Prose log with Lo Hak

[percivalthegale]

Who: Percival and Lo Hak (lo_rider_4)
Where: the baths
When: immediately before Borus showed up naked
What: still working on fixing that shoulder. And awkward.

It always felt good to have his baths clean, especially after the swath of travelers that left mud all over. He was currently curled up in a chair in his massage parlor/office, which still held some evidence of Euram's attempted overhauls. It had been a good idea, the redesign, and he had kept some facets even after Caesar made them put it back together the way it had been. He sipped a glass of lemonade, waiting for the next wave of visitors, but for the moment savoring the quiet.

Percival could not deny that his arm was bothering him. After Culgan's massage it loosened up some, but not enough to simply go about his usual activities. Particularly when some of them, like looking after his horse and cooking, required he put strain on it. He had half a mind to seek out Culgan again, but his polite side didn't want to bother the other soldier so soon. At least Budehuc had a qualified masseur, so Percival sucked up his misgivings and peeked his head through the bath-house curtain. "Er. Lo Hak? Are you busy at the moment?"

Now that was a voice he had come to think he wouldn't hear for quite some time. He got up and came out of the massage parlor, blinking at the sight of Percival. "Percival?" he asked a bit stupidly. He was still under the impression Percival didn't like him because of his... well, his association with Wyatt, a thing recently reinstated at that that left him bubbly at the thought.

Fortunately for them both, Percival knew nothing about that business. He stood just inside, clad in his ordinary clothes, half-peasant half-nobleman. Out of reflex, he reached across to rub his left shoulder. "I was wondering if you had space for a client at the moment."

Lo Hak's face softened into a friendly smile, nodding, his shaggy hair bouncing a bit at the motion. "For a friend? Always. Left shoulder bothering you?" he asked, having seen the touch to said side.

Percival lowered his eyes slightly. "Yes...the shoulder that was injured is stiff. I need assistance to keep stretching it so it recovers range of motions." His eyebrows twitched a little in a wry smirk. "It's far too easy for me to decide it hurts too much to do it myself."

"I understand," Lo Hak motioned him in further. "So the muscles are probably tight then, right? You've come to the right place for help!"

"And sore," Percival cautioned. "The wound has healed but the muscles are damaged." He followed Lo Hak in, hating having to tell anyone about how weak he was. He couldn't even break up scuffles in this state, even if he could wield his sword normally. "I know one session won't be a magical cure...Sir Culgan gave me some advice, but I didn't want to bother him today."

"Culgan?" he asked. "Well, I guess another soldier would have good advice on keeping wounded limbs limber during recovery. Take a seat Percival." He went to the cupboard and got out the oils, choosing the scentless kind.

Percival did so, unbuttoning his shirt as he went. It was much easier on his arm to wear button-down shirts rather than his pullover peasant top. "He was very good at it, too. But he has other things to attend to, so I can't be bothering him every other day." He tried giving Lo Hak another half-hearted grin. "Even if it costs money to come to you."

Lo Hak chuckled, coming over and helping Percival ease down onto his belly on the table. "And I would hope I'm a fair sight better than a soldier. No offense to Culgan." He opened the oil bottle and dribbled it from Percival's neck to the small of his back, then slowly and gently worked it over the skin.

"I really wouldn't be able to make that judgment," Percival muttered as he laid down, adjusting his shoulders to be comfortable. There was only the slightest twinge in his left arm that passed, allowing him to take a deep breath and quiet down as Lo Hak started.

Lo Hak lotioned his hands and placed them at Percival's neck, working the muscles there first to get him relaxed before he worked on the injured shoulder. "So how have you been, besides the obvious? I don't see you to much now days."

"Besides the obvious?" Percival sighed again. "That's about all there is to it. I can't resume duty until I get some strength back in this arm. It's frustrating, is all."

"I can understand," Lo Hak nodded, his hands working slowly and surely around the top and bottom of the wounded side, working in towards the tenderest spots. "But at least you are recovering. That's the good thing, right?"

Percival closed his eyes, all the better to relax. "Yes, I don't take that for granted." There were light scars in the areas where Yuber had cut him, not only in the shoulder but along his flanks, but they would fade quicker than usual thanks to the runes that were used in his recovery. The bruises around the exit wound in his shoulder had finally gone, too.

Lo Hak finally touched on the wounded area, being gentle to start as his fingers danced around the wound and then over the slightly puckered flesh. "You know, soaking this in the baths will go a lot of good too - keep it loose. I can arrange for you to have an hour to yourself privately if you want."

