Washing the Stiffness Away (I'nos)

[Aftershock]

Lilu and Venideth circled the rising clouds of steam from the mountainside hot springs a few times, seeking out a good landing spot, before finally coming down for a picture-perfect landing, emerging from a particularly thick cloud of steam in the process. The moisture from inadvertent steam-bath coated both dragon and rider in a thin sheen of water, which began to quickly freeze in the chilly air of the snow-covered mountains.

Quickly dismounting Venideth, Lilu moved towards one of the pools of near-boiling water, quickly stripping off the thin clothing she had worn for her daily exercise routine as the cold air made her pale skin turn even whiter as the blood rushed from her extremities to warm her core. Taking the clothing with her, she slipped into the water, almost gasping as the difference in temperature shocked her system momentarily, but soon she had settled in and she began to swim very slowly around the perimeter of the pool, using the warmth of the springs to help ease any tightness from her muscles following her exercise routine as she cooled down.

Venideth watched His strip and enter the water, waiting until she was fully clear before stretching his wings and shaking back and forth, spraying the slushy bits of ice that had formed on his hide off before moving to slip into the pool with Lilu. "When you are done, I believe I overexerted my wings today, Lilumine, and would appreciate if you could rub them for me, so as to prevent both of us from feeling the pain," he sent to Lilu as he swam a much smaller circle in the center of the pool while Lilu made a circuit of the outer edge.

[Chey]

I'nos sat on Tirneth's back, clutching the straps tightly as Tirneth descended and landed with a clumsy thump on the ground. The steam rose up and made the springs look sort of intimidating. I'nos quickly dismounted, standing as close as he could to the water for a quick blast of warmth.

Um...Mine? We're not alone....Tirneth said sounding somewhat awkward. I'nos looked around as a blue wing flared and I'nos noticed someone...in the water...with no clothes on...and they were distinctly female....

I 'nos backed up so quickly he might have tripped if Tirneth hadn't been there to steady him. "Sweet...." The curse trailed off as he chose not to voice the obscenity. He averted his eyes, turning a modest pink and looking away.

"Jeez, I didn't know you'd be here Lilu....Sorry." He turned back to Tirneth. I get the distinct impression we might want to leave....

[Aftershock]

Both Lilu and Venideth paused in their exertions and turned at the sound of Tirneth's heavy landing. Stopping to tread water, Lilu looked at the new arrivals, recognizing her fellow Wing member I'nos and his bonded Tirneth. The man was a bit too much of a prankster for Lilu's taste, but when there was a job to do, he seemed able to shed his joking ways and get the job done, and she rarely saw him slacking off, so he was one of the few riders who had her respect.

As Venideth sent a simple pulse of greeting to Tirneth, Lilu swam to the edge of the pool where I'nos stood... or at least, where he was standing before he retreated for some reason. Pulling herself from the water slightly, Lilu crossed her arms on the rocky edge of the spring just beneath her bare breasts, the water glistening on her well-toned body as the wet portions of her straight, deeply red hair clung to her shoulders and chest like frozen rivulets of blood. "Hello, I'nos," she greeted in a friendly manner... or at least, as friendly as Lilu ever was. "Come for a quick dip? Feel free to join myself and Venideth... we are simply soaking ourselves after our afternoon exercise routine. The hot waters help prevent muscle cramps." With that, she turned to dive back into the water, swimming out towards Venideth to begin massaging his wing muscles, obviously completely unbothered by being nude in front of the young man.

[Chey]

I'nos watched as Lilu swam away, seemingly unconcerned about her nudeness. Jeez, didn't the woman have any sense of modesty? Or.....or decency? He knew the weyr wasn't as persnickety about taking on lovers and partners like other people were, or for this matter, nudity, but his mother would kill him if he took her up on her offer. True, Lilu was correct. The hot springs and the water therein was terrific for sore muscles, which was originally why he and Tirneth had made the flight up here. They were both feeling a little battered and had felt that the water would do some good. However, he hadn't planned on walking in on someone.

"Are you...are you sure that's wise?" I'nos asked hesitantly.

Tirneth greeted Venideth with a likewise pulse of affection toward another dragon, brushing him gently with his nose, using his length to lean out over the water towards him.

Get back here! I'nos thought frantically. We really should just leave her and her Blue to relax and come later on....after they've returned to the weyr.

