Long Nights

Tamwyn was in his room, towel around his waist as he looked through the armoire for attire. Allen had been extremely well prepared in that during the two looks he got of Tamwyn had managed to eye his sizes quite nicely. The man had sent couriers out to the markets while Tamwyn and Priya themselves had been gone and had them buy a nice little variety of clothing to choose from. The Seraph was unaware of Priya had a similar selection in her own room. However Allen had already proven to be extremely capable. It was probably him that had kept the manse running and not in fact that pompous, arrogant ass Nigel. He and Walter would get along absolutely swimmingly. A cloud of steam had billowed out from his private bathroom after he had opened the door and it all had risen to the ceiling. The room was decorated nicely enough in dark wood furnishings and a deep red rug. Honestly none of it mattered to him, so he didn't particularly pay attention. His bed was huge though, a four poster with enough room for three or four people to lay comfortably.

A window let in evening light, a soft orange glow that came in and illuminated the room. His amber eyes perused the choices. He would definitely wear some of them but he needed to make sure he chose the kind of thing he would like to see more of. Allen had done spectacularly well with his limited time but Tamwyn was under no illusions that the man would use what Tamwyn wore as an example for a more complete wardrobe. As Allen had shown him to his room they had passed by Priya's and Allen had gained a small, self satisfied grin on his features as he did so. Tamwyn almost asked about it but overhead the man's words under his breath. "Honestly, asking me to obtain candy and trying to trick me to boot. Well, hopefully she enjoys the bowl of it in her room." The man had said and Tamwyn had to fight not to chuckle at the antics.

He could honestly live with a staff member who got his kicks out of doing his job extremely well. Truly it wouldn't be a hassle. Now that the man had gone off to see that dinner was well into the preparation stage. Tamwyn had soaked in a hot bath for a long time, trying to get his black mood out of him. Hoping that the cleansing ritual of hot water, soap, and rinse would help remove some of the stain that had integrated itself upon a part of his being. It didn't feel like it had done anything though and he sighed audibly as he perused his attire. Finally picking black silk pants, a black shirt with silver trim, and polished black shoes he would remove the towel to begin to dress. First the pants, then the shirt, the process not taking overly long although he wasn't particularly rushing. Once he was dressed he checked the full length mirror. He had combed his longer hair straight had decided to leave the bit of stubble that had started to grow, only ensuring that it was trimmed in terms of where it growing and not the length. He would try a beard, maybe it would be one of the kinds of changes he would need.

There was still time before dinner, and idly he wondered what he should do with it. Putting on his shoes he walked out, deciding to spend some of the time exploring the grounds a bit. He had a lot of space that he did not know and that was something that would need to change.

[1]

With the trip to the Plaza being moderately successful, Priya retired immediately to her room. As expected, Allen personally delivered the bowl of requested candies and Priya was there waiting for him when he did. She was perched silently on the top of the beams connecting the elegantly crafted four poster bed when he entered with the small crystal bowl containing the sugary treats. She watched him for a few moments; he entered the room and carefully placed the bowl down on a small table in the sitting area of her room. She was watching for anything suspicious, any sign that he may not be who he appeared to be. She knew he wouldn’t go through anything in the room, she hadn’t actually settled in yet so there would be nothing to find, but she did see him hesitate before he turned to leave and as soon as he did she would silently leap down from her perch and rise to her (less than impressive) full height with a senbon at the ready just under her sleeve on the inside of her right wrist.

“Allen was it? What an unassuming name. . . so ordinary.” Allen didn’t jump or appear surprised at her sudden presence, he just looked at her calmly and without the usual deference given to a guest or employer, he smiled. Priya and Allen spoke in low tones, unable to be heard beyond the walls of her new room. “Unassuming is king. Or Mistress.” She studied him as he implied his true purpose, just as he studied her. After a few beats both would relax subtly, and Priya would loosen her hold on the senbon. It was still easily within reach, but she was less concerned about Allen’s intentions for the moment. Gesturing with her chin towards the bowl she asked him a one word question. “Poisoned?” Allen would shake his head ‘no’ and give a three word answer. “Not this time.” It was then Priya’s turn to smile, a look of wry amusement on her dark features.

“I have a job to do Allen, please don’t get in my way.” Allen nodded and gave a cryptic reply. “As do I. Two ships pushed by wind, held together only by the bond of steel. The currents must keep them apart. Agreed?” Priya nodded in understanding of the strange code, moving so she was no longer blocking his path to the door to exit the room. “Agreed.” Kara had an intricate network of spies and informants that she had been setting up for years across multiple nations, though by design they did not know each other and rarely, if ever, met face to face. This meeting was an anomaly, but desperate times and all that. And if Kara arranged for not one, but two of her employees to end up in the same location - then she truly was desperate. Allen would nod and return his expression to one of the friendly deference and respect that was expected of a servant in a household. Priya’s expression changed from seriousness and calculation to the friendly awkwardness expected of someone not used to being waited on. Both of them resumed speaking in normal tones, allowing anyone nearby to overhear if they were close enough. “Enjoy your evening Miss Varitha, dinner will be served in two hours.” “Thank you, uh, Allen. Oh! We’ll have at least one more, I think, for dinner.” “Very good Miss.” Then Allen would exit the room and Priya would be left to her devices.

Priya couldn’t be sure what Allen’s actual job was, but she suspected it to be much the same as hers given the timing. She knew that Allen would also be exceptional at his job as a member of staff of the estate, it was useless to employ a spy that had no other skills, and the spies that Kara employed were among the best - or so they all liked to tell themselves. Priya once again filed more information into the back of her mind, skillfully compartmentalizing her varied thoughts and complicated emotions, further ensuring that she could do her job properly. She would spend the next half hour bathing, which mainly involved cleaning her very long and thick dark hair. When she was finally clean she would step out of the bath, without a towel because it was her room and she could drip on the floor if she wanted to, and make her way to the wardrobe. There were several outfits to pick from; ranging from smart looking suits to elaborate ball gowns. Priya groaned quietly as she looked everything over, they were all very nice outfits and they looked as though they would fit quite well. But they weren’t her leathers. This was the part of the job she didn’t much enjoy, having to wear anything other than the well worn dark leather outfit. It wasn’t that she didn’t like other clothing, it was just that her usual outfit was perfectly worn in. With a sigh of resignation and a sad look towards the leather outfit slung over the back of a high backed chair, she would run her hand over the fabrics, her hand stopping on a deep purple satin gown. Pulling out the dress she would slide the fabric over her hips, and realize that reaching the zipper that lay along her spine from her tailbone to the middle of her back was going to be quite difficult. Not exceedingly so for her, but it was as good an excuse as any to check in on Tamwyn without making things too awkward.

