𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐦𝐚𝐧 (𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧/𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬)

[blackfire]

CHARACTERS: Itachi and various.
LOCATION: The Simulation Room, the sunlight room, the kitchens.
DATE: post-mission and onwards.
CONTENT: mostly just chillin'.
WARNINGS: The usual gamut - PTSD abounds. Casual nudity in the hotsprings prompt. Two open starters, custom starters on request.

HOTSPRINGS (OTA)

（ despite a longstanding dislike of the station's illusory venues, he has chosen to load a new program into the simulation room — an onsen. it's based on an area he frequented in his travels, a place that eased the worst of his aches before death claimed him. the clack of a shishi-odoshi sets the ambiance, and there is the distant sound of crickets and the lull of burbling water. the sky overhead is the jewelled dark of a moonless night, the stars providing the only light by which to see.

he is quite obviously and comfortably naked, scars thrown into sharp relief. the worst of them is a massive, still-healing mark that curls over his shoulder and leaves a jagged swath of scar tissue down past the jut of one elegant collarbone — with it being considerably uglier should they happen to catch a glimpse of his back. burn scars wind their way up his right arm and terminate at mid-bicep. still — he is as unselfconscious of the injuries echoed in the permanence of his skin as only a man accustomed to viewing his body as a tool can be.

regardless of who joins him, no amount of nudity will seem to trouble him at all. instead — ）

Would you care to join me?

（ there are showers nearby — and failing to take one before one ventures into the water will earn a barely perceptible upward twitch of one eyebrow (but no commentary — he's distressingly accustomed to a lack of proper onsen etiquette these days) but he will otherwise welcome them with a gesture of his hand. ）

KITCHENS (OTA)

（ he is in the kitchens, tidying up after the evening meal. he's got a towel slung over one shoulder, and is washing dishes in peaceable silence, rinsing them in the sink and then setting them to dry.

if he becomes aware another person has entered the kitchens — ）

Please pass me that towel.

（ he points without looking to a neatly folded towel that's folded on the countertop that just happens to be to the near right of where your character is standing. help or nah? ）

𝐎𝐑

（ he's in the process of making a pot of soup. it's obviously intended to be communal, as there the dish is far too large for any one man. those that might recognize the cuisine might realize it's sanpeijiru, a salmon soup with root vegetables. hearty, comforting, hot. itachi is not an especially talented cook, but what he makes is edible and serviceable, and should anyone venture into the kitchen in search of food during this time, he will wordlessly pass them a bowl of it. ）

BLUE (INFIRMARIES)

（ he has pieced together as much of the final moments before the tower's explosion as he could, given a lack of communication with blue. seeing the other man's post on the network filled in the missing pieces, and when blue wakes in the infirmary after his latest round of intravenous vitamins, itachi is sitting at his bedside. his eyes are dark, expression set. ）

Blue.

Comments

[firstroar]

[this ceiling is getting far too familiar. Blue stares at it for a beat before his name processes and he turns his head.]

...Itachi. [his voice is quiet and hoarse.] You...here, you're...were you hurt, too...?

[blackfire]

No.

（ nothing to speak of. he was not in the thick of the fight the way that some of the others are.

he tilts his head faintly. ）

How are you feeling?

[firstroar]

[lucky to be alive, he thinks, his throat tight. he swallows, exhales, then offers:] I imagine...medicine is doing much...to ease the pain. But it's still strong. In me.

Yzak...Rey... They're the only reason...I'm alive.

HOT SPRINGS ♨︎

[tochnyy]

[ mal's not a stranger to nudity; a dry or wet sauna is enjoyed best nude in the winter before a quick dunk in a lake or roll in the snow.

ravkans down care too much about nudity, between or across the sexes. a body is just a body, there is no need to make a fuss.

he doesn't know the etiquette but the showers are there and mal's come from the training room; so after he strips bare, he showers off the sweat before joining itachi in the steaming water. he lets out a sigh, pleased the way the warmth soothes sore muscles that had been overworked on the mission.

mal's a canvas of scars himself; healed bullet wounds on his shoulder and side, scratch marks along his back that look like they were made by a large animal. there's smaller ones too from brawls, falls or growing up in the countryside and then joining the army. thanks to the technology of e-23b and a few others, the freshest bullet shaped wound on mal's left side looks like it's entering the last stages of healing over; the skin's pink but wounds closed. they're both littered in battle scars but mal figures neither of them is much for comparing.

he leans against the stone they're sitting against. ] This makes me miss the saunas back home. Any chance there's something cold to jump into after the heat?

