To dance along the light of day (Closed)

[oneirism]

Who: Lapis Fathalla (oneirism), featuring Setsuna F. Seiei (quaria), Kavi Misra (umberly), Lord Light (accordance), Sion Astal (sunderings), Tieria Erde (buildyourworld) and Regene Regetta (remotecontrols)
When: From Narcissa (March) 15th to the 17th!
Where: The Baths
What: Bath time shenanigans! Aka Lapis is a vain idiot who likes to mess with peoples hair.
Rating: Mentions of nudity and Lapis being way too casual about it and probably terrifying people with that...

SETSUNA

[Lapis doesn't tend to bathe in the morning, but she had tired herself training way to late last night and so one in the morning was sorely needed. It helps that she wakes up stupid early as well, so when she gets there, it's practically empty. Except there is one other Hero there.

And while Lapis tends to be in the habit of covering herself at least a little bit, since she knows people are more fussy about nudity than she is, she only just holds the towel in her arms as she waves over at Setsuna.]

... Morning, Setsuna. [A-at least... she has a nice figure?? Even if she is badly scarred. Sorry for the trauma Setsuna]

LORD LIGHT

[Lord Light's hair is one of the many things about him that Lapis has always been curious about. There's never a strand out of place, and even during the expo his hair was as perfect as ever, despite all the chaos going on. Meanwhile, she's certain her head was resembling a birds nest by the end, though she was more focused on other things at the time.

Even now it looks like his hair is as perfect is ever, and Lapis squints her eyes from her corner of the bath, before shifting closer. She really wants to style it, but will he let her, what if it's something considered offensive where he's from or it's some kind of blasphemy... ]

... Hey, Lord Light, can I braid your hair? [Might as well just go ahead and ask!!]

KAVI

[Judging peoples hair care routines are things she never really tried to do, but sometimes, she just can't help it. Especially when they could have such nice hair, and instead only just do the bare minimum.

Which is why she is rather unimpressed when she notices how Kavi is just... using soap in his hair. It's almost painful to watch, and eventually she moves over to him, her expression unimpressed as she puts her hands on her hips.]

... Let me do your hair. [It's sound more like an order than a request...]

SION

[Now, Lapis is stupidly vain proud about her hair, but she could never imagine growing it out any longer as it is now. Or as long as, for examples, Sion's. She has no shame in admitting that his hair is amazing, but all that hair must take forever to take care of. And probably requires least a small army, something like that.

And while she doesn't really know Sion that well yet, she does want to try and remedy that. So what better way to do that than to offer to help with his miles and miles of hair!]

... Do you need any help? [Said with a finger pointing at his majestic mane of hair, her other hand cradling her chin as she sits on the edge of the bath.]

TIERIA

[It's one thing to judge peoples hair care and see them do something like put their hair in a bun afterwards, but it's another thing when the hair care is awful but their hair is still nice. That is something Lapis finds more mystifying than annoying.

Like with Tieria. Considering Tieria's general attitude, things like fussing over his hair is something she can't imagine him doing, but his hair is still always nice somehow! Maybe he's just born with it or something...]

... You're only using soap, how're you able to still make your hair look nice? [She wants to know your secrets Tieria!]

REGENE

[Lapis has only see Regene and Tieria together a few times, but it's enough to make it clear that there is a very big resemblance between the two. She's pretty certain that the two are identical twins or something like that. Beyond their attitudes and hairstyles, they are pretty much the same.

Which is when she spots Regene in the baths, an idea comes to mind. One that will probably piss off Tieria, but when Lapis has an idea, she tends to roll with it not matter the consequences.]

... Hey, Regene, can I try something?

Comments

[oneirism]

[Luckily he doesn't have to worry, as Lapis gives a shake of her head in response.]

... Nope. If anyone tried, the other ghosts would be quick to get on her case.

[Even if she usually only had the dead for company, at least they looked out for her and cared for her - which she's always grateful for.

But those thoughts quickly come to a halt when she feels his fingers massage her neck - tensing in surprise for a moment, before she sighs as the tension practically melts out of her. Almost sinking into the water as his fingers press behind her ears, but she manages to keep herself mostly upright. It's been so long since she's been this completely relaxed, the thought of maybe having a little nap sounds almost tempting.

Though as she peeks up at him, she starts to focus a bit more, before blinking and then giggling softly at the poke to her cheek. Attentively listening to his explanation, blinking at his words and how he winks, taking a few moments to put two and two together. So, something that has a lot of skin on skin contact... Something that has a lot of skin on skin contact...

Oh.

Oooooh.

The understanding eventually dawns on her, and she gives a quiet 'aha!' before nodding. It doesn't even dawn on her to feel even a tiny bit embarrassed about this.]

