sauna v2?[break][break]

"damn! it really is nice."[break][break]

it almost feels too luxurious for someone like him, but he finds himself still at ease. her presence helps.[break][break]

he discards his towel as well, quick to join her in the water after a bit of hesitation.[break][break]

"this shit's hot as fuck."[break][break]

this is his first time at a hot spring, after all.

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

Jessie couldn't help but laugh at his reaction, relaxing deep enough that her chin was barely touching the water.

"Well, it is a hot spring, after all..." she stated plainly, an innocent look given to him as she snickered.

She couldn't help but be a smart ass for a moment.

Oh, but the view of him was enough to shut her up, even for a moment as he slipped into the water with her. Jessie regarded him with raised brows before swimming over slowly to sit beside him.

"Can't you feel your impurities just soaking away?"

NIKO MANNER

☉

"ha. ha."[break][break]

despite the rolling of his eyes, it's all feigned for the sake of being playful.[break][break]

he watches her swim over slowly; lips shaping into a smile.[break][break]

"is that why people come here?"[break][break]

his eyes wash over her, admiring.[break][break]

"don't think it's working for me."

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

She shrugged, pressing her back against the rocky edge to relax. Her head lolled back as she sighed, stretching out her muscles.

"That's what the rumors are. I think the hot springs profit off of the tradition too. I mean, they've definitely put enough oils in here to make it seem like you're washing away some sort of bad omen."

Did she believe it?

Jessie wasn't sure. She had her faults, but was she impure?

"Really? Why not?" she asked, smirking as she looked over at him.

NIKO MANNER

☉

the smirk is easily returned.[break][break]

"hard to when you're here."[break][break]

but, perhaps lulled into it by the warmth that surrounds him, he shares with a shrug:[break][break]

"i got too much of it to ever wash away. not that i care much either way."

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

Jessie couldn't help her small laugh.

"Niko, so naughty," she teased him.

Of course, she didn't mind it at all. She loved that she was so distracting.

"Well, isn't everyone? Most of the time it's a hoax to get money. That's impure in itself."

Even the most renowned person was a sinner. She knew that much.

NIKO MANNER

☉

"d'you think there's ever a way to wash away our sins? like what they preach at the church and shit?"[break][break]

confess your sins and all shall be forgiven, or something along those lines. he's never quite believed it to be possible, but the thought is interesting enough to consider.[break][break]

"what sins would you rid?"

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

Jessie took a moment to consider his question. But then she shrugged.

"I don't think so. I mean, you could always do good things and establish a good reputation, but that doesn't clean you of what you've done."

She tilted her head.

"That being said, I don't think because people have sins means they are bad people. You've never been bad to me."

Sure, she's never seen him in action, at work. But, she knew the Niko that was in front of her. And she cared about him.

"My sins? I don't know. Maybe I'd change things to have a better relationship with my family. Or to not be so selfish and desire things for myself."

Her gaze dropped to look at the water. She didn't know how much would change if those were gone, though.

"But I sort of like where I am now."

NIKO MANNER

☉

"not to you, sure, but i've done some pretty nasty shit."[break][break]

things that would warrant him a special place in hell, if such a place exists.[break][break]

"i like that about you, though. the fact that you get things that you want."[break][break]

it's one of the reasons why they're here now, isn't it?[break][break]

"dunno. i guess the thought of washing away my sins is pretty nice."

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

"Well... would you do something bad to me?"

Jessie tilted her head, blinking almost innocently.

"You like my selfishness? It doesn't make me come off as too demanding? That's usually what I get told," she said.

She glanced at the water before wading closer, resting her head against his shoulder.

"Would you do it? Wash away any specific sins?"

NIKO MANNER

☉

"never."[break][break]

or at least he'll try not to. but things can be out of his control, that much he's come to learn.[break][break]

"sometimes you gotta put your foot down and be selfish to get what you want."[break][break]

it's what establishes the hierarchy of society, after all.[break][break]

at her question, he hums in thought, then shrugs a shoulder.[break][break]

"maybe a couple of lives i've taken. but i like to think i had to."

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]

"Then I stand by what I said. From what I've seen of you, you're a good person. Unless you hurt me, I have no reason to think otherwise."

She hoped that she wouldn't ever think differently.

Murder, huh? Or protecting himself, from the logic he wanted to think of. Jessie couldn't imagine doing it, killing someone. Of course, it was always offered on the table to her, now that she was apart of Rocket, affiliated with Niko's gang.

"Then live that way. No use in getting bogged down in it. Especially when there are much better things in life to enjoy. Like this view."

Jessie spread her arms across the water, indicating to the garden and mountains exposed to them.

NIKO MANNER

☉

for as long as he could will it, she'd never have to kill for him nor for his gang. but the oddity that is rocket is often beyond his control.[break][break]

"like this view."[break][break]

but where she spreads her arms across the water, he fixes his gaze on her, admiring with a smile.[break][break]

"you're right. this is much better."

[attr="class","ooc"]Jessica Manner[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-ditto"]