Chapter Text
Ed sighed, stepping out of the car. She had driven another hour and half before Leona took over again, citing that he didn’t want to give directions. Kalim had asked questions the entire way there. Ed didn’t really mind it, she was always game for helping people gain more knowledge, but Leona seemed pretty over it. Now Leona was explaining the circle of life to the rest of them.
Guess she wasn’t as annoyed as Ed thought.
“Makes sense the eco-friendly folks in Sunset Savanna would have a saying like that.” Lilia nodded. “‘The circle of life.’ I like it. And look at me, still learning new things at my old age.”
Kalim laughed. “Oh Lilia, you say the funniest things. We're only one year apart, you and I.”
Ed and Ling looked at each other.
‘ Do they…’ Ed said with her facial expressions.
‘Not know?!’ Ling agreed.
‘Listen, I know you guys love Kalim- they are objectively oblivious sometimes.’
‘ Ling can’t hear you.’
‘Oh right.’
****
Kalim looked around in excitement. What a beautiful hot springs! “Wow! Look at all that steam!”
“What with the nearby volcano, hot vapors pour out over this whole area.” Leona explained.
“Yeah, and thanks to that steam you can't see a thing!” Grim complained.
Lilia started bringing out his camera. “This is something else! I'll have to take a pic to show Malleus and Silver. And Sebek too!”
“What are you taking pictures of, the fog? ” Ed asked. “The fossils are cool though I guess.”
Kalim started looking around. “All right, where's the ivory?”
“Don't get it twisted. There's no ivory here.” Leona said.
“Huh?! Then why's it called Ivory Springs?” Kalim yelled.
“Because of the elephant fossils.” Ed explained. “They were once Ivory but over time turned to stone.”
“Ah, I see,” Kalim nodded. “Ed, you’re great at explaining things!”
“ AH!!” Grim yelped.
Ed snapped her head over. “Grim, what's wrong?”
“Someone put a buncha grub in this hot spring! What a waste!” Grim whined out.
Leona sighed. “Calm down. That's not a hot spring. It's an iron pot, placed in the middle of the steam. They use the steam here to make elephant ears and puddings.”
“An elephant...ear? What's that?” Kalim asked.
Lilia sighed dreamily. “Crispy fried dough, dusted with sugar and cinnamon. One of my favorites!”
“The steam heats up an iron pan, which fries the elephant ears. The puddings have a whiff of sulfur about 'em too. Makes for a real unique taste.” Leona explained.
Grim walked over to the pot. “Whoa, I'd like to sink my teeth into some o' that! I'll just fish somethin' outta this pot and…” Grim slipped and started falling in. “ MRAH!!! Hot hot HOT!!! ”
Ed snatched Grim up by his scruff. “What did I say about getting too close to a pot?!”
****
Vil sank into the water with a sigh. Ah, hot springs, he loves you so. Everyone was wearing swimsuits- something Leona insisted on- But Ling and Ed were taking a hot minute to get in here. Even Grim was floating in a little floatie.
Ling walked out first, holding Eden’s hand to support her walking, and Eden followed suit. “A retro bikini?” Vil asked. An interesting choice.
Eden sighed. “It was the only swimsuit Sam had.”
“...It looks good on you.” Vil complimented.
Eden sank into the water. “Mm.”
“Ed, what was that eye shaped scar on your abdomen?” Kalim asked.
Eden, without even opening her eyes, responded. “From that time I got impaled on a pole.”
“Oh okay!” Kalim said.
“No, not okay!” Vil yelled. “Why were you impaled on a pole?!”
“The real question you wanna ask yourself is if you wanna know.” Leona piped up. “I guarantee you don’t.”
Eden, oblivious to their plight or perhaps willfully ignoring it, sighed in relaxation. “ Oh yeah , this feels nice.”
Ling, sat next to her, hummed in agreement. “Nothing like a good soak.”
“Will Beastie’s leg be alright?” Lilia asked.
“Hm? Oh yeah, I’ll just need to dry it really well.” Eden responded.
Vil blinked his eyes. He rubbed them. Was he seeing right? “Eden…Are you glowing?”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Vil,” Leona started opening his eyes. “Ed isn’t- oh no she is. Truth?”
Eden shook her head. “Nope.”
“For some reason she does this in hot springs,” Ling supplied. “Likely has to do with her… unique biology.”
Leona nodded like that made any sense. “Figures.”
“Gonna let us in on what you three are talking about?” Vil asked.
“ Nope .”
****
Ling was helping his wife towel off her automail while she pat dried his back. They had found this to be the most effective way of drying off, helping the other reach parts or do things they didn’t want to do.
Grim waddled next to them. “ Mrah…”
Ed stopped drying Ling off to pick up Grim with the towel. “Hold still.” She started rubbing Grim quickly trying to dry the cat creature off well. Grim made noises of disagreement but otherwise just let it happen, likely too tired to try to fight back.
By the time she was done, Ling had dried off both of her legs, and Grim looked like a grey puffball.
Ling snorted. “Looking good Grim.”
Grim tiredly let out a, “ Mm .”
After putting back on their clothes, Ling brought out the eyeliner and lipstick.
Ed groaned. “Ling, do we have to do this again? Can’t I just go the rest of the day without it?”
Ling gave her puppy eyes. “ Please? ”
Ed frowned. “...Fine. But if it gets messed up because we’re going to go train after this, I’m not fixing it for dinner.”
“Fine by me!” Ling cheered.