[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

Maki Nishikino | ota

[cutiepanther]

[ It wasn't like going to the hot springs with her parents at an incredibly expensive resort in the mountains, but a hot spring is still a hot spring. For a girl like Maki who enjoys the finer things in life she couldn't pass up the opportunity to go.

With a towel and a bottle of Tomato milk from the Airy (it's not gross, at least try it!!) she finds herself secluded in a corner of the spring. Her clothes have been shed and left at the edge of the pool.

She might have thought go to with a friends... but she can say she's thankful she was given a Carrier as protective as Diva. Because just out of sight, sitting on a tree-branch overlooking Maki's clothes, is a black panther waiting and watching, ready to pounce should anyone get too close to Maki. ]

It feels so good to relax... [ Finally in the water Maki feels free enough to take her towel off and slide down to her shoulders, the tips of her short red hair just dipping beneath the surface. If anyone else were to be around she wouldn't even know, sighing in contentment as she tries to recuperate from the long week of healing and fighting she's had. ]

[carptricks]

[ba-dum. ba-dum. ba-dum ba-dum ba-dum]

[is that the jaws theme (metaphorically) playing in the background as someone or something sneakily swims underneath the water, a trail of bubbles popping up to the surface as he goes. someone here clearly doesn't care much about hot springs etiquette!! especially not as he stealthily approaches his roommate and, at the very last second, emerges out from underneath the water right next to her in a grand splash that probably soaks her to the bone]

[HOW RUDE]

-- hey, Maki-san! Fancy seeing you here!

[someone punch him in the face]

[cutiepanther]

[ It's apparently a shark that is not long for this world, sneaking up on a trained killer like Maki.

Except of course, she's a giant baby, and as soon as there's a splash next to her, and the sound of a male's voice she KICKS. Not really all that hard, but enough to send him back if it connects.

She can't punch him because her instinct is to cover her chest with her arm, as if that would hide anything. ]

I-Iyaaah!!! [ And like usual, when startled, this trained killer screams bloody murder. ]

[carptricks]

[IT CONNECTS]

[he deserves it]

[and with a strangled yell he flies back and crashes back into the water with an even bigger splash than earlier. as the waves begin to calm down, a few bubbles emerge to the surface from below. and then. . . nothing]

[give him a moment to recover, it's been a while since he's done the slapstick comedy routine]

[cutiepanther]

[ Maki doesn't usually resort to violence, but when she's startled, and naked, she just had to. Nevermind that this is the second time he has seen her naked. Which actually makes this a thousand times worse. Maybe one day he's going to lose his hearing with all the screaming.

And on the edge of the water there's a cat, a panther really, growling low, ready to pounce if she has to, clearly unhappy about someone sneaking up on her owner. ]

K-Kaitou-kun?! [ ..Is he dead? ]

[carptricks]

[FORTUNATELY FOR MAKI, it takes a lot more than a kick to the face to keep Kaito down for long. after a few moments of concerning silence, the magician slooowly rises to the surface again, water dripping from his hair]

[he has a comical footprint-shaped red mark on his forehead]

[for her sake, and so he doesn't get kicked again, he turns around so he's facing away from her. it's a small bit of privacy, but hey, it's something!]

. . .

That was a pretty good kick.

[cutiepanther]

[ Imagine if she had to give him mouth to mouth?

...Actually he'd probably die because she'd be too embarrassed. So really, this is better. She doesn't feel remotely bad about the mark on his forehead though. ]

You just suddenly appeared, what else would you expect?! Isn't there another hot spring for boys?!

[carptricks]

It's mixed bathing! Co-ed!

[he says with a grump as he sinks into the water up to his chin. his back is still facing her]

[cutiepanther]

I-I didn't know that!

[ She would have probably worn more. Or maybe not come at all? Now she just feels embarrassed and defensive, even as she stares holes through the back of his head. ]

I'm used to ryokans!

[carptricks]

This isn't a ryokan!

[he replies with a huff]

. . . don't worry, though. I'm not looking, 'n I didn't peek earlier, either.

[look at him trying to be as polite as he can be about the situation!1 which. . . may not mean much, since leaping out of the water and scaring her certainly wasn't polite at all]

[cutiepanther]

I-I know that! But that doesn't mean we shouldn't treat the springs the same way!

[ Which means to say, she should have exclusive use to the water for as long as she wants, without interruption! And maybe a servant to bring her milk. Not some strange boy (haven't they seen each other enough not to be strangers?) offering his back to her in the water together. ]

I wasn't worrying about that! If you had then Diva would have already pounced on you. [ She would be more embarrassed though if that did happen. She wouldn't feel guilty though. ]

[carptricks]

[sloooowly, his gaze flickers towards the prowling guard panther]

. . .

I s'pose as far a security systems go, she's a pretty good one.

[is his wry reply. he makes a mental note not to do anything that would warrant panther pouncing. in a fight between Kaito and panther, he would definitely lose]

[cutiepanther]

[ And her golden, predatory eyes stare right back into Kaito's soul, kind of. ]

You're just lucky that we're roommates, so she's had to get used to you being around when I change.

[ Actually, is anyone even lucky in this situation at all? It's not like Maki will ever let him turn around. ]

What are you doing here anyway? [ Ruuuude. ]

[armorial]

I agree. [ Saber was already here, but her presence is obviously very little to most. She's used to not being noticed by many either due to her height or her lack of introduction. It's almost as if she were an assassin, but she is... a Saber. Unlike Japanese customs, Saber took precautions to wearing a swimsuit instead.

