larkin let out a groan of agony.
"You don't fucking need me for this," she said, standing up and
grabbing her weapon. She'd just go inside and look after Cat. Yep.

"Lemme know when you're done fucking in my
backyard."

**Lina:** at 10:06 PM

"Hey, I'm just fuckin' healing--ah, I switched back to
Common, didn't I. Whoops." Well, as long as Larkin was disturbed anyway.
Goro kissed Hansel's chest a few times. Then he set to exploring it more
seriously, getting a good look at the knife wound and what remained of the
shoulder injury. Then he examined Hansel's face, arms, hands, making note of
every abrasion and bruise, now that the blood was washed away and he could see
them clearly. Hansel kept scoffing and grumbling, but he didn't fight Goro off,
and it was fucking adorable.

One other thing. Goro had seen blood trickling from Hansel's
mouth. He cupped Hansel's jaw and coaxed his mouth open with his thumb, just
for a quick check. Yup. He took his hand away before Hansel could put up a
fuss.

He prayed over each injured area until no visible trace of
the fight remained. Used up a good chunk of his magic in the process.
"How's it feel now?" he asked, rotating his own shoulder and pointing
to Hansel's.

**Izzy:** at 10:13 PM

Hansel scowled, but the shoulder did feel better.
"Fine. I fuckin' said ..." Actually, he didn't think he had said it,
for once. "It's fine. You shouldn't've run Larkin off. It's her fuckin'
house."

**Lina:** at 10:16 PM

"As my mother always reminds me, I have a moral
obligation to tend the sick and heal the injured. Now put your fucking sweater
back on." Goro stuck his tongue out, then went to knock on Larkin's door.
"Lark! We're done!"

**Jen:** at 10:17 PM

A moment later, the door opened and Larkin squinted out into
the light. "That was fast."

**Lina:** at 10:17 PM

"I was healing him, you sick fuck."

**Izzy:** at 10:18 PM

Hansel bit back calling over hey, fuckin' judgmental much,
because he'd just told Goro off for that kind of thing. He pulled his sweater
back on and grabbed his gear.

**Jen:** at 10:19 PM

She rolled her eyes but then stuck her tongue out at Goro,
smiling.

January 29, 2019

**Lina:** at 9:36 AM

"So, you gonna make us dinner, or what? We're your
honored guests. Lords from the castle."

**Jen:** at 9:39 AM

"Dinner? It's still two hours to sundown or so."
Still, Larkin shoved the door open wider and leaned back against the frame.

**Lina:** at 9:41 AM

"Yeah, so you'd best get cooking so it's ready in
time." He stepped past her, ruffling her hair as he went.

**Jen:** at 9:47 AM

She snatched after him, holding his wrist and twisting his
hand out and back.

**Izzy:** at 9:48 AM

Hansel watched with amusement from the porch, waiting for
Goro to ask for help. He wasn't doing shit until then.

**Lina:** at 9:50 AM

"Ah ah ah ah--" Goro bent back and fell onto his
knee. "Fuckin' why!"

**Jen:** at 9:52 AM

Larkin snorted and changed her grip to clasp his hand and
help him up. "Just proving a point, buddy."

**Lina:** at 9:54 AM

Goro climbed to his feet, making a face at her. Then he
looked at Hansel, holding his hands out indignantly. "What, you were just
gonna stand there and watch while she tortured me?"

**Izzy:** at 9:54 AM

"Yup."

**Jen:** at 9:59 AM

"See, he also likes you on our knees." Larkin
reached to flip a finger against his nose and ruffle his hair in turn.

**Izzy:** at 10:01 AM

"Psshhh." Hansel looked away, embarrassed.

**Lina:** at 11:08 AM

Goro stared at Larkin for a second, then grinned. "Heh.
Sure does." He glanced over at Hansel.

Was... was he fucking blushing? God, that was so fucking
cute. Quick, say more shit like that, he almost said to Larkin, but managed to
restrain himself.

**Jen:** at 1:35 PM

"Yeah, it's alway the big mouths who are like
that." Larkin followed Goro's look over to Hansel, waiting for him to
glance her way so she could wink. Seemed to be making the big guy fucking
uncomfortable. Exactly Larkin's kind of entertainment, that.

January 30, 2019

**Lina:** at 11:31 AM

Goro stepped back outside onto the porch and put his arms
around Hansel's waist. He was still looking away, but Goro leaned up to kiss
him and caught him on the chin. Unbelievable. This gigantic, menacing half-orc,
turning all pink-cheeked and bashful. Fucking adorable.

"Hey. You coming inside, or what?"

**Izzy:** at 11:46 AM

"Ehn." Hansel hesitated. Now that he'd gotten the
blood off of him, he really just wanted to lay the fuck down and sleep this
off. Larkin wasn't going to want him taking a damn nap in her house, but he
didn't want to drag her and Goro apart, either.

Maybe he'd just tough it out. God, though, if he just sat
down for a bit he might crash, and these two sure as hell couldn't drag him
around.

"Think I'm gonna head back to the keep," he said
reluctantly. He kissed the top of Goro's head and pulled away gently. "Lay
down, y'know. Hang out if you want, I'll be fine."

**Lina:** at 12:12 PM

Goro grabbed his hands before he could get away and squeezed
them. "I'll be up soon, alright?" He didn't let go. He wanted to say
something more, something like... Thanks for defending my honor, but he wasn't
sure Hansel would be up for joking about what happened, just yet. There was a
sincere sentiment in there, anyway. Goro just had to tease it out.

"Thanks for, uh... looking out for me. Being there for
me." He leaned up to kiss him again. "Love you."

**Izzy:** at 12:28 PM

"Mm." Hansel kissed him back briefly. His mouth
still tasted bitter and bloody to himself. "Love you too. Don't fuckin'
get beat up on the way home or some shit."

He waved to Larkin and turned to go.

**Jen:** at 4:09 PM

Larkin glanced up briefly from where she'd busied herself
sharpening a blade that could already be used to shave with. She had the urge
to call Hansel in, on some excuse but- fucking nah. Was better that way; safer,
too, for Goro and her. The sky was clear now but who knew. It'd been like that
before, too.

The door closed. Larkin held up the knife, tested the edge
with a finger, and satisfied got up to take it to the kitchen. Chop up some
turnips for dinner. Goro would love that.

[End]