Guinea Pigs (Fic: Betrayal in Antara)
LOL nobody will know what I'm talking about here. xD I tend to only fall really hard for totally obscure characters from things nobody has ever heard of - and these guys are like. From my Original Fandom. Maybe even from before Gargoyles, or Star Trek. "Betrayal in Antara" is an old Sierra RPG for the PC, and among the most underappreciated and unloved worlds/concepts/characters I know of. :C
Aren, William and Kaelyn have been so special to me for so many years... I know it sounds silly, but. They matter. A lot.
And I happen to write them as an OT3. xD Partially because the ho-yay between William and Aren is ridiculous, and also because Kaelyn is too awesome to leave out in the cold all by herself. Aaahaha.
So. Here you go.
Title: Guinea Pigs
Universe: "Ramar" - Betrayal in Antara
Pairing: ... THREE-ing. xD William/Aren/Kaelyn... She's just helping them figure it out.
Rating: PG. The only intimacy and/or naughtiness is just hinted at.
Summary: When threats don't work, you go with bribery. Involves chocolate, cluelessness, magic, terrible Waving Carrot for Emphasis jokes, and fluff.
Warnings: Unless you have a seething aversion to mutual polyamorous relationships, there's nothing you should be worried about, you big babies. <3
Guinea Pigs
She's holding the arrow shaft up to her eye level and straight, eagle eye picking out any warp or twist that could send it flying into the universe instead of some scum-faced dog's eye socket, when something yellow pops into her peripheral vision. She squints harder, pretending not to notice until the vaguely human-shaped blur lines itself up with her line of sight.
"Hi, Kaelyn!" The kid blows a tuft of blonde hair out of his eyes, smiling past the arrow point almost touching his nose. Trusting her not to jab him with it, the wicked metal tip made for ripping through sinew and muscle, the deadly little things she's so good with.
And she lowers the projectile, focusing on the world past the arrow's tip, and the young man crouching in front of her.
"Hello, Aren." She keeps her gaze steady and unblinking, refusing to smile back, and ignoring the tug at the corner of her mouth.
"Is that your last arrow?"
"I sure hope not." She raises her eyebrows. "I don't plan on running out when you boys need me to cover your asses. Only thing worse than missing because of a warped shaft is realizing you're all out." Now she does crack a smirk. "Gotta keep the equipment clean and smooth, keep from firing duds, right?"
A little pink tinge appears in his cheeks and he laughs, shaking his head to break eye contact. He's probably not used to talking like that at all, much less someone with different... equipment.
"Yeah..." he stammers. "An-anyway, I was wondering - when you're done maybe - would you mind helping me test a new spell?"
She gives an involuntary little twitch. "What kind of spell?" She watches him out of the corner of her eye now. The tables have turned - nothing quite rattles a hunter's cage like an excited baby-mage who liked throwing fireballs at things.
The phrases "side of a barn" and "couldn't hit it" came to mind.
"It's a really easy one, don't worry! I just need another person."
"Rrrgk..."
"C'mon. It'll be fun."
"Fun like how me shooting apples off your head was fun? Because that actually WAS-"
"No!" Now it's Aren's turn to look scared.
"Good," Kaelyn eyes him. "'Cause I'm not walking through the campfire again, I don't care how good you say you're getting with those insulation spells-"
"No, nothing like that!" Aren waves his hands while she hides a smile - he's just so easy to fluster. And it is fun to watch him turn all pink like that. "It's just a simple charm!"
She leans back and considers, wheels already turning. "Hmm... what's it do?"
"Well," Aren brightens, always happy to discuss his favorite subject. "Scott says it's supposed to distract the enemy in a fight, sort of... 'seduce' them into fighting on our side." He breaks off, red all over. "His word, not mine. I'm, uh, sure he had other uses for it in mind, but he's not a mage-"
"Damn good thing too," Kaelyn snorts.
"And I just thought it could really come in handy! Nonlethal, safe and easy to test. I think I've got a pretty good idea of how it's supposed to go..." He looks at her, making his eyes big and round and puppydog-like as possible. Magic isn't the only thing he's learning to turn to his advantage. "So will you help me? Please?"
