the_adjutant | DUPLICITY

It was chaos down there.

[ "I killed a few people," she doesn't say. Better not to admit that out loud here. Even in her own home. Even to Mey-Rin. Killing doesn't feel all that heavy, for some reason. Perhaps she's done too much of it. Her head leans back against the tub. ]

I don't know what else I can say about it.

[ A faint smile touches her lips. There's a moment where she looks back and up at the other woman, then her hand raises from the water. Still dripping, she brushes her fingers along Mey-Rin's cheek. ]

I really am glad you're alright.

[ Once her sleeves are rolled up to her elbows, Mey-Rin lays her hands on her lap. There are a couple of scars visible along her forearms although they are nothing compared to the others Riza has seen before thanks to the maid's embarrassing clear clothed arrival.

The brush against her cheek earns a flush and her fingertips curl a bit into the fabric of her apron even as she leans just a bit into the touch. It was alright, wasn't it? To enjoy something like this? ]

I am too... I was so worried about you. I wish I had been there to help.

[ Riza smiles, weary and wan. ]

I'm glad you weren't there. It was a mess.

[ She leans forward a little, exposing for the first time the massive burn scar that mars the intricate tattoo across her back. She's too tired even to think about it, or what kind of reaction it might garner from Mey-Rin. ]

I'm just glad to be back.

[ Mey-Rin had never expected Riza's body to be perfectly unmarred... she was well aware the woman was in the military and injuries inevitably happened when fighting. Mey-Rin's own body was covered in scars from various abuses over the years.

But she hadn't expected it to be quite so extensive. The tattoo was an additional surprise with it's unique design. ]

I wish I had been there... I feel awful that I wasn't there to help.

[ She leans into the touch to her cheek, letting her eyes fall closed for a moment. ]

Up here was so... it was so obvious they were hiding something. Everything just felt like one big distraction.

You needn't feel awful, Mey-Rin. You really needn't...

[ Riza closes her eyes and her fingers brush along Mey-Rin's cheek one more time before her hand drops away, back into the water. She sighs, her voice tinged with exhaustion. ]

That's how they do things in this sort of regime. They need to distract people from the harsh reality of what's happening, so they just... do all these sorts of things.

[ She closes her eyes again. ]

I'm sorry to have worried you.

[ Mey-Rin's hands dip into the water, carefully cupping it in her hands before bringing it up to start wetting the other woman's hair. ]

I'm really just glad you're alright. The distraction here in the Up certainly wasn't very subtle...

[ Another dip of water as her fingers slowly make her way into the sniper's hair. ] Were you injured much..? I can dress any wounds you might have gotten.

[ Mostly, she just seemed understandably exhausted. ]

No, no. Just some bumps and bruises...

[ Riza murmurs. She shifts her weight so she can lean more fully back against the edge of the tub and her head tilts back slightly to rest against against the lip. She stares upwards, eyes lidded. ]

...Do you mind just touching my hair. I don't care if you wash it, really. But being touched like this is... is nice.

[ A reminder that she is human. That these are connections she can make and hold. ]

[ Bumps and bruises were normal for that sort of thing. Honestly, it was fortunate that Riza made it out so lightly. Not that Mey-Rin was any less relieved by it.

When Riza makes her request, Mey-Rin freezes momentarily--worried for a moment that she had made a mistake--but she quickly relaxes once she hears her out. Fingers continue to work through Riza's hair in gentle strokes. ]

Of course, Miss Riza. Take all the time you need to relax.

[ Slowly, Riza's head tilts further back on the lip of the tub. She's looking up at the kneeling Mey-Rin now, her eyes half-lidded and distant. She is remembering the SIN guard she shot and killed in the Down. Like the other men and women she's shot, he stands out starkly in her memory. He felt easier. Maybe because of the uniform it had been easier to turn him into a target. Something she's permitted to shoot. None of the Ishvalan fighters had worn uniforms. ]

Mey...

[ She murmurs the other woman's name softly. Reaches up with her hand again to cup the other's cheek. She doesn't want to think about the war or the SIN guard or anything to do with this whole mess of a city she's found herself in. Let the world be small just for now. It feels strange, still. Is she exercising her power over Mey-Rin in a way that's unhealthy? Would Mey-Rin even say no if Riza asked? She doesn't know. ]

Kiss me?

[ The gentle use of her name accompanied by the gentle touch to her cheek makes her heart flutter. This sort of affection was different than she was used to back home--a careful and cautious touch without any strange connection to it. No surprise groping, no awkward feeling to make her worried about the consequences.

Such a gentle touch combined with the soft request made her grateful to be kneeling in case her knees completely gave out. Their previous kisses had been all initiated by Riza which, while unsurprising, Mey-Rin still felt guilty for. Would Riza think she was unreceptive? Dismissive? A bad Submissive? ]

I'm sorry--I'm so terrible at it.

