Work Text:
"Have you always been this into archeology?"
The sudden question pulled Eiland out of the trance as he meticulously worked on the dig and he shook his head, looking over towards his companion. His short hair fell into his face, covering one eye, and stuck to the skin over his temples where sweat from exertion had built up, but he looked positively ecstatic to have been asked about his passion.
"Oh, definitely!.. I've always found the past intriguing, you know?" he moved and sat on back his heels, somehow managing to keep the motion graceful. There was something fluid about most of his movements. "There's so much it can tell us, both about ourselves and ages long gone."
He released a deep, relaxed sigh. The dig they were on had not so far been very fruitful: just some sherds, too small to put together, and a piece of bone Eiland seemed to be curious about before discarding it into the trash pile.
To be honest, he was probably the most interesting thing on the site. The way he pushed his hair back behind his ear so it wouldn't fall into his eyes, but all to no avail because it was too short to stay in place. How he smiled each time Adventurer showed him something dug out from the soil before explaining that the intriguing discovery was nothing but a piece of old stone. He did not sound frustrated or disappointed or condescending. The light chime of teasing in his voice was charming, if anything, and his voice itself was soft and rang the way violets smell.
Soft, non-disturbing.
"...and what about you?"
The words came as if heard underwater and Adventurer had to blink to focus, looking up at Eiland from the warmed-up spot on the ground. He tilted his head at that like a curious cat would and let out a soft chuckle.
"Is the heat too much on your head? You seem a little distracted is all. We could get in the shade if you'd like?" for a second, his face grew genuinely concerned. "I wouldn't like you to get a heat stroke."
Adventurer looked at him blankly, still not fully free from the spell of that enchanting voice. Eiland's presence was captivating in the best way possible and usually he did most of the talking, so being asked something and then spoken to with such obvious concern was not easy to process. Whether it was the usual focus issues or something more remained unclear.
"You ever noticed that you speak like a fantasy book character?"
This question came out suddenly, bluntly. There was not much thinking behind it, just rushed, unfiltered interest. Eiland seemed struck with surprise at first before breaking into a series of short chuckles.
"You sound just like Adeline," he leaned a bit forward, catching a breath, and gave Adventurer a quick smile. "She often tells me it's obvious I read too many history books. I can't exactly argue with that..."
He trailed off at that before lifting his gaze back at Adventurer's face.
"I asked if you enjoy archeology as well or if it is something you only do because I asked you to help the museum?"
Adventurer glanced at him at that, noticing a tinge of uncertainty in his expression. Was Eiland unsure if his company was enough to make digging fun? Or was he wondering if he forced his new companion to stick around?
"You're not making me be here," came a quick reply. Fingers dug deeper into the moist, warm soil, feeling over hard texture of something underneath. Stone or bone? "I never thought about it before but I might enjoy it a little bit."
Because I get to talk to you and see that smile.
"...because sometimes I dig up coins I can actually keep."
Eiland laughed at that, turning back to the dig spot he was working on. It was hard not to look at the gentle arch of his neck as he leaned down to look closer, free hand automatically lifting up to his hair to hold it out of the way.
"I guess I can accept that," he murmured, smiling a little softer than before. "You make a good company and turn these digs much more fun than they usually are."
Adventurer snorted at that.
"Don't tell me you don't enjoy sitting in scorching sun for hours and dragging old bones out of the ground."
"I very much do! But..." his voice grew solemn for a moment before he continued. "Usually it's much quieter here. I don't don't enjoy some solitude but it can grow rather... sad."
This time, no comment on his speech followed. For some time they both worked in silence, each focused on their part of the site, before Adventurer spoke up.
"I get it, you know. The farm gets pretty quiet too, it's unnerving sometimes," admitting it felt vulnerable in some way but being open with Eiland seemed like the only way one could talk to him. He had something about him, this ever-present calmness that made opening up easy. "Talking to a stone dragon doesn't really count as socializing."
"Don't be rude, Caldarus has plenty of wisdom to offer."
"Then come over and talk to him all you want."
At that, Eiland looked up, a bit shocked. Their eyes did not meet, though it was nearly palpable that he wished to be looked at. Quickly collecting himself, he attempted to clarify what he just heard.
"Are you joking or do you actually want to invite me around?"
"Eiland, you cut down my pine for that statue, I think it's yours to study as much as it's mine to have," with a sudden shift of focus, Adventurer hurried to grab another brush, cleaning off dust and dirt from the hard piece of some material in the soil below. "Plus, I could show you how to do actually hard work, nerd."
Eiland gasped at that, faking offense, before leaning forward to look at what was being slowly retrieved from the ground.
"You don't get to call me that when you know your herbs by names— no way!"
He suddenly moved closer, nudging Adventurer with his leg, and leaned down to the object in the soil, gently blowing some air over the surface and revealing marble-like shine of something, probably, expensive. His hand grabbed the brush Adventurer was holding and it was almost ridiculous how quickly his whole focus of attention shifted to some piece of definitely historically important old treasure... but Adventurer didn't have the heart to chide him for that.
Eiland looked... breathtaking like that. Engaged in his craft, art, interest. Mumbling away something about "rarity" and "historical value" and "good preservation" and all of that junk that did not matter to Adventurer at all. He looked sunlit. Resplendent. That beautiful pink-dyed hair caught sun rays that made it look nearly transparent white, and his ornate tunic sleeves were rolled up above his elbows, showing metal bracelets on his wrists and thin rings on his fingers. His hands, delicate and gentle as they were, held the tools with precision of a professional as he worked, and Adventurer couldn't look away.
Sweet, gentle, passionate Eiland. Who now looked up from his find with a wide grin and that sparkle in his eyes that gave away his excitement. A slight blush on his cheeks as he sat wrist-deep in the soil, wrecking up his royal garments and ignoring that he was doing so completely. He looked beautiful.
"Give me a hand?" he asked, passing over one of the brushes, the sturdier one, before moving to give Adventurer some space to sit on as the two worked. His arm was warm when he slid over, getting comfortable enough to work this up close, and his smile was even warmer.
And maybe that's when it became clear that every second of this monotonous, hard work was worth it if it made Eiland smile.