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"I'm tellin' ya, he's useless,"
Skrimm had long since overcome his instinctual flinch to that word. There was, afterall, a reason why he, a goblin, hadn't seen another goblin in years, even before his…graveyard/cemetery (still unsure about that) encounter.
Still…hearing that word in that honey-sweet voice didn't exactly fill him with confidence. He had gotten used to hearing good things about him. Not all the time, of course not, what kind of friends don't rag on each other at least a bit. But. That was in front of him. Never behind his back
Well, never that I knew about apparently…
"Completely useless. Waste of space, really." he had slowed and stilled, pressing back against the wall of their current cave-of-the-night. Suppose he was still good at something, at least. After a moment he heard an amused harengon giggle. His usual small scowl deepened.
I mean. She isn't wrong, is she? You don't do anything, you useless goblin. Should have listened to your brothers growing up. Might have at least not been here to make their lives harder.
"You sure though? That skrunkly little face? With those big ol' ears? And his weird little goat beard? He's even shorter than me!"
Another giggle.
Another flinch, this time he couldn't stop it from showing. Apparently when you care about the people talking about you, it hurts more. Who knew.
"Well, no accounting for taste, I suppose." Skrimm had closed his eyes, trying desperately now to cease his racing thoughts.
"…happy…deserve someone….not him…" there was a sort of ringing in his ears. He wasn't even sure what Queenie was saying, or even who she was talking to, but he'd gathered enough.
A goblin is always just a goblin, nothing can change that. And you aren't even a good goblin.
He tried to breathe like he'd seen Jornir and Taishen do at times. They kept telling him it was calming and regulating and would help you Skrimm, if you'd try it sometimes. He still didn't believe him. His chest still felt too tight and like it was pulling at him from inside, with clawed, dangerous hands.
He faintly heard the clatter of pebble on stone before he felt furred paws hold onto his cheeks. He looked up and into kind harengon eyes, brows furrowed in worry.
"…krimm?? You okay, hon? Darlin', go get Jornir for me, kay?" His eyes flickered over her shoulder, locking with the worried hazel eyes of Daisy, their newest companion, for a moment before she turned and fled.
Of course she fled, why wouldn't she? You heard Queenie. Nothing good for her here.
He startled as a paw touched his forehead. He finally focused on his companion, confused at the motion.
"Que--," He cleared his throat, voice suddenly rougher than usual. "What're you doing? Why are you pawing at my head?"
Queenie's eyebrow rose slightly, incredulously. "Checking your temperature you dummy. Haven't you ever had your temperature checked before? Though. Uh, skrimm, what temperature are you, uh. Usually?"
"Uhm. Normal?" Skrimm began to calm down a bit, pulling away from her temperature (?) seeking paws.
"What, uh. What were you guys talking about?" Skrimm flinched slightly when she opened her mouth to answer, "Uh, actually, nevermind. Y'know, I'm cold, you cold? I'm going to the fire. Yeah. See ya, Queenie." He moved to walk towards the campfire that he could hear happily crackling away but was stopped by those same paws.
He looked over to his friends face, pausing in confusion at what he saw.
She had a growing grin on her face. Not a malicious one, but a mischievous one.
"What is wrong with Skrimm, Queenie?" The low, booming voice of Jornir cut through their staring match.
"Actually, Jornir, I think Daisy is the best one here to deal with little ol' Skrimm here. Why don't you help me with something completely different, over here, away from them. Good, let's go!" She abruptly let Skrimm go, leaving him reeling slightly at the sudden loss of contact and grabbed Jornirs large hand, pulling the confused giant behind her as she brought him right back to where he had been just a moment ago.
She turned her head slightly before she left to send a wink and a look towards Daisy.
Suddenly alone with Daisy, Skrimm watched her take a breath before turning to face him.
Taking a large, deep breath, Skrimm decided to get ahead of the, no doubt hurtful, conversation to come.
"Look, I know it must be horrible to have someone like, uh. Me. Interested in you. I get it! I won't do anything, I promise. Don't have to worry about me, uh. Yeah. So, just, don't leave the group? I know I--uh, the others would be heartbroken. I'll stay away, won't even notice I'm there, promise." Skrimm pushed out the rest of his sentence and tried, once again, to scoot past the woman in front of him and escape to the safety of the group.
Once again, he was caught before he could leave.
He closed his eyes tightly, unwilling, or unable, to look at his friend in the eyes.
He stood there, silently held by the single hand on his arm.
He startled again at a touch to his chin, lifting his head upward slightly. He peeked out of one eye instinctively, only to open the other shortly afterwards when he saw the worried look of Daisy close to his face.
"Daisy? What's wrong?" his eyes flicked between hers, self-preservation once again out the window at her distress. He automatically raised his clawed hand to gently touch her elbow.
She looked down at his hand, and he hurriedly pulled it away. "Ah. Sorry, uh. Again."
Daisy closed her eyes and breathed out a quick sigh before opening them again to look into his eyes. She pulled her hands away, lips turning up as his smaller body drifted forward slightly, following her retreating hands.
She shook her head slightly at his nervous glances and pulled her hands up to talk.
'You really shouldn't listen to people's conversations' she smirked slightly at his guilty look, 'that is why you're upset, yes?'
She tilted her head, waiting for his answer.
"Well. Uh, I mean. You shouldn't talk about people behind their back! That's more rude. I think." his voice broke slightly on the last word, which caused him to clam up again.
Daisy nodded her head to the side in concession, 'In that case. You should listen to peoples entire conversations, not just part of them. Might help.' she grinned at his confused expression.
She leaned closer to him, and down a bit, crowding him against the wall he had been previously hugging, smile growing at the red flush blooming on the tips of his ears and nose.
'She was teasing me. Because I said I like you.' Daisy shook with a breathless, soundless giggle at the shocked look on his face before she leaned further, giggling again at the shocked breath he sucked in. She quickly, eyes sparkling, kissed his cheek before pulling back, face now red from heat, not the cold like it usually was.
"You. Uh. I--I mean. Uhm." Skrimm cleared his throat against the knot that seemed to live there lately. Daisy reached up a hand to his face and delicately ran a finger along the length of his ear, pulling slightly on the end.
She pulled back a bit, 'Besides she wasn't wrong, you do have big ears.' She turned away and began quickly walking back to their friends.
Skrimm scrunched his (long) nose indignantly, "Hey! I'll have you know, my ears are normal sized for a goblin. Daisy." he began to chase after her, "Daisy! Normal!"