"A real bath! Oh, that sounds wonderful." Living rough for most of the time gives one a true appreciation for the wonders of hot water and soap. Maybe even clean clothes!
"Yes, many apologies for our rough appearance, sir," she harmonizes with Ahto about them looking rough. Others may look rougher than she does. Her gear is well-maintained. Her legs shaved, her hair plucked, eyebrows shaped, and hair brushed. True, no makeup or other beautifying elements adorn her, and her dress bears some mud from her horse charging through various puddles, but all in all, she looks more like she took a short day trip through the countryside rather than a journey across the wilderness for days on end. Even her scent is of neroli oil with marjoram, sage, thyme, and lavender and when possible, she would sponge bathe along the road for cleanliness. Nothing beats a bath though. Something in her eyes shows that she at the least hopes their hurriedness is not so great that they cannot spare this luxury. She studies both Ahto and their trusty gnome for the answer.
"No terrible urgency that I know of," Seripan chirps. "Certainly nothing that would preclude a good bath!"
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Wonky immediately drops to her knees to ruffle and scratch the muzzle of first Sprocket and then Doo-Dad.
"Who's a stinky doggy?" she coos in a completely out-of-character tone. "Who's a smelly-welly??" Wonky looks up with a grateful expression to Ahto, then beams the same winning smile to her companions. Doo-dad flops onto his back on the ground as a means to request a belly rub. Wonky enthusiastically consents.
"You've never experienced anything like a First World spa," she explains, looking around the flailing canine. "I've done more than a little reading up on Uringen and the bath-house is well-described, even if not much else of the fey Uringen is."
Wonky's speech seems different to your ears. The cadence, or the timbre of her voice....something has changed slightly. It might be the proximity and the influence of the First World.
"Let's lose the grime of weeks of trail life! Huzzah!"
Pelipe is all laughs at the cute behavior of Wonky, as well as her dogs, but when it is time to leave the mayor, she is all politeness.
Excusing herself with great honor toward the mayor of Uringen, she will follow the others into this new world(?) to her senses. It was like reading something out of a play, or one of the stories of adventurers. Certainly never something she would expect herself doing. As a result, even subconsciously, she held lightly to Ahto's shirt from behind with a look of pure nervousness on her steady face.
"Will we see fey everywhere, I wonder? Will they take offense to us? I have so little experience except with some gnomes. Even they I do not fully understand. How do these others deal with it? I wish this was a city of dwarves. Them I understand. Bring ale. Hmm...that seemed to work in the village too. Maybe there is a pattern there. I wonder if fey are the same?"
Partially certain she can bond over something with ale of some kind, she looks steadily for an alehouse, brewery, or some kind of similar location.
"They probably serve strange drinks here. I know gnomes drink odd concoctions."
"Oh hells yes. And Storm could really use a bath too. Pretty sure he's got a bit of marsh giant blood in his fur still." Katrine loves her companion with all her heart, but he does tend to inflict messy wounds on his prey. With his thick fur and as cold as it's been, her ability to help him clean up has been limited so far.
Seripan forgets about advertising her performances to the residents of stable Uringen, clearly excited by the prospect of playing tour guide for her new friends.
Crossing the rope barrier and stepping into unstuck Uringen is akin to entering an entirely different land. Although the architectural foundations are the same, the buildings in unstuck Uringen are distinct. The roofs curve more dramatically, the steeples are taller and more spindly, the walls are more verdant with moss and flowering ivy, and the colorful smog coughed out by the chimneys of alchemy and potion shops represents a wider, brighter array of colors.
As you enter this portion of Uringen, a sensation akin to pins-and-needles fills your limbs and digits. This comes with an invigoration, leaving you feeling freer and lighter than you can ever remember feeling.
...
Noticeably, the folk in this portion of Uringen are more welcoming than their dimensionally stable neighbors. Everyone at least nods to acknowledge you, while many people also offer "Good Days" and "Greetings" to you as they pass, clearly pleased to see visitors.
Seripan guides you to the bathhouse, a two-story wooden hall ringed by a wide veranda. The tables and chairs on this porch are attended by a number of humans, half-elves, gnomes, and a few more fey of various stripes.
The air inside the bathhouse is warmly humid, fed by the magical spring of hot water upon which the place is built.
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"This being a bathhouse with a common pool, if any of you would prefer privacy or at least not bathing in the company of the opposite sex, please speak up, and I will make arrangements with the proprietor. Miss Vixen, Miss Prong, and myself have become comfortable sharing a common pool for bathing, but I do not wish to presume this is true for the rest of you. A bath should be relaxing and rejuvenating, not a source of anxiety or discomfort."
