Festival: Hot Springs Pool Party

It wasn't all that long ago that the the Adventurers stumbled upon this particular hot springs, hidden high atop the mountain. After some repairs required from a certain old man's shenanigans, the owner of the springs had decided to give the Adventurers some time in the springs. So, people had been invited to an evening of relaxation.

As they have the springs to thesmelves, it's relatively quiet. The cool air of the night a stark contrast against the warm water. There are a number of clean white towels stacked up on tables around the central area. There is one massive central pool, surrounded by natural stones. A few smaller pools surround the area with warmer or cooler temperatures.

The only people other than the Adventurers are a few Lander servers who are running food or drinks.

    Amalthea is here. After nearly a year stuck in this world, battling tooth and nail to try and find a way out, climbing an infernal tower, fighting undead, headbutting with nearly everything under the sun...
    he old timer needs a break, dammit.
    Having found herself a nice, tasteful, swimsuit that is very tasteful and tastefully put together and no further detail shall be gone into about said swimsuit because her player is actually fashion-inept, Amalthea has... Found the absolutely HOTTEST part of the hotspring and plunked herself in, with a bucket floating at her side.
    In said bucket is a huge jug of sake and several cups for the purpose of sharing with anyone that dares brave the heat to join her.
    She's already looking a little flushed, but whether it's from the heat or the fact that she's slowly sipping from the one cup in her hand is questionable.

The last few weeks have been rough on Mikage. She has spent long weeks training in the Byalan dungeon, meaning that each day has been hard work, not only on her own part, but on the part of party members working to help her through her recent training.

So, the prospect of being able to go somewhere and relax for a few days seems to appeal. Thus, the Were Fang had dragged Cyrus up into the mountains to the Hot Springs as her way of thanking him for keeping her butt alive these past few weeks.

Of course, what that means, however, is that she's got to wear a lot less clothing than she is normally used to. The one-piece, black bathing suit covers the essentials, straps crossing over her chest and behind her neck. It has the look of a 'Gwen Pendragon' special, kept stylistically simple because Miki isn't exactly the sort to go too 'wild' in such circumstances.

Heck, she even has a cover-all over the whole thing, likely feeling a bit embarassed at the whole idea. "It's going to be fine." She talks herself up, and then walks towards the edge of the pool.

Rama... on the other hand, races in and all but feline belly flops right into the same spring as Amalthea. Complete with a splash that may disrupt the poor Paladin's relaxation. Apparently the lynx doesn't mind water when it's warm enough. His head pops up, fur slicked against his cheeks, a dopey expression on his feline face.

SpritesHero emerges into the chilled, wintry air wearing nothing but a large, fluffy towel. Well, two towels, really. One is worn for modesty, the other--wrinkled and used-looking--is haphazardly folded and set atop his head. He is already damp, evidently having performed his pre-wash prior to emerging, so it is perhaps completely unsurprising that he spends very little time by the refreshments. Indeed, he's over there just long enough to snag a cup of juice, which is rapidly drained, before he makes a bee-line for the nearest mixed hot-spring.

It's not quite Amalthea's area. That would be a bit too hot for his purposes. But he's not too far away either, having selected an area that wafts clouds of steam. He's mercifully hidden within said cloud as the towel is removed, set aside, and little more than his steam-shrouded silhouette is visible he lowers himself into those welcoming waters with a long, exhaled sigh.

    Merek looks to be wearing his dark swim attire, while he takes the time to relax into the spring, probably where it looks to be the best for what he wants, then he nods along to people he knows as well.

"Interocular distance indicates a Mac Anu variant b2. Chromatic cues hint at a Ninetails variety primed with Westelande material rather than a Westelande native. Mass and roundness point at Ezzo origin. Not common these days."

Someone got Uta in the same slime design bikini as the Summer festival (once again, a fine work of Gwen Pendragon), but right now, all the Spriggan seems capable of doing is sit in a corner and attempt to classify each single slime drawn on her bathing suit. She even keeps a notebook to jot down her note about her findings. At least, she's clean and free of the << Filth >> status effect, right now, but she still has bag under her eyes, and her HP bar is on the low end of the yellow.

Cyrus is exhausted. Between helping Mikage at Byalan, and making potions to ensure said helping does not go bad, he's been needing something to get his mind off of things. The young man is wearing something simple himself. Just short well made shorts, as he dips himself into the hot water, before Mikage has even decided where to get in. It's nice having a simple mixed bathing event.

"It feels strange, going to a traditional bath like this." He remarks, wearing a towel on his head simply because... he can. And well, it'll be useful to dry himself off afterwards.

There's this satisfied sound that leaves him as the warm waters envelop him upon stepping in, and he just melts the rest of the way in. He then motions for Mikage, looking for her to join with him, while avoiding cat shenanigans.

Hotsprings, this made Gwne pretty happy so happy she'd mad a new swimsuit for Shiruba it she' wnate oen also the pair had escpaed Gwne's mother's ideas for what they should wear to this. Gwen was waiing a simple bikini which. not a large one she emeed to be happy to have a litlte fun as she called out. "Come one Shiruba lets get in the spring!"

