Chp 11 : Turn 2 : Old Secrets

[Xamvim]

Evelyn replies immediately, "So you think bathing with him naked is a good way of forcing him to tell you? Or do you hope to beguile him with your charms before then?"

"I do not ask you to bow at my feet, I ask for Val'anthis's sake you do not place him in an embarrassing situation, that could easily arise from an inappropriate bath. I did not say you cannot pursue Val'anthis but I did ask that you did it with honesty, not honey combed words or cheap acts of seduction that would provoke a favorable response for you, whether it should be or not."

Evelyn studies Mica more, "Say what you like of me, people will make their own judgments. I do this to protect Val'anthis as I hope he would do so for me, if I was blind to something right before my eyes."

Evelyn pauses,". I do not threaten you, Mica, i simply warn you the folly of a liar and the consequence of a killer."

[GeneT]

"No. I think naked is a good way to have meaningful sex. Clothes get in the way."

Mica sighs.

"Do you hold Val'anthis in such low regard that he is so weak to not be allowed the chance to live? Is he a child who can not speak and act for himself and must be protected from embarrasment? Are you so embarrased by your own choice that you have to protect him from speaking his out loud? Or is it you are so haughty to already formed such a low opinion of me?"

Mica looks at Zinnaella.

"Unlike some, I don't kill for slights on my seemingly fraggle self as denying me doesn't crush my spirit. You may hope he would 'protect' you by keeping such a secret but it is still a falsehood. He can protect himself. I'm neither a liar or a seductress. I leave both to priests and demons."

[Xamvim]

"You know as well as I do, seduction and lies are not exclusive to demons and priests, so please stop with the cheap slights. It is unnecessary and only provocative." Evelyn sighs.

"I will not deny him the chance to live, but knowing the mistakes I made which ended in embarrassment for him, I simply wished to protect him from the same mistake you were likely to make, should you proceed with your intentions...I simply wished to protect him as a friend."

"I had hoped you might see that when I spoke of this to you."

"He is not a child, Mica, but he does not always see things or sense people's motives as easily as we might. As I have now said for the third time, I do not wish to prevent you from forming a true honest relationship with him, I had simply hoped you could see the approach in which you were taking was inappropriate considering the... conditions of Val's possible outlook toward you. He is a nice man and putting him in an inappropriate situation, that he finds himself in because he cannot see the 'wood from the trees', was simply something I was trying to help him avoid by talking with you as his friend."

"He swore to protect me, to keep me safe. I was merely trying to do the same for him. I do not know you Mica, Ive only met you a few days ago and in that time have seen you rip a man to shreds and felt no remorse for it. Surely you can see what concerns I may have should Val'anthis refuse you?"

"We speak in circles now, neither of us willing to concede. But as I told you before, I do not wish to spoil his potential happiness or yours, if a union is possible between you."

"So that said, I shall bow out of this disagreement and let you make your own path and him, his. I will only interfere again should his life be in danger or should he ask it of me."

"If I have upset you Mica, I apologize, I feel no contempt or hatred toward you, nor have I a low opinion of you ....."

Evelyn bows formally.

[Xamvim]

Realization of Mica's words hit her. Evelyn looks at Mica twice,

"..Mica has the demon left you?" she asks.

[GeneT]

"Apology accepted," Mica says when Evelyn finishes.

Mica shrugs at Evelyn's last question and turns before Evelyn can see her face or eyes. Truth be told, she had no idea. Assumptions when dealing with Demons were seductions or lies. She needed a hot bath away from such lability. She takes her leave finally of Evelyn and Zinnaella, grateful that Val'anthis has waited for so long.

"Women," she says to him in way of apologies.

She follows Val'anthis into the bathes after removing her shoes at the entrance and carrying them in the rest of the way. Her feet tingle as they walk through hot and cold puddles. The water causes the light that streams into the bathes from high overhead windows to dance in flickers of light. She angles Val'anthis to a bath that appears hot, wisps of steam rising from the water. Hopefully, Kel would be close by.

"Come on," she says to Val'anthis and ducks into the bathes square enclosure, pulling the curtain closed. Mica is not shy. She has lived with men her whole life.

A wooden bench sits to the right of the bathe to provide a place to lay ones belonging. There are two bathes close to each other. The hot bath is slightly square and smaller as the hot water must be dispersed out through the whole complex. A larger round cold bath is just behind it. Both baths could probably fit four adults in close proximity. Mica undresses by the bench.

She has grown into her shape and is definitely beautiful by most standards. Although her flame my not be nearly as bright as Evelyn's, she would easily command attention if the other woman was not around. She slips into the hot bath and sighs.

