Closed [Aquillar Hot Springs] Working Up a Sweat (Pulren)

[Caela Dorin]

He watched her begin to back away from him without comment although he seemed a little confused by the action, unless she was misreading him of course. Her question of trust was met with a shrug. He didn't seem to understand her caution, thought that she shouldn't be afraid of a gentleman, which he claimed to be. What's a gentleman in Sunberth? she wondered, watching him with the same level of uncertainty as before. The words on his next breath had her glaring at him, nostrils flaring. Of course there were men that would do that, not that any man had succeeded in doing any such thing with her. Even though he was saying that he wouldn't do that, she didn't like something like that thrown in her face in such a blunt manner.

He seemed happier with her request to show her how to do a push up. He instantly setting to work, keen to show off no doubt. The dancer rolled her eyes when he wasn't looking. It was good to know that he was keen to prove his masculinity as other men did. She liked that Palaren was that predictable at least. The blonde could hope that he was a "gentleman" as he said he was, that he wouldn't try anything funny but she felt safer being able to predict his behaviour. Knowing what he was going to do, how he was going to act meant that she had some measure of control in the situation. Control was important to her. It was control that had helped keep her in one piece thus far, that and a bit of luck.

The dancer watched closely, taking in the way his body was positioned and used his verbal explanation to fill in any details that her eyes missed. It seemed like what she'd been attempting so she couldn't understand what she'd been doing wrong. She'd stretched her legs out like that, placed her arms in a similar way (maybe a little bit differently to how he'd done it) but yet she'd face planted and he hadn't. There was a spike of jealousy within her at the sight of it, how easy he made it look! It passed though as she focused on how she would emanate it.

He seemed to have worked out where she'd gone wrong. Arm strength. It made sense. Her arms weren't really used that much. "You're probably right. In my line of work, I've plenty of strength in my legs but not in my arms. In-" She cut herself off abruptly, biting her lip. She'd given away too much. She hadn't mentioned what her job was so far and she didn't intend to. Maybe he'd draw his own conclusions or perhaps he'd be left curious but without answers.

She nodded at his suggestion, shooting a crooked smile in his direction. "I'll try and you aren't going to do anything because that'd be stupid. I think you realise that women are more compliant when they aren't forced." She winked before turning from him, moving away a few feet to give herself room to work in. If Caela had played things right then the man wouldn't touch her. Hopefully she'd given him the impression that she was more willing to come round to anything he might want from her on her own terms rather than his. All about control.

The young woman tried not to focus too much on the fact that he was probably staring at her as she lowered herself to the ground. She made a living out of having men stare at her so she just had to block it out, get into the same frame of mind that she used when she danced. There was nothing outside of her body and how it moved. She breathed deeply, centering her concentration inwards though not completely. Only into the confines of her body, not into her mind. Her hands were placed as his had been, palms pressing downwards as her body was straightened. She bent her knees as he'd suggested then before pushing herself upwards slowly. It was easier than before but still more difficult than she would have liked. Her arms seemed to tremble, muscles protesting with the effort. It was a supreme effort to straighten the limbs, locking out the joints as she assumed she was supposed to do.

The position was held for a tick or two before the dancer lowered herself again, arms wobbling again until she was back to the resting position. The ground became a welcome bed as she allowed the rest of her body to flop back down. There was a groan from the dancer before she sat up. "That is far more exhausting than you made it look," she complained, rubbing at her arms, which still felt as if they should be trembling.

[Pulren Marsh]

It seemed, hopefully, that the slight or imagined slight had passed and the two of them could continue on amicable terms. She was so delightfully delicious in her appearance that he just couldn't let her go so easily. Had she been more homely, he could have just shrugged and wished her well in her endeavors. While he surely enjoyed his voyeurism, he started to believe that continuing with a gentler approach might get him farther than being pompous. Acting like Palaren sometimes had its sticking points because Pulren had not grown up and lived the life he was trying to portray, which made it more difficult to play off like he might wish to.

