Get back to the bath.

For a time, you remain sitting at the ledge. Vyzia joins beside you. A moment later, Peep swims up to you and crawls up onto the bench and request her glasses, which you slip back on for her. She smiles bright and cute, and goes back to splish-splashing in the hot steamy water below, now able to properly see again. Occasionally, others do leave to cool down, though it's just as pleasant to sit back upon the cooler tiles, while still basking in the pleasant scent of the still-burning candles, and the various floral aromas of the soaps and shampoos. The steam is thick enough to where you feel like you're getting a bath regardless of where you sit. Not as much as a sauna, though even up where you are now, you feel your muscles relax, and you lean back on your hands while basking in the view.

Melodie and Bass are washing one another--thoroughly, since you so generously painted a layer over their entire bodies. It isn't easy to get it all off, though they seem to be enjoying the process.

Finally, you sink back into the water. Vyzia remains above, with legs hanging down right beside your head. With your arms back, you lay one over the edge of the pool to your right, and then other around the dragon's rear to your left, to touch your fingers upon her smooth scaled tail. She doesn't seem to mind this.

Something prowls beneath the water.

You peer through the steam to see a shadow beneath. Your Kitty Sense tells you something is approaching, and while it may be dangerous, it doesn't have ill intentions. Then suddenly, a sharp-toothed creature lunges forth, though it isn't a shark. Her skin is green, and she has a pair of antennae sprouting up from her hair. Two curved, sharp blades extend out from behind her back, and they pierce into the stone to both your sides, narrowly missing the dragon's leg, trapping you in a playful attack. She lefts herself up onto your knees, grabs your thighs, and stares you in the eyes. "Gotcha."

"Careful there," you say, running a finger along one of the blades. "And now I'm gonna have to Mend the pool."

"You should have parried."

"... With what?"

"Your sword," she says with a snicker. "I'm just having some fun. Relax." Then with a whistle like metal along stone, she retracts the points of her appendages away as they pull behind her arms. "So are your baths always like this?"

"Not every day, no."

"I never thought I'd be here, you know. The other times we met, I felt humiliated for different reasons. Now I'm naked in front of you, and I feel a little strange still, but you all bring an indescribable sense of comfort."

"Yeah. You're not even covering up. How scandalous."

"I mean, given what I saw you just do, I don't feel so weird doing anything. And yeah, I'm naked, but like you seem like a chill guy. You're not a creep. You've got crazy self-control."

"I'll say!" Fang calls out from nearby. "If I were in his position, oh man. I'd be on my knees all the time."

"It's not very cool to admit your will is weak."

"Excuse me, but I'm strong when it counts, and weak when I wanna be. That's my charm."

"If you say so." Her eyes return. She rocks forwards and back. "I don't know. I was allowed to basically do what I wanted when I worked for those other two, but I still feel more free here already. And you could have just let me rot in your dungeon, or killed me, or whatever. But here I am, being treated to a fancy bath."

"Feeling guilty?"

"I mean, that's probably a word for it. I'm not really a therapist."

"You can feel guilty for putting cracks in the wall of my bath, but not for anything else."

"Hmm." Vyzia crosses her arms, squeezing her mighty chest as she looks down to you contemplatively. "You continue to be a great leader, Kyle Warren, even if your methods are still something I'm learning. If you led a rival tribe against me, I would not underestimate you for a moment."

You look to her with a smirk. "Would I win?"

"No."

"I don't know about that. It seems to be I've won against most of your tribe already."

"If you say that again, I'll throw you from the bath myself."

Ariusia laughs loudly, still perched upon your knees. "And honestly, I've never seen so many insectrin in one place since the last time I was in that tunnel. I wonder where all those formicae went, actually. I guess without a leader, they ran off elsewhere to find homes together. I'm sure they'll be fine."

"Hey, Vyzia," you say. "I've got a question. Who is the slime girl? She's the only one who hasn't said anything. Is she all right?"

"She's happy to be here," answers the dragon. "Don't mind her silence. She isn't talkative."

