[Open] Keeping good form

[kingshaming]

 Time had passed, and this entire mess hadn't ended up as a dream.

So that left a few options: Xander wasn't looking to fight, even if technically he had been kidnapped. No, considering his position back in Nohr he had to be careful of his actions. Plus the offered pay would be helpful for his struggling nation. So he would go along with things for now. That didn't mean he was going to languish about. They weren't offered much in the way of facilities at their current level, and he certainly didn't have training blades. But he needed to stay in shape.

So one day, during the afternoon, one might catch him in the common area trying to exercise. Push up, sit ups, even using the sturdy door frames to do pull ups. His room was too small to do so privately, and he didn't want to bother Akane with his business either. Thankfully he can just peel the body suit down to his waist so he doesn't feel TOO gross while sweating. But even so, eventually when he's done he hits the shower-

-and once he's clean comes back out with a small package. Still stripped to the waist, he opens it out on one of the couches.

"...armor?" 

No, no it's not. Not exactly, at least. Xander pulls out a tangle of black leather straps and buckles, an array of D-rings set in the material as well. It's the first 'product' he's been sent... but it's not too far off Nohrian fashion all ready, so he doesn't look too put off by it. Yet.

Comments

[jetsetwitch]

It was true that their room was a bit cramped for calisthenics. It was NOT true that working out where she could watch would have bothered Akane. In fact, after hearing him puffing for breath for a while, she emerged to just, like, stand there in the doorway and watch. Big muscles weren't normally her preference but goddamn could Xander pull it off. She suddenly wished she had a cuter outfit than this stupid space leotard. How was she going to sleep knowing all that was sleeping one bed over?

She padded over to see what was in the package, but let out a muffled giggle at his response. "Pfft, no that's definitely not armor."

[kingshaming]

He looks up and smiles slightly at her. Being watched earlier didn't bother him any, he was used to having company while he trained. And they were roommates, so it was always good to be friendly.

"No? I'll admit I've never seen leatherwork like this outside of armor or riding gear..."

[jetsetwitch]

"It's probably could be used for riding, though maybe not in quite the way you're thinking of. No horses would be involved."

She was enjoying this.

[kingshaming]

He blinks at her owlishly for a moment, before it really connects what she means. When it does he frowns... but the slight blush gives him away.

"Well, someone wouldn't need all this equipment to do so."

[jetsetwitch]

"Sure you don't need it, but you also don't need dipping sauce for dumplings." She's...honestly blushing just a bit too, but she's also charging ahead. "Some things are better with extras."

[kingshaming]

"Hmm... well you're certainly not wrong." He smiles slightly- he doesn't have the face for looking coy, but maybe there's a tiny bit of teasing in his tone. "But sometimes doing things the old-fashioned way isn't bad either."

[jetsetwitch]

"If we're talking about dumplings, I'm definitely not having dumplings without sauce. It's just not right!" She could be kind of a goofball, sometimes, but that didn't mean she couldn't read the atmosphere. The two of them had lived together for several days now, and Akane couldn't stop herself from taking every opportunity to admire the man's physique and good looks.

"But if you're talking about this and that-" she waggled her eyebrows. "-I'm definitely not so jaded that doing things the old fashioned way is boring."

[burning_fenceposts]

Honestly, their rooms were far too cramped for much more than sleeping. And sex, of course, but considering their entire purpose of being here, that was at least to be expected. Three on the bed was a little much, though, but his boys were flexible.

Even so, no one liked to be cramped into one tiny space all day. Aden was no exception. He'd claimed one of the armchairs for himself, the two cushions at either side of it empty at the moment. He'd mostly just ignored the other man during his work out, but when he returned with that box...well, he was interested. And he made absolutely no effort to hide his smirk at the almost question.

"What kind of armor has a cock ring?"

[kingshaming]

"Cock-" He untangles the harness a bit more to see what Aden was referencing... and turns a fetching shade of pink all the way down to his bare shoulders. At least he doesn't act repulsed or horrified- just embarrassed.

"Well... I suppose this fits with what we're supposed to be promoting."

[burning_fenceposts]

That smirk widened and Aden tucked the scrap of paper currently serving as a bookmark into the pages of his own project, closing it with a snap before setting it aside. The cover art was trashy at best, but considering he'd been reading for a good chunk of the day, his review probably wasn't going to be too terrible.

Leaning forward, he reached out a hand. "May I?"

[kingshaming]

"Ah, of course." He held the harness out, catching sight of the book. He moved over slightly to get a better look- though not picking it up or anything like that, it's not his, after all.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one 'working' at least."

