Day 62: Men's Showers (4th Shift)

[forsworn]

This whole day had been quiet so far, and Kratos rather liked it that way. Aside from a mandatory therapy session, he had not been forced into talking with someone he didn't know under the pretense of making friends, nor had he been conversely accosted. There was still a report that he needed to give, if Sora would actually be around the next day for him to give it, but that was different. Reports and things of a more business-like nature agreed with him where small talk did not.

He was the first one into the showers for perhaps the first time, which meant that the often sought-after corner shower was now his for the taking. Kratos had no problem with communal showers, thanks to his time in the military, but the corner shower had this aura about it, this sort of vibe that clearly stated, "Do not bother me"--exactly what he was looking for, on a day where he'd enjoyed mostly peace and quiet.

Turning the water on, he waited for a few seconds under the spray to thoroughly soak his hair before reaching for the shampoo.

[OLD MAN CLUB MEETING NOW IN SESSION]

Comments

[age_of_kings]

"Oh, no, it's perfectly alright."

Tolten didn't want to chase someone away! As awkward as it was to have a conversation while attempting to bathe together, it would be rude to ask the other man to leave!

"I'll admit I'm not fond of this...public bathing structure, but at least they allow us to bathe." There had been plenty of times in the wilderness or the lands of the Eastern Tribes where showers alone had been weeks apart. At least they seemed rather regular here.

And he was feeling too worn out to even care that he was naked and talking with a similarly undressed man.

[tender_cruelty]

"It isn't the best," Allelujah agreed with a wry smile as he stepped under the spray, rubbing the shampoo into his hair. His forehead did feel warm he supposed, but that could just be the water. It was difficult to tell. And really, it couldn't be too bad, could it? He didn't want to waste another night in his room when he could be doing something useful.

"I'd dislike it less if the nurses didn't insist on watching in case we do something unsavoury."

[age_of_kings]

"Oh goodness, don't remind me that they're watching!" Tolten couldn't help the flush that deepened on his face. It was easy to pretend they weren't there, if he wasn't looking. He tried to think of them as nannies or nursemaids, but it was difficult. He was a grown man after all, and anyway his nursemaids and nannies hadn't watched him in his bath.

"Really, what do they think we're going to do in here? It's wet and there's poor visibility and we're all unclothed! An orderly or two should be perfectly fine."

At least the indignation focused Tolten on what he was doing. Ignoring the fact that he had an audience, the young king took a tip from his shower buddy and began to wash his hair.

[tender_cruelty]

Allelujah couldn't help but smile at that, amused by the reaction. It seemed a little more than being watched warranted but some people would find that strange. "Sorry," he said, shoving his hair out of his face to peer at the man curiously.

"I don't know what they expect. Mass groping or something." Or at least, that was what Badou would say most likely. Something to do with the state of what was in his pants in any case.

"I'm Allelujah, by the way."

[age_of_kings]

"Who on earth would do something like that?" Tolten sputtered, pausing in lathering his hair to try and banish the thoughts that assaulted him at that. He supposed perhaps there were people who were that perverse, but...

Oh great ancestor, why was he even thinking about it?

"A pleasure. I'm Tolten. I'd shake your hand, but under the circumstances..." Etiquette had a line, in the shower.

[tender_cruelty]

"In general, or specifically in a public shower?" Allelujah asked innocently and he really had been spending too much time with Badou hadn't he, if he was talking like this. He rubbed his forehead tiredly. They would have to have words at some point.

The other man seemed to be reacting rather worse. He could blame Badou for that too. It was the principle of the thing.

"It would probably get us told off for sexual harrassment," he agreed.

[age_of_kings]

"And I'm already on watch for indecent conversations on the public board!" Tolten pointed out, with a small laugh. It was odd what these people considered taboo and what they didn't. Public bathing was perfectly fine, but one couldn't discuss the very fact of sexual intercourse existing? That was really a rather backwards way to look at it.

"They really do watch our every move, don't they? It makes my skin crawl when I truly think about it. It's not...it's not decent."

Really, Allelujah wasn't a bad bath time companion. He kept his distance, which was quite appreciated, and didn't spend a great deal of time looking over at Tolten. You didn't need to stare at someone you were talking to!

[tender_cruelty]

"Ah, it's a hazard of posting on the bulletin," Allelujah replied with a slight grin. "I've seen some strange things." He paused thoughtfully, cocking his head slightly to one side. "Watch out for glitter." That seemed to keep cropping up. The nurses kept supplying it as though they believed that they were all as easily distracted as Badou.

He stepped back under the spray, washing the soap from his hair and slicking it back. "They don't really care about what is decent. They wouldn't be setting the monsters at night on us if they did." That was far more indecent than watching them in the showers in his opinion.