Day 58, mid-morning

[commandergwen]

It had been a long time since Gwendal had slept so late. It was understandable given his company the night before. After all, she had worn him out both physically and emotionally. It was with a heavy heart that he noticed her side of the bed was empty with nothing more than a slight indentation in the mattress

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[gwenyth_b_good]

Gwendal woke to the bright sun coming in the window and Nissi still sound asleep in his arms. The sight of her startled him, but memories of yesterday's marathon of sexual escapades quickly flooded his mind. Had yesterday really happened? The remnants of the sticky honey on his chest and the sight of Nissi in his bed said it did, and the throbbing headache said so too. Oh, Shinou! How was he going to face ... Gunter? Gwendal groaned, covering his eyes

[commandergwen]

It was not Gwendal's intention to fall alseep at the bath. As a matter of fact, he intended to chide himself thoroughly due to his risky behavior. He could have drowned!

He awoke with a start at the sound of a groan coming from the bath and an apparent other occupant.

Gwendal's eyes snapped open and he sat up straight in the waters and saw none other than his double.

"Gwendal," he greeted his twin. He rubbed his fingers together. At least they weren't prune-y yet. "Are you all right?" Best to redirect attention immediately. He didn't want rumors to start that he was falling asleep in bath houses.

[gwenyth_b_good]

Gwendal stopped rubbing his head and looked over. "Ah, Gwendal, I didn't mean to disturb your nap, but you really shouldn't fall asleep in the bath all alone. You could have drowned! It's a good thing I came in. I've just saved your life." He laughed weakly at what he knew was a lame joke.

"Sorry, I've a bit of a headache this morning. It's probably from that strong scent that I kept smelling all day yesterday. As much as I love cotton candy, I rather hope I don't smell it again for a very long time." He groaned again, stretched his arms out and sank deeper into the water. "And I seem to be sore all over. So, enough about me. How are you?" If he could distract himself with talk about how Gwendal was doing, maybe the headache and aches would go away.

[commandergwen]

Saved his life? Hardly.

Cotton Candy?

"Interesting. I suppose we all smelled the scent of something we crave and enjoy yesterday." Sore all over?

A twitch started at the corner of Gwendal's lip. "I suppose the source of that soreness wouldn't happen to be a little red-headed dancer."

Gwendal spread his arms across the edge of the bath and leaned his head back against the tile. "I'm good. Needed some sleep to regain my energy apparently."

If he were to talk about having relations with Anissina--even in a heavily cryptic conversation--it would be best to have it with his other self---who was involved with Nissi. Perhaps they could learn from one another?

[gwenyth_b_good]

Gwendal's eyes flew wide. "How did you ... ?" Well, they hadn't been very discreet. They were in the dining hall after all. He wondered if Gwendal knew about his earlier 'practice session' with Gunter, but he decided not to bring it up unless he had to defend his actions. Which he wasn't sure he could do. "If you're referring to Nissi, then yes, we had a few dances together last night." Okay, only one. She had fallen asleep in his bed, but Gwendal didn't need to know that either.

"And why are you lacking in energy, if I may ask?"

[commandergwen]

"You're the same as me in some ways. I possess a certain weakness for a particular inventor and was just as susceptible to those hormone-crazy escapades from that scent."

He glared at his double. "However, what is said in these baths is strictly confidential of course."

[gwenyth_b_good]

"Ah, of course. I wondered if perhaps our tastes ran the same. It's that red-head allure. My ex was also similar. I might have been happy in my marriage had Alissina been more like Nissi. Frankly, I'm glad yesterday is now yesterday. I was certainly not myself and I have to live with that today."

Offended, he sat up in the bath and glared back. "If you are insinuating that I can't hold a confidence, you are quite mistaken, Gwendal. What is said here, stays here. If you don't feel that I can be trusted, then perhaps we should bathe in silence." He crossed his arms and sank back into the bath, turning his head away. His confusion over the previous day had made him short tempered to say the least. The headache was coming back.

[commandergwen]

Gwendal resisted the urge to throw the rubber ducky he'd brought with him at his double. Instead his hand clenched in a tight fist around it.

"The confidentiality was referring to the wards I placed before entering these baths. The walls are soundproof as if several feet thick of granite insulated the sounds from nosy maids."

