One Dirty Bird

The sunshine, as it is often in Winter, is a lie, offering little warmth in the face of windy cold, but it does make the countryside look picturesque. Inside the TarRaCe, however, the sunshine goes a long way to making the place cheery, streaming through the windows, bright enough to illuminate dust particles in the air. Lunch is underway, and the staff do their usual hustle, waiting on a modest crowd eager to warm up though meals and hot drinks. The odd crackle and whistles can be heard in the background of the hubbub, Fidget's store having an animated image of fireballs with sounds.

The pools, on the other hand, feel muted and calm, lacking the energy felt in the main room, but understandable for a place meant for relaxation and unwinding. Only a few float about the main pool, while the men's side has a very active conversation about the latest teams in the Colosseum.

The lady's side is alive with the sounds of scrubbing, Irshya's inside, dressed down in a one piece bathing suit, pushing sudsy water from the floor tiles into the empty pool. She straightens with a happy sigh, and goes to a small cupboard on the side. Levers are pulled on and adjusted, and in the pool, there is a giant rush of water, the sudsy and dirty water washed away, the pool slowly filling with fresh, clean water. The Gobbo steps back into the main pool area, whistling to herself, the broom over one shoulder, spinning.

Another of the TarRaCe employees is present in the bathhouse, having swapped out positions at the bar to get a change of pace. A short egalrin woman, dressed down to blue trunks with nary a ribbon or robe on them, pushes a water broom along the lady's side to get the splash off from Irshya's cleaning, giving a quiet whistling song to herself as Slixvah pushes water into the drains.

She snaps a thumbs up to her boss, grinning as the pool is done, her following behind the pool-shark, her own broom twirling in tandem with Irshya's, throwing water everywhere as she does.

Reithak had not lingered overly long in the main room, out of politeness to the patrons and a desire not to make them find their meals unpleasant. The large egalrin was looking even more black and brown than usual, spattering every bit of white fabric that they where wearing. When they were leaving the changing areas, the bag they carried was overstuffed and buttoned down tightly.

The egalrin pauses at the edge of the pool, and lets out a long sigh, looking like a half drowned chicken, and thankfully a bit cleaner after a thorough shower. "Oh gods, you just had to be going about cleaning the baths now?" The egalrin bemoans. "Given everything and the job payed really well, you mind if I just rent out this whole side for an hour or so? I think it's going to need to be emptied again, and it'd give the big makari with me a chance to get sorted, too?"

She does pause and wave quickly to the witch nearby. "Good to see ya! Sorry I'm nowhere near looking my best. Real rough job."

Big and blue, the aformentioned Makari is not far behind Reithak. While actual clothing is mostly limited to a belt and pouches, the bronze splinted cuirass and skirt he wears are both smeared and wet with ... stuff. "Bathss closed?" he inquires curiously. "Can usse river?" Which may not be anyone's preferred (or even considered) option, perhaps, other than himself.

The Goblin's little tail wiggles back and forth, and she grins, pausing to offer Slixvah a high-five... okay, for Slix, it's a mid-five at best. "There is nothing more satisfying than a clean, shiny pool. Thank you for the help, Slix! Are you sure you don't mind it? I mean, you do love to chat with the customers at the bar. And with you, it's like having a half-dozen different, interesting people tending bar. Though I think some customers don't understand how "Surly Bill" is funny, but I get a hoot every time."

She blinks at Reithak, her head canted. "But but... how will the naked noble synchronized bathing team practice?" Irshya's expression grows thoughtful, before she starts giggling. "Well, I can leave up the closed-for-cleaning sign if you like and my gods what have you ... gotten yourself into?" She stares at Tlanexhuani with saucer-wide eyes. "Is the Sith-makar with you?", she wonders of Reithak, her eyes shifting to the Egalrin. "If so, take him with you. No need to have to reclean /two/ baths today."