Kaelyn folds her arms, looking from him to the remaining pile of arrows to inspec. "Well, fun as it sounds to be your magical guinea pig, I've still got a lot to get through tonight."
"Oh..."
"But!" She says, just as Aren's face begins to fall. "You might consider asking your other 'research assistant' over there," she nods across the clearing to the other side of the camp, where William was going through his own nightly ritual: making sure their food, supplies and especially boots, hadn't been invaded by snake-sized field worm larvae. Maybe it was just his spoiled rich-boy upbringing in swanky-town Panizo, but he still seemed to think spending a night in an inn beat one under the stars, worms or no worms.
Kaelyn might never understand.
"He doesn't like helping me with my magic," Aren shakes his head.
"Gee, I wonder why."
William's not listening, peering into a boot with a definite edge of suspicion, so he doesn't see what he really should be suspicious of - the crooked grin spreading across Kaelyn's face.
"Well," she leans back against a tree, hands behind her head. "The way I see it, you got two tactics here: threats, or bribery. I assume you already tried threat - said you'd turn him into a frog? Or better, a cute fluffy bunny rabbit?"
"Yeah..." Aren sighs. "He knows I can't do that yet."
"Well, then you've got bribery."
Aren thinks for a moment, then shakes his head, looking at the ground. "Bribe with what? We share everything. What do I have that he wants?"
Kaelyn makes a sound that's somewhere between a sneeze and a plague-victim cough, covering her mouth and biting one finger to keep the laugh from exploding out of her - she knows if she starts, she'll never be able to stop.
"There are just so many answers to that question," she manages to get out. "But - try what's in the inside pocket of your pack."
He looks up, sharp - then away, just as fast. "I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbles.
Kaelyn can't help but grin; God, he's a terrible liar. It's not a bad thing. She'll probably be kind of sad the day Aren learns to lie with a straight face.
"Oh, come on. The Montari chocolates, you've been hoarding them ever since we left their tunnels."
"I'm not-" Aren shoots a glance at William, who's still only paying attention to hypothetical worms. Then he lowers his voice, leaning closer to Kaelyn. "How did you know about that?!"
"Ancient Grrlf secret."
He opens his mouth and shuts it again, getting the look he's been having more and more lately - that half-intrigued, half-skeptical look that means he's trying to figure out if he's being messed with, or if the world really is as fantastic and magical as he thinks. "No. Really?"
"No!" Kaelyn laughs.
"Then how?"
"I'm a woman, Aren. We know things."
He frowns. He's still being played with, but he knows enough by now to let it go. His expression changes to a look he probably things is shrewd, and he takes on a conspiratorial tone.
"You really think William will-"
"What are you two whispering about?"
They both turn around fast, looking up with their hands in the cookie jar. Aren's eyes and mouth fall wide open, and Kaelyn's is curling up in a grin.
"Oh! I was just - we were..." Aren trails off, looking helplessly at Kaelyn, who just leans back against the tree and picks up another arrow.
"Well?" William folds his arms. "I recognize evil plotting when I hear it. Three older brothers, remember? If this is one of your sadistic anti-snoring schemes-"
"I have Montari chocolate!" Aren blurts - and William stops.
"...What?" He said slowly, still eyeing them with suspicion. He's been going through their food for worms and there's a carrot in his hand; somehow even it looks accusing.
"And I - see, I was thinking - that is, if you -"
"And, dear Willy, those chocolates can be yours," Kaelyn mercifully interrupts, rocking to her feet. "For the paltry sum of..." she puts an arm around Aren's shoulders and grins like a shyster. "Of helping our blossoming young mage with his learning."
"Oh, no. No," Wililam shakes his head, and waves the carrot at them for emphasis. Kaelyn could swear she's seen that gesture before, but can't think where. "I am not walking through any more campfires-"
"It's not the fire insulation spell!"
"Then what new havoc are you wreaking on nature now?"
"It's just a charm spell, for getting enemies to fight on our side in combat. Nothing dangerous, I promise. Or explosive."
