Hot Springs and Ryokan

[battymynameis]

Guess what, y'all. It's time for a field trip. We're heading to a Hot Springs and an Inn for the weekend, and everyone is invited. This place is huge, and has multiple springs both indoor and out. There's separate bathing, mixed, and even a spot for foreigners and prudes who like to keep their swimsuits on. Table tennis? Got it. Room service? You bet. Massages? Possibly. Ghosts? Maybe.

1. Hot springs: after you rinse off come take a relaxing bath. There are multiple options as to what kind of bathing environment you can have, so please choose wisely. Also, please read the signs. None of the springs will kill you, but if you choose the wrong one you might end up with some... adverse effects. Cursed springs might just be a Thing.

2. The Inn: you'll be here for a few nights so find your rooming buddy and get friendly. Whether bonding over food, games, or even just exploring the place there's certainly something you can find to occupy yourself. Just don't be too curious after curfew. The staff are pretty insistent, but they aren't cops so responsibility for your actions are your own.

Comments

[powerhittou]

[Pff, since when did they put age restrictions on that? Next you'll tell him lopping off heads is illegal too.

Anyway.

He closes the door with his foot and takes a seat next to Kaname, setting the bottle and two small cups between them. His posture's even more improper than usual, somehow. More manspreading? God.]

You know my name, but I didn't get yours. Humour me a little and pretend you believe I don't know it.

[pivotpoint]

[After her experience in a spring that was a little more than unusual Kaname opts to be a bit more forgiving with him. In fact she takes the bottle from in between them and carefully pours Masamune's cup.]

Chidori Kaname. Daughter of an international politician you don't know or care about. Currently living in Chofu, Tokyo but I used to live in New York over in America.

[powerhittou]

[Ah, a political marriage. Yeah, that checks out at least. He raises his cup with the tiniest of nods and takes a long, slow sip. It burns against his throat and the cut on his lip from earlier.]

I won't bother reintroducing myself. Not that I'm familiar with half of the terms or places you think I'm affiliated with.

[He stares down into his drink, tapping his finger against the side of the cup to send tiny ripples over the clear surface.]

...I swear I don't know you, but I've had this nagging feeling we've met. In a dream, or... maybe I'm in the middle of one hell of a crazy dream right now.

Re: \o/

[shinbunshinobi]

[ He jolts a little when he's addressed, but Sasuke doesn't know what else he expected. He's not invisible. The other guy was going to notice him. Well... it's not like they've met before, so this isn't going to be as weird as it could be. Sasuke just needs to get over hearing the wrong voice come out of him. ]

... Sure, I can do that.

[ Sasuke reaches over and changes the temperature, stirring all the while until the pot is no longer in danger of boiling over. The bubbly contents slow to a steady simmer. Only then does Sasuke remove the spoon and place it on the rest next to the pot. ]

Are you doing this all by yourself? You're even taking orders.

[shinbunshinobi]

[ "Oh, it's you..."? Sasuke actually looks down to see if maybe he's finally gone back to normal. Nope. Things still aren't fitting right. He sighs. Any minute now... He didn't stay in Kojuro's body nowhere near as long as he's been like this. ]

Maybe I'll make a cup of tea or coffee. I can't sleep.

[ He tries to keep his voice low in hopes that it sound more like normal, but it just comes out funny. ]

r/IDon’tWorkHereEither

[shinbunshinobi]

[ Guess who's also picking things up as he sees them out of place? Sasuke is. After having discovered that some of these hot springs had warning signs, he's keeping busy making sure none of them are covered by discarded towels, yukata, whatever. He would have never gotten into that hot spring if he saw the sign. (But it didn't give him any further details on how to switch back or length of time he'd be stuck like this!)

He's amassed an armful of discarded fabric items by now, so when he sees someone else cleaning up, he goes over to ask, ]

Hey, where should I put these--Pizza-senpai?

[ That's not a staff member at all! ]

Sorry, I thought...

[ Oh. Wait. He... may have some explaining to do... ]

B lieve me, I'll b very serious

[shinbunshinobi]

[ Sasuke stops and sighs, shoulders drooping. Damn it. Well, it was worth a shot to try and make a mad dash down the hall. Sasuke thought that maybe the blindspot would help, but Masamune is sharper than he gave him credit for. Caught, he turn around to face him. ]

That's a new name to call me, One-Eyed Dragon. I can't say that I like it that much, though.

[ He says that, but somehow being mistaken for a kid makes him feel a little better. Aging down seems easier and less embarrassing to explain... even if it's so not the case. ]

[synastries]

[ OH SHE COMIN' ALL RIGHT.

It's been at least three hours since Tsuruhime has turned into her literal namesake and she's beyond upset at this point that she keeps missing everyone, you'd think the school being blown up would have them avoid these kind of situations but nope here she is as a crane.

At least she manages to not only find Mitsunari but catch his attention! Surely he could recognize her right? Maybe if she just pose herself a little he might recognize her unmatched cuteness. There's no way he could mistake it for anything else but her amazing charms!

