pawnstorm | [Open] It's getting hot in here

Entry tags:

[Open] It's getting hot in here

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!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It might have, but she doesn't seem to notice. Instead, she raises her eyebrows at him, seeming amused at his antics, before she moves towards him.]

If you knew, you would still be dithering about it. You're such a troublesome man.

[She shakes her head, seeming amused for a few moments. But it fades, her expression puzzled.]

I'm enjoying the heat. I don't need the company of others; they can amuse themselves or be with me as they desire.

[Most likely the former than the latter.]

I'm not troublesome...

[He'd like to believe that himself, really. How many times he has heard that until now...]

I have to admit, being here is quite relaxing...especially after the dungeon.

[It's more than obvious that he didn't enjoy all this climbing and jumping.]

You have been there as well, haven't you?

Yes you are. But do not worry. I find it cute.

[Also true. She drifts right up until she finds a rock by him and perches on it. It's not as if he hasn't seen her legs before.]

To the dungeon? I have. It was...quite the experience.

[For a moment she seems...pensive. Lonely even. She was reminded of someone she knew it was best to forget.]

I assume you succeeded?

[If he only could, he'd totally say ASDFGHJKL out loud. Instead, she can observe his flushed cheeks gain a deeper hue of red.

The situation repeats itself when she shows off her legs. He may die at this rate...]

It sure was. Especially—

[The highlights being mimicking the sensual dance and of course, the boss fight. However, he's not so sure why the dance was the first thing to come to his mind...so just in case, he looks away from Caren.]

Nevermind. And yes. I mean, I'm here, so...

[A shrug. Would he even be here if he didn't? Who knows...]

But we can relax for the time being, I suppose...

[As always, she enjoyed his flustering, the flush of his face. But, there was that pall on her, the bit of irritation. Why did that man stay in her mind? There had been the illusion, the dance.

She needed to focus on what was in front of her, and at the moment, it was Gilbert.]

You're not thinking of the dance, are you?

[She would have liked to see it. It would be hilarious, if not interesting to watch him attempt it.]

Or do you speak of mana deprivation?

[Her brows knit together. And then...]

You're not suffering from it, are you?

No...

[It sounded so unconvincing that he just gave up, sighed and nodded in the end.]

Of course I'm not! We did the exchange...

[Getting defensive was getting him nowhere, most likely, even if he was telling her only the truth.]

But...are you?

I'm sure you were a most capable dancer.

[Poor Gilbert. She loves teasing him. It's just too easy. But his question has her bringing up one hand. It's been shaking mildly this whole time.]

You also have more to draw from. And you would not let others suffer.

[she guessed that much about him.]

I may have over reached myself. But it is no concern.

[Her hand trembles more violently, and she makes to press it down, against the rock. There, now it's fine.]

How would you...

[Seeing her hand makes Gil go silent middle sentence, though. How long has she been like this? And how come he hasn't noticed?]

Oh, just shut up.

[It's not very gentlemanly of him, but whatever. He just scoots closer and...wraps his fingers around her ankle. Because it's the closest to him.]

[For a few moments she gaps at him, surprised. That was a first. Not his concern but- he hasn't told her to do that before. And with her ankle touched, her entire leg jerks in surprise.]

Just-what do you think you're doing?

[Her cheeks flush, and she makes as if to pull away.]

This isn't necessary.

[What is he doing, indeed? Touching her. But he's not saying that, there's no way.]

Exchanging mana with you, isn't that obvious...

[Even when his hand gets yanked away, he makes another attempt at clasping his hand around her ankle.]

And what do you think you're doing? Pushing yourself like that.

I don't know what you're talking about.

[Her words are acidic, and when he tries to grab for her again, she yanks away, her expression mulish. Clearly she has some ideas on the matter.]

If I did not push myself, we could have died. I'm alive, aren't I? You can't even...

[Tell she was hurt is what she would have said, but after Bolin and others acting less matter of fact, she knew when to shut up.

If it wasn't already too late.]

Fine. You don't need it as much as I thought, it seems.

[He's far from forcing her to do anything, let alone exchange mana. Hence, Gil pulls back, rolling his eyes when he leans his back against the rocks again.]

I suppose your arm isn't trembling anymore, am I right?

[He asks with his eyes closed.]

[It still annoys her. His demeanor does nothing to soothe her in the least. In fact, her eyebrow twitches on its own accord.]

It's fine.

