forum The Strangers in the Palace (Closed)(Fantasy)

Started October 31, 2021 by Deleted user

tune

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(mmm at least a few days to a week? i think?)

"You're not, Honey." he smoothed his hand over Honey's hair, his touch still gentle as ever. "You're not okay, and that much is obvious to anyone who looks at you." he hated saying it, but it was true. It was obvious, and it was rather sad that it was. "I'm sorry. But you do need…time, and help." he took a deep breath.

Rin nodded again. "Of course. It will be alright, darling. Promise." he cupped Arquis's cheek with one hand, and gently brought him in for a kiss. "Okay? It'll be okay." he hummed very faintly, unsure what else to tell Arquis about this subject.

(ooh ok I'm trying to figure out what else they can do in that period cause I feel like a lot of stuff has been done already and I don't wanna repeat stuff/events too much if that makes sense?)

"I know. But, like, I'm okay enough, y'know? Or at least I hope I am. I really wanna make a good impression on the kid. Be someone they can trust, not someone weepy, and frail, and, like, uh, negative. If that makes sense?” Honey groaned and tugged on his hair sharply, tearing out a curly, golden strand. “I don't want them to be all, oh, yeah, Honey's got so many issues, and, uh, he needs a lotta help, and he's not fun to be around, and… I don't know."

Once they were done with the kiss, Arquis rocked forward so that his head was resting in between their knees. He stroked his fingers absentmindedly along their calf. After a moment, he tapped his ankle and pointed to the plate.

"I do not mean to rush you, but are you finished eating? I am not sure how much longer we should stay. I am worried that we might have overstayed our welcome." Ophia not being in the room seemed like a bad sign. He hoped she wasn't mad. "We must not forget the dresses, of course. Those will need to be placed in our room."

(yeah that makes sense! I get it!)

He nodded. "I know. But pushing away any help just makes it more likely that you'll fail, Honey. Seeking help isn't a sign of weakness, sweet thing." the nickname slipped out before he could stop it, and he winced faintly. "Sorry. I didn't mean to, ah…call you that." he said slowly. "I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable." he took a deep breath, still looking down at Honey.

"I am." he said, setting his plate and empty mug aside. "I, uhm, we should say goodbye to Ophia, and thank her for letting us stay here." he said, smiling at his partner. They stood, reaching down to gently help Arquis up. "It's alright, sweetheart. I love you so much." he had a feeling that Arquis needed that reassurance.

Honey's brows furrowed, but he grinned widely at the nickname. It was adorable, that it just slipped out. He reached up and patted Ari's cheek.

"You're so cute," he teased, his smile absolutely dazzling. "Didn't make me uncomfortable at all. Long as it's not baby or doll, I'm pretty much good. Well. Uh, there are some other nicknames I'm not too fond of, but I'd really hope you wouldn't call me that sorta thing."

It'd really hurt if Ari ever did insult him like that. Not that he'd openly admit it. He'd gotten used to hearing stuff like that while working, and he was generally decent at pretending it didn't bother him.

Arquis flushed, embarrassed at his poor manners. He'd been raised better than to be so careless. Hell, he'd taken entire courses on manners and etiquette. He'd learned proper body language and phrasing. Had all of his lessons gone down the drain? Should he care if they had?

"You are correct. We must do that. And, ah, thank you, dear. I love you, too."

Ari hummed very faintly. "Alright." he replied softly. "I'll keep that in mind. But, ah, the important thing is the other thing I was saying. That seeking help doesn't make you weak, and it doesn't make you untrustworthy. You deserve help, and, ah…you need it, too. No offense meant by any of that at all."

Rin smiled a little, cupping Arquis's cheek again. "Yeah. Darling, would you mind grabbing the dress bags while I go talk to Ophia? Or would you like to come speak to her with me? She went into her bedroom, so we will have to knock before we enter." he gave his partner another soft, sweet smile, gently stroking Arquis's cheek with their thumb.

A muscle worked in Honey's jaw, and, without responding, he rolled off of Ari's lap. He was at an angle, so the other man wouldn't be able to see his expression. His posture was stiff. He grabbed an item of clothing at random and set it down in front of him. It was a skirt. An extremely short, pleated skirt with a thick band around the top. There was a massive rip up the side. Strings were hanging loose. He stared at them for longer than reasonable, not saying a word.