Slix peers over and perks up at the sight of the familiar half drowned chicken. "Girl, you always lookin' ya best, but- let me guess, sewers job?" she asks, looking half pained. She's been there many times before. Her gaze drifts to the makari behind her. Her visage grimaces as a hand clamps over the nose holes on her beak. "Yeah. Been there done that."

One of the feathers on her wings animates and gives the pool-shark a solid mid-five. "No problem, hon! Jus' wanted a lil' change up is all," she smiles, a little nasally from her nose being plugged. A laugh escapes her from Irshya's antics. "Get in there you two. Trust me, Blue, it's way better tha' th' freezing cold riva."

"Appreciate the vote of confidence, Slix, but even I know that people aren't looking amazing when they smell like a very messy grave." Reithak snorts, a gesture that they almost immediately regret as they're hit with a wave of nausea. "Ah, muse bless your work, I figured it'd be better than making you need to clean the other spot, too. Shame you don't think I've got what it takes to join the team, but it can't be helped. You're all good here, Tlan!"

The large egalrin unceremoniously dumps the sack of clothes nearby, and hops into the baths, finding a spot underneath one of the waterspouts and closing their eyes. "Close, but no cigar Slix, we're the crew investigating a spot the Mythwood elves don't want to be the ones investigating. I see why now, but dunno if they knew exactly what was down there or not."

Tlanexhuani's hunched form sinks further at Irshya's directive and semi-scolding. "Thiss one.. ssorry for mess..." His nostrils are scrunched mostly-closed, as if that might mitigate things. It really doesn't. "Wass... not comfortable."

That descriptive addition made, he steps into the bathing room after Reithak. The process of removing his armor is fairly brisk, yet done with care. Even more care is made in finding a spot to set it and belt to leave the least amount of - or easiest to clean after - mess on the floor. The azure Makari then makes his way into the waters. "This one walked in Alessandria sewers. Was nicer than cave. Smell better."

The pool-shark wrinkles her nose, a grimace forming. "Ugh, too much talking and not enough getting into the pool and bathing.", she says, waving a hand in front of her face. "A messy grave? Ewh. That is a terrible image in my mind. So... undead problems? Did you get them sorted or is it uhm ongoing?"

"We have a cleaning service for clothing and armor. Would you like to make use of this service? It'd be a couple of hours, so you'd have to chill for a bit. We have comfortable housecoats you can have, if you want to eat and drink out in the main room."

The Goblin moves to lean against the rust-and-white Egalrin, hugging at her waist.

Slixvah makes a face. "Bleh. Graves. My biggest and cleanest of condolences. Been there before." She nods with Irshya, wondering what came of the job. She sets the broom aside, smiling as the two get themselves comfortable into the pool. "Yuh, we can right clean all ya stuff and give it back all nice an' folded up," she croons, a wing wrapping around Irshya as she gets hugged.

"I'm in, I'm in!" Reithak relents from beneath the stream of water soaking their head. The inquisitor sighs, scrubbing a bit at various stubborn feathers. "Gods that feels good, not like that weird ice water we got blasted with. Still feel a bit of a chill from that, how're you holding up, Tlan?" They ask, turning to the makari in the batch, and craning their head upward to those on the rim. "You'd do that? To be honest, don't know how unstained you can get it without magic, but it'd be nice. Still, might need to just make myself some new clothes, too. At least a few spares, since I'm not sure if we're done there. Tunnels were too flooded to continue, and we weren't really in shape to go on regardless."

"This one is well," Tlanexhuani assures Reithak. "Be better when smell gone. Was... too strong." His frame sinks further into the water while admitting the last, recalling the others seemed to tolerate it, or at least better than he. Then the gobbers words cause a slow blink and he looks to her and the other avian.

"If sell cleaning, will buy, ssa." A claw emerges to point to the back of Reithah's things. "Will buy for both."

"They use a combination of good old fashioned elbow grease and magic to get clothes cleaned, repaired and freshened up." The Gobbo giggles as she is covered up by a wing, and makes a little pleased sigh. "So fluffy."

