Completed Who Needs a Mute Canary?

[Evarista]

82nd of Autumn, 516 A.V. Knock knock. The rattle on the door pulled Evarista out of her shallow sleep. In a display of willpower, she pried open her eyes and stared at the ceiling. That's where her willpower ended, though. She couldn't force herself to move more. Knock knock. What do they want now? Why'd anyone want anything from her, anyway? Whatever it was, she wasn't planning to move a muscle, let alone getting out of bed. Just go away! "My lady? Your father summons you." Bryony's worry-tinged voice seeped through the crack under the door and into her ears. After a relatively long pause, Evarista finally digested the meaning of those words and shot out of the bed like an arrow. The languish was blown away without a trace left. Flashbacks to yesterday's evening flooded her mind, along with a directionless sense of urgency. Today was the first day of her... adult life? The girl noticed that she had gone to bed with her clothes on, so they were all wrinkled, and her hair looked and felt like a bird's nest that has been mauled by a bear. Still, there was no time for careful preparations. As soon as she could stand without supporting herself on the desk, Evarista headed straight for the door and swung it open, nearly squashing Bryony's nose. "Take me to him." Not saying another word and staying a respectable distance to avoid any further risk of collateral damage, the maid pattered hurriedly along the corridor with a wobbling Evarista in tow. She stopped in front of a guestroom, gesturing towards the door and backing away. This is where Hwyn was left yesterday, wasn't it? The servants had to make sure that the fresh brand wouldn't get infected, and the extra-sanitary conditions of the blooded residence were necessary for this. The girl grabbed the doorknob, but before she could turn it, she realized that Hwyn wasn't the only one on the other side. "Come in, Evarista." Sitanos calmly beckoned her to proceed with her doorknob-turning motion. It was almost like he could see through wood, but she knew it wasn't necessary for him. Her father didn't need magic to be extraordinary. Once inside of the room, Evarista sat down on the corner of the large bed, facing the older man who was sitting on an armchair next to the head of the bed. Hwyn's sleeping face was peeking out from the folds of the soft pillow that was way too large for him. This was perhaps the first and last time he would sleep in a fancy bed like this; it was almost a shame to wake him up. Currently, the more important presence in the room was her father. Stealing a timid glance at him, Evarista fidgeted with the hem of her ruffled skirt. The man looked to be deep in thought as he sat on the armchair, arms and legs crossed. His gaze was resting on the blonde boy's sleeping face, the only feature not covered by the fluffy feather-stuffed blanket. Hwyn's body seemed especially small in in the wide and airy bed, the barely noticeable outline of his chest under the blanket rising and falling with his every breath. Sitanos pursed his lips before finally opening his mouth and making a comment in an even tone, without taking his eyes off the younger male. "You've surprised me." He went silent again, expression unreadable. Evarista's anxiety shot towards the roof. She had only told him about a "boy she met at a café", never getting the opportunity to explain the decidedly peculiar details about him. Clearly, her father was expecting something entirely different to be lying on the bed in front of him. Was this good or bad? She couldn't tell at all. Just as she was about to ask this, she felt the blanket be pulled slightly under her. The star of the show was waking up. "Good morning, fellow. How are you feeling?" Sitanos broke the silence, this time addressing Hwyn. Evarista sought some indication of the man's attitude in his face and voice. Judgement? Amusement? Annoyance? Something! But the patriarch's countenance was impenetrable. He was not going to express a conclusion before he was ready to make one. Evarista stared at the boy as well. The image of the brand he was now carrying flashed in her mind. With a small voice, she spoke to him as well, holding a respecful pause between the man's address and her own. "Does it still hurt?" It was almost a whisper, carrying an uncanny undertone... as if she was hoping for him to answer 'yes'. Perhaps it was a clarification of Sitanos' question, perhaps it was something else entirely. Evarista's own naturally stony expression was not any easier to read than her father's practiced pokerface.

[Hwyn]

Who Needs a Mute Canary?

If Hwyn could define the ideal rest it was a night of sleep that was comfortable black. to think, to feel, even to dream, those were all unnecessary distractions from storing energy. Hwyn liked sleeping it was one of the few times he could be at peace, the real world was of no concern to the sleeping mind. However, the problem with sleep is that eventually, you have to wake up.

