Day 169 - Respites and Reflections [Open]

[windgod]

Who: Ippo and anyone who happens to stumble across him
Open: Open
When: Day 169
Where: The Onsen
What: After all this sadness and general bad feelings, Ippo needs a relaxing break.
Format: Any
Warnings: Shirtlessness and General Onsen Shenanigans

[Ippo had taken some time to himself after Night's funeral; a little bit to cry and get his emotions out, but mostly just to reflect on the things he'd learned as he attempted to focus his mind towards the future. As it stood right now, there were so many questions and unknowns he couldn't put answers to, every day here was like living on the edge of a sheer cliff with no way of knowing what was around the next bend; no matter how hard he tried to cut things down into more manageable goals, he always ended more overwhelmed than when he'd started. Tonight was no exception as he laid on the floor of his apartment, staring idly at the ceiling as he tried to calm the swirl of thoughts in his head.]

Tch...this isn't working. I need to relax...I'm way too tense right now.

[He muttered under his breath as he finally stood up, his restlessness finally getting the better of him as he put on his hoodie and made his way outside. The sun was in the process of setting at the moment and the air was brisk enough to send a cooling wind to play across his messy hair; he might have to ask someone around if they knew anything about cutting hair...it was starting to get so long and shaggy it was beginning to obscure his vision. At the very least being outside seemed to brighten his mood somewhat as he smiled and pushed his hair back as he began to jog; he didn't really have anywhere in mind to go until he spotted the onsen in front of him...maybe a nice relaxing dip would do him good, the air was cool enough that it'd feel nice and it might just take care of the tension he'd been feeling.

At the very least it couldn't hurt, so with a small nod to himself, Ippo made his way over to the building. It didn't take him long to get changed into his towel and once he was inside the actual onsen area, he was already beginning to feel it's calming effects; it was a wonder he'd never been here before...but with all the extra training he'd been putting himself through, he'd almost forgotten it was here. With everyone off doing their own thing, he wasn't surprised to find the onsen vacant and the curtains between the sides not drawn, so he took a step forward without concern and gazed into the calm, steaming water; for the first time in a while finally getting a good look at his own reflection in the still pool.

He looked...bigger than he remembered, his muscles compact yet bulging prominently against his skin; the more he flexed, the bigger they seemed to become, he almost reminded himself of Takamura-san like this. His face had taken on a sharper shape to his cheekbones and jaw; likely a result of his change in diet and constant activity, he was definitely starting to look more and more like a man now that he thought about it. He still had a long ways left to go before he could truly call himself as such, but with the help of his friends and his own desire to get better, he had a feeling that he might just be able to reach that goal someday. He was so lost in thought and his own image that if anyone decided to drop in to the onsen, all they'd see was a very muscular boy with messy hair staring absentmindedly at the water; good thing no one else was bound to come here...right?]

Of course not, no one gets off that easy around here. XDc Feel free to drop in and embarrass the poor boy into next week.

Comments

[gianthobo]

[It's amazing how quiet a nine foot tall man could be when he wanted to be. AZ cleared his throat, holding a towel in front of him as it didn't quite make it all the way around him.]

... Are you all right?

[windgod]

UHG!

[Ippo's shout of surprise caught in his throat as he made to turn around; the sudden advent of a voice behind him scaring the living daylights out of him. Unfortunately, his movements were too quick and the floor underneath him far too slick, meaning his next move was a spinning trip straight into the onsen with a large splash. Good job AZ, you've become the world's tallest ninja.]

[gianthobo]

[AZ reached out to try to catch Ippo, but too late. He immediately crouched down to try to check for him.]

Sorry. You didn't get hurt, did you?

[He'd had enough of performing CPR for a while.]

[windgod]

[It took a few seconds, but eventually Ippo did resurface; he didn't look hurt, just wet and having to cough out some of the water he'd managed to swallow on the way down. Other than that though, he seemed just fine, if not just a little abashed.]

Oh...uh...*cough*...no I'm fine, I just didn't hear you come in; sorry about that.

[gianthobo]

It's fine. I can be pretty quiet sometimes.

