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Next Friday, late evening.

Someone, or something, lands onto the balcony with a nearly thunderous crash compared to the quiet of the rest of the building.

The sound is followed by cursing in what sounds like half-English, half another language that may be draconic, and heavy footsteps coming towards the hallway from the balcony.

Janelle has been working late, as she often does let's be honest, and half dozing as she finishes her spreadsheet work for the day. But the sound of what must surely be a giant condor come to eat her whole is absolutely enough to startle her from her half-dreams as she snaps awake, fumbling from her desk to cautiously investigate.

No one would be insane enough to break into a dragon's rooftop mansion, right? Then, that giant moving shape that is rolling and cursing and growling could only be, "Ma'am?! Oh god you gave me a scare!"

Liseth'erend'oreana looks up from her growling, blinking at Janelle in the darkened hallway. She's paused from her grumbling enough to stop it for a second, before sighing.

"My apologies. Not the greatest day for me. Some dates should learn basic manners before inviting me over."

Janelle stands staring, trying to process that a moment, "You were... On a date?" She blinks, before settling into a more sympathetic look, "I don't know much about dragon dating rituals, but I know a few human ones for washing a bad date out of your mind."

Liseth nods: "Yes. Flew all the way to Chicago for that fiasco. Should have known that he was all talk and credentials. Didn't even have the courtesy to inform our date restaurant beforehand... just assumed we would get whatever we wanted." She glances aside: "...which, we did, but come on! That's so incredibly rude."

Janelle walks closer, frowning. "No forethought at all. I've had my fair share of those kinds of dates too. Says he's going to take me to the finest restaurant in Manhattan and didn't even put in a reservation? No meal is worth a four hour wait with some dumbass trying to explain how he 'gamed the system' to get rich. Not rich enough for a phone to call ahead for reservation, clearly... Ugh. Men."

Liseth nods with a grunt. "Agreed. It's just too bad there's so few dragons left... way shallow potential dating pool." She glances at Janelle: "I have to admit I'm jealous of you humans in that regard. At least if you come across a jerk, you can always find another date."

Janelle slumps slightly, "Sadly there's a limit to human tolerance. I've been on enough dates for my lifespan, ma'am. I may never hear the end of my Mother asking me for grandkids, but I can't stomach another man asking me if I'm 'into one-night stands' before we get out of the car." She sighs. "Ugh, sorry. This isn't probably making you feel any better. I was going to suggest a glass of wine and a bubble bath. If you have the ability to do so, that is."

Liseth listens, then slumps slightly. "I suppose I do. May not be the greatest idea to be alone in my grump, but I'll live."

"...and if we weren't different species, I'd say we have same parents. My moaghara is also constantly on my back about 'the survival of the lineage'."

Janelle chuckles, "Maybe we're not all that different, hm? And no need to be alone, ma'am, I've certainly not got any plans tonight. If you want the company, I'm happy to assist."

Liseth blinks and looks up: "Really? I would think you have better things to do than..." She pauses, then smiles: "Ah who am I kidding, I would definitely appreciate the company, and if you're up here this late, you're probably free."

Janelle extends her arms out as if to demonstrate the emptiness of her schedule, "Just working late, no date plans certainly. And I've been on the boot end of enough bad dates to know when sometimes you just need someone to sit with you and listen."

Liseth nods slowly, musing. "Then... I best go put our bath ready. Can you go down to the kitchen to get a bottle of sparkling - oh and do get a glass for yourself as well."

Janelle nods, "Of course, ma'am. I'll go fetch a bottl-and-oh-wha-Our bath?"

Liseth hums, glancing at Janelle: "Unless you do not want to, of course. But it was your suggestion."

Janelle pauses to calculate. Processing. "No, no, it's not that. I just..." Please hold. "Have nothing to wear?"

Liseth tilts her head, glancing at her notably clothes-free body, then back at Janelle: "...to a bath?"

Janelle starts to raise her hand, then lowers it. "Of course not. I am uncertain what I was thinking of... I shall go get the wine, then."

Liseth hums, nodding. Strange human notions, but perhaps better to not voice her opinion right now. "See you in there in a few moments, then." With that, she turns around, her tail swishing as she walks down the hallway towards where the considerably sizable draconic bath space is, her awful date for the moment forgotten.

Janelle half-panics as she calmly strides to the kitchen. She needs that wine herself now, wondering just what she's gotten herself into here. She grabs a bottle and a glass for herself and heads down to the bath, an area of the house she has not yet visited for seemingly obvious reasons.