But I'm tired, Mine, and we're already here.... Tirneth usually never whined, preferring to joke and shrug off and excess weariness he felt, but he complained now, telling I'nos how badly he wanted the warmth of the water. Can't we just stay for a while? Venideth's is fine with it and I need to relax, as do you. If you won't stay for me, do it for yourself. You know I can feel the tightness between your shoulders as much as I feel my own.

Just like that, I'nos was staying. He would never leave Tirneth in pain if it was bad enough for him to plead. Tirneth surely wasn't a proud dragon and he did drag his feet on some things and yes, he didn't take responsiblity with the seriousness he would have liked, but the same as I'nos, he loathed whining and all it stood for. Besides, I'nos wanted to stay too. He wasn't going to voice it, certainly not with Lilu there, but he did. The ache in his body was getting progressively worse and he'd put it off long enough. But he wasn't comfortable swimming naked with Lilu.

"Are you sure?" I'nos asked once more. "I just don't think I should be here while a fellow Wingrider swims nakedly...especially a female..."

[Aftershock]

Lilu, having reached Venideth, began to rub her hands along his shoulders and the base of his wings as she turned her head to look questioningly at I'nos, the spring water crystal-clear, but the rippling motion of her and Venideth's movements creating a sort of blurring censor effect over her nude form. "Why would it not be wise? You could even assist me in massaging out some of my tighter muscles, if you'd be so kind, since Venideth's claws make his paws sub-optimal for such a task." Her words contained not a hint of playfulness or flirt... she spoke completely matter-of-factly, as if she saw not the slightest problem with such an arrangement.

Venideth accepted the nose-poke from Tirneth, twisting his head to brush his headknobs across the brown's own in a draconic version of a friendly handshake. Sensing His' confusion, Venideth sent to her, "Tirneth's is from a Hold, Mine, and Tirneth himself has apparently Chased very little, from the jokes he tells us. Perhaps it could explain the man's strange attitude."

Smirking slightly at this new information, Lilu turned her grey eyes back on I'nos as he spoke once again, responding, "If you and your dragon are sore, staying is even a better idea. I could massage out your shoulders if you desire. As for my nudity, I understand you come from a Hold, I'nos, but you're a dragonrider now... it's time to leave such strange ideals behind. We battle Thread and risk our lives constantly... our kind has little time for such niceties as worrying about being 'proper'. It's not like I'm planning on having sex with you, and you're likely not planning the same to me... and if you tried to without my permission, you would be sure to regret it," she added, the threat in her voice made even more worrisome due to the utterly confident nature of it.

Raising one thin eyebrow slightly, Lilu continued, "Of course, if you would like to have sex, I would be fine with that, as well." She spoke in the same manner she would have if she were to offer to help fix his riding straps, her voice still carrying not a hint of playfulness, arousal, or flirtiness. Shaking her head slightly, she continued, "As you should be aware of by now, despite your dragon's infrequent Chases, riders are driven to mate when their dragons are... the sooner you realize sex is simply a physical act best utilized to relieve tension, the easier your life as a rider will be."

[Chey]

I'nos was taken aback, to say the least. It wasn't the first time a girl had proposed sex to him in a coquettish manner; he had been informed several times that he was sort of pretty and it wasn't like he was asexual- likewise, he did notice pretty girls. But he'd never even considered sleeping with Lilu, not with how frank she was nor the fact that she was a Wingrider like him. He was determined to back up more- Tirneth in pain or not- but his dragon was having none of that and with a swipe of his mutated tail, swept his rider into the hot water.

I'nos came up with a splutter, glaring at his dragon, who was all but rolling in laughter at what he'd created. He wasn't above jokes on His, for he understood that they were simply jokes, and the look on His' face was simply hilarious.

"That wasn't funny Tirneth!" I'nos snapped at the dragon.

Yes it was! Tirneth laughed. Oh, Shards, you look like a drowned rat!

I'nos' face soured even more. "You've soaked me to the skin, Tirneth."

Well, I guess you'd better get those wet clothes off before you freeze to death in this mountain air. Tirneth joked lightly. And do help the poor woman. What would your mother say if she knew you'd refused to help a lady?

"What would my mother say?" I'nos demanded of his dragon. "She would throw an absolute fit about me still being here and having a conversation with Lilu!"

