More hugnuzzling and being pettable is indicated.

"...Sometimes, anger helps.  But this time, anger hurts, and I'm proud of you for knowing that, and letting go of it.

"I...  Can't say as I've ever been a man, despite what some would have said about my prior incarnation.  But...  I.  Think I know the feeling.  A bit.  If.  If the, genderousness.  Is bothering you.  I have to imagine there's something we could do, even if there isn't one of those silly D&D genderswap belts.

"But also - you don't have to stop being you, to be a girl.  Or to be either, both, or neither, for that matter.  Those are options.  And I'll bite anyone who tries to tell you otherwise, okay?"

"Yeah, it's just... Very, in a lot of ways. If I were a bit better at illusion work instead of just straight copying people, I'd go around as a salty sea dog type. Beard and barrel chest and blue hat. As for, uh, genderousness... At least I can still, um. Wield a hammer so to speak. Swap tools."

Blush 3: The Blushening

Yeah she is also blushing a little bit.  Not that it's hugely evident because she is a fox.

"...Well, I certainly don't have a genital preference even if I have - hm - certain dispreferences about secondary characteristics that round out to preferring my partners more feminine-coded.  So.  Don't worry about that part."

...did - oh gods she's forgotten their name if she ever knew - just describe, as their walking-around form preference, Bluto?  ...She's not going to ask.

"Mm. Well... I can imagine liking many things but the least squiggly feeling is one type of things. So."

"So, what now?"

"Getting us up to the mountaintop or wherever it is we're riding this out, ideally with sufficient supplies to stay there for...  Probably a week?"

"Right! Well, it was about a day and a half of actual fugue for me. I can make the flight in four hours if we use a spirit shortcut. I have my nice tent, but water and food and whatever you want to bring for comfort or entertainment... Nice and loose clothes so they fit whatever size you end up being... It's kind of chilly and windy up on Windslab but there's trees for firewood and an old cave I know..."

She nods.  "I'm probably going to be tall if we look at how I was last time.  Though I really don't know, to be honest.  I guess we'll see what comes out in the wash.

"I'm just gonna say we should bring my notes?  And maybe a deck of cards or something.  As far as non-prurient entertainment goes.  ...And as much as I hesitate to mention, we should probably also make sure we have, well, uh, lube."

"Well, um. They do sell that kind of thing. It... Wasn't a problem for me... Right, your notes, and cards, and food and water. Water-wise, there's a spring near Windslab that should be safe enough, boiled. So just a large enough pot and canteen or such and I already have those. Food... Any preferences? My tastes tend cheap and low prep. Bread, jerky and dried fruit, maybe jars of jelly. Maybe some rice or pasta."

"Low-prep sounds about right."

"Any goodbyes to say? Or well, 'I'm going on a trip'. I think I can do food shopping in like an hour and be back here then."

"I'll let Weiya know, yeah, and then meet you back here."

Where is Weiya, anyway...

She is doing a lab practical test today. It might have let out by now?

Well, she's going to see if she can find her and let her know that she's going to have, well, Kitsune Puberty, soon and will be staying out of town while that happens because she doesn't want to find out what kind of disastrous mess she'd make otherwise.

Weiya has finished early and will predictably hug her and tell her everything is going to be okay. It sounds scary. Is there any way she can help?

Thank you, so much, she really appreciates that you'd ask, but no, she doesn't think there's anything else to do beforehand, and the rest is - a private matter.

She doesn't pout and say that she knows what sex is, despite the temptation to. Just wishes Alicia luck!

She's pretty sure Weiya knows what sex is, she's just shy!

Thank you, again, Weiya.  She's going to be rushing straight into doing things, once this is done, and she's going to miss how things were.

As promised, Nicole is back at that one café after about an hour.

And so is Alicia!  With her notes and such.

"We're heading to a shrine this time- They're good entry points into the Spirit World and an hour's jog in there will spit us out close enough to fly the rest of the way."

She nods.  "I got here through one of those."  She thinks she remembers where it is, even, but, "Lead on."

It's a different shrine than the one Alicia went to- A less major one, more tucked away as a local neighborhood feature instead of a city-dominating attraction. The size of a house, not an apartment plex. They pass under the torii gate and-

Someone is lounging on her front, on a bench in the Spirit World reflection of the shrine, wearing... Not much. She kicks her bare legs and wags her long black tail playfully. 

"Heeey~ Just a moment miss Nicole, miss Alicia~ Where are you off to in such a hurry, hm?"

Nicole restrains a huff and bows politely.

"Miss Fireworks*." And isn't that the most generic and appropriate name ever. "We're going out of the city for... A mountain retreat."

*'Hanabi'

"Is that really necessary? Really really? You only get the kind of fun you're due for once, you know? Ara ara~ Are you so afraid of fun that you'll go turn into a mountain monk instead of embracing what it is to be a kitsune? I know some places and people who would be delighted to please you two in every possible way... Some call it a den of sin, but just a little bit of edge adds a special thrill and I guarantee all will turn out well, no regrets~"