675-06-17 - Girl Talk at the Baths
Girl Talk at the Baths | |||||||
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Summary: Lady Adara and Lady Imma 'meet' and discuss life and marriage | |||||||
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Imma is just finished with a long run about the periphery of the island, and is relaxing in the baths in its aftermath, sitting in a pool with her arms outstretched along the side of the pool behind her. Her head's drooped backward, her long hair gathered in a bowl of heated water, a servant seeing to applying a stringent tonic to strip the sweat from her scalp and roots and cut the grease from her hair while scrubbing and massaging her head.
An older, but not too old woman with skin like pale cream enters the Royal Bath House. She is informed of which baths are currently available as her handmaid assists her in removing her silken gown of eggshell and pale blue vertical stripes. Once disrobed Lady Adara Zorich makes her way to one of the baths as her handmaid sees to securing her garments. Approaching one of the baths she offers a polite nod and says, "If you would excuse me." as she slowly slips into the water herself, submerging herself until only her head, hair, neck, and a bit of her shoulders is above the surface of the water. Her handmaid is by her side at a well-rehearsed speed as she starts to attend to her mistress' hair, gathering it up out of the water of the bath and starting to prepare of bowl to wash it, though Adara's hair is treated more to a simple washing then anything more extreme, but then she's not really that active of an individual. The woman in her mid-thirties simply closes her gray eyes and allows her handmaid to do the work for her. It would seem she came to bathe and relax with a bit of pampering.
Imma rolls her head slightly to one side when the woman approaches, closing her eyes and tipping her chin toward her shoulder in a gesture of respect for her on her arrival. She doesn't recognize her, right off of the bat, nor does she invade the soothing quiet with insistant questions on the woman's identity. Only a soft sigh of contentment and a brief comment: "How fine the water is after a long day."
Adara replies, "There is nothing like a hot bath after a long day, we agree there." smiling softly, though her eyes remain closed for the time being as she gets more comfortable, reclining a bit more, though her head, hair, and neck remains in view only the front half of her shoulders are now visible. The water covers the rest of her body.
Imma isn't shy-- her shoulders and chest up out of the water as her back arcs to allow the servant free rein with her long hair. "A fine reward for a day well-spent. Surely it would be nothing but an overabundance of luxury for those who don't know the value of good works," she continues the discussion gently on toward knowing what business is this new bathing-companion of hers.
Adara says, "Good works or no, I'm just thankful to the Patrons to have the option after a couple years of plague." Smiling softly either she is joking, or she isn't bothered by the affects of the plague... Perhaps because it is behind her and she survived it. She then opens her eyes and looks to the younger woman and says, "Forgive me. Lady Adara Zorich, and you are?"
Imma sits up a little bit straighter, lifting her hair from the bowl and leaving the servant to squeeze the locks out and begin to arrange them. She knows that name. More due to the woman's position in court than to their familial relation, though the latter isn't lost on her, at all. "M'lady," she greets with a respectful gesture of her head, not quite a full nod, since her hair is being fussed at. "Imma Grunhaid," she puts forward her name, in hopes it might spark some recognition in her relative.
Adara smiles softly looking to Imma and says, "I should have known. Welcome to the capital, you have grown into quite an attractive young woman. I remember visiting your family around the time I married your uncle. Your mother even let me hold you for a time while you were sleeping. It is good to see you again."
Imma has grown, that's for sure. She's quite the tall drink of water, and curvy, to boot. Her face blossoms into a glad but bashful smile when imagining Adara holding her as a baby. "I thank you, m'Lady," she tells her. "And it is good to make your acquaintance now that I am capable to keeping my head upright. Although Kyanna here does her best to make it droop once more with her attentions," she smiles playfully.
Adara smiles softly and asks, "Have you met my daughters, or seen your uncle recently, or while I was acting as emissary for the kingdom?" in a curious tone.
"Oh, yes, last summer we three spent several weeks in one anothers' company, Liat and Kinneret and I," Imma remembers fondly. "We went horseback riding just about every day, and swimming, too, in the evenings. They're such fun, the both of them."
Adara nods and says, "It is good they had fun. I still feel bad about leaving them for so long, but one must serve the kingdom, and a plague is hardly something you can plan for." It is clear the thought upsets her some, but not enough she won't discuss it, at least to some degree.
Imma takes in a short breath, and, once her hair's braided wet along the side of her head to keep it from getting in her way as she bathes, she slides along the bench in Adara's direction, not coming too close, just a gensture enough to make the conversation less public. "No one had any thought in mind but prayers for your safety-- certainly no ill-will toward you for carrying out your duty."
Adara smiles and says, "Thank you. I know my girls weren't too happy, but they seem to understand the reasons for being away longer then expected. So what brings you to the capital?"
Imma draws her full lips into a tight smile. "I'm to be married, soon. I came to find out to whom," she adds, with a faint spark of dry humour in her eye as she makes the remark. At least she's taking her betrothal with a good spirit.
Adara nods and says, "Just make sure you make him obey your commands right away like your uncle." as she scrunches her nose teasingly and giggles softly. Whether it is actually true her husband does everything he is told is debatable, as there is evidence of it, but it could also just be that he is a good home maker after taking care of their daughters for so long relatively alone.
Imma laughs warmly along with her aunt's commandment. "I don't know how well he'll take to it. He's a foreigner," she twists her lips to one side, looking uncertain about the entire prospect. "But I will do my best to tame him properly."
Adara nods and says, "That does complicate things, which kingdom is he from? I spent some time with all the major houses of all the kingdoms during my trip. I may or may not know him however as I didn't meet everyone in each house after all."
"He hails from Two Rivers," Imma inclines her newly braid-adorned head toward her aunt, in recognition of the fact that she is widely traveled. "Of House Yldon," she specifies, then, finally, a name: "Sir Vandrik."
Adara nods and says, "I believe that is a minor house. Sadly I don't recall meeting any members of House Yldon. At least coming from the Kingdom of the Two Rivers you shouldn't have to worry too much about heathen religions as King Barret Brais forbade the worship of their former gods."
"Yes, well, there is that to be given thanks for," Imma smiles. "At least he doesn't seem anything to object to. And we're being honored together to become Solicitor to the Queen, which," she smiles, "It'll keep us quite busy!"
ADara nods and says, "Congratulations. Sadly the other kingdoms seem a bit lacking in their understanding of how much women do a better job when in charge compared to men. For one, we tend not to be driven by lust and ridiculous ideas that make no sense."
Imma laughs brightly, eyes filled with a shimmering mirth. "We can't blame them, surely. That's simply how they were made, I suppose. For their purpose and in their season. We can tolerate them, if we can make sure to tame them."
Adara smiles as she continues to recline in the water and says, "I'm not sure how well you'll be able to tame a foreign man, but if nothing else you can just lock him away in your home so he can't get out to get himself into trouble or shame you."
"He's already been well instructed to behave, but I suppose I can keep him in some manner of husband pit if worst comes to worst, yes," Imma finds some giddy delight in such jests-- hopefuly they're only meant to be jests, at least.
Adara smiles and nods saying, "One can never be too careful with a man who thinks he knows what to do."