Tirneth answered with another swipe of his tail, sending him back into the water. He didn't wait for His to surface, plunging his face into the water and picking His up by the sodden fabric, which ripped easily under his sharp teeth.

Whoops. Tirneth said, though there was no trace of sincere apology in the dragons mindvoice. He was still having too much fun poking at His.

I'nos stood up, now shirtless and even less pleased with his dragon. Tirneth paid him no mind, slipping into the hot water as soon as his human was standing. As you can see, I'm not planning on leaving anytime soon, so do please help the lady, as a request of mine, not hers.

I'nos all but growled at his dragon in frustration, but nevertheless finished what his dragon had started by stripping nervously and climbing back in the water.

[Aftershock]

Lilu smirked slightly at the exchange between the brownrider and his dragon, but kept out of it, continuing to massage the knots out of Venideth's shoulders and wings. She did frown a bit at the comment about I'nos' mother, wondering why she would have a fit about him talking to a fellow rider, but shrugged it off, as his mother was not here, so the reasons behind her possible opinion did not really matter.

Finishing with Venideth's massage, she turned to see I'nos finally finish stripping his clothing off and slip into the pool. Swimming over to him as he entered the steaming water, she said, "I'm glad your dragon has helped you see sense. Now, if you would like to help me, you may start with my shoulders and upper back." Turning towards the edge of the pool, she supported herself on the lip of the pool with one hand and used the other to lift her sodden hair up and hold it atop her head, exposing her petite, but well-toned shoulders and back as she lifted herself from the water enough so that her flexing buttocks were just beneath the surface, her scissoring legs keeping her afloat. "My legs and feet need work, as well, from my run, but with how uncomfortable you apparently are with this whole situation, I figured I would be kind and work you up to that slowly," she added, with only the slightest hint of teasing in her voice.

[Chey]

I'nos was glad that her back was turned to him, so she couldn't see the ungodly shade of burgundy that he'd just turned. He turned to Tirneth in askance, begging him to claim first dibs on a back rub by I'nos. The brown just grinned his dragon-grin and submerged himself in the water, playfully snapping and nudging at her Blue.

I'nos reluctantly placed his hands on her shoulders nervously, so light she probably didn't even notice they were there. Wait, take that back. She was a dragonrider. Of course she knew they were there. He hoped he wasn't that bad at rubbing kinks out of muscles- it wasn't as if he had much practice. He began kneading her muscles gently, not wanting to cause her already sore muscles pain. When he heard her last remark, he almost did a double take. Was that humor he heard in her voice? As in genuine teasing, not the mechanical monotone he was used to, like her talking about sex as if discussing the weather?

"Perhaps I will get to your legs later." I'nos said, striving for indifference. It came out like he was a blushing debaunte. He took care to make sure they didn't kick each other while treading the hot water.

Now is this so bad? Tirneth asked playfully.

"Hush. You're the problem here, silly. This is your problem." I'nos chided him. "How's your back feel now, Lilu?"

[Aftershock]

Venideth, though not quite as serious as his rider, still wasn't quite as playful as the younger brown, and took the snapping and nudging from Tirneth in stride, turning the play into a sort of draconic sparring practice, dodging or redirecting Tirneth's strikes while delivering careful slashes and bites of his own. As he did so, he sent personal mindspeech to the brown in an effort to instruct Tirneth how he could improve his combat performance.

Lilu, meanwhile, smirked silently as I'nos attempted (and failed) to show indifference to the thought of massaging her lower half, and when he asked how her back felt, she replied with a bit of a huff, "It would feel much better if you didn't treat me like a glass bauble. I'm not as delicate as you apparently believe me to be, with how lightly you're rubbing."

With that, she suddenly scissored back a bit, attempting to push her shoulders more firmly against the brownrider's hands, accidentally rubbing her bare bottom across the man's groin in the process, though she did not apologize, or even acknowledge, the contact between the two riders' lower halves. Instead, she said, "Rub harder, please... if I say nothing, keep pressing harder, and I'll tell you when you're pressing too hard."

[Chey]

I'nos almost sunk completely to the bottom.

Completely. To. The. Bottom.

He wanted to sit on Tirneth, but he wasn't exactly large enough to do that. The brown was busy getting a lesson from the blue who didn't exactly play with him, but rather taught him. It was unusual, clearly not Tirneth's style, but he was working on ignoring His. Anything would do.

