"Thank you for being so forthcoming! I'm glad to hear that the two of you will be available for future tests, if the need arises," Dharma beamed, clapping together both hands at her chest. In actuality, it was something she was pleased to hear, although not nearly as innocently as she let on. To her, that just meant that the carrot and stick was still working for a little while longer, at least.
As the two girls entered the room, Dharma pulled the neck of her shirt away from her body slightly. The heat had bothered her back out there on Beach Street; she'd called it a sauna at the time. If Beach Street were a sauna, however, the spa could be described as the sun itself. "How do customers put up with such heat? I should complain!" she thought, her eyebrows lowering slightly as her dissatisfaction rose. Of course, it would only be natural that she'd find it a bit feverish and stuffy, given that she was dressed entirely in formal, dark clothing with a pitch-black labcoat over it all.
"Ah, well then," she murmured, turning around again self-consciously to make certain that Iris was as taken with the items as she seemed to be. As she turned her head again, she allowed her smile to fade slightly for the first time since she'd entered the bathhouse. She spotted a bath and a shower... bathhouses had showers? Who would want a shower when they came for a bath? "Nonsense," she thought to herself. "Then again, I'd ordinarily take a quick shower, but I did come here for a bath..."
Her eyes darted around again for some sort of curtain or changing room. There was none, of course, so she was just going to have to take Dharma for her word. "What if there are cameras?" she thought to herself suspiciously, taking quick inventory of every corner of the ceiling. "Who wouldn't pay out the ass to see the great president of Heart Payne Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, bearing it all without a care in the world? I could have walked right into a trap without thinking about it! But... I'm too far in to back out now."
Slowly, she shrugged off her labcoat, leaving it on a wooden coat-hanger near the door. Her tie came next, then her high-heeled shoes. Sometimes, she forgot just how much clothing she wore... For this reason, she had to alot a great portion of time to preparation every morning before she went out. She realized that once she got out of the bath, she would have to reapply her makeup... Silently, the president thought that she might be able to raise Iris to a slightly higher level of esteem if it turned out there was makeup waiting for her after the bath.
Dharma removed her belt next, setting it with the tie. With all of the non-essentials out of the way, she cast another glance over her back, just to make certain Iris was still keeping her half of the deal. Once her privacy was reaffirmed, the president unbuttoned her well-tailored slacks, then edged them slowly down her hips. She would never allow herself to do anything as graceless as shaking a leg out, so she braced herself against the wall with one hand, then finished the removal. Her long shirt continued providing her a bit of modesty as she tried to determine what to do with the pants.
"Excuse me, Madam! Do you perhaps have a hangar for my slacks?" she asked, unable to imagine the indignity of folding the slacks and shoving them in some cubicle, or worse, dropping them on the floor.
Tonglen Bathhouse
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Iris remained respectfully distant, and totally ignorant of the personal crisis Dharma had wrapped herself up in. Had she known, she might have felt a bit affronted -- an establishment like hers, committing petty voyeurism? She wouldn't say that everything at Tonglen was strictly straight and narrow, but they had much bigger things to concern themselves with.
Of course, all that reached Iris as she inspected the rows of towels and tea leaves was the faint rustle of cloth. Nothing about this situation was new to her -- a businessperson's suit was their armour, more or less. Few were even comfortable enough to allow her into the room until they had already settled into the water, and only then when they decided they could use some refreshments of conversation. She felt she'd come to develop a sense for the character of those she attended to, and while she was almost definitely as deceptive as any others, Iris found herself a little impressed with her confidence.
As luck would have it, hangers were one of the supplies stocked on the shelves she had kept such attentive stock of while her client changed. She glided over with one in hand, smoothly taking them from Dharma's hands and hanging them smoothly. She seemed more or less unmoved by the half-dressed woman's figure -- it appeared Dharma's earlier suspicions were unfounded.
