[Closed] Girl, Put Your Records On, Tell Me Your Favorite Song

[heartofalioness]

Who: Lance, Princess Allura, Rainer Michelle, Romelle, and Keith
Where: Cherrygrove City Spa
When: Sometime in early February
Summary: A few friends mourn a loss through self-care
Rating: PG to PG-13 (thanks, Lance), will warn as necessary


Hearing that Jaskier had been sent home was… quite a blow among the Voltrons. He’d been a good friend to all of them, especially to Shiro, and of course poor Geralt and Kiri were left behind… And honestly, Allura was starting to miss her friends back at the house, at least in person. Shiro and Pidge and Sasha chose to sit this out, but Allura decided to invite a few of her friends who knew Jaskier to do something in his memory, and Lance came up with the idea of a mini-spa retreat in Cherrygrove City. Mud baths, massages with hot stones and scrubs and aromatherapy, hair and nail salons, the works. And thanks to working part-time jobs almost the whole time she’s been here, especially in Violet City, Allura actually has quite a bit saved up to chip in for the small group to stay a full weekend. So kick back, chat over manicures and herb-infused drinks, and enjoy.

Comments

[spacebaloney]

[It wouldn't be the first time once of Lance's closer non-Voltron friends have been sent home, but it stings all the same. Some extra sodium in the cut is caused by Lance just having bought Jaskier the perfect robe for his style and missing the chance to gift it to him. In honor of King Peacock leaving Pokemonland, Lance wears it down to the spa, looking positively ravishing in the gold paisley print.

If positively ravishing meant definitely ostentatious, that is.

All that aside, he's grateful Allura set up this shindig. It has been a while since Lance hit the spa (a month, how awful!) and this is one place he doesn't quite frequent all that often so the unfamiliarity makes everything (and him) shiny and new. It also makes simple decisions a bit more difficult like what color does he get the pedicurist to paint his toes. He's been standing in front of the nail polish display for a good ten minutes now, picking up bottles just to put them down, turning some around to peer at them in the light for a better view, and making faces at others. Blue? Red? Maybe purple? Or does he go hog wild and hit up a nice pale orange? Someone help the indecisive fool.

After that's done, one can find him posted up in one of the many hot tubs, robe carefully folded and set aside (it wasn't cheap, you know!) working his way through a bottle of champange with another one waiting in the wings to be opened. At least he's using a glass and not taking the entire bottle directly to the head, so that should count for something.

Lance raises his glass to the next person that comes close to the tub and shouts, just on the edge of getting buzzed:]

¡Salud! To Jaskier!

[necrodentia]

[ Rainer rolls her wheelchair up to the edge of the hot tub and carefully steps out, unwrapping her terrycloth robe to reveal a mature yet tasteful swimsuit. She smiles at the young man in the water already as she sinks down into the hot tub. ]

To Jaskier! I hope that he's enjoying a similarly luxurious afternoon, wherever he may be. Do you have another glass for that champagne?

[spacebaloney]

[Lance is about to get out of the hot tub and help Rainer, solely because his mami taught him better than to sit and not at least try and assist someone who might have trouble getting up, but it seems Rainer has it just fine on her own. And maybe it's better that she beat him to it herself as he's only met her today and has no idea what the woman is truly capable of.]

I'm sure he is. He better be or else I'll make him pay for slacking off on the moisturizing and deep conditioning.

[As for another glass, Lance reaches behind him and feels for one, grabbing it before holding it out to Rainer by the stem.]

Hold this for me, will you?

[necrodentia]

[ Luckily, Rainer is mobile enough to be able to get in and out of her wheelchair just fine. It's mostly walking longer distances that tires her out to the point of needing a mobility aid.

She gratefully takes the glass, holding it obediently while Lance gets what he needs to pour her a drink. ]

I'm Rainer, by the way.

[heartofalioness]

[Allura, meanwhile, is glad that she brought her own swimsuit on the trip, her newly treated hair and its washable pink streak piled into a looser version of her usual high bun to protect it from the water... and she is decidedly keeping her eyes above the water as well.

