back to the start

Set your faith in my hands - close your eyes, let go, you'll see

It's a good time to move back to Halo admittedly. Not only has the thaw begun to tentatively set in, but there are plenty of people anxious and eager to leave their homes after boarding up all throughout winter. Her spa still stands in Snowcloak, no major damages having been inflicted in her sickness-induced absence. All it takes is removing the boarding from the windows and a bit of airing out of the inside to remove the staleness from the air, and she is effectively back in business.

Atlas curls up by the fire while she gets the mud bath set back up and running. She can feel his easy, calming presence exuding support down their bond. Only privately can she admit that she needs it. The busy tasks may keep her mind distracted, but the heart does not so easily forget that which makes it hurt, and even with her recent heartbreak pushed into her subconscious it continues to ache.

Shaking her hands out in some meager attempt to distract herself, Hotaru flips the sign in the window to 'Open', and retreats behind the counter. She busies herself with reinforcing her leggings as she waits for any potentially interested individuals. Her seamstress shop now closed in the Grounds, it is a passion project instead of a thriving business. Hopefully her spa will replace that, even if business may be slow at first.

HOTARU

AISHA

turn around and give you something to believe in
but you get something to prove

The day set aside to renovate the guild hall was slowly approaching, Aisha was finally settling into the coming events with rhythm rather than rime. No more fretting or worrying about what may or may not work, it was simply time to begin. She hadn't allowed herself to fall behind on strategizing, or shirk any training as a shield. Hard worked bones and calloused hands were aching for a rest, and today she would melt into just that.

She walked through Snowcloak, donned in furs, her hair blazing around her shoulders and a confident swagger to her stride. There was no set goal in mind, just a curiosity and desire to wander and discover. What caught her eye was an open sign, one she had not passed before, and a small business burning bright inside. She did not bother knocking, rather she tried the knob and entered, eyes first falling upon the hearth and the unicorn seated nearby.

To the blonde woman, her hair fell around her in in tresses, her eyes from afar still caught different hues. Aisha offered a smile, intrigued not only by the spa but by it's proprietor. "Hello," she hummed.

but honey it ain't worth it
being hurt by love

Set your faith in my hands - close your eyes, let go, you'll see

Hotaru is tying off a line of stitches when Atlas' ear turns towards the door, a wordless alert trickling across their bond. He's quite a good replacement for a bell, and she huffs a laugh at his indignant response as the door swings open. The woman who steps through is beautiful, hair a golden cloud not unlike her own with warm dark skin and molten irises that reflect the firelight from the far wall. Hotaru sets her fabric down and maneuvers on light feet around the desk, smile welcoming if eternally tinged with a come-hither overtone. "Hi there, welcome in," she greets, gesturing gracefully to the general area.

Resting her hip against the desk, she removes the thimble from her thumb and tucks her hair behind her ear, giving the woman a once over with her bi-toned gaze. "I'm Hotaru, what can I call you?" It's an eternal difficulty to not add endearments and flirtations to her words when she's working, but she has an image of professionalism to uphold. That and she isn't looking to give the wrong impression about her massages; she's quite proud of what she offers, even if Halo is unfairly filled with beautiful denizens. "Looking for something particular today?" Most started with the mud bath, unwilling to have a stranger touching them so intimately at first, but her clientele almost always warms up to her eventually, moving on to other services.

HOTARU

AISHA

turn around and give you something to believe in
but you get something to prove

The woman set down her fabrics, popped something shiny from her thumb, and anything else she does is lost in the sweet voice she carries across the room and closer to Aisha. Hotaru, Aisha smiled at the introduction, "Aisha, nice to meet you," with a coy wink to accompany. Her own flirtations were seldom contained, spoken and carried out with practiced and familiar confidence.

As any patron would, Hotaru asks what she was here for. She hadn't thought that far ahead yet, enamored by the idea of a spa, by the unicorn and the scenery, by the woman and her catlike gaze. Aisha had no qualms with being touched by a stranger, many of her best friends started out that way (either that or at the end of her sword). A mud bath might be nice, but cold, and the leopardess craved warmth.