OOC Gwen https://imgur.com/HsWv9x2

It's interesting, for Ayame, to see who follows what traditions. What expectations. For her part, she was wrapped in a long, exceedingly fluffy towel, which she slipped off as she slid into the water, closing her eyes in blissful peace. Hair pinned up, still, she turned to fuss and arrange her towel, case, and wand behind herself, and then settled back into the pool. One hand, mercifully ungloved for a change, lifts in a polite wave to those she knows.

Otherwise? This is a hot spring. And the Sylph is content, by the little disturbances of the water behind her as her wings buzz softly.

    BLOOSH
    A splutter follows Rama bellyflopping into the water and Amalthea looks all wet for a good moment, hair matted and face now really flushed by the heat as she blinks owlishly as just who or WHAT joined her so vigorously.
    Before the light of recognition enters her eyes. "Hah! Rama you big lug, caught me by surprise."
    She's not even mad as she slowly tips back her cup, reaching over to give the huge soaked cat a ruffle.
    "But no sake for you, big guy."

SpritesHero appears to be going the traditional route. Or at least what he's been informed is the traditional route. Not that he appears to have adjusted to it any better than he adjusted to the world in general. For he remains firmly fixed in one spot, as though nailed down. He furthermore keeps his eyes firmly closed, except when they stare at the heavens in appreciation. Or glower at anyone who approaches. Oh, it's not intentional or anything, but there's the distinct sense of him going on edge whenever others come within a fairly large radius of him. And should they come closer they will get a very long, very intent, conceivably ominous stare. Yes, even that large cat.

"Is this really necessary Gwen? I could of just wore the swimsuit you made me for the beach festival," Shiruba mumbles as she follows Gwen into the hot springs. Though they did escape the shop before Morri could get her hands on either of them for even less appropriate appareal ideas so she should probably count her blessings.

It's enough that Gwen got her into wearing a proper bikini this time, just a bit less... ah.. showy than the taller woman's own choice in bathing attire. "Nevermind, I'm not going to turn down the chance to relax properly for a bit. Goddesses know I could use it after the last month..."

Rama gives a little adorable sneeze from the water in his nose, and then cat-paddles over to the side of the pool. His nose does twitch briefly at Amalthea's sake, but then his eyes go wide and he makes that cat 'stink-face' expression. Apparently, the lynx is not fond of sake, anyways.

"Don't bother people too much, Rama." Mikage advises, and the drenched cat just gives her a big-eyed, completely innocent look. To which Miki just rolls her eyes in response.

The exchange between Shiruba and Gwen is given a soft laugh, "See, I just avoid going near her shop unless I want something new thrust upon me, if I want it or not." The Were Fang smirks, "That's why I've still got my suit from the beach festival, instead."

At Cyrus' motion, Miki heads on over in his direction. Somewhat shyly, she removes her cover-all and lays it to the side of the pool along with a towel and then slides down into the water. Almost immediately, her muscles relax little. "Yep. This is perfect. If I don't see another Byalan hydra, I'll die happy."

Gwen grins. "I know and come on you look great. Sides I'm cerain someone would burst a vien seeing you this relaxed and confident." She ntoes as she moves to slip into the water ming her wing a bit so they will rest on teh stone as she slips on in. "I think we all could, use a bit of down time, right? She sem to start relaxing as she sinks in for a moment. "You know a quest to deal with them will cross our desks sooner or later, right?" She grins at Miki for a moment as the fashion terror just seems to be relaxing now. Or is she plotting swim outfits for everyone here...

Cyrus joins Mikage in the eye-roll at Rama's desperate attempt to look innocent. "Don't give us that look." He remarks to Rama, as he lays his arms out on the stone outside of the water, waiting for Mikage to start stepping inside.

"Yeah, Byalan is wet. But there is bad wet, and then there's good wet. This is good wet." He proposes to Mikage, moving one hand to touch her at the back as she steps in, making sure she's steady. "Careful, the rock is a bit rough in places." He tells her, his other hand coming up in case she needed something else to hold.

And once she's in, the arms go out on the stone outside of the pool again. At this point, Cyrus has clearly gotten comfortable being rather close to Mikage. He motions for Amalthea, trying to signal to her; "No sake for that cat. But what if this one wants some?"

"On that note..." Shiruba pauses semi-dramatically a moment, then reaches up to pull the bone-pin fasteners out of her hair. The large ponytail promptly collapses, a wave of silver-blue cascading down her back like a waterfall of it's own. If it wasn't for the color different it'd be hard to tell where her hair ended and her tail began.

With that handled she settles herself down into the edge of the pool next to Gwen, a content "aaaah" escaping as she does so. "Hello everyone~" She already feels better.

    And there goes Rama. Amalthea can't help but chuckle at the big cat's expressions, but casually pours another glass of sake.
    This one isn't for herself.
    "I made sure to bring plenty to share." she replies to Cyrus, passing it over his way.
    "Hydra's huh?" She muses. "Don't think I've encountered any of those yet. They don't follow the old myth where they'd regrow cutoff heads, here, do they?" Asked while shooting Shiruba and Gwen a wave.

Success! His defensive perimeter thus successfully established, Sprites settles in more comfortably now, save for a nod directed at Ayame coupled with a quick eyebrow-flash of recognition.

But then he withdraws into his thoughts once more, half-lidded eyes fixed on the scenery beyond the springs. His arms lift out of the water, bracing on the stone banks to either side of him, water-droplets glittering coldly off his skin in whatever light comes from the heavens or the nearby lamps. True, it's a moment of peace, but he does not appear to be relaxing, judging by the way his eyes visibly flicker beneath those eyelids.

