Completed Ahhhh. Gotta love that New Home smell.

[Aidara]

Timestamp: Fall 6th, 511 AV
Place: The Baths
Status: Closed
Tagged: Sairque, Sira.


Just like she hoped, there was a Drudge standing at the entrance to the bathes, waiting for his next errand. Before she removed all of her clothes, Addy motioned him over, fishing around in her things as she spoke.

"Three towels, please. Soap, wine, and that salt stuff you add to make all the bubbles." A pinion found it's way from Addy's pocket into the shocked Dek's hand. The look on his vapid face and the fact that his feet seemed stuck to the ground made the woman instantly regret her generosity. The idiot wasn't used to kindness, especially not of that magnitude from an Endal. When was she going to learn?

Wishing that she could snatch the money back without feeling horrible about it but none the less thinking that it would get the man moving, Addy gently turned him around and pushed him towards the door through which all the Dek's disappeared when following the orders of the upper castes. "Go. Hurry." She growled, the irritation in her voice not all faked but it was enough to get him moving.

Moving over to the lockers in the wall, Addy stripped off her clothes and unlaced her sandals; not a moment too soon, either. The steam wafting in from the baths was already making her sweat, her vanati sticking to her back. Clothes, shoes and possessions were shoved onto the little shelf. Addy preferred to have her clothes washed in a specific order, with other specific outfits, all at once. She never used the services provided at the baths.

The face full of warm, heavy air when Addy rounded the corner into the actual bathing room caused her to instantly smile. Though it was packed, dirty bodies crammed into the cleaning pools right by the door, she didn't mind. She wasn't here to clean herself (she'd already managed two bathes that day and also made it a habit to avoid dirt), but to soak, and the soaking pools were all but empty.

"Hi, you. When Sira and Sai arrive, send them to me. I'll be in the sixth." Nodding towards the second-to-hottest pool, Addy thanked the woman she stopped and carefully picked her way through the crowd. By the time she was slipping into the steaming hot water, the first drudge was returning to her side, soap, wine and all.

"There will be fine. Thank you." And she laid her head back against the edge of the tub, sinking down into the water until she was almost submerged to the ears. The dead tired, drawn and weary feeling that she had carried all day after the Baby Shower the night before slowly began to melt away into the hot waters as she waited for her women to arrive. They were meeting to discuss Sai's gift.... Addy had obviously chosen the spot. Sai wanted to meet in the kitchens. The twins preferences were always obvious.

Their current Aerie was accommodating enough for the twins alone, but with two and a half women, one and a half Wind Eagles and a baby on the way.... it was getting crowded. The Flightleader had worked her magic, once again, at precisely the right moment. The last thing any of them needed was to get on each others nerves while living one on top of the other.

[Sira]

Sira was the second to arrive, entering the baths and looking around absentmindedly at all the naked people. It was funny how when you saw a person naked in a private place it was exciting, sexy, and maybe even a little bit scary but when you saw them naked in a public bath it seemed the most normal thing of all. Sure, you could still appreciate the view, but there was none of the excitement that was felt in the secret intimacy of a person's bedchamber. Sira stripped off her clothes and tossed them to the nearest dek. "Wash these." It was obvious that she and Addy had different views on how to treat the lower castes. Sira wasn't cruel, far from it, but she was an endal and expected quick and efficient results. Disobedience irritated her and defiance outright angered her. The castes were in place for a reason, and though she didn't fault a person for the caste they were in, she expected them to act their place. Especially in public. Sira entered the main baths and was quickly directed to the sixth tub where Addy waited. Grinning when she saw the healer, Sira walked over and kneeled down behind her, planting a kiss on her lips and probably surprising her if her eyes were closed. "Hello, beautiful," she said as she moved to dip her feet into the tub. "This isn't going to boil the baby, is it," she asked with a laugh. Her actual level of concern, which was zero, was made obvious when Sira splashed down into the tub next to the healer and fully submerged herself. She came up dripping and with hair in her face, which she quickly whipped behind her and flung water in Aidara's face in the process. "Oh, is that wine!?" Sira sloshed over to the unopened bottle and peered at the label as if she knew what she was doing, then turned back to Aidara. "I guess I can wait on Sai to get here before I pop that open." Sira was apparently in a hyper mood because she splashed around a bit and played in the hot water for a while before finally settling down, if you wanted to call it that. Apparently her idea of settling down was straddling the healer and flopping on top of her face, pretending to fall asleep.

