Getting in a lather (Daeva)

[Dayn]

20th of Spring, 511 AV

Dayn smelled as any men should, of sweat, leather, and damp, sweet grass, but as he trudged past the spring-fed basin, he suddenly felt like taking a bath. It was shortly after midday, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. The sun glared down upon his brow. He was stifling beneath layers of cloth, fur, and metal, his tunic already soaked through, tiny beads of sweat trickling into his eyes. At least it’s not the desert, he thought, where the sun is so bright it sears your flesh and the dusty air is painful to breathe. No, this wasn’t at all like the desert. But it was still petching uncomfortable.

Pausing by the edge of the basin, he stared at his reflection in the water, disregarding the few spidery beetles that skittered across its otherwise placid surface. He wasn’t eager to continue his journey. His father would only be unpleasant, as usual, and then there was his daughter to consider. How old was she now, ten? Twelve? She probably hates me, Dayn frowned, and with good reason. He'd walked out on her, after all. He was good at that.

Moving to a cluster of sun-warmed rocks, he set down his cloak, weapons, and heavy pack, then started to unfasten the motley buckles and straps that kept his armor from shifting uncomfortably as he walked. It took a while, but finally he was able to extricate himself from their rigid embrace and peel off his tunic and trousers, exposing himself to the squirrels that chattered excitedly from their trees.

“Don’t get excited,” he grinned at them. “I’m not that pretty.”

Dayn waded into the water, then dove under, taking a few strokes before he surfaced for air. The bottom was sandy, with a few pebbles that dug painfully into his feet, but the water was clear and cold. He sluiced it over his tense, rippling muscles, absently tracing the contours of his tattoo. For reasons beyond his understanding, his body was latticed with scars except for where it was stained with chaotic whorls. Lying back in the water, he felt a new vigor surge into his bones, stealing away his cares. The chirps of a sparrow rose above the rustling leaves. Dayn settled back in the water, closing his eyes, a faint smile on his lips. This was the life. No worries, no sorrows – just the calm of a warm spring afternoon. If any bears come nosing around, I’m going to be very petching annoyed, he thought idly, although given the choice, he’d sooner encounter a bear than many of the other creatures that lurked in this region.

For a time, Dayn was at peace, his chest rising and falling slowly as he floated on the serene waters. Then he stood up, shaking the water from his short hair, feeling it lap gently at his thighs. The soap. He’d forgotten to bring the soap.

[Daeva Timandre]

Travel was something the Akontak was all too familiar with. Especially traveling through the Wildlands. So many occurrences in a span of a season, muddled by fading memories and deliberate apathy. But this time she was not traveling out of Syliras, she was once again entering it. Returning to a man she met not too long ago, whom she heard whispers from Riverfall stating he was headed to Ravok, and that’s where she would go. So Daeva spent the better part of a four days traveling, feeling the pull of the woods and the excitement thrumming through her canine companion. Masou sped on ahead, as Daeva trailed behind on her equine. The horse was tired and hungry, and Daeva knew she could not deny her the luxury of rest and food for much longer. There was a sound of water trickling ahead and from the direction the wolf was growling at the Akontak had to wonder if there was a presence there occupying the location. She made the horse halt and slid off her sturdy back, pulling her suvai out from belt. A couple of thugs out for a refreshing dip? She smirked, but as she stealthed her way to the location of the undeniable sounds, Daeva paused. What in Syna’s blinding tits…. Citlali was laughing softly in the back of her head, Not what I expected either. I wonder if he thought no one would come across him, or if he was expecting it. He’s most definitely on the nicer side of the body spectrum, Daeva agreed. There was no more reason to stay hidden. This man looked hardly dangerous, but it was always worth the effort to stay vigil, and so she did, all whilst Daeva stood her height behind the bush she had used as camouflage and placed a hand on her hip. “Refreshing bath?” She inquired with a quirk of a brow, “I hope I didn’t ruin the mood.”

[Dayn]

For a man who'd been caught so blatantly off his guard, Dayn responded with a nonchalance that was remarkable even for him. After all, this wasn’t the first time a woman had crept up on him while he was bathing. And at least he wasn’t being strangled this time. That was never pleasant.

He moved to where his gear was piled in a slovenly heap, bestowing a wide grin upon the woman through which he sought to conceal his astonishment. “I’ve been waiting for you,” he said lightly, running his eyes over what parts of her body he was able to glimpse above the bush. He hadn’t seen a woman with white hair and blue skin before. Exotic. Exotic exotic, even. Tyveth, why must you tempt me like this?

“On the contrary,” he found himself saying, “the mood is finally right. I was hoping there would be others, but it seems like you’ll make adequate company.”

Dayn was fairly certain she wasn’t an enemy. Not yet, at least. She hadn’t tried to murder him while he was in the water, but then again, she also wasn’t behaving like a horny nymph. Well, petch her. I’m not going to bother working for it. Nudging his cloak aside, he drew his swords and twirled them around his wrists a few times, then sank them into the ground while he rummaged for a skin of wine. Did you like that, blueberry? Did it make you wet? No, probably not. She didn’t seem like the sort of woman that cared for theatrics, but perhaps she’d care for a drink.

“As much as I'd love to stand here chatting,” he grinned again, “my back isn’t going to scrub itself.” He paused to sniff the air. “You should probably take off those filthy clothes and join me. You reek of horse.”

