fandomtownies | The Onsen, Thursday Afternoon

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The Onsen, Thursday Afternoon

Ino had studied her schedule, idly contemplated who she hadn’t talked to in a while, wondered about places she could go that would be fun, and wound up making a decision.

See, picking Elphaba had meant that some of her options had been prudently cut out because Ino was a) not stupid and b) not cruel in this particular case and c) respectful of what she thought were some of Elphaba’s issues.

If pressed, she’d admit that she figured she owed it to Liir to look out for his mother in some universe. That she liked Elphaba for herself helped a fair bit too.

Which meant after ~~handwavily~~ inviting Elphaba out, with a list of what she’d need and the promise to explain why if she’d just meet up here, at this and this time, Ino was waiting, patiently, outside of the onsen.

And hoping this was a good idea. She definitely didn’t want it to backfire on her. At least the place wouldn’t be very busy, since it was the middle of the afternoon in the middle of the week and most people would probably either have class or have work.

She tilted her head up and studied the sky, absently running over a few other things in her head.

[Ino is expecting/waiting for Elphie, but totally open if others want to use the onsen/talk to Ino, yes. Up early because of the chances of some work-induced SP.]

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After last week, and especially after the stress of Ethics today (and the impending stress of the dance), Elphaba was grateful for a chance to do something with a friend. Especially a friend that she trusted, as she did trust Ino. She gathered the items that she'd been told to bring, and arrived promptly with them bundled under her arm.

"I hope I'm not late," she said, even though she knew full well she wasn't.

Ino grinned at her. "Totally on time with time to spare," she said, bouncing a bit and ignoring the fact that that didn't quite make sense if you actually paid attention to it. Shhhh. Ino certainly didn't care. "You got everythin' I suggested with you?"

It looked like it, but best to be sure!

"I gathered as much as I had," Elphaba said. "I'm not sure I entirely know what I'm in for, here." But she was smiling.

"Peace and relaxation," Ino said, holding the door open for her. "At least, I hope so."

"I could use a bit of both," Elphaba admitted, entering. "It has been a strange week or two. You weren't on the trip, were you? I don't remember seeing you."

She shook her head, smiling as the air around them warmed and the girl at the counter perked up at their entrance.

Ino chattered at the girl, confirming their reservation--not needed, but always nice to do--and soon enough they were being waved on, spared most of the instructions since Ino, at least, was well used to the rules here.

"Sorry," she said, to Elphaba once that was over. "And no, I wasn't on it. Stayed here for a few days, then went home for a little."

"I think I'd have preferred that," she said. "Not that it was entirely bad. But it was odd to share a room with a boy, and the people in that land were not... as used to certain things."

She shrugged and sighed. "But I am back here now, and it is better here."

She winced a bit.

"I'm sorry you had to go through that," Ino said honestly. "The change room is this way and--have you met Hinata-chan? She's got pure white eyes that she's got to hide whenever she goes off island. Or Warren? With his wings. It's not the same extent at all, but..."

Elphaba shook her head, following Ino towards the changing room. "I don't think I have met either," she said. "I have bet Kurt, who is able to hide his appearance with a tik-tok device, and Jonothan who keeps his appearance under wraps, as it were. I'd almost suggest we should form a group. Like those of us who have lost family, we meet on Fridays."

She lifted her shoulders slightly. "If you think it would help, then perhaps next time the club fair happens?" Ino suggested. "I can't really offer an opinion there."

Because she looked normal. Sigh.

A beat.

"Both Hinata-chan and Warren are pretty shy," she continued, "and they're roomies, which would make it easy if you ever wanted to track them down."

"We probably all are, in our own ways," Elphaba said. "Though Kurt and Jonothan have the greatest reasons to be. I should meet these two, of course. Though not simply because we share... peculiarities. That would be insulting, I think. I know I wouldn't someone being my friend just because I'm green."

She shook her head, pushing the door to the change room open.

"I didn't mean that," Ino said, wrinkling her nose. "But it's got to be--nice, I suppose, to talk to people who've similiar situations?"

"Oh, I didn't mean to say you did mean so," Elphaba said. "But I do get what you say. It is a sense of solidarity, really."

Ino just waved that off with a smile. It was fine, fine.

"Come on," she said, with a tilt of her head towards the changing stations. "Go get changed and I'll show you 'round the onsen."

"Of course," Elphaba said, hurrying a bit to head into one of the stations so she could change into her bathing suit. After changing, she stepped out, a little self conscious despite being in a quite modest (http://www.etsy.com/listing/29213562/deco-darling-vintage-20s-30s-all-wool) bathing suit.

"I'm ready," she declared.

Ino had been faster since she'd cheated totally by wearing her bikini under her clothing.

What? It made life simpler.

She grinned at Elphaba. "Got your towel? You can stash your stuff on the opposite wall, see those lockers?"

"I do," Elphaba said. "One moment."

She went and stashed her things in the locker, and walked back over with her towel. "I guess I wasn't quite as ready as I thought."

Ino laughed lightly, not mockingly.

"It's fine," she said easily. "I've the advantage of coming here often."

"And I've never done this sort of thing before," Elphaba admitted. "I probably wouldn't be able to stand it, in Oz."

"Then at least you get to experience it here," she said, tossing her hair over one shoulder and smiling as she wandered from the room, expecting Elphaba to follow.

Elphaba followed, of course, and she was a bit eager at that. "There's probably a lot I'll experience here that I can't elsewhere. Being a boy for two days amongst those things."

"How did you find that?" she asked curiously, tilting her head back over her shoulder as they stepped out to where the pools were. Steam rose gently off of them.

"Oh, this is lovely," Elphaba remarked, distracted for a moment. "And... much unlike being a boy. I was rough and gangly and all manner of awkward. I thank Faramir for lending me some appropriate clothes so I was at least not a green-skinned boy wandering about in a dress."

"Faramir seems like a nice guy," she said, with a bit of a grin. "Definitely sweet of him to do so. It was weird that it happened when we weren't on the island--that's new for current students."

"He was quite the gentleman when we were forced to share a room," Elphaba said. "I don't have anything bad to say about him." She gave a little happy sigh. A tiny one. Barely audible. Really.

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