OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part Nine

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu has gathered plenty of henna and even woad, a blue dye, for some experiments with designs on Skellig's skin.

"The blue would look lovely on you, I think," she remarks. "Your fairer skin would show it off quite well. Though I am far more experienced in applying henna."

She's gathered bits and pieces of designs to look at for inspiration. Celtic style knots, viking style abstract patterns and stylized beasts, the mandala and floral type designs he's admired on her, and more.

Comments

[27_53]

"I trust your judgement," Skellig says. "You have not led me astray yet, as far as choosing how I should dress."

Granted, the idea of the kilt was a bit difficult to swallow at first, but now he is quite comfortable with it, and gotten accustomed to the style. He will adapt to whatever is needed for blending in and functionality just fine.

"I know we will be able to hunt along the way, but it would be wise to take some basic foodstuffs as well, just in case." He allows his fingers to wander from her hair to her bare shoulder, tracing softly. "Not that I doubt your abilities to provide for us."

[brave_kreyu]

"We will definitely take some basics with us," she agrees. "Though we will need to pick up more as we travel, most likely."

His fingers tracing her shoulder feel nice, and she makes a pleased sound. "Should be able to use up what won't keep for today's meals, take any cooked leftovers with us for our first meals on the way to Xenophon's homeland."

She chuckles as a thought strikes her. "If you want me to dance again for you in that dress, it will have to be today or you will need to wait a bit." It weighs forty pounds, they are NOT taking it with them!

[27_53]

"I could lighten it," he counters teasingly, before he shakes his head. "But I think it would be best if it remains here, for safekeeping." Plus, it is likely easily identifiable as belonging to her, and with the secrecy that they have used so far over the last few days...he would not risk it.

He sighs and tips his head back, resting it against the pillow - he is very comfortable and has zero desire to move, even as they discuss all that it is they need to do.

"I assume that your comment to him earlier about heights was in regards to having him fly beside me, as we would travel much faster in your dragon form?"

[brave_kreyu]

She laughs at his teasing counter.

"Yes," she replies. "Only if you wouldn't mind, of course."

She stretches lazily, then resettles. "I will have him close his eyes, when I must take dragon shape. Better that he not see my TRUE draconic form."

[27_53]

"Settling in for our travels has never been a concern," he says. "Another man will fit in the space beside me without issue."

Skellig also has a feeling that the young man might be slightly more anxious about the travel, given that he does not have wings of his own and would certainly perish if he fell off Kreyu's back from such a height. So he might choose to stick closer to Skellig's side.

"We will have to keep the acrobatics to a minimum," he quips. (Which he knows they would do anyways, traveling with gear.) "What would we call ourselves, in the meantime while we are in that territory?"

[brave_kreyu]

"Kreyu is a common enough name that it should raise no issue by itself, there are hundreds of them in this region of the world. I have not heard YOUR name before though." Her brow wrinkles in thought.

[27_53]

"Perhaps something that begins with 'S', as it will be easier off the tongue? Though I do not know what is most common in these areas," he says. "I have yet to learn these things."

If he were not laying on his back, he would shrug.

"Plus it is not as if I will be calling my own name often," he adds. "I would say that you may call me whatever you desire."

[brave_kreyu]

"Sokratis, perhaps?" she offers. She nuzzles his neck some more. "Or there is Iason, which means healer."

[27_53]

"Sokratis, Iason..." Pondering both of those options, he debates a moment, tests each one off his lips a few more times. "I am more likely to pick up on the 'S' and 'K' sounds, I feel. We will choose that. And I will work to alter my appearance slightly, with the amulet."

The bracelet with Karma stored within is still tied firmly around his wrist, where it has remained since he used it to save his own life - that will not be coming off his body, and it has regained the 'charge' easily over the last several weeks.

"Hopefully there will not be much need for healing on this journey," he says. "At least of ourselves."

Maybe they will manage to stay out of trouble? Just maybe?

[brave_kreyu]

"Sokratis," she says, testing the name on her tongue.

"That is my hope," she admits. "We will see if we are right."

They COULD manage to stay out of trouble, it could happen!

She kisses his neck softly, strokes the top of one wing with her fingers.

[27_53]

"I eagerly look forward to adventuring with you," he says, sighing gently and letting his eyes fall shut as she strokes at his feathers and kisses his neck. "I find great pleasure in exploring the unknown, hunting for treasures, finding ways we can help others. But yet..."

His smile is gentle, his body relaxed. "But yet I admit, it would be a lie if I said that I did not also enjoy these moments just as much."

[brave_kreyu]

"I feel the same way," she replies. "Adventure and new lands and peoples call to me, but they do not outshine the joy of these moments with you."

"I need to get my fill of this before we are lacking in privacy for a few days," she whispers against his skin.

[27_53]

Skellig huffs a light laugh. "I would offer you my body for exploration, but I am afraid I am still so very tired, my response would be...lackluster compared to my usual standard."

He cracks one eye open, glancing down at her. "But if you wish to indulge in some more casual pleasures before we deal with breakfast and packing...I would not object."

(Translation: Does she want to make out with him for awhile? Because he's probably got enough energy for that.)

