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Evernight was one with the bath. The lights were low, dim enough to match the starlight streaming in through the window. The water—constantly at the perfect temperature—was an inky black as deep as space. An empty snack tray floated on the water, shepherded by some of her jellyfish, while others kept an eye on the yellow rubber ducky that floated regally on the surface. The jellyfish were enjoying the bath as well, and were various degrees of submerged, glowing tranquilly in the half-light, in beautiful pinks and whites and blues.
This truly was the place for her, away from the hustle and bustle.
The door opened.
"Oh, hey—Oh, Evernight! Hey."
It was Stelle, which was not all that shocking considering it was her bathtub that Evernight was coexisting with. "Hello," she replied, calmly. She hadn't expected to be walked in on, but she wasn't some blushing maiden, about to get embarrassed. Nor was she going to get defensive about being here, when a few simple words would suffice. "March 7th suggested I try your bath if I want some peace and quiet. Do you need me to leave?"
Stelle had initially stopped at the door in her surprise, but had entered the room after the vibe check had come back clean, and started rummaging at the laundry hamper. She smiled at Evernight's words. "Yeah, it's a bit rowdy, isn't it? Take your time, I'm just going to grab a quick shower and I'll be out of your hair."
And, unfortunately for Evernight, Stelle wasn't a blushing maiden either, and started stripping out of her clothes right then and there. If she gave it any thought at all, it was probably just that since it wasn't anything March 7th hadn't seen before, it was also, practically speaking, not anything Evernight hadn't seen before.
And that was true enough, as far as memory was concerned.
But.
The meaning was different.
Undressing in front of her meant that Stelle felt comfortable doing so. That she did not mind Evernight seeing her naked. And that gave a very different color to the moment—
—and the many memories.
One by one, all the jellyfish turned a bright pink and sank under the surface of the water, until it was just Evernight—and the snack tray—and the rubber duck—visible in the tub.
"Huh, where did the jellyfish go?", Stelle asked, having sorted out her clothes, and wearing nothing but her cyan thigh-band.
"They're just taking a dip," Evernight answered, even-voiced.
Curious, Stelle approached the tub, nakedly. Apparently she hadn't realized earlier that the water was an inky black. "Oh, that's cool." She looked at Evernight, with an air of excitement. "I'd love to try your bath salts sometime." Then she toned it down, and smiled again. "But you're totally welcome either way, make yourself at home. I'm going to take that shower now."
Stelle entered the shower and closed the shower curtain behind her. Evernight held very still until she heard the water start to run, and Stelle begin to hum a tune to herself. Then, some part of her relaxed, knowing that she had a moment to herself, and that was the last straw. She blushed, slowly, but every bit as hard as March 7th could, and sank under the water to join her jellyfish.
She felt like there should have been a sizzling sound, or steam rising.
Maybe there was.
By the time Stelle was done with her shower, Evernight had recovered and returned above water, along with most of the jellyfish.
She closed her eyes though, to be safe, when she heard the shower stop, and leaned back in the tub, projecting relaxation.
Which, to be fair, was also a thing she was feeling.
On some level.
She heard Stelle step out of the shower, and then nothing for a moment, then more steps, probably to grab a towel, and to start getting some of the water out of her hair.
Evernight knew Stelle's post-shower routine very well, even if it was the first time she'd been there personally. She could picture each step, and match the sounds to her imagination, as Stelle toweled herself off.
There was... something nice about sharing space like this, in silence.
Soon enough, Evernight heard the door open, and Stelle walk out. She opened her eyes, to see that she was indeed alone once more, and found herself just a little bit sad that she was.
Really?
She sighed to herself.
Stelle really was such a—
The door opened again.
Stelle peeked in, then entered when she saw Evernight looking back. She had a towel around her neck, and was carrying an armful of snacks. "Brought you a refill", she said with a smile, and deposited the snacks onto the snack tray.
It had apparently rated as high priority, because while Stelle was now wearing one of her black sports bras, she was not wearing anything else.
Somehow, it just made her look even better.
"Thank you," Evernight managed, her voice steady.
"I put a little something in the fridge for you, too, for when you get out." Stelle's smile was warm. "I hope you have a nice bath. I'm going to put a note on the door so people don't bug you."
Evernight nodded.
Stelle gave her a wave, and left.
Evernight watched the door close, then slowly slid to the bottom of the tub.