Hate to Burst Your Bubble (Closed)

[Lusa]

Evening of 33 Spring, 512 AV Aquilar Hot Springs Ah, bathing. Bathing was a human practice that Lusa had absolutely fallen in love with. When she had lived with her parents, her mother had cleaned her by licking. When she had spent time with the herd, she had cleaned herself by rolling upon the forest floor. Now, to know what she had been missing, almost made Lusa mourn for her past self. Hot water was a miracle if there ever was one. It soothed her muscles, often tense from a day of being startled constantly. Such was the life of a deer in Sunberth. So, she had begun utilizing the bathing facilities at the Aquilar Hot Springs, where she had been renting a room. That's where she was presently, having just paid her silvers to enter the public bath. She was the only one using the spring at the moment, which made her a bit sad; she craved social interaction like air. She removed her thin blue shift and folded it neatly, placing it to the side. She had left her belongings in her room, seeing no need to bring them. She hadn't even worn shoes. She stretched her small body languidly before dipping one tiny toe into the water. Hissing at the water, which to her chilled skin felt scalding, she slowly lowered herself. The heat sent a flush across her whole body, stinging and soothing at the same time. Finally she was all the way in, and the water went to work.

[Kit]

Kit couldn't help it, he just had to know more about that beautiful girl. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her since the day they'd met. He had followed her all the way here to this strange place, too shy to actually say hello. But when he tried to follow her into the warm place, a stomper blocked his path. Apparently, he wasn't allowed to pass without handing over the shiny money coins. Normally he avoided parting with the precious coins his mother had left him with unless absolutely necessary, but this was a matter of love! He reached into his pockets where he always kept a shiny-ringed rock or two, and handed over enough to make the stomper let him pass.

He had lost sight of the deer-girl, but luckily he could still smell her, so he knew she was around somewhere. Somehow in trying to find her, he lost his way, and an elderly stomper took pity on his confused state and helped him get out of his too-small clothes, and directed him toward what she called the "common bath." Kit wasn't sure what a "bath" was supposed to be - he'd certainly never encountered one before - but since the deer-girl's scent was that way, he did not object.

And there she was. Kit's breath caught in his throat. She had her back to him, and she was mostly submerged in the water. Kit knew that if he blew this chance, he'd never muster up the courage to speak to him again. With a running start, he jumped over her head, landing in the center of the pool with a splash. For a moment, he thought he might drown, but his feet scraped against the bottom and had the strangest floating sort of feeling... no, it wasn't just a feeling, the water was actually sort of lifting him up.

Still dazed from the novel feeling of buoyancy, Kit turned to face the deer-girl and gave her his biggest, dopey grin. "Hiya!"

[Lusa]

Lusa groaned, the steaming water was doing its job; she could feel the stress and grime of Sunberth's streets melting away from her. Surely this was what heaven was like! The steam from the bath entered her lungs, relaxing her, making her groggy. She wiggled her toes underwater, simply luxuriating. She was about to get her hair wet when she heard quick, thumping footsteps behind her. Was someone running to the bath? How dangerous! They could slip and fall. It was less than a second after that thought crossed her mind that there was an enormous splash in the pool. Hot water sprayed her in the face, soaking her hair and blurring her vision. She sputtered for a moment, too shocked for coherent speech. Rubbing her eyes with her fists, she cleared them, and blinked owlishly at the young man before her. "Heeelloooo?" The word came from her mouth drawn out, and inflected at the end, almost a question. She tried sniffing, to catch his scent, but the steam was obscuring it.

[Kit]

Kit's long black hair was soaking wet and strands of it were hanging rakishly down his face. He continued grinning like an idiot. She spoke to him! Her voice was like flower petals, floating in the breeze. He sighed, his love-struck gaze never leaving her face. But...when he exhaled all the air in his lungs, he started sinking! The instant he noticed, he yelped and flailed wildly, splashing water everywhere in his attempt to keep his head above water and not fall over.

The episode resulted in him having fallen on his butt in the water. Fortunately, the part of the water near the deer-girl was shallow enough that his human form could sit up tall and keep his head above the water. He scooted closer to her, and without even thinking about it, brushed a strand of wet hair out of her eyes.

[Cade]

This day, the barbarian's harem had enough of his stench and here he was at the mercy of his women forcing him to bathe. The half blood myrian paid his dues to enter the hotspings and made his way to the clensing pools. It wasn't that he was afraid to bathe, its just he never had time for it..... or that was his excuse. Now that it was spring he could not use the excuse that its cold out. But, it was a common courtesy for the women in his life, if he was to keep company with them it was a fair trade that he was up to grooming standards... or alteast make an honest attempt at hit.