Her comment about her line of work piqued his interest. Of course, with her beauty and curves, it made him question whether or not he was so wrong about her in the first place. A beauty with strong legs. Well, she could as easily be a dancer, too. Either way, the ply of coin would tell the tale eventually. Her next statement reinforced his thoughts on being easy. It did bring a genuine chuckle from his chest, however. "I think we both know that I can't force you to do anything. But please, continue." This was as nice a piece of bait as any that had ever been thrown into Mathews Bay. It had no real line to it. It just floated there in the water.

He watched her with zeal as she mimicked his physical actions. When her eyes could possibly meet his own, even from the side, he kept his own focused at her face. When they were hidden, his focus shifted. It was okay. She didn't need to worry about it so much. In his experience with dancers or dancers with benefits, looks were always free. Once her repetitions were complete, she fell again, though thankfully missing her face. Palaren nodded and clapped a little. He did attempt to make it genuine and encouraging. "Well, in my line of work, arm strength is equally important."

With that, the line was attached to the bait.

[Caela Dorin]

She smiled thinly at his applause. He was probably trying to be nice about it but she felt like a child being congratulated by a parent for doing something right. Patronising that's what it was although Palaren probably didn't mean it to be that way at all. Her eyebrows raised at his comment wondering what sort of work he could do in which arm strength was important. Anything that involved any sort of heavy lifting or hauling would require that sort of strength, making him a labourer perhaps or some sort of guard. Most guards weren't chosen for their fighting prowess but for their brute strength although the Zeltivan didn't look like the right sort of person for that line of work. She could be wrong but she had an odd feeling that his use of words was probably of greater use to him than any physical attributes but the dancer couldn't work out why she thought that way.

"Oh? Well what sort of work is arm strength important in?" she asked, exhibiting the interest that he was no doubt fishing for. The remark he'd made was vague enough that it sounded like he wanted her to ask about it. He hadn't asked about her line of work but he'd no doubt drawn his own conclusions about it. Let him guess whatever he liked because she wasn't willing to give up the information freely.

Caela watched him for a few moments, considering her next course of action. Her arms didn't feel as wobbly now, the muscles within them recovered from their recent exertion. The man hadn't pounced on her during the push up that she'd done and while his remark beforehand puzzled her a little, she assumed that he wouldn't pose a threat to her. Why he believed that he couldn't force her to do something, she didn't know. If he could catch her on the ground then he could certainly gain the upper hand so she wondered about it. If he'd been referring to verbal forcing over physical then he certainly spoke the truth; once Caela had her mind made up there was little hope of changing it.

Assuming that he wouldn't make a grab at her, the blonde got herself into position for another push up as she awaited the man's answer. Again her palms pressed against the ground, knees bent to lessen the strain as she pushed herself upwards. Again her arms protested against the strain but she gritted her teeth and willed her body upwards, holding it in place once her arms were extended. Again the limbs wanted to collapse beneath her but she unsteadily lowered herself to the resting position again without allowing any drop to relieve the strain as her body wanted. Once the pressure that her muscles were suffering under was eased, the dancer was left panting allowing herself a chime's rest before forcing her body into a repetition of her previous movement.

The second push up brought a wave of exhaustion with its completion and the blonde doubted that she could force herself to do any more of the arm exercises today. The ground became a pleasant resting place, the dancer too pooped for the moment to be bothered about getting up. She could still hear the traveller and could answer him as well if she bothered to turn her head rather than lying face first on the ground.

[Pulren Marsh]

Her question was surely expected, though Pulren was so enjoying their play that he decided he might try something exciting. He would tell her the truth, though he would be sure to keep it in the context it deserved for Palaren. "I'm a fisherman, though my skill and talent has me go after the largest and more dangerous of the species. It's true, I was once a lowly man of the docks, but my determination and effort brought me great prizes and I elevated myself to this higher plateau of society."

