Let's celebrate by boiling ourselves alive.

[dressofheaven]

Who: Ilyasviel von Einzbern (dressofheaven), Kairi (paopuprincess), and any of the other members of the keyderp brigade who want to join them.
Where: Blackthorn City Hot Springs.
When: April 2nd.
Summary: Ilya just won her last badge. Time to celebrate, and what better way than with a nice, refreshing trip to Blackthorn's hot springs?
Rating: G. They all have towels.
Log:

The battle had been pretty easy, really, but Ilya was still in the mood to celebrate. After all, this was the last badge she needed before Johto could be just a memory for her, and she was very eager to see what the elite battles in Kanto were like.

The usual way to celebrate in Blackthorn was to take a dip in the hot springs, and Ilya had decided to fall in with tradition, mostly because it sounded like a great way to relax. She was humming to herself as she stepped inside, waving the other members of her party in after her.

"Come on you Slowpokes! Quit lagging behind!"

Comments

[paopuprincess]

Kairi grinned from ear-to-ear, chasing after Ilya. The spring air was nice and cool, what better time to take a dip in a nice hot pool?

"This place is so cool! I've never been to something like this before."

[dressofheaven]

"Somehow I don't think cool is the best word to use, Kairi."

Ilya smirked a little, amused at the choice of words, and slipped her way into the spring with a hum. "Ahhhh, that's nice. We should have come here earlier. It would have been a great way to warm up in winter."

[paopuprincess]

"Yeah, but then you'd have to freeze your butt off running indoors." She snickers.

[dressofheaven]

"True, but the brief discomfort just makes you appreciate the springs more."

Of course, it was easy for her to say that since she was used to colder climes, but being used to them didn't mean she liked them.

[paopuprincess]

"I'd rather just stay warm the whole time, if that's okay." She giggles.

[dressofheaven]

"Fine, fine. Looks like you'll have your wish anyway, with how warm it is out there."

She leaned back against the side of the spring and hummed in contentment. This was the life, no doubt about it.

[paopuprincess]

"That's right, I always get my way." She teases, leaning back against the warm rocks and closing her eyes.

[dressofheaven]

"Ah, but so do I. What happens if we want something different?"

And that's how the Pokemon world ended.

[paopuprincess]

"Then you let me win because I'm an adorable little princess?" She opens one eye to watch her reaction.

[dressofheaven]

Ilya responds to that with a genuinely amused laugh. "Ohhhh no. I won't take a dive, not even for you. If you want to beat me, Kairi, you're going to have to earn it."

[paopuprincess]

"D'aw." She lets out a disappointed grunt. "You never make it easy."

[dressofheaven]

"It'll be more satisfying my way. Life isn't easy, you ought to know that already."

What with the whole having her heart yanked from her body after losing her home thing.

"Besides, my way will make you stronger."

[paopuprincess]

"I'm plenty strong as it is." She crosses her arms.

no tagging like backtagging

[shatterings]

Naminé was still getting used to human functions--you know, like having a heart and all. This is no different. Hot springs? She'd never been to one. Then again, there was a lot of stuff she'd never done. Living in a castle your whole existence tended to put a damper on normal stuff.

She was happy for Ilya, really! Just excuse her being quiet as she follows--she's pretty amazed by all of her surroundings.

[dressofheaven]

Ilya did her best to be accommodating and understanding of Namine's difficulty adapting, but it was precisely for that reason that she wanted her to experience things like this. Not just the hot spring, but the concept of a celebration at all.

She busied herself talking to Kairi for a while in order to let Namine get used to the unfamiliar surroundings. Only after they slipped into the water and got used to the temperature did she turn her attention to her.

"So, what do you think? Amazing, aren't they? I'd say they're probably the only reason to come to this place."

[shatterings]

She was grateful that Ilya--and pretty much everyone--was giving her time to get used to things. Like having a heart, though she wasn't sure if they knew. Other than Xion, Naminé was unsure if they knew about their being Nobodies. It definitely wasn't a topic for small talk.

