The previous day had been wonderful, if extremely hot waterwise. Sumiko couldn't resist another visit, and so at the same time as the previous day, almost as if she'd changed her diary to schedule this (she totally had), Sumiko had made her way to the baths again. Taking her time to get cleaned, she then made her way to the hot baths once again, and slid into the water with a gasp and a slight wince.

Oh right, hot!

She closed her eyes, taking the time to get used to the heat once again.

It was a chilly day, and Bayushi Tenma wanted a hot bath. And while she had a bathtub in her apartment, it didn't feel like going all the way home to take one seemed like the best idea at the moment. Especially since she'd not finished unpacking her towels or such, and her toiletries had been lost in baggage claim on the way here, so she still needed to buy new shampoo and such.

Altogether, using the public baths, which were nearby to where her meeting had been anyways, felt like a grand idea. Passing some heimin on her way from the changing rooms, Tenma sought out a hot water bath to ease her cold, sore muscles. Walking into the provided room, she wasn't surprised at all to see it occupied, she gave a bow of her head before slipping into the water; The difference between it and the showers she'd just washed herself off in was stark, to say the least, and Tenma ended up sucking in her breath as she eased herself down.

"The water is very hot samurai-sama" Sumiko commented without opening her eyes, lowering her head to in the direction of the voice to bow to them but remained otherwise still and not looking at the woman.

"Good afternoon also. The baths are wonderful right? I visited yesterday for the first time and after that I feel like visiting every day."

"They certainly seem wonderful, though this is my first time here, actually."

Finally settled after a bit of adjustment, the masked samurai gives a sigh of contentment.

"And they feel perfect to me. After walking here with that slightly chilly wind, it's exactly what I needed."

She lets that settle a bit before speaking up again.

"I am Bayushi Tenma, by the by. A member of the Soshi Magistrate school. A pleasure to meet you."

Koroshi was dozing in a corner of the baths with the back of his head on a towel and the rest of him enjoying the hot water with as much relaxation as a human could possibly experience. He looked over as the people around him began talking but was not entirely cognizant in his torpor. The Otomo was naked except for a ring carrying the seal of his family on his index finger. He turned back to stare up at the ceiling and then closed his eyes to continue enjoying the baths.

"It's certainly feeling closer to winter today than yesterday was" Sumiko nodded "I'm Susumu Sumiko, it's lovely to meet you also Bayushi-sama! Not a local to this city then?"

She opened her eyes, noting the other person starting to slowly wake up.

"Good morning" she offered him with a smile.

"No, a recent transfer, actually, Susumu-san"

Tenma had seen the man with the ring on when she'd entered the bath, though he'd almost looked like he was asleep. His looking around before closing his eyes had dispelled that notion... which was probably for the best considering the heat of the water. And she'd not been keen on needing to bother an Imperial guest in the bath in case they got too hot.

Still, the Susumu had greeted him, so maybe that would rouse him from his stupor.

"Samurai-san..." Koroshi whispered as he looked over lazily. "Come on in, the water is very warm."

He did not seem entirely aware that they were already in the water. "This humble one is Otomo Koroshi, servant of his Imperial majesty and current resident of the city. I welcome you to this wonderful world, and its wonderful people, so wonderful."

Definitely not all there.

Sumiko tilted her head.

"I'm not sure he's fully here. Maybe he thinks he's dreaming about bathing with two beautiful women?" Sumiko giggled.

"Would that count as a dream in this case?"

Tenma tilted her head curiously before looking over at Koroshi and speaking up, "Are you all right, Otomo-sama? You've not been in the water too long?"

Bayushi Tenma wrote: ↑

Wed Apr 06, 2022 8:43 pm

"Would that count as a dream in this case?"

Tenma tilted her head curiously before looking over at Koroshi and speaking up, "Are you all right, Otomo-sama? You've not been in the water too long?"

"Yes, this is Otomo-sama." Koroshi replied before opening his eyes fully to look at the pair of samurai. "Oh. Ah."

Very articulate.

