Elena hadn't taken a bath in years, not since she was a child. Daily showers at the tavern had become her routine, but this was different. Agatha took time out of her day and made sure Elena cleaned properly. When Elena reached for the sponge, Agatha took it from her, refusing to let her clean herself. "You need someone to take care of you sometimes. Let me help. You just relax. Just tell me what you're thinking."
Elena tried to tell her she could do it herself, but Agatha refused to let her. Not because she thought Elena wasn't going to do it, or wasn't able to, but out of worry for her friend. She cleaned Elena because she knew she was fragile right now and emotionally as destroyed as she had made Roderick, physically.
As Agatha sponged off the blood from Elena's back and front, she poured warm water over her. Elena felt the heat from the water sink into her muscles. It was heavenly. She had never been the type of guy to enjoy baths, when a shower was quicker. But this was doing an excellent job of teaching her why she was wrong. The longer she sat in the hot tub temperature water, the more she felt like herself. And when Agatha put the soap in her hair and started massaging her scalp, Elena honestly felt like she never wanted the moment to end.
Elena's mind wandered as Agatha worked. She thought about how different this experience was from her usual routine. Her evening showers consisted of 5 minutes of washing off, enough time to apply soap and scrub off the grime and then every other day maybe a minute of quickly shampooing her hair. She remembered Agatha warning her weeks ago when she first found out Elena was originally a guy to not put soap in her hair every day as it would dry it out.
But today was different. Agatha rubbed the shampoo in. She made sure the shampoo thoroughly worked its way into Elena's hair and slowly poured fresh water on it to rinse it out. When she scrubbed Elena's back, she really scrubbed all those hard to reach places Elena had trouble with.
Elena sat in silence luxuriating in the feeling for a while. The only things Agatha said were occasionally "Give me your hand" or "Lean back on this." But as all good things must happen, she eventually asked for Elena to speak. "Alright, time's up. Tell me what you're thinking. And give me your other arm."
Elena pulled her arm out of the water but sank under, the water covering her mouth and almost her nose. A few moments after she did, she felt Agatha stop. When Elena looked up, she saw Agatha just looking at her expectantly. She didn't resume scrubbing until Elena started speaking. "Honestly, Agatha, I don't know." She went back and not only did she scrub Elena's hands, she also started massaging her arm and hand. Her thumbs pressing firmly into Elena's muscles and tried to work out any tension the water failed to kill. Elena moaned a bit, surprised at how good it felt.
Agatha spoke up. "Well, let's start with today and this weekend. What are your plans?"
Elena hesitated, knowing that Agatha was fishing for information about how she planned to make amends. She decided to deflect. "Well, today I'm planning on going out into the town and grab some of the things you guys were needing. I know Gareth was talking about some groceries, and he said he needed to speak with Arnold or whomever was working today at the smith for that shelf in the kitchen."
Elena felt Agatha looking at her for a moment and heard the smile in her voice. "I mean, I appreciate you doing that. But that's not what I asked."
Elena sighed, realizing she couldn't avoid the topic forever. "Marcus and Lily and Lehara all were training me. They're not here to be my teacher right now, but I know the basics of what they want me to do. It's kind of late in the day to wake up and tElena felt Agatha looking at her for a moment and heard the smile in her voice. "I mean, I appreciate you doing that. But that's not what I asked."
Elena shifted uncomfortably in the tub, causing small ripples to form on the water's surface. She bit her lip, then decided to try changing the subject. "Actually, Agatha, if today is Saturday, there's something else I need to prepare for. We've got this group thing at the academy later."
Agatha's eyebrows raised slightly, but she remained silent, allowing Elena to continue.
"It's like a recruitment fair," Elena explained, her fingers nervously tracing patterns in the water. "Different groups from the academy come to scout new members. We're supposed to showcase ourselves. I feel like I'm going to be on display, you know? Like some sort of specimen for these groups to examine. And with everything that's happened recently, I'm not sure I'm ready for that kind of scrutiny."
Elena paused, waiting for Agatha's response. She hoped this new topic would divert the conversation away from the more uncomfortable subject of her recent actions and the need to make amends.
Agatha listened patiently, her face a mix of interest and concern. When Elena finished, she nodded thoughtfully. "I see," she said, her voice gentle but firm. "That does sound like quite an event. But Elena," her tone grew more serious, "while that's important, it's not what we need to focus on right now."
