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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No, really -- it's okay!

[ He clears his throat, muttering. ]

If -- if it's you, it's okay. I mean ... if you don't mind it, that is.

[ sinking further into the water

sinking towards death ]

[She would like to drown herself in hot water too right now.]

Then...i-if I may. [She tries to lower her eyes now--oh my god don't die.] May I join you? I have swimwear on! [Underneath her clothes. IT WON'T BE AWKWARD, SHE PROMISES.]

[ He's got to get hold of himself, and he does. It's fine. It's V. His friend, right? His very pretty friend. He forces himself to stand--he's still mostly submerged this way, regardless--and nod. ]

If you're not, uh. Busy.

[ obviously she isn't; he's so bad at this ]

[This is definitely spiraling into the realms of Too Much Thinking so she's going to stop herself. From overthinking.

Yes. That's better. Maybe.]

I'm not busy, no. [Well no shit, Vietnam. But just in case.] I'll...undress. Over there.

[And she's darting around some rocks before she makes a bigger fool out of herself.]

Right. Good. That's wise.

[ He doesn't even look at the rocks. ]

Yes.

[That was short, but only because she was just so embarrassed. Either way, she strips down to her bikini, and covers up with a towel because now she's just Aware.

When she comes out (after folding her clothes up nicely) she steps into the water, taking her time to adjust to the temperature. With that towel. Still there.]

[ He's trying to keep his eyes fixed to her face, but it's difficult. She's cute, and he's recognizing it now because he likes her so well otherwise. That's how it was with him: the more he grew to care for someone, the more he noticed them, the shape of them, the curves of their bodies; their eyes and throat and mouth.

He tangles his fingers in his own hair, knotting it up, and looks away from her. ]

It's -- nice out. Today. Very nice. Don't you agree?

[Unfortunately, Vietnam here is one of the most self-critical beings placed on earth. You can't really blame her, there's many others she finds very attractive too! Adra here, for example, is beautiful. And so she would think, someone like her would not compare.

Which is why she never questions it when someone doesn't look at her. Yeah, don't ask (what a loser). Either way, she's moving over to join him now, sinking lower into the water.]

It...well, it's no longer storming now. Sometimes there are rainbows.

[ Fortunately, Adra's not going to let that bit of miscommunication stand. He treads water nervously, and speaks quickly. ]

You -- look beautiful, V.

[ Towel and all. ]

[To her, it came out of nowhere. She tenses up and looks at him in surprise, and who knows if the redness of her cheeks came from his words, of the water (answer: both).]

W-what makes you say that?

[She would thank him for his kind words, tell him no, has he seen himself, but that was what came into mind first while she struggles over how to react.] A-ah, I'm sorry, it came out so abruptly...

[ He rubs the back of his neck, uncertain. ]

Because -- it's just true, that's all. Just a true observation.

[ He goes on. Barrels on, really. ]

No need to apologize. You've always been direct. I appreciate that.

[She would fiddle with her hair, but it is hard to, right now.]

I...thank you, really. For your kind words. It is not something I am used, especially from someone as handsome as yourself.

[What a lost cause.] It just took me by surprised, I didn't know how to react.

You must be joking. Surely you get compliments all the time? I can't imagine how it'd be otherwise.

[ He ain't even being smooth. Just honest. ]

[She then shakes her head.]

Not until arriving here. At least not about my looks. Perhaps about my skills.

[Some have told her that she should accept this, but really getting called pretty was uncommon back home because of how busy she was.]

That's just disgraceful, V.

[ He relaxes a little, in spite of himself, and the usual confidence comes back to his voice. ]

You should, of course, be complimented for both.

[She clears her throat, a little bit surprised by how strongly he feels about this. Considering it's usually her on the other end of this kind of conversation.]

If you think this, then I don't need the others to think so, really. [If the people who matter believe in her, then she's fine.]

No?

[ He leans back, letting himself float on the water, and shuts one eye. ]

Nobody else?

[...WHY. WHY DOES HE LOOK AT HER LIKE THIS.]

...

One of a handful.

[She doesn't get the judgment yet. But guess her friends count too! (Viet please.)]

[ He sighs, long and drawn out and tired. ]

You're too cute, V. Honestly.

[Now he's back to being tired, so she wonders if it is her. She floats on by, just so she can get a better look at him.]

I-it sounds painful. [Or at least he made it sound like it, has she been trouble.] Still, know that I honour you greatly. You're one of the closest here to me, I believe.

[ He rights himself in the water, paddling slowly as he watches her. ]

Am I? You seem to know everybody, so I'd count that quite the privilege.

[ He runs a hand through his hair, again. It's completely wet now, and so thick that it's quickly tangling. ]

Maybe it is a little painful.

[Now that she's closer, she can see that his hair is a little tangled. So after saying "Excuse me--" she tries to right it from behind.]

I don't actually know everyone. It's hard for me to make friends, actually. I used to be so busy. Perhaps this is the first time I've been able to...well, make connections.

[She tilts her head to try to look at his face.] I'll try to be less of a pain to you.

[ He doesn't stiffen, or draw away. He's reached that point with her now; he trusts her. He knows, somewhere in his primal, instinctive mind, that she won't hurt him. So he just relaxes instead, sighing. ]

That's hard for me to believe, but--I'm glad it's different for you, now. You deserve it.

[ And then a lopsided smile. ]

Don't worry, V. It's a good kind of pain.

[ Mostly. ]

[His response is positive, so she continues, letting her fingers glide through his hair, and slowly reach up to his scalp. Should he let her, she'll soothe his head a little, massage away the stress he could have accumulated during a dungeon run.]

I am enjoying company. [She manages a shy smile.] It's very different to just having family and work colleagues all around.

Alright. It will be fine, if I have your vote of confidence. [She thinks so, anyway.]

[ He melts a little under the attention of her fingers, sinking just a bit into the water. It was never true that Adra inherently disliked affection or touch--he simply needed to trust someone first, to work past the automatic block his mind projected when it came to strangers. V has done more enough to break that barrier. As such, he leans back against her hand, like an eager cat. ]

Do you have a very big family? Tell me something about them.

[ Let him live vicariously through you. And distract him from all this good pain. ]

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