"Deepest apologies, ladies. I must have dozed off there, please forgive this one if they made anything awkward or unpleasant!" He stood up in the bath suddenly but then had to hold his head as he became dizzy. "I think I will sit." And he did so.

Sumiko politely looked away as the man suddenly stood, waiting for the sound of him returning to water before looking in his direction.

"There is nothing to apologise for Otomo-sama, we were concerned for your health is all. I'm glad to see you are ok, I can understand getting comfortable here, the water is wonderful. I am Susumu Sumiko, and this is Bayushi Tenma."

For her part, Tenma actually didn't look away; She was genuinely concerned the Imperial may have been in the hot water too long, and that his symptoms were due to being overheated. She didn't move over immediately though, looking for signs that the Otomo was feeling faint or such.

"Yes, please do take care of yourself. You know what they say about spending too long in a hotspring."

"I am fine, thank you for your compassionate words!" Koroshi thumped the side of the pool with a smile. "I had a very late night and it has been weighing on me, the baths washed the mind and soul, leaving me floating. It was temporary, but I must have lost myself in the ocean of contentment. I will have to pray to Hotei for his blessings before the night is over!"

The Otomo looked them over and then smiled. "It is excellent to see the Spider and Scorpion conflicts have not gotten in the way of friendship. It is always painful to see the Empire as split into factional infighting! Especially with the recent discoveries of the Ide II, it is best if we are all together in spirit if not in person."

"In the baths there are no mons. We are just three people in very hot water and no clothing" Sumiko replied with a small chuckle "I agree though, I know my kin would prefer to work together rather than against, and there is so much more the Empire can do united. It seems your rest has refreshed you and prepared you for the evening!"

"Either way, the Scorpion would be poor hosts indeed to treat our guests with anything but the utmost courtesy, no? Unity has never been the way of the Empire except against all but the most dire threats, but that doesn't mean Courtesy and such get to be set aside for other honorable samurai, whether Spider or Imperial or otherwise."

Tenma leaned back in the water, crossing her legs as she did so. A coy smile crossed her lips under her mask.

"Such contentment from Otomo-sama surely must have to do with that courtesy and peacefulness, and not the hot bath and beautiful company, of course."

"A samurai serves their lord at all times, even unto death." Koroshi said in reply to the Spider maiden. "But perhaps we can take a moment to recognize that even in the midst of conflicts the tradition of a Winter Court keeps the hope for peace alive. All of the clans can join and sit in the baths together, safe and warm!"

He turned slightly to face the Scorpion with a huge smile, "Hotei's blessings are many, who can say!"

The Otomo laughed after that and then continued slightly more seriously. "This humble servant is pleased with the world, and would like to know if the ladies are enjoying their time on the World of Dreams. What have they busied themselves with?"

Are you sure you're an Otomo?

"Hai" Sumiko nodded "I have enjoyed my time. There is much to see and do, and not enough time for it all. I've been visiting the different shrines, as well as taking time to see the night life. However, as much as I would like to be here for a holiday, duty is still why I'm here as part of the diplomatic delegation. Still, I got to work on a program for your kin earlier today which was fun, his bot is very cool."

"For my part... it's hard to say one way or another. I've not even been on the World a week, and I've been so busy it's been hard to really form an impression. Between countless meetings and forms and unpacking... All the more reason I'm taking this opportunity to clear my mind and relax my body."

Susumu Sumiko wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 08, 2022 5:55 pm

snip

Bayushi Tenma wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 08, 2022 7:10 pm

snip

"Susumu-san worked for Miya-sama? Or one of the Seppun?" Koroshi asked with interest. "I know that Miya-sama has done some work with drones from his public profiles though they were sparse on details. What does the drone you were working on do? Oh, and I would like to mention that the Golden Frog is a most excellent sake bar, highly recommend you see it before you leave."

To the Scorpion he just offers a kind, and big, smile. "It is a samurai's duty to serve their lord, it is a samurai's pleasure to do so on a planet such as this. I did wish to ask, what is it that Bayushi-san does?"