Bathing Time

Writers: Suzee, Miriah
Date Posted: 14th July 2014

Characters: N'call, Ninaine
Description: Ninaine is forced to acknowledge another aspect of weyrlife.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 8, day 7 of Turn 7

N'call

Ninaine

After a long day of classes and physical labor that her body was still
adjusting to, Ninaine wanted nothing more than a long hot soak in
water. But that meant braving the bathing pools. There were so many
times she'd had to content herself with a sponge bath when there were
men there. She didn't care what the weyrfolk said, it was not alright
for some random man to see her naked. She'd learned to find her way
late at night when it was far less likely to be occupied. That and
Luneth was fast asleep and she didn't miss her.

Creeping into one of the smaller bathing chambers, Ninaine glanced
around and breathed a sigh of relief. It was blissfully empty. Quickly
unbinding her hair from its braid, she let the dark mass spill down
her back as she stripped. If there was any good thing to say about
these lessons, they had finally gotten her rather poochy stomach to
flatten. She looked down and smiled, pleased at the toning of her
legs. Her thighs were still very round, but not as jiggly.

She slipped into the water with a soft groan, tipping her head back to
soak it. She'd scrub first, then let herself soak. Just in case.

N'call's bare feet didn't make any sound as he walked into the bathing
room and all he saw was the dark head of a woman in the dim light. But
he ached in places he didn't know he had places after a full blown
drill that had had him throwing sacks of firestone over and over again
to the same Senior Weyrling in mid-air.

He rolled his shoulders and sank into the warm water with a long
appreciative sigh.

There was an audible squeak as Ninaine saw the man slip into the water
and the hands that had been scrubbing flew immediately down to cover
herself. Why hadn't she just taken a stupid sponge bath? She dipped
into the water as low as she could go and sidled back against the
wall. Faranth, he was naked. He was _naked_! His...his...parts were
just out flopping around in the water! She quickly turned her back to
him, face flaming from more than just the heat of the water. She
clenched her eyes shut and tried her best to become invisible.
**Please, please, please just scrub and go away. Please!**

He'd heard the squeak and seen her turn and at that point he knew who
was in the bath with him but he thought that speaking to her would
probably make it worse rather than better.

So he simply went about sudsing up some sweet sand and scrubbing
himself. So then he washed his hair and finally laid his head against
the side of the pool to rest and closed his eyes.

"I'll keep my eyes closed if you want to go," he said softly.

Oh, Faranth, it was N'call. Ninaine shrank a little in the water,
keeping her gaze firmly on the wall across from her. There was no way
she was going to take the chance that he might peek. At least her hair
hid most of her shoulders and back. She kept her arm crossed over her
chest, but it did little to hide the obvious swells of them. She
slowly slid deeper into the water, away from him to put plenty of
distance and less visibility between them. She jumped a little when he
spoke, making a splash in the water and instinctively looked over her
shoulder to address him. Catching sight of a naked chest, she was only
able to make a odd throaty noise before she clapped her hand over her
eyes and turned right back around.

His eyes were firmly closed but his lips curved up. Everyone he knew
in his class had all spent a great deal of time looking at one another
in the baths but he knew this little one was more closed off than
most. She had some nice curves if she could loosen up enough to stop
hiding them.

When he didn't say anything else, Ninaine very cautiously looked over
her shoulder again, peeking through her fingers. Though she knew it
was very wrong and extremely improper of her to do, she told herself
it was to check and make sure he was still there. Certainly not
because there was a sliver of curiosity. She took a quick look and
turned away, swallowing. Her voice trembled as she spoke. "Uhm...are
you going to be much longer?"

"Oh probably half a candle mark. I need to soak." He didn't add that
he thought the situation pretty humorous.

"But..." She had been here first and she couldn't stay too long
because of curfew. "Uhm...could you go to one of the bigger pools? I'm
sure there's plenty of um..space there." She couldn't believe this
situation. Here she was, naked in a pool, with a man who also was very
naked and certainly not her husband. Or weyrmate, whatever it was they
called it here.

"Why," he asked simply. "I"m comfortable right here."

"Well...I...you..." She licked her lips, trying to force the words
out. "I'm naked." She finally spluttered out. "And..you're not
supposed to, I mean...I'm not supposed to... I'm naked! So...go away!"

He opened his eyes and looked at her. "This is not the hold. This is
the Weyr and you're going to have to realize that at some point.
Communal bathing is normal and you know that. In fact, I am certain
your Weyrling Masters have told you that. I am trying not to bother
you and had my eyes closed in an effort to make you more comfortable
but when it comes right down to it," he smiled. "I'm the Bronzerider
here. _You_ go away greenrider."

Though he couldn't see it, her face crumpled a little. "Yes sir."
She'd really wanted a long soak and not just a sponge bath again. She
edged around the side of the pool towards the shallower end, but
stopped as the water hit her shoulders. Still keeping her back to him,
she debated how she was going to obey that order and still keep her
dignity. Her towel was on the other side. Next to him.

Noticing her glance he saw her towel and a bit of mischief crossed his
mind so standing up he picked up her towel and waded across the pool
or at least part way across the pool, The water lapped just below his
waist leaving almost nothing to the imagination. He held the towel
just out of her reach so she would have to turn toward him to grab it.

"Here is your towel," he said.

She went utterly still at the sound of the water moving and hidden,
her eyes widened. *Please let it be that he's just moving into deeper
water. Please?** She jumped against at his voice. He was closer.
Breath quickening, she glanced behind her and froze. Her eyes bulged.
She could see...all of him. It was out there. Just..out there. She'd
never seen an adult one before and it was.. her gaze flew to his face,
her own flaming hot with embarrassment. She squeaked, spluttered and
suddenly lunged for the towel, jerking it out of his hands and
clutched it to her, covering her chest from the brief flash she'd been
forced to allow. She backed away, refusing to look at him again and
kept her gaze averted.

He lifted an eyebrow with a questioning gaze but couldn't help the
crinkles in the corners as he tried to stifle his amusement at her
reaction. He turned his back on her and waded back to his spot.
Sinking back down in the water he closed his eyes again and laid his
head against the lip of the pool.

"Nice legs," he said as she escaped.

Last updated on the July 19th 2014

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Bathing Time