"There's nothing wrong with me," he finally muttered, "that can't be fixed with some time and space. I'm not seeing someone. I won't do it. That sorta thing costs money. I'm not gonna waste resources on something that I don't need. Or want, for that matter. Don't wanna pay some stranger to sit there and listen to me whine for an hour. That wouldn't help. It'd just be unnecessary."

“Oh, no, that is alright. I will stay here,” Arquis breathed, feeling flustered from all the sweet, gentle attention.

He picked up both of their bags, one over each forearm, and waited patiently. There was a dreamy smile on his face from being touched and kissed. He swore that his partner had a calming effect on him, like a nice candle or a warm drink.

Ari cleared his throat faintly. "Oh. No, Honey…therapy is so helpful." he said slowly, quietly. "It's not just whining to someone. It's about just…talking about in, to someone that won't judge you, and learning good coping mechanisms. It helps you heal, Honey." he ran a hand through his still-damp curls, taking a deep breath and studying the young man across from him. "And, ah, I don't know. It's just…" he sighed faintly, unsure what else to say.

Rin nodded, heading over to Ophia's door and knocking gently. "Hey, uh, Ophia? Arquis and I are going to head out now. Thank you for letting us stay here for the night, you've been a wonderful host." they said, taking a deep breath and not really minding if Ophia chose not to open her door.

Honey shook his head, tugging one of the strings from the skirt and widening the tear. "Might be good for some people, I don't know. But I don't think it'd work for me. Especially not with how most folks here see people like me, that're stuck in this line of work. You heard and saw it for yourself. They treat us like crap. And I don't wanna wait around for someone who's never been in my situation to tell me all the things I've done wrong in my life."

His voice wobbled on that last part, and it was clear that the matter was sensitive for him. He hated it when people judged him for what he'd done to get by. For stealing food and living in a lean-to shelter and making bad deals that ended with his ankle being snapped. And for all the stuff that came later, too. The sultry glances sent across dim rooms and all the bedrooms he'd visited. He wasn't proud of most of it, sure, but he'd done what he'd thought he had to. He'd provided for Lovey and Sugar, and he'd kept himself alive. That was all he'd hoped for. All that his older sister had wanted, too, back before she'd passed. She'd tried to keep the three of them safe. He felt guilty that he hadn't thought of her for a long time, but mentioning her the previous night brought up all sorts of memories.

Ophia opened the door. Her glasses had slid down the brim of her nose, and her hair was slightly messy, as if she'd raked her hands through it. She looked nervous.

"Okay. Thank you for letting me know. I wish I'd been a bit better to him, and I'm sorry that I said and asked those things. But please do know that you're welcome here anytime." She started to retreat to her room and then stopped. "Um, sorry to ask for a favor, but do you think you could check on my boy for me? Honey, I mean. I'm just so worried for him."

"The point of therapy is that they won't judge you. And they don't tell you you've done things wrong. That's not…that's not what therapy is about. It's about finding different coping methods to deal with past trauma, or about finding ways to heal. It's not about someone telling you what you've done wrong." he wasn't sure how to communicate this to Honey, that therapy was such a good thing. "I was in therapy for a while, Honey. Rinlos too. He needed it, for reasons that are…their own." he wasn't sure what, if anything, Honey knew about Lysander, but Ari was not going to bring that terrible man up. "I needed it mainly due to needing help coming to terms with my own…everything, and also for some, ah, anxiety and such that I've dealt with in the past. It wasn't about what I'd done wrong, or what Rinlos did wrong. It's about healing."

Rin gave her a quick smile. "It's alright, Ophia. He's…he's upset, but I don't think he's mad at you." he replied. "and, yeah, of course we'll check on Honey. To tell the truth, I'm worried aobut him too. If Myr came here…I just hope that the injury was a sign that someone threw him out of the hotel." they ran their hands through their hair nervously, hoping that they were right.

Honey pulled his knees to his chest and wrapped them in his arms, trying to make himself as small as he felt inside. Even mentions of the bard couldn't brighten his mood. He was afraid they hated him for being so impatient the other day. He just couldn't help it. His priority was always going to be his sister, after everything they'd gone through together. If she was safe and happy, then he could tolerate any kind of treatment.

"I don't know," he finally said, eyes still glued to the ripped skirt. The end of the sentence sounded dangerously like a sob, though he wasn't actually crying. "I don't think it'd work for me. I just don't think it would. Can we get back to what we were doing? I don't wanna talk about this anymore."

