wound up

[blue_ice]

Who: Kaiba and open!
Where: Spa car
When: Imagination 4, very late at night
What: Someone gives into temptation to indulge and has potentially interesting discussions!
Warnings: Implied/possible mention of child abuse, other war/injury discussion possible. Will update if needed.



It's been...a day. Kaiba's spent time this evening working on how to talk to the others. It's clear as a train they need to regroup on a number of topics and make some changes, but how? And does he even want to try to facilitate? Not exactly his strong suit. He can already imagine the headache. He's sketched out a few potential outlines of topics to open the floor on. Maybe the memorial really is the simplest place to start?

But he's putting that out of his mind. After a late night in the standard car hunched over his notebook, he realizes that the train's fallen quiet in the night. Time to head back to bed. He moves through the largely-empty cars, but as the strange new scent of the spa car filters through in the corridor, he hesitates. The quiet is the perfect time, isn't it?

One ruffle through the closet and a quick shower trip later, he returns, carefully folding his legs beneath him as he sinks in. His torso's long enough that he's only covered up to the ribs and the old, angry red marks between his shoulder blades are exposed, but surely it's quiet enough that that's not an issue.

Finally...at last, he hears nothing but the sound of water lapping the edges of the pool. He can finally relax. He closes his eyes, rolling his shoulders back with a soft sigh.

"...hm. Not bad...maybe."

Comments

[sos_pilot]

Della's not much of a spa person - but she's been linked with Kaiba mentally, and as such, feels a compulsion to head there.

She doesn't head inside - he might value privacy, after all, and instead leans on the walls just outside of the bath, lightly knocking on the doorway without entering.

"Hey, Seto."

[blue_ice]

"...Della?"

Seto feels her presence a moment before he hears her voice, and so he's already lifting himself out. He takes a moment before opening the door, wearing bright orange trunks and the towel over his shoulders. He spares her a little smile.

"Coming for a late night bath, or am I thinking too hard again?"

[sos_pilot]

"The latter. Not much of a soak person." Off-hand shrug, no shame about it.

"So... anything you wanna talk about?" Eyebrow raise? Or does he want to brush this off and act like nothing happened?

[blue_ice]

Seto knows he can trust Della with this, at least. Whatever 'this' is. He feels some slight guilt for bothering her, so he moves to let her in.

"We have lounge chairs past the pool, next to the sauna. It's comfortable enough for a talk."

He leads the way, feeling the slightest bit of unease as his back faces her, but it's just a quick moment and then they're side by side.

"It's almost time for a mission. I've been up training for it, but it never feels like enough. Do you know what I mean?"

[sos_pilot]

Della followed along, watching his face for any hints or clues about underlying issues.

"I do. I mean, you can prepare as much as you want, but it's impossible to predict everything. That's part of the thrill!" A brief pause. "... Buuut I can get why that might make others, y'know, anxious."

At least she was learning to stick her foot in her mouth less often.

[blue_ice]

Seto paused to tie the towel around his waist, lowering himself onto the chair with a little tired sigh. He was feeling a little better, but...

"I acquired some knives last platform, in the event that we're ambushed like at the research center. I know I can fight my way out of most issues, but I can't control everything."

He leaned forward, elbows propped on his knees. "Every month, the list of people I'd hate to lose grows longer. And that's a huge liability."

[sos_pilot]

Della chose to sit next to him, curious about the knives, but trying to stay on point. This was clearly important to him.

"Hey, don't look at like that. Having a heart isn't a liability... it makes us good people. It's not a weakness."

[blue_ice]

"I'm still not used to that descriptor," he laughs, though it's a hollow sound. He's trying to work through the worry, though, for her sake.

"I suppose what I came here to do, and what my question is...is how to stop obsessing over what I'm not in control of. The disappearances, mainly, but people getting hurt too."

[sos_pilot]

Della offered her hand, if he wanted to hold it. No offense taken if he didn't.

"If obsessions were easily to control, I don't think we'd give them such a fancy word. But... I'd say if you're really struggling with it, you need to learn more about those you care for. As in, how well they can defend themselves."

[blue_ice]

"...that's a good idea," Seto admitted quietly. He has his team to look after, and everyone else...well, they have good people. He paused to look around for a brief moment. Satisfied that they were alone, he gently laid his hand in hers.

"I'm not...as worried about you," he assured her. "I know how resourceful you are. If I could just trust the others too..."

And trust that the train wouldn't break them apart. That was the harder thing. But one thing at a time, he reminded himself, refocusing on the warm air and the dear friend next to him.

"I'm sorry I kept you up," he added sheepishly.

[sos_pilot]

Della squeezed his hand, hoping he could find some reassurance in that/ But as for his apology, she smiled and shook her head.

"I'm fine. Years of living on the moon pretty much messed up my sleep schedule." A small chuckle. "Who would've thought it'd come in handy like this?"

[blue_ice]

"Still...thanks."

Seto looks around the cabin, lapsing into comfortable silence for a moment. One of the speakers is still playing ambient nature sounds, and he shakes his head.

"You're sure you're not interested? The facilities are nicer than I expected."

[sos_pilot]

"Well... I guess I have nothing better to do right now." A half shrug. "Long as there's no... fish in there." Bleck!

[blue_ice]

"No fish, I promise. Nothing but warm mineral water."

Seto has a hint of a teasing smile on his face, but the emotion he's projecting is entirely sincere. He points to the changing room, then shuffles across the room to turn up the relaxing soundtrack. It's...not bad, actually.

And it's not long before he's back in the water, stretching happily.

[sos_pilot]

Della heads off to change, but when she comes back, she doesn't hop into the water right away.

Pop - the leg has to come off before she slides on in.

[blue_ice]

Seto sees this, but he just nods and makes room for her. He has his own marks, after all...not as immediately obvious, but burning all the same.

He stays close, arm casually bent over the water as another point of leverage if she needs it, but he knows better than to push.

"How are you feeling?"

He can just wait for emotions to filter through, of course, but it's polite to ask.

[sos_pilot]

She does use it - though she doesn't ask for it, using it for a few seconds before settling and sitting in the water.

"Ah, you know me. Just excited for what's to come."

[blue_ice]

Seto couldn't help but chuckle. She was always like that...it was comforting, if he was honest.

"As much as that scares me a little...I think I need someone like you to balance my fretting impulse."

[sos_pilot]

Della smiled, taking that as a compliment. "And in turn, I need you to make sure I don't rush in headstrong without a plan or even an idea."