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

[fujimaru]

Uh-huh... that doesn't actually sound like an okay thing.

[ She comes up with some stuff that smells mostly like flowers. Okay, cool. They can work with this, no problem. She's more concerned with Sasuke's comment. For a couple of moments, she watches him gather up cups and all, leaning one elbow against the counter and frowning slightly. ]

You... wanna talk about that at all?

[shinbunshinobi]

I don't know what's there to talk about. I've had nightmares since I was small, and they decided to get a million times worse after the school got destroyed. I could give you the graphic details. But what would be the point of that?

[ It's bad enough he has to see them. Why subject someone's mind's eye to the same thing? However, if she insists, he'll start talking about some elements of his dreams. ]

What'd you find? Loose leaf or bagged?

[ Just so he knows if he needs to find a teapot or not. ]

[fujimaru]

Loose. They're definitely going for the whole genuine Japanese service, I guess.

[ The question is the easier part to answer, but once she does, she gives it only a couple of seconds before she goes on: ]

You'd be surprised at the kind of stuff I've heard about. But if they're that regular, it definitely sounds like something to talk to someone about. It doesn't have to be me.

But if you want someone who's a safe listening ear, I'm willing.

[shinbunshinobi]

[ He's going to find a teapot then. At first, he doesn't say anything, but when he does finally speak, his voice is quiet, like he's afraid of someone else besides Ritsuka hearing. (Though, with his girlish voice in this body, would people so easily realize that Sasuke is speaking?) ]

... It's always starts in the dark. I'm walking through water. At least, I hope it's mostly water. The lack of light makes it hard to see, but I smell copper. I know there's blood in it, but how much.... And below my feet, I'm walking over bones, human bones... I hear things too, but I never seem to hear them clearly enough. Or if I do, I don't remember them when I wake up.

[ He looks over to her, trying to judge her reaction about what he's already told her. Honestly, if he was in her shoes, he'd start questioning if he was some kind of psychopath or needed to be locked up. ]

[fujimaru]

[ Her brows are drawn together, and there's the beginning of a little frown on her face -- but her body language is still mostly relaxed. She's leaning forward a little more, but more than anything, she just looks concerned. ]

And you really have those that often? That sucks.

I'd wonder if maybe they're trying to tell you something, but if they got worse after your school got blown up... I don't know. Maybe there's something else going on? Either way, that sounds awful.

[shinbunshinobi]

[ Sasuke shoulders lose their tension; he hadn't even realize he had been holding them stiffly. Ritsuka doesn't seem to be judging him... Bringing the hot water kettle and the teapot, he'll busy himself making the tea. It helps... having something to distract himself with. ]

I've kept track of what I ate, watched, listened to before bed, and there's no pattern. The only thing I can come up with is... that if I sleep, there's a good chance I'll have one of these nightmares. Sometimes, I'll get additional disturbing images, sounds, smells, sensations, but it always starts the same. A lot of times I wake trying to cradle a tiny flame in my arms as the darkness tries to drown me. I hear words, but hell if I know what they are when I wake.

[ He pauses as he pours the hot water over the tea leaves. The steam billows up before him. It's easier to talk to Ritsuka about this than he thought. She really is a safe, listening ear. ]

Before the school was destroyed, I had normal nightmares. Like car crashes, fires, falling down stairs, going to school without any clothes on, failing tests, things that are concrete or at least make sense, you know? And they didn't happen all the time. I even stopped having them after a while. And I also had good dreams too.

If it means anything... I'm not sure what it could be. I feel like I'm... I feel like I'm missing something... Something in that darkness....

[fujimaru]

[ There's a pause as she mulls over his words. For the moment, she's watching him pour the hot water, but she's not really focused on that; it's more of a vague awareness of his movements and actions without really thinking about them.

When he trails off, she shrugs a shoulder. ]

If you feel like it, then it probably is that something's trying to get through to you. Maybe it's just your own head, or maybe it's something... bigger.

