daybreakacademy | SPRING BREAK

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SPRING BREAK - MARSEILLE

SPRING BREAK - MARSEILLE
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With the end of finals and the (hopeful) release of all the related stressors, the university offers all students a chance for a little R&R. In this case, with the end of Winter Quarter and the beginning of Spring Break, all students are all given fully paid leave to return to their hometowns if desired and visit their families. In addition, students will have the opportunity to take an all-expenses-paid trip to a fun locale to spend their break.

This year, Spring Break is in Provence. Students will stay in the city of Marseille for the duration, and will be able to explore the city and take part in a number of events around the city. Students will be staying at the Intercontinental Marseille - Hotel Dieu, with all meals provided and a number of tickets for entertainment available. While it is a bit on the cooler side to enjoy the legendary beaches of Provence, the arts scene, food and drink should more than make up for it.

This log is completely open for students and any accompanying faculty to navigate as they please. The hotel is a five-star operation that the school has rented out which means the amenities are lavish and the food is top-notch. Any events in and around the city students are able to attend, their admittance covered entirely by the school.

This log can also be used to cover any personal spring break activities, regardless of whether they're in Marseille or not.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thanks.

[ And boy is he genuinely grateful. James lets himself fall onto the bed next to Keith and holds his hand to the side, expecting wonderful soothing salvation. ]

[He squirts a generous amount of aloe vera into James' outstretched hand, then does the same for himself. He winces as he raises his arm up to opposite shoulder. The aloe is immediately soothing, but it's a little like using an ice cube to put out a kitchen fire.]

Can't believe we lost track of time like that.

[ James finds himself near exactly mimicking Keith's movement and that shouldn't be strange because there are only so many ways to apply ointment... but sitting next to each other so in sync is still a novel experience. ]

That's what you'd call the 'heat of competition', I suppose. My rivalry declaration is starting to catch up to us again.

Not much of a rivalry if I just don't like seeing you all smug.

[Stated somewhat flatly as Keith tries to get the aloe between his shoulder blades. Annoyed, he finally just pulls his hair to one side and indeed just squirts more aloe vera directly on his back, shivering as the gel cools.]

You had fun playing, didn't you?

[ James certainly felt like they both had a good time today and he'd be a little sad to hear it refuted. When he looks over at Keith, he's distracted by the graceless attempts at using the aloe. ]

Turn your back to me, I'll do it.

[ This is just... pitiful to look at, wastes aloe, and will stain everything later. ]

[There's a blink in his direction, like he wasn't really expecting an offer to help with this. Some natural aversion to being touched by people kicks up, but in the end... the sunburn hurts. Keith turns his back to James slowly.]

...if you can call losing to you, "fun."

[A beat, then more quietly.]

We should play again some time.

[ Maybe it's a good thing that Keith's back is now turned to James, because that means Keith can't see the smile spreading over his face. Maybe it's a smug smile. Maybe it isn't. But it's honest and hard to hold back. ]

You're on for a rematch. Definitely.

[ James is gentle when he puts his hands on Keith's back, dipping into the aloe to spread it with slow circular motions. He's never noticed just how much paler than him Keith is, but seeing how badly he burns up sure is driving the point home. ]

[Gentle as James may be, Keith flinches at first at the pressure on burnt skin. It takes another moment before he relaxes again, letting the breath he'd been holding go slowly.]

I'll kick your ass next time.

[Stated a little quietly as he looks at the bedsheets. James' hands feel good on his back from the gel and that's a strange thought in itself.]

I'm not going to make that easy for you.

[ Even under the cool aloe, James can feel that Keith's body is burning up. Whenever their rematch happens, they'll really need to factor in sunscreen beforehand.

James takes his time in making sure that Keith's burns are evenly covered in ointment, even though that leads to an awkwardly long period of sitting close. Have they ever been this close without hitting each other...? Probably not. ]

...could you help me with my back after I'm done with yours?

[ He's not sure why he's speaking quietly now. ]

Didn't think you would.

[He stays unnaturally still as James works for reasons he can't fully explain to himself. Part of it just comes down to soreness and not wanting to move and have the other's fingers jab unexpectedly, but part of it's just some inexplicable tension. The way even the tone of their conversation's gone increasingly quiet's creating this weird atmosphere.

He hasn't let anyone touch him all gently like this for as long as he can remember, and th knowledge sits in his mind in a vacuum that threatens to expand and occupy even more space the longer he dwells on it. Wanting literally whatever distraction is offered to him, Keith turns to unthinkingly look over his shoulder at James when spoken to, then blinks and hastily looks forward again.]