The last of the slimes on the fabric is classified, and Uta slams her notebook shut. "More! I need MORE!", she mumbles, barely loud enough to be heard. She calls up her menu, stashes away her notes, gets up, and begins prowling the place for... something?

"Slimes. I need more slimes. If I'm lucky, the hot springs will be contaminated," she grumbles while staggering about. Her gait is exactly what one would epxect from someone with that level of bags under her eyes. She also grumbles something about not being allowed to whip out her staff and cast Sewer Call at a public bath since The Accident.

She sounds annoyed.

"As long as it's warm." Mikage quips back. Byalan dungeon is both cold and wet, and after spending nearly every day slogging through the sodden tunnels, this is a pleasant distraction. The girl sinks back into the water, unconcerned about any rough stones, and just sort of leans back, allowing most of her body to submerge, with the exception of her face.

She lets her head tip back, just enough to slick her hair back and then runs a hand over it, offering a small smile over to Shiruba. "That's kind of how I feel. This is... a nice break."

She looks over towards Amalthea, shaking her head slightly. "The Byalan hydras are these strange looking ocean creatures. They sort of stick out of the ground, and have these tendrils that stick up. They can attack you with them at long distances." Inwardly, she winces, rubbing at one of her arms as if in memory. "Damn hard to block or dodge. I've been training on them and they're a real bitch."

Then, she seems to get distracted by the staggering movements of Uta, "Is... she alright?"

Gwen says "We'll find out if we ever get to the west." She nots to Amalthea and grins waving back to he frin and sahe shows off a bit. Gwen certainly having fun with this and she'll look back to Mikage for a moment. Then to uta for a moment "... Uta... come on enjoy yoursel and relax it will let you better focuys on your work if you take a break and come back fresh..."

Cyrus looks in the direction of Uta and remarks; "I've been wondering that since the day we first met." Before looking back to Mikage and then reaching across her towards Amalthea, putting a cup from his inventory.

"Bsaically, imagine sea anemones, with a really bad attitude." He hopes that helps Amalthea imagine what Hydras are.

"She's in a strange mood. Has been for a while" Ayame says lazily to Mikage "I think she'll be fine. We just need to keep her from wandering somewhere that can hurt herself. There's not much here, thankfully" As she sinks to her chin in the hot water

Cyrus chimes in to Ayame; "I suppose the worst that could happen is that she drowns... or goes down the mountain on the sheer cliff side. I hear there's traps on that side."

Shiruba flicks an ear at the talk about Hydras. Recalls some of the old legends herself. "Next time, bring someone with the brewing skill. Hydras like Oorochi were defeated by tricking it into getting drunk."

There's booze. There's wonderful lighting. There's steaming hot-springs. What is missing?

That's right. Crazy fellows off on their lonesome composing poetry. -Bad- poetry. Naturally, they must be haiku. And Robert? Is -entirely- up to this task.

He continues to lounge, steaming himself to a nice reddish hue, and begins muttering to himself.

"I squish slimes
and notice
Uta watching"

he intones, with far more gravitas than is called for.

    "Huh! So a hydra in name only, but just as nasty. I see." The old Paladin muses amid slow sips of her sake.
    She can't help but grin at Gwen showing off.
    Briefly she looks to Uta, though.
    "Oh dear, another one of those strange moods, eh?"
    Briefly... Ever so briefly, she makes something of a face at the mention of the trapped side of the mountain.
    How she got through all that only to nearly bust her ass at the end on a wall is a mystery, but at least she has Rylen to thank that she didn't throw her back out.

Uta blinks in confusion at Gwen. Her eyes try to focus. Hard.

She blinks at her again.

"I'm not-" She launches into a yawn where her mouth opens so wide the mountain caves around might be feeling jealous right now. She clicks her tongue, and finishes, "-tired. I can go on for... uh..." Her head swims, and she struggles to mantain balance. Rubbing her eyes, she asks, "...what do you call those things you count with the clock again?"

As Cyrus anticipated, she is walking straight for a pool, without the slightest care about where she's going (it's not like one can see very well while rubbing their eyes).

Her foot is lifted, the last movement before she steps right into a deep body of water, but then- she stops in place.

"Slimes? WHERE?!", she yelps, pivots on her foot still on the ground, and darts in the direction of Bob.

"A /really/ bad attitude." Mikage confirms, then dips her lips under the water just enough to blow a few bubbles at the surface. If nothing else, keeping herself so low in the water means not having to expose as much skin to the night air, even if the contrast of hot and cold does feel amazing.

Ayame's explanation shows some realization on her features though as she pushes herself up, moving to lean back against the side of the pool. "That makes sense. I still haven't experienced one, myself, but... I've seen enough people with them." There is an uncertain look she casts in Uta's direction.

"Let's just keep an eye out and make sure nothing bad happens, yes?" She suggests, giving Cyrus a look, as well. She does /not/ want to let Uta wander into traps.

Gwen sighs and nods to Ayame "Aye I was like this for a while on a project. It seems to be a thing if you get into crafting." She really needs to get a good spot to display her work she looks vback to Amalthea for a moment as she sinks back into the water happily sone more. "Uta if you take a break and rest up a bit I might recall a rumour about slimes I heard a while back..."