[Sairque]

Brows drew in irritation as an alien hand wrapped firmly around her bicep, the fatigued woman wanting nothing more than to sink into the warmth of a sororal bath. Bodies, densely packed in certain areas, somehow managed to afford the infrequent Endal enough space to get through unmolested, so the hand provoked no sympathy. Upon casting a chilly glance toward the intruder, Sai realized the woman had both wanted her attention and lost her balance over a scrawny child’s attempt to squish through the rapidly shrinking space between them. The chill lifted, a hand even coming out to firmly, and probably uncomfortably, clamp over the woman’s hip to steady her. “Healer Aidara is in pool two, no, six,” the woman, flushed from the heat, quickly informed Sai, stuttering over the original miscommunication. It was an unnecessary gesture, her little compass zeroed in on the relaxing healer before taking three steps into the large chamber. The Endal still gave a short nod of acknowledgement, wondering how much Addy had paid her, and continued toward the indicated area. Of course, clothing had been disposed of, handed off to be stored dek-knew-where until she called for her belongings. The sight of Sira splashing around in the pool before settling against the lounging Aidara banished some of the clinging weariness as Sairque approached. The wine on the rim, so fitting considering the reason for the occasion—the reason for the occasion! The new aerie! For the baby! Chapped lips pulled into a shadow of a smile and, though Aidara would already know she was near, she announced her presence by dipping a hand in and sloshing an impressive wave onto the sickeningly adorably cuddling lovers. “I thought this was supposed to be a group meeting, but I don’t see any room for myself in the current activity,” she teased with a smirk, lowering herself into the water. A sigh of bliss escaped parted lips as eyes shut under the soothing ministrations of complete submersion in liquid satiety. This was how her tummy felt after a full meal. “Ladies, when I die, you have to send me off with my favorite dishes. Rolls. And fruit, too.” She would have continued, more than happy to have the women at her mercy for a listing of the exact food in the exact order of preference that she wanted, but then the initial wave of carnal enjoyment passed. Baby! Eyes snapping open, a rare sincere grin lit those drawn features, increasing the resemblance between sisters. Oh yeah, she was pretty proud of herself. Even as she beamed at them, waiting for their reactions, a tinge of doubt spoiled the gift. What if they wanted their own place? Aside from the agreeing to meet to discuss it, they’d yet to share a word regarding the new place. What if they didn’t like living with her? She wasn’t that bad a housemate; she usually picked up after herself, she never bothered them while they were in bed, in fact she usually left and tried to get as far away as possible from what leaked through their bond. But she was kind of overbearing and taciturn. Well, then…what if they thought that the place was just for them? Then they would probably say so and she would be saved the embarrassment of having assumed they would want to stay with her. See, problem solved. Instead of the doubt manifesting on those features, Sai’s expression simply reverted back to the usual lopsided smile and she sank back into the embrace of the water. “If Sira has the baby right now, will it drown?”

[Aidara]

Apparently Sira and Sai were taking their time joining her. Having soaked for almost half a bell, the healers attentions started to wander. Of course the strapping displays of manhood all around her were ever a welcomed sight, but she was here for more important things and must not get distracted. So she continued to soak, head back on the lip of the tub and eyes closed as she let the hot water embrace her.

