[She falls silent at that. Really, what more is there to say, if he feels things are settled now? He's calm, and he made some sort of peaceful gesture towards Rin, and that's honestly the best she could hope for at this point.]
[At the very least, there are no lingering feelings of resentment towards any of the parties involved, and for Gilgamesh that's an awfully big step in the right direction. It is not as if Gilgamesh preferred to forget matters, but more that he was an individual constantly moving... which meant constantly moving on, as well, leaving everything else behind. They had their bout and it was over. In his mind, that was indeed the end of it.
The remainder of the trip doesn't take too long, even at a leisurely pace. Gilgamesh drops Dinoriel off by the side of the cottage and leads Hakuno inside. She might notice the living room has been rearranged differently since she last saw it, but otherwise there are no signs of residual damage from their, ah, disagreement.
He's quick to step close, into her space, and run hands over her face assessingly.]
[Hakuno lets him have his way, letting him inspect her as he pleases. The rush of his mana is a more than generous trade-off, and she lets her eyes slip shut as it mingles with her own. She takes in the new living room when they open again, but refrains from commenting. All she does is nod, once.]
That's probably for the best, if you're offering. Francis Xavier knows where I keep food for him and Kuli, so they should be fine until I get back.
[The thought of a good night's sleep is more tempting than anything else could possibly be, in this moment.]
[It's a simple suggestion, born not of ulterior motives but an earnest desire to see her well—and an excuse to get his hands on her some more. Though it wasn't inherently sexual; Hakuno might guess that he bathed with many of his companions frequently enough back at Uruk, and didn't conspire with all of them.
Most of them. Some of them. Maybe. Look, they're going to have Master and Servant bathtime and it's going to be great, he won't hear anything against it.]
You could use some cleaning up, and... some pampering, if I am not mistaken.
[It really is a very simple, suggestion, and one that she finds she is completely unopposed to, surprisingly enough. Upon further reflection, maybe it shouldn't surprise her. She's seen him naked before. She's seen him with a lover on stage before. She's got no reason to be bashful about seeing his naked body, and he's made his own assessments of her form perfectly clear, both here and in the Moon Cell. And she's so, so tired; there isn't any energy to spare for needless overreactions right now.
And really—what's there to be shy about, with him?]
...that does sound nice. I might need to borrow something to sleep in, if I'm staying though.
[That something probably being an oversized shirt of his. Hngh, so cute...
But let's take this magical bonding adventure one step at a time. Gilgamesh heads to the master bath and sets the water running, the tub itself large enough to fit both of them. Gilgamesh had made a few renovations after Adrasteius' departure and planned to make many more, so really...
It shouldn't be the least bit surprising that said tub is golden. At all.]
[It startles a soft laugh out of her, because... it really shouldn't be surprising. She has no idea why she didn't straight up assume that he only used the most glammed-out bathing fixtures. She supposes it's only surprising that he doesn't have some pool with a built in waterfall and glittering veins of either gold or precious stones, for ambience.
She immediately resolves to never, ever voice that thought in front of him, lest he actually invest in making that fleeting image a reality.]
[Waterfalls and glittering golden veins are coming in a future patch, Hakuno. Stay tuned.
Gilgamesh seats himself on the edge of the tub and starts pulling off clothes at a casual pace. No need to make this awkward, he just does so as he would in front of any other man. ...which may not actually count for much given the flexible nature of his sexuality, but hey, he's trying not to make this too much of an unbearable experience for her. Thoughtful!]
I will be expanding upon this all very soon. So I shall have plenty of space to host pretty little Masters all the time.
[It's meant as a compliment, but as usual, it may have missed its mark.]
[Hakuno shrugs and follows his lead, carefully toeing out of her boots and rolling down her stockings. When she pulls off her dress it takes a moment to pop her head through the neckline, and he might notice the faintest, barely-there remainders of some rosy mark at the side of her neck before the garment is off and she shakes her head, dark hair spilling back down over her shoulders and back as per usual.
Her underwear is cute yet not particularly eye-catching, but there's a crystal charm hanging on a thin leather cord between her breasts that she takes off with noticeable care, gently placing it onto of her folded clothes. There's the briefest, instinctive moment of hesitation before she unhooks her bra and shrugs out of it, but she forces herself to smoothly finish stripping all the same.
