Coye 6.19

Chapter 19 - Dorothy Gets Ready

Dorothy had one job for the last two days, and following it was nigh impossible. Coye wanted her to relax, enjoy herself, and have fun. Instead, everything past where he'd left her office had been one anxious slog. Coye was at the forefront of her mind whenever she tried taking a nap. When she tried reading books, she inadvertently daydreamed about him fighting the creatures she was supposed to be learning about. Even when Dorothy was eating her favorite stress foods, her mind still managed to make it all about him, and she kept wondering whether or not he would like what she was eating.

For the last two days, this had been her life. Now, it was the day of her date. The hour when she was expected to show up at Coye's cabin was fast approaching. Dorothy's nerves hadn't eased, so she called on the only person she could trust for moral support.

Tammy was sitting on Dorothy's bed and had been hanging around nearly the entire day. The newbies were working the desk for her, and Tammy didn't even bother pretending to work today. Seeing how her best friend was straddling the line on experiencing another panic attack, this was a better use of her time. Tammy's eyes darted back and forth, watching Dorothy as she nervously paced around her room.

"So..." Dorothy asked in a shaky voice. "I know I've asked this before..."

"Multiple times," Tammy confirmed.

"Several times, yes... but... if you had to guess, um... what exactly do you think will happen to me when I go to Coye's cabin?" She stared Tammy down, desperate for an answer that wouldn't frighten her.

Just this once, Tammy gave her exactly what she was looking for. "I'm sure Coye has the best of intentions and plans on acting like a complete gentleman."

Dorothy almost let herself believe that, her mouth opening in a relieved smile. "Really, Tammy? Do you truly think so?"

"No. I think it's pretty obvious he'll try and get in your pants."

"AH!" Dorothy shrieked, her eyes going wide. Ever since that masturbation session of hers that spiraled out of control, she was more easily able to imagine Coye in a sexual sense- even if she currently didn't want to, the thought was always there... waiting for her in the barely concealed darkness of her mind.

When Tammy said that, Dorothy unintentionally imagined it to such a realistic extent that she could almost feel it happening. She freaked out, grabbing her shorts and clutching her belt as if trying to fight off or maybe help Coye's imaginary hands.

"Y-You don't really mean that, do you?"

"Who knows?" Tammy shrugged. It's not like her answer had changed in the last few minutes since last she'd asked, but she kept her sassiness to a minimum for Dorothy's sake. "Maybe instead of worrying about what might happen, you should start thinking about what you want to happen."

Inappropriate fantasies flooded her mind, giving Tammy a window into her thoughts. Blushing, Dorothy paused her pacing to stare at the floor. "But... how am I supposed to know what I want? I just know I have to be there because he told me to, and... and I... oh, dear..."

"You can always back out. He'll understand." Tammy crossed her arms.

"No, I can't because I..."

Tammy sighed her thousandth sigh. "Out with it, woman."

"I don't want to back out. I... um..." her glasses fogged up, and she looked off to the side. "I like listening to him when he tells me to do things, so I don't want to disappoint him and, um... not do the thing I was told to do..."

It was the first time she had expressed that to anyone besides Coye. It was bizarre to admit to, and as silence hung in the air, Dorothy anxiously wondered if she'd just weirded Tammy out. Instead, all that happened was that her friend smiled and raised an eyebrow.

"You're way too cute, you know that? I'm going to eat you up myself if Coye doesn't hurry up." Tammy said in her familiar monotone, making it impossible for Dorothy to realize whether or not her deadpan employee was messing with her yet again.

"W-What?!" Dorothy stumbled backward, almost knocking into a tower of poorly stacked books blocking the way to her balcony. "I, um... Tammy, I've never thought of you in that way, but... um... while it's true that you're rather attractive, I-"

Tammy was surprised her joke elicited that kind of reaction- specifically, the part where her boss told her she was cute. It made her wonder if she'd thought about it before, despite her strange insistence that she never had. "Was it not obvious I was teasing you, or are you just doing that bad?"

"I don't even know anymore..." Dorothy plopped down on the floor and groaned.