Awaking in slow stages Hwyn's first thoughts were the sounds of words, and footsteps, he was no longer alone, beyond that that. A slight pressure near his foot alerted him that someone was sitting on the bed he lay in. He really didn't want to get up, he could sleep for many more hours given they'd let him, but he knew it was not to be, with consciousness came the telltale stinging on his chest that informed him that he was still wounded, and grimly reminded him of what had transpired the day prior. Forcing his eyes open Hwyn looked from the woman at the end of his bed, Evarista, to the voice beside him, Hwyn didn't know who the man was, but judging by his current situation it would be wise to tread softly. searching his brain Hwyn found the tone he'd used back in Sunberth, a respectful whisper. How was he, though, honestly he hurt, his chest stung and felt tight, and he was encrusted by a layer of dried sweat, perhaps his body trying to cool the burn in his sleep. That said it's oft better to lie and suffer than admit weakness.

"G-good morning to you as well sir. I am... n-not unwell.... How are you?"

when dealing with the unfamiliar, caution is key, Hwyn heard Evarista's question but did not deign to answer it with words, she probably knew the answer bu a short shake of his head was his response anyway. the question was, what now, he was trapped between a rock and a hard place once more, his tongue felt dry the people before him both wore emotionless masks that made him squirm. could he ask who he was talking to, or was it better for him to not say anything all, the golden rule was to speak only when spoken to, and speak little, not a rule Hwyn cared for, but in this situation, it would serve him well to remain demure and quiet.

Sitting up Hwyn looked at himself and flushed, beyond the bandages that wrapped around his chest he was completely nude, whoever had put him to rest here had not bothered to leave him his clothing. letting his eyes dart around for a moment Hwyn didn't see any of his articles anywhere either. pulling the blanket up to his chest when he sat up He hoped his indecency hadn't been exposed. He really didn't want to talk to Evarista, she'd done something that he was still struggling to accept.

"Good morning to you as well Miss Evarista."

The words felt unpleasant coming off of his tongue, could he forgive this madam of her transgressions against him, it didn't feel like he could at the moment, but now was not a time for vengeance or hate, it was a time to wait, listen and to observe, he could not fight a situation he did not understand any more than he could escape at the very moment, so for now, he had to be patient.

Credit to Shimoje, the bestest buddy

[Evarista]