[So nettled, she moves to stand up, even as she trembles.]

See? Just a momentary-

[Her foot slips. And that is how she finds herself plunging into the water. Possibly in Gilbert's direction.

Whoops.]

[Honestly, Gil doubts that. If mana exchange was so effective, he might have done it without so much grumbling.

Shortly after, he can confirm that his doubts aren't unfounded as Caren gets up and—

SPLASH. BUMP. It's impossible for him to even tell what happens first, but since she's back in the water now, the least he can do is to make sure that she won't hurt herself any further.]

Shit!

[Didn't he tell her? Didn't he? Being salty, however, isn't going to help at all.]

I'm not sure what's your problem, but this is going to be just between us. [First of all, he doesn't want any weird rumors. Not to mention that it's awkward for him, but he can't just ignore the state Caren has found herself in.] Stay still.

[With that said, Gil rests his hands on her shoulders, sighing softly. It should accelerate the process, right...]

[Mana exchange could be effective; it just needed time to be effective. But Caren...she was a little dumb, in this, angry at being worried about. Even if it was for a reason. Especially for a reason.

Splash she's in, bump down she goes. Least she didn't go under for long, if at all? Even if she made Gil super salty. That's not hard to do, it seemed.]

It's just...

[She starts, and heaves a sigh. She could feel it, trickling in. Her body was fine with giving in to the shakes now, as if she's gotten a taste of sugar after not eating for hours on end.

Exasperated, she heaved a sigh.]

If you pull me properly onto your lap, it'll speed it up more. A kiss even more so. I've noticed.

[She's not doing it to be sly; her voice is practical. It was something that would make this go by more quickly.]

[As much he'd like to speed it up, Gilbert doesn't want to do that at all costs. Or maybe he's just not ready. If asked, he'd probably come up with a few reasons why he won't listen to her.

However, he pulls her into an embrace after a short struggle with his thoughts and rests his chin on top of her head.]

You've said it yourself...that you're fine. So there's no need to rush.

[The fact that he feels like he might die of a heart attack in the process...that's another story.]

[Gilbert, ever ready for a kiss? No one wants to go into that betting pool, because it'll likely be never.

At least she's positioned more comfortably in his embrace, even if, for a few moments, she glances up puzzled at this...gesture, she supposes.]

Stubborn man.

[She takes in a deep breath, and exhales slowly. At least the shaking has eased.]

[Spoiler: He'll never be ready, never ever. Now to think of it, is it really a spoiler...]

I don't want to hear that from you.

[Gilbert just heaves a sigh, looking up at the sky and wondering why mana exchange must work like this. Couldn't it really be something else, something less embarrassing?]

We can do this or you can eat that jello from the dungeon.

[Not a spoiler at all. She's just going to have to surprise him one day, and watch him freeze. It might even be funny. Who knows.

But she offers him a long, drawn out sigh. It's almost too much work to get the venom in her voice.]

If you try to feed me that jello, I will hurt you. Repeatedly. With much pleasure.

[Yup. Looks like they're stuck together.]

[His face might have been bright red for a while now, but at those words he can't help growing pale.]

Please don't. I won't feed you anything.

[Especially not the gelatin spit. So much for trying to sound menacing, Gil...]

[You tried Gil, you really did. But you're dealing with a woman of menace.]

You can feed me.

[She huffs softly.]

Just don't feed me that.

Like I need to...you've brought enough snacks for yourself.

[He's still missing the point, sort of.]

Are you feeling better? Can we, um...

[Words are hard. It's been barely a minute or two, though...what is he expecting, really.]

Those aren't for me. They're for everyone else.

[She huffs. She thought that was obvious. And when he starts his awkward little stutter, she reaches up to poke him on the cheek.]

Calm down. Unless you're suggesting a way to speed this up, I will not hear of it.

[Huff. He started it. Might as well finish it.]

Or is this your way of saying you find me attractive Gilbert? I never would have thought.

That's really nice of you—

[Of course he had no idea. It's difficult to speak up clearly when his cheek is being poked, but he tries nonetheless.]

Uh, right.

[Why this is his life.]

I never said anything like that?! Hmph...

[At least she's not grabbing his cheeks? But then she won't get to see how cute his face gets when he's all flustered! Her hand drops in any case.]

I have my moments. As for attraction, don't forget. You would be considered a fine, attractive man yourself, worthwhile to any man or woman who was interested in you.

[Pause.]

Until you opened your mouth.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject