( he sure does manhandle her quite a bit, doesn't he. it's a stark difference from how everyone else treats her, not that she minds.
not a word gets out of her before she's unceremoniously pulled in, her yelp more surprised than alarmed. she expected for him to keep the door closed and pretend to be asleep, or that he'd shut the door back in her face. so to be face to face with the exasperated man only has her smoothing her robe down from her sudden dishevelment. it's a light little thing, not made to be yanked around? )
I want to use your bath.
( and she glances at him as if that were obvious. like he should've assumed as much, even though she'd been the one to implant the idea of her in nothing but a robe all that time ago.
she even takes a careful step closer, head tilted up, her smile carefully maintained to not get into the territory of impish as she closes in just a touch. a huntress in her element, even if she does actually intend for a bath. )
[ she can't have expected him to treat her delicately. he doesn't share the same sentiments that the others do, but he has a feeling she likes that, not handling her as if she's made of glass despite how she may seem.
he watches her step closer, wariness coloring the exhaustion in his eyes. his sigh is barely audible as he turns away, one hand extending briefly towards the open door to the bathroom. ]
No. But you're welcome to it.
[ it may not be a question but she's going to have to drag him in there if she wants him... let him rest. ]
( she does appreciate that he doesn't see her as delicate. while she might not be as rugged and trained as the rest of them, it doesn't mean she can't handle herself. that he trusts that she'll be fine regardless.
and already, he's turned away to let her do as she will, so she reaches forward to grab at the back of his cloak to give it a little tug. not to pull him closer, not really, but to draw his attention back as her other hand braces against his gauntlet. )
[ it's easy enough to shrug her hand off, but he shoves the instinct down despite the brief tensing of his body. she's been taking more liberties with him lately; he hasn't encouraged her, but he also hasn't dissuaded her from it either, and that's pretty telling, isn't it? ]
( you know what they say about feeding stray cats. they only come back for more. )
Neither was your coffin but we made it work.
( and speaking of taking liberties, she finally circles around with a quick hop over so he could see her better, planting her hands on his shoulders this time to turn him towards the bathroom and urging him along to follow. should she be more careful? certainly! he does look like he's had a long day and is all wound up primed to snap, but it's nothing a bath can't fix. )
she turns him toward the bathroom and as much as a part of him wants to dig his heels in, the bigger part acknowledges that a bath is nice. if she's so adamant about joining him in it, then he'll just have to deal with it. which, really, isn't that much of a hardship; he is at least willing to admit it now.
he removes his layers while the tub fills up, leaving them to the side before grabbing towels for them both. there's an advantage to it not being particularly spacious, he supposes, in that it doesn't take very long to achieve the right amount. there's a small assortment of bath soaps and oils on the side to use, which he leaves for aerith to pick out, pulling his hair up and out of the way. ]
( she doesn't get to shedding her gear just yet. instead, she remains kneeled by the tub to test the water with her hand, picking out a few of the oils and salts to make a garden with the floral scents. it's not until that's done does she shrug off her red jacket, tossing it off by his pile and letting her eyes sweep over his frame with an appreciative hum, tugging at the necklace to undo it and set that gently aside as well. )
Didn't want me to help get rid of some of that?
( his clothes, she means. but now she has a bare chest she can place her hand over, she does! leaning up on her tiptoes to nudge her nose against his. cheeky as always. )
[ his skin prickles beneath her touch, and he already has his hands on the curve of her waist before he even realizes it, sliding towards her back to follow the dip of her spine up to her shoulders. her breath gusts gently over his lips, her sweet scent filling his senses more than the ones of the bath oils; it'd be easy to claim her mouth with his, but he refrains for now. ]
I prefer to unwrap gifts myself.
[ like he'd told her before, back in that bar where it all started. he slips one strap of her dress down the curve of her shoulder and then the other, one hand returning to her waist to tug her flush against him. ]
( something playful flits across her expression when he stands his ground and doesn't take her up on what's obviously an offer. that's fine with her, especially if he's going to pull her in like that.
it's a spot she readily eases into, even if it does make the act of ridding herself of the dress just that little bit more difficult. she does have to let go for a moment to let the dress pool around her heels though, nudging them off to the side before letting her palms lay flat over the sides of his thighs to drag her nails carefully along the curve of them. )
And I thank you for not tearing into them. ( as hot as it would've been... ) It'd be hard to explain why my dress has a new set of stitches.
