..&.&&.&.& ..&&&.&.&&
&...&&.... &.&.&...&&
&&..&&&... &....&..&.
&&&.&.&&.. &&....&...
&.&...&&&. .&&....&..
...&..&.&& . . . . . . . . .&&&....&.
....&...&& . %%;;%% . . %%;;%% . .&.&&....&
&....&..&. . %%~~&&~~%% . 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. ...&..&...
.&...&&&.. ....&..&..
..&..&.&&. &....&..&.
...&...&&& &&....&..&
&...&..&.& &&&....&..
.&...&...& &.&&....&.