Elena's heart sank as she realized her attempt to change the subject had failed.
Agatha continued, her eyes locking with Elena's. "What I want to know is what you're planning to do about Marcus, Lily, and the others. The recruitment fair is important, yes, but mending your relationships should be an equal or higher priority. Now, let's get back to what I asked before. What are your plans to make things right with your friends?"
Elena sighed, realizing she couldn't avoid the topic forever. She knew Agatha was right, but facing up to her mistakes was still daunting. "Marcus and Lily and Lehara all were training me. They're not here to be my teacher right now, but I know the basics of what they want me to do. It's kind of late in the day to wake up and train. But tomorrow should be good. Any chance you could wake me up with ice cold water?"
rain. But tomorrow should be good. Any chance you could wake me up with ice cold water?"
Agatha chuckled. "Is that why you yell out in the morning? I asked Lele about it and she said not to worry about it. Lean forward." She started working on Elena's back and neck muscles. Elena leaned her forehead on her arms which were resting on her knees. Agatha asked her next question. “So what do you plan on doing with your friends? Any ideas on how to win them back?”
Elena sighed, not wanting to really talk about it. "I don't know Agatha, I-". Elena felt a sharp pinch on the base of her neck. It didn't hurt, but it surprised the hell out of her. "Ow!" Elena said, reflexively pulling herself forward.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I rub too hard? I'll go softer. So what were you saying?"
Elena continued again. "It's alright. What I said was ‘I don't know what-’ " Another pinch. "Agatha!"
"Gosh, I didn't realize you were so sensitive back here. I'll try to be softer. What were you saying before I interrupted you?" She said again.
"I don't-" A much harder pinch. Elena picked her head up and looked at her scowling a bit.
Agatha looked at Elena sweetly and innocently as if she was imagining things all along. "Come again Elena?"
"I...Don't" Pinch. With nails. That one did kind of sting a little.
"Oh I'm sorry. I'm so clumsy. What did you say?
Elena got the hint. She moved away from Agatha a bit, but it was an awfully small tub to get out of her reach. "Hold on a second. I don't know. what I can-" Elena got pinched again, this time on her arm. She rubbed her arm.
"What the hell Agatha? What do you want me to say?"
"Gods, you really are a man!" She said as if it was the most insulting thing she could think of. "Go Apologize To Her!" She raised her arms and pointed them at the door as if the answer was so mind numbingly stupid anyone should have gotten it. Little does she know Elena still got her manly superpowers of missing the obvious.
"Ok geez, I'll talk with her" Elena responded as sullenly as possible. She probably looked like an overgrown kid, naked in the tub, crossing her arms looking dejectedly at the floor.
Agatha wagged an accusatory finger at Elena and gave her a look that dared her to defy her. "The correct answer, Elena, is 'I'm going to find my friends and apologize profusely until they either accept it or tell me how to prove it. And then I'm going to find someone to actually talk about my feelings with, instead of keeping my closest friends at arms length when they've been doing nothing but try to be nice, loving people and give me baths.'" She continued to look at Elena daring her to tell her she was wrong. And honestly? Elena couldn't find any fault in her logic. Agatha was right.
"Hey, I tried to apologize last night and Lehara wouldn't let me." Elena protested. She might have stomped her foot as well.
"No… That’s not what you tried to do. Last night you tried to explain yourself to Lily." She clearly enunciated 'explained' and looked at Elena's face to see if she got it. "Apparently you said you lost control, and tried to explain you didn't mean it. And I don't know about your world, but on this one we say 'I'm sorry'. It shouldn't be any wonder that Lele didn't want you hurting her more. Apologize to the team and then apologize to Lilly separately."
Elena nodded but it wasn't good enough. "Oh and in case you're unsure, after you apologize you need to prove you mean it." She wagged a finger at Elena.
"Agatha, I know how apologies work. When I do, I'll do everything I can to show it."
Agatha sighed, her look softening. "We have only known you for a few weeks Elena. In that time you have done everything you can to worm your way into our hearts." She put her hand on her heart to emphasize her point. "And you're here now. And we love you for it. You try to show us why you deserve to be here with your whole heart and soul. We'd be stupid to deny that you make our lives better." She then put her hand on Elena's chest above her heart. “But when it comes to us, you do everything to make sure that you're not letting us take the same spot within you."
