I blame Mina.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[Here is a Martha. Probably not a Martha as 99% of the people on this island have ever seen her, though. Reason being, she's wearing nothing but a towel, and she's hanging out in the hot springs after a couple of ibuprofen did not help the back pain she got from trying to put contact paper in the cupboards why she didn't just do this in the bathtub at home is entirely beyond the mun and she's hoping a soak in hot mineral water will do the trick.

Go ahead and poke. She will be quick to yell at pervs, though, so watch out!]

Comments

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

[Martha hears footsteps approach, and a dark shadow falls across her.]

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[Ohshi-

She swivels quickly, it being her experience that only people who are Up To No Good sneak up on you that way. Then she hisses a little, not looking up because she totally just distracted herself with PAAAAAAAAIN. That was a bad thing to do to her back right now.]

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

[And standing behind her is one Rex Godwin with nothing but a towel wrapped around his waist. His hair is tied back in a full ponytail and he is fairly well-built for his age. His chest is heavily scarred around the plate that connects his prosthetic arm to his flesh.]

Fancy meeting you here. [He smiles impishly at her.]

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She looks up at him, unamused but not . . . quite pissed off?] You scared the living dickens out of me, Rex Godwin.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

Oh? And what form does a living dickens take? [He chuckles as he moves to the onsen stairs] Mind if I join you?

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[Okay, that one netted you a dirty look. And she's going to be rather slow about getting turned around and sorted out again. Yeah, that wasn't a smart move.] Nngh . . . it's free for anyone, I suppose.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

It seems a little improper. This place doesn't seem to have a partition. [And he steps into the water with the towel still around his waist, leaning heavily on the railing as he takes the three steps down to the bottom of the pool. He chooses a comfortable distance that allows them to talk without Martha being in his lap.] You seem unwell.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She sighs and offers a slightly strained smile.] It's nothing. Some days I forget I'm not thirty anymore, that's all. I probably just pulled something.

It's been awhile since I saw you.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

[Not buying that for a second. He edges closer.] I've been trying to keep myself busy. There are lots of your boys around.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

I'd noticed. Every time I get groceries I see someone new.

What are you keeping yourself so occupied with you can't find time to come visit an old woman? [She's teasing, of course, but a little serious, as well. It gets lonely out here.]

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

I haven't had much of a social life in the last fifteen years. I'm not sure I really know how to "drop by".

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

Actually knocking on the door is a good start. [She winces and shifts on her seat.] I won't beat your head in for having the audacity to call on my laundry day.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

Is that an invitation for tea and hanging shirts on a line?

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She laughs.] If you'd like to take it that way.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

[Scooting closer and laying his real hand on her knee] I do.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She looks up at him, smiling wryly.] Rex Godwin. Don't you think that's just a little bit inappropriate? [Like he's never done it before, right?]

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

I'm too old for social graces.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She makes a kind of "tsk" noise at him.] You young people these days.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

[He chuckles and strokes her thigh] What kind of tribute should I pay you in order to ask for a kiss?

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She grabs his hand beneath the water to still it.] That's quite enough of that, Mr. Godwin.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

Did you have something else in mind?

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

I'm incredibly flattered, Rex, but I came here for my back.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

You always did. [He squeezes her hand] I could give you a massage.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[Wry smile.] You're just trying to get me out of my towel.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

You can keep it on if it makes you feel safer.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She turns her back to him, but lets the towel slide so he can reach.] I suppose I can't say it's anything you've never seen before.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

[He frowns] Well not for quite awhile. [And he presses his hands to her back. Even wet, she can probably feel the difference between his flesh and the cold smoothness of his prosthesis.]

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

I suppose it's changed quite a bit. They don't make anti-aging cream for your shoulders.


. . . are you going to rust?

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

It has, but it doesn't make you any less beautiful.

[He chuckles as he runs his hands over her back.] There's a first time for everything I suppose.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She relaxes a little under his touch; it does help, she has to admit that, and even though she's turned away he can probably hear the smile in her voice.] Flatterer.


Just keep in mind I haven't seen any Yellow Brick Roads for us to find oil cans on.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

[He massages gently, watching her closely for a reaction.] Good thing I have a brain.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She laughs, leaning back into his palms. The warmth feels good on her back.] The Tin Man lost his heart, not his brain, Rex.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

Seems fitting. [He works on the problem areas from memory, using the heat from the onsen to help ease the tension in her muscles. Martha might be amazed at how easily his false hand moves, how it almost seems real.]

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

I don't think you've lost your heart, Rex. I think you just need to start listening to it again. [Amazed? That's putting it mildly, really. It's easy to see the lines of tension easing out of her back and shoulders - Rex knows how to do a thorough job, it seems.] You could work doing this, you know. People would line up.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

I'm not as good as it seems. I've done this a thousand times for you. I wouldn't know how to preform with anyone else.

[He kisses her shoulder] I suppose I could try.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She chuckles.] Well, I would say I'd line up, but I think I'd hardly be enough to keep you in business.


You're being completely indecent again, Mr. Godwin. [Totally not pushing him off, though.]

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

I think I'll take early retirement. [He notices, and kisses a trail from her shoulder to her neck, scraping his teeth lightly over her skin.]

god I have no appropriate icon

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

Hmm-goodness! [And that might have earned him a swat, if it hadn't startled her so much.]

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

[Rex chuckles and reaches around to pull her to his chest]

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She leans back, although not without crossing her arms over her front to compensate for the towel first.]

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

[He doesn't mind that. He's not a teenage boy after all. He rather enjoys sitting quietly with her.]

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She curls into his arms, enjoying the warmth against her back that melts away the last of the aches across her shoulderblades. At last she reaches down to find his hand and slide her fingers through his, enjoying having a quiet moment to share.]

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

Mmm... [Rex leans back against the edge of the pool and closes his eyes] Chasing after those boys must take a lot out of you.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She sighs and shakes her head.] I only had the one here. And he's gone. I haven't seen him in weeks. I hope he was sent back, bless him . . . Yuusei doesn't need to live a day longer than necessary in a place where he's the only child. He was already so quiet. [She squeezes his hand.]

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

[He squeezes back] There are always children in the world who need help.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She lets out a short laugh.] Don't I know it.

[magnificent-god.livejournal.com]

[He kisses her neck] Your boys are lucky to have you.

[fear-my-ladle.livejournal.com]

[She turns slowly, not wanting to yank her back again, but finally getting around enough to kiss him back.] I like to think all my children are.