[ Leather and desert heat don't mix. Flexing his hands under his gloves, Clive breathes through his teeth in emphatic agreement, tempted to start shedding layers right there if he could get away with it. ]
So I did. [ Is it wise to get naked immediately after promising to be careful? Probably not. But does Clive want to follow through on his first (!) official date plans? Absolutely. ] ―The bathhouse should be just around the corner, there.
[ Pointing to a path that curves into a long pathway, which eventually opens up into a little inner square of sorts with an establishment surrounded by fountains. He leads Jill to the place in question, where a jaunty man in expensive-looking clothes greet them warmly.
"Ah! My hero!", he exclaims, patting Clive on the shoulder. "Have you finally come to see the place you've saved? Come, come, I'll set you and your lovely lady up with a room of your own."
He glances towards Jill, and shrugs. ] Any objections, my lady?
[Clive may note the loving touching and hand holding is nowhere to be found here. The infatuation hasn't been killed by the heat, but the idea of touching anyone makes her want to fall upon her sword.
Only the thought of being naked with Clive in a bath keeps her strong.]
None at all. I'm very much looking forward to it.
[She's already reaching into her hair to pull out the ribbon so she can better hike all that hair up, onto her neck, into a messy ball. A thing she can do while walking along to their room, thank you very much.]
[ Oh. Jill looks very pretty with her hair up like that, which distracts Clive momentarily from the task of following their guide into the establishment and through their halls. He recovers, though (but not without one last slightly-impolite glance at Jill's exposed neck), and clears his throat as he motions for his lovely lady to follow him. ]
Let's go, then.
[ The inside of the bathhouse is surprisingly tidy. Stucco walls with murals in bright colors, fountains and potted plants scattered in various corners. There's a public bath in the middle of the place which they bypass in favor of the more spacious private rooms towards the rear of the establishment; the space they're led to turns out to be one big open chamber with a pool hugging the entirety of the back wall, with a window that looks out towards the Dozenoff Terraces in the distance.
"My hero stays for free!", the man exclaims before he leaves, though not without a wink. "Though I do hope you'll remember my hospitality if something comes up in the future."
Wonderful. Clive closes the door once the proprietor leaves, and shakes his head. ] I'll be doing favors for him until the end of my days.
[That water looks so inviting Jill nearly throws herself in, clothing and all. In reality, she simply stands beside Clive and sighs in relief. What a day it's been already, and finally here is her reward. Privacy and the man she loves, and loves her in turn.
And a large bath with clean water. Jill looks to Clive, smile seemingly stuck in place.]
He won't be calling for you just yet.
[So enjoy, Clive. Jill steps forward to wordlessly help him undress. It’s more difficult for him, especially with his sword, gauntlets, and cape. And it's more reason to be close, stealing kisses between undoing clasps and buckles. Kissing him still sends a thrill through her--she hopes it always will. He's so precious to her, and it's there in every touch and shift of light in her pale eyes.]
How did you know this is just what I needed?
[Nevermind she's only been here five minutes and hasn't even touched the water. She's simply happy to be with him.]
[ Invictus gets laid near the edge of the bath, within arm's reach (he will fight naked against a bunch of bandits if he needs to), but the rest of his clothes slough off haphazardly, to be thought about later. Maybe the two of them could borrow some layers that aren't quite as suffocating for a later stroll, but that's a Future Clive problem.
He presses kisses against Jill's lips, her jaw, her forehead. Once the only thing still clinging to his body is his underwear, he moves to help Jill out of her own things, treating her clothes with far more care than his own.
Once they're both largely naked, he hums and runs his palm over the bare column of her neck. ]
This reminds me of when you still wore your hair short.
[Jill smiles, leaning into his palm, her own hands trailing down his chest. She doesn't tell him the details, of her long hair being cut under the sharp eyes of the duchess and dropping around her like leaves, the instructions to her caretakers to keep it short and tidy, lest anyone mistake her for a savage.
