[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

for sakura

[flirtations]

[ Jae-ha isn't happy, perse, about being forced to wear an article of clothing into a hot spring, but he has to admit it isn't as obstructive as he thought it would be. He's still plenty relaxed, soaking away the exhaustion and grime of their latest dungeon endeavor. This spring is a bit more isolated, and he deliberately chose it as such, because even he relished a little quiet time.

Someone else has found this spot, however, and while he doesn't mind, it's her hair that catches his attention. It's quite vibrant, and it reminds him of...

That special person he was sworn to protect. The uncertainty of knowing Yona's safety is something that eats away at him every day he's here, though it never shows. The reminder makes his chest feel a dull ache, and he tries to push those thoughts away. Instead, he calls out to her, waving cheerfully in what he hopes is an inviting gesture. ]

Hello, dear! Are you here to enjoy the relaxing hot springs, too? [ Even though she's fully clothed, so maybe not. ]

[passtave]

[ After being traumatized the first time she tried to use the baths in this world, Sakura decided she wasn't about to be fooled twice—this time, she's wearing a bathing suit underneath her towel as she searches for an unoccupied hot spring... or at least one with just women... or something! She has nothing against mixed hot springs for those that enjoy them, it's just... she just isn't bold enough to bathe with men!

She thought maybe she had a winner here with this particular hot spring... there's only one wo—wait, no, that's definitely not a woman.

Just as she panics and starts to backtrack, the man(!) lounging in the water suddenly calls out to her—and she freezes like a deer caught in headlights, her face growing hot. Oh... oh no! She was hoping he hadn't noticed her! ]

E-Eep! [ He... he scared her... and now she doesn't know what to do! She can't just run away when someone is talking to her—or can she? ] U-Um... I-I'm sorry, I d-didn't mean to intrude...

[flirtations]

Eh?

[ Slowly, he lowers his hand, cause he definitely didn't expect to scare her like that?! If he were tackling these springs like he usually does (ie naked) he would understand better, but he's even been asked (insisted to) wear these long shorts.

Though she probably can't tell, given that he's submerged, huh? ]

You're not intruding, don't worry. Come on, come join me. After that grueling dungeon, there's no better way to relax your muscles...

[ Oh, right, and he should clarify. ]

Ah, don't worry! I'm clothed!

he sounds like a predator.....

[passtave]

[ A good thing to clarify... even if it doesn't make her feel that much better about being lured into a hot spring with a strange man. (Unfortunately, it doesn't even occur to her that he could be a pervert, even if he's not naked... it's just that he's a stranger... there's no way she could relax if he's here!) ]

U-Um... that's very kind of you...

[ And yet. She isn't moving towards the water at all. She just sort of standing there, fidgeting and tugging at the bottom edge of her towel as if that will magically make it longer. It does look like she's struggling to say something...

Eventually... ]

I-I'm sorry, I'm just sh-shy around strangers... [ Meaning you're fighting an uphill battle here, bucko. ]

not untrue

[flirtations]

[ It's a good thing she speaks up, because for a long moment, he's simply sitting here, smiling, while she stands there and wishes her towel could envelop her into the earth. Or something like that. Awkward.

He blinks, and suddenly he understands. Oh no, she's super cute. And thankfully for Sakura, being so frank about her shyness would ensure that he remains on his best behavior. ]

Oh. I could turn around, if that helps put you at ease?

[passtave]

[ That... that might actually put her a lot more at ease. She would prefer it if he wasn't here at all (no offense), but it's not like she can kick him out of the hot spring if he was here first! And beggars can't be choosers, after all...

She still looks a little unsure for a moment, her gaze darting away from him and back again, but... the gesture is so nice that she can't find it in her heart to refuse his kindness. This is... this is just a level up! If she were back home, she would've run out of here a long time ago. She's progressing...! ]

O-Okay... i-if you don't mind.

[flirtations]

Nope! I'll even close my eyes.

[ He turns around in the water and makes an obvious gesture of covering his eyes with his hands. Tbh he'd leave if she asked him to, since this isn't the only spring, and he's whipped to girls. But this way he gets to make a new friend!

He waits until he hears the sound of her getting in the water to ask-- ]

What's your name, by the way? I'm Jae-ha.

[passtave]

[ She's not going to ask him to leave??? She's a kind soul... she'd never...