"What do you offer?" she asked, long lashes grazing the curls that fell over her eyes. She did not mind her mane, the wilder the better.

but honey it ain't worth it
being hurt by love

Set your faith in my hands - close your eyes, let go, you'll see

Oh, what a beautiful name. "Aisha," she repeats back, regal tone curling like a purr around the syllables as petal lips twist into a smirk. The wink only reassures Hotaru that her particular brand of interaction is not misplaced here, which is a delightful change of pace. Halovians are a rugged bunch and woefully lacking in her favored brand of spice. Perhaps all hope is not lost however. "The pleasure is all mine." Here she extends a hand, a mischievous tilt to her catlike eyes. If Aisha complies, she will give a gentle squeeze and a brush of her thumb against the woman's inner wrist. Just a hint of the contact the two may soon have depending on what Aisha is hoping to experience today.

With that, Hotaru gestures for Aisha to follow her, and spins on her heel to saunter off to the doorway that connects to the showers and the mud bath beyond. She guides the woman into the shower area to see the tub beyond. "There's a heated mud bath for relaxation, it's infused with volcanic ash from Torchline and has heated stones at the bottom. Showers, of course, for getting clean after if you don't intend to stay dirty," she winks here, spinning back around in a cloud of golden hair to exit the showers and gesture to the massage tables set up in the main area. "I also offer full body or targeted massages. I have incense, scented massage oil, hot stones, and face masks."

Striding to the center of the room, a flick of her wrist directs Aisha's gaze to the fireplace and the cushioned chairs and end tables there. Atlas gives a soft wicker of a noise from where he lays near the fireplace. "And last but not least, complimentary tea." Quirking a fair brow she turns a smile towards Aisha, clearly proud of her business and simultaneously flexible with whatever the woman seeks. "I'll be expanding it to create hotsprings soon, but for now that's what you can choose from my dear."

HOTARU

AISHA

turn around and give you something to believe in
but you get something to prove

Aisha is certainly not woeful, nor is she lacking in spice. Aside from the month she spent cursed and trapped in an endless chill, she is warm, kinetic energy radiates from every surface of her body. The contact received is comforting, exciting, and very pleasant. Full lips curl and part just barely, she latches on to the regal yet playful gaze, her brows raising just a bit as she returns the look. "Aww, thanks sugar," she replied with a faint tease, allowing Hotaru to lead her further into the spa.

The shower area is luxurious, better than anything she'd seen in Halo, and in the grounds for that matter. She exhaled a surprised breath, warm hazel eyes scanning over the room her nose taking in it's pleasant steamy aroma. Heated mud bath was a tempting idea, but the tour wasn't through, all the options were not yet revealed, and Aisha liked to see all that was available to her.

Into the main area they went, when Hotaru mentioned a full body massage Aisha smiled. God, when was the last time she'd had someone dig into her muscles (not in a sensual way, though that was nice too), and really get at all the tense points. A little lotion, oil maybe, soft hands against her shoulders as she relaxed into a heady lavender. "Ooh," she cooed, but once again the tour was not complete.

They returned to the room with the fireplace and the unicorn, Hotaru finished up, quirking her brow with an attractive confidence. "It's amazing, I'm fucking thrilled," the leopardess replied, letting her hand rest on her hip, "and I'd love a massage." Her smile is roguish, her tone is saccharine.

but honey it ain't worth it
being hurt by love

Set your faith in my hands - close your eyes, let go, you'll see

Her grin sharpens at the playful gratitude, a part of her buried for too long unfurling and stretching with a lazy yawn and a pleased purr. For all that it is a natural and intrinsic part of her, it has been disregarded in favor of deeper relationships and domesticity. It makes her feel more like herself to indulge in it now. Helps distract her from the still-fresh pain that keeps her awake most nights. But is that not why she returned to Halo? Made it her home officially, reopened the spa? To move on, to distract herself. To heal. These services are just as meaningful to Hotaru as any client that partakes in them.

With everything presented and properly appreciated with guileless reactions from Aisha, Hotaru refocuses eagerly as the dame makes her decision. Entirely within her right to leave with her curiosity satisfied, seeking nothing for the evening. Luckily that doesn't seem to entice Aisha. "Then I hope it's not too bold of me to tell you to strip," Hotaru purrs with a sharp smile. Though she is moving towards a table with a few steps, pulling out a fluffy towel and a silk scrunchie from a bowl set in the cubby area beneath the table. Holding them out to Aisha, Hotaru's smirk folds into a smile. "Undress to your level of comfort, darling. You can do it in the showers if you'd like, there's changing curtains closest to this room. Then lay on the table and we'll get started." Turning back towards the cabinet where she keeps her oils and incense, she calls over her shoulder as she goes. "Any preferred scent for your oils and incense?"