Holding the front of the strapless gown against her chest she made her way to the door that joined their two suites, deftly opening it and slipping inside quietly. Once she passed the threshold she would call out to him, giving him exactly three seconds before she walked into view of mostly naked Tamwyn who was just finishing putting on his pants. With playful innocence in her brown eyes she would grin and offer a completely insincere apology as she stared unabashedly at his form. “Sorry to catch you indisposed, but uh, can you help?” She would point with her free hand towards the open zipper on her gown as she turned so her back faced him, though she still kept her eyes on him by looking over her shoulder.

Of course he was still as naked as the day he was born when she called out and he moved quickly to put his pants on at least. He managed to get himself covered just as she walked into the room through what was apparently a connected hall. He hadn't noticed, or rather, hadn't explored it yet and so had not been aware that it would lead to her room. This discovery caused his eyes to narrow in suspicion, did Allen share Nigel's beliefs that Priya was a concubine of some kind after all? Needing a discreet way in and out of his chambers on nights where she was needed? He did not know and he was not aware of a way to bring up the matter tactfully. Instead he would simply focus on the woman standing in front of him. The apology she had given him was about as sincere as one could get and he closed his eyes for a three count. Although he wasn't angry, that wasn't the issue. The problem was that Priya herself was beautiful. With dark eyes, dark brown skin, and the figure of an acrobat. Her long, thick, black hair was pulled to her front over one shoulder to give him the ability to zip up the dress without having to work around it.

Calling Priya being beautiful a problem was not in anyway fair though. No, Tamwyn knew the problem was with him. Because he felt an attraction to the woman, not an emotional one thankfully, but a physical one. He moved over to her, her head turned to one side to look at him as he approached. She had come far enough into the room that she had placed herself in front of the mirror and so he saw the image of him approaching her from behind her. Carefully, when he reached the woman he would reach forward, and zip the dress up, taking in a deep breath as he did so. She smelled clean, which was obvious since her damp hair proved she had just come out of a shower or bath as well. Reaching up, he would move with the intent to gather her hair back over her shoulder. Setting it to where it should be. If this was successful he would see it hung down to her bottom and that surprised him a bit. He knew braiding it made it seem shorter but he still hadn't expected that.

The image in the mirror changed now, looking at it he saw not someone helping a woman with her dress. But a man standing behind a woman and wanting more. He shut his eyes fiercely and took another deep breath. Without thinking he would move to place his hands on her shoulders. Should he be successful he would use them to center himself. Opening his eyes he would speak, he voice low, with a mixture of a great many things underlaying it. Confusion, pain, desire, just to name a few. "Is it betrayal..To want, so quickly?" He would ask, the question somewhat ambiguous but hopefully, obvious to the woman who had spent her day guiding him, and would spend at least the near future as his traveling companion as well.

Tamwyn moved over to her without a word, she saw him close his eyes for a few seconds, and heard him take in a deep breath as he zipped up her dress. She had expected awkwardness, perhaps annoyance or maybe even a chuckle or two. What she hadn’t been expecting was to see or feel desire from him. It hadn’t been her intention to cause him further pain, merely act as a pleasant distraction for a few minutes. Admittedly she did find Tamwyn quite attractive, but given the situation she was content to just look and keep it in her pants. So to speak. She had been assigned to Tamwyn to take care of him, in a way to look after his mental state. Priya didn’t think that aggressively making a move on the man would help him in any way, maybe in the moment, but right now he was too fragile. She would flirt with him, but nothing more until she saw that fragility eased.

When he placed his hands on her shoulders she would look up at him in the mirror, trying to gauge his state of mind. He made it all the easier by speaking and she instantly saw the pain there. Betrayal was a strong word, one that she wouldn’t have applied to the situation, but she was in no position to judge with no experience of that type of bond. She wanted to reassure him, while also not crossing any lines. Smiling gently she would place her hands atop his and spin to face him, her hands guiding his to stay on her shoulders if he wished. “No, it isn’t. It’s human, and understandable. And just a little bit flattering.” Her voice was rich and deep as she spoke, a soothing tone to it that she hoped conveyed warmth and comfort towards Tamwyn. Other than her hands on top of his, she made no other move towards him, she stood and looked up at him and watched his face, searching his face for his true emotions.

When she smiled gently at his question he knew her words weren't going to be hurtful. When she turned around, keeping her hands over his so that his stayed on her shoulders as she did. She would meet his eyes without the use of a mirror to do so. He would look back into hers, pain, loss, need, and hunger in his eyes. When she spoke he would listen, carefully. Her voice was rich and smooth, a deep voice that spoke of comfort and warmth. Not of pain and sorrow. He felt that same comfort and warmth radiating from her now. Her hands stayed atop his, and his features stayed glued to hers as his mind considered her words. This was not betrayal. At the moment, he was a scarred, battered, and broken wreck emotionally. He knew that, could acknowledge it. He also knew he would need help to fix it. He also knew, that he as a human being, had needs. Needs to needed to be met with someone whom he could trust during this time. Someone who could and would help piece him back together without the promise of love. Someone who knew and understood that he did not love them as he loved his late wife.

Priya was someone who could help with that. She was someone who could help pick up the pieces of his broken and shattered emotional state and help put him back together. She was warm, comforting, and seemed to be genuinely interested in something at least physical that would help him, and her, meet the needs the body had. As he considered these things, his breathing calmed. His eyes would soften slightly, the hardened edge coming off of them. She wouldn't move to press the closeness. Would let him work through what he needed to work through and he appreciated her all the more for it. He smiled softly, it was still a small, and broken thing. But it wasn't faked in anyway either. He would remove a hand from her shoulder and use it to gentle angle her chin up a little higher if allowed. At the same time he would move his lips to hers and try to capture hers in a kiss. Not a feverish one, not a loving one. But one that spoke of an inner heat that needed an out. It was almost tentative, and searching. Questions that wouldn't be put into words went into that kiss. They asked 'Will you help me?' and 'Can you accept that there is no love in this?' It would be up to her to respond if she wished, or to leave the kiss unreturned and the questions answered in their own right.

Tamwyn didn’t speak when she replied to his question, not aloud. His movements, gaze and small smile spoke volumes however. She allowed him to gently lift her chin up and she didn’t recoil as he lowered his lips to meet hers. The kiss was as gentle as his touch and she returned it just as gently. There was no feverish passion or unrelenting desire in her kiss, it was calm and soothing like her voice. His kiss was not unwanted, but she held herself back and after a few moments she would pull back from him and smile. She didn’t want to take advantage of his grief and the way it might be twisting his perceptions and desires currently.

Taking his hand in hers she would attempt to pull him gently towards the bed. If he came with her, she would sit on the edge of it and gesture towards the spot next to her, wanting him to sit as well. Should he comply she would try to pull him towards her so that his head lay either against her chest or preferably in her lap. From there she would stroke his hair comfortingly while she embraced him, speaking quietly as she did so. “There will be time later, for now I would like to sit. I can tell you stories if you like, about myself or about your sister. I could even sing or we could just sit quietly. The choice is yours, but I respect your sister too much to take advantage of you like that.” She would chuckle quietly, though if Tamwyn had rested his head against her he would be able to feel the ripple of mirth move through her body. “You don’t make it easy though.”