A definite smirk rose from somewhere deep in his gullet, though Pulren chose to stifle it. The truth felt good to tell, even in an adulterated form. "I suppose that is why I don't understand how an entertainer couldn't also bring herself up out of squalor and find a better life waiting." He watched as she continued to exercise, giving her a little something to visualize during her efforts. "See yourself pushing your way out of poverty with each attempt. Exercise is good for quieting the mind and focusing on important matters, in my experience."

It was a good distraction to have her so focused on the pushup and even better that she continued to try. He found it amusing that her endurance ran out so quickly, but said nothing to injure the fragile accord they had forged. Better to move on to something more palatable. "They make a very tasty redberry juice here. It might cool us both down and give you your strength back. Care to join me for a glass in the hall?"

[Caela Dorin]

A fisherman. If asked what job the man might do, Caela never would have thought to mention fishing. He didn't look like a fisherman to her eyes but then they didn't have some set appearance that all those in the occupation fit into. She supposed that arm strength was indeed needed in such work for hauling nets and such. Whether he did bring in large fishing prizes or not, she had no idea. Maybe it was a bit of exaggeration to make him sound better but regardless of whether it was truth or hyperbole the man had clearly made enough money to go travelling and that was certainly not a cheap endeavour. He might be on a higher plateau in society but that particular society wasn't here but in Zeltiva. For all she knew back in Zeltiva he might not have a high place in society at all.

But then where did he get the travel money? she wondered as she exerted herself.

The young woman would have to work on her endurance, practise this exercise until it became more familiar and less of a strain. He was trying to encourage her, tell her to visualise pushing herself up in society. He clearly didn't understand Sunberth or perhaps he really believed that she was as poor as she claimed. Squalor was certainly not the level of living conditions and poverty was for other people, not Caela. The dancer could allow herself a smirk even as the strain took its toll on her. She'd fed him information and he'd believed it.

Has he done the same with you? Is he here to see Sunberth or is he here for some other reason? To get involved in shady business perhaps?

Her line of thinking surprised her but she shrugged the thoughts off. She doubted that a fisherman could do much for the city's criminal enterprises. Caela supposed that she could continue to watch him and see if he was what he said he was but did she really want to continue to spend time with him?

Once the young woman was finished her push ups, she turned her head to listen to him first and then sat up despite her body's protests. Palaren had provided her with the opportunity to continue their acquaintance. The dancer considered it with her head slightly to one side, weighing the pros and cons of accepting such an offer. If she said yes then they'd be in the bathhouse and therefore there would be other people, witnesses, even if they were just the proprietors of the place. Additionally she'd be able to satisfy her curiosity by observing him further and there wasn't too much danger in it. Sure she might lead him on but didn't she do that on a near daily basis at work? How many men had she flirted with and made them feel that they were in with a chance with her just so that she could get free drinks out of them? No, there was no harm in accepting.

"I suppose that I could do with a drink," the blonde replied, tossing her hair back to move the strands from her face as she rose. Her arms felt heavy and tense and rubbing them didn't seem to help but stretching might. A slight smile played across her lips as she raised them above her head, locking her hands together as she stretched the limbs skyward allowing the movement to pull her entire body upwards until she was standing on her toes. She held the position for a few ticks until the joints cracked slightly and allowed herself to relax. The end of the stretch was accompanied with a bright smile aimed in Palaren's direction and a murmur of "I feel much better," before she set about retrieving her stuff and shoving it into her backpack.

Well she'd already given into the idea that she was likely to lead him on whether intentionally or not so there was no harm in doing it on purpose, winding him up with every stretch and bend that his eyes were sure to follow. Her movements were slower than normal, the act of bending to pack her things something that she hoped would be slow torture. Once she was finished she affected an air of indifference as if she had no interest in whether he was paying her any attention or not although she spoke as she passed him on her way into the bathhouse without looking in his direction. "I never said that I was entertainer by the way." His earlier comment on her occupation had not gone unnoticed. It was more fun to leave him in doubt though so if he probed further she'd be evasive and all for the simple reason that it'd be fun. Perhaps the member of high society - if that's what he was - could even be fleeced. The Sunberthian certainly looked forward to trying.