"I have to admit," she began in a conversational tone, "I hadn't expected to find the president of a company running field trials. It must be a matter of great importance for Heart-Payne Pharmaceuticals." The pants were hung next to Dharma's coat. Iris remained nearby for the sake of conversation, no longer staring conspicuously at the shelves, but all the same making it quite clear through position and body language that the sight of Dharma undressing was not one of her pressing interests. "Naturally, I'm not going to ask you for company secrets... But all the same, I hope the results have been promising so far."
Of course, all that reached Iris as she inspected the rows of towels and tea leaves was the faint rustle of cloth. Nothing about this situation was new to her -- a businessperson's suit was their armour, more or less. Few were even comfortable enough to allow her into the room until they had already settled into the water, and only then when they decided they could use some refreshments of conversation. She felt she'd come to develop a sense for the character of those she attended to, and while she was almost definitely as deceptive as any others, Iris found herself a little impressed with her confidence.
As luck would have it, hangers were one of the supplies stocked on the shelves she had kept such attentive stock of while her client changed. She glided over with one in hand, smoothly taking them from Dharma's hands and hanging them smoothly. She seemed more or less unmoved by the half-dressed woman's figure -- it appeared Dharma's earlier suspicions were unfounded.
"I have to admit," she began in a conversational tone, "I hadn't expected to find the president of a company running field trials. It must be a matter of great importance for Heart-Payne Pharmaceuticals." The pants were hung next to Dharma's coat. Iris remained nearby for the sake of conversation, no longer staring conspicuously at the shelves, but all the same making it quite clear through position and body language that the sight of Dharma undressing was not one of her pressing interests. "Naturally, I'm not going to ask you for company secrets... But all the same, I hope the results have been promising so far."
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"She's... looking right at me! While I'm pantsless!" Dharma thought to herself; the shock registered on her face for just a moment as a dumbfounded stare. "Yes, the results of the tests have all been very... good," she spat out, crossing both arms across her chest and plastering her smile back on. "I feel like I'm moving a little closer towards my goal. That goal, of course, is classified."
"Look the other way," she mentally commanded Iris, her eyebrows tensing with exertion as she tried to use some sort of psychic power to make her attendant follow her commands. She absolutely couldn't ask Iris to look the other way, but at the same time, she couldn't continue with Iris watching. Her slender, slightly pale legs shifted uncomfortably as she contemplated pulling her pants off the hangar and slipping back into them.
"That's a defeatist attitude! I came here to take a bath; a special privilege allowed to me as the president of a powerful pharmaceutical company! Why can't I just relax and enjoy an executive perk?" she thought to herself, unbuttoning her shirt quickly to avoid thinking about it. Finally, she pulled it away from her shoulders and threw it onto the floor in direct violation of her earlier rule with the pants. The action left her wearing only her black (but otherwise fairly plain) underwear and tall, black socks.
"... Nope, that's it," she thought to herself, realizing as she cupped both thumbs at the hook of her bra that there was no way she could go through with taking it off. "Say, Iris; why don't you tell me a little bit about those pots and leaves you were looking at earlier?" she inquired in a fake voice of control, already planning out how she could quickly dress back and then spit out some excuse to leave without bathing. She'd have come up with something classier than "pots and leaves," but she wasn't in her best state of mind. "She's not worthy of seeing a genius' body! Nobody is, really! This is why geniuses bathe in private, after all!"
"Look the other way," she mentally commanded Iris, her eyebrows tensing with exertion as she tried to use some sort of psychic power to make her attendant follow her commands. She absolutely couldn't ask Iris to look the other way, but at the same time, she couldn't continue with Iris watching. Her slender, slightly pale legs shifted uncomfortably as she contemplated pulling her pants off the hangar and slipping back into them.
"That's a defeatist attitude! I came here to take a bath; a special privilege allowed to me as the president of a powerful pharmaceutical company! Why can't I just relax and enjoy an executive perk?" she thought to herself, unbuttoning her shirt quickly to avoid thinking about it. Finally, she pulled it away from her shoulders and threw it onto the floor in direct violation of her earlier rule with the pants. The action left her wearing only her black (but otherwise fairly plain) underwear and tall, black socks.
"... Nope, that's it," she thought to herself, realizing as she cupped both thumbs at the hook of her bra that there was no way she could go through with taking it off. "Say, Iris; why don't you tell me a little bit about those pots and leaves you were looking at earlier?" she inquired in a fake voice of control, already planning out how she could quickly dress back and then spit out some excuse to leave without bathing. She'd have come up with something classier than "pots and leaves," but she wasn't in her best state of mind. "She's not worthy of seeing a genius' body! Nobody is, really! This is why geniuses bathe in private, after all!"
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"That's good to hear. I'm glad that Cheshire and I could be of help." Iris would have been hard-pressed to miss the shock and ensuing conflict on Dharma's face -- for someone whose stock in trade was observation, a moment's weakness was all that was needed. Perhaps her guest wasn't quite as comfortable around people as she'd thought at first. She wasn't one to judge, naturally; she wasn't one to place herself potentially at risk, either. Besides, her high-profile position likely carried its own laundry list of risks and liabilities.
Still, it would be a shame for Dharma to come all this way and have nothing to show for it. So Iris tried to be as patient and unobtrusive as she could. After all, Dharma had nothing to fear from her.
And, in a way, her efforts bore fruit -- although with the way Dharma flung the garment aside, Iris doubted that she'd quite work up the courage to bathe. She gathered the shirt from its place on the tiles without a word, folding it smoothly and placing it on a shelf near to her other items. When Dharma posed her question, she was secretly grateful; so far there hadn't been a whole lot of opportunities to make her visit the sort of thing she'd want to repeat.
"Oh, those?" She crossed toward the shelves. "Many guests enjoy a cup of tea during their stay. Would you like me to prepare a pot? We have a fairly wide variety, although we tend more toward green and herbal teas." She lifted a cylindrical electric kettle from the shelf and made her way toward the small sink set in the corner. "If you'd prefer not to bathe on this visit, the least we can do is get you something to drink, hm?"
Still, it would be a shame for Dharma to come all this way and have nothing to show for it. So Iris tried to be as patient and unobtrusive as she could. After all, Dharma had nothing to fear from her.
And, in a way, her efforts bore fruit -- although with the way Dharma flung the garment aside, Iris doubted that she'd quite work up the courage to bathe. She gathered the shirt from its place on the tiles without a word, folding it smoothly and placing it on a shelf near to her other items. When Dharma posed her question, she was secretly grateful; so far there hadn't been a whole lot of opportunities to make her visit the sort of thing she'd want to repeat.
"Oh, those?" She crossed toward the shelves. "Many guests enjoy a cup of tea during their stay. Would you like me to prepare a pot? We have a fairly wide variety, although we tend more toward green and herbal teas." She lifted a cylindrical electric kettle from the shelf and made her way toward the small sink set in the corner. "If you'd prefer not to bathe on this visit, the least we can do is get you something to drink, hm?"
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"She understands my thoughts completely... Does she have experience dealing with geniuses? She herself could not be a genius... The odds of one genius encountering another genius at random are so astronomically low," Dharma thought to herself, biting at her long nails from irritable habit as Iris turned around for a moment. "Tea? You know, that sounds lovely! Let's put the bath on hold for a later time and sit down to drink," she chuckled in a hollow voice, slipping back on her garments with telling enthusiasm. Iris had thought that some people treated their suit as armor; she'd hit the nail right on the head where Dharma was concerned.
She'd managed to pull on her shirt, although it was only buttoned halfway, and was in the process of getting her pants up. She turned to move towards where her other items were waiting, jerking the pants on in spite of herself and hopping a bit. This proved to be a bad idea, because on the moist and slippery floor of the bathroom, she didn't have a lot of traction. Her face bent into a revelatory grimace as she grasped for something to hang onto to avoid falling.