"Sorry, boss. I was kidding. I don't think I've ever had a sexual thought in my life, let alone about you."

Dorothy blinked, finding that little fact more curious than Tammy's teasing. "Wait, really? Never? Are you, um... are you just saying that, or have you actually never...?"

Cupping her chin, the redheaded receptionist looked off into the distance and thought deeply. The only sexual experience she ever had was a few days ago, and that came in the form of a voyeuristic break-in where she just so happened to watch Coye finishing off his business with Suzette. To say she wasn't interested in that event wouldn't be truthful, but thus far, her interest didn't seem too different from how she had an intellectual curiosity about many things. Her thoughts on sex were a puzzle, one more perplexing than the ones in her activity books.

"Not to my knowledge, but I could be wrong..."

"Oh. I never knew. Are you an asexual, then? Because if you are, then I just want to say that as your friend, you have, um, you have my full support!"

Again, Tammy thought for a few moments before ultimately shrugging her shoulders. "I don't like labels. If anything, I'm shrugsexual. The thought of sex doesn't gross me out, and I'm open to trying it sometime if I ever feel the urge, but that urge has thus far eluded me. Whatever. Back on topic, we're supposed to be talking about you, boss. Not me."

"Right, right... I'm sorry..." The brief distraction helped Dorothy gain some control over herself, enough to pull herself off the ground and sit down a few feet beside Tammy.

"So, you like listening to him, huh?"

"Y-Yes..." Dorothy admitted sheepishly.

"In what way?"

"Probably the way you're thinking...?"

"Since when was this a thing?"

"Since he started telling me what to do, I guess... it feels nice to not have to think for myself once in a while if that makes sense."

"Yeah, you're doing an outstanding job on the whole not thinking thing. Might have to ask for some tips."

"Okay, maybe it's not going so well right now, but usually it, um... well, I don't know how to say it other than it's nice."

Tammy didn't get it, but that was to be expected from a shrugsexual. Then she tried putting herself in Dorothy's shoes and could see why turning her brain off would be so rewarding. "What are you so worried about, then? Would it really be so bad if you just went over there and did whatever Coye told you to do?"

It was a simple question, but Dorothy lost her voice and started to shake. Predictably, it took her a few moments to straighten out enough to say anything back. "I... I don't think it would be that bad, no, but... that doesn't mean I'm still not scared."

"Be more specific. Scared of what, Coye?"

"No, don't be silly..." she smiled warmly and shook her head. "I think I'm, um, more scared of myself in this scenario... at this rate, it feels like I really will end up doing absolutely anything he asks of me..."

Tammy looked over Dorothy, studying her. The way she squirmed, the way she shifted around in her seat and unknowingly squeezed her thighs in her hands. Dorothy's cheeks were red, her pupils were huge, and there was no mistaking how horny she was. It made Tammy want to mess with her a little.

"Anything, huh?"

"Probably..."

"What if he pinned you down, looked you straight in the eyes, then asked you to have his babies?"

Dorothy was silent until she wasn't. She started hyperventilating, then collapsed against the bed like her soul was leaving her body. "He... he won't actually ask that of me, will he?!" She managed to squeak out. "Please, tell me he won't ask that...?!"

"I mean, probably not?" Tammy scratched her head, suddenly feeling sorry over not being able to hold back her teasing. "I can't say I know him well enough to say for sure whether or not he won't pull that on the first date, but I'd like to assume the best of him. Maybe one day, but-"

"Yes, of course... you're right... maybe one day, ahaha..." Dorothy's voice trailed off, her anxiety replaced by a sudden, girlish smile. It was all too obvious what this mess of a woman was envisioning, and it made Tammy want to facepalm herself. Sheer restraint was all that stopped her.

"Having fun there, boss?"

Tammy's sarcastic callout was enough to bring some sense into Dorothy. She realized what she was doing- what she was fantasizing about- and felt deeply embarrassed. "I... um, no... I'm sorry, Tammy. I just don't know anymore." Managing to sit back up, she let out a tremendous sigh before looking her friend in the eyes. "What would you do if you were in my position?"

