Yes, and?
Dorian, predictably, stopped emoting. The only thing that his eyes managed was a faint crease, a betrayal of humor and fondness - that tone made him think of a certain summer, in Bijou - while the rest of his face completely shut down. Ingrained reflex. Slow, wary like a panther being guided to soft blankets, he did stand. He did let her keep his hand. He did let her take the lead, which was more than rare. Silent, because he got so abruptly silent whenever emotion stirred somewhere in whatever scraps of heart he had left, he walked quietly in her wake. Watched her gather supplies, handle people, avoid rumours by hiding their entangled fingers. Tailing her down from castle, responsibilities, blood and more blood; into something earthen, warm, damp and quiet. Dorian stood there for a moment, still and - well. He was thirty years of age. The warlord of Thyrea. Etcetera, etcetera. He was an expert at looking like he was carefully weighing his options, when he might in fact have been promptly out of his element. Solitude? Relax? How the fuck did you do that? He licked his teeth, gave her hand a grateful squeeze, and carefully withdrew his own. Shoulders unreasonably tense. "...right," he said. "Hm." ... Use your words, commander. But nothing was forthcoming. He looked like a man trapped, not a man offered a warm bath and some privacy.
@svndri
Amani watched the warlord quietly, her keen eyes detecting the subtle shifts in his demeanor. Despite his usual stoicism, she hadĀ sensed a restlessnessĀ and tension that hadĀ taken hold ofĀ him,Ā sparkingĀ her curiosity. She wondered what was bringing him such discomfort: the mundane act of bathing or being alone? Maybe both.
"You're not obliged to, you know," she offered, her voice gently reverberating off the cavern walls. "I just thought it would do you some good." Her smile suddenly widened unintentionally, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she playfully teased, "Or are you unfamiliar with the concept?" In the Carthaki court, there were some nobles who had never cared for themselves, leaving such tasks to their servants. Amani had a hard time believing Dorian was one of them.
A soft chuckle escaped her as she patted the soft towels she was still holding. She pondered whether to let the Thyrean escape and take advantage of the springs herself or to make one more attempt to help him unwind. Amani opted for the latter. "I could assist you, but that would mean you'd have to disrobe in front of me, unless you're too much of a prude."
@rowan-revelry