I -- [Fuck.] ... yeah. Sure.

[ What's with that quickly broken eye contact? James can't help but awkwardly stare down at his hands after, unable to escape the weirdly intimate atmosphere that has settled around them uninvitedly. A bit quicker than before, he lets his hands slide over Keith's back one last time and then lets go. His heartbeat is faster than it should be and he's glad that it's his turn to face away from Keith now. ]

I'm ready.

[His back and shoulders radiate heat, but he can feel it creeping up his neck and cheeks too, as he bites the inside of his lip. This was awkward as hell, and he isn't able to relax until after James' hands come off his back. Even then, the reprieve is short-lived, though it's enough that he's able to turn without being too stiff about it.]

Thanks.

[Maybe it would've all felt less awkward if James hadn't said I'm ready and made the follow up question of ready for what? come so stupidly instinctively despite knowing exactly what that had been in reference to only to be faced with a bare back that he has to touch. Keith breathes out slowly, then squeezes more aloe onto his hands. Forcing all of that out of mind, Keith gently places his hands between James' shoulder blades.]

...lemme know if it hurts.

[ Having Keith massage aloe into his back feels even weirder than being the one doing the massaging. It's passive and though 'vulnerable' is the wrong word for it, it still feels kind of appropriate. ]

Mhm. Stings a bit, but that's fine.

[ To be expected after they let themselves foolishly get barbecued alive. ]

[For what truly little it's worth, being the one to do the touching isn't as awkward, but even so it's still not like Keith's done this for another person before. Carefully, he spreads the aloe over burned shoulders and tries to ignore the weirdness that was all the excessive skin contact today.

James' skin feels hot under his fingers, and it's easier to feel vindictive about it, even while he's trying to help the burn. James deserves it for picking him up all weird and shit. Probably.]

Why didn't you go home for spring break?

[ It hadn't really occurred to James to make conversation, but now that Keith is starting, he is pretty grateful to be focusing on something aside from Keith's hands on his skin. ]

We just got here, it felt weird to go home again. Maybe I paradoxically thought I'd be more homesick if I went back so soon.

Ever think maybe you should just go back home if you miss it?

[The question's immediate. James' sentiments just aren't ones Keith understands in the end. But maybe it's just down to their usual differences in life circumstances again. Usually is.

Conversation's a bit of a double edged sword though. On the one hand, distractions are great. One the other it's also a distraction from being as careful as possible. His fingers swipe gel over a burn with a little more force than warranted.]

[ James lets out a brief self-ironic chuckle at that. ]

About thrice a da--- ow!

[ Being rough like this fits Keith infinitely more than the gentle brushes from before, but that doesn't mean it's enjoyable. ]

We really need better sunscreen for that rematch.

[Hands move away from James' back reflexively.]

Sorry.

[A beat, then he gingerly touches the other's shoulder again.]

Didn't think you were that sensitive.

[Not that this is all that surprising considering his own back and shoulders still feel hot and burning even with the aloe vera, but when given the choice between snarking and dwelling on the inherent weirdness that his him attempting to take care of James, Keith knows which is his preference.]

Neither did I!

[ It's a heartfelt protest. James has never been this sunburnt in his life. Or if he has been, it was as a child and he'd forgotten all about it. Funny how you can live in a desert all your life, but being in France for a few months immediately makes you forget proper suncare. ]

I still had fun this afternoon though.

[There's a light squeeze of James' shoulder.]

Toughen up.

[Tone playful, but his grip loosens immediately afterwards; it's not meant to be torturous.]

[ Keith gets to enjoy how James tenses up under the tightness immediately, groaning. ]

This is how you repay my gentle massage? For shame.

[There's a laugh at that reaction, but his fingers stay light as he applies more gel to the rest of the burns.]

Hey, you knew what you were getting into.

[ When no more torture follows, James relaxes into the touch again - it's far too easy to do, the aloe is heavenly on his fire-y skin. ]

Maybe so, but you really went out of your way for it this time.

[ There's no real bite behind the complaint. ]

You want a kiss to make it better or something? Quit whining already.

[Likewise there's no real bite to this either, but there is one last somewhat firm prod at James' shoulder blade before Keith sits back.]

All done.

[ This is teasing that James normally would take without a second thought, but something about the whole 'shirtless wet massages' deal really makes the word 'kiss' jump out in a way that makes his heartbeat catch before he can properly contextualize it and calm down. ]

... thanks.

[ Why is he back to mumbling? He's not entirely sure, but man, he wishes he could just stop being shirtless already. ]

Want to check what's on TV while we wait for our skin to calm down?

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