"What specifically do you mean by that?"

"Look at me," Dorothy frowned and spread her arms out. "I don't know what to do with myself. I thought I was feeling better, but I've been a wreck since he asked me over. I'm trying to open myself up more and not revert back to how I was, and if you've got any feedback that might help, now is the best time."

Looking Dorothy up and down, Tammy realized she was deadly serious and thus knew she had to respect that. There was something Tammy had in common with Coye- Dorothy was also her first friend. Tammy didn't have the greatest home life. Save for her older brother, she was never all that close to anyone until meeting her current employer.

Things started out rough. There were multiple incidents where she'd gotten chewed out as they got to know each other, but over time they settled into the hot friendship they had today. Even if she wasn't the best at expressing her appreciation, Tammy wanted Dorothy to be happy.

"Do you really want to know what I think you should do?"

There was a moment's hesitation on Dorothy's part, but she pushed it aside long enough to answer, "Yes. Please."

"Okay, then let's back up for a minute. Would you still go to his cabin if he didn't tell you to? Or are you doing it just because he did?"

The question got a sudden reaction out of her, suddenly bringing out a defensive side of Dorothy that knew exactly what to say. "Of course, I would. That's silly. I want to see him and spend time with him more than anything in the realm. The last two and a half days without him have been torturous, and there wasn't a second where he hadn't been on my mind! I... I don't know if things will ever be right until I see him again, I-"

"Okay, I get it. You can spare me the emotional outburst. More importantly, how do you not understand that you already have all the answers you need?"

"Um..." Dorothy blushed and fidgeted. "Perhaps I need you to spell it out for me."

"You obviously want to go and see him. Therefore, you should," Tammy broke it down. "It's as simple as that."

Dorothy tilted her head, trying to understand it. Was it really that simple? Really?

"But-"

"No buts. You want to see him, so do it. Worrying about anything past that is a waste of your time. If I were in your position, I would stop being stupid, stupid."

Dorothy closed her eyes, trying to force her mind to empty even slightly. She focused on Tammy's presented truth. Above all else, she wanted to see him. His telling her to visit her cabin was thrilling, but her decision wasn't that influenced by it. She would've gone to see him even if he had asked and not commanded her to do so.

Though she was an idiot who needed her friend to point it out, Dorothy was grateful to finally have the truth laid bare.

"I... I think you have a point, Tammy. Thank you for making me understand that. I wouldn't have figured it out if you weren't here for me."

"No, you probably wouldn't have," Tammy agreed. "Goddesses know you're thicker than mud."

"I wish dearly I could dispute that..." Dorothy giggled weakly, then looked at a small clock on her nightstand. It would be five thirty soon- her preparation time was dwindling every second. "I should start getting myself ready if you don't mind. He, um... Coye told me to take a bath and... and to ensure I looked nice and pretty for him..."

Tammy stared at Dorothy for a moment in disbelief. "Did he actually say that?"

"W-Well, n-no, not in those exact words... he just said to make sure I take a bath, brush my hair, and wear something nice, so... I... um... am I wrong in assuming that was what he meant?"

"...No. For once, I think you pretty much caught his drift. You're just lucky I thought ahead."

"Huh?" Dorothy tilted her head, but Tammy waved her off.

"You'll see. Why don't you show me what you plan on wearing? While you gather everything up, I'll be right back. Need to pick something up real quick."

Unsure of where Tammy was heading with that, Dorothy went to her wardrobe and picked out the nicest-looking clothes she could find. Naturally, she made sure that the white button-up tank top, which earned her a compliment from Coye the other day, was part of the lineup. Then, she chose a black, pleated skirt with red trim and white frills. She had some cute-looking white thigh highs with black ruffles and red trimming that matched, frilly wrist cuffs, and a pair of casual slip-on shoes. Overall, the goal behind her ensemble was to look appealing yet modest. Dorothy was still too self-conscious for anything more revealing than this, but even in her anxious state, it helped to know that Coye would likely appreciate it no matter how she felt about her clothes.

