The thread for the pool party hosted by the Cabot family.

Please allow Tiffany to set the scene before posting.

"No, Mother," sighed Tiff.  "We're not going to have the live string quartet.  This is high school!  We'll bore everyone to death!"

"Dear, they do know the traditional songs, the church songs as well as classical--" her mother started, but Tiffany Cabot was having none of it.

"NO, Mother!" she said, firmly. "They won't even know the church songs!  We're sticking with YouTube, and that's final!"

"If they won't know the church songs, I'm not at all sure that you ought to be associating with them, though," her mother responded.  "I mean, they may not be humans, but there's no getting around the fact that they're really Not Our Ki--"

"Not one more word," Tiffany warned, for she was stubborn even for a girl her age, and was not going to let her mother ruin her social life!  Besides, they'd already hashed all of this out.  Her mother was just trying to make a fuss to get some other concession out of the party.

"Anyway, I'm already going to be going to school with these students," she continued.  "It's not like there's any choice about dealing with them.  Why be fussy about how much of Our Kind, Dear they are?  Any of them might turn out to be an important personal connection in the future, after all.  You've always told me that we have to have a variety of contacts in various positions, and that precludes worrying about whether or not they're members in good standing of the EOD."

"Although, if you'd just have let us invite some of those nice young men from the Esoteric Order--"

"Mother!  They're, like, twice as old as I am!" protested Tiff.  She was exaggerating, but not by too many years.  "I need friends my own age!"

"Well, I suppose that's true," sighed Mrs. Cabot.  "Still, I'm worried about the kind of people you'll get at a party like this.  I know you're a sensible young woman, but I can't help but worry that some unsuitable young man who grows fur every full moon is going to come along and take advantage of your innocence..."

Ah.  There it was.  The thing she wanted-- no boys, or a promise that Tiff wasn't going to go get her lips and hands and worse entangled with some boy who'd never grow into becoming immortal-under-the-sea.  (In the Cabot church, there were only dozens, perhaps hundreds now living who would never die, but they felt that they had a much better claim to the phrase than other churches that hadn't delivered on the promise.)

But it suited Tiffany just fine to accede to the request, in actual fact.  Her mother had, somehow, failed to grasp that it wasn't boys that she wanted to waste her youth with, and cooperating on this point would make the rest easier.  For now.

"All right, Mother," she sighed, amplifying the drama in her voice at least threefold.  "If you insist, I promise, Dagon's Claws to my Heart, that I won't take up with any boys who show up at the party.  No guests, no pizza boys, no groundskeepers, no pool boys, nothing of the kind.  I'll just spend time with the girls."

"Well, as long as you're careful about that," said her mother, and Tiff knew she'd won...

It was a nice party.  Subdued, by some standards-- there was not, for example, a disc jockey playing music.  (Instead, a computer was rotating through a YouTube playlist, projecting the video on a large screen, playing on powerful outdoor speakers, Ublock ensuring that commercials didn't interrupt the flow of music.  Parties needed music, after all.)  There was a table of drinks along one side of the pool, and another of snacks, and the pizza would be arriving shortly.  There was beer with the soft drinks, of course.  This was supposed to be a fun party, after all, and the Cabot connections would stop any police interference.

Tiffany circulated among the guests, guiding people to get changed if they showed up in regular clothes, herself leading the crowd with a bright red two-piece that favored her figure nicely.  (It did, in fact, leave things to the imagination, including the gill slits along her ribcage; she found that it was better that way, both from a discretion standpoint and also for showing off her body.  Tantalization was better than virtual nudity.)

But everything was ready, and she was there to greet her guests, a broad, bright smile on her face.  It wasn't going to be a big party, but no reason to hold back on that account...

 Felicia could smell the party from a mile away, she came up on the house in Panther from moving through the forest fast (speed 6/ 120 MPH) and agile. She would slow down and then carefully come up onto to the Cabot house. She would transform into Hybrid form. She was wearing a black tank top, and black short shorts, no shoes her feet had retractable claws and her tail wagged like it had a mind of it's own.

 She went up to the back and nervously walked into the backyard by the pool, she was very nervous, then she saw Tiffany. She was about to run away when Tiffany would see Felicia in this form for the first time.

Eliza sauntered up to the large estate, their backpack still over one shoulder, having jogged their way from the fair once out of site of most folks. No runner, Eliza was able to make pretty decent speed all the same.

They couldn't quite keep the rising grin off their face, excited at the prospect of proper peer-bonding with proper peers. Moorhaven had seemed like it might have been more a death knell for creativity, more American Gothic than Gothic Americana. Here they were... well, not free, but maybe a little less constrained by social morays. As much as Eliza had studied humans, it was exhausting to be one all the time. They still had to sleep every day!

That bubble of excitement popped when they realized how many other teens had been invited to the party. How many other attractive, popular-looking others had come. Eliza - in one of those rare moments of disunity - found themselves blaming the other half for their awkwardness, teen girl and ancient being realizing, not for the first time, that they were not socially adept for more than just archetypal reasons.

Eliza saw that most everyone was already dressed for the occasion, and gathered where she needed to go from the trio of girls lead by a gorgon coming out of the house in bathing suits. Eliza took the initiative and went to change, coming out in a dark blue and yellow tanktini and deep purple boyshort cut bottoms that didn't look like they originally came together. There was no hiding Eliza's heavier body frame, tantilization need not apply, but it was clear that half her problem was just being broadly-framed in general. Distracting from that was that her hair came out of the bathroom already wet, slicked back, and smelling of coconut oil.

Having left her backpack where everyone else was leaving their clothing, Eliza felt a little naked with nothing in her hands, and little on, so she wandered over to the drink table, pondering the beer before finally picking an orange soda to nurse out of the way and alone while she considered the crowds not far from a boy and a girl who appeared to have ram horns.

"Felicia!  Eliza!" called Tiffany, waving to both of them.  "I'm glad that you made it!  I arranged some special treats for both of you... well, I don't know if they're what you want, Felicia, but you're certainly welcome to try!"

She gestured to a table topped with a large terrarium of some kind; it was filled with a number of specimens of a traditional South American food animal.  Small, furry, not terribly bright... Cuy were well-known as a tasty meat source among international gourmets, or those native to certain nations.  Of course, to Americans, they were regarded as pets, and Tiffany had arranged to get them from a shelter.  It appeared that no one wanted to adopt Guinea Pigs from shelters; if Tiffany's guests ate them, their fate wouldn't actually be very different from what awaited them otherwise.

 Felicia was nervous still but when Tiffany was so nice she smiled and looked at the Cuy and thought she would definitely try one later. " Thank you Tiffany I will try one later. I guess my description was right on for you to recognize me in my Hybrid form." She gave Tiffany a hug and she was soft and warm due to her fur. Her tail was nervously whipping around hopefully it didn't hit anyone.

 Felicia smiles  at Eliza and says, " Hi Eliza how are you doing? Also thank you for the clay Panther it is in my temple."

Eliza was glad to see that Felicia could be more herself here, and it made Eliza strangely less self conscious, knowing she knew someone else here. "Hey, glad to catch back up, and glad it's still together, though it will probably dry out with time. Enjoy the fair? Looks like you made the rounds and some friends as a cat."

Eliza hadn't quite believed the terrarium was for them, asking, "This is quite the effort, Tiffany. I appreciate it, but I hope I'm not the only one for whom its for." Eliza was caught between the sense that she ought to be more nervous about eating in front of people, against the audacity of just being able to be themself rather than eat in the shadows. Well, and Felicia had already seen Eliza eat.

"There are others who prefer their food very fresh, for example," said Tiffany.  "And it's no trouble at all-- I want to be a good hostess.  I hope they'll satisfy you-- I didn't know how many you needed."

She rather liked the affection Felicia was showing her, and returned the hug warmly.  Cold might not bother her particularly, but that didn't mean that she couldn't appreciate this kind of warmth.

Eliza didn't want Tiffany to worry that she was anything other than a supreme host, and motioned, "No no, its more than enough. I've never had guinea pig and novelty is half the nourishment. I truly don't eat that much to sustain myself." More than that, Eliza was a little envious of Felicia's casual friendliness. Eliza had never gotten the hang of friendly touches, and had been more nervous about how much their bathing suit hid than most of the others around, including Tiffany.

