[Open] It's getting hot in here

[showsnopiety]

Who: Caren and anyone visiting the hot springs!
When: Post dungeon, could be right after fail/success, could be days after
Where: Hot Springs of course
What: There's a hot springs, so now there's a hot springs episode.
Rating: Could be a p-13 and beyond because some people are only wearing towels in this place.





[Win or fail, everyone needed a reason and a way to relax. With the fall of the towers, there was all sorts of good things to come from it. Some would say it was the birds; and others would say it was the hot springs.

The large, large pools of heated water. Sure, they could be used as a way to get all steamed up (or even steam punk) but after all that hard work, everyone deserves a break!

Bring your swimsuits, your towels, your drinks and snacks-who knows, you should be able to find them in the bazaars, or even on Airy. It's time to soak in the heat!]

Comments

[sediments]

[ Ah, Jae-ha does look so comfortable in the water.

Bolin perks up upon seeing him, sitting down on the edge of the water, setting his towel on the rocks as he ease both his feet back in to get used to the hot water. ]

Hey, Jae-ha! You look like you're having a good time. This is nice after the dungeon, huh?

[ He wiggles his toes in the water before sliding in the rest of his legs followed by the rest of his body. ]

[flirtations]

Yes. There's nothing like a good bath to lift the spirits and calm a weary body--

[ He was going to keep rambling about how nice treating yourself after a battle is, but he's pretty caught off-guard by how Bolin just kinda jumps into the spring wearing clothes. ]

Bolin-kun, why are you wearing clothes into the bath? [ Da fuq ]

[sediments]

[ ???

Bolin shoots Jae-ha a puzzled look before looking down at his trunks, or at least their blurry outline through the water. ]

They're swimming trunks. [ Maybe Jae-ha's never heard of them? They're different from the swimsuits Bolin has back in Republic City too. ] They're meant for the water.

[flirtations]

But we're in a hot spring. Even with the mixed bath situation, it's not like you can see anything when everyone is submerged. [ If they were at the beach he could see it, but he just doesn't. Plus: ]

It's a very loud and confusing pattern.

[sediments]

[ Bolin listens to Jae-ha's response with the utmost respect, nodding along as though the topic is of great importance.

It's not of course, nd Bolin really doesn't have any plans to take off his trunks—he doesn't see the point. ]

So... are you saying you want me to get naked? [ As much as he wants it to come across as a genuine question, the look he gives Jae-ha is helplessly amused, like he can't help but find the situation funny. ] Isn't that kind of weird?

[flirtations]

[ Well, that's not what he was getting at, he's legitimately just confused about this new cultural exposure of wearing clothes into a hot spring, so Jae-ha's eyes widen in surprise at the question. It's pretty clear from his expression that he's not serious, which is a relief.

It doesn't take long before he regains his composure, and he wades closer to Bolin, close enough that their foreheads nearly touch. His smile is amused, too. ]

Is it?

If that's true, could anyone blame me?

[sediments]

[ He looks somewhat fond as Jae-ha approaches him, though his eyes go wide when the distance between them swiftly approaches zero. It's not that surprising that the other man's taking the easy route to tease him; he still remembers how comfortable Jae-ha had been stripping off his clothes at his birthday party. (Maybe he can ask Jae-ha tips on how to be smooth when flirting.)

For his part, Bolin just laughs a little and gives Jae-ha's shoulder a friendly shove. ]

Hey, don't get so close to me when you're buck naked!

[flirtations]

[ Truthfully, he's used to much more... displeased or violent reactions following such a gestures, so the fact that Bolin takes it in stride and with such good nature makes him smile. He pulls away, laughing as he pretends to rub the "hit" on his shoulder. ]

In all seriousness, though, do you think I should get one of those, too? [ Would it help everyone be more at ease? It seems like half the people here are just relying on their towels, and the others are in swimsuits. It must be a cultural divide. ]

And how are you doing, Bolin-kun? You didn't get too hurt in that dungeon, did you?

[sediments]

You should do whatever makes you comfortable. [ Bolin offers, relaxing into the water and apparently not all that concerned about Jae-ha’s nakedness despite his previous protests. They’re both men after all, and Jae-ha doesn’t have anything that he’s not familiar with. ] It’s not like there are signs saying you can’t be naked… But some people might not want to sit with you, I guess.

[ Jae-ha had asked him a question, but Bolin is considerably more interested in this thread of conversation. ]

Well, unless you’re hoping for company that you might scare off by being naked.

[ This gets the other man a sly little smile, before he finally moves on to address the other question. ]

Oh, I got knocked around a bit! But it wasn’t too bad.