She won't ruin their day with talk of Anabella. A hand lifts from his chest to brush his hair from his face, so she can better see his beautiful blue eyes.]
I love you.
[A much better thing to think about.]
Being able to say so, aloud... It’s wonderful, isn't it?
[ The sheer force of I love you still feels like missing a step while going downstairs. His heart flips, then rights itself, and he smiles about it with the sort of thrill-rush-adrenaline that he knows he'll always feel around Jill and her affection. ]
...It is. [ Lacing their free hands together into a hold, he squeezes her fingers with gentle affirmation. ] I loved you then, and I love you now.
[ Another kiss, soft, and he angles his jaw towards the warm water. ]
Shall we?
[ It'll be good to slough off the desert sand and the accumulated sweat. There's a little crystal in a linen bag bobbing in the water, presumably to magick impurities away; another convenience that Clive will take away once he's done saving the world.
Might as well take advantage of it while they can. Off goes Clive's underwear, and he guides Jill into the bath with him. ]
[She always knew he'd be the lover she dreamed of--gentle, sweet, and charming though she doubts he realizes he is. He's all those things to her, and she hardly allows him to step into the depths of the bath before she's slipping her arms around him. The water feels heavenly, soothing some of the little aches from the night before, but they're hardly things she notices with him fully bared before her.]
On our travels, when we've had no choice but to bathe in whatever river or stream is available to us... did you know how I've had to fight with myself not to steal a peek?
[A tiny confession. Jill always made sure to turn her back and busy herself with camp if there was any sort of direct line of sight, and they could never truly be entirely nude, but she would have enjoyed the sight of him cleaning the day's dust from the road off his hands and face just as well as she'd enjoy seeing the rest of him.]
[ They settle into the water, and Clive finds the far edge of the pool to lean against as Jill winds herself around him. A beat, and he makes the executive decision of hauling her up onto his lap, where she can sit sideways across his knees as he sifts water over her back and shoulders.
His brow raises at the confession. Surprised and amused, in equal measure. ]
That makes two of us.
[ He hums, low and thoughtful under his breath. ] Do you want to hear a shameful confession? [ If they're going to be playing the 'did you know' game. ]
[This whole pool, and they take up so little of it. Jill laughs, the sound amplified in the bath, and slides her arms around Clive's shoulders. Easy, then, to tracing her fingers up and down the back of his neck.]
Certainly. Though I hope you know you really have nothing to be ashamed about with me. No matter what it is.
[Really, she can't imagine Clive capable of anything that makes her feel disgust or disappointment. Cringe? Maybe. But at least that can be kind of cute.]
...Once or twice, when I knew that obligations would take me away from you for longer than I would like, I...
[ A little pause, here, hesitant. Then, he ventures carefully: ] ...I took one of your ribbons with me. [ The ones she uses to keep her hair braided and in place. ] To have a piece of you to keep.
[Jill's eyebrows slowly lift in anticipation as he speaks. Speaks, and then confesses to being a little thief! It makes her laugh, and she bumps their noses together, charmed.]
Is that where my ribbon got off to? I thought one of the children got into my things.
[She doesn't keep much, so losing track of a ribbon was quite out of character for her. Clearly a case of sticky fingers, but she never would have suspected Clive.]
Had you asked, I'd have let you. And now you needn't ask at all.
[Jill will make him something, she decides, and tuck it away in his armor if they need to be apart. She leans in to kiss him, delighted, palm squeezing the back of his neck.]
[ A criminal!!! Clive sighs, a little relieved that he finally confessed to his heinous crimes. He's glad that Jill hasn't immediately dumped him for it, but of course she didn't. She's far too good to him. ]
I didn't want you to worry. [ About him pining, or feeling lonely without her. He'd relied on Jill for so much over the years, and he'd hardly wanted her to think that she needed him for everything. She deserved her time, her rest.
That said, he nuzzles into her kiss, nipping lightly at her shapely lower lip. ] ...I could give you something of mine in recompense, if you'd like.