[blackfire]

（ he's seen mal shirtless on enough occasions while sparring that the scars no longer draw the eye. he simply gives the man an acknowledging nod, and at the statement about craving the cold he lifts a hand to wave vaguely in the direction of his earpiece. ）

You could modify the simulation if you wished. It is open source.

（ he is a man of konoha, through and through. it rarely snowed there, save in the mountains, and he had little tolerance for the cold — though he endured it when needed without complaint. ）

[tochnyy]

[ it takes a moment for mal to realize what he's motioning at. he still forgets that the ear pieces are with them all the time, hasn't taken his off much since he'd come to the station. ] This is your set up.

If there's no cold pools or snow, I'll have to create a sauna from back home to compare. [ he rolls his shoulders back, reaches up to rub at the right one with his left hand. ] This is nice though. After no water at all.

hot springs ayyyy;

[choicely]

[ Yennefer's relationship to these particular rooms is more rooted in curiosity than apprehension — even if she cannot fully comprehend the extent of the technology being used to create these illusions, practically on the level with even the most accomplished sorcerer within the Brotherhood, that doesn't mean she isn't willing to let herself accept them to a certain extent.

It also doesn't stop her from taking advantage of this new environment, as she first steps into the room after hearing of its changed setting wearing little more than a robe loosely belted around her waist, her hair swept up loosely and pinned at the back of her head.

The darkness within, illumination provided by starlight only, means that her eyes require an additional moment to adjust — which also keeps her from seeing the springs' only other occupant until she is standing right at the edge of the water, having dropped her robe unceremoniously in a puddle of fabric around her feet. ]

Does all of this require an invitation? [ She doesn't balk at his nakedness, and certainly doesn't shy away beneath his gaze, carefully stepping down into the water and then shifting forward until only the tops of her shoulders are visible. ] Or are you merely aiming for gallantry?

[blackfire]

It's only polite.

（ he says that with a faint incline of his head, though his expression remains inscrutable. yennefer's nakedness does not trouble him any more than his does her — but then, they are both people who have developed a certain view of themselves, aren't they? she is an impossibly beautiful woman, and it would be foolish to overlook that. beauty has a way of opening doors that remained closed against all else — seduction was a little-used tactic among the anbu, but it was an area in which they were all trained. it just so happened that assassination often did the job seduction couldn't.

there is danger in glamour. ）

This is a place known to me in my world. Perhaps the invitation is meant for those with whom I would willingly share it.

cw: fantasy... ableism? this canon is2g

[choicely]

Well, you needn't stand on any ceremony with me.

[ She very nearly makes a quip about how it likely even holds less weight when they're both this stripped down to even less than bare essentials, but refrains; it might still be apparent judging by the brief flicker of mirth in her gaze, the slight pursing in her mouth that allows her to stifle the fuller breadth of a smile.

She knows exactly how she looks — it's the advantage of a magic that removed everything that could be perceived as a flaw from her person, transforming her twisted spine into one without any distorted curvature. The only two things she had insisted the enchanter leave behind were the color of her eyes — a distinct violet, a deep shade possessed by few others — and the silverlight scars on the insides of her wrists, more of a reminder to herself than a signal to anyone else. Such beauty she has been given to use to her advantage, but it can also be a disadvantage; she typically discards the compliments and the surface qualities they're attributed to, especially when they're given by few who have actually seen her beneath the attractive veneer. ]

What if someone had come in who you didn't much care for? [ She sweeps her arms back and forth across the surface of the water, less in an attempt to tread and more simply to feel the sensation of it sluicing over her skin. ]

Hot springs

[spacedisaster]

[ Peter wandered into the simulation room simply out of pure curiosity. Whatever he had been expecting to find, hot springs weren't it. It's a nice place, calming, and he could use calming right now. He is so distracted looking at the scenery that he almost jumps a foot in the air when Itachi speaks, not having noticed him before. 

