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

[ferricwill]

More like two or three. Unless your blade happens to be an exception.

[Curious now.]

[bladeweaver]

Oh, uh... [Rueful chuckle.] We're a small blade, I think, compared to yours? I suppose we have fair balance of personalities. But I shan't bore you with our personal issues...

[He means that. He's not deflecting, mostly because he doesn't see the need to.]

[ferricwill]

On the contrary, I don't find it boring.

[It's actually nice to see what kids are up to these days.]

[bladeweaver]

Well then! Brig is... you're old enough to have been around when those Captain America movies came out, aren't you? He's kinda like that. [He casts eyes around for Yulia and spots her skulking around looking distressed. Motions in her direction.] That one is our most quiet blademate. She has ghosts, that one. So does that guy [Motions to Josh.], but in his case it's literal. He's the most well-balanced of us, I think. Really nice guy. Brianna's our changeling. [Smiles in her direction.] She's got issues, too. Durance-related, of course. But she's our blade baby, even though she's technically 500-something. Kaz is our hardest worker, I think. And our resident rich gay kid. Can't even begin to tell you how nice it is to have someone to help pick out clothes.

[He pauses at this. Did I just tell a near-stranger all about my blade? Zangyaku, man.]

Anyway, that's basically who we are. Just your regular sorta blade.

[ferricwill]

[Smiling, nodding along, listening.]

There is a Changeling in our blade as well. She had her own issues to deal with. Selene, I am sure you have heard of her... we also had Drake Badd as our blade leader. He married his geist.

[bladeweaver]

My blade is so regimented I'm not even sure who leads it now. [He laughs.] It's worked so far, so it's not really a problem.

I don't think Josh will be marrying his geist. [He smiles.]

Were you able to help Selene? Did she let you? Brianna, she's deceptively... proud.

[ferricwill]

It took us some time, but she eventually let us in. The real milestone was when she allowed us to help her kill Cersei.

[bladeweaver]

Well, we're a ways from that. Hopefully, she warms up to us before then.

[He hesitates a bit. What is it with this onsen and free talk, seriously...]

You understand, don't you? How they seem... warm, and carefree, but are not. I myself have never found myself capable of plumbing such depths. Perhaps you have.

[ferricwill]

[Thinks about that for a while.]

To be honest, I am not very good with things like that. From how my other blade mates carried themselves, however, what seemed most effective was being as available as possible, and waiting for them to come to you.

[bladeweaver]

[Taning ruminates upon this for a long moment.]

I suppose the easiest part is being available. Well, harder now, now that we've been separated, but it shouldn't be all that harder.

Waiting for them, now that's the hard part. Patience has never been my strong suit. I suppose that now it would have to be.

[He looks down into the water for a bit, then gets an apologetic look on his face as he looks back at An'yu.]

I'm sorry, I must be talking too much.

[ferricwill]

Not at all. It helps to talk, in my experience.

[Leaning back, enjoying the warmth emanating from Sadaharu's scales just as much as he's enjoying the water.]

"Your blade is your family". That is what you have been told, right? Sometimes, families need to talk. Other times, before the talking happens, people in the family need people who can be good soundboards.

[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?

[ferricwill]

Yes.

[Softer now.]

Yes, that's good enough. That's how it started with me, anyway.

[bladeweaver]

He sees An'yu's visage soften, and it seems as if he is remembering... difficult, but fulfilling things. He actually feels a bit abashed that he caused this reaction. He's gonna start to take his leave.]

It... is gratifying to know that I might be doing enough. For now.

[He starts straightening up to leave the pool.]

Thank you for listening to the problems of a nigh-stranger, An'yu-san. Sadaharu-san, I'll be taking my leave. Sorry for the bother. I'll be having stern words with this guy about respecting personal space. [Motions to Kidlat.]

[ferricwill]

You weren't bothering me at all. I'll see you around, Taning.