Goldenrod ex, 5/8 undersized (closed)

[amaure]

Who: Emet-Selch, Hythlodaeus, Estinien, Ziva, Urianger (maybe Dirk)
Where: Goldenrod city, mainly Emet-Selch's small apartment, but also elsewhere in the city.
When: 22nd-25th
Summary: The party has now reached Goldenrod, and they have decided to make Emet's life hell. You know, how most of his relationships do. He ain't single and he ain't ready to mingle and yet...
Rating: Will update as needed, gen for now.


When he had sent Estinien to retrieve Hythlodaeus, he had not expected there to be others among their traveling group! Let alone others from their own star—one of which he is familiar with, the other...well, in a way he is, but he hasn't fully gotten the confirmation she may yet be who Hythlodaeus suspects she is. The hero of the source he knows is not a small blond woman, but an average height brunet man, and as such he's left a little conflicted with the possibility of such differences.

Regardless of all of that, he did not expect the group to arrive at his rather quaint apartment. Barely is it suited for Hythlodaeus alone, but especially not five people in total! The knock on his door was expected, but not the slew of faces that assaulted his gaze upon opening it. His exasperated and dramatic flourish of his discontent was likely more amusing than scathing, and while he had little choice but to let them in, it did result in him locking himself in the bathroom for a time.

Glad as he is to see Hythlodaeus at long last, there's something ruinous about the unexpected company! Particularly when a certain dragoon looks both smug and amused, with that small grin of his, at the vexation brought on by these ill-turn of events, and Solus' clear surprise. Finally with some coaxing, he finds himself among them once more, looking none too pleased about it, but what can he do? Sure, he could tell them to leave, but he knows what a fool's endeavor that will be.

If this were to become the usual among their group, if his dwelling would be their landing whenever they arrive at Goldenrod, a home base if you will, then something will have to change. For now, this is his lot, terrible though it is.

Comments

HOTSPRING EPISODE; Wednesday Evening

[amaure]

[Well, it was bound to happen, huh? Get any myriad group of people together, and at least one of them who gives a huge fuck about self-care or whatever it is that Hythlodaeus is on about, and eventually you'll find yourself at some sort of onsen. Fortunately, Goldenrod (what with being based off of Osaka) has a great many! So, despite what concerns or gripes there may have been from others (mainly Estinien and possibly Emet-Selch), they are now at one!

However, not only is it an onsen, but there are other parts to it as well! It's pretty much an entire spa, with a sauna, massage, facials, mani/pedicures, aromatherapy...honestly the works! Guess it's a good thing that Emet-Selch got that big bonus from his work, cuz who the hell knows if the others can truly afford this, and Hythlodaeus has no idea how money works besides.

It's fine, it's cool, Emet-Selch will make them all pay him back. But for now, it's not about money, it's about relaxation! The only downside to this is that the onsen are gendered, and so Ziva will likely have to sneak her way over to the boy's side, or settle with talking over the wooden fence that divides them.


---

As for Emet himself, well...if this is coming out of his goddamn pocket, he's going to indulge. So he'll certainly be getting the works: exfoliating wraps, massage, mani/pedi, hanging in the sauna, and eventually he'll be in the onsen. Fortunately, or unfortunately, all of these are not private activities, so he theoretically could have company on any of these little endeavors, just try to strike up conversation with him, I dare you.

He'll be the most talkative in the hotspring proper, settling with some sake that's floating around on those little wooden rafts, as he relaxes in the warm depths of the waters, elbows resting on the edge as he regards the others in a manner that one might dare to call...fondness? Maybe it's a trick of the light, low that it is to keep a relaxing and ambient atmosphere, or maybe he actually is in a decent mood! Who knows!]

Dressing Room > Onsen

[stardiving]

[Estinien is a simple man, with simple desires, therefore after being dragged to this and gently encouraged to take part (though he does pay his own way, he's not going to be beholden to Solus if he can help it) he ends up in the isakaya attached to the onsen, drinking sake and eating squid and edamame, and not admitting to himself that he misses the company of Orn Khai. For a while, anyway, until someone Solus comes to find him and drag him into the onsen proper.

