Prose log with Lo Hak

[percivalthegale]

Who: Percival and Lo Hak (lo_rider_4 )
When: immediately after Percival's argument with Euram
Where: the tavern, then the baths
What: a drink isn't enough to quiet Percival's nerves, so he opts for a massage instead

Percival slammed his glass a little roughly onto the bar, finding that the cool drink of ale had done absolutely nothing to put out the fire of rage still simmering after arguing with Euram. To make matters worse, he was still in armor, having simply abandoned duty to try and calm himself down. "Dammit," he hissed.

Lo Hak sipped at his daiquiri, the bright red ice and alcohol mixture sliding pleasingly down his throat. "My sentiments exactly," he agreed with a rueful snort.

"Why do I let him do this to me?" Percival continued to rant, clenching his fists - good thing he'd at least taken his gauntlets off. "He's just a...a worthless fop, whose opinions count for nothing! Why does he keep pushing my buttons?"

"Because he is a worthless fop," Lo Hak attempted to soothe the angered knight. "It is people like him whose honor is skewed, at best."

Percival ran his hands through his swept-back hair and sagged against them, resting his palms against his forehead and his elbows on the bar. "I've never been able to stand it when someone thinks the wrong thing about me, and can't be persuaded otherwise," he complained. "I've dealt with it all my life, it's no different now. My rank means nothing to them."

Lo Hak could see the knots twisting in Percival's muscles from where he sat next to the man. Without thinking he reached out and began to massage Percival's neck as he sipped his drink with the other. "I understand, in some ways," Lo Hak tried to soothe him again.

The unexpected touch made Percival twitch reflexively, but he relented and permitted it the moment he realized it felt pretty good. "I'm sorry," he groaned. "The plight of an elite Zexen knight guarding his reputation must look so pathetic to you. Ah...damn, I'm all knotted up again, aren't I?"

 "I'm almost in pain for how knotted you are," Lo Hak told him as he worked out the knots in Percival's neck. "That armor can't be helping matters."

"It isn't," Percival admitted. "But I'm...well," he chuckled humorlessly, "I was on duty. I'm obviously not anymore." He slumped in his seat, staring at the empty glass in front of him while he let Lo Hak rub his neck. "I suppose we ought to just go on up to the baths and do it the right way, then."

Lo Hak chuckled. "If you want me to," he said, setting his empty glass to the side. "I don't mind. Besides, you definitely need one. You Knights knot very easily - you need to come see me more often," he admonished gently.

"I would if I had the time." Percival pushed himself to his feet as though the weight of the world was on his back. "I could really use one right now. That drink didn't calm me down in the least."

"Well, I had closed the baths, but I'll make an exception this time," he smiled at Percival, jumping off his barstool. "Come on then," he somewhat sing-songed.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Percival groaned again. "I didn't realize..."

"Don't worry about it, come on," Lo Hak urged, coming back and taking his arm. "I don't mind, especially if it's for a friend."

"...all right," Percival sighed, letting himself be tugged. At this rate, he was willing to try anything to get his mind off the infuriating Euram Barows and the strange incident outside by the fountain.

Lo Hak led Percival to the baths, cursing when he realized he didn't have the key. He looked at Percival as he took out a pick from his vest pocket. "Just as a disclaimer - I don't do this often," he pointed out as he stuck the pin in the lock and picked it in a grand total of about six seconds. He replaced the pin and slid inside, lighting a single lantern in each room (two in the parlor - which was sufficient). "You know the drill," he said, motioning to the fresh table as he went to inspect his lotions and oils.

Marveling at the islander's skill, Percival waved a hand. "Not to worry, you're one of the least suspicious people around. Just make sure not to make it a habit," he found the energy to tease, wagging a finger. He did indeed know exactly what to do, and disappeared behind the screen to begin the arduous process of unbuckling and removing his plate armor piece by piece.

Lo Hak chuckled at the tease, taking it in stride as he inspected the various lotions and oils. He finally chose a pair - one of lavender, and one of gentle chamomile and aloe. The aloe would go on Percival's skin, while Lo Hak used the more odious lavender to produce relaxation, and even potential sleep. Lavender could also soothe headaches, and induced calm. He set the up next to the table, waiting for Pericval patiently.

