Hsien-Ko flipped through channels on the living room television. It was late in the day; too late in the day to head out for a walk or run errands, but, as she discovered after turning on the television, not late enough to find a decent show to zone out in front of. She rustled impatiently on the couch, trying to get her tired brain to think of something to do.
That's when Cobalt entered. He had been cooped up in his bedroom that doubled as his art studio, working intently on his latest project. He saw his snow leopard roommate sitting on the couch, and flopped down beside her. His long hair, loose as usual, flew about his lanky frame and then settled around him. He looked as tired as Hsien felt.
"Long day at the office?" Hsien asked.
The goat-lion hybrid could only huff a strand of hair out of his face. "It's getting done, and I'm really happy with the work...I just wish I could get it done faster."
"Everyone needs to take a break sometimes," Hsien said as she flipped to the next channel, finding yet another early evening news program.
"Well here I am, taking a break. No more art until tomorrow. What were you watching?"
"Nothing, sadly," Hsien said as she flipped to an old sitcom she'd seen far too many times to find funny anymore.
"Ah," Cobalt said, sympathizing with her plight. Then he smirked.
"Well, in that case, want to busy yourself cooking some dinner?"
"Cute," the cat smirked back.
Cobalt shrugged his shoulders. "I'm sorry. Bad joke."
Hsien glanced at him, and was struck by an idea. "Actually, I think I know just what we both need." She got up off the couch and tossed the television remote in Cobalt's lap.
The quizzical kimera watched Hsien slink her way into the kitchen. As he surfed through the channels, he heard the filling of the kettle, a light bang on the stove, and the flame lighting up. Cobalt wanted to go see what she was preparing, but told himself that his roommate knew what kinds of things he liked. Hsien wasn't one to steer him wrong.
He had found his way to a cartoon channel and parked the tv there. Meanwhile, the sound of teacups clacking together could be heard from the kitchen, and the kettle began to whistle. Within a minute, Hsien emerged from the kitchen with two cups of steaming hot tea on saucers. She handed one to Cobalt. He sniffed it and knew quickly that it was Earl Grey.
"Thank you, Hsien," Cobalt said as the snow leopard sat back down on the couch. He took a deep sniff of the soothing steam from the teacup. "What put you in the mood for tea?"
"Just a thought that popped into my head. It's a nice evening. Quiet. Why not compliment it with a relaxing cup of tea?"
"Well then, cheers." Cobalt held up his cup and Hsien tapped hers against it gently. Cobalt sipped a bit and found it still too hot to drink. The roommates passed time for a few more minutes watching the television. Cobalt tried his tea again and this time was able to drink several sips. It was delicious, and quite soothing. He felt much calmer already. His mind, wired from drawing all day, was finally relaxing.
"Ah..." Hsien said, troubled, as she looked down at her tea. "I forgot to add the sugar cube."
"I didn't know you liked sugar with your tea."
"Sometimes," Hsien said. She held her tea out to Cobalt. "Could you be a dear and put one in it for me?"
"Me?" Cobalt asked.
"I don't feel like getting up again."
Cobalt thought her request unusual, but his brain was tired of thinking so much. It was easier to do this little favor than to press the matter. He set down his cup on the coffee table and took hers. "All right, sure." He went into the kitchen, got out the packet of sugar cubes and dropped one in her cup. He stirred it a bit and brought it back to Hsien-Ko. "There ya go. All sugared up."
Hsien took the cup and sipped it. She withdrew it from her lips dramatically, as if it was poison. "I'm sorry, I forgot, can you also put some honey in it?"
Cobalt sighed. "Why don't you go ahead and take care of it? You know what you want better than I do."
Hsien shot Cobalt a disgruntled look that caught him off-guard. "Cobalt, I made that tea for you, without even being asked. Don't you think you could return the favor by doing what you're told without putting up a fuss?"
Cobalt was suddenly frightened to make eye contact with Hsien. He looked down at his hooves instead. "Uh, I didn't think it was that big of a deal..."
Hsien continued looking at him sternly. "Since you've been hiding in your bedroom all day, it may surprise you to know that out here I've had a busy day. I've had to prepare my own breakfast, my own lunch, and run all sorts of errands. All I'm asking is for you to put a few drops of honey in my tea."