She returned his kiss, as gently as he kissed her and she would be the one to break it. She would smile up at him and he felt nothing but support and warmth from her. She would take his hand and lead him to the bed, sitting down upon it and when he sat next to her she would attempt to pull his head toward her lap. Smiling softly he would turn to lay the back of his head within her lap, his eyes looking up at her. He closed them, letting the feeling of her fingers stroking his hair as she embraced him and spoke. He would listen, letting himself relax as he did so and when she commented that he did not make it easy for her to restrain herself he would chuckle as well. The feeling of her own mirth something that brought him more contentment at the moment. He would sit quietly for a few moments, collecting his thoughts before deciding to start with levity. It had also served him well in the past. Both in moments when he was honestly trying to be funny and when he was just being an obnoxious smart ass. "You've worked for my sister how long? Did you expect anything about our family to be easy?" He would ask, an eyebrow raising despite a closed eye. As if to say 'So there'.

Still, that was only a stalling tactic while he got his thoughts together although he would finally do so. "I believe firmly in full, honest communication. It's something that had always served me well in the war and even prior to that and so I see no reason to change it now." He would say, his eyes opening so his amber eyed gaze would look up at her once more. "I know I'm a broken mess. I know mentally and emotionally I'm an absolute wreck and that I'm going to need help getting put back together. Physically in the end, I need stress relief, as do we all. But I need and want someone I can trust to help me with that. Someone who doesn't do it for love, but for the enjoyment and release of it. I need someone who can do that, all of that, for me, and help me. I know it's childish, I know it's needy, and I know it's selfish. I'm not asking you to do anything about it now. Because even though I don't think you would be taking advantage of me, you do. I am however going to say this." He would say, pausing at the end to get his the next few thoughts in line. "Remember that I know that I am broken. Trust me to know when I am ready for more...intimate physical exertion. When I am, when I'm ready and need that release. I'll come to you, when that happens. Don't think you're taking advantage of me Priya..Say no, decline if you wish. But don't do it because you don't want to hurt my feelings or take advantage of me. Do it because you yourself don't wish to for whatever reason." He would say, his eyes never leaving her.

Frankly, he could use the physical distraction now, something to take his mind off of things for a time. However he was too emotionally and mentally broken for that and he knew it. Even now he saw Yenn in so many little places and things. Even now he remembered times where he would lay in Yenn's lap just like this, relaxing under her caress before letting the heat of their shared passion take them further. It hurt, it hurt so badly he couldn't put it into words. That alone told him he wasn't ready to try to make things more physical yet. "For now though...you offered stories..you offered singing..you offered comfort and caring, and warmth. Right this moment, I don't care whether or not you sing, or tell stories..I just want to hear you, and let you distract me.." He would say quietly, closing his eyes again as he fought to keep tears from leaking through his eyes at the remembrance of his late wife. He didn't want to stain the woman's dress with tears.

[4]

Tamwyn took her lead and lay down with the back of his head in her lap, closing his eyes as he quipped back at her with a raised eyebrow. Priya laughed as she continued stroking his hair, shaking her head in wry but mocking disbelief. “You two are quite the pair. I’ve worked with her for quite a long time, long enough to expect the most inventive of difficulties.” After a second or two of laughing she would quiet herself again, doing her best to comfort him as he spoke. She listened intently, keeping her deep brown eyes locked on his yellow ones and nodding in acknowledgement of his self assessment. She wouldn’t interrupt him, or invalidate anything he said. She just listened and when he was finished she would smile down at him, her fingers still running through his white hair. “I understand, better than most probably. When you’re ready, you can come to me, but not before. I’ll still be here tomorrow and a week from now. Possibly even years depending on the orders your sister gives to me. There’s time, Tamwyn, and the only unasked for piece of advice I’ll give you is this; take that time and cherish it. I watched your sister go through this and with her. . . I wasn’t as firm, and I should have been. You will hurt for a long time, maybe forever, but as long as I’m able I will be here to help put you back together, whatever that ends up looking like. If you want a travelling companion, a quiet servant, a silent observer, a training partner, or someone to assist with other physical needs - I will be whatever you need and you will owe me nothing.” Her hand would pause in its caressing and she would move it to his cheek to fully grab his attention, lowering her face to his and offering a quick and soft kiss to fully punctuate her promise. She would kiss him for a second if he allowed it and then pull back again to gaze into his eyes once more. “The important thing here is you, Tamwyn.”

When he responded to her suggestions of telling stories or singing she would nod, with his eyes closed he wouldn’t be able to see the gesture although he may be able to feel it. “Of course.” She said just as quietly as she gazed down at him for a moment and then resumed gently brushing her fingers through his hair. “I have many tales, some of which are actually appropriate to repeat to other people.” She would laugh ironically as she realized that the vast majority of her stories wouldn’t make much sense out of context that she was a spy, or worse were not the sort of thing you shared with someone you just met twelve hours ago. She wracked her brain for a moment before continuing, finding a story that would probably not break any rules or cause the man distress.

“Have you been to the Land of Wind? There was a time when I had no interest in going there. Horrible place, sand everywhere. And sand gets in everything. That all changed on one wonderfully sunny day when I happened to be in the Land of Wind, my job takes me everywhere and that day I was in charge of a delivery. I had taken the delivery to the Miracle Oasis as instructed, and of course, bandits attacked. I swear the only profession anyone goes into in the Land of Wind is banditry, there’s thousands of them. Anyway, the scene was tense, fighting ensued - it was all very bloody and savage. But eventually the fighting came to a standstill, because where there’s sand, there’s also sandstorms. And this particular sandstorm was a doozy; it came in fast and hard, almost no warning almost like the Oasis was angry that we were fighting. So of course we all stopped trying to kill each other and dove for the only cover in the immediate area which was the ruins of a small building. It was terrible for cover and before long all the entrances and holes were filled with sand. Now, both sides of the conflict were in there together you see, which was a mighty fine pickle. We couldn’t even reasonably continue fighting since we had to conserve the air or we’d all perish. So we did what any group of people haphazardly thrown together would do - we um. . . talked. After several hours it became apparent that we had more in common than we didn’t and the entire ordeal ended up being rather pleasant if you catch my meaning. A rather fun few days was had by all and that was when I learned that sand really does get everywhere. Not sexy. Not super noticeable in the heat of the moment, but afterwards. . . oh boy.” She would grin down at him as she remembered that day, they hadn’t even tried that hard to escape after a while, they’d even dug deeper and managed to find a small cave system that led to even more fun for a few days. “Needless to say, I rather enjoy myself there now, and try to make it back to the Oasis as often as time permits. But I avoid the sand like the goddamned plague.” Her grin lit up her face as she looked down at him. The story was mildly inappropriate, but still funny enough that hopefully he wouldn’t find it offensive. Though he had just been kissing her, so there was that.