"I'm already on your side, Aren." William unfolds his arms and lets his hands drop, suspicion fading from his face - though he definitely still doesn't like the look of Kaelyn's grin. "Though you wouldn't know it from the way my companions are so ruthlessly ganging up on me."
"I'm sorry. I just-"
"You need to test the stuff before you use it in a real pinch, I know. And it's fine."
"Huh. That's a different tune from last time..." Kaelyn meets William's warning look with an innocent shrug. "What?"
"I'm just being practical." He stares at her, maybe with more intensity than was absolutely necessary, at least for the superficial words. "It's why Aren's coming with me to Panizo, he's got to learn to control this-"
"Hey! I'm not saying anything." Kaelyn spreads her hands in a shrug. "Just pretend I'm not here."
"Good." William nods jerkily. "Keep it that way. Aren needs to concentrate."
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of..." William's eyebrows almost disappear into his bangs - and Kaelyn looks up at the sky, hiding a smirk and apparently finding a cloud much more interesting than either of them.
Aren doesn't pursue that last weird little exchange - they're just speaking their own language again, with things left out instead of said, talking with their eyes. He's used to it by now, and there's no point in wondering exactly what they're really saying to each other. They'll let him in on it when they're ready, they always do.
"So," William's voice brings him back to the present. "What exactly are we doing here?"
"Oh - okay, you just - stand there," Aren half-stumbles across the camp over to him, untangling the arcane motions and words in his mind. His friends' bantering coiled it up like a cat playing with a ball of yarn, and it takes him a while to get it all straight again, so he stalls for a little time. "Scott said it was called 'Rachel's Song.' I, uh... don't know why he called it that-"
William gives a sarcastic little snort. "I have a few ideas."
"Mm-hmm. Anyway," Aren steps in front of him and fixes him with the wide, unblinking, vaguely creepy (according to his friends, anyway) gaze that means he's about to cast a spell. "Just keep your eyes on me,"
William nods silently, and Aren slips into the half-trance where part of his brain seems replaced by the arcane forces all around him.
It's something like channeling currents of air or water into focused streams, it's something like reaching out and plucking invisible threads from the aether with his mind, and it's something like music. His eyes stay fixed staring into William's, but he sways a little on his feet as his hands make strange shapes in the air. He's miles away now, and hecan hear unfamiliar chords and harmonies interacting and combining to make new ones, swirling around him like long strings or flowing cloth, the neverending colorful scarves he saw joymen juggle and pull from behind his ear and out his nose when he was a child.
Aren thought that was magic, then.
Now the energy and the music flow down from somewhere higher into the top of his head, and he's a conduit now, a link to something bigger and it's not him that's doing anything, he's just the instrument. And it's beautiful, more beautiful than anything he's ever seen or heard or smelled or felt, the warmth in his veins, the light he's suddenly made of, the vibrations in his skin and the electricity in his breath, and his eyes go out of focus, he can't see William and Kaelyn staring at him like they do when he transforms from stumbling, innocent farm boy into something... more.
But they are (Kaelyn doesn't even try to hide it anymore), and they can't be sure if it's the literal magic spell he's supposed to be weaving over them, or some other reason. The way the light is coming from everywhere, coming from inside him, and they can't look away. Wouldn't even if they could. Sometimes they forget he's so much more than the bumpkin kid from Briala they picked up - but he has a way of reminding them.
Then his chanting winds down. His motions slow, and he comes to a stop, eyes coming back into focus on William, who hasn't so much as blinked, maybe breathed, during the entire thing.
"Do you feel anything?" Aren looks at him expectantly, but he can already tell nothing's happening At least nothing that's supposed to.
William doesn't answer; maybe he can't. He has a look Aren's never seen him with. Wonder, and something else. He's smiling, but he looks so drained - overwhelmed, or. Or something. "I..."
Aren squints at him curiously, looking for any sign of enchantment. "Did I do it right?"
"I..." William opens his mouth, but he's quiet for the space of a few long breaths.
"Yes?" Aren presses, a little worry creeping into his voice.
