Emil heard about some boat ride that would take you around the city and he was going to go and enjoy it, as Luna had told him to do so as she and Fang were going to stay inside today with Indiana and stay warm as her stubborn brother had caught a bit of a cold and she wanted to make sure that he got better and she wanted to have her father keep being the rep of Paradise dawn that he was being and Emil knowing he was not going to win with her let her win and he headed there. He looked at the boats and they looked like they were nicely sized so he wouldn't have to worry about being cramped in his seat on the ship and he got over to the line to get into it to wait his turn for a ride and that is when he saw a sign saying he had to be riding with someone and he now wished he hadn't let Luna talk him into going alone and had brought her but he knows that she would have just spent the whole ride worrying about her brother and she probably wouldn't have enjoyed it.

He guessed he was going to need an answer quickly and he looked around for if he knew anyone that might not be against being stuck on a boat with him for how ever long this boat tour of the city was that they could take before it would circle back to this deck so the next group of people could go on the ride as well and enjoy the sites. Emil hadn't come to Hargeon a lot before as he didn't really see the point of being in the south unless he was sent here on a guild mission to handle something but for now he was kinda stuck up a creek without a paddle and his boat was quickly taking on water and sinking so to say.
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“Are you sure you are gonna be okay alone?” Salem asked one last time with a hint of concern in his voice. He was not one to harp on how others had their fun. Salem was just not expecting his Exceed partner to miss out on snacks, in lieu of one of the biggest picture books he had ever seen. It was obviously something made with magic to entertain kids. However, it had his buddy under a spell and not in a negative way. Frosch had given an exclamation of assent. It was all Salem needed to head out the door. It was a lovely time to be had and he did not want to waste it indoors this time. There was a calling for him to head outwards and enjoy. The call that really made up the depth of his nature.

Salem made his way over to the docking area of Hargeon. He never had a reason to be this far south so he got lost a few times. A lot of the places looked the same and Fiorian architecture did not look like it was made with a plan. It made it harder for him to find certain things when needed. Like the docks to have a nice boat ride. The Fairy of fun and games was always called to the water. He heard they were giving cute little boat rides and he wanted to go on one.

The familiar profile of a man grabbed his attention at the docks. Salem may have lost his ability to see aura but he was semi sure as to who he was saying. “Hey Emil! Came here for a ride as well?” Salem was going to ask how come he was not on a boat when he read a sign. It stated that the ride only went in two’s. He did not have anyone since Frosch was around and figured it would not hurt to ask him. They were both in the same guild and he had teamed up with the guy before. He was not a creeper so it should be fine. “Oh, want to ride the boat with me?” He said with a bright white smile on his face.

Emil guessed that it wouldn't hurt anything if he rode the boat with the man but he wondered if the man's exceed had also caught a cold or if maybe it was not interested in going out in a boat to probably get wet and cold. Emil spoke to the man. "That should be fine for us to do, where is your hip attachment? They catch a cold?" He was not sure if he should have asked that but he had already asked so there was no talking it back and then he stepped off of the dock into the boat and took a seat on the bench in the boat and the driver looked at him like he was a bit intimidated by Emil in some way though Emil had no idea why as this is a boat tour type thing of the town so a lot of different kinds of people will be showing up to these kinds of things but he wondered if it was from his small amount of time he had been down here or from years ago.

The air blowing in from the water was decently cold and Emil was glad he hadn't brought the children with him as the cold seemed to sink right through the jacket he had on and he knows for sure someone would have gotten sick from this ride if they weren't already sick and that was saying something that he knew that and he wondered if he was getting better at the being a parent thing but he let that thought pass out of his mind as the ferryman that was driving looked at him and then he looked to Salem like he was making sure if the boat could even handle having two people in the boat but in the end the man didn't really care about it and once Salem got in the boat he would start it off and start to drive it in the water ways.

"Do you think this type of event is a good thing for team building?" He was looking out at the buildings that were slowly coming into view and he wondered if he was doing the right thing with being out here and not back in the room with his child and the exceed that told him that the event is being hosted as a dual event so as a member he needed to be out here and representing his guild by taking part in it. Emil had his doubts but he was not sure if that was the right way to face this day and he needed to make sure that he didn't let the day get ruined for his friend and guild mate so he needed to pull his head out of his ass.
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The inquiry as to if his companion was sick was touching. “Frosch? Nope. He is well. He was just not in the mood to come out. Is one of yours sick? I can heal them when we get back. My magic works well on healing pretty much everything.” Salem offered in passing. To him healing an ally's family was not a big deal. He was not surprised at the fact that Emil was not much of a gentleman. One would normally help the other into the boat. It was sad that he was not escorted. Salem simply stepped on water droplets as if descending stairs with beauty and grace. He alighted the boat without hassle. Stepping into the craft without causing as much as a ripple in the water.

The atmosphere was feeling nice to Salem. He felt great being on the water. The splash of the water against the boat and the rocking motion was calm. The feel of the water elements around him made him happy. He felt the most powerful in environments like this. The Fairy godfather was inclined to water and nature based mana but he felt the best in aquatic environments. Still he was so happy he was oblivious to the romantic implications of such a ride. He did not even notice he was subconsciously using his powers to slow down the boat, extending the amount of time it would take for them to get back.