"I have tried," Percival admitted. "It's difficult staying that submerged in the water for so long. I don't want to faint in the baths - people will find out and I'll never hear the end of it," he added dryly.

Lo Hak let out a little chuckle at that. "Yeah, but I'd keep an eye out. The thing about it being private means there's no one to actually see you faint."

Percival grunted a little at the pain he was fully expecting. "Perhaps. What about a hot compress of some kind?"

"I could work that up using the hot stones," Lo Hak said after a moment's thought. "Wrap in some towels and it could do the trick I think."

"Hmm..." Percival hadn't heard of that option before. "Hot stones? Is this a new service or something?"

"It's not my specialty, but some spas I worked at in the islands used 'em. You heat stones in hot water and then place them over a person's back to help relax the muscles. If I got them hot enough and wrapped them, they could work as a warm compress," Lo Hak mulled over that aloud, though he'd have to find good stones for it.

"That...sounds like a viable solution." Percival blinked his eyes open. "It wouldn't require a full bath every day, too."

"Nope. You could stop by in the morning and in the evening, I'd say," Lo Hak pressed a bit harder into the wounded area, feeling for the tense areas and working them loose.

Percival hissed at the increased pressure, even though he knew it was necessary. He waited until the initial jolt passed before speaking, breathing a little harder. "I would...appreciate that. Any little bit helps."

"All right. I'll arrange it then," he nodded, feeling bad that this hurt the other but it was necessary. No pain no gain, it seemed.

Closing his eyes again, Percival rode it out bravely, concentrating on taking deep breaths and letting them out slowly. He wanted to be back up to full speed so badly, but this was only more proof that it would take time. Inwardly, he cursed Yuber for not outright killing him, if this was the alternative.

"I know it hurts, but is it still manageable?" Lo Hak asked, slightly worried. He had confidence in his skills, but each person was a bit different after all.

"Yes," Percival replied. "I'll...let you know if it's too much. Mh..." He huffed a sigh and looked up to Lo Hak. "It isn't your fault. You do know what you're doing."

He nodded, continuing, using his fingers rather than his heels so as to avoid putting to much pressure. "Do you do your exercises?" he asked as he worked loose another stuff muscle.

"Ah..." While Percival was not completely ignorant of what that meant, he couldn't exactly say yes or no. "I'm supposed to have exercises?" he asked as lightly as he could, trying to joke. "Oh dear."

"I'm sure the doctor gave you some," Lo Hak chided. "Do them. It will keep the muscles from knotting so easily like this and make the hot stones more effective."

"Nnnno....no, no one did," Percival sighed.

"Oh, well... start off with shoulder rolls and pulling your arm across your chest for now," Lo Hak said, recalling several exercises he used when he was stiff in the morning. "We can do them before the morning compress if you want."

"Mmm..." Percival made a disgruntled face. "Perhaps I ought to visit the infirmary for a follow-up. And some of that advice I seem to be missing."

"I would," Lo Hak nodded. "I'm sure you don't want complications. And the doctor's advice would be better than mine anyways. I'm the bath master, not the medic."

Biting back another hiss, Percival settled down and tried not to tense up. It was hard. He flexed his fingers a little, content that at least that didn't hurt. "I suppose that will give me something to do with my free time," he quipped.

Lo Hak stopped, moving away and down his back, giving Percival time to rest before he would move back to finish the area. "Which you need. Letting the wounded brood is a bad idea."

"Not to worry, I'm not brooding," the knight assured, more easily now that the pressure wasn't on his shoulder. "I've been doing a lot of cooking, actually. And finally riding again."

"I forgot that you cooked," Lo Hak perked up on the new topic. "You as good as Mamie and Watari?"

"Well..." Percival smiled a little. "I don't know if I should try to compare. I've never had a complaint, though."

"Heh, don't tell Mamie and Watari," Lo Hak poked Percival's back once before continuing. "Mamie's a competitive fire cracker."

"I wouldn't dare," Percival chuckled. "By her good graces I'm allowed to use the kitchen, I know not to bite the hand that feeds." He winced only a little this time, his back wasn't a problem now that he wasn't patrolling in armor every day.

"Probably a wise move," Lo Hak laughed, kneading out a knot down Percival's back. "You'd have lost both hands by now if you had angered her, no doubt. And then where would your cooking be?"