Then, Dorothy realized she was missing something dreadfully important. She hadn't picked out any underwear. On any other day, picking out her bra and panties was something she never would've put much thought into. Today was different. Today, there were potentially dire ramifications if she didn't pick well.

She might not be the only person who gets to see them, and if she didn't make a good impression...

Dorothy almost lost it then and there to another nervousness-induced panic attack, especially when she realized she didn't have anything conventionally 'sexy'. Most of her panties were oversized, far from what anyone would call titillating, while her bras were more practical than they were enticing. She needed heavy-duty ones that could contain her sizable assets and favored bras that weren't meant to draw attention to said assets.

In a frenzy, she started tearing apart her drawers, hoping that she had at least one bra and one panty each that could vaguely be considered sexual. The best she had was some panties that were now too small for her because of all the weight she'd gained since buying them. Not ideal.

"I leave you for not even five minutes, and you're already halfway to fainting. Impressive." Tammy stated as she suddenly reentered the room and witnessed the amusing sight of Dorothy rummaging through her wardrobe like a hobo looking for food.

"Oh, um..." Dorothy snapped out of it and shook her head. "N-No, I... I was just... looking for underwear, ahaha..."

"Let me guess. Nothing good?"

"...Not especially, no."

"I figured that would be the case." Tammy came closer and thrust a small, giftwrapped parcel into Dorothy's hands on her way to study Dorothy's outfit nonchalantly. "Not bad, by the way. I think he might like that outfit."

Considerably relieved, Dorothy smiled. "You really think so? I, um... I'm delighted to hear that, I... wait a second-" somehow, it took her till that moment until she was aware of the box Tammy had just passed on to her. "What's this?"

"The answer to your current problem," Tammy said as if that were obvious.

Something about how Tammy said that unsettled Dorothy, but she looked at the box and nervously reached for the bowstring at its center. She pulled, letting the ribbon fall to the ground, then removed its lid. Dorothy's eyes widened. She gasped, looking up to Tammy, who was smiling in wait.

No sooner than she opened it did Dorothy reseal the box and clinch it to her chest as if the contents were a deadly secret that no one could ever see- least of all Coye.

"Tammy, I- w-what?! What is this? What is this for? Where did you even get this? What am I supposed to do with it?!"

"Lingerie. Looking sexy. I have my ways. Wear it." Tammy rattled off.

Dorothy found it hard to stand- her knees wobbled, and a crooked stress smile worked across her face. "B-But... Tammy, I can't wear this! It's so skimpy!"

"Almost as if that were the point?"

"Will it even fit?" Dorothy threw the question out as if searching for any excuse not to wear it.

"I don't see why it wouldn't. It's not like I don't know your measurements."

"Wait, how do you-"

"You're narcoleptic and prone to napping at the drop of a hat." Tammy countered, letting the implication hang.

"...Okay, that makes sense, yes," Dorothy sighed. "But I really don't know if I'm comfortable showing off so much skin." Dorothy peeled the box open again, peeking at its contents.

She couldn't do it. She couldn't picture herself wearing what was in there. Only beautiful girls could get away with wearing things like that, and she sure didn't consider herself as such.

"Someone explained to you how sex works, right?" Tammy narrowed her eyes at a legitimate concern. "He's going to see everything, you know. Not just your underwear."

"I... I know that! Of course I know that!" Dorothy pulled her collar, wondering if the summer heat was starting to take hold of the building. "You know what, I really appreciate you going out of your way for me like this, but I think this is a little extreme. Maybe I should look through my drawers again..."

"Don't mind if I do," Tammy took Dorothy's comment and ran with it, butting ahead and rifling through her boss's underwear drawer like a mischievous little gremlin. "Trash. Useless. Burn these. And these. Especially these-" she raised a large pair of oversized granny panties, pulling them stretched wide in front of her face. "Honestly, you'd be better off naked under that skirt than wearing any of these."

Dorothy looked away out of shame. "T-They can't be that bad..." she insisted despite knowing deep down in her heart that Tammy was correct. In her denial, she found it in her to be a little passive-aggressive. "Besides, what would you even know about this kind of thing? You don't have any experience, either. You said so yourself!"

