Relaxation... (M'gnum)

[Ivy]

Heat. That was what the healers had suggested - her ankle had been given ample time to recover and yet she still had phantom pains from it every so often. It had been suggested perhaps stress or other emotional triggers were the cause, so she should relax. What better place to do so than the hot springs nearby? Heat, it was therapeutic.

So Tserieth had given her rider a ride most of the way while Roselle took the rest of the path by foot. Despite her destination being a warm one she was dressed in layers; long pants were tucked into her wherry hide boots, a long sleeved shirt was tucked into her pants, and a light coat was worn over that. A bag was slung over one shoulder and inside she had towels and some sweetsand.

The hike up was uneventful and soon she was to the springs. Surprisingly they were vacant, though she supposed during the middle of the week midday that shouldn't be so surprising. Setting her bag aside someplace where it would not get wet she made quick work of stripping to her undergarments and slipping into the heated waters. Immediately she felt relief in not only her ankle but her entire body, perhaps the healers had been right. Knotted muscles were massaged by the hot waters and she closed her eyes to just enjoy it - doing her best to put all thoughts of the Weyr and the people in it out of her mind for now.

[Aftershock]

M'gnum trudged through the snow, the collar of his flightleathers cinched close around his face against the cold of the mountain peaks. Higginth had decided to drop him off a short distance from the hot springs, instead of directly on top of them, though the haughty bronze had avoided actually answering his bonded's question as to why. Little did M'gnum realize that the green dragon Tserieth had dropped a hint to Higginth regarding Hers being at the hot springs this day, and Higginth, tired of His asking questions regarding Tseriteth's as if Higginth had any insight into the moods of human females, had jumped at the chance to get the two of them together privately, so that one way or another, this situation would hopefully be resolved once and for all.

Finally reaching the bubbling, steaming pools of naturally heated water, M'gnum approached a pool and quickly doffed his flightleathers, as well as the clothing underneath, leaving himself nude as he slipped into the soothingly warm waters. Suddenly, a gust of wind pushed the thick clouds of steam aside to reveal that M'gnum was not alone in the pool... across from him, her head leaned back and her eyes closed in apparent relaxation, sat Roselle. Unsure of how to react, considering the greenrider's odd attitude towards him after sleeping together in her weyr, he sat silently, not willing to disturb the young woman's relaxed posture as he settled in himself, hoping the warm waters would unknot his thoughts as well as his muscles.

[Ivy]

A soft sigh of relaxation escaped through her lips as she sat there, submerged in the heated waters. Bubbles flitted over her exposed skin and for the first time in a sevenday or more her lips curled in a soft smile. Tserieth's presence in her mind suddenly became front-and-center, crisp, and clear - though the reason was not at first apparent. The Green was not speaking, and normally the greenrider could kind of push her to the back of her mind like familiar white noise. Always there and able to feel what the dragon felt but not a distraction to her every day life. What was the Green up to?

About to ask, Roselle opened her eyes and found her answer immediately. Brown eyes took in outline of a figure, a man by her guess, and then soon the features of said individual became clear. M'gnum. Roselle bit her bottom lip ever so slightly wondering if he noticed her but there was no doubt that he did - he was looking right at her.

Clearing her throat quietly she released her lip from between her teeth, "H-hello M'gnum. A surprise seeing you here, I didn't think you were much into relaxation. No duties to attend to at the moment?"

There was a bit of a bite to her words, which she fully intended. He had left her after spending the night in her weyr, no explanation given. Sure it wasn't the first 'one night stand' she had ever had - but it was certainly the first that hadn't involved sex, and for some reason that stung more. She wasn't sure why but somehow she knew if they had fooled around she would be less upset by the whole thing. Arms crossed over her chest both in annoyance and in modesty as she looked at him across the warm pool of water.

[Aftershock]

Apparently M'gnum had failed in his attempts to avoid disturbing the young woman, and by her tone of voice and expression it appeared her attitude towards him since the night they'd spent together was due to her being upset with him... though why, he couldn't say. The venom in her voice when she mentioned his duties, however, made him suspect what might be the case... yet another younger woman who couldn't make up her mind about what she truly wanted in a man.