With his eyes covered and back turned to her, she's comfortable enough unwrapping her towel and lowering herself into the water. When he suddenly speaks up, she tenses for just a moment in surprise, and looks up at him. (She wasn't before, because she's too pure to suspect he would turn around and peep...) ]

O-Oh... I'm Sakura.

[ Ahhh... the water is so nice and hot... she sinks in up to her chin, the ends of her hair floating in the water. ]

U-Um... I-I'm in now...

[flirtations]

Sakura. That's a beautiful name. It suits you well. [ It suits the color of her hair, in particular. It isn't as deep of a red as Yona's, but equally vibrant and beautiful. This is said still with his back to her and his eyes covered, by the way. ]

I'd remember a cute face like yours, so am I right in assuming this was your first dungeon? [ She had to be a new recruit, because he's yet to see her in the Hall, either. ]

Oh? Can I turn around now?

[passtave]

[ Jae-ha... for god's sake... she isn't prepared for the full force of his fedora tipping. She can feel her face getting hot again, and not because of the water. She just... doesn't know what to do with compliments! And he says them so easily... maybe he's just trying to be nice... ]

U-Um... yes...

[ Suddenly feeling (more) shy, she sinks a little deeper into the water so that it's almost up to her nose. A second later, she finally realizes how vague her answer was, and blurts out: ]

I-I mean, you can turn around! A-And it was my first dungeon...

it looks like i ignored that this was closed because I Did

[yaoihand]

[ By now, Jae Ha has probably at least heard stories around the springs about a strange guy with a strange hand, wandering around buck naked and hiding shadily in brushes, spying on whoever he could. It should be easy to make out who the whispers refer to, because no one else in the Blanc army quite has a right hand like Kija's.

Whether Jae Ha seeks Kija out on his own, or he happens to chance upon him, he'll find the younger dragon sitting somewhere at the side, away from all the bathtime fun. He's managed to procure a robe, but he's wearing it rather shoddily - allowing it to slip lopsidedly off one of his shoulders. That itself is quite odd for Kija, who often likes to go out looking neat and presentable. He looks like he's aged 10 years. JUST AWFUL. And there are cuts all over his usually smooth and clear skin.

Whatever had happened, it's sucked the life right out of him .... ]

Good evening, Jae Ha...

[flirtations]

[ Those stories have actually made Jae-ha seek out Kija, because from the sounds of it, it didn't sound good. When he finally manages to find him, he's in a... battle-worn state.

Wtf? He approaches him, already on high alert. Hurriedly, he leans down next to his friend. ]

Kija-kun? What the--

What happened to you?! Do I need to take you to a healer?

[yaoihand]

[ Kija barely even reacts to Jae Ha, feeling far too drained to call upon the energy. ] No, it is fine ...

[ He says, as he bleeds everywhere from the small cuts i guess. ] I am just watching over Moon as she plays in the water.

[ Yup, he's just staring at his snake as she glides around in the water with the deadest of eyes. ]

[flirtations]

[ wtf ]

Why are you... [ bleeding from everywhere??? He kneels down and leans toward him, squinting in worry. ]

Did this happen inside the dungeon? Why didn't anyone heal you?

[yaoihand]

[ this thread is so stupid

i dont have anymore icons to express how dead inside he feels so just pretend ]

It was not the dungeon. [ How does he even begin to explain what had happened?? And revisiting it is so horrible!!! ] I had not known that these baths would be shared by both men and women.

[flirtations]

[ Dungeon or not, Kija was injured, and Jae-ha couldn't just stand there and do nothing. Based on what Kija says, Jae-ha can more or less piece together what is bothering Kija. Either angry women had inflicted their wrath on him, or his friend had been so shocked by what he'd seen that he had accidentally inflicted damage on himself. ]

Let me guess-- you didn't think to go buy a swimsuit beforehand. [ Neither had he, but he'd been dragged to the store by Yata and Vietnam, and though he'd hated it, in retrospect, it probably saved him from someone's wrath, too.

