[SE] dreaming of far away

Isla

"Oop, watch out." Setting the glasses down gently on one of the counters, Isla sweeps forward to reach out and turn off the taps. The bath hasn't flooded yet, thankfully, but neither one of them will be getting into it before they let some of that water back out, and given that Everest is not an Ancient, they probably want to wait for it to cool down a bit too, based on the steam wafting into the air. Not that Isla's mind is on that any more - with a soft frown, she turns to face the aviator, reaching out to gently clasp his upper arms.

"What is it?" she asks, her brows drawing together with concern. Some part of her mind has automatically gone to the void and the infection running through Ever's veins, wondering if it has come to life suddenly and caused problems. But a larger part of her knows better, at least for now. "Unless you don't want to talk about it...? We don't have to."

I'll take a bruise, I know you're worth it
When you hit me, hit me hard

I'd still know you, not being shown you, I only need the working of my hands

Not quite able to tear his gaze away from the water, it's only as Isla pushes past to turn the facet off that Everest hears the audible sigh of relief that pushes past his lips. Dazed as the final blows from his internal war are made, the aviator sinks heavily down onto the lip of the bathtub, rubbing at the back of his neck before tilting his chin up to Isla and stretching out a hand to wrap around her waist.

"Sorry,' sighing, Ever glances at the water one last time before pulling in a breath. "It...that was the strangest thing. It was like all of a sudden the flow of the water was this...this tangible thing in my mind. Something that I needed to stop, but.." A humourless laugh leaves his lips as a look of disbelief darkens his eyes. "Maybe it's a new shift." He suggests. If it wasn't, then perhaps he was coming to the precipice of a mental breakdown that he hadn't seen coming.

Everest

Table by the always stunning Sky!

Isla

Stepping forward without complaint to stand between Ever's knees, Isla lets her arm slip around his shoulders, brows furrowed as she lays the back of her palm against his forehead as if to check for a fever. "Maybe," she says, of it being a new shift, though she can't think of one off the top of her head that would cause him to be fixated on the water. (Gods, unless he'd contracted rabies in his dog shift or something?)

"Or maybe you are just tired out after all of the excitement of being back around snow," she suggests with a wry smile. Satisfied that he isn't burning up, Isla brushes his curls gently out of his face and leans for a gentle, chaste kiss against his lips. "No harm done, at least - the bathroom didn't flood, anyway." She doubts the room's magic extends to structural damage. "We can always skip the bath and just go and relax, if you like."

I'll take a bruise, I know you're worth it
When you hit me, hit me hard

I'd still know you, not being shown you, I only need the working of my hands

Isla's touch has an almost instantaneous effect on the aviator; his shoulders draw down from his ears and the breath that he sighs out has colour returning to his face. Reaching for her with his other hand to draw her down onto one of his knees, he offers her a wry smile before pressing his cheek against the soft fabric of her robe. "Is that your clinical diagnoses Dr. Lockwood? Snow Psychosis?" A bit of warmth returns to the aviator's face as he sighs against Isla, drawing strength from the simple sound of her voice and the familiarity of her smell and feel.

Tilting his chin up to accept her kiss, the aviator shakes his head a touch. "It would be a considerable amount of water to waste." He reasons; already the inclination to stop the flow of the water was growing murky and faraway in his thoughts, and while he wasn't ready to strip down and sink into the water, that didn't mean Isla couldn't test things out for him. "Besides, if you go in first and have no reaction, then we'll know for certain it has nothing to do with the water or room, and everything to do with me."

Really, Isla would be doing a disservice to science if she refused to get into the bath.

Everest

Table by the always stunning Sky!

Isla

"It is my preliminary diagnosis," Isla corrects with a smirk, "based on existing evidence and your current symptoms." Drawn willingly to perch on one of his knees, she leans in against him, pressing further kisses across the line of his jaw until she can nose against the soft space behind his ear. "Many physicians use a watch and wait approach. I may change my diagnosis based on what happens in the next hour or so."

And until then, Ever is right - it would be a waste of water. "That's the joy about this room, I suppose," she says with a shrug of her shoulders, delivering one last kiss to his cheek before rising back to her feet. "Anything we don't like, we can change." Thank you very much, House of Midnight.

In the meantime, though, the Remedy reaches out to let some of the water out - just enough that she might slip into the bath without completely overflowing it - and then steps back to untie her robe. Hanging it up (only because she knows it will bother Ever to no end if she lets it pool dramatically at her feet), it's with a flick of her tail and a smile over her shoulder to the aviator that she steps into the (frankly enormous) bath, shrouded in steam and the scent of the oils Ever had poured into it.