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Wonky races for the rope barrier, outpacing her canine friends. Just as she enters, she drops to the ground, stretching her body face-down in a 'ground angel' and murmuring to herself. After a few minutes where she waggles her arms and legs in circular patterns and Sprocket and Doo-dad whine and circle her, the gnome gets up, pulls up a handful of dirt from unstuck Uringen, and pour it carefully into a pocket on her bandolier. She then races on into the city.
"It's like a dream! I feel so free....so UNSTUCK! Of course, it's my ancestral home, my birthright, my place of origin. Not Uringen specifically, of course, but I'll take it! Oh, if only my sweet Father could see this place! I'd...."
Wonky bursts into tears. She continues smiling and laughing, waving back vigorously to the strangers greeting them as they pass, and even rushing up and vigorously hugging a handful of random people. All the while, she maintains a stream-of-consciousness that border on a torrent, a comment about everything that she sees.
"....it's most likely lock leaf, I'll wager...." as she shoves a leaf into her mouth and chews for a brief second, "no, I would've lost that bet! That's bitter struice! It's going to give me a rash, I'll bet!..."
"...and the flames usually burn purple or brown, depending upon the heat at which you'll char the flesh. That's when you apply it to the walls..."
"....three hundred and sixty-eight, to be exact, but who's counting OH WAIT I'M COUNTING OH LOOK THE BATH-HOUSE!" Wonky takes off at a dead run for the entrance to the veranda. Bounding up the stairs, she enthusiastically greets the mixed group at the front.
"Wonky Prong, Jr. Originally from Ustalav. Currently High Magister of the nascent nation of Tamlyn and I'm AWFULLY pleased to meet y'all!" Arms are pumped as Wonky greets the strangers, tears still streaming down her cheeks.
The pose of Wonky makes her chuckle. "I've felt like that after getting off of a ship. It must be the same?" but when the girl begins to cry, tears stream down her face.
"Aww!!" she verbally sounds in sympathy. Pelipe is clearly a sympathetic crier and quickly cleans them up to hide this fact. At the sight of Wonky, she can't help herself.
To those who greet them, she will pause, curtsey, and continue on with a brighter smile upon her face; especially because of Wonky's reactions to these strangers. Any greeting verbally given to the group will be returned with a "have a blessed day," in the kindest of tones. It is clear that the mason seems to enjoy it when people are well-mannered. It is also clear that whenever she sees Wonky's tears of joy from the moment she first cried until the last at the doors to the bathhouse, that Pelipe will whimper quietly to herself as if thinking, "so cute!!" or "aww" again and again. In these moments, she will wipe her eyes as one would when trying to hide the fact they are still tearing up.
As they get to the bathhouse, she will observe the areas inside with utter curiosity. She has always had her own bath and bathing room. Public bathhouses are for poorer people. Having never bathed in front of ANYONE other than her maids or siblings (when very young), she is extremely uncomfortable, to say the least, but due to the way Ahto announced the other ladies' comfortable attitudes around him, she is peer-pressured into it. On top of that, she has never seen anyone else, since turning 6 years old, naked before, so the amount of nudeness she already is seeing internally makes her sweat. She tries her best to hide this fact.
Coursing a hand through her hair nervously, she watches what the others do and will follow suit. She doesn't know where to put her things, if there is a place to hang clothes, where to go, how naked to get...literally anything.
"I have my own soap...do I use it? What is everyone doing?"
Katrine shrugs in response to Ahto's question. "I don't really care one way or the other. I doubt any of you have anything I haven't seen before." First aid often requires removing the patient's clothes. Katrine isn't an expert, but she's had to bandage allies' wounds in the past. She's never seen the appeal of sex, anyway. Naked people don't look alluring, just kind of weird.
Wolfdog at her side, the ranger walks up to whoever seems to be in charge of the bathhouse. "Excuse me. Is there somewhere I can give my companion a bath before I bathe? He really needs one, but it's too cold to wash him outside." She wouldn't ask at a normal bathhouse, but some fey have fur, right? Satyrs and such?
Admission to the bathhouse is 5 silver per person, and the cost includes access to the establishment's supply of soaps, colognes, and perfumes. Massage services are also available for 1 or 2 gold, depending on whether you want a humanoid or fey masseuse.
There is a separate, smaller bath set aside for fey, but they have no qualms about sharing their water with animals.