A few more chimes passed before she just couldn’t sit still any longer. They were moving! It was only the extreme amount of self control she exerted that kept her from grinning stupidly to herself, cheering and bragging to everyone. The details still had to be explained to her; Addy, Sai, and Sira hadn’t a moment alone together since the baby shower. All of their duties kept them exceedingly busy, but it meant that Addy had to hold her tongue until she knew what was going on. Then, and only then, could she proceed with making everyone jealous with news of their new, awesome home.

The boredom manifested it’s self in strange ways. First, it found the healer holding onto the edge of the pool while she kicked her feet, doing her best to splash the older gentleman in the pool adjacent to hers. When the warm waves finally did crash over the stone walk way and the slosh of water splashed right into his face, the game lost it’s fun. Jets of bath water were squeezed out between her hands next, aimed for the Dek set to stand over a fellow bather. This target was easier, shot after shot hitting the poor man right in the face. Only when Addy saw the look of utter misery that he cast her did she stop.

It was in the last few minutes before Sira arrived that Addy had discovered how cool everything looked from surface level. Sunk down up to her eyes, the healer watched the ripples her own presence made in the water, the way the strands of her hair drifted slowly back and forth across the surface. This was how Sira found her, surprising Addy into a gasp when her lover bent over to kiss her. A startled gasp turned quickly to a cough as water rather than air found it’s way into her lungs.

Sputtering and coughing, twisting so that she leaned over the stone walk way, Addy was none the less happy to see Sira. Once all of the bath water had been spat up she sat back down and grinned at her lover. “No, the baby will be fine. You can actually give birth in the water, if you prefer. It makes the passage from the womb into this world easier on the child, since…” But Sira had submerged herself, cutting Addy off mid sentence.

The healer wasn’t much concerned since she had been bombarding the pregnant woman with tons of information lately; The enclave had become her new haunt. Every medicinal book pertaining to birthing or pregnancy was guarded jealously by the nervous mother-to-be. She spent hours pouring over the documents and texts in her office when the day was slow and even when she went home for the day. Sira accepted this new obsession with good graces but no doubt she tired of hearing Addy spew information all day, every day. So when her love surfaced Addy simply smiled and laughed as she received a face full of water. She definitely deserved that one.

“Yeah, she should be here soon…” Biting down on her lip, Addy tried to hide her smile as Sira pretended to expertly look over the wine bottle, not wanting to claim defeat and feigning desire to wait for the flight leader. A quick mental check told Addy that Sai was not yet within her range. Normally, the twins were able to find each other through their connection. It acted like a radar, though it was harder and less precise the further they were away from each other.

Again Sira managed to surprise her once again as she was taking mental stock of her sisters whereabouts. With a face full of Kelvic, Addy only barely managed to stay afloat, almost swallowing another mouthful of water in the process. “Whoa there, are you trying to drown me?” The irritation that initially rose was quickly squashed when Sira stopped her flailing and became ‘sleeping’ dead weight. It was rare that Sira was in such a good mood these days, the baby more often than not simply wearing her out to the core. Addy was no longer surprised to come home and find her love already asleep.

“It looks like I’ll have two babies to take care of soon.” The complaint had been bit off, hopefully without Sira ever noticing her annoyed tone, and replaced with a giggle and a smile as her small arms wrapped as far around Sira’s bulging form as they could.

“I thought this was supposed to be a group meeting, but I don’t see any room for myself in the current activity.”

And now Sai had snuck up on her as well. Man, she was really losing her touch. Sticking out her tongue over Sira’s slumped shoulder, Addy moved over a bit so that Sai would have room over on their side of the pool; Addy hated sharing the intimacy of a bath with someone who insisted on sitting as far away as possible. It just seemed rude for some reason.

“There is plenty of room for you! In fact, if you want, you can practice your Aunt-hood by taking care of this big baby. She might need changed and she is definitely thirsty.” Pretending to try and pry Sira from her to pass over to her sister, Addy nodded towards the wine and the glasses, indicating that the flight leader should get that started. “My hands are kind of full.” She gravely explained, though those green eyes twinkled in laughter.