Still, she is feeling more relaxed than normal, and while she declines the champagne (hot water and alcohol don't mix well, and she'll keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't slip or anything), she does raise her glass of cucumber lemon herb water for the toast.]

To Jaskier. May his memory be long-lasting.

[spacebaloney]

[There's an unspoken agreement between Lance and Pidge that while his eyes still work, he can at least look and appreciate other people and their good looks. Saying something about it or doing something about it is totally off the table, though, so it's why Lance is quietly eyeing Allura in her swimsuit. Quickly, may one add, just long enough to take in how good she looks in it and move on to her hair that is carrying a colorful streak. He approves of that with a nod. That's something he can do without Pidge biting his ankles over it.]

Don't say that like he died! [Lance laughs, though not too deeply. One never knows what happens when these people leave here.]He just went home and as far as I can guess, he goes back to barding it up.

[heartofalioness]

[Ah... Allura's smile relaxes even more.]

That is good to hear. [After all... she knows that's not always the case, like with Thace... But she tries rein that thought in, for a number of reasons.] And it is good to be able to see you again. How have the last few months been?

[tempredmental]

[Keith smiled a bit, giving a nod in his own quiet way to acknowledge a toast, but then carefully lifted the glass from Lance's raised hand with a chuckle.]

Just how much of that first bottle have you had to drink already? Or can you just not hold your liquor?

[He settled into the hot tub as well after noticing there was still another unopened bottle, and, if Lance complained enough, he'd give the glass back.]

[spacebaloney]

[Lance rolls his eyes, but there's no heat behind it. He's been exfoliated, moisturized, and massaged, and now he's getting intoxicated and nothing Keith can do will ruin his good mood.]

I've barely started! [Which is the truth. Somewhat. He's about to hit up his third glass.] You should be the one worried about holding your liquor. If you drown in this hot tub, I'm not the one who's gonna break it to Shiro.

[tempredmental]

Oh, because if you get drunk and drown, that's okay?

[Keith just gave him a somewhat amused look. Besides, he knew his limits. He didn't even really like champagne, so he was going to abstain, thanks.]

[questioneverything]

[Romelle was certainly taking it all in. She, of course, was contributing to her share of the cost, as her work at the Silver Horn along with her trainer battles had been helping her save up some money. But she'd never been to an actual spa before, and this was absolutely divine. She could really get used to being pampered like this. Her very long hair was wrapped up in a massive, fluffy towel as she reclined in a comfy lounge chair, facial mask in place, dressed in one of the provided soft robes, and one of the beauticians was working on one of her hands at the moment.]

This truly was an excellent idea.

[It was just soooo relaxing.]

[necrodentia]

[ Rainer has forgone her wheelchair for the pedicure chair with the foot bath complete with massaging jets, and she is very glad that Allura invited her to attend. ]

Oh, I agree, for sure. It's so nice to just pamper yourself every now and then!

[questioneverything]

Mm...

[Romelle nodded.]

I never got to do this sort of thing back home. I certainly was missing out!

[necrodentia]

Oh, you definitely were! Though, I must say, we don't have anything quite this luxurious back in Nua.

[ The foot bath is definitely a nice touch. ]

I don't think we've met yet... I'm Rainer.

[heartofalioness]

[A soft chuckle.]

Thank you. To be honest, I owe Lance himself for the inspiration. He had mentioned that Jaskier had worked at this salon, and I had stopped here myself when I first came to Cherrygrove. [Not to mention Lance's more-than-occasional whining about the last time the boy had had a spa day.] It was an extremely welcome respite after three days on the road.

[questioneverything]

[Romelle nodded.]

I can certainly see why it would be. I wish I had considered it more seriously when I first came through Cherrygrove myself. Apparently, I've been missing out on something wonderful.