I'll take a bruise, I know you're worth it
When you hit me, hit me hard

I'd still know you, not being shown you, I only need the working of my hands

"Ahh." More than happy to be corrected, Everest nods, allowing himself to further relax as Isla nestles herself against his side. "The next hour? Noted." So not immediately off to bed after their bath, his smile seems to convey as he tilts his head slyly to the side as if to flutter Isla's lips against his cheek and thereby stealing kisses in virtue of their position.

As soon as the water begins to drain the aviator is immediately tense again, frowning deeply at the movement. It's short lived, thankfully, and quickly forgotten as Isla steps out of her robe. That it doesn't drop to her feet is a distraction he won't have to worry about such that the entirety of his attention is suddenly upon her. Though some part of Isla might crave feeling a possessive gaze sweep over her body, alas Everest instead looks at her as if she were a goddess, openly gaping at her soft curves and perfect skin. "You are absolutely breathtaking." He murmurs a touch breathlessly, holding out a hand to help her into the bath.

"I have some bad news though, as far as your diagnoses goes. I'm almost sure I can feel a drop in my blood pressure and my heart rate has most certainly increased."

Everest

Table by the always stunning Sky!

Isla

"If I am, it's only because you make me feel that way," Isla says with a small smile, her cheeks flushing pink as she accepts his hand to descend into the hot water. Sweeping her hair up into a bun made effortlessly messy by virtue of practice rather than talent, the Remedy slips deeper into the bath until she can rest against it, tipping her head back to peer up at Everest. (And giving him quite a glorious view down the length of her body while she's at it).

"Is that so?" Her eyebrows raise. "I am feeling quite well, so it can't be the water or the room," she considers, her smile a touch more mischievous as she looks him over. "So it must be you, I suppose. Or it could be me, since we haven't included my presence as a contributing factor. I'd hate to be part of your diagnosis, though."

I'll take a bruise, I know you're worth it
When you hit me, hit me hard

I'd still know you, not being shown you, I only need the working of my hands

"I don't think I am deserving of any of the credit." Ever counts with a shake of his head. Shifting in order to better be able to gaze down at Isla while perched on the lip of the bath, if his eyes do distractedly leave her pebble-blue stare to follow the lavender whorls on the surface of the water and what they hide beneath, hopefully she'll forgive him. He is potentially sick, after all.

"Are you? Well you certainly look well." Ever agrees, his eyes darting back toward her face with a boyish flush before dipping his fingers experimentally into the water and raising a brow. "If it is you, I suppose we could try and see if I can build up some sort of tolerance? Of course, that will mean a good deal of exposure therapy." Given the amount of time the pair already spent together, in terms of a proper treatment plan it was a bit ridiculous, but for the purposes of bathtime foreplay, Ever wasn't worried about being hung up on the details.

And ever since the water had stopped running, he felt fine.

Tugging off his shirt, the aviator folds it and sets it down on the lip of the sink before turning back to Isla. "What do you think, doctor?"

Everest

Table by the always stunning Sky!

Isla

"Well I certainly refuse to take all of the credit, so you will have to accept some of it," Isla informs Ever with a shrug that brokers no room for argument, though she fails somewhat at keeping a serious expression on her face. As for the trajectory of his gaze, there's no forgiveness needed; if anyone is entitled to look at Isla to their heart's content, it's the man she loves. Indeed, shifting in the water enough to lean an arm on the lip of the bathtub, her tanned skin is left oil slick and softly steaming where it leaves the water, Isla peering up at the aviator curiously.

"Exposure therapy, mm? Someone has been reading medical texts again." It's alright though, Ever - that makes two of them. Watching with an interest that is anything but clinical as he removes his shirt, Isla hums out a sigh and considers. "Well, I don't see anything immediately awry. But I imagine you would benefit from a full physical examination. And you'll have to be quite a bit closer for that, I'm afraid."

I'll take a bruise, I know you're worth it
When you hit me, hit me hard

I'd still know you, not being shown you, I only need the working of my hands

"Yes and no. I'm sure it won't surprise you to know that I had a number of allergies as a child which ended up being..." All in his head "..psychosomatic." Tobi had worked without complaint to help her son understand the difference between being allergic to something and the sorts of symptoms that accompanied a panic attack (to be fair to Ever, there was a good deal of overlap), which had involved quite a bit of exposure therapy.

Feeling Isla's gaze like a physical thing, Everest finds himself suddenly quite greedy for more. With an apologetic hum beneath his breath as he rises from the tub, the aviator slowly unbuttons his pants before removing them, his underwear, and eventually his socks. As he turns, he tries to keep his blue eyes from immediately sliding from the slope of Isla's shoulders down to where the lavender waters are doing their best to obscure her breasts, but his attempt is halfhearted at best.

