The Exploits of Misfit Company

When Alys lovingly plopped a dizzy parched Kasha on to the counter, like a cat, Kasha leaned over and *slurp slurp slurp slurp* drank some water. She lazily watched Alys prepare everything. "Oh gosh, Alys, you're being so nice to me. What did I ever do to deserve this treatment. I feel like i'm so needy." she said sadly. The water looked like a nightmare, she hated it, but she knew it needed to be done, and she trusted Alys completely. Even with water issues. She gave the tub a worried, reluctant look. It looked like she was going to cry she hated bathing so much. But, at the request of cooperating from Alys, Kasha nodded in promise, she would behave. "Ok. I promise. I'll behave."

Alys would crouch to be eye level with Kasha as she lays there with her face against the counter, "What did you ever do NOT to deserve to be cared for?" She'd ask gently, more rhetorically, tilting her head. The elf would take the druid's face in her hands. "There's nothing wrong with you, Kasha. You're deserving of affection." Alys would pause feeling herself getting a little choked up from her own emotions, her eyes softening further as she's about to share something very personal to her. "Someone once told me, 'be the person you needed when you were younger.'" She'd barely be able to get that out without a crack in her voice, and glossy eyes. "So I try." The elf would take a breath to steady herself "I believe everyone deserves to feel cared for, and I care about you." To be honest, her handling of Kasha was inspired by the tenderness displayed to the druid by Yvan. She was doing her best to provide the same comfort to her while her protector was away. Alys knew she could never replace that 'safety blanket', but maybe if she could add a patch to it for Kasha, she could provide her own piece of comfort.

The elf would start undoing the blanket to free Kasha so she could finally stretch and get her bearings, gingerly leading Kasha to the tub when she was ready. Sensing her high level of reluctance, Alys wouldn't rush the druid in the water, and would only join if she was comfortable. Otherwise, she'll just stick her feet in the tub with her so she could get in there and really give Kasha's hair a good scrub, being sure to give a nice massaging scratch with her nails. The wizard would be methodical but efficient so Kasha wouldn't have to suffer more than necessary. Once she was all scrubbed clean, Alys would grab the biggest, fluffiest towel to wrap her in, offering her hand to help the druid out of the tub.

"I care about you, too. Very much. But..." Kasha admitted. "But no one looks at me in..that way..you know..well..I mean, I have you guys, I have all my forest friends, and Obsidian - he's just a really smart magical cat. But I don't have anyone who when they look at me, they get all like, tingles. Sparkles. Butterflies. You? You're so wise and beautiful and smart and you have perfect skin and golden hair, everyone likes you. Anyone would be so lucky just to be with you."

Aly's unburritofied her. She stood and stretched, her lean muscles tensing tightly as she did so. As promised, by the tub, she hesitated for a moment, but Alys was patient, kind, and loving, and didn't rush her. She was not ashamed to be naked next to her, not in the slightest, she felt very comfortable next to her. She stepped into the tub, biting her lip, as if the water was lava. She was still tense, it was easy to tell without her clothes on, as if at any moment the water would do something to her and she would be ready to leap out like a cheetah.  

As Alys combed her hair, she relaxed and unflexed. The motions of feeling the comb through it over and over felt good. As she soaped and cleaned her she could feel Aly's fingers touching her and as it went on, her heart began to feel warm. It felt so good. She was gentle. She liked her touch. Her eyes slightly rolled and friendship was rapidly turning into affection, fast, out of control. She wanted to have Alys come in, too, and Kasha nearly startled in embarrassment when she forgot about the water and started thinking about Alys's lips. She swallowed hard and couldn't tell if she was sweating or if it was water dripping down her temple. 

No!! Hey! STOP! LA LA LA LA LA! STOP!

"Thank you." her voice cracked horribly. She cleared her throat. "I don't know what I would do without you. You put up with so much with me. I wish you knew how much I appreciate you. I can't wait to get my hair done with you!" 

“Or maybe you just don’t know that they do...”

Alys would smile genuinely, “You’re welcome. And maybe with time, you can show me.” The elf would wink to Kasha to try to lighten the mood and make her smile. There was so much more she had to say, but it was time to get Kasha dried and to start on her hair. “Let’s do it!” Shed hug her. 

"Oh." she said, considering. "I guess you're right. I don't know that. I suppose someone would have said something..but, oh well." Alys's good mood was contagious, and Kasha smiled back at her. He gladly hugged her back, and nodded. "Ok!" she squeaked.

“Those feelings can be overwhelming, even intimidating. Words can be hard to find. Sometimes even scary.” Alys would use the towel to playfully ruffle up Kasha’s hair as she dried it. “But you’re not wrong. You can’t read minds, now can you?” She’d giggle at the irony. The wizard always chose not to read the minds of those she cared for even though she could. “Do you have any ideas for your hair?” She boops Kasha’s nose before she starts pulling it away from her face. 

"No. Not yet." Kasha replied about reading minds. Then she smiled about her hair and the boop of her snoot. "A bun, with a few cute strands loose, please."

