(no subject)

[reparo]

WHO: Hermione Granger & her magical pack of pixies (aka you)
WHEN: During Silent Night
WHERE: the Inn & surroundings
WHAT: can i interest you in some slice of life in these trying times? catch-all and open to all who want some cute form of interaction (warning: i may bite you in the feels) with Hermione before the new arc starts; bring on the magical weeds too
WARNINGS: will add if necessary


[ooc: please feel free to to either PM me or reach me on plurk/discord if you want a separate starter, or throw your own in here. get in losers, we're doing shenanigans.]

Comments

i. hark how the balls

[reparo]

On any given night at random, you may find Hermione Granger sunk to her neck in a hot spring, because as much as she tries to be a Woman of Culture, she just wants a hot soak. Yes, she's heard the rumours that there are healing properties to the cold waters, but no she is not going to plunge herself into their icy depths, are you insane?

Her clothes are folded nicely by the edge of the pool, but you may notice (or may not) that her wand remains on her person, tucked into her hair which now lives as an unsightly nest of curls at the top of her head.

Most important question: is she following tradition and soaking in her birthday suit? No, of course not, you lunatics. She has shame - oodles and caboodles of it - and has fashioned herself a bathing suit of sorts out of a nightgown she used in Serthica. It's black and very much not see through, but at least the sleeves have been cut off because she doesn't hate all fun.

Pester away.

[blackscales]

Wrathion has been doing his best to enjoy the surroundings here, but so far they have been far less relaxing than he might like. The hot springs have a headless ghost, the indoor areas have ghosts who like pranks, at night everyone is locked and some more chaotic ghost battles happen outside. There are also rumours of ghosts at night who cause nightmares or some such thing.

All in all, the collection of things going on makes it difficult to relax. Still, he is doing his best. Anduin has, notably, been mentioning his... inability to unwind. Obviously, this requires practice. He is here to practice.

Hermione is also here.

Wrathion has his hair tied up into a somewhat loose bun, a towel looped over one arm and a robe loosely fastened about himself. The wind is cold, and his eyes shoot up toward the sky for a moment as a particularly icy gust hits -- as if he might glower the weather into improving. After a few seconds, they land on the other inhabitant of the springs thoughtfully.

"Hermione," he greets. "I have some tailoring supplies with me from Serthica."

With which to tailor things. Hermione had been experimenting with fashion, last they met. This seems as good a time as any to continue.

[reparo]

He has chosen such a chill friend to unwind with, all in all. Because Hermione does not stiffen at the sound from nearby, darting a glance down to make sure she's properly covered where she feels necessary to be covered. She's definitely not also looking over her shoulder with dread, following the footsteps, because she wants to make sure it's neither a ghost nor one of the worldly patrons that have her teeth on edge.

So she spots Wrathion, decked in some posh robe that's barely fastened enough to keep him warm against the chill in the air.

Right. She's just over here, vibing, clearly.

"Aha - and?" Please by all means continue that train of thought, and do not take your bathrobe off.

[blackscales]

Unaware of her concerns, Wrathion leans to set down his towel by the waters edge and begins to do just that. The robe is being untied, Hermione. Soon, more skin will be exposed.

"I thought I might put them to good use. Is there something I could make you? I recall you did, eventually, buy some clothes in Serthica."

Yet still, perhaps there is something more she requires? He isn't certain how much she actually bought, in the end. Just the one outfit? Something more?

[reparo]

There's a ringing in her ears as she realises what is happening, and she whips her head around so fast she nearly gets seasick. He's taking off his robe. And he, Man of Culture that he is, is probably not wearing a ridiculous bathing suit. If his world even has bathing suits.

Don't think about whether they swim naked!

"Sounds great!" she says, having heard absolutely not a single word of what he just said. Eyes forward, shoulders tense, she waits for the inevitable sounds of someone getting into the hot springs with her.

[chosenbylight]

Anduin has taken to spending a certain amount of time in the hotsprings over the past month, himself. He still can't quite be certain whether it's the warmth of the water or whether there really are healing properties, but he feels a lot better for a few hours or two when he gets out -- no stiffness or aching in any of his joints. He hasn't wanted to push himself, but it's almost like he's a real teenager again, for a little while at least.

He's been doing his best to relax here, which has been less difficult for him than for his... Roommate. The ghosts don't bother him all that much, and compared to some of the rest of the places they've been, this is honestly rather nice. He's going to miss this hotspring once they move on, that's for certain.

Making his way down to the water, Anduin himself is wrapped in a robe from the inn. He has a towel draped over his arm and his hair is tied up in a looped ponytail bun. He's just toeing off his slippers when he notices Hermione in the water, and a true smile lights itself across his face.

"These are certainly better circumstances to find ourselves in than when last we met," he says, by way of greeting.

[reparo]

Take two: maybe if she comes here closer to the end of the day and before the curfew, she won't run into anyone. Especially not someone who will be respecting the unwritten rules of the hot springs and a. bathe naked and b. note that she isn't. So she is self-conscious, sue her.

