Doe's attitude slowly improves

It takes almost a month and sometimes you wonder if she's so stubborn that you will fail. But every day she comes out of her room with more of a spring in her step, happier to see the world. Linne's very positive attitude and her new experiences are something Doe looks forward to. You know that Linne talks to Doe through the door at different times during the day, but she's full of stories and excitement at dinner. And she's scatterbrained enough that she often mentions something at dinner she forgot to mention earlier.

From time to time you've also brought other people to your tower. Sometimes an important guest looking for a way to jump the queue, sometimes a particularly fearful captive due to be transformed the next day, sometimes a centaur or centauress right after they've been changed. For their large bodies the dining room in the tower is a bit cramped, but it's worth it. She has the chance to see you deal with all sorts. She has the chance to witness those who were very unsure about being changed by a mage return fit and happy, showing off their new body with pride. She gets to meet riders who are head over heels for their new mounts. One insists he's getting the steps at his house rebuilt into a ramp because his centaur is going to have his own room.

Rather than trying to win over Doe directly, which you knew would never work, you let her watch you. And then you make sure that whenever she's looking you're doing your best. Only one person she hears from has ever experienced pain during the transformation. That particular case was pretty lucky - he was in for a burst spleen if he'd kept living his life normally. But after the change into a centaur he's got a long life ahead.

So as the month draws to a close and the supply of horses dwindles you know that Doe is seeing you and perhaps much of the country in a new light. Not everyone is terrible and you're proving to be a surprisingly good man. You know that she's started to glance at you out of the corner of her eye. She'll never learn that it was due to some aphrodisiacs you slipped into her meals.

Late one night, a night where you gave her a good dose of said aphrodisiacs, you're sitting at your table, going over a few notes. Doe is lying on the couch, Linne is on the floor in front of the couch. It's a pretty common position they've adopted before - Linne's head and shoulders resting on the armrest of the couch, Doe resting against Linne's back and stroking the fur of Linne's cat body. You know part of the reason is so Doe can whisper to Linne.

Tonight Doe's a bit spaced out. That's probably the aphrodisiacs. Linne is practically asleep. That's a combination of the food, the warm fire and the fact she's getting petted. Despite her shyness Linne really can't resist a good petting, be it someone rubbing her ears, getting back rubs or best of all belly rubs.

Doe is so relaxed that you manage to make it out of your chair and a quarter of the way over to her before she notices. Which is sloppy for her. You pull up a stool next to them and start rubbing the front of Linne's torso, between her front legs. With how her brain and nerves are wired this spot doesn't register as an erogenous zone, but it definitely is one of her favorite places to get scratches. She probably wouldn't let anyone but you and Doe touch her there, but warm and happy as she is Linne purrs pleasantly.

Any time in the last month Doe would have made some comment. She would have been sure you were going after poor Linne, would have said you were a pervert and so on. But it's been over two weeks since Linne arrived and she's spent every night with Doe. You've shown her nothing but kindness. Unable to say anything mean Doe just lies there, gently stroking Linne's fur as you do the same.

It's strangely peaceful for you and Doe. You can feel her breath on you when she exhales, that's how close you've got to her. Yet she doesn't move away or claim she's tired and head for bed. She stays close, too content to do otherwise. It ends up being the first night Doe and Linne don't sleep in their room, since both manage to pass out in place. You lock them in the study and next morning you release them.

Groggy and irritable, Doe goes back to her room without any real complaint. You can tell that despite the less comfortable bedding she really enjoyed her 'night out'. Which will probably eat at her later. After all, she sleeps with Linne every night. So what made last night so relaxing and pleasurable. And if the aphrodisiacs did their job she'll be asking, 'Why was I picturing myself with John?'