Cobalt briefly shot a glance at Hsien's frowning expression. She never spoke to him so sternly about trivial things like this. Nevertheless, his ears drooped in shame for making her so upset. "I'm sorry. You're right. I should be more appreciative."
"I'm glad you understand. Now, may I please have that honey?" she asked, handing him the cup once again.
Cobalt took the cup and nodded. "Yeah, I'll get it right away. No complaints."
"Thank you. And it couldn't hurt if you spoke more politely. Just because we're roommates, it's no excuse not to treat each other with proper respect."
"Yes, of course."
"Of course...?"
"Of course, Hsien-Ko. I shall treat you with the respect you deserve. Please forgive my rudeness. One moment and I will have your tea prepared the way you like it." Cobalt clopped hurriedly back into the kitchen and Hsien smiled. She kicked up her feet on the ottoman and relaxed on the sofa.
In a minute, Cobalt returned, handing her the teacup once again. Hsien-Ko rejected it a third time. "Now it's too cold."
Cobalt bowed his head. "I am sorry, Hsien-Ko."
"You should have had the common sense to warm it up with some more hot water from the kettle."
"I apologize, Hsien-Ko. Please forgive me. I will be more thoughtful in the future."
"I should hope you will be," Hsien said, getting up. "Until then, there won't be any tea for either of us. Take these cups back to the kitchen and dump them out."
Cobalt was so ashamed he couldn't manage to look Hsien-Ko in the eye. He quickly took the cups and saucers in his hands and scurried to the kitchen to wash them out. He cleaned them diligently, then on an unusual impulse, grabbed a towel and started drying them off instead of putting them on the drying rack like he usually would.
"Cobalt!" Hsien called. "What's taking you so long in there?"
"I am cleaning the teacups, Hsien-Ko." Cobalt answered.
"Finish quickly and come back in here!" she called impatiently. Cobalt rubbed the towel quickly across the last cup, returned them to the cupboard and then rejoined Hsien in the living room. She had moved from the couch to the recliner. Her bare paws were held aloft on the footrest. "Ah, finally. My feet have been aching from all the running around I did today. Can you rub them a little?"
"You want me to...?" Cobalt asked. It wouldn't be the first time he had given her a foot massage, but it was a rare request.
"Yes, I'd like you to massage my feet. Do you have a problem with that?"
"No, Hsien-Ko, I am just not used to you making so many requests at once."
"Are we not roommates? Good friends, even?"
"Yes, Hsien-Ko."
"And you want me to be as happy as possible, don't you? I am kind to you, and you are kind in return. Isn't that the way it should be?"
"Yes, Hsien-Ko. That is...er..." Cobalt felt there was something slightly off about Hsien's statement, but he couldn't wrap his brain around what it was. As with her first instruction to add sugar to her tea, it felt like things would be easier if he just accepted what she told him.
"Yes, period. You are a good friend to me, Cobalt. A kind friend. And I would very much appreciate it if you would massage my feet."
"Yes, Hsien-Ko," Cobalt said timidly. "You are right, we are good friends and I must repay your kindness." With that, Cobalt knelt down in front of the recliner and began rubbing Hsien's paws. His knobby fingers, having keratinized tips, were an excellent configuration for such work. Hsien soon began to purr and settle into the recliner, enjoying the loving footrub.
Cobalt found the work enjoyable too, in his own way. Seeing Hsien-Ko in such pleasure made him feel good. Her purring motivated him to massage her more firmly. He carefully kneaded his fingertips into her aching paws, finding the muscles and pressing, rubbing, and prodding, all with a firm but loving touch.
After a while, Hsien realized she was slowly drifting off to sleep. A sudden thought reminded her that if she allowed that to happen, she'd miss the opportunity to take full advantage of the potion she'd put into Cobalt's tea. She roused herself somewhat violently back into full consciousness. Her gentle purring ended with a huff and a growl, and her chest heaved forward as she kicked one of her feet. Cobalt, shocked, fell back onto his rear.
"Cobalt," Hsien said with mock disappointment, "your massage nearly put me to sleep."
"I-is that wrong, Hsien-Ko?"
"I asked for a simple foot rub, not to be lulled into slumber-land." Hsien got up off the couch and knelt down to look at Cobalt closely. The kimera looked back at her with nervous eyes.
