A tub for two

[onlycareaboutshipping]

the intimate bathing meme;

Grooming is an important part of many species' rituals. It keeps them clean, healthy, and content. And a good bath? It can change the whole tone of a day from terrible to relaxed and blissful. But nudity is sometimes viewed as a weakness - and it is almost always sexualized - so bathing is often kept a private matter. If you do share these moments with someone, they're almost always a significant other or a sexual partner. Like you're doing now. Whether it be after a battle or after sex (or before sex, even), the two of you are going to get clean. Be sure to help each other out with that, won't you? After all, there are places on the back that just can't be reached... HOW TO PLAY: Comment with your character, your prefs, etc. If there are other grooming-related practices or kinks you'd like to include, like shaving, hair washing, mention them! Reply to others!

Comments

[whomthebelltolls]

Yes, I am the bossy one. [She says this with a touch of a sleepy laugh. Then, Maria hums, a soft, low, content noise.

Ah yeah, that's the spot.

It's only when Ashe speaks again that Maria reacts, and gives a bit of a cant of her head to emulate a shrug.] Long plane rides are never kind on my body, even first class. For some reason, planes aren't designed for people of my size.

[Almost like she's an anomaly or something. She enjoys the massage for a few more moments, before deciding to move a bit.] Here, let me rinse the soap out. [Before it starts to dry. She moves forward a bit, so she can dunk her head in the water.]

[deadlock_diva]

'Course they aren't. Us mortals weren't prepared for a goddess to walk among us. All there is to it, really.

[ Ugh. Yep. Ashe is definitely tired.

As Maria dunks her head in the water, Ashe moves her hands back up into her hair to help her rinse the soap from it, lightly scrubbing her scalp again and then moving out to the ends. ]

[whomthebelltolls]

[You know what Maria wasn't prepared for? Laughing, so hard that she has to sit up, probably before all of the suds are rinsed out.

Once the fit has passed, she glances over her shoulder, an actual grin spread across her face.] Oh, I am far from divine. And you must be delirious.

[deadlock_diva]

[ Hey. At least her awful, horrible, shitty one-liners have some use. She laughs just a little herself upon seeing the grin Maria gives her. ]

Shhhh... [ She scoots forward a bit and wraps her arms around her girlfriend's waist, resting her cheek against her back. ] Lemme think what I want.

[whomthebelltolls]

My delirium comment remains. It seems madness is catching. [But she does lean back into the arms, and the hold, and relaxes into it a bit, even reaching down to gently rub Ashe's leg next to her.]

Which is to say, let me think what I want.

[deadlock_diva]

[ Ashe turns her head and presses a kiss against the hunter's back. ]

What? That I'm just delirious? [ She gives her a tight squeeze and another kiss. ] Goin' crazy?

That ain't too nice a thought, is it?

[whomthebelltolls]

It just means we match. I wouldn't let you have all the fun.

[Though the kiss does earn a soft, content hum.]

[deadlock_diva]

I can live with that.

[ A light nuzzle against Maria's back and then she scoots back just enough to resume the massage, starting up at her neck. ]

Could be worse company.

[whomthebelltolls]

Yes. You aren't alone in more than one way. [She gives an amused laugh, and settles herself back as well, head lolled forward to offer her neck to Ashe once more.]

Hm. Know you how to ride, cowgirl? [Pause.] A horse, I mean.

[deadlock_diva]

[ The ”I don’t know, sugar. You tell me,” was on the tip of her tongue a split-second before Maria decides to elaborate. Damn. She already knows her way too well.

Still, it makes her laugh. ]

Mm. Probably a mite rusty. My folks had horses back on their ranch in Texas and I took lessons up until I was around ten. Haven’t ridden since I was in highschool.

[ A beat. ]

Not a horse, that is.

[ Because she can’t resist still making a comment. ]

[whomthebelltolls]

Yes, I'm aware you've had other riding experience since then. Motorcycle or otherwise. [She's been on the receiving end of that before. So... yes, she is eminently aware, Ashe.

The reason for the question, though, comes quickly thereafter:] I wonder if we can keep ourselves sober enough for a day to take a horseback tour, then. If that doesn't sound too terrible to you.

[deadlock_diva]

Just makin' sure.

[ There's a possibility that she's only going to get worse from here. Especially if more wine is brought into the picture. ]

Terrible? Nah. I'd love to. I can stay sober enough for whatever you're little heart desires. We don't have to be drunk the whole time on this vacation, do we? I'd like to remember some of it.

[whomthebelltolls]

Why do you say that like I cannot stay sober? [She laughs, softly, and pushes back a little into Ashe, nudging her a bit.] But yes, I think it would be nice to do something like that. Enjoy the countryside from a good vantage and travel like we used-

[Pause.] ... Like it used to be done. Since I don't think there's call for hurry.

[deadlock_diva]

[ And Ashe takes a moment to nuzzle into her before going right back to rubbing her neck and shoulders. ]

You're the one who suggested wine tours. [ Chuckle. ] Just callin' it like I see it, darlin'.

[ Another hint that soars over Ashe's head. What a totally normal thing to say. ]

Guessin' you've ridden a bit yourself?

[whomthebelltolls]

I was. Tuscany is a great area for such things, but it has a great many other activities we can do, as well. Besides, we cannot do wine tours all day.

[Actually, they probably could, but she's not going to force them to. Maybe most days. And most of each day. But not all day, every day.]

