“Yes,” was the stiff reply Navia gave while focusing on her hair, trying to detect a sliver of silver amongst the midnight ones. She was too young for gray hairs in her mind; Khluri women usually did not start showing them until their late 30s or early 40s. She would welcome gray then, when it was supposed to come and she would be expecting it. She could find nothing though, and was growing more frustrated by the moment. “Of course I am,” she answered when asked if she was going to pluck it, as if it was the most natural answer in the world, “If I don’t, it might invite its friends to join it.” She could have gray hair later in life, when she could make it fashionable and use it accentuate her beauty. Théadan was sweet about it though, pointing out she was perfect to him and still the beauty of Khlurios. It made her smile softly, albeit distractedly. She had a gray to find, after all.<br/><br/>“If they all came at once, it would be no problem,” she explained with a huff, “And as wonderful as it is to hear how much you enjoy my appearance, or any man’s, my own opinion matters most. And I’m not ready for them yet.” She could have gone on, probably could have come up with a nice little rant about her own beauty standards, but Théadan’s hand on her shoulder silenced her. Navia peered down in the water as the ripples from Théadan’s movements calmed and his reflection came into view beside her. A small smile formed on her lips; had she ever seen the way they looked together? Had they stood in front of a mirror together? Weren’t they pretty? She was thoroughly distracted from the gray hair when Théadan went to point it out to her, only to abruptly dunk her down into the water. A gasp of surprise left her before she instinctively shut her mouth to keep from swallowing water.<br/><br/>His hand did not keep her under for more than an instant, so she popped back up in time to hear him laughing and trying to escape. He was moving hastily, telling her he was either getting a bit more comfortable in the water or he was just that intent on escaping her retaliation. Navia knew she was faster however, so she kicked off the rocks at the floor of the spring and went to swim after him. Arms moved effortlessly through the water, legs kicked to propel her, and Navia was soon at the mouth of the spring, where it split into male and female ends. “You have done that to me for the last time!” Navia yelled after Théadan as he retreated into the men’s side of the springs, “If you really think coming in here is going to save you, you’re sorely mistaken.” She did not hesitate at all in following after him and was soon right behind him. Trying to dunk him under the water like he had done so, she shoved up against his back as her hands came to press down as hard as she could on his shoulders, hoping the combination of her body weight on his back and pressure on his shoulders would allow her to overtake her larger, stronger enemy.<br/><br/>“Uhh…”<br/><br/>The unfamiliar voice caused Navia to freeze, near-black eyes wide as they took in the older nobleman standing on the stairs leading into the springs, only in waist-deep and paused to stare at the pair of them. He was graying, beard and temples peppered in it, slender but clearly not someone meant for war, and he was clearly unsure of what to do with a Mes’Mo’Tanian man and Khluri women in the men’s side of a Khluri springs. Where she had been trying to force Théadan under the water, Navia instead ducked behind him, pressing firm against his back to try to keep her body covered. She couldn’t help the laugh that blossomed and threatened to escape though, and it caused her chest to vibrate against Théadan’s back while she pursed her lips together tightly.<br/><br/>“This side is for men only,<i>yuvati</i>,” the older Khluri finally said, trying to gather his wits to sound disparaged.<br/><br/>“Yes, of course,” Navia answered easily, but took the time to press a quick kiss to Théadan’s cheek in parting before whispering in his ear, “Remember who you share a bed with tonight.” Then she released him and went to swim over to the women’s side of the springs.