Salem felt a ton of surprise when Emil spoke to him. He has a positive opinion on him but took him as the silent brooding type. “It can be. I honestly forgot you were here so I was missing the point for a moment.” Looking at the man next to him. Salem believed he could pick up on some melancholy or other negative emotions. It was harder to tell without his ability to see auras. “It can help build teams though. It is better to not be alone at times I guess. Having people to watch your back means your chances of living are higher. It may be better to leave sometimes and be able to come back than to be gone permanently.” It was the advice he gave. Far as Salem was concerned, fate was not a river he was fond of.

Taking in the ambiance that the boat provided. It made the two of them seem closer than they were. “In retrospect it realistically seems more like a date thing. If you were into me. I’d be throwing some moves at you. Still I can make the ride go faster so we can get back.” The Fae said the words in passing. He was a flirting type when it came to handsome men. He also was not an oblivious brook he could tell when someone was into him or not. When it came to Emil he got cool coworkers, possible friends and nothing more. Sometimes he felt like Emil had a gaze that wanted to skin him alive, in a non romantic way.

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He looked at the man that offered to heal who ever was sick and Emil looked at him and then looked like he was trying to pick his words carefully as to not seem to insult the other man because his offer was nice but he needed the children that magic is not a cure all and the answer to everything, it can make things easier but it should not be solely relayed upon or be too much of a crutch or they will never really be able to be people if things like mana and magic were to disappear from the world and leave it with nothing. "I am thankful for your offer but I need them to be able to live in a world without magic in case something was to happen and mana and magic were to be tossed from this world so that means being able to beat a cold without the speedy recovery of magic."

Emil was not sure if this man was serious or not that he had forgot that he was here but he had to admit that this man had said that to him and it seemed to have cut him deep so he was not sure what his relationship to the other man is and if the man even liked him to start with or if this was the man low key telling him that he doesn't like Emil or hadn't from the start and was just being nice or polite to him and Emil guessed maybe he had misjudged the man he was in a boat with. He was not sure what the man was talking about with the leaving and coming back comment as that seemed so out of left field to Emil but maybe he had just missed something that the man was saying to him and he would have to rethink it over later and see if something were to click in his head and make an actually connection.

He looked at the man that said that to him and he then spoke. "I think the minimum of the two to a boat is to save them on time and probably moment for the time the boats are out looking at the city though I guess if the right someone was with you that would make this a good date thing to do." He wondered if there were any females that were even interested in him that he could maybe take on a date like this or if they would all just turn him down and make it out like it was his fault they were turning him down. He had some interenal struggles going on about some of the people in his life and his wonder if there was any reason that he should even be worried about it. He looked at the city that was coming into view he doesn't think that he had ever really stopped to look at these things when he came here once a long time ago, he wonders if there is much of a point in thinking about things that are long past and his dead wife or if those things just hold him back and stop him from growing or moving on.

Emil looked at the man as he had been rude in some form. "I am sorry that you are stuck on this boat with me as I can kind of tell that you are not thrilled that it is me that you are stuck with and I understand that I am like the least liked member of Paradise Dawn, rather it my impulsive fighting spirit or my dumb ways of handling things." Emil then looked away from the man and down into the water that was going past the boat on this water tour of the city that the other man had spoke about his regret that he was not here on a date with someone liked.
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The eyes of the Fae got pretty wide. He could vaguely feel something was off. The feelings he did feel was the fact that the duo was not having fun at the moment. A situation that could be described as a fairy tale and something was off. This situation was neither fun, relaxing, or even a game. It went against the core of his very being. It was making him feel like there was a deep hole inside of him. He did not like this feeling. His eyes glowed his magical blue color as he looked at Emil. It was like he was actively trying to see through the man. Salem slapped his hands against his cheeks to gather himself then he managed to put some things together.

“Sorry. Sometimes it is harder to understand human emotions when one is so blind to them. Give me a moment to better think about how to get my point across.” It was all Salem could say as he considered things around him. Emil was different from most people he met. In fact he could be considered among the people that he has come across more frequently than others. It was just a matter of trust. Salem was all able to laugh and enjoy himself when it came to most. It was just being vulnerable and trusting was a different thing altogether. It was not easy for the ocean to cease its motion. “I offered to speed up the boat as I was unsure if you wanted to hang out with me. To me you are not reckless, you are brave. I would not even say the way you handle things is dumb. They are simply unorthodox in their efficiency. I honestly like being around you. You and your family. You are a bright and interesting group.” The words were spoken softly. Not enough to be inaudible but it would not have carried over the sound of the water to other boats.

Salem took a deep breath. When he said those words he felt something shift inside of him. Like a deep change in his core that was not present before. It was weird that Salem never had to actively get closer to people. His natural charm made it easy for him to be like a human. His ability to see auras made it so he could emulate human emotion. He never had to delve into the sea of feelings and really experience it before. It was a feeling of growth that hit him. Salem was no longer the same stagnant pool of water that he was when he entered the boat. Talking to Emil had actually changed him and unblocked parts of him that were lost.