When Janelle comes into the room, Liseth is sitting at the edge of the small swimming pool-sized bathtub that could hold fifteen people - or about one dragon. She's just watching the steaming hot water slowly fill the pool, seemingly lost in thought.

Janelle gapes a little at the size of the pool. She glances over at Liseth questioningly, "Ma'am? Should I just...?" She shrugs. Pointing to her clothes. "Humans... Are a bit shy about this is all. We are a bit vulnerable, afterall."

Liseth tilts her head, slightly startled out of her thoughts. "Should you... oh. Well, I am certainly no expert. If you want to keep your clothes on, you can do so. But I understand baths are usually not had with them?"

Janelle: "They are not, no... I simply meant... If you were okay with me removing mine here? I didn't exactly see a changing room, so... But I didn't wish to just assume and remove them. Again, it can be seen as rude to humans to just get naked." She adds a laugh at the end, trying to imagine how hilarious this is from the outside.

Liseth gives a slightly confused shrug: "I have no problem with you undressing right here. It is more convenient like that, right?"

Janelle nods, hesitating one more time. Alarms going off in her head tell her this kind of behavior ruins careers, not makes them. This is her boss in almost every sense of the word. She's not afraid of her, nor does she think this is some kind of indecent proposition. This... Is someone she cares about who needs a friend. The rest is... Cultural differences. She knew that could be a problem when she started this job.

She takes a deep breath and starts undressing. "Forgiveness, ma'am. It's just a sign of vulnerability for humans. Getting naked in front of one another. It's a trust thing."

Liseth hums, then nods. "I think I understand. Humans of all ages wear clothes, except for special circumstances. If..." She pauses: "...if you do not feel like being vulnerable in front of me like that, I understand."

Janelle continues to strip, carefully folding her clothes and setting them aside. She removes her suit coat, then her shoes, her slacks, then carefully peeling back her nylons. "I simply wanted to explain my hesitation. You've given me no reason not to trust you, and nudity is nothing to Dragons. Well, when with dragons..." She shrugs, blushing a bit just from the circumstances. She reaches up to remove her shirt, leaving her in just her bra and panties.

Liseth looks at the process with an expression that can be largely described as just curiosity.

"I have never quite understood the reason for human clothing. I mean, keeping warm, sure, and being comfortable because you lack scales, but..." She waves an idle claw in the air: "...there's something else to it as well and the more I try to understand it, the less I do."

Janelle glances down at herself as she removes her bra, "Warmth, protection, comfortable... Yes. There is an element of self-expression as well. Clothing is a way to stand out. To express who we are and what we may believe in. Or what we wish to be. Or even a way to hide who we really are. Clothes... are many things, I suppose." She reaches down to remove her panties last, and now stands naked before the Dragon.

Liseth considers what Janelle is saying more than her naked being right in front of her: "Ah, yes. We dragons mostly do self-expression with... jewelry, and the like. Humans are very good at crafting such intricate creations on that front."

She looks at Janelle and smiles, then glances at the now-full pool. "Perhaps better I dip in first, then." She then does exactly that and slides down into the hot, slightly bubbling bath, taking most of it but still easily leaving space at the edges for Janelle to get in however she wants.

Janelle watches the Dragon slip into the pool. At first afraid that the water might be too hot, she cautiously approaches the edge and dips a toe in, then, once she's sure it won't scald her, she carefully lowers herself down and swings her legs into the water, slipping the rest of her body in afterwards.

A pleased hum emerges from her as the warm, bubbly water infuses her, "Ohhh I hope this feels as good to you as it does to me. It's been a long time since I've allowed myself a bath this decadent."

Liseth glances at Janelle after she's settled, smirking: "If I have understood anything in the last few years, if there's one thing us dragons are good at... it's decadence."

Janelle hums. She turns back to where she set the wine and gets herself a glass, "I cannot believe I'm doing any of this."

Liseth smiles: "While you are not-believing it, can you pour me a glass as well?"

Janelle laughs, as she pours the dragon her own glass as well. "Of course. Though such a small glass for a Dragon your size isn't going to get you very much is it?"

Liseth laughs softly as she takes the glass: "If I wanted to get drunk, I would not have bothered with a glass. But it is about the taste and enjoying it with company, is it not?"

Janelle raises her glass, "That sounds a wonderful toast, ma'am. Hear hear!"

Liseth very carefully clinks her glass to Janelle's with a smile: "For good company and hopefully better dates in the future."

Janelle clinks her glass in turn, then drinks the glass a little too quickly, "Oop, ha. W-wow. That is good wine. But I agree. Here's to better dates. Or at least better times spent without them."

