Armando
*Björn nodded with a smile as he awkwardly turned around on the spot, not knowing how to twirl, nor attempting to. She seemed pleased with his looks. He appreciated that. Looking down at her, feeling the air on his scalp, he felt like a rugged proud warrior of the Goliath race. In truth, that was all he wanted. He observed how she admired him, how she studied his features as if meeting him for the first time. The way she looked at her now... It was very different compared to back in that cage.*

*Back then, she looked at him with fear, hesitation and expecting trouble. Back then, he was savage. Back then, he was everything that a racist would expect from a Dazvaz runaway. However, he was not that man anymore. He had left his sorry excuse for a home behind physically, he just needed to leave it behind mentally and spiritually but that came with time. He was still there, deep inside. Battling a strong foe - societal pressure.*

**"Of course, Ves!"** *Mikah smiled and slightly bowed his head.* **"I am honoured to have helped your friend. I wish you both luck on your rest of your day and subsequent journeys."** *He looked as if he may approach to open the door for them, but a glance from his Master told him he had work to do. He spun on his heels and hurried back behind the counter to produce a broom to clean his station. Björn gave a small wave to the Shapeshifter and ducked his head as he walked out after Ves, into the afternoon sun.*

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David
Ves began leading the way down the street, looking about for a sign that might indicate a bathhouse. She searched for the letter 'B' and maybe a picture to help her identify the building. She also kept her eyes peeled for any more taverns. She had liked the Frogleg Tavern, but she didn't think there would be much privacy there. It was simply too loud and rambunctious. She wanted somewhere quieter, but also where they wouldn't stand out too badly. It was a delicate line.

She pointed out a few signs, one that read 'Bookshop' and the other that read 'Bows and Arrows.' Finally she spotted a sign with a bathtub and a flower carved into it and a 'B' at the beginning of the name. She eagerly looked up at Björn. "What about that one? Does that say bathhouse?" She sounded hopeful. She made her way towards the building, tail flicking back and forth in anticipation.

Pushing open the door, Ves looked around the room curiously. It was nicer than the previous bathhouse in Dasvaz, though much the same in other ways. There was a counter that an Elf sat behind and she looked up when the pair entered. She offered a smile and greeted them politely. **"Good afternoon and welcome to the Lily Spring Bathhouse. How can I help you?"**

Ves smiled in return. Everywhere they went in Willowdale they found smiling people. She liked it. It made her feel less nervous. "We would like to use the facilities," She answered. It was a bit of a silly question and a sillier answer. Why else would they be here? They needed a good bath. **"Of course, of course! We have our separate female and male baths or a communal bath for all to use. Which would you prefer?"** Ves looked up at Björn curiously. Did he want privacy? Or would he rather they stick together? 

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Armando
*Björn followed behind her, rubbing his head as he felt the alien sensation of wind against his freshly shaved head. It tickled him in a way he found relaxing yet annoying. He decides to treat the sensation similar to how the Goliath would treat a fresh scar - the feeling will become normal over time. He looked down, panicking for a moment as Ves had seemingly disappeared into a sea of faces. His one good eye scanned the environment for a moment before noticing Shrike perched on a sign... He thought it read Bathhouse, but from a distance - taking into account his disability with sight and depth perception - Björn was unsure. Nevertheless, he made his way towards the Familiar.*

*Sure enough, the clever bird had found Ves. When she turned to look up at him, he was standing behind her. Björn decided not to confess that he had lost her in the crowd due to her eagerness and reckless abandon; partially because he didn't know how to phrase it and partially from embarrassment. The barbarian followed Ves inside after nodding to her question. By the Gods, this place was swank! It resembled the last bathhouse they had been in, but it was much cleaner and inviting. There were so many strange things in pots - they had different colours and shapes, standing on green stalks. He had seen them before once, in a field they camped in... He recalled a book he read on their stolen ship too, were these flowers?*

*He listened to the clerk speak before seeing Ves was looking to him for an answer. She never seemed to take charge or initiative, leaving questions and choices to him. She had decided to follow Björn to find his people, and let Björn decide about taking Kip's job and even now, she wanted him to decide if they would bathe together or separately... As much as he admired Ves, he admitted to himself that he found it slightly annoying how he had to choose. Nevertheless, he paused and thought before answering.* "How much for the split sex facilities here?" *While a part of him would pr

Efer Ves to be with him, she would only get ogled by other men. She should learn to trust isolation in case they are ever separated. This was but training disguised as relaxation. To Björn... He knew the truth.*

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David
Ves bobbed her head in agreement. It was probably for the best. Though Ves didn't think anyone would behave like the Dwarves had in Dasvaz, she would feel more comfortable in the female-only bath. It made her a little uneasy to be away from Björn, but the feeling wasn't weighing her down. She felt safe in Willowdale. Perhaps that was a mistake. Maybe she should have been on higher alert. She was far too relaxed.