"Sorry it's taking so long," Percival called from behind the screen as he finally was able to strip off his shirt. "My armor is a beast to get in and out of. Ah...there!" He came out from behind the screen, a towel around his waist, hopping on one foot as he tried to pull a sock off the other. "Boy, what a day! It just keeps going, doesn't it?"

Lo Hak laughed. "Sometimes for to long," he agreed as Percival made himself comfortable on the table. He opened the jar of oil, dribbling it down Percival's spine and across his shoulders before rubbing it in, then lathering his hands with the odious lavender, leaving the bottle open on purpose as he set to Percival's neck. "Why does Euram have such a grudge against you anyways?"

Percival winced, both at the pain being rubbed out of his neck and the subject, but one drink hastily downed negated his usual restraint for unpleasant conversation. "Because of my interest in his sister," he grumbled. "It goes beyond protectiveness into complete irrationality. I don't know why, but he seems to think I'm some kind of leering letch, only interested in deflowering Luserina and ruining her."

Lo Hak's fingers worked steadily and surely over the knights skin, digging into the muscles beneath. "Well, don't let it bother you to much," he advised. "He's a right prick, if you ask me."

The marvelous treatment had Percival wilting rather shortly, his defenses lowered. "I never had any thoughts like that about her," he whimpered. "I don't know why he doesn't see that. He isn't even happy that I've broken it off with her, he just thinks it means he was right about me all along. I'm not that kind of man, why can't people understand that...?"

"People often see what they want to see, and are blinded to all else," Lo Hak soothed, pitching his voice low so it came out as a smooth timbered sound, the beat of his sentence matching the slow work of his hands over Percival's flesh.

Closing his eyes, Percival breathed a long sigh and finally noticed the heady scent of lavender. It reminded him of home, of his mother's kitchen, and he bit his lip. "So much more when you spend so much time giving them what they want to see," he murmured. "Until you don't even know why you're doing it anymore..."

Lo Hak came around front and knelt before Percival, putting his fingers delicately on the man's temples and beginning to massage them as he looked seriously at Percival. "I think that if you don't know why you're doing something, then you shouldn't be doing it," he said quietly as he worked.

Percival couldn't look straight into those honest eyes, and averted his to the side, though he couldn't turn his head. Not that he wanted to - the temple massage was bliss, making his headache disappear fast. "I don't even know what I'm talking about," he mumbled. "That happens when I drink too much too fast."

"You had one drink," Lo Hak pointed out quietly. "And to be honest, I'm probably not one to talk. I grew up different from you, so I don't know if my advice can apply, but...." he paused, using his grip on Percival's head to turn the man's eyes back on him as he cocked his own head, blue eyes sparking in concern. "But are you happy, like this?" he asked seriously.

Percival sighed and closed his eyes to escape. "I've had a terrible few months," he admitted. "I thought committing myself to work would be better for me, but all it's done is kept me from enjoying my friends and my time here. I'm damned if I do, and damned if I don't."

Lo Hak's fingers went back to work on Percival's temples. "Well...do what makes you happy," he finally advised.

The massage was relaxing him, but Percival's thoughts weren't going away. They were only getting worse, meaning that in his relaxed state, he couldn't be responsible for them or what they evoked. "What if I don't know what that is?" he whined with his cheek pressed to the table. "Sir Wyatt told me a while ago to follow my own path...and I don't even know what my path is."

"Well, what do you want out of life?" Lo Hak asked as he moved back to Percival's shoulders and back.

With his mind muddled by the massage, the scents in the room, and the drink, Percival had to take some effort to think. "I honestly don't know," he replied quietly. "I thought...exactly what I have. My duty, my horse...my dedication. I don't really want for anything."

"Well...what about love? Don't you want someone to love and love you in return?" Lo Hak asked him as he continued to massage in smooth, measured strokes.

To his own surprise, Percival's eyes began to swim, and his lip trembled. "I guess I do," he said, his voice betraying nothing of whatever was affecting him. "The idea...is appealing. I've seen people who...who really love each other, and I wish I could have that, but..."

Lo Hak didn't need to hear it or see it - he felt it. Sadness, pain, and crying produced tension, and he knew it when he felt it. He paused in his massage, instead reaching up and slowly running his hands in Percival's hair the way Lo Fong did for him when he was upset. He hoped it was soothing. "But what? What could possibly be stopping you?" he pressed gently.

Already feeling like a fool, Percival tried to stop himself before he went too far, propping himself up on his elbows and pinching the bridge of his nose to hide his eyes. "I've never been in love," he tried to explain. "I love the idea of it, but I don't know what it really is. Nothing I've ever been offered, or sought from another, has even come close. I'm out of options, and running out of time before I turn into just another bachelor knight forever."

Lo Hak continued to run his fingers through Percival's hair, patting his hand and squeezing it gently. "Hey, don't worry. I'm sure someone will come along that's just right for you," he assured Percival. "Sometimes it just takes longer for some than others."

Percival wilted again, putting his face down on his folded arms. "My mother has been saying that ever since I hit puberty," he groaned. "By this time, the words have grown hollow. I don't know what to do anymore, except immerse myself in duty and marry myself to my job. What else is there?"

Lo Hak shrugged. "I couldn't tell you," he admitted. "I've had my fair share of trysts, but nothing serious." He didn't add that his mind was flirting with being serious about Wyatt despite the fact that was a hopeless endeavor and he knew it. "I'm sort of a go-with-the-flow sort of a guy, so I mean, I guess I just always thought if it was going to happen, it would happen." He shrugged again and got up, going behind his desk and coming out with a small package. He unwrapped it offered one of the tender sweets inside to Percival. "And as for what else? You act like your job is all you have left. You could just quit and go see the world," Lo pointed out.

The scent of chocolate roused Percival from his moping. He lifted his head and found himself being offered brownies. "What is this? I thought Watari was still laid up." His eyes widened a little. "Did Sir Wyatt bake these?"

Lo Hak's cheeks flushed in the lamp light as he nodded, nibbling on one. "Yeah, he did," he admitted. "I got them earlier, before I went to the infirmary for my headache."

"Thank you..." Percival pushed himself up to a seat, discreetly wrapping the towel back around his waist before taking a brownie and having a bite. It was a warm, comforting taste after all of that. "I don't know," he said to address Lo Hak's suggestion. "I really like being a knight. I don't have anything against it, I don't hate my job. I'm proud of what I've done and what I stand for."

"But, you're worried you'll end up alone, in the end," Lo Hak surmised.

"Alone?" Percival's brow knit in fear. "More like...I'm worried that the only path for me, in the end, is to retire from the knights, move home to Iksay, settle down and raise a family. That's something...I don't exactly want to do." He heaved a weak chuckle. "I'm already alone, it's not an end-point, it's where I'm starting from."

"Well, if you don't want to end in the place you just described, why are you worrying about it?" Lo Hak asked. "If you don't want to end up like that, then just don't. No one can exactly force you to take a woman you don't know and make babies with her."

"What else is there, though?" Percival shrugged, genuinely confused. He belatedly remembered the brownie in his hand and took another bite, waiting until it was polite to speak to finish his thought. "I don't have a lot of options, and you're right - I don't want to be alone either. It would be nice...to be loved."

Lo Hak finished his own brownie and began to lick his fingers clean of the crumbs. "My advice? Don't worry about it for  now. Some things you can't control, and love is, unfortunately, one of them. Just take it day by day, and if you're aware enough, you'll see your chance and take it."

"So really, there is nothing I can do, other than what I've been doing all along," Percival said flatly, finishing the confection and brushing the crumbs on the towel. "Married to my duty, indeed. My life is to Zexen, her people, and the Goddess."

"Well, I didn't say that," Lo Hak corrected. "In fact, why don't you try NOT being so married to them? Have more fun once in awhile."

For a moment Percival sat there, in just that towel, staring at his knees, recalling his playful conversation with Hervey earlier, then evenings drinking with Lo Hak and Wyatt and others, riding with Sasarai, swimming with Sheena. But then, he also remembered May Day. A rueful smile creased his forehead. "When I let myself go," he reasoned, "I get into trouble. I don't want that."

