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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[A terrible one, really. She makes a small noise, and moves to take his hand. Even if he doesn't, she can still make a sweeping gesture.]

I do not think I broke the skin, but I can take away the pain.

[One second, have to quickly chew on that cracker that got in and swallow. It's digging right into her cheek.]

Take away the pain?

[Does she know healing magic? It must be the case, she wouldn't say what she has just said, otherwise.]

Wait, you're still short on mana...and it doesn't hurt that much, I'll be fine, seriously.

Consider it a way of repaying the favor.

[And since Gilbert didn't move to cover her mouth, she's going for it, she's going to say the spell.]

Pain is a kindly, hopeful thing, a certain proof of life.

[The throbbing vanishes. If it were possible, Caren has grown a little paler, and she tensed moments after, clearly in pain herself. Didn't tell him about that part did she.]

[He sure took into account that she'll lose mana, but he had no idea that it would be that much. It may be just him, but Caren looks like she's going to collapse any moment now, so Gil wraps his arm around her on a reflex to support her if needed.]

Damn, what did you do? It wasn't worth it.

[At this point, he's not even angry with her, just with himself for letting her do this. With his other hand, he brushes the bangs off her forehead and sighs softly.

It's going to a never ending loop of favors, but letting her suffer is not an option.

That's why, with his heart racing wildly in his chest, Gil presses his lips against Caren's forehead and stays still for a longer while.]

Just a healing spell.

[She mutters the words, feeling dizzy. Her eyes close, and she thinks, maybe, if she just takes a few moments, she won't fall over. She'll be fine. Then she...feels it.

It's warm. She feels the mana going through her, strengthening her, before she realizes why. A kiss on the forehead? It's tame, but between that and the grip he holds on her body, she's no longer courting a faint. But this is bold, for him.]

Gilbert...?

[He can stop now, she's fine. She didn't need this in the first place.]

[He knows that much but asking further questions will get him anywhere. It doesn't really matter, what's done is done. Now he needs to focus on something else.

If something as focusing during the kiss is possible. Actually, he gets a little dizzy but manages to stand more or less firmly. Hearing his name makes him pull away to clear his throat.]

It was just for the sake of the mana exchange.

[This should be enough of an explanation, right?]

[He's holding his breath for this forehead kiss, isn't he. She wouldn't be surprised if he did.

But she's looking up at him, a little...bewildered, before nodding. She'll just...reach up, take his face in her hands and...

lean in to kiss his throat or chest, if he lets her.]

Just for mana exchange.

[It's not even a matter of whether he's going to let her do this or not—his body simply refuses to cooperate with him as Caren leans in, leaving him defenseless.]

I-If that wasn't enough, I...I can do that thing again, you don't have to...!

[From now on, he's going to ask himself every night why mana exchange involves physical contact. This is too much.]

Please. I can do this.

[She touches him lightly on the chest.]

And I couldn't if you weren't being our bedrock.

[...is she teasing him again? Yes. Yes she is. Caren is a horrible person. Gilbert needs his master.]

But...you're the one who needs mana, not me.

[Why pushing someone away isn't a polite way to say no? If it was, Gil would have done that ages ago. Instead, he's looking down at her, or, more accurately, at her hand on his chest.]

If I weren't...?

[He needs Oz so bad.]

You're keeping us upright, currently. It'd be too easy for me too fall back.

[A fact, but a skewed one, aimed to his heart strings. She's being a manipulative little thing so she can get what she wants. And she's not good about sitting here with him.

It feels more intimate then a kiss would.]

And I do need mana. But for both our sakes...just once Gilbert. You don't have to do anything but sit here with your eyes shut tight.

[If he was the one to choose, he would gladly give her all of his mana (without the actual exchange, of course) so he could escape this embarrassing situation.]

If there's no other way...

[His shoulders droop, while he's watching her. He's the one at fault, if it wasn't for him, she wouldn't lose even more mana.]

Use me...this once.

