It's like christmas in july except just it's cold and everyone is stressed and there are no presents

[heiresy]

Who: [OPEN] Aymeric and you!
What: Catch-all for non-participants and early losers in the fuckening, but everyone is welcome! Come gloat if you like.
When: All day.
Where: In the guard barracks, outside the castle, Yenh's hut, the inn.
Warnings: Will update as needed!



I. In and Around the Castle
[For the entirely-too-manyth in a row now the weather has been getting unrelentingly colder. So much so that he could barely think as he did his duties. It would do no good to lose his work or the possible trust he had earned with his diligence over this, but the temptation to abandon his post became increasingly difficult. During breakfast, if you are a fellow guard, Aymeric will be trying to get your attention. Maybe there is something they can do about their uniforms...? If you are not a guard, he will try to catch your attention anyway. He has requests to make in his miserable state.]

II. The Village
[Once his terrible, miserable shift is over he will run around the village with increasingly conspicuous supplies. First a couple blankets, then some buckets, and eventually he will be rolling a wooden bath down a road. He comes to Yenh's shack and knocks on the door with his arms very much full.]

III. The Inn
[Much later now, he finds himself at his familiar watering hole. Sure, it cost a lot more than drinking with the other guards in the castle, but the illusion of getting out of the Mistress' reach was well worth it. Here you will see him finally changed out of his guard uniform, but back in the clothing he arrived in. Terribly ironic that he was able to acquire some new clothes the very week it was too cold to wear any of them. He's back to looking very over-dressed and out of place. If you sit near him, he will offer you a drink and a warm, weary smile.]

Comments

[heiresy]

If Estinien didn't think it foolishness or trickery. [he lets out a breath. He was just full of sighs today, wasn't he?]

Yet I believe it to be our most prudent method. Yet, if there is something that you want for yourself, then this may wait. The Mistress is clearly capable of conjuring whatever she pleases at any moment. If there is aught more prudent that you desire?

[He takes another little swig, the world shifting ever so slightly. He passes the bottle.]

If you believe it a worthy use, then I would be happy to receive this object from you.

[takenblack]

[ She hesitates and nods. This was a bit trickier... ]

To be truthful... I was going to beg for her to restore the Blessing of Light.

[ Crossing her arms, she tilts her head and gazes again to the fire. ]

Yet Estinien's peace of mind is invaluable. He has suffered enough—and still more than he knows. Yet even if he does believe the contents of the book, he would likely taunt me for wasting such a chance. [ It is now her turn to heave a sigh. ] Gods.

[heiresy]

Then there is a natural course of action for us. If you are to win, as I am sure you will, you should ask for the Blessing of Light. However, if you are denied such a boon, then you can request Lord Fortemps' memoir. I cannot claim to understand how any of this works, yet that has not once stopped you from doing it.

[He lays back fully, pressing his back into the ground, head resting in laced fingers.]

Shall we tell him ere we procure the evidence? I fear it would be fruitless. He is a terribly stubborn man.

[takenblack]

[ Yenh nods, but waves her hand around as she speaks. ]

Allow me to. It is not as though the topic of Ysayle or our journeys have come up much.

[ With a smile, she looks him over. It seems crude even now to gape at his body, but it is not as though she weren't offering to bed him mere moments before. That makes it okay, right??? ]

Perhaps the two of us, jointly, may succeed.

[dravanicide]

[As if this awkward exchange needed anymore assistance, it seems Estinien has gotten over his kerfuffle with Aymeric, and has indeed decided to show up to Yenh's. Naturally, he doesn't knock, walking in unannounced as one would likely come to expect of him—of course, he doesn't expect the tent near the fire, and for a moment it halts him.

Only for a moment, however. Ere long, he's approaching the little fort. He's not really listening to what they're talking about, a blessing for all involved truly. Poking his head inside, his mouth opens to voice his arrival—

—only to see Aymeric completely naked. Suddenly, he feels as though this might have been a mistake. The earlier line of questioning seems to make a lot more sense now, to Estinien's dread... and just as quietly as he came in (which wasn't totally with his heavy boots), he attempts to head back out.

He didn't ask for this...]

[heiresy]

Estinien, wait! Come back— This isn't what it looks like!

[He had no idea why he wanted him to come back. This was a mistake.]

