Aubrey
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.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 9, 2007 20:08:29 GMT -5
Aubrey blinked twice, looking up at the sky. He.. hadn't really given that much thought, to be honest. What would he do now? Technically, he wasn't living at home, so he should take up some form of profession or practice or whatever, right?
"Hmmm..." he said, tilting his head to the side and brushing through his pretty hair with his fingers. "I dunno.. I mean, my da always said that our family has had an aptitude for magic or something, but I've never really given it any thought.."
[I've decided what he's gonna be XD]
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 9, 2007 20:19:30 GMT -5
"You should think about it. I'm sure we'll be able to find you a mentor once we get back to civilization, whenever that is." He tried not to think about how long it would be before they made it to a proper city - Meridian, for example - because it was just depressing. Jaiden wasn't nearly as shallow as his parents, but he did retain some of their one-dimensional properties about preferred living conditions. He just felt uncomfortable to be so far away from a bustling city full of humans. "Don't start daydreaming, though. Remember that we're looking for some water." He didn't bother mentioning to Aubrey that the skin was nearly empty - he hadn't really noticed before, but now that he had, their quest to find a bath was doubly important. Confident enough that they'd find something soon, he just omitted it from the boy.
Still, the idea of Aubrey as some sort of wizard made him snigger. He'd seen a good share of bumbling magicians in his time, and considering his companion's natural awkwardness, he could totally see him in that role...
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Aubrey
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.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 9, 2007 20:51:29 GMT -5
Aubrey nodded, looking around once more. A good bath would be nice, as Aubrey had not washed his wounds very well and his flesh was likely filthy. He liked feeling clean, and he liked feeling fresh and new.. He hoped that they would find a stream or a river or something soon.
"I won't forget," he said idly, looking. "I'm gross and dirty and a bath would be the best thing since getting out of Iodar.."
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 9, 2007 21:05:40 GMT -5
If that's how he looks when he's "gross and dirty," I can only imagine after he's been cleaned up... Jaiden made himself blush again, thankful that he was walking in front of Aubrey. It was all this open plains business that made it hard to concentrate on the matter at hand, and his mind tended to stray - it just happened to stray to Aubrey recently. It bothered him. They were approaching a light forest, not entirely oblivious to this fact, hoping that their search would turn up something there.
"There's got to be a stream or something in there... and we won't have to worry about anyone spying on us while we bathe. Hopefully." Don't want anyone else to look at him, anyway... Jaiden actually growled softly in frustration, wishing he had something else to think about besides the person he was traveling with.
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Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 9, 2007 22:03:20 GMT -5
Aubrey nodded, smiling up at Jaiden. He truly adored this young man.. He really did. If anyone understood Aubrey's current shyness as far as being seen by others, it would be Jaiden. So much had happened to Aubrey, and the teen did not welcome the idea of eyes wandering over his bare flesh. He ne'er had, but now he really didn't like it much.
Althoooouuugh.. No, wait! Stop! he thought, flushing faintly as well. He was certain Jaiden wouldn't want to see him bathe anyways, and even if he did, Aubrey would still be embarrassed. He didn't voice any of this, did not make any mention of it other than replying with, "I think I'd like that."
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 9, 2007 22:24:40 GMT -5
He was a little surprised that no one had seen them yet, though he supposed that the Centaur didn't have much trouble with intruders here. The Zhoan were undoubtedly on good terms with them, and he hadn't seen a Nymandine outside of Iodar that didn't have their own agenda. Maybe patrols weren't all that necessary? Regardless, it was nice not to be hassled. He relaxed some as they entered past the first few trees, because even though the forest wasn't exactly heavy, it gave them some cover.
He found that he didn't really trust himself to talk to Aubrey. There was too big a chance he'd say something embarassing. Attractive as he was, Jaiden never really got into much romantically (or physically, period) and spending all this quiet time with the kid was difficult. He perked up after a while, glancing off into the distance. "Do you hear that? Might be a stream... it's probably just my imagination, though." He snorted faintly and started heading off towards the sound.
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Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 10, 2007 20:05:56 GMT -5
Aubrey had been in his own thoughts, still looking for water of any form, but perked up at Jaiden's words, listening and trying to hear what Jaiden heard.
"I don't h-" he stopped speaking as he followed Jaiden, for the closer to what Jaiden heard they got, the more Aubrey heard it, too. "Wait, yes. I hear something!" He was almost too excited for it, but damn did he want/need/desperately desire a bath. He seemed to perk up even more as he heard the sound, because his hopes were rising quickly.
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 10, 2007 22:02:20 GMT -5
Well, Jaiden was right. There was water in the forest, and they'd stumbled upon it, which was good because he was afraid they wouldn't find some until after dark. Conveniently, the stream here expanded to fill a wider (and deeper, as far as he could see) alcove before straightening out again just ahead of it. It was slow moving water and, while a bit cold, would suit their purposes just fine. The Diviner grinned, pleased with their results. "What did I tell you? Looks clear, clean... thanks the gods." He dropped his bag on a nearby rock, one which was equal parts large, flat and half-buried. "Now we only have to worry about voyeuristic Centaur..." He said this is as a joke, but did so in a serious-tone of voice, wondering how Aubrey would take it.
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Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 10, 2007 22:34:16 GMT -5
"Yeah.." Aubrey said as he flushed, biting his lip softly before he examined the stream. Yes, it was deeper in the wider area, but that was not what Aubrey was most interested in. In fact, the poor boy was looking for the shallow-most portion of the water, finding his own needs to be slightly different than Jaiden's, most likely.