Cyrus nods his head. "I'm not babysitting her right now. But if she ends up in a duty with us, we'll keep an eye out on her. Though I wonder how we'll tell whether or not she's no longer in her Fey Mood." The youth offers, while spotting Mikage ducking lower into the water. "Sit up. That's terrible for your posture." He teases her. "And the swimsuit looks good on you."

Shiruba just puts a palm to her face. "Earlier she was leading a whole troop of slimes around, and managed to stumble into one of the Rat Cellar Duties. Good thing Ayame and I came along to keep an eye on her." The facepalm turns into just rubbing her temple. "I've seen too many friends going through this sort of thing. I was actually kind of afraid my defense training would trigger something similar, but it didn't. Maybe it's only 'creative' pursuits..."

SpritesHero remains, in every practical sense, unaware of the incoming Uta. Being devoted to composing abominations against nature will, after all, do that to a fellow. His gaze lifts once more, in pensive bliss. He tries again.

"No one travels,
nimble feet patter closer
on the frosted path."

He sighs. Success. He's really getting the hang of this poetry stuff. But something jars in his thoughts, and he suddenly sits up. Pattering feet? He hazards a glance over his shoulder, half-freezes, then blurs into motion. Motion which is thankfully censored by comforting puffs of steam.

    "Oh lord, if training triggered that..." Amalthea mutters back at Shiruba, knocking back her sake cup in a deep pull. "Well I'd be in a pinch that's for sure." She says. "I've been hitting Aincrad's seventh floor, trying to become a better Tank. It's..."
    How to put this.
    "There are iguanas." Pause. "Really big iguanas that can swallow you whole. And T-rexes. Really big T-rexes that can swallow you whole. And really big--... You get the idea." She says, pausing again. "The tapestry, right, Gwen? I remember having to shove some of that wagyu beef we got from the second floor boss down your throat to get you to eat."

    Springs? Hot Springs you say? When was the last time she got to enjoy something like that? Anywhere? ... She couldn't remember. Why not go and soak a little? It'd be relaxing, a distraction from orbiting a certain smith, and maybe just a night to just be. No worries. Sounds wonderful.

    So, arriving late, a young adult woman comes wandering in, bright red hair, green eyes, and a simple suit to just soak in for a while. Anyone that offers a wave is given a small one back, or a nod, but what this individual wants is a lonely, hot, spring for a few minutes before socializing. If any socializing is to be done. Those eye-scar markings look familiar, but seem out of place on a normal looking human. ... Weird.

The motion blur happens to be an ankle-grab with a magic-assisted launch. Spriggan toss is the new Olympic sport of Yamato! Remember kids, you've heard it here first.

Uta is in no condition to parry or counter the Arte, so she just zips through the air, lands with a massive splash right next to Ayame, produces some bubbles while underwater, and floats up to the surface, prone.

One second passes, two seconds-

She spreads her wings open, to feather fall.

Tenko loves hot springs, they are very relaxing. She has gotten herself cleaned up, and her clothes are neatly folded and put away...Including her mask. She also is not currently in her kitsune form, which is strange for her to say the least. She carefully makes her way to one of the springs, and slides into the water quietly.

"I... haven't really been far into the tower, myself." Mikage's eyes flick towards Cyrus and then back to Amalthea in a not-exactly-stealthy way of indicating that the alchemist may just be the reason she doesn't explore there, much. "It sounds like an exciting place, other than the possibility of being eaten, that is."

Rama pulls himself out of the springs at that point, shaking himself off. It likely means those sitting nearby get a light misting. Then, the lynx seems to follow nearby to where ever it is that Uta wanders. Perhaps just trying to keep an eye out for her.

"Yeah, I'm glad defensive training doesn't seem to cause those sort of moods." She admits to herself. Then, of course, Cyrus has to go criticizing her posture. So, Miki does what anyone would do. She splashes water in his direction, "Oh, shove off Cy." Oh, and she flushes a bit, not just from the hot water as she sinks down again. Way to embarrass the Ranger.

"I had to literally drag her out for some social time before she worked her fingers to the bone," Shiruba replies as she nods to Amalthea. "The floor with the giant versions of everything? I should go hunting out there some time, just to see for myself." Not that she cares about the climb in itself, but some of those floors have interesting environments.

She holds up an arm to shield her face from the splash of Uta's impromptu cannonball. Then as she lowers it she notices the young lady walking past towards some of the smaller private pools. It wouldn't be anything odd.. except for sharp hunter eyes notice the eye scar.

Though she only gives a brief "Huh" at the sight, not wanting to draw attention to someone who clearly wants their personal time first.

... And she turns back her attention to the other pools, only to see Tenko, also in her rarely scene human form, and without her mask to boot. This gets a "Two in one night..." uttered under her breath.

Cyrus getse splashed, the water getting all up in his hair and ears, making him look even more like wet cat than he has in the past few days in Byalan. He stares at her, dripping... and of course retaliates with the smallest of splashes. After all, it is impolite to splash eachother in a hotspring! "Pfft." He answers her. "I mean it." He does interject, before looking back to the crew beyond. Ther emay or may not be the smallest bit of blush on his own cheek. One of these days, he really has to talk to her in private on that whole having feelings thing he's been keeping from her. But right now, here out and about amongst all of these people, it seems like a bad time to talk about.

