The Mummer's Game [Open]

[laurence]

There's a palpable air of tension here, but that much he expects. It's one of the few Lux territories in a Nox dominated Hoenn, after all. They're wise to keep on their toes. A little paranoia will serve them well. As for Laurence, he's here for the hot springs, one of the last little oases left in the know world. Of course those that know him best know well enough that he's never paid much attention to the world's creature comforts beyond the odd Persian fur coat or pashmina scarf, and that more for appearances sake than anything else. He's well aware of how the world works. Appearance can open near as many doors as a pass, signed and sealed, and personal upkeep tends to take far less time then the obtaining of said pass.

Of course, his own credentials are in order, the sentries at the gate make sure enough of that. Though, if they speed the process up a tad in the interest of getting him to stop eyeballing them like the delectable little treats that they are, or that he's pretending that they are, so be it. And if, in speeding up said process, they just so happen to miss a little blip of sorts, a little something that doesn't quite check out, that's all the better for him.

Laurence flashes the two men a winning smile as they wave him through, eager to be rid of him, and it's smooth sailing from there. A few minutes' time finds him a room for the night and, an hour later, he's situated and making his way down to the hot springs. That's what he claimed he was here for at the gate, after all. He might as well make a show of enjoying himself.

He's always been a bit of a voyeur (be it in the lab or anywhere else), and his choice of soaking attire is remarkably tight, leaving little to the imagination. What is that old saying? All work and no play makes Ash a dull boy? Laurence sports a lop-sided little grin as he tests the temperature once with a toe before lowering himself into the water. It burns as his body slides beneath the surface and he let's out a low hiss of satisfaction.

He'll soak for about an hour or so, he tells himself, and makes a mental note of the current time: 3:43, then his work will begin, and such worldly comforts as these will be a fondly remembered thing of the past.