The Elf named a fair price and Ves handed over the coin in exchange for a couple of large fluffy towels. Handing one to Björn, Ves smiled. "I plan on taking my time, so don't feel like there's any sort of rush," She said. Then she turned and made her way through the doors marked for females only.

Beyond the door was breathtaking beauty. There were lilies decorating the room and ornate vases and lamps. Cushioned seats and plush rugs covered the floor. Two large pools were in the center of the room. Steam rose over one and it was slightly cloudy where the second was perfectly clear. Copper tubs lined the walls, with baskets next to them that held soap and other toiletries. It was busier than the previous bathhouse as well, with a few other patrons lounging in tubs and pools and some chatted quietly amongst themselves.

Ves moved to one of the tubs and turned on the hot water, letting it fill up. In the meantime she dug around the basket, sniffing the soap experimentally. This place was *Much* Nicer than the previous bathhouse. The other ladies didn't even seem to notice her either. It made her feel at ease as she stripped and stepped into the tub. She sighed to herself as she lowered herself into the steaming water. 

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Armando
*Björn nodded to Ves and gave a small wave of his hand as she left. As soon as she was through the door, his smile slowly faded. He politely thanked the clerk and made his way into the Male section. Pushing the door open and instinctively lowering his head, he found the Male chambers to be very clean and reserved. With only a few indications of these 'Lillies' he had seen before, the chambers were just clean, white and minimalist. He found himself liking how empty it was, something about a decluttered space was soothing - perhaps too much... He did live in a cramped cell for years.*

*Stepping into an enclosed changing area, he disrobed and threw his garb on the bench, which caused one of the more refined patrons to look towards the crumpled pile with a disgusted expression. He turned to address whoever was such a tardy patron who lacked social graces, only to lock eyes with a stone-faced Goliath with his pants around his ankles. The man swallowed, looking him up and down for a moment and holding his tongue. Björn looked where his eyes glanced at his pile of clothes, which brought attention to the man's neatly folded pile.* "Oh. Excuse me. How do you do that?" *The Barbarian pointed to the man's neat clothing, which caused the man to nearly chortle but quickly decided against having his nose broken.*

**"Oh... This? Why, that is called folding, good sir. Keeps the wrinkles out of your garb."** *The man's voice was pretentious, he had heard this kind of 'rich man' voice before - back in Dazvaz when one wished to buy him but was promptly thrown out the door for trying to get merchandise that wasn't for sale.* "Can you show me... Please?" *Björn remembered his manners and quickly threw the nicety in there for good measure.* **"Sure, but I never heard of your kind—you know what? Doesn't matter... Here, let me show you."** *The man hesitantly reached over and began to fold the garment for Björn. A couple passers-by saw this and raised a brow before moving on.*

**"There, se

E? This keeps your... Clothes pristine."**
"I see... Thank you, Sir...?" *Björn questioned for his name to which the man promptly replied.* **"Oh yes, my manners escaped me for but a moment. I am Varnis, Sir Varnis Baragon, esquire. And you are..?"** *The man stuck out his hand as he asked his name.*
"Oh, I am Björn. Björn Ursa." *The Goliath looked at his hand and took his hand from the towel around his waist and gripped his hand to shake it. His first real handshake! Ves would be proud... If it wasn't for the fact that when he let go of his towel, it fell to the floor. So it was that Björn's first meeting with Varnis was with a sweaty palm and an accidental flash.*

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David
The bath proved to be as relaxing as Ves expected. She felt the tension in her muscles melt away in the hot water. Gods, she needed this. Traveling was tiresome. It took a toll on the body and spirit. Ves wished she had a place to call home, a place where she could settle down and stop moving for a while. Although she enjoyed the adventure and discovering new places, there was something to be said about being able to just be *Still.* 

*I'll need to get over that,* She thought to herself. There was nothing but movement in her future. She and Björn would head North to Gantrick. They would have to abandon Kip's ship, the source of their livelihood and their main way of traveling. Perhaps they could find a caravan to join, or maybe they would just go on alone. Either way, Ves' search for a place to call home would continue. She just hoped that one day it would end.

Taking the soap that smelled of honeysuckle, Ves began to scrub the salt and dirt off her scales. She was a fastidious creature at heart, preferring to be clean whenever possible. There was only so much she could manage, however, especially once they started traveling again. She wondered when her next hot bath would be and decided that she better thoroughly enjoy the one she was taking now. 