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"Miss Katrine, if you and Miss Prong wish to make use of the smaller bathhouse, so that you may also bathe the dogs, I have no objection. It would be wise for none of us to be individually separate from the group, considering our growing list of enemies." He includes the entire group with his last statement, and with the following one. "For the same reason, I suggest no one avail themselves of a masseuse without at least one other member of our party to stand guard."
"Let's be about it, then." Katrine strips down in the fey side of the bathhouse, knowing exactly how wet and dirty this task can be. It's a little less objectionable without having to deal with damp wool and leather. She drops her clothes off where the attendant indicates (hopefully they'll get washed!) and heads for the 'scrub the dirt off here' area with Storm in tow. The wolfdog slinks along behind her, ears back and tail low. He knows what's coming. Fortunately, the ranger has him trained well enough to come along without a fight.
Washing and brushing a wolfdog in his winter coat, who has been traveling through a swamp and fighting a marsh giant, is indeed a wet and dirty job. Poor Storm endures his bath with relative good grace (and occasional bribery in the form of venison jerky). "There you go! What a good boy!" Katrine towels him off as best she can and settles him in front of a fire in an out of the way area. "Now you can have a nice nap and dry your fur." She scratches him behind the ears as she gets up. "Stay." Storm lets out a long canine sigh and rolls over on his side, closing his eyes.
Now Katrine can get clean! She grabs a towel to cover herself while crossing to the human side of the bathhouse (just to be safe), then heads straight for the washing up area.
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Ahto makes arrangements to open an account for the group, indicating each of the members of the group to be covered on the single tab.
"I would like soap, scented oils, a towel, and use of the bathing spring, please," Ahto says in a polite, business-like tone. "I would also like secure storage for everyone's clothing and personal effects until we have completed our business."
Once the bathing items and storage has been procured, Ahto removes his armor, gear, and clothing, setting them aside neatly for the attendant. He carries the towel, soap and oil to the side of the pool, and lowers himself into the warm water. He reaches for the soap, works it into a lather, and begins to scrub the dirt from the numerous scars on his back and shoulders.
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Wonky disrobes in an uncharacteristic frenzy on the fey side of the bathing pool, cannonballing into the water - only just in front of Sprocket and Doodad. The trio play-wrestle and splash uproaredly in the pool. It’s only after the dogs pull themselves out, shake off vigorously, and lay down in a panting heap that Wonky realises the presence of soap.
”Oooh!” she shrieks, unbounding her green locks, allowing them to droop onto the ground. She begins lathering up the soaking wet dogs on the side of the tub (while stark nude), and then drags them into the pool again. She then lathers herself up inside the tub, humming away to herself in Sylvan all the while. Once she throughly washes her tresses, she tries to engage some of the other pool inhabitants in conversation.
”I’m Wonky Prong, Jr! Who are you?”
Unmasked, and un-everything-elsed, it is Addison who is prepared to bathe. She’s too proud of her toned abs—and too confident to still feel sensitive about her thighs—that she isn’t concerned about who sees what.
She folds her clothing neatly, but takes a few coins with her when the topic of massage comes up. “I think I best head o’er to the fey side,” she says, despite having stepped into the water to at least get that initial rinse out of the way. “That Crystalhue performance, with me wedding gown as a winter landscape for Tyg and the dancing sprites… if the fey massage is to be given by a sprite, won’t that be sweet.
“But the fey come in many shapes and sizes, so for all I know, I’ll be held in the hand o’ the biggest fey there is. It’s not a treat I’ll say no to, long as the masseuse is a fey woman. I ain’t really worried about funny stuff, but a girl’s gotta take precautions.”
Addy isn’t sure whether Pelipe would prefer to be alone with Ahto.
She turns to Pelipe, making no effort to submerge her freckled body more than necessary to be comfortably seated.
“How about yerself, Pelipe? Would ye rather stay here? Katrina and Wonky’re washing their dogs. Might be quieter on this side, so I may as well wash up here so I’m clean for the masseuse… especially if it’s one o’ the tinier fey.”
Addy wonders if not being the only woman here with Ahto will make it easier for Pelipe to bathe with him. She’ll chat a bit, and when it comes to the massage, if Pelipe would prefer not, Addy will be that third wheel rolling the hell out o’ the way!
“Y’know, Ash and I were in the bath together the first time I told her how I felt.”
Dammit, Child! says the Vixen.
The Child already spoke, so she just goes on anyway. “That was right after the wyvern battle, Ahto. But I didn’t tell ye right away. We kept quiet until Garess seemed suspicious.