It is nice safe to be naked, okay. ]

Have you been doing well, Maki?

[cutiepanther]

[ Maki perks up, having been enjoying the water enough not to have noticed the presence of someone else near her. But a quick turn of the head brings a familiar sight. ]

Saber! [ There's a welcome smile from the redhead, shifting a little as she looks down to see.... a swimsuit. Oh, is Maki the only one naked here? Why does that suddenly make her self conscious? Why is she blushing and looking away quickly now?! ]

I-I've been alright. I just needed some time to relax after everything that's happened this month... H-How have you been?

[armorial]

[ She'll come closer to Maki, not pointing out that it's careless to go into the springs. Naked. When it's also mixed. That's all too dangerous in every single way. Instead, she enjoys the girl's company. ]

I am doing well despite all that has happened. [ Shoulder slumping as she relaxes in the spring. ] But I see no reason to reject an opportunity to enjoy the springs.

Did you venture into the dungeon, Maki?

[cutiepanther]

[ It would be incredibly uncouth to wear a bathing suit into a hot spring! Maki's been to many in her life after all, so she knows the rules. ...Though perhaps she's worrying about rules that aren't really in place, seeing how this isn't a real hot spring run by anyone.

But Maki noticed that swimsuit and can only look down at herself quickly. At least she can be happy about one thing, comparatively. ]

I guess it was pretty tough for you too? [ Saber is a teenaged girl like herself, and petite at that, she can't believe that she'd be used to fighting much like this despite the name. ]

I did. I wish I could have picked my party though... [ One of her members was just the worst. ]

[armorial]

[ It's okay, Maki. She's aware of hot spring culture, but it's dangerous!! She doesn't make a comment on her towel or anything and instead focuses on sharing their dungeon stories. ]

Yes. One of the members and I share a rather precarious history, but what's done is done. [ YEAH, ONE OF HER MEMBERS was just the worst. She can empathize on that front. ]

Was your party unsatisfactory? [ Raising her eyebrows at that. ]

[cutiepanther]

[ It's a good thing she has someone to protect her purity here with her then! Or else Maki might have had to get physical with anyone who thought to try and peep.

Her magic has gotten a lot better. ]

History? Someone you came from your world with? [ Maki blinks a few times, placing her hand on the stones beneath her, shifting to turn a little more to face Saber. ]

Yes! The girl I was with... she's a monster! Like a little kid who refuses to even listen to reason! She just fooled around the whole time! [ Who knows how they are even still alive. Maki's healing probably? ]

[armorial]

I can't say we came together, but we are from the same world. [ She turns her head to face Maki, but doesn't change her position. It is... very manly of Saber. Saber might as well be a boy. ]

I see. It must have been trouble. [ She scratches her cheek, as if curious as to who this is. She doesn't ask though. ] I hope it wasn't too taxing to you, but I imagine your magic has gotten better.

[ At least all the handwaved times they studied, she noticed Maki has been progressing. ]

[cutiepanther]

[ So very manly. But yet, Maki feels comfortable around Saber, where she wouldn't around someone male. That might be all just in her own head though...

Maki's interest in someone who makes Saber angry of all people is something she wants to know more about, but she's not the type to pry too much. ]

I think she learned to get along a little better, when she realized she couldn't do everything alone. [ Maki sighs, sitting back and stretching her arms, her muscles clearly sore.

The compliment on her magic ability though makes Maki stiffen, quickly looking away as a glow appears on her cheeks.. ] I-It's only natural that I'd be able to pick something up like that easily...

You've been improving too, right?

[armorial]

That reminds me of someone I know. [ It's almost uncanny, but the man is still insufferable. ] It's good that they've both learned their lessons.

I can't say that I've been improving exponentially, but I am practicing on my own. [ She nods a couple of times. She can't always bug Maki about studying together all the time, so she has taken it upon herself to do it in her own free time, too! ]

I can't say that I'm fit to be any kind of mage, however.

[cutiepanther]

[ The one thing Maki has going for her so far, is that there haven't been any insufferable men in her life either at home or here. But she still sympathizes with Saber, as a good friend would! ]

If either of them go back to their old ways then we'll just have to teach them again, won't we?

[ There's a small smile on Maki's face, as she's feeling more relaxed, more confident, around Saber. At least for the moment. ]

You're more of a Knight, I'd say. [ Why? Just because! ]

[armorial]

Sometimes I wonder if that's our responsibility...

[ This is actually a serious inquiry of some kind. Saber seems rather troubled about it?? But she glosses it over when Maki says the last part. She looks surprised since she has heard the same thing before, but only from those that know her and her past. ]

You are quite intuitive, Maki.

[cutiepanther]

W-Well, no one else is going to do it, right? So then we might as well be the responsible ones.

[ After all, to Maki, Peacock is basically a little kid. Though she can't be sure what Saber's problem is like, she still thinks that Saber ought to scold him. Though she really has no idea...

As far as that last compliment goes, Maki's eyes open wider, as if she were surprised to hear that. For a moment, she feels her ears pounding louder, but ignores it. ]

I-It's not like I know you that well, it's just... given all the ranks you can get, you seem like the protective sort. [ She's already twirling her hair. ]