"Hmm, a little trouble can be quite fun," Lo Hak grinned up at Percival. "I should know. I also have my fair share of those times. There's a difference between big trouble, and the kind of trouble that's gets you excited, like a game."

"The only kind of trouble that's been following me is the kind that gets me teleported into the baths, or assaulted by a...a drunk, or publicly embarrassed," the knight sighed. "Maybe I'm just getting old before my time. I used to be quite the mischief-maker, in my  younger days. Borus and I have always been a handful." He sighed again.

Lo Hak giggled as he thought of the knight being a 'trouble maker'. "Well, you aren't that old," Lo Hak poked him. "Don't act like it. Try and loosen up, and just have fun once in awhile. Who knows? It might help you figure all your life questions out."

Figuring out his life questions wasn't exactly tops on Percival's priority list - he would have rather hid from them in the hopes it would turn out there were no questions. "I guess I just miss the old times, my old routine. The familiarity of it all, you know?"

"Yeah, I guess," Lo Hak shrugged. The 'familiarity' for him bordered between working the streets for money left untended in people's pockets and getting chased by guards and island hoping like no one's business, and working in spas before he and his sibs were found out for stealing from customers that rather pissed them off. He left that out though, figuring Percival didn't want to know. "I dunno. Sometimes jumping of the circle is as fun as bouncing around inside it."

Percival gave the younger man a wan smile. "You've never had much of a routine, have you? I'm simply used to it. Things are different than I expected here, different even than they were five years ago. I wasn't prepared for it."

"Well, not so much a set routine as a vague outline of one," Lo Hak admitted. "If it makes you feel better, coming here was a big change for me too."

"Oh, I'm sure it was," Percival said flippantly before he realized what he was saying. His expression changed, fading into a look of contrite concern. "Oh. I'm sorry, I've been rambling and not even thinking. You...must be so out of your element here, so much more than me."

Lo Hak grinned up at him, silently telling Percival there was no foul. "Sort of. I'm used to crowds and towns, so it's not that different in that respect. What's most different is I don't have my siblings." He paused for a moment, thinking of the large, bear of a man and dainty girl that were his family. "It's tough, being without them. I can't remember a time when I wasn't. They're my brother and sister, but also my mom and dad. Being separated is...weird."

"Well, I can say I do know how that feels," Percival mused. He slid off the table and went to fetch his clothing, seeing as the massage appeared to be over and he felt awkward conversing in just a towel. "But, it's one of those things we all go through, sooner or later. Leaving the nest, finding our own way. For better or worse."

"True," Lo Hak agreed, suddenly reaching to grasp his own head and jerk it sharply to each side, a loud crack sounding as he did so and he sighed in relief. There was quiet for a moment, and Lo Hak's mind drifted in the silence, mulling over his problems with Wyatt, and he unknowingly produced a pained sigh of frustration.

Percival popped his head out from behind the changing screen when he heard the cracking noise, but seeing nothing amiss, he went back to what he was doing and came out in his shirt and breeches, the laces of the shirt undone across his chest. He handed the towel back to Lo Hak. "Thank you, for at least trying to relieve my stress," he smiled. "I don't know that I helped much, getting into a mood like this."

Lo Ha caught the towel and began to fold it deftly, not even looking as he did so, supple fingers moving through the motions with practiced ease. He smiled at Percival, blue eyes sparkling merrily in the lamplight. "I'm always glad to give a massage and listen," Lo Hak assured him. "I know I like to chat, but I can listen to, and sometimes that's what people need most."

Percival perked up with a cute smile in return. "They say bartenders are the ones to go to for an ear to listen, but they've got nothing on a masseur." He ruffled a hand through his hair at the back of his neck. "I feel a little silly, though, for getting all moody on you. I do feel better than I did an hour ago, I will say that."

Lo Hak giggled. "Trust me, I have dealt with moodier than you. I once had a woman in tears for two hours while I tried to console her." What he didn't add was said woman was so desperate to have someone 'love her' after he husband left her he actually had to call security to escort or out lest she jump him or some other male member of the spa.

