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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[Just give it time, Bolin. You'll warm up to it.

Naruto leans forward, clearly convinced and entirely too smug about it. Where he'd been shouting moments earlier, now his voice drops to a secretive murmur. Between his narrowed eyes and the curl of a smile on his mouth, his expression does remarkably little to convey confidentiality.]

I bet you did. Some cute girl got you overheated huh huh? Is it anybody I know?

You're wrong.

[ THEY'RE IN HOT SPRINGS. That's why he overheated. Why is Naruto even picking on him, they got along so well earlier?! ]

I'm not some little kid that gets excited just by seeing a girl. [ Untrue, naked women definitely fluster Bolin, but it's not sharing hour and he's not about to hand Naruto that information.

Instead, he narrows his eyes. ]

I'm not the virgin here after all.

[As they get to know one another better it'll become clear- but friendship with Naruto means abject honesty. If he has a thought it'll just fall right out of his mouth, but this sometimes brutal truthfulness is a quality he's quick to accept in return. Naruto doesn't open his mouth with the desire to hurt and he doesn't say the things he does with malicious intent. He's just rambunctious by nature, and a bit of teasing is par for the getting-along course.

He also isn't embarrassed about being a virgin, so Bolin's barb doesn't quite hit the mark. While he's certainly shy about having to admit that he's had one entire kiss in his life... and it's been with a guy- he isn't ashamed to lack experience in the bedroom. He's been doing other things, and none of his peers are dating either. They're shinobi- they have more important stuff to focus on right now.]

Jeeze how many naked girls have you seen?

Edited 2016-06-02 22:23 (UTC)

[ Well. Bolin frowns. He's not shy about sex, not the way his brother is, but that doesn't mean that he speaks openly about all his experiences; he'd learned some discretion in the past couple of years. It doesn't feel right to talk about Opal like that when she's not even here. ]

Anyway. [ He sidesteps unsubtly. [ That's not what happened. What kind of guy do you take me for?

I don't know what kinda guy you are, [There's Naruto- as always just a little too truthful. His expression adopts the same frown Bolin wears and he takes the obvious sidestep to mean "alot."] you made me sound like some kinda weirdo for going to the springs the way you're supposed to.

Here. [And just like that, it's forgive and forget. Naruto bends down just long enough to snatch his container of water. He's as used to bringing supplies as he is to trying not to use them.]

If it was the heat you should try an' cool off.

[ For his part, Bolin's not sure if he's ready to forgive Naruto for all of his truancies during their short meeting. And to think! They'd made such a coordinated team last time!

He doesn't sulk as he takes the water, putting it to his lips without even bothering with "oh, you shouldn't have"s, and taking a few deep gulps before sighing. There's certainly no replacement for water, and Bolin will gladly take the offering after how much the springs had dried him out.

Relaxed, he hands the water back. ]

Thanks. I'll probably head out now.

Bolin. [The thing is, this up and down is part of who he is. Naruto moves quickly- he embrace experiences even when he isn't sure what they are, even when he has no understanding of the consequences or details. Everything he does, he does by jumping in with both feet. If it's occurred to him that Bolin might think badly of him for this interaction it's impossible to tell. Naruto has been thought badly of so many times before that he doesn't flinch for the sting.

He pauses instead when the water is passed back, and Naruto's hand catches atop of Bolin's own- a gesture meant to still him. To force him to pause, even just for a minute.]

Are you sure you're okay?

[ The contact is enough to get Bolin to still. Mostly in surprise, because Bolin is a casual; carefree, and the sudden seriousness to Naruto's tone catches him off guard.

He just smiles, the younger sibling in him pleased to hear the concern. ]

Yeah, I'm fine. [ He raises an eyebrow. ] Did you think I got into a fight?

[The moment shifts, tilting them from one point to another, and Naruto lets him go only when he's sure that he has Bolin's attention. He watches the guy's face, the set of his shoulders and the way he holds his gaze- and accepts the answer for what it is. He can either believe that Bolin will tell him the truth or not, and he's had no reason to doubt him so far.

His head shakes.]

We just fought another dragon'attebayo. And I tried to smash your face last time.

[ Letting his wrist drop, Bolin settles it on his hip, looking at ease despite his sorry state earlier. He's surprised that Naruto's so casual about his... little tantrum though, he'd seemed fairly bothered about it before. ]

Yeah, I remember. [ His other hand goes to his jaw, as if remember how the younger boy had clocked him last time. ] I'm not sure if you're trying to say I get into fights easily or something, but I didn't really expect you flipping out last time!

[ Squaring his shoulders a little, he puts on a confident face. ]

I don't usually let myself get beat up.