[AZ carefully shifted his towel so he was covered, and dipped a foot into the water, and then the other. Quickly, he slid himself into the water with a bit of a splash, leaving the towel sitting on the side. His hair bobbed around him in a fuzzy white-grey halo.]

You looked like you were thinking about something... ?

[windgod]

[Ippo nodded as he got his last few coughs out and slid himself over to give AZ the proper amount of room to relax; to be fair the man was incredibly large and needed quite a bit of legroom. Good thing it was just them in the onsen right now.]

You could say that...I haven't really taken a look at myself since I got here, so seeing what I look like now was kind of...

[Jarring? No, it wasn't anything so sharp or even disturbing to him; it had just taken him by surprise to see how much he'd changed since the first day he'd arrived here.]

Surprising. It made me think about everything I've been through and all the things I've experienced here...it was a little overwhelming to say the least.

[gianthobo]

[He nodded in return, thinking that over. He hadn't really changed in appearance in a long time, but he remembered (vaguely) being around Ippo's age. Everything changed slowly, but he was surprised every time.]

I think I can understand that. You're in your mid to late teens, right? Things change pretty quickly around then. Even if you were back home, that kind of thing would happen.

... But it's more striking here, since things changed so much. Is that about right?

[windgod]

Well...yeah, that's true. I think it might also be the fact that I just haven't seen myself in a while. We don't really have mirrors here and I've been so busy that it didn't even hit me until I saw my reflection...I'm definitely not the same person I was back then.

[He was a little more confident and sure of himself for one, that was for sure; he'd become a lot stronger in his time here as well...he just needed to work on the whole wisdom thing so he could temper that strength of his, something this entire recent situation had taught him.]

[gianthobo]

We never are the same people. Every moment changes us. It's just a matter of how much.

[Sorry, Ippo. You got him in a philosophical mood.]

But that's true. My hair's longer, for one.

[He tried to smile a little bit. It was almost a joke - it was hard to tell how much his hair had grown anyway, since it was already so long.]

[dragonform]

[Ryu himself hadn't had much experience with an Onsen before this, as he had only heard of the idea while in Urkan Tapa. It was rare they used it to relax, as it was more for religious meditation and purification than anything else, but Ryu found he enjoyed spending some time soaking in the steaming water.

It's when Ippo enters that Ryu is stirred out of whatever train of thought he was on, glancing back to him.]

Oh, you were with Colin and the others, right?

[He'd seen Ippo around, but he never had the chance to greet him properly. He didn't seem especially concerned about their lack of dress.]

[windgod]

[Ippo hadn't noticed Ryu in among all the fog, nor had he really had a chance to get acquainted with him during the whole plant incident...no wait; he stopped his line of thought and took a closer look. It looked almost like Ryu...and he knew that this person's name was Ryu, but...this wasn't the Ryu he'd met before; he'd almost confused them during the Gasfella fight too...but considering all of the mayhem, he could be forgiven.]

Yes, you're Ryu, right? Sorry I didn't get the chance to introduce myself properly before now.

[He didn't feel so awkward about his state of undress seeing as he was used to bathing with the members of his gym; so if Ryu wasn't really making a deal out of it, he didn't feel a reason to be abashed as he got into the Onsen and extended a hand out to Ryu.]

I'm Ippo, it's nice to meet you.

[dragonform]

It's alright, we weren't really in a position to be making introductions. It's nice to meet you, Ippo.

[He shook Ippo's hand with a firm grip. For someone whose body is likely less muscular than Ippo's, his display of strength during the battle might have proven a bit surprising. Ryu's state of undress also reveals quite a few scars, though the far more prominent ones are hidden on his back.]

It's nice to relax here. I haven't come here too much before now.

[windgod]

[Ippo in comparison looked much less battle worn than Ryu, though he did have a particularly nasty scar running from the middle of his left side and up to the bottom of his shoulder blade; save for that though, his quick feet and dodging skills had served him plenty well here.]

Yeah, everything's been so hectic that I almost forgot this place was here. I should make a note to come here more often though, the water feels nice...