His mind went back to the night in question, or more specifically the morning after it... he had gotten up early, as he always did, so he could attend to his duties as both a senior bronzerider and as a Wingleader. Knowing Roselle was still away from her own rider duties due to her injury, he had gotten up carefully so as to let her rest and not disturb her, though as he was slipping his pants back on he had accidentally kicked over one of his boots, making a slight thump that had awakened the brunette. Squinting at him in the dim light of the early morning, her words slurred from her recent awakening, she had asked what he was doing, and he informed her quietly that despite his desire to stay with her, he had duties to attend to, and he could not put his personal desires over the needs of the Weyr. Roselle had smiled at that, saying something about how it was nice sleeping with a man who had actual maturity and a sense of duty to something other than themselves, and he had given her a gentle kiss and smoothed her hair as she had closed her eyes and snuggled back into the furs with a smile on her face.

Now, apparently, time had made Roselle decide she did not want a man with a sense of duty to his responsibilities after all, if her reaction was any indication. Letting loose a short sigh of frustration, he replied to her, "I accomplished my duties for the moment, and had come up here to, yes, relax a bit. However, your tone implies you do not wish my company... I apologize for intruding on you. I... I suppose I will take my leave of you, and find a pool where I shall not disturb you." His words had an undercurrent of hurt to them... he did not even realize himself until now how disappointed he was that she had rejected him. He had truly enjoyed spending time with the beautiful young greenrider, and thought that perhaps there was the potential for more... but apparently it was not to be. Heaving a deep sigh, he began to pull himself out of the pool, wondering how far away he would need to move in order to leave her be properly.

[Ivy]

He seemed genuinely surprised at how she had reacted, and... hurt? Who did the bronzerider think he was? He was the one who left her, she was the one who was hurt! He had no right! Brown eyes narrowed as she watched him stand, her gaze briefly flicking lower on his form before finding his face once more, "I don't know what game you're playing at M'gnum, but I thought you were better than this. Apparently you're not though. Only good at getting up and leaving. At least this time you had the decency to tell me before wandering off."

Her words held more venom this time around and she turned to the side so she wouldn't have to look at him anymore. A rumble in the back of her mind signified Tserieth's presence there, and her unhappiness at her bonded's hostile feelings. Pushing the dragon's conscious further to the back of her mind she ignored the Green as she fumed silently. The hot water bubbled lightly around her, steam curling over her form as she glared at nothing in particular.

[Aftershock]

M'gnum froze at Roselle's words, stunned and confused. Did she... did she just question his honor, his word? A man doing such a thing would be immediate cause for a duel for daring to question a knight's honor or word, but... a lady doing so? He was to protect and guard ladies, and a lady questioning his honor or word was unprecedented... he didn't know what to do.

Finally, after a few moments, and not wishing to stand there silently gaping like a fish as words failed to finish processing in his mind to leave his mouth, he got his mental feet beneath him enough to advance towards Roselle across the shallow pool they had both happened to choose, forgetting in his confusion and offense that the water was only up to his thighs, and with Roselle's sitting position she was eye-level with his (still nude) groin.

"I... what?" he finally spit out as stopped a few feet from Roselle, then sputtered a bit more before finally putting enough words together in his confused mind to continue, "What are you talking about? I specifically told you that morning when I was leaving for my duties, and you responded! You even seemed happy that I actually felt that my duties to the Weyr were superior to my own desire to stay with you, since you yourself were still restricted from your own duties due to your injury!"

[Ivy]

"What are you talking about? You did no such thing!" Roselle cried out as she looked up at him - purposefully avoiding looking at his bare groin. Turning her head away again she gave an aggravated humph.

The greenrider was stuck, literally. M'gnum was standing over her in all his naked glory - she too was nude. If she stood up to leave she'd basically have to press herself against him as the area she had sat against was quite rocky and she didn't want to get banged up. However if she stayed put, well. He was still standing there, naked. It was fairly awkward and if she weren't so upset at the moment she would find the humor in it.

Given that she was upset - so was he - the humor was completely lost on her. Tserieth's presence pressed insistently at the back of her mind again but she continued to ignore the Green. She was pissed and intended to stay pissed, thank-you-very-much.

[Aftershock]

"M'la... er, Roselle," M'gnum began, his emotions and confusion causing him to temporarily revert to his standard behavior around women before catching himself, "I think I know what I did, and what I heard." Crossing his powerful arms across his chest, he continued, "I give you my word as a knight that I tell you no lies this day. If my word is not good enough for you, well then... perhaps it is best we part ways."

The last sentence nearly caught in his throat a bit as he delivered it, and his blue eyes looked down at the brunette greenrider as he watched for her reaction, his upset at the situation sure to be nothing compared to his upset were she to take him up on his offer and dissolve their relationship... whatever it might be, or might have become.

[Ivy]

Despite her own feelings and frustration with the man she could hear the earnest in his voice. He was convinced he had done nothing wrong - what if he hadn't? Still she wasn't sure she was ready to forgive him, especially since he was now giving her an ultimatum! Frowning she found herself biting her bottom lip before quickly standing up.