Sitanos gave a small smile, gauging Hwyn's reply quickly. He needed to know what sort of person the new slave was, and being who he was, a long interrogation wasn't necessary. Even when being suddenly awoken, the boy showed a level of politeness, and didn't try to make a commotion about his new situation. There were no signs of sudden anger or violence. The servants have filled the man in on the physical details. He knew about Hwyn's scars, and that Hwyn was indeed a boy, despite not looking like one. While those two facts alone weren't enough to piece together an accurate picture of Hwyn's elaborate past, but they, together with Hwyn's relatively calm reaction now, were enough to give a hint. He's been a slave before, or at least something close to it. There was only one thing Sitanos was unsure about. The last time, was the boy enslaved despite his feminine features, or because of them? No one would bother putting chains on him to lay bricks or lug crates, that much was obvious. As far as the older man could tell, from what he was seeing and from Evarista's words yesterday, Hwyn's only value was his companionship. And he wasn't the sort of company the average slave owner would look for. So the only type of person who would want to enslave him would be... a pervert. Sitanos' eyes narrowed slightly, shifting towards Evarista, who was still sitting on the corner of the bed awkwardly, unsure what to do with herself. While her face showed no emotion at all, he knew that she was boiling inside. As he looked at her slightly hunched form, a sinking feeling touched his heart. He shouldn't care; he should have stopped caring long ago, for his own good. His secret hope that Evarista would 'make it' as an upstanding citizen one day only brought him more pain every time it was dashed. He couldn't stifle a weary sigh, startling his daughter visibly. Rightfully so. But maybe, in the end, this would do some good. Maybe having to take care of this boy would teach her something, but... most probably it would end up the other way around. That is, the boy would have to take care of her. Just imagining it made Sitanos want to laugh. He was content with giving a friendly smile to both the miserable in front of him, before finally speaking to Hwyn again. "I'm well, and I'm glad to see you'll be joining us. You are safe here, but in return, I want to ask a favor of you." He leaned forward, looking Hwyn in the eyes. His tone lowered to a whisper, so that Evarista wouldn't hear, and his tone was still warm, but had a hint of seriousness in it. His head tilted towards the girl sitting at the foot of the bed, barely noticeably. "Take care of her." Without waiting for a response, he rose from the chair and walked out of the room unhurriedly. He has seen and said everything he wanted to. The rest was up to the two of them. As the door clicked behind him, Evarista looked up at Hwyn. Once her father was gone from the scene, she has relaxed visibly, almost reminding of herself at the café two weeks ago. Standing up from the corner, she walked closer to the head of the bed and sat down right next to Hwyn. Her mouth opened to ask permission of she could touch him, but then she realized that it wasn't necessary. She could do whatever she wanted. With that thought, the girl silently reached out and stroked his cheek with a hint of affection, just like at the café yesterday. Her face was expressionless as always, but her eyelids twitched mischievously. With a creeping voice, she spoke to the boy, seeking the color of his eyes with hers. "You lied, didn't you?" Her eyes fell on his bandaged chest, mostly covered by the blanket, and she barely resisted the urge to touch the forbidden spot there. There was no way that didn't hurt still. The girl admired his defiance, but she didn't appreciate his dishonesty. When it came to the vast majority of people around her, she couldn't care less if they lied to her or not, as she had no interest in their affairs. It was none of her business. Hwyn, on the other hand, was her business in his entirety. "Why did you lie?" Her voice was strained, almost pained. A familiar tremble entered her tone, the sort that meant nothing good. She leaned closer and cupped his face in her cold hands, almost touching his nose with hers. There was no real aggression, neither in her action nor in her tone, but she exuded an uncanny pressure. "Please don't lie to me." Her voice came out in a low growl, almost a hissing whisper through clenched teeth. Her cloudy eyes stood snapped wide open, piercing him point-blank in a rare moment of intensity. There would be no secrets between them. One way or another, she'd make sure of that.

[Hwyn]

Who Needs a Mute Canary?

The man was polite, if imposing, the scrutiny beneath his gaze made Hwyn feel very small it was never pleasant to have someone peer at your essence, or to be led to believe that they were at any rate. the man was stoic, and carried himself stiffly, hwyn found it queer though that he paid Evarista very little heed. had he already talked with her while he was asleep? Whatever it was it felt like most of the man's attention was focused on him. The man responded to him warmly and though his assurance of safety fell almost entirely on deaf ears hwyn still nodded and gave the man a faint forced smile, what the man said when he leaned forward was a tidbit of confusing information, take care of her? Why would he ask such a cruel favor, that's similar to asking one to dig their own grave... it felt unfair to ask, yet hwyn still nodded dutifully, he didn't like taking orders, especially when they were given by those that gave them with no regard for others, but the man had a certain magnetism and grimness to him that made him not want to disappoint him.

When the man left and shut the door behind him hwyn found himself facing his captor alone, she came around to him sitting near him, the closeness to the woman mad him more aware of his own vulnerability. No, this situation was not exactly ideal in any way, the woman before him had plans for him if some sort and he didn't see too many of them being pleasant, he prayed he was only being paranoid but then the woman leaned forward and stroked one of his cheeks Hwyn struggled to not let his breath catch.

Then she accused him of lying only to get closer to him and further question why he'd had lied tell at last she cupped his face and had her own face nearly touching his own, and asked him not to lie to her, but even when said as a request hwyn knew that it was a demand. He couldn't look away and as she leaned closer nearly pulling the sheets off of him entirely he was forced to waste one hand on gripping the sheets to keep his groin covered. her breath felt warm on his face. Hwyn's nose informed him that he didn't quite hate her scent, though the fact that such a thought crossed his mind warned him that his brain was already trying to accept this new lot in life, was he comfortable serving someone who'd lied to him so casually. e really wasn't sure, she could turn around and try to do more horrible things to him at the drop of a hat. He shivered more at the thought of he calling him out though, the thought of being scolded still haunted him through his past.

"I..I'm sorry.. yes, I still feel pain... but... admitting that I hurt will just make me a poor servant.... I don't like pain.. but I'm used to it.. so I don't need to complain.... B-but... if my pain is something you wish to be informed of.... I-i'll try not to lie about it."