“Looking back, no wrongdoing on his part. He was her commanding officer. I get that he saw me as a distraction.”
As she is given her towel and supplies, she watches Addy strip down. Glancing at what the others are doing, she spies Ahto and quickly averts. It is then she sees an attendant is waiting for her to strip. Already, the gnome and changeling have flown into the bath with their dogs. Now it is just her and Addy, and it seems Addison is determined to get in and undress here.
The mason nervously fluffs her hair and then thinks, "To hell with it, you've fought drakes." There is a surge of confidence as she begins to undo her belts, backpack, and cloak. Then the feeling of near nakedness strikes. "Yeah...but did you really fight them? They all mostly did the fighting. Same with the hags. Oh gosh, shut up!"
Redder in the cheeks, the scholar takes off her headband and hands her dagger over to the attendant.
"Careful with these things, in the pack particularly. There are things that...explode. Be gentle."
With a final breath in, she will take her boots off and shimmy out of her bottoms and stylish jacket and top. Cute pink underwear and a breastband are all that is left and she just somehow manages to strip them without looking like a complete strawberry in the face. All is going well.
Behind her, she can hear Addison talking to her, asking her a question. It calls more attention to her and she covers her body with her hands as she quickly, and embarrassedly, shuffles into the waters. The two of them will notice on her side, near to the base of her ribs is a vicious scar, now long since healed over, that she is desperately trying to cover with her elbow. However, it is a choice of keeping her breasts covered or that, and she chose the former. Still, she is trying to hide the previous wound and failing.
There is no doubt that once she gets in, she is sunk as low as possible in the water and a peace washes over her. Then she realizes she forgot her soap and everything outside of the pool in her nervousness.
"Oh heheh...Um...sure. I'll stay here. Saaaaay. When you get out. Mind handing me that soap?" "Oh gods oh gods. Why are you so stupid? Why are you so nervous also? Stop it!"
She then hears Addison talk about how she and her wife were in the bath at the same time. At the woman's next words about telling her wife how she felt, Pelipe's eyes go wide...like really wide in fear.
"Kill...me...now...Is that in reference to me? That I should tell him how I'm feeling?" She splashes water on her face with cupped hands to hide her wide-eyed look.
"That um...must have been hard to deal with. When you speak of Garess, whom do you refer to?" she asks in a desperate plea to get the subject off her hanging out in a bath with Ahto only and confessing feelings. This was not ideal for her. Nor had she received any hint he felt anything for her, let alone her own feelings being so uncertain themselves.
Addy can’t help but notice if Pelipe wants to cover her breasts, she’s doing it wrong. She doesn’t look too hard, and simply hands over the soap.
“Cap’n Garess at the time, but he’s been promoted o’course. He’s in command of our military. Me wife started out as the only woman in his unit—a soldier. We’d become fast friends, and when she said she ain’t met the right man, I took it to mean she was looking for one.
“This might come off strange, but… it made it easier to approach her. We could just be friends and I could sort out me life and there’d be no romance. There never was. I read me trashy novels written by me client, she’d hit on me and we’d both act as if it were in jest, and it was so easy… never to get close.
“And so Ash and I had a shooting competition at the range, and having a normal friend was good for me. Then we got attacked and that damn wyvern lurched right o’er her.”
Addy of course knows she told the wyvern story already. Besides, Pelipe asked about Garess.
“Garess lost two men that day. Indentured, I believe, and a solder was thrown through a roof and survived. I think the casualties weighed heavily and maybe our handling o’ the wyvern and the surrender process upstaged him.
“I couldn’t stand him because he gave Ash s+!# duties and held her back—she’s an amazing councilor! But Garess trains solders, not liaisons, community organizers, and whatever other multitude o’ hats me wife dons.”
Addy isn’t even sure when she stopped disliking Garess. She hadn’t given the man a thought in so long.
“And poor Ahto had to hear me gripes about what an asshoIe Garess was! I mean in me opinion at the time, which was heavily biased. Oh, but ye handled me well that day, and yer advice made things better. Ash and Garess and meself’re all better off now that the titles’ve been sorted.”
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"It worked out in the end," Ahto replies.
You and your wife are happy together, and Captain Garess' authority has not been undermined. Change is, and will be inevitable in our nascent kingdom. As long as chaos does not ensue as a result of those changes, I am happy to let them occur as part of the process."
Ahto's tone is matter-of-fact, but not rude or stand-off-ish.
