Homecoming (+ In the Bath) | aphro to taste

[falsicrimen]

For three weeks, he had endured the silence, the tragedy, the sheer, unadulterated boredom of an apartment empty of all signs of intelligent life but his own. Well, his and those of whatever chiefly comprised the poor, ancient building's latest infestation -- the place was no dump (on two meager salaries, it was altogether a decent living), but the

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[stray_cardinal]

Caterina didn't mind the age of their dwelling. She was used to being surrounded by history, so to speak. By things that had been around since long before she was a glimmer in her father's eye. She was proud of having such deep roots. Especially when so often, Abel had his head in the clouds. They were a good match.

She gave a soft, crystalline laugh at his protest from the other room as she slipped in the front door. No matter how quiet she tried to be, she could never sneak up on him. "If I was a burglar," she called back, dropping her voluminous red cloak as she strode toward the bathroom and leaned in the doorway, "Then one of us would be in big trouble."

[falsicrimen]

Sinking very hastily back into the safety of the bath water, Abel played his usual routine and pulled a face, at that. As much as it was an immense relief just to see her again, to think that she was returned safe and well after yet another trip on which he hadn't been able to accompany her, she had just ruined his most carefully laid plans. A thoroughly sincere pout was the least severe (yet completely justified) retaliation.

"I hope that you aren't implying my ability to defend myself is conditional based upon whether or not I am actually wearing anything," he countered, hidden safely behind his mountain of bubbles once more. His tone clearly implied that she knew better, whether or not he was really in the mood to rehash his embarrassing track record accidental flashes. (And he was not, really.) "Besides, it's been so dull around here, lately, that I'd probably be more apt to invite even a thief in to tea. There's not much to steal, anyway, and I'd hate to be that disappointing."

[stray_cardinal]

"I never said which one of us would be in trouble," she parried, arching her sculpted brows at him. Probably the burglar, in spite of Abel's seeming absentminded flightiness. "And don't pout, or I might have to come over there and erase that frown from your face."

[falsicrimen]

"W-Well, now, there's no reason to be cruel..." With a self-conscious chuckle, he sank a little lower (impossibly, somehow) beneath the water. Even light threats from her lips always seemed like promises (promises to throttle him). Perhaps it was a better idea just to change the subject.

"How did you manage to get back so early, anyway? And please don't say you commandeered the plane, again, because I'll be apt to believe you, you know."

[dulsanaya]

The little sun-bronzed girl returned to the the safe house in Sicily after being gone for some time, doing things she could not discuss. She had met the one she called Sataareth [literally, That which upholds; an enforcer, defender, or foundation] at a strange festival. As thanks for hiding her from the local villagers who were intent on finding their atashi [dragon], after learning he was coming to the island, she gave him this address, should he need somewhere safe to stay

[falsicrimen]

He would never be used to that feeling, not the careful, pertinent press of foreign knowledge slipped into his mind without warning nor the fact that he couldn't really seem to be all that bothered by the feeling when it came backed by such affluent reassurance. She really would have to learn not to be so literal (and certainly not to take him at his word in the case of any excited utterance), though, if they were going to be friends.

But isn't that always the type...?

A muted laugh escaped him, hidden by a hand, as he sank back into the bath and his thorough embarrassment. "Oh, no, I didn't mean... Er, well, that's not important -- I wasn't really worried! And you don't have to go to all that trouble, either!"

He may not have been much of a mind-reader, himself, but he could never mistake the sounds of food being prepared for anything but. "I was actually planning to do something nice, myself, since you're the one coming home."

[dulsanaya]

'I am hungry. You are hungry. There are no worries and no troubles.' Chopping garlic, slicing olives, tearing fresh basil and quartering small garden ripened tomatoes. Water put on to boiling for pasta...the olive oil ready for the pan.

Mmmm, the scents, flavors, and tastes of home. I miss you, Antiva City, you and that which was most precious. Pouring the wine, letting it fill the air with flavor, it was nearly home. In this now, for right now, it was close enough.

'There are plenty of nice things you can do, Sataareth. A walk to the fountain at the park with a distracting story told on the way and then stopping for gelato on the way home, would be lovely. All simple things, but they would mean much to this Asha.'