winderlust | i tried to think of a wind pun for this title

No, I'm fine. You're strong but you're not exactly in great shape right now.

That's not wrong...

[He is really not well still. It's a good thing Rean's as nice as he seemed, actually. Otherwise that stunt would have gotten Gaius killed for real.]

Is there really nothing I can help with?

[He's got sooo much to pay Rean back for.]

Didn't I say before? Just focus on getting better.

[He flashes Gaius a small, remote smile, and disappears inside briefly. He's back shortly with another long-sleeved shirt and gloves. With the glasses on, he's got everything but his hair and lower face covered, so if he turns away he doesn't even look like a demon. Gaius may be taking this amazingly well, but he knows humans have a hard time adjusting their perceptions.]

I was thinking when you feel up to it, we could visit the village together.

[He almost follows Rean, just to prove he can be up and about if he wants. But Rean's not wrong. He still needs a lot of rest -- still, he's not bedridden anymore, so it bothers him to be idle. It bothered him then, too, but he was on too many painkillers to complain. He's not content, but he is staying seated.]

I have a feeling they won't be too happy about that.

I think they'd just be embarrassed. But it's better to clear the air about these kinds of things on both sides.

[He smiles at Gaius again, trying to be reassuring.]

I don't want them to see you as a threat or something they feel guilt over, and I don't want you to have the wrong impression of them. ...As long as you wouldn't mind seeing them, that is.

I don't mind. I'm not angry, I just don't want to cause any more trouble.

[Hmm. Rean's so reasonable it makes even Gaius feel unreasonable. Maybe he's spent too long alone now, doing nothing but hunting other sentient beings.]

I guess you're right, though. I'd rather they not feel guilty.

As long as you're okay with it. I think it would do everyone a lot of good.

[Gaius is included in that "everyone".]

Maybe so.

[He gets that he's included and that's probably true. It wouldn't hurt to clear things up. It might resolve guilt for everyone involved.

Speaking of that, though--]

Anyway, you don't need to hide like that. I'm not going to panic again, I promise.

I didn't think you'd panic. I just... I find the way I look makes people nervous. You have enough on your plate without uncomfortable reminders.

That outfit is making me nervous.

[He's joking, but seriously. Rean looks incredibly shady.]

I'd rather you just be yourself. Especially if you intend to become my partner.

Ahaha... Ha... Sorry...

[He doesn't know what to say, looking at his hands through the familiar tint of sunglasses. A few hundred years of internalized feeling like a hideous monster until it seems perfectly natural makes it hard to even want to show this much of his face.

But it'd be pretty pathetic to admit he feels ugly. So he takes a deep breath and just takes off the sunglasses, folding them and holding them carefully. Of course Gaius won't mind if he's hideous, Gaius isn't the kind of person to care if someone is ugly, he can tell, but it's still hard to let himself be seen.]

Well, if it puts you more at ease.

It does. Although I wish it didn't make you so uncomfortable.

[He can tell. And yeah, seeing a demon's face is a little weird. It puts him a bit on edge, just from all the times he's seen a similar face coming at him with violence. But Rean is Rean, and that trumps prejudices he actively wants to get rid of.]

Do you hide your face when you go into town?

Mostly. You never know when there might be an odd visitor. It's better to look eccentric than... Well.

[He gestures to his face.]

And I don't want... To bother people with how I look. But the villagers have all seen my face now and then.

Hmmm... Well, I can't say you won't have to hide it when we're travelling, but I hope you won't feel the need to do it when we're alone. We could probably see about some makeup and hair dye, too, if you don't want to totally bundle up.

[Look Gaius just wants Rean to be able to go in public like a normal person, since he's obviously a normal person on the inside.]

[He smiles hesitantly, it's... Really kind of Gaius honestly. He wouldn't have minded if Gaius was fanatically, zealously against him, but this... He's even more glad the man didn't die, though the words almost hurt with their warmth.]

All right. That sounds good.

I'd hope so. Otherwise we're going to have to be even more covert than we already are.

[He laughs, though, not very serious about it. Gaius isn't the type to be great at covert tactics to begin with. He's just too honest.]

[That makes two of them. Are these two going to be okay??]

I haven't worn a real disguise in a long time. Hopefully it doesn't look too weird.

It won't if you act naturally.

[Yeah they're screwed.]

Naturally... I'll try.

[It's going to be... Real hard for these good honest boys.]

You'll get used to it. In the meantime, please let me help where I can. I have to be moving to get my strength back, or I'll just get stiff.

All right. You can help me cook, and clean light things.

[Dust and sweep, nothing strenuous.]

You're healing pretty well, though.

The benefits of being young and healthy.

[He is in fact doing well. And he'll feel better being able to help out.]

I won't slow you down in that regard.

You don't need to worry about that. We're going to go at your pace, right?

Technically, yes. But you're more powerful than I am in a lot of ways. I don't want "my pace" to be a drag on you.

I live in a sleepy back wood mountain, my pace isn't exactly high octane.

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