"Ahh, I thought as much. I was just making sure." she replies. In her whole life, she had never heard someone of the Garess family referred to by their name like it was a nickname. In her circles, it would be quite rude to not either give him a title or to utilize his first name initially.
With attention finally off of her, she will take the soap offered and will begin to carefully clean herself. "I have never felt so out-of-place..."
The mage will clean her hair and body well and quickly before settling in a bit more comfortably into the now murkier water. As she does, she inquires a bit about Ahto and Addison.
"An outsider would look at what you've done and would say you've invited chaos. Having seen what I've seen, I think they'd be wrong. A good leader can bring into order a well-diversified group of soldiers to work for one goal and together. Why can not a ruler do the same for his people, no matter their different origins? As long as each has a willingness to work together or get out, surely there is some middle ground to be found in this community." Taking a breath in, she sighs. "I do hope to see the city someday soon. Surely, some large projects you've set in motion for development before leaving are probably almost done for how long you've been on the road. The city may not look the same as it did when you left if you have a worthy person in charge of development."
“A world where we can’t get a long o’er differences is as chaotic as it gets. Ever since I discovered fairies and mermaids ain’t just the products o’ li’l girls’ imaginations, I’ve been all about understanding the way o’ the fey. Ain’t seen a mermaid yet, but maybe here?”
Addy stands. She looks like she’s on a mission. (Or like she’s forgotten how to not be on a mission.)
“Maybe the masseuse is a mermaid, and I can have a massage and a bath at the same time. Aw hell, I gotta head o’er to the fey side and find out what me options are. I’m clean enough.”
She steps out, but swivels her head around, facing Ahto and Pelipe.
“Did either o’ ye want a fey masseuse too?”
As Addison stands up bravely, no shame, Pelipe feels it for her, yet Ahto is uncaring. This almost confuses her. "Is he truly comfortable?" She rises just enough so her shoulders show while she scrubs her feet and legs. To Addison, she shakes her head.
"No thanks!" she beams as if to say she's perfectly fine being concealed in the murky waters.
When Ahto replies, she averts her eyes from the Vixen.
"Oh gods, please don't remind him I'm a mason...Please Addison."
She looks over to the man who now she shares a pool with. There is an awkward silence unless he asks something. In the corner of her eye, she thinks she sees someone coming, perhaps Katrine?
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Ahto isn't sure how to break the ice. He is clearly interested in Pelipe, but has no idea how to spur on the conversation.
Ahto's eyes roam downward briefly, as Pelipe rises up out of the water, then flushes slightly and returns his gaze to meet hers.
"I have enjoyed your company, these past few days. We all have. I am glad you have not decided we are too dangerous to travel with."
“Alright. Ye two relax. No need to stand guard if all me valuables’re here!”
Addison takes two coins. If the bathhouse provides a robe, she dons it. If there’s no robe provided, she has her own.
Once she ties the sash, Addy tosses a coin.
She makes a face at the coin, mimicking the serious expression on the heads side. She turns to Ahto and Pelipe, still making that serious coin face.
“I’m going to leave ye two unchaperoned.”
Nothing gets honest words out better than chatting in the nude.
With that is the implication that Addy removing herself is intended as a favor.
She gives Ahto and Pelipe a warm and friendly smile and walks away.
But from her unfaltering runway-model gait, she appears to be completely care-free, as if being cleansed in this fey place has somehow lifted a burden… or her spirits? It definitely lifted something.
Once on the fey side, Addy heads over to wherever one goes for a massage. She leaves her robe open, unless there is a male presence. (In that case, she covers up.)
“I just stepped out o’ the bath, and I could use a masseuse. However, if ye don’t mind me saying, I can’t have any male presence about.” She doesn’t elaborate on this demand. “Can ye tell me about yer masseuses?”
With Addy leaving, she listens, but when Pelipe doesn't hear the dreaded "mason" comment come, Miss Lightdriver eases and watches the naked warrioress find a robe and then leave. There is a slight shake on her head regarding the devastating "leave you two unchaperoned" comment but she only blushes a little and doesn't respond. Pelipe doesn't seem to notice anything but confidence in the woman . Pelipe doesn't even notice that the sly Vixen has left open the curtain. From the moment Addy began to close it, Pelipe's pale-brown eyes were fixed on Ahto.
Alone in the pool with Ahto, perhaps it is her hypersensitivity in the situation, but she catches his glance and in a way, his hesitation and half-truth. When he speaks, for some reason, it's always different when she's alone with him. He's less curt than with others. Briefly, as he speaks, deep in thought, it brings to mind the man in the carriage or at their campsite's fireside again; laughing and talking; comfortable with her. In some strange way, she feels vulnerable in this instance, but at the same time not.