[He'd never been to an onsen before himself, between all of his boxing training and matches, there'd never been any time. Speaking of the position they'd been in...there were questions Ippo had about this strange young man. Namely about the whole turning into a giant dragon thing.]

Do...you mind if I ask about what happened on the Skyway with you? The...transformation thing? I've...never seen anyone turn into a giant blizzard breathing creature before...no offense of course.

[dragonform]

[He had a feeling the question was coming, just not so soon.]

It's a power given to the Brood, my people. That's just one of the many forms I can take, and they can vary pretty wildly in size and shape.

[He offers an apologetic smile.]

Don't worry about being taken off guard. I'm the last one left who still has any power. Nobody back home would have expected to still see a living dragon. Well... Anyone aside from my friends and brother.

[windgod]

Well...Dragons aren't so strange around here, I've just never seen anyone turn into one before. It was...

[Cool? He wanted to say cool, in fact it was pretty cool to watch, but that seemed almost...insensitive to say; marginalizing something Ryu had been born with as something so mundane as "Cool". In the end, he chose a more...tactful word to express what he was thinking, or at least he hoped it was more tactful.]

Interesting, to say the least.

[dragonform]

Given Paarthunax and Ryu have been here for awhile, I suppose dragons aren't so strange, are they?

[Ippo's answer earns him a laugh.]

To be honest, I'm just happy to be somewhere people aren't afraid of the Brood. It's still so weird to get used to.

[windgod]

Well...I can't say that I wouldn't be afraid if that was just something I saw out of the blue, but considering you just used that power to help, I don't think I could have stayed afraid.

[Well, who wouldn't be at least concerned to see a boy disappear and be replaced by a hulking dragon with magical powers; but considering the fact that he knew Ryu and knew that he wouldn't hurt him, even that concern would be quickly abated. Even if he hadn't known Ryu, just on the basis of seeing him do nothing but try to help would have put his fears to rest; then again, maybe Ippo was a bit different than normal people.]

[fuckthemancers]

...Alright?

[Zulf is still dressed- he simply wanted to check in on the state of the springs before coming in. And... Yeah, Ippo, you do look sort of like a weirdo from where he's poking his head out.]

[windgod]

[That sure was a sudden voice that snapped Ippo back to reality; combined with only being able to see Zulf's head poking out of the changing room doorway, it was enough to startle the poor boy as he tried to jump back. This however, only succeeded in causing him to slip and fall on his behind, his head whacking hard against the stone floor as he shot back up clutching the area that had taken the hit; his voice hissing through his teeth in pain.]

Sssssssssss...damn that hurt....

[fuckthemancers]

[OH SHI-]

[Zulf immediately hustles out, taking care not to let himself slip as well before he can kneel besides Ippo.]

Are you alright!?

[windgod]

Yeah...I've taken harder shots to the head...it's probably gonna leave a bruise though.

[He managed to stop hissing as he spoke, it wasn't Zulf's fault he'd been so spaced out after all; damned be if it didn't hurt like hell though, he made a mental note never to take up headbutting as a method of attacking.]

Sorry, I wasn't really expecting anyone to be here so late, I got a little lost in thought...

[fuckthemancers]

...Not reassuring...

[Ippo really]

Thought?

[windgod]

Yeah...

[With the ache in his head finally starting to subside, he cast a glace once more at his reflection in the water; he was still moved by the difference between the him he remembered and the him he was seeing now.]

I haven't had time to see myself in so long that...it's almost jarring to see what I look like now compared to what I used to look like. It was enough to make me think...about everything I've been through, and the things I'll have to work through still. I guess that does sound kind of silly though, saying it out loud.

[fuckthemancers]

No. [Zulf gives a slight shake of his head.] The body is a reflection of the soul.

[Be proud, Ippo. That's the longest sentence anyone's gotten out of Zulf for a while.]

[windgod]

Hmm...I suppose that's true.

[He gazed at himself for a few minutes long before realizing that he was talking to someone he hadn't even introduced himself to yet; he gave his head a small shake to get his mind in order before he held out a hand to this new acquaintance.]

I'm sorry, I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Ippo, it's nice to meet you!