She feels a bit bashful, just as a side-effect of being naked, but it's nothing like the crippling shyness that momentarily overtook her at the public baths.]
[Thankfully, the crystal catches Gilgamesh's eye before that suspicious mark does. It's interesting, but drawing too much attention to it would also draw too much attention to the fact he's watching her undress. Not the ideal image for one attempting to act as a gentleman for the evening.
At any rate, Gilgamesh refrains from any commentary. An old dog can learn new tricks and an ancient tyrant can recognize this is an inappropriate moment for lavishing praise upon her naked form. He just folds one leg over another once he's done, and bam! Modesty achieved, can't see anything. Perfect.
If he was aiming for a quick lay, though, he'd consider this smooth sailing.]
To borrow a modern term? Outdoorsy. Indoor plumbing was a bit beyond our time, so we made use of natural architecture and formations.
[So says the man flying around in a jet plane and flinging treasures around. Maybe "beyond our time" was a relative term.]
It wasn't such a private affair, I can say that much. Water was a precious resource, so we could not afford to waste it on one or two people at once.
I see. That makes sense, what with the climate and all.
[She's pretty sure wasting water was a pretty big crime, in a desert land. She moves across the tile until she's next to him, leaning forward to swirl her fingers in a loose circle as the water level gradually rises. A small, happy smile tugs at her lips. It really does feel like they're seamlessly slipping back into their usual step, more or less. Granted, that might not mean much, when their 'normal' could swivel from heartwarming and emotionally sweet to... well, her having to talk him down from jettisoning spears in a public water park.
Still, there's comfort in familiarity, no matter the degree.]
Well, that certainly has its own benefits, all the same.
[Not that he minds, but he can't help teasing. Or maybe she's just always been that way, ever a reliable partner, always listening regardless of what he was blathering on about. A less selfish person might've realized they were taking that hospitable nature for granted, which may have contributed to her exhaustion...
But it's Gilgamesh so he has the audacity to be surprised by it instead, as if she hadn't been so kind to him all along.]
Do not doze off in the water, girl. I refuse to carry you to bed.
[Actually, he'd relish the opportunity, and his grin gives as much away.]
I'm too tired to kick up a fuss about most things right now, if you want the honest truth.
[In her current state, everything is softened around the edges. She's already past the point of frayed crankiness, though she weathered that particular period by keeping her mouth shut before she lashed out at an innocent party. Still, the comment startles a soft huff of a laugh out of her. She was always fairly agreeable with him, too inured to his nature to truly rebel against anything but the worst, thoughtless crimes.
She meets his grin with an amused shake of her head.]
I'm not sure my pride could take it. Seiei saw fit to princess-carry me when we went to go pick out a wakizashi just a few days ago.
[That's a lie. Of the few times it's happened, she's decided she rather likes that form of transportation, as long as there aren't too many witnesses.]
[Someone sounds skeptical. But he doesn't press her on the topic, and the bath provides a convenient distraction as the tub's filled nearly to the top. Shutting off the faucet and tossing in a scented fragance from the side, Gilgamesh pulls Hakuno gracefully to his body so they might both slide in together. He settles her comfortably between his legs, if at a slight distance, so nothing scandalous bumps into a scandalous something else. Thoughtful!
Gilgamesh sighs in contentment, from the warmth of the water and from the proximity of one of his favorite people.]
Ah... I could spend all day bathing, and never tire of it. Truly one of life's greatest indulgences.
[This was the face of a very happy King of Heroes, utterly in his element.]
[She settles into the nice, hot water, and an expression of plain bliss slides over her face. She has her knees drawn up, as though there isn't just about an entire third of the tub's space open. She rests her temple against the warmed lip of the tub, letting her eyes drift about halfway shut. If she were an animal, most likely she would even be purring right now. Already, the omnipresent feeling of being hunted is draining away.
The King of Heroes is at her back. What could be safer?]
...mm. It really is nice. I don't use the public ones much, but a nice soak is a great way to end a day.