“I thought so. A little birdie did tell me.” Alys would wink to Kasha and let her hair go. “Shall we?” She’d smile, holding a hand out to Kasha, inviting her to come with her to join the other girls in the next room for the rest of their girl day. The elf would lead Kasha out of the bathroom to the room with Vastra and Stella when she was ready.

Alys would place an order for some pancakes, fruit and smoothies be sent up to their room. Then with a couple flicks of her wrist, the wizard will start some music and playfully shield Kasha’s eyes when she’d open the blinds to get some sunlight in the room. Alys was hoping to breathe some fresh upbeat energy in the area to pep them up for the day. It was supposed to be for a fun party night right?

Humming and beebopping to some of the music, Alys would start gathering up supplies and organizing them around a station. The elf would pat the seat when she was done, inviting Kasha to come take a seat when she was ready for Alys to start working on her. And when the druid would take a seat, Alys would run her nails through her hair a few times before slinking away for a moment only to return with a glass of water to place in front of Kasha with a warm smile, in case she needed it.

Vastra will keep working Stella over until the room service arrives. Then she'll eat breakfast.

Everything that Alys did was magical to Kasha. She was happy to see the girls again, and did indeed drink water that Alys brought to help her hangover. She was even considerate about opening the blinds. Gosh. It made her teeth hurt with how sweet the elf was. She sat patiently and let Alys do her work, so very excited. Each time Alys would look at her, she would be smiling.

Stella eats breakfast with the others. "Okay, I know I'm doing Alys's hair, anyone else?"

 "So what are you most excited for?" Alys would ask in Kasha's ear as she'd finish with the last few loose strands. Then she'd step back to take one more once over the druid before shielding her eyes from spraying a bit of hairspray to hold it all together. "All done!" She'd clap her hands together. "I hope you like it!"

When Stella would pipe up to do Alys' hair, she'd playfully tip toe away. But she was really just stocking up on some breakfast to bring back to her seat to snack on while Stella worked on her hair. She was actually extremely excited to see what she had in mind for her. "What are you thinking?" Alys would plop down where Stella would prefer her. The elf would pop a Strawberry in her mouth and then reach out to offer Kasha another one from her stash.

Stella grins as she sits Alys down in front of the mirror. "I was thinking a braid starting on the left and making its way down, then hanging free. It won't be too elaborate, so you won't have to be stressed about it. And I got these yesterday evening." She holds up several dark green sprigs. "I thought I'd weave them at the top."

With dark green leaves instead of silver:

Alys would be practically bouncing in her seat, wide eyed. “Yes! Yes to all of it!” She’d say very excitedly, absolutely adoring the idea and the additional touch of the green sprigs. “Mmmhmm!” The elf would bite into a slice of melon.

"All right, let's do this!" Stella says with a smile, pulling out her brush.

The rogue proceeds to brush Alys's hair out, then braid it neatly, then finally tuck the green sprigs into the top of the braid. Once she's finished, she steps back with a smile. "What do you think?"

Alys will pop off the chair to admire her hair in the mirror. She’ll twist one way, then the next to look at all sides before her cheeks will turn a little pink. “I love it! Thank you Stella!” The elf will trot over to the rogue to smother her in a hug. 

Stella smiles and returns the hug tightly. "You're going to look absolutely stunning tonight."

Now that Crispy was finally home for the day:

To Alys: "What am I most excited for?" Kasha wondered. It was a good question. "Probably the food. And a dance. And seeing Obsidian and Hoodini dressed up. And having a good time." she thought for a moment. "Actually, that's more than one thing, isn't it..." She looked at her hair in the mirror and was amazed. "Ohhh..." she breathed, stunned. "My hair. Oh my. I'm like..one of those noble princesses. I can't believe it." She looked up at Alys and you could tell in her eyes that she was so very grateful for you, and for doing her hair.

Everyone: Kasha was admiring herself when she finally turned to look at the other. She put her hands on her hips. "Mm mm mm." she admired. "Don't you all look simply delicious!" she laughed, almost snorting. "Sheesh, why don't we do this more often!?" Then she saw what Alys was holding. "Ooh! Strawberries!!"

Kasha would look over everyone's hair very closely, approving mightily.

Alys would simply smile when Kasha would start rhyming off multiple things she was looking forward too. She succeeded in getting the druid chatting, that’s what mattered. 

The wizard would blush at the girls complements. “We’re ALL going to be flawless tonight.” She’ll smile to all the girls. And Alys believed it. Them spending this time together and getting ready together feels like it’s bringing out the best in each other. It was a nice feeling.

Alys will clap her hands together, “Well now that our hair is done, we should do make up right?!” She’ll lean in to Kasha, almost nose to nose with her to stare at her eyes, studying them and their colour. “I think I got it!” The elf will wink when she’s got an idea of what she’d do for Kasha in mind. 

Kasha’s heart began to pound at the proximity of Alys nearly nose to nose, and the suspense of what she had in store for her!! She bit her lower lip in much anticipation.