She's got scars she doesn't want to explain to people, and as much as she harpies on about how young people should be allowed to express themselves physically, obviously that doesn't apply to her. She doesn't want to be seen naked, not unless it counts. Hence, the makeshift bathing suit, which again is really just a black shift she used to wear under her dresses in Serthica, covering her from chest to mid-knee.

At nearly seven in the evening, with all duties put to rest, she finds the hot springs empty and quiet and sinks into the warm water with a happy little sigh. It lasts exactly twenty minutes, but it's long enough for Hermione to lean back against the edge and doze off a little, all her aches and muscle pains fading to nothing.

It's the voice that breaks her out of her catnap, and she opens her eyes to find

just

shoulders. So broad. Muscled. Chest. Skin.

Again, why? They're both unfairly handsome and she is only human, for heaven's sake. Have mercy.

"Anduin," she greets, her voice squeaking out. She lowers her gaze deliberately to the water, just to not accidentally also see him in all his full glory. (Even the half glory is intimidating, honestly.)

"Wasn't expecting anyone would come this late..."

[chosenbylight]

Ah.

Anduin turns away for a moment at that comment, enough so that he doesn't catch her own own self-consciousness. Not when he is too busy being self-conscious himself.

"I -- yes," he says, a bit awkwardly, as he moves to set down his towel and then reaches to untie his robe. "I have made it a habit of coming to the hotsprings a bit later than usual. To avoid the crowds."

To avoid the questions. Anduin has scars himself. It happens, when one has almost every bone broken in your body. The healers had done their best, and he had survived the ordeal. But even the Prophet Velen had only been able to do so much. He would prefer... Not to be stared at, if possible.

[reparo]

The lowered gaze lasts precisely three seconds before she glances up and witnesses him with his back to her, clearly untying his robe. She clears her throat, letting her head lean back against the edge of the spring again and closing her eyes.

"Yes, me too," she admits. The irony, really. "Can you tell me when you're in? I don't mean to make you feel unwelcome, please do come in and all, but I...have yet to join in on the whole doing this part naked."

It's important to clarify that it's not like she's bothered by his company at all, because Wrathion had misunderstood her that way too. And clearly they're both familiar with inns with hot springs.

[song_of_fire]

Nakedness didn't bother Daenerys. She was used to such things, especially with women. Stripping from her leathers, she slipped into the water, soaking in the heat. There was a small sigh of relief than of disappointment. It wasn't as warm as she preferred, but it would serve to ease her nerves.

The young witch seemed less comfortable with such things, having fashioned some sort of bathing suit. Perhaps Daenaery's current state would be uncomfortable? The idea never crossed her mind and she could only smile a bit shyly, running her hand over her silver hair, now grown to a pixie cut.

"How are you?

[reparo]

Take three: she's getting used to it. People use these springs naked, and Hermione does not, and that is that. If anyone has something to say about why she's continuing to wear her shift, who isn't actually employed by the inn and with power to ban her from using the hot springs, she'll carry on as she is.

For her own sense of calm, she closes her eyes every time she hears someone else approach now, and only opens when she has heard the splashing of water long enough to think they're in. Or whenever they speak, which in this case Danaerys does. Thank god.

"Oh - hello," she greets, opening her eyes and directing a smile her way. "Honestly, better now that I've been here a while, but otherwise exhausted." She gestures to her own head, tilting her head with curiosity. "Your hair..." The underlying question is what happened to it.

[song_of_fire]

Dany can only assume that Hermione is relaxing when she slips into the water. Given the heat and steam, what else could it be but basking? While it's not hot enough to Dany's tastes, she still manages to feel the tension seep from her limbs and the long journeys ease away from her muscles.

For a moment, they could at least enjoy a moment of peace before their trek began again, as it always seemed to.

She was pleased to feel more than fuzz under her fingers. "It was burned off when I brought here. Now it is finally growing back. I wonder what will happen first, if it grows long enough to braid or we're sent home?"

[reparo]

Some basking is happening now; there's a more relaxed air to her, after all those close brushes with people she both found attractive and tried very hard to not notice they were naked in the hot springs. It's not that she thinks Dany isn't beautiful (obviously, she is), but there's no tension there - this is a safe space.

"God, I hope it doesn't last that long. What would it be, at least a year for it to be long enough to braid?" Well, that might be likely, if they consider how everything's been happening so far. "But...what would you rather?"

ii. sweet silver wells

[reparo]

Hermione has taken up a job at the Inn of mending broken clothes and bedsheets, and knows better than to speak to the ghosts of this world by now. It's been a while since the dead have tormented her, her malaise inherited from the forray into the Ke-Waicai volcano having fades at some point, but the lessons have been learnt.

If she is found near a sealed off well, because curiosity gets the best of her and she's trying to figure out what the hell is haunting this place, she will scramble to sit and pretend to be sewing a tear in a tablecloth as soon as she hears footsteps.

Pester her 2.0.

[wooden_one]

Chu Wanning had helped repair wards. It was something he was good at and could do efficiently. By the time he was done, he supposed he might rest. Except, that wasn't what happened.

Somehow or another, he found himself helping with little odd jobs. No one had asked him outright but he just sort-of offered (sort of because he just took things off people's hands when he saw they had a lot to do).