Why should she care? She was the origin of his pain... so why would she care, he doubted she cared about him at all, he was probably just some to, and even if she could make him feel pain, it'd take a lot more than pain to make him hurt.

"M-miss.... Evarista.... uhmm.... I'm sorry... "

Trying to gently lean away from her so that he could reclaim his privacy hwyn hoped she'd be done with him soon so he could hopefully track down his belongings.. or at least whatever his belongings were now.

Credit to Shimoje, the bestest buddy

[Evarista]

It was enjoyable to hear him apologise, regardless of whether the apology was genuine or not. She was savoring his vibrating voice, and somehow, it didn't matter much what he was saying. What did make her react was his attempt to pull away. As he diverted his gaze and leaned back, she held his face tighter on impulse. She inhaled deeply, trying to prevent herself from squeezing him too hard. She didn't want to hurt him now, but she also didn't want him to go. She wanted to continue sharing the closeness, jagged as thorns to him, but sweet as nectar to her. But he wanted to pull away. This tiny gesture of his caused a sinking feeling in her stomach. He didn't like her. Of course he didn't like her. The moral and physical cruelty she committed towards him was still fresh in the air, and on his chest. But Evarista's mind has been quick to skim and skip over the injustice she inflicted on him. That's not what all of this was about, she told herself. Didn't he see? She wanted him to like her. She had so enjoyed his company at the café. His radiant eyes, his gentle voice, his demure smile, she wanted to have all these things to herself. But in an attempt to claim them, she has destroyed them. But... if she hadn't attempted to claim them, they would slip out of her grasp anyway. No matter what she did, she could not have what she wanted the most. Once again, just like always, her life was a box of chocolates and every single piece was just a different flavor of wrong. The girl let go of his face and turned away, lowering her hands to her lap and hanging her head in despair. Before her brooding mind could make any more drastic decisions, there was a knock on the door. Bryony had brought breakfast for the two of them. A few pieces of bread, smoked salmon, a bowl of fresh vegetables and a small pot of black tea. Nothing too elaborate, but fine none the less. When she saw the food, Evarista felt her stomach turn in hunger. Neither she nor Hwyn had eaten anything since yesterday's lunch, so she was eager to help herself. Hwyn could reach his plate on the bedside table, without even needing to get out of bed. The mood raise brought by the arrival of food didn't last long. Evarista loved smoked salmon, but as she chewed on it, it felt like a piece of wet cotton in her mouth. Spiders didn't have taste buds. She wasn't a spider anymore, but not all of her body registered that fact. The pleasure of good cooking was closed to her, as were the other few pleasures she had traditionally indulged in. Her mind wandered to her wine-laden desk in her room, but she shook her head slowly, as if chasing the thoughts away. She couldn't bring herself to drink, either. There was nothing left to distract her from the constant, nagging pain that coursed through her violently stressed body and djed. Except Hwyn. Not bearing to chew the piece of bread in her mouth, she swallowed it down by force. More than half of her food was untouched, but her appetite was gone as quickly as it arrived. She turned her head towards the boy again, but didn't attempt to touch him. Another knock on the door. This time, Bryony had brought clothes for Hwyn, a maid uniform. It was a tad more elaborate than the type he wore at the café, with a flowing black robe, a starched white apron and even a frilly maid headband. Although Bryony knew that wearing a woman's uniform was not appropriate for a male servant, she seems to have gotten the hint about Hwyn. Evarista perked up a little when she saw this. Giving Hwyn a small smile, she stood up from the bed and held out her hand to him tentatively. Of course, she wasn't going to walk out of the room to let him put on the new clothes in peace. It was a subconscious switch that had simply turned on in her head once she started mentally categorizing him as a slave; slaves had no right to privacy, and Hwyn was to be no exception. Bryony stood helpfully by to help him climb into the fresh, soap-fragrant attire. "We should take a walk around. I'll show you the estate. Hmm... I hope you'll like it." The young aristocrat was anxious, but being dark and pessimistic now was not an option, as it would probably kill her physically in a short order. Her body and mind couldn't take it; she needed a light in her life. The only hope for such a light was sitting right in front of her, pulling on his bedsheets awkwardly. She was desperate to restore the things she yearned for in him, the flowers in his soul that she had so brutally trampled yesterday. She had no idea how to do that, but she was going to try her best. Above everything else in the world, right now, she wanted to make it so that he would not lean away from her anymore. Improbable? Yes. But she has accomplished stranger things.