When he finished speaking, she would smile down at him, fingers still stroking his white locks. She underscored the fact that there was time for him to pull himself together. Time to reach the point where he could come to her. That he needn’t rush things and to let his grief and pain take its course. She reassured him that she would be there for him to help him. Be there to help pick him back up and put him back together. She would help him in any facility he needed of her, and he would owe her nothing in return. Her hand would pause in its motions and she would move it to his cheek. His golden eyes met her brown ones as she lowered her face to his and kissed him again. He would return it, gratefully, and they would hold it for a second before she broke it and pulled back to gaze once more into his eyes. Then told him something that he had never actually heard before. Tears welled within his eyes as she told him that he was the important thing here. Kara had been the first to say as such via her actions, but she hadn’t said it in words. She had done so much to help him, given him so much already that he would have never dreamed of asking for himself. But he had never considered the need to hear those words.

Ryuko hadn’t said them, in her defense granted he had come into her audience chamber an emotional and mental wreck and had acted as such. However she had done nothing to comfort him in his very current and brutal grief. The words ‘If you want to look for someone to blame, than look at yourself’ rang through his mind. He knew she had said in retort to his laying out blame for Yenn’s death. Knew she had done so in response to his own words. However that didn’t make them any more vicious and cutting. Those were the kind of words someone remembered for years, decades to come even. Those were the kind of words that haunted someone for the rest of their life. He would listen as she began her story, her fingers running through his hair once more. And he chuckled at her comment about some even being appropriate to repeat.

He let her speak, let her calm, soothing voice wash over him as he listened to the story. He smiled at her commentary on it and found himself chuckling again at her comments about sand. In the end he would give her a smile that would hopefully tell her that he had listened to the story. “I can imagine fond memories of a place changing ones opinion on it. Who knows, perhaps as we travel together we’ll visit. You’ll have as much say in where we go as I do after all. I can’t just drag you around in my wake after all.” He would say, a smile gracing his features at the end. After that he would let silence take hold for a time before he actually dozed off for a time. His head lay in Priya’s lap as she stroked his hair with soothing motions and the smell of her, cinnamon to be specific, washed over him. His breathing would even out and he would sleep for a time. How long he didn’t know, however he was awoken suddenly when a light knock was heard upon his bedroom door. His amber eyes snapped open, years of instinct in war tensing his body up to move in a sudden and vicious manner. However he would hold himself back from such motions. He wasn’t some out of control genin. Allen’s voice would sound through the door. “Sir, your guest has arrived and dinner is ready.” He would say, not opening the door out of decorum. Tamwyn would clear his throat before speaking. “Yes Allen, just a moment.” He would say, prompting the man to respond with “Very good sir.” He would say before looking back up toward Priya if she had not extricated herself from the position. “One more for the road?” He would ask, his voice getting a bit of a cheeky tone to it as he asked her for another kiss. It was her decision to give him one or not of course. If she gave him one he would return it with equal force. Before sitting up and standing.

He would stretch his arms before moving over to the shirt and shoes he had never put on. Given that she had come in after he had just put on his pants. He would put everything on before looking at her and smirking. “So how do I look? Enough like an insufferable ass to make the staff feel important and accomplished?” He would ask, more of his natural humour peeking through.


[5]

Priya didn’t draw attention to the tears that filled Tamwyn’s eyes as she spoke to him. But she felt a tug on her heartstrings all the same. This was a man who had lost someone very dear to him, and now he lay in her lap broken. She told her story and when she was finished he mentioned that she might be able to go back while travelling with him, since he wasn’t going to be calling all the shots for their travels. This was news to her. She had a job and the thought of asking for something for herself while she did that job had never occurred to her. She gave a noncommittal shrug and said simply; “We’ll see what happens.”

Eventually the white haired man dozed off and she sat there quietly and let him sleep, still absently running her fingers through his hair. Priya was a very patient woman and although it was about an hour before Allen knocked, she didn’t budge for fear of waking Tamwyn. She felt his muscles tense momentarily as the soft knock roused him from sleep and she made a soft ‘shh’ noise to remind him where he was and that everything was alright. It probably wasn’t necessary, but she’d dealt with enough hypervigilance in herself to know how potentially dangerous that could be.

When Allen departed, presumably to tend to Kaylee, Tamwyn would cheekily ask for another kiss. Priya would grin and help him to sit up, and assuming he did she would give a cheeky answer of her own and then lean in to kiss him once more. “For the road? And here I was hoping it would be a regular thing.” She would kiss him a bit more firmly than before, a touch of her own desire coming through as she leaned into him. Unlike the previous two kisses she would let this one linger more than a few seconds, even raising her hand to his face to cup his cheek.

Eventually she would break the kiss again, and pull away from him to grin and stand beside the bed. Her hands moved to her hair and she deftly twisted it into a coiled mass on the top of her head, producing a senbon and gently stabbing the weapon through the bun to hold it in place. She watched as he finished dressing himself and then laughed loudly as he asked if he looked enough like an insufferable ass. “You know there’s no good way to answer that right? But yes, you look like an insufferable ass. A hot one, but an ass all the same.” He didn’t look like an ass, or in any way insufferable, and the sparkle in her eyes as she laughed was hopefully enough to convey that. She found herself eyeing him quite unashamedly, even pacing around him in a semi circle to get a better view, murmuring as she found herself admiring his behind. “Quite the ass.”

Her response to his request for a kiss would draw an almost boyish grin from the man as she came in to give him that last one for the moment. To his mild surprise this one would come in more firmly, sensing some of her own desire in the kiss he would return it, holding her close as she leaned into him. This one lingered for a time and his arms went around her waist in an unconscious gesture as her hand rose up to cup his cheek. Eventually she would end the kiss and grin at him as she twisted her hair into a mass upon the top of her head. He would return the grin before speaking. "I suppose you're right, that is definitely going to have to be a regular thing. It's a bit too much fun if I'm being honest." He would say before standing up and beginning to dress. When he asked her if he looked like the insufferable ass he was trying to be she laugh and his cheeky grin would grace his features again. He would include a mocking little bow to complete the visage and when she agreed with the sentiment, even going so far as to walk around him and comment on his own ass he would chuckle.

"Well I thank you for the compliment. Are you ready?" He would ask, eyebrow raising as he asked. He wouldn't open the door until she was sure and so provided she gave him some form of assent he would open the door and stride out of it. He would move at a steady walk, as if he was simply normally moving through his home on the way to some business. Should Priya be next to him he would offer her his arm as a gentleman. However if she chose to move behind him he would simply lead them down to the dining room where Allen would have undoubtedly taken Kaylee. Upon arrival he would see the woman and give her a small smile of welcome before speaking. "Good evening Kaylee, welcome to my home and thank you for accepting my invitation." He would say, looking around at the dining hall as he had not actually taken the chance to look at it yet himself. It was all white stone with beige flooring. The table itself was white quartz and was brilliantly polished to a beautiful shine. The chairs were gilded gold and green and he perused the style of decoration carefully. Moving to a chair near the head of the table he would pull it out and motion for Kaylee to sit before doing the same for the chair on the opposite sit for Priya. Finally he himself would sit at the head of the table. Turning his attention toward Kaylee he would give her another small smile. Hoping that it conveyed the message that he was not mad at her over bringing Yenn up earlier. "Did you manage to find the extra help you need?" He would ask politely.