"I'm gonna go - get some more firewood," William makes himself say at last. "Before it gets too dark."
"Oh." Aren seems to deflate, disappointed. "Do you need any help? I can give you some light-"
"No, don't worry about it," William shakes his head, turning away and heading for the edge of the camp, outside the reach of the fire's light. "I'll be back in a little while."
He pauses on the edge of the treeline. Looks back, and there's a look on his face different from the unspoken, desperate communication with Kaelyn, different from the knowing smirk or confident smile that's usually there. Aren still can't identify it, and like she promised, Kaelyn isn't talking. She's still watching them both with that same quiet look, and now she isn't even sharing her thoughts with William, her eyes keep their secrets to themselves.
William gives them both a last, wondering look - then gives a kind of exhausted laugh that's more of a sigh.
"Keep the chocolates, Aren." Then he's gone.
Aren watches him go - then looks at Kaelyn and opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Instead, he shakes his head, and thinks about the other thing that's bothering him. "I don't understand!" he frowns, running through the syllables and hand motions again in his mind, mouthing the steps to himself, before shaking his head. "I did everything right!"
"Yeah, you did." Kaelyn follows William's departure out of the corner of her eye, then turns back to Aren. He's still standing there, scratching the back of his head and looking at the ground.
"Then why'd he - I mean, I must have done something wrong."
"I don't think it's..." Kaelyn stops - and a funny little smile spreads across her face. "Hey. Didn't you say that charm... 'seduces' an enemy into fighting on our side?"
"That's how it's supposed to work, anyway." Aren sighs. "Looks like I've still got work to do."
"Maybe not."
"Hmm?"
Her smile grows until the canary-eating grin is back, and she rocks back on her heels. "I don't think casting a spell would work on somebody who's already... charmed."
"What?"
“He didn't go to get firewood.” Kaelyn says, striding past him and back to her tree. She sinks down and picks up another arrow, counting down in her head; three, two, any moment now-
"Oh... OH!"
She can't help but let her eyes flick up for just a little peek... And yes. Aren stands stock-still in the middle of the clearing, staring in the direction William's just left in. He's turned away, so all she can see is one ear - but even that's red as a damn sunset. Smirking contentedly, Kaelyn goes back to inspecting her arrows.
Aren, William and Kaelyn have been so special to me for so many years... I know it sounds silly, but. They matter. A lot.
And I happen to write them as an OT3. xD Partially because the ho-yay between William and Aren is ridiculous, and also because Kaelyn is too awesome to leave out in the cold all by herself. Aaahaha.
So. Here you go.
Title: Guinea Pigs
Universe: "Ramar" - Betrayal in Antara
Pairing: ... THREE-ing. xD William/Aren/Kaelyn... She's just helping them figure it out.
Rating: PG. The only intimacy and/or naughtiness is just hinted at.
Summary: When threats don't work, you go with bribery. Involves chocolate, cluelessness, magic, terrible Waving Carrot for Emphasis jokes, and fluff.
Warnings: Unless you have a seething aversion to mutual polyamorous relationships, there's nothing you should be worried about, you big babies. <3
Guinea Pigs
She's holding the arrow shaft up to her eye level and straight, eagle eye picking out any warp or twist that could send it flying into the universe instead of some scum-faced dog's eye socket, when something yellow pops into her peripheral vision. She squints harder, pretending not to notice until the vaguely human-shaped blur lines itself up with her line of sight.
"Hi, Kaelyn!" The kid blows a tuft of blonde hair out of his eyes, smiling past the arrow point almost touching his nose. Trusting her not to jab him with it, the wicked metal tip made for ripping through sinew and muscle, the deadly little things she's so good with.
And she lowers the projectile, focusing on the world past the arrow's tip, and the young man crouching in front of her.
"Hello, Aren." She keeps her gaze steady and unblinking, refusing to smile back, and ignoring the tug at the corner of her mouth.
"Is that your last arrow?"
"I sure hope not." She raises her eyebrows. "I don't plan on running out when you boys need me to cover your asses. Only thing worse than missing because of a warped shaft is realizing you're all out." Now she does crack a smirk. "Gotta keep the equipment clean and smooth, keep from firing duds, right?"