Gwen Will inspect the mysterious redhead pause and says "Oh hey good to see you I just get ideas seeing you like this!" Gwen beams theres no malancie she's just thinking of how many more thing she could do with her friend like this to make her look awesome.

    Merek does notice that Tenko looks to be about, and waves to the woman, if he will notice who it is through inspect, given their friendship. He waves then along to a Uta, and anyone else that the man will note about, taking the time to drink from the tea with him while he leans back into the spring.

And -stay- out! The glance Robert shoots at Uta's back might have a little more venom to it if she weren't...well, in her current state. Allowances must be made, after all. Honor must be defended. Or at least -his- bit of pool must be. Metaphorical feathers metaphorically ruffled, he flicks water off his shoulder, lowers himself back into position, and resumes his -peaceful- and -thoughtful- compositions.

"Moonlit water.
Spriggans soar through air
but cannot fly"

...he offers to the no-doubt horrified gods of poetry.

All of a sudden, SpritesHero sees something appear on their HUD. It is a little message that blinks in the corner of their vision. 'The Beautiful One has noticed your deed.'

    "Exciting is a word for it." Amalthea replies midly. "It's the T-rexes that *breathe fire* that make things interesting." She says, pouring herself another cup of sake amid the splashing with a chuckle.
    To Shiruba she nods. "Everything's bigger on Floor Seven." She confirms.
    Before she's eyeing the new arrivals.
    One of them looks vaguely familiar.
    "Huh."

Shiruba reachs over to whap Gwen lightly on the shoulder, mock growling "Don't scare her off" under her breath.

"Merek, it is good to see you." Tenko says, as she smiles, and then looks across to Shiruba, "Good evening, Commander." She says to the Silver Sword leader, as she offers a bow of her head.

    Sooooooooak. Sink. Surface. Burble. Soak. Sink. Surface. Sigh.

    Delightful. Good. Very very good. This was everything this young woman needed today. She could just sit here for hours... Mmmhmm.

Gwen eeps at the whap and looks back to Shiruba for a moment.

    Rizadoman was late to the party, not even fashionably late he was simply late. His face is covered in ink, or maybe it is simply charcoal ings and he couldn't quite remember why he was going to be here but he had made a note of it. He had to get out and bug the people anyways, the storyteller had rationalized. As he approaches the water he seems to gravitate towards the pool of Amalthea before clothes and all he simply steps in and only when he is mostly submerged does he recognize that he is in the water. Can Lizardmen purr? Rizadoman seems to have found warmth and contintentment. " Right, the warmth , I am here for the warmth. Book can wait for the warmth."

"I might have to go up and check it out at some point." Despite her companion's hesitancy when it comes to anything regarding the tower, Mikage is the sort who wants to see and experience everything that Elder Tale has to offer. Sooner or later, the siren song of seeing the tower floors is going to overpower everything else.

She seems oblivious to any of Cyrus' inner turmoil, and eventually she does relax again a little, leaning back on the side of the hot springs. "Promise me if I ever get into one of those weird moods, that you won't let me do anything too stupid." She pauses, "Well, stupider than normal, anyways."

    Merek waves then to Shiruba, while he nods to Tenko, "It's always good to see you," he will admit, while he takes the time to adjust his shirt which he wears for the swim wear. Then he thinks about it, "Well, it's nice to take a break from the whole... Thing."

    One moment Akatsuki was not there.
    The next moment, there is a ninja in a school swimsuit with her name on the chest. ... With arm floaties...
    And she's sitting at the edge of the pool by Arashi.
    "Yes, this is good." She agrees with the woman's sentiment. "Sometimes a break is needed." The taciturn ninja says mildly.

Cyrus blows some air at his own hair at the mention of the tower, and doesn't go any further in on that topic. Instead, when she leans back he notes; "If you ever get into one of those weird moods, I will make sure you'll remain safe and I will keep you from your foolishness." He promises to her.

    And then. Amalthea is joined.
    "Ah, Rizadoman you--..." She trails off.
    "Look like you've been busy." She finishes her statement diplomatically as he enters the pool fully clothed. "What's this about a book?" She asks curiously, pouring a cup of sake and offering it over.
    When in doubt, offer booze.

    Soak. Sleep? No. A single bubble pops when Akatsuki speaks, however. Green eyes glance over, accept the presence there, and then gaze back over the surface of the water. "Required." Needed? Required. Semantics, but this is the first 'break' she's had in ages. Going to enjoy it for as long as possible. ... She idly wonders if Akatsuki recognized her. Mental shrug. Doesn't matter. This feels to good for it to bother her one way or the other.

"This used to all be a break." Tenko says to Merek, as she lowers herself further into the water for a moment, "Now we must find those brief moments of respite when we can." She briefly dips entirely below the water to wet her hair, and then surfaces again.

    Rizadoman takes the sake with a smile and drinks it before he looks at the cup, " This reminds me of a story, about my ancestor who once drank so much sake..." He trails off for a moment as he takes another drink and sits in the water as he closes his eeyes and seems to want to absorb the warmth. For a moment he seems to even fall asleep before he startles himself back up, " So he drank so much sake that he went up to the nearest volcano and soaked for three days in the lava pools thinking they were hot springs. He was terribly embarrassed when he sobered up. " Taking his final sip he places the sake cup on the edge of the pool, " I'm sorry you said you were writing a book?"