He wasn't even going to bother explaining how he managed that trick. It was something he'd been working on.

He was curious about Gwendal's past, but now he simply felt insulted.

[gwenyth_b_good]

Gwendal ran his wet hands through his hair, feeling a bit guilty for snapping at Gwendal. "I'm sorry, Gwendal. I suppose I misunderstood. I'm not thinking very clearly yet today. Yesterday was a very strange day and I'm still trying to figure out how to feel about what happened." Gwendal didn't like to have his honor questioned, but he was hoping the other wasn't still angry. He could overlook it, given the ohters' explanation. He wondered about the placement of wards. It wasn't something that he could do and it made him curious about the depth of Gwendal's abilities, but he didn't want to overstep his bounds.

"So you were also a victim of the scent? What did it smell like to you? Have you discovered the source? I have a theory about where it started, but I can't imagine who would have perpetrated something like that."

[commandergwen]

"The scent was a conglomeration for me. Fresh parchment, the grass near my training grounds, and..." he trailed off closing his eyes. "The smell of Anissina's shampoo."

He laughed softly at himself. "I really spend too much time in my office."

He opened his eyes and looked across at his double. "You are not curious about my wards?"

[gwenyth_b_good]

Gwendal smiled at his counterpart. "It's easy to get too involved with work. A good woman can help cure that. A bad woman can help you get even more involved."

He nodded. "I am curious. Very curious. I didn't want to question you without permission. I admit that I'm impressed. Setting up wards is not something that I have ever tried. How do you do it?"

[commandergwen]

"Wards is a bit of a misnomer I suppose. What I did was temporarily alter the walls. You know they are made of stone and I was able to change the composition of the stone into something that dampens sound."

Gwendal took a deep breath and continued to let his bones rest in the warm bath. "You seem to have made this place your home. You're getting along well here?"

[gwenyth_b_good]

"Fascinating. I've never thought to try that. I'd be honored if you showed me how you accomplished such a feat. In exchange, I could show you some skills that I believe to be different on my world or I could do some more work for you. I miss using my skills. The last time I tried, I apparently underestimated my power and created a very minor earthquake. It doesn't pay to get rusty." It only occurred to him afterwards that he maybe shouldn't have mentioned that.

He hurried to change the subject. "I'm doing well. I quite enjoy it here. And after yesterday, I seem to have a paramour ... or two." A blush crept onto his cheeks. After such a long dry spell, he still couldn't believe his naked antics with two people in one day.

[commandergwen]

"I would enjoy learning about some of your techniques. I have no one here to learn anything from. What special tricks I've learned I've had to develop on my own. It would be nice to have a learning partner." Did he mention that this particular double of his was by far his favorite? He was actually helpful!

Minor earthquake?

"You didn't happen to cause an earthquake at the spa, did you?"

Maybe Gunter wasn't crazy after all. Gwendal had been...distracted and exhausted.

"And I am pleased that you seem to be settling in. Two paramours aren't always better than one--usually more hassle than enjoyment."

[gwenyth_b_good]

Gwendal gave a toothy grin. "Wonderful. I'm sure we can benefit from each other." He was pleased to be working with Gwendal again and pleased to be putting his skills to good use. Should he ever be forced to go back to his own world, he'd like to be ready to resume his old job ... after he took care of his problem ex-wife, of course.

"Er, why, yes, I did." No sense lying about it. "I didn't mean to alarm anyone. It was an unfortunate miscalculation on my part that I'd prefer not happen again. Refining techniques with you will help ensure that it doesn't happen again."

He settled down into the bath, stretching his arms across the back. "Thank you, and at this point, I would agree. The one relationship I hope to continue in some manner, but the other, I believe, was simply an opportunity taken."

[commandergwen]

Gwendal laughed softly. "Good to know you were responsible for that earthquake. Gunter was convinced I was trying to kill him and I was convinced he was completely insane."

Gwendal looked down at his fingers and noticed his skin was starting to get pruny.

"If you'll pardon me, I've been here for hours. I had best get back to work--or start work at least. It was pleasure speaking with you, brother. You know where to find me," he said getting out of the bath and putting on his robe once more. He wasn't sure why he called his double 'brother' but it just felt right.