day 418 | vacation

[unbr8kable]

[There is more to Hachijo Island than just creepy hotels filled with fungus--though there are plenty of those.

But one doesn't need to visit one for impressive-looking black-sand beaches with tide pools and sea turtles frolicking nearby, or tall, green cliffs that fall off into the sea, or mountains to climb, or hot springs with views of the aforementioned cliffs and beaches or even overlooking a waterfall.

Nemesis comes ashore with satchel full, looking between the greenery and the water and the mountains rising nearby, and then over to Hurricane, grinning]

...Ready to relax?

Comments

[unbr8kable]

Birthmark!

[She sighs, dropping the wet garments to the ground before hopping to the pool--hissing at the temperature difference]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Doesn't learn from her lesson, apparently, because he's right behind her - winces just the same]

Pretty weird birthmark.

[unbr8kable]

I know, right? Now, let's enjoy this bath.

[She pushes on, hot or not, and sinks under the steaming water in one fell swoop.]

Phew! That's--something!

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Sinks down next to her, gooseflesh shivering all up his arms]

Man, didn't realize how cold I was till I wasn't.

[unbr8kable]

[Curls him in, no space for goosepimples when you're up to your neck in hot water]

Yeah... Funny how walking around soaking wet half-naked'll do you.

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Dunking his arms in, so he won't have them for long, either]

Hey, it was totally worth it.

[unbr8kable]

[Leans in against him]

Hey, I ain't complaining.

Plus--check out that view.

[She gestures at the falls]

[crossmyheartandhope]

Right? Can't believe we got a hot spring and a waterfall.

[Leaning back against her, easy]

[unbr8kable]

It's pretty sweet.

...Thanks for coming.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Thanks for being here with me.

...this is pretty fantastic.

[unbr8kable]

You're pretty fantastic.

[Takes his hand under the water, which might not be proper onsen etiquette but perhaps he won't mind]

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Takes it, readily, and squeezes]

Yeah, well. Takes one to know one.

You're amazing.

[unbr8kable]

Yeah, I'm pretty sweet.

[Chuckles, agreeable]

We shoulda done this earlier in the year. Now I just wanna hang out in the bath the whole time...

[crossmyheartandhope]

Yeah, well. Best time woulda been summer.

Second best time's now.

[unbr8kable]

Sure.

...Though this's a better time for hot springs. In summer you'd be all sweaty.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Fall, then? Spring?

[unbr8kable]

[Shifts, considering]

...Fall's prolly best. Spring rains too much. Plus, there's chestnuts.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Kinda hard to beat chestnuts.

[unbr8kable]

I know, right?

[She shifts, leaning against the rocks so she can stretch out in the water]

Maybe the best nut?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Pecans ain't bad. Walnuts, neither.

Chestnuts're up there for sure, though.

[unbr8kable]

Roasting pecans ain't the same as roasting chestnuts, though--they're hard. Walnuts're someplace in the middle, maybe.

[crossmyheartandhope]

Roasting pecans gets you pie, though.

[unbr8kable]

You could have a chestnut pie. Wouldn't the pecans mess up the flaky texture, anyways?

[crossmyheartandhope]

Man... I bet chestnut pie would be good.

[A beat]

Pecans are hard but kind of like... crunchy. It goes better with the crust than you'd think.

[unbr8kable]

Crust?