The hot springs did feel incredible, unlike anything Naminé had experienced before. Warm, but not scalding. Naminé felt her shoulders relaxing, and some of the stress of traveling--insignificant as it was--left her muscles. She was glad Ilya invited her along. How else would she have experienced something like this?

"They are." Naminé gave her companion a small smile and nodded. "I've never done anything like this before. I think I'd like to come back in the future."

[dressofheaven]

"Well that will be easy to do. My Pokemon know where this city is by now, so a trip out here is only a matter of flying a few hours. Not the sort of thing we can do every day, of course, but not an imposition if we spread it out."

This was another thing she wanted to impress on Namine. That they could do this sort of thing all the time. That it wasn't difficult, or problematic, or a bother for her to bring her along on things like these, or even to do something at Namine's request. Ilya knew it would take a while for a girl like Namine to grasp that fact, but she was patient.

"Just don't fall asleep in here, no matter how relaxing it gets. That's not healthy." She winked, playful even if the warning was legitimate.

[shatterings]

"Well... if you're absolutely sure."

It was strange, the way they were actually doing things for her--things she actually wanted to do. They had even flown out to meet her when she'd gotten her. Other than Sora, maybe, none of them had really known her that well. A small part of Naminé was starting to recognize that it wasn't a big deal--that they had no problem doing things she wanted--but it was still hard to grasp.

She couldn't deny that it was a nice feeling, though.

"I won't--I think I'm too interested in everything to fall asleep."

[dressofheaven]

Ilya didn't bother answering that yes, she was completely sure. If Namine hadn't realized how decisive she was by now, she would sooner or later. And Ilya had decided that Namine was worth helping, caring for. She wouldn't go back on that.

"That's good. Tell me then, what are you most interested in, now that we're here?"

[shatterings]

She was starting to understand that it would go without saying that she was sure. The others didn't have the same lack of confidence she had; they were always certain. It was something she admired.

"Oh--" Well. Maybe everything wasn't an okay answer. "Um... well... maybe the different shops?"

She was starting to enjoy shopping, to be honest.

[dressofheaven]

Ilya laughed. "I meant about the hot springs, silly."

She reached out a hand and tossled Namine's hair playfully. "But you like shopping, hmm? Good thing Riku and I are so well off then. You'll be able to do so to your heart's content."

She should, by this point, have realized the impact such a metaphor would have. But she kept forgetting about the significance of the word "heart" for people from Namine's worlds.

[shatterings]

There was a flush across her cheeks that had little to do with the temperature and more to do with embarrassment. And the contact was, admittedly, unexpected. She wasn't used to touches not meant to harm. It was a nice feeling, though, and Naminé allowed a little smile.

Though.... ah. Heart. That was a thing, wasn't it? It was still taking her some getting used to, but having a heart was better than she could have dreamed about.

"Kairi... said Riku would buy pretty much anything if you asked nicely enough. But I'm not sure I could spend an awful lot." Her tastes were simple enough: Give her a sketchbook and pencils and she'd be good.

[dressofheaven]

"Because you'd feel bad about it, or because you don't have much you want to buy?"

Ilya could believe either, or both. Namine could very easily just not have much she needed to be happy, but she was also so self-effacing that Ilya had no doubt she wouldn't speak up if there was something she wanted that she thought might be an imposition.

[shatterings]

"Both," she admitted, if a bit sheepishly. A thing here or there was fine. But honestly, anything more seemed a bit extravagant. Had Ilya spoken her thoughts, she'd be absolutely on the dot--though, that someone knew her so well would probably embarrass Naminé

[dressofheaven]

"You're adorable, you know that?" Ilya grinned fondly at Namine and wrapped a companionable arm around her shoulders.

"One day you'll learn that you don't have to feel bad about asking us for things you want."