At The Onsen

[bound_to_water]

The only sound in the steamy onsen was the water streaming from the fountain, coupled with the soft sound of bamboo making contact with rock. Of the many things Mercury enjoyed, this seemed to be farthest off her list: hot, steamy, and very un-Mercury. But yet she found herself drawn to it, perhaps like a moth to a flame. It reminded her of Mars' own hot springs, though those were too hot, even for her. But these? The Japanese had truly made an art form of them, and even the soldier of ice and intellect found pleasure in the activity.

Bottle of sake with matching cup sat on a floating tray, Mercury taking a sip, head slowly tilting back as she downed the drink. Her cheeks may have been a wee bit flushed, but she was still aware enough to defend herself if need be. Slender form was wrapped in a towel, shoulders poking up over the water. Resting her head back, she set her cup down on the tray, enjoying the soak, for now.

Comments

[waterfell]

Ami seemed entirely at home in the steaming baths. It drove off a chill to her body that she was just oddly beginning to notice. She sank down a bit lower, let the heat luxuriously soothe muscles taut from the day's exercise and training.

When she turned her head, her double was there. She was beginning to recognize that as a very likely sign of a dream.

Her other self had good taste, it turned out. Suddenly the little touches of the scene made sense, all the things they both enjoyed, the sights and sensations and even the very aroma of the air.

"How nice this place is!" Rare praise, devoid of sarcasm. It was a place like this that could make her remember why she'd loved the planet Earth in the past.

[memorials]

Wrapped tightly in her soft, pink towel, Mnemosyne approached the spring, gingerly dipping in a toe at first to check the temperature. "Ahh, it's hot..." she spoke to herself, finding it rather welcoming. She crouched down, arm floating upwards to undo the covering where it was fastened, and the other reaching down to swish the water with her fingers.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, finally noticing that she wasn't alone. She blushed, tightening her grip on the towel again with the revelation, "I... I'm sorry I didn't know there was someone else using it..."

[luv_n_looks]

Spread comfortably in the steaming water, Mina is almost up to her neck and bright pink in the face, but she seems too blissed to notice or care much.

"Heaven, heaven...!"

She's so relaxed, in fact, that she slipped and said that in her native Japanese, a language she's had rare cause to use in years now.

She turns to Mercury, grinning like a cat whose sweet spot is being scratched.

"This? Is excellent. I don't do this nearly enough. And you look absolutely picturesque!"