It wasn't intended as a check of her progress, but if she had not been able to he could ask Allen to supplement the effort with some of the house staff for at least the carrying and moving portion of things. If she had though he wouldn't bother, why insinuate her people didn't know what they were doing? It would be the height of rudeness for him to treat a guest so.

Tamwyn didn’t seem offended by her attention, in fact he even thanked her for the compliment. When he asked if she was ready, she nodded and then replied. “Always.” When he offered his arm she would gracefully loop her arm through his and walk alongside him. Priya was always considering what was best for whatever job she was assigned, and currently it seemed that what was best was a pleasant dinner companion. That she could easily deliver, and happily so.

As they entered the dining room, Kaylee perked up at the sight of them and Priya smiled broadly at her friend. Unlike earlier in the day, Kaylee was actually grease and grime free, and was wearing a pink ruffled dress clearly picked out for her by. . . herself. It fit perfectly but the colour and fabric style was a bit outdated, and Priya imagined that Allen had presented her with several options and this was the last one he’d expected anyone to pick. Kaylee did look adorable though and the pink complimented her mousey brown hair that was pulled back in a half ponytail. Priya waited patiently as Tamwyn pulled Kaylee’s chair out for her, and then did the same for Priya at which point he sat at the head of the table. Once everyone was seated, Kaylee spoke up brightly. “Thanks Tamwyn! This house sure is fancy, you’re a lucky man. And yessir, I have all the help I need. It’s not too hard to find good help if you promise people enough money.” She would give him a wink that alluded to some mysterious joke that didn’t quite hit. Priya laughed and smiled at both of them, taking a small sip from her wine glass as a server poured the chilled white liquid for everyone. “A fancy house to be sure. And whether he’s lucky or not remains to be seen.” Priya would also offer a wink and the two women would burst into a fit of giggles.

She would loop her arm in with his and walk with him into the dining hall. When Kaylee saw them she immediately perked up and Tamwyn actually blinked in surprise at the girls dress choice. Then he would smile, he had forgotten that Kaylee was a woman who had no issue with who she was to everyone. If that wasn’t good enough then they could simply move along. When everyone was seated she would thank him and compliment him on the home and he would nod his head, acknowledging the comment. “I was very fortunate Miss Darhk was willing to give me such a home.” He would say, glancing at Priya as he referred to Kara. He still wasn’t sure how open she would want their familial relation to be so he wasn’t openly discussing it often. However Priya might have a better idea on how open or reserved she was wanting to be about it. Tamwyn would have to ask her the next time he saw her.

Tamwyn himself would take a sip of his water. Given what he had gone through recently and Kara’s warning about how she had taken to alcohol like a fish to water after Damien’s death he was choosing to abstain from it for a while. When Priya made a lascivious comment Tamwyn would almost spit the water out as the two women burst into giggles. Eyebrows furrowing in mock consternation he would comment back. “Says the one who found out immediately that your room is connected to mine. Needing help with the zipper my ass, you just wanted to try to get a peek.” He would jest, the comment meant entirely in the name of fun. Once that was done Allen would roll a cart out with various trays of dishes. From perfectly seasoned roast meats, to various sides and other such things. He saw and smelled various dishes that he had never seen and would guess were more for Priya’s tastes and he thought he saw various dishes that Kaylee might like including a tray of strawberries, both covered in chocolate and not.

Tamwyn would motion for the ladies to help themselves, preferring to wait until they were served before serving himself. He would turn toward Allen and comment idly. “Everything looks delicious Allen, thank you.” He would say, prompting the man to give a bow of thanks. “Thank you sir, with that I shall be in the other room if you need anything. Simply call for me.” He would say before departing with his cart. As he left he would leave another bottle of the same chilled wine for the servers to pour and ensure the pitcher of ice water for Tamwyn was full.

Priya saw the unasked question in Tamwyn’s eyes when he mentioned ‘Miss Darhk’. And so she cleared that up for him. “Miss Darhk is fairly formal. Although it would be a little weird to call your sister ‘Mistress’ like everyone else does.” She laughed again as she spoke, and as expected no one threw a fit. Here is Darhkvale she knew there was no danger in being open about the two of them being siblings, other places she would leave to Tamwyn or Kara’s discretion, but Darhkvale was fine.

When she made a crack about Tamwyn getting lucky, he shot back one of his own which had Kaylee in stitches and waggling her eyebrows at Priya. Priya smiled demurely and leveled her gaze at their host. “You’re right, of course. I don’t need help with my zipper, I was just there in case you needed help with yours.” Kaylee practically fell off her chair as Priya just coolly kept eye contact with Tamwyn, lifting her wine glass to her lips once more and taking a longer sip. Kaylee, still laughing maniacally, managed to breathe long enough to actually speak. “Oh boy, Priya. Haven’t you only been here for a day? And you’re already in his room?! Tamwyn, you’re in for a real treat, Priya here is the best in the ‘verse at gettin’ what she wants.”

Kaylee wasn’t wrong, and it was pretty funny, but to add more humour to the joke Priya glared at her anyway. Thankfully before either of them could go too far, Allen arrived with a dining cart laden with trays of appetizers and main courses - something for everyone it seemed like. Priya’s eyes narrowed as she looked at the offered foods, and she shot a suspicious glance Allen’s way. There were some fairly exotic dishes, and they were clearly meant for her. She wondered how he had managed to find out about her preferred tastes so quickly. It seemed she had to step up her game as there was competition afoot. Allen gave her a self satisfied smirk, it was only there for a second but long enough for Priya to see it. She didn’t react, she’d save her reaction for later.

Kaylee was oblivious to the exchange and was overjoyed at seeing her favourite food in the world; strawberries. She filled her plate and instantly began eating one, if you could call it eating. It was more like making love to a strawberry as she seemed to get an immense amount of enjoyment from consuming it, but it at least didn’t make Priya uncomfortable. She’d seen it a time or two before.

Priya gingerly picked foods from the various platters and plates, filling her own plate with a healthy meal and would test everything carefully before actually consuming it. Since Kara was a poisoner, she had grown used to testing literally everything as Kara instructed her. It was an odd skill, but it had kept her alive on more than one occasion. And while she didn’t expect Allen to blatantly try to kill her, he seemed the type to employ other methods. While she didn’t know how to make any herself, Priya was aware that there was more than just murder on the table when chemistry was involved. Eventually after subtly testing the foods she was satisfied that nothing was altered in any unpleasant way that she could discern, so she began eating and making idle chit chat as she did so.

