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

[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.]

[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.]

[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.]

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.]

[powerhittou]

...Oh.

Yeah, I think I get the picture.

[He can't stop staring. In his defense, how was he supposed to predict THIS level of weird?

And is the change... thorough? He hopes he gets to satisfy that curiousity without actually having to ask...

Masamune is sooo not drunk enough for this. But he's getting there a lot faster than he anticipated. He exhales deeply and touches his fingertips to his temple.]

I was by the springs when I realized where I was, but nothing like that's happened to me. ...Hmmh, but something doesn't feel quite right with my body.

This whole damn place is starting to stink of more than just sulphur...

[crabeye]

Hey, maybe your insides changed instead of your outsides? You don't remember how you got here, and your memory of events don't seem to match up.

[She huffs. It's clear she's... not very used to this. Sitting down is a careful act, but she also makes to pour them more to drink - returning Masamune's cup to him. Because damn, she feels like she needs to be drunker for this too.]

[powerhittou]

Another guy with one eye and my name? And the Date family crest on top of that... Hah. That's one hell of a coincidence. [He goes for another sip, but pauses as he remembers:] ...Not only that, you mentioned Kojuro's name, too.

[Here he's quick to hold up his free hand to preemptively silence her.] I don't need to hear a damn word about him to know it'll be wrong. [And he's afraid to find out the extent of it.]

I already saw a couple people who I thought were familiar faces, but they were convinced they led completely different lives. And know the same Date Masamune you do.

[Mitsunari didn't look dead inside?? Still just as friendly as ever, though. Sheesh.

...He can brush that off, but he couldn't bear to face a Kojuro whose memories don't match his own. A Kojuro who hasn't shared his life. He turns his head away and frowns.]

[crabeye]

[Kaname knocks back her small cup and pours another for herself.]

No, maybe you're the one who is wrong. Some scientists say there are multiple worlds like our own existing congruently with changes - big or small. It's a sort of multi-dimension theory that says anything that's possible exists, it just might not exist in our current world at this current time.

Maybe you and our Masamune switched places because of the spring?

[Yeah she's gonna empty her cup again. Which might not be a good idea considering how much of a lightweight she is, but... whatever.]

[powerhittou]

[He can't be one who is wrong. He's never wrong. Kaname is wrong.

But maybe she's right about the switching places thing. It doesn't make any damn sense, but neither does her turning into a guy right in front of him, and yet here they both are. This is one of the weirdest dreams he's ever had.

He silently finishes off his drink, nestled deep in his own thoughts, and even after he finishes he delays before finally standing up.]

So it's just a matter of finding the right spring to switch us back... Probably. Here. [He reaches into his sleeve and withdraws Kaname's dog tag from earlier; he wasn't going to just leave his family crest lying around, even if he didn't know what to do it. Now he's decided it's best to toss it back to her.] I'll save you an awkward conversation with your husband.

Now if you'll excuse me, I've gotta get back to-

[...to what? What the hell was he doing before he came here? He casts an uncertain glance to his hands, then the door.]

...back to... Oshuu. [Nailed it. His head is pounding like he's taken a hammer to it, anyway.]

[crabeye]

[Chidori sighs like he's the most exasperating person on the planet. And yet? She gets up to help him. After returning the dog tag to her neck, and bringing the bottle of sake with her, she hurries by Masamune's side to be there should he need help.]

Don't go fainting on me. We're not actually married so it's not like they'd let me into the hospital with you.

[She pushes the door open before nudging him out into the hall.]

What spring were you in? We'll go together.

[powerhittou]

[Whoa. She sighs just like Kojuro. Freaky.]

...the hell're you doing wearing that if you're not married? [Maybe she's an incredibly close servant. He waves his hand, dismissive and impatient, since it doesn't affect his real life either way.] Whatever. I do know someone who'd just take a nap in the springs isn't my first choice for backup. Or second. Or tenth.

[Which is why he's going to keep on going at his own pace. Good thing HE's indestructible.]

[crabeye]

Too bad, you've given the dog tag back. You can't get rid of me now. [She's gonna be like a fucking leech.]

Besides, we have sort of an agreement. If neither of us finds a better solution to our problems we'll just fix it by marrying each other. For now we're just, ah... really close friends. And as such I'm not going to let you fuck that body up until the right Masamune is back in it to ruin it himself.

[powerhittou]

[What's with the attitude all of the sudden? She wanted nothing to do with him back when she punched him! He almost wants to dash away and leave her out of pure spite, but... she'd catch up anyway. There's no point.]

Alright, if you say so. Just don't get mad if it doesn't work the same for you.