They walked over to the terrarium, which had several openings with which to reach into. Setting down their soda and opening the latch, they cooed softly, not loud enough for the usual human to hear over the din of the party, "Hey little guys, any of you have names, or favorite foods? Some secrets you keep?" Eliza reached in and wiggled their fingers around as if tempting one with some attention.

One of the guinea pigs didn't flee their attention obviously, and she got a hand around it and craddled it upwards, as if careful not to hurt it. She held it up as if to meet its eyes, before lowering it down to cradle it near her stomach, its little face outwards.

Which seemed to be all they were going to do until Eliza lifted their tank-top to expose their stomach and belly button up to the bottom of their rib cage. A little bit longer, and Eliza's stomach seemed to open up at the belly button, a vertical seam, formerly hidden, splitting at their belly button and opening wide, revealing a maw of teeth and several tendrils. One tendril struck out, wrapping itself around the little furry animal, drawing it in. The maw closed and the seam vanished, as if never there. There was little noise, but Eliza's eyes closed as if savoring the bite.

This all happened relatively quickly, almost fast enough to not feel real, with Eliza not quite facing the other two, as if not wanting to put them off their own dinner. Felicia had seen the display before, but this was likely the first time in proper light.

"Oh how very. Sort of a cross between a rat and a..." Eliza's eyes opened, glancing at Felicia for a moment, continuing, "-er, a ferret. That's new, and with more verve than I expected from something so small." Eliza smiled, as if a little bashful but not ashamed. "Thank you again, Tiffany. And, ah, sorry if the display was unseemly. I can't quite say I've been taught proper dining manners in mixed company."

 Felicia enjoyed the hug with Tiffany and she couldn't help it, Tiffany smelled nice to her. Also Felicia could tell Tiffany liked the touch of her fur as well. Felicia smiled and as Eliza ate she just said," So I assume that is much better than the raccoon was?"

 Felicia will have her tail move and pick up one of the Guinea Pigs. She would than say," Tiffany is there a little more private area to eat, I can get a little ummmm messy." Felicia would use her tail to bring the animal to her hands she would pet it as she waited for Tiffany to answer her.
Then is a much quieter voice, " You can touch my fur if you like I cleaned myself before I came here it should be nice and soft." 
This message was last edited by the player at 10:51, Thu 12 Sept 2019.

"Oh, that's quite all right," said Tiffany.  She'd seen worse at certain family gatherings and religious services, after all.  "You're actually a very tidy eater."



Tiffany couldn't really resist petting Felicia on the head at that point.  She was, indeed, nice and soft to the touch.

"Why don't you go to the patio over there?" she suggested.  "Some of our guests who prefer their food fresh use it to eat."

 Felicia smiles at Tiffany and says," Thank you I will clean up any mess, you are an incredible hostess Tiffany, I saw this on TV the Hostess with the mostess? I think it said." Felicia would smile and chuckle. Felicia smiled and purred when Tiffany pet her head, she really enjoyed Tiffany's touch.
She will smile at Tiffany and then move away from her to get a good look at the patio. It was about 40' away.

Then with great agility and grace she would leap the 40' distance with ease and land on her feet, with her food in her hands. She would go over to a secluded corner and then eat her meal as carefully as she can. Her teeth where very sharp and she made quick work of her food. When she was done she began to clean herself with her tongue quickly and like an expert at it.

 When she was done and clean and soft she would walk back towards Tiffany and the drinks,then grab a sprite type of drink. She didn't drink caffeine it got her too wired and she sometimes got sick from caffeine. " Thank you Tiffany that was delicious I might have another one later. So what is next oh great Hostess?"

Eliza shrugged, "They taste better when they aren't terrified, honestly. Better not give them time to think." Eliza felt a little left out and stepped up to rub Felicia's arm. She said as if to explain, "I didn't get to earlier and er- well. I've never really pet many things since after I was, ah, as I am. And never people. The, ah, guinea are rather good."

She grabbed her orange soda again and tipped it to Tiffany, "Pretty fleet party, almost as nice as your bathing suit. I suppose the cops don't go this far onto your property, what with the beer? Are you having any?" Eliza felt a little breathless, not slowing down to let the compliment any pause.

"Well, I was thinking I might put on some music," said Tiffany.  "There's also the swimming pool... do you swim?"

It wasn't obvious, in her opinion-- while many cats avoided water entirely, some, such as tigers, were quite fond of the water, and it was worth asking about.



