asthehawkflies | [#000] Appointments

Alright then. Gimme a second.

[He sips at his drink, considering for a moment while he watches Saori pull out an instrument that he doesn't really recognise. He hums softly for a moment before starting to sing in a low voice.]

Childhood living is easy to do
The things you wanted I bought them for you

[She sips from her own drink, listening to him sing with a very pleased looking smile on her face.]

[Well, Saori looks like she's enjoying it so he continues, voice becoming a bit more confident.]

Graceless lady you know who I am
You know I can't let you slide through my hands
Wild horses, couldn't drag me away
Wild wild horses couldn't drag me away

[She just grins, shifting to better regard him as he sings. She won't interrupt till he's done, and she is definitely happy]

[He reaches the end of the song and stops, giving a soft, awkward laugh, because all he knows is old rock and roll songs and nothing quite so classy as she deserves.]

[She's beaming at him. Old rock is something Yuuna enjoyed, and by extension, Saori had grown to appreciate it.]

That was lovely! Really, really lovely! Adele was right, you do have a lovely singing voice!

[Her smile is pretty infectious and ducks forward to kiss her cheek impulsively.]

I'm glad you think so. It's nothing I've ever really thought about much. I just enjoy it sometimes.

So, I get to hear you play now?

[She beams and kisses him back before he can pull away.]

Of course you do.

[And she begins to play. Slowly, at first, but with a gradually rising in speed and tone. An old tune from her country. She sings in her native language, though his wings would tell him the meaning without difficulty.]

Haru koro no hana no en
Meguru sakazuki kagesashite
Chiyo no matsu ga e wakeideshi
Mukashi no hikari Ima izuko
Mukashi no hikari Ima izuko

Aki jinei no schimo no iro
Nakiyuku kari no kazu misete
Uuru tsurugi ni terisoishi
Mukashi no hikari ima izuko

Ima kojo no yowa no tsuki
Kawaranu hikari ta ga tame zo
Kaki ni nokoru wa tada kazura
Matsu ni uto wa tada arashi

Tenjokage wa kawaranedo
Eiko wa utsuru yo no sugata
Utsusan toteka ima mo nao
Ah! Kojo no yowa no tsuki

[By the time she's finished, Saori's eyes have filled with strong emotions, the song always calling up evocative images of home, an idealized past, and of things she'd never have. She didn't cry, but she was definitely really into the music, and when it was over, she sagged forward a bit, clearly drained, but smiling.

[He knows that she's singing in Japanese, a language that he's never learnt, but he can understand it anyway. Her voice is full of emotion when she sings it, strong enough for him to feel an echo of it. It makes his chest tight, makes tears prick at the corners of his eyes at the beauty of it.

When she falls forward, he leans over, sliding an arm around her to pull her close, and pressing his lips against her hair.]

It's beautiful. Thank you.

[Inadequate words, but perhaps she'll forgive him that.]

[Saori sets the harp down on the blanket and leans into him, turning a bit to embrace him back and face him. Her eyes sparkled, and she couldn't help but huff out the softest laugh.]

Thank you, for listening.

[He hugged her close for a moment, then smiled at her, her laughter making him feel warm.]

I'm glad to. I enjoyed it.

I am glad you did.

[She hugs back, leaning her head against his shoulder.]

Would...you like a massage, Clint?

[She knows it's her birthday, but...something in her feels it's nice to offer. And his back is right there...]

[He looks a little surprised at the offer.]

Are you sure?

[It's a little uncertain. His back is a mess and this is her birthday and...]

I mean, if you want, I'd like that. I really like massages.

Well, would I have offered if I wasn't sure?

[She gives him a long, thoughtful look, and nods once, pushing him down gently]

But you'll owe me one later.

Fair point.

[He lets her push him down, and he hadn't been lying. His shoulders got knotted pretty badly sometimes.]

I'm quite happy to return the favour. Don't worry.