[Out of the gutter, Jill. He truly did give it to her last night, but she bites back that joke for now--she can hear Tarja's voice chiming in with a warning he may have given her something else along with a good lay, but she'd rather not think of that anymore.
She settles on something sweeter.]
You already gave me your heart. What else could I need, Clive?
[Another kiss, because there's no reason to ever stop kissing him when it's just the two of them.]
[ Water displaces softly around them, and the sound of it along with the gentle sound of Jill's breathing lulls Clive into a place of profound comfort. He's slumped against the edge of the pool, shoulders relaxed, palm settled against Jill's waist as if it's permanently glued there for the rest of the day. ]
Come, you're allowed to be a bit more selfish than that.
[ Fondly, as he trails his lips down to her jaw. He nibbles the soft skin there gently, almost leaving a mark. ]
You've always had my heart. You could ask for anything else.
[Jill's felt him relax against her in bed, in her arms, and cherished every moment of his quiet breathing as he's slept. She can feel the same loosening of his muscles now, and she relaxes with him, at ease and happy on his lap and against his chest. They could stay here forever and she'd be happy.]
That is me being selfish, I'm afraid. I have the greatest part of you. But...
[Very well. He wants to give her something, and she'll help guide him. A ring may be too much, but there are other things she can wear and keep close to her heart.]
Perhaps if you see a necklace I'd might like. Or that you might like to see, on me...
[Since she'd wear it tucked beneath her collar. He'd see it of course, given how comfortable they are now around one another without clothing.]
[ They might just cook in warm water until the rest of their days. An idyllic thought, as Clive smiles and travels his kisses downwards until he reaches the crest of Jill's shoulder. ]
I thought you might ask me for my underclothes. [ Teasing! His laugh whispers along bare skin, and he presses his smile against her collarbone. ] But a necklace would be more appropriate.
[ A blue gemstone might be too on-the-nose. Maybe something red, to remind her of him. ] We can go search the stalls together, after this.
[Gross, Clive. She laughs as she snuggles in closer, somehow, at ease as she embraces him. Perhaps if she hugs him for hours on end, it may make up for lost time.]
[ Maybe they should just stick to each other as often as they can, to fend off the existential dread always threatening to creep in. Clive lands another kiss to her neck, right where the collar of her shirt usually ends. ]
Alright. I'll do my utmost.
[ Treating necklace searching like a solemn mission? Absolutely. ]
[His beard is always a tickle against her neck. Jill shivers with a soft giggle, nosing his cheek. Not to discourage, but simply affection for the sake of affection.]
I'm in no hurry. Are you comfortable?
[She is, lounging on him like he's a piece of furniture.]
[ Cid the Outlaw, bested not by the gods or a fearsome beast, but by bathwater and his ostensible wife (!). He smiles as he cranes back upright, and presses his damp palm to Jill's smiling face. ]
[ Is it an inclination to serve, or a boyish eagerness to touch her brazenly, now that he knows he can? It's a bit of Column A, and a bit of Column B. He's still a red-blooded man who's utterly infatuated with the woman who is currently very tantalizingly sitting on his thighs, and he thinks he can't be blamed for wanting to put his hands on her.
He apologizes to Tarja in the back of his mind. He has to be careful, he knows. ]
If my lady will indulge me. [ God, please stay on his lap. ] And if she'll be patient with my wandering touch.
[ Let it never be said that fire always prevails over ice. Clive's eyes widen, then narrow fondly as he turns Jill over on his lap before he can be tempted to kiss her for another hour instead of getting anything done. ]
I expect you to have your fill, love.
[ Water makes it easier for both of them to maneuver around, and when he finally manages to have her face away from him, he slides his warm, textured palm over the bare expanse of all that beautiful skin. He hasn't seen much of Jill like this, and ridiculously, it feels just a little scandalous.
An appreciative hum, and he puts his mouth on the nape of her neck. ]
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So I did. [ Is it wise to get naked immediately after promising to be careful? Probably not. But does Clive want to follow through on his first (!) official date plans? Absolutely. ] ―The bathhouse should be just around the corner, there.