It was nice to see them all together and happy, since at one point it had seemed that this would never be so. Addy had moments where she thought she would have to figure out a way to balance the love of her life with the most important person in her life, as they hated each others guts. It wouldn’t have been easy at all. Watching Sai’s expression visibly change as her fierce gaze lingered on Sira’s inflated stomach, Addy couldn’t help but feel her heart swell. It was more than she could ever hope for. Finally, her life was coming together.

“Good point. Sai, you’re officially on lifeguard duty. If the baby pops out, you’re in charge of getting it out of the water.” As the unfamiliar emotions ran across Sai’s face, Addy waved over the Dek she had been squirting with bath water earlier. With a grim expression he crossed over to stand behind the healer, saying nothing but not breaking eye contact; apparently he hadn’t quite gotten over her little game.

“Can we have some food please? I ordered some earlier. Run to the kitchens, get it and there will be a plate there for you as well.” Figuring the food was generous enough, Addy turned away without a please or thank you. He had been rude, after all.

“While we wait…” Turning back to her women, Addy took her glass of wine and rolled a dainty sip around her tongue, her gaze flickering back to her sister. “…Why don’t you start from the beginning. A new aerie?!"

[Sira]

Sira loved taking baths. It was by far one of her favorite things, whether it was in the privacy of her aerie, the communal Tisuma baths, or even a stream in the woods, she loved it. She especially loved when she had others to share it with, in all the infinite possibilities that could entail. Sira was far from ready to settle down and get to business, as Addy seemed to be, so it was a bit of a struggle to pry the kelvic off. When Addy successfully removed Sira from her lap the pregnant endal pouted only momentarily before she was handed a glass of wine. Sira took the glass and took a few eager sips before setting it aside and settling in innocently next to the healer. What she really wanted was the food that was on its way. "...why don't you start from the beginning. A new aerie?" Ah, the new aerie, their entire purpose for being in the baths together that day. All three women were very busy people, so it was often hard to schedule time to get together without depriving themselves of sleep or some other activity, but if Addy and Sai were as excited about the new place as Sira was then she knew they wouldn't mind. Besides, who could complain about a nice bath, wine, and food on the way? Sira's only real complaint was that the food hadn't arrived yet, but she tried to be patient. Of course.. patience wasn't something Sira was known for, especially not while pregnant. Where is that dek with our food, she thought to herself. To get her mind off the food Sira decided it would probably be best just to focus on the task at hand, interrogating Sai about the new aerie. Sira had seen the blueprints, just like Addy, and though she didn't know much about that sort of thing she could tell that the place looked huge, almost as if it were two dwellings in one. Where was this aerie? Was Sai commissioning an all new one, or did some wealthy endal Sira didn't know pass away and leave behind the mansion of an aerie? And most importantly, when could they move in? Hopefully Sai would answer all those questions without Sira actually having to ask, because once the food arrived Sira wouldn't be talking much, but she would ask if she had to. In the end all she said was, "Yes, tell us about the new place! OOCBleh.. this post is horrible, but I was trying to jumpstart my brain and force out a post. Hopefully the rest will be better.

[Sairque]

Taking the hint, wine soon trickled enticingly into three glasses and said vessels found themselves passed along to the luxuriating women. The back of her head, clinging red locks spilling over the rock and rock-like shoulders, anchored the slight woman to the bath. Turned out this particular area of the spring was too deep for those of small stature to both sit and breath at the same time. Instead, she floated, keeping from drifting away into the other women’s laps by the weight of her head. Big brain, you know, lots of mass to work as an anchor. That lopsided smile still hid mild insecurities, but the fact that she had pulled off acquiring and altering an entirely new aerie without the women finding out was amazing. “It was Tuloth’s,” she explained. “But Mother Ilish, on the off chance that you would produce another Wind Eagle, and with respect to our situation,” to Sira and Aidara respectively, “allowed us to take it over. All that was left was having it customized for a baby and privacy. The hot spring was a surprise.” Well, having explained it, now it sounded pretty lame. Anticlimactic. “It’s in the far east corner of the aeries. They’re all done with it, if you want to go see it. It’s empty. I thought we could decorate the common areas together before you guys figure out how you want your room and the baby’s to look.” After a moment of grasping for the details of why she had been so excited in the first place, when now the reasons eluded her, Sai glanced up to gauge her sister’s reactions. “I think the architects set up your spare room specifically for both healing and hunting gear. And the bathroom has a baby bath, too! The hot spring was natural, but they smoothed it over and even directed some of the water through a chute for some reason. One of the architects mumbled something about a ‘slide,’ I’m not really sure. Oh, and I think they also routed some water around the aerie so that it would cool off and dump into a separate, smaller pool. I’m not sure.” OOCYou guys can customize a lot of the details, I just wanted some basic, personal touches.