He rounded out to the pool and found two familiar sights, the skunk and the doe dipped in the water. Both of them were in the nude, a aspect Cade was not afraid or nor was he bashful. He nodded in their direction dropping his clothing to the side of the rocks, exposing his rugged muscular body, finally chiselled by intense training sporting a plethora of scars earned from battle, his long black mane was matted with the rank of sunberth. His endowment was another reason he was not ashamed to show his body off for most would be proud of what he was supporting, most of the women were pleased just by the mere sight.

He walked over towards his two comrades and sank his entire body into the hot waters of the spring, feeling the soothing effect instantly. His head popped upbove water and shook his hair, like a lion waving his might mane before settling close to Lusa, his eyes ravaging her body though there was not much left to the imagination. He had not had a good look at her before and to say, she was easy on the eyes. It was natural for the berthian hound to gravitate to the female company it was just who he was.

"Fine day is it not?" He broke the silence that had crept upon his entrance.

[Musca]

There was something incredibly precious that was gained in the act of bathing. It wasn't just the general cleanliness that one feels- it was how it was achieved, the varying process that turned into small rituals and habits that kneaded off the day's hard work from the body, the type of calm that made the eyes roll at the back and make the mouth sigh in delight. Cleanliness was just an added bonus of it. Musca smiled at the pleasant lady, handing over the coins that she wanted in exchange for a long dip. It seemed so funny to think that such items could make the citizens of Sunberth go wild. Before she made it in the springs, she had been sorely tempted by the crowd to throw the shiny coins up in the air and watch them kill each other off, just for the sake of the tiny items. She didn't. And how she sorely regretted this decision. With heavy feet, she dragged herself to the outdoors of the Bathhouse, instantly perking up at as the steam snagged at her face. Thoughts of her previous failure was soon forgotten, replaced by her need to immerse herself into the warmth of the water. Without even glancing at the spring, Musca began untying the strings of her cloak, letting it freely drop by her feet. Unconsciously, she let her wings stretch out- letting it beat against the steam, the movement stirring the water vapours into gently dispersing. She smiled indulgently at herself- it was wonderful to feel her wings freely. Smoothly, she began unclothing herself- untying each string with delicate concentration, knowing that it would be more than a little difficult if she messed up. For a moment, she can almost believe that she was back in her cavern home, getting ready to join the other youths in her colony for a quick trip to the lakes. She stepped out of her shorts and swiped her hair back. But the lakes could never hope to be as warm as the spring. Her naked form bent over then, picking the clothes that she had carelessly thrown around her and neatly folded it over the rocks that decorated the establishment. Still locked by her memories, Musca didn't notice the humans that was already inside and simply slid in, soaking her hair along the way. When she broke through the surface once again, she rested her body against the walls of the rock, sighing. Musca had forgotten; along with cleanliness, a reflective mood came with it too.

[Chamaeleon]

Chamaeleon was in love with the light reflecting off of the Springs in the moonlight. It was a ghostly reflection of Leth's chosen form that she liked the most of the shimmering surface of the water.

In truth, Chamaeleon barely disliked anything and more or less liked everything equally. Describing the difference between love and like to her would be difficult, but it would never occur to her to explain her feelings or her ideas of like and love.

The Symenestra padded delicately along the edge of the Spring, her violet eyes focused on the gentle undulation of the water before they were disturbed by movements nearer a group of people Chamaeleon had come to be acquainted with.

She looked at them now. The doe-girl and the massive barbarian she recognised at once. The sight of the state of undress of the trio didn't phase Chamaeleon one bit. In fact, the lecherous part of her mind, which had been untouched for a long time during her life in Sunberth, gladly appreciated the nudity and was not against joining in the fun.

She undid the clasp of her cloak with her delicate, clawed hands and removed her clothes, placing them aside, before she stepped into the water in silence.

The Ethaefal also loved the feel of water, despite the trauma she had once suffered through the water of the inland sea.

Once she was submerged, she looked to Cade, Kit and Lusa and smiled. She undoubtly looked creepy with her fangs on display, glistening nicely in the light.

"Nice night to have a bath?" She asked them lightly in her mellow voice. It was in surprise that she stepped back as a Zith also joined the fun, inturrupting her, but she smiled just as brightly when the woman-like bat broke the surface of the water.

If only Chamaeleon could look like that, but without losing the sparkly form she wore during the daytime. She would be enviable with wings like that, and claws like that!

But she was trapped as a delicate spider.

