Alastair would argue that everything that had happened to him (or most of it) over the past years of his teenage life was self-inflicted. But if being the victim of circumstances was what brought him into this bathtub of flowery warmth, then he could guarantee he would accept it without a moments hesitation. Bubble baths were good; so good. And you know what makes them even better? The scent of lavender, an obnoxiously oversized tub to sink into and water so warm it cooked one like a noodle.

He inhaled deeply and let out a long groan of satisfaction.

This bath is a taste of heaven.

Alastair let his eyes open after a long moment of silence. Face to face with a pile of foamy bubbles, he contemplated life-

(Author note: I'm lying to you guys, Alastair does not simply contemplate life in a bathtub.)

A sharp knock sounded and Alastair snapped out of his blank daze. The door creaked open an inch and hushed voices squeezed through the gap as the door began to struggle; inching open only to jerk back seconds later as if whoever opened the door wasn't certain they wanted to come in. Alastair thought for a moment - he had recognised Deo's voice as one of the two, but the other was higher and more feminine; one he did not recognise.

"Deo you ugly, stupid-" The voice cut as something (no, someone) thudded loudly to the floor, "May both sides of your pillow be warm tonight and every night onwards."

And the door flew open, startling Alastair into inhaling a lungful of bubbles, setting him coughing as a girl brandished a towel in the doorway, Deo hanging from her waist with an expression of absolute and utter mortification. 

"Alastair I'm so sorry-" The girl shoved a hand into Deo's face, cutting him off and making him let go of her as his hand reflexively moved to pry her fingers off his face. She smiled at Alastair as she did so, brown eyes glittering with curiosity as she detangled herself from Deo. 

He noted briefly that the two shared the same dark skin tone, and although her hair and eyes were brown, Alastair saw the resemblance. What seemed to not resemble each other, however, was their personalities. She strode to him and seized his chin, pulling his face in different directions, brown eyes narrowed.

"So you like pretty men, huh? Deo." She dropped his chin with a victorious smirk before skipping from the room, "MUMMMM, DEO LIKES..."

Her voice was drowned out as Alastair burst into laughter. Deo looked as if he was screaming internally and couldn't decide between apologizing or denying all allegations. Trembling (with something Alastair imagined to be barely contained anger and embarrassment), Deo reached for the fallen towel the girl had dropped during her inspection of Alastair, robotically folding it.

He folded it to perfection.

"That was quite a first impression," Alastair started, watching with cheer as Deo slowly came back to the living world, "Your sister?" He figured it would be better to ask, even though it seemed obvious.

Deo refused to look Alastairs way.

"Unfortunately..." He huffed, scowling, "She thinks that since she's married, she can forget all decency and do whatever she wants."

Alastair smothered his laugh. 

Although Acelin would likely drop dead before doing anything indecent, as a sibling, Alastair could relate. Most people with siblings probably could.

"Please forget everything that just happened."

Alastair let a shit-eating grin take its place on his face as he found his feet and stood up. He winced, body aching with the movement.

"I don't think I can." He made eye contact with Deo as the other boy finally looked over, "Every time I see this bathroom, I'm going to remember it."