[Nothing could be safer... nor more dangerous, depending upon the King's mood. But like this, he's about as threatening as a kitten. Retreiving a soft sponge and a bar of soap, he works up a nice lather and then grasps one of Hakuno's hands to slowly clean and, effectively, spoil. After all, she's still a guest in his home, so she deserves the very best treatment.]
I visit quite frequently. You never know what interesting sorts of people you might meet...
[Or, by Gilgamesh's definition, harass. It's a wonder why he hasn't been banned from the premises yet.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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[They seem to have different definitions of "shouting" here...]
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[She falls silent at that. Really, what more is there to say, if he feels things are settled now? He's calm, and he made some sort of peaceful gesture towards Rin, and that's honestly the best she could hope for at this point.]
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The remainder of the trip doesn't take too long, even at a leisurely pace. Gilgamesh drops Dinoriel off by the side of the cottage and leads Hakuno inside. She might notice the living room has been rearranged differently since she last saw it, but otherwise there are no signs of residual damage from their, ah, disagreement.
He's quick to step close, into her space, and run hands over her face assessingly.]
Spend the night with me. I would have you relax.
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That's probably for the best, if you're offering. Francis Xavier knows where I keep food for him and Kuli, so they should be fine until I get back.
[The thought of a good night's sleep is more tempting than anything else could possibly be, in this moment.]
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[It's a simple suggestion, born not of ulterior motives but an earnest desire to see her well—and an excuse to get his hands on her some more. Though it wasn't inherently sexual; Hakuno might guess that he bathed with many of his companions frequently enough back at Uruk, and didn't conspire with all of them.
Most of them. Some of them. Maybe. Look, they're going to have Master and Servant bathtime and it's going to be great, he won't hear anything against it.]
You could use some cleaning up, and... some pampering, if I am not mistaken.
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[It really is a very simple, suggestion, and one that she finds she is completely unopposed to, surprisingly enough. Upon further reflection, maybe it shouldn't surprise her. She's seen him naked before. She's seen him with a lover on stage before. She's got no reason to be bashful about seeing his naked body, and he's made his own assessments of her form perfectly clear, both here and in the Moon Cell. And she's so, so tired; there isn't any energy to spare for needless overreactions right now.
And really—what's there to be shy about, with him?]
...that does sound nice. I might need to borrow something to sleep in, if I'm staying though.
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[That something probably being an oversized shirt of his. Hngh, so cute...
But let's take this magical bonding adventure one step at a time. Gilgamesh heads to the master bath and sets the water running, the tub itself large enough to fit both of them. Gilgamesh had made a few renovations after Adrasteius' departure and planned to make many more, so really...
It shouldn't be the least bit surprising that said tub is golden. At all.]
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She immediately resolves to never, ever voice that thought in front of him, lest he actually invest in making that fleeting image a reality.]
How pretty.
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Gilgamesh seats himself on the edge of the tub and starts pulling off clothes at a casual pace. No need to make this awkward, he just does so as he would in front of any other man. ...which may not actually count for much given the flexible nature of his sexuality, but hey, he's trying not to make this too much of an unbearable experience for her. Thoughtful!]
I will be expanding upon this all very soon. So I shall have plenty of space to host pretty little Masters all the time.
[It's meant as a compliment, but as usual, it may have missed its mark.]
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[Hakuno shrugs and follows his lead, carefully toeing out of her boots and rolling down her stockings. When she pulls off her dress it takes a moment to pop her head through the neckline, and he might notice the faintest, barely-there remainders of some rosy mark at the side of her neck before the garment is off and she shakes her head, dark hair spilling back down over her shoulders and back as per usual.
Her underwear is cute yet not particularly eye-catching, but there's a crystal charm hanging on a thin leather cord between her breasts that she takes off with noticeable care, gently placing it onto of her folded clothes. There's the briefest, instinctive moment of hesitation before she unhooks her bra and shrugs out of it, but she forces herself to smoothly finish stripping all the same.
She feels a bit bashful, just as a side-effect of being naked, but it's nothing like the crippling shyness that momentarily overtook her at the public baths.]
What were the baths in Babylon like?