[Aidara]

The wine was taken with a grateful incline of her head; such formality seemed appropriate for the situation though Addy didn't really know why. She sipped daintily, though the past couple of days dictated she throw back half a dozen glasses without stopping. Her willpower was impeccable.

Feeling irritation radiating from Sira, Addy placed a soothing hand on the woman's arm as they listened to Sai's description. She liked the warmth in her sisters voice, the lightly veiled excitement that Sai almost seemed embarrassed to show. She had been more than accomidating since she found out about the pregnancy, much to Addy's pleasure and surprise, and it seemed like the two important women in her life were going to finally get along.

It was hard, however, to be around them both at the same time. She didn't know how Sai had done it all this time, balancing Catabasis and Addy both inside her brain. Even as the healer sat here listening while the three of them calmly relaxed she had a hard time telling apart the emotions. Sai's were like old, well worn and the most comfortable saddle ever; the ones you never wanted to get rid of because they were just so familiar and.....comforting. Sira's new link was still new leather; it smelled good and was also easily found, dependable because of it's new strength but it hand't been broken in like she and Sai's, there were no creases from years of loving use, there were not dings and pockmarks from not so careful times.

But when they were both there, so close and so open with their feelings... the little woman simply couldn't tell them apart. Huge waves of contentment and happiness floated through her mind that it was neigh impossible to pin point it's origin. And this wasn't the first time either; Addy had actually taken to completely turning both of them out whenever they three were together. The resulting headaches were horrible. And yet, embarrassed that she couldn't easily handle what her sister had for so long, Addy kept her mouth shut.

"Tuloth's?" Sai had just finished her explanation, looking expectantly at the pair. "I don't think I've ever actually been there, but if I can count on one thing..." a smirk twisted the corners of her lips as she paused for another sip of her wine "... it's huge. I mean, c'mon, look at your bedroom. You're hardly ever in there and you could fit an entire Yasi kindergarden in there."

They were going to be a big family. While Catabasis had pretty much his whole aerie to himself, as Sira could conveniently take a smaller human form, the rest of the house was more than cramped. Thus far, there had been no fights or spats... but it was only a matter of time. Addy knew that women who lived together soon had their moon cycles sync up.... and that day would be the second coming of the Valterrain.

"Lets go see it!" Jumping to her feet, full of sudden excitement, Addy gestured grandly for her Sai and Sira to rise as well. However, as her arms flailed about, the Dek bearing their food had just stepped up to the edge of their pool. With a great clatter and multiple splashes, the long awaited snacks went tumbling to the ground. However, as often happens when a strong emotion took her, Addy was instantly pulling them to their feet.

"We'll get more later. C'mon, C'mon!"

