The smell of fear (Tyreal, S'Ilancy, Elena, and open)

[Diego Van Derveld]

In the years since the Emperor's death, the terraformed world of Krant had been tamed by civilization, colonized, and built over. However, on the outskirts of the cities, there was an untamed, rural expanse, that was quickly finding favor with tourists. The mountains were dotted in evergreen forests, up to a point where the trees ended and snow began. The upside to Krant's seismic activity was that it produced a series of hot springs, around the alpine zones of its mountains, where melting snow met warm spring water, to form a brisk, refreshing series of pools. Around these, lodges, resorts, and other areas of recreation sprung up. It was just urban enough for those who enjoyed a night life, but just rural enough for those who wished to get away from it all. For a complicated man like Diego Van Derveld...it was ideal.

He slipped beneath the surface of the steaming water, staying submerged only a few moments before he broke the pool's surface again, shaking the moisture from his face. The heat of the bath carried off his skin and hair in a plume of steam, as it mingled with the crisp mountain air. He sighed deeply, his breath likewise becoming steam.

"I love the mountains."

[Elena Van Derveld]

Another two feet dipped through the surface, though only up to mid-way up their shins. Elena dangled her legs in, off of the edge of the lip of the spring, and wiggled her toes under the water. She smiled, testing the waters temperature, though still a little reluctant to simply hop in. The thought of the warmth was appealing, however, and after a little while of contemplating she slid in, carefully easing off the towel she’d been wearing as she did to reveal a dark bathing suit.

“Ahhh… oh, wow. You don’t get bath’s like this for all the money in the world…”

[Diego Van Derveld]

At the word bath, Diego shuddered. There was a difference between bathing and a recreational soaking. Thank the maker for sonic showers, at least. Diego couldn't remember the last...bath...he'd endured.

"Its a spa, Elena. Lets not be insulting. No soap, no loufa, so no worries."

It would strike some as odd that despite Diego's meticulous nature, he abhored bathing. Some matters of instinct were harder to resist than others.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il sat on the rocks surrounding the pool Diego and Elena occupied, a simple black two piece bathing suit covering her body as she let a toe lightly dip into the water before letting her legs slip in.

She soon followed, sliding into the warm water with a smile and contented sigh and a grin to Diego.

"Bath or spa, I don't care. This is damn near heaven."

[Elena Van Derveld]

As he shoulders slipped beneath the surface, Elena eased her eyes closed and let out a long sigh. The heat was enough to make you feel faint instantly, and it was doing just that to Elena. Though she was not totally unawares – as she inhaled deeply, she caught the scent of something else round about, but felt far too lethargic to pay any mind to it.

[Tyreal Dalarsco]

*Tyreal leaned back and relaxed. He loved the springs almost as much as the women in bikinis who relaxed there aswell. He spied two a few meters away.*
Hello, what brings you ladies here?

[Diego Van Derveld]

Deep in relaxation, Diego opened his eyes, leaning his head off a nearby rock. He smiled, glancing to Elena and S'Ilancy.

"It looks like you've attracted a gentleman caller."

He turned his ice-blue eyes in Tyreal's direction, the smile remaining.

[Tyreal Dalarsco]

So, are you lucky enough to be with one of these two? Or both? I've heard of that on some worlds.

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

s'Il's brows rose as she looked up at the stranger, and sinking lower into the water, she remained motionless. She said nothing however, giving Diego a quick sidelong glance before slightly shifted in his direction, the warm water swirling around her shoulders as she moved.

[Elena Van Derveld]

“With us?”

Elena smiled thinly, “It depends on what you mean by that, though if I think it is what you seem to be implying, then no.”

She draped both arms back over the edge of the rocks surrounding the spring, and canted her head back to look at the man.

“Just a little family outing.”

[Tyreal Dalarsco]

Hmmmmm. . . It must be good to have siplings you can trust. I thought I did at one time.

[Diego Van Derveld]

He was still there...buzzing like a gnat, and breaking the solace that Diego was enjoying. The Alpha Lupine opened his eyes again, looking lazily at the man.

"Sounds like the makings of a country music song."

[Loklorien s'Ilancy]

She settled more into the water, sinking lazily below the surface for a few seconds before rising once more from the water. Hair slicked back, she exhaled, her breath coming from her lips in a cloud of steam.

The stranger was still there, and she gave him an odd look before leaning back againt the rock edge of the heated pool, giving a snort at Diego's remark.

"That about describes it," she mused.

[Elena Van Derveld]

With a slight nod she looked at Diego, then pouted somewhat and mouthed something like ‘civilized’. Another glance at their intruder and her eyes roamed up and down his frame, sizing up not only his appearance but the density of his muscle tissues and also hazarding a guess at just how fast he might be able to run under pressure…