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[hider=Friction]When the company had disbanded for the night and Iris had slipped away to enjoy a moment of silence, he found himself besieged by that same feeling of incongruity once more, every subconscious instinct of his picking up on the undeniable fact that he was not meant to be here, among a band of survivors and fighters to whom priceless artifacts had been entrusted. He was a whore, a long-accepted fact that he had made peace with. Supposedly.

The perfectly dimmed oil lamps on the wall were uniform in their brightness as he wandered the mansion's hallways, exploring absentmindedly to tire out the restless, uncomfortable energy that hung low o n his body. It was a habit of his profession, to be ready for the nightly activities no matter how long they lasted and his body had fallen into the rhythm of being prepared, especially after the weeks of travel with little time to care for more recreational pleasures. He could take care of it himself, and quickly, too, but the lingering discomfort of the situation propelled him to make several more rounds in the same hallway before he finally returned to the now empty sitting room and retrieved his pack, heading towards the guest rooms with silent footsteps--a practiced manner of walking to avoid rousing clients after they had fallen asleep.

His guest room was simple, not that he had expected decadence out of the professor, but the easy elegance of the carved bed frame and simple, flowery wall decor harkened back to a quaint sort of innocence. One Iris could hardly remember.

As if bored of his nostalgia, his body pressed on with its urges and he relented, stripping down to bare skin and soft-scented underclothes that he also discarded. 

The method of release was easy and within minutes Iris had taken care of the most pressing desires and cleaned up, lying on his stomach and stretched out on the bed like a glorified housecat. He hadn't realized, in his urgency to calm himself, that he had left the door to his room slightly ajar, nor did he notice the knight who was now turning red on the other side.

The knight in question cleared his throat then, clearly flustered and confused by the unexpected turns of events. Just recently returned from his rounds, Ganth did not expect a stranger to be in his room, nor was he ready for the...unsavoury activity that the stranger was apparently partaking in. On his bed, no less. 

"[color goldenrod]I think you're in the wrong room.[/color]" -He began, keeping his tone civil and body language lax. 

Iris started, sitting up quickly to look at the knight who had appeared. [color 7588ff]"...Am I?"[/color] he answered after a moment's worth of shock, [color 7588ff]"I apologize. The estate's quite foreign to me and I was distracted."[/color] The courtesan slid off the bed quickly, scooping his clothes up from the ground and watching Ganth with an almost predatory look. [color 7588ff]"Would you like me to make it up to you?"[/color]

"[color goldenrod]It's fine. Completely understandable.[/color]" -Ganth remained cordial. If he noticed the look on the courtesan's face, he did not show it. -"[color goldenrod]Do you need help finding your room?[/color]" 

[color 7588ff]"Maybe I could just stay in yours?"[/color] Half-lidded eyes and a ready form stalked closer, until Iris was inches away from Ganth. [color 7588ff]"Would you like any service? It'll be on the house this time,"[/color] he joked, leaning in to smell the scent of armor polish and sweat that hung around Ganth.

"[color goldenrod]I don't wish to bother you. My schedule can be...atypical at times. Sharing a room with me might not be very convenient.[/color]" -The inquisitor raised an eyebrow at the odd offer, but he already had an inkling of what the courtesan was suggesting. And he was hardly interested. The day was long, and the night would be even longer, if they wasted time on anything but sleep. Ganth was weary from his long trip. He just wanted to rest his eyes now -"[color goldenrod]Do you prefer this room? I can leave, if you want. Iris, was it?[/color]"

[color 7588ff]”Surely you have some needs to be taken care of? Or is it that you’re not interested in men?”[/color]

"[color goldenrod]I think I need to sleep, Iris.[/color]" 

It fascinated him to a certain degree how the seemingly virile knight had absolutely no interest. There was a difference between the men who feigned chastity and the ones who truly didn’t care for carnal needs and while Iris suspected there was more to the veneer than outright disinterest, he could at least tell that Ganth would not be budged. At least not now.

[color 7588ff]”Then maybe you wouldn’t mind sleeping with me?”[/color] he offered regardless, curious how far it would go as he pressed a warm leg against the knight’s bright armor.

"[color goldenrod]Don't you prefer the bed to yourself?[/color]"

[color 7588ff]”I love having company.”[/color] Iris leaned in, kissing the firm jawline lightly, the overture blatant now.