"Are you going to wait all day or join me Master Val'anthis," she says with a little laughter in her voice.

[Zane]

Zinnaella steps up and slips an arm around Evelyn's waist after she stands after finishing her discussion with Mica, the other young woman just walking away. "Come Evie, it's time that you were given a chance to relax for a little while. Will you allow your Ella to take care of you?" Zinnaella turns Eve as she talks softly to the priestess, trying to help her mind move on past the encounter. She knew it would bother Evie the way it had gone, and so she was going to do what she could to ease her mind.

As they enter the baths, Zinnaella makes her way with Eve to one of the enclosures, closing the curtain behind Evelyn. Then Zinnaella goes to the bench and begins undressing, with her back to Evelyn. She shrugs off her armor fairly quickly, setting it to the side. She then starts removing her hidden blades from her arms and back, setting them within her armor. She then lowers her pants, having to squirm a little to work them past her hips and get them completely off, before setting them aside as well, standing in only her undergarments now.

She pauses as though in thought and then lifts her undershirt over her head and removes it, then twists her torso a bit to stretch out without the confines of clothing. She then bends over and slowly removes her knickers, sliding them down to the floor before picking them up and placing the undergarments with the rest of her items. She then turns to Evelyn, to see if the priestess is ready. Zinnaella smiles brightly to Evelyn, "Ready yet my love? I know I am, and the bath will make the massage I'm going to give you even better."

[Xamvim]

Evelyn watches Mica depart, the bitter taste of disappointment in her mouth. She had gone out on a limb, conceding the argument and had hoped Mica would of said more as a result. Mica had found many words, when it had come to verbally attacking Evelyn, yet when it mattered most, Mica had, had none to give in response. Mica's words had hurt Evelyn deeper than she had let on and the whole argument left her a bit deflated. Evelyn had tried to do what she had felt best for Val'anthis and felt in a way she had let him down on both counts.

"Please forgive me, Val'anthis," she whispers in her mind.

Evelyn was still unsure of Mica's true intentions. Her dramatic physical change, could be labeled as, 'convenient' and she seemed to emanate the perfect prize for a hot blooded male.. almost too perfectly.

Evelyn had said she would keep her distance and Evelyn would for she did want Val'anthis to be happy but a little voice in the back of her mind continues to nag her.

Something simply didn't add up.

So lost in thought Evelyn doesnt feel Zinnaella's arm around her waist, nor even hear Zinnaella's first words.

"Sorry?" Evelyn replies confusion in her voice. Her mind plays back what the ears had heard but the mind had not and she hastily adds, "Uh, yes of course, Ella that would be wonderful." Evelyn tries to smile but the smile does not reach her eyes.

Evelyn follows Zinnaella inside, her mind replaying the recent events and words spoken. She undresses in a distracted way, keeping her bracelet, amulet and holy symbol worn. As she stands naked, she watches Zinnaella squeeze out of her tight leather pants and smiles at Zinnaella. Evelyn's eyes warm as Zinnaella turns to leave, naked, almost forgeting her towel.

"That wouldnt do," Evelyn smiles as she picks up a towel for herself and follows Zinnaella to the bath.

[Zane]

Zinnaella looks over Evelyn and swallows hard for a moment before forcing her gaze back to Evie's face. She accepts the towel, but then holds it off to the side for a moment, completely bare herself except for her own necklace - the present from Evie. "Why do I need a towel, I'm not wet - yet." She laughs and winks at Evie, wrapping the towel about her and taking Eve to the baths.

Finding one that's unused she enters the warm water, leaving the towel by the side, where it would remain dry. Looking up to Evelyn from the water, she smiles brightly. "Come of Evie, the water's great. Join me, and I'll try to help you relax for a minute." She points to a spot in the water before her where Evelyn can plant herself and Zinn can give her a much needed massage.

[Kurzio]

Val'anthis smiles as he enters the bathes, but doesn't say anything about the wait.

As soon as Mica closes the curtain, he starts to undress. Trying not to stare too much at Mica's body he enters the hot bath after her. "Aaaah, this feels great, Mica," he moans as soon as his body touches the warm water. "I hope this is as great for you as it is for me." He submerges completly for a few seconds before pulling his head out of the water. "It's been some time since my last time. I really missed it."

The elf tries to position himself behind her. "So, I think you deserved something special as you have proven yourself a loyal companion today," he comfort her with his soft voice as he starts massaging her back. "Do you like it ?"

[dougfan]

Kel forces himself to ignore Val and Mica enjoying themselves not a few meters away through a scant few layers of cloth. He was happy for Val, but that didn't mean the man had to flaunt it. Perhaps at least a little discretion would have been in order.