Written Wonderland

"What in the name of Queen Shebaya are you doing?" Xavier startled a little as he was carrying towels to the main bath, thinking the matron was talking to him. But, instead, she was looking past Xavier to a man who had walked in covered in mud.

"Aw, don't take the late queen's name in vain for my sake," the man said, giving one hell of a smile. Xavier looked between them, feeling a little awkward and trying to sidestep out of the line of fire.

"Out! Go the river before you come here like that," the woman said, and the man laughed good-naturedly, holding his hands up in surrender.

"Just thought I would try here first. It's a long water to the river." Looking at Xavier, he said, "My chariot rolled me into a mudslick." And then he winked. Xavier blinked and tried not to smile.

"Then you'll have plenty of time to think about being more careful." The man laughed and walked back out of the bathhouse. Xavier let out a held breath and a little nervous giggle.

Things had been so exciting since the chariot races had begun a few days ago. They were happening tournament style over the course of the week, and the whole city was bustling as a result of all the people visiting from neighboring towns.

Xavier's bathhouse was on the outskirts of town and wasn't experiencing much of a surge of new visitors, but every once and a while, a stray driver wound their way here. It was hard not to idolize them when they did. Watching the races was fun, and Xavier couldn't even imagine how much more fun driving would be.

Sometimes, Xavier felt a little out of place at the Lybshra Bathhouse if only because it was quieter and more meditative than some of the others in the middle of the city. It was meditative, a place for rejuvenation. He had a hard time being quiet and reserved sometimes. Still, Xavier had often appreciated the lengthy descriptions of how the hot springs had a self-cleaning flow--to a point. Xavier was glad the man covered in mud hadn't bathed, even if Xavier would still need to clean his footprints off the entryway.

After he had delivered the towels to the patron who had requested them, turning his head away to offer the man a small amount of decency, Xavier grabbed one of the cleaning towels from the rack and started on the mud. He adjusted and pulled up his shendyt so it wouldn't get dirty in the process and settled into to cleaning up the mud, smiling to himself and humming a little.

((OOC: So, if Saryf wants to come in here, that could be fun, or maybe Xavier could go watch some of the races, or... options abound.))

Saryf walked from the nearest stable where they tended to the two horses and chariot he had driven across town. The wheels had turned well upon the new axle; but it had taken all morning to get everything situated. The initial testing complete, Saryf would stress test it on the way back, but it had been some time since he had a bath. The races had left little time for luxury; or even keeping up on personal care. That would have already been true, but Saryf was also participating in the less-than sanctioned races of night-time. His legs ached despite the short walk from stable to bathhouse, and as he walked through the door his mind yearned for the relief that hot water on muscle could provide.

All that was quickly forgotten as he looked down to find an intriguing view. A young man with a lovely voice was humming to himself. His clothing had been pulled up such that the topography of his thighs were clearly visible as he rhythmically washed the floors, his torso gently bouncing up and down against the hinges of his knees. The man's thighs rippled gently showing subtle musculature, and Saryf found himself wondering what those thighs felt like underneath his fingers. His own thighs forgotten for a moment, Saryf stepped lightly upon the tiles of the bathhouse, so as to not be noticed and to gain a slightly better vantage point. One eyebrow raised, he peered at the man cautiously, enjoying a spectacle meant for no-one. His attention diverted, he did not notice the matron, who rounded the corner. She peered at Saryf with slight disdain before announcing; "If you've had quite enough of the scenery, might I suggest you carry on with business?"

Saryf jumped at the unexpected company. With a sheepish glance at the floor, Saryf announced, "Ah, yes, I just...didn't want to interrupt...uhm... Quite, here's for a bath." Saryf put a few extra debens of copper on the scale than was required; a sort of apology. He smiled sheepishly as the matron examined payment, and she seemed pleased with this. She led Saryf down the hall. He ventured a coy glance at the handsome man to see what effect the exchange had on him.

((OOC: I rolled a stealth action and got a 9 -- mixed success. I chose to not be noticed by you, but to gain unwanted attention.))

There was a lot of mud to clean up. The driver had tracked quite a bit in here. But, in all honesty, Xavier didn't mind. He appreciated the sensation of the cool tile against his knees and shins while his lungs still breathed in the humid, lightly fragranced air. He was starting to get a little heady, even, slightly dizzy in an intoxicating way, and it made him start to sway a little and dance to some imaginary music in his mind. He sat up momentarily, surveying his work, and thought he caught someone behind him out of the corner of his eye. Had someone been looking at him?

"If you've had quite enough of the scenery, might I suggest you carry on with business?" Xavier startled, not realizing the matron was behind him. But then there was another voice, sleek and lilting, if a bit nervous.

"Ah, yes, I just...didn't want to interrupt...uhm... Quite, here's for a bath." Xavier watched, abandoning his work for the moment--it was mostly clean, anyway. The new man--not someone Xavier thought he had seen before--definitely overpaid by a margin. Xavier looked up at him curiously, wondering if he could be one of the chariot drivers as well. Then again, he wasn't quite as ornately dressed as Xavier might expect for someone of that status. Xavier adjusted the brass bands on his wrist a little nervously.