Gently, he rests the flat of his palms against Kija's bare back, concentrating his mana so that it flows between them, the path it follows as easy and natural as breathing. ]

Ease my brother's pain. [ He mutters beneath his breath, the spell enveloping Kija's body and slowly mending the damage. The physical damage, at least. ]

1/2

[yaoihand]

A swimsuit ...? [ WHAT IS THAT. It must be that stretchy thing some people are wearing into the bath. It's such an odd practice to him to wear clothes into a hot spring, though. Anyway, now he isn't in the mood for a dip at all, so he doesn't forsee himself getting one!! ] I do not feel like entering the bath anymore ...

[ 2 much trauma .... 2 much nudity .... ]

[yaoihand]

[ The feeling of Jae Ha's palms against his back pulls him out of his STUPID ANGST at least. ] Jae Ha ...? [ What is the other man up to ...

What comes next is a soothing feeling as the mana dances at the surface of his skin, easing the bleeding to stop and the wound edges to close. It's so warm, and the mana seems to envelop him completely. ]

Ah, you do not have to --! [ IT FEELS SO COMFORTABLE??? ] Since when could you do this?

[flirtations]

It's an article of clothing that a lot of people here think is necessary for mixed-gender bathing. [ He obviously doesn't share this view, but...

Jae-ha has to focus most of his energy to the healing, so it's a moment before he can properly respond. When he finishes, he slowly lowers his hands. ]

Since I woke up and was able to do higher levels of magic. I still don't quite have the hang of it, but I think I'm getting better. But you're able to do different things too now, aren't you? [ Maybe he can get Kija to focus on this, instead, rather than... the trauma he's been subjected to. ]

[yaoihand]

[ Thankfully, his trauma was so stupid, he forgets about it as soon as they start talking about something else. Kija stares at his hands, at his chest - the skin was so smooth now! It's almost like he hadn't been hurt at all. ]

Incredible. All the cuts are gone, and it no longer hurts! [ It's difficult for him to hide his astonishment!! Kija continues to stare at his hands in amazement. ]

Yes, I am. A few weeks ago, I woke up with the ability to control gravity - to an extent.

i think what you meant is for sakuraS

[mitotic]

[ because i'm pulling a caps too.

Even if it weren't fundamentally weird for her to wear clothes into the hot springs, a swimsuit is not the sort of thing Sakura is going to be wasting money on in her first month here. That's just silly. She wears the towel, though, because heaven only knows how many perverts are in here, and she's had enough embarrassment this week to last her a month, thank you very much. It covers as much if not more than a bathing suit would, anyway.

The bath that she finds is empty — at first. She doesn't expect it to remain that way very long, but it was long enough for her to get comfortable and relaxed before the solitude was inevitably broken by another bather looking for a quiet spot. As such, she isn't too annoyed by it. He's caught her in one of her friendlier moods. ]

Everywhere else is a lot more crowded than this, I'm afraid. [ So, you know. Join her or don't, stranger, it depends on how many people you want to deal with. ]

[flirtations]

[ Jae-ha does actually hesitate, but not because he doesn't want to join her. At this point, he's been strongarmed into buying a swimsuit, so he's at least somewhat clothed, but it's odd for Sakura's reaction to be so... calm.

It's a refreshing change, honestly, and once it settles in, he begins to settle in, too. ]

Can you blame them? Finding these springs after such an ordeal is both convenient and a little miraculous. [ Already, he can feel the hot water soothing his cuts and bruises. He looks at her curiously. She's quite lovely, and exudes an aura of calm that makes him almost forget about fighting three-headed dragons. ]

Are you sure you don't mind?

[mitotic]

[ It's odd for Sakura to be calm in general, but after the dungeon, she's low on energy and low on fucks to give. Of course, that could all change pretty quickly, but for now... ]

I'm sure. It wouldn't really be fair for me to hog this whole area, would it?

[flirtations]

I suppose that’s true, but I wouldn’t mind giving up my spot so that a beautiful woman could rest in peace. [ But you already said no so………. NO TAKE BACKSIES also we need to thread and that would make this the shortest thread ever.

He closes his eyes and leans back against a boulder, warmed by the temperature of the water. ] My name is Jae-ha, by the way. Who’s company do I have the pleasure of being in?

[mitotic]

[ It's not exactly a red flag that goes up just then, but it's definitely some sort of caution. She can't tell if he's trying to flirt with her... ]

Usually you can rest in peace even in public baths... [ But with the way some people behaving, with no regards to the etiquette she's used to, she's started to think that's a lost cause. ]

I'm Sakura. It's nice to meet you, Jae-ha.