Where, surprise surprise, he has to take off his clothes.

He's not overly fond of that idea.

But after some further gentle persuasion he can indeed be found in the hot spring itself, ridiculously self-conscious for someone that no one is actually looking at.]

[amaure]

[Look, if Estinien's here, he might as well enjoy the soothing waters, and while Solus understands to an extent Estinien's problems with the marring to his mortal form, it should not lock him out of enjoying things like this!

Or, perhaps more accurately, having to suffer the same burdens Solus has to, but hey! Whatever!

With Estinien in the water proper, though clearly trying to hide as much of his body as he can, he can't help but make his way over to him. Floating the little raft of sake with him as he approaches. Settling besides him, he offers him a (questionably) friendly smile.]

Come now, is it truly so horrid? You need not be so tense—we're all friends here, are we not?

[stardiving]

[Look, he just does not like being naked around people, even without all the issues that come with being self-conscious about his scars.

He glances over as Solus approaches, from where he's sunk neck-deep with his hair floating around him in the warm water like a particularly sleepy (and drunk, now that the alcohol has had time to limber him up properly) lizard.

Still one that doesn't really like being exposed, but still. And one that is confused by the 'friend' title, clearly thinking it over.

He doesn't have a lot of those, okay?]

...I suppose.

[He supposes what, that he doesn't need to be tense? That they're friends? Both? It's a mystery. Words are being hard to deal with right now.]

Onsen

[hythlodaeus]

[Maybe not no one.]

[Hythlodaeus seems to be sizing Estinien up in some way, and finally does speak after a moment.]

Each of those scars, even the muscles themselves are a story. So much in so little time...

[Oh, great, he's drunk. And he looks like he's dissolving in the onsen, his long hair moving slightly like ghastly kelp in the water.]

Re: Onsen

[stardiving]

[Well, that makes two of them, being drunk that is. It's the only reason he's agreed to all this, and even then he's starting to sober up enough to regret it. Especially with eyes on him.

It's not that he's particularly bothered by his scars, at least not by themselves, it's moreso the way they make people look at him--in horror, or in pity. He can't abide either.

A little raft of warmed sake drifts past, and Estinien grabs a cup off it and carefully does not make eye contact.]

[hythlodaeus]

[Hythlodaeus, taking absolutely no cues, sidles in closer.]

Do they still hurt you?

[His eyes, at least, are now at an appropriate level as he looks Estinien's face over.]

I've had a few injuries, but I've never scarred...

[stardiving]

[Rude.

Estinien glances over, debating for a moment whether or not he wants to actually answer that, ignore it, or ignore it and leave.

But, the water does actually feel rather good, which he will absolutely never tell Solus about because the man will crow endlessly about being right. And this is like to just come up later. So, he just sighs.]

Sometimes they ache, in the cold. Tis all.

[hythlodaeus]

Ah, but a matter of weather should be simple enough. You don't spend too much time in the cold, do you?

[He asked, hoping. Praying.]

Amaurot lays far to the south... So it was warm year round.

[stardiving]

[Oh, Halone above, you're going to make those kicked puppy eyes at him again?]

...my homeland is Coerthas, to the north, in the mountains. Further still, since the last Calamity unbalanced the aether in the region, tis locked in endless winter.

[Sigh.]

I need not your pity, it is what it is. My life is not an endless well of suffering.

[Well, it kinda is, but he still doesn't want you pitying him over it.]

[hythlodaeus]

[Exploded puppy. And yes.]

...Scar tissue can be reduced and healed with manual massage. Here, I'm really quite good at it...

[And he slowly goes for one of Estinien's arms, moving slowly as if he might frighten a wild animal.]

[stardiving]

[He shouldn't have said anything.