Her response to his hesitation to refer to Kara as his sister would cause him to chuckle lightly. "I suppose it is odd of me to do so isn't it? I just didn't know how publicly she would like our familial relation to be. I assume it's fine to not hide it here in Darhkvale." He would say raising an eyebrow in curiosity. When he commented his own joke at her about coming to peek on him she would give a shy smile and comment about being their to help him with his. Of course Tamwyn was taking a drink of his drink at the time and sputtered it into his glass, coughing a bit in response. Which of course meant he couldn't really react with a smart quip of his own. After all, when you were left a sputtering mess from the verbal riposte of an opponent. You essentially had to concede. He raised a finger in a fencers salute to the woman with a sharp little grin before Allen arrived with the meal.

Both women would help themselves although Tamwyn would raise his eyebrows in surprise at just how much Kaylee enjoyed strawberries. As evidenced by how she ate them. He would comment toward her about it, his voice teasing. "You say Priya is the best at gettin what she wants. But if you eat anything else like that I'm willing to bet you can give her a run for her money." He would say, his tone joking as he filled a plate moderately full with some roast chicken and steamed vegetables. The evening would go on from there for a time. Tamwyn taking the occasional bite but overall his plate being hardly touched. However it would be obvious that he would be filling in the silence with various quips and conversation. He found he simply did not have much of an appetite, but he did not want to worry anyone. Eventually however even trying to be conversational would be far too much effort for his current mental state. So the man he would push his chair back, speaking politely to both women. "Ladies, while I implore you to please, continue your meals, enjoy yourselves, and be merry. I myself am going to retire for the night. Allen!" He would call, he voice not angry, simply raised in volume so he could be heard.

At once the man came into the dining room, his appearance perfectly tailored. "Yes sir?" He would ask, his demeanor professional. "Please see to it that the ladies have everything they wish. Also make a room available for Kaylee, she shouldn't have to walk home so late. Should she insist, ensure she is safely escorted." He would say, his amber eyes turning to the woman. He knew open crime such as someone coming upon a woman on her lonesome on her way home would be rare, if it happened at all, in Darhkvale. However Kaylee was a beautiful woman and other ideas might cross the minds of individuals who saw her and he wanted her to be safe and sound on her way home should she choose. With that Tamwyn would give both Kaylee and Priya a smile. "I bid you both good night." He would say, before backing away and turning out of the room as Allen left the opposite doors with his usual professional air to ensure his instructions were followed. With that Tamwyn would retire to his room and prepare for bed, stripping down sky clad and then sliding into the large bed. The evening had turned relatively late. Hence his request for a room to be prepared for Kaylee, however even now he did not know if he would be able to sleep. He just needed to be able to rest for a time.

[8]

The conversation, jokes and occasional good natured jabs continued for some time. There was eating and drinking, by most, and eventually Tamwyn would bid everyone a goodnight and retire for the evening. Priya noted that in total Tamwyn had consumed perhaps a mouthful of food, and she made a mental note to bring him some food later. She could understand him not having an appetite and she was willing to allow it for a time, but eventually he would need to eat. She wouldn’t allow him to wither away on her watch.

Kaylee and Priya finished their meals, both politely ignoring the sudden disappearance of their host. After a few hours, and two more bottles of wine, Allen reappeared and asked Kaylee if she would prefer to stay at the mansion for the night, or if he should arrange for her to be escorted to her home. Kaylee was pretty tipsy but not so much so that she didn’t want to sleep in her own bed. “Very good, Miss. I will have a member of the security staff assist you momentarily then.” Allen was polite and efficient, and that made Priya both impressed and more suspicious. After ensuring that Kaylee would make it home safely, Priya did her best impression of a sailor on land after a month and headed back to her own room. Before she did though she would track down Allen. “I’m going to need a small plate of food, not for me, something to share. And until I say otherwise I’m going to continue to need that.” Allen nodded knowingly. “Of course, I think it would be better received coming from you.”

Stumbling through her door, she would disrobe, leaving her gown unceremoniously slung over the back of a chair. She would flop onto the bed, staring up at the ceiling while considering the day and what lay in store for the next. Tipsy as she was, she lightly dozed but any noise would wake her. Years of needing to have paranoid levels of attention saw to that.

It would take a couple of hours before he finally heard the door of Priya’s room open and close softly and he knew that she would have retired for the night. Tamwyn himself still lay in his bed, eyes looking up toward the ceiling as he tried to fall asleep but was unable to do so. The entire time he just seemed to be haunted by the lack of the feel of Yenn beside him, her warm weight against him as he held her to him and knew that life was good. Now it all seemed to feel as if he was simply trying to hold together his sanity. It wasn’t the lack of her presence per se. It was the lack of her presence and knowing that he would never feel it again. Knowing that he had seen the last of her in her full vibrantly alive form when he had left to go to the Defense Coordination Center that night to engage in his conflict with the great chakra beast that had killed him. His heart hurt beyond anything he had ever felt and the soul crushing power of that pain seemed to simply increase when he was alone. He knew now, that in the dark hours of the night. He would be unable to sleep.

So he did the only thing he really could do in that situation. He got up, if he was going to be awake anyway. He would simply have to make the most productive time of it then didn’t he? So Tamwyn came out from under the covers and moved toward the armoire again. He needed a work shirt. Something he could get dirty with the hard work of a forge and not feel bad about it. He found a simple cotton shirt and shorts that would allow him to stand near the forge for long periods of time without overheating. He put them on, the simple outfit showing his lean physique better than the outfit he had worn earlier and his armor could. With that done he would quietly step out of his door, doing his best to close it quietly before moving down the hall toward the stairs to the basement. It was about an hour after Priya had gone to bed and he did not want to wake her needlessly. After all, she needed to get rest, even if he didn’t get to.

Making his way down the stairs he would pass through the wine cellar and into the portion that he’d hired Kaylee to install the forge in. Where before the room was empty except for a sturdy wooden table. Now it had all of the necessary things. A forge, an anvil, a barrel of oil, a barrel of oil, hammers of various sizes, tongs, and just about everything a master blacksmith needed in order to create beautiful works of art. All organized in a neat and efficient manner. When he arrived he found Allen pulling the chain that stoked the forge, the fire from it lighting the room. He was dressed impeccably and was just releasing the chain and reaching over to bank the forge when he heard Tamwyn come through. Turning around the man would blink in surprise for a moment before bowing politely. “Ah, I see you’re awake sir. I’ve taken the liberty of lighting and heating the forge for you. I was about to bank it so you could get it started quickly when you wished to use it. However, given your apparel and wakefulness I assume you wish to do so now?” He would ask, coming back up from his bow gracefully. “Yes Allen, you would be correct. I’ll take it from here. Please, get some rest.” He would say, dismissing the man for the evening. Allen would give another graceful bow “Yes sir, good night.” He would say before retreating back into the wine cellar and up the stairs.

