[audio; all the locks ever + open]

[swatwithdragons]

[Lance got back home on Sunday night, and now it’s Monday he has a bunch of things he needs to say to people-at various points during the day/evening. For those who spoke to him not long before he left? He sounds worlds better. Calm, and not in a weary faking-it sort of way. Tranquil.]

Comments

[ghostlighter]

... Wait. So do you actually work there, or what?

[swatwithdragons]

The onsen is run by volunteers. I need a bit of time away from the city, so I stayed there to work for a bit.

[A beat.]

By which I mean, yes, for the three weeks I stayed there, I worked there.

[ghostlighter]

Volunteers... Anybody can get a job there? [ This is still not so reassuring, man. ]

[swatwithdragons]

No, of course not. I'm very good friends with the owners.

[ghostlighter]

Oh. [ Beat. ] Dunno why you'd want to work there if you needed the time off.

[swatwithdragons]

Peace can be found quite often in a bit of honest physical labour.

[ghostlighter]

... If you say so.

[ Despite what anyone might say about him, Chris likes the idea of finding peace for himself. It's just that finding it in genuine work sounds like a contradiction to him - how can anybody relax when there are things going on and stuff do to? ]

[swatwithdragons]

I believe I just did.

[Well, that's your problem, Chris. You're lumping peace and relaxation in together!]

I never did get your name. Lance.

[ghostlighter]

[ You mean they're two different things?! ]

Chris. And, uh, thanks, by the way. For the change. [ Even if he wasn't as grateful at the time. And yukata are still pretty awful. ]

[swatwithdragons]

[Of course.]

You're welcome.

[Pause, and then teasingly:]

Still think pants are better?

[ghostlighter]

Infinitely. Seriously, I don't know how you stand that.

[swatwithdragons]

Well, I was raised with them.

[ghostlighter]

You must have had some cruel parents.

[swatwithdragons]

You're just biased.

[ghostlighter]

So are you!

[swatwithdragons]

But I'm open-minded, so it doesn't count.