Ophia nodded, though she was still visibly concerned. "Thank you. I think that his injury probably was a sign of that, but it's hard to know for sure. Don't stress over it too much, though. One way or another, everything's gonna be okay."

In the living room, Arquis shifted from foot to foot. He was eager to get out of the house. Logically, it wouldn't make sense for Ophia to be mad at him, but the air felt tense. Maybe it was his imagination, a possible side effect of his dreading the conversation that would occur later that evening.

Before Ophia closed her door, she smiled very gently at Rin. "Oh, one last thing. Feel free to take some of those croissants for the road, if you'd like. I want to make sure you're both taken care of properly."

Ari took a deep breath, and nodded slightly. "I…I really think you would benefit from it, but…we can talk about something else. I won't make you talk about this if you don't want to." he didn't want to upset Honey any more than the young man was already upset, but he just wished Honey would believe him. Therapy would be good for him. It would help. And Honey seemed so dead-set against it. Ari just didn't understand it.

Rin nodded slightly. "Yeah. Alright. Thank you, Ophia. For everything." he took a step back, waving a bit as he headed over towards the living room again. "Bye. Thanks again." they gave the older woman another quick, thankful smile, and then looked over at Arquis.

Honey acknowledged that with a very slight shrug and moved a little ways away from Ari. He'd originally come closer to rest his head in his lap, but now that they were disagreeing, he felt the need to put some space between them. The skirt accidentally got dragged along by his ankle when he moved, so he threw it in the pile to toss. There were plenty of clothes left to get through. Drowning in the somewhat awkward silence, he tugged a couple shirts towards himself and began to look them over. They were all mostly alright. Needed some patching up in some places, but nothing too bad. He folded them and put them away.

Ophia waved at Rin and disappeared into her bedroom. Arquis looked glad to see her go, and he embraced his partner. It was a clumsy sort of hug, considering he still had shopping bags in his hands.

"Not looking forward to the drizzle outside," he sighed, kissing his lover's neck. "But I am looking forward to taking a nice, hot bath. That sounds quite lovely."

Ari let him go, and went back to sorting through some of the clothes on his own. He didn't speak, but gave Honey a soft, quick smile, trying to communicate that even though they had disagreed, he was not angry or upset with the other young man. He really was not, and he hoped that Honey did not think he was. This disagreement was not truly worth anger, and Ari was not angry. He truly was not.

Rin leaned into Arquis, smiling a little bit. "Yeah. A bath does sound nice." he agreed, humming faintly. "Shall we get back to the hotel?" he raised his eyebrows, and then headed towards the door, putting on his shoes and opening up the front door. He just hoped that they did not run into Myr.

Honey didn't return the smile, but he did look relieved after seeing it. His posture relaxed. He sorted clothes with Ari until there were none left to examine, then stood, his joints popping as he stretched. His wrist still felt sore. He remembered his mental promise to be easy on it and wished he'd followed through with that plan. Though it wasn't as if he'd put it through a lot of strenuous activity, the repetitive motions of folding and adjusting had been a bit much. He hid a grimace from Ari. The young man had been bothered enough.

"Thanks for helping," he said, the words breaking the quiet in the room. "You're a real sweetheart, you know that? A right gentleman."

Arquis groaned. He'd been hoping to stall for a bit more time, but Rin was right. They really did need to go. He hooked one of his arms through theirs and scooped the umbrella from beside the door. As they stepped out, he popped it open with his thumb. That would shield them from most of the drizzle. And their dresses would be safer as well, shielded from the elements.

In the privacy that the umbrella provided, the nobleman leaned to his partner and asked, "Are you to join me in the bath, then?"

Ari stood and stretched as well, yawning very faintly. "You're welcome." he replied, smiling over at Honey. "I'm glad that I could help you out. What else can, ah, I do?" he asked, running ahand through his hair. His soft curls were dry now, and hung down to his shoulders. "To help, I mean." he was making a bit of a mess of his words, but it was alright. It was fine. "Oh! Are you hungry? I know you haven't eaten."

Rin leaned close to Arquis, smiling at him again. "If you'll have me, then of course." he replied, wrapping an arm around Arquis's waist so that they could walk together, side by side. "If not, then that is alright too and I will simply wait my turn to take a bath." he didn't mind if Arquis did not want them to join him; consent and space were always important.