"But yes, it's a service we offer. As for new clothes, there's Lady Sandiel's place, and I do believe Aryia also provides some tailoring services too, you could reach out to her and see. Irshya steps forward and hooks her thumbs under the shoulder straps of her bathing suit. "Sandy made this for me." She turns around to show off the fin on her back. "Even has a custom hole for my fin!"

Irshya grins at Tlan, "Buy dinner for yourself and Reithak, and the clothes cleaning is free."

"Why d'ya think I wear so many robes?" Slix quips, smirking at Reithak. "Partly fo' fashion, partly 'cause doin' these jobs messes up a ton of 'em!"

She makes a face towards Tlan. "Ugh. I've been makari a few times, can't imagine how horrible the smell is li' tha'. Well. If ya gotta go back, get ya some potions tha' let ya breathe water. Or a person or scroll tha' can do it fo' ya."

Irshya gets a ruffle of feathers and a squeeze against her before pulling away to sit on the pool's edge next to Reithak. "Sandy- ah yes, she's good wit' clothes," Slix hums, thoughtful, amused as Irshya's shark tail is shown off. "Been there fo' robes tha' work wit wings. Ain' got stuff from Aryia. Never really met her, 'xcept watchin' in the Colosseum. Scaaaary!"

"I can think of many reasons for wearing so many different things, but you're right, I should invest in some more options." Reithak hums, keeping one eye on Slixvah and furiously scrubbing the side of their face for some time. "Real nice job on the suit! I'd love to meet the tailor behind that, but I can make myself some nice clothes if I have to. Still, might be a good idea to try some stuff out!"

"You don't gotta do that Tlan, but I appreciate it. Sounds like a good deal, maybe I'll pay for Slixvah's dinner in that case!" The large egalrin laughs, finally happy enough with a state of cleanliness to rest their head against Slixvah's leg. "Yeah, gotta make some preparations before we go back. Might be able to drain the tunnel in advance, but I think it doesn't hurt to have some backups just in case. I think that, thing, was trying to drag us into the water after all."

"Thiss one have only armor," Tlanexhuani explains. "Other thingsss get new if not be cleaned." A slow blink. "Go back? Thiss one thought ... thing no more?" Going back doesn't sound like the most appetizing idea. He then blinks again and his snout shifts to Slixva. "You were one of The People?!" He peers at her, confused.

Irshya looks up at Slixvah, seemingly surprised. "Oh, I thought it was so that you could do your famous robe dance!" She looks to the others. "They also have these bags that you can wear like a mask, over your nose and mouth. There are strong herbs in them, that mask even the nastiest of nasty smells. The herbs aren't necessarily the best of smells, but they sure do beat the hurk-inducing smells."

She eyes Reithak a moment, "Oh? There's a thing still down there? Do you know what it is? Maybe you could hit the library and look it up, find out if it has any noted weaknesses. Or bring more people and beat it into submission!"

She blinks, looks to Slixvah, and then to Tlan. She giggles, and then laughs, falling over at Slix's feet.

"Oh there's tons of otha reasons- HAH! No not a robe dance!" Slixvah snickers as a hand rests against Reithak's head, smoothing out wet feathers. "Ooh, dinner? I won' say no ta that!"

Her brows furrow briefly. "Still kickin'? Hrm, yeah, do wha' RishRish says, maybe can find mo' 'bout it." Irshya toppling over next to her gets a light smirk to cross her features, one strong band of feathers animating and all but shoving the shark into her natural habitat.

The makari's surprise elicits a snicker from the runt of an eglarin. "I was! Perhaps not The People culturally, but I have my ways ta be other kinds of folks!" she grins, tapping the edge of her beak. "Sith-makar included!"

Reithak hums a happy sounding tune, for some time before they stop abruptly. One eye opens, and stares up at the witch. "You have a famous robe dance, and you haven't shown me? I am shocked and appalled, Slix." The large egalrin laughs loudly.

