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AD-HOC Campus Pool - The Next Morning

With a big, big yawn, a dog - corgi to be more specific - wakes up from her sleeping spot next to the swimming pool. Delia opted to shift full feral for sleeping as she does most of the time, having long since lost any fear of being stuck on this end of the change. If anything, it's more likely she gets stuck like this if she doesn't spend time on all fours and if she's honest it doesn't really bother her anymore.

She stretches herself up, tail bobbing upwards as she attempts to awaken to the sunrise somewhere behind the buildings. Thank whatever deities are around she doesn't have work today, considering... She glances down at the pool.

Gillian is still tied up somewhat loosely to the metal hand railing by the green garden hose the two jury-rigged the night before, Looped under her bosom, it has successfully kept her from slipping deeper into the water following any additional changes over the night.

And a good thing too, as the satyr is (mostly) back to herself, the tail gone and in its place are her usual hooved legs. Her fluff of a tail beneath her. The biggest sign that things have changes are the small patches of scales here and there, shimmering beneath her fur, occassionally shimmering under just the right light.

She seems to still be sleeping, bobbing slightly in the pool.

Delia smiles upon seeing Gillian back to normal. Well, whatever passes for 'normal' around these parts, she reminds herself.

She makes her way to the edge where Gillian is tied up and lies down. After a moment of watching her love, she idly reaches to poke at Gillian's shoulder with a paw.

Gillian slowly rouses from sleep at the familiar touch, one eye creeping open to look at Gillian, as she starts to wake up... "Delia~. Err... Why am I so wet...?" She doesn't quite jump, but splashes a little as she strains against the hose, then relaxes, "R-right... I almost wanted that to all be a dream."

Delia hums as she sits up: "If you ask me, the latter part of it was pretty dreamy. But I getcha." In one motion she makes her way into the pool and is bipedal again by the time she stands up in the pool, next to Gillian. Maybe slightly showing off what it means to have control over one's shapeshifting. "Let's get you untangled, first of all. Feeling alright?"

Gillian watches Delia and smiles, then turns to take stock of herself, stretching her legs out in the water back and forth, then checking her hips and belly with her hands, "I've... been better. Still a little scared... But everything feels right and seems to be working the way I remember."

Delia smiles as she starts to undo the simple ties of the garden hose. "Good. And scared just means it's new, I imagine. I was scared out of my mind the first time I grew a tail." She chuckles, blushing: "Seems so silly now, considering. But I understand." She gives Gillian a kiss as she 'frees' her.

Gillian lifts her arms to let the hose unwind from around her, giggling slightly, "My hero, to the rescue." She kisses Delia back, then carefully sets a hand down to the pool floor and pushes herself back up to stand on two legs once again. Shakily at first, but with growing confidence as the familiar muscles reaffirm themselves. Her other hand has a death grip on the metal bar to which she was tied, betraying her fears about standing up. "O-okay... Legs seem to be working. How... How do I know they won't just change again?"

Delia nods: "You won't." She lifts a paw up: "What I mean is, you won't be able to tell just yet when the desire of your body to change turns into a need, but as long as you don't push yourself to avoid it... I'm pretty confident you will be able to have at least a feeling when you should." She takes Gillian's hand in hers again: "We can come up with a plan to get you here, or to Fiddly Creek, or something."

Gillian nods, taking Delia's hand once again as she takes a few uncertain steps out of the pool. "Planning... planning, I can do. Thank you for being so... Amazing." She sighs, then forces a bit of a smile about the whole situation, "W-well at the very least... I won't have much of a problem swimming with you?"

Delia follows the Satyr up when she is able: "Yup. There is that. And if you're anything like me or really most shapeshifters... You're going to learn new things about all this as you do more of it." She chuckles: "I know so much more about dogs now than I did back then, if you can believe that."

Gillian's smile grows a little more genuine as she gets out of the water and finds a towel, beginning to dry herself off. "Well, new things about... Whatever else it is I am, yes. A fish? A mer-goat? Ugh, I don't even know... I don't know what, or how, or... Or why."