[ Pointing to a path that curves into a long pathway, which eventually opens up into a little inner square of sorts with an establishment surrounded by fountains. He leads Jill to the place in question, where a jaunty man in expensive-looking clothes greet them warmly.
"Ah! My hero!", he exclaims, patting Clive on the shoulder. "Have you finally come to see the place you've saved? Come, come, I'll set you and your lovely lady up with a room of your own."
He glances towards Jill, and shrugs. ] Any objections, my lady?
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Only the thought of being naked with Clive in a bath keeps her strong.]
None at all. I'm very much looking forward to it.
[She's already reaching into her hair to pull out the ribbon so she can better hike all that hair up, onto her neck, into a messy ball. A thing she can do while walking along to their room, thank you very much.]
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Let's go, then.
[ The inside of the bathhouse is surprisingly tidy. Stucco walls with murals in bright colors, fountains and potted plants scattered in various corners. There's a public bath in the middle of the place which they bypass in favor of the more spacious private rooms towards the rear of the establishment; the space they're led to turns out to be one big open chamber with a pool hugging the entirety of the back wall, with a window that looks out towards the Dozenoff Terraces in the distance.
"My hero stays for free!", the man exclaims before he leaves, though not without a wink. "Though I do hope you'll remember my hospitality if something comes up in the future."
Wonderful. Clive closes the door once the proprietor leaves, and shakes his head. ] I'll be doing favors for him until the end of my days.
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And a large bath with clean water. Jill looks to Clive, smile seemingly stuck in place.]
He won't be calling for you just yet.
[So enjoy, Clive. Jill steps forward to wordlessly help him undress. It’s more difficult for him, especially with his sword, gauntlets, and cape. And it's more reason to be close, stealing kisses between undoing clasps and buckles. Kissing him still sends a thrill through her--she hopes it always will. He's so precious to her, and it's there in every touch and shift of light in her pale eyes.]
How did you know this is just what I needed?
[Nevermind she's only been here five minutes and hasn't even touched the water. She's simply happy to be with him.]
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He presses kisses against Jill's lips, her jaw, her forehead. Once the only thing still clinging to his body is his underwear, he moves to help Jill out of her own things, treating her clothes with far more care than his own.
Once they're both largely naked, he hums and runs his palm over the bare column of her neck. ]
This reminds me of when you still wore your hair short.
[ Pretty then, beautiful now. ]
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She won't ruin their day with talk of Anabella. A hand lifts from his chest to brush his hair from his face, so she can better see his beautiful blue eyes.]
I love you.
[A much better thing to think about.]
Being able to say so, aloud... It’s wonderful, isn't it?
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...It is. [ Lacing their free hands together into a hold, he squeezes her fingers with gentle affirmation. ] I loved you then, and I love you now.
[ Another kiss, soft, and he angles his jaw towards the warm water. ]
Shall we?
[ It'll be good to slough off the desert sand and the accumulated sweat. There's a little crystal in a linen bag bobbing in the water, presumably to magick impurities away; another convenience that Clive will take away once he's done saving the world.
Might as well take advantage of it while they can. Off goes Clive's underwear, and he guides Jill into the bath with him. ]
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On our travels, when we've had no choice but to bathe in whatever river or stream is available to us... did you know how I've had to fight with myself not to steal a peek?
[A tiny confession. Jill always made sure to turn her back and busy herself with camp if there was any sort of direct line of sight, and they could never truly be entirely nude, but she would have enjoyed the sight of him cleaning the day's dust from the road off his hands and face just as well as she'd enjoy seeing the rest of him.]
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His brow raises at the confession. Surprised and amused, in equal measure. ]
That makes two of us.
[ He hums, low and thoughtful under his breath. ] Do you want to hear a shameful confession? [ If they're going to be playing the 'did you know' game. ]
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Certainly. Though I hope you know you really have nothing to be ashamed about with me. No matter what it is.