[Hwyn]

Who Needs a Mute Canary?

It was a quaint feeling... Evarista was... different, he'd sensed she was different when he'd met her, but he was beginning to piece together chunks of whatever the puzzle before him was. When Evarista finally let go of him she looked away from him... disappointed? How was he supposed to behave for her, what did she want from him? There were so many unknowns in the air right now, all he knew for certain was that he was in mild discomfort due to a brand that was burned into his flesh. Was it really so odd that he behaved cautiously? When a meal arrived Hwyn watched Eva eat while he mutely munched on a small piece of bread, his stomach still felt sour from yesterday so he was not too keen on eating much.

Soon after the food arrived the silence was broken by the return of the maid who this time bore what Hwyn had been desiring since he woke up, something to wear at last. Looking over the dress Hwyn squinted, and tried to suppress a wry smile, even in a poor mood Hwyn had a weakness to clothing, such was his hobby, and the dress presented to him was, well of an undeniably good quality, the materials were well woven and looked smooth and soft from a distance. If that was what he was going to where while he lived here,well... perhaps there were some perks to this otherwise unpleasant situation. When Hwyn saw Eva smile about this and stand to pull him from his bed he flushed red, there really was no avoiding this was there?

Taking Eva's hand Hwyn stepped out of the bed letting his other hand maintain his privacy. looking at the small stack of clothing Hwyn released a small grimace, there was something to be said for women's undergarments versus men's, simply put men's clothing was designed with a couple pieces of anatomy in mind, as such even when in disguise if he could afford it he preferred looser fitting undergarments, not to mention they gave added ambiguity at a glance, however the undergarments given were for certain not designed with such comforts in mind. Well, it wasn't like he had much of a choice in the matter, taking the pair Hwyn tried to angle himself so that he could quickly pull the article on without revealing himself, he really didn't like prying eyes, and such his body was not something he liked sharing, from his scars to his thin frame, he found letting any of it be seen embarrassing and uncomfortable. That said, beyond being quite snug, the clothing was quite comfortable and a cursory glance at his posterior confirmed that the clothing framed him well. Not there was something wrong with a little earned vanity right?

The dress followed, the maid uniform was similar to what he'd worn at the cafe if of a slightly nicer quality with Byrony's help he pulled the outfit on quickly, but when she went to tie the apron the added tightness made him wince when the fabric over his brand pulled tight, it really did hurt now that he was up and moving, any flex of his left shoulder made him wince a little, but he was good at managing pain so he'd live. when the last piece of the outfit went on, a piece he'd never worn before Hwyn wished he had a mirror, the Frilly headband pulled his bangs back revealing his forehead and eyes that usually hid slightly behind his bangs. Well.. as far as work clothes went he found this particular set up satisfactory. He might as well play the good slave for now, Evarisata's offer to show him about the grounds would be a good chance to learn more about the place.

Looking at Evarista and Byrony Hwyn performed a short pirouette in the new outfit before curtsying.

"Uhm.... How do I l-look?"

Credit to Shimoje, the bestest buddy

[Evarista]