Tammy gave Dorothy a long, impassive look. It unsettled Dorothy as she really couldn't tell what was going on in that head of hers. Tammy tossed the awful panties over her shoulder, turned around, and pointed her backside at Dorothy. Then, she slipped down her belt and skirt, revealing half of a smooth, pale ass cheek, wearing a skimpy blue thong.

"You don't have to actively be having sex to want to look good, you know," Tammy said flatly, though her intent was to sound playful.

What happened next was an inappropriate amount of staring on Dorothy's part. She gazed into the sudden ass, unsure of where it came from and how it got here in her room, but it was small, pert, and tight-looking. The thong was pretty cute, too, riding up respectfully into her crack.

Seeing Tammy as she was now made Dorothy remember her vivid fantasies from the other day.

"Boss?"

Dorothy relived that moment in her delirious passion where she envisioned Tammy bouncing on Coye's cock while watching it happen on the sidelines, drinking in the sight of her beloved hero ravishing her best friend and employee. She gulped, transfixed and captivated.

"If you keep staring, I'm reporting you for sexual harassment." Tammy teased, suddenly removing her butt from Dorothy's vision.

"AH! No! I didn't, I mean- you were the one who-" nothing snapped a Guild Mistress out of her sexual imaginings quite like an HR complaint. Dorothy instantly shook her head and turned away. "W-Why did you even do that?!"

Tammy shrugged. "Thought it would be funny, and it was. Eye-opening, too."

"Oh. Um. In what way, exactly?"

Tammy raised an eyebrow. While not a mind-reader, Dorothy was very obviously checking her out in a sexual way. That alone was enough to shake up their dynamic significantly, but for Dorothy's sake, she would pretend Coye was leaving her more sexually confused and charged than she knew how to handle.

"Nevermind, forget I said anything..." Tammy shook her head. While interesting, she had no desire to pursue things further at the present moment. "Back on topic, ask yourself one thing. Do you want Coye to see you wearing any of those ugly ass panties, or do you want to be like me and look good for him?"

Dorothy blinked awkwardly, missing the point by several miles and then some. "Are you... um... trying to look good for Coye, too?"

"Not what I meant," Tammy sighed. "Now answer the question."

It took her a while of introspection before admitting, "I... I want to try and look good for him, too..."

"There you go. Was that so hard?"

"Incredibly..." Dorothy nodded meekly.

"Yeah, I suppose that checks out. Anyways. Now that you're done staring at my ass, why don't you go take your bath? When you're done, I'll help you with your hair."

"I-I wasn't staring at your- w-wait-"

Despite keeping in mind Coye's order to let others help her more often, there was only so much charity Dorothy could take. Tammy was helping out so much that it almost made her uncomfortable, and she tried to wiggle out of further assistance.

"Tammy, you've already done so much... I couldn't possibly..."

Tammy shut her down with expert efficiency. "Oh, were you going to do your hair yourself? You? You, who I've known for two and a half years and have never seen without tattered, raggedy, knotted hair as opposed to me?" To emphasize her point, she stroked her gorgeous, straight, silky orange locks that shimmered in the light like elegant strands of spun gold.

"Fine, fine! I get it already. You don't have to rub it in!" Dorothy averted her eyes lest she be blinded by Tammy's magnificent hair. "I just don't know how to handle everything you're helping me with today! I would say this isn't like me and apologize, but I'm always such a wreck..."

Her straightforward admission came off as honest to Tammy, and the mood was right. She answered by stepping forward and giving her boss a tasteful hug. Dorothy's eyes widened, but she quickly leaned into it when Tammy started rubbing her back.

"You doing the best you can, boss."

"It... it sure doesn't feel like it, but thank you..."

They stayed like that for a moment, all the while, Tammy was secretly waiting to see if any more of that strange sexual tension showed up. It didn't- at least not this time. This was just a wholesome hug between friends, making her expressionless face smile just the slightest bit.