[Really, she can't imagine Clive capable of anything that makes her feel disgust or disappointment. Cringe? Maybe. But at least that can be kind of cute.]
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...Once or twice, when I knew that obligations would take me away from you for longer than I would like, I...
[ A little pause, here, hesitant. Then, he ventures carefully: ] ...I took one of your ribbons with me. [ The ones she uses to keep her hair braided and in place. ] To have a piece of you to keep.
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Is that where my ribbon got off to? I thought one of the children got into my things.
[She doesn't keep much, so losing track of a ribbon was quite out of character for her. Clearly a case of sticky fingers, but she never would have suspected Clive.]
Had you asked, I'd have let you. And now you needn't ask at all.
[Jill will make him something, she decides, and tuck it away in his armor if they need to be apart. She leans in to kiss him, delighted, palm squeezing the back of his neck.]
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I didn't want you to worry. [ About him pining, or feeling lonely without her. He'd relied on Jill for so much over the years, and he'd hardly wanted her to think that she needed him for everything. She deserved her time, her rest.
That said, he nuzzles into her kiss, nipping lightly at her shapely lower lip. ] ...I could give you something of mine in recompense, if you'd like.
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She settles on something sweeter.]
You already gave me your heart. What else could I need, Clive?
[Another kiss, because there's no reason to ever stop kissing him when it's just the two of them.]
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Come, you're allowed to be a bit more selfish than that.
[ Fondly, as he trails his lips down to her jaw. He nibbles the soft skin there gently, almost leaving a mark. ]
You've always had my heart. You could ask for anything else.
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That is me being selfish, I'm afraid. I have the greatest part of you. But...
[Very well. He wants to give her something, and she'll help guide him. A ring may be too much, but there are other things she can wear and keep close to her heart.]
Perhaps if you see a necklace I'd might like. Or that you might like to see, on me...
[Since she'd wear it tucked beneath her collar. He'd see it of course, given how comfortable they are now around one another without clothing.]
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I thought you might ask me for my underclothes. [ Teasing! His laugh whispers along bare skin, and he presses his smile against her collarbone. ] But a necklace would be more appropriate.
[ A blue gemstone might be too on-the-nose. Maybe something red, to remind her of him. ] We can go search the stalls together, after this.
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I want you to choose for me.
[No opinions from her! That's cheating.]
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Alright. I'll do my utmost.
[ Treating necklace searching like a solemn mission? Absolutely. ]
If we ever make it out of this room, that is.
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I'm in no hurry. Are you comfortable?
[She is, lounging on him like he's a piece of furniture.]
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[ Cid the Outlaw, bested not by the gods or a fearsome beast, but by bathwater and his ostensible wife (!). He smiles as he cranes back upright, and presses his damp palm to Jill's smiling face. ]
I could wash your back for you, if you'd like.
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[He can rest his head on her chest, of course. Her breasts aren't particularly large or buoyant, but she could keep him up.
But, at his suggestion, she nuzzles into his palm. He's always itching to serve.]
I would like that, actually. Shall I remain in your lap?
[She can straddle his knees.]
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He apologizes to Tarja in the back of his mind. He has to be careful, he knows. ]
If my lady will indulge me. [ God, please stay on his lap. ] And if she'll be patient with my wandering touch.
[ A bit of a playful bump of his knees. ]
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[She laughs when her seat jostles her. She welcomes his ticklish beard and his innocence thievery and his desire for her.]
Wait until it's my turn to wash you. I do mean to, Clive.
[A promise and a threat.]
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I expect you to have your fill, love.
[ Water makes it easier for both of them to maneuver around, and when he finally manages to have her face away from him, he slides his warm, textured palm over the bare expanse of all that beautiful skin. He hasn't seen much of Jill like this, and ridiculously, it feels just a little scandalous.
An appreciative hum, and he puts his mouth on the nape of her neck. ]
Even your back is beautiful.
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