The Onsen, Sunday Morning

[wrongkindofsith]

Cara had been feeling the effects of yesterday's battle when she'd woken this morning, and while she could have just ignored it and kept going without too much fuss, she saw no reason why she needed to when the Onsen was right there. She'd even managed to convince Kahlan and Richard to join her without too much resistance (mostly Richard's) on their part.

Which meant she had plenty of patience to ignore deal with the staff when they tried bringing up Richard and Kahlan's (non-existent) bathing attire.

She sank into the water with a grateful sigh. She'd needed this.

[OOC: mostly for me, myself and I.]

Comments

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

Kahlan hadn't exactly been hard to convince largely because unlike some people, she still bathing in convenient, not particularly warm, lakes and streams, or a lukewarm tub if they were lucky enough to find an inn.

Plus, after all Cara's talk of proper baths she was curious to see what exactly she'd do in one, which so far seemed to be submerging herself as completely as possible.

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

Richard, meanwhile, was trying to decide whether to focus on Kahlan or the ceiling, since Cara had managed to leave a few crucial things out when she'd suggested this. When she came up for air he was going to mention that he would have been just fine talking through a screen of some sort.

[wrongkindofsith]

Cara hadn't left them out on purpose, she'd just kind of managed to forget that Richard got all weird about this kind of thing, even when it was just a bath.

... so maybe it was a little accidentally on purpose. But again, it was just a bath.

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

Kahlan maybe thought this was a little hilarious in a way she wouldn't have when Cara first started travelling with them.

"You look comfortable." Three guesses which of them it was directed to.

[wrongkindofsith]

Cara leant back against the side of the tub, stretching. "It's not like there's anything to be uncomfortable about," she said, glancing at Richard who, yes, was currently watching the ceiling with great fascination.

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

Richard took his attention off the ceiling long enough to glare at Cara to little effect. "Oh, no, nothing at all."

It was so much easier to deal with her when she was like this if at least one of them was wearing clothes.

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

Kahlan had absolutely no problems splashing them both with water, because dignity, what's that? "Play nice," she ordered, though she lacked a certain authority right now.

"It's good to see you so relaxed, Cara." Not like the last time they'd visited was what she didn't say.

[wrongkindofsith]

She didn't have to say it for Cara to pick up on, and wilfully ignore the subtext, because she wasn't thinking about that, not if she could help it this week.

"I'll wash your hair," she said, unsubtly changing the subject. "It's easier than trying it yourself."

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

Cara wasn't fooling anyone, but she also wasn't punching anyone, so Kahlan was going to take what she could get and moved in front of her. "If you say so."

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

And Richard was back to examining the ceiling, regardless (and maybe partly because) of the amusement it was causing Cara.

[wrongkindofsith]

Cara focused on working the tangles out of Kahlan's hair. "When was the last time you washed this properly? It feels drier than usual."

Not that she put a lot of time into thinking about Kahlan's hair or anything.

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

"Some of us don't have access to hot running water whenever we feel like it," Kahlan pointed out, relaxing back as Cara worked.

[wrongkindofsith]

"I'll get used to going without again soon enough," Cara replied, since, you know, she was going with them when they left.

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

Notice the complete and utter lack of reply there, Cara?

[wrongkindofsith]

Cara stilled. "What?"

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

At least Richard wasn't staring at the ceiling any more? "Cara, we need to talk."

[wrongkindofsith]

"No." Cara could tell were this was going. "It's already been two years."

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

Regardless of how it seemed at times, Kahlan did not actually enjoy Cara's suffering. She reached for Cara's hand. "It's only for a few more months."

[wrongkindofsith]

"For you or me?" Cara felt she was perfectly entitled to be grumpy right now.

[not-objective.livejournal.com]

"We don't want to leave you," Richard said, because they did enjoy having her around, snark and all. "But Zedd says it's too dangerous for you to come with us before then."

Of course, Zedd was always saying things were too dangerous, but Richard didn't particularly want to risk this.