Just then, a head gradually takes shape up from the puddle of black. Her body then begins to form, though not in any rush. After a few moments, there's a fully shaped woman sitting in the corner of the pool with an appearance somewhat similar to Jelly--long hair merely more of her body, partly translucent, and a modest physique without any true nudity to be seen in a manner similar to Peony. Her gaze is the most different. Where Jelly often looks excited and curious, this girl stares with a cold, dark expression, and while she makes her way slowly over to where you sit, she doesn't say anything as she does.

Ariusia eyes her up and down. "Guess she overheard you, Kyle."

The slime stares at you for a lengthy moment before finally speaking up. "I am all right, yes." Her voice is low. It isn't so monotone as Alice, as she isn't a magical machine, but she doesn't show a lot of emotion either. Then she sinks back down. This time, she remains shaped as she is instead of melting, but she rests back not far from where you sit.

"My name's Kyle. What's yours?" you ask.

Again, her eyes remain on you for a silent pause. It's a little uncomfortable. "Licorice.

"That's a really cute name. Well, enjoy the bath. Let me know if you need anything."

"... Thank you."

Vyzia crosses one leg over the other and leans back. Her tail says, placing it more into your hand behind her rump. "Kyle. What do you know of slimes? I saw one amongst you already."

"Jelly? Oh yeah. She's been learning much of the outside world here. Compared to when we first met, she's like a different person. I've heard they're made when regular slimes consume enough magic, or something like that. They've given intelligence and can quickly learn and develop. Otherwise, I mean they can shape their bodies? And I assume different coloured slime girls would retain their original properties, like Jelly can consume nonliving material, like clothing."

"Then you know more than me."

"They also love liquids. And certain liquids can affect them differently."

"I didn't know. I've only seen Licorice consume water."

Slowly, the slime girl looks away, perhaps to hide embarrassment despite it being impossible for her to blush. "There was one other time."

"... One other time what?" you ask.

"I drank honey. It did strange things to me. I became... jovial."

Vyzia perks a brow. "Interesting."

"It won't happen again."

You scratch your chin. "Wait, so you've never--" You stop herself and think about how best to word this.

"Is there another liquid you know of that has an effect on slime girls?" Vyzia asks.

"Yeah. Well, about that."

Fang raises her hand. "Oh, oh! Pick me, professor!"

You chuckle and point to the cat. "Fine. Go ahead."

"Thanks. And maybe we can talk about increasing my grade after this...?" She winks.

"Guess I'll explain instead."

"No! Here. Listen. The only way for a slime girl to orgasm is to drink one specific liquid. Say it with me now everybody. C-U-M. Cum! Oh. Nobody joined me."

Licorice stares at you blankly, lost in thought. "... What is an orgasm?"

"Oh wow," Fang mutters. "Ooh this is gonna be a good day."

Vyzia brings a hand to her lips. "I had no idea. I just assumed they couldn't."

"I guess she didn't know either," you say.

The slime girl's brow furls. "Don't hold secrets from me."

"It's what the others were doing shortly ago," answers Vyzia. "Melodie. Bass. Peep. Even Kyle, though his works differently."

A feeling perhaps even foreign to herself widens her eyes. Suddenly, many thoughts race through her head. If she had a heart, it would likely begin beating more quickly now. She isn't sure what to say. Surely she's seen such things before, but never did she know she could join. The only way she could know is to taste a man, which she must never have. Licorice brings a hand to her lips, and her eyes slowly turn away. "I see. So that's all it takes?"

Ariusia leans back. "Huh. Well aren't you the luckiest guy, Kyle? You got two girls here that can orgasm just by **** you down."

"Did you know she could do that?" Melodie whispers to her sister.

Bass shakes her head. "Not a clue. She rarely speaks."

"All right. No more talking about me please," Licorice says before standing up. She begins to wade towards the center of the pool, though doesn't look as if she's going anywhere in particular. She just needs some space.

Fang shrugs. "Guess she knows who to find if she wants to feel it for herself." Then she taps her chin in contemplation. "So if there were slime girl societies, do you think they'd do shots of--Hrk!"

Niki tugs her back. "All right. You gotta settle down over here."

Amara smiles and claps. "Oh! We have not washed your hair yet, and it is so long. Please allow me."

"Y-You've got it, beautiful elf woman," Fang mumbles out.