Something catches Robert's attention. His eyes flicker down to the bottom right of his UI, widen in something between surprise and horror. He slowly, slowly begins sinking deeper into the springs, until just his lips are visible. His gaze lifts, he visibly wilts.

"A wooden bridge
binds the river.
The sea is free."

he observes finally. It's an apology, of sorts. Even if it's coupled by a rather suspicious eye that scans first the heavens, then those who are currently present.

Shiruba slips down a bit farther into the water, to her shoulders, and all her hair drifting lightly around her. She doesn't want to go much farther than that. Her tail getting soaked is one thing, the ruff around her neck is too close to her other senses to want to get wet enough to cause 'wet dog smell'. "Yeah. Take the chance to unwind we've got."

    That certainly is a story. Amalthea is left staring at the reptillian were-fang for a good beat, before she chuckles. "That certainly sounds like a lot of sake." She says at first. Before motioning at her face, pointedly to indicate the ink- or charcoal- or whatever it is smeared all over Rizadoman's.
    "Judging from all that, I thought you were the one writing something, just now."

    Merek looks to be content with the water, while he nods to Tenko, "You're right. Well, it's... Still a world in which we can relax all the time if we want, it's just some of us choose to do a lot of work," he will admit. The man takes a look along to Shiruba, "I don't know, I still need to finish up that thing... For the Bandit King. I am taking a break from that though, generally."

    Rizadoman lets himself soak for a moment before he speaks to answer the question, "Blurgle blurgle blurgle." THen he raises his head a little further out of the water and tries again, " Oh so you know about my book? Yes yes a fascinating topic , I swear I ccan't even stop myself from writing most days. If I am not writing I am reading or asking people questions about what I am writing. " Finally hee takes a rbeath and fully submerges himself in the water as he takes a moment to try a deeper level of hot water before coming up. Sadly it is as hot as it is going to get. " So how are you?"

"It's a good idea to rest now while you can, so you can tackle that problem fresh." Shiruba nods. If she's answering Merek, Rizadoman, or most likely both isn't entirely clear. But it certainly applies to them both.

    "Dear you may want to sit up." Amalthea says. "Before you drown."
    That out of the way, brow knots.
    "I have no clue what you're writing about." She admits freely. "But I am curious to hear about it, if it has your attention so raptly."
    Could this be yet ANOTHER strange mood? She considers.
    "I am well though! So tell me, what is it you're writing about, hmm?"

Shiruba's advice may be offered to other people, but Robert takes it nonetheless. His suspicions are not exactly addressed per se, but a further examination of them tonight will likely prove useless. And so he sits up a bit more, leans back against a nearby rock, and closes his eyes. For the moment he is content to simply feel, to listen. The chill wind that wafts through. The spring's waters lapping against his skin.

Gwen seems to be fairly spaced out now just enjoying the springs at this point.

Tenko hmms softly, "What are you working on for him anyway? I have not really done much to grow besides protecting the People of the Land and slaying monsters.." She muses.

    "The man wants me to find what looks to be a helmet that belongs to him," Merek will note to Tenko, then he nods to Shiruba, "It's probably important, it might be that he wants that back, I don't think about it a lot, I just know that I need to do it, if I want to unlock that new relic."

    Rizadoman nods his head and looks over at one of the landers with food and waves him over. Looking at Amalthea for a momet he looks around before he realizes the question, "Oh! The subject!" Looking back and forth as if it is a secret he begins to open his mouth to answer when the lander finally brings over some food. "Oh food is here. " Wading to the other side of the pool he takes the plate from the lander and smiles as it seems to be a mixture of fruit and the sweet divine , cheese. He begins popping the cheese bites into his mouth before he offers the plate back to Amalthea, " Want some?"

After a bit of soaking Shiruba scoots up and puts her hands on the edge of the pool to lift herself from it. Water trickling down as she exits, her hair and tail sagging behind her from the extra moisture as she walks over to sprawl at the edge of the pool Arashi and Akatsuki (When did she sneak in? Darn ninjas.) are using. "Not often I see you like this," she notes, both of the form and the relaxing.

    Yes, the subject! That's what Amalthea wants to know!
    Before Rizadoman is distracted by cheese.
    "... I think I'm good with my sake, dear." She says, taking a deep pulling sip from her cup and pouring herself another, as she sighs and sits herself back against the edge of the pool.
    This is the kind of relaxation she needs, indeed.

    More. Soak. Oh. A Shiruba. And she -did- recognize. "mm. I don't show up like this often," she points out, confirming that she is indeed Arashi. De-Werefanged. For now. "I heard about the open springs and decided I needed a break." From pestering Kaydon. Cause she probably was doing that. Today. This week. ... For a while. Yep.

    The question of Amalthea's will go unanswered as Rizadoman is quite a happy lizardman. He has cheese, he has warmth, and he has his own thoughts, so properly he sinks in till most of his body is submerged and floats lost in thought for the moment.