In his position on the floor, Cobalt instinctively leaned back and away from her stare. "Please forgive me, Hsien-Ko. I only wanted you to be happy."
Hsien put her hand up to rub Cobalt's cheek and then touched the underside of his chin, behind his gray goatee. "You like to make me happy, don't you?"
"Making you happy makes me happy, Hsien-Ko."
"Then I will forgive you if you promise to continue doing your best to make me happy, without questioning me."
"I promise, Hsien-Ko. I promise."
"I'm very glad to hear that, Cobalt." Hsien smiled. Then her hand clamped around his goatee and she tugged at it slightly. Cobalt's eyes grew wide again. Hsien leaned in almost close enough for their noses to touch. "As such, I would also be glad if you acted more formally toward me. It would put me at ease, and it would help you better remember your place."
Cobalt gulped. "Yes, very well, Miss Hsien-Ko. Cobalt shall follow your instructions with the utmost formality."
Hsien smiled, and seeing her smile made Cobalt feel much better himself. "Thank you, Cobalt. Now, let's get up off this floor, shall we?"
Hsien stood up and Cobalt picked himself up. Hsien looked him over with an exaggerated frown, which Cobalt noticed easily.
"Is something the matter, Miss Hsien-Ko?" he asked nervously.
"No, nothing...well...perhaps it doesn't matter." Hsien continued looking over Cobalt's body with disdain.
Cobalt spoke more assertively. "If it upsets Miss Hsien-Ko it matters a great deal. Does Miss Hsien-Ko disapprove of Cobalt's appearance?"
Hsien's smile returned. "Well, if you're so eager to please, Cobalt, maybe there won't be any harm in asking. Those clothes don't look appropriate on you."
"Does Miss Hsien-Ko wish Cobalt to disrobe?" Cobalt began lifting his tee-shirt. Hsien-Ko put up her hands.
"No, not exactly. There's another outfit I'd like you to put on. Wait right here."
Hsien went into her bedroom, and Cobalt stayed true to her orders and remained rooted to the spot until she returned, carrying a black and white dress on a hanger. It had a lace-up corset, collar, built-in apron across the front of the skirt, and white lace trim all around. In her other hand Hsien held some other small white garments.
"Will you try on this outfit, please? I think you would look much better in it."
Cobalt blushed. "Miss Hsien-Ko, that appears to be a maid's dress...but Cobalt is a man."
Hsien frowned again. "You promised me you wouldn't question anything I asked of you. Are you breaking that promise, Cobalt?"
Cobalt hunched down a bit. "No, Miss Hsien-Ko. Cobalt would not dream of questioning you. Cobalt will put on the dress immediately."
Hsien-Ko smiled, handing the ensemble to Cobalt. "Good, and I will help you into it so that it's done up right."
Hsien helped Cobalt change into the outfit, which came complete with white lace panties, thigh-high white stockings, a silky white chemise, and white cotton arm warmers that went up past his elbows and covered his hands to the knuckle. An elastic band wrapped around his index fingers kept the gloves from sliding up his arms. The stockings were tied at both knee and ankle with laced cuffs, allowing the hooves to remain free.
The main dress had a built-in apron flanked by black puffy shoulders. An accompanying choker was tied around his neck with a thin red ribbon. Hsien wrapped a black corset around his stomach and laced it. She pulled the string tighter than Cobalt would have liked, but he put up no fuss. The petticoat only fell to mid-thigh. Its front had a built-in apron draped over it in an upside-down semicircle that was itself delicately laced.
Hsien stepped back and looked upon her dolled-up roommate in satisfaction. Cobalt stood in a proper pose, with his arms in front of him and his hands pushing down on the front of the apron. His lanky frame looked even daintier thanks to the tight corset.
"You look splendid, dear. Just splendid. But let's do something with your hair. Come." Hsien ordered Cobalt to sit on the ottoman, then went to retrieve a pair of scissors and carefully clipped off the kimera's long chin braid. "That will just get in your way," she explained, then walked around behind Cobalt. "Stare straight ahead and don't move, please.
Cobalt obeyed, and felt his long white hair being tugged and manipulated.
"Loose hair, especially such long hair as yours, must be kept tidy," Hsien-Ko said. Cobalt sat patiently, his hands folded in his lap, for several long minutes. He felt immensely happy to be given such attention by his close friend. He was sure he looked wonderful in the dress she had picked out for him, and could barely wait to see himself in a mirror.