HOTARU

AISHA

turn around and give you something to believe in
but you get something to prove

"As you wish," she drawled with a sharp toothed smile, and she springs right to it, unclasping the pin that holds her sheepskins around her shoulders and follows Hotaru to the table. As the other woman gathered some items, Aisha worked on down with her layers, next the long sleeve, then the final tank underneath to leave her chest bare. It was then that Hotaru turned to give her the scrunchie and the towel, Aisha smiled and took both and gave her attention to the spa owner as she spoke.

Tying her hair up in a high bun, brows pinched just slightly as she worked, "Thank you," she replied sweetly, finishing up and deciding that here was the perfect place to finish stripping. Every layer was placed on the ground by the table, but she wasn't bothered by any breezes or chills against her sunkissed skin. The spa was warm, comforting, it was impressive for Halo. The curious woman assumed that she was not in native Halovian company, she planned on inquiring further once they'd begun.

"I'm feeling something sweet, fruity," she answered, tracing a bruise on her forearm that she hadn't noticed before. To the table, Aisha lay upon it, perched on her side, watching through cat-like eyes as the flaxen haired woman collected her aromas and soothing concoctions.

but honey it ain't worth it
being hurt by love

Set your faith in my hands - close your eyes, let go, you'll see

Unprofessional though it may be, Hotaru lingers for a moment as Aisha begins to undress, watching all that dark skin get bared to her eyes and hers alone. Finally she turns away, confident the woman is competent enough to arrange herself as desired on the padded table. "You're quite welcome," she assures pleasantly as she opens the cabinet, sharp mind already ticking away with plans and checklists. At the preference stated, she plucks a stick of tundra honeyberry incense and sticks it in the holder by the table, using a spark of lightning between her fingers in a showy snap of brightness and sound to ignite it before blowing out the flame and setting the cherry smoking pleasantly at the tip. It's an arctic fruit, and so the most plentiful scent she has in her current collection.

With similarly scented oil in hand, Hotaru turns back to the table, and grins at seeing Aisha propped on her side on the table. "Tundra honeyberry," she clarifies, cheekily shaking the bottle at the woman as she moves closer, plucking the clothes from the floor and putting them in the cubby below to ensure they're not stepped on. "Turn onto your stomach for me love." Waiting for her command to be followed, she pops the cork from the bottle and sets it on the stand next to the bed for all her tools and tricks. "I've seen you at the Barracks before. Are you one of Deimos' soldiers?" Striking up conversation easily as she dribbles a line of oil down the line of Aisha's spine, setting it aside and using her palms to spread the oil across the entirety of her back and shoulders to coat it first before she starts rolling the heels of her palms upward from the small of her back up towards her shoulders. Long, slow motions to warm up the skin and muscles below, and an easy enough motion for both women to keep up conversation in the meantime.

HOTARU

AISHA

turn around and give you something to believe in
but you get something to prove

Aisha noticed the lingering gaze, and while she is used to the attention her body draws, there is something electric about the way Hotaru looked at her. She could invite the other woman to remain longer, scrutinizing every inch and allowing Aisha to do the same to her face, those beautiful eyes and sharp features, and then perhaps further. But she was here for a different kind of intimacy, one that would be just as welcome.

"Mmm," she hummed from where she lounged on the table top, watching the spark of electricity that lights the incense. The leopardess would always admire the abilities they held, her own were so natural and innate, but the spark of a storm at one's fingertips never ceased to fascinate. She grinned as the woman moved closer, she lifted her arm up to stretch, "Sound's perfect sugar," her voice is honeyed, relaxed and jovial.

Aisha rolled over onto her stomach, crossing her legs at the ankles and resting her head on her hands. The conversation was accompanied with a welcome coolness along her spine, it traced down and up and tingled he skin. The hands that followed were warm, and the swordswoman practically melted into the practiced touch. "I'm one of the people that keeps that big chunk of rock in check," she replied with a playfully sarcastic edge, "I like to think we're friends."

but honey it ain't worth it
being hurt by love

Set your faith in my hands - close your eyes, let go, you'll see

As tempting as it is to linger, Hotaru is a prideful woman. As such, she is intent on delivering above and beyond for Aisha's first service; no matter the temptation to see what other delights they could get up to on these padded beds. The smoky scent of the incense begins to fill the area and redirects her attention to the lithely muscled back that is to be her canvas of the day. Even if Hotaru were not so keenly eyed and Aisha so strikingly beautiful as to be recognizable, there would still be the easy logical leap to determine the woman's status as a soldier from the configuration of her muscle groups alone.