"No. I don't regret my decision," she answers. "I have felt protected. Secure. Even in my weakness." Her eyes travel down to the murky water as if looking at her injury through it. Looking back up, she continues, "You have been very caring and I appreciate your attentiveness, although, when I hear your words, while they are most certainly true words...please forgive me, but I think you mean that you enjoy my company."
There is a deep bowling gut-wrenching feeling within the pit of her stomach. Her tone is not accusatory but softly spoken in caution. It seems that she pierced through his veil but instead of ripping it, she is peeking to see how he reacts, with apologies if devastatingly wrong.
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"I have always thought myself a man of action and determination; that there was no situation in which I would not hesitate. Your company is something that I find myself desiring more of with each passing day, but I cannot expect you to feel the same for me in so short an acquaintance. If you wish our relationship to go beyond companions and administrators of a budding nation, you need only say so, with no fear of rejection. If you decide that you do not wish to become so personally involved, I will not press the issue. You also need not fear for your safety or your virtue. I will not touch you unless you ask. I will press you no further. This I swear on my vows to Abadar and the Church of the First Vault."
Ahto sits back against the edge of the pool and gives a sigh, as if all the words he just spoke took a physical toll on him.
Wonky finds her nearest neighbor in the fey area to be a gaunt-faced pixie, leaning back and resting his orange-and-black wings against the tiled edge of the bathing pool. His eyes are closed in relaxation, and they remain closed even for a few moments after Wonky greets him.
He finally opens his eyes a crack, as though begrudging the gnome his attention.
"I am Cerotious," he speaks in a slow, imperious tone. "And I am enjoying some peace before returning to work. I am quite busy, after all, as I am aide to Lady Aurelia herself."
It felt equally exciting and terrifying at the same time, hearing her confrontation come to fruition. Still, she is a stonemason, and him a stone. They fit. What terrible things could come their way? What blessings? Now wasn't the time to worry about it. As his words finish, a small smile is on her face as she looks down to the waters.
"I make you pause...?"
He can tell that she is hugging herself now, even though she is not visible.
"Thank you," she replies with a serenity befitting a woman of standing. "Those were lovely sentiments. They are cherished now in my heart. Now, please, let me give you mine..."
"I did not come here longing for companionship, and most certainly I did not expect to find someone of worth to that end. When I came, I found order, law, and your attentive protection. While you offer it freely to anyone, it warms my heart that you think of me with special desire and favor; even now intending to pursue me." Blushing, she continues, "You are a good man, and it would please my heart, soul, and mind to be pursued by you." She pauses to ensure the point is driven home and that he has time to reflect. "As you stated, not much time has passed, and that is true. That said, you know my position now. I have written to my parents about you and already how impressed I was with you at the time. That feeling has only grown since that day. So, do not feel restrained to measure my mind and heart."
She shifts to the side of the pool easiest to climb out of.
"Please, if you will excuse me." Before she leaves, she pauses, just to make sure she has driven it home. "I would enjoy speaking to you about this tonight, perhaps at the event?" If appeasing to his palate, she will agree and then rise from the water. He would see her figure in part, her arms covering vital regions, but there is much his eyes can see to read in between the lines. She will walk out of the pool and over to the towel to wrap it around her, then will seek some sort of refreshment from the tiring toll of the conversation and her own nerves. A shot of whiskey would do nice!
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"Yes, of course, Miss," Ahto replies genially. He makes to stand politely as she rises to leave the pool, and then realizes at the last moment that it would, perhaps, be more mannerly to keep his knees bent in a crouch, so that the water level never dips below his navel. He allows his gaze to linger on her as she walks away, though keeps his expression one of polite stoicism. Once she has left, he finishes his washing by applying the scented oils to his hair, working them down to his scalp. He then sets to work on the dry patches of skin around his various scars, including the old one criss-crossing the side of his face.
"Could you fetch me a cup of your strongest drink?" he calls out to one of the attendants. "Wine or liquor will do nicely."
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"Well met, Cerotious," Wonky plows ahead, not taking the hint of wishing to be left in peace. "We are ourselves on our way to meet with your boss once we finish soaking away Groetus-knows how many weeks of travel grime. We're---" Wonky gestures around, trying to include Katrine --- "part of the envoy attachment from the new nation of Tamlyn. I'm the grand magister and librarian of Tamlyn. These are Sprocket and Doo-dad." Here, she references her canine companions. "That's Katrine and her four-legged friend Storm. Serpian has us coming to a performance tonight, and then probably afterwards....yeah!" Wonky finishes anti-climactically.