"[color goldenrod]I was told I can be a bore, sometimes.[/color]" -Ganth stiffened at the intimate contact, but he did not draw back nor flinch away -"[color goldenrod]If you wish for company, perhaps consider asking someone else.[/color]"

There was a reaction after all and Iris wanted to chase it down.

[color 7588ff]“No one’s too boring for me,”[/color] he replied, trailing touches and kisses further along the jawline until he tastes the knight’s lips.

That made Ganth took a few steps back though, seperating himself from the courtesan. 

"[color goldenrod]Let's not do that.[/color]" -A faint rosy hue tainted his cheeks, but he kept his composure. 

[color 7588ff]“I can make you feel even better, you know?”[/color] Iris followed the movement, tracing fingers along the curve of Ganth’s ear. [color 7588ff]”Won’t you let me?”[/color]

"[color goldenrod]Let's not do that.[/color]" -The inquisitor simply repeated the words, gaze unwavering. 

[color 7588ff]“I’m a little sad, Sir Inquisitor. You’re rebuffing me while pink in the cheeks. What am I to make of that?“[/color] But the courtesan backed away, still stark naked and ready, though entirely rejected. [color 7588ff]”Well, I’ll at least keep you company throughout the night, if you don’t mind. I recall you offered to share the room.”[/color] A lazy saunter took the slim body back to the bed where Iris crawled back on with slow, deliberate movements, reclining on the pillows with a defeated look.

"[color goldenrod]I offered to leave the room to you, Iris.[/color]" -Ganth let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding. The sweet scent of whatever perfume the courtesan was using lingered somehow, and he had to move, placing his heavy mace and shield down on a nearby table. With that done, he reached up to unfasten the claps of his gauntlets, longing to rid himself of their rough and oppressive heat. 

[color 7588ff]"And I'm offering to share. Don't worry, I'll leave you be if you're this insistent, but I always love company."[/color] He swapped the positions of his feet, so that one ankle rested above the other, and examined a thin band of silver that sparkled around his right ankle, pretending to be distracted.

Ganth had shared a bed many times before, in both crowded barracks and stuffy inns, so he figured he could comply with Iris' strange request, if it meant the courtesan would leave him alone afterward. So against his better judgement, he shrugged.

"[color goldenrod]So be it.[/color]" 

His armor came off easily enough, deft hands worked through the clasps and buckles with practiced efficiency. He arranged them all on the desk, within a few steps of the bed. Finally, he slipped off his sweat-soaked undershirt and slipped into a new one, before turning around, glancing at the bed and its sole occupant.

"[color goldenrod]Perhaps you should consider putting your clothes on. It can get quite chilly at night.[/color]" 

[color 7588ff]”No need. I’ll have you to keep me warm, won’t I?”[/color] The mischief in Iris’s eyes was unmistakable, but he made no motions to suggest he would attempt anything. 

"[color goldenrod]I would prefer that you...don't touch me while I sleep.[/color]"

[color 7588ff]“Hmm, I will agree to avoid any explicit gestures on the condition that you let me sleep on you.”[/color] A sweet smile followed the offer and Iris patted the space beside him slowly.

"[color goldenrod]Perhaps I should take the floor then.[/color]"

[color 7588ff]”Don’t be so mean, Sir Inquisitor. I’m just a little starved for a warm body near me. You have my word your virginity is safe.”[/color]

"[color goldenrod]Just 'near' would be enough then? No touching?[/color]" -Ganth crossed his arms, clearly amused by the implications in Iris' words. 

[color 7588ff]”I’d like to lay on you, but if that’s so awful then near is enough.”[/color]

"[color goldenrod]Very well.[/color]" -Ganth rolled his shoulders, before heading over to the bed and flopping down unceremoniously. He kept a respectful distance with his bedfellow though, and one of his arm hung off the edge of the mattress as a result. 

At the sight of the gangly giant lying lopsided on the bed, Iris laughed, sitting up and stepping lightly away from the bed, clothes already back in hand. He deposited the travel clothes onto a chair in the corner and pulled from his pack a revealing outfit of soft, almost transparent silks that wrapped around him like a light dress, held in place only by ornate clasps around the hips, neck, and limbs. He spun, almost weightless in the movement as he examined the clothes. [color 7588ff]"It's been too long since I could wear this,"[/color] he explained, raising a leg above his head and twirling briefly, [color 7588ff]"As thanks for indulging me a bit, I'll put on a bit of a show for you until you fall asleep."[/color]

Colorful motes of light bloomed around the courtesan and what sounded like a soft, melodic hum permeated the room. To the slow rhythm of the music he created, Iris danced, legs and arms moving in perfect sync with each other. Where a slight swell of the music demanded more complex steps, there were counterbalancing motions of the arms to hold him steady, every movement fluid and languid and part of the sultry dance that had enticed so many customers. 