[Lusa]

The boy (Lusa could see that he was no boy, but something about his demeanor made him seem that way) seemed to lose his balance and soaked her face once again. Lusa giggled at his antics. He was cute. She 'hmm'ed happily as he brushed her hair from her face. She was quite addicted to physical affection. She then heard the sound of clothing hitting the ground. She sent a small smile Kit's way, then turned to see Cade entering the water. To Lusa, he was the very definition of an alpha male, oozing strength and confidence. She openly stared at his scars, wondering how he had acquired so many. Lusa had so far managed to avoid serious injury, and so lacked any. She eyed both Kit and Cade's long hair, ironically self-conscious of her own short locks, rather than her small chest. She'd been informed that her lower half more than made up in the curves department, though. "No finer day to have a bath!" She chirped. She was happy to have company; she was simply wired to enjoy it. Her enjoyment lessened somewhat when Musca entered the spring; while she no longer expected the Zith to slice her head off and eat her at any moment, she still didn't trust her completely. She was too much the stuff of nightmares. She grabbed the small towel that had been provided and moved to the shallow water, where she would be able to stand and wash herself, trying her best not to stare at the exotically beastly woman. Some women might have been leery of baring themselves without the cover of the steamy water, but Lusa had lived most of her life without clothing, and only wore it to protect her weak human skin. She ran the wet rag across her skin, probably a little rougher than necessary, belying her anxiety over the Zith. "What's it like?" She asked while scrubbing. "Leading a herd, that is." Lusa truly did consider the Crimson Edge her herd now, and that made Cade the dominant buck. She looked at Kit, wondering what place he held in that herd. She often saw him with Kreig, and thought perhaps the two were good friends. Or lovers? She had learned never to assume during her time among humans.

[Kit]

Kit disliked Cade immediately; he was too close to the deer-girl, far too close. It took real effort not to hiss threateningly at Cade. She's mine! he wanted to scream, but he couldn't help noticing the way Lusa looked at the big man. She obviously wasn't threatened by him, and she seemed almost to enjoy his company, so if Kit treated him with hostility, he risked the deer-girl choosing the big man over him. However, he couldn't repress the snarl that twisted his features.

He took little notice of the other two women in the bath; his only concern was for Lusa. He also ignored the meaningless chirping noises that they called talking. Real animals did not need chit-chat to express their intentions, and the way the big man was looking at Lusa made it quite clear what he was thinking.

When Lusa moved to the shallow waters, Kit immediately followed, putting himself between her and the big man (and consequently, between Lusa and the flying female as well). He frowned at the roughness the deer-girl was using to dry herself. She would turn her pretty skin all red and blotchy like that. He grabbed the hand that held the cloth and made it move more slowly and softly.

Lusa was making the chirping noises at Cade, but she was looking at Kit. That could mean she had interest in both of them, but...surely she was just humoring the big man because he was big and scary, and not because she actually liked him. Kit wondered if he would have to go so far as to show the big man not to mess with him. He wondered if Lusa would be impressed if he could scare the big man off....

[Cade]

Cade's eyes had much to prey upon for two more beautiful creatures entered the pool with them and to top it off Lusa had began the process of self cleaning with no shame of her surroundings and the people with in it. It was an awesome sight for the barbarian, even one use to being surrounded by women. The half blood savage could never have enough. The boy skunk on the other hand Cade could sense was getting possessive and that brought an entertaining thought of Cade snapping the boy in two if he decided to act as cockblock.

Lusa asked the question on how he felt in leading the Crimson Edge, that was a question he had not been asked before let alone asked of it himself. To the barbarian it was a necessity to survive in this city, a group of loyal members, family unit to watch your back and vice versa. To answer the doe girl it took a few moments of thought and in the time frame Cade's eyes wondered the scenery, the curves of the zith in contrast to the fallen beside her and then back on to Lusa whose view was partially blocked by Kit.

"To be honest Lusa, I have not given much thought to it. But now that you have me on the spot I will say that it gives me purpose. A purpose that I share a like mind with a group of warriors that been collected to serve each other for financial gain and protection. Who knows what the possibilities of such dedication could bring with in the future" Cade at that very moment fantasised himself sitting upon the throne of sunbirth an ambition he has not shared with anyone but a agenda he has been making small steps towards, to be king.

"Now, I need a proper grooming" The barbarian changed the subject as he snagged a cleansing rage from the side of the pool, a wolfish grin upon his face as he ravage the ladies with his eyes and ignoring the jelious skunk for the moment. It was best not to tempt the boy to fighting for such a lost cause, for it would be a lesson hard learned by him. "Who would like to wash my back? I promise to repay the favour"