Up and Down

Work and Leisure

The first thing Anna felt when waking up is how hot it was. She groans and tries to turn, but instead buries herself into a warm body next to her, instantly feeling tiny droplets of sweat beginning to gather and tickle where their skin connects.

She rolls the other way, trying to get a breath of cooler air, but is instantly pulled back in by a pair of strong arms.

"Where do you think you're going, love?..." When sleepy, Sebastian's voice gets noticeably lower and rougher, fraying slightly, and his breath pleasantly tickles her ear as he speaks.

She kicks the blanket away from herself, huffing.

"Let me go, it's too hot..."

In response, he licks her shoulder and clicks his tongue.

On the other side of her, Ominis opens his pale eyes, blinking a few times.

"Good morning, you two."

Instead of going back to their separate rooms, they made a sort of nest on the floor, from blankets and pillows gathered from all their beds. It was rather comfortable, a lot more so than trying to fit even two of them on the narrow single bed. Besides, she dislikes sleeping alone.

But it has become rather too warm once the sun rose on the desert.

Anna wiggles her way out of Sebastian's lazy grasp and plants a kiss on top of his messy chestnut hair before doing the same for Ominis, who smiles and reaches up to caress her thigh.

The jug of water from the night before is still half-full, so she pours herself a glass and then wets the washcloth, running it over her neck and shoulders, wiping off the residue of sweat.

She sighs, wishing for a shower, or better yet, a bath.

Perhaps if she borrows a wand from Sebastian or Ominis, she can create enough water for one...

She puts on the light linen dress and ties her hair in a bun with a piece of string she found on a table. There doesn't seem to be any hairpins in the tent - and why would there be? - but she is relieved to have her thick, long hair away from her neck and body so it doesn't trap any more heat.

She downs the glass she poured in earlier and picks up the jug.

"I'll go get some more water for you."

"Thanks, love," Sebastian stretches, muscles on his arms and abdomen flexing as he does. He is well-built, always has been, she noticed that from their very first meeting. On top of that, all that sneaking around, fighting and traipsing all over the Highlands with her certainly paid off, and a good half-foot of height he added over the past year only serves to accentuate his physique.

He is turning into a devastatingly handsome man right before her eyes, and she couldn't be more pleased about it.

Not that he wasn't attractive before, but there is more maturity to his features and his body, his shoulders broader, his face leaner and sharper.

He looks up at her and smirks at catching her staring.

"Eyes up here, darling."

She chuckles, turning away, an unwelcome blush prickling her cheeks, and walks out of the room, jug in hand.

Her father is over in the drawing room, quill in hand. She stops, nervous and embarrassed, but he must have heard the canvas flap.

"Ah, good morning, dear. I've gone to Alexandria during the night, to gather some of your things, including your wand. It's on the table over there."

"Th-thank you, Father..."

She doesn't really know what else to say, so she walks over to the table he pointed at and picks up her wand sitting atop a nearly folded stack of fresh clothes. Black walnut warms welcomingly under her fingers, and she smiles, running her fingers down the grain of her faithful friend.