A little pink tinge appears in his cheeks and he laughs, shaking his head to break eye contact. He's probably not used to talking like that at all, much less someone with different... equipment.
"Yeah..." he stammers. "An-anyway, I was wondering - when you're done maybe - would you mind helping me test a new spell?"
She gives an involuntary little twitch. "What kind of spell?" She watches him out of the corner of her eye now. The tables have turned - nothing quite rattles a hunter's cage like an excited baby-mage who liked throwing fireballs at things.
The phrases "side of a barn" and "couldn't hit it" came to mind.
"It's a really easy one, don't worry! I just need another person."
"Rrrgk..."
"C'mon. It'll be fun."
"Fun like how me shooting apples off your head was fun? Because that actually WAS-"
"No!" Now it's Aren's turn to look scared.
"Good," Kaelyn eyes him. "'Cause I'm not walking through the campfire again, I don't care how good you say you're getting with those insulation spells-"
"No, nothing like that!" Aren waves his hands while she hides a smile - he's just so easy to fluster. And it is fun to watch him turn all pink like that. "It's just a simple charm!"
She leans back and considers, wheels already turning. "Hmm... what's it do?"
"Well," Aren brightens, always happy to discuss his favorite subject. "Scott says it's supposed to distract the enemy in a fight, sort of... 'seduce' them into fighting on our side." He breaks off, red all over. "His word, not mine. I'm, uh, sure he had other uses for it in mind, but he's not a mage-"
"Damn good thing too," Kaelyn snorts.
"And I just thought it could really come in handy! Nonlethal, safe and easy to test. I think I've got a pretty good idea of how it's supposed to go..." He looks at her, making his eyes big and round and puppydog-like as possible. Magic isn't the only thing he's learning to turn to his advantage. "So will you help me? Please?"
Kaelyn folds her arms, looking from him to the remaining pile of arrows to inspec. "Well, fun as it sounds to be your magical guinea pig, I've still got a lot to get through tonight."
"Oh..."
"But!" She says, just as Aren's face begins to fall. "You might consider asking your other 'research assistant' over there," she nods across the clearing to the other side of the camp, where William was going through his own nightly ritual: making sure their food, supplies and especially boots, hadn't been invaded by snake-sized field worm larvae. Maybe it was just his spoiled rich-boy upbringing in swanky-town Panizo, but he still seemed to think spending a night in an inn beat one under the stars, worms or no worms.
Kaelyn might never understand.
"He doesn't like helping me with my magic," Aren shakes his head.
"Gee, I wonder why."
William's not listening, peering into a boot with a definite edge of suspicion, so he doesn't see what he really should be suspicious of - the crooked grin spreading across Kaelyn's face.
"Well," she leans back against a tree, hands behind her head. "The way I see it, you got two tactics here: threats, or bribery. I assume you already tried threat - said you'd turn him into a frog? Or better, a cute fluffy bunny rabbit?"
"Yeah..." Aren sighs. "He knows I can't do that yet."
"Well, then you've got bribery."
Aren thinks for a moment, then shakes his head, looking at the ground. "Bribe with what? We share everything. What do I have that he wants?"
Kaelyn makes a sound that's somewhere between a sneeze and a plague-victim cough, covering her mouth and biting one finger to keep the laugh from exploding out of her - she knows if she starts, she'll never be able to stop.
"There are just so many answers to that question," she manages to get out. "But - try what's in the inside pocket of your pack."
He looks up, sharp - then away, just as fast. "I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbles.
Kaelyn can't help but grin; God, he's a terrible liar. It's not a bad thing. She'll probably be kind of sad the day Aren learns to lie with a straight face.
"Oh, come on. The Montari chocolates, you've been hoarding them ever since we left their tunnels."
"I'm not-" Aren shoots a glance at William, who's still only paying attention to hypothetical worms. Then he lowers his voice, leaning closer to Kaelyn. "How did you know about that?!"
"Ancient Grrlf secret."