[Daeva Timandre]

Daeva stood there, for quite a few chimes actually. Staring. More importantly, staring at his well-toned physique. It would be a lie to say she didn’t enjoy the view, and at least the man wasn’t intent on clothing himself as quickly as she assumed. His nonchalance did, indeed, surprise her. “So you have,” She said, stepping forward from the bush with a smug smile, “I can’t decide what to make of you, to be honest. You’re in the middle of the wilds, skinny dipping, and you don’t seem the least bit perturbed that I just stumbled on your nude glory?” She crossed her arms, “I like you already.” Of course, it could always be a trap. Everything in this petching place could be a trap. Even flowers and butterflies could be a death sentence. So this human male, this specimen, was no different. But he did bring out what Daeva noticed was a skin of liquid. She hoped it was liquor. By Ivak’s flaming balls she craved it. Fancy sword twirling aside, the akontak stepped closer with a grin of her own, “Fortunately, my wolf is better at back-scratching than I am. Go on Masou, give him a welcoming sloppy kiss.” And the mangy canine obliged, exploding from the bush in a whirl of leaves and dirt, leaping onto Dayn with a tongue enthusiastically slobbered all over him. Daeva laughed, taking off her boots and placing them beside her while she sat at the edge of the basin and let her legs dangle in the water. “I could use a rest,” She said, “So what better way to spend it in the company of someone else. What brings you here, baldy? Aside from seducing ladies in the wilderness and all.”

[Dayn]

Dayn returned the long stare, his pale eyes reflecting a faint amusement he conducted his own appraisal. He didn’t enjoy being treated like a piece of meat, but whom was he fooling? It’s all petching life boils down to, he thought, so why not look on the bright side? At least I’m a tasty piece of meat.

“You’re not so bad yourself,” he shrugged, even as he became aware of a feature that was even more unusual than her coloring. Gills. She had gills. Does that make her a tasty bit of fish? More importantly, what else was she hiding under those clothes? More gills? Fins? Man meat?

No, definitely not that.

Clearly, this woman was full of surprises. Dayn was unable to conceal his surprise when the wolf crashed through the undergrowth, nor the momentary fear that flickered across his eyes. It wasn’t just instinct. He’d watched as most of his friends were devoured by a pack of the desperate beasts, only narrowly escaping that fate himself. But he was able to discern a friendly wolf from one that wanted to feast on his tasty flesh. “Good boy,” he said as Masou swarmed over him, cringing a bit as the beast got too friendly with its tongue. No teeth! No teeth! He tossed the wineskin to his guest, then bent to scratch behind Masou’s ears. “Go chase some squirrels.” He shoved the beast away from his fruits, then stretched out on the mossy bank.

“You’re a hard one to please,” he grumbled. “You spend that much time staring at me, and the only thing you notice is my hair?” With a chuckle, he retrieved the skin. “Fair enough, blueberry.”

Taking a deep draught, he wiped his lips. “I’ve had enough of muddy roads, bad food, and worse company for a while, so I figured I’d head to the nearest city. It’s that simple. No noble quests, no all-consuming desire for revenge. I just want to drink and petch my brains out.” He handed the skin back. “So, what do you do when you’re not peeping through the bushes?”

[Daeva Timandre]

What did Dayn expect? Daeva was most definitely part fish, it just came with the territory. And neither was she in any way humble, as the human was soon about to discover. After the wolf was done spewing his saliva at the man he climbed back onto the bank and shook his coat vigorously, spraying water in every which way. He sat on his rump, content to chew at an itch on the base of his tail. “He’s still a growing boy,” Daeva commented, glancing at Masou, “But hey I can’t help it if a full grown man has a hard time sprouting some hair on that cranium.” Bald jokes, she’d be full of them, especially now that she had a taste of wine. “That’s always a good plan for a man that can be inconspicuous. I wish I could say the same, but having blue skin with a pair of tits draws a lot of attention in cities. And not always the good kind,” She smirked, accepting the skin and taking a long swig. Setting the wineskin down, Daeva pulled her shirt up over her head and tossed it somewhere far from the edge of the basin. Slipping off her leggings, the akontak was left in only flimsy undergarments. But it was Daeva, what the petch did she care? Within seconds she’d dunked herself in the water, sighing elatedly as the liquid lapped at her dry gills. “That’s all I do, really. Peeping. At least it keeps me from a slaver’s net.“ She grinned, “I was staying in Riverfall for a while, now I’m on a quest to find a blue ape. My name is Daeva, by the way, if it interests you..." She paused for a moment, "Are you a hunter? Or just a mercenary looking out for himself?”

[Dayn]

Dayn took the bald jokes in stride. It felt as though he was speaking to his sister, which was quite disturbing, considering that the woman was stripping off her clothes. “I’m sure you have very nice tits,” he spoke absently, eyeing the wolf again. It was probably diseased. In any event, its sloppy affections had left his thighs smeared with coarse hairs and shreds of dried leaves, ruining that delightful, cleanly feeling. There was only one thing he could do. And this time, he remembered to bring the soap.

Splish, splash. “So you’re one of those girls,” he said, starting to soap his chest. “A peep here, a peep there – you’re sounding more bird than fish. Any more ambiguity and I’m going to have to see how you taste. You know, to put the matter to rest. I do love a tasty piece of fish.” Dayn wasn’t completely unsympathetic to her plight. He’d probably be more than annoyed if an endless procession of strangers kept trying to cajole him into games of ‘hide the sausage.’ Four times was more than enough.

“Seems everybody is on a quest these days,” he said with a shrug, “Although yours is more unusual than most. I swear, you wouldn’t believe the number of people who trying to avenge their murdered parents. I wish somebody would see to mine.” Dayn grinned.

“I don’t suppose I’m much of anything at the moment. I used to be a mercenary, but then my friends died and I thought, why bother? I could always try to resurrect the group, but as you’ve probably noticed, I’m not getting any younger. I might start a tavern or something. That is, if I play my cards right.” Dayn tossed away the soap, smirking. “Fancy being a serving wench?”