Day in the Spa

[st_unning]

After Alcuin's conversation with Phryne, he had a small sense of purpose. She'd pointed out a marketable skill that hadn't occurred to him -- massage. He had come across the spa at the inn during his exploring, and it did not really seem to be in use.

After a few cooking lessons, Alcuin had offered to read to Ignis, and so when he'd seen him last he suggested they meet the next morning by the pool, which also happened to be right by the spa. Perhaps he'd be interested in helping him explore that, as well.

Comments

[st_unning]

Alcuin noted the scars but they did not surprise him. He knew that Ignis had been in battles. His scars were the surprising ones. He did not seem like someone who had been in battle... and he hadn't. But Ignis would never see his.

"There's a table to your left," he said, "that I think would work well. Lay on your stomach?"

[st_eadfast]

There was indeed a table to his left, and a brief investigation let Ignis determine its dimensions well enough that he was able to settle on top of it, on his stomach as requested, with the absolute bare minimum of clumsy awkwardness.

[st_unning]

Given the interaction that had just transpired, Alcuin thought it best not to compliment Ignis' physique. He was also not surprised when he left his trousers on, though in Terre d'Ange that would have been seen as a bit silly (not to mention limiting). Normally he might have insisted on nudity with a blanket over his bottom half, but thought that for now this would be fine.

The table was nice, and seemed comfortable, with soft padding and a place for him to lay his head to keep his neck straight.

"Relax as much as you can," he said, and then poured some of the scented oil between his hands, rubbing them together to warm it. Then he laid his hands on Ignis' back and began to spread the oil.

[st_eadfast]

Ignis's instinct was to force himself to stay still and unreacting, to tense up just enough to counter relaxation; if he didn't react, he couldn't embarrass himself. Instead, he pushed down the instinct, an increasingly easy matter as Alcuin's hands smoothed over his skin; he wanted touch, no matter how little he should or how inappropriate it was.

[st_unning]

Alcuin also wanted touch. To touch someone, but even more... to make someone feel good.

"I thought you might be tense," he said softly. "I can help." He placed one hand on Ignis' lower back, the other on top of it, and began making circles, pressing the heel of his hand slightly into his skin.

[st_eadfast]

There was a lot of tension, mostly generalized rather than in painful knots. Immediate reactive tension was actually comparatively minor; most of it was long-term tension, born most of a lifetime trying to seem unflappable, untouchable, immune. In honesty, Ignis hadn't even realized it was there (fish didn't think about water) until Alcuin's gentle rubbing started smoothing it away. "You are not wrong on either point."

[st_unning]

"So much tightness in your muscles... it comes from all the stress you've carried with you." He found that tightness with his hands, and gently, carefully smoothed it away.

[st_eadfast]

"Likely to return, then, sooner or later." But not now. Now was fantastic, learning what relaxation actually felt like on top of the simple guilty pleasure of warm hands - Alcuin's hands - on his bare skin. Despite not being able to see, Ignis let his eyes drift closed behind his shades, as if that would let him concentrate better on the sensations.

[st_unning]

"Does it feel all right?" Alcuin asked, finding that he craved some confirmation that he was doing something good. "It's helping, then?" One of his hands found the back of Ignis' neck and smoothed over it.

[st_eadfast]

"It feels amazing." It was, in fact, difficult not to make wordless pleasure-noises every time one of Alcuin's hands found what had apparently been a particularly troubling spot. In fact, he was only able to stop the little not-exactly-gasps-or-moans about half the time. "You can be - aaah - very confident in your skills. I think."

[st_unning]

"Oh good," said Alcuin fondly, a smile in his voice. It felt so good to make someone else feel good. It was just so... natural. So ingrained.

"I like this," he confessed. "It makes me happy... to help you."

[st_eadfast]

"I wish I could be of more help to you." Cooking lessons aside, he didn't do very much but provide company when Alcuin wished it. And even that felt uneven at moments like this. At the very least, someone like Alcuin deserved an equal measure.