[burning_fenceposts]

Untwisting the harness came naturally to him, it would seem. Apparently, all those leather straps and nickle rings had an order to them. He did glance over at his book, though, 'hmm'ing under his breath.

"It's certainly not Dalton, but she's better than James. Not that it's particularly hard to be better than that rubbish. Here. This is how it's supposed to lay. It's not a bad harness, actually. They have a good eye for what would look quite fetching on you."

[kingshaming]

His ruddy-brown eyes brightened slightly at the roundabout compliment, even as he managed to keep something like a professional detachment on his face otherwise. "I can't say I know much about such garments when it comes to people. My experiences are in horsemanship. But the leather is of a fine quality."

He took the harness back, holding it against his chest like one would a shirt that they were sizing. "And I would not give any passable score to something cheaply made."

[comesunset]

Well, while Xander is exercising, he'll likely get the prickle on the back of his neck that indicates that someone is watching him. A predator, in fact.

But whenever it is he turns to look, it's just Ardyn - now with the addition of a violently multicolored, holographic scarf around his neck and the bodysuit pulled back off his fingers - lounged in a chair, seemingly only paying half attention to Xander. The other half is on reading the labels of - goodness, but that's a number of small bottles on the table, isn't it?

[kingshaming]

That prickle is enough to keep him on edge the entire time. He's a solider almost as much as he is a royal, and lived or died on his instincts. But every time it's just Ardyn... which doesn't mean he's imagining it, certainly. But it is enough for him to keep on without interruption. If every time he felt something like a threat he had to flee he'd never accomplish anything during his time in Nohr or during the war.

But when he's done his attention is called by the colorful bottles. "You certainly have quite the collection there."

[comesunset]

To be fair, a few of those glances were very definitely directed as his muscles. Thanks for the eyecandy.

"Mmm, our 'employers' seem to have deposited our room with quite a variety of samples. This is only my share, even." He'd left half of them for Aerith to fiddle with as she desired, including as many of the flavored ones as he could justify.

[kingshaming]

"Samples... potions of some sort? Oil?" He kneels down to take a closer look, not quite picking one up since he wasn't given the invitation to do so.

[comesunset]

"More in line with the latter - lubricants of all varieties." Some oil-based, some water based, and so on. "Help yourself, if something should catch your eye - I daresay this is more than I'm likely to use at the moment."

[kingshaming]

"Oh." He pauses, then takes one of the bottles, holding it up to read. "Strawberry. Really? Do they expect you to taste each one as well?"

[fallen_cetra]

"Well if it is, it's certainly not the sort that protects anything important. Seems like it's more for looks than anything else." Aerith smiles as she leans on the back of his couch, peering at the leather harness in his hands and doing her level best not to laugh. Yet the way her mouth keeps quirking at the corners it's obvious her attempts are only partially successful, and that she knows perfectly well exactly what that harness is for.

Or at least knows enough that his guess is positively charming.

[kingshaming]

Xander looks over his shoulder at her- his face much too serious to be pouting, but there's an air of that regardless. There's a bit of pink high on his cheeks, and his eyes narrow.

"I'm glad you're so amused."

[fallen_cetra]

"Awww, don't sulk, Xander. I think it'll look very cute on you." She smiles, whatever had prevented her from teasing him before had been abandoned. "Do I at least get the honor of seeing you wear it, or are you mad at me now?" The smile is growing into one of her fox-like grins, and Aerith has to stop herself before she nearly reaches out to give his nose a playful boop.

[kingshaming]

"I doubt anything I wear would make me 'cute', but yes... I intend to wear it. Can't write a review otherwise. So I suppose you can watch." he sighs, and holds it up to his chest.

"Seems to be sized to me as well..."

[fallen_cetra]

"Oh, that's not true at all, I can think of several things. That blush definitely looks cute on you, for a start." Aerith can't help but watch him in amusement, practically draping herself over the back of the couch as she hums cheerfully.

"Well if you're offering, I suppose it would just be rude not to enjoy the view." A casual shrug, then she's peering at the harness and at him, faint memories of sewing rising from where they'd long lain buried as she makes a few calculated guesses. "Seems so, but at least there's buckles to make it fit properly either way."

A long pause, her lips pursing as she fought back another mischievous grin.

"I don't suppose you need any help putting it on, do you?" Really, she couldn't resist.

[kingshaming]

"..." He looks back at her, a brow arched. Was she really...? Though, as he thought about it: "That actually might be a good idea. This looks rather complicated. It wouldn't do me any good to twist it or snap any of the buckles, right?"