A stunning, modern suite spread before her. She had no idea that in her lifetime she would ever witness such a luxurious living space, let alone be allowed to have it as her own – even if only for a short time. Tall windows lined the walls, revealing the deep purple and orange hue of the late evening sky overlooking the city. Sunlight barely peeked out over the tops of the skyscrapers, and the stars were infiltrating the dark blanket of the night.
A long gray sofa sat comfortably in front of a faux fireplace that crackled with digital flames. Multiple red-and-gold chairs accompanied it, and a circular coffee table sat in the middle of it all, completing the sitting area. Vanna had to do a double take when she realized that the teacup her mother had given her was on top of that coffee table.
When did it leave her possession? Hadn't she been holding onto it? She didn't remember ever giving it to anyone… but, what mattered was that it was still there, she supposed. Vanna didn't bother moving to grab it, opting instead to leave it on the table for the time being.
Just beyond the den was a beautiful bar and kitchen, with a full wine cabinet and golden dishes in the clear cupboards. There was a small black partition behind it, which Vanna could only assume led to the bedroom… which, if the rest of the suite was as grand as it was, she couldn't fathom what the sleeping area must be like.
Vanna gently closed the door behind her, subconsciously afraid of damaging anything within the apartment. Even the throw pillows looked more expensive than the small house she and her family lived in.
The young woman trod carefully past the den and eventually the dining section as well. She held her breath as she took the last few steps behind the ornate barrier that separated the last space from the rest of the flat.
"Oh, my God." Vanna's eyes widened when she laid eyes on the huge bed in front of her. She had no idea that there were even beds that size… or shape!
The mattress was circular, and the bed was decorated with red silk blankets and a duvet. Even more plush pillows lay on top, like icing on a cake. It had a canopy with slightly transparent golden curtains that were pulled up to frame the rest of the bed.
Vanna's mind wandered back to what Shizuka had said just before departing… weren't the rooms decorated according to their 'beast?' If she actually was the golden phoenix, shouldn't there be even more gold, rather than red? Red was Quynh's color, not hers. The girl's lips flattened into a line, puzzled by the potential implications. Surely, it was all just a stylistic choice, right? Red and gold did look really good together, after all. Perhaps the others' rooms also had complementary accents.
"It's all very impressive," she mused to herself. "This is what it must feel like to have tons of disposable income."
Despite how inviting the plush bed looked after undergoing such a traumatizing and exhausting day, she absolutely needed to bathe first. Vanna felt utterly filthy, perhaps from being in an explosion and then immediately swept down a river.
Her eyes carefully scanned the perimeter of the room until she found the sliding door entrance to the washroom. She gingerly approached it, moved the door aside, and flipped the light on. Of course, the bathroom was as extravagant as the rest of the place. A huge basin with jets and a plethora of soaps and oils beside it sat by the window. A standing shower and double vanity were along the adjacent wall, making for yet another overly-fancy room.
Vanna couldn't help but sigh again. If she were to think too long about it, she would feel nothing but guilt for using such expensive amenities – especially when they didn't even belong to her – but decided to shake it off.
After some serious mental gymnastics, the woman convinced herself that it was likely all temporary. This allowed her mind to ease up a little, at least enough to enjoy the luxuries a little. She filled the bath with warm, steaming water and added lavender oils to it to create bubbles. Once it was reasonably full and at a comfortable temperature, she removed her clothes and stepped into the bath.
A pleasant tingle ran up her entire body as her skin met with the hot water. Once she was seated comfortably, she couldn't help but yawn. It had been an… eventful day, to say the least. She just hoped that her family wasn't worried about her – not that she had any way to communicate with them, given that her phone had disappeared into the debris along with all of her other belongings.
"I'll just ask Shizuka if I can contact Mother to tell her I'm okay," she muttered quietly to herself. "...and see if my phone was found, or if I have to try and save for a new one."
The hot water soon became a sanctuary for Vanna's tired body and mind. Light lavender fragrance wafted into her nose, easing her troubled thoughts. That, in addition to the sound of crackling bubbles, made for a cozy ambiance.
After spending nearly an hour in the bath, Vanna finally forced herself out. She had started to nod off a few times and didn't want to risk drowning. Meeting her demise in a bathtub worth more than a used car would be pretty embarrassing, but maybe not the worst way to go. Even so, she got out and dried herself in the plush red towels that were folded neatly on a rack.
Vanna, although once again feeling completely out of her element, exhaled softly. "What a day."
She was completely ready to go to sleep.