[st_unning]

"Oh, Ignis," Alcuin said, sounding surprised. "But you are. Your friendship is such comfort to me, and besides..." He hesitated, not knowing quite how to explain this. "I cannot tell you whether it is simply my nature, or an affect of how I've spent so much of my life, but - I like being useful, I like making other people happy. Making them feel good." At least, people he liked. He would have spent his entire existence making Anafiel feel good.

[st_eadfast]

If he'd been braver or more carefree (or was that careless?) that might have been a good cue to turn over and kiss Alcuin, to share how good he felt. But Ignis was neither or none of those things, and surely - his profession being what it was - he'd had more than enough of uninvited (unwanted, his inner self added) physical expression.

So he stayed where he was and tried to use words instead. "I cannot express how much more pleasant this place is for me, since meeting you. You are... human sunlight, if you'll forgive the maudlin phrasing."

[st_unning]

Alcuin was surprised into silence for a second, though his hands continued smoothing over Ignis' back. "Thank you, Ignis," he said softly, his pleasure in it clear in his tone. "I - I confess, I am so accustomed to people's reactions to me being tempered by my appearance, so that is particularly nice to hear."

[st_eadfast]

How odd that not being able to see how beautiful someone was ended up being a benefit to complimenting them. Ignis wasn't going to question it. Instead, he responded, "You're welcome. I've had very little experience with compliments, so I'm glad that wasn't hugely embarrassing for you."

[st_illunsmeared]

Notebook in hand, Phryne entered the spa and let her gaze drift over the space while noting--

Alcuin and Ignis. How delightful!

--what needed to be done to make the place more congenial. As she was not, in fact, alone, nor did she wish to intrude, she began to back away toward the door. She did hope her shoes didn't give her away and disrupt what might be the start of an intimate moment.

[st_eadfast]

Years of trained habit made Ignis tense up at the sound of footsteps, undoing at least some of Alcuin's (wonderful) effort at relaxing him. He spared a flicker of guilt for that before speaking up, "You might as well come in, especially if you were looking for Alcuin."

[st_unning]

Alcuin felt Ignis tense before he heard him speak, and then he looked up in surprise. But he relaxed as soon as he saw Phryne. Though he did take his hands off of Ignis' back.

"Oh hello, Phryne," he said pleasantly, seeming entirely unbothered by her presence. And saying her name to be sure Ignis knew who had joined them.

[st_illunsmeared]

Caught out, as she so rarely was, Phryne gave in to the invitations with a charming smile. "Ignis, Alcuin. I can scarcely imagine a more delightful chance encounter."

She moved toward them slowly to give Alcuin a chance to wave her off if he didn't want more of an interruption than she'd already been. "Although you've quite spoiled my surprise."

[st_eadfast]

Back to the real world, then. Likely not a moment too soon, but sad nonetheless. Ignis slid off the table, carefully avoiding the space Alcuin occupied, using his hand to track back and find his shirt. "In our defense, the book Alcuin was going to read was terrible."

[st_unning]

Alcuin couldn't help but find himself slightly disappointed when Ignis began to dress again. But he also did not mind that Phryne had interrupted them.

"It was," he confirmed. "Ignis offered to help me explore... and then I thought I would try things out. I hope you aren't upset you didn't get first dibs." He smiled a little.

[st_illunsmeared]

Phryne waved that away with a dismissive gesture. "Hardly." She did allow herself a little look at Ignis before he put his shirt on, but only a glance. He preferred men and she... preferred Jack. "I'm only mildly disappointed," she continued as she neared them. "I'd planned to see if the Inn would permit me a little redecorating before you opened. As a treat for you."

[st_eadfast]

"Perhaps it will. This isn't, after all, a bedroom. I'd expect a location such as this to make alterations regularly, depending on current style." Current style, new fads, what-have-you. "And one tryout is hardly a grand opening." It would be a poor opening, if so.

[st_unning]

Not a bedroom, no, which was a good reminder that Alcuin needed to remember that what would be happening here was not intended to be intimate. ... even with Ignis.

"We've only just begun exploring," Alcuin confirmed to Phryne. "And that is so kind of you. How fortunate I am to have such friends willing to help me." He smiled both at her and at Ignis.