The matron nodded, accepting the payment and not mentioning the extra, and started to lead the new patron down the hall. Xavier stared after him, naturally looking from where he sat at eye level to the new man's calves. The muscles there were hard and stiff like they had recently endured heavy use. Xavier stood up before he quite knew what he was doing, dirty towel still in his hand. This seemed to catch the matron's attention, and she turned back around to look at Xavier.

"Unless... you'd like to show him around?" the matron asked with a knowing smile. Xavier swallowed, remembering the conversation she had had with him a week prior. There were other servants at the bathhouse that did... more than just bring towels and clean the floor. There were others who took a more... hands-on approach. And while no one was going to push Xavier into something he didn't want to do, the matron had made it perfectly clear that she thought he would be an asset to their location--to their mutual benefit. But, if Xavier was being honest, the whole idea made him nervous.

"Yeah," Xavier heard himself saying, a little breathlessly. "Yeah, I can do that." He looked down at the towel in his hands, suddenly embarrassed that his hands were dirty. He turned around, placing the towel in with the others he would wash later, wiping his hands on one in the basket cleaner than the one he had just used for the mud. Then, turning back toward the matron and the new man, he nodded and walked past them both into the hallway, ornately decorated with squares and triangles inlaid with gold. He tried very hard not to get a better look at the new man's face. There would be time for that later, surely.

"Right this way," Xavier offered, accidentally shuffling in a half-step out of a hazy, confused excitement.

They passed from the hallway into a larger room where a few other people lounged or were actively being massaged. The room was warm and steamy, with a stronger and more distinct camellia scent, given the oils used. This room had a delicately made lapis lazuli decoration against the far wall with swooping loops over the same triangle pattern from the hallway.

"You're welcome to disrobe here if you like," Xavier said, his heartbeat skipping a little as he turned around finally and got a look at the man's face. He was a younger man, though still probably a year or two older than Xavier, and he had a glint of mischief at the corners of his mouth. His lips were full and plump, complementing smooth cheekbones and olive skin. His dark hair, though clearly unwashed, hung pleasantly to his shoulders.

Xavier took a breath. "The bath is through that door over there." Xavier gestured to the hallway on the right. He then turned to gracefully choose two towels from a neatly folded pile. "And these are for you to use," Xavier said, holding them out to this new patron. Xavier's eyes darted about the man's face, wanting to look everywhere but nowhere for too long.

((OOC: Xavier rolled a 10 on perceiving Saryf, but I decided he only caught a brief glimpse of him staring, and Xavier's not fully trusting it right now.

I'm kind of imagining that prostitution might be fairly available in this culture? And one could definitely pay more for a massage.))

Shaken from his fixation, Saryf was taking in the ambiance of the new location as they walked. He was noticing decor, architecture, and layout.

"You're welcome to disrobe here if you like," the man said, "the bath is through that door over there."

Saryf didn't need extra prompting and began to disrobe, still taking in the sights, and observing where clothing and personal items would be kept. Saryf stowed his things and stood confidently nonchalant, gripping the towels he'd been handed between a hand and his hip without any care to cover up.

"I saw massages back there. I'd like to get clean first, but do you...uh," Saryf trained his eyes back upon the handsome figure in front of him, remembering the sight as he arrived. He smiled. "Do you offer such services? My legs are killing me. Long days, you know?"

Xavier had seen quite a number of people undress over the past six months he had worked at the bathhouse, not to mention at his own baths, so he was practiced at the delicate side glances and affordance of gentle privacy. Still, Xavier held onto the towels, waiting for the other man to take them.

When the man finally did after having stowed his clothing appropriately, Xavier couldn't help but notice that he didn't bother covering up with them. Instead, the man stood confidently with the towels cocked against his hip.

"I saw massages back there. I'd like to get clean first, but do you...uh," the man started, looking at Xavier pointedly before he smiled, bolstered by the view, it seemed. "Do you offer such services? My legs are killing me. Long days, you know?"

Xavier blinked, his cheeks warming immediately before his mind even processed what had been said. Instinctively, he blinked twice and looked down at the legs in question, trying and failing to think straight. There was no mistaking the man's emphasis on you, making it absolutely clear that the man was not talking about the bathhouse as a whole. The thought lit sparks somewhere deep inside him.

Xavier looked in the direction of the other massages happening, knowing what they sometimes led to. He felt an excitement worming its way further up into his belly, but it combined with a sense of caution Xavier had learned to trust over the years.

"Uh..." Xavier said shyly, looking away and rubbing one of his shoulders, "I'm not trained yet." But, looking back at the man before him and gaging his reaction, Xavier added, "But, I could probably... rub your shoulders while you soak if you want." The last part came out quickly and slightly mumbled. It was an absolute tragedy to think of trading massaging this man's excellent calves for a simple shoulder rub, but Xavier didn't want to go against the training protocols they had here, not unless the matron gave permission.