"Not to mention my swordsmanship," Percival quipped. "Ah! I didn't realize I was knotted up down that far..."

"Good thing you came to me then," Lo Hak smirked as he worked, running up his spine now. "That armor does a number on you knights."

"I've been fine," Percival assured. "Up until now, but that's a special circumstance."

"You say that," Lo Hak said with a bit of a reproving edge to his voice, fingers gliding down beneath the wounded area again, glad to feel that the muscles were still warm and relaxed there.

Percival was fine while pressure was not put directly on the joint, or it was not being moved, but he tensed slightly as Lo Hak's touch wandered in that direction. "I am being serious," he said cautiously, turning his head.

Lo Hak looked back at him with those sky blue eyes of his, worry in them for a man he hoped he could still count as a friend in this strange place called Budehuc. "You should still come in more often," he chided gently.

Percival closed his eyes once more. "I may be a knight of high standing, but I'm not rich. I can't afford to." While it was true, it wasn't his primary reason.

"I'll give you a discount then," Lo Hak shrugged. "You're a friend, so I don't mind. I get enough of the full price customers anyways."

"It isn't necessary," Percival assured. "Well...while I'm recovering, perhaps, but..."

"Discount for my friends," Lo Hak asserted. "Or you could pay me with a home cooked meal sometime. I'm really only good at fire roasted fish and that gets old fast."

Percival was not one to tell anyone they couldn't be his friend, but he wasn't sure why Lo Hak was so insistent upon it. They never spent time around each other. He turned his head away so as to hide his uncomfortable expression. "I do offer to cook for people, for various reasons. It would be worth a trade for some work on my shoulder."

Lo Hak was still stung by their falling out over when Percival had seen him and Wyatt kissing. He had thought they were getting along well, and then... that. He just wanted to try and smooth that over. They had been becoming friends, he thought, and quiet frankly he could use a few more friends in this place. "It's a deal then."

"Very well." Percival remained in that position, trying not to fidget and flex his fingers. He needed to let his arm rest. "I have all the time in the world, while I'm off patrol duty. Whenever is fine for you."

"Whenever you feel up to it," Lo Hak parried. "And you can let the arm hang if you want. I think I'm done on that side for now."

"Mmm..." Percival started to move it, but reached the limit of his range too quickly and simply left it at his side. "That will be fine. I...really only needed the injury tended."

"Oh, all right then," Lo Hak nodded, stopping and getting a towel to wipe down his hands and Percival's back. "I hope you get better quickly, Percival."

"Believe me, so do I," Percival sighed, propping himself up on his good elbow. "I dislike being idle, even if it gives me time to meet new people and catch up on some books. I would rather be doing my duty."

"Silver lining, right?" Lo Hak handed Percival his shirt, moving off to put the jars of lotion and oil up.

"Sort of." Percival could only get the shirt draped over his shoulders, for now, which was fine. He was just going back to his room, anyway. "Ah. Let's see if that does the trick, or else I may be back sooner than later for another round."

"You're fair sight better company than some of the people I get through here, so you'd be a welcome sight," Lo Hak snorted, closing the cabinet. "I'll put the session on your tab."

"You're sure?" Percival slid off the table and held his shirt closed with his right hand. "Well. All right, then. Thank you. I will see the infirmary about stretching, but that hot compress does sound like a good idea as well."

"I'll buy the stones tonight or tomorrow then," he nodded. "And some thinner towels to let the heat through. Bring me some breakfast next time and we'll call this session even."

"Ah. That does sound like a good deal." Percival offered a calm smile. "Goodness, making me get up early. I hope it's worth it."

"If the compress works, it will be, I'm sure," Lo Hak smirked, writing something down in his ledger.

"Thank you," Percival said sincerely, before turning to go. "I am at your mercy in this, Lo Hak. I appreciate it."

Lo Hak shrugged. "You do a lot for us here at Budehuc. I call it partially repaying you for your services."

"Then, I can only accept it with a smile." Percival's gentleman manner was in full gear, regardless of whether he noticed any awkwardness between them. He was keeping things strictly professional, inasmuch as he could. He even offered a small bow of thanks.

Lo Hak waved it off, shaking his shaggy head. "I'll send a message when I get the rocks for the compress, okay?"

Percival nodded, and added one more "Thank you," before drifting out. He could have sworn he heard Borus in or near the baths a moment ago, so he decided to go and find his comrade on his way back to his room.