“Also, I would date you if given the chance. But you don’t strike me as the type of guy that is into guys. That and my on again and off again werewolf boyfriend will try to rip your head off.” Salem was feeling a lot more free and unfettered. A large weight was lifted off of him that he was not even aware of. He scooted closer to Emil. If given the chance their legs may even touch a little. “But I will offer my friendship. You are a cool enough guy to deserve it. If you think you can handle it.” It was an open ended offer. Even if Emil said no to it all Salem would understand. The friendship of the spirit race and all their kin can be different. To them that was more eternal then time it was unending. It would mean if Emil wanted to burn down the capital of Fiore and dance on the ashes. Salem would be there playing some instruments and putting up directions. It had some rules to them but they were few and far inbetween. It would mean Salem would actually care.


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He looked at the man and he wondered if the man meant mortal thoughts as Emil was not a human he was a half elf that has god powers and had drank of a different gods blood and a cape that wants bodies for the souls that are inside of it. He was not sure but he guessed it wasn't smart to point out that he is not a human as this man was on a roll and he wasn't looking to piss on his parade as he thinks that he is onto something when he is a bit off as he will live longer that a human and if he finds the thing that his brother did he might also be able to evolve and get his eyes on the prize that sits beyond the washed out rainbow that is death. Emil would keep listening to the man go on about what he would.

"Do you know what it is like to have three other voices barking at you at once? All the thoughts and plans they want to do and the craziest whim that they could want in that moment trying to push you in the way they want to go on top of your own thoughts? My children and that exceed are the only family I have and I need to make sure that I keep my shit together and don't drag them down with me... I don't know why you would think I wanted to get away from you for some reason." He hadn't expressed himself that he was looking to get away from the man but he guessed that he might come off that way but he wasn't meaning to cause any kinds of issues with the man as the town keeps passing them by and he looked to them and thinking of things that he should do.

"Yeah I am not into guys like that, I wouldn't like to make them feel I was in their way if that is the case. I will accept your friendship though I thought we were already friends." He was not sure but maybe he had been mistaken about them being friends and he wondered if he was really the problem with all of this that was going on.
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Salem was a bit confused by some things. He considered what Emil had said. He honestly never had to deal with separated consciousness in the same body. By the time he had got to his current body the previous occupant had already left the place vacant. It was not much for him to do before. Salem could have used the last bit of power he had and saved the owner, but it would have taken him out of existence. This was not something he chose as well but it was the consequences of his actions. Salem was just used to his choice. While Salem did not have to deal with it. He was used to dealing with Alaric who did. His poor mate had a demon infestation. He was likely to be unable to function like he did before. Not to mention that Salem still had mixed feelings about that.

Bringing himself back to the now. He listened to the rest of Emil accepting his friendship. Not that he would mind. It would be better if they could get along. Salem thought for a moment more before opening his mouth to speak again. “Well. I can heal a lot of things pretty well. I can try to pacify the voices in your head. It may not work for extended periods without needing to be redone. It can however give you a moment of respite. I also appreciate you telling me this.” Salem added the last sentence when he thought about Alaric. He understood how sometimes people with these types of problems can be bad at getting close to others.

“I also think of you as a friend. More now than just a work acquaintance. Just never actually thought I would be able to get close enough to people to work with as a teammate.” Salem thought the night became even better after gaining the gift of a friend. “So partner. What should our team name be?” The fae had a wicked smile on his face. He was asking in a light hearted manner. Since they got the heavier stuff out the way.



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Emil looked to the man and he blinked when he asked if he could try and cover up the voices some how and Emil was pretty sure gods voices would not be so easily covered or stopped his cape was a nearly living thing that spoke to him spiritually so he didn't think that was something that could be stopped either. "I thank you for the consideration but I don't think that you will be able to do that kind of thing." He was just being honest as he was not sure he wanted to even tempt the fates and that cost him his magic or his item that had bonded to him.

"I am pretty poor at naming things so I would name it something like "Team Thunder Spout" Since I use lightning and you seem to use water magic." He was indeed bad with naming things or even trying to name things and he knows that name will probably not be liked by the other man.
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It was an odd sensation again. The feeling of feeling bad was foreign to Salem. He had been on the brink of death a couple of times but he never felt this bad before. It was the harsh reality that he could not do or solve everything, and he was aware of it. That was the scary part that bothered him the most. He wanted to be able to help out his buddy but decided it was for the best that he did not. At least not till he learned more about what he was dealing with.

The boat meandered along the water way. Showing them various things as they talked. Salem was amazed by the sights and bad naming sense. “Team Thunder Spout? I like it. It is how people call it cheesy. It would make us remember important things. While still being lowkey to get other things done. I guess that makes me a part of Team Thunder Spout.” Salem’s body started to vibrate as he held his laughter in. He was trying so very hard not to be too audible with it. The evident teasing smile and glint in his eyes readily apparent.

“Man this has been a good night.” Salem spoke softly, as they made their way back after the boatride.

[Exit]

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