Evarista watched Hwyn's face as it burst into a bright blush, once he realized that he had to get out of the bed. She continued staring at him rudely as he dressed, finding a great satisfaction in his nude figure, and in the way the garments came to hug it. Hwyn's awkward attempts to turn away, as amusing as that was in its own right, only revealed other features of his body to her, including the scars on his back. She found the scars strangely appealing, perhaps even more so than his derriere just below them... Alright, fine, she was a pervert, there were no illusions about that. She had admitted this to herself long ago, and was not particularly ashamed to act on it if someone struck the right chord for her. Whatever the case, the boy acted embarrassed now, but he'd get used to it. He'd certainly have to. His fully dressed form looked even finer to her, however. Evarista has never had any interest in dolls, at least not human-looking ones, but this was irresistible for multiple reasons. As long as she had a say in the matter, he was not going to wear men's clothes at all. Ready and crowned with a headband, the blonde spun a circle for her. She noticed the twitch of his face when he tried to move his left arm, but said nothing about it. Cracking a smile of approval as an answer to his question, she took his hand and lead him out of the room, Bryony left behind to clean up the guestroom. Pausing for a moment, she pondered where to take the boy first. As far as she was concerned, there was one important place that Hwyn had to know better than anything. "Let's go to my room. It's one floor up." With that short announcement, she lead him through the wide corridor. A flight of stairs took them to the top floor of the blooded residence, just as lavishly decorated, but notably more quiet. There was an interesting tendency in this building; the higher one went, the quieter it became, and it was especially evident at the top floor, and maximally so in this particular corridor. Here were the rooms of the oldest siblings of the main branch, including Evarista herself. Unlike her, the others were very busy people and absent from their rooms the whole day, and often several days at a time. This effectively lead to Evarista being the only person present in the entire wing, save for the occasional servant dropping by to clean up. Today this was more evident than ever, as the corridor was deathly silent. The pair's footsteps echoed loudly as they walked, soon reaching their destination. Evarista pushed the door open. She wasn't in the habit of locking it, as there was nothing in it worth hiding, and there was virtually no one in the family who would voluntarily enter her room anyway. The room looked a lot more plain and empty than one could expect of someone who stayed cooped up in it most of her days. Evarista didn't enjoy fancy interior decoration, so everything was strictly practical, though of a high quality. There was her bed, her wardrobe, and finally her desk, half-buried under somberly-colored glass bottles. The only item that stood out was the jar on the windowsill, containing the thoughtful silhouette of Archibald against the bright noon sky. Evarista had completely forgotten to hide him. Ah, well. They might as well get acquainted. "That's... Archibald. He's happy to meet you," the girl stated in an even tone, as if introducing Hwyn to a human. She then let go of the boy's hand. "Feel free to take a look around." Letting the boy walk around for a short while and inspect what little there was to inspect in the room, Evarista sat down in the armchair, which was currently facing the window. She couldn't see the lake while sitting down, but she could see the clear sky. The soft splashing of water from below and the breeze sweeping in from the open window were soothing. She liked it, and allowed herself to relax a little as she sat like that, for the first time in a while. The wind ruffling her hair made her realize that she still needed to brush it. She was about to get up, but then realized that there was a much better alternative. "Hwyn. The dresser. There's a hair brush in the top drawer. Will you...?" She stroked her bird-nest hair illustratively. He'd probably do a much better job than herself, and besides, it was an excuse to not get up from the comfy position in the chair. "Oh, and give me a shoulder massage when you're done." Now that she had a personal slave, might as well get into the groove of things. Secretly, it was also an excuse to get him to touch her, as she wondered what that would feel like. Although some family members got massages from Bryony occasionally, Evarista never thought of asking one for herself. Now that she had her very own Hwyn, it suddenly became a temptation, and one she had no reason to resist.

[Hwyn]

Who Needs a Mute Canary?

The woman's scrutinizing gaze never seemed to leave him, that said the wan smile he earned in response to his question pleased him... did it? Hwyn groaned inwardly, he shouldn't care about the opinions of someone that had enslaved him, he should be looking for a way to escape, not enjoying clothing... it was very nice clothing....

When Evarista took his hand again Hwyn dutifully followed after Evarista when she told him that they were to be exploring the household, it was something that he would have to pay close attention to when he got the chance. However, when they left the room instead of exploring the ground Evarista already had an objective in mind, her own room. It was a little vexing though perhaps unavoidable, he'd have to be patient. Following Eva one thing that was indded apparent was the relative silence that existed within the halls. As they went to her room they only passed one servant who was as quiet as the hallway they walked in, of course, it was morning so perhaps people were busy and out and about, Hwyn did not know much about the residents of the household he was now residing in, so perhaps it would be best to hold off on making any assumptions that could bite him back later.