"Oh, I might have one or two," said Tiffany, taking a can and opening it easily.  "I don't want to get too drunk, but it actually takes a lot of drinking to do that, and I want to be a better hostess... would you like one?"

 Felicia smiled as Eliza came up and rubbed her arm, it felt very nice. I guess having fur most humans seemed to like to pet me even in her Hybrid form.
" Oh that is fine Eliza you can pet me any time you wish.I love being petted that is for sure."

 Felicia smiled when Tiffany said she would put on some music," That would be great I love music." Then she brought up the pool and swimming. She would say," In this form I am okay with water I can go in as long as I can touch the bottom , I wont go in water over my head. Do you have a shallow end? Are you going into the pool Tiffany and Eliza?"  Felicia liked Tiffany, but if Eliza and Tiffany where going to go into the pool she would go in with the girls.

Eliza continued to rub Felicia's arm, but asked, "So do Bastet typically have a very physically expressive or open culture? Humans are my special interest, and they, hm, typically mix their emotional and sexual investment in someone through touch." Eliza sounded very much not like a fifteen year old here, more an academic overall. Eliza wouldn't deny that Felicia was very pretty, but also, Eliza wasn't sure they knew enough about Felicia to know what the Bastet thought through the difference between petting a cat and a humanoid. "I'll be going swimming, I haven't been in a couple years."

To Tiffany, they gestured with the soda, "Don't tell anyone so I can win some bets one day, but I could drink a pool of absinthe and feel a little waterlogged. I'd only be drinking for the teen aesthetic and flavor." Eliza considered for a moment, "The aesthetic is important though so I will probably have one later."

"That's fine," said Tiffany.  "The pool does have a shallow end."  It was rarely used, but...


"Who am I to challenge the aesthetic?" said Tiffany, smiling, and she cued up a series of bright, bouncy songs that were less devoid of content that was obvious.  She could have just picked what was popular, of course, but she did enjoy mixing things up a bit, now and then.  She figured that she'd see if anyone was dancing for a little bit before encouraging people to take things to the pool.

 Felicia smiles at Eliza and says," Oh Bastets are very open, and very physically orientated. I was taught to go with your heart and what feels good, gender barriers mean nothing to Bastets."

 Felicia did like her arm rubbed by Eliza, she would then say," Shall we all go in the pool, I also don't put my head under water okay."
She will then smile at both of the girls and head to the shallow end of the pool and she slowly walks into the pool staying in the shallow end by the steps at first.

In reply to Felicia Zamon (msg # 19):

Eliza nodded "Sure, That sounds good." They downed the last of the soda and threw it away in the nearest receptacle, bobbing their head melodramatically to the music. Eliza was willing to pretend they had some sort of investment in obnoxious music, but in all fairness, they liked it all. Eliza motioned to Felicia, "Lead the way," obviously more than willing to move at the Bastet's pace.

Tiffany dove into the pool to join them.  It was obvious that she was quite comfortable in the water-- she dove,  but she slipped into the water without a splash, as if the pool was welcoming her.  She stayed underwater as she slipped over to the other girls, her gill slits opening along her ribs as she went, but still hidden beneath her swimsuit.  She'd gone in at the deep end, but soon surfaced between the other two girls, looking refreshed; her skin shone with moisture, and she was smiling.

"So, how do you like the water?" she asked.

Felicia was fine as long as she could touch the bottom, and her ehad stayed dry. " It is very nice thank you, I will slowly go a little deeper." Felicia was having fun but water wasn't her favorite if it was over her head, she was fine in the shallow end and her tail acted like a wiper behind her. Felicia did like how Tiffany looked when she came out of the water, " Wow Tiffany the water seems to really like you, you still smell like the ocean though."

Eliza lowered herself from the edge of the pool after checking that their hair was still damp from when she went to change, not far from Felicia. Eliza was keeping an eye on her more than anything. Eliza wasn't quite sure what she could do to keep Felicia from panicking, but she was pretty certain the Bastet's claws could leave serious marks.

She watched Tiffany make her dive, offering a golf clap when their host remerged. "I'd almost guess you were a Pisces with that." Eliza hovered nearby if Felicia needed them for anything, figuring that Tiffany would rather live in her element for a little rather than just cater to two of her newest - but certaintly not only - friends.