Liseth laughs softly, before leaning her head down on the edge of the bath. "Maybe, yeah. Maybe a bit of both. Such... I don't know, just there's gotta be better scaled company out there somewhere, right?"

Janelle nods, "I don't know any Dragons except you, Ma'am... But there must be more like you, right?"

Liseth nods slowly. "There were... about a thousand of us, when we arrived, five years ago. I can't imagine that number has changed all that greatly yet." She looks aside: "...like I said, small dating pool."

Janelle sighs, pouring another glass with the intent of drinking it a little slower this time, "Ahh... That seems like a lot, until you consider it from the angle of dating."

Liseth nods, glancing at Janelle: "Yep. I'm mostly fine being alone, anyway. Just occasionally get this feel that... wanting to share my life with someone, you know?"

Janelle frowns, staring into her wine glass as she relaxes into the water. "Yeah... I know that feeling really well. Mom keeps saying it's my biological clock, but I can't even imagine having kids. I just want someone to be with. A best friend who I can experience my life alongside."

Liseth nods along, closing her eyes as she leans on the edge of the pool again. "Mmm. One day, perhaps."

Janelle shifts through the water closer to Liseth, reaching out a hand to pat her snout the way a friend might pat your shoulder. "I hope it'll come on you unexpectedly, ma'am. You deserve someone to make you happy."

Liseth blinks at the touch, instinctively drawing away, then realizing her movement and stopping herself. "Um. Sorry. Didn't see you... there."

Janelle pulls her hand back, "Ah! Sorry! I just... You looked like you needed a reassuring touch? Just uh, blame it on the wine..."

Liseth hesitates, then lowers her head closer again: "It's... uh... okay. Sorry. Just not... used to. That."

Janelle moves back in and puts her hand on Liseth's snout once more. "Is this fine?"

Liseth blinks at the touch, but doesn't draw away again. She breathes in and out in a way that Liseth definitely feels. "Y...yes."

Janelle pats her snout, "As I said... You'll find someone. You're too amazing not to have someone who will give you the kind of worship a Dragon deserves."

Liseth hums: "Such praise." She lifts her head to look at Janelle more properly: "I will accept it, but only if I may also make an observation."

Janelle slowly lets her hand fall away from Liseth's face, tilting her head in curiosity. "Ma'am?"

Liseth smiles: "You are too kind to stay alone, as well. Someone will find your heart and perseverance and want to call you their own, I am certain."

Janelle blinks humming at Liseth's words. "I'm... Okay, guess I have to accept that too, hm? Thank you, Liseth'erend'oreana. I hope that proves the case."

Liseth nods, then returns to leaning on the edge of the pool. "I said it as your boss-dragon, so it will now be true."

Janelle hums, sipping her wine, "You have given me quite the mess, ma'am. My job is to ensure you're correct on these kinds of matters..."

Liseth blushes a bit: "Has my correspondence been that bad?"

Janelle shakes her head, laughing, "Not at all, I am merely joking that if you say someone will find me and accept my heart, with your word as a dragon backing it, then my job is to ensure that it happens so that you continue to look good." She tilts her head back to look up at Liseth.

Liseth blinks: "Oh. I get it." She smiles: "Then we have a plan. Of sorts. I think."

Janelle nods, "I suppose we do. I think..."

Liseth stares for a moment, before breaking into soft giggles.

Janelle blinks a few times, then can't help but join in the giggling.

Liseth shakes her head and redirects her attention to her drink. "You're good company, Janelle."

Janelle snorts a bit still giggling as she recovers, "First time anyone's called me that. Love you too."

Liseth shakes her head in slight amusement: "Time's the first then."

Janelle giggles again and drinks more of her wine. "This really is somehow the most relaxed I've felt in ages..."

Liseth nods and leans onto the edge of the pool again: "Mmm, there's a reason I wanted one of these up here, even though they told me the plumbing would be very expensive."

Janelle laughs, "I can't even imagine. I've had winters in New York where I could barely afford heating. This bathtub alone must have cost a fortune."

Liseth hums, musing: "Probably, yes. I didn't really pay much attention."

Janelle sighs, "Must be nice to have that kind of wealth. I mean, I'm not doing anything for the money, but I still want enough to live comfortably, you know? ...to tell the truth, that's all most humans really want."

Liseth mm's: "I suppose that can be true. My understanding is that a lot of them want money... kind of, for the sake of having money."