Said muscles give beneath her long strokes with only a slight natural tensing against the pressure she exerts. As Aisha responds, Hotaru moves her hands back down to the base of the swordswoman's spine. Here, she uses the heels of her palms centered at her vertebra and pushes outwards towards her sides with a much firmer pressure. Working the area well before slowly ascending up towards her ribs, repeating with each section; lumbar, thoracic. Her neck will be left for when it's time for her shoulders.

"Oh he certainly needs more of them," she bemoans. "I've known him for most of both our lives. We ruled together for many years before we ended up here at separate times." It seems more powerful to say it that way, to not simply say they were as close as best friends could really be. "Deimos needs more people to keep him on his toes. Don't worry - that stick up his ass has always been there, it's certainly not a recent development." Tone suffused with laughter as she reaches the apex of Aisha's shoulders and retreats back to the start all over again, this time using her knuckles to carefully seek out and unwind the knots that form there from so many hours of training.

HOTARU

AISHA

turn around and give you something to believe in
but you get something to prove

The hands work away at Aisha's back, the presence was more than welcome. The woman's breathing was slow and deep, inhaling with each moment of pressure and exhaling when it moved. So warm and relaxed, her muscles seemed to breathe alongside her, she felt more open and fresh than she had in years.

Aisha did interrupt the calming motions just a bit, lifting her head to glance at Hotaru over her shoulder, "You knew him before Caido?" she clarified, surprised and incredibly intrigued. Not only for what dirt Hotaru might be able to spill about the general, but for where she might fit in what he had told Aisha. Of the Aurora Basin, of the wars and vengeance and solitude, was the woman a warrior, a survivor too?

She laughs at the insinuations, a hearty sound that peels from her lips. "You don't know how much I enjoy teasing that man," and that was the truth, though often the taunts were shared between them. The massage finally met her shoulders, where Hotaru dug into the knots that'd aggregated in her muscles over days and days of constant movement.

but honey it ain't worth it
being hurt by love

Set your faith in my hands - close your eyes, let go, you'll see

Aisha is both one of the easiest and most intricate patrons yet. Her muscles are well-worked and fatigued, plentiful as well, and yet she opens up beneath Hotaru's hands like a blooming flower. No residual wariness or discomfort to hinder the process. While Hotaru always enjoys loosening up and healing each client, she's definitely enjoying this session much more than normal.

Her interest is not unexpected with how tight-lipped and mysterious Deimos can unintentionally be. Laughing brightly, Hotaru focuses on starting at the base of Aisha's shoulders as she considers how much of so many years she can condense and share. "Oh yes. We ruled a kingdom together, invaded and overtook many lands, fought side-by-side for countless years." She misses those days, somehow both simpler and more convoluted than what Caido presents. "And smaller things, of course. I've been a thorn in his side since I was a starry-eyed teen." Well, starry-eyed is perhaps too kind a descriptor for the hellion she'd been back then. A widely feared and prolific thief, a manipulative wench who collected secrets and blackmail like shiny rocks.

Hands curving upwards to begin working at the knots in Aisha's trapezius, Hotaru grins at the knowledge that Deimos has acquired yet another burr in the form of a mischievous woman. "He's just so fun," she chortles. "Though he can give as good as he gets, even if he hides it well. Devil man." It's spoken with unbearable fondness, unashamed of the connection she has with the Sword.

HOTARU

AISHA

turn around and give you something to believe in
but you get something to prove

It may have been the massage, the intimacy of it, the inherent trust involved and the relaxed state she was in, but for some reason Aisha was quicker to open up to Hotaru. As the other woman mentioned ruling a kingdom, Aisha responded with her own story, "I'm an outlander too, I was a princess in my homeland. Didn't do much invading, but I was trained my whole life to be general in our army. I think Deimos has picked up where my old mentor left off," and for that alone, she was grateful for his presence.

Aisha audibly exhaled when Hotaru met her upper back, rubbing her hands through those creases behind her shoulder blades that were so seldom relieved. The exhale became a giggle at Deimos's moniker, Devil man. "He can when he wants to, usually we just end up clobbering each other with swords," she replied with a playfully sarcastic edge. She would've reached out to point, but was too comfortable now, "He made my sword with his magic, the one by my coat," her gaze lay upon it, leaning up against an armchair. The gold of the pommel shimmered warmly against the fire light.

"It's a replica of my sword from home, a family sword." The old one was promised to be hers, but somehow this one had come to mean more.

but honey it ain't worth it
being hurt by love