The Abbey

[black379]

The hellion was relieved at his response, though it was curious that he turned almost sickly at the thought. Courcy figured him to be somewhat of a player. As he moved to the other end of the room, she shrugged and made her way to a nearby bath and dipped her fingers to test the water.

"Thank you." Courcy called, turning her head side to side to discover how private they were. She wasn't shy, but she at least wanted to be aware if anyone was watching. Her clothes were shed quickly enough, and she sat on the edge of the bathtub, looking off to where Duval had vanished.

"D'you want me in the water?"

[relentless]

"Huh? Oh, yeah go on then! What's your fancy? I've got some imports from the East... some of them smell like... Apple! I think. Or is that lime?"
Duval wheezed in the back as he took two blocks of soap out, both retained a partial orange hue, like a pale orange.

As he stepped out, his eyes caught back of Courcy, the warm freckles that dotted her back elicited a bodily reaction within. Though his mind went in the opposite direction, ghostly silhouettes of the creature hovered around the room, not looking at him directly, but simply wandering. With a gulp, the Rogue cleared his throat and approached with a smile.
"If you may..."
Duval motioned toward the pool setting the soap down beside her, eyes wide and staring with strain to avoid eye contact, though his movement was quick enough, backing away as he now watched the hellion begin her descent into the depths.



"By the by, was it Lekalis that attended you before?"

[black379]

Courcy stepped into the tub and sank beneath the water. She kept her arms rested on either side of the basin to keep the bandages on her wrists dry. Her head laid back on the tub's edge and she closed her eyes. Much of her hair draped outside of the bath, but the orange locks on the nape of her neck became damp.

"Mm. Well he was here, but he didn't comb my hair. Or rub my back." She raised her shoulders and shifted slightly to relieve an ache in her spine. When Courcy resettled, she eyed the soaps he had brought.

"You pick. How would you like a woman to smell?" Her eyes fell shut again, and she seemed content to just soak in the water. The ginger was quietly curious how much 'attending' Duval would do exactly.

[relentless]

Duval knelt behind her, taking off his overcoat and folding it beneath his knees for added comfort. The Rogue gently took a small portion of the end of her hair, taking out a brush he had took from the back area in secret, and began to comb her hair, being slow and careful as nor to pull or produce any knots.

"Well! All women are different, just like men. Some women are shy, and coy, whilst ones like yourself are a roaring flame. I'd say... given your 'fiery' self..."
He paused in his combing as he picked up the pale orange stone, which smelled quite sweet, like pomegranates or a bursting rose.
"I'd wager you'd prefer this? It smells fine already."
Duval chuckled, setting on the side of the bath , before continuing to brush her hair.

"Whats he like anyway? That red cape fellow. Only time I met him was after the raid! Though I heard some stories from a... friend of mine! Ellie, that's her name."
Duval chuckled, a sense of calm passing over him as he continued the repetitive process of combing her hair down until it was nice and fine. Though as he combed, his hands did shiver and tremble, but not to a degree that would be uncomfortable, just to make his internal anxiousness show.

[black379]

Courcy tried not to move much as the man brushed her hair. Having fallen into the murky water on that flotsam beach, there were some tangles in her red locks. But the brushing only tugged a little, until her hair was smoothed and wavy. She did snatch up the bar of soap and hold it to her nose to inhale the sweet scent.

"Mmmm... It's lovely." She let herself giggle and sigh happily. The hellion was unsure if it suited her, to be fragrant and pretty. She was always so wound up about appearing strong, fierce even, but she was exhausted and longed for relaxing and delightful treatment.

"Lekalis is... difficult." Courcy almost groaned, but let her shoulders rest and her eyes close. "He can be a right ass, sometimes. But he can be really sweet too. He's the kind of guy who'll have whatever he wants."

[relentless]

"Oh? He seems like a good lad... then again, I imagine you know how Noblemen can be. Trust me... I worked for one."
Duval agreed, chuckling as she described the man. Eventually, Duval grabbed another section of her hair ends, making sure to comb the bottom parts before he moved closer to the scalp.
"How's he an arse anyway? The highborn always have their motives, though that lad... can't place em, nope."
He chuckled, before he quickly pointed to the water from over Duvals shoulder. Although his hand was fair and displayed masculine properties, the shake was still apparent, his finger wobbling before he retracted it slightly.

"It's not too cold is it? I could light a fire and warm up some more to pour in if you'd prefer?"
Duval wondered, placing his hand back on loosely, though he was ready to move if need be. In a way, it felt nice to work in this place. Well, nicer than an expedition anyway.

[black379]

"It is a little cold." She wasn't shivering, but her shoulders and neck were marked with goosebumps. Courcy relieved some of the chill as she began to scrub her collar with the fragrant soap.

"He's..." The redhead pinched her lip between her teeth before continuing. "He's a tease. Lekalis will go on about how he was a lord. He told me 'I could have made you my queen'." She scowled and huffed, though the expression didn't suit her for the fine indulgence of her bathing.

"But he already has everything he could want. He talks like a friend, but I don't know if he cares."

