Wash (D8, EE, Expecting but open)

[Otomo Saisei]

Saisei finishes folding his clothes and starts washing his body before dipping into the pool. He was wary to come here after what happened the last time. But one can't just bathe themselves with small buckets at the inn. He needed a true rub and scrub to get all that damage out of his body.

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida hadn't expected the Otomo to meet her at the bath again. Not after last time; Both with the spirit and with the fact he'd seemed uncomfortable with the fact he was always meeting her in a state of undress. Still, a chance to bathe before the festivities was not remiss, and it wasn't as if the baths would harm the hat in any way.

So it was that a nude Dragon woman emmerged from the changing rooms carrying a round box, "Ah, already in the bath I see. I hope I haven't kept you too long, Otomo-sama."

She could recognize the blurry shape of the Otomo, though she wouldn't be able to tell that he was hurt in any way from here.

[Otomo Saisei]

"Nai...Ugh!" The Otomo groans as the blood on his nose starts to run again from recent wounds. He diverts his eyes to the ceiling and turns slightly to the side, so propriety is not flashing around as he finishes the last rinse of water before going into the pool proper.

"Kitsuki-san!" He says after a moment, "Hai, I will just finish the soaping and get into the pool again. I confess I have been somewhat tense to do so. How has Inari-kami treated you today?"

[Kitsuki Naida]

"He has."

She set the box on a towel before walking over to a place to wash off, sitting down near a bucket.

"As to the other part, no need to worry now; I'm here to protect you. Besides, it seems like all the restless spirits made their way out of the village at this point. I think."

She didn't sound the most sure, but she didn't sound doubtful either.

[Otomo Saisei]

He chuckles, "I have recovered a bit to spook another ghost, if needed. Although I am not sure I will survive the damage."

Respecting her privacy, the Otomo lifts himself avoiding to look at her gets to the edge of the pool. He says, "Thank you for caring for me, once again."

Then, slowly gets his body into the warm waters.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"It's the least I could do."

Sitting, Naida started rinsing herself off, starting low as she spoke.

"So the box has the hat you wanted me to make; It came out well, but if it's not up to the standards you want for your purposes, I can understand that."

[Otomo Saisei]

"Oh!" He blinks a bit and takes his eyes to the box, moving his body to the edge of the pool to look at it. "Now I am rather curious. I would like to see it, yet I believe I am too wet to handle the package and damage it. Also, you can call me by my chosen name, if you would like. I don't mind being treated informally with someone that cares for me, as you show."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Mmmm."

Finishing rinsing off, Naida stood and grabbed her towel. Drying her hands off thoroughly she walked over to the box, "I suppose I can show it to you and put it in the changing room if you're satisfied with how it looks."

Squatting down facing away from him towards the box, she opened it carefully and pulled out a hat, turning around and holding it out.



"I like how vibrant and solid it turned out; This hat will be able to be dropped or blown away and survive unscathed. But it's... not as artful as I would have liked, I guess? Feels more rustic than I was going for."\

The hat was simple enough, it was true, though the silk ribbon and preserved flowers really did add a lot of color.

[Otomo Saisei]

He holds his nose again as Naida lowers herself to get the hat. Then he focuses at the hat. The hat, and nothing else.

Difficult as it would seem, the hat was quite adequate to provide cover for focus. The Otomo inclines his head a bit to find details and nods, "It could be dropped, or blown, and would go unscathed... I like it. The colors are very bright, too. It looks amazing. I commend Kitsuki-san for her art. It will be a most useful and elegant hat. A fine gift, indeed."

The Otomo provides a bow with his head from the edge of the pool.

[Kitsuki Naida]

"The brim on the inside is adjustable, just in case. If it needs anything else though, don't hesitate to tell me before I leave town and such. I want it to have function as well as form. ...it was what you were expecting then?"

Naida seemed... nervous? Yes, that was the best word for it. Unsure possibly.

[Otomo Saisei]

He nods again, reassuring, "It is beyond perfection. The adjustable brim even more so. Sturdy as it is, it may be something to pass over generations. I do not think Kitsuki-san needs to worry further."

[Kitsuki Naida]

"Oh. ..."

She seemed to think for a moment before speaking again softly.

"...I suppose I must seem odd, getting the ceremony of gift giving backwards like this, refusing to give the gift twice before acquiescing. I shan't refuse a third time either way, Saisei-sama."

[Otomo Saisei]

He chuckles, "I ask permission to use that argument when I play the ceremony with the intended receiver. Not just a standard commission, even the artist requested a thorough explanation before letting it go."

[Kitsuki Naida]

That got a smile out of her and she seemed to relax.

"You certainly have my permission for that. For now, I'll put it back in the hat box for you and put it in the changing room. Keep the water warm for me, neh?"

Naida only realized she probably shouldn't have said that last thing right after she said it, but she kept it light and decided to act baturally as she turned back to put the hat back.

[Otomo Saisei]

"Hai!" He bows as a soldier and, playfully, puts his palms over the water surface while closing his eyes in a mantra. "Warm, warm, warm. Don't get cold, no. Warm."

[Kitsuki Naida]

Naida blushed slightly as she buckled the lacquered box closed, standing and disappearing with it into the changing room. It was only a few moments before she walked out, walking over to the water and slipping in.

"...it seems to have worked. Thank you~"