Yes. It has been some time, but I rode quite a lot when I was younger. [It was... about the only way to travel long distances when she was younger. If you didn't want to walk everywhere. That's not even Cainhurst's old fashioned stylings at work, it was literally before cars were invented.]

[deadlock_diva]

Sure we can. If we believe hard enough.

[ But even Ashe will tire of getting tipsy or drunk after a while. Wine is good and all, but it isn't that good. Besides, they can ship the wine back home and get drunk later.

And don't be silly! There's no way Maria's that old. ]

Had a ol' mare named Dixie. Beautiful palomino and just as fiery as I am. Threw me a couple times, but we finally got to likin' each other after while. We'd always try jumpin' the fence to get away from my instructor. Lessons were about as dull as dull could be, but goin' out ridin' was fun.

[ She hums and slides her hands down Maria's back, absently tracing a couple of her scars along the way. ]

What kind of horse did you have?

[whomthebelltolls]

[Another snort, another shake of her head. No, Ashe, it'll be fine to take a break.

Ah, but now they're on the topic of horses, and that's an interesting one.]

A big, black warhorse, solid and unshakable as they come with that sort of breeding. But that boy was curious, and that nearly got us in trouble several times. It was a constant effort to keep him on task, and not let him get bored and wander off toward movement he'd see, or anything else interesting... and we had to be careful not to ride out with any of the mares if they were going to come into their heat soon. For better or worse, he wasn't gelded, since his calmness was too desirable to not pass on.

Whether pursuing Beast or man... I never did find another horse I liked as much as him. I couldn't bring him to Byrgenwerth - nowhere to stable him, at that time - and even after I retired from Hunting it never worked out, unfortunately. [Mostly because he'd probably been slaughtered with everything else in Cainhurst. If not that, then taken and sold somewhere.]

[deadlock_diva]

You hunted on horseback? Must've had nerves of steal to go up against beasts with you.

[ Ashe's hands slowly trail down Maria's sides over her hips and then she reaches forward to let them slide along her legs (as far as she can reach, that is). She strokes along the skin with her thumbs as she presses herself against her girlfriend's back. She's tired. The bath is so warm and she just wants to be as close as possible. ]

That's too bad, though. Pretty easy to get attached to them, ain't it? Did he have a name?

[whomthebelltolls]

Yes. I have learned how to do mounted combat. It's a little less interesting than it sounds - we mostly used guns to hunt from the horse's back. It's not much different than standing or running and firing, you just have a higher vantage point. Swords don't reach very far, so that is more useful on foot.

[Oooh... that's a nice feeling. Maria sighs, softly, and relaxes back into her girlfriend. Ashe wants to hold her, she can do as much of it as she wants. The hunter folds her right leg up; her knee is out of the water and a little cold, but it's comfortable this way.

Then again, that also gives more of her leg for Ashe to touch.]

I called him Abaddon. He didn't much live up to the name, though. Less fierce, and more relaxed, if a bit stubborn about listening to directions.

[deadlock_diva]

Sounds like he looked the part, at least.

[ Aaah, yes. She is perfectly fine with Maria making more of her leg accessible. She gladly strokes along her thigh up to her knee and then down again.

And you know, all this talk about swords and horses and she's really beginning to wonder. Because wouldn't it have been faster to hunt with a hover bike? Horses are all well and good, but there really aren't too many people who use them to get around, anymore. It isn't the first time she's caught herself wondering, exactly, but she's usually just written it off. Everything Maria has told her has been pretty difficult to believe and even more difficult to wrap her head around. ]

How long's it been since you've gone huntin'?

[whomthebelltolls]

Hmm... I retired in my early twenties... so... [She gives an enigmatic smile, tilting her head back a bit toward the ceiling.] It's been quite a number of years. Things have changed quite a bit since I was active, anyway.

[deadlock_diva]

[ That isn't a vague answer at all.

She nuzzles her cheek against Maria's back with a curious hum. Now that she thinks about it, she's never really asked Maria how old she is. Not that she can remember, that is. ]

Can't have been that long ago, then. Why hunt on horseback, anyhow? There're more efficient ways to get around. Especially, if you're huntin' somethin' that big.

[whomthebelltolls]

It's the easiest way to navigate through wooded areas quickly. [She has a convenient excuse for that, too, as she continues to Neo her way around these questions. She isn't going to address the "can't have been that long ago" thing. It was, Ashe. It very much so was.] A horse can go places some vehicles can't, and they can help not run into a tree while you're busy trying to aim.

[deadlock_diva]

[ You know what those smell like? Excuses.

Granted, they're good excuses, but still.

But still, maybe she's thinking a little too much on it. They didn't come to Italy to overthink. They came to relax. And have a nice time. ]

Yeah... Alright. Guess you'd be in big trouble if you crashed into a tree on a hoverbike. The autopilot systems still ain't the greatest.

[ She closes her eyes, still gently running her fingertips up and down Maria's thighs. ]

It's just really strange to think that there were beasts like that and it didn't make the news. Must've been hidden from the rest of the world.

[whomthebelltolls]

[They absolutely are excuses. Maybe if Ashe keeps after Maria, she'll make her slip.] Would that we could've used hoverbikes.

[See, see how close she's getting?]

Who's to say they didn't? It may not have made international news, but it was talked about somewhere, I'm sure. Have you never looked up Yharnam on the internet? Or Cainhurst Castle?

[Maybe if Ashe remembers, she can start putting it together.]