Unfortunately, it doesn't translate quite well in her new crane body, it just looks like she's flailing and about to attack him. ]

1/2

[traceon]

[ Unless they seriously insisted on him taking the payment, chances were that Shirou would decline. But! He could also use it for grocery shopping when he got back. Maybe to treat the household as he splurges. For now? A free job is a free job. ]

Off-menu? [ He wasn't expecting that kind of answer. He wasn't about to ask for something outlandish and completely out of left field like Fuji-nee would, was h— ] Beef tongue...

[ Yup. This is a guy who knows what he wants. He looks at him for a moment with a look that says, "Seriously? Is that even allowed?" As for the ingredient itself? ]

I don't even know if they have beef tongue here, [ Shirou retorts as he heads back for the fridge to pull out some more bacon for another round of hot sandwiches. ] I didn't see any last time I...mm?

2/2

[traceon]

[ Oh! There! Stashed in the back but looking quite fresh in its packaging! He thought it was something else at first glance. But sure enough, Shirou pulls out some beef tongue after all! Not a bad weight to it... But it wasn't a practical dish to make so quickly without prep time. And this guy would be waiting for hours for a nice, slow cooked method to break down the meat. ]

Unless...

[ Aha! It'd been quite some time since he explored a more exotic part of a cow like this, but considering the various options for cooking that was available to him, including a fire grill... ]

Yosh. [ He'll do it! Shirou turns back to the ambitiously hungry man with a reinvigorated smile. ] Can you wait about... Mmm...45 minutes? It'll be worth it.

[traceon]

So far, yeah. Cooking for a whole diner instead of just a small group is different, but... It's not so bad, either.

[ He seemed to be enjoying himself, at least- taking it as a challenge. Great. Now with the lid off as it simmers, he'd check back on it in another few minutes! Once the sauce has reduced, he can test for taste. He seems pretty grateful for the girl's(?) assistance. ]

Well, I was until you came along. [ Not that he was insinuating that Sasuke was about to get roped into the work as well. He didn't even know what she was capable of. But, if she wanted to help? Who was he to stop her if she was a good listener? And maybe he'd wind up teaching her something along the way. ]

[pivotpoint]

[...What the hell, bro? He's not going to be polite and pour hers? Some half-assed peace offering this is. She'll just stare at him with the most passive aggression that she can muster while pouring her own.

Once that's done she'll look forward to the walls of the room filled cup in hand.]

So I had something weird happen to me in one of the springs after we had met earlier, and I think perhaps "crazy dream" is more accurate than anything else. I mean... I was always willing to hear you out, but experiencing what I did made me less angry at you I suppose.

[Because she was being honest. Should he need her she would be here. In this room with her heart wounded waiting for an answer with hope to patch things up.]

[powerhittou]

[Uh, even if he did care enough to mind his manners, he's not going to pour for the girl who punched him. Even if it was impressive. Her passive-aggression has nothing on his petty baby spite.

(He even snorts softly at "I was always willing to hear you out." Is that what she calls it...)]

Oh yeah? So what happened to you? [She at least seens to know who and where she is... Not that he'd know if she was wrong. The springs, though. That's interesting.]

[fujimaru]

Tea, huh... that actually sounds pretty good. I should've bugged Emiya to come, he makes pretty good stuff.

[ Is Ritsuka's secret power that she's completely oblivious, or that she's (sometimes) too good at taking things in stride? The world may never know. She certainly doesn't, either.

But she's good-natured about it, flapping a hand in the vague direction of the kitchens. ]

Impromptu meeting, let's go. Agenda: get back to sleep.

[shieldher]

[Mash sits, lowering herself down carefully to hug her knees by Ritsuka's side. The brief pass of some unknown thing across Ritsuka's expression is noticeable. What is it? But she doesn't ask, yet. She only tilts her head as she gets comfortable, mulling on both that and her own answer.]

It's so peaceful here . . . um, mostly.

[Peaceful is largely the right word for the inn, any ghostly encounters aside, but perhaps not for all of the people. Mash casts a quick, meaningful glance behind them, in the direction of their sleeping companions.]

I was embarrassed at first, but I think I'm used to it by now. And it's nice to feel like we really don't have anything else we need to be doing, for once. Thank you for inviting me, Senpai.

[shieldher]

[The first serve is clumsy, but serviceable (ha). It does not hit anyone in the head! As she warms up, Mash plays with all the obviousness of what she is: a person skilled athletically and in the basic requirements of this game, like good aim, but not one who knows any technique or has a working sense of how to win. That can come in time. For now, she does just fine volleying the ball back, returning it without any danger that she might score. But it stays in play easily, and neither does she make any incredibly easy openings. Shielder, a defensive player? Say it ain't so!

Either way, it is exactly as fun as it looked, and it doesn't take long for Mash to start getting hype about it.]

[shieldher]

[Talk about a fast-paced work environment. Mash has seen the inner workings of Chaldea's kitchen before, to an extent, but however many people reside there, it still isn't a real restaurant with paying customers who need serving—and it isn't run by only Emiya. Chaldea Emiya, not this Emiya, whose name is also Emiya, and . . .