"So many First World denizens here....it's my first time in Unstuck Uringen, don't ya know -- and I've seen grigs and pseudo-dragons and brownies and....hey, do you know any unicorns? I'd love to check in with one of them."
Wonky's seemingly-inane chattering takes a strategic turn.
Katrine looks up when Wonky says her name, waving to the pixie. "Hello, nice to meet you." Storm takes the opportunity to try and slink away, only to be caught by the scruff. "Uh-uh, I don't think so mister. Sorry sir, I need to pay attention here or he'll escape, and then you'll have suds and wet dog hair all over the bathhouse."
Ah, finally. Hot water! And soap! Wrapped in a towel, Katrine heads for the human side of the bathhouse... and encounters Addy. "Oh! Hi... Addy, right?" The ranger is still getting used to having two teammates in one body. She's not wearing her mask, so she's probably not Vixen right now. "What are you looking for over here? The bath is kind of shallow for human-sized people."
The towel doesn't leave much to the imagination. Katrine's body is hard and lean, with the occasional scar courtesy of enemy weapons, wild animals, and in one case a fire spell. Not as many as one would expect given her lifestyle, though. Probably because she favors the compound longbow, a weapon with excellent range.
She tries her best not to look behind her as she attempts her best at being demure given the situation. Knowing now that he is interested in her, and not emotionless in that regard, she is certain his eyes remain upon her. It is only once wrapped up in her towel, she feels more secure and can't help but glance back slowly, giving the large man an accepting smile before looking to leave him finally. Why look back? Perhaps it is the joy in her heart? Fear of just having someone potentially interested in her after all of these years? Perhaps just wanting to make sure this all wasn't some illusion? With her leaving, she spies Katrine and Addison speaking in the distance. Instead, she goes to find a steward to recover her things and bring her a drink if possible.
If there is a room away from those undressing, that is where she will be. If anyone follows her, they will find her dressed in her spare change of clothes--a white ruffled blouse with belts to accentuate her figure and aid in combat, and at her side, her spellbook. She wears her tan pant and her boots. They have seen her in this outfit before, and it no doubt needs to be cleaned, as they've not had a room to rest in for her to hang her clothes long enough to dry. For some time after, the mage is sectioning off her hair to dry it in such a way that it adds volume for tonight's event. If the group intends to get massages and linger a while, she clearly didn't seem to want to take part in it and will instead head out of the bath, leaving a message that she is going shopping. She then will go out to try to find a tailor to have something made for this evening that will fit her.
“In the flesh,” Addy replies.
She does not look alarmed at all when Katrine sees her, open robe leaving nothing to the imagination. She simply adjusts and fixes the sash, as if she had just put the robe on.
“I’m on the way to get a fey massage. I’m curious if the masseuse’ll be a sprite. The feeling I’m those dainty creatures dancing all o’er me body at the Crystalhue performance was a sensation like I’d never—
“Ohhhh, who am I kidding?” Addy grins, but let’s the mischievous look melt just a little. “I was teasing Ahto a bit, and Pelipe to an extent… or maybe mostly her. It was a convoluted and spontaneous inkling, but I thought I’d stir their pot o’ repressed-mutual-feelings stew, then bail, like a third wheel rolling away from the bicycle o’ love.”
Does Katrine not see the genius? Maybe she doesn’t.
“The metaphors’re an o’erreach, but ye see it too, right? Ahto? Pelipe? She’d make a pretty queen, unless she dies of old age waiting for Ahto to propose.
“Or maybe I’m a hopeless romantic.” She stops to breathe. Katrine can finally get a word i—
(—nope.)
“Anyway, fey massage. Care to join me?”
Now, Katrine can get a word in.
"Oh yes, I've noticed the longing looks. It's adorable." Katrine smiles. "I would join you, but I still need to wash up. I've spent all this time washing Storm." She is looking rather bedraggled, and there's a distinct aroma of wet dog around her. "Perhaps later. I'll try not to disturb the lovebirds while I'm bathing."
Addy says, “Alright then. Ye know where to find me.” She lowers her voice adding, “Lemme know if ye catch those two talking.”
She then heads over to arrange a massage.