Ari's words made remembrance spark in Honey's eyes, and he glanced around frantically. "You brought me food!" he yelped. "Shit! I forgot! Well, maybe it's still good. I'm sure it's fine."

Once he spotted the breakfast on the vanity, he strode over and picked up the coffee mug. The contents inside had gone almost completely cold, but they were still edible. He picked up a tiny spoon from the jar of cream, poured some into the drink, and then did the same with sugar. Truthfully, he only liked coffee when it was sweeter than hell, yet this would have to do. He wasn't about to spend fifteen minutes perfecting it. He swallowed down a few mouthfuls and lifted the plate with the food.

"Here, c'mon, no more cleaning for now. Executive decision. We're having a rainy day picnic indoors. In a blanket fort. If that's okay with you?"

Arquis blushed that pretty, familiar pink and hid his lopsided grin in the collar of his shirt. Their arm felt so right around his waist, like he was wearing a favorite sweater. It was hard to describe. He was just overwhelmed by Rin's love in such a wonderful way.

"Of course I will have you." He went even darker when he realized how that sounded. "Ah. In the bath, I mean. Unless you would- no, but that- goodness gracious."

He watched Honey, laughing a little at Honey's words. "Alright, sure, that sounds great to me." he replied, smiling at the blond man. "Do you want me to go get a picnic basket, then?" he asked, cocking his head faintly. "Or do we want to go do that together and then build the blanket fort?" he wasn't quite sure what else to suggest right now, but it was fine. It would work out.

Rin snickered, smirking at his lover. "In whatever way you want me, darling, it'll be alright." he retorted. "No need to get all flustered and nervous like that." he kissed Arquis's cheek, still snickering quietly. "Whatever way you want me." he repeated, his mouth pulling into a soft, faint smirk again. He was just amused by all of this, he really was.

Honey surveyed his room once more. Maybe it wasn't the best idea to have a blanket fort in this space. His own blankets were burnt, after all, meaning he'd have to fetch new ones. Also, the pungent odor of smoke hadn't fully cleared out. It probably wasn't the best idea to trap themselves inside a confined area while inhaling smoke fumes. They might start to get a little woozy.

"Uh, well, hold off on those questions for a minute. I'm thinking this might not be the right place for it. Maybe we could try your room? Assuming you're okay with that, we could grab some extra hotel blankets and pillows on the way."

Arquis was an absolute mess. He kind of wanted to fan his face with his hand, but he was holding the bags and the umbrella. Rin was making him turn all shades of red, and it was making his cheeks so hot that he'd be surprised if they didn't feel it during the kiss. He laughed fondly.

"Whatever way, hm? I can think of plenty." And oh, suddenly, he really wished they were already at the inn. This wet, gray, miserable outside world didn't reflect the warmth bubbling within him.

Ari took in the blond's words, and nodded a little bit. "Alright. That sounds great." he took a deep breath, yawning just a little bit again. He was surprised about being tired, he had had plenty of sleep the night before. "Shall we get food and the blankets and pillows, all at once? Or should we just…take it one thing at a time?" maybe this was too many questions. He took a deep breath, taking a sip of the water he had brought for himself.

Rin smirked again, squeezing Arquis's waist gently. "I'm sure you can, darling, and you are welcome to use one or more of those ways, if you like." he replied, giving him another soft kiss on the cheek. "Or, you can choose not to. I don't really mind if you don't. It's completely up to you, my love."

"How about I get the extra blankets 'cause I know where to find them while you get the food? We could split up and then meet back at your room."

Honey was secretly glad they weren't making the fort in his own room. If Ari tried to make a move while they were in it, then at least it wouldn't happen in his safe space. Or, well. His formerly safe space? He wasn't sure what his bedroom was to him anymore.

Arquis's breath hitched. He tried to disguise it with a laugh, but it was kind of obvious how he was feeling. If he thought it'd work, he'd sprint back to the inn, rain-slick stones by damned. Too bad he had so much to carry. He fidgeted and looked up ahead to see where they were. They still had maybe five to ten minutes of walking left. Even that short amount was nearly enough to drive him wild. He wanted to be inside with them as soon as possible, and several minutes felt like an eternity.