Elena realized Agatha was right. Back on earth, she had been the kind of person that was excellent at giving advice to others, but terrible about applying that same advice to herself.
"Ok, but Lehara - "
"Unless you're ready to write them off, her name is Lele". Agatha responded matter of factly.
"I'm bit dumb at times, but I'm certain Lehara made it painfully obvious that she doesn’t want me to call her a friend."
"Lele-" she corrected Elena again.
Elena threw up her hands in frustration. "Look, I'd love nothing more than to call this water under the bridge, but she beat me to a pulp over trying to speak to Lily. She's done with me."
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"If she's done with you then that's that." She started poking Elena's chest. "But considering that she’s the one who got you to me, I don’t think was as done with you as you think. If you still consider her your friend, then you best act like it. And do what you can to prove it to her." The corner of Elena's mouth rose on its own, worry setting on her face as she huffed out a breath.
"Agatha, look. I'm not what folks would consider exactly good about talking about my feelings. I don’t think that will help-"
Agatha crossed her arms and shook her head, as if she was going to let Elena continue. Elena stopped talking. Agatha shook her head and then gestured with her hand as if telling Elena "No, please continue"
"Look, all I'm saying is-" Agatha crossed her arms again and she squinted at Elena. Elena closed her mouth and stopped speaking.
"You've been a woman for two months. I've been a woman for my whole life. But please, please explain to me why you know what's best when it comes to girls apologizing to girls. This ought to be wonderful."
Visions in Elena's head of aliens warning her ‘It’s a trap’ went off. So she shut her mouth. ‘See? I can learn.’ she thought to herself.
Agatha waited a few more moments before she uncrossed her arms. "She left town this morning. Lilly was the reason they stayed in town as long as they did. They're going on a mission to clear out a goblin camp. They should be back in about a month." Elena's mind started racing. Maybe that’s why the quest she got gave her such a long time to apologize to her friend.
Elena stepped out of the bathtub and Agatha handed her a towel and then a robe. She dried herself off, donned the robe, and then Agatha led her to her room again. The sheets were a mess. Elena had been deposited here after the beating and she could vaguely see an outline in blood and sweat in the sheets. Agatha covered the bed so Elena couldn't see it and pulled over a chair facing it away from the bed. She motioned for Elena to sit in the chair and when she did, Elena saw herself in the mirror across the room. Agatha sat behind her, and pulled Elena’s hair out so it wasn’t stuck in the chair.
As Elena sat, she felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness. She wasn't used to being cared for like this, and part of her still wanted to insist she could handle everything on her own. But another part, a part that was growing stronger each day, craved this gentle attention.
Agatha put Elena's hair in a convenient place for her to brush it. She started working on it, and surprisingly there were apparently a considerable number of tangles. The first tug was sharp, sending a jolt through Elena's scalp. The relentless movement of Agatha's hands seemed to pull at every nerve ending on her scalp. Each knot the brush caught there was a sudden jarring tug that felt like tiny needles pricking her skin.
Elena winced, her eyes watering slightly as her hands clenched into fists. She didn't think she could feel hair, but she would swear she could feel it now. The pain was sharp, but in a strange way, it was also grounding. It reminded her that she was here, that this was real.
"Sorry Elena." Agatha murmured gently, pausing for a moment before continuing. She worked more carefully then, trying to minimize the discomfort. The tangles however felt like Elena had had them her entire life.
"When was the last time you did this?" Agatha asked, her voice a mix of curiosity and concern.
Elena felt her face flush with embarrassment. She hadn't given much thought to hair care since her transformation, focusing more on the bigger challenges of adapting to her new life. "I usually use a comb. I don't really own a brush," she admitted sheepishly.
The brushing stopped and Elena could almost feel Agatha roll her eyes. She did hear her take a calming breath. "You need a brush," was all she said before she continued.
As Agatha persisted, the knots gradually began to loosen. The sharp, jarring tugs softened into a more rhythmic steady motion. With each stroke, the brush moved more smoothly through Elena's hair, and the pain started to dissipate. The sensation shifted from one of discomfort to something more soothing.
Elena found herself relaxing into the chair, her earlier tension melting away. She closed her eyes, focusing on the rhythmic sound of the brush moving through her hair. Eventually, the brushing became almost meditative. Agatha's gentle touch and the repetitive motion of the brush created a calming rhythm. Elena's scalp, initially sore and tender, began to relax, and a warm comforting feeling spread across her head. The steady strokes were no longer painful, but started feeling pleasurable, lulling Elena into a state of relaxation.