Ganth watched, if only for a few short moments before the day finally caught up to him. The inquisitor fell asleep quietly, breaths soft and even. 

Once the knight had fallen fast asleep Iris dismissed the illusions and wandered to the bedside, watching the rise and fall of the broad chest. No one here wanted his company in the way he knew best, it would seem, and for that he felt even more out of place. He couldn't contribute anything to delivering a case of precious books nor could he find solace in the one activity that he had mastered for the sake of his postponed profession. He didn't belong. The message was as clear as day. So he sighed and returned to his pack, stowing away the entertainer's clothes and dressing once more in his traveler's garb. If he left now, no one would be the wiser, he imagined. The Professor's daughter had requested he stay for the wake and the reading of the will, and the respected scholar's testament had entrusted the group with a surprisingly simple job. He told himself it would be [i]more[/i] beneficial to the Professor's will if he were to get out of the way now.

The pack rustled loudly as he hefted it over a shoulder, its contents jangling and clattering in the pin-drop silence of the estate.

A light sleeper, Ganth stirred awake at the unexpected noises, blinking blearily as he immediately looked for its source. It was the courtesan. He was standing with a bag over his shoulder, looking ready to leave. 

"[color goldenrod]Changed your mind, Iris?[/color]" -The inquisitor straightened up -"[color goldenrod]I can escort you back to your room.[/color]"

[color 7588ff]"No need,"[/color] a softer voice answered him, bereft of the wily tones that had infected the conversation before, [color 7588ff]"Get some rest, Sir Inquisitor. You look quite tired."[/color]

"[color goldenrod]I insist.[/color]" -Once more, Ganth refused to back down. He quickly stood up and righted his loose shirt, then walking over to retrieve his mace from its resting place -"[color goldenrod]It's late. There might be unsavoury character about.[/color]"

Iris laughed again, the sound a relief to him when his humor seemed ready to simmer out for the day. [color 7588ff]"Go back to bed, Inquisitor. The only unsavory character about at this time of night is me. If you escort me, I might take advantage of you again."[/color]

"[color goldenrod]I believe I can defend myself, Iris.[/color]"

[color 7588ff]"I don't doubt it. But I'm...not going back to my room, so you should go back to sleep. My apologies for waking you--and you look so tired, too."[/color] He shifted the pack on his shoulder and offered Ganth a rueful smile. [color 7588ff]"Thanks for humoring me earlier."[/color]

"[color goldenrod]Where are you going then?[/color]" -Ganth paused, puzzled -"[color goldenrod]Someone else's room?[/color]"

Another chuckle and Iris settled his shoulder against the door's frame. [color 7588ff]"Full of jokes tonight, Inquisitor,"[/color] he commented, free hand lacing up the neck of his tunic, [color 7588ff]"I'm leaving. Going back to where I belong."[/color]

"[color goldenrod]You are leaving?[/color]" -It dawned on him. Of course, the courtesan seek to abandon his mission. Understandable, if not a little bit disappointing. The fear of death, after all, was shared by many -"[color goldenrod]If I may, why?[/color]"

[color 7588ff]"...I'm a whore, Sir Inquisitor. Surely you can spot the odd one out in this merry band of travelers."[/color]

Ganth was quiet for a few moments, as if considering what Iris just said. It was true, from what he had seen so far. The man had introduced himself as a courtesan. A consort. Not a fighter. Was he concerned about his own survival? Ganth could tell Iris was not a man prone to combat. Yet, his steps were too practiced, too controlled; his feline grace reminded Ganth of a predator, and not only in the visceral sense of the word. Then again, who was he to say? 

"[color goldenrod]Is it fear?[/color]" -Ganth finally asked, keeping his tone even and light -"[color goldenrod]Do you think there's too much risk involved?[/color]"

[color 7588ff]"Not any more risk than servicing the absurdly wealthy who could kill you for any perceived offense and at most perhaps your favorite client would mourn your passing. But no. Not the risk. I simply do not...belong."[/color] Iris turned to leave, hoping that would be the end of the conversation, [color 7588ff]"The Professor is human. I'm sure even he makes mistakes."[/color]

"[color goldenrod]That's quite...selfish, if you ask me.[/color]" -Ganth half-smiled, before he caught himself -"[color goldenrod]But you didn't. I apologize.[/color]" 

Still, he meant what he said. Last requests were held sacred for those within his order, so he did feel strongly about Iris forfeiting his duties. There didn't seem like anything he could do though, aside from upholding the professor's last will in Iris' stead. And he would do just that. 

