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RESPITE BATHHOUSE - EVENING
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Piper struts out from the changeroom, towel loosely held in front of her lower half in a bit of modesty as the muscular reptile makes her way to the nearest open bath. All else she's carrying is a brush with coarse bristles on one side, a soft pad on the other, which she grips as she steps down into the water, immediately sighing as soaking heat embraces her legs. In one movement, she's abandoned the towel and brush on the side of the bath, sinking deep into refreshing waters once again.
Beef follows right after Piper. He has a similar kit to the croc, but also has a stiff, curved brush to help him clean his horns and hooves. He slides in next to her and smiles. "This is nice... 'specially after the loads I had to help unpack today..."
Piper chuckles her three notes, bubbles rising from around her half-sumberged snout. She rises back out of the water, resting against the side of the tub with her eyes closed. "Just enjoy not being dry... More from Talons? Or other merchants?"
Beef slides down so only his head is above the water. "Just different folks. They were short on help today, and it's easy coin. Not that I really need it, but nice to not have to send away when I get low so often..."
Piper looks to beef, grinning. "Just being nice. Too humble to refuse pay. See through you, ay?"
Beef blushes just a touch under his black cheeks, but nods. "Aye... and lets me maybe have enough on hand to buy gifts for folks if I ever wanted to do that sorta thing."
Piper hums, nodding a bit. "Gifts? For someone home?"
Beef shrugs a bit, sliding down so that his chin is just above the water. "Or here maybe. Not saying I'm doing such a thing..."
Piper chuckles again, sinking similarly to Beef, with her jaw just tapping the water when she speaks. "Interesting. Someone from Talons? In your group, maybe? Been here long... No offense, have not seen with many others."
Beef shakes his head. "They left about a month back. I'll meet up with them again when I'm done here." He dunks his head under the water to avoid further questions.
Piper blinks, watching him disappear under the water and shrugging slightly. She settles a bit in her seat before reaching over to her things and retrieving the brush, though of course more questions are on her mind now. She slowly scrubs her right arm for the time being, knowing Beef can't hold his breath forever.
Beef comes back up and quickly follows Piper's lead in starting to scrub himself, still being quiet.
Piper hums a bit of an old folk song as she scrubs away, her notes flat and thankfully quiet as she works the brush along her arm. Holding it up to examine her scales, she speaks up. "Never told friends left. Hope their journey was safe."
Beef looks over and frowns. "Ah... yeah. Got to Sarn OK. Probably on a ship to Vamas now." He switches to the curved brush and starts scrubbing at his hooves under the water. "They left the day we were talking to that one antelope. We were busy, guess it slipped my mind after..."
Piper nods along, glancing his way before starting to work the bristly side on her left arm. "Ah. A little distracted, ay. A lot to keep busy. Why you stay, hm? Easier to travel together. If missed caravan, been a lot since then."
Beef shrugs. "I like it here well enough... and we still haven't figured out what happened to your brother, so figure I should stay until that's done at least." He sets the hoof brush aside and moves on to start scrubbing his sides and belly with the other brush.
Piper pauses in her scrubbing, tilting her head a little. "Well, true. And thank you. But why? Said you'd help until leaving. Don't have to stay just for that."
Beef turns around as he moves to stretch out his leg in the tub, scrubbing it vigorously. "Needed a break I guess? Nice to stop somewhere once in a while. Always travelling is rough."
Piper hums again, glancing toward Beef's leg when he moves it. "Ay. True enough." She rises from the water enough to start scrubbing the scales on her chest, tilting her head at a bit of an odd angle to see what she's doing. "Circle around. Who's gifts for? Maybe one of cute cows in market?"
Beef laughs a bit, blushing. "They are nice looking, yeah, but a bit small. And I didn't say there was a gift, just that I might could buy one now if I wanted..." He switches to the other leg, pointedly looking away from Piper's gaze.
Piper chuckles her notes, tilting her head the other way as she works across the other side of her chest, looking away from Beef as well. "Too small, ay. Hmph." She chuckles again, looking toward Beef. "Need big girl. Maybe big croc girl, ay?" She grins at him, scrubbing her abs under the surface of the water.