"I would be, ah, quite pleased to, um- to, um, you- to-" Was the heat of the blush melting his mind? "If you- but only if that is really alright, I- I do not wish to- I know the past day has been a lot, but, ah-"

Ari nodded. "Alright, perfect." he replied. "I'll go get the food, then." he gave Honey another quick, soft smile. "And, I'll meet you back in my hotel room." he left the room, heading down to the kitchen and the dining area, in order to get a basket of food. He was hoping he could actually get a basket, but if not, he'd grab a tray and put everything on there. Whatever was available, that's what he would take.

Rin snickered again. "It really is alright, darling. Now maybe we should cease this kind of talk, I think it's working you up a bit." he reached up to press the back of his hand to Arquis's cheek. "You're quite heated, I'm not sure this sort of talk is healthy." he teased, still laughing quietly at his partner.

Honey was a bit startled at how fast he'd gone. He set the tray of food and the now mostly-empty coffee mug outside of his door for the maid service to pick up. Then, quickly, he hurried to the supply closet. He used his special worker key to unlock it. There was no one else inside, just rows and rows of clean blankets and pillows. He began to grab heaping armfuls at random. Who knew how many blankets a fort for two grown men would require.

Arquis felt ridiculously like a cat, basically nuzzling into Rin's hand. It was embarrassing, or it would've been if he wasn't already past the point of caring. He was indeed worked up. Terribly so. He wanted to stop and hold his partner close. He wanted to do more. Those thoughts were very inappropriate for such a location, however, and he tried to push them away. The key word being tried. His attempt was kind of unsuccessful, partially because they were practically sharing body heat. They were so close to one another.

"Oh," he murmured, "on the contrary. It is very healthy. Proving some parts of me work a touch too well, even."

Ari got food from the kitchen. He had thankfully been able to get an actual basket for the food, and so he placed it all in there, along with napkins, utensils, and a pitcher of lemonade, along with two glasses for them to use. It was going to work out just fine, hopefully. They would have fun together in this blanket fort that they were planning on making.

Rin laughed again. "Mm, yes, well, we are in public, and while I certainly don't mind, I believe most of the people around us might." he replied, snickering and pressing another kiss to Arquis's cheek. Then he remoced his hand from his partner's face, but kept the other around Arquis's waist.

Honey made his way to Ari's room and waited outside. Technically, he could use his master key to get in, but he wasn't going to invade his privacy while he wasn't there. He adjusted the mountain of blankets in his grip so it wouldn't tumble to the floor and propped himself up on the nearest wall. His wrist was flaring up again. If he could carry the pile with one arm, he would, but it just wasn't possible.

Arquis joined them in soft laughter, though he was a bit sad that they withdrew his hand. He was in the mood to be held and kissed. If they were going to have a hard night—and they would, judging by the conversation topic they'd decided on—then he'd like to have a very good morning. Maybe even their last morning together. He wasn't sure how Rin would take their future discussion. They might walk out on him. He wouldn't blame them if that were the case.

"Well, perhaps we should hurry along, then," he responded. The remark was teasing, but he did increase his pace.

Before long, they were up the path to the inn and inside the front door. Divinity gave them a polite smile from behind the desk as Arquis closed their umbrella. He didn't let go of his partner's arm, instead guiding them down the hall to their room. The maid service had been by. Everything was neat and tidy, and there was a wonderful aroma in the air. The nobleman smiled shyly as soon as they were both inside. He stepped away from Rin only to set the bags down by their suitcases, then turned to face them again.

"Here we are," he said, quiet and a bit nervous.

Ari arrived after only a few minutes, the basket looped over his arm. "Hey, Honey." he greeted, unlocking the door and opening it so that they could go inside. "I've got some food and supplies for us. Ready to build this fort?" his soft accent was easy to hear throughout his words, no matter what he was saying. It was a giveaway for where he was from, and sometimes that annoyed him. But it was fine right now; it wasn't as if anyone in the hotel cared about that.

Rin smiled at his partner, taking a step closer to be with Arquis again, wrapping his arms around his partner's waist. "Here we are indeed." he agreed, smiling and leaning his chin on Arquis's shoulder. "What are your plans now, my darling? You have me in private now." his smile turned just a little mischevious as they looked at Arquis.

"So ready," Honey laughed as he followed him in. He stumbled and dumped the supplies onto the bed, then cast a glance around. There was a lot of space in the room to build a fort. Maybe they could pinch a corner of a large blanket in the window's shutters and drape it over to the bed. They could weigh that edge down with something heavy or wedge it under the mattress. That would create a pretty big slanting roof. They could pad the floor underneath with the pillows and find a way to make a door with another blanket. He nodded to himself before getting to work, carrying out the plan in his mind.