Lilu was still pressed firmly up against him and there was really no way to rid himself of her. He did as she asked, pressing harder as she asked him to. He was...he didn't know what he was. Part of him wanted to run, part of him wanted to stay, and the rest of his brain just went "What the hell?"

"Okay..." I'nos said carefully. "I just don't want to hurt you if your back's already in pain..."

[Aftershock]

Lilu remained silent as I'nos increased his pressure by steps, until finally he had the right amount, and she said, "There, that's enough. Step it back one, and you've got it." She hissed a bit as he worked the kinks out of her muscles, and when he suddenly backed off the pressure again, she tutted at him and said, "Don't go back soft again. There's always a little pain when your muscles are bunched up... you have to work the tightness out, then it feels better."

After I'nos had finished with her shoulders and back to her satisfaction, Lilu said, "That's good," and dropped her hair from where she had been holding it above her head. Turning around and placing both palms on the edge of the pool, she lifted her upper body from the water and extended one toned leg towards I'nos, asking, "Do you want me to massage you, now, or would you like to work my thighs... and the rest of my legs?" The last part of her question was delivered with yet another undercurrent of light teasing, and her grey eyes flicked down to glance beneath the water around I'nos' groin for just a moment.

[Chey]

I'nos couldn't help a little glance himself. He really couldn't. While she was pushed flush up against him, he glanced down and he couldn't really deny that she didn't have certain...attributes...that made her pleasant to look at. When he pushed just right and she hissed, he flinched a little, but not enough to disturb her. She'd just startled him was all. He listened to her talk silently as he worked at her back. When she floated away and offered him her leg before offering a brief glance under the water his way, he turned a gentle pink once more, though it wasn't the fiery blush he'd just had. He was silent for a second before holding out a hand in askance for her leg so he could rub those too.

"Same pressure here?" he asked, rubbing just as he had for her back, working her lower leg first before reaching her calf. "Tell me when it hurts."

[Aftershock]

Lilu raised one thin eyebrow slightly at I'nos' reaction to her exposing her entire bare front half and presenting her leg to him... or rather, his lack of reaction. The man apparently was adapting quite well to the situation, and Lilu's opinion of him increased substantially...

She said nothing of her thoughts, though, simply appreciating his work on her feet and shins... he was learning quickly in terms of massage, as well, and it didn't take long for her to direct him to the correct pressure to use. "You're a fast learner, " she commented, simply watching him as he moved his way up to her calf, her wet hair draped over her sweat-and-water glistening chest as she held herself up for him, wondering if things would go awkward again when he reached higher.

[Chey]

I'nos worked his way up her leg carefully, taking the praise in stride and knowing better than to let it boost his eog. He merely moved a shoulder of his in a half shrug, letting her know he'd accept the compliment with good grace, regardless of whether or not he thought he'd earned it. The hot water had relaxed him and he wasn't particularly cautious or awkward anymore; he'd adjusted nicely to the situation, though he was still having a hard time not focusing on her chest and his slowly rubbing his way up to her thighs were not helping.

He moved onto her upper thigh, timidly pressing, though not without the pressure Lilu was demanding from him. He worked at her muscles, his own clenching in sudden anticipation of her promise to return on the favor, which was unusual and threw him off guard.

"Is this leg good?" he asked, gesturing to ask if she wanted him to move onto another leg or no.

[Aftershock]

Lilu leaned back and enjoyed the massage... it had been a while since she'd actually had someone else help her with her tight muscles, usually having to rub what she could reach herself and depending on a long soak in the hot springs to loosen everything else up. In fact, the relaxation of the massage, combined with the presence of I'los (who Lilu admitted was a pretty attractive man around her own age) and his hands massaging the tightness from her muscles, was starting to awaken some old urges. Despite her words, Lilu rarely did have sex for her own pleasure, as well as helping fellow riders relieve their own tension, and the activities in the hot springs today were starting to knock the cobwebs off those urges.

Looking down at I'los, her grey eyes piercing him like a pair of spears, Lilu let an actual, honest sultry smile cross her lips, and said, "Yes, that's very good. You can move on to where you want to massage next, now..." With that, she languidly lifted the leg I'los had just been massaging, bringing it fluidly up until it was sitting at a 90 degree angle to the rest of her body, then shifted it to the side and lowered it yet again, leaving I'los positioned directly between her spread thighs.