[ "Bigger." She knows about Masamune's weird past-life dreams, and she knows he's mentioned that Yukimura has had the same. No one's explicitly told her the connections between the person Masamune's hung up on and Sasuke's boyfriend, but also, it doesn't take a genius to read the mood between Masamune and Yukimura.

Honestly, sometimes she's not even sure it would take eyes. Possibly you would have to be dead not to notice.

But even having that cheat code knowledge doesn't give her that much of an answer. Only guesses, really. ]

I mean, maybe it's just, "hey, living through an explosion is really traumatic!" Or maybe it's something more. I'm not an expert, just sort of experienced.

[shinbunshinobi]

Third time's not the charm...

[ He mutters to himself. Well, he makes progress somewhere in his life only to go backwards in others, he supposes. The only thing he can do is to just. deal. with. it. Like most things in his life. ]

Then, caffeine is my only savior. That and sometimes cuddling my boyfriend, but caffeine preventing me from sleeping has more consistent results.

[ He sighs and pushes a cup of tea over to Ritsuka. ]

You'd think the universe would give me a break and let me sleep peacefully if it was going to force me to be a girl during my onsen trip. Was it wrong of me to hope that I could actually relax?

[fujimaru]

Ain't that always the way.

[ The tags the mug with an automatic headbob of thanks, curling her fingers loosely around it. The ceramic is still slightly too hot to touch, but there's something nice about pressing her fingertips against it until she has to pull them away. ]

I can't say I'd recommend going without sleep indefinitely, though. It's going to wreck you, sooner than later.

[ There's a moment, there-and-gone, where there's a bittersweet smile on her lips -- and then she shakes her head, as if to clear it. ]

You're taking the whole, uh-- [ she gestures roughly at chest level ] --better than I thought you would.

[shinbunshinobi]

[ The best he hopes for is that he passes out onto something soft. He has accepted this fate into his life... It already wrecks him. ]

I've been like this for over a day now. You should have seen me when it first happened...

[ No, she's correct. It's just that he's had some time to get over the initial panic and possibly confusing matters with his boyfriend ]

... I might have to borrow clothes if I stay like this for much longer. Nothing I have fits me right.

[ He motions to how his over-sized poncho and scoop neck shirt looks more like off the shoulder items on him now. ]

[fujimaru]

Yeah... you look like you're closer to my size than anyone else here.

[ Both Mash and Kaname are a lot bustier than Ritsuka, that's for sure. She doesn't know the other girls well enough -- or at all, really -- to have paid much attention. She gives Sasuke a thoughtful once-over, still tapping her fingers against the mug. ]

You thought about maybe trying the same spring that changed you? Maybe it'll reverse the effect, and you won't need to worry about it. One less thing to worry about when you're trying to sleep, right?

[ Look, she can definitely see how both of these would be bad for Sasuke's state of mind, but the whole sleep confession worries her more immediately. ]

[shinbunshinobi]

I've tried that and tried a few others until the staff kicked me out.

[ All that happened was that he got really pruned. He tried looking for more info in the inn's small library (more like a reading room), but he got no luck in finding anything that about a hot spring that would turn a boy into a girl. The staff had nothing to offer him either, though Sasuke wondered if they even believed him or were just nodding their head to get rid of him faster.

Sasuke lifts his cup of tea. ]

I've given up on sleeping for tonight. My roommate deserves to get some sleep even if I can't.

[fujimaru]

Kicked you out, huh...

[ She huffs a little at that, glancing to the door like she expects some staff member to appear right now and do the same thing again. ]

Normally I'd say that's a problem we should complain about, but honestly? I'm sure they're used to it. A place like this has to make its money somehow in the modern day, right?

[ Not that most mages she's known would openly go into hospitality, but... on the other hand, there is Shirou... ]

Well, if you don't mind the continued company, I'd be up for pulling an all-nighter. This place is a lot nicer than most of the places I've had to do that.

