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]

"I dunno, it was the first thing that came to mind. What were you thinking about?" Because she was only getting more and more confused.

[dressofheaven]

She pauses a moment, looking Kairi's face over. Seeing nothing but confusion, she finally sighs and just says: "I'll tell you when you turn sixteen."

[paopuprincess]

"Sixteen?" She picks her head up. What's so special about sixteen?

[dressofheaven]

"Yes, sixteen. You can remind me if I forget. That's in... what, two birthdays for you? Three?"

It occurs to her now that she's never asked how old Kairi is.

[paopuprincess]

"Just one. How young did you think I am?"

[dressofheaven]

"Er... twelve. Thirteen? I wouldn't have guessed fifteen."

Of course, Kairi would never have guessed her age either, but there was a reason for that.

"You're really fifteen years old, Kairi?"

[paopuprincess]

"Hey, I'm not a little kid." How could Ilya ever think she was so young? She totally acts her age, older even!

[dressofheaven]

"No, I suppose you're not."

Ilya relaxes a trifle at that. Actually, come to think of it she feels a lot better knowing that Kairi's older than she thought. A little less... guilty, maybe?

"I suppose I should have known. You are pretty precocious, in some ways."

[paopuprincess]

"I am?" Remind her to buy a dictionary sometime. "I guess I never thought of myself like that."

[dressofheaven]

"In some ways." Ilya repeats, grinning at her. "I'm still miles ahead of you in others."

[paopuprincess]

"Then I guess I need to be even precocious-er. So I can whup your butt." She snickers.

[dressofheaven]

"You can try, Kairi." Ilya pats her on the head fondly while her other arm hugs her, laughing. "You can try."

[paopuprincess]

"Hey, I gotta prove that I'm a good princess, don't I? Good princesses don't lose." Or at least, that's how she thinks it works. Right?

[dressofheaven]

"Princesses don't tend to fight in the first place, Kairi. They have champions for that." Not that Ilya was surprised Kairi intended to buck that trend. There was no way she'd just sit back and let someone else fight her battles if she didn't have to.

[paopuprincess]

"Does that mean you volunteer?"

[dressofheaven]

"Volunteer? Kairi, you silly girl, I've already taken the position."

Whether anyone else likes it or not, she refrains from saying.

[paopuprincess]

"Well I'm glad I can count on my champion to win the day in my name." Not that she didn't plan on kicking all sorts of butt by herself, but she appreciates having Ilya so willing to assist.

"But, hey. Ilya? Can I ask you something?"

[dressofheaven]

"You just did." The joke is old and tired, but Ilya still snickers a bit. "But you can go ahead and tell me what's on your mind."

[paopuprincess]

"Do you think I'd be a good princess?" She looks up at her, eyes full of uncertainty.

"I mean, I don't have a kingdom, and I've never really told anyone what to do. I don't even really know how all that junk is supposed to work." She has a lot to live up to, being the princess of a kingdom that doesn't even exist anymore.

[dressofheaven]

Ilya ponders that for a moment. "Well, when it comes down to it, a princess is really just a woman who's waiting to become a queen. So a good princess is one who's learning all she can about how to be a queen when the time comes for her to take the crown. Unless she's not the crown princess, but you don't have any older sisters, so that's not a problem."

Now she's left to ponder whether Kairi's doing that well. "Well, I guess you're doing as well as you can, since you don't really have a kingdom to rule anymore or anyone to teach you how to rule it. What you really need is someone in charge of a kingdom of their own to show you the ropes. A queen, preferably, or another princess who still has her kingdom. A king or a prince would do in a pinch."

[paopuprincess]

"Yeah, I don't really have anyone to teach me. No kingdom, no parents, no royal friends." She sighs. "I wouldn't even remember what my castle looks like if it wasn't for Sora."

[dressofheaven]

"Maybe you don't back home, but there are definitely other royals here." Ilya points out. "You could just send a message over the gear and find someone to talk to. If nothing else, there's Saber."

[paopuprincess]

"Thanks, Ilya. Maybe I will." She can't help but feel like she has a lot of work to do before she can call herself a respectable princess.

"This place is really quiet. I'm surprised we've been alone for so long."

[dressofheaven]

"Yeah, it's really strange. I know I told Xion and Namine we would be here, the boys too... you don't think they just got shy, do you?"

Actually, that was entirely possible, now that Ilya thought about it.

[paopuprincess]

"Xion and Naminé? Definitely. The boys, I'm not so sure."

Honestly, they may have gotten distracted by a squirrel or some overly-shiny object.

"At least we can take advantage of some alone time." She picks her head up, eyeing Ilya expectedly.