"Oh...that's terrible," Percival said absently, leaning against the wall. "I suppose you learn all kinds of interesting things about people - considering you've got them at their most vulnerable, naked and flat on their faces."

"Sometimes," Lo Hak admitted. "I'm good at keeping secrets though, and I respect my customers. There have been a few that I've been less than kind to - one shouldn't anger the masseur. We know where nerve clusters are," he grinned wryly at Percival.

A shiver involuntarily twitched Percival's shoulders. "I don't doubt you for a minute," he said warily. "I've read about fighting techniques that utilize pressure points, but I wouldn't know the first thing about how to employ them. The finesse of the sword is hard enough to master." He shook his head. "I'll remember not to anger you, at least not on purpose."

Lo Hak laughed. "Well, I'll give you some hints." He stood and took off his shirt and turned his back to Percival. His long fingers reached out and swirled at the base of his back. "There's one here - this can cause paralysis if hit right." He reached to the sides of his neck. "These can do the same, but can also block rune working." He turned to face Percival in the front and tapped his arms and chest in several places. "Numbing, and also dull rune work," he said. "For for those spots, and you can do damage without knowing it."

The knight stared in wonder. "You can block someone's rune energy by hitting the right pressure point?" he breathed. "That's frightening to know..."

"Well, it's not permanent, and it depends on how powerful the rune user is," Lo Hak shrugged. "But, no matter the user's power, it can at least knock a bit of the bite off their spells and buy time."

"I suppose..." Percival splayed out his right hand to look at the simple Water rune on the back of it. "Runes require your own energy to cast the spell...the more exhausted you are, the harder it is to cast a high level one." He lifted his head and shrugged at Lo Hak. "It makes sense, the way you explain it."

"Yeah, the books are long winded, but that's basically what it does," Lo Hak shrugged again. He hadn't actually read books on it, since he couldn't read more than a few basic words. He'd actually discovered half the spots by himself when customers pissed him off, and the other half by watching such people as acupuncturists and therapeutical masseurs - and then applying the maneuvers in fights by accident. Hey, whatever worked.

"A good listener and a source of useful information." Percival straightened up and clapped a hand to the islander's shoulder. "You're a good man to have around, Lo Hak."

Lo Hak grinned. "Happy to be of service!" he chirped.

"You've been quite a help," Percival insisted, beginning to pat himself down and realizing he had no potch on him - he'd put the drink on his tab. "Oh, damn," he complained. "It looks like I owe you for more than just listening to me whine."

"Don't worry about it," Lo Hak dismissed it with an idle wave. "This one is on the house," he winked.

"Are you sure?" Percival fretted. "I mean, you opened up just for me, and everything. The least I could do is repay your kindness."

"Well, I could use with a massage myself, but I don't think that's your forte," Lo Hak chuckled. "Or you can just buy me a drink next time we go to the tavern or something. Trust me, this isn't a big deal," he assured the knight.

"All right," Percival relented. "I'll buy the next round, if nothing else. I'll make it up to you somehow." He began to gather the bits of his armor together, completely unwilling to put any of them on, but finding that it was going to be hard to carry it all to his room. "I guess I hadn't thought of that - what does a masseur do when he's the one who needs a massage?"

"Go to another masseur," Lo Hak deadpanned with all seriousness.

Percival straightened up and blinked at him, and then chuckled. "I don't suppose there are any others to be had nearby. Ah...I don't mean to keep owing you favors, but I don't suppose you could help me with my armor?"

"You can leave it here for tonight, if you want," Lo Hak shrugged. "I can let you in early, but if you don't want to do that I can help you carry it too, yeah," he said as he rose, holding up a finger to tell Percival to wait a minute as he nearly bent over double backwards, his spine crackling in a merry tune as he popped it.

Percival's eyes went wide again as he watched in awe - and a little discomfort. His body would never do that if he asked it to. "For saint's sake, Lo Hak..." he gasped.

"What?" Lo Hak asked innocently as he tugged his arms behind his back to crack his shoulders and rolled his neck.