[heartofalioness]

To be honest, I had almost missed out as well. [After all, she had just arrived and had little cash on her. She needed to last until the other picked her up.] Thankfully, another otherworlder was kind enough to pay for me. I'm honestly more surprised that you hadn't been to one yet since you got here.

[necrodentia]

[ After first losing Fitzroy, and then Jasker not much later, Rainer has been feeling really down in the dumps lately. The feeling was worsened after her good fortune from January, which granted her a stronger constitution and the ability to exist outside of her chair for longer periods of time, finally fades with the passing of the month. So when Allura invites her to a spa day in Jaskier's honor, she gladly attends!

Spas in Nua aren't nearly as advanced as the one in Cherrygrove, so Rainer makes sure she takes in all it has to offer. She's getting the works: mud bath, hot tub, facial, massage, mani/pedi, EVERYTHING. Sure, it's a bit over the top, but she reassures herself that that's what Jaskier would have wanted.

She's just picked out her choice bottle of glittery black nail polish, when she spies one of the others in their group also looking at colors. ]

Ooh, do you know what color you want them to give you?

[heartofalioness]

[Allura looks over the bottles... even if her eyes are also drawn to the sparkling and shimmering ones, especially in cool pastels, she hems and haws.]

Perhaps a Kalosian manicure? Keith and I are still traveling, after all, something low maintenance would be best.

[..... Rainer, PLEASE convince her to branch out.]

[necrodentia]

Ohh, but Allura... This is your chance to do something really daring! Step outside your comfort zone and treat yourself! Don't tell me you're going to settle on something boring just because it's "low maintenance."

[heartofalioness]

Ah, well... you think I should?

[Yes. Yes, she should. Nudge her more, Rainer. There are some really sparkly floral designs in the magazines.]

[heartofalioness]

[Allura had been here once before- when she just arrived, a very welcome respite after spending three days sleeping on the ground with only one day’s worth of haircare products- but this is her first time full-on spoiling herself here. After all, it’s her hard-earned money rather than Legosi picking up the tab… and really, she hasn’t been able to pamper herself fully since her days on Altea, with access to royal beauty treatments.

Still, the spas amenities are very nice. The mud bath does wonders for detoxing her skin, as does the clay facial and the massage with Roselia and Lilligant oils. She can’t remember the last time she felt this physically relaxed… As for the mani/pedi, Allura opts for a simple Kalosian pedicure with white tips, but decides to be daring and go for something more dramatic for her fingers. And what the heck, maybe a soft streak of pink in her hair with a temporary dye. And capped off with a nice long soak in the hot tub.

All the while, Allura is definitely open to conversation; shy if you happen to join her in the mud bath, relaxed and quiet during the massage, to much more energetic and chatty for the rest of the day. See the workaholic princess reveal she actually does know how to relax!]

[tempredmental]

[As they sat in the hot tub, Keith noticed the pink streak in her hair. He looked a little amused.]

That's new.

[heartofalioness]

[Oh, that... certainly Keith. In the hot tub with her. Giving her a compliment. With a ridiculously cute smile--WAIT NO. Maybe he'll write off the flushed cheeks as being from the heat, or her skin being freshly exfoliated.]

Ah, thank you. It's only meant to last a few washes, but I was feeling a bit capricious.

[She'll just... take a drink of her infused water. With her extra sparkly nails.]

You look nice too.

[tempredmental]

[So, the hot tub was nice. Keith was having a little bit of trouble relaxing while being poked and prodded and pampered. He wasn't used to it, even if a lot of it did kind of feel nice when all was said and done. (He definitely got a bit flustered and out of sorts when the skin care specialist fussed over taking care of his scars.) Still... while it was definitely outside his comfort zone, he was doing his best to get through the day. It was something his friends wanted to do, after all, and they'd made a pretty convincing argument for him to come along.

Honestly, it was worth it to see his friends this happy and relaxed. That was the best part. So, despite all the awkwardness at just about everything they did that day except the hot tub, he was still having a pretty decent time.]