[flirtations]

Eh? What do you mean? Why would anyone be scared off by the sight of my naked body, I'm very pleasing to behold!

[ Is he being serious? It's hard to tell, honestly. He'll address the second point in a minute, once he stops being so huffy.

It doesn't take long, because he's definitely not serious, and he stifles a laugh. ]

You ranked up recently too, didn't you? I wish I had a better idea of what I'm supposed to do with these new abilities.

[sediments]

[ It's nice that Jae-ha has a healthy amount of confidence in himself, and Bolin just smiles along in response, looking amused by the other man claim, but his expression not betraying what he really thinks about—not because Bolin has some sort of master pokerface, but because really doesn't have much of an opinion. Jae-ha has a nice body he guesses, he look pretty well taken care of at least.

The rank ups get him considerably more interested, and he rubs his chin as he thinks about it. ]

Yeah, I did. [ He'd rather get his old abilities back than earn this new rank. ] And I guess we just... train?

[flirtations]

[ It's okay, no one needs to pat that oversized ego. ]

I guess so. We won't get anywhere without practice. What were you promoted to?

[sediments]

Me? Apparently I got ranked as a Queen. [ Bolin doesn't look too happy about this - more ambivalent toward the class than anything else. ] I don't really think it suits me though.

[ Oh well! He shoots Jae-ha a curious look. ]

What about you?

[flirtations]

The same. And you're telling me-- I don't think I'll ever warm up to the idea of standing still to fire an attack.

[ Who decided these things, really? But, that gives him an idea. ]

Maybe we should train together. No one has more patience for amateurs than other amateurs.

[sediments]

Yeah! [ Bolin's empathetic response. ] That's the worst. Even if it's earth magic, I'm usually able to just...

[ He sweeps an arm out, and nothing happens. He doesn't expect it to. ]

But yeah, maybe it won't be so bad once we train with it. [ He's more interested in training with his new weapon, but sure. ] What kind of magic are you using?

[flirtations]

[ Jae-ha watches Bolin do the dramatic sweep with his arm. This seems to imply that he had something similar to Earth magic back home, however, which is complete news to him. Maybe it shouldn’t be, considering how everyone seemed to have an interesting story related to their abilities. Maybe that’s why the gods of Blanc had chosen them. ]

You were given Earth magic here, too? At least it’s something you’re familiar with. [ Sort of. ] I was granted psionic and illusionary magic, though I’ve yet to do much with either. It’s a pain.

I’d like to see what you can do, though.

[sediments]

Psionic magic?

[ First of all, illusions? That seems incredibly powerful, and it freaks Bolin out to think that Jae-ha could mess with his reality like that. On the other hand, could they create just about anything? Nice things?

No, he focuses on his question. ]

What is that? Like being psychic? [ He stares at Jae-ha's forehead. ] Can you read minds?

1/2

[flirtations]

No, not read minds. Thankfully. [ Look, if people's minds are anything like his own, he wants nothing to do with them.

Even if Bolin's mind would be pure rainbows and unicorns. I don't know spoon, it's late. ]

Well, it's like.. moving things. I can't do it very well yet, but... let's see if I can demonstrate it for you a little. [ Hmm... what object is nearby and convenient? It's really just them and the hot spring... ]

Hm.

[flirtations]

[ Oh, just their luck! Someone is walking by.

Not just someone. Their best friend Kija, strolling by their area of the springs without a care in the world-- and even better, with a fresh, dry towel wrapped around his waist. Perfect. ]

Like this. Let's see if I can manage it.

[ He points towards Kija, focusing all of his will and mana energy to that focal point, fingers swaying lightly back and forth as his mana extends its reach cross the grass.

And right to the edge of Kija's towel. Slowly but surely, the fabric begins to tug, and then, with one fell swoop, it unravels from around his waist, hovering in mid-air. Nice! ]

[yaoihand]

Eh? [ Kija was just minding his own business, enjoying a leisurely stroll, when something ... perculiar seems to happen. The fabric of his towel ... seems to lift itself up on its own, floating in mid-air. He can only watch this pale-faced and in complete bewilderment. ]

Eh? [ Once he catches on to what's probably happening next, Kija grabs hold of the towel, playing tug of war with the unseen force. ] W-What is going on?! Is this towel possessed?!

No, you cannot! I will be indecent -- stop!! KYAAAAA!!

[ SADLY his efforts are in vain, and the towel slips right off his hips, dancing around in the air as if mocking him. He can't see Jae Ha, so he has no idea how this is happening. To him, it's almost as if the towel has taken a life of its own. Kija scrambles to cover his unmentionables with one hand, going red as a beet. His other hand is making a grab for the towel. ] Come back here!