"Can you pick out some small pillows for the floor?" he asked while he worked on the window part. He pointed to the back corner of the room, which was under the roof of their fort. "We can put some of the longer ones against the back wall there."

Arquis looped his arms about his partner's shoulders, almost as if they were slow dancing, and leaned in for a very soft, deep kiss. His eyelids fluttered shut. They felt so warm, so different from the chill of the wind and the rain.

"So I do," he whispered against his jaw, out of breath, and went in for another kiss. His heart was beating wildly. When he opened his mouth to speak again, all that came out was a gasp, and he had to pause to collect himself. His breathing was ragged. "I believe we had said something about a bath? If you are still willing, love."

He smiled, setting the basket down and coming over to join Honey. "Alright." he grabbed the pillows that Honey had asked him to use, and got down on the floor and began to set them up. He smiled softly, running a hand through his hair and working on the pillows. "This should be nice and comfortable." he said, looking up at Honey with another happy, sweet smile.

He hummed very slightly into the kiss, pressing closer to Arquis. "Mhm. A bath sounds absolutely wonderful." he replied. "But, ah, would we be doing anything…else…in this bath?" he raised his eyebrows, tugging teasingly at Arquis's collar.

Honey beamed and went to push the other corner of the blanket under the mattress. Once that was done, he fashioned a door using a blanket and a hair clasp that had been in his pocket. The finishing touch was a little lantern that he'd secretly taken from the supply closet. He lit it, made sure it was tightly sealed, and set it inside. Then, he climbed in himself, sprawling on the pillows Ari had just set out.

"C'mon, get in here! It’s cozy. Great atmosphere. And bring the basket!"

Arquis shivered at the implication. He could tell that Rin was teasing him, but he was feeling quite emotional, and he nodded shyly. He glanced away. Embarrassed. Unsure. Afraid, even. He was still getting used to asking for the things he wanted, and he wasn't sure how his partner would take it. Maybe they really were just joking. He imagined facing rejection or even laughter, and his heart ached. If they were going to turn him away, he hoped he'd at least be gentle.

"If that is alright?" he asked in a whisper. "We do not have to. I understand if not."

Ari smiled, grabbing the basket and moving into the fort, laughing quietly. "Here we are." he remarked, settling into the fort and giving Honey a grin. "Hungry?" he asked, opening up the basket and setting the sealed pitcher to the side, where it wouldn't get knocked over and spilled all over the place. "There's lemonade, too, if you're thirsty."

Rin smiled gently, kissing Arquis's cheek. "It is more than alright, my love." he replied, holding onto their lover. "I will let you set the pace for it, though. Do as you wish, darling." he scattered a few more soft kisses along Arquis's cheeks and jaw, knowing his partner might need a bit of reassurance, and quite willing to grant it to him.

"Aw, aren't you just the sweetest thing? So considerate," Honey purred, leaning over his lap to look inside the basket. He reached inside, plucked a berry from within, and popped it into his mouth. The sweet juice spread over his tongue. His lips quirked, and he went in for another. The berries around these parts grew wild. They sometimes sent him out to collect them, though usually it was one of the chefs that braved the tall grass and thorny bushes.

The interior of the fort was cozy and quiet, and the pillows beneath him were soft. It was all very domestic. The blond folded his arms beneath his head and smiled up at Ari.

"Mm. Anyone ever tell you that you've got gorgeous eyes?" He was laying it on real thick, he knew, but it was true.

Arquis's breath stuttered with each soft kiss, especially when they got closer to his neck. Before they could go further, he stepped away, though his hand lingered on Rin's hip. He offered him a shy yet eager smile.

"Alright. Ah, alright, let me- I will return in a moment. Do not go anywhere. Not that you would, but, um, it will be just a second."

Before they could ask what he was doing, he went to the bathroom and slipped inside. In a matter of mere minutes, he'd dimmed the lights, lit an abundance of candles—all at a safe distance from the bath, of course—and filled the bath with hot water. As per usual, he accidentally used a bit too much bubble soap. That would have to work. He swallowed, feeling all kinds of nervous, and started back to the door.

"The bath is ready," he called softly, fidgeting with his gloves. He tugged them off and dropped them somewhere on the floor.