Keeping cool

"Oh, of course." Shi whispered, noticing the way her friend clutched her forehead. I'll make you some st. John's Wort tea with mint. That should fix your hreadache right up." She rolled out of bed and stood. Her body was still a little moist, and she'd like to have cleaned herself up right away, but decided the fire would take a little longer to take a trip to the bath house than to put together a fire.

Completely nude, she moved out to her main room and took a few bits of wood from the basket by the wall. There was still a little bit left from the last time she' gathered. She built a little teepee shape under the grate. Rubbing the sticks against the stone, she managed to create a little spark. She continued to rub until the spark grew larger. Finally, the fire was lit. She went just outside the door and filled the tea pot from the water pump and put it on the grate.

"We'll let that boil," Shi said softly, stepping into the door frame again. "It shouldn't be too long."

"Oh please don't worry about paying me back." She said softly, casting a glance over her shoulder to see if there were steam coming from the pot yet. There was, but very little. "This isn't any trouble."

Shi Sen turned from the doorway and went back to where her clothes lay in a pool on the floor. She wouldn't bother with the outer-most layers of kimono, but wrapped herself in the inner robe that separated her from the finer fabric. She then went to a medium-sized box on the far end of the room near the fire. She took from it a few finger-fulls of leaves and a mortar and pestle. Having ground the leaves into a fine powder, she emptied the mortar into the wire asket of the teapot and poured the hot water from the kettle over them. The aroma was thick, steamy and earthy. She set the delicate teapot aside and removed the kettle from the fire, but keeping it close and warming it. She plucked two cups from the box and took them and the pot to the bedroom.

"Here we are." She knelt next to the bed and set a cup on the floor. Slowly and carefully she poured the light tea. "This should help. It's a mixture of st. John's wort and Bay leaves. Perfect for getting rid of headaches."

"I do hope you enjoy it. I don't get headaches as often as I used to, but this particular blend always seemed to do the trick in getting rid of them." Shi picked up the pot and filled her own cup again, pulling it smoothly to her lips and sipping quietly. She could feel the somewhat umcombertable moisture and stickiness of her flesh cling to her robe and was reminded why the garment was created in the first place. "I think after this cup, I'll go to the bath house."

"Not at all." Shi Sen smiled, collecting a basket from the far side of the room. "It could be nice to have some company while bathing. I'll get you a towel and we can go." She tucked the basket under one arm and went out to the living room. She pulled two towls from a larger basket and tossed them into the one under her arm.

The pair took a few corners and passed down several rows of houses and shacks. Finally, they reached a large, stone building with a gate and a stone seat cut into the wall. Above the seat, there was a long rope attatched to a bell. Shi Sen looked here and there, peering through the bars of the gate. She didn't see anyone, so she reached up and rang the bell. A low "doonnnnng" eminating from it.

A man's voice came from behind the wall. "Just a minute!" There was some rustling, then he appeared just behind the gate. He undid the latch and stepped out. A short, thin man with thick grey and white hair and a long curved nose. "Oh! Miss Shi Sen, how are you?"

"Doing well, sir. And you?" Shi Sen bowed deeply to the an and straightened again. "This is y good friend Shanza. We would like to take a bath."

"Oh, excellent. Always glad to have you. Let me call the wife and she'll get you settled in." He turned in the door way and yelled over his shoulder. "Taan! Taan Lee! Shi Sen and another girl would like to use the bath."

A little old woman with steel grey hair pulled into a bun appeared behind her husband. "Of course, right this way." She beckoned them to follow her, but not before Shi Sen dropped four coins into the door man's hand.

"Have a nice Bath ladies." The old man nodded to them as they passed.

"I come here at least three times a week." Shi Sen admitted, leading her friend into the dressing rooms. The older woman that was with them nodded in confirmation.

Taan Lee turned to Shanza and looked up into her face. "I hope you don't mind me asking dear, but are you from the water tribes or the fire nation? I don't mean to pry...." She seemed a little nervous and wrung her hands.

"I was wondering that myself." Shi Sen admitted. "That's fascinating. Was one of your parents from the Water tribes and one from the Air temple? Or does it date back further than that?" As she spoke, Shi began to remove her kimono, first untying the obi and handing it to Taan Lee.

Taan Lee took the clothing handed to her and listened intently to the new girl's explanation. She'd seen the same old faces for so long that this new comer's story was a real novelty.

(I'm sorry that it's been so long, but I had to go home for spring break. I'm at a friend's at the moment, which is why I can respond)

"Oh my," the old woman laughed quietly. "That's facinating. And red does look very nice on you."

Shi Sen nodded in agreement before something sprang to life in her eyes. "But I bet orange and yellow would look even better." She studied the woman up and down and noted the details of her figure in broad-daylight. "After our bath, there's some place I'd like to show you." A sly gring eclipsed her face.

[OOC--it's all good.]

Marian Sandega Shanza

Shanza smiled. "thanks. I am quite pleased with my appearance." this was not a boast of any kind; simply a statement that Shanza enjoyed the way she looked and did not feel bad about her body or her clothes. When she heard Shi's remark, she couldn't help but make a joke. "oh, this doesn't have anything to do with my so-called Air Nomad 'heritage' now, does it?" she began to wash herself as she spoke. "either way... you have gotten my attention, and now I wish to know more..."

Mood: Playful Condition: Improving

Link: Shanza

"It'll be a surprise." She hinted, smiling up at her tall, lean friend. She began to clean her skin with the cloth she'd brought, washing her face and neck. "As soon as we've washed up here, we'll go into the main bath."

"Well Miss Shi, it appears that you know what you're doing. I'll leave you to it." The old woman bowed and stepped out of the way. When Shi Sen had finnished washing, she tiptoed by her and thanked her as she passed.

Shi Sen led them to an out-door enclosure surrounded by walls that matched those of the previous room, only there was no ceiling to shield them from the elements. Slabs and piles of grey rock rose and fell in circles around large pools of water. The water itself was still and clear as glass, but a thick steam hovered above it and made parts of the mirrorous liquid look clouded.

"If you think I'm mean now, wait til you see what I have in store.' Shi joined the song of her giggle with one of her own and let the towel around the vuluptuous curves of her body fall. She dipped a toe in the steaming hot water. Allowing her body to get used to it, she let the rest of her body follow.