With surprising shrewdness, Telma offered to act as the establishment's cook, maid, and clerk – relieving the girls of their extra duties and giving Agnes the confidence that her records would be maintained timely and accurately. The elder considered the offer carefully. With Audra freed from the front desk, she and her sister could both mind the establishment and make negotiations with the suppliers of food and drinks. If the girls were freed from cooking and cleaning, then they could be put to work in the rooms – earning many more rupees for her (if business ever resumed that is).
She agreed – provisionally – to allow Telma to stay for three more days. Her room and food would be covered by Agnes, but she would not be paid for her work during this time. If, after the three days the owner was satisfied, they would negotiate for Telma's salary and other terms. The young woman did not know if it was a good deal, or even a wise decision, but she had to do something and at least now, she had three more days of food and shelter. Before waving over the five girls however, Agnes leaned over the bar and hissed very quietly to her, "Keep those tips covered! And your mouth shut about… where ever it was you grew up! I will not protect you if you are discovered!"
Mid-Day, June 22, Year of the Great Kingdom 597
With a wave to approach from their mistress, the "five flowers" calmly made their way around the tables and over to the bar – except for Safflina who could not contain her excitement, and bounced & cartwheeled her way over. "Is she staying?!" she asked, excitedly, when she landed beside Telma once more. "For now." Grumbled Agnes in return. Bouncing like an excited child, she clapped her hands together and quickly threw her arms around Telma then suddenly withdrew. "Oh, I'm so sorry – oof… you stink! Oh, but I didn't mean… this is so exciting! WE HAVE A NEW SISTER!" she exclaimed in a wild range of emotions.
Telma still shivered with anxiety, but the terror of the past few days seemed to subside as Agnes' team came around her and introduced themselves. The girls were kind – all except Rose who was merely 'present,' but even she abstained from doing or saying anything to panic the newcomer. After the girls introduced themselves, they asked for Telma's name, which lifted Agnes' ears. She didn't know any reason why she should not tell them, but something in the pit of her stomach warned her against revealing her true identity to them. When she hesitated, Safflina glanced down at her basket and spotted her green dress. "Are there any flowers where you are from that are green?" she asked. Telma thought carefully for a moment, but could not think of any plants that produced a green flower.
"Just call her 'Ivy'" instructed Agnes, "It fits too. She crept in here and grabbed hold of us like an ivy." "So be careful! Or she'll strangle you like one too!" offered Safflina with a smile. "Give her a bath." Snapped the owner, "Like you said… she's turned ripe, and I won't have her driving away customers with it." By this, Telma assumed that she meant 'allow the girl to take a bath', but when the five pulled her upstairs to their washroom, she soon realized that Agnes truly meant for them to bathe her.
"Put the basket down. Get undressed." Rumbled Rose in her deep voice. "Y-you can't be serious!" the girl whimpered, as the others poured boiling pots of water into a large ceramic basin. "Undress yourself, or I will undress you, NOW." Barked the warrior. Telma was sinking back into her terrified feeling of despair now. There was nowhere for her to run, and she was vastly outnumbered. Setting her basket down with shaking hands, she slowly pulled her filthy linen dress over her head and dropped it onto the floor beside her.
"What is that?" Lavender asked suddenly, drawing the attention of the other girls. Telma's face blushed so hard it nearly turned blood red as the four girls began to pluck at her undergarments. "Why do you wear two sets of clothes?" Safflina asked curiously, "Don't you get hot? And what do you call them?" The woman was stunned at how the other girls seemed to have no shame or hesitation on seeing her body or touching her private clothes. "They are called undergarments." She answered shyly, "This one… um… 'supports' and this one… 'hides your shame.' Its um… not so cold where I am from." She finished awkwardly.
"You must be from the mountains, then, right? Either North or East from here?" Safflina continued, tugging at the edge of Telma's bra. "What does it feel like? Is it good?" she asked, glancing up at her face. "Its… fine!" Telma snapped, slapping gently at her hand. "Stop wasting time." Grumbled Rose, "Get it off and get into the bath!" Trembling, she dropped her final layers of protection, and kicked her undergarments to the side.
With several drops of colored liquids from a handful of different bottles, the water churned and frothed, forming a protective layer of bubbles along its surface. Telma was thankful for the slightest shred of protection, and hastily insisted to the others that she would remove her handkerchief and wash her own hair – under the water. Thankfully, the volume of her long hair – even when wet – was enough to bury the points of her ears.