( but, before she gets too distracted, she'll shrug off one of the straps to her bra. you know, to spur him along. )
It's not going to be a very restful soak in the bath if you keep that up, mister.
[ his gaze sharpens at the light tease of her nails against his skin, a muscle in his jaw tightening minutely as his fingers curl briefly into a fist at her lower back. he hears the soft whisper of fabric landing on the bathroom floor, feels the softer touch of her bare skin against him and his brow furrows, tension in his frame pulling taunt before it loosens by degrees. she tests him, tempts him, hunger warring with exhaustion—the former always wins in the end when it comes to her, even if he may be loathe to admit it. ]
You wouldn't be here if you intended for it to be restful.
[ like she's not instigating, indeed. but there's something amused beneath the dryness, his fingers unfurling from her back to reach up and pinch the latch of her bra, unhooking it before it too, joins her dress on the floor. ]
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no subject
not a word gets out of her before she's unceremoniously pulled in, her yelp more surprised than alarmed. she expected for him to keep the door closed and pretend to be asleep, or that he'd shut the door back in her face. so to be face to face with the exasperated man only has her smoothing her robe down from her sudden dishevelment. it's a light little thing, not made to be yanked around? )
I want to use your bath.
( and she glances at him as if that were obvious. like he should've assumed as much, even though she'd been the one to implant the idea of her in nothing but a robe all that time ago.
she even takes a careful step closer, head tilted up, her smile carefully maintained to not get into the territory of impish as she closes in just a touch. a huntress in her element, even if she does actually intend for a bath. )
Wanna come with?
( that's not a question. )
no subject
he watches her step closer, wariness coloring the exhaustion in his eyes. his sigh is barely audible as he turns away, one hand extending briefly towards the open door to the bathroom. ]
No. But you're welcome to it.
[ it may not be a question but she's going to have to drag him in there if she wants him... let him rest. ]
no subject
and already, he's turned away to let her do as she will, so she reaches forward to grab at the back of his cloak to give it a little tug. not to pull him closer, not really, but to draw his attention back as her other hand braces against his gauntlet. )
You can lay there with me. It'll be nice.
( restful? maybe not. )
no subject
It's not made for two.
no subject
Neither was your coffin but we made it work.
( and speaking of taking liberties, she finally circles around with a quick hop over so he could see her better, planting her hands on his shoulders this time to turn him towards the bathroom and urging him along to follow. should she be more careful? certainly! he does look like he's had a long day and is all wound up primed to snap, but it's nothing a bath can't fix. )
You'll feel so much better, I promise.
no subject
she turns him toward the bathroom and as much as a part of him wants to dig his heels in, the bigger part acknowledges that a bath is nice. if she's so adamant about joining him in it, then he'll just have to deal with it. which, really, isn't that much of a hardship; he is at least willing to admit it now.
he removes his layers while the tub fills up, leaving them to the side before grabbing towels for them both. there's an advantage to it not being particularly spacious, he supposes, in that it doesn't take very long to achieve the right amount. there's a small assortment of bath soaps and oils on the side to use, which he leaves for aerith to pick out, pulling his hair up and out of the way. ]
no subject
Didn't want me to help get rid of some of that?
( his clothes, she means. but now she has a bare chest she can place her hand over, she does! leaning up on her tiptoes to nudge her nose against his. cheeky as always. )
Help me with mine?
no subject
I prefer to unwrap gifts myself.
[ like he'd told her before, back in that bar where it all started. he slips one strap of her dress down the curve of her shoulder and then the other, one hand returning to her waist to tug her flush against him. ]
no subject
it's a spot she readily eases into, even if it does make the act of ridding herself of the dress just that little bit more difficult. she does have to let go for a moment to let the dress pool around her heels though, nudging them off to the side before letting her palms lay flat over the sides of his thighs to drag her nails carefully along the curve of them. )
And I thank you for not tearing into them. ( as hot as it would've been... ) It'd be hard to explain why my dress has a new set of stitches.
( but, before she gets too distracted, she'll shrug off one of the straps to her bra. you know, to spur him along. )
It's not going to be a very restful soak in the bath if you keep that up, mister.
( like she's not instigating, )
no subject
You wouldn't be here if you intended for it to be restful.
[ like she's not instigating, indeed. but there's something amused beneath the dryness, his fingers unfurling from her back to reach up and pinch the latch of her bra, unhooking it before it too, joins her dress on the floor. ]