don't you know we could be? [ open ]

[ghostlighter]

WHO ghostlighter (AU), Etana, and YOU.
WHAT Taking a small break from his neuroses by getting out around everywhere.
WHERE Everywhere. Seriously, unless it's some super-seedy alleyway or whatever, you can probably assume he walked past for one reason or another. Specific places include: the Jōkiryu Onsen; Hell House; the library; the Island.
WHEN Today, the

Comments

Monday Afternoon

[tamedhollow]

Mondays were dull. Dull. Nothing seemed to happen on Mondays. And so, Ichigo was home early. And was he ever glad. Because Saturday and Sunday? Were not dull. They were the opposite of dull. And Ichigo was still wiped. The Hollow boy is out of his gigai and up to his nose in the largest outdoor pool. Little is visible except his puff of orange hair.

Haru, the colorful tropical dragon, is out and about in the forest, but never straying far from the heat of the springs. The presence of a stranger alerts him, and he lets out a trumpeting noise. Visitors!

[ghostlighter]

"What the hell?"

Chris glanced around quickly at the sudden noise and found himself heading toward it to find its source. It sounded like an animal, not an alarm, but he still wasn't quite sure what sort of animal. When he caught sight of the dragon, he stopped short, brows drawn together as he tried to figure it out.

Etana tilted her head to the side, more curious about what Haru was doing than what he was. "Maybe it's saying hello," she suggested humorously. "Or maybe it's the guard dog getting ready to attack."

"Thanks for that," Chris said, biting sarcasm in his voice as he glanced down to Etana. He really didn't want to get in a fight or have to run right now.

[tamedhollow]

Haru looked down at Chris and his.... pet? No. The dragon could tell it was something different. More like him and master! The colorful dragon flares his crest and lets out another trumpeting noise before darting off through the trees back towards the onsen. Hopping down to ground level, he rubs on Ichigo, who is now halfway out of the water.

"Alright, I get it, someone's here! If you didn't scare them away, already. Shut up already!" The words are harsh, but softened by the delivery. Ichigo rubs the dragon behind his ears and calls out down the path.

"Oiii! You here to visit the onsen?"

[ghostlighter]

"Why else would I be here?" Chris called back, exasperated but not angry. He recognized the voice, though it wasn't one he had heard very recently. Wasn't that the kid who used to work at Hellsing, the one who was part-hollow, but not part-Hollow? Itch...something. Ichigo? It sounded right to Chris, at least.

Etana snorted softly. "Guess it was the welcome wagon."

[tamedhollow]

Ichigo nods, then slides back into the water. He still wasn't done soaking yet!

"Well, come in, make yourself at home! Ah... you work at still Hellsing, right? I remember your face."

But not his name. He turns, eying the fox that's with Chris. "No pets inside the bathhouse, though."

[ghostlighter]

"Yeah, and I remember yours," Chris said as he began moving forward. This would be easier if there wasn't such a distance between them. He halted at that, expression unintentionally turning into a scowl. "She's not a pet."

"Then what's that?" asked Etana, pointedly in the direction of Haru.

[tamedhollow]

"Ichigo," he offers with a sigh, "That's the name that goes with his ugly mug."

At the statement that she wasn't a pet, Ichigo turns around and reexamines them both. There WAS something... off. It was strange, like a cloud of spiritual energy between them, and most of the soul energy seemed to be concentrated in the fox. Well, it was something more than a pet, then.

The tiger-sized dragon, now roosting on the roof of the onsen proper, scratches himself with his small front limbs when the Daemon addresses him. Without even really thinking about it, Ichigo answers, "That's a dragon, and he's not a pet either. He's also not INSIDE the bathhouse, duh. But he lives here, so he's-- wait," he eyes the fox, blinking, "Did you just.... did she just talk?! A talking fox?! Is she a kitsune, like Zero?"

[ghostlighter]

Chris nodded along to the introduction. "Chris Perry," he said, mostly as a reminder. His brow furrowed at the fact that the... thing was supposed to be a dragon. Really? It looked more avian than draconic to Chris's untrained eyes. Whatever; he didn't care too much.

"I am not a kitsune," Etana replied, eyes narrowed in annoyance. "I'm a familiar."

[tamedhollow]

"Right. I remember now." Sort of. And yes, thank you, Haru was a fine dragon. Not all of his kind were fire-breathing lizards. The feathery dragon yawns and goes about preening.

"Oh... well... sorry. Talking fox makes me think kitsune first. But you're still not allowed inside the bathhouse. Fur and stuff isn't good for the pipes, or that's what Lance said anyway. But ah, you're more than welcome to the outside pools."

[ghostlighter]

"Then I guess we're not going in," Chris said with a shrug. That was... fair enough of a reason, actually, and he wasn't going to argue with something that made more sense than 'no pets inside just because it's policy'. "Outside's fine. I was mostly planning to just look around, anyway."

[tamedhollow]

Ichigo isn't about to ask why he can't just leave his talking fox outside. A far as he's concerned, it's none of his business. Ichigo just grins wryly instead, gesturing to the fur around his neck, "Hey, if this stuff didn't evaporate within a few minutes, I wouldn't be allowed in there, either. But you can't come to the onsen and not enjoy the water at least a little."

[ghostlighter]

"Does it count if I've already tried them out once?" Chris asked, sparing a glance around them. It had been an accident, pure and simple, but maybe it would get him out of that. More than anything, he just wanted to explore the area.

[tamedhollow]

Ichigo just laughs a little, sinking back down into the water and closing his eyes, relaxing again. "Well, enjoy yourself then. I'll be here if you need anything."