[shinbunshinobi]

[ How does a place like this make money and stay afloat? One might think it would be slapped with lawsuits up and down for what the hot springs could do to a person. However, who would even believe such a charge? It probably wouldn't even make it past a free consultation with a lawyer volunteering their time at the library. ]

... I won't stop you if you want to, but you deserve to get some sleep too.

[ He underestimated how good a full night's rest was until that sleep eluded him like a leaf caught in a strong breeze and out of his fingers' grasp. ]

[fujimaru]

I've already slept more this weekend than I have in...

[ Uhhhh. Come to think of it, how long has it been? Time works kind of weirdly when you spend most of it in other periods than your native one. ]

...well, a while. I've gotten good at functioning on three to five a night. Not that I'd recommend it, but I feel like I've spent most of this weekend either asleep or in the hot springs. I'll be fine if I miss one night.

Besides, for me, company helps. If it doesn't for you, I can buzz off.

[shinbunshinobi]

[ He can't even claim he got sleep in a past life. Not when the Takeda forces questioned if Sasuke ever slept.

Taking a sip of his tea, Sasuke considers Ritsuka's offer again. Maybe the night would pass faster if he had some company. It still wouldn't help his sleeping problem, but it could make him feel a little better at having yet another night ruined. ]

Okay, but if you feel the need to doze off, don't let me stop you.

[ And if he miraculously manages to sleep, don't disturb him. Getting into trouble for escaping curfew would be worth it if he got some sleep. (If he got some.) ]

[fujimaru]

I'll promise, if you promise the same. You know, just in case.

[ Don't make this into some weird pride thing, Sasuke! Sleep if you manage it! ]

I'd offer to tell you a boring story to see if that helps at all, but most of my stories are actually kind of on the weird side...

[shinbunshinobi]

[ It's less about pride and more being concerned for others because Sasuke is really learning what lack of sleep feels like, and he was also really hoping this hot spring would help end that. ]

Deal. The only stories I can tell are weird ones about my classmates' antics, so once more we have common ground.

[fujimaru]

Having met some of your classmates, I can imagine. If you've only met Mash, you're going to get a really skewed idea of what mine are like. She's a good girl.

[ Also the one least likely to get into wacky hijinks.

Not UNLIKELY, just, least likely. ]

[shinbunshinobi]

I haven't met Mash yet. Maybe you could tell me a little about her.

[ And then Sasuke will talk about the food competition the school ended up holding because a few students were arguing about which meal was the tastiest of them all. ]

[fujimaru]

Mash? She's one of the best people I know.

[ There it is, subtle but unmistakable, if one knows what to look for: the bright response of someone who well and truly adores the person they're talking about. ]

She was the first person I met when I arrived in Chaldea -- that's the name of the, er, the company we work for -- and even though I made an idiot of myself, she stuck with me. She's patient and she's really level-headed, and she always listens to and cares about people. Even when I'm worried about how things will turn out... she always believes in me. It's hard not to have faith when someone believes in you that much.

[shinbunshinobi]

[ Sasuke recognizes that brightness. It's the same one Yukimura has whenever he speaks of Teach. (And others likely see the same on him.) ]

It's sounds like you really like her.

[ He means in general, but it could be taken the wrong way. ]

[fujimaru]

She's my best friend! And more. [ No shame or hesitation there. ] Honestly, I don't think I would have made it even half as far as I have without her support. It just makes a huge difference, you know? When you've got someone who really cares by your side.

I'd say she should be part of the club, but she's pretty extraordinary, to me.

[shinbunshinobi]

Maybe we need to form a sibling club. The NTSA Support Club. Supportive extraordinaries can go there and hopefully not gossip about us.

[ Then Sasuke tries to imagine Yukimura in a club where the only other member is a girl... ]

... Although, my boyfriend's bad with girls, so I don't know if it'd work.

[fujimaru]

Bad with girls... meaning how?

[ If he's the Chivalrous Wannabe Type, Ritsuka reserves the right to laugh in this mystery boyfriend's face about it. ]

Either way, Mash's really good at getting along with everyone. It'd take someone being genuinely awful for her to not make friends with them. I'm sure it'd be fine.