The bristles of the brush both scratched and massaged her skull and as it dragged on her scalp, Elena felt her back shiver with enjoyment and anticipation. She was surprised by how good it felt, how such a simple act could bring so much comfort. She thought she even let out the occasional "Mmmmmm."
"Are you cold?" Agatha asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Hmmm?" Elena responded with almost dreamlike sluggishness, too relaxed to form a proper response.
"You've got goosebumps," Agatha informed her. Elena didn't care though. The feeling felt too good to be concerned about goosebumps.
By the time Agatha was finished, Elena felt a deep sense of relief. Her issues from this morning seemed like a mile away and she was able to look at the issues with new eyes. Her hair was shiny and tangle-free, her skin was clean and smooth, and her worries were left somewhere in the bath.
Agatha grabbed Elena's hair and gave it a quick yank to pull her out of her dreamlike state. "Hey, l-"
Elena moaned involuntarily. Agatha’s eyes went a bit wide, almost as wide as Elena’s. The sound surprising her as much as it did Agatha. It was a deep, primal sound that she had never heard herself make before. Agatha didn't let go of her hair but stopped speaking immediately. Elena's hands quickly shot up to her mouth and covered it, her face burning with embarrassment.
Any adult over the age of 18 knows what that moan meant. Agatha was definitely an adult over 18. Elena quickly explained, her hands still covering her face. "Oh god, I'm so sorry. I didn't know that would happen. I only knew about the tail."
"The tail?" Elena heard Agatha behind her, curiosity and surprise evident in her voice. "Wait, your tail causes that too?"
Elena felt mortified. She was still learning about her new body, and apparently, it had more surprises in store for her. "I don't know what the hell this body is doing half the time," she said, her face still buried in her hands.
Agatha got off the bed, and Elena felt her in front of her. She still felt Agatha holding onto her hair. Elena split her fingers to see Agatha not but a foot from her face. She didn't look embarrassed, just more amused than anything.
"I know you said you had kids. Do we need to teach you about the Fireflies and moonflowers?" Agatha asked, a mischievous glint in her eye.
"N....ohhhhhh" was all Elena said as Agatha yanked her hair again. She couldn't help the sound that escaped her lips, a mix of surprise and pleasure that she didn't quite understand. Agatha laughed and let go. After her laughter died down she looked at Elena more seriously.
"Unless you've got your eye on one, I would make sure you don't tell any other guys about that spot. They'll do it just to see your face. And while I don't want to know about the tail, same for that."
Elena quickly pulled her hair to the front of her chest to better keep an eye on it. She felt vulnerable and exposed in a way that had nothing to do with her state of undress. It was another reminder of how much she still had to learn about herself, about this new body she inhabited.
As Elena sat there, trying to process this new discovery about herself, she couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions. Embarrassment, certainly, but also a strange sense of wonder. Her body was a mystery to her in so many ways, and each new discovery was both terrifying and exciting. She realized that this journey of self-discovery was far from over, and that there would likely be many more surprises along the way.
"Now, I don't see you every breakfast. Do you normally wear makeup to the academy?" Agatha asked.
Elena felt a small twinge of uncertainty. Makeup wasn't entirely foreign to her, but using it daily was a different story. "Not really, no. Neither do most of the girls in the class," she replied, then added, "Back in my world, I only really used makeup for cosplays."
Agatha's eyebrows raised in curiosity. "Cosplays?"
Elena smiled, a hint of nostalgia in her eyes. "It’s short for Costume Play. It's when you dress up as characters from stories or games. We'd go all out with costumes and makeup to look like someone else entirely."
"Ah, like theater," Agatha nodded in understanding. "Well, everyday makeup is quite different from that. You don't ever have to wear it. But some girls like how they look with it better than without it. You're pretty enough, and you're an initiate. I'd suggest that if you wear any, you go with darker colors to compliment your skin tone. This way you'll have a 'natural look'." She used her fingers to quote "natural look".
Elena pondered this for a moment. The idea of altering her appearance wasn’t something she expected to do, and she knew that there were some girls that could entirely alter their look with makeup. But the idea of spending hours doing it every day was more than slightly daunting. She had spent so much time getting used to her new face, the possibility of changing it further was more than a little annoying.
