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

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[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!]

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[If only he knew what kind of madness was going to be unleashed by her discoveries. Although, some people seemed to be much more levelheaded about it. Thankfully.

She's glad to see Levi again, since it has been a while. Vietnam thought that it was just because he was busy, since he always found some way to keep himself occupied. If only she knew.

But first--]

It seems after the dungeon disappeared, they discovered some hot springs. [She wouldn't mind participating...if it wasn't so troublesome!]

[ He knew that much, or his reason for showing up back here might be a little more nebulous. Still, the very existence of hot springs wasn't an excuse to dive in. What is it supposed to mean? Has the mana in this area been restored to normal?

Levi shakes his head, recalling what's being said by civilians and written in the papers. ]

I don't think that dragon would've wanted us at his honeymoon. [ Speaking of which. ] Is it even safe?

[It's a good thing they do have a voice of reason like Levi. There are a lot of things that do need to be considered. Such as the safety of the hot springs. Though everyone else is fine right now, what could've happened if it were not? Or it just gets worse?

Also good call on the honeymoon mention.]

Ah yes, that is the story they are using. I suppose we are breaching on their privacy. [She glances towards the direction of the hot springs.] No one has been scalded yet, thankfully. But there is a lack of organisation.

[ Is it? He'd definitely been too late to stop people from gathering here, and to begin with, he knows it isn't his right to stop them. It's only that the collective efforts of the heroes, the lack thereof, are bothersome to him personally.

Then again, she's right about one thing. It is just "a story," as far as they know. They know nothing of this Phoenix, even if the Dragon seemed to acknowledge she (once?) existed. ]

I guess it can't be helped. [ No one's giving them orders to the contrary, after all... Pause... ] What preference were you talking about?

[Better sooner than later in any case. But now that all is well, they can relax knowing that nothing will happen, other than everyone's sensibilities getting questioned.

And that's true! Who even knows what really went on there. Vietnam reminds herself that she will have to seek out this tale later.]

Oh! The preference of, will you wear clothes or not into the hot spring?

[ He's curious about the tale, himself. Almost thought to ask her before he remembered what she'd approached with. To think it was something as mundane as that... well, he can't imagine there's much difference between frequenting this place and the heroes' own bathhouse.

Surely she's experienced the latter by now. This fretting though is what he's wondering about as an eyebrow of his quirks. ]

Why wear clothes into a bath? [ Well, he knows why, but... ] We're soldiers. Function over modesty.

[Sometimes, mundane problems still need answers. And in a place where they can freely choose, she wonders how they would approach it.

His reasoning was actually different to what the others have answered with. They say culture, it is something they are used to. He answers with the perspective of the military.]

It...that makes sense. [She looks over at the hot springs.] Even during a moment where you do not have to fight?

[ The notion that one could be called to attention at any time wasn't so present here. Not in the way that it was for him previously, which even then, could usually have been relegated to being available within a few hours' time.

But he must admit, there is one difference he would stick to in times of relative peace. ]

I'd prefer privacy altogether... but bathing in clothes would get in the way.

[ If it meant stifling his ability to get totally clean, then of course it was out. ]

[She could understand that. It seems like that while they're in the "military" here, as Heroes, it's not so much that they're strictly in a war sense. Unless they are called. And for some reason, things happen rather...orderly.

Also, he presented the best option thus far, really.]

You're right. In both cases. I too would prefer privacy, for some reason they really just like public baths around this country.

[ On one hand, they're not Blanc natives. It would be imposing on them quite a lot to put them in the position of their average soldier. On the other hand, Levi has seen the way this ability to tuck the harsher realities of their situation away from them can be dangerous.

He huffs as he thinks on the many public baths, as she says. For them, in Caissa, in Polgar... and what was that talk about the Feixing bathing in milk? ]

Hmph. Yes, you're right. It's so widespread. Maybe looking into its roots would tie the practice back to Noir.

[ Plausible, given their history... but maybe he also just wants someone to blame. ]

[What the doctor really ordered for, actual military men. They do need them. Since...well, some of the Heroes here are actual minors.

Thinking about it, that makes sense too. Bathing was an ancient practice back home too, since the modern concept was all thanks to the wonders of advanced plumbing. Plumbing wasn't that great back in the day. Perhaps it's the same here?]

Perhaps! It seems to be something that continues through the ages. If it was more recent, I think it would be more contained into one region.

Exactly. [ It seems that the tradition must have been spread a long time ago because of it. Though now that they've discussed this, he can tell he's gotten sidetracked and it stops him from talking more about where this habit came from. ]

Actually... were you really going to join in on this?

[ Her dilemma did seem to be whether or not to wear clothes, not whether or not to go in, so... ]

[She clears her throat, because--]

I was going to inspect it first before considering whether or not I wanted to use the facilities. It's been tiring, more so because of the state of my body.

[That is, she can regenerate from her tiredness fast enough.] So I had hoped that if all was well, then I would take a bath. But I saw that everyone had different opinions on how they use the hot springs.

[ As much as he doesn't like them all coming here solely to get some R&R, yeah... he does have to admit that anyone just finishing up their time in those towers may have a reason to rest their bones. Though expecting efficiency as such from others, he'd cleaned up and gone out to explore the island long ago.

Which is why, expecting different from her, his eyes narrow. ]

That should be the least of our concerns. How about this area? Shouldn't we be investigating the change in the mana?

[Levi, always the eternal soldier. Well, that's why she appreciates and admires him, because while he could do with some relaxing, he's not actually wrong. There could be all kinds of trouble here.]

Then we can go investigate those first. I am in no hurry to be here. [She's tired, sore, but she's not dying from wounds. This kind of pain is irritating and frustrating, but it's nothing like suffering the fatal pains of death and remaining alive during the healing process. Her being here was merely for convenience.] You are right. This here can wait.

[She steps closer, ready to go with him should he want to go investigate.] Although, once we are able to catch some free time, I hope you will rest. [The tone she uses is reminiscent of all those times she called him up, hoping he recovered from all their ordeals.]

[ It's not like he'd begrudge her the time to rest, when he felt it was called for. However, they're in a position that he believes asks more of them than that, and he's under the impression that Vietnam is resourceful. She has the ability to go above and beyond the letter, as real soldiers should. There's no reason that she, like the many other Heroes with every chance to, should neglect that. ]

Good. I shouldn't have trouble with that.

[ Satisfied enough to have her cooperation, he settles into walking side by side. Hell, maybe she really could hold him to relaxing once this is over with, if they do a thorough job. For now he heads closer to the springs, trying to get a reading of the mana in the area. He's a Hero, certainly, but not an expert with this... so some things tend to stand out more than others. Namely, the mana signatures of other Heroes, which are blindingly bright compared to the subtle movements of life in the environment. ]

I wonder if there's a quieter place to get a reading.

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[Open] It's getting hot in here

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