Which was why he found himself taking in freshly washed laundry for mending. He'd dried them and everything too.

"Here." He handed a shirt that he was told needed mending. There was a stain in it though, that doesn't appear to have come in the wash. It might be because his idea of doing laundry is just swirling things in water before taking them out.

legend

[reparo]

She doesn't expect company, but true to form, she's sat down as soon as she heard footsteps coming her way and brought her assortment of pillow covers and shirts out in her lap to mend.

Is she mending them by needle and thread? No, for the most part she finds herself a secluded room and reparos every one with magic, because she's not going to actually play along. It's a cover, honestly.

So, when the shirt gets dropped in her lap, outside, by someone wearing a talisman, she thinks ah, one of the travellers, like me. And mends the tear with magic, without even thinking it.

Some wizards that taught Hermione before used to say that the more you do a spell, the less you end up needing your wand or even the verbal spell for it. There are a few things she can do wandlessly by now: light the way, mend broken things, unlock doors. The shirt mends itself easily enough, and she holds it out before noticing the stain.

"You might need to scrub that a little with soap."

[wooden_one]

He's fascinated to watch the tear close up. How practical! On instinct, he tries to not appear interested but even so it's not hard to notice it.

He sits down and takes the shirt back, running a hand over where the tear had been. His mind starts turning. He wonders if such a thing could be replicated with cultivation? He wonders if anyone could learn, if it could be used on the Holy Night Guardians back home?

He frowns because he'd literally just washed this shirt? It was already clean, wasn't it?

"...I know how to do laundry." It sounds a little huffy, which it sort of is. Chu Wanning is the sort of person who doesn't like making mistakes or being perceived as not knowing how to do things. He's come to find he's fine not knowing things from other worlds but something as simple as laundry? Everyone knows how to do laundry!

Is what he thinks but then he starts folding the shirt in his hands and he clearly has no idea what he's doing as he does a poor job of it. He doesn't crumple it, but it's clear that his idea of folding is to make the shirt take up as little space as possible without any real thought put into how it might cause creases or whether it'd actually be able to be put away neatly.

iii. all seem to say

[reparo]

A cup of tea is set before you one evening, if it catches you near the Inn's dining area. Hermione is not working - she is deliberately trying to avoid being pulled into the other guests' drinking games, because she doesn't want to inherit another dead hand thank you - so this is done out of kindness rather than duty.

Your cup placed before you, she fills one more for herself and takes a seat.

"I hope this is alright - it's an interesting place, isn't it?"

iv. throw cares away

[reparo]

Choose your warrior, get a starter.

it must be pussy willow; i don't make the law

[faceblocker]

what do we even do with pussy willow

[reparo]

She managed to avoid the tricky little weeds hanging about the inn for this long, and today is finally her unlucky day. This is what she gets for being distracted with perusing her notes on this place while walking; she walks right into a bushel of pussy willow, the fluffy buds smacking her right in the forehead.

Actually does the very regrettably British thing of saying: "Oh, sorry," to the plant, before she notices that it's a plant.

The ghosts chattering by the plant, however, find this delightful.

"Lovely young lady, so polite to apologise to the plants, ohohoh! Lady, be polite, I have a favour to ask!"

[faceblocker]

Vi is minding her own business carrying in an obscene amount of firewood, with the assistance of some folded up sheets tied over one shoulder, when she spots a scene out of the corner of her eye that strikes a familiar little chord. It looks like the kind of predicament that Caitlyn could have found herself in because of her tunnel vision. Even the posh accent's similar, which should rub Vi the wrong way, but instead there's an instinctive leaning towards amusement.

Personally, she can't stand to be around the ghosts, and she can tell by the girl's posture that she's none too pleased about them, either. Vi may be doing some chores, but that's just because she'd been going stir crazy otherwise. So, because she's a damn hero ready to fall on a sword, she'll abandon the wood off to the side with a little thump and slide up beside Hermione, hands already back in her coat pockets.

"I'll do it. Need something else to do, anyway."

i'm so very late so feel free to ignore but winter dandelions please

[growlies]

gee i wonder how we'll wreck each other emotionally this time

[reparo]

[ It's a stupid wish, she knows. She's stumbled upon a dandelion walking back inside, from one of her walks (to snoop); caught it poking its head out and almost missed it. ]

Curious little thing, aren't you?

[ Her mistake is to pick it up. Immediately the thoughts are invasive - make a wish make a wish makeawish - and she sucks in a breath and blurts out: ] I wish to remember. [ And as she turns, she blows, scattering the dandelione towards the inner patio and straight into Red's face. ]

Oh my god, sorry!

i have no idea what you mean >>"

[growlies]

( Red manages to catch the wish given in an entirely familiar voice, and she is about to turn to Hermione to say hello, to catch up, to see how she's been, to stuff- Then there's a lot of dandelion seed in her face, and she sneezes, burying her face in her elbow a second afterward. )

It's okay. ( She wrinkles her nose, brushes at her face, and then walks over to Hermione with a tiny smile that falls a second later: ) ...what do you wish to remember?

( No use pretending like she didn't hear - Red's too blunt for that anyway. )