[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/D9OBI9j.png[/img][/center] Lucy and Terence had MacKensie on a fishing line, reeling her every way they wanted. Even at the best of times, MacKensie's proclivity to take herself a tad too seriously, made her an easy target for a bit of light teasing. But [i]here[/i]? [i]Now[/i]? With her reputation on the line, she was the perfect foil for two people looking to have a little fun at her expense. [Colour=Pink]"I..."[/colour] She managed at one point. [Colour=Pink]"But..."[/colour] was her only rebuttal for Terence. She looked between the two, on the edge of her seat for their verdict. And then they started laughing and she was still confused, even unsure if Lucy actually believed her or just didn't care, which was also annoying. She was innocent! "Is there anything else we can do for you, or was it just your stained reputation that you needed sorting out?" [Colour=Pink]"Ummm..."[/colour] she tucked an apparently-invisible lock of hair behind her ear, trying to collect herself. [Colour=Pink]"No, that is everything, I think."[/colour] She stood there like an idiot, for a moment, while they patiently waited for her to leave. Then she suddenly realised how stupid she looked and straightened her posture. [Colour=Pink]"Thank you for hearing me, Lucy. I appreciate your time and will not take anymore of it. Good day to you both."[/colour] She bobbed her head to both of them and left. Once outside there was a well-earned face-palm. This whole thing had been embarrassing from start to finish - from last night when she found out she was being unbanned, all the way until some future moment in time when she would finally forget that this ever happened. [Colour=Pink]"I am going to kill those two,"[/colour] she grumbled as she walked off. Later on, after taking her packed lunch to Golden Tree Park, she went and took a wander in the beautiful greenery until she found a bench to eat at. Knees together with her unwrapped sandwiches on her lap, she ate and let her mind do a little wandering of it's own. The threat of mass murder was right there, in the sky to the east, constantly. It weighed the heaviest among all of her thoughts, making itself known every thirty seconds as she thought about other things. She missed her family. She tried to timeline her most recent memories of her old life. She stood between a murderous horde of all of kinds of monsters and an entire city of men, women and children. She wondered what the Witch Queen - what Melina - looked like. Was she scary and monstrous? Or just a regular looking and talking woman? Zell and James were terrorists. She imagined herself holding of them by an ear and squeezing painfully. One slip at The Temple of Hades would have meant her end, sure, but another more suitable Adventurer Party would have hopefully taken the job and saved the Temple Hill region. But there was only one chance to save Valhiem's citizens. She wondered what Fenna's children looked like. Her husband too. How was her fellow Ranger doing? Zell and Adam... her recent dream of them flashed through her mind and a knot formed in her stomach. Barracker - this was his home. His people. As scared as she was to die, she'd done it before and was lucky enough to get another go at life. But Valhiem would not get a second chance. [Colour=Pink]"Fenna,"[/colour] she muttered, snapping back to reality when she saw her friend walking along the path. [Colour=Pink]"Fenna,"[/colour] she called louder, waving a hello when the other woman looked over. She smiled as Fenna came over. [Colour=Pink]"You needed some relaxation too, hmm?"[/colour] She asked Fenna how she was holding up and listened to the response, giving an [Colour=Pink]'I have been better'[/colour] if the question was returned. She offered to share some of the cashew-like nuts she'd bought, and thought about how best to get into a conversation where she could be there for her friend as a good ear to listen and shoulder to support, but then she suddenly remembered something she'd seen days ago, when they all first arrived in Valhiem. A place that was beautifully advertised at the Bazaar. A place that MacKensie was suddenly pining for more than anything. 'Valhiem's Famous Moutain Spa.' [Colour=Pink]"Fenna, do you have any plans for this afternoon?"[/colour] she asked, her hand suddenly on Fenna's, eyes alight with excitement. [Colour=Pink]"Come."[/colour] She got up. [Colour=Pink]"I know the perfect way to spend the rest of today. A place out of sight of that dreaded artillery fire, where we can actually unwind from this rollercoaster of The Wraith, Zigmund and The Witch Queen... even if just for a moment or two."[/colour] She beckoned Fenna like her life depended on it, trying to create some suspense before she finally said. [Colour=Pink]"There is a Spa place, on the road to the guildhouse. We [i]simply must[/i] go, today."[/colour] She could already see some concern on Fenna's face. [Colour=Pink]"I will not take no for an answer, my friend. You deserve it. Come."[/colour] She practically dragged Fenna to this Spa, who was trying to be fiscally responsible, but MacKensie would not hear it. [Colour=Pink]"Consider it, my treat."[/colour] There was a chance she would die, next week - she'd blown money on clothes, jewelry, hair and make up, all with much worse excuses than that! Caution had offically been thrown to the wind. They followed the directions on the billboard at the Bazaar and found the place, the entrance of was built into the Citadel Mountain, and took them down some beautifully lit steps and opened into a large, fancy reception area. MacKensie was gooey-eyed, hands clasped together as she looked around. The stone of the cave, the wooden beams, the paneled walls, the lighting... it was everything she was hoping for. Then a woman came over to greet them. MacKensie requested the very best and most expensive treatments, paying whatever it costed for Fenna and herself. There were massages, oils, face mask treatments, lovely ASMR sounds, great service... roughly a few hours of the very best relaxation... and it all ended with Fenna and MacKensie enjoying a privately booked hour in the hotspring deep under the mountain. [Colour=Pink]"Aaaahhhh,"[/colour] MacKensie was almost falling asleep the moment she settled into the spring. She smiled over at Fenna. [Colour=Pink]"This was so worth it, Fenna. I regret nothing."[/colour] MacKensie had spent a fortune.