"I know, I don't want to go back either. But there's a lot unaccounted for, at the moment. Doesn't feel like a finished job." Reithak sighs, looking over to where Tlanexhuani was, after scanning the surface of the water. "We only found one creature, but it was more like 3 stuck together, but there was more than three sarcophagi in that place, didn't have time to check them all since Lheo was in such rough shape, and I wasn't looking too hot health wise either." They elaborate.

"Ssa," Tlanexhuani agrees. "Want grab uss. Then claw. If are more, must find, stop." While he isn't thrilled by the prospect, he seems to affirm that easily enough. Then he is back to staring at Slixvah. Only for a moemnt, this time, though, as he just takes her explanation even if he doesn't fully understand it. He then settles in more relaxedly. A claw gestures between the egalrin. "Can show dance. Isss time. Not return until clean, things clean, bellies full."

The pool-shark squeaks as she is unceremoniously shoved into the pool, and the slow moving, slightly pudgy woman turns into a svelte, graceful swimmer.

She circles around the pool several times at high speed, before surfacing by Tlan and clambering up onto his shoulder. The Gobbo shakes a fist at Slixvah, and sticks out her little blue tongue at the Egalrin.

GAME: Slixvah rolls charisma: (17)+2: 19

Slix's face floofs up as a robe dance is demanded. "I-I don't have a robe dance- feh, sod it." She pulls away from Reithak, wet talons slapping against the tiled floor as she goes a pile of multicolored robes. "Sounds li' ya got ya work cut out fo' ya. Jus'... be careful ya'll two."

She dons a purple and cyan robe, as well as a rainbow ribbon that gets looped around her neck. Slix returns. "Alright, ya'll want a dance? Fine. Ain' my forte but ta hell wit' it."

She clears her throat, spreads her wings and holds a pose. Before suddenly ducking into the robe and pulling in tight, only to burst out as- a pink haired half-sil woman has replaced her? Clad in a similar bathing attire, the bright eyed half-sil does a twirl, the robe obscuring her for another beat before it reveals a pale Arvek Nar, grinning wide with tusks jutting out.

She does a slide across the wet tiles on her knees, tumbling forth, getting caught in the robe once more as a gobber with too many ear piercings stumbles out in a too big robe. She claps her tiny hands in a beat before jumping to her feet, throwing the robe and ribbon away to the side as her true feathered self fades into reality- and she comes in hot with a- "Cannonball!"

SPLASH!

"Believe me, I'm not in a rush to get back there, Tlan, long as there isn't an immediate threat there. To be honest I'm a little ticked off, feels like the mythwood elves aren't really treating us like equals in this relationship." The large egalrin huffs, struggling to keep an eye on Irshya before they finally resurface.

"Don't worry, we'll be careful, I'll do what I can to keep folks safe." Reithak hums, watching the witch leave. "You do have one! You're famous, so that already makes it count!" The inquisitor teases, pulling herself up to watch over the edge of the bath, resting her head in her arms. Reithak laughs, and by the time Slixvah is in the drink, the larger egalrin is clapping madly along. "Nice one!" They sputter, flopping back down into the baths. "Glad I got to see the grand debut!"

Tlanexhuani had no idea what the robe dance might be; he was merely being polite and encouraging. Even though he had no idea, that wasn't what he expected. There is more blinking. On the other claw, it does remove his confusion from before. "Iss very nice!" He has lost sight of Irshya, but she has a fin; water would not be any inconvenience to her, right?

The Goblin giggles the whole time at Slixvah's dancing antics, and is unphased by the Egalrin's splashing entry into the pool. Irshya dives back into the water from Tlanexhuani's shoulder, and swims up to Slixvah, attempting to wiggle into her arms.

"Wonderful, just wonderful! I am sad that Surly Bob didn't make an appearance, but maybe next time! But, I need to get back to work. ReiRei and Tlan, you two enjoy the rest of your soak, I'll grab your clothes and armor, and deliver them to the cleaning service. Slix, you can relax back here, or come help me with moving a few beer barrels. Afterwards, you three can come have dinner upstairs. Enjoy!" She swims to the side of the pool, and climbs out, leaving a trail of wet footprints as she runs out into the main room.