Rinsing off the soap, the little Kobold pulled the plug at the bottom of the tub to let it drain. She stood up, reaching for the towel, reflecting on the events of the previous bathhouse. She had been injured then and helpless and nobody but Björn had seemed to care. Then one thing led to another and... Ves' scales turned red at the memory. She wrapped the towel around her lithe body and looked around. The other women were still ignoring her and so, feeling happily invisible, Ves made her way to the steaming pool of water.

It looked to be connected to a hot spring and the steam tickled her nose. She dipped one clawed toe into the pool to test the temperature, before setting her towel aside again and submerging herself entirely into the pool. The tub had felt wonderful, but this was even better. The heat was intense, but Ves liked it. Perhaps it was the lizard in her that favored the heat. There were even ledges built into the side of the pool, providing a perfect place to sit and relax. Ves wondered if Björn was enjoying himself as much. She hoped so. 

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Armando
**"BY MY STARS!"** *Varnis gasped and immediately looked away as Björn scrambled to retie his towel.* "Shit- I am sorry!" *Was all he could muster as he tightened it around his waist and held it secure.*
**"No, no. It's quite alright."** *Varnis replied as he composed himself, looking up to face him.* **"Come now, we shall speak nothing of it. Follow me, the waters are waiting and you seem like you could use it.** *Varnis spun on his heels as he turned around. It was then that Björn began to notice things about Varnis and his appearance. His hair was jet black and seemed to practically fall into place, covering most of his head. His arms, torso and back were covered in strange markings... They looked like runes or tattoos. His ears stuck out like an elf's too. He was a strange-looking man, which gave them both something in common.*

**"There, you hop into that tub there and I'll go here. As much as I bet you're great for bathtub company I prefer to clean myself alone before the steam pool, don't be offended.** *Varnis joked nervously as he slipped his towel off and hopped into the steamy bathtub, picking out his preferred fragrances as if shopping at a general store - Björn could tell this wasn't his first time here. Following Varnis' instructions, he stepped into his own tub, sinking in as the water overflowed from his size. He glanced at the soaps, recalling the ones in Dazvaz were much less varied. The Goliath made his pick and began to clean himself up.*

**"So, what brings a Goliath all the way out here?"** *Varnis asked - a polite iterrorgation.*
"Just travelling really. Want to learn more about my people." *Björn made himself vague deliberately. If this was to be a battle of information, he would surely lose.*
**"You came into town with a Kobold and a Raven..."** *Varnis knew more than he was letting on!* **"So I'll assume Dazvaz. From that mark on your shoulder, I was when I first laid eyes upon you, I'll wager you're an escapee from the slave trade.** **Am I

Hitting the nail on the proverbial head?"**

*The look on Björn's face must have been a rich one for Varnis to laugh the way he did as a reaction.*
**"Come now Björn Ursa, a name like that and a tattoo like that gives it all away! Besides, I saw you in the square an hour ago dancing while your allies watched. It was cute. Oh drop the shock horror expression will you, I'm not going to hand you over to anyone."** *Björn calmed down and let go of the brass tub, he didn't realise he had used some rage in his moment of fear and had accidentally bent the metal he had desperately clung to... How did he know so much?!* **"If you're wondering how I know so much, it's simply my business to know someone's business. A skill just like any other trade. Besides, it's fun to make friends in new places. So consider me your friend, Björn."**

*Björn couldn't explain it, but deep inside he knew this man was to be trusted. He seemed like a bit of an outcast, too. Varnis then hopped out of the tub and slipped into the main pool, beckoning Björn who followed. Such began a long conversation between confidants.*

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David
While Björn enjoyed the company of his newfound friend, Ves enjoyed her solitude. The atmosphere was peaceful in the bathhouse. It was mostly quiet, except for the soft murmurings of other patrons talking amongst themselves. Did her keen ears catch the word *Kobold* Whispered by someone? Perhaps, but Ves didn't let it bother her. Let people talk. Willowdale in general didn't seem to care, so why should she?

She lost track of time. Perhaps she had dozed off in the comfort of the hot spring, and before Ves realized it, hours had passed by. The other women were gone and she was alone in the room. Ves stood and grabbed her towel, drying herself off quickly. Hopefully Björn wasn't worried about her. Hopefully he was still enjoying himself. She had told him to take his time, after all. 

She moved to where she had left her bundle of clean clothes and got dressed carefully. It was a new outfit and one she wasn't entirely comfortable in. It wasn't practical, but it was pretty and the fabric was soft, so she had bought it. Ves was also kind of hoping Björn would take notice. After all, she had never worn a dress before. Would he like it?

Smoothing the fabric of her new gown, she packed up her dirty old clothes. She had bought more traveling attire as well, for when they set out on their next adventure. But right now she wanted to wear the dress, though she felt equal parts silly and pretty. Finding a bin to leave her dirty towel, Ves ventured back out into the main lobby. She felt new and refreshed and ready to tackle the rest of the day. 

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