"Oh, one more question. Do you think Coye will want to play more RealMonster with me tonight? Should I bring my cards, or-"

"Go take your bath." Tammy sighed, shaking her head at her innocent employer, who was so dense that she believed Coye had any plans for card games that night. Embarrassed, Dorothy conceded and went to her private bathroom, leaving Tammy alone.

To say Tammy was skeptical about how things would turn out between Coye and Dorothy was an understatement. It clawed at her from the inside out, and she couldn't wait to find out all the juicy details after the fact. She hoped for the best. Dorothy might've been nervous, but Coye was smooth. As for Tammy, she'd tried to help things along to the best of her ability. It was worth hiring a mage to warpstone travel over to Imperalis and pick out something sexy from one of their designer stores, price be damned.

Her motivations weren't as pure as simply helping her friend, however. Tammy had a lot to gain from everything turning out for the best. Who knows what kind of entertaining office hijinks would blossom from there if Coye and Dorothy wound up together? Tammy was amused at the prospect, thinking it could only make her job more interesting in the long run.

Tammy smiled softly to herself as the sound of Dorothy's arctech bathtub summoning hot water filled the room. At the same time, an unknown feeling started taking root in her heart. How odd. She usually didn't get much use out of the damn thing. The most bizarre part was what precisely she was feeling, though. Tammy wasn't oblivious to her feelings like a certain someone- she understood immediately that she was experiencing a form of jealousy.

It wasn't jealousy of Coye getting together with Dorothy or the other way around, but jealousy over the fact that they were in love at all. Missing out on romance because of her condition never really affected Tammy's life in one way or another until now. Getting a front-row seat to the whirlwind of passion that was Coye's love life might've stirred something in her, making the young woman curious about what it might be like to live through such a strange affliction as love. Her thoughts ventured further, briefly wondering if she even wanted to experience something like that at least once in her life.

It seemed painful, but in a good way that you can't help asking for more of.

Tammy doubted it would ever happen. She wasn't personable or engaging by her accounts. The only thing she had going for her was that she was theoretically rich, not that she had access to any of her family's wealth, but the kinds of people that mattered to were the kinds of people Tammy wouldn't ever find interest in.

The only person around her that she had even a measure of interest in was Coye- surprise, surprise. It wasn't anything remotely resembling a crush. She just enjoyed teasing him occasionally... but then again, she enjoyed teasing Dorothy just now, too. How confusing this all was.

Thinking about it was a waste of mental resources, so Tammy wrapped her contemplation up by convincing herself everything was fine. She was happy being on the sidelines while her best friend found the happiness of love. If Tammy happened to be missing out on something, it didn't matter because she didn't know or understand what she was missing out on. That would have to content her because she didn't see it changing anytime soon.

Tammy was lost in her thoughts for much longer than she was conscious of. When she finally snapped out of it, Dorothy stepped out of the bathroom wearing a tight bathrobe that did little to hide her curvaceous body. Tammy was somewhat blown away to see her boss in such a state, directly contrasting everything she'd just finished mulling over. The fact that someone could look as attractive as Dorothy did and still feel self-conscious about their figure baffled Tammy to her core, but she rarely understood other people in the first place, so she chalked it up to that.

After drying off thoroughly, Tammy went to work and straightened Dorothy's unmanageable hair, fighting a fierce battle to tame it against the odds and make something nice out of it. Knots were undone, clumps were sorted out, and all without much pain. Next was getting Dorothy into her special underwear. She only needed a little convincing and reassurance, and Tammy had to promise not to peek while she changed.

Tammy lied when she said she wouldn't, taking in the momentary sight of her naked employer and her curvy body.

Interesting. Still no sexual desire as far as Tammy could tell, even if, like many other women of Karnalle, she appreciated the female form for some reason or another... but it wasn't nothing. Tammy did feel something but didn't know what it was. This troubled her puzzled mind, as nothing upset her more than a riddle she couldn't solve.

Dorothy was oblivious that her trusted receptionist was ogling her chubby ass, but it was for the best. She had more than enough to worry about and to be fair, she perved on Tammy just a bit ago, so she'd have no room to talk. She didn't know what to think when she finally wriggled into her present. Her prevailing thought was that it would probably look nicer on someone else, but she knew that expressing that would only get Tammy on her case.