"And let's put a couple of these on you to finish it off..." Hsien muttered. Cobalt felt his horns being pulled slightly, but again, did not move or speak.
"All done!" Hsien said after a time. "Stand up, let's see you."
Cobalt stood up and felt a heavy rope slap against his back. Hsien looked him up and down. "Oh, you must see this!" she said eagerly. "Come, come."
She took Cobalt by the hand and the two walked into Hsien's bedroom, where a full-length mirror stood. Cobalt saw himself in the reflection, tall and wide in the shoulders, but generally very feminine. A thin waist, dainty hands, and a proper subservient posture. His hair had been braided. Hsien started two braids above either eye, sloping down along the hairline, just above his ears, and merging in the back at the nape of the neck into one long, thick white braid. The tugging he had felt at his horns proved to have been the tying of two dainty red ribbons decorating his horns near their tips.
He could barely take his eyes off his reflection, but he knew he must address Hsien properly. "Cobalt is now so beautiful, Miss Hsien-Ko. It is an honor to be given such a pretty makeover. Thank you so much." He bowed low to her.
Hsien looked up at her roommate and smiled. "Yes, you are indeed a beautiful maid, fit to serve my every desire."
Cobalt looked strangely at her. "Maid?"
"Of course. You desire to make me happy in every way. You made a promise to that effect."
Things were becoming confusing. The only tangible thought Cobalt could come up with was to let Hsien make her point. "Yes, that is correct, Miss Hsien-Ko."
"Then by definition that makes you my maid, yes?"
Deep inside Cobalt's mind, he knew something was going wrong. Hsien had done something to him. Again. But he could only hold onto that thought for an instant before his brain gave up trying to fight her words. His mind wanted to relax. To stop thinking for himself. "Er... Yes, of course, Miss Hsien-Ko. That must be true. Cobalt is your obedient maid."
Hsien pinched Cobalt's furry cheek. He blushed brightly. "Very good, maid. You are so precious. Now come, it's time for you to prove you know how to make tea properly."
Hsien took a seat on the couch, once again flipping to a channel to find a good prime-time show. Cobalt, meanwhile, busied himself in the kitchen making a fresh batch of tea. He heated the water and laid out two fresh teacups on their saucers. He placed an Earl Grey teabag in each one, then prepared a tray to serve them on.
From her seat, Hsien heard the whistle of the kettle and called to Cobalt. "Maid, please ready some crackers to have with the tea."
"Yes, Miss Hsien-Ko," Cobalt said as he poured the tea carefully into the cups. As the bags steeped, he took a box of crackers out of a cabinet and placed them in a neat circle on a dish. Then in a flash of inspiration, he diced a few pieces of cheese and piled them in a pyramid in the center. He placed the cups, cracker plate, the bowl of sugar cubes, the bottle of honey, and two napkins folded into triangles on the tray and carried it out.
Hsien watched approvingly as Cobalt carried the tray into the living room, walking pigeon-toed and holding a straight posture. He leaned down and lowered the tray in front of Hsien-Ko. "Here is your tea, Miss Hsien-Ko."
"Why, thank you, maid," Hsien said pleasantly as she took her cup.
Cobalt laid the tray on the coffee table and sat with his hands folded in his lap on the couch next to her.
"Are you going to drink your tea?" Hsien asked, blowing on her cup.
"It would not be polite to begin drinking before the mistress."
Hsien smiled. "You have learned very well, maid. Quite the far cry from my ungrateful roommate, Cobalt. He could learn a few things from you."
Cobalt blinked. "Apologies for the correction, Miss Hsien-Ko, but this maid is Cobalt. They are the same person."
Hsien sipped her tea to test its temperature, then shot a smirk at Cobalt. "Don't be silly. You aren't Cobalt. Cobalt's going to be gone for quite a while, I think. In the mean time, the two of us are going to have ourselves quite a bit of fun." She sipped some more of her tea with a grin.
The maid formerly known as Cobalt looked confused, then shook his head as if tossing off an unwanted thought. He smiled. "Very well, Miss Hsien-Ko. Does mistress require sugar and honey with her tea?"
"No," Hsien said between sips. "Not at all."
THE END
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