Beef blushes more but gives a hint of a nod that Piper can't see. "Maybe... could be dangerous tho. Someone like that might try to make me into dinner..."
Piper shrugs, glancing over Beef. "Ay. Bit of a meal. Appetizing enough." She chuckles to herself, setting the brush aside and settling a bit into the water again to soak. "Don't know where find one. Unless would ask me. But am too big, maybe."
Beef turns to face Piper, looking her over as if he'd never considered her. "Not too big, no. Just right. Good size. Wouldn't have to worry about hurting you."
Piper grins as the familiar ox looks at her, nodding. She stands up in the bath, flexing a bit as the water streams down her scales. Her movements are exaggerated and the loose mood is a bit different, mostly caused by the ultra relaxing soak. "Ya could if ya tried, but not easy!" She's not worried that the water only reaches just above her knees before she settles back into her seat again.
Beef smiles as the croc shows off her body, giving an approving nod. "I meant on accident, but yeah..." He slides over toward Piper when she returns to the bath. "So... what would you with a big dumb ox?"
Piper chuckles, looking to Beef as he sidles closer to her. She blushes as she realizes he may actually be coming on to her. "Me? Ah-hum... Hadn't thought about." She grins after a moment. "But then don't mean you, hm? Big and ox, sure. Dumb disqualifies."
Beef smiles. "Well, folk think I am sometimes..." He slides closer again and rests a hand on her shoulder. "So what about a not dumb ox?"
Piper blushes a bit more, though her dark scales hide it well. She smiles, putting her hand on his. "Know what that sounds like, ay? What to do with big smart ox... Hmm." Her hand leaves his, dipping into the water and resting against the side of his thigh.
Beef gives a nervous chuckle and presses into the touch as his own hand moves to softly run over the scales on her upper arm. "Still didn't answer..."
Piper blushes beeper at his touch, grinning. "Was gauging reaction." She leans her shoulder against his, slowly rubbing his leg without moving to anything naughty. "With a big ox... Will take him to room. Deprive of trousers. He could bend me over bed." She gets nearer his ear with each line, lowering her voice until she gruffly whispers; "He could have me deep and hard. All night."
Beef blushes deep red at Piper's words, though he makes no effort to pull away at all. In fact, he turns and his other hand moves to Piper's other side as he holds fast to her, leaning in so that his chest presses into hers. "Interesting..."
Piper blinks as he turns to her, chuckling quietly at his boldness, though she turns freely to face him, her hand sliding across the top of his thigh until coming to rest against his stomach. "Think so? Want to be that ox~? Didn't know interested before."
Beef laughs and looks down. "Didn't know you were either..."
Piper smirks, shaking her head a bit. "Hadn't thought much. Been a good friend. Big enough to handle me. Handsome, clever, Why not?"
Beef nods a bit. "Why not indeed." He looks up with a smile. "So maybe we try this, see if things... fit?"
Piper chuckles, glancing down toward his lap, despite the obscuring water, before looking back to his eyes. Her fingers drift down his stomach, just grazing his sheathe with her knuckle. "Am always up for challenges~."
Beef laughs quietly as his hands move down to Piper's hips. "Same." He gives her rump a soft squeeze, his body shifting as the croc's hands get to naughty places. "Maybe we should go before we end up just doing things here?"
Piper chuckles, the scales on her snout starting to darken from her blush. "Yes. Wouldn't want a ban. Too luxurious." She brushes the side of her snout against his cheek before standing up, stretching a bit inches from Beef's face before retrieving her towel and covering up. To be modest. Of course.
Beef stays where he is, enjoying the show as Piper gets up slowly. He follows her out after a few more moments, also giving a bit of a show as the water runs down his thickly muscled body. "Mm. Yeah... so... uh... your room, then?"
Piper turns enough to peep at Beef, grinning as her thick tail swishes in anticipation. "Ay. Is step one."
Beef nods sagely as he applies his own towel. "Let's get to it, then. No point in waiting much."