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Post by Aelyx Caltarys on Dec 13, 2018 22:16:52 GMT
The large bathhouse in the Caltarys Manse sits towards the back of the complex. There are two very large pools, one for hot water and one for cold, and then smaller baths dotted around the two main ones.
Each of the large baths could comfortably fit in a dozen people, each with space to stretch out.
Around each of the tubs in mosaic is a Valyrian story, but around the rims of the two large baths are the beginning and ending of the freehold. Around the cold pool is depicted the formation of the Dragonlords and the taming of the dragons, all the way up to the freehold in its prime, with the large black towers dominating the sky. The hot tub shows the Doom, or at least an outside perspective of the Doom, with fire and ash raining down on the same skyline depicted around the cold tub. A reminder of the residents and their guests about the importance of humility.
The room itself has no windows, to keep in or out the heat depending on which is desired, and so flickering candlelight is always present in them. Just like in Aelyx's room a gods eye can be opened above each of the large pools, but mostly to let out steam, rather than to let in light, but the dual purpose is fortunate.
Near each bath there are shelves full of soaps and perfumes available for residents of guests to use as they will.
All pools have dips near the lips of them to allow users to safely house cups and glasses they are drinking from without fear of making them fall over.
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Post by Aelyx Caltarys on Dec 13, 2018 22:20:19 GMT
After finishing with the Society and the tavern and seeing the town, Aelyx came to the manse and went directly to the bathhouse before even going to her own rooms. She was happy enough in the unforgiving wilderness, but nothing felt as good as warm water on dirty skin.
She didn't strip off with any kind of decorum, and left her clothes where they dropped, leaving a trail to the hot pool.
She had a slave bring her a bottle of wine and just sat in the warm water, letting it soothe her, leaning back and letting out a deep sigh.
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 13, 2018 23:20:50 GMT
Upon arriving back at the estate with his less embarrassing sister, a house slave had informed him that a beggar had arrived afoot at his door accompanied by two guardsmen claiming she was his sister. When he inquired about her whereabouts, he was directed to the bathhouse, for which he was grateful.
"I see you made yourself at home," he remarks as he strolls into the monument to luxury. "I trust the accommodations are to your liking?" He glanced down to the piles of dirty traveling garments on the floor, before beckoning over a comely bathing slave and whispering in her ear. "Have these burned and send a runner to fetch Master Maekar. Inform him my sister is in need of a new wardrobe and I expect him in the foyer with samples a bell after supper."
He turned his attention back to Aelyx, as if the whispered exchange with the slave girl had not occurred. "So, what did you think of my city?"
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Post by Aelyx Caltarys on Dec 13, 2018 23:37:50 GMT
“Are we calling it a city?” She inquired, her tone teasing. She watched at the slave picked up her stuff and then looked to her older brother, “it’s much further along than I had thought it would be,” she admitted and sank lower into the water, letting her head roll back.
“I don’t know about the rest if your little shack,” she snapped her head forward to look at him as she levelled her joking insult, “but your bathhouse is very... spacious. “ she raised a leg out of the water to slash at him, not even getting the wave anywhere near him. “I approve.”
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 13, 2018 23:57:15 GMT
“We’re calling it a start,” he said, making his way to the edge of the tub despite the warning splash in his direction. He peered over the lip into the pool below. Rather than leering at her form beneath the surface, from the look on his face it appeared he was judging how clouded with dirt the water was. “It is surprising how much you can accomplish in a short time when the alternative is death.”
“Well your approval is everything to me,” he stated with mock humility. “I could not live with myself if I did not live up to your refined standards.”
“And you haven’t even seen your room yet,” he added, with a twinke in his eye.
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Post by Aelyx Caltarys on Dec 14, 2018 0:03:58 GMT
“Well considering you asked for my approval twice in one breath, I think that is more true than you think,” she countered. The water was clear, she wasn’t rancid, and she hadn’t been smelly either, she’d just not had a proper bath, but if it allowed her to remain undisturbed she was happy with to let him think she had been caked in grime.
“Is my room extra special? Is it plated in gold and inlaid with gemstones, is my bed calved from Ivory? Because having something to brag about is more important than being comfortable, surely?”