Her hand at first brushed by the coat hangers on the wall, but missed. Still grasping, she fell towards Iris, still with a look of disgust at her situation. Her other hand left the hem of her pants and reached out for Iris' kimono; both tried to grab out and gain some sort of leverage against allowing the president to collide face-first with the floor, all in a split second since she'd taken that one hop.
She'd managed to pull on her shirt, although it was only buttoned halfway, and was in the process of getting her pants up. She turned to move towards where her other items were waiting, jerking the pants on in spite of herself and hopping a bit. This proved to be a bad idea, because on the moist and slippery floor of the bathroom, she didn't have a lot of traction. Her face bent into a revelatory grimace as she grasped for something to hang onto to avoid falling.
Her hand at first brushed by the coat hangers on the wall, but missed. Still grasping, she fell towards Iris, still with a look of disgust at her situation. Her other hand left the hem of her pants and reached out for Iris' kimono; both tried to grab out and gain some sort of leverage against allowing the president to collide face-first with the floor, all in a split second since she'd taken that one hop.
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Iris filled the small electric kettle and set it to boil off to the side, leaving Dharma a short while to dress in peace. "What would you prefer? If you have a favourite, we might have it here." She was more than prepared to make a recommendation, but it seemed almost a point of pride for CEOs and the like to have clearly-defined tastes in just about anything. Many of her clients would proudly recite the brand name, the steep time, and the country where it was grown as easily as their preference for milk or cream. "On the other hand, if you're curious, there are a few I can personally -- Ms. Heart-Payne!"
Iris' eyes flew wide as she caught sight of her client. She practically flew across the room to try and catch her, her arms catching the falling woman by the shoulders, heedless as her hands grabbed and pulled at the fold of her kimono. The smooth fabric slipped open, falling from Iris' shoulder and revealing a great deal more skin than the attendant had expected to show her client. The edges of an extensive horimono tattoo painted her skin from the shoulder down along the arm, and across the outer edge of her chest. The simple black pattern that surrounded the more colourful and intricate main body of the work flowed smoothly over the curve of her breast, peeking up from the simple white cup of the bra she wore.
It took Iris a few moments to register that anything had happened -- after all, Dharma's safety was a higher priority than her own dress. As the humid air settled over her newly-bare skin, her calm facade oh-so-briefly fell, plain shock and anxiety registering on the woman's face. She seemed younger, somehow, with her usual stoic expression temporarily absent.
Wardrobe malfunctions aside, though, she had a client to care for. She drew herself back up, helping Dharma to regain her balance (and hoping to herself that the surprise in her face could be passed off as a reaction to the president's brush with danger). "Are you alright, Ms. Heart-Payne?" She did her best to don her calm mask again, wishing all the while that Dharma would let her hand fall so that she could fix her kimono.
Iris' eyes flew wide as she caught sight of her client. She practically flew across the room to try and catch her, her arms catching the falling woman by the shoulders, heedless as her hands grabbed and pulled at the fold of her kimono. The smooth fabric slipped open, falling from Iris' shoulder and revealing a great deal more skin than the attendant had expected to show her client. The edges of an extensive horimono tattoo painted her skin from the shoulder down along the arm, and across the outer edge of her chest. The simple black pattern that surrounded the more colourful and intricate main body of the work flowed smoothly over the curve of her breast, peeking up from the simple white cup of the bra she wore.
It took Iris a few moments to register that anything had happened -- after all, Dharma's safety was a higher priority than her own dress. As the humid air settled over her newly-bare skin, her calm facade oh-so-briefly fell, plain shock and anxiety registering on the woman's face. She seemed younger, somehow, with her usual stoic expression temporarily absent.
Wardrobe malfunctions aside, though, she had a client to care for. She drew herself back up, helping Dharma to regain her balance (and hoping to herself that the surprise in her face could be passed off as a reaction to the president's brush with danger). "Are you alright, Ms. Heart-Payne?" She did her best to don her calm mask again, wishing all the while that Dharma would let her hand fall so that she could fix her kimono.
