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_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.

[st_illunsmeared]

"No more fortunate than I to have friends who will permit me to help."

Phryne smiled at both men, boys really, both of them in spite of Ignis's age. Both had much to learn of the world outside the boundaries of their knowledge and they were so gentle in their ways that she felt immediately protective of them as she had with both Dot and Jane.

"And you may be right, Ignis. We can but try, and this way, I needn't risk making changes that Alcuin won't like."

[st_eadfast]

Ignis nodded, then smiled a little lopsidedly. "I expect I'll be very little use in any redecoration effort, but I imagine I'll enjoy listening to the design phase nonetheless." It had occurred to him, briefly, that he should excuse himself to let Alcuin and Miss Fisher get on with things, but... he wanted to stay near Alcuin until he had to go. How difficult could staying out of the way really be?

[st_unning]

"Yes, please stay," Alcuin said to Ignis. "Also, any constructive criticism? Would you recommend me to a friend?" He smiled brilliantly at him.

[st_eadfast]

"Ah-" Somehow he'd thought that Alcuin wouldn't refer to the massage in front of Phryne, but... why wouldn't he? It wasn't anything, really. Despite effort to suppress it, Ignis flushed slightly. "Yes. I mean, no - no criticism. You're... very skilled."

[st_unning]

"Oh good, I'm so glad," said Alcuin sincerely. "And any time, really. I'm happy to help you relax."

He looked at Phryne. "You were right, it's so nice to feel useful."

[st_illunsmeared]

Rather fortunately, Phryne had sipped neither tea nor champagne before Alcuin spoke. She almost certainly would have choked on a stifled laugh.

Useful, indeed. She raised an eyebrow at him, smiling somewhat slyly.

"I'm quite willing to take credit for anything that makes you smile like that. But I do recall it was you who said you wanted to be useful." The slightest emphasis on 'useful' offered a double entendre she felt certain Alcuin would pick up.

"In any event, I've just remembered I'm meant to meet Jack in the cafe in a few minutes and I must freshen up." Of course, she had no such meeting, but neither would gainsay her as it concerned Jack. "Alcuin, Ignis, darlings, please excuse me and the interruption. Shall we say tomorrow, around the same time?"

[st_eadfast]

Ignis had the not-wholly-unfamiliar but always uncomfortable feeling that he was missing some meaning to Phryne's statement. Likely, as with other times that had happened, said missed meaning could have nothing to do with him, and accordingly he ignored her odd emphasis on words. "I had no other plans, so provided that timing is acceptable to Alcuin, it works equally well for me."

[st_unning]

Alcuin suspected that Phryne had picked up on sexual tension between himself and Ignis. He still was uncertain whether Ignis was blind to it, so to speak. But Alcuin could tell when someone was attracted to him - which still did not mean that Ignis had any desire to act on it. And for Alcuin's part, he did not want to risk their friendship; he felt as if he'd been lucky that Vax could brush things off so easily. Ignis struck him as someone more easily impacted by things. And besides which, Alcuin still felt so messed up, so confused; he would not even know where to begin in being with someone he just wanted for the sake of wanting.

"That is fine," he said with a little smile.

[st_illunsmeared]

"Wonderful." Phryne made a point of catching Alcuin's eye and dipping her head just enough to suggest accord. Her smile, too, offered forgiveness for any offense he felt he'd committed by giving Ignis the first massage, sweet creature that he was.

"Then I'll be off. Ciao, darlings!" she said brightly and then sailed out with twice the aplomb as she'd entered.