"I'd honestly forget some of you," a sidelong glance in Tenko's direction as well for a moment, "can do that." Then Shiruba turns her attention back to the mostly submerged woman, propping her head on her crossed arms as she lays next to the pool. "I'm quite fine with being half and half, myself." Her tail gives a tiny flick, still too waterlogged to wag much. "Taking a break is good, though." And giving someone else one, too.

"It lends to the mystique by keeping the were fang form most of the time." Tenko replies to Shriuba, "It's very much...Part of how I like to do things." She turns her head back to Merek, "If you need assistance with it, don't hesitate to call me. I'll be happy to help."

    "I'll keep that in mind," Merek will note to Tenko, while he takes the time to relax a little bit, and yawns.

    Finally Arashi sits up a bit more and just leans back against the wall of the spring. "I just enjoy the form and don't see a reason to change back and forth. I know landers aren't a big fan of us being in that form but ehhh.. I don't know. I just like what I came up with."

"Same," Shiruba offers towards Merek. "That is a dungeon I've neard about before so it will be an interesting exploration." Then half-rolls, hald-slides past the edge to slip down into the pool herself and resume soaking. A hot springs bath was nice. Being with friends makes it that little bit better though. "It's nice that they don't make you -have- to change back and forth." Aaaah. So relaxing. Though the world is probably going to throw more stuff at her soon enough.

That's Tomorrow Shiruba's problem to worry about.

Tommrow Shiruba may have to deal with Morri and Gwen working on a fashion idea together...

    Dungeon? ... Arashi blinks, glances, then shrugs to herself. Must be part of a conversation she missed, distracted by soak. Wonderful, wonderful soak. Shirbua is idly glanced at as they dip in, Arashi content to make a little room if so needed. "It is, yeah," Arashi muses, finally taking a longer look around to see who's still about.

    Rizadoman is playing crocodile, every now and then a lander sets food by the hottest of hotsprings and out from it erupts grabs and devours the food tray before sinking back into the water. This time however as he omes out of the water he looks at Shiruba. " There is a dungeon? Can I assume it is rich in ancient texts and hidden knowledge?" He doesn't wait for an answer as he sinks back into the water, just the top of his head and nostrils above the water.

    Dun dun , dun dun, dun , dun .... Rizadoman erupts out of the water and looks towards rashi for a moment or two as he stares intently for a moment at her before he positions himself on the edge of the pool. Looking in her direction for a moment longer he coughs and makes his request. " Miss, would you be so kind as to tell me your story. I am deeply interested in hearing the stories of others you see. Perhaps I will even put it in my book. "

    Suddenly, Rizadoman! "Er. wut?" Yes, she actually wut'ed. She was surprised. "Er.. which.. part?"

    Oh. Dear. Heavens. Yeah, Tenix liked to have a nice big coin purse in her inventory but this? This was excessive! She had been out there for weeks, she thought, but when she got back home? MONTHS? WHAT? AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. This demands a soak. The self-proclaimed Phoenix Werefang had been to hot springs before, but seeing so many here is actually surprising. Oh, free? WELL THEN.

    She makes a beeline for the hottest spring and just dunks right into it. Surfaces. "That is the stuff.."

    Rizadoman is ssipping some tea that seemed to appear from no where, or was quickly dropped off by the lander who is spreading rumor about the crocodile in pool #3. Either way the lizardman is seeking tea. He gently sits his cup down as he looks at Arashi for a moment thinking on phrasing before he simply responds, " Any of it. THe fun part, the mysterious part, the part you want to tell. Everyone has a story, so lets hear it. " Suddenly he is splashed as someone has decided to join him. Turning around he looks at the new person looking at the person for a moment he tilts his head, "And who are you?"

SpritesHero had been peacefully minding his own business, gazing out at the wintry scenery, in a sort of trance. For nearly an hour now he'd been lost to his thoughts--thoughts that are abruptly disrupted by a sudden splash uncomfortably close to him. He startles, mercifully remaining half submerged, head snapping around towards where Tenix made her entrance. Close. A bit -too- close. Alarm bells ring, the hairs on the back of his neck go up. He wrestles with silence for a few moments, then lifts his chin. A clear gesture of defiance. "H-hi," he offers to Tenix at last, whatever front he was putting on tripping over a momentary stammer.

Stare. Um. This is rather on the spot. Seems the young woman is thinking about what just to say. "Uh. I've basically been looking for pieces of my sword since I got here. Finally got enough to reforge it." Hum.

Menu. <<Message: Kaydon: How's it going?>> Send.

"Pieces have been all over the places. Even in the tower."

    More splashing probably happened when she surfaced. A big stretch, a flop back into the water, surface again, and up against the side of it. She's greeted? Oh. Oh dear. "Ack! Sorry! I didn't see you, there. I hope I didn't surprise you too much???"

    Rizadoman seems totally distrated now and forgets of the Tenix, looking at Arashi for a few more moments. Is that a gleam in the lizardman's eys. " A sword that must be reforged? What happened to it? Is it a special sword or one of sentimental value? You have enough to reforge it but are there more pieces out there? Will they be of any use to you?" So many questions , the poor girl has got the attention of the fey mood Rizadoman. Myths and legends are better then even cheese at the moment.

Tenko gives a nod of greeting to Tenix, "It's good to see you again. It has been a while." She says, with a smile, "Been busy getting more gold and jewels?"