[It doesn't feel casual to Naruto, it feels like the acceptance of fact. He's hurt the people he cares about by losing control before- by not being more aware of himself, and by letting fear and anger deafen the beating of his heart. To know that it happened again, after everything he'd done to overcome it back home, had been a heavy blow. But he'd also been able to meet that part of himself face to face- and the only way to overcome it had been to embrace it. Naruto doesn't know why this is something he has to struggle with again, but it's part of him just the same. If he doesn't try and understand it, then he'll end up hurting people like Bolin all over again.

At least this way he can take responsibility for what he's done.

He takes a swallow of water himself, rubbing his mouth in the crook of one elbow as his brows crease. It's part skepticism and part curiosity.]

How do you keep yourself from getting beat up in a fight? That's what fighting is.

[ The question is a little baffling to Bolin, who doesn't equate violence with fighting. A fight is a means to an end, and it's obvious that there will be injuries and damages, but it's all careful, movements without excess. Bolin fights with focus; with an ease and a determination to stay safe, to see the people on his side safe, and to never kill another person.

And even if there are other benders who are more dangerous, a little more willing to spill blood, there's nothing wild and uncontrolled about them.

Bending is an art. ]

I don't mean I don't get hurt. [ He shakes his head, though he can't quite articulate the difference. ] But I wouldn't let someone just pummel me like you were trying to do.

[ Because Naruto had been more animal than man, and violence is for animals. People fight for causes, not to inflict pain. ]

[He isn't sure if he'd argue to the contrary, if Bolin were to bring it up. Naruto has met a lot of people who fight for causes. Sasuke wanted first to kill his brother and then to avenge the fate of his clan. Zabuza had fought to make a living and Haku had fought to be useful to Zabuza. Pain wanted to create a world without suffering and Obito wanted the same. Madara wanted to erase the sordid history of the shinobi world by eliminating its future. Weren't they all causes? Don't causes also mean that someone will get hurt? Maybe it's just impossible to divide the two- but at the same time, it's only through an exchange of fists that Naruto has truly understood some of the people he now considers friends.

His hands come together on the container, fingertips touching. The gesture is small and almost self-soothing.]

You didn't really fight me then, either.
[He says quietly. Does Bolin know that he couldn't have stopped? Does know how little resistance he offered?] You just tried to help.

[ Bolin likely wouldn't argue with Naruto either. It's strange how he can so completely be convinced of his own view of the world, and accept so easily another's views, regardless of whether or not they're contrary to his own. There's a vast world of experience out there, even more than he'd originally thought before coming here. And Bolin's always known himself to be a poor judge of character. He can't understand a lot of other people; doesn't feel equipped to make judgements.

So he doesn't really think anything of Naruto's words, just a factual retelling of the events. ]

Well, I didn't want to hurt you. [ He points out. Because check out his guns, Naruto. ] And you looked like you needed help anyway.

[He understands the sentiment, if in his own way. When Naruto had been confronted by the Raikage's shinobi, and when they'd told him what Sasuke had done to their friend- he'd been unable to bring himself to fight or to give them the information they'd wanted. He just let her hit him until she was satisfied. That's a kind of help too, he thinks. What it means to see someone hurting and to just- not want to cause them any more pain.

Naruto needs to accept Bolin's decision and let it go. What could have happened is out of his hands now, and ultimately- he either trusts Bolin to make those calls for himself or he doesn't. He knows where he'd rather stand.

His gaze drops to the bloody towel in his hand, nearly forgotten in their spat.] I wanted to help you too.

[The smile is small and his head ducks. It's the moment he'd scrub a hand through his hair if they weren't both already occupied.] I'm not much of a medic though, and I've always just taken care of stuff myself. Even back home I heal really fast so I'm not really smart about these things. Sakura-chan always knows the right thing to do, but even now I still just rush in all the time.

Sorry, Bolin. I'll do better next time.

...

[ The sentiment is really kind, and speaks volumes of the depth of Naruto's compassion and dedication to others when he says that.

Unfortunately, Bolin just furrows his brows and gives the younger boy a dubious look. ]

You're making way too big of a deal out of a nosebleed. [ He answers gently; casually, reaching out to ruffle the blond's hair. ] It's no big deal, I'm not even light headed or dizzy. Maybe you should relax some more! You're kind of high strung.

Hi- [His mouth opens. Closes. Opens again.
Naruto's been called a lot of things, but he's not actually sure how to process this one.] High strung?

Yeah. [ Bolin shoots him a questioning look. ] You should relax.

We're at a hot spring'attebayo.

I am relaxing.

[This is Naruto, relaxed. He has the energy of a happy shiba inu at all times.]

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[Open] It's getting hot in here

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