The scars are the first thing Pete notices when his eyes fall on Itachi, but he doesn't comment on them. He's got an array of old scars on him as well, some old, some acquired during orb missions, like the bite mark on his left shoulder courtesy of a ghoul trying to eat him. Most of his teammates, and the Ravagers, have them as well, and it's not something he ever brings up. ]

Ehm....suuure. [ He says that carefully, as if he is, in fact, very far away from sure. It's not as if he minds the nudity, Drax walks around shirtless all the time. It's only that he usually knows the person he is getting naked with a bit better. ] I'll be right back.

[ He disappears from view to get rid of his clothes and then comes back naked, sans a white towel wrapped around his middle. Peter's just more comfortable that way. He's never been in an onsen before, but he's gone to public pools and he's aware that it is only polite to use the shower before getting into the water. With that done, he moves closer to the pool, his wet hair already curling due to the heat and humidity, but stops short of getting inside. ]

Are there rules or something about this place that I should know? A time limit...? [ An honest question here, because he's got no idea, and nowadays, Peter is too tired to handle more arguments with people. ]

[blackfire]

It's a simulation. The only rules are our own.

（ which basically means, go nuts peter. he doesn't particularly care. ）

[spacedisaster]

Well, yes, but...it's your simulation.

[ And believe it or not, he doesn't want to ruin Itachi's fun. For a wide definition of fun, that's it. This place seems more on the side of relaxing, and frankly, Peter could use some of that too. 

He eyes the pool but before getting in, he walks towards where he lefts his things once again. Peter fishes his Zune out from inside one of his pockets, and a small portable speaker from a different one, and puts on a playlist of the calm vibes variety. 

As the first notes of Landslide fill the air, Peter gets into the water and lets out a soft, happy sigh at the warmth. ]

♨️ - hmmmm after their network chat

[homeostatic]

( hearing of the change in sim setting brought McCoy around, generally curious to see what his fellow orbers have dreamt up in the space. the hot springs are a welcome find, even if Itachi-- barely visible at first until his eyes adjust --slightly startles him with the invitation.

alright, when in Rome.

he takes a moment getting in, the sudden change of temperature almost stinging in his extremities even after that hot shower, pinpricks scoring up his feet, his hands, his arms. it's another moment further before it translates into soothing heat, the tension in his frame easing out on the end of a long sigh. )

Something from home?

[blackfire]

Yes. The name of my country translates to the 'Land of Fire'. We have many volcanoes, and hundreds of hotsprings throughout our nation.

（ he has not spoken much on his home to mccoy, beyond necessary information geared towards necessity for treatment. but itachi does look very much at home amongst the curling steam, arms draped casually along the stone. ）

It is not quite the same. The mind is aware of the falsehood of the simulation. But the body can be tricked.

[homeostatic]

( McCoy quietly absorbs what info Itachi is willing to give, watching him with polite interest. True, there's a certain ease to the young man's posture, and Leonard suddenly hopes he is as relaxed as he seems, that even as he knows it's not strictly "real", he still finds some benefit in the bubbling water, the deep night, the twinkling starlight. )

So don't think too hard about it, ( he sums up, eyes drifting almost closed, sinking to his shoulders in the spring. )

kitchens

[naloxone]

[ it's late in the evening by the time marta ambles in, stifling a loud, drawn out yawn with the back of her hand. days like these, after a long shift in the infirmary, her body runs mostly on auto-pilot. it's always a toss-up what the body will seek out first: sleep or food. this evening, it seems the latter has won out.

she perks up at both the sight of someone familiar at the stove, and the enticing scent wafting off from whatever it is he's working on. she comes up to lean against the counter, body heavily sliding itself into one of the bar stools available there. ]

Smells good.

[blackfire]

Salmon.

（ not fresh, and not necessarily the most appetizing parts of the fish, but he doubts she's one to be squeamish about it. he puts a bowl down near her elbow, and a spoon to accompany it. ）

Would you like tea?