[Gil, it doesn't work like that. But...still. Here they are. And he's defeated, with her need.]

This once.

[Her fingers are still trembling as she cups his face in her hands. But she ignores it, and instead leans up and offers him a very gentle, almost tender kiss.

She's right about one thing; the mana does flow more quickly, and more heedy, then hand holding.]

[Gil can feel it too, and since this is the most intense mana exchange he has ever had here, he's not sure what startles him more, the kiss itself or the significantly improved mana circulation.]

A-Are you feeling better?

[His voice is quavering a little, even if he can tell he has more energy than before and it should be the same for Caren; the real question is was that enough for her to get better.]

[She thought she could taste his mana too. It was...she wasn't sure how to put it. Light in the darkness? Dark wings? Something else? It was always startling and queer, the first taste.

She took a deep breath, and her eyes fluttered open.]

Yes.

[Her hands feel steady, and she doesn't think she'll fall. At least she isn't going in for another kiss.]

How do you feel?

[Just...because she wants to know if there's more than one reason for the quiver in his voice.]

[Too nervous to pay attention to the little things, he immediately looks away when their eyes meet.

However, his expression brightens briefly; sure, he did know that mana exchange would help and he can even see that Caren's hands aren't as shaky as they were, but for some reason he wanted to hear that she's feeling better, too.]

H-How I am supposed to feel? F-Fine.

[This may not be what she meant, but that's Gilbert's answer anyway.]

I'm not sure. A little more energetic perhaps?

[Her hands were much better, more that she kept them close. When he turned his face away, they dropped to his shoulders. She could pull away, but she couldn't resist one small tease.]

But if you're feeling depleted, you could use me for one kiss.

I...I've got plenty of energy.

[As long as he'd like to demonstrate, he can't do that when they're so close.

Also, if he knew that his poor word choice would bite him back in the ass that fast, maybe he would have thought that over for a little while longer.

It's too late, though.]

I-I don't think that's necessary. Besides, I would never use you like that.

[Or in any way, really.]

[She could back off, but well. That was a funny word choice, and she was going to use it against him. It was going to be fun. Ah, poor Gilbert.

It's always been too late.]

Who said I wouldn't want you to? Kiss me, that is.

[She offers him a small smile.]

You're not using me if I want you...vigorous.

[Nobody did say that. But how much he would like someone to say it right here, right now. Preferably Caren, but anyone would do, really...]

You...?

[Look, he can't even mutter a full sentence.]

Vigorous? W-Well, I wanted the same, so...

[What he has in mind is her replenished mana, of course.]

[If only someone would save this precious child...]

I know you do. You don't like me shivery and weak. So let me offer the same.

[She doesn't close in for another kiss, but she does run her thumb against his chin.]

If you ever need it, so you can protect yourself, your friends...me...you have my full permission for a kiss. Here or later.

[Gil may or may not be about to say that he sure doesn't like seeing her like that, especially since it doesn't suit her at all, but her thumb under his chin makes him forget what he wanted to say.]

...

[What is he even supposed to say to that...!?]

I-I'm grateful...

[Shouldn't he offer the same...it's a frightening thought, but that's the right thing to do.]

T-The same goes for you, I suppose...

Oh?

[She leans in slightly, as if she's about to kiss him again. Closer, closer still until...

She lets him go and draws away with a small sigh.]

I'm grateful. I will remember this come the future.

[Poor soul.]

[If she wants to give him a heart attack...well, she almost succeeded. Feeling weak on the knees, Gilbert almost slips on a rock on the bottom of the spring but regains balance shortly, heaving a sigh.]

So...so will I.

[It goes without saying, but he's probably never going to forget this.]

I suppose we can now relax...

[He needs to calm down his nerves right away, this have been too much.]

[She might have nearly, just nearly, driven his soul straight out of his body. Whoops. At least she's no longer using him as a seat either. He can breathe nice and easy now.

Or...as much as he can around her. Stealer of kisses.]

We can. I think I have some liquor still, if you want a drink.

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