Going to Herzland like he'd expected. Looked after by a man of the church, no less. Unusual circumstances for sure, especially naked and trying to ignore the man at his feet. On the same ship as some important ambassador. Likely Luitwin thought they were put on the same path for a reason. There was potential there, of course. His touch was light, his hands softer than what he was used to, working their way up his body. He'd lingered on some of the scars.<br/><br/>“More times than most,” Ardnt said with a snort and a half-grin, as if he was proud of the achievements; the scars even. Alrians took pride in that sort of thing. It made you the right type of man. Of course, running from your duty did not.<br/><br/>“I don't want to die if that's what you mean. As far as mercy.. No. I'd like to think most of it was quick thinking on my part. Yeah, I can get myself into the shit, but I can also get myself out. Most of the time, anyway.” This time it had been close. The conversation wasn't enough of a distraction it would seem, not with the man's slow, sure hands. Something he'd probably done for others, but he likely wasn't used to men like Ardnt, whose mind was as broken as his cock sometimes, both causing inappropriateness at times. Luitwin offered to stop. Ardnt met his gaze evenly, not really ashamed of his body's reaction. He'd made the man uncomfortable, or so it would seem, leaving Ardnt to finish on his own. That suited him just as well.<br/><br/>“Incidents such as these are hardly the worst of it,” Ardnt told Luitwin with a frown, watching as he paused at the door. Actually, Ardnt considered this a success. His body reacted, yes, but he'd not acted on it. Hadn't so much as raised a finger towards the other man. That would have been no easy feat in his youth but he'd imagined with age he'd mastered most of his lesser qualities. His temper, and his desires.<br/><br/>With the man out of his sights he wasn't so worked up he felt like finishing himself with his off hand. Instead, he willed it away and went about cleaning himself, using pain to stamp out any remaining arousal. He didn't know every nuance of the Herzen religion but he doubted making it seem like he was coming onto one of their priests was a very good idea, especially with all the other crimes he'd racked up. He used the remaining water in the bucket to get the blood out of the ends of his hair, satisfied he was as clean as he probably had ever been.<br/><br/>Ardnt found Luitwin outside the door, waiting with a change of clothing. He wasn't so thought inducing when he was standing out his full height, rather than at Ardnt's feet.<br/><br/>“It's not uncommon where I'm from. A sight like that, making a man react, especially weary and sore. I didn't mean anything by it,” Ardnt told him. Maybe it was just common for Alrians to like having someone prostrating at their feet, looking small and submissive. It certainly seemed to be that way with the soldiers being that it was so uncommon, or Ardnt just liked to believe it wasn't just him. Sometimes they got lucky. There would be someone young, not quite grown into the typical bulky build.