[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

[hymnals]

[ 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.

[hoasen]

[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.

[hymnals]

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. ]

[hoasen]

[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.]

[hymnals]

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.

[hoasen]

[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.]

[hymnals]

No?

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

Nobody else?

[hoasen]

[...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.)]

[hymnals]

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

You're too cute, V. Honestly.

[hoasen]

[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.

[hymnals]

[ 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.

[hoasen]

[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.

[hymnals]

[ 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. ]

[hoasen]

[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.]

[hymnals]

[ 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. ]

[hoasen]

[And look at that, it's rather endearing how he just melts now. To think that a while back, even while she had to comfort him, he would flinch from her touch. Now? It's a relaxing moment, and he willing basks in it.

So she spoils him more, really. Let him experience one of the most talented fingers in her world!]

I do, actually! My oldest brother, our teacher, he took many of us under his wing. I am counted as the second one he took in, so the third in line. [Asia's way too big, so she'll be describing that.] Later, another country took me in. The language we hear in Caissa has similar tones to that country. France. [And then in French, she says something along the lines of "Hello, Adrasteius. It is good to see you are relaxed."]

[hymnals]

[ He shuts his eyes, listening attentively to her voice. She's always so calm; so even and steady. It makes him feel calm, too. As her fingers run through his hair, he feels the oddest sensation along his scalp, a pleasurable sort of tingling that he'd like very much to continue. So he keeps still, stone still, and his voice is a mumble when he replies. ]

That's a beautiful language. Almost as good as Thalassian.

[ A joke. Maybe? He's smiling a little, anyway. ]