[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

[ateaist]

[In the interest of protecting her newly found modesty, Nobunaga also considered the idea of finding a more secluded spring. Not very many people seemed to be venturing this way nor did they see her and decide to follow, so she's already celebrating her short lived victory internally.

Emphasis on short lived.

He's very attractive, there's no doubt about that - if she were her usual self, she might have even commented on it, or slipped into the spring unnoticed and joined him.

But as she is now-]

--GAHH!!

[-wait, shit, he totally knows she's here now. He might even think she was watching him!! As if to try and preemptively address what she expects him to say, she bursts into a rush of apologies.]

I-I'm sorry! I didn't know anyone was here, I...I was looking for somewhere secluded and I thought maybe noone thought to come this way yet here you are and...!

[This bundle of nerves is certainly a far cry from how she was when they first met.]

[hymnals]

[ Light preserve him. The shriek erupts in his ears, and he jumps--fully--out of the water. Fortunately for everyone, probably, he's not completely nude; he's still wearing his (black with a gold phoenix pattern) boxers, at least. Though they are clinging rather tightly to his thighs ... but he's too shocked to worry about that just now.

He's about to shriek right back, but Nobu's nervous stuttering cuts him off at the pass. It's his instinct to comfort the upset, and so all the indignation drains right out of him, leaving only concern behind. ]

It's--no, you're fine. It's fine.

[ He holds up his hands, speaks in soft, soothing tones. ]

Don't worry about it. I mean, this is technically a public area.

1/2

[ateaist]

Y-you're right...I'm okay now, really.

[She's calm. So calm.

Everyone who thinks she isn't calm...well, okay, they're half-right but still.]

[ateaist]

Hah!

[But now that she looks at him from the front...!]

You're...! ....actually, I've forgotten your name.

[More like she never asked.]

[hymnals]

[ She definitely does not seem fine, but he's sure she'll be less fine if he prods at that fact. So instead he just smiles, lopsided. ]

I never gave it to you. It's Adrasteius, Adrasteius Anor'thalion. Most people here just call me 'Adra', though.

[ateaist]

Ah...I left without asking, didn't I? You'll have to forgive me, I can be terribly rude.

[Whereas before she wouldn't care, now she just assumes she's been rude one way or another.

Which....isn't wrong, really.]

...if you'd rather your privacy, I can leave, Adra-san.

[hymnals]

[ This politeness is a stark contrast to the bold, gregarious lack of etiquette he'd experienced on first meeting Nobu. Was it some lingering effect of the dungeon? Something about being in the hot springs? ]

I've accepted that privacy is an illusion here. More importantly, are you--feeling all right?

[ateaist]

...hah, not at all, actually. More like I'm feeling all wrong.

[She rubs at her arm, but it's a meaningless gesture.]

Not that I feel unwell, rather...take these hot springs for example. This modest approach isn't my usual style at all, yet I can't help but feel this way.

[hymnals]

[ Hmm. Last time there was a dungeon, he'd heard of certain side effects for people who didn't manage to exit victorious. Had Nobunaga faltered? ]

Tell me about how the dungeon went for you.

1/2

[ateaist]

I...!

[What she wants to say is Yukari doesn't know how aggro works and screwed them all over.

But...]

Fine. I mean...it could have gone better.

[ateaist]

[She kneels herself down by the edge of the hot spring, sitting back on her legs with her hands resting on her lap.]

I mean...if you say victory is making it through alive, then, um...I guess we didn't do that very well.

[hymnals]

[ Ah, that makes it clear. He's not speaking with the 'real' Nobunaga, but rather some distorted reflection. A very polite, demure reflection, but not the real article, nevertheless. ]

Ah. My condolences. I had a rough time of it, myself, but we managed.

[ A pause, and he goes on, carefully. ]

Do you feel sick at all? Or just--different?

[ Is there any way he can fix this? ]

[ateaist]

Just different, that's all. It's nothing to be concerned about.

[Frankly, she is just that bit afraid this might never pass.

And it's a strange way to feel for someone who didn't even feel fear the first time they died, hundreds of years ago.]

To be honest, I'm more concerned over someone who was with me. They've...become quite a scary person as a result of all this, Adra-san.

[hymnals]

[ Well, he's concerned, anyway! Even if this Nobu was significantly better behaved than the loud, self-aggrandizing person he met back in the Hall of Glory, he still wants her to be her true self. But there's little he can do about it, so he sets it aside, and listens carefully as she continues. ]

What do you mean? What have they done?

[ His ears prick forward in alarm. ]

Who is it?

[ateaist]

It's not that they've done anything, but the type of person they are...

[She takes a moment to think, quiet.]

The best way to describe it...if the loud, forceful and boorish Nobunaga has become quiet, reserved and polite...

Then it goes without saying that a kind, compassionate and good person might become someone quite awful.

[In fact, she's seen it - but only a glimmer of it. She was quick to distance herself from Irisviel, with the way she was acting. Nobunaga's far too timid right now to handle her as she is.]

Her name is Irisviel. Long white hair and red eyes...if you see someone like that, would you please keep an eye on them for me? I can't even face someone like her as I am now.

[hymnals]

[ He hasn't met Iri yet, but he has seen someone of that description walking around. ]

I will, of course. But, listen--what you're experiencing right now. It's just temporary. I'm not sure how long you'll be dealing with it, exactly, but it won't be forever. It'll be a very small fraction of forever. Infinitesimal.

[ A week? A day? He's really not sure. But not forever, certainly.

Another pause. ]

Did you just call yourself 'boorish'?

[ateaist]

[Well, that's a relief.

...what kind of question is that though-]

...

Yes?

[hymnals]

[ That's a striking degree of self-awareness, Nobu! ]

Maybe I should have recorded that.

[ateaist]

[Self-aware jackasses are the worst, cause it means they just don't care.]

I'm aware of the kind of person I am...unfortunately... Come to think of it, I never returned your basket, did I? I'll be sure to the next chance I get!

...your croissants were delicious, though. You're very skilled.

[hymnals]

[ He does appreciate honesty, though. ]

Don't worry about it.

[ He never expects to see that basket again. He has already delivered condolences to its family. ]

Did you eat every last one?

[ there were like 20 in there nobu ]

[ateaist]

...

.....

.......

Really delicious.

[Yes.]

[hymnals]

[ Ah, well. ]

So long as you enjoyed them. Visit me sometime. I'll bake another batch--or something else, if you have a preference.