[naloxone]

[ once the bowl is placed within her reach she is pivoting towards it, not at all shy about expressing her interest. fish wasn't all that common in her household, as seafood in general tends to be more on the pricier side of things, but the few times they did indulge marta had found salmon to be one of her favorites. she isn't a picky eater by any means, so while the flavors are not ones she's had before, she swallows each spoonful down like she might any one of her mother's own stews. ]

Do you have any decaf? [ she had promised kovacs to get some sleep when she could, and with how heavy her body felt at the moment she's certain as soon as her head hits a pillow she would be out like a light. best not to compromise that. ]

hotsprings™

[shumi]

( what a treat.

kakashi can barely remember the last time he visited an onsen, so to see one in his favorite area aboard the ship is a pleasant surprise (and a wonderful treat). he does feel a little overdressed though. if he had received prior notice, he would have at least brought a towel. )

What's the occasion? ( unlike him, kakashi is almost certain that itachi isn't particularly fond of the simulation room, so it's a bit of a rare sighting to see his kouhai so comfortably settled into the depths of the heated bath. ) Did you need to get a kink out of your back?

( just some light humor. )

thotsprings™

[blackfire]

（ he watches kakashi with dark eyes, and reaches for the towel he'd left folded neatly on a rock, wiping sweat and steam from his face. ）

Do I need an occasion, Kakashi?

（ maybe he's just here because he enjoys it, smh!! ）

[shumi]

Probably not, ( he begins the tedious process of removing his clothing, starting with his sneakers and then his sweater. ) if you were someone else.

( but then again, maybe itachi decided to indulge himself with an onsen in the middle of the simulation room on a whim. he has realized that he doesn't know the man in front of him very well, outside of whatever past impressions he had of him when he was younger. )

Of course I could be wrong. ( folding his shirt and setting it off to the side along with his shoes, he removes what remains of his attire, adding them to the neat pile. he can't help the smile that teases his lips behind his mask at the thought of how the rest of the crew may react to the sudden presence of a hot springs. ) Maybe you do this habitually and I've only chanced upon it now.

( he joins him in the bath then, feeling his muscles start to relax in natural response to the familiar heat. releasing a content sigh, he sinks deeper into the water. it would probably be more comfortable if he removed his headband and mask but he left them on nonetheless. )

I think it's been several years since I last went to an onsen, so this is nice.

kitchen

[savingthrows]

[ She passes the towel.

with a little too much gusto, though. Instead of moving through the air casually and landing next to Itachi as if lobbed, the towel instead goes flying.

Someone misjudged. Eleven has the decency to sound sheepish at least. ]

Oops.

[ Well. Perhaps not that sheepish. She does immediately move to fetch the towel, at least. ]

I can help.

[blackfire]

Eleven.

（ as greetings go, it's perhaps still a bit neutral. but he is not unfond of the girl, evident in the way he cants his head in her direction. he says nothing of the towel, simply listening for her footsteps as she goes to retrieve it. ）

Would you prefer to wash, dry, or put dishes away?

splish splash they were taking a bath

[garbagepilot]

[Her intention in coming to the simulation room had been to call up the exact jungle on Ajan Kloss that the Resistance had hidden itself away in, a longing for something like the last thing that felt like home settled on her heart, a need to feel warm after the coldness of the Arch has left her feeling a little frozen.

And someone had let slip that it might be possible to fly the Falcon in here, so. There had been that hope, too.

But when she does step inside there's no question that she doesn't mind the fact that there's been a change of plans. The setting is no less comforting than Ajan Kloss, certainly just as beautiful, and any consideration she might have had for changing things is easy enough to dismiss.

When Itachi speaks up it only startles her a little, and when she sees that he's so relaxed in water with what looks to be steam curling over the surface there is an immediate desire to experience something so decadent.

She's just come from a shower, hair still a little damp and pulled up into a single bun with curls escaped that drip water onto her shoulders. The idea of real water to wash in is novel enough for someone who had spent an entire lifetime with only a 'fresher to get clean, but an entire pool of hot water seems like such an over the top indulgence that she's quick to nod and lean down to start pulling off her boots.]

This is something from your home?

long about Saturday night

[blackfire]

Yes. ( a desert dweller, he recalls. she may not know much about onsens themselves, so — ) A natural hotspring, heated by geothermal energies. My home is host to many volcanoes, so such things are common there.

( he does not seem troubled, though he does look away for politeness' sake as rey undresses, one hand reaching up idly to muss at his unbound hair. )