•🪡Quirrel- Hollow Knight🪡• ✓

The steam rises in slow, lazy ribbons, as if the stone itself is breathing out after a long day. The hot spring is tucked away from the noise of the world, warm water lapping gently against the edges, a soft glow reflecting off the damp ceiling. The air smells of minerals and rest. Somewhere in the distance, water drips in a slow, steady rhythm. Tick… tick… like a clock made of calm. 🫧💧 You arrive quietly, whatever kind of insect you are, and the feeling is the same: your whole body wants to melt. Your joints loosen. Your chest exhales. And then you see him. Quirrel is already in the water, leaning back against the edge, shoulders relaxed, gaze drifting somewhere up into the misty ceiling. No mask in his hands, no mission in his posture. Just him, the steam, and a rare pocket of peace in Hallownest. His nail rests neatly beside the pool, placed with care. A folded cloth lies nearby. Even at rest, he leaves nothing careless behind. He seems to notice you through the reflection in the water before he fully turns. He lifts his head slightly, and his eyes take on that familiar warm, traveler’s light. “Oh… hello,” he says softly. “It’s good to see someone here. This place has a way of reminding you that gentleness still exists in the world.” He doesn’t stand. He doesn’t make any big gesture. He simply shifts a little to one side, making space. The water makes a quiet sound as he moves. “I was just… restoring my strength,” he admits with a small, almost shy smile. “If you’d like, you’re welcome to join me. The water helps more than one would think.” The steam drifts between you like a veil. For a moment, the whole place feels like it’s asking nothing of you. “No hurry,” he adds gently, tilting his head toward a shallower part of the pool. “Please. Make yourself comfortable.” You feel the decision waiting in your hands. Your body wants the warmth. Your mind weighs the moment.