[Sira]

No more horrible an event could have happened than what Sira witnessed there in the baths with her very own two eyes. Sira had been so content to relax in the tub and listen to tales of their grand new aerie. She was more than happy to sit and relax, sipping on her wine, and more than content to be calm when Addy placed a reassuring hand on her thigh. But all that changed, and Sira's world nearly ended when Addy stood. It was as if time had slowed to a crawl. The healer got out of the pool, the food went up in the air and fell to the ground. Sira's eyes went wide as the dek accidentally stepped on one of the grapes as he stooped to try to save some of the snacks, but it was too late. They were ruined. Sira's food was no more... She would have just given up then and there, but Addy was already grabbing at her and dragging her and Sairque along. Even that might not have been enough, but then Addy said something that brought her hope. They could get more! Of course they could! "You there," Sira shouted at the nearest dek, "Have a fresh tray of food brought up to our new aerie. Tuloth's old one! And bring us our clothes.. that first!" Sira dressed herself as soon as the dek brought her her clothes, and then as soon as Addy and Sai were ready they rushed off toward the new aerie. Yes, Sira was excited about the place, but the baby had needs and the baby wanted its needs met. Addy had delayed that, but only temporarily. Sira would see this.aerie, and she would be struck with awe, but more importantly she would eat, and then all would be well with the world.

[Sairque]

Sira’s weren’t the only set of eyes watching in absolute horror as that tray of food tumbled slowly to the ground, plummeting with all the dire consequences of a Wind Eagle losing control of its flight. For long moments, even with Addy’s hands urging her along, she stared at the juice squishing from between the Dek’s toes. No. Never. Never should food be seasoned with Dek foot sweat. Still mourning the loss, the horrified Endal found herself being dragged along. Overwhelming appreciation bathed Sira as she took the initiative to order more food. A quick jaunty dressing later and the three women rushed from the baths toward their new home. Sai fell in step behind the two women, observing their demeanors as they went. Did they really want their own habitation? Had Sai overstepped her boundaries again? The new aerie, considerably more private at the end of its corridor, still had the dust of recent reimancy lingering about the place. Stepping inside, the layout was exactly the same as their old one, but the artwork was vastly different and older; great stone reliefs cut beautiful scenes in the walls, shelves differed, tables differed. The rooms were all in the right places though. Ushering the ladies in with a gracious gesture, she pointed them towards a door that in their old home pointed toward a storage closet. “Through there, first. That’s your suite," she directed with thinly veiled anxiety. OOCGo to town on describing it and everything. We can plan everything out with decorations and whatnot and then assume they go through with it.

[Aidara]

They wasted no time upon reaching the location of their new Aerie. With an excitement to match her sisters and just ready to explode because of it, Addy practically pranced towards where Sai had indicated. Not waiting for Sira to catch up, Addy barrled through the doorway into their suite, an exclamation already on her lips before she even saw the place with her own eyes. However, the exclamation quickly died. The room was huge, yes, twice the size of the one they lived in now, but it was also completely barren.

"Oh." Trying to hide her disappointment, Addy padded around the perimeter of the room in silence. There was an alcove towards the back with shelves carved into the very stones themselves up top, the gaping space below clearly meant for their dresser and their clothes. The walls sported various ledges and pockets of space for all their little gadgets, but those too were empty. The room overall was a graceful oval shape that Addy could appreciate; it wasn't her circle room, but it would do and in time she would get used to it. Everyone had to make changes right? It just happened that it took Addy a little longer to adapt, is all.

Making her way back to the door where Sai and Sira both waited, Addy pulled the dimples into her cheeks. "I love it, Sai. I really do." But there was no hiding the question in her tone and so she didn't bother. "Are all the rooms like this... so empty?" Of course, Addy had expected the Aerie to be newly furnished as well as completely built, though it seemed to slip past her that her twin wasn't the biggest fan of interior decorating.

"Is there more stuff coming? Where... is it?" The common room was spacious and would be glorious to entertain company in, with room for multiple sofa's and comfy chairs. Leaving Sai to show them her own room and Sira to explore the outside nest area, Addy simply wandered around and examined the small things.

"We should move in. Now. I mean it! Send some Dek's to get our stuff." Whether or not Sai had any decorations or furniture planned, it didn't seem to matter anymore as Addy whipped around suddenly with this proclamation. Bright green eyes bounced between faces of her companions as she kept a tenuous grasp on her excitement.