SpritesHero could lie and say no. But at this point, he figures his expression was a dead giveaway. And frankly, giant birds splashing around in front of one is almost bound to be surprising. So he simply folds his knees in towards him, wrapping his arms around his shins, and offers a shrug. "You did," he offers, with a faint tilt of his head, "but it need not follow that the surprise is unwelcome." His expression strains, then, valiantly attempting to hold a grin in check. It -is-, after all, rather like watching a bird in a bird-bath.

    ... Oh dear. Arashi said too much and now someone is curious about the blade she took way to long to find. "Apocalypse broke it." Beat. "It's very important to me." Beat. "Lots more pieces out there, probably." Beat. "I'll be looking once I leave. It is what I do." There. Questions answered, she sinks back down into the water, almost fully. Not all the way. .oO(Someone save me.)

    Phoenix! She'd be adamant about it, but the topic didn't rise. Thus, no arguments from Tenix. "Ah, well, alright. Still didn't mean to startle either way! Folks should be able to relax here. S'why I'm here. I didn't realize I was out coin-grinding so long. Bluh.." Dip down. Happy sigh. "At least I'm square for a long while..." It's a Tenko! Blink. Or is it? She isn't sure. The voice sounded right. "Oh hey! Ah, yeah? Quite a bit, actually."

    Rizadoman nods his head and understands, " Ah yes this reminds me of a story of an ancestor of mine. He wielded a weapon known as the Naga's Fang. Now over time of course the shape of the fang changes, different people tell it and sometimes it is a sword, a spear, an axe you know. How ever at one point he challenged a powerful demon, this demon was said to be this giant turtle, whos shell blocked all attacks." Taking a moment to sip his tea, and completely not notice Arashi disappearing into the water. " So he challenged the demon and the shattered and the demon's powerful aura spread the shards to the far places of the land and see. However after my ancestor gathered all the pieces, one was missing. One was still embedded in the demon. So using his own fangs and claws he created the missing piece to reforge the weapon. It was through this new unique connection that the weapon gained new life and power able to pierce the demon's defense and slay the creature." Pndering for a second he looks around the waters for a moment before he notices the top of Arashi's head. " Oh there you are, so is your blade the Naga's Fang? "

SpritesHero's gaze momentarily slips to the side, and he offers Tenko a nod that lacks any traces of recognition. Apparently he's one that goes more by faces than user-names. As such, their past interactions are simply not attributed to her current form.

As Tenix begins to relax, so too does he. A bit. Not -that- much, though. "It's alright, really," he reassures her. He's quiet for a few moments, brow slowly furrowing in concern. "So. Uh. Do your feathers shed water?"

Tenko shifts to her kitsune form, to make sure that Tenix knows that she is her, "I know, hard to tell without the mask." She says, with a faint chuckle, "I mostly wear it for the Landers. It's how they recognize me."

    Naga fang? No. No it isn't. Rizadoman will see a shake of Arashi's head. No. Her sword is something else. Something from a super long random item quest chain that she stumbled across and managed to figure out. A long time ago. A story she has told no one. The quest probably couldn't even be done -now- but .. she's not taking any chances. "Mm-mm, it isn't."

    "Huh? Oh, yeah! Lots of fire built in, I can dry off really really quick when I want to," Tenix admits as she settles. The quick shift of Tenko into something more recognizable confirms the phoenix's suspicion. "It suits you! Almost weird to see you without it."

SpritesHero's eyes bug out as Tenko shape-shifts. Still not something he's used to, it would appear. But at least recognition dawns, at last. "Oh, hello again," he offers, with....to be honest, not much more familiarity than before. Their acquaintenceship must have been quite brief indeed.

Tenix's comment has him a bit baffled. "Fire?" he echoes dumbly. Sure, there's bright coloring, but...He leans in a touch, squinting. "Cardinal?"

    Rizadoman laughs and grabs another handful of cheese, wait no the chess is gone, so obviously he grabbed fruit. " Oh of course of course. To find something like that would be a historical discovery of the lizardman century. No no, I understand all to well. So would you be willing to tell me more about your sword? I would love to know if it was related to my own research. Is it a divine sword? Perhaps connected to a divine being? " So many questions and yet the lizardman is continuing the interview? Interogation?

    "I... didn't have it long before the apocalypse so I didn't get to learn a lot about it." THAT, is actually the truth of it. "Maybe when it's done.."

    Rizadoman listens and nods before he drifts back down into the water seemingly lost in thought. It was an interesting topic one to explore but for now something else was running through his mind.

SpritesHero rises to his feet, winding his towel around him as he does so in order to prevent any unseemly exposure. He inclines his head towards his conversations by way of farewell, steps out of the springs, and heads inside. Quickly, too. It's a bit chilly out.

    Smirk. Is that a smirk? Hard to convey. It probably is though. "Nah, nah! Firebird." Lie. But it's the lie she's stuck to since she started this game. Her personal headcanon! Facts be damned, it is her character and she'll write it how she wants to!

SpritesHero pauses in his retreat, giving a skeptical glance over his shoulder. But amusement flares, twisting his lips into a smile, and he nods. "Firebird it is," he concedes, lifting his hand once more. And then he's gone into the building's interior.

    Merek looks about the whole of the place, while he nods a bit to Tenix when she comes about, then he takes a look along to Tenko, and smiles, "I'm glad you are about!"