She was administering salve to my wind-bitten skin! Yenh, tell him!

[takenblack]

[Yenh almost wants to laugh at the sudden absurdity of the situation, but no—she jumps up and leaves the tent, bracing against the sudden drop in temperature.]

[While Aymeric panics, she operates as though the whole situation didn't look completely guilty.]

Estinien, my friend! Come— it's your turn for a massage! I shall tend to your aching flesh and muscles!

[dravanicide]

Nay.

[He seems intent on leaving, not even sparing Yenh a look as she pursues him. He's honestly not sure what he was expecting, but he'd sooner suffer his chafed skin than to strip naked and have the Warrior of Light's hands all over his body.

Though, admittedly, the chafing was getting to him.]

You should continue to attend Aymeric. 'Twould seem he needs such attention.

[heiresy]

'Twas but healing, and I am finished. I simply hadn't redressed just yet. Estinien, allow her to at least apply it to your chest! Your skin is so fair, and it looks as though it hasn't healed from one day to the next! You'll bleed into that damn bustier without attention.

[ Aymeric pulls what he was wearing for underwear on- the leather shorts- before stepping outside the tent.]

[takenblack]

[She dashes across the tiny room, blocking his exit. Giving him a bright smile she clasps her hands together.]

Listen to him! He's fine now.

Besides, you needn't be shy, I'm quite adept at it! I've had plenty of practice with tense-shouldered elderly men across the realm.

[Clearly, that means it was perfectly innocent, and that there was absolutely no ass grabbing or blatant propositioning.]

[dravanicide]

[Halting once his exit is blocked, Estinien scowls down at Yenh, disapproval radiating off of him like heat from a flame.]

Little am I one to pass judgment on those you choose to bed, Yenh, but scant do I find comfort in you comparing me to tense-shouldered elderly men.

[Mayhap he wouldn't think that was implying something sexual, when it's clearly not, but with Aymeric's line of questioning earlier, his mind is a little preoccupied with such thoughts.]

[takenblack]

[She opens her mouth in surprise, and fights back a laugh that would be both genuinely amused and also horrifically anxious. Not that it stops her from rambling.]

So quick to jump to conclusions. [It's funny because he's a dragoon.] I'm not trying to bed you, Estinien. Least of all with that attitude. If naught else, you go in the tent alone and tend to your own ails! 'Tis warm in there, and there's stiff drink.

[dravanicide]

Forgive me for not being convinced.

[He says with a side-long glance at Aymeric. At least he has himself covered—somewhat.]

But if you speak true... then I may acquiesce.

[The cold is biting, and him stubbornly wearing his armor hasn't afforded him many favors.]

[takenblack]

You are forgiven. Truly, had I walked in on such a sight, I would have likely believed the same thing.

[Though she doubts she would have barged in to begin with, much less attempted to storm out like a big prude.]

[She gestures toward the tent, the smile not leaving her face.]

It is all yours, my friend.

[dravanicide]

[He is not a big prude!! He just doesn't want any part in these shenanigans, gosh!!

There's a hesitance in how he looks from Yenh to the tent, as if there's a lack of trust (there is), but he wordlessly makes his way over regardless. The heat is welcoming at least, and it makes taking his armor off that much more rewarding. Though, he's not as shameless as Aymeric, and focuses far more on his bracers, boots, and helmet, before exposing himself completely.

Or at all, really. He's still skeptical of what he's stumbled into, but they seem intent on keeping him here, and mayhap the siren's call of easing his aching skin and muscles has captivated him for the moment, against his better judgment.

A massage does sound nice...]

[takenblack]

[Yenh, assuming he doesn't want any company, merely sits down outside and to the side, out of sight. She would certainly love to be invited in, but she isn't going to push matters. For all she knows, he might just decide to dragoon jump out of the cottage and leave her with a hole in her already-terrible roof.]

I hope we left enough drink for you! And that the oil suffices. I wished for lanolin, but prices are prohibitive at present.

[heiresy]

[Aymeric, already shivering, stands at the mouth of the tent.}

Estinien... May I enter? 'Tis awfully cold out here.

[Ordinarily he would just assert himself, but he figures that he's on an awful lot of thin ice. Best not to break it.]