Stepping into Evarista's room Hwyn looked about, you could learn a lot about someone from thier living space. looking about Hwyn found the room to be... slightly bare in decoration, though a myriad of glass bottles and other such things scattered her desk. When Evarista introduced Archibald to him He smiled wanly, not too many people kept spiders as pets... and after his last run in with the spcies he could not see himself ever desiring to keep one, that said the small creature in the jar was a tad less imposing.

as hwyn was looking about He heard Evarista's first command, her pause and the command that followed, he wasn't terribly knowledgeable on massages but brushing hair was something he was competent at. Getting the brush Hwyn approached Eva from behind and took her hair into his hands, instead of brushing right away Hwyn gathered her hair and ran his fingers through it slowly, not forcing any tangles but gently resolving them, he had always had a tender scalp so could not stand the idea of jerking tangled hair. Her hair felt smooth and didn't have the waviness that Hwyn's hair had when it went a little while without being washed. Something that he'd have to do soon, the lack of available rivers in Ravok was irritating and he was terrified of the idea of bathing in the lake, so he'd just have to figure something out later.

After a minute of using just his hands Hwyn began to use the brush slowly bringing Evarista's hair to a silky sheen that only straight and dark hair could acquire. Hwyn liked his own blonde hair but the appeal of darker locks was evident in the hair he held. Even with the brush he was gentle taking his time with each stroke while using his opposite hand to maintain that each brush was getting all of her hair. When he was done he stood back for a moment and admired his work, he'd not brushed hair that wasn't his own but it felt a little easier to do someone else since a mirror and poor angles weren't an issue.

Then Hwyn moved on to the woman's shoulders, massage wasn't something he knew much about but.. it couldn't me too terribly hard. As always Hwyn's approach was gentle, he was just rubbing her shoulders. placing a hand on each of her shoulders Hwyn gave a slight squeeze to find the muscles and upon locating them began to slowly flex his fingers, softly applying and releasing pressure, his hands weren't large but luckily neither were Evaista's shoulders moving from the base of her neck outward Hwyn slowly let the warmth of his hands seep into her shoulders, he hoped that he was doing a good job, he'd seen massages at bathhouses before but had always been too intimidated to ask for one. Not letting his hands ever fully leave contact with Eva's skin Hwyn moved to Eva's upper back and used his palms to apply pressure to the muscles behind her shoulder blades, before finally moving back to her shoulders. Hwyn didn't notice it himself but such casual contact brought a red tinge to his cheeks, why this woman was being relatively nice to him, was beyond him, she'd rammed a brand into him yesterday, yet here she was casually having him massage her, it seemed illogical... though Hwyn realized that while she was being trusting of him... he also hadn't tried to strangle her... he could... but it wasn't in him to do so... am I cursed to be sub servant Hwyn wondered to himself.

"does this feel good miss Evarista? I apologize but I've no real experience with giving a massage."

Credit to Shimoje, the bestest buddy

[Evarista]