"Wait here a moment," Agatha said, leaving the room. Elena took the opportunity to examine her reflection in the nearby mirror. She studied her features and wondered what she’d look like with what Agatha was planning.
Agatha returned with a makeup kit. It was significantly larger than Elena expected it to be. Nearly every color under the sun was there in various shades and sparkles. Some of it was round, some square. It also came with a full complement of brushes. Elena's eyes widened at the array of choices, feeling slightly overwhelmed.
"I haven't been able to do this for another girl in years," Agatha said excitedly. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Elena found herself becoming curious despite her initial hesitation.
Elena just sat there and let Agatha do what she wanted to her face. She couldn't see much in her mirror because Agatha was in front of her, but it felt like an awfully extensive process. She tried to remember the few times she had to apply makeup herself, but those amateur efforts paled in comparison to what Agatha was doing.
As Agatha worked, Elena closed her eyes, focusing on the sensations. The soft brush of powder across her cheeks, the gentle tug as Agatha applied something to her eyelashes, the smooth glide of what she assumed was lipstick. It was an oddly soothing experience, reminding her of the hair brushing earlier.
"You know," Agatha said as she worked, "makeup isn't just about looking pretty. It's about how it makes you feel. Some days, putting on a bit of makeup can be like putting on armor. It gives you confidence, helps you face the world."
As Agatha worked, Elena closed her eyes, focusing on the sensations. The soft brush of powder across her cheeks, the gentle tug as Agatha applied something to her eyelashes, the smooth glide of what she assumed was lipstick. It was an oddly soothing experience, reminding her of the hair brushing earlier.
"You know," Agatha said as she worked, "everyday makeup isn't about becoming someone else, like your theater makeup. It's about enhancing who you are. Some days, putting on a bit of makeup can be like putting on armor. It gives you confidence, helps you face the world as yourself."
Elena mulled over these words. She had never thought about makeup that way before. In her previous life, outside of cosplay, it had always seemed like something unnecessary, even frivolous. Men didn’t wear makeup. But women? Now, she was beginning to understand its appeal in a different context.
"I've done some pretty intense makeup for cosplays," Elena said, "but an everyday, natural look is kinda new to me."
Agatha chuckled warmly. "Don't worry, dear. It's a different skill, but I'm sure you'll pick it up quickly with your experience. And everyone's face is different. What works for one person might not work for another. It's all about finding what suits you for everyday life."
As Agatha continued to work, Elena found herself relaxing into the experience. There was something comforting about being cared for like this, about letting someone else take control for a while. Finally, after what seemed like both an eternity and no time at all, Agatha stepped back. "There," she said, satisfaction evident in her voice. "Take a look."
When Agatha was finished with Elena's face, she looked immaculate. It was an art. You could barely tell any makeup was on, but it was. Her cheeks and the sides of her nose had shadows that made her face look more accentuated. Her forehead looked like it was both completely barren but also a bit dulled from powder. Even her neck all the ways down to her boobs had makeup. It looked as if they had been slightly pushed up if you could believe it.
Elena stared at her reflection, stunned. The face looking back at her was still familiar but also startlingly different. Her features seemed more defined, her eyes more striking. It wasn't a dramatic change, but it was noticeable. She looked... polished. Put together in a way she had never been before.
"Wow," Elena breathed, unable to take her eyes off her reflection. "I look..."
"Beautiful," Agatha finished for her, smiling warmly. "You were beautiful before, of course. This just... enhances what's already there."
Elena felt a strange mix of emotions. Pride at how good she looked, a twinge of sadness for the person she used to be, excitement at this new aspect of herself she was discovering. It was another step in her journey, another piece of the puzzle that was her new identity.
"Thank you, Agatha," Elena said softly, still examining her reflection. "This is... it's amazing."
Agatha squeezed her shoulder gently. "You're welcome, dear. Remember, this is just one way to present yourself. You don't need it to be beautiful or worthy. It's just a tool, like any other. Use it when you want to, leave it when you don't."
She got up when Agatha was done and walked over to her wardrobe. She took off the robe and put it in the wardrobe and donned her normal skirt and blouse. As she dressed, she felt different. Not just because of the makeup, but because of the entire experience - the bath, the hair brushing, the makeup. She felt cared for, refreshed, and somehow more herself than she had in days.
"Time to get to work..."