"Just a Cabot," said Tiffany, grinning.  "We're all very comfortable in the water-- even in the deep, deep water.  We're all strong, and we're all long-lived, too... but we do change, when we get old enough."

She didn't like thinking about that part so much-- she liked how she looked right now, thank you very much, and the prospect of growing scales and fins didn't particularly appeal.  It was a long ways off, however-- practically forever.

Which was also how long she could live, so that wasn't all bad.

 Felicia was doing okay in the water, she could sense Eliza was there to help her if she would panic and Felicia was making sure her claws stayed retracted she didn't want to hurt either of them if she did panic. Felicia smiled at Eliza as she moved a little further into the water, she was doing okay for now.

 When Tiffany spoke she responded," You are a Cabot and you look very comfortable in the water that is for sure, I am sorry I am not as comfortable."
Felicia tried to take her mind of it by looking at the gorgeous Tiffany, she was beautiful and when she said she would change Felicia got curious she wondered if she changed like her. " Tiffany how do you change, can you shapeshift or is it a permanent change?"

"It's very, very permanent," said Tiffany, with a sigh.  Talking about old age wasn't her favorite thing to do, but Felicia really ought to know, and there was no need to keep it secret.

"As we get older, we start to look more like our other lineage," she explained.  "We get stronger, and tougher.  We don't really stop growing, either, although it's very slow.  We grow scales and fins... I have enough human blood that I probably won't change as drastically as some people do, but it can be extreme.  We get better adapted to life in the ocean, and after a century or so, we usually move there permanently.  And we don't die.  Well, we can be killed, but we don't age like humans do.  After enough time, we can get very large, too.  My oldest ancestors are still alive, and larger than whales."

Eliza could tell that Tiffany didn't seem like she was too excited about the prospect, but it wasn't likely an easy one to remedy, "That's kind of tough. Inevitability, like Entropy, is frustrating. I don't think I will end up living for as long as most humans. I mean - I, Prince of the Nether, will likely slink back to my plane, but Eliza and this body-" Eliza shook their head, "My best estimates give me fifty years, tops. Possession is hard on humans. They aren't designed to be worn." Eliza didn't exactly lighten the mood, already with mixed feelings on the topic. Mixed, literally, between the Nether and Human's shared thoughts.
This message was last edited by a game editor at 11:30, Thu 19 Sept 2019.

 Felicia felt bad she brought it up, Tiffany did not seem happy with changing and she was long lived. Then Eliza was the opposite carrying her friend was hurting her body, then Felicia thought she would out live both her friends. Felicia then said," Oh that is quite the permanent change Tiffany, songs like you might want to look for a way to possibly stop it. Eliza I am sorry it is a strain for your body to carry your friend. Me well I will live forever unless I am hunted down and killed a special way, if I die normally I will come back Bastet's are immortal. I guess that is why humans fear us so much."

 Felicia knew she would most likely outlive all of her friends, her parents warned her of this and told her if you make friends they will die before you do if Felicia is not hunted and killed the special way that keeps Bastet's dead forever. Felicia decided to move to a happier subject," Okay I do not know how to swim, how do I start Tiffany, I figured you would be the best teacher here?"

"I wouldn't mind teaching you, Felicia," said Tiffany.  "It's good to know how..."

Mentally, she considered the challenge of teaching Felicia.  Teaching her to breathe would be the hard part-- she didn't need to bother with that, herself.  But she knew the theory of teaching air-breathers how to swim, and it did seem like a pleasant way to spend some time.

"...Getting old is something that's going to happen to me," Tiffany continued.  "It's just one of those things.  At least we get stronger instead of weaker over time-- that was one of the reasons that the alliance I'm descended from was forged."

Eliza smiled at the pair of them, thinking that maybe they would be better at teaching Felicia since they weren't literally born for this, but said, "I am going to see if this thing connects to the ocean. Be back shortly."

Eliza was careful enough not to splash Felicia, as they went for a quick swim, curious to see if they could even reach the bottom of such a deep pool.

 Felicia sat there and smiled and replied to Tiffany, " Thank you Tiffany, if I know how to swim I will be better in the water." Felicia really liked both Eliza and Tiffany and Tiffany was going to help her learn to swim and maybe even Eliza could help her out as well.