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At any rate, Gilgamesh refrains from any commentary. An old dog can learn new tricks and an ancient tyrant can recognize this is an inappropriate moment for lavishing praise upon her naked form. He just folds one leg over another once he's done, and bam! Modesty achieved, can't see anything. Perfect.
If he was aiming for a quick lay, though, he'd consider this smooth sailing.]
To borrow a modern term? Outdoorsy. Indoor plumbing was a bit beyond our time, so we made use of natural architecture and formations.
[So says the man flying around in a jet plane and flinging treasures around. Maybe "beyond our time" was a relative term.]
It wasn't such a private affair, I can say that much. Water was a precious resource, so we could not afford to waste it on one or two people at once.
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[She's pretty sure wasting water was a pretty big crime, in a desert land. She moves across the tile until she's next to him, leaning forward to swirl her fingers in a loose circle as the water level gradually rises. A small, happy smile tugs at her lips. It really does feel like they're seamlessly slipping back into their usual step, more or less. Granted, that might not mean much, when their 'normal' could swivel from heartwarming and emotionally sweet to... well, her having to talk him down from jettisoning spears in a public water park.
Still, there's comfort in familiarity, no matter the degree.]
Well, that certainly has its own benefits, all the same.
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[Not that he minds, but he can't help teasing. Or maybe she's just always been that way, ever a reliable partner, always listening regardless of what he was blathering on about. A less selfish person might've realized they were taking that hospitable nature for granted, which may have contributed to her exhaustion...
But it's Gilgamesh so he has the audacity to be surprised by it instead, as if she hadn't been so kind to him all along.]
Do not doze off in the water, girl. I refuse to carry you to bed.
[Actually, he'd relish the opportunity, and his grin gives as much away.]
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[In her current state, everything is softened around the edges. She's already past the point of frayed crankiness, though she weathered that particular period by keeping her mouth shut before she lashed out at an innocent party. Still, the comment startles a soft huff of a laugh out of her. She was always fairly agreeable with him, too inured to his nature to truly rebel against anything but the worst, thoughtless crimes.
She meets his grin with an amused shake of her head.]
I'm not sure my pride could take it. Seiei saw fit to princess-carry me when we went to go pick out a wakizashi just a few days ago.
[That's a lie. Of the few times it's happened, she's decided she rather likes that form of transportation, as long as there aren't too many witnesses.]
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[Someone sounds skeptical. But he doesn't press her on the topic, and the bath provides a convenient distraction as the tub's filled nearly to the top. Shutting off the faucet and tossing in a scented fragance from the side, Gilgamesh pulls Hakuno gracefully to his body so they might both slide in together. He settles her comfortably between his legs, if at a slight distance, so nothing scandalous bumps into a scandalous something else. Thoughtful!
Gilgamesh sighs in contentment, from the warmth of the water and from the proximity of one of his favorite people.]
Ah... I could spend all day bathing, and never tire of it. Truly one of life's greatest indulgences.
[This was the face of a very happy King of Heroes, utterly in his element.]
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[She settles into the nice, hot water, and an expression of plain bliss slides over her face. She has her knees drawn up, as though there isn't just about an entire third of the tub's space open. She rests her temple against the warmed lip of the tub, letting her eyes drift about halfway shut. If she were an animal, most likely she would even be purring right now. Already, the omnipresent feeling of being hunted is draining away.
The King of Heroes is at her back. What could be safer?]
...mm. It really is nice. I don't use the public ones much, but a nice soak is a great way to end a day.
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I visit quite frequently. You never know what interesting sorts of people you might meet...
[Or, by Gilgamesh's definition, harass. It's a wonder why he hasn't been banned from the premises yet.]
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[She heaves a sigh, blowing small ripples in the water even as she begins to really relax under his careful ministrations.]
The Battle Shift will certainly help kill off my knee-jerk desire for modesty soon enough.
[Is she... pouting?]
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Surely it is not so bad.
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[Oh, that's right. Gilgamesh hasn't seen it yet.]
How does that make sense, in a fight?
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[The more you know.]
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[She rubs the area between her breasts with a rueful grimace]
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Nonsense. This area will be well-protected.
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