[Roue]

Roue, letting go of other's hand, watched intently as Rabbit examined the coins, waiting on baited breath as his eyes followed Rabbit's every moment, feeling a sense of pride at the size of compensation that he was offering.? However his look of satisfaction was quickly replaced by confusion when the other boy put the gold back, gesturing in a way like he didn't like it or perhaps didn't want any of it.? How come, he questioned, looking back at his host, was this amount just not enough?? Perhaps the quality of the coinage was deemed subpar or maybe metals such as these held no value in this place?? But all of Rune Midgard accepted zeny, with some even killing for less than what he had on the table.? Perhaps he was being too hasty in his own judgement, he reasoned.? Maybe services are rendered first and then a bill produced at the end.? But not knowing how much he had to pay made anxiousness rise like bile in his throat and so nervously chewed on his finger.? His stormy thoughts were broken by Rabbit, however, who made an honest attempt at pronouncing his charge's name.

"<Oh, you almost got it!? Row, just like that.? Try it again!? Row, row!? I am Roue," he repeated excitedly, leaning forward as his ears perked up, listening intently to Rabbit's voice.? It really was a strange accent and again he wondered how come no one in this place spoke the same common tongue that he did?? However, it seemed now it was his turn to try when the other gestured to himself and produced a pattern of sounds that he repeated a couple of times.? He cleared his throat, coughing a bit, as he took a breath and gave it his all.

"Raa-raa..bitte.? Raabiit.? Raa raa raa.? Bitte...bitte...bitt...Raabbiiiitt," he kept saying it over and over, as if he was carefully tasting each syllable like a bite of food, taking a moment to swallow and digest it.? He attempted to draw it out, letting it roll off his tongue until it seemed like maybe this Rabbit person had enough and then gestured for him to stand.? His eyes traveled over Roue's form, seeming like he was sizing him up, but then gestured for him to sit and wait.? So he dutifully sat and waited as Rabbit picked up all the dishware and utensils, then disappeared behind the door.? The peace that the room contained was briefly disturbed as distant notes of very lively music seemed to reach his ears and was just as quickly extinguished once the door shut.? He dutifully waited for his host to come back, looking around the room and marveling at its design when Rabbit reappeared within the room but this time his arms were filled with a pile of clothing rather than another round of dishware, indicating for Roue to get back up and follow him.

The wizard obediently followed on his heels, his head becoming like a non-stop swivel as he tried to take in the places they were passing.? They left one hallway, skirting around quite an energetic crowd, then entered another when they finally reached a door that Rabbit opened and motioned for Roue to step inside.? He thanked him for letting him go in first, but once he did, he froze at the sight that greeted him.? The room was a tiny oasis, with a statue spilling water into a pool of muted water at the farthest end and columns surrounding the rest of it on the edges.? Various alcoves seemed to hold all kind of soaps and liquids, probably shampoos and such, and towels to help one dry off.? As small as it may have been, this was still twice the size of the baths he was used to taking at home.? A distance memory at this point.? Roue couldn't remember the last time he's been able to take a bath, much less a hot one, which made him so eager that he even forgot that Rabbit was still in the room or even talking to him.? He started by deftly unbuttoning his vest, shrugging it off as he tossed it to the side, then loosened and wiggled out of his pants, glad to be temporarily rid of the constricting fabric.? Then he pulled off his underwear and socks, leaving himself clad in nothing but the cool air, causing goosebumps to appear on his otherwise smooth skin.? Reaching the edge of the water, he dipped one foot in, hissing at the heat the bit at his toes.? He hesitated a bit, letting the pain subside until it was replaced with pure glee.

"<Well, there's no time like tomorrow!>" he exclaimed, launching himself towards the deeper end of the pool.? Upon surfacing, he threw his head back, flipping his hair back and off his face as it clung to him every which way, revealing the toned contours of his body.? The water, though very hot and nipping at his skin, felt extremely wonderful.? He could not believe that this is what he's been missing all these years, this much welcome warmth.? He stood there for a little bit, running his hands to the back of his neck, tilting his head, elbows up as he stood waist deep the water, relishing the way the steam wrapped around him like a veil.

(Rabbit)

"Roue," Rabbit repeated, this time pronouncing it row. The stranger nodded to indicate that he'd gotten it right, but then stopped and stared in apparent amazement at the Roman-style bath room Rabbit had taken him to.? It was like the man had never seen one before.? Maybe he came from a desert somewhere?? His clothes didn't really seem to suggest it.? But then Roue was suddenly more than eager to make use of the place, stripping off his clothing before the little vampire had even gotten halfway through his attempts to suggest that he could help Roue bathe if he wanted it.

"Oh! Uhm, uh..." Rabbit quickly turned his back to the now-naked stranger. But when he heard the man immerse himself in the steaming water, the little vampire couldn't resist sneaking a furtive look.? Roue, however, was completely distracted by the delights of the heated bath and was oblivious to Rabbit's staring.? Naked, the stranger was even more exotic and enticing, with a smooth, elegant body that seemed not quite human and yet sublimely human, like human-plus.? The long blue locks and pointed ears seemed to complement the rest of him perfectly.? He chewed his lip as he continued to stare in spite of himself.? He could feel the desire starting all the way down in his toes and working its way up, filling him with a seductive warmth, to the point that he suddenly had to look away, busying himself with collecting Roue's discarded garments. ?

"Uhm, I'm g-gonna, you know, take your clothes and get them cleaned and f-fixed, okay?" he called out as Roue continued to indulge himself in the relaxing pool.? Carrying the rather considerable load - didn't he _really_ wear all these things at the same time? - Rabbit slipped out of the room, closing the door behind him. ?

"Wh-what the fuck is that guy?" Rabbit murmured, leaning back against the wall of the hallway with his arms full, his face feeling very flushed.? Did elves really exist, the little vampire wondered.? And are they all so inhumanly beautiful?? He _had_ to find out what Roue was and where he came from.

Rabbit hoped that Roue wouldn't mind a good long soak in the bath because he was going to have to take them outside the club to get them repaired and cleaned.? Fortunately one of the club's doors opened out to a street in New Orleans that had an all-night laundry that was reliable, open all night, and didn't ask questions about embarrassing blood stains.

It was about an hour and a half later when the little vampire made it back to the private room at the Dionysus. He peeked in cautiously, not wanting to catch Roue by surprise in case he was naked while more than half-hoping he would be.? "Uhm, Roue?? I'm b-back.? Are you done with your bath stuff y-yet?"

Tag - Roue