Janelle nods, "A lot of them do, yeah. Humans are..." She sits up slightly, "Okay... So, the key to understanding humans... We're... Afraid. We're so afraid. And we're so desperate. And we're all just reaching out..." She stands up in the water and reaches out to touch Liseth again. "And grabbing something that we think matters. Money, or a loved one, or family... Something. We all want something to help us forget how afraid we all are. Something we feel like we have control over. Or that'll stand there and say 'hey. This person was here, and for a tiny bit of time they existed. They mattered..."

She pulls her hand back, then sinks back down into the water, looking a little embarrassed.

Liseth blinks, not exactly having expected that. Uncertain at first what to do...

She pushes her snout to touch Janelle's cheek.

"Maybe you do not have to be that afraid anymore, if you stay near me."

Janelle hums, leaning against Liseth, "I think... I'm a bit drunk. Haha... Sorry."

Liseth chuckles softly: "I suppose you've been more tense than I realized. It's okay."

Janelle nods. "N-nah just... Not much of a drinker, usually. I'll be okay." She pauses, still leaning ln Liseth. "Because it's okay. You said so."

Liseth blinks, but then smiles again. "Yep. I think I did."

Janelle lifts her head up from Janelle 's snout and pats it again, "Ma'am? You're a good friend."

Liseth looks at Janelle with one eye and smiles: "You are as well." She then moves her snout enough to get Janelle to let go.

Janelle lets her hand drop away, then leans back into the water. "Next time... I might lay off the wine..."

She paused, "N-not that I'm saying we have to do this again. Just that it would be nice."

Liseth finishes her glass before looking back at Janelle: "Perhaps. Maybe with less wine for you, indeed. How are you feeling?"

Janelle chuckles, "I'm okay. I feel like I want to laugh and cry all at once though. But in a good way. ...how are you feeling?"

Liseth hums: "Somewhat befuddled and surprised, but not in a bad way?"

Janelle smiles, "Those are good to."

Liseth mm's, then considers the naked woman for a second... before giving a mental shrug and pouring herself another glass. "I suppose we are not really in any kind of hurry tonight."

Janelle sees Liseth pour another glass, and briefly considers a third for herself, but shakes her head. "I'm at my limit for wine... any more and I'll actually start crying, or I'll be falling asleep in this pool. But I have no where else to be except back to work in the morning... which is just upstairs anyways."

Liseth hums: "Your call, and probably a wise call at that. Let's just enjoy the bath, shall we?"

Janelle nods, "That much I am perfectly able to do."

Liseth smiles, then leans back to her previous position in the pool. "That's good. I think I prefer you mostly coherent."

Janelle leans back, letting herself float a bit in the water, "I prefer that too. You're fun to talk with."

Liseth chuckles: "See, you're already better company than that awful dorkasaurus who just wanted to talk about himself." She blinks as she mentally parses what she just implied, but wisely does not comment on her blunder.

Janelle hums, "Way too many dates feel like that don't they? Well then... tell me more about yourself then. What's your favorite hobby? Do... dragons have hobbies?"

Liseth blinks, then tries to think. "Well... I do like eating excellent food, but suppose that does not really count as a hobby. Flying around if I can, but it's a bit hazardous." She glances at the bubbling water: "Long baths."

Janelle thinks, "That last one definitely counts. I mean, they all kind of count. A hobby is just doing what you enjoy, yeah?"

Liseth considers, musing further: "There's probably other stuff that I can't currently think of. Ah well."

Janelle hums, "Perhaps it is too on the nose, but I do enjoy building things. Little sculptors, model kids... they've always been relaxing."

Liseth hums with a bit of an edge to it. "I'm too big and clumsy for that sort of thing."

Janelle glances over to look down the Dragon's body. "I don't believe it. Too big, maybe, but I've seen your landings on the balcony. That is certainly not clumsy."

Liseth blinks, craning her neck to look back at Janelle: "Mm. Thank you."

Janelle chuckles, "Still, I can imagine that would be too impractical to really enjoy." She considers a moment, "Human food... better than food from your home?"

Liseth considers for a moment before answering.

"Different. It's hard to describe, but... anything that would give food its' taste, spices and the like, and all the base meats, they were different back home."

Janelle glances back up, then shifts to stop floating and sit back into the water to heat herself back up. "Hmmm... that makes sense. Okay, then what about flying? It seems so incredible, but I read a report about all the regulations you have to follow what with human airplane traffic."

Liseth nods, shrugging slightly: "Pretty much that. If we fly anywhere near the good heights for it, we have to caution local air control. It's almost more hassle than it is worth."

Janelle sighs, "That's... so incredibly sad. I wonder who we would need to talk with about that... probably way too many people..."

Liseth nods, sighing: "That is likely the gist of it. One more to the pile of... things having had to get used to since we came here, I guess."