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Dharma managed to get her smile back when she realized that she'd managed to upset her host. "Ho ho! Back on top," she reasoned to herself... she wasn't interested in the sort of thing, but she allowed her eyes to drift down on Iris' body. Rather than dwelling on the breasts, she was surprised to find that a far more intriguing trait had been revealed: a single, highly intricate horimono tattoo, seemingly covering her host's entire body. Of course, having no idea what a horimono tattoo indicated, Dharma simply smiled wider. "She's probably stuck in a servantile job like this because of that body ink! I know my HR department isn't going to look for anyone that's got a giant tramp-stamp covering her entire body," she chuckled inwardly.
The evil was now showing heavily on Dharma's face, which really made it seem like she'd stripped her host on purpose. She finally realized this and backed up, cleared her expression, and shared her partner's look of bewilderment and mild embarrassment. "I'm fine, really, it is I who should apologize! A businesswoman, tripping over her own slacks. I've really made a fool of myself," she sighed, turning her head in feigned embarrassment while drawing up her britches. In reality, she grinned wider, having finally gotten a glimpse of her look-alike's weaker side. "I hope I've caused you no undue distress."
The evil was now showing heavily on Dharma's face, which really made it seem like she'd stripped her host on purpose. She finally realized this and backed up, cleared her expression, and shared her partner's look of bewilderment and mild embarrassment. "I'm fine, really, it is I who should apologize! A businesswoman, tripping over her own slacks. I've really made a fool of myself," she sighed, turning her head in feigned embarrassment while drawing up her britches. In reality, she grinned wider, having finally gotten a glimpse of her look-alike's weaker side. "I hope I've caused you no undue distress."
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While the set of Iris' face quickly regained its calm, austere cast, a touch of concern lingered in her eyes until it was clear her client hadn't been too badly shaken. She couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, though, at the expression on Dharma's face -- the woman's apparent interest was worrying, to say the least. Such tattoos as hers still carried certain connotations which might unsettle potential business partners. While she had an explanation prepared it was, on the whole, a situation she'd rather have avoided altogether.
If Ms. Heart-Payne had any such concerns, though, she did not voice them. She supposed she could have mistaken the look on her client's face. While it occurred to her that the look could easily have been an expression of less pure intentions, the thought did little to unsettle her; with businesspeople, it seemed nearly a custom to stare. With her kimono freed, Iris nonchalantly drew the fine fabric back around her shoulders. "None at all," she dismissed with a pleasant smile. "Rather, I should apologize for our own negligence. These floors should not be so slick." The woman gave a short, apologetic bow.
Leaving Dharma to finish dressing, she made her way to the kettle in the corner and prepared a small teapot just as the water reached its boiling point. "I'll begin with some green tea," she noted conversationally, carrying the steaming pot to a squat table set in the room's drier half. "A delicate leaf from Zheijang province on the mainland, considered one of the best among connoisseurs. Nothing too unusual, but I hope you'll enjoy it all the same." A deep, pleasant aroma began to fill the room, easily mingling with the already-moist air. Iris took position standing at the table, casting a glance back to her dressing client.
If Ms. Heart-Payne had any such concerns, though, she did not voice them. She supposed she could have mistaken the look on her client's face. While it occurred to her that the look could easily have been an expression of less pure intentions, the thought did little to unsettle her; with businesspeople, it seemed nearly a custom to stare. With her kimono freed, Iris nonchalantly drew the fine fabric back around her shoulders. "None at all," she dismissed with a pleasant smile. "Rather, I should apologize for our own negligence. These floors should not be so slick." The woman gave a short, apologetic bow.