[brave_kreyu]

"I expected that anything...energetic would be off the table," she says, smiling softly.

"But I would quite enjoy more casual pleasures with you before breakfast."

(Translation: Yes, I would quite like to make out with you for a while!)

She presses her lips against his, soft and gentle.

[27_53]

His responding kiss is equally soft and gentle - at least to start. And it is true, that more energetic activities are currently off the table - but that doesn't stop either of them from getting a little bit handsy during the course of their actions.

But he is careful not to get too riled up, or work her up into a frenzy.

(It would not be fair to either of them!)

Some time later, he breaks from a kiss and brings his forehead to rest against hers, panting softly. "We can consider this a preview of what we will do to celebrate once we leave Mycenae..."

[brave_kreyu]

He's not the only one panting. "A lovely preview," she says, voice low.

"But I think it is time we bathe, break our fast, and do some packing."

Bathing and breakfast are straightforward enough, packing is liable to be interesting.

"Do you have preferences as to the color of your chitons, love?"

[27_53]

Skellig looks up from the two stacks of bedding that he has folded in preparation to roll up tightly and strap together, glancing towards the chest where she keeps the majority of her clothing.

"I...what are my options...I do not know what..."

He sets aside the bedrolls for now and moves over to her side, as she removes some of the chitons and places them on the bed for him to look at. "What do...which ones do you prefer for yourself? Which do you think would look best on me?"

[brave_kreyu]

"I think you would look best in colors that harmonize with your eyes, but the only way to be sure is to try them on and see. Different shades of a color can suit better or worse than others."

"This one is fairly simple." The first one she picks up is a medium shade of blue, the fabric plain except for a geometric border around the edges in a deep green.

She goes to grab some pins to hold it in place, relatively simple ones made of bronze. Best to ease him into things, she feels!

[27_53]

"I do like the blue ones," he agrees, as he touches his fingertips to his chest where the dyed knotwork design sits. "And it seems to favor me well enough."

With her assistance, some adjustment to get the length correct - it is good that the men typically wear the chiton a bit shorter at the knee compared to the women, since Skellig is also a bit taller than Kreyu - and the shoulders fastened, he steps back so she can get a look at him.

(It definitely suits his eyes.)

"Decent?"

[brave_kreyu]

"More than decent," she replies. "It looks good on you." Some of Kreyu's scent or the scent of the 'sacred oils' might still cling to the garment.

Her grin turns slightly wicked. "And I will enjoy taking it off of you at some point in the future."

Another chiton in soft dove gray with darker patterns reminiscent of his feathers is offered, as is another blue one with thin lines of golden thread woven through it. If he likes the look of them, she'll help him try them on.

[27_53]

Skellig does like the look of both of them, so he tries both of them on - the other blue one with the gold thread has a bit more detailing to it, so it may work in occasions when they need to be playing the part of 'wealthy'. And the gray one is a neutral one, that will be good for basic use.

"I may travel in this one, as it would hide any dirt easier than the other two," he says, looking down at the fabric where is is covering his torso, smoothing his hands over his abdomen to straighten it out. "The pattern does remind me of my feathers."

They find a larger square of cloth (a chlamys) that will work to conceal his wings if needed, though the amulet tends to do that well enough. Speaking of which...his appearance.

"I do not think I need to adjust things much," he says. "I may perhaps just work to darken my hair, and alter the color of my skin a bit..."

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu nods. "That should be all you need to do." She kisses him, soft and gentle. "Three will do to start our trip with, I won't hold you captive choosing clothing any longer," she teases.

It's entirely possible she's planning HER chiton's to coordinate with his in her head right now. Ahem.

So much packing, so many decisions, but they ARE finished by the time dinner rolls around.

"Elihu should be here first thing in the morning," she tells Skellig. "He's planning to head directly to HIS section of the Lair, meditate, and enjoy the peace and quiet."

[27_53]

"I would imagine that he will be most grateful for the peace and quiet after spending a fair amount of time with your other brother," Skellig admits, looking up from his plate - dinner is a simple thing, a combination of leftovers and other perishables, as to minimize any waste before they leave the Lair.

He smirks slightly as he tears apart a piece of bread.

"Though if you are certain that he will not arrive until morning..." His glance is a hint wicked, as he throws his eyes over to their bed - their packs are neatly stacked at the foot of it. "...Might I suggest we enjoy each other's company after dinner, take advantage of the privacy of these solid stone walls one last time before we travel?"

(That shouldn't need a translation.)

[brave_kreyu]

Her smile in response is also a hint wicked.

"I was hoping you'd suggest something like that," she replies. "Should I tie you to the bed?" she asks, tone slightly teasing.

[27_53]

Briefly he considers making a comment along the lines of that's the only kind of 'captivity' I consider positive but he refrains, feeling it might be just a bit too soon for that level of brevity. (After all, Xenophon's sister is still awaiting her freedom.)

"I would not protest that," he says. "We could both spend some time getting riled up, then you could tie me to the bed and ride me until we both find our release." His smirk is devious, but his eyes are innocent. "Make sure we get a good night's rest before we set out in the morning."