"Oh? You must be the ones Lady Aurelia foresaw in her divining," the pixie muses, sounding bored. "I wonder if she'll drop the usual pretenses when meeting with Mieren when deciding who'll represent Uringen to the Outlaw Council, if only to hasten her conversation with you. They begin their deliberation with debate and guile, but it's all a farce. They always end up settling the matter over a game of dice or cards."
Wonky's next line of questioning actually elicits a raised eyebrow from the pixie.
"No unicorns around here," Cerotious says. "They've all fled the River Kingdoms. I'm not sure why, but when unicorns get into a tizzy, it's usually because someone's got it in their head to hunt them for their horns. Normally such business gets nipped in the bud quickly, either by the unicorns themselves or by their allies. This time, though, it must be someone particularly awful for them to flee rather than fight."
...
The bathhouse manager at the desk offers a brief introduction to their masseuses. Two human attendants - a man named Hurley, and a woman named Elise - are available. For those seeking a more unique experience, a team of fey comprised of three grigs and a pixie are on call for the service.
Addy is intrigued by the uniqueness—she wants a massage from three grigs and a pixie, if they are all female. She really won’t be able to relax if there is a male present, and even knowing these are pros, she knows herself too well. Fortunately, she can see the team. If all four are female, team fey it is! If only one member is male, she might very politely ask if just the three female fey could work on her.
"I believe you've mistaken me for someone else."
Ahto turns and looks up to see that, rather than an attendant or wine steward, it is Althea Thrune who stands above him. The disrobed noblewoman waits for no invitation before slipping into the bath across from the lord of Tamlyn.
She sighs as she savors the touch of the warm water.
"Even the more provincial cities back home can afford more luxuriant accommodations, but I'll not turn up my nose at such a surprising bit of comfort out in the wilds."
An impish smile crosses her face.
"I must say how shocked I am that Miss Lightdiver found the courage to finally speak her mind to you," she confesses. You aren't sure whether she intentionally misspeaks Pelipe's name. "I thought I'd have more time to work my own charms, but oh well. Such is life."
She leans forward in a way designed to accentuate her own physical appeal.
"I recognize that mine is a hard case to argue, given our past history, but I'll lay bare my thoughts," she begins, proud of her word play. "I rue that I have not had the opportunity to demonstrate my talents fully, but I assure you that I am no mere pampered aristocrat.
"I've actually trained as a Hellknight, serving among the ranks of the Order of the Nail. Studying their philosophies is what first kindled my desire to carve civilization out of the savage wilds, which brought me to Brevoy and the Stolen Lands - and my goal has not changed.
"You know...we're no longer enemies. I may be bound to your service, but I can be so much more than a mere servant..."
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"What you propose is a political alliance, not a relationship," Ahto replies. "Why should I believe your advances here and now are predicated on anything more than the potential benefit to your status and position?"
Ahto closes his eyes, as if resting, and leans his head back against the edge of the tub.
Katrine walks into the human side of the bathhouse just in time to see Althea try to put the moves on Ahto. She rolls her eyes, drops the towel in the used towels basket, and heads for the washing area to scrub the dirt off before getting into the tub.
Freshly cleaned, the changeling walks over and joins the other two in the soaking tub. "Hello Ahto, Althea." She nods to them and leans back in the hot water. Oh, that feels like heaven.
Althea rolls her eyes when Katrine's arrival interrupts the start of her rebuttal.
"Delighted to see you, Miss Tholian," she returns the greeting, putting on her best, overly sweet patrician mien.
She quickly returns her attention to Ahto, however.
"Expectedly astute of you. Of course it would be a political alliance," she agrees, an almost enthusiasm in her voice, "but you are mistaken on the second point. I have also given much thought to the potential benefit for you and Tamlyn as a whole, not just myself.
"You shouldn't blindly rely upon Brevoy's largesse. They keep you on a leash, but do you really think they will do anything but tighten their grip and shorten the slack as the months roll into years? Even the best case scenario for you is being made a vassal for the Swordlords, assuming their schemes against the Issian-held throne are successful. Frankly, I think they have little chance of success. More likely, House Surtova will recognize Rostland's investment in your barony as the power grab that it is, and they will demand you surrender your title and land at swordpoint.
"And that's just the intrigues of Brevoy. Have you given any thought to Taldor?" she asks with a coy tilt of her head.
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Ahto looks at Althea, but his expression belies no emotion. "Oh, our situation is so dire, then? Please, elaborate. Tell me what we are not doing that we should be to save ourselves from certain annihilation. Better still, tell me what indispensable assets I would gain by selecting you as my consort that I would not gain from you remaining a loyal Indentured Servant of Tamlyn?"