... Ooooh, I see. Though, can you still eat food even if you don't get hungry for it anymore?

[umberly]

Good. I understand you want to do what is best for everyone but I'm glad that others are watching out for you in return, too.

[ Pleased that Lapis caught on as quickly as she did and isn't put-off by the implications, Kavi laughs quietly as he pleases his hands on Lapis' shoulders momentarily. He's been keeping a careful leash on his ability to sap and he isn't about to let it slip, not when Lapis has shown him nothing but trust and kindness.

What a pure girl. ]

I can. But it's more for the taste than an actual need for it. Plus, people would start to wonder if I never ate anything at all and it's easier to blend in when people don't assume you're some kind of freaky alien or something.

[ For a few moments, Kavi says nothing as he scoops up water and begins to wash the shampoo out of Lapis' hair. His lips are still stretched into a grin through and after a while, he props his chin up on Lapis' head, fingers back to massaging her nape. ]

It's easier to meet humans through places with food or drinks, too. A bar. A café. And if you're just sitting at a table doing absolutely nothing, it's bound to get a little suspicious. So yeah, I can eat food. Though after meeting the Monday Mysteries... I somehow wish I couldn't.

[oneirism]

... Yeah, though they're a bit overprotective sometimes.

[So even though she misses them, that's one reason she's glad they're not here. They would literally be hovering all over anyone who came near her, due to her inexperience with interacting with the living and how... badly her current interaction with a living person is going back home.

But she doesn't want to think about that. Instead she peeks up at Kavi when he laughs and places his hands on her shoulders, still completely at ease despite knowing how his powers work now.]

Mmhm, that's true. You would probably get a lot of questions if you didn't eat anything. Though I imagine they would start with the 'oh are you dieting' questions first.

[Based on her experience anyway, when she wasn't hungry and her sister was appalled that she was being a human black hole for once. She can get full sometimes too!

She stays still as he starts to wash the shampoo out of her head, closing her eyes just in case before blinking when he places his chin on her head. The fingers massaging her nape prompting her to purr quietly once more as she relaxes into the water. With how relaxed she is, her voice is a bit softer and slower than usual.]

Plus the people working in the café or bar might throw you out if you're sitting there doing nothing. [The she chuckles quietly at the mention of the... lovely breakfast they have on Mondays.]

I think all of us wish that on Monday mornings... But I'm glad to hear you can eat, that means I can make you something one day.

[umberly]

[ Overprotective is something Kavi can relate to. He knows it's one of his flaws and her words make him huff out a small laugh. Surely, if his sister was here right now, she and Lapis could bound over overbearing, nosy and inhuman pseudo-siblings who don't know when to butt out and let someone else experience life for what it is.

With everything that digs deep into your soul and tears at it and with everything that fills the wounds with bright, soothing light.

But Lapis has totally nailed what store owners used to say to him the first few times he left the other world after the change, still trying to figure out how much he had changed and which parts had remained the same.

Snickering, Kavi looks around for the conditioner, leaning to the side so he can pick it up. ]

That's pretty much what happened and I probably didn't seem like a regular patron anyway. It too a while for me to leave the other world on my own. [ About ten years. And when you're surrounded only by that which wants to devour you or who is like you, who looks young but has lived your lifetime at least twice, you begin to lsoe track of what is human and what isn't.

And it takes a while to relearn how to blend in. ]

They probably thought I was a drug addict in dire need of a fix. [ He'd been a little... twitchy.

...Wait, wait. Did Lapis just say that she would make something for him. Puzzled, Kavi leans forward until he can see Lapis' face, half bent over her and looking at her upside down. ]

What for? It's kind of a waste of ingredients.

[oneirism]

[The small laugh gets another blink, her head tilting to the side briefly as she wonder if something she said was funny. Maybe he knows what it's like to have someone be overprotective of him, or if he's been overprotective himself? She can certainly imagine Kavi being an overprotective big brother over someone.

And his snicker tells her that she had been right about her assumption - and that it's happened to him before. His response causes her heart to sink though, wondering how badly he must've been affected by what happened to him.

It sort of reminds her of herself, with having to remind herself not to talk to her friends while she was in public - she's gotten a few weird stares more than once for seemingly talking to herself. Having never really been around people much, she found it hard to really blend in a lot of the time.]

... I can sort of imagine how that was like. I hope some were nice to you and at least gave you a free water or something. [She really hopes so anyway. It sounds like he needed a bit of kindness in moments like that.

And his leaning over her gets her to blink, tilting her head once more before she shakes it.]

But you said you can still taste food. So why not? I like making things for people I like, so I just need to find out what flavors you like.

[It's said simply with not even a tiny hint of embarrassment. Though it would be much different if she attempted to say the 'friend' word. Then the blushing would start.]

[umberly]

Some were.