Estinien scoots back in the water--no amount of massaging is going to make his scars magically disappear, and he doesn't like hands on him. He knew this was a terrible idea, none of you know what personal space is.]

Do not touch me. Please.

[The please is completely an afterthought.]

[hythlodaeus]

[Hythlodaeus' hands stop mid-water. He does know how to obey a request, at least. Or at least knows when to.]

I won't touch you unless you wish it. But it won't hurt, I promise.

[stardiving]

[Oh look, you're doing better than your best buddy already.

Also, you think he's afraid of it hurting, that's funny. His expression is sort of a tired incredulousness, like 'You think that concerns me?' After all, they were just talking about his scars--which certainly didn't tickle when he got the wounds that made them, nor while they were healing.]

I do not enjoy being prodded, nor manhandled. I am not an invalid.

[Even if his knees are probably going to just give out in a couple decades. Bad knees, surprisingly not a problem that dragoons of Ishgard had to worry about, historically speaking. They usually didn't live long enough for it.]

[hythlodaeus]

[He tilts his head slightly at Estinien.]

Do you think someone must be injured beyond function to recieve care? It sounds as though you have never been touched so.

[Please don't tell him about his fucking knees.]

[stardiving]

[He's just going to drink his sake and watch the steam rise from the water.]

Tis not what I said, I merely said that I do not enjoy it.

[He's fine, somehow he's not surprised that you share the trait of not knowing when to leave well enough alone.

And yeah, he's definitely not saying anything about them. He can imagine the horror now. 'Sometimes parts of your body give out simply because you use them?']

[hythlodaeus]

[The words spill from his mouth before he even knows what he’s saying. ]

Your lovers must find you fussy, even with that mysterious air of yours.

[He picks up some sake for himself. He’s having too much fun to let the buzz falter.]

Unless...

[stardiving]

[Estinien rolls his eyes behind his cup, and reaches for the little bottle to refill it. He is not anywhere near drunk enough for this sort of conversation.]

Unless I do not have one?

[That's right, one, as is good and proper.]

I do not. And afore you ask, no, I am not interested in changing that.

[hythlodaeus]

My, my! So guarded... [He continues to stare placidly at him until something clicks. ]

...Have you never had a lover? I’ve heard of some rather contrary religions walking about... But you needn’t fear your Gods or Goddesses so. Least of all here!

[stardiving]

[He just shakes his head--whether that's an answer of 'no' or just an expression of annoyance (or both!) is up to you to decide, though he does certainly look annoyed. Under his breath:]

I am nowhere near drunk enough for this conversation.

[hythlodaeus]

That is easily remedied.

[ He hangs half outside of the onsen and flags down an attendant. Little cups of sake just won’t do. A few moments later, big frosty mugs with a light citrus scent are brought out on a platter. ]

It will annoy them if you spill, but there’s little else so refreshing!

[Are you ready to drink your body weight in soju? ]

[stardiving]

[Definitely not how he thought he'd die, alcohol poisoning, but fine. Okay. Let's do this.

Estinien looks at the offered drink suspiciously--as he's already demonstrated to Emet, he dislikes overly sweet drinks almost as much as he dislikes emotional vulnerability.]

[hythlodaeus]

[It’s a nice, light, balanced flavor. A little like drinking lightly flavored sparkling water. Definitely gonna sneak up on him. Hythlodaeus tilts his head back and drinks it like water. It’s not only his great size that makes nothing of it. ]

Well, go on. I’ll keep your head above the water.

[stardiving]

[It's not too objectionable, he finds as he takes a drink. Granted, he certainly is not following Hythlodaeus' bad example by knocking it back.]

My religion does not bar one from relationships. Not unless you are of the clergy, which I certainly am not. Even they do not seem to follow that directive most of the time.

[hythlodaeus]

[Drunk enough to have this conversation then, are we?]

Then you just have personal objections? How odd, mortals seemed to breed quite readily. Unlike some of the fussier creatures... I worked with a sub-species of bear for a time that seemed to defy its own design.