Tamwyn himself would roll his neck and get started. First he would move over to a wooden set of pegs on the wall and take a leather apron off of one of them. Putting it on he would move over to the crate of materials on the table and begin to sort through it. He had some on him too, and pulled some Meteor Metal and a Monarch’s Providence from his pack that was conveniently sitting on the floor next to the table. Along with some of the Midnight Ore and Magnetic Metal he had gotten from his sister. Then he would begin to work, first he would take the Meteor Metal and Monarchs Providence and begin to work with them, melting down the metal and setting the crystalline structure of the Monarchs Providence aside from now. He would take the metal and begin to work and shape it, forming it into armor over the course of hours. Simple leather and fur help make up the overcoat which he took some needle and thread and sewed on with careful, but quick, skill. Overall he was exceptionally quick with his hands and the entire process for the armor set itself took a couple of hours. The Monarchs Providence was worked under the fur along the shoulder plates. With it all complete he would set the piece up on an armor mannequin along the wall. The simple piece of equipment useful for the purpose of displaying the armor in it’s finished state.

Next would be the sword. He would take a moment to get a towel and wipe the sweat from his brow and roll his neck again. He was tired, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep. Besides, his armor was completed. Now, he needed to complete the weapon. Taking the units of Midnight Ore and the unit of Magnetic Metal he would set them into the forge, melting them down into a mold for a long sword. Once it had solidified he would begin to hammer the shape into the proper dimensions, ensuring the guard and pommel were the proper size for his hands. He needed to be able to have a comfortable two handed grip on the hilt while being able to utilize it with one hand if he wished. That was the power of a longsword, it’s versatility to be used as a two handed, or one handed weapon. When the main shape was done he took a simple engraving pick and hammer to the blade, etching stylistic runes into each side. Once that was done he would wrap the hilt in leather. The weapon itself was a solid meter and a half long, with the guard of the weapon being in a slight upswept pattern that would prevent any blade caught on it from easily sliding off. Once he was done with that he would take the weapon to the grindstone and sharpen it to a razor's edge and once done with it would lift the weapon with one hand and look down the length of the weapon.

Inspecting the blade for imperfections he would find none, and while he did not have any of Kara’s equipment on him to compare it to he was confident he had created something here that even his sister could respect. The forming of the sword had taken an hour and the sheathe for it about half again that. Overall he had been in the forge for three and a half hours and as he set the sheathed weapon against the wall next to the armor set he would nod his head in appreciation for effort well spent, and work well done.

[9]

Crafting Aerondight and Defender's Regalia since they are X class equipment there is no crafting time.

Priya lay in bed for about an hour, drifting in and out of sleep as the alcohol worked its way through her system. She woke suddenly when she heard the telltale sound of a door open and close. Opening her eyes in the darkened room she focused on the noise and heard soft footfalls receding from what she approximated to be Tamwyn’s room. Jumping up from bed quietly she rushed to her wardrobe and hastily threw on a pair of loose black silk pants and an embroidered silk tunic that hung to her hips in the back and rose just a little too high in the front. It seemed that Allen hadn’t perfectly accounted for all of her. . . assets. With the silence of a cat she moved from her room to check on Tamwyn through the door that connected both rooms. Seeing no one, she would close the door and move back through her own bedroom and out into the hallway, pausing at the cart that stood outside of it with a small plate of leftovers from the meal earlier. Carefully taking the plate in hand she went on a search for her missing charge.

It didn’t take her long to figure out where Tamwyn had gone to, she spied Allen returning from the basement, and since that was where the forge was now located she assumed Tamwyn must be down there as well. She hoped. Priya sincerely doubted that anyone could make off with the man in his sleep so she was less worried about his physical safety, but he hadn’t eaten at dinner and now clearly he wasn’t sleeping. It was worrisome that he wasn’t either able or willing to take care of his physical health. She knew Kara would be displeased if she heard of it, so Priya stealthily made her way down to the forge.

Moving stealthily did take some time, and so by the time she made her way downstairs Tamwyn was already hard at work hammering out metals. She didn’t want to disturb him so she made her way to a small worktable in the corner and sat on it cross legged. She would sit there and watch him work, quietly keep guard of the impressively muscled man. If Tamwyn noticed her she would smile and ask questions about his work, starting with “What are you doing?”. If he preferred silence then she would give him that, otherwise she would comment on his progress while keeping up comfortable banter. She would set down the plate of food she had brought so that it sat beside her on her seat table, offering the food to Tamwyn periodically. There was also no shortage of ogling as the thin clothes Tamwyn wore stretched with him while he worked. When he eventually finished the pieces he had been working on she would admire them appreciatively. She had watched many a time as Kara had done work like this and she never found it less than amazing each time she saw it. “Magnifique.” The word was breathed out as she marvelled at his creations, awestruck by the craftsmanship.

He would hear Priya come into the forge as he worked, nodding toward her in greeting. However his mind was clearly on other things and his general reaction. Or lack thereof in this case, would make that quite clear. As he worked, she would offer him food from a plate of leftovers but he would decline it each time. He wasn't hungry, he just did not feel like he could eat. When she smiled at him and asked him what he was doing he would idly comment. "Creating my armament." The tone would be neutral, not cold, or disinterested, but simply the tone of a man who's mind was focused elsewhere. As he worked she would sit and watch him, first through the creation of his armor. Then through the creation of his sword. Eventually he would finish the weapon and as he was studying the weapon he would her breathed out word. A small self satisfied smile came across his lips as he gave the weapon an experimental flourish, using all of his speed and swordsmanship. There was still plenty of room in the forge for the motion. Nodding at the test he would turn the blade over and offer it to her for her to try. Hilt extended he would give her a small smile. "Give it a try if you want." He would say, waiting for her response or reaction.

Should she test the weapon herself he would watch, take the weapon back, and sheathe it. If she didn't, then he would simply do the same sans the taking it back. Then he would put it next to the armor. Once that was done he would turn toward her, now giving her his full attention. He admired her in the black silk pants and shirt however he would also give her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry, I didn't meant to wake you when I left my room. Now that my equipment is done I intend to spend at least a couple of weeks getting my head together before leaving to wander the world. You of course are welcome to join me." He would say before beginning to move past her and toward the stairs. As he did he would come fairly close to her and the scent of cinnamon would fill his nose and he would stop dead in his tracks. Turning amber eyes toward her his gaze would take her in as he remembered that he had fallen asleep before dinner. In her lap, and maybe. "Priya..I don't mean this to be forward, but could I request you join me in my room? I remember falling asleep in your presence earlier..I'm hoping it will allow me to do so again.." He would finish, the last part coming out a bit nervous. What he asked could easily be interpreted as an attempt to have sexual relations with her but in reality, he just wanted her there next to him.

[10]

Priya nibbled at the food she had brought for Tamwyn, each time she offered it to him he would refuse. She could see that it was going to take a while to encourage him to eat, but she was patient. He was also clearly involved in his crafting and so she watched attentively as he hammered and sewed and crafted. When he was finally done with the sword she marvelled at his skill as he made a few flourishes with the blade. As he offered the hilt to her for her to try, she would hop down from the table and take the blade in hand. “I’m not a swordsman by any means, but I know a good sword when I see one.” She accepted the offered blade and took a few swings of her own, being careful to swing away from Tamwyn. She was skilled enough, though without the necessary training her movements were not quite as fluid as Tamwyn’s. After a few swings she would pass the blade back to Tamwyn, hilt first. “Beautiful work Tamwyn. Not that you needed my approval, but that is a fine blade.”