Leaving Dharma to finish dressing, she made her way to the kettle in the corner and prepared a small teapot just as the water reached its boiling point. "I'll begin with some green tea," she noted conversationally, carrying the steaming pot to a squat table set in the room's drier half. "A delicate leaf from Zheijang province on the mainland, considered one of the best among connoisseurs. Nothing too unusual, but I hope you'll enjoy it all the same." A deep, pleasant aroma began to fill the room, easily mingling with the already-moist air. Iris took position standing at the table, casting a glance back to her dressing client.
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Dharma dressed back quickly, keeping her sympathetic smile plastered on as she did. Luckily, dressing was something she could do much more quickly than undressing in the presence of strangers, so within no time, she was back to her entirely black-clad self. "It's no worry at all, Ms. Kodai!" she informed her host with a gentle coo. If Iris had seemed flustered, Dharma would have thought to herself, "What a ridiculous person! I enjoy playing with her and she's clearly not very good at her job." With Iris thus retaining her composure, Dharma thought to herself, "What a ridiculous person! She's lapsed so easily back into that stupid servant's position. Such a simple-minded woman." There was no winning when it came to forming an impression with the Heart-Payne company's president.
"I'm sure the tea will be just lovely," Dharma replied in response to Iris' description of the tea she was serving. By the time Iris looked back to check how her patron's dressing was going, Dharma was already redressed and seated. "You're the expert regardless, so I should differ to your your knowledge on the subject," she chuckled. Combined with her constant expression, it made it seem very much as though she was saying, "I guess everyone's good at something, no matter how insignificant." Which she was, of course, just under an increasingly ineffective veil of politeness.
Iris and Dharma sat down to an otherwise lovely tea, marred by mutual suspicions (both understandable but similarly off the mark), which lasted quite some time.
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After having enjoyed some tea, which was really quite good, to her host's credit, and having circulated through every issue of small talk concerning navis and tea/bath houses that she could think of, Dharma decided to excuse herself. "It's been a rare pleasure, Ms. Kodai! Your establishment will certainly come to associates with my recommendations," she assured Iris, beaming as fakely as possible... although, again, the tea had been rather savory. She'd have to remind Phillip to learn how to make green tea.
"These Electopians do sit on a few treasures, don't they? Perhaps I should start dabbling in some of this nonsense myself," she pondered, bowing to Iris without thinking about it. It was the first and possibly last time in her life she'd ever exercise that self-humbling gesture towards anyone. "Ta ta," she finished, heading back out of the bathhouse unceremoniously. As she passed the front desk, she gave the worker there a sympathetic yet worried smile just to set him on edge, then left the building.
((Headed back to Yacht))
"I'm sure the tea will be just lovely," Dharma replied in response to Iris' description of the tea she was serving. By the time Iris looked back to check how her patron's dressing was going, Dharma was already redressed and seated. "You're the expert regardless, so I should differ to your your knowledge on the subject," she chuckled. Combined with her constant expression, it made it seem very much as though she was saying, "I guess everyone's good at something, no matter how insignificant." Which she was, of course, just under an increasingly ineffective veil of politeness.
Iris and Dharma sat down to an otherwise lovely tea, marred by mutual suspicions (both understandable but similarly off the mark), which lasted quite some time.
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After having enjoyed some tea, which was really quite good, to her host's credit, and having circulated through every issue of small talk concerning navis and tea/bath houses that she could think of, Dharma decided to excuse herself. "It's been a rare pleasure, Ms. Kodai! Your establishment will certainly come to associates with my recommendations," she assured Iris, beaming as fakely as possible... although, again, the tea had been rather savory. She'd have to remind Phillip to learn how to make green tea.
"These Electopians do sit on a few treasures, don't they? Perhaps I should start dabbling in some of this nonsense myself," she pondered, bowing to Iris without thinking about it. It was the first and possibly last time in her life she'd ever exercise that self-humbling gesture towards anyone. "Ta ta," she finished, heading back out of the bathhouse unceremoniously. As she passed the front desk, she gave the worker there a sympathetic yet worried smile just to set him on edge, then left the building.
((Headed back to Yacht))