Aroma

Date/Timing: 20 May 2006
Setting: Edan's dorm, UoM; Manchester, England, United Kingdom
.
Edan steps into the shower stall, surveys his supplies: shampoo (gentle formula, chamomile scent), soap (lavender, oatmeal, and honey), washcloth (freshly laundered), towel (also freshly laundered and tossed over the wall of the cubicle), his own naked self. He bounces on his toes, twists on the water, and gets down to the work of cleaning up.
He sluices off, presses his nose to his arm, inhales deeply.
Shampoo, lavender, generic skin smell.
Edan frowns, tries again.
Same result.
He towels himself dry, tries again.
Same result, though now there's some detergent scent in the mix.
Edan frowns harder as he wraps the towel around his waist, gathers his stuff, and trumps back to his room. He works the door, locks up behind, demands, "Smell me."
Rhys doesn't look up from his book. "This isn't some sexual thing, is it?"
Edan rolls his eyes. "You're not my type. Just—"
"Not skinny /or nerdy enough for you?"
"Just get down here and do it."
"Magic words."
"Please," sighs Edan.
Rhys grunts, climbs from his bunk to the floor. He leans close, nose near the base of Edan's neck.
Edan giggles, fights an urge to curl up.
Rhys straightens away. "Mite ticklish, are we?"
"Maybe," Edan grumps. "What do I smell like?"
"Hmm ...." Rhys closes his eyes, rocks on his heels. "Baby shampoo, lavender soap, and the barest hint of ... it's on the tip of my tongue ...."
Edan taps his foot. 
"/That's it." Rhys smirks. "It's /ginger ... from Scotland, I believe. A most distinct—"
"Don't make me punch you."
Rhys signals surrender. "Save your hands for more delicate pursuits."
Edan huffs as he blushes.
"Trying to smell like Hermann, Gingersnap?"
"Yea ... got him to tell me everything he uses, but ...."
"No chalk dust."
"No chalk dust," agrees Edan.
"Maybe it's a chemistry thing: how the stuff interacts with his and only his skin creates the aroma."
"But, /chalk?"
Rhys shrugs. "Why does every old person's house smell the same? One of life's many mysteries, that. Maybe this's another one."
Edan sighs, shuffles to his dresser for fresh clothes.
Behind him, Rhys chuckles.
"What's so funny?" He steps into his pants.
"The combination is actually rather pleasant on you, a little old man-ly, but pleasant."
Edan sparkles around. "Really?"
"Yea, I think I like it better than your usual. It's more masculine, much less fruity," drawls Rhys.
Edan flings the damp towel at him. "Very funny, Swansea."
"Seriously, though. You usually carry the whiff of a princess party with you."
"What does /that mean?"
"You smell /pink. I'm surprised you don't have a permanent entourage of pre-teen girls."
"That would be /brilliant!"
"Do I need to put you on the register?"
"/No. Just—" Waves extravagantly. "—I'm just picturing myself leading groups of young ladies to the stars." He sighs, wistful.
"Wonderful. It's not even finals and you've already gone mad. Delusions of grandeur."
"Dream big or stay awake, I say."
"That makes /no bloody sense."
"I don't care~!"
Rhys rolls his eyes. "Finish dressing so we can get to dinner without an indecency charge."
"Fiiine."
Category:Ficlet
Category:Edan
Category:Edan's POV
Category:Edan (ficlet)
Category:Rhys
Category:Rhys (ficlet)
Category:Hermann (mention)
Category:Ficlets with images
Category:Manchester (setting)
2006 05 20
Category:Pages with comments
Category:Celestial Mechanics