.....^~**& &**~^.....
....^~**&& &&**~^....
...^~**& #&&**~^...
..^~**&# ##&&**~^..
.^~**&## ###&&**~^.
..^~**&# . . . . . . . . ##&&**~^..
...^~**& . &&**&& . . &&**&& . #&&**~^...
....^~**&& . &&~~&&~~&& . the . &&~~&&~~&& . &&**~^....
.....^~**& *~~&#&&~~* & & *~~&#&&~~* &**~^.....
......^~** . &&~~&&~~&& .&& shower &&. &&~~&&~~&& . **~^......
.......^~* &. &&**&& .&& &&. &&**&& .& *~^.......
........^~ # . . . . . . . . # ~^........
.......^~* & deep below & *~^.......
......^~** ground level, several elevators down, **~^......
.....^~**& in the dark water where the surface &**~^.....
....^~**&& light doesn't reach, and warmth comes &&**~^....
...^~**& mostly from below - here is the shower. #&&**~^...
..^~**&# ##&&**~^..
.^~**&## it is dark. you strip, and it's cold. ###&&**~^.
..^~**&# your feet feel the cold stone floor, ##&&**~^..
...^~**& your hands find the rubber handles to #&&**~^...
....^~**&& guide you into the cabin. &&**~^....
.....^~**& &**~^.....
......^~** and then, the hot water, the **~^......
.......^~* underground rain. drenching you, *~^.......
........^~ lathering you. infused with oils and ~^........
.......^~* scents. and then, also from above, the *~^.......
......^~** shower creatures. first their black **~^......
.....^~**& velvet arms, touching, and then entire &**~^.....
....^~**&& bodies. chests and snouts. &&**~^....
...^~**& #&&**~^...
..^~**&# the creatures are meant to comfort you, ##&&**~^..
.^~**&## keep you entranced, and keep you from ###&&**~^.
..^~**&# leaving the cabin prematurely. this ##&&**~^..
...^~**& whole ordeal works best if you are not #&&**~^...
....^~**&& transformed too early, and are instead &&**~^....
.....^~**& allowed to enjoy the shower for a while. &**~^.....
......^~** **~^......
.......^~* you are steamed, caressed, cleaned, *~^.......
........^~ modified, liquified; dissolved and ~^........
.......^~* drained... and then brought back, *~^.......
......^~** slowly, waking as the water dries off **~^......
.....^~**& of you. cabin open to the cold air &**~^.....
....^~**&& tickling your fresh-born mind. creature &&**~^....
...^~**& hands gone, you step out. #&&**~^...
..^~**&# ##&&**~^..
.^~**&## later, elevator back up. new body. ###&&**~^.
..^~**&# ##&&**~^..
...^~**& #&&**~^...
....^~**&& &&**~^....
.....^~**& &**~^.....
......^~** **~^......