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Shipcestember Day 3: Bath /
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Tiger Lily waits patiently atop the large, plush bed. Princess is in the bathroom, happily humming a song while she prepares whatever 'surprise' she has planned. Try as she might, Tiger Lily can't picture what the surprise could be. She's learned that her sister can be creative to an absurd degree, and that she's better off waiting instead of speculating on whatever crazy schemes the girl has planned.
Princess peeks out from the bathroom after a few short minutes. With a pleased grin, she calls, "Come on, Tiger Lily! It won't stay hot forever!"
Tiger Lily pads over to the bathroom, and when she looks inside, she's confused by what she sees. The large tub that she hasn't discovered the use for is full of hot, steaming water. Atop the water are flowers of every shape and size. When she inhales, her nose is filled with the unmistakable scent of lilies and petunias.
"What is...this...?" she asks, tilting her head in confusion.
Princess brings a hand up to cover her mouth as she giggles. "It's a bath, silly! I thought we could take one together."
"'Bath'..." Tiger Lily sounds out the word. She's not familiar with it. "What is...'bath'...?"
"A bath is where you soak in hot water, sometimes with flowers and bubbles and candles! I used to take them all the time when I was younger."
Tiger Lily only understands about half of the words Princess says, but judging from the smile on her face, they're all good things. "Sounds…good..."
"So you'll take one with me?"
Tiger Lily nods. "I take bath...with Princess..."
Princess claps her hands together. "Wonderful! Let's undress, then, and get in before the water goes cold!"
She shakes her dress off onto the floor, then begins removing her undergarments. Tiger Lily copies her. Eventually, the two are left bare of everything.
Princess gets in the tub first, sinking into the warm water with a pleased sigh. Tiger Lily dips her toes in carefully, then slowly lowers herself until she's sitting with her knees tucked up.
"How's it feel?" Princess asks.
"Good," Tiger Lily answers. She closes her eyes and inhales deeply. "Smells...good..."
"I'm glad! I thought maaaybe I went a little over-the-top with all the flowers, but I'm glad you don't think so." Princess reaches past Tiger Lily to grab a small ornate bottle. Uncapping it, she pours some into her hand. "Would you mind turning around, Tiger Lily?"
Tiger Lily tilts her head, confused, but turns around anyways. A moment later, she feels hands threading through her hair. She relaxes even more into the bath. A low purr begins to rumble from within her throat.
"Awwww. You really are just a big kitty, huh?" Princess asks, giggling. She continues her comforting ministrations, effectively turning Tiger Lily into a puddle of goo. By the time Princess pulls away, Tiger Lily has just about dozed off. "I’m gonna rinse out your hair now, okay?"
Tiger Lily nods, eyes half-lidded as she struggles to stay awake. She feels Princess pour water over her hair, and tilts her head back even more so that none gets in her eyes. Eventually her hair is thoroughly rinsed, and then it’s Princess’s turn.
"I wash…your hair now…?" Tiger Lily asks, glancing over her shoulder at her sister.
Princess blinks, cheeks going a little pink. "Oh. I didn’t think you’d want to! Sure. Let me just…"
They both adjust so that Tiger Lily is facing Princess’s back. Tiger Lily hovers a hand over Princess’s hair, a bit hesitant. What if she messes up? But then Princess does an impatient little wiggle and Tiger Lily finally forces her hand down.
Her hair is long, is her first thought. It’s not nearly as long as Tiger Lily’s is, but it’s much longer than it is when it’s dry and curled. Tiger Lily gets lost in thought as she runs her hands through her sister’s soft hair.
And that’s the other thing that catches her attention—Princess’s hair is insanely soft. Instead of feeling jealous, Tiger Lily is simply mesmerized at the addicting feeling. It’s like petting Butter Tiger, only somehow even softer. She can’t stop running her hands through the silky stands, rubbing the curled ends between her fingers.
Tiger Lily doesn’t know how long she’s been mindlessly doing it when Princess asks, "Everything okay back there?"
With a start, Tiger Lily realizes she never grabbed the bottle Princess used before. Quickly getting it, she pours some directly onto Princess’s hair and begins rubbing it in. "Everything…okay…"
As she continues to wash Princess’s hair, Tiger Lily can’t help but wonder if Princess would maybe let her touch her hair some other time, outside of the bath. For some reason, that thought makes Tiger Lily’s face feel impossibly warm. She chalks it up to the hot water.