Chapter Twenty-Nine

We ended up watching a series about a bookworm’s rise to power and prominence in a society that did not value books nearly as much as she did. Admittedly it was funny seeing her try to learn to become a priestess, but what I really liked was watching her salivate over the thing she loved best. I have a real respect for people who have a good deal of passion about something, anything, really. I mean if you have no passion, how are you different from a lump.

And before you judge me, I am passionate. I’m just passionate about relaxation.

While we were watching, I ordered the light novels I promised and we munched on in silence, Celia seemed even more into our little blue haired bookworm than I did, and that’s saying something.

When the credits finally rolled, I found out why. She stared at me wide eyed and said with breathless reverence, “Fiction. Is. Amazing!” Her hands clapped together and she shouted, “Another!”

If she’d been holding a book I’m sure she’d have flung it down on the table for emphasis.

I have to admit, watching her lean forward, eager and excited like… well like the little kid she was now stuck as, it was kinda cute. I nearly gave in, I really did. But she was in a good mood now, relaxed, honestly the difference between her before and her now was the difference between night and day.

So what better time than to try some triggers?

I held out the remote and selected one about a gambling school where the female protagonist practically gets off on… well… everything. I’d seen it before, but the scene where she acts like a cat just to mess with people… it’s a thing of beauty. That’s another thing I respect, a commitment to messing with people for your, or in my case my own amusement.

Anyway, I started the episode, let it get through the credits, then hit the pause button.

“Wha-?” Celia stared at me, open mouthed, and gestured toward the screen with both hands, “It’s gambling time!” She exclaimed.

“Yes, but, for us first.” I said, “We need to spend some time figuring out how to get you unstuck.”

For a moment it appeared that Celia was going to protest, then her shoulders slumped. “You’re right.” She acknowledged. “What do we try first?”

“Triggers can be just about anything, so why don’t we start with something simple. We’ll try something sensory based. Cold water.” I said and stood up.

She followed, and I led her to my shower. I turned the water to its coldest setting.

“Well,” she said, “at least I don’t have to worry about turning into a girl.” She grinned at me, and I laughed when I got her reference.

“True, but you are still stuck as a human, and that means you’re going to hate this, but don’t worry, you just have to try it for about thirty seconds. Try to shift back, and if that doesn’t work, I’ll turn it to hot.” I promised, and after a wary look at the roaring and pounding noise of the icy water, she made her decision.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

She jumped in and I yanked the dark shower curtain closed.

“A-i–i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i!” She yowled and began jumping around, turning backwards and spinning around and hopping up and down, backing away and forcing herself to go forward. “Cold! Too cold!” She yowled and slipped around, unfamiliar with either showers or with the slippery nature of the tub, she fell with a hard thud directly on her behind, which just redoubled her yowls as icy water sprayed her face and upper body.

“Sorry! Just try to shift!” I yelled and put my hand in the shower space to change the temperature.

It’s safe to say that that was the longest thirty seconds of her entire life

“It-s-s-s-s-s n-n-n-not working!” She cried out, her voice ringing off the walls like Echo in her cave. I changed the temperature to as hot as I could make it without worrying about actually burning her.

It began to warm up enough for her to finally stop jumping around, but she hugged herself and shivered as the water went from ice cold, to cold, to neutral, to luke warm, and finally, to hot. Steam began to rise and she began to wiggle a little.

“Mmm… this feels nice, really, really nice.” Celia sighed, “If this is what human cleansing rituals really feel like, the shows don’t do it justice.” She said from her side of the shower curtain.

“No, no they don’t, but don’t get too caught up in it, try to shift, try to go back to normal, maybe try it in stages, like make yourself taller to start with.” I suggested.

She yanked the curtain part of the way open and stuck her neck out, “You don’t have to call me short, you know.”

“I wasn’t… it’s true, but I wasn’t.” I chuckled, and she yanked the curtain closed again and after uttering a few choice swear words in our native tongue, she stretched her arms up and… ‘Yup, she’s trying to start with her height.’ I covered a little snort, though I had no need to hide my smirk, as she couldn’t see it, and waited.

Nothing happened. After a minute or two, I said, “If you’re stuck here for any length of time, like two days, you’ll need to do this again, for longer, otherwise you’ll start to stink.”

“I do not stink!” She yelled and looked down at herself and I distinctly heard her take a loud sniff.

“Not yet, but you will. Humans that don’t bathe, very quickly develop a horrible odor.” I explained, and she frowned.

“Like the vampire girl’s favorite snack, that high school boy at the monster school… she did say girls don’t like smelly boys… I guess that’s what she’s talking about.” Celia repeated the lesson from that short scene.

“Sort of. But… step on out, dry off, and… how’s your butt?” I asked.

“That hurt, but I’m fine.” She said, and stepped out into the towel I held out for her.

“What do we try next?” Celia asked.

“Maybe food? We can try different flavors.” I suggested.

“Good plan. I like that plan. But can we watch more stuff while we do that?” She asked, the light in her eyes was very ‘weebish’ if I may say so myself.

“That we can.” I agreed and set her clothes on the sink. “Go ahead and get dressed and we can try that instead, I’ll order some extra food.” I wasn’t sure how she’d respond to extra spicy stuff but… even if it didn’t work, at least I’d get a laugh.