[relentless]

"Hm... an odd way to go about it, aye. Surely he didn't lead you on, no? I'm not familiar with... how you are with him, but he doesn't seem like the type to drop you like that."
Duval would remain silent for a few moments, before he opened his mouth to speak, clicking his tongue on the roof of his mouth.

"If it were me... I'd take that up with him, at the right moment. A good lad would tell ye straight up, bad lad would beat round the bush! See, me pal Georgie will let me know whether I'm doin' something I shouldn't be doing, keeps me out of trouble! Though I wouldn't fret about it chuckle, no need to worry."
Duval hummed cheerfully as he finished with the ends of her hair, and pinched the middle section of her hair that draped down, beginning to comb nearer to the scalp with the brush.
"Ey, what ya mean he's got everything anywho? He got a Spanish Galleon and a room full of Italy wonders in his quarters?"
Duval pondered curiously, tongue stuck out from the corner of his mouth and eyes squinted as he combed sharply, and efficiently, hands grooming the ginger strands of hair with grace and dexterity.

[black379]

"But he told me! And he's been with someone else all along." It was difficult for her to remain relaxed talking about him. She scrubbed her arms vigorously with the soap.

"They're marrying. And building a house. And fuck knows what else. But I can't even afford a fucking bath!" Courcy barked suddenly and the bar of soap slipped from her fingers to the bottom of the basin. She growled and clenched her eyes shut before laying back so Duval could keep combing her hair.

"Why do you want to talk about him anyway?" She exhaled heavily through her nose, trying to regain her composure while her hands simultaneously moved to recapture the soap.

[relentless]

Duval flinched as the hellion got all worked up, cringing from her sudden reaction, before he sighed.
"Sorry Courcy, was just curious is all mate, didn't mean to rustle your branches!"
Duval chuckled in a slight awkward manner, close to finishing the combing of her hair.
"Have you not talked with George about a job? He's hooking me up with a part time thing, teaching the pigs how to use flintlocks and not shoot themselves with it! I could letcha take some of the pay I get, by keepin' em in line with that halberd of yours! But if you don't wanna talk about the whole job shite right now... that's fine lad."
Duval said calmly behind her, before he peaked over her shoulder to look at in the eye briefly.

"You want that pail fetching after I finish with your hair? Or's you need something else?"

[black379]

Courcy graciously accepted the offer not to talk about her job, be it scouting and skirmishing in dungeons or acting as Blood's personal bodyguard. She wasn't really glad for the prospects of her future and would rather ignore them for long as she could. This was supposed to be a serene distraction.

"You said something about a back rub." She peeked an eye open, looking up at Duval with anticipation. The ginger leaned forward a little to make room for his hands. Her shoulders were prickled from the chill.

[relentless]

Duval flared in his cheeks as she poses the question and consequently leaned forward for him to begin. He had done them before, mainly foot and shoulder massages for his boss two years ago. Would he be as rusty as his ego prior?

"Ah! Certainly... pass us the soap, ay?"
Duval asked, stretching an open palm along the edge of the bath.
"Unless you'd like to have your back done up by rough hands with no fine soap to go along with it?"

[black379]

Courcy looked back over her shoulder and handed the bar of soap back to the man. She rolled her shoulder blades and arched her back to stretch her spine. Her joints ached more than she had realized.

"I don't mind rough hands." She added with a smirk, though her face turned away again. It was so easy to give in to vice. To steal any and every moment of lust, and feel worthy of attention. But she would never be anyone's love, neither exalted as a queen nor equal as a partner, if she made herself lowly as a whore.

[relentless]

Duval grimaced behind her, taking the soap from her hand quickly, as if trying to avoid prolonged touch with her.
"Splendid!"
Duval said with enthusiasm, though some of it was faux in an attempt to hide his dread.

His hands rubbed against the soap block, a slippery, wet moisture formed on both hands. Once his hands were lubricked, Duval made to reach for her back. Suddenly, would a flicker tear in reality, replacing Courcy for a moment, the vulture lady sat with her back exposed to Duval. Naked muscle and cold bone could be seen fron Duvals perspective. Though before he could even let out a cry of fear,the figure dissipated, and Courcys freckled and wet back remained in sight.

He took a moment, suppressing a sensation of gagging alongside fear, before he cranked his neck with an uneasy expression seared onto his face. With reluctance, Duval moved his hands close to the areas just below her shoulder blades, and began to massage the stressed muscle with dexterous fingers, and hard appliance to unknot the physical woes the Courcy carried.

"-You don't wear that corset 'everywhere' do you? Like, even in expeditions?"
Duval posed a rather curious question at Courcy as he worked her back down.

[black379]

She winced and moaned as Duval's hands pressed into her tense and knotted muscle. It almost felt as though he was pushing her ribs out of place, or more likely back into place. Despite the twinges in her shoulders and back, there was a warm appreciation for his hands on her body.

"Hhh. Oooh. Err, yea. It's all I re-" Courcy hissed as his digits found a particularly sore spot on her back. "R-really have to wear. Why d'ya ask?"