[ Others mostly wanted him gone. He can't blame them. After the silence of the other world, the muted skies and the gloom filling every corner, the brightness and noisiness of the regular world had been like a punch to the face. So many people, such large crowds and all of them moving, talking. It had made him want to find the nearest corner and hide.

But hiding never really worked. It only delayed the inevitable.

Those who had offered him kindness in the small things, a question, a drink, letting him sit at an empty table after rush hour. Those people had truly been a gift.

He hopes Lapis met someone like that, too.

At her words, however, Kavi's expression shifts into a playful grin, eyebrows raise and eyes glittering. Prepare to be teased, Lapis. ]

Lapis, did you just admit that we're friends? That's usually the category people you make food for fall into, yeah? Because if you did this for complete strangers, I might be concerned.

[oneirism]

... That's good.

[Some is better than none. It fills her with relief to know that there were a few people that showed him kindness when he was probably greatly disorientated. Even if Lapis was never so lucky, it's nice to know that there's people who will look out for strangers like that.

But she has a feeling she might regret her words as she watches how Kavi's expression changes, her brows raising slightly when he grins. A feeling of dread starting to loom over her.

And then he mentions the 'friends' word.

Cue her cheeks quickly turning bright red, open and closing her mouth for a few seconds as she tries to think of what to say. Then she lets herself sink into the water for a moment, with only her eyes and the tips of her very red ears visible for a second before she rises enough to answer.]

... W-well... I mean... [Gold eyes glance to the side, her fingers fidgeting together under the water. Her entire demeanor seems unusually shy right now.]

If you d-don't mind if I call you a, um, friend...

[umberly]

I don't mind at all, yeah?

[ Cute.

Laughing, Kavi nudges Lapis' side, prodding it gentle to get her to resurface. This was a better reaction than he could have hoped for and mirth dances in his eyes as he uses the opportunity to finally apply the conditioner to Lapis' hand with the hand not currently busy coaxing Lapis into getting over her shyness.

But given her history, it's no wonder she would get flustered.

Which is exactly what Kavi hoped to accomplish.

His movements slow until they come to a complete stop and he regards Lapis with a serious look. He really wasn't lying when he said he does consider Lapis a friend but perhaps he needs to say it again. So Lapis can take his honest words and let herself lean on them. ]

We are friends, Lapis. I like talking to you and laughing with you and relaxing with you. I believe that's what counts as a basis for friendship.

[oneirism]

[His answer is reassuring - not that it stops her from whining in embarrassment as he nudges her side. Slowly resurfacing once more, almost pouting now as she looks up at him, the mirth in his eyes making it hard to force the blush away.

The feeling of him applying the conditioner to her hair helps to calm her down as well, her blush slowly fading as she sits up a bit more. Rubbing at her cheeks as if to get ride of the remainder of the redness lingering on her skin.

The serious look gets her to blink once more, and the blush quickly arises once more as he speaks. But this time she manages to a smile, taking a deep breath as she nods. It's... nice to hear that. To hear that someone likes being around her, when she so firmly believed that nobody ever would.]

... That's true, and I like talking and laughing with you too. S-so we're friends... [She takes a deep breath, her smile brightening once more as she looks up at him.] Thank you, Kavi.

[umberly]

[ Kavi would like to add adorable to Lapis' assorted attributes. Truly, the smile changes everything about her, changes her quiet charm into something brighter. It's gorgeous to see, to watch the transformation take place and Kavi can't help but return the smile in kind.

He hopes Lapis' warmth will never fade. ]

Thank you, Lapis, for being my friend. So if you need anything, anything at all, let me know. I may not always be able to understand everything- [ Their experiences differ and it is reflected in their cores. ] -I can at least look very interested and nod in the appropriate places.

Plus, I can do a mean french braid.

[ He winks, gathering water in his cupped hands to rinse the conditioner from Lapis' hair. ]

[oneirism]

[If Lapis even knew he associated the word adorable to her, she would end up spending most of the day bright red.

But for now, seeing his smile prompts her own to brighten just a bit more - clearly glad that she was able to make him smile. Though his words soon cause her cheeks to heat up all over again, some of the shyness seeping back in as she hunches her shoulders. Her smile turns a bit sheepish around the edge, but it stays, too happy right now to let herself try hide again.

Hearing someone actually thank her for being their friend is another thing she thought she'd never hear, but it's enough to fill her with such happiness that she's worried she might overflow with it. It's now that she realizes that she's truly lucky to have a friend like Kavi.]

... I-it's the same to you too. If you ever need anything at all, just let me know.

[Of course, she soon chuckles softly, a playful edge appearing to her smile - leaning back a bit so he can better rinse her hair.]

Then you'll need to show me one day, since I want to see your skills in action.