Door to Door

The sound of giggling grew louder as John drew closer. He leisurely jogged beside the stream, cutting through the landscape. He followed it and quickly joined the others.

The stream disappeared into a narrow hole under a large stone platform. Its rough surface held a thin layer of water as dozens of small jets shot up through holes, spraying in arcs. The sight tugged at childhood memories of summers spent splashing around with family at the local pool.

The giggles and screams of the girls brought a smile to his face. Everyone seemed to have changed to suit the occasion. Ellie and Alison lacked bathing suits, so they’d stripped down to their underwear.

Alison was clearly not as comfortable, as she still wore a T-shirt, one which he recognised and was too big on her, fitting more like a short dress; it looked like one of his, though he was unsure how she’d gotten it, not that it mattered, as he didn’t have a chance to contemplate as Yatina and Mimi ran past him wearing adorable one-pieces, while Violet had followed their lead.

She blushed and smiled, noticing him approaching, pushing stray white hair behind her ear before striking a pose to show off her red lace-trimmed bikini. Lani and Agni remained unashamed, splashing and playing naked through the spray, giggling gleefully.

John slowed to a stop just before reaching the water feature. Glancing down at his own clothing, he spun on his heel. The fabric shifted, shrinking and reshaping into swim shorts and water shoes.

Violet hurried over, brushing against him as she playfully pecked his lips, then hooked his arm between her breasts while tugging him back towards the fun.

“Hope everyone’s enjoying themselves,” John said as water splashed around him. His expression shifted slightly into concern. “Shouldn’t we look for Robin and Lumi, though?”

Lani paused, shaking her head. “Don’t worry. Sissy is over that way,” she dismissed, casually waving towards the far wall. He looked over but couldn’t see anyone.

With Lani’s reassurance, John watched the chaos with a smile, occasionally splashing along, though their absence nagged at him. He wasn’t sure if it was simple worry or just the need to bring them back to share the fun.

“I’m going to see if I can find them. Be back soon,” he announced, walking back towards the edge of the splash pool.

Before leaving the fountain, Violet caught him for another quick kiss. Ellie didn’t give him a second to breathe. A little bolder, she brushed her tongue against his lip before pulling back with a smirk.

Alison caught his eye behind them, shuffling towards him. She hesitated before putting her finger on her lips and slowly tapping it a couple of times. He smiled and approached her, leaning down and planting a tender kiss on her lips. It might have lingered, if not for the wolf-whistles from the others, followed by exaggerated groans of disgust from the little ones.

Everyone quickly went back to playing, and John waved as he left. The laughter and splashing began fading behind him as he walked in the direction Lani had pointed in, though the sound didn’t vanish entirely. His smile remained as he thought of everyone enjoying themselves, and how his mother would probably join in with as much enthusiasm or watch happily from the side.

The wooden bridge gave a few hollow-sounding thuds beneath his steps, though it felt sturdy enough. Across the stream, the path branched off in several directions. One trail curved towards a broad, grassy clearing perfect for stargazing or sharing a picnic. Another led to a raised garden with several edible plants clustered together.

John continued walking, choosing the path directing him towards the outer wall before it divided again, each leading to a different door set into shallow arches.

The two doors were both warm-toned wood, and though a similar design, they were different. The one to the right distinctly felt homely: a knotted rope mat sat at the foot of the door, with a boot brush placed neatly to the side, and a wreath with a brass knocker affixed to its centre. It looked almost like a cosy entrance to a home.

The other gave a different impression altogether. Much simpler, with smooth pebbles paving the immediate surroundings, a wooden grate ensuring solid footing, and a small pot of bamboo right next to the door, something about it felt more practical.

A line of stepping stones ran from one arch to the other, cutting through the grass between them. Against the wall behind the path sat a simple wooden bench, a feature which tied the two doors together naturally.

John glanced between the two doors. Lani had pointed him this way, but there weren’t any clear signs of which direction Lumiara or Robin might have taken. After a brief moment of consideration, he chose the door on his left.

Walking through the door, several benches lined the centre of the room. The wooden-tiled floor felt pleasantly warm underfoot, and cubbyhole shelving ran along the walls. Directly ahead, another door sat slightly ajar, while to his right, simple wooden partitions separated several shower cubicles. Not exactly standard, but the function of the room was obvious.

With no signs of life, John made his way toward the half-open door. Peering through, he found himself looking back out over the hot spring. “Alright, this was definitely the door they used,” he muttered. “They’re not in the locker room… So either they’re still in the park somewhere, or they went through the other door.”

John exited and approached the second door. For a moment, he hesitated. Either they’d be in here, and his search would be over, or he’d have to scour the entire outdoor area. The thought drew a quiet sigh.

Reaching out, John took the handle and pushed the door open. A wall immediately to his right funnelled his view ahead, and he softly exhaled, releasing a small amount of tension he’d been holding. Sitting at a table in the centre of the room were the two he’d been looking for.

Both looked up as he entered, but continued murmuring, realising from his expression that his attention was being pulled to the rest of the room now that he’d found them.