Delia smirks at her lover: "If there's one thing we're both good at, it's reading and learning. I'm pretty sure the AD-HOC library has some answers." She steps closer to hug Gillian, wet dog or not: "We can figure this out."

Gillian hugs back tightly, "Y-yeah... Yeah true. It's... It's not knowing right now that's bothering me. But you're right, of course. Guess we're in a pretty good place for this kind of thing to happen."

Delia smiles: "If I may boast a bit, you might be in relationship with the best expert on figuring out what's going on in your noggin', right now. Best in this city, at least."

Gillian giggles, giving Delia another kiss, "Boast away, love, but I already know you're the Best. About this kind of thing, too." She steps back to finish drying herself off, giving a little turn-around to Delia, still naked and holding her ripped up swimsuit, "So, um, how do I look? Is anything still strange?"

Delia tilts her head, now looking at Gillian's body in the light: "Mmm. Not really... Though I suspect that small patch of scales on your hip is here to stay."

Gillian eeps, deflating a little as she spins to find the offending patch, poking a finger at a different patch entirely, "Th-this? Ugh... It... It feels so smooth though... You were right, I really thought it would be all slimy and gross."

Delia squints: "I think it's only really visible when the light hits it right. Like right now-" She glances towards the bright morning sun. "- I wouldn't worry about it."

Gillian keeps poking at the scales a moment longer, then lets her hand drop away with a sigh, "Yeah, guess there's no sense in overthinking it... Much... I'll... We. We'll figure it out."

Delia shrugs: "You're still you. Few scales under your fur isn't going to change that." She hugs Gillian again, smiling with warmth that tells Gillian that exactly nothing has changed for the corgi.

Gillian's expression softens further, "The rest I can deal with... y-yes, I'm still me. And I will always love you, Delia. So... what do we do now? I... I want to say breakfast, but is there something else important to do?"

Delia steps up onto her toes, reaching up to kiss Gillian deeply: "That. Now we can get clothes and go find breakfast."

Gillian blushes brightly, "That was pretty important, th-thank you. And oh right... clothes."

Delia steps away a few steps and shakes herself vigorously. "Mrrrf!" She looks all poofy and wet now, not that it bothers the corgi at all. She then glances around: "Our clothes are where we left them, on the other side. Also, told you no one really cares to use the pool at night."

Gillian looks back at the pool, an odd sense of dread and familiarity with the water crossing over her, "You were right about that... guess that's good, since we might have to make more use of it..."

Delia giggles softly: "I guess that might be the case now, yes. I mean, there's still a chance this was caused by something we just didn't notice, but all signs that I know of point it to being something that already was in your blood." She glances aside: "Transformation magic is weird like that. It feels like it should have more rules, but they often end up being more like... guidelines, at best."

Gillian sighs, holding Delia's hand as they start to head back to the room they left their clothing. "Sounds... chaotic. But I guess that's just how it goes with this kind of magic stuff... and... t-transformation. I've done my best to be understanding about it, knowing how it's affected you. It's a bit different happening to 'me'. N-no offense."

Delia shrugs: "None taken. I study this nonsense for almost a living now, and it still blindsides me at times." She glances at Gillian's hips: "Case in point."

Gillian nods thoughtfully, "As long as it's not hurting either of us... I... Sorry... Overthinking again."

Delia smiles as she looks up at Gillian: "One day at a time. Clothes, then breakfast, then home on a sick notice. Sleep properly, then see how you feel like, maybe continue figuring this out. Sound like a plan?"

Gillian almost seems more aghast at the idea of a sick day than she does her transformation, "A sick day? B-but I can't... I can't just... I... You're not going to let me get away with working, are you?"

Delia smiles, her tail wagging: "I totally will not. We're going to figure how this works, and for that we need you to not suddenly grow a tailfin in the restaurant kitchen."

Gillian frowns, "That... would be awkward. I don't think Brianna would ever forgive me either."

Delia hums: "You can tell her later what it's about... once we know what's happening, you know?"

Gillian sighs, "What's wrong... err... happening..." She chews on those words a moment. "Okay. You know best. Food, home, and rest."

Delia giggles as she leads Gillian to their clothes: "I have my moments, at least."