Uh... My back's kind of a mess. Just warning you now. [Not that he thought she'd mind, he just preferred to warn people before.]

I'm sure I've seen worse. Don't worry.

[She peels up his shirt, taking in the mess that was his back with an appraising look. It was torn up, covered in scars, and showed signs of some pretty brutal abuse. Her long fingers trace up and down them, unbothered by it all, and began to knead into various ki lines in his body. Loosening them might take time, but unblocking them would refresh him in a way he might not have known possible. Like acupuncture with her fingers. At first it might feel strange, but after a moment or two, she was certain Clint would begin to feel fresh energy flowing through his entire body.

As she works, she leans over him, speaking near his ear.]

How's that?

[He lets her push up his shirt and shrugs it off over his head to make it easier for her. It wasn't quite what he was expecting, the way she touched him, less punishing than he was used to as part of his physiotherapy, but it felt amazing. He felt like all of the constant aches and pains that he carried around with him constantly were being soothed away, refreshing in a way that baffled him, but he wasn't going to complain.

He shivers a little when he feels her breath against his ear.]

Amazing. Don't think I've felt anything like it.

[She feels that shiver, and redoubles her efforts, fingers sliding all around his back before she begins to give a more modern style rub. Her fingers flex and dig into tense shoulder muscles gently. She keeps her voice low.]

I expect not. It's something I learned in Heaven.

[Yes, Heaven has massage techniques.]

Is there anywhere that's particularly stiff?

[His breath hitches in surprise at that.]

Heaven. That's a real place?

[Loki and Thor came from Asgard and he hadn't been sure where Saori was from, but Heaven is real? And they do amazing massages, god, this feels good.]

Mmmm, my shoulders get pretty knotted. Even warming up, shooting for four or five hours a day does that.

[He gives a soft laugh.]

I am gonna have killer arthritis in ten years, I'm sure.

Heaven is very real, though...not as you'd think of it.

[She keeps massaging]

We call it Tengoku, the Sky country. Some might call it the Spirit World. But...it's quite real.

[And Saori laughs at that]

Not if I have anything to say about it.

No fluffy clouds and people with wings wearing white robes... oh wait, that's actually creepily familiar.

[Damn it, Luceti. Ruining the standard image of heaven as well.]

What's it like then, the real heaven that you know?

[He twists a little so he can just glance up at her.]

My hands already get screwed up in the cold. The damage is done.

The real heaven? It's...actually a lot like this.

[She pauses and flops down beside him, eyes watching his. Her hand still moves in circles against his back, despite the position.]

Gardens, blossoms, a gentle breeze. It's never too warm, and never too cold. Spirits tend the trees, and there's always fruit. The air is clean, and the smells are sweet.

[She sighs wistfully, a nostalgic breath.]

It's...well...it's perfection. The gardens that you might see in photos of my home are modeled on visions of it. Incomplete, but things seen by humans in our mirrors.

[Her eyes dart down to his hands]

Show me. Maybe I can help.

Yeah? Well, here is pretty perfect. I can believe it. Beats clouds and harps I think.

[He shifts position a little, to make it easier for her, moving closer.

After a moment, he holds up his hands for her to see.]

I have trouble when I wake up sometimes, and the cold gets into my joints. It's the price I pay for being this good.

Oh, clouds have their place, as do harps, but only in other heavens.

[She stops rubbing his back, instead reaching out to touch his hands. Her own fingers are still dainty and soft, despite the centuries of martial arts, but quite firm as they take his hands. And she begins to apply the same rubbing technique to the joints, smooth, centrifugal motions meant to soothe away aches and pains.]

That is something of a downside to being skilled at an art that strains the body, to be sure.

I think I like this one better. The company is fantastic.

[Her hands are much smaller than his, but no less strong, and when she rubs them, it feels better, soothing away some of the ache which he's just learned to live with.],/small>

It is. Wouldn't give up archery though.

[#000] Appointments

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