don't blame me

Aithne

I see how this is gonna go

Aithne lounges in the hot springs, her head tilted lazily back against the edge of the pool. She's found a spot that has a natural seat and claimed it for her own, grinning wickedly at any who come too close. There's a spark in her eye that dissuades most from trying to join her, leaving her to enjoy Frey's Breath on her own.

She's dressed in a barely-there bikini, the kind that would have made her mother screech if she was around to see it. Maybe that's what makes it so appealing to Aithne - well, that, and the way it makes people look at her. The Ancient is nothing if not vain, and she does love to put on a show.

It's her first time visiting Frey's Breath, and she can certainly see the appeal. The warmth of not only the water but of the air surrounding her is a balm. Now that she's been changed, she finds that she craves heat more than she ever has before - and even as an Accepted back in Stormbreak, she'd never liked the cold. Add to that the natural splendor of the caverns, and Aithne is quite happy here, indeed.

Touch me and you'll never be alone

lay your soul onto mine

A soft hiss of steam greets Flora as she steps from the twisting tunnel into the cavern proper, the air thick with mineral heat and the faint, heady scent of wild honey that lingers anywhere Frey’s touch seeps through stone. She pauses on the threshold long enough to let the warm mist kiss her cheeks, willing the knot between her shoulders to melt before she’s even reached the water.

Frey’s Breath is quieter than she expected this late in the afternoon. A few clusters of bathers recline in shadowed pools farther down the slope, their voices little more than bubbling murmur. Here by the spring-fed cascade, only one bather claims the stone seat carved by centuries of water: a woman with burnished skin and an unapologetically minimal bikini, glimmering like a coin at the bottom of the pool. Even by Flora’s generous standards the suit is daring; it would make half of Torchline blush and the other half cheer in approval.

Flora’s mouth curves. Drama, it seems, has a long reach—even into natural sanctuaries meant for quiet restoration. She leaves her sandals beside a jut of rock, shrugging out of a gauzy cover-up to reveal a sea-glass–green two-piece whose ties whirlpool across her back. Curls coiled high and a string of tiny pearls looped in one ear, she wades into the pool opposite the stranger, water lapping silky heat over sun-gold limbs.

"Frey really knew what they were doing with this place, huh?" The greeting floats across the steamy air in a voice low and lazy with relief. Flora slants a sidelong glance at the woman’s wicked grin, catching the spark that dares anyone to intrude. Unintimidated, she matches it with a mischievous glint of her own, bouncing her brows.

Aithne

I see how this is gonna go

Aithne is blissfully alone in her little corner of the springs - or at least she was, right up until the point where a pretty blonde intrudes on her solitude. She tries out her best, most saccharine grin, but the stranger merely matches her stare for stare. Impressed in spite of herself, Aithne relaxes back against the pool, casting her gaze around at the springs. "It's certainly something," she agrees, almost reluctantly. As a new Ancient, she's not exactly sure how Dygra feels about her praising another god, and she isn't eager to earn her goddess's ire.

So she changes topic, eyeing the sea glass-green two-piece gracing the blonde's figure. "That's a pretty color on you," she says. "Really brings out your eyes." It's true enough, and Aithne has never been one to hesitate to pay compliments where they're due. Especially to someone as bold as this woman, who has quickly garnered the girl's curiosity, if nothing else.

Touch me and you'll never be alone

lay your soul onto mine

Flora lets the water buoy her a moment before easing against a smooth outcrop of stone, shoulders sinking beneath the surface until the spring’s warmth seeps into every tired muscle. The compliment draws her gaze back to the stranger; the appreciative spark in Aithne’s amber eyes is every bit as bright as the aureate accents on her barely-there suit.

"Thank you—picked it up in Haulani strictly for its tidal-pool aesthetic," she replies, turning just far enough that the weave of teal ribbons across her back catches the light. "Yours could start its own rumour mill."The grin that follows is playful, not catty, and she waves a hand towards the other woman’s suit as if bestowing an honorary Torchline medal for Dramatic Excellence.

A curl slips free of her high knot; Flora tucks it behind a pearl-studded ear while steam drifts like lazy fog between them. "This is one of my favourite hideaways when life gets… loud." Her fingers trail idly through the water, scattering tiny fragments of light across the pool. "I’m Flora, by the way—Torchliner, occasional trouble magnet, committed hot-spring enthusiast. And you?"

Aithne

I see how this is gonna go

Ah, Haulani. Aithne has heard of the great city of Torchline - of its marvels, of course, but also of its seedy underbelly. Intrigued, her gaze sharpens. She'd like to see Haulani, she thinks. That and every other place that Caido has to offer.

Glancing down at her barely-there bikini, Aithne grins. "I thought about ditching it all," she confides, leaning a little closer as though sharing a secret. "But, honestly? Wearing it has been almost more fun." Her gaze slid to a couple across the springs; the girl looks daggers at the Ancient, but her date seems much more admiring. Just to piss the girl off, Aithne stretches luxuriously, her back arching and her torso rising out of the water. When she looks again, the girl looks practically apoplectic, and Aithne watches the resulting exchange with feline glee.

