@metianfolklores location: An Argonian Bathhouse (gasp) notes: a starter to celebrate you finally following his blog!!
Ender stepped hesitantly into the steam-filled bathhouse, the thick mist clouding his vision and making everything feel a touch more surreal. It wasn’t that he was uncomfortable with the idea of a bath - far from it. But a communal one? With other people?
With other men? Potentially looking at him? It was a good thing it was so warm in here because his cheeks were several shades of crimson before Ender so much as crossed the threshold. He’d heard about the famed traditions, how it was a place to relax, to unwind, to experience culture, but all he could think about was how exposed he’d feel in a room full of other men.
He pulled the ties of his robe tighter around his chest, making sure nothing could slip free. It was far too tight, but that was the point - modesty, or at least the illusion of it. There was a faint, awkward shuffle as he walked deeper into the room, glancing around at the other bathers who looked entirely too comfortable with their bodies exposed to the warm air. "Don't trip- don't say anything stupid. Ser is here, everything is fine, you're fine- it's not like he's going to be- it's not like his-" Ender cleared his throat, aware that he was talking to himself again as one of the bathers looked at him with that sort of peculiar gaze that Ender often garnered.
"Hi." He waved, earning a derisive look before Ender stumbled forward.
"I don’t understand why it has to be.... this way... Why do they do this? What am I supposed to...?" He trailed off, clearly flustered by the sight of the open pools and the others casually lounging in the warm water. "Ser would be disappointed if he knew I was so... so - " He stammered, trying to find the right word, but he couldn’t quite put his thoughts into place.
His gaze finally settled on Ser, "Oh, thank the Gods." Ender got closer, grinning somewhat awkwardly. "I don't know what to do with my hands."