[ But she doesn't pull away and in fact does lean forward even as her face gets redder by the millisecond until she can press their lips together. ]

[ Riza smiles. She's exhausted, but the warm water and the other's presence feels like it's restoring her to some degree. ]

I think you're fine.

[ And then Mey-Rin does actually kiss her. Riza's eyes close and she lets the kiss hold, lets the other dictate the length of it. She keeps her hand against Mey's cheek, wanting to feel the other close by in what way she can. ]

I thought you did well.

[ She murmurs. ]

[ The kiss is more than a peck--the Submissive taking the time to enjoy the moment as her fingers continue to run through Riza's hair until she finally pulls back. She offers a small, awkward smile at the compliment before pressing her forehead against the other woman's. ]

Thank you... I can't say I've been practicing.

[ Because she hadn't. At all. If anything she only passed quota through all the looser sexual activities that counted. Paid voyeurism and the like. ]

Here--Let's get you cleaned up and right to bed.

[ Riza sighs. Smiles up at Mey-Rin. This feels warm and cozy and for a few moments she can forget about the circumstances that shoved them together--forget about the strange, horrid rules that govern this place. There's a soft nod. ]

Bed sounds perfect right now, Mey-Rin. Let's do that.

[ She leans forward, slowly beginning to clean herself as best she can with aching muscles and a weary mind. ]

[ As awful as the past few days were, Mey-Rin is just relieved for Riza to be back safely. Yes, there were things they could discuss about what happened... but for the moment, wasn't it fine to escape for a while?

As Riza leans forward to start scrubbing the past few days from her body, Mey-Rin rises to hurry to the bedroom to gather some clothing. It isn't long at all before she is back to lay them on the bathroom counter. ]

No need to train the tub when you're finished. I put the kettle on the stove, too. I thought some tea might be nice to help you relax.

Thank you, Mey-Rin.

[ There's a quiet pause as Riza stands, dripping water, and reaches out for her towel. ]

...I'd like it if you slept next to me tonight. You don't have to, of course, if you don't want to.

[ It felt hard to make herself say that, as if she might be crossing some sort of line or imposing too much upon the other woman. ]

[ Mey-Rin is quick to hand the towel over as Riza reaches, pausing only to blink at the request. Even as innocent as the offer sounds it still brings a small bit of color to the maid's face.

But then a small smile as she tucks a strand of red hair behind her ear. ]

If you'd like, I'd be happy to. It might take me a bit to get ready if that's alright.

[ Corsets and all that. ]

I'll get ready and bring your tea.

No hurry.

[ Riza begins to towel off. She's not quite looking at Mey-Rin--there's a slight color in her own cheeks. ]

Thank you, Mey-Rin. I appreciate it. Very much.

[ With that said, she wraps the towel about herself and turns to head towards her bedroom. ]

[ The rest of the process is relatively quick. Mey-Rin takes a few moments to change into a set of comfortable pajamas while removing her high ponytails in favor of two lower ones.

Once the tea is fetched, she heads to Riza's room with a careful and gentle three knocks before entering. ]

I hope chamomile is okay. I thought warm milk might be too heavy.

[ The door is carefully closed behind her as she walks forward to set the mug down on the bedside table. ]

... It has been a long time since I've shared a bed with someone. I hope I don't hog the blankets too much.

No, no. It sounds delightful.

[ Riza is sitting at the edge of her bed, dressed in her own pajamas. She looks (and no doubt feels) tired. In fact, she's been sitting here trying to summon the energy to clamber the rest of the way into bed. ]

I'm sure you'll be fine, Mey.

[ She takes a breath. ]

I just... I would like to be close to someone tonight.

[ With the tea set where Riza can easily reach it, Mey-Rin climbs to sit on the bed's opposite side. The sleeves of her own nightclothes covering the various scars managing to hide the scars scattered over her arms. ]

I understand.

[ While Riza hadn't wanted to go into what went down in the Down in detail, from the way she was carrying herself it was clear that it would be a lot for anyone to take. Military experience be damned. She reaches out a hand to rest on Riza's shoulder before leaning forward to place a small, cautious kiss to her cheek. ]

I'll be here as long as you need me, Miss Riza. I'm happy you're back, so I don't mind at all.

Thank you.

[ Riza closes her eyes, seeming to enjoy the kiss. The brush of physical contact. Slowly, she manages to heave herself over into bed and sprawls out, feeling quietly drained. On the floor, Black Hayate is making himself comfortable. Riza picks up the cup of tea and sips briefly, then lets her head rest back against the pillows. ]

I'm glad you're here, Mey.

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