"Nothing," Percival said with a shake of his head. "I wouldn't want to wake you up too early, so it would be best to take my armor back with me now. I think I've got the rest, if you could carry my greaves?" He gestured with his toe to the leg armor and boot-tips still on the floor.

Lo Hak nodded and bent, gathering the armor to his chest. He lead Percival out of the paths and locked them with a key this time. "Lead the way, good knight," he teased.

Percival smirked as he led the way back through the ship to the manor. "I'd better never catch you with that lock-pick near my door, now that you'll know where it is," he teased.

Lo Hak laughed at that. "Trust me, if I was picking your door, you wouldn't be around to catch me. I'm an ex-thief, not an idiot."

"So noted," Percival laughed. It seemed the friendly company was what he needed, more than the drink or the massage, to find his good humor again.

Lo Hak bounced along beside Percival, enjoying the cool evening air and the underlying taste of the lake as a breeze slowly moved through the grounds. He looked down at the greaves in his arms. "Doesn't all this stuff making fighting and sneaking around difficult?" he asked. "Goddess, any half decent look-out would hear you from the other side of the world."

"Knights aren't supposed to sneak," Percival answered with a smart lilt. "We're the ones who charge in head-first, on the front lines. When you're the lead in a line of cavalry, you need this armor to keep from getting a spear through your chest."

"Point," Lo Hak acknowledged. "Still, I can't imagine wearing this stuff all the time. No wonder you people need massages regularly."

"It's saved me more times than I can count, and I'm used to it," Percival tried to explain as he led the way up the stairs from the dungeon and then to the flight to the upper level. "Though I'm the first to admit it's not the most efficient armor design in the world. Have you seen the Queen's Knights from Falena? They have some beautiful armor."

Lo Hak shook his head. "I've seen Kyle, Lyon, Freyjadour, and Miakis, but I haven't seen them in armor."

"I had the honor of having Kyle's armor repaired after he was injured," Percival murmured, practically swooning over the thought of that lovely overlapped scale armor. "It's gorgeous work. It hugs their bodies and doesn't impede movement. I can only imagine what it would be like riding in that kind of armor."

"Then why not get a set made?" Lo Hak asked.

"Oh, I'm sure such a thing is exclusive to their order," Percival gasped, glancing at Lo Hak as they reached the door at the corner of the hallway. "I'm no Queen's Knight, I wouldn't be allowed. To say nothing of being against our own dress code. Still..." He sighed lightly as he fumbled to unlock the door and let himself in. "It's splendid armor. I'll have to admire from afar."

Lo Hak shoved Percival aside and slid the greaves beneath one arm, taking out the pick once more and undoing Percival's lock in roughly the same amount of time as it took to do the baths lock, kicking the door open lightly. "Rules, rules, rules," he shook his head as he stood back to let Percival go in first.

Giving him a look of mingled displeasure and gratitude - a rather crooked look, at that - Percival stepped into his quiet room. Again, no sign of Borus returning. He piled the rest of his armor in the same spot he did every night. "That's what it means to be a knight," he said airily. "Rules to live by."

Lo Hak shrugged and put the greaves in the pile with respect and cracked his knuckles. "To each his own," he sing-songed. "Oh, and by the way, I'd change that lock. It took me roughly seven seconds this time. Next time it'll take three," he grinned slyly, teasing the knight.

Percival gave him another sour look. "And here I thought simply keeping it locked would deter cravat-thieves. Fine. I'll have to speak to Lord Thomas about that." He breathed a sigh and set his hands on his hips. "Well, I appreciate the help, thank you. I'll make it up to you sometime, I promise."

Lo Hak chuckled. "Don't worry to much about it. I did it as a favor, not to get paid," he waved away the knight's concern once more.

Accepting it with a tilt of his head, Percival escorted the younger man to the door. "As I said before, I do keep my promises. So count on that." He mustered up a kind smile for Lo Hak. "Thanks, again. And good night."

"Night," Lo Hak smiled and held up his pick. "Shall I lock the door for you?"

Percival shooed him out with a hasty wave, trying to stifle a smirk the whole time.

Lo Hak just grinned and began to whistle as the door was shut, locking it anyways, just because he could, before heading for the baths and his room.