Jumy-M Naoshima Bath / 直島銭湯 "I♥︎湯" by artist Shinro Ohtake / 大竹伸朗

Public Bath

Steam and sauna

Small Town Tokyo: Toritsudaigaku

So I indulgently wrote an Onsen trip into the end of my last piece of Li Ling and Tang Xuan Dislyte fluff writing, and needless to say that idea grabbed me by the collar something fierce

Art Trade for © KatarinaTheCat

Here's one with Juniper & Viola taking a nice, hot bath while spending some quality time together at the Echidna Town Day Spa ^///^

In Japan, communal bathing is essential for establishing and developing healthy relationships with peers and family. Unlike what you see on television, everyone must undress completely before going for a soak, so no modesty towels allowed. Also unlike in the Western world, there's nothing kinky or shameful about being naked in front of another person in such communal space.

One must wash up and rinse thoroughly before entering the tub; a sitting stool, some soap and shampoo, and a shallow bucket for pouring are provided. Everyone uses the same bathwater, and it's purely for relaxation. Most bathhouses, or sento, are sex-segregated, to appease Westerners during the Meiji period (1867-1912) and prove that they are "civilized". Although attitudes are slowly changing, tattoos are considered taboo because of their association with the yakuza.

Juniper Ebonywood and Viola Ruma both belong to © KatarinaTheCat

Getting a little steamy with some G’raha fan art…

His blood extinguished the flames

The proconsul sent his herald out into the arena to announce that Polycarp had confessed to being a Christian. At this, the assembled crowd seethed with uncontrolled fury and called for Polycarp to be burned alive. Quickly, they assembled a pyre, gathering wood from workshops and the public baths.

Polycarp removed his clothes and tried to take off his shoes, though his advanced age made it difficult. His guards prepared to nail him to the stake, but he told them calmly, “Leave me as I am, for the one who gives me strength to endure the fire will also give me strength to remain at the stake unmoved without being secured by nails.” They bound his hands behind him. Polycarp offered a psalm of praise and thanksgiving to God. His captors ignited the wood.

According to observers, as the flames grew, they did not consume Polycarp as expected. The fire formed a circle around him, but his body did not burn. Since the fire did not have its intended effect on Polycarp’s body, an executioner was ordered to stab him to death with a dagger. His blood extinguished the flames.

Observers that day were shocked by the contrast between Polycarp’s martyrdom and the deaths of non-Christians they had witnessed. They beheld the same faithful discipleship in Polycarp’s death that had characterized his life: a humble acceptance of God’s will; praise of God in the most extreme trial; and a joyful, unwavering commitment to Christ even when faced with death.

~ Plough [dotcom] via Bearing Witness: Stories of Martyrdom and Costly Discipleship. Resources: “The Martyrdom of Polycarp” in The Ante-Nicene Fathers, edited by Philip Schaff, et al., translated by Marcus Dods (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1996) is the most complete account. History of the Church in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series 2: Eusebius, edited by Philip Schaff, et al. (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1984) includes valuable commentary by Eusebius. Finally, Irenaeus, Against Heresies, translated by Philip Schaff; edited by Alexander Roberts, et al. (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2001) contains details on Polycarp’s earlier life and character.

this definitely happened

Natation - Je vois bien par les costumes que c'est un estalissment de bains, mais ce que  je ne vois pas, c'est l'eau ! au dain des dames - On portrait déjà la ceinture comme ca l'année dernière. Vous ne changez don pas de mode ? - Dites donc, vous ne pourriez pas aller chercher des electricians pour couper le courant ?

Swimming - I can see by the costumes that it is a bathhouse, but what I don't see is the water! At the ladies' bath - We already wore the belt like this last year. So you don't change fashion? - Couldn't you get some electricians to turn off the current?    -- Mauryce Motet, Le Rire (The Laugh; French Comic)

山口先生と奇跡の再会

sigh...................... i think we need to get 2016 undertale fandom levels of annoying. we need to take drastic measures. i want ISAT not just to be popular but to be NOTORIOUS. do you understand. do you understand me

scribbles... pre-relationship onsen trip

The Baths of Caracalla by Lawrence Alma-Tadema

Haven’t posted in a minute

I need to draw more characters scrubbing each other’s backs

it’s not a sunday but my one thought is that veritas roams around naked a lot and if you happen to catch sight of him he isn’t really bothered okay bye