Well, that's something she doesn't quite know what to make of yet. It worms its way into her head, but for the moment, she says nothing. It feels like a strange thing to bring up immediately, for, you know, Some Reason that is maybe only 25% conscious right now.

More importantly, she has work to do!

At his orders, she nods and springs into action, crossing to the sink to wash her hands and then to the counter to grab the bread and knife. It feels like so little in comparison to everything he's juggling!]

Of course! You really should put out a call for more help if it's this busy . . . but I'm happy to do whatever I can. My name is Mash Kyrielight. It's nice to meet you, Emiya-san.

[Even saying it feels strange!]

[traceon]

[ His hand slips up to the side of his head at her suggestion, perhaps a twinge of embarrassment in his cheeks. But he was up for the challenge! At the same time? He also couldn't say no to assistance either- especially if it involved cooking. It's a shame that he's never gotten Mash's true name, only knowing her by her class of Shielder through Ritsuka. But, that just made this meeting between the two a little more genuine and spontaneous! Until he recognizes the Chaldea symbol on her tie. If that's the outfit she's wearing, that is. ]

I could have. But it was such short notice. Still, it's not so bad! [ He has help now, right? When she gives her name in kind, his smile broadens a little. ] Yeah, nice to meet you too, Mash.

[ As he pulls up a box of tempura mixing powder, he looks back over to her. ]

Oh, do you want an apron? I wouldn't want oil or stains to ruin your clothes if you're around a fryer.

[pivotpoint]

I, uh... [She sighs heavily trying to figure out how to word this.]

When I touch water my body changes now. It's pretty freaky. I took a nap in the spring and woke up different.

[But at least playing around with some water back and forth helped her figure out how it works.]

[pivotpoint]

[Kaname is all smiles as she plays. Her athleticism has always been a happy outlet for frustration and to let off steam. So even if she's not able to score this is still a Good Time. As they go on and it proves Mash can handle herself she'll start trying to get a point. A little more pep in her step and a bit of flair in the flick of her wrist when she hits the ball with her paddle.]

Not bad, not bad! Think you can still keep up?

[powerhittou]

. . .

[He stares at her, expressionless. Seriously...]

Yeeeah. That'll happen when you stay in water for too long.

[And here he thought he might have a clue at last. SIGH. Welp, time to finish this drink off early.]

too much wholesome cooking is going on this weekend. let's fix that.

[traceon]

[ Whatever was left out on the counter seemed harmless enough. And it hadn't been out for too long, either! It may or may not have been something left over from a night of cooking at the hands of the stand-in chef. But, details details.

Shirou wakes up the next morning as he rolls over to check the time across the room. ]

Mnn... Eight already?

[ Usually he was up a little earlier. But perhaps it's because he didn't have to worry about making breakfast or getting ready for school that for once, it wasn't such a bad thing. He rubs the fatigue from his eyes, feeling well rested after a night of cooking and relaxing in the hot springs. Any tension in his muscles from before was gone. A little sigh through his nose as he sits up from his futon, arms stretched high over his head with a yawn. ]

That's right. Today's our last day here... [ It'd been quite nice. If their chef was still ill tonight, he'd likely need to step in again. But until then, the redhead would use this time appropriately! Maybe he'd go for a jog around the whole complex to get his blood pumping and help wake him up a bit? Then catch a late breakfast for some added energy. Or maybe catch breakfast first. He was getting ahead of himself again.

Sporting house shoes provided by the staff and a plain change of clothes, he's heading down the hallway when he spots a familiar face coming from across the way. He thought he'd recognized that blue hair yesterday before he got pulled into the kitchen, but now that Shirou could see her face to face once more, he knew. What were the odds? He certainly wasn't complaining as he continues walking until he's back in front of her, a little wave and smile crossing his lips ]

Good morning, Chidori.

1/2

[pivotpoint]

Jackass.

[She swipes the small cup from him as soon as he's emptied it. Chidori stomps off to the small bathroom that's connected to her room, and fills the cup with cold water. Then she stomps back out into the room making sure he's looking at her before splashing herself with it.]

[crabeye]

This is what I meant. Do you get it now?

[At least her yukata fits better NOW THAT SHE DOESN'T HAVE A CHEST OR HIPS TO SPEAK OF.]

[fujimaru]

They're peaceful when they're asleep in another room.

[ She leans enough that their shoulders bump together, then leaves them resting like that. For the moment, she's pushed aside the awkwardness that comes with thoughts of Doctor Roman, just smiling as she shakes her head. ]

But if I'm going to be hanging out with them at all, it felt important for you to meet them, too. And not just that. You deserve a vacation just as much as anyone.

[ Now that things are starting to heat up again, and Ritsuka's being called back into action, there's less time for her ambitions of a world trip with Mash. And even if she can't go Rayshift anymore... well, in some ways, that's the more stressful position, isn't it? ]