[dravanicide]

[There's a notable pause between Aymeric's question and the answer there of. Mainly a consequence of said thin ice, and with Estinien's chest plate removed, he finally speaks:]

Aye.

[He places the drachen mail down, glancing to the entrance of the tent.]

You may enter as well, Warrior of Light.

[He's certain she's cold too. She barely has meat on her bones, after all.]

[takenblack]

[Relieved but determined not to show it, she slips in and absolutely refuses to stare at his naked body. Instead, Yenh settles in beside him and smiles, directly upward at his face.]

Thank you, my friend. I would suffer the cold for your comfort, but this is enormously appreciated.

[She decides to wait and see if he asks for a massage on his own. Yenh is not going to push her luck.]

[heiresy]

[Aymeric comes in and sits to the side, allowing room for Estinien to lay down for a massage if he wishes for it. Aymeric's eyes dart to the one bit of normalcy between them spending time together. He picks up the liquor bottle and passes it to Estinien.]

This should steal the ache from your skin and warm your gut, my friend. [It was evident that some sips had been taken already, but there was still most of the bottle left. Wanna get weird, Estinien?]

[dravanicide]

Would not do well to allow you to freeze in your own home.

[Fortunately for Estinien, he isn't completely naked. He still has his under armor pants on, but the rest of him is laid bare before them. Of course, that meant all his scars from battles long since past were there for them to gaze upon at their leisure.]

'Twould do much more than that, Aymeric.

[Like settle him in this queer situation he's found himself in. So, naturally, he takes the bottle handed to him and takes a generous swig of it. He waits a moment, considering whether he wants to give into the idea of getting a massage or not.

His decision is made clear as he strips the last part of his clothing off, and he lays down on his stomach. It's not as if he can apply the salve to his own back, after all.]

If you truly wish to aid me and mine aches, then do as you wish. Show me how skilled you truly are.

[takenblack]

[Ah, a challenge.]

[Not letting him have time to second-guess his decision for one Heroic Special Massage, Yenh moves into place at once. She drizzles the oil onto Estinien's spine, taking the opportunity to at least glance along his body. It was true that she had no intent to sleep with him, but she figures she's allowed to look where she's going.]

[Unlike with Aymeric, who all but demanded an ass-massage, Yenh decides she'll start with his upper back. And, of course, she is not at all surprised if she finds that his muscles are tighter than a Gordian Spring.]

[heiresy]

["Demanded"!! So rude!]

[Aymeric's eyes are glued to Estinien's topless form and Yenh's hands dancing over his skin. Estinien can't very well drink in his position, so he plucks it from beside his friend. He presses the liquor bottle to his lips as he whispers a quick prayer. He can feel heat welling inside him, something that he can name and place though is wholly reluctant to do either.]

[His cock twitches.]

Not bad, eh, Estinien?

[He rearranges his sitting position to thigh-upon-thigh to give himself a bit more room to hide his erection.]

[dravanicide]

[Estinien knew it would be a relaxing gesture, he's no idiot, massages were a thing for a reason! However, he never quite imagined just how good it'd feel, and how much his muscles needed this.

So much so, he cannot help himself when he lets out a groan as those agile hands work over his upper back. Muscles which feel like stone slabs start to loosen up to her touch, but only a bit. This is years worth of stress and use being rubbed out, and it'll take a bit more determination than that to get them to melt into puddy.

Through Yenh's administrations, however, Estinien finds the relief stirring something else. Something lower.

It's his dick.

However, he's keen to ignore it, like he always does, but it doesn't make it any less alarming that having someone work over his back is bringing that sort of excitement to him. He's focusing so much on willing his erection away, that he doesn't even hear Aymeric.]

[takenblack]

[Erring on the side of being professional, Yenh opts not to speak. Better to let him enjoy it—this is a man who clearly needs this small piece of relief, and to comment on him (much less his moaning) might scare him off of wanting more. He will definitely need it, too, even if she works him over until her arms give out.]

[Once his muscles are warmed up, she hones in on extra tense and stubborn points, leaning into them for some deep tissue release. She whispers for him to take deep breaths, and glances up at Aymeric in that pause.]

[The point of this isn't to put on a show, but she suspects it is one for him, anyway. Her expression as she looks at the Lord Commander is completely, tellingly neutral.]