Cold air hit her warm body and steam rolled off her bare flesh while warm droplets of water fell from her frame. A few short steps closed the gap between them and she pulled him down into a heated kiss. Brown eyes stayed open to watch his as she kissed him before releasing him and slinking down into the water once more, shivering slightly.

"I'm... I'm sorry. Please. Stay."

[Aftershock]

M'gnum's arms uncrossed as Roselle got up, wondering what she was planning on doing... whether she was getting up to come towards him, or to move away from him forever. He couldn't help letting his eyes stray over her nude form, glistening with water and wreathed in steam like some kind of beautiful, exotic water spirit, and his heart beat faster as she began to approach him.

Then, she was embracing him, and kissing him, and his arms automatically enfolded her damp body in their embrace. His heightened emotional state instantly translated his anger and feelings of offense into passion and lust, and he returned the kiss hungrily, his eyes closing as he let himself luxuriate in the feel of her warm, wet, yielding body pressed against his, her soft lips upon his own.

Then, she was gone, and seated back where she was, and M'gnum's eyes filled with happiness mixed with concern as she shivered and pleaded with him to not leave. Moving to sit beside her (both to be closer to her and to hide his passion-inflamed loins beneath the steaming waters of the pool), he reached over to gently grab her shoulders and attempt to pull her into his lap for an embrace, saying quietly, "Roselle, I swear on my word as a knight, I will never leave you, as long as you still want me near..."

[Ivy]

The feeling of his skin pressed against her own lingered even now as she sat in the warm water away from him. Dark eyes stayed on the surface of the steamy water until she felt his soft touch on her shoulder and she eased herself into his lap so she could feel his arms around her again. Leaning her head against his shoulder she sighed softly, "I'm sorry M'gnum."

A smug self-satisfied feeling flared up in the back of her mind and she reached out to her green, As if you knew all along, Tserieth.

Unwilling to admit that she had not known what would come of the encounter between Hers and Higginth's she just gloated, Had you listened, you would have known.[/color]

A short eye-roll later and she glanced up to M'gnum, "I guess I wasn't really awake when you left... I'm not much of a bright and early rise and shine kind of gal."

[Aftershock]

M'gnum leaned down as Roselle rested her head on his broad shoulders, kissing a pale patch of skin on her neck that was revealed as her dampened hair parted from her movement. "It's all right, Roselle," he assured her softly, "I, too, apologize... I should not have given you such an ultimatum, or reacted quite so aggressively. I was simply worried, I suppose... worried I might lose you for what was obviously a misunderstanding." His arms tightened around her, pulling her nude form firmly against his own with his muscular arms, though he was careful to only have her sit upon his thighs to avoid her encountering his private area and possibly causing a wrong impression.

Chuckling slightly at her admission, M'gnum replied, "I was worried about you not actually being awake, I will admit, but your responses made me believe that you were. I suppose I should be more careful in the future, hmm?"

[Ivy]

A nod was given against his shoulder as he spoke and she planted a tender kiss along his neck as well. Slipping her arms around him she was more than happy to be close to him, enjoying the warm bubbling waters with him there to keep her company. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she spoke, "I suppose I should not have assumed you were like men from my past... I'm sorry M'gnum."

Sitting up once more she shifted her body so she was facing him, smiling as she leaned in to press a kiss to his lips. Lifting herself up more from his lap she leaned in to whisper something in his ear as well.

[Aftershock]

M'gnum smiled as the events unfolded, the previous tension melting away as he embraced Roselle close to him in the hot, steaming waters of the springs. In response to her words, he chuckled slightly, and responded, "Indeed, Roselle... I am sorry you have not found a proper knight to treat you as you should be treated, but I shall do all I can to make up for lost time..."

His eyebrows raised in curiosity as the young woman adjusted herself in his lap, and his smile grew yet wider as she planted a kiss on his lips, a kiss he returned passionately. His eyes narrowed as mischievous things were whispered in his ear, and he shifted his hands below the water, whispering something in return as the bubbling waters of the spring hid his actions from sight... though luckily for the two riders, they were still alone beyond the presence of their dragons in their minds.

[Ivy]

As she moved the water around them moved as well - ripples extending from around where the couple sat snuggled with their bodies close to one another. The further the ripples traveled from the pair the larger they got. The steam seemed to thicken and wrap around them as she giggled and kissed his lips tenderly, ending the tender kiss with a bite to his bottom lip.

Shifting again she gave a mischievous grin...

-{{Fade to black.}}-