Janelle glances at the dragon with a frown, "See... humans only think of the things that have changed for us since you arrived. Is... there anything I can do to make things feel more like home?"

Liseth mm's: "I guess... I don't know. Not much. While I miss home, it's obvious there is no going back. Just... keep doing what you have been doing."

Janelle chuckles, "Noted. I shall take that to mean my work upstairs and not just floating in the water."

Liseth blinks, then laughs. "Yes. That would be a correct assumption."

Janelle laughs, "Well, those efforts shall continue unabated, ma'am. I'm... sorry for the things you had to leave behind. But, I'm glad you came here."

Liseth nods slowly: "I think... maybe I am too. Certainly easier life than I had..."

Janelle smiles, "That's good. I don't necessarily think your people are saviors or destroyers like some do. I just mean... I'm glad You came here, Liseth'erend'oreana."

Liseth blinks once or twice. She looks at Janelle: "Oh?"

Janelle nods, "A few weeks with you, it's the happiest I've ever been in a job. And challenging! And you've made it equally as rewarding. And maybe it's not fully my place to say, but, I am taking a bath alongside you so, I think we're becoming very good friends."

Liseth is forced to blink again a couple of times. "...f-friends? I uh..." She looks at the bath they are in: "...I suppose I have to concede that is indeed the case, now."

Janelle blushes a bit at her own presumption, "I uh, did I mispeak? It's just... yeah. The bath and all. I'm not going to ask for any special treatment in my work of course."

Liseth seems still a bit stunned at the admission she has walked into, but just nods anyway.

"It's... I guess not really a mispeak. I..."

A long pause as the dragon considers and hesitates.

"...I think would be happy to call you a friend."

Janelle chuckles after the long pause, "W-well I don't know what else we can call this at this point. So I'm glad to say that... Friend."

Liseth nods, then leans her head closer towards Janelle: "I like the sound of that. Friend."

Janelle smiles, shifting to look Liseth in the eyes, "I'm uh, guessing most dragons don't have human friends, eh?"

Liseth can look back for only a second before averting her eyes. "It's uh... not forbidden, as such, just... discouraged. Our kind, us dragons, we have... things we would rather not outsiders knew, put it that way. And please don't ask."

Janelle nods, putting on hand over her breast, "I won't... I promise."

Liseth nods: "I appreciate that. It's just... dragon business."

Janelle lowers her hand back into the water, "I'm here to help you take care of all your human business. I'll leave the dragon business to you."

Liseth smiles: "Yes, that is true." The dragon shifts in place, getting more comfortable in the water. "Problem with hot baths is that you never ever want to leave them..."

Janelle chuckles, "The water gets cold eventually..." She blinks looking down, "Though it doesn't feel like the water has cooled much since I dipped my toe in."

Liseth glances at the water and gives a small shrug with her wings. "Maybe."

Janelle shrugs, "All the same, it feels wonderful."

Liseth smirks: "That's certainly true. And why this is a hobby of mine."

Janelle nods, "Well, I think you've convinced me to make it a hobby of mine too."

Liseth glances at Janelle with a sideways smirk: "Suppose that means I have to invite you again. Such a shame."

Janelle giggles, "I'll have to ensure I keep time open for it. Have you ever looked into some bath bombs or oils?"

The dragon blinks: "Bath... bombs?"

Janelle nods, "I've never tried one myself, but I hear they're very enjoyable. ...although might need more than one for a bath this big... think of it as a little compressed scents and oils that you drop in the water, and they dissolve in the water in a way that almost feels like a massage."

Liseth considers: "...huh. How have I not heard of these before."

Janelle shrugs, "I think they mostly market them to kids who won't take baths when they're supposed to?"

She pauses, thinking, "They uh, make special ones for adults. I'll uh, do some better research. In my own time, of course."

Liseth nods slowly: "Yes. You do that. For... research purposes, of course."

Janelle clears her throat a bit, then nods, "Yes ma'am."

Liseth hums: "And if you happen to think of other... interesting inventions that I have not heard of, do bring them to my attention."

Janelle nods, "Of course. I'm sure I can find or think of a few things to help your hobby nights."

Liseth mm's, leaning back onto the edge of the bath. "Sounds reasonable to me, then."

Janelle reaches out to pat Liseth's snout again, rubbing gently before she pulls her hand back under the water, leaning back at the edge of the tub to just enjoy the warmth with her boss-turned-new-friend.

Liseth smirks at the pat this time, before closing her eyes again and relaxing in the bath. Totally not dozing off either.

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