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

[hackerlad]

Huh--?

[It's sudden enough that he wouldn't have much of a chance to form up a protest even if he wanted to. Having no idea what she's got in mind, though, 9S finds himself being turned around by the shoulders without much reason to protest yet, apart from an appropriately confused sort of expression. Getting turned away is sort of--simultaneously a relief and even more alarming, really? On one hand he doesn't have to keep actively averting his eyes from anything now, but on the other hand he hasn't got a clue what Kaname's going to--

Ah, ah, those sure are a pair of thumbs pressing at the base of his neck, and that--sure is a sensation, now isn't it?! In the first moment 9S's entire frame straightens with a jolt as if it's been shocked, with a very surprised and undignified sort of noise to accompany it. Look, it's kind of sensitive there! He's--kind of sensitive everywhere, to be honest, outfitted with pretty fine-tuned sensory inputs like any Scanner worth his salt. Never mind how unheard of physical contact like this is in the first place, for any android...

...But it's not--bad, by any stretch. Certainly not painful. Really kind of the opposite? There aren't actual muscles in there, no, but the metal tensile fibers underneath do form an equivalent enough shape to act about the same--to hold tension, and also find that tension easing, under the encouragement of surprisingly gentle rubbing. After another couple of moments 9S's posture slowly starts to relax again, as he exhales with an almost rueful sort of sigh.]

Uhm, that's--yeah, this is. Definitely a first. Er...w-what are you doing back there? [getting a massage when you've had 0 concept of massages previously: an Experience]

[pivotpoint]

It's a massage. Humans tend to have bad posture or hold stress and tension in their muscles. Doing this is supposed help relieve that tension and disperse it. It feels good for humans, so I thought maybe you'd like it too.

You know, since you imitate us so hard.

[Chidori continues to work him over. Her hands rubbing and rolling over his neck and shoulders. Pushing in toward his spine, dragging out toward his arms. From the base of his skull downward to between his shoulder blades.]

But I guess... that's okay. Even if you couldn't experience things like this before there's this now.

[hackerlad]

[It's probably going to be a long while before he really gets used to it, physical contact to this extent? His breath is still sort of hitching whenever her hands apply a particularly hard knead or press over fibers he rhetorically never realized he even had--and any region near or on his neck seems especially sensitive too, if the low-key flinching every time her fingertips sweep there is anything to go by. ...But even with all this being said, it's all still really...ah.....]

Bad posture--you guys can get that? ...Hadn't figured tension would be a problem for humans either, but I guess it makes sense. --Hah, it does feel pretty nice, to be honest?

[Too nice to entirely deny, that's for sure; gradually, 9S is already beginning to relax more than he tenses up. He's even leaning back into her palms a little now, as opposed to the initial automatic urge to bend away. Hmm--]

"Imitate us so hard", though? Hey, it's not like we're trying, just...we were made this way, you know? [--Not that the idea's ever been a particularly unhappy one, to him. Being made in the human image is kind of an honor--or at least, that's something Command would say. Maybe a little strong, but still...it's not completely wrong, is it? Especially when it opens opportunities for...experiences like this, yeah. A machine wouldn't be able to enjoy something like this, right?

9S is quiet for a few long moments. But eventually, with a soft hum:] You're right, though. Nobody has time for stuff like this back home, but there's--this now, yeah. ...Seriously, thanks for inviting me to all this, Kaname.

[pivotpoint]

[Chidori encourages him to lean against the edge of the pool. She'll work him over until her arms get tired, and then she'll settle next to him. Her arms folding to create a soft surface for her cheek to rest on as she winds down beside him.]

See, since humans are made of organic material it eventually wears away or breaks down, but you can't replace it. You can only correct what you did wrong and hope you heal. A lot of jobs aren't great for posture, and large chests can make your shoulders curl in and cause rib pain. Sometimes being a human... it can be inconvenient. But I'm glad you can join us to enjoy one of the good parts.

[Her voice is soft. The warm water and the tiredness of her arms lulling her into a tired state. Soon she might be dozing off.]