Rance hadn't noticed Kel's house on initial approach. The fact that it turned out to be a hidden tree house made him grin. It made perfect sense, a man raised by dryads wasn't about to trust his home on the ground. The rope ladder Kel knocked loose soon after, though, turned that smile into outright laughter. Whether Kel had meant it or not, the reference to their childhood -- when Rance's clumsy rope ladder had been a young wind spirit's only non-destructive way to Rance's loft bedroom -- warmed the raven attuned's heart.
The rest of the house was humble, but more than enough for one adult man and a feathery guest late at night. During the first couple of days, while there was still daylight, not much time was spent indoors except to sleep. Then the LongNight came and the beautiful jungle because oppressive and a little terrifying. Only by the light of the fires, enclosed in the small space with the friend he trusted, did Rance feel entirely safe.
Even that safety made Rance's skin itch when the night dragged on far beyond when his body thought the sun should be rising. So, when Kel eventually proposed stretching below the house in the clearing, Rance was eager to accept. He dressed in the lightest clothes he had; which wasn't much, just worn trousers of heavy cotton and an unlaced shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He'd only brought so much with him and he most certainly hadn't prepared for the warmth, even though the lack of sun cooled the air.
Rance stretched, though more to move stiff muscles than anything else. He winced as his shoulder cracked, eyes absently following Kel's motions. He couldn't help the smile that curved the corner of his mouth up, mostly in response to Kel's excitement. "Well, tag and races would be just about fuckin' suicide right now... duelin' lords, maybe?" His smirk broadened a bit. The game had been one a very young Rance had picked up from humans and translated over into fae terms. Like fanciful nobles having a duel, they would 'fight for the crown' or 'avenge' their 'wronged honor'. "I can't say I've bested the Sidhe prince in a while."
The rest of the house was humble, but more than enough for one adult man and a feathery guest late at night. During the first couple of days, while there was still daylight, not much time was spent indoors except to sleep. Then the LongNight came and the beautiful jungle because oppressive and a little terrifying. Only by the light of the fires, enclosed in the small space with the friend he trusted, did Rance feel entirely safe.
Even that safety made Rance's skin itch when the night dragged on far beyond when his body thought the sun should be rising. So, when Kel eventually proposed stretching below the house in the clearing, Rance was eager to accept. He dressed in the lightest clothes he had; which wasn't much, just worn trousers of heavy cotton and an unlaced shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He'd only brought so much with him and he most certainly hadn't prepared for the warmth, even though the lack of sun cooled the air.
Rance stretched, though more to move stiff muscles than anything else. He winced as his shoulder cracked, eyes absently following Kel's motions. He couldn't help the smile that curved the corner of his mouth up, mostly in response to Kel's excitement. "Well, tag and races would be just about fuckin' suicide right now... duelin' lords, maybe?" His smirk broadened a bit. The game had been one a very young Rance had picked up from humans and translated over into fae terms. Like fanciful nobles having a duel, they would 'fight for the crown' or 'avenge' their 'wronged honor'. "I can't say I've bested the Sidhe prince in a while."