 When Eliza said she was going to see if the pool was deep enough to connect to the ocean she laughed as Eliza disappeared into the water. Felicia wanted to follow her but she didn't know how to swim.  Felicia would look at Tiffany when Eliza left, she was gorgeous ,nice, sweet and pretty smart.
She would say to her," Thank you for everything Tiffany you have been a great friend in the little time we have known each other, most people are afraid of me." She smiles and her razor sharp teeth can been seen when she smiled.

The pool was indeed very deep, but it didn't quite reach to the ocean.  Still, it was remarkably deep-- much, much more so than standard models of home swimming pool.  The water pressure was noteworthy, pressing on Eliza all around her.



"Aw, I trust you, Felicia," said Tiffany with a warm smile.  "Now, do you want to practice swimming a little bit?  It's not that hard.  I'll show you how."

...which might, incidentally, involve Tiffany having to touch Felicia a bit.  She wouldn't mind that at all.

 Eliza was still under water, and she knew she knew she was not ready for that yet. When she said she trusted Felicia she was very happy and she smiled even more. Then she asked if she wanted to practice swimming now, she was a little nervous but she also trusted Tiffany.

" Sure we can try, and I will keep my claws in, I don't want to slice you up Tiffany. Okay Tiffany where do you want me?" Tiffany was gorgeous and so nice Felicia goes with her heart gender means nothing to a Bastet, but Felicia had no idea how Tiffany felt about her though, or at least in that way. Felicia moves towards Tiffany and holds her hands out waiting to be instructed, she was looking forward to Felicia touching her soft amazing fur.

"Well, first, stretch out and try to float on the pool," said Tiffany.  <DarkBlue is actually where most of the power for swimming comes from."</DarkBlue>

She held out her arms to support Felicia.  She was, admittedly, looking forward to the contact.

 Felicia will stretch out and lay herself out over Tiffany's arms one arm was right above her waist and then other below her bust. Felicia would nervously put her weight onto Tiffany's arms and try to float she actually wasn't nervous she knew Tiffany would not allow any harm to happen to her.
 "Is this right Tiffany, I am trying to float." Instinctively Felicia will wrap her tail around Tiffany's waist to give her more balance.

"You're doing fine," said Tiffany.  "Just keep yourself level and relaxed.  You should float on your own, but for now, let's try kicking with your legs.  Just alternate right and left, moving them up and down.  That would move you forward if I weren't holding you; it also helps keep you from sinking."

 Felicia do what Tiffany is telling her to do. Felicia will try and keep herself level and she will relax into the water and Tiffany's arms. Then she tries and kicks but doesn't go to hard at first and she says," How is that Tiffany."

(OOC: Felicia rolled a 21 on her Athletics roll for swimming. Tiffany you can rollplay that out)

Eliza surfaced not too far away, slicking their hair back out of their face, sputtering little water from mouth. "Okay, wow, this is a deep friggin pool. This must cost a fortune to maintain, let alone build."

"Well, it does," said Tiffany.  "A lot of the family comes by sometimes, though, and we all love to swim.  We need to have a pool big enough for everyone."



The feeling of a cute catgirl moving in her arms was extremely pleasant, and Tiffany was tempted to savor it for a while, but she was trying to teach Felicia how to swim, and she was going to honor that.

"You can kick harder," she said.  "Don't worry.  I'll make sure that you'll be fine."

 Felicia will kick harder and try and stay afloat as Tiffany holds her up and holds onto her. Felicia was having fun, then Eliza pops up from her swim, Felicia is kicking and is trying to swim. " How is this Tiffany what else do I have to do?" Felicia did like being in Tiffany's arms that is for sure and her bathing suit was amazing. Felicia didn't have much on at all either. Felicia's fur was still soft in the water, and her tail was still wrapped around Tiffany's waist. " Hi Eliza I think I am getting the hang of it."

Eliza nodded, "No, makes sense. It's kind of been forever since I've swum to be honest. My dad only likes watching sports, and my mom loves hiking, but I'm wondering now if I shouldn't warn her to be careful of predators." Eliza gestures a flimsy hello at a boy too far to hear. He looked otherwise normal but seemed like he couldn't help but eye the spectacle of the three girls, mostly staring at Tiffany.