Gillian giggles, "Well, it was bound to happen eventually?" She shakes her head, "That's a joke. You know how much your words mean to me."

Delia smiles: "I know." She starts putting her clothes on, just the usual shorts and t-shirt that are quick and easy to drop if... when she shapeshifts. "Depending how this all starts to feel for you, you might want to considering having a clothes stash somewhere here."

Gillian takes out her clothing, examining it a moment. "I guess the swimsuit is proof enough of what could happen with these kinds of changes. I do prefer skirts and dresses, so... that means pants won't be a problem... my um... more personal effects though... I guess having some spares around won't hurt, just in case."

Delia smirks: "Take it from someone who's feral form is almost incapable of wearing clothes... you're gonna end up inconveniently naked a few times even with preparation."

Gillian blushes, still rather awkward about nudity, and she takes the opportunity to put her bra back on. "W-well... I guess I'll be shopping for a two-piece bathing suit next time... Oh gosh, this is... a lot to consider."

Delia nods as she finishes putting on her shirt: "Yup. I'm not gonna sugarcoat and say it's all going to be easy, but at least you'll have me on your beck and call when stuff goes down."

Gillian puts on her clothing as well, a bit quiet as she gets into the rather simple long skirt and top, "...I like my clothes... Oh gosh, Delia... I'm sorry that this had to happen like this..."

Delia shrugs and smiles: "Like what? At least we were already planning alone time together."

Gillian flails her hands a little, then drops them down, "Just... it all sounds like so much that you're going to have to do for me. You know I hate to be a burden... a-and I know! I know. It's no burden... doesn't stop it from feeling like a burden... it's... a lot. And it is scary and new and a l-little overwhelming. I... I want to scream, a-and now my hands are shaking, and I don't even know why except that I d-don't know why and that's messing with me!" She slouches down, ears dropping as she realizes how loud her voice had gotten in that little rant. "I... s-sorry."

Delia steps close to hug Gillian from behind: "Cause all of this is a lot, so you're allowed to think it's a lot. Breathe, love. I'm here, it's all okay, and we don't need to solve every part of this issue right here and now." She holds onto the Satyr, refusing to let go so fast this time.

Gillian breathes heavily, almost hyperventilating, but slowly getting it back under control as she leans into Delia's hug. "I- I spent the night in the pool... wh-why is it just thinking about Clothes that's making me b-break down...?"

Delia hugs tighter: "Cause brains are weird and definitely not always doing the logical thing."

Gillian manages to pull herself together enough to get her arms around Delia, "I-I keep thinking this wouldn't have happened had I never left my old life... and I hate myself for thinking that... I- I haven't thought that since the first week I spent here at Ad-Hoc."

Delia shifts to look at Gillian, to hold her gaze: "You may have never found another beautiful and exciting side of yourself. Yes, it's also scary, but a lot of life is."

Gillian: "I know... I... yes... I know. I will never, ever regret finding Ad-Hoc and finding You. I just... it all hit me just now and... well... bad thoughts... that dark place."

Delia nods and doesn't let go. "I understand." She nuzzles close to Gillian, closing her eyes.

Gillian simply squeezes Delia close for a moment, sniffling and sobbing and letting out some pent up emotion as she holds the corgi close. Finally, she eases back, bringing an arm away to wipe her face, "Th-thank you."

Delia smiles, getting a bit choked up herself. "N-no problem. As always."

Gillian gives Delia one more squeeze before she legs go, "As always. I think... I think some rest will be a good idea. I think you're right. I need a day off."

Delia nods: "I do too, even if it's just 'cause I slept on the cold pool tiles." An excuse, mostly, but she pushes that thought to the background. She'll fight Auriel herself on this if she needs to.

Gillian frowns again, "Ah, s-sorry about that... the water was cold too, but I didn't really feel it. But... a world of difference from our bed at home."

Delia smiles: "Definitely. Let's go find that breakfast, love~"

Gillian takes a deep breath, and runs her hands down her skirt to smooth it over her legs. She manages to smile once again, and nods, "Breakfast sounds... incredible. I love you, Delia."

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