"Okay, I think I've finally melted," Vuvi sighs, slumping deeper into the steaming water with her arms draped over the bath's edge. "Someone scrape me up and pour me into a flask."
"You'd probably bottle as a high-grade booze," Veena laughs, flipping her wet hair back. "Aged chaos with notes of sass and burnt toast."
"Burnt toast?!" Vuvi scoffs. "I'll drown you, Veena. Don't test me."
Across the bath, Pip sits perfectly upright like a loyal statue, but it's clear from the nervous whirring and blushing glow on his faceplate that he's anything but calm. Lula and Penelo are practically coiled around him like decorative sea serpents, petting his arms and whispering questions like excited children with their favorite toy.
"Is it true, Pip?" Penelo leans in close, water dripping from her fluffy ears. "Vuvi says you're a real person. From another world!"
