Waking the Dead 2.0 || May 18, 2063 || The Mandatory Hot Springs Episode

[kawaakari]

[The skies are clear, the air is cool, and overall? Conditions are perfect for spending the entire afternoon and maybe even the entire night at the hot springs within Seigi. It's open to Zangyaku operatives and their families, along with any of their guests.

Oh, they're also communal. Surely no one minds? It's just skin, after all.

You're allowed to smoke, drink and eat while you're chilling out in the pools. You can also play cards, have a round (or several) of ping pong, flop around... anything goes, as long as you don't kill anybody!]



OOC Notes:
+ Make your own threads, plot out your own shenanigans and whatever else. Just remember: War Hounds and the rest were probably invited there after lunch, and are more than welcome to spend the rest of the day there. Y'all might want to specify the time. :3
+ NPCs are available on call beyond the threads I set up in here (if I end up setting some up, anyway)! Lemme know if you have questions.

Comments

[kawaakari]

[Nods.]

May I ask why you are not interested?

[ferricwill]

[Nodding, smiling.]

Although, I am surprised that you don't mind how this onsen is communal. Places like this usually aren't.

herp derp

[atlas_shrugged]

It's my first time ever in a hot spring, Sensei. I don't really know how they are generally. I just assumed that this was perfectly normal. [ Brigade really has never even read up on onsens. That it's a non-combat engagement, he didn't bother looking it up on Vicenet either. ] They aren't supposed to be public? I'm guessing men and women are supposed to have separate springs like lavatories?

lol

[ferricwill]

There are public onsens, and they are always segregated. For decency, as they say.

[Not that An'yu really cares... he would have before. Now Asuna was sure to kill him if he so much as glanced in another woman's direction in a place like this.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brigade thinks of how some army showers used to not be segregated ] Well, I guess it's just skin for us, sir. I mean, Zangyaku operatives are disciplined enough not to do anything stupid and undesirable like most non-soldier individuals are prone to do. [ The return of Brigade's Captain Obvious moments. luz ]

[ferricwill]

That, and I am certain that if certain things did occur, it will all happen with the proper consent.

[Rubbing his chin now, with a bit of a smirk. Like he's seen that sort of thing happen often.

(He has. Lol, Zangyaku.)]

Ohgod An'yu's facecast's expression, in this context. -____-

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brigade has a sudden image in his head of people just suddenly doing it in the open. It shows on his face. ] I hope you mean they get a room, sir. It'd be... awkward, if it were just suddenly in public.

[ktotheatothez]

Sure you are, big guy. I can't blame you, though... I can see how he attracts people to him without really meaning to, or even when he means to. It's... Not easy to resist.

[He takes his arm off of Alistair to light up, looking out at the sky and thinking about how Aria was doing, how that affected Hikaru, and how both of that was affecting Alistair.]

[ktotheatothez]

If you were a Mage... Then... You had a Dragon too?

[Oh, sure, Kaz... Focus on that instead of the fact that she's a Great Spirit.]

[sadame]

[Chuckling. You are so cute, Kaz.]

No, I did not. Awakened having dragons of their own is a recent development in the Fifth World.

[mordechai]

I kind of stopped doing that a long time ago.

[Especially when he realized how much it hurt the Blade King, to have someone constantly turning away, constantly pushing him in another direction when he wanted to be right there.]

[ktotheatothez]

O-oh.

[He's unsure what to make of that. Point of fact, the's not really sure what to do right now. He does, however, scoot closer to her.]

So... You're a Great Spirit?

[His curiosity is in his voice, but he catches himself before he actually asks 'like the Great Koi?']

[sadame]

Yes. [Then, because he caught that thought:] A bit like the Great Koi. We both exist to protect things in the best way that we know how.

[ktotheatothez]

[Kaz can only nod and take another drag of his cig, and when he exhales, it comes with a sigh.]

Well... It is what it is... I'd think, with the way Hikaru operates...

[His hands go into a rolling motion, as if saying 'well, y'know - and better than I would, at that.]

[ktotheatothez]

Oh. Wait, if the Great Koi is like you, then... He was human once.

[He stops.]

I mean, not that you're not human to me, but... I guess... Human-shaped?

[He scratches his head at that though. Sometimes his brain to mouth filter is all kinds of bad. He does contemplate the last part... Existing to protect things the best way they knew how.]

Including, but not limted to the ones you left behind, I suppose, if you're here right now.

[sadame]

[Chuckling like that.]

Yes. I try my best to.

[Even if they can't see her doing it. It doesn't matter, she tells herself. They know, now, that she is always there, always will be there, for as long as she can be.]

[mordechai]

Mm.

[Right. Too dark for a moment like this.

Reaching out to ruffle Kaz's hair now.]

Go and join your friends.

[bostova]

I'd rather not. They deserve someone who can actually lead. I do not possess such quality. [ ...yet, anyway. ]

[kawaakari]

And now I see why you wish to work in that direction. [Smiles.] The licenses you possess now will help you, I'm sure.

[ktotheatothez]

I would know a thing or two about trying my best...

[He nods in in agreement.]

Sorry, I just... I confess finding you was kind of a stroke of luck. I've been thinking about our time in Shin Yamatai and how long ago, when it was just Yamatai, when you and Hikaru lived there... Was he... Hm. How does someone who cares about Hikaru get him to stop trying to run?

[ktotheatothez]

I will if you will, Alistair.

[Kaz's eyes plead though, Please don't wallow.

He shakes his head in an attempt to smooth his hair out, before he drags himself up and moves along, perhaps to find his friends, or his boyfriend, if he's not training.]

[sadame]

You have to keep pushing, and keep being honest.

[A beat, then she's chuckling.]

My little brother is a bit like a wounded animal that way. Quick to bare fangs, slow to trust.

[ktotheatothez]

Push... Be honest... Got it.

[He nods and considers that. Setsuna's chuckle is comforting, though.]

So kind of like a feral cat, maybe?

[bladeweaver]

[This makes him reflect on the nature of family. He's not had a benchmark for how normal families interact, of course.]

I really need to get used to that notion, that the blade is family. I haven't had a real one for a while, you see. I suppose what I can promise my blademates is my care and my unconditional devotion to their well-being. Is that a good enough start?

[bladeweaver]

[Smithing! He likes that thought.]

Maybe I can watch you at work sometime? I could apprentice with you in more than one discipline if you'll have me. [He laughs.]

Am I being too familiar? That tends to happen with me when, you know... [He gestures to the pipe.]