Voli’s mouth falls open, gaping as he looks at the pool of water. It is more water than he has ever seen at once, steaming and full of pretty colours. He doesn’t know what the colourful things floating on the water are, but they smell nice and must be as light as feathers to be able to float on the water.
Creeping carefully towards the edge of the pool, Voli crouches down beside it and pokes a finger in. He pulls it out quickly, gasping as he looks to his mother. “It is hot!” exclaims the little boy, eyes as wide as saucers.
A grin spreads across Danu’s face, her eyes alight with joy as she watches her lovely sun experience hot water for the first time. He looks half afraid and half excited, amazed that water could be so hot and deep. Danu can’t wait to get him undressed and in the pool, just to see his reaction.
“Yes Joe!” chirps Voli, turning to smile at his father. Voli thinks the huge white man is smiling back at him from behind the mask, which warms Voli’s heart a little. He knows Joe gives people nice things to hide the bad stuff he does, his mother told him so, but the water is so nice… Joe couldn’t be as bad as his mother said, right? “It is so pretty! What are those things on the water?”
Danu smile is warm, full of unconditional love. She follows Voli’s gaze, smiling at Joe for a brief moment before she realizes what she is doing and her smile turns back into a scowl.
“Hot water makes it easier to get clean, love,” explains Danu, reaching out and peeling Voli’s coat off of him, followed by his scarf, leaving him in just his tunic (an oversized t-shit) and worn out boots. “Just like in our sweat lodge. Do not worry, I will be in there with you. Nothing to worry about.”
Voli hums and nods, looking back towards the water.
Once Joe has left the room, Danu and Voli strip nude and climb into the water.
While he had been brave at the edge of the pool, Voli clings to his mother as she eases him in. It was much deeper than it looked, and the sensation of so much water and flower petals on his skin is a little unsettling. But he warms up to it quickly as he plays by splashing the water, the ripples disturbing the tranquil surface and sending the petals floating away.
Danu washes his hair with soaps and balms while making Voli wash himself with the soap. Her son giggles as bubbles crop up, cupping them in his hands an blowing them at his mother. Danu giggles with him, tickling him a little before dunking him under the surface of the water, washing out his hair and drowning out any bugs that may be on him.
Danu allows Voli to splash around as she cleans herself, taking her times to wash away years of dirt, sweat and blood. She had found ways to keep them reasonably clean in the Waste, but really, a sweat lodge can only do so much.
The shampoos smell wonderful and the soap is soft on her skin; Danu hasn’t had anything this luxurious in years. But she can’t enjoy the bath to its fullest, knowing Joe and his Imperators are right outside the door. They may not be locked in the Vault, but Danu knows she is just as trapped. She longs for the Waste already, longs to be alone with just her son, but she’ll never be alone or free again here in the Citadel. Joe would have them watched constantly, to make sure nothing happens to Voli, and Danu’s skin crawls knowing those grease head bastards will always been around.
But maybe, if she begs pretty, Joe will take her and Voli out in the Waste from time to time.
Once clean, Danu and Voli climb out of the pool and dry off. Voli marvels at how pale they are without all the dirt, although they are both very tanned from the scorching sun, and how blonde their hair really is. Out in the Waste, it had been a dirty brown, but now it was gleaming and golden.
Danu dresses Voli in a pair of black pants and a white shirt, but her boy quickly grabs up his scarf and wraps it around his neck and head.
Much to Danu’s dismay, all that Joe has set out for her is a few strips of white cloth, the clothing of a wife. With a sneer, Danu makes a pair of shorts, then a halter top to support her full, milk heavy breasts. The last strip of cloth she folds into a shawl and drapes it over her head so that it would cover her hair and the brand on the back of her neck. She may be Wasteland thin, half starved and without an ounce of water weight on her, but years of birthing children for Joe has widened her hips and made her breasts swell, and the whites show off her womanly curves well.
Lifting her chin, Danu leads Voli out of the bathroom by the hand. She tries to exude confidence and power, to show she does not fear the Imperator and that she is the Queen Joe claims she is.
“Well, do we look like royalty now?” Danu asks Joe, raising an eyebrow at her husband.
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