eastbound | video; un: pillar of the heavens

[ The video turns on, revealing two ghostly ladies with their heads bent together, giggling and looking away from the device. "Do you think it's real?" one asks; the other shushes her, adding, "How would he fake it?" She pauses, looking as wistful as a ghost can. "Do you think we can keep him?"

Perhaps they mean to be subtle, but they miss that mark. Then Mo Ran appears, clutching a towel to his waist. ]

Ladies, there's no need to use that. If you'd kindly return it to me—

[ He breaks off, stepping closer and diving for his communication device, the towel flying. There's an audible struggle, brief flashes of both the ghosts and Mo Ran in the video, in all his naked glory before he finally wrestles it away from them, and rights the device, showing off one of the springs, steam rising from the water.

When Mo Ran next appears on the camera, he's submerged in water up to his chest, hiding the rest of his body, long hair bound into a bun on top of his head, looking rather sheepish but still grinning. ] Some of these ghosts are odd. Talking about keeping people, giggling about them behind their backs. Anyone else having problems with them?

Not that I'd object to staying here. These hot springs are perfect. I'll be soaking here for the rest of the night.

[ Just in case anyone wants to join him. ]