[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

[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...

fedora tipping..

[flirtations]

[ Every time Sakura speaks, Jae-ha can't help but feel more and more bad about the fact that Sakura has to deal with this. Not just the hot springs specifically, but this. Being brought here, to a strange land, asked to fight for a cause that wasn't hers. Everything about her seems very fish out of water... he wonders how many heart attacks she's already suffered.

Slowly, he turns around, and finds a Sakura that's all nose and forehead and not much else. ]

Ah, have you decided to try and become a fish? That's very ambitious of you. [ This is... his attempt to help her feel less terrified?? ]

http://i.imgur.com/CVRfWp4.jpg

[passtave]

[ Many heart attacks... she's not a fighter by any means, not to mention the fact that she's not a very adventurous spirit either—arriving here by herself, without the safety of her family or retainers, nearly pushed her to her limits.

When he turns around, she can just imagine... him judging her... and even though his teasing is light, she finds her blush deepening anyway. Maybe she feels less terrified, but now she's just embarrassed instead?? Is that success?? ]

N-No! That is... [ She stands up straight now, her arms around her middle... he really thinks she's weird and childish, doesn't he! ] D-Do you promise not to laugh?

[ Take her seriously, Jae-ha!! Assuming he nods or something... ] This is my first time in a mixed bath... I'm not used to it.

stop

[flirtations]

[ He sinks down further into the water, and his smile widens. It's not teasing this time, though, just a bit more understanding. ]

Why would I laugh? I think that's normal for most girls... I'd never heard of mixed bathing until I got here. Actually, I think most girls would have the same reaction you did. [ He's not complaining, but short of uhh... private baths (or bathing in the woods, maybe?), this is a fairly new concept. ]

You're lucky, though! I wasn't wearing a swimsuit when I first got in here. [ Because he'd never heard of a swimsuit, either...

So yeah count yourself lucky that you missed him in his Birthday Suit. ]

[passtave]

R-Really?

[ Actually, that... that makes her feel a lot better, her expression suddenly lightening up. Everyone she's seen so far has been so accustomed to the mixed baths! Or, at least, they appeared that way... she felt so silly for being the only one who was uncomfortable with it. But... uh, wait, what did he say? ]

Wh-What? Is that s-so...

[ Way to ruin the mood, Jae-ha. She's just blushing again and slowly sinking back into the water... she's not ready to see another ding dong today. One was enough! ]

[flirtations]

Ah, but... you don't have to...

[ There she goes, becoming one with the spring again. Maybe he should just keep his mouth shut. ]

... worry.

[ Nevermind, he's sinking down to nose-level in the water, too. ]

[passtave]

[ If this is a staring contest...

Jae-ha definitely wins, because Sakura looks away immediately, fidgeting nervously underneath the water. What is she supposed to say... to a stranger making jokes about his ding dong.............. It's hard enough for her to make conversation under normal circumstances, so this is just... too much... thanks a lot, Jae-ha.

And that's how she just ends up letting the silence hang. Awkwardly. If it helps, even though she isn't anywhere close to making eye contact, she starts looking increasingly more distressed. What is she supposed to talk about? Why is she so bad at small talk?? ]

[flirtations]

[ Ah. This is quite awkward. He too, simply sits there for a long moment, and for a guy who usually fancies himself as knowing what to say, he's left completely unaware of how to proceed. Clearly, she was in discomfort, and they definitely started off at a disadvantage, meeting in such a place.

Slowly, he rises from the water, just enough so that the surface grazes his chin. ]

So...

[ Maybe he should try turning around again. Yeah, he's going to try that. ]

Sakura-chan... How was your first dungeon experience?

[passtave]

[ She's still very thoroughly avoiding his gaze by the time she starts turning around—she looks over at the sound of rippling water, but by then it's too late to stop him. ]

A-Ah...

[ Oh no... it hits her that he's going out of his way to make her feel more comfortable. She can't deny that it's... it really is working... but she doesn't want to burden him with her comfort! He was here first... and besides, she was the one who made everything awkward! She really needs to try harder now... ]

Um... it was pretty difficult... I'm not as strong as Bolin and Kija, so they really helped me.

[flirtations]

[ Unfortunately, the names are enough to make him look over his shoulder, momentarily forgetting the reason he turned around in the first place, his eyes widened in surprised. ]

You were grouped with Bolin and Kija? Are they doing okay? Kija-kun didn't overexert himself and faint again, did he?!

[passtave]

[ She looks a little startled to have him suddenly turning his head to look at her, the full force of his attention focused on her again—his gaze is so intent! They must be good friends... Jae-ha got that right in one guess. ]

Um... well... [ She's a terrible liar, so it's probably good that she doesn't even try. Sorry, Kija. ] H-He became a little faint... but he was fine! They're both okay...

[flirtations]

[ He sighs in exasperation. Of course he did. ]

You think he'd learn better by now. I'm glad you guys had his back. [ He actually has... no doubts that Bolin was fine. (In his mind, Bolin probably carried the group). He turns back around, but is careful not to try and make eye contact for too long. She doesn't seem to like that very much. ]

None of you got seriously hurt, did you?

[passtave]

[ She relaxes (a little) again when he turns back around... she really wishes she wasn't so bad at conversation! It feels so rude to let him keep looking away, but... ]

We were all okay... [ For the most part, anyway, which is surprising considering how difficult the dungeon felt to her. But Bolin and Kija really did do a great job! And since Jae-ha seemed a little exasperated by Kija, she feels compelled to add generously: ] I-I almost fell [ to her death ] when we were climbing up, but Kija caught me.

[flirtations]

That hand of his didn’t traumatize you too much, did it? [ He figures this must be how Kija rescued her, because.. It’s his go-to for pretty much anything. Old habits die hard. ] He’s very strong, and so is Bolin, but I’m sure the group couldn’t have gone it without you too, Sakura-chan. [ especially since those two didn’t play nice together, and having a voice of reason was probably a good thing. ]

[passtave]

[ She continues to suck at accepting any sort of compliment, so she just falls quiet for a moment and knots her hands together under the water. (Though he isn't wrong about her being the voice of reason... those two actually worked together without killing each other because they could finally agree on something: protecting her.) ]

U-Um... it didn't traumatize me at all. [ She shakes her head, even though Jae-ha can't see it, her voice warm with gratitude. ] He saved my life.