As the couch scooted closer, Mabel obliged, collapsing into the plush cushions with relief. With her bag at her feet and Dory leaving the room (presumably to change), she didn't have far to reach to open her bag. Riffling through the contents, she found a small glass phial labelled "Pepper Up". Unstoppering it, she took a small sip. There wasn't need for the full potion, and she wanted to save the majority of the dose in case she needed some before she could restock at the hospital.
The potion did the trick and Mabel gave another sigh as she started to feel warmth again in her extremities. The effects of the potion were vastly different from the buzz the alcohol gave her. She felt lighter, more clear-minded, and her throat felt as if she'd coated it in honey. Standing up cautiously, Mabel gingerly walked to the fireplace once more. It was a shorter distance given the couch's proximity, but she didn't feel dizzy anymore, and she could draw breath without feeling as if someone were pricking her lungs with a needle.
This was a good sign. "Dory?" She called, wanting to assure him she was much better with that one potion. Raising her head to look around, she had expected to see him return. Perhaps he was having trouble finding what he needed? There was only a rattling sound that responded. It sounded as if he were rummaging through something. If he was going to be a while, perhaps this was the moment she wanted to seize before he returned. turning to her wet clothes, Mabel reached for the buttons on the back of her torn skirt.
It dropped with ease, and she stepped out of it, her socks squishing uncomfortably in her shoes. They would have been the next items of clothing to go, however she would need to do those last - her corset prevented her from bending over. Quickly working the buttons on her blouse, Mabel untucked it from the waistband of her petticoats. She was halfway through peeling her blouse off her still-wet arms when she heard a noise behind her. Looking up, her heart dropped to her stomach again as her gaze met the warm, brown gaze of —
"Dor - avert your eyes!" She squealed, instinctively throwing the nearest thing she had in her hands at Dory - her blouse - and diving for cover behind the couch's arm.
The potion did the trick and Mabel gave another sigh as she started to feel warmth again in her extremities. The effects of the potion were vastly different from the buzz the alcohol gave her. She felt lighter, more clear-minded, and her throat felt as if she'd coated it in honey. Standing up cautiously, Mabel gingerly walked to the fireplace once more. It was a shorter distance given the couch's proximity, but she didn't feel dizzy anymore, and she could draw breath without feeling as if someone were pricking her lungs with a needle.
This was a good sign. "Dory?" She called, wanting to assure him she was much better with that one potion. Raising her head to look around, she had expected to see him return. Perhaps he was having trouble finding what he needed? There was only a rattling sound that responded. It sounded as if he were rummaging through something. If he was going to be a while, perhaps this was the moment she wanted to seize before he returned. turning to her wet clothes, Mabel reached for the buttons on the back of her torn skirt.
It dropped with ease, and she stepped out of it, her socks squishing uncomfortably in her shoes. They would have been the next items of clothing to go, however she would need to do those last - her corset prevented her from bending over. Quickly working the buttons on her blouse, Mabel untucked it from the waistband of her petticoats. She was halfway through peeling her blouse off her still-wet arms when she heard a noise behind her. Looking up, her heart dropped to her stomach again as her gaze met the warm, brown gaze of —
"Dor - avert your eyes!" She squealed, instinctively throwing the nearest thing she had in her hands at Dory - her blouse - and diving for cover behind the couch's arm.
![[Image: QFB5GZw.jpeg]](https://i.imgur.com/QFB5GZw.jpeg)