Their quiet conversation mingled with the soft ambience of the room: the gentle crackle of an unseen fire, the slow, steady bubbling of the kettle on the table, and a faint clatter of wooden wind chimes.

The space itself was minimalistic. It reminded John of a show home, arranged to look lived in rather than truly inhabited. Candles and ornaments dotted the surfaces, yet most felt impersonal. Looking closer, though, he noticed small details out of place; a pinecone here, a pressed flower there, a large tooth resting beside a giant feather on a shelf. They didn’t feel the same, more like tokens of real sentiment. Combined with a dozen or so well-thumbed books, they brought out a touch of personality to the room.

It wasn’t a large living space. Beyond the table in the centre stood a small two-seater couch beneath a large curtained window behind Robin, and opposite that, behind Lumiara, a compact kitchenette.

Behind the front door was a wide shelving unit, displaying a mix of personal and decorative items. It also served to divide the room, giving the large, low-set bed its own sense of privacy. The wall which greeted him as he’d entered seemed to be the only enclosed space which drew his attention. A peek through its open doorway revealed a small, simple bathroom.

Having taken the rest of the room in, John turned back to Robin and Lumiara, who’d apparently finished their conversation, and, judging by their amused expressions, had been watching him meander.

Approaching the table, he gave it a little more attention. For the most part, it was thick, wooden and rustic, yet the centre reminded him of the Korean BBQ from the next town over. The centre was divided into two; the section nearest him was covered by a wooden lid, while the other was open, revealing slightly glowing coals beneath a grill on which the cast-iron kettle gently simmered.

Three teacups rested on the table, one between Robin’s hands, another in front of Lumiara, and a third placed at the empty seat beside the faun. Taking it as an invitation, John cleared his throat and joined them.

Robin sipped his tea, smiling as John hesitated over whether to try his own. “Pretty nice, right?” Robin asked, gesturing at the room and breaking the silence. “Seems part of the reward is an apartment for Lumiara. She mentioned her belongings have already been brought in; it seems she packs light.”

John lifted the cup, inhaling the steam. The scent caught him off guard, and he took a tentative sip, pleasantly surprised by the sweet lemon-basil flavour. “I’m guessing you made this, Lumi? It’s really good.” His gaze drifted around the room. “And yeah, it’s lovely. Kinda Japanese, you know?”

Robin nodded in agreement. “Yeah, like they mixed Japanese interior design with Western and fantasy styles, then sprinkled in a touch of nature.”

“Right,” John said, half smiling. “Not sure we should keep stroking Gaia’s architectural flair… So, have you really just been sitting here drinking tea the whole time? Didn’t consider, I don’t know, looking for the rest of us?”

Robin leaned back slightly, unbothered. “I’d say that sums it up, yeah. Lumiara knew where you all were and what you were doing, and I already said I wanted to get to know her a little better. Couldn’t exactly do that with the little ones darting about. Plus, this way you lot could tire them out a bit… Now that I say that, I realise how dumb it sounds; they’d be able to go for days if you let ‘em.”

John gave a short laugh, shaking his head. “Still, a bit mean to hide from them, isn’t it?” he asked, narrowing his eyes playfully.

Robin chuckled and winked. “I can play later. It’s not like I’m gonna just ghost them or something. Not gonna lie, they could be the only ones with powers more bullshit than yours.”

“Uh-huh,” John replied with a dismissive shake of his head, then turned to Lumiara. “So, your things are all moved in. Do you actually want to live here? It looks really comfortable, and you can keep the door open to the hot spring, so you can literally come and go as you please… Wait, did I miss a hut or something around the spring? Or did you just, like, summon a bed the way you did for Vee and me?”

Lumiara sipped her tea, humming softly. “Sometimes,” she said in a gentle, clear whisper. “Mostly, it depended on how I felt. Often, I’d just sleep in the water, or curl up on a comfy patch of moss. Oh, and sometimes I’d visit Leili and spend the night in the Silverwood with her and the faeries.”

After a thoughtful pause and another sip of tea, she continued, “Robin said the other doors would be accessible elsewhere, so Lani can visit more often. It does feel quite comfortable here. I don’t think I’d spend every night here, but it’s a nice option, and it’d be lovely to host my sister properly for a change.”

Robin drained his cup and stretched. “Alright, I’m gonna join everyone else, give you two a little privacy. Just gotta prepare myself… mentally and physically… It’s been a while since I last saw the derps, and I’m more than sure I’m about to get a double glomping.”

He waved them off as he headed for the door, pausing when John called after him, “You’ll probably want to change into swimwear; they’re playing in a fountain, like a little water park. You can just follow the stream, and you’ll find them… that is, unless THEY find you first.”

Robin’s eyes went wide for a second. “Threatening me now…” he chuckled.

“Nope, just a warning. Have fun,” John said, laughing.

Robin gave John a sarcastic “Thank you,” before closing the door behind him, leaving John and Lumiara alone. The room's ambience was calm and relaxing, likely the only thing stopping the silence as they sat next to each other awkwardly.

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