"[color goldenrod]At least allow me to escort you to the gate.[/color]" 

[color 7588ff]"I'll hear what you have to say. But you don't need to follow me out."[/color] The smaller of the two Aasimars stood outside the door to Ganth's room now, relenting one more time because something held him back despite his resolution to go. 

"[color goldenrod]The professor trusted you with his request. But you are walking away, because you don't trust yourself.[/color]" -Ganth leveled a gaze at Iris -"[color goldenrod]Pardon my rudeness, friend, but it is selfish. Promises to the departed should always be upheld, lest you shame yourself when it is your turn for an audience with our Pale Lady.[/color]" 

[color 7588ff]"What if it benefits the professor's will more that someone like me bows out gracefully?"[/color] the courtesan challenged, the blood rising to his cheeks at the reprimand.

"[color goldenrod]You don't know that. None of us do.[/color]"

[color 7588ff]"I...know my place. Can you really tell me it's here?"[/color]

"[color goldenrod]It is for you to decide.[/color]" -Ganth shook his head -"[color goldenrod]Though the professor certainly believed that.[/color]"

[color 7588ff]"If I fail a dead man, what can I say to redeem myself?"[/color] Iris asked, though the question was rhetorical. He simply feared the unknown and wanted to fall back on more familiar tidings. [color 7588ff]"...This entire day I've felt out of place here among the professor's steadfast companions and seasoned veterans. And now I can't even seduce a knight. It all feels wrong. Like the world is telling me to be off already."[/color] He sighed, the spark of indignation fizzling out. [color 7588ff]"I don't truly want to leave."[/color]

"[color goldenrod]Then don't.[/color]" -Ganth sighed, but his features softened -"[color goldenrod]And your charms are...intact, trust me. I'm just not the one you want.[/color]"

[color 7588ff]"Mm, you're certainly dead in the water. But I find that fascinating."[/color] A moment while the glimmer of mischief returned to Iris's eyes and he was leaning forward again, once more invading Ganth's personal space. [color 7588ff]"I may want to stay a bit longer if you'll let me sleep on that nice, broad chest?"[/color]

"[color goldenrod]Has all that been for...this?[/color]" -Once more, Ganth fumbled, blinking incredulously at the courtesan. 

[color 7588ff]"Hardly! I was quite serious about leaving, but I'm also quite serious about sleeping on you as well."[/color]

"[color goldenrod]And I was quite serious when I refused. We may share the bed, but you may not sleep on me.[/color]"

[color 7588ff]"What's the harm? I like human contact, and I promise to play nice."[/color]

"[color goldenrod]It's not...decent.[/color] -The blush threatened to return full force now, prompting Ganth to relent, turning and walking back into the room. Iris didn't seem so dead set on leaving anymore, so he could be left alone to his own devices. Ganth no longer cared if he stayed in this room or not. As long as the courtesan wouldn't pounce him in the dead of night. 

He was really tired. 

Iris, for his part, laid down on the bed properly this time, turned to face the unamused knight who seemed ready to leap out and run at the first sign of movement. He laughed lightly.

[color 7588ff]"So wary. I'll sleep first, then, Sir Inquisitor. May you have pleasant dreams."[/color] 

It wasn't long before the entertainer's features softened into sleep and in the dim glow of magicked lamps on the walls he looked almost cherubic, skin pale despite his travels and unblemished from years of careful care. It didn't seem possible that he was the raunchy bard from mere moments ago when he slept, though with his first kiss stolen and temptation lying not a foot away Ganth was hard pressed to believe the innocent visage of a sleeping Iris. Regardless, he did not hold any resentment toward the other Aasamir. If anything, the courtesan was just as lost as he was, simply just another pawn in the greater scheme of things. Against his better judgement, Ganth reached down and pulled the blanket over both of them. Because of its modest size though, Ganth found himself inching closer to the courtesan, close enough that he could feel the other Aasamir's soft breaths on the bare skin of his arm. The sensation was far more...intimate than anything he had experienced, but Ganth brushed it all aside and focused on evening out his breaths, hoping to reach unconsciousness as soon as possible. [/hider]