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 14, 2018 0:15:52 GMT
“I suppose you have me there,” he relented, seeing no reason to argue the point. No one got into his line of work because they didn’t thrive on the approval and adoration of others. “
“Well surely it will be a disappointment now, as I don’t like you quite enough for all that. I think you’ll be pleased though.” Despite his seemingly permanent cocksure exporession there was a hint of barely perceptible nervousness, the anxiety felt when giving someone a thoughtful gift and hoping they like it as much as you thought they would, if you knew them as well as you thought you did, or once did. “And is having the Caltarys siblings all under the same roof again not reason enough to brag?”
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Post by Aelyx Caltarys on Dec 14, 2018 0:22:44 GMT
“”You want to brag about Hel abd I?” She asked, crossing her legs under the water, “she and I are shiny ornaments for you to display? Well we certainly won’t make you comfortable at least, so we have that in common.
She seemed to get tired of lounging and beckoned over a pretty slave to start washing her, not taking long to get into the swing of having servants after such a long time doing things for herself. She was adaptable.
“Besides” she looked like she was about to quip something else, but her eyes got distant for a moment and she seemed to reconsider. “Do you have anything that won’t make me smell like a common whorehouse?” She asked eyeing the soaps.
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 14, 2018 1:11:32 GMT
"Must you twist everything I say? Can it not warm my heart to have family close at hand again. I did not build this complex to live in it alone..." He trailed off, likely recalling the nursery that existed somewhere in the sprawling compound, the one he had sealed off, laying each brick by hand personally. "Besides, one can hardly see the shine on the ornaments when you prance around the city with the slaves on foot coated in grime and Hel is elbow deep in blood and gods knows what."
"The third one from the right is a bar made form olive oil, laurel oil, and a touch of seal salt," he answered her query without even glancing at the soaps. "It will make you smell like an exceptional whorehouse."
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Post by Aelyx Caltarys on Dec 14, 2018 12:28:11 GMT
“If you’re already tired of my replies it’s going to be a long few months... years “ she shrugged, “elbow deep? Too shallow or too deep for anything respectable, what is she doing?”
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Post by Helaena Caltarys on Dec 14, 2018 13:53:31 GMT
"I thought my ears were ringing," said Hel, her voice and steps echoing off the stone floor and walls as she made her entrance. "Aeradar told me you were coming, but not that it would be today," she said, approaching the pool with a widening smile. A small black dragon trailed behind her and peeked at Aelyx curiously.
"I've missed you, sister." she said, and spread her hands, evidently expecting Aelyx to step out from the bath to give her a hug.
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Post by Aelyx Caltarys on Dec 14, 2018 15:13:38 GMT
Aelyx eyed the dragon and her eyes seemed to glint as they looked at it. She rose out the the water; and onto the mosaic, not apparently embarrassed to be naked in front of her siblings and moved to embrace her sister, smiling deeply.
“Good to see you again too, sister, it has been a long time.” Not as long as with Aeradar, but that didn’t matter, “I see you have a new friend,” she looked over her shoulder and clicked her tongue, and out of the shadows from under one of the shelves a dark green dragon stalked up behind Aelyx.
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Post by Helaena Caltarys on Dec 15, 2018 7:24:07 GMT
Hel gave her sister a tight hug, clearly not bothered about getting wet. She pulled back once the other dragon appeared, and looked in turn to him, and Aelyx, in wonder. "As do you. Where did you find an egg?" she inquired. "And when did you hatch it?" Jaes took half a step away from her and began sniffing the air, eyes fixed on the green one.
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Post by Aelyx Caltarys on Dec 15, 2018 13:41:48 GMT
“Our uncle gave it to me,” she admitted, having not found it in some far off land. That discovery would be huge, “he said he’d had it all his life and if it had not hatched by now, it would never, but it hatched for me in a few days.” She explained, smiling fondly at the memory, but keeping her eyes on her younger sister, expecting her own tale. “Mother ad father will be very pleased.”
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Post by Lord Aeradar Caltarys on Dec 15, 2018 15:59:09 GMT
Aeradar thought to interrupt the sisterly embrace by mentioning that wet silk chafes and would ruin Hel's dress, but thought better of it, reasoning that the tailor was coming to fashion Aelyx some proper garments and could make some additions to Hel's wardrobe while he was at it. Besides, she had already stained the sleeves with blood.
"And the only dragon our uncle ever gave me was that jade figurine from Yi Ti," Aeradar remarked, watching the dragons curiously. "I suppose we know who the favorite was."
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