Given how large the tub is, the Remedy won't have to move at all to allow the aviator access, though he does opt to position himself as far away from the tap as possible. Sitting on the lip with his feet in the water, he raises a brow, glancing down at the watch he isn't wearing before grinning at Isla. "Well doctor? Do you think it's safe for me to get all the way in?"

Everest

Table by the always stunning Sky!

Isla

With a musical laugh, Isla can only offer the aviator a gentle nod of understanding. "It doesn't surprise me, but I am equally glad to know you don't suffer from any major allergies. At least you know that for certain now," she says, tracking him with her eyes as he rises to his feet and begins to strip off the remainder of his clothes. It will forever amaze the Remedy that Ever is so oblivious as to how handsome he is, though she's certain that more than one person both inside and out of the House of Midnight will have told him one way or another.

And although she doesn't have to move, as Ever comes to sit on the edge of the bathtub, Isla of course moves to settle herself between his knees, turning in the water so she might face him. (And if the movement takes her out of the bath enough to put her breasts on display, so be it). "Hmmm..." Leaning in a little as if to examine him more closely - and purposely not letting her eyes stray south of his waist - Isla eventually gives a gentle nod.

"I think you ought to be just fine," she says. "Unless, of course, you'd prefer to stay as you are."

I'll take a bruise, I know you're worth it
When you hit me, hit me hard

I'd still know you, not being shown you, I only need the working of my hands

Spreading his knees enough to make space for the Remedy between them, Everest clears his throat a touch awkwardly as the movement has the beginnings of his erection springing upwards as if stretching to try and place itself between Isla's cleavage. "Sorry," he whispers, quite sure that she'll be able to see out of her peripheral vision if not feel for herself what he's apologizing for. Blushing as sweat begins to bead by his temples, Ever too tries not to let his gaze dip too far south but it's nearly impossible with the way his palms itch to press against the perfect globes of her breasts.

Unable to sink into the water with Isla between his knees the way she is, the aviator merely inclines his head to the side. "You do make the water look rather inviting." He murmurs. Leaning to the side to cup a handful of water, Ever lets it trickle over one of Isla's shoulders, taking full advantage of the way the rivulets descend down her oil-soft skin and over her breasts, before disappearing into the water that hugs her waist.

Everest

Table by the always stunning Sky!

Isla

"You have nothing to apologise for," Isla informs him, the glint in her pebble blue eyes slanting towards something positively wicked as she keeps her gaze on his face. "I'll have you know that I'm exactly where I want to be." 

Especially given that Ever is so happy to see her, Isla's warm fingers gliding along his upper thighs, a movement that has her drawing inexorably closer. "Do I? It's very relaxing, I'll admit. I have you to thank for that, though." For adding the perfect blend of oils to the hot water that trickles across her freckled skin.

Still, she doesn't know whether he'll want to slip into the bath with her given the current trajectory of her hands, the Remedy's fingers inching between Ever's thighs to encircle the base of his cock, giving it an encouraging squeeze. "You're allowed to touch me, Ever," she reminds him gently, as if he might have forgotten as much.

I'll take a bruise, I know you're worth it
When you hit me, hit me hard

I'd still know you, not being shown you, I only need the working of my hands

"Mmm—mm." The sound hitches in the back of Ever's throat as Isla's fingertips slide up his thighs, her body drawing close enough that he can't be sure if the heat he feels is coming from her or the bath. For all their months together and his time spent in a room not unlike the one they find themselves in now, there are still moments when the aviator is so overcome by Isla's beauty and the impossibility of her love and attraction for him, as to be rendered frozen in place.

The spell is entirely broken as her fingers wrap around the base of his cock, however; jumping as if having been struck by lightning, a hiss of air pushes passed Ever's lips as he soundlessly tries to mouth something that dissolves into a low moan. No longer as concerned about the propriety of moving the Remedy, Ever allows himself to sink down from the ledge, pushing Isla's body back in the process before his hand hooks around her waist to keep her from going too far from him. "I know I can," he whispers, the blue of his eyes significantly darker for the arousal that fights for control of his mind. "It's just..gods, Isla. Look at you." As the words leave his lips, the calming off-white walls of the bathroom ripple, replaced suddenly by mirrors.

With his palm pressed against her lower back, Ever lifts the other from the water to slowly capture her cheek, his thumb brush against the spray of freckles beneath one eye, before drawing her lips against his.

Everest

Table by the always stunning Sky!