[Pulren Marsh]

So, she wasn't completely stubborn. Had she been, it would have been an unfortunate and sudden ending to a more pleasurable day, but that would have been fine. Fortunately, was a social creature, which aided her in playing the game. Being a beautiful bitch only worked in some circles. The thorns were sometimes more pronounced than the petals and aroma. Back came the sweetness, almost as if she could hear his thoughts.

Her movements were deliberate, her back arched and her amazing curves on display for Palaren to drool over. This would usually be the case, but her clear decision to keep distance between them and her hesitance in being close to him was a sharp contrast to the display she was making. Sure, he would enjoy the show, but his hand wasn't going near his coin purse. Once the show and the sway was over, she snapped back to her cold self and brushed by the man, clearly swimming in her own ego. No reason not to let her play the game she was playing. He just wasn't sure what she was playing at.

He found her comment amusing, the grin evident and genuine in its wake. "But you are very entertaining. I'll gather the juice and join you in the public bath." He walked toward the hall to find a pitcher of the cool and tart juice and two glasses. His coin was still secure in his room. He would find out what it was that drove this girl. Maybe her name as well.

[Caela Dorin]

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His initial comment elicited a light laugh from the dancer that quickly died on her lips as he put forward his suggested plan of action. There was a gasp of horror from the blonde, eyes locking on the man in an attitude of terror as she found herself presented with such an unsavoury suggestion. Her reaction was obvious for just a few ticks before she tried to smother it, glancing away and trying to affect indifference. The public bath was not something that she was overly fond of these days. It made her nervous to be in there at any time but men in those waters only heightened her anxiety. Being alone with a man in those conditions was something that the dancer had come to fear after what had happened two seasons before. The last thing that she wanted was to be attacked in such a vulnerable position.

You can look after yourself now, she reminded herself although she was far from confident in her own abilities, especially when immersed in water. Water was more resistant to movement she was sure, more effort would be required to do any damage while in it and while her arms could be kept above the surface, her legs - her most useful asset - would be submerged.

Caela forced her face to remain smooth as the man went off to collect the juice that he had mentioned while panic set in internally. What could she do? Go after him and say no? It seemed the most sensible course of action but at the same time the worst. Weakness and fear weren't good things to show and seeing as she really knew nothing about the man she had no idea of how he would react to such signs. Not knowing him is all the more reason not to get into a bath alone with him! It set her in a place where either choice she made could be a bad one. Which was the lesser of two evils? Well she thought that having her clothes on would be better but then she knew that he was stronger than her, the ease with which he could do push ups attesting to that. Would he not be at an equal disadvantage in the water as herself and hadn't she gotten away from her last unwanted bathing companion no worse for wear?

If she was going to go the water route a decision would have to be made quickly. Better to be undressed and already in the water rather than arriving after Palaren and having to strip in front of him. Not that she wanted the roles reversed; she didn't want a glimpse of what lay beneath his clothing. The thought sent a shiver of disgust through her but not knowing where he'd actually gone she chose to proceed with what he'd suggested.

The woman who worked in the place - she couldn't remember her name - appeared bleary eyed before Caela had a chance to escape into the communal bathing area and so coins had to be shoved hastily into her hands so that the dancer could hurry inside. It was deserted as yet her companion apparently still on his quest for beverages. Her belongings were dropped at the pool side before the young woman undressed with rapidity, shoving clothing into her bag and slipping as fast as she dared into the water. Still alone the dancer forced herself to relax, focusing on the soft swill of the water around her as she shifted and settled and trying to make the tension flow out into it. Her heart was beating fast enough that she was sure that it was building up speed to make the escape that she no longer could. Belatedly realising that when the Zeltivan had vanished from her sights that she could have run, the sound of a step outside the door signalled that there was nothing that could be done about it now.