Moving on, Dorothy quickly changed into her nice outfit to distract her self-conscious mind. This seemed at least a little more natural, she thought. Dorothy wasn't used to showing her thighs, or even her bare arms or shoulders, and like the other day, her tank top clung to her chest much more ambitiously than anything else in her wardrobe, putting her large breasts on full display.

"So, um... what do you think?" Dorothy asked, doing a quick turnaround for Tammy to judge.

"More importantly, what do you think?" Tammy dismissed the question and took Dorothy by the hand, then let her back to her bathroom where she could look at herself in the mirror.

Dorothy almost didn't recognize the person she was looking at. It was like she'd swap places with a doppelganger from some sort of alternate plane of reality where Dorothy was significantly prettier. The stranger in the mirror looked like her but had beautiful, pale skin free of grease and ink stains, long, straight, jet-black hair that didn't have an excess of oil, and possessed above-average taste in fashion. Her confidence stopped just short of admitting to herself that she looked pretty, only acknowledging that she looked amazing for her, but even that was a giant leap for her confidence.

"I... I, um... wow..."

"Right?" Tammy managed a smirk. "You look great, so own it."

"I'll try my best..." Dorothy sighed, looking away from her reflection. It was so startling that it intimidated her the longer she stared. "Thank you for everything, Tammy. I definitely wouldn't have been able to pull this off without your help."

"It's no big deal. I'm sure you'll make it up to me..." Tammy shrugged the praise off. "You said he told you to eat beforehand, right?"

"Yeah, but... I..."

"Wait here. I'll bring you up something light."

Dorothy was pleased she wouldn't have to go downstairs in front of everyone wearing what she was and looking like she did. She didn't even bother trying to convince Tammy she didn't need the help, grateful as she was. Tammy had the kitchen staff whip up a roast beef sandwich and a bowl of lightly seasoned mushroom stew for her. When she returned, Tammy also brought a dark cloak for Dorothy to wear on the way out. It would still attract attention, but Dorothy figured it was a decent trade-off. Her confidence was fragile, and she couldn't handle it if her staff and adventurers started gawking at her during the one time she'd tried looking pretty and dressing nice.

As Dorothy ate her meal, she had a few moments to reflect on her thoughts while Tammy went back downstairs to do a cursory check on the receptionists. The time was drawing near- she'd be at Coye's before long. So many things were weighing her down. Dorothy was excited, scared, and elated all at the same time. It wasn't normal to miss someone so much, was it? It'd only been two days since she last saw him, yet...

Dorothy let out a wistful sigh. She wondered what Coye got up to today, hoping that whatever he did, he had fun. More than that, she hoped he was thinking about her the same way she was thinking about him.

These thoughts distracted her from eating, so she forced herself to focus, downed her soup, and swallowed her sandwich in only a few bites. She was taking extreme care that she didn't spill anything on her nice outfit, and for once in her life, she was successful in that endeavor. Her nice clothing remained soupless and crumb-free, earning a sarcastic thumbs-up from Tammy upon her meal's completion.

Now fueled for a night of... whatever was ahead of her, Tammy ushered Dorothy out of her bedroom and escorted her down to the first floor.

Dorothy kept her head down, and although they passed by a few adventurers and maids, no one said a thing, even though the sight of their Guild Mistress in a black hooded cloak must've been strange. Little did she know, Tammy had instructed everyone not to pay them any mind. They didn't need much convincing, anyway. Dorothy had not only earned a lot of their respect lately, but word got out among the staff have strict she was when dealing with Wiska and Chelanne, and no one wanted to test getting on her bad side.

For as smooth as the exit went, Dorothy hit a snag as soon as they exited the front door. Tammy tried to see Dorothy off, and together they shared their goodbyes, their fond farewells, and Tammy wished her good luck. It was all touching and even a little emotional, but soon Tammy noticed that Dorothy didn't have it in her to keep moving. She was frozen right outside the Guild, not even five steps away from the entrance.