"I'm going to bathe over here," he said, walking to where the stream and the alcove met, a small bank formed on one side. He did not worry about Jaiden's eyes, more worried about the water itself as he stripped away his tattered shirt and the hanging-on-by-a-stitch leggings. It was strange that he did not put himself directly into the water, but rather sat at the water's edge and let his legs relax in the water instead.
He had another secret, among many, and he was very much embarrassed about it. However, he began to take handfuls of water, skilled in keeping them full as he brought them to his body and let them run over dirty flesh..
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 10, 2007 22:46:41 GMT -5
Jaiden didn't seem to notice. He seemed preoccupied with disrobing himself, stopping about halfway through to remember the soap he had packed away in his things. It wouldn't do much good in there, would it? He set it along the bank, nestled among some small rocks, being a little more self-conscious than he would've been otherwise around Aubrey. In fact, he didn't finish removing his clothes until he was sure he could make it into the water in a matter of seconds - the elaborate outfit fluttered onto the bank near the soap, and a splash was heard soon afterwards.
It took him a while to realize that Aubrey was acting strangely. The cool, gently rushing water felt like a godsend, and to finally soak his filthy hair... he was just too wrapped up in making himself feel good to find his behavior odd. He surfaced and pushed the wet strands from his face, tucking them behind his ears and looking for the boy. He raised a curious brow. "Hey... you alright?" Maybe he just had a weird way of taking a bath? Who knows what sort of habits you developed in a place like that. He swam a little closer, blinking. "The water's deeper over here... maybe you want some help?"
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Aubrey
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.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 10, 2007 22:55:37 GMT -5
Aubrey flushed brightly and shook his head, frowning softly. "Uhm.. n-no.. I-I'm okay.." he said, but his stutter gave him away as always it would. But, he didn't want Jaiden to worry over him! And besides, what would it look like if an Ardenbau-born teenager couldn't swim? It would be rediculous!
Of course, his reasons made sense, but his fears were mostly unfounded. He brushed a strand of still-dry and still-dirty hair from his face and frowned, wondering how he was going to wash it if he couldn't go underwater.. Hmmm.. Yes, this would be a problem.
He kept his eyes to himself, though, trying very hard not to look at Jaiden in the water. Yes, the older teen was covered by water, but he was still naked and still soaking wet.
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 10, 2007 23:08:12 GMT -5
He knew Aubrey was bashful, but the thought seemed to slip his mind at the moment. Unaware that the boy was trying not to look him in the eye for the most obvious reason, he thought something might be up... maybe he didn't like bathing with other people? "I can get out if you want... you know, if you want the place to yourself." He drifted closer to Aubrey, no longer having to tread water - he could stand comfortably here and still feel water over his shoulders. With his typically wild mass of hair tamed, Jaiden looked, in a simple sort of way, very nice. Pure, somehow.
"Is it too cold for you? We could try moving upstream or something, but that probably wouldn't help. There's some sun over here in the center of the pool, though." He nodded in that direction, trying to make his smile as welcoming as possible. Sure, they were here to bathe, but he had secretly thought along the way that it might be nice to unwind with a bit of swimming. What with all the stress lately, some relaxation was in order, and he was looking forward to enjoying it with Aubrey.
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Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 10, 2007 23:14:41 GMT -5
Again, the boy blushed brightly, this time hiding his face between his knees as he pulled his legs up to his chest. For a moment, he was quiet, and without a view of his face, it was hard to tell what he was thinking about at all. When he did speak, it was as shy as ever, yet not too quiet or overly loud.
"It's not that.." he said, voice just over a mumble. And then, in a voice just above a whisper, the boy added, "I can't swim," and awaited his fate. Would Jaiden laugh at him? Would he make fun of him or think less of him..? Aubrey didn't know, and that was why he was nervous now, exposed in his weakness for all the world to see.
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Post by Jaiden on Jan 10, 2007 23:32:48 GMT -5
Jaiden seemed more concerned about whether or not he was getting split ends than this particular news from Aubrey. He knew the boy was absurdly shy, but there were some things that he really didn't need to be ashamed of. His delicate fingers dropped the few strands of hair he was holding before his eyes, shrugging one shoulder. "Don't act like it's the end of the world or anything. I knew a lot of kids when I was younger that couldn't swim." He grinned at the younger boy, that mischevious glint in his eyes again. "I could help you learn... I think. I've never really tried to teach anyone before, but it's so easy once you know how. I'm pretty sure I could do it."
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Aubrey
Initiate
.:Look, but don't touch:.
Posts: 215
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Post by Aubrey on Jan 11, 2007 17:52:06 GMT -5
Aubrey looked up in what had to be a confused surprise, biting his lip as his brows met in curiosity. Jaiden.. didn't think he was pathetic? Or weak? Or pathetic? Aubrey seemed more concerned about that one than looking weak.
"R-really?" he asked, blinking and flushing slightly at the sight of such a mischievous glitter in Jaiden's pretty eyes. He unfolded himself, so to speak, letting his legs dangle in the water once more and tucking his hair behind his ears. He still worried away at his lip, but he seemed much more relaxed now that he knew his travelling companion wasn't laughing at him for such a thing as not being able to swim.
"I-I mean.. I almost drowned when I was eight," he said, flushing again. "I've never, uhm, given much thought to trying again.. But.. You'd really teach me?"
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