The blonde closed her eyes, allowing her body to sink into the water up to her shoulders and tried to remain outwardly relaxed for the man's benefit when he entered.
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[Pulren Marsh]

Pulren thought it best just to bring the pitcher and glasses. He didn't believe anyone would be too angry and he could always return them. The Hot Springs was good for this relaxed attitude and it was for this reason that he had chosen to stay there even after his former traveling companions had moved into the town.He had never had so much fun before, the bath house of Zeltiva seeming very rigid and proper in comparison to the Springs. Not so many beautiful women appearing there, either. Yes, it was a lovely change of pace and this whole Palaren routine was working out splendidly. It made him wonder how successful Pulren would have been at being himself, though one couldn't trust a resident of Sunberth not to use or sell such information.

Upon entering the public bath house, Pulren found a ready made grin rising on his face. The lady was completely naked and sitting in the water expectedly. His eyes traveled over to the belongings and clothes nearby. The odd part about all of that was that he had no expectations in a thousand years that she would actually be naked and waiting. He actually expected quite a bit of resistance. Perhaps his initial guess of harlot was accurate. Maybe it was a trap. Whatever it was, he found it very odd and he was going to get some answers. Still completely dressed, he stepped near her and poured himself a glass of juice, setting it on a bench nearby. He then placed the pitcher and empty glass near her and picked her clothes up, placing them next to his new seat.

Taking a long sip, he took a deep breath and looked at her before speaking. "I don't understand you at all. First, you seem very angry and violated. Then you are disgusted and cautious. Then you seem friendly and neutral. Then you do this thing by your bag where you are seductive. Now you are nude in the water." He took another sip, smacking his lips at the tartness. "I know I am not an ugly person. I know that I have been known to be charming even. However, in my limited experience, I have never made such an impression on a woman as to turn her from frightened victim to naked bather in such a short time. Not that I am complaining, as you are spectacular."

Standing and crossing his arms, Pulren's face seem to darken a bit and his eyebrows furrowed. "I mean you no harm and would never do anything to you that you didn't want me to do. That being said, what is your angle here? What is it that you want from me? Best to be clear and not have any misconceptions or hurt feelings. Don't you think?" His foot tapped in waiting in front of her clothes.

[Caela Dorin]

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She waited until the man was well within the room - judging when he was by the clear echo of his footsteps - before she opened her eyes and let them travel in his direction. Palaren seemed perfectly at ease and more than contented but then why wouldn't he be? He'd gotten what he'd wanted, a beautiful woman waiting for him in the bath. Well he hadn't asked her to actually be in the bath but she'd had no intentions of stripping in front of him. He poured himself a drink and made no move to undress.

Oh great! He's going to milk this for as long as he can, she groaned internally. If she had to put up with him hovering somewhere above her and looking down then she couldn't be expected to be happy about it. The situation was bad enough without that. The man did worse than she could have imagine. As casually as he pleased he picked up her clothes and moved them. How dare he! He had no right to touch anything of hers, especially not anything that involved her undergarments! This was almost as bad as that time that she'd gone skinny dipping that night down at the Docks. It was enough to set her very much on edge, the woman turning in the water so that her arms rested on the edge of the pool. Eyes travelled from the Zeltivan to her now out of reach clothing and back again.

Before she could get over her unpleasant surprise say a word in protest he'd already chosen to speak, his eyes fixed on her as he did so. Caela tried not to wince as he broke down her various reactions into such simple terms, the young woman not enjoying his assessment very much. The fact that he'd dissected even her more seductive behaviour in such a way did not bode well for her. She'd misjudged him and was a fool for doing so. She'd assumed that he was like most men who thought with other parts of their anatomy rather than their brains while in her presence. The evidence had been there, clear as day in his arousal but yet somehow he'd risen above that to truly watch her.

