Just tired

Pearl was still gagging after that "medicine." What in the Author's name was even in that ooze? Ground frog guts? Worm spunk? Something equally nasty, slimy, and seemingly designed to make her hack up much more than a hairball? At the very least, her chest was beginning to feel much better; her breaths no longer a series of rattling aches. Handsome had even decided to sleep by her bed... it was enough to make a girl smile.

And so she did, her body fading out of sight as she wished; that shiny new tooth having just now popped back into place. Now, Pearl may be a daring kind of woman, but she was certainly not going to try her luck with that Doggy again. Oh no-no; she was feeling more mischievous than greedy tonight. The doctor had advised that she stay in bed till the morning, but she was getting that feeling!

It was like a pressure in her skull, telling her to do something; a part of her power as a Tale, rather than the sorts of madness that plagued many in Underland. It guided her down certain paths, just as her Tale had for The Wonder so long ago. Usually, these paths were lucrative, if a bit dangerous; this one, however, felt as though it would just be fun. She rose from the bed, and silently exited the guestroom.

The guidance was telling her to head towards the door, opposite the one she had just left; but Pearl wanted a good look around the house first. She would be staying here another day or two according to Doc; why not know the place a little better? The cozy little room she had just came from was adjacent to the short hallway leading from the entrance. After that hallway was the living room; a homely, spacious area with a large leather couch, and two lovely rocking chairs. From here, there were three ways to go; upstairs, into the kitchen, or through that door her guidance was pressing her towards.

Pearl poked her head into the kitchen; The Smiling Cat began wondering just how this small town Doc could afford this place... or that medicine. It had the smell of magic about it, and such things always came at a premium; although, she did mention her grandmother as the source. Even still, lucrative family dealings wouldn't account for the quality and quantity of knick-knacks and utensils Pearl was seeing in the kitchen. Doc had connections; strong ones at that... she had been at that moron's house when Pearl was sacking the place. Prehaps she had married rich at some point? No... she's far too fixated on that Doggy of hers. Doc is a romantic at heart.

Pearl left the kitchen, and walked up the staircase, finding three more doors. One was open, with a faint draft coming from it's doorway. Considering the smell coming from it was that same flowery perfume the Doc was wearing, it was easy to assume who's room it was. Checking the tumblers, the other two rooms were surprisingly locked. They were a simple lock, and could be easily picked if Pearl wanted to, but she wasn't curious enough to start poking around that much.

You know what they say about cats and curiosity...

Besides, her guidance was pulling her back down to that final door; the one opposite the guest room. She silently walks to the door, finding it slightly ajar; she was starting to wonder where exactly Doc and Doggy had gone. Pearl couldn't hear any rustling from those locked doors, nor the usual smells of that sort of thing. The final door led to a set of downward stairs, with the sound of running water coming from down below. Now she knew that Doc had to be loaded; plumbing? In this little town? She'd need a specialist to maintain that sort of thing, and those were damned pricy.

The staircase ended at a set of curtains, which were currently pulled aside. Past them, she saw a sight that certainly got her interest peaked. A white sundress, some green trousers, and a pair of knickers she remembered quite clearly; back when she robbed that poor Doggy. Another door was all the stood between her, and a wonderfully interesting story.

...

Cuu was very confused.

He had followed Doctor Oswald down to her bathing room area, where he had expected a well, and a bucket; with a drainage ditch for the water to flow back into the soil. What he hadn't expected was this... magic. She said it wasn't magic, but it damned well looked like it. Water was flowing over him from a strange spigot, not unlike the end of a watering can-

and the water was hot.

He had heard of hot springs when the Great Caravan stopped in Bei-Dao; but he had never actually been to one. The idea of bathing in hot water was entirely alien, and exotic. Now that he was experiencing it, he couldn't be happier. Now, the confusing part was the odd look Doctor Oswald had been giving him during this "shower."

She had been quite the great host during the whole thing; telling him how this magical plumbing worked. She had asked for help with reaching her back, and returned the favor; slipping a bit onto him near the end; these tiled floors seemed a bit like a hazard. He knew most townies outside of Elysium weren't up to communal bathing, and had been averting his gaze accordingly; but wasn't as sure about those of Ozon. Now he was certain that, at the very least, Doctor Oswald was just as open as those from his birth-place.

"Mister Cuu..." She whined. "Is it just normal, where you're from, for people to bathe together?"

...

"Yes? Why do you ask?"

Dorothy was screaming internally; and close to doing it externally as well. She had led Cuu down here with the intent of seducing him! She had even strutted down the stairs, swaying her hips dramatically like in one of her dirty books. Her jaw almost dropped when Cuu hadn't even reacted to her undressing in front of him (something that nearly caused her to faint), or when he did the same in front of her. She had assumed that, just maybe, he had been silently waiting for a time to pounce on her; and she tried her damned best to provide such a perfect chance.

Several. Times.

After The Wolf was finished being amazed by the wonders of indoor plumbing, she had asked him to help her wash her back. Feeling those massive hands all over her back had sent her mind flying over the moon with fantasies of this rugged beast of a man pulling her off her feet, and ravaging her down here; in the most private room of her home. These fantasies had led nowhere, of course.

Then, she tried washing his back. It had taken her several minutes of rubbing his back with her hands to work up the courage, but eventually, she had managed to press her amble breasts against his back. He had jolted a bit at the sudden touch, but nothing more.

She even pretended to drop the bar of soap the two had been using. She dropped the soap! How did he miss that!

"Doctor Oswald?" The damned, stupid, mangy, handsome, sexy, muscle-bound Wolf said. "Are you ok."

She sighed, grabbing one of the towels she had set out.

"I'm just tired, Mister Cuu. Just tired."