He opens his mouth and shuts it again, getting the look he's been having more and more lately - that half-intrigued, half-skeptical look that means he's trying to figure out if he's being messed with, or if the world really is as fantastic and magical as he thinks. "No. Really?"
"No!" Kaelyn laughs.
"Then how?"
"I'm a woman, Aren. We know things."
He frowns. He's still being played with, but he knows enough by now to let it go. His expression changes to a look he probably things is shrewd, and he takes on a conspiratorial tone.
"You really think William will-"
"What are you two whispering about?"
They both turn around fast, looking up with their hands in the cookie jar. Aren's eyes and mouth fall wide open, and Kaelyn's is curling up in a grin.
"Oh! I was just - we were..." Aren trails off, looking helplessly at Kaelyn, who just leans back against the tree and picks up another arrow.
"Well?" William folds his arms. "I recognize evil plotting when I hear it. Three older brothers, remember? If this is one of your sadistic anti-snoring schemes-"
"I have Montari chocolate!" Aren blurts - and William stops.
"...What?" He said slowly, still eyeing them with suspicion. He's been going through their food for worms and there's a carrot in his hand; somehow even it looks accusing.
"And I - see, I was thinking - that is, if you -"
"And, dear Willy, those chocolates can be yours," Kaelyn mercifully interrupts, rocking to her feet. "For the paltry sum of..." she puts an arm around Aren's shoulders and grins like a shyster. "Of helping our blossoming young mage with his learning."
"Oh, no. No," Wililam shakes his head, and waves the carrot at them for emphasis. Kaelyn could swear she's seen that gesture before, but can't think where. "I am not walking through any more campfires-"
"It's not the fire insulation spell!"
"Then what new havoc are you wreaking on nature now?"
"It's just a charm spell, for getting enemies to fight on our side in combat. Nothing dangerous, I promise. Or explosive."
"I'm already on your side, Aren." William unfolds his arms and lets his hands drop, suspicion fading from his face - though he definitely still doesn't like the look of Kaelyn's grin. "Though you wouldn't know it from the way my companions are so ruthlessly ganging up on me."
"I'm sorry. I just-"
"You need to test the stuff before you use it in a real pinch, I know. And it's fine."
"Huh. That's a different tune from last time..." Kaelyn meets William's warning look with an innocent shrug. "What?"
"I'm just being practical." He stares at her, maybe with more intensity than was absolutely necessary, at least for the superficial words. "It's why Aren's coming with me to Panizo, he's got to learn to control this-"
"Hey! I'm not saying anything." Kaelyn spreads her hands in a shrug. "Just pretend I'm not here."
"Good." William nods jerkily. "Keep it that way. Aren needs to concentrate."
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of..." William's eyebrows almost disappear into his bangs - and Kaelyn looks up at the sky, hiding a smirk and apparently finding a cloud much more interesting than either of them.
Aren doesn't pursue that last weird little exchange - they're just speaking their own language again, with things left out instead of said, talking with their eyes. He's used to it by now, and there's no point in wondering exactly what they're really saying to each other. They'll let him in on it when they're ready, they always do.
"So," William's voice brings him back to the present. "What exactly are we doing here?"
"Oh - okay, you just - stand there," Aren half-stumbles across the camp over to him, untangling the arcane motions and words in his mind. His friends' bantering coiled it up like a cat playing with a ball of yarn, and it takes him a while to get it all straight again, so he stalls for a little time. "Scott said it was called 'Rachel's Song.' I, uh... don't know why he called it that-"
William gives a sarcastic little snort. "I have a few ideas."
"Mm-hmm. Anyway," Aren steps in front of him and fixes him with the wide, unblinking, vaguely creepy (according to his friends, anyway) gaze that means he's about to cast a spell. "Just keep your eyes on me,"
William nods silently, and Aren slips into the half-trance where part of his brain seems replaced by the arcane forces all around him.