Evarista hadn't expected having her hair brushed to be such a pleasant experience. It was always a chore when she did it herself, and the long mane got tangled often and easily. Still, her long hair was the only feature she enjoyed feeling feminine about, so she was unwilling to cut it even if she didn't take great care of it. The hands working her head weren't strangers to handling long hair, not being too soft but also never pulling too hard, and she could sense how the bird's nest was gradually smoothed out without any effort on her part. It was very relaxing. Then he moved on to her shoulders. His first touch made her shiver in discomfort; it was the irrational dislike of being touched and the equally irrational dislike of having someone stand behind her. It wasn't as acute when he only brushed her hair, but now it caused her to exhale nervously, though it became a bit easier once he started moving his fingers with a gentle pressure. The massage made her realize just how tense she was; her muscles felt like chunks of granite under her skin. The stress of recent events was still fresh in her memory, and the tension it had caused hasn't subsided much. Hwyn's delicate touch couldn't work through the knots in her shoulders, but his small hands felt good none the less. Once he was finished, she finally stood up and flexed her shoulders in an attempt to relax them more. If he did this regularly, it would probably have an effect down the road. If anything, he deserved praise for the effort, so she gave her usual content smirk and a nod of approval, touching his cheek briefly with her index finger. "Good work, and don't worry. There's plenty of experience to gain." She flexed her aching shoulders again to illustrate. Allowing him to put away the hair brush, she took his hand again and lead him out of the room, in a better mood than before. Where next? It was surprisingly difficult to decide. Evarista was silent as they returned through the empty corridor and descended from the top floor. Besides her room, there was no other place the young aristocrat particularly cared for. The garden came to mind as a distant second, as that's where she found most of her crawly companions, but it didn't seem like the sort of thing that would interest Hwyn. They passed by the doors of the dining hall, and Evarista was about to take him there, but then remembered her false promise of yesterday. Showing him the hall now would probably be unwise. He'd possibly return here later, wearing his waitress garb and carrying tray of food he'd never get to eat himself. Oh the cruelty. Evarista found it amusing, but saying this aloud would probably be unwise as well. Nudging Hwyn by the hand, she changed direction and went towards the garden, just to avoid having to stand still while thinking of any better places. The estate's hanging garden was rather large by Ravokian standards, but that wasn't saying much. The space was modest and the plants weren't particularly colorful or aesthetically pleasing. However, it did offer a pleasant change of environment; a smattering of green on the somber Ravokian monotony of black water and grey stone. Evarista's stunted vision could not appreciate the colors at the moment, but she felt good here none the less. Besides, it could remind Hwyn of Café Fleurs, but whether that was a good or bad things, Evarista couldn't guess. Sitting down on a narrow bench under a thick canopy of grape vines, she inhaled the slightly sweet smell around her. Most of the grapes have already been harvested, but a few places still showed smatterings of berries, left for the final gathering before winter. The smells came forward better what they usually did; was this a change of the same origins as her colorblindness? Reaching up, she plucked down a single grape and popped it into her mouth absent-mindedly, unsure what to tell Hwyn about the garden, other than what was already obvious. She liked the garden exactly because it was usually empty and nothing-happens, though she doubted the adventurous boy would appreciate that as much as she did. Ah well, there wasn't much else she could do. Plucking another grape secretly, she beckoned the boy over, gesturing him to sit down next to her while she kept the grape hidden behind her back. "Close your eyes and open your mouth..." There was a hint of mischief in her tone, but a lot less so than usual.

[Hwyn]

Who Needs a Mute Canary?

It seemed to him that she was not entirely pleased with his performance but neither was she displeased with his massage, it was to be expected he was no expert in such a thing. That said her thin smile and usual caress of his cheek said she wasn't entirely disappointed in him, was there really so much time for him to improve... it was likely that there was, such a place like this held too many unknowns and guards to be easy to leave.

Letting Eva lead him by the hand Hwyn found the casual contact disconcerting before he held in a soft mental laugh. The way he viewed Eva changed a bit... he'd not spent much time with children but he was beginning to a childish streak that made her make more sense to him... She was the selfish sort, she wanted things and wanted them her way, but at the same time the way she pulled Hwyn by the had reminded him of a child showing off her favorite things... it was a strange juxtaposition but it did soften his opinion of Evarista a tad, and it let him entertain an odd thought. Maybe Evarista was secretly lonely. It wasn't something Hwyn couldn't sympathize with, he'd spent many a year locked in a house like this. and while his situation was different it was close enough for Hwyn to make the connection, even if he didn' want to, again he reminded himself that he was a prisoner, and prisoners weren't supposed to comfort their captors.

When they made their way to the garden Hwyn's previous irritations vanished as he allowed a slight smile, He loved gardens and flowers and the smell of such a verdant haven made him a little giddy, this was decidedly going to be a place that brought him great joy within the area.

"Miss Evarista... this is such a pretty garden oh.. i guess you already knew that..."

as hwyn was mumbling he turned around to see Eva beckoning him over. Moving over to her Hwyn did as he was told though it made him nervous he was fairly certain that Eva didn't have anything terrible planned for him.. and if he was going to spend all his time with her... he would have to try and trust her a little right... else he'd spend all his time worried and that was unpleasant.

Lending himself to Eva...Hwyn let his mouth fall open and closed his eyes though the temptation to peak was quite strong, his worst thought was he might end up with a beetle in his mouth or something, Eva's pet spider did little to make him believe that Eva had a squeamish streak in her. Exercises in trust were kind of scary when the person you were trying to trust had lured you home and branded you the day before, something he was again trying to remind himself of. Was he really so forgiving? He didn't like the idea of it, he didn't like grudges or worrying, but was it safe to just accept Eva as a person who would not harm him... The brand was just a necessary evil on her part but she meant well? He had a hard time swallowing that.

Credit to Shimoje, the bestest buddy