[He folds his arms and tucks his hands into his sleeves, wrinkling his nose a little. How could such cheap sake hit him so hard, so fast...? It's not really that important, as long as he doesn't stumble and fall into the water and drown or something. Wouldn't that just complete today.]

...Can't think of a whole lot of problems marriage would fix.

[crabeye]

Like I said before this Masamune is worried his mother will try and exclude him from the inheritance. And me? Well I guess I'm just worried I can't find a job that will let me live comfortably without having to ask my ass of a father for help. Besides... marrying each other would probably have the added bonus of pissing them off.

Besides I'd rather spend my whole life running around picking up after y— [ah. She stops herself to correct this, and becomes a little sheepish.]

Picking up after Masamune than marrying some dimwit my father would try to pawn me off on.

[powerhittou]

She could do a lot worse than that...

[Muttered to himself as a sick, private little joke, but it isn't really all that funny. He stares off to the side while letting the rest sink in, trying to remind his sake-foggy brain not to think about this plan in the context of what his life is like. He does understand it, deep down, but he can't pinpoint just what makes it click for him.

He stops among a cluster of small rocky pools. Something about the scent of natural minerals and the bubbling of water compels him to turn and really look at Kaname for a long moment.

Ah...

He's dizzy after all.]

--Okay, let's get this show on the road already. [He unties his yukata and shrugs it loose, and then... holds his arm out to the side. What, you think a lord dresses and undresses himself?]

[crabeye]

[Kaname is undressing as well. Her obi is loose and she's about to shed her own yukata when she realizes he's waiting for her. There's admittedly a long pause before...

She just starts laughing. Doubled over and holding her mouth as she tries not to giggle.]

D-do [ahahahaha] do you want me to strip you?

[powerhittou]

[Oh. Oh god he did it without even thinking, having Kojuro there to handle these things for him is just as natural as breathing to him. He bites the inside of his cheek and stubbornly keeps his arm out.]

What? You don't want the practice for your "good friend?" Suit yourself.

[Okay, NOW he can strip. Nice save.]

[crabeye]

[Before Masamune gets a chance to wiggle out of his clothes himself Kaname steps in. Obi fallen aside and yukata hanging loosely over her shoulders. Her hands grab his and make sure his arms stay out so that she may undress him like he originally expected.

However she leans in just enough that her breath will puff against his ear as she speaks.]

I'm not some handmaid, but if you ask I might not say no.

[The amusement hasn't left her voice, but she's more confident now. Smooth and low she speaks with this new voice of hers. His flustered behavior was enough of a price to pay for now, and she relieves him of the yukata.]

Just keep that in mind if this doesn't happen to be your magic spring.

[powerhittou]

[Her breath might as well be steam from the springs themselves for how quickly heat flushes from ear to ear. Masamune's not sure what does it most - the surprise at being so boldly manhandled (!!!), the fact that what he's seeing is essentially a pretty, half-naked boy leaning in so close, or just a flood of subconscious affection over the simple fact that it's Kaname touching him so intimately... But his heart's beating double-time while his brain grinds to a halt.

Without even thinking about it he turns his hands over to take hold of hers.]

And if I ask to kiss you?

[He's supposed to, with her. He knows that.]

[crabeye]

[Ah. He'll feel that hand he holds twitch as Kaname leans away. Her confidence gone as her cheeks flush (IT'S THE SAKE, SHE SWEARS) and her eyes dart away from his face.]

I— I would wonder why you'd want to. If you're not my Masamune then you barely know me.

[But it's not a no. And her heart beats wildly just thinking about it. Excitement blooming in her chest.]

[powerhittou]

I feel like I do.

[His voice is barely above a whisper, expression soft. Vulnerable. He peers at her with the familiar eye of a boy desperate to feel love from someone he cares about so much. A boy afraid to lose it ]

[crabeye]

A-all you ever need to do is ask.

[Nervously she swallows. Her free hand shaking as she folds his yukata over her arm leaving him bare. Her heart is soft. Softer than she'd like to admit. Soft enough that when she sees that vulnerability and desperation she cannot deny him.

He could probably ask of her anything, and if he were to look at her that way while she said it? She'd cave, and be obedient.]

[powerhittou]

[It's not in his nature to ask. The One-Eyed Dragon takes what he pleases because he knows he's more than earned his right to. Why should he be so skittish now, like he's already messed up time and time again? Get it together, Masamune. Jeez.

He takes a half-step forward and takes hold of her chin, his features sharpening into the smug look that feels most natural on him.]

...I'll take that into consideration.

[Aaand... release!]