Waking with Iris

[balancingminds]

He woke in confusion as he relaxed his shields and couldn't figure out all the minds and where they all were in Milliways.

When he felt Iris beside him, he took a breath and watched her sleep as he took stock and found his balance once more.

Comments

[chrysopteron]

Of course it is comfortable. It is nearly devotional.

Plus Charles has attractive knees - all light hair and the start of muscle.






"I think I need to practice my shields," Iris says quickly. "Looking at your feet is even making me remember."

This stuff is hard.

[balancingminds]

"Well, we wouldn't want the lady Hera to know too much about my feet or knees. Imagine tucking the memories away into water around you, part of you but not visible,"

It's not a posture he's had many people take up before but then his time with Iris is full of wonderful, new experiences.

[chrysopteron]

Charles stays between Iris' legs like this. There is no downside.

In Iris' mind, last night and this morning start to gather in her ewer - protection.

[balancingminds]

He smiles at her use of the ewer and runs his hand not holding tea through her hair,

"Yes, that's perfect and only you know where your ewer is."

[chrysopteron]

And it's small. Iris has so very few secrets.





The last two droplets of thoughts that land are of her sister, braided autumn-leaf hair and blue-grey wings with a smiling face.

[balancingminds]

At the image of her sister, Charles leans down to kiss her, family is precious.

[chrysopteron]

"I am alright, Charles. I need to remember her well, instead of just the end."

[balancingminds]

"I know you are and I don't always kiss you because you're sad. It's more that I understand how important family is and to thank you for sharing some of your thoughts on her with me."

[chrysopteron]

"That will take some getting used to. Being thanked."

[balancingminds]

"Then I'll just have to give you a good amount of practice as I'm thankful you're in my life."

[chrysopteron]

"Flatterer."

Iris approves.

She stands from her chair, kissing Charles on the mouth and lingering close for a moment. I am thankful to have you as well.

Find breakfast. I'll dress.

[balancingminds]

"No, just being honest,"

The kiss and being held is wonderful and he searches out a rat to place a mental order for a selection of breakfast food.

[chrysopteron]

Iris moves away from Charles to head towards her discarded peplos, tucking her wings away, when she looks at the rumpled pile of Charles' clothes on the floor.

Hrm.

She picks up the trousers from the pile first, straightening them to hang from the waistband in her hands and holding them up to her hips.

[balancingminds]

Anything I can help with?

His clothes are much more rumpled than normal but that tends to happen sometimes.

[chrysopteron]

"Possibly? I am going to have to learn everything. And be clothed."

Boring!

"But these look constricting. Do your people never run?"

[balancingminds]

"Raven could help you with figuring out the most appropriate clothing to wear. Yes, of course we do. When I run I just wear different trousers or shorts that aren't quite as tight."

[chrysopteron]

It is easier nude!

Her tone is on the joking side of petulant, but Iris lets the topic drop.

"I should work on that letter for your sister."

[balancingminds]

He laughs at her thought, "Yes, it is but its not done that way in our time. She'll like that."

[chrysopteron]

There is a knock at the door.

"That must be the food. I'll find a sc---paper. That way I can make you help me."

Words are difficult in translation.

[balancingminds]

"I'll get it and of course, I'll help you,"

He opens the door as he's more fully dressed and takes the tray from the rat.

There's a variety of things on it, grapefruit halves with sugar, yogurt with honey and fruit, toast, eggs, and sausage.

[chrysopteron]

Charles is arranging the arrival of the food while Iris dresses quickly and makes for the desk in the corner - finding paper but not grabbing any pen.

"That smells lovely - do you always eat so?"

[balancingminds]

"Not all of these but many of them when I have the time,"

He sets the food up and then goes to pull on his underwear and trousers while keeping the robe on over.

[chrysopteron]

Sometimes things left to the imagination are far more lascivious than what is visible at the moment.

Or so Iris thinks at Charles' general direction.

Iris drags a finger along the skin of the grapefruit, finding a book in the corner to use as a makeshift desk. "How formal should I be?"

[balancingminds]

"Not too formal or else she'll suspect I wrote most of it,"

At her thought, he smirks and pours himself some more tea before starting on the eggs and sausage and toast part of breakfast.

[chrysopteron]

Kyria Raven

We do not know each other well. I realize that my presence in your brother's life might cause

Iris' finger, dragging along the page to produce the words from the aether, moves backward slightly to erase the last few strokes.

your brother's life is new. As his family, I would like very much to know you better so that any concerns you have could be addressed.

It's already terribly formal.