As soon as he apologized she would shake her head and chuckle. “Please don’t apologize. It is my pleasure to have been allowed to watch the creation of your armor and blade. And as for the offer of joining you, while I appreciate it, you do realize your sister has not given you a choice in the matter, don’t you?” Priya would laugh again. She wasn’t joking however, Kara’s word was law as far as Priya was concerned, so whether Tamwyn gave permission or not Priya would be shadowing him until she was ordered otherwise. She watched as Tamwyn moved past her and then stopped as he drew close, asking that she join him in his room. The request made sense, he had come down to the forge because he had been unable to sleep and he had been able to sleep earlier before dinner. Collecting the plate from the table she would follow along with him, a kind smile on her face. “Of course, and it isn’t too forward, Tamwyn. It makes sense, and uh. . . it’s not like I’d mind. And we do have that regular thing to attend to.” She would give him a wink and attempt to pat his arm reassuringly. She knew it could seem like he was just trying to get her into bed, but she could see further than that.

She took the blade, complimenting it’s make and went through a few swings. She had natural coordination and used the blade quite passably overall. However as she said she did not have the natural smoothness that came from practicing the weapon for hours. Still, it was fun to watch her form for other reasons too. But that was neither here nor there. When she passed him back the weapon and complimented his work he would smile at her softly, nodding in appreciation as he slid it into its sheath and leaned it against the wall next to the armor stand. When she commented that she didn't really have a choice in joining him or not he would blink. He had forgotten about that and briefly wondered if he should refrain from traveling at all. However he would quickly quash any such thoughts. In the end, Priya was her own woman, Kara couldn’t take that from her and if she didn’t want to go she wouldn’t. It wasn’t his place to question or put doubt on those choices.

When he asked her to join him, she would collect the plate from the table and join him, a smile on her face as she agreed. She validated his feelings on the matter and even commented that it isn’t like she would mind. He chuckled sheepishly at that and marveled, and felt no small amount of guilt for being so willing to flirt with a woman so soon after Yenn’s passing. Or rather, so soon after he became aware of it. She patted his arm and gave him a wink as they walked and when they reached his room he would nod his head toward the shower. His thoughts lost as he considered his own guilt but still desire and willingness to be near Priya. “I need a shower again before climbing into bed. All the sweat and heat and all. I’ll be there shortly.” He would say before moving into the bathroom and stripping down. He would enter the shower once more. It was actually quite a relaxing shower. It was simple in design and elegant in appearance. It consisted of a large 8x8 foot glass box with a triangular drain in each corner. The ceiling was dotted with holes and that was where the water came down from. When one turned the water on the user would set the temperature and the water wouldn’t fall until it had reached the temperature in the pipes, preventing any shock of cold water from hitting the user as they waited for it to heat up.

Obviously there was a space between the last of the holes in the ceiling and the small line of caddies against the wall where soaps, shampoos, conditioners, and other such shower amenities were housed. One wall had a bench against it that one could sit in and overall the experience was relaxing as could be. His bathroom also houses a massive tub that was also relaxing to just lay in. He stood in the shower for a time, fighting his feelings on matters. Working through his guilt in being attracted to someone physically so quickly. He briefly went down the line of thought that suggested he was a callous, even monstrous, individual. But set it aside, that sort of thinking would get him nowhere besides further down the spiral. Eventually, he would go through the motions of using soap and rinsing off and turning off the water. Getting out he would run a towel over himself, ensuring he wasn’t overly wet before moving out into the bedroom. Lost in thought this seemed like a perfectly natural thing to do in his own room. So he would ensure the lights were off, and climb into bed, completely naked. If Priya was there, under the covers he would move to wrap an arm around her, cherishing the warmth, the spicy and sweet cinnamon scent of her. It was a completely different presence from Yenn, who of course was warm. But smelled of lavender and the forest. The two women had a different presence to them entirely.

It was with that realization that Tamwyn would understand why he felt so attracted to Priya. The fact that she was in fact so different from Yenn in personality, appearance, and demeanor. It made it easy to find comfort in her because he was not constantly reminded of Yenn. The realization instinctively made him try to hold her closer as his mind went through the various pathways. He wasn’t callous, or a monster. He was still looking for comfort, for help in one of the few places he could. Idly he wondered if his sister had considered that possibility when asking Priya to take care of him. Had she considered the differences between Priya and Yenn and known that there was a chance Priya could really help him? If so, she was far more farsighted than anyone he had ever met. With that thought line finally finished and laid to rest. The Seraph would take in a deep breath, his chest heavily rising and falling as he took in the scent of Priya once more and then fell into a deep, and restful, sleep. The next day would start late, but for the first time in days he would finally be able to sleep, and he would do so peacefully.

Attempted Exit

[11]

Priya followed Tamwyn into his room, nodding as he said he needed to shower before bed. Once he’d gone into the bathroom she would make her way over to the bed and set the small plate of food down on the nightstand on what she was deciding was Tamwyn’s side. Claiming the left side of the bed she would fling herself backwards and sink into the soft bedding, sighing deeply as she nestled into the comfortable fabrics. After a few minutes of enjoying the blankets she would roll over and begin removing various pieces of weaponry from her person and setting them on the nightstand on her side of the bed. She wouldn’t relinquish all of them, just the ones that were likely to poke someone in their sleep if either of them were active sleepers.

While Tamwyn showered she wriggled, still clothed, beneath the sheets and thought while she waited for him to emerge. Today had been an interesting day, full of surprises and new jobs. Not that it was much different from what she normally did; her true job was to be at the beck and call of Kara. A job that had started years before in the desert when two younger women had met in an unlikely place and both needed help. They had been friends ever since, although Priya still maintained that Kara was her boss, even if Kara treated Priya as much like an equal as she would treat anyone. She wondered just how long she was to maintain her vigil over Kara’s brother, or if Kara had any intention of calling her away. Kara was the type of woman who needed to be in control of everything, and as much as she had expressed excitement at the prospect of having a brother - Priya knew it wasn’t easy for her. Familial ties were lifeblood to some, but to Kara they were also potential leverage. And Kara didn’t want anyone to have leverage over her, not only because she still feared the threat from years before, but because it was simply smart.

Priya thought these and many other things, barely noticing that the sound of falling water had stopped. It was only when the door to the bathroom opened that she pulled herself away from her musings and looked towards her charge. Her charge, who was completely naked. Priya just blinked several times and watched as a naked Tamwyn walked across the room, turned off the lights and then climbed into bed with her. For whatever reason this seemed like the most normal thing in the world to him and so after a few seconds she would just shake her head and allow herself to be pulled close to him. His embrace was comforting and she would lay there gently caressing him until he fell into a deep sleep at which point she would close her eyes and do the same.  

[Exit Thread]