It's something like channeling currents of air or water into focused streams, it's something like reaching out and plucking invisible threads from the aether with his mind, and it's something like music. His eyes stay fixed staring into William's, but he sways a little on his feet as his hands make strange shapes in the air. He's miles away now, and hecan hear unfamiliar chords and harmonies interacting and combining to make new ones, swirling around him like long strings or flowing cloth, the neverending colorful scarves he saw joymen juggle and pull from behind his ear and out his nose when he was a child.
Aren thought that was magic, then.
Now the energy and the music flow down from somewhere higher into the top of his head, and he's a conduit now, a link to something bigger and it's not him that's doing anything, he's just the instrument. And it's beautiful, more beautiful than anything he's ever seen or heard or smelled or felt, the warmth in his veins, the light he's suddenly made of, the vibrations in his skin and the electricity in his breath, and his eyes go out of focus, he can't see William and Kaelyn staring at him like they do when he transforms from stumbling, innocent farm boy into something... more.
But they are (Kaelyn doesn't even try to hide it anymore), and they can't be sure if it's the literal magic spell he's supposed to be weaving over them, or some other reason. The way the light is coming from everywhere, coming from inside him, and they can't look away. Wouldn't even if they could. Sometimes they forget he's so much more than the bumpkin kid from Briala they picked up - but he has a way of reminding them.
Then his chanting winds down. His motions slow, and he comes to a stop, eyes coming back into focus on William, who hasn't so much as blinked, maybe breathed, during the entire thing.
"Do you feel anything?" Aren looks at him expectantly, but he can already tell nothing's happening At least nothing that's supposed to.
William doesn't answer; maybe he can't. He has a look Aren's never seen him with. Wonder, and something else. He's smiling, but he looks so drained - overwhelmed, or. Or something. "I..."
Aren squints at him curiously, looking for any sign of enchantment. "Did I do it right?"
"I..." William opens his mouth, but he's quiet for the space of a few long breaths.
"Yes?" Aren presses, a little worry creeping into his voice.
"I'm gonna go - get some more firewood," William makes himself say at last. "Before it gets too dark."
"Oh." Aren seems to deflate, disappointed. "Do you need any help? I can give you some light-"
"No, don't worry about it," William shakes his head, turning away and heading for the edge of the camp, outside the reach of the fire's light. "I'll be back in a little while."
He pauses on the edge of the treeline. Looks back, and there's a look on his face different from the unspoken, desperate communication with Kaelyn, different from the knowing smirk or confident smile that's usually there. Aren still can't identify it, and like she promised, Kaelyn isn't talking. She's still watching them both with that same quiet look, and now she isn't even sharing her thoughts with William, her eyes keep their secrets to themselves.
William gives them both a last, wondering look - then gives a kind of exhausted laugh that's more of a sigh.
"Keep the chocolates, Aren." Then he's gone.
Aren watches him go - then looks at Kaelyn and opens his mouth to say something, but nothing comes out. Instead, he shakes his head, and thinks about the other thing that's bothering him. "I don't understand!" he frowns, running through the syllables and hand motions again in his mind, mouthing the steps to himself, before shaking his head. "I did everything right!"
"Yeah, you did." Kaelyn follows William's departure out of the corner of her eye, then turns back to Aren. He's still standing there, scratching the back of his head and looking at the ground.
"Then why'd he - I mean, I must have done something wrong."
"I don't think it's..." Kaelyn stops - and a funny little smile spreads across her face. "Hey. Didn't you say that charm... 'seduces' an enemy into fighting on our side?"
"That's how it's supposed to work, anyway." Aren sighs. "Looks like I've still got work to do."
"Maybe not."
"Hmm?"
Her smile grows until the canary-eating grin is back, and she rocks back on her heels. "I don't think casting a spell would work on somebody who's already... charmed."
"What?"
“He didn't go to get firewood.” Kaelyn says, striding past him and back to her tree. She sinks down and picks up another arrow, counting down in her head; three, two, any moment now-
"Oh... OH!"
She can't help but let her eyes flick up for just a little peek... And yes. Aren stands stock-still in the middle of the clearing, staring in the direction William's just left in. He's turned away, so all she can see is one ear - but even that's red as a damn sunset. Smirking contentedly, Kaelyn goes back to inspecting her arrows.