Her attention shifts back to Flora. "Aithne," she said. "Formerly of Stormbreak, but now... well, the world is my oyster," she laughs, spreading her arms wide as though to gesture to all of Caido. "You could say I'm a budding travel enthusiast. Did you say trouble magnet?" she added, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Because I'm dying to see what kind of trouble I can get into, if you've any ideas."

Touch me and you'll never be alone

lay your soul onto mine

Flora watches the little drama unfold across the springs with a grin she doesn’t bother to hide, propping her chin on her hand like she’s front row at a very exclusive performance. "Bold choice," she drawls approvingly, aqua eyes glinting as Aithne luxuriates in her victory stretch. "Ten out of ten. No notes. That girl’s going to combust before the water even has a chance to boil her."

When Aithne turns that spark of mischief back on her, Flora’s smile deepens, sly and inviting. "Aithne," she repeats, tasting the name like a secret slipped between them. "Well, welcome to the ranks of the delightfully wayward, babe. World’s better with a little trouble in it."

She slides deeper into the warm water, letting it lap at her shoulders, curls darkened to molten gold. "As for ideas…" Flora hums, tapping a lazy rhythm against the surface with her fingertips. "I might be biased, but Torchline is always a good start if you're hunting for chaos. Plenty of beaches to charm people on, plenty of bars to drink them under." She shoots a wink Aithne’s way. "Though as an ancient, one of my besties owns the best little speakeasy in the Hollowed Grounds called the Dusklight."

Aithne

I see how this is gonna go

With Flora's praise ringing in her ears, Aithne grins, the expression more cat-like than her fyrhund shift would suggest. Now that she's sown dissent between the couple across the way, she turns her attention fully onto her new friend, ignoring the argument that is clearly picking up nearby. If their relationship can't survive a little skin, she thinks, then they were never meant to be together at all.

Long, thin braids twine around Aithne's shoulders as she shifts towards Flora, floating along the surface of the water. "'Delightfully wayward,'" she repeats, enamored. "I like that. I think I'll borrow it from you, if you don't mind."

She considers Flora's suggestions, wondering just how much about herself to reveal to a near-perfect stranger. "I've never been to either," she admits after a moment, lifting a hand to toss a bunch of braids behind her. "But they both sound delightful." Beaches? Bars? Speakeasies? Sign Aithne up.

Touch me and you'll never be alone

lay your soul onto mine

Flora arches a brow, delighted. "Never been to either?" she echoes, drawing the words out like a scandal. "Aithne, babe. That simply won’t do." She sinks deeper into the spring until only her shoulders and curls remain visible, like a siren reclining in warm surf, reflected light catching on the curve of her smile.

"You’re overdue for a proper introduction to Caido’s finest bad ideas," she adds, flicking a droplet of water toward Aithne with the flick of a finger. "And I happen to be an expert in questionable decisions with excellent aesthetics."

She stretches languidly, letting one foot drift to the surface where it breaks like a lily on a pond. "I'd start with the Hollowed Grounds. The Dusklight’s got velvet booths, and drinks strong enough to make even gods second-guess their night. You’ll love it. And since you're an ancient, you can just stroll through the bonfire up on the crust. It'll teleport you right into the middle of town."

Aithne

I see how this is gonna go

Aithne is not yet what one might call well-traveled, having been kept in Stormbreak like an ivory tower, destined to be married off to the highest bidder and become one of the ruling social elite. Her star sapphire horns and spade tail, of course, allude to what she thought of that idea - and she can't wait to see what trouble she can get into to prove to her parents - and herself - that she is worth more than being a broodmare for her whole life.

The Ancient watches as Flora reclines in the water, lounging as though she owns the place. She is the bright sun to Aithne's fire; between the two of them, Aithne is sure they could burn the world to the ground and laugh over its ashes. "To the Grounds, then," she agrees, her voice a conspiratorial purr. "But I hope I can come find you in Torchline, Flora. I think we could have a lot of fun together."

Touch me and you'll never be alone

lay your soul onto mine

Flora’s grin only widened at the conspiratorial glint in Aithne’s eyes. Gods, but she loved this girl already—bold, beautiful, with just enough bite behind the charm to be dangerous in all the best ways. "Have fun," she purred. "And when you get to the Grounds, definitely look up a guy named Danta. Blonde hair, ridiculous smile, kind of looks like he should be in a whiskey ad? He owns the Dusklight. Tell him I sent you and that it’s your first time—he’ll roll out the red carpet."

She winked, then sank deeper into the spring with a satisfied sigh, steam curling around her like silk. "And don’t worry, babe. You ever want to light Torchline on fire—figuratively or otherwise—just say the word. I’ll be waiting."

~FIN