"You are doing great, Felicia. Always remember that if you feel yourself going down, breath in air while ya can. Most of your floating is because of your lungs. Not sure the same is true for Tiff." They cocked a smile for their water-bourne friend, before continuing, "Sorry, the water in general doesn't do it for ya. You'll probably want to make sure you do take a solid shower later, or else the chlorine does tend to linger."

"Telling her to be careful couldn't hurt," said Tiffany.  "...You're doing fine, Felicia.  Turn your head to the side to breathe... now we'll try using your arms, too.  Have you seen how people swim with them?  The key is to face away from the arm going in to the water, so you can breathe air."

She was vaguely aware that boys were looking in her direction.  She didn't particularly care, though.  Right here, with these two, was where she wanted to be in this party.

 Felicia wasn't worried others or boys at this moment she was having fun learning to swim from an amazing girl Tiffany. Her friend Eliza was here Felicia had all she needed at this time. She would say to Eliza," Thank you I will remember that, oh yes definitely a shower later."

 Felicia smiled at Tiffany and said," I will be careful, thank you this is actually fun. Okay I will try my arms Tiffany, don't let me go please."
Felicia would then use her arms and try to actually swim with Tiffany holding onto her. She will turn her head and do everything Tiffany told her to do.

Eliza mostly watched, not wanting to get into Felicia's way, but was also willing to demonstrate for any particularly bit as Tiffany did the couching proper. "Since Bastet don't do much swimming, I am guessing most of your kind stick to the deserts and savannahs of Northern Africa? No jungle cat cousins?" Eliza was wracking her brain for what little they knew of African geography. Didn't it turn kind of rain-foresty around Congo? Or was that just in the book Heart of Darkness? Eliza was still a kid raised in Chicago, arcane knowledge of an Apex Nether or not.

"You're doing fine," said Tiffany.  "Don't worry-- I won't let go."

She was curious about what Felicia would say about her cousins.  She knew tigers swam... did jaguars?  Or leopards?  She didn't know.

 Felicia smiled at Eliza," Most of my people where born and lived in Egypt and the Middle East. I am not afraid of water I just don't know how to swim, my Father is afraid of water and my Mother can swim but she hasn't had the time to teach me yet."

 Felicia thought then and said," There have been jungle Bastet's but the most common is the Desert Bastet."

 Felicia was kicking and using her arms it was fun and she was floating, the best part was that Tiffany was holding her. Felicia was getting cocky and then slipped, she made sure her claws where retracted, then loosing control she moved into Tiffany. They collided, Felicia instinctively used her tail which tripped up Tiffany and they fall into the water Felicia's chest would get smashed right into Tiffany's face, as they went under.

 Felicia didn't panic she didn't know what to do she waited for Tiffany to react and save her, she didn't want to hurt Tiffany with her claws either.

Tiffany was going to say something, but she abruptly found herself underwater, pressed against Felicia.  That was a bit distracting, but she was used to the occasional abrupt immersion, especially when her family was around.  Her arms wrapped around Felicia's waist, and she easily straightened herself up, kicking off the pool floor to bring them both up above the surface.  The strength of a Deep One kin was useful...

Eliza was about to ask more, but they didn't bother speaking to the capsized pair, backing up a bit and peering through the water. Eliza wasn't too concerned, though if Tiffany got a little clawed up, that might be awkward. They knew that they would just get in the way.

 Felicia wasn't afraid she remained in control, Tiffany grabbed her and pulled her up. She stood back up in the shallow end.
Thank you Tiffany I slipped, did I hurt you in any way?

 Felicia actually enjoyed falling into Tiffany, she smiled at Tiffany, That was learning to swim, you are amazing Tiffany.

 Felicia would smile at Eliza,Not bad for my first lesson, you girls are great thank you for making me feel umm normal.

"Oh, I'm fine," said Tiffany.  "We Cabots are very, very tough. We have to be..."

She wasn't terribly eager to pull away from Felicia, and seemed to be sticking very close to her.

"And I'm glad that I can help you learn how to swim, Felicia," she added.

 Felicia will stay close to Tiffany she liked being close to Tiffany a lot. Yes Felicia wanted to learn to swim, but being close to Tiffany was a huge bonus. " Again sorry about that, I am very glad you are a Cabot then Tiffany."