Saryf noted the warmer hue in the man's cheeks as he considered the request. His eyes darted around; first down to the legs in question, then many other places. The quick movements of the eyes accompanied subtle movements in the head that tickled Saryf's interest. He admitted to not being trained yet, and Saryf found himself satisfied with the pleasing visuals of this shy man before him squirming about...something. Saryf wasn't sure what, but he liked to think the man liked what he saw. As adorable as the shyness was, Saryf gave the man a reassuring smile to try to ease his nerves.

"Hah! Good on you! I tell you, I see young men jump into things driven on instinct alone all the time. It isn't pretty what happens to them on the track. Instinct is good, you need it; but there's no replacement for training. You need both in any endeavor. Smart man. Listen, I don't want to take up your time..."

Saryf thought for a moment, pausing for a second mid-sentence. There was something about this man. He was adorable, sure, but more than that; he had a soothing feel about him. Besides, Saryf's shoulders only didn't ache due to his calves being louder. His shoulders could probably use a little attention as well. The man's offer was appealing.

"...But...if you have a spare moment and it's not too much trouble, my shoulders could use a little work as well. No worries if you're busy, of course. You said the bath is through this door?"

Xavier felt the man's eyes all over him, but when Xavier finally looked back at the man, he offered a full, genuine smile that set Xavier's nerves at ease.

"Hah! Good on you! I tell you, I see young men jump into things driven on instinct alone all the time. It isn't pretty what happens to them on the track. Instinct is good; you need it, but there's no replacement for training. You need both in any endeavor. Smart man. Listen, I don't want to take up your time..."

Xavier stood up straighter, starting to understand that this man had something to do with the races, although Xavier still didn't think he was another driver. Not an official one, at least. Maybe a coach of some kind? Would he coach Xavier? Almost definitely not. Xavier wasn't of the right class, right? Or did that matter with drivers?

"...But... if you have a spare moment and it's not too much trouble, my shoulders could use a little work as well. No worries if you're busy, of course. You said the bath is through this door?"

Xavier paused for a moment, realizing he was staring at the man's jaw. He shook his head to clear his impulses and the untoward thoughts beginning to form there.

"What? Oh! Yes! Absolutely. I'd... er... Yes! Um... yes." Xavier turned around for a minute, embarrassed and almost too excited to speak. Once he was back under control, he took a deep breath and opened the door that led to the main bath, waiting for the man to lead the way so he could close the door behind him.

"It's not very busy today," Xavier said, trying to recover the conversation, "My name's Xavier, by the way."

This man's shy verbal mannerisms fueled and sustained Saryf's smile as he walked through the door that had been opened for him.

"Xavier?" Saryf savored the flavor of the consonants and vowels combining into a rich harmony across his tongue. "Good to meet you, I'm Saryf."

((OOC: Happy to move forward unless Xavier wants to do something here first ))

"Xavier?" the man said, testing out the syllables on his own tongue. "Good to meet you. I'm Saryf."

"Saryf," Xavier said, making sure to get the sounds right. He smiled wide, following Saryf into the large bathing space. Xavier allowed himself to take it all in, offering a reverent pause as they drew near to the pool. The ornate gold inlays culminated here with large swooping, spiraling circles interlaced with triangle patterns on a central wall. There, too, was a table with crystals, prisms, candles, and statuary honoring a number of the gods. Xavier bowed his head slightly, eager to move on but not so much as to abandon his protocol.

When Xavier had finished, he assessed how many people were in the bath area. Only three at present--a comfortable number. No one was speaking, and Xavier felt the urge to be quiet wash over him. That was the most difficult part of this work, to be certain. He wasn't exactly... quiet, if he could help it.

Glancing back at Saryf to watch the man take in the space, Xavier was struck again by the man's nudity. It shouldn't have been all that stunning to Xavier--he saw naked individuals of all genders all day--but there was something about the man's stature that gave Xavier the impression that he wanted Xavier to look at him, and that was new. Xavier couldn't say he didn't like it.

Shaking his head a little to clear his mind, Xavier gestured toward a seat built into the pool that was unoccupied where Xavier thought he would have a good angle on Saryf's shoulders. He tried to be patient as the man entered the water, watching the method Saryf used to embrace the steaming heat.

Saryf enjoyed watching Xavier smile even more than he enjoyed hearing him try out his own name.

Saryf spotted the table adorned with statuary, crystals, prisms, candles. He sensed this was a sacred space and casually looked to see what Xavier would do; to try to follow the customs he did not yet know. Xavier indeed stopped and bowed his head slightly, and Saryf eyed a representation of Ptah. Following Xavier's lead, he bowed his head in reverence to the creator god before moving on. It was a beautiful space, and an even more beautiful altar.

The space was quiet, and sparsely populated. Saryf was surprised about both. His eyes darted from feature to feature, trying to not miss anything before settling in to relaxation. Xavier led Saryf to a spot and gestured at it. Saryf moved to lower himself in the water, intentionally moving closer to Xavier.

"Uhm... Is this a silent bath house?" Saryf whispered carefully before moving past toward the pool. He hadn't noticed any signage or indication, but didn't want to break the customs of the place should he desire to speak. He watched for Xavier's reply, eyeing the waiting water. The steam indicated a brilliant warmth within the waters that beckoned Saryf's calves, but Saryf hesitated; wanting to learn the answer to his question before entering.