"...Really?"

"I can't help it...!" Dorothy mumbled, rubbing her forearm underneath her cloak. "We're actually outside now- this is actually happening! I... I remember how to get there from your instructions, but... gods, I'm actually going to his house!!"

Tammy took in a sharp intake of air through her nose, contemplating her options. For as cute as all of this was, it was also ridiculous as all hell. To get Dorothy through it, Tammy needed to offer something anyone else might've found demeaning.

"Do you want me to hold your hand and walk you there?"

Dorothy blushed, staring at her feet as she drew her cloak even more over her face out of embarrassment. "Would you?"

"Yes," Tammy said flatly without hesitation.

"Then... um... yeah..." she nodded meekly. "I think that would be helpful, yes. It's not that I don't want to do this. It's just-"

"Save your breath, I get it," Tammy approached and extended her hand to Dorothy, who took it after a few seconds of awkward deliberation. "Just another reason you owe me, I guess."

"Oh. Were you not helping me out of the goodness of your heart?" Dorothy blinked, suddenly conscious of how much that lingerie must've cost.

"My heart has no such goodness. Everything I do is in service of one thing and one thing only- finding enough entertainment to get me through another day of my boring existence. You can pay me back by telling me every last thing that happens."

Dorothy's heart sank, her breath wavering. "Um... when you say everything..."

"Especially the naughty bits."

"Oh. Oh, dear." She gulped. "On second thought, um, maybe I should try and make this journey myself..."

"Feel free," full of confidence, Tammy released Dorothy's hand. She then watched as the Guild Mistress floundered for an embarrassingly long time, trying to lift even a single foot up off the ground. Silence followed, and not long after that, Dorothy was suddenly holding Tammy's hand again without so much as a word.

"That's what I thought." Tammy smiled as Dorothy lowered her head in shame, then led her best friend away from the Guild like a lost child.

Leaving through the Peace Gate, they soon found the little dirt road that led to Coye's cabin.

The air was brisk and felt wonderful on Dorothy's newly washed skin. It was almost seven, and the worst of the day's heat was winding down, so everything was in that comfortable middle ground between not too hot and not too chilly. Everything felt just right to Dorothy on their walk to Coye's place. Tammy wasn't into the whole sweaty palms thing but kept that herself.

It wasn't long until Coye's cabin was visible off in the distance, sitting on a little grassy hill just as it'd been described to her. Walking got more difficult, but Tammy was persistent, pulling Dorothy along and forcing her to keep up. The cabin on the hill grew in size until they walked up the hill and approached the front door. Now face-to-face, Dorothy couldn't help admiring what she saw. The cabin was small, but charming. The curtains were drawn, and she couldn't tell anyone was inside, but she assumed that was the case.

There was no way he forgot about her coming over tonight, was there? No, no. She was enough of a mess without delving into what if's. Dorothy forced herself not to think about that.

"You've got this, boss," Tammy finally let go of Dorothy's hand now that they were only a few feet from the door. "I'm assuming you probably don't want me to knock on the door for you and drop you off on your little date, right?"

"N-No," Dorothy choked down the 'yes' she wanted to say. Having to be walked to Coye's cabin was embarrassing enough, but Dorothy figured she didn't deserve to be there if she couldn't force herself to knock on his damn door by herself. "I'll do it. I will."

To prove herself, she took another few steps of her own volition and arrived at the doorstep. She looked at Tammy for a brief moment of confirmation, and wordless thanks before the receptionist nodded her head and started down the path back to Cransmere.

"See you tomorrow," she grinned over her shoulder. "Looking forward to storytime, so make it exciting for me."

Dorothy smiled and then stared at the wooden door in front of her. Coye was waiting for her just behind. Knowing that simple fact was what made all the difference in the world. She wanted to see him- to be with him. Her apprehension faded, and she raised her hand. It hovered before his door as she took a deep breath, quieted her nerves, and knocked.

Dorothy was ready for anything that night had in store.

"Coye? I'm here."

Anything for her hero.