 Felicia smiled and said," Well thank you very much we will have to have more lessons if that is okay Tiffany?" Felicia was looking at Tiffany, she was beautiful, strong, a great swimmer, and she smelled like the ocean. Felicia didn't want to be rude and she did really like Eliza as well.
 Then saying to Eliza," I did pretty good for my first try didn't I will practice more, how are you doing Eliza?" Then turning to both beautiful girls she says," So this school my parents are sending me too they say it is a school for Monsters and I will be safe and learn to be more human?"

Eliza was mostly treading water, watching the other people at the party and listening to the music, trying to place if it was a new remix or a combination of two remixes she'd heard before. Mostly, she was feeling a little like the third wheel.

"Hm? Oh, I'm good. Learning to be human is terribly fun and enlightening in person. So much nuance to every interaction, and so emotionally draining." They said this as if it were a positive, not a struggle. "But you really need to know what kind of human you'd want to be.  You need a glamour, a curse, or an enchantment to look the part, more than anything. They'll dismiss anything else as teenage fancy at our age. If anyone says you aren't human enough, they've not met enough humans."

"That's certainly true," said Tiffany.  "It's mostly a matter of not crossing certain lines in public behavior, and the lines are a bit fuzzy, anyway.  It shouldn't be too hard for you to learn things.  You've done all right so far."

 Felicia smiled at Eliza then after she was finished Felicia would say," Oh yes I would need something like that to look more human first, as far as me human, long black hair." She smiles and laughs after she says that. Then she will say," Aww thank you Eliza you think I act human."

 Then Tiffany spoke and she smiled and replied," Oh yeah I am not sure what Humans don't like to do in public, I also have no modesty I was told that can be bad in public." After Tiffany complimented her, she smiled her razor sharp teeth showing, she would than say to Tiffany," Thank you but I have mostly learned by going into town as a house cat and watch humans closely."

 Then Felicia looks at both girls and says," Could you both help me be more human, and maybe if we can disguise me take me into town as a human?"

"Sure thing, Felicia. Tiffany is the model to admire of course. I'm just pretending. Well, half pretending. It helps I have Eliza as an internal critic and they like me for some reason. I'm sure I have something to share after eight years of practice."

Eliza considered, saying, "On the plus side, you might be able to get out and about on Halloween."

"Halloween makes things easy, yes," said Tiffany.  "It would be a shame if we couldn't get you some practice before-hand, though.  Modesty... will be something to work on in public.  Sometime later, after the party, I'd like to see where you are right now-- how you'd normally act and dress in public, while trying to be human.

"Then, from there, we can see what, if anything, you need to change, and work on that."

 Felicia smiles at both girls and says," Thank you Eliza, yes Tiffany is one to admire, yes I can't wait till Halloween." Felicia was happy and both girls would help her be more human.

 She turns to Tiffany and responds," We can do that Tiffany right now I only go out into public in my house cat form, I don't go like this I don't look human enough. Is there any way I can look more human?"

Eliza added, "Somethings are so part of growing up in the human world, you may always seem a little off. How often does your kind stay in this form natively? I think some of the obvious things you might have to watch are how you walk or move. If I'm not careful, I tend to do my art faster than most humans can manage. I've been called out before, jokingly about my idle hands. You may want to watch how people walk." Eliza asked as they motioned to a tawny-furred werewolf looking person picking through the choice cuts of raw meat. They were short but nearly twice as wide as Eliza, "Do you have digitigrade feet like them?" Eliza asked, looking through the disturbed water to try to gauge Felicia's feet.

"If you're dressed for it, you might be able to pass," said Tiffany, thoughtfully.  "It might not be as comfortable as what you're used to, though-- you'll need to wear more clothes to conceal more of your body."

 Felicia smiled at both girls and then replied to Eliza," I never thought about that I walk like a cat not a human, but my legs are like a cat's how am I suppose to walk like a human? I will watch them and do my best, thank you Eliza."

 She will look at Tiffany and say," Dressed for it Tiffany? I usually don't wear to many clothes, it does make my fur itch sometimes."  Then she thought how could she pass with just clothes. " Umm Tiffany even if I wear more clothes I still look like a feline not a human, how do you disguise this Tiffany?" Felicia will move her hands over her distinctly feline features and her fur.