The blonde didn't know what to do, was floundering in such unsavoury circumstances and she had no idea how to get out of this mess. He stood between her and her clothes meaning that she'd genuinely have to go through him to get them. The dancer had far too much pride to plead with him for their safe return but yet there seemed to be no other solution to the awkward and compromising position that she found herself in. It was dangerous ground that she was treading on even if there was no risk of him violating her in any way.

Her words were considered carefully, her lip chewed upon before she allowed herself to speak. "I wouldn't describe all of my reactions in those terms." Her gaze sought his, her expression slightly pained as she proceeded onwards. "I think you'll agree it was perfectly justifiable for me to be wary of you at first for obvious reasons. Just because a man says that he'll do you no harm really doesn't mean anything at face value but your actions seem to reflect what you claim."

That bit of seductive action was a bit more difficult to work around. She didn't want him to take it as a sign in his favour after all. It was easier to explain the bath bit away then the bit before it but she endeavoured to try. "I wasn't being intentionally seductive so if I came across that way it wasn't my fault." To not be caught out in her lie would mean that her eyes couldn't betray her. Looking away would make her appear guilty and if she met his gaze then she couldn't cover her true sentiments so she tried to cheat. Her head was shaken back and forth emphatically, a slight lowering of her eyelids as she did so and her eyes ever so slightly downcast. Eye contact was only broken for a moment between them, which she hoped would be enough. To stop him from catching her out she moved on to the part of how she came to be waiting in the bath for him so that she could mix some truth in as quickly as possible.

"And I had no plans of stripping off in front of you. I'm not comfortable in public baths around strangers. I needed to get clean anyway so when you suggested coming here I assumed that bathing was your intention and I wasn't going to wait and have to undress in front of you. Are those sufficient reasons for you to pass me some of that juice and move my clothes back to where they were? Moving them like that doesn't come across very well you know," Caela finished coolly. Her expression became one of displeasure which quickly changed to indifference as she regarded him. There was still some uncertainty in her eyes though and a touch of anxiety as she awaited to see his reaction. She could only hope that he'd see her answers in the favourable light in which she wanted them to be seen. If he didn't then she imagined that she was going to be in a whole world of trouble.
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[Pulren Marsh]

Pulren wondered if it was as painful for her to admit defeat as it appeared to be. He still couldn't figure her out and it was very puzzling, to say the least. She seemed to really think about her actions, the long pause between his words and hers enough to know that she was not going to lie anymore. Or at least not in such a vulgar and obvious way. Since he was blamed for being a lech, he didn't mind discerning the shape of her form through the rippling waters.

So he listened to her explanations, his eyes returning to her own. If anything, he pitied being trapped in such a beautiful form, your every move and reaction ogled for the rest of your life, or forty to fifty years at least. "I'm no simpleton. I understand why you would feel unsafe at first. But you do have to realize that I am staying here as a guest, I woke up in the morning to find a beautiful woman stretching and flexing her perfect body." At this point, he waited and listened to the rest of her explanation and nodded to himself, picking up her clothes and placing them back in their original place. He also took a moment to pour the juice into the remaining glass for her, placing it near her before continuing to think, walking in a slow circle around the bath as he did so.

"Yes, I got an erection. It may have been crude to you and if so, I apologize. It is just my body and a natural occurrence. Had it happened here in front of others who are used to relaxing at the Springs, perhaps a chuckle or a glance away, but certainly not revulsion." Once he was directly opposite of her, he took a seat and removed his boots, placing them neatly next to him as his feet entered the water. The soothing feeling never got old."Let's put it like this: You had every right to feel the way you did and I had every right to feel the way I did. Let's clean the slate and start over. I am Palaren Marshall. And you are?"