----------------------------------------------
RESPITE BATHHOUSE - EARLY AFTERNOON
----------------------------------------------
Rhask stands just outside of the bathhouse, looking at the large structure and clearly hesitating a little. She'd heard of the place from folks in general about it being a really nice place to soak after a long day of work or traveling... along with a couple of more salacious rumors about a recent incident. She wants to at least enjoy a decent soak, since hot baths were absolutely wonderful back at her hometown in Vamas, but the idea of bathing with others nearby is giving her reason to pause.
Victoria walks past Rhask towards the bathhouse, wearing only her usual set of clothwraps and carrying a big purple towel. The leopard is definitely in for a good time of soaking in hot water... not that the cleaning up part is really bad either, but she wouldn't go admitting that so easily. Victoria's tail is swishing; it has definitely been a while since she got to do this. Part of her wishes Annika was here, but they can't do everything together all the time, right?
Piper saunters up to the bath house shortly after Rhask, a robe in hand and dressed somewhat down from her usual, simply for the ease of undressing and dressing again. She spots the lizard hesitating outside, stepping up even with her and nodding slightly. The last times they'd spoken, Piper had been ducking under the stall awning; now she's about another seven inches upright. She catches the door as it swings shut behind Victoria, grinning at Rhask. "Come to soak? Don't wait long. Get pick of tubs before evening crowd come."
Rhask blinks and smiles a bit as she notices Piper stepping by her. The question, however, seems to startle her out of her inaction. "O-oh! Um... hi, Piper. Y-yeah, I was... thinking about it, but... um... N-not sure what to expect in there."
Piper blinks at the statement, humming. "Hot water, probably. Lots of steam." She shrugs, tilting her head toward the door. "Lots of tubs. Afraid of someone bothering? I can sit with. Good deterrent."
Victoria makes her way inside and towards the baths, not really paying attention to the folks behind her. Not that anyone really wants to stand inbetween the clawed kitty and what she wants, on most days. She finds her way into one of the biggest hot tubs... and finds herself alone soon enough. Something about her unnerving the other patrons, though she's never bothered to find why that is. The leopard closes her eyes and enjoys the warm soak for now...
Rhask shakes her head at Piper's question. "Uh... well, no. I just heard some... strange rumors lately, is all. I, er... s-sure." She smiles again and takes a careful step forward, then starts striding in a more normal manner now that she's made her choice.
Piper holds the door for Rhask, following her inside after. She nods to the attendants at the counter, being waved through. "Meet in baths, don't forget to pay." She chuckles her three notes, heading off for the change rooms. It doesn't take her long to strip out of the stretchy outfit, donning her plain beige robe and stepping into the baths. She pauses outside the changeroom, partly waiting on Rhask, partly looking for a low-occupancy tub.
Rhask makes sure to pay the proper amount before heading to the changing rooms. Since she thought ahead and dressed for a dip - with her hesitation being only due to "the rumors" - it doesn't take her long to strip down and stow her things away. She picks up her fluffy towel and steps back out to join Piper, now wearing nothing more than what looks like a modest swimsuit whose top conceals a pretty large part of her upper body.
Piper looks down to Rhask, taking note of the outfit she's got on, but not making any comment. "Ready, ay? That one there. White cat, no other patrons. Will be quiet." She walks toward the tub in question as she speaks, stepping down into the water directly across from Victoria moments later. She pulls the robe off as she goes, keeping it dry. The completely loose garment hung straight off her, hiding Piper's build until she began sinking into the water. And sinking. And sinking more, until all that's left visible of the humming croc is the top of her head and snout.
Victoria frowns slightly at the feeling of someone else entering the bath, but doesn't quite bother opening her eyes. Nothing will interrupt her soak, that was what she decided earlier on.
Rhask hums as she follows Piper towards the bath and slips into the water near the croc. Once in the water, she sighs and smiles, the warmth feeling wonderful as always against her scales, as a treat that she always enjoyed back home. She does her best to not disturb Victoria while getting comfortable as her worries pretty quickly melt away.
Piper drifts slighty in the water until she's settled against the side, keeping her tail to herself as her eyes slowly glaze over.
Victoria gives a small grunt as she peeks her eyes open. Peering at the other two for a long moment, she finally opens her mouth to comment on this: "Hmmh. Seems I will not be alone after all. A pity."
Rhask hums curiously, the looks over at Victoria. "Oh... did you want this bath to yourself, miss? Sorry." She looks over at Piper, "Uh... maybe we should find another tub to soak in?"
Piper turns her submerged head a little toward Victoria's voice, coming out of her pleased stupor to make her simple, clearly apologetic statement. "Nope."
Victoria looks at Rhask, before turning to trying to figure out Piper: "Oh? Interesting." The wet leopard is somewhere between curious and very mildly miffed, now.
Piper chuckles her three notes, sending slight ripples across the surface. "Indeed. Issue?"
Rhask is already halfway out of the tub when Piper just shuts down the thought train. She blinks, then slides back into the water, though she's now watching the two others more alertly. "Uh... girls? No reason to fight, right?"
Victoria lets out the smallest of low growls... then it turns into a chuckle. "Heh. No. Just surprised, maybe." She does eye Piper some more as though sizing her chances in a fight, but lets those thoughts unexplored for now.
Piper catches Victoria's look, fairly familiar with it at this point in her life. She nods slightly, submerging her snout for the briefest moment before looking toward Rhask. "No contest here, Rhask. Mean conflict." She chuckles one note. "No conflict."
Rhask hums and seems to relax at that, then casts an apologetic look at Victoria. "Well... good. Sorry for disturbing you though, miss."
Victoria gives a bit of a grunt, but then sinks back into her seat. "Mmm. It's nothing." The leopard closes her eyes again, sinking into the warm feeling that is so very tempting indeed.
Piper nods slightly again, looking to Rhask with a bit of appreciation. She lets out a bubbling sigh before leaning into her own seat, rising head and shoulders out of the water to sit back. "Ay. Apologies."
Rhask settles back into her own seat and sinks a bit further into the water. She sighs as she coils her long tail next to her, so as to not poke anyone with it on accident.
Victoria looks at Piper get up, slightly surprised. Definitely bigger than she thought. "...how does one such as you, end up down here, hmm?"
Piper blinks at Victoria's question, tilting her head a little. "By ship and cart, most of the way."
Rhask giggles a bit at Piper's blunt answer, but lets the two carry the conversation since she's pretty familiar with Piper already.
Victoria raises an eyebrow at that, but then chuckles: "But isn't it too dry for your type?"
Piper nods a little as she relaxes a bit into the water. "Ay. So I soak." She observes Victoria for a few moments, chuckling. "A little warm for yours?"
Victoria pauses, then shrugs: "Depends, I suppose. But fair point."
Rhask chuckles quietly again. "Still, nothing feels quite so good as a hot soak after a long day, right? It makes everything feel really nice."
Victoria hums, closes her eyes and leans back as her response to that. Leopard not available, try again later.
Piper nods as she leans back and sinks her shoulders into the water, closing her eyes. "Ay. Long as nobody fucks in next tub."
Rhask blinks and winds up blushing under her scales again at Piper's comments. "Ah... l-let's hope nothing like that happens..."
Piper chuckles her three notes, a bit quieter as she starts to glaze over again, not quite dozing off but blatantly relaxed. The three wind up losing their desire to keep up conversation, outside of the occasional stray thought as they enjoy the simple pleasure of a hot soak.