Zahnrad once thought pulling all-nighters completing some contraption was the most exhausting thing ever. He's learned otherwise; the most exhausting thing ever is having a Lapi and Kadie girlfriend pair who demanded your complete attention. Whten they finally had to go to work, Zahnrad drug himself home, cleaned up, and slept for several hours more. As early evening comes, Zahn is finally back up and has gotten together the exercise pedaling device he made for Clover. "I guess I can have an early dinner with her and the Doctor, drop this off, then head home," he rationalizes as he pulls on his jacket and heads out the door…

Guestroom
Most castle bedrooms are not full of cobwebs, ancient tapestries covering secret passages or furniture placed specifically to cast ominous shadows – but Igor is nothing if not a traditionalist. What does stand out of place in this mix are the two large four-poster beds. They have gargoyles on the posts and carved clawed feet, as expected, but the second must have been moved into make room somewhere else in the castle.

When Zahn arrives, Clover is awake and sitting up in bed. On the table next to her is a bucket of hot soapy water, as she gives herself a bath with a damp rag. "Zahn!" she cries, perking up (in various ways). The bandages are off of her head so she can wash it, and there's a fine layer of blond fuzz poking up through the white fur.

Zahnrad waves from the doorway. "I just came to drop off your exercise machine and see how you were doing. I can set this inside and come back later if you're too busy?" Zahnrad says as he shifts the bundle in his arms.

"No, come in!" Clover calls, waving Zahn over. "I need help with my backside. And you have to show me how the machine works too."

"I've seen a lot of Lapi backside today," Zahnrad comments as he enters and carries the device over. He sets it near the end of the bed. "Well, Parsley's, anyway."

"What's she been doing behind my back with you?" Clover demands, sounding a bit jealous.

"Oh, it wasn't anything major!" Zahnrad claims, "Amelia and I finally… so Clover joined us, and … " He clamps his hands over his mouth.

"Oh ho!" Clover says, grinning now and beckoning Zahn closer. "Did you enjoy it?"

"Well … yeeeaah," Zahnrad says through his hands as he scoots a bit closer, looking worried.

"Then why do you look so… worried?" Clover asks, leaning over and offering Zahn the washrag.

"I always look worried," Zahn claims as he takes the washrag and stares at it for a moment. Then without being asked he dips it in the water and starts rubbing Clover down gently. "You might come up with even more creative, ah, things to try than Parsley did, for example," he babbles.

"Oh, we know all the same stuff!" Clover promises, then lowers her eyes and reaches out to scritch Zahn under his chin. "But it's just you and me now, no third wheel… "

"But with two Eeee in the castle with good hearing," Zahnrad points out and grins. With her head lowered, Zahn takes his chance at washing Clover's ears.

The Lapi mutters happily as her ears are washed, and moves to sit in Zahn's lap (getting his pants slightly damp in the process). "Oh, I have to listen to them all of the time, so it's only fair," she notes. "And when I get out of here, we can all four get together and… ooo, yeah, rub in that spot some more."

Zahnrad turns Clover around in his lap so her back is pressed against his chest. Once positioned, he resumes is focus on cleaning her ears out carefully. "Who would have thought Parsley's lessons on bathing would come in so handy!" he thinks.

Clover can't help but… wiggle. "Soooo, you came over because you were saving the best for last, hmm?" she asks teasingly.

"Well … I wanted to at least know what I was doing with some practice first! I've heard rumors you were rather, ah, demanding," Zahnrad teases right back in an attempt to avoid actually answering her question. "And it's really hard to bathe you while you, ah, wiggle. It's distracting!"

"Oh, we'd both need a bath afterwards anyway," Clover says. "Or… well, how does the exercise machine work?"

"But, if I show you how to use that now… you won't want to do other stuff before I go," Zahnrad teases as he tickles Clover's nose with the tip of the rag.

"Of course I will," Clover notes. "I just want to see if it can be added to the fun!"

Zahnrad really tries to not laugh at that, but fails. "It's mainly to help you build up leg strength and stamina again," he explains when he recovers. "It's set up so you can sit in a chair, use it, and read at the same time. So … you'll have to go sit in a chair."

Clover hmms, and reluctantly leaves Zahn's lap. "Wait," she says, "Couldn't I do it while lying down too?"

Zahn thinks about it for a moment. "Probably," he says.

"So I could do it while sitting in your lap, if you were lying down?" Clover prompts, picking up the device and spinning the pedals with her hands.

"Not easily," Zahnrad answers after a bit of thought. Apparently, he actually was working out the physics of how that would be possible!

"Hmm. You need to make one that allows that!" Clover notes.

"Er, why?" Zahnrad asks.

"It'll be fun!" Clover claims, setting the pedal exerciser aside and climbing back onto the bed. "Think of all the other sorts of things you could invent for two people to use… together… "

Zahnrad rubs his forehead, thinking a bit more. "Actually, maybe it would work okay," he decides after some more thought and using his hands as virtual people to figure out positions. "Or even with both laying down if you faced this way and I faced the other. Parsley said that position was really fun and … " The Kadie stops there and then blinks a few times. "I think my brain just broke."

"That's okay!" Clover claims, hugging Zahn from behind. "I don't want you for your brains."

"But it's my best part!" Zahnrad claims and points at the exercise device. "See, it even has an adjustable tensioner that lets you increase the difficulty of pedaling it!"

"Show me how?" Clover asks, and lies back on the bed.

Zahnrad scoots to the edge of the bed. He reaches over and grabs a hold of the device with his prehensile toes and beings it back to where it's near his feet. "The rubber pads go on the floor, they keep it from slipping," he explains and slips his feet into the pedal straps. "Then you just push down and pedal on it until your legs get sore. When it gets too easy, you just turn this knob here… " he says and leans over, tapping the aforementioned knob. "And it'll tighten the belt on the pedal wheel, which makes it harder to pedal… "

"Oh!" Clover says, watching Zahn pedal. "I see how it works now!" she says, and hops back into Zahn's lap. "Pedal faster!"

Zahnrad … pedals faster, which has the effect of making Clover bounce a lot. "Now, I thought of a second device you might want. It's a spring-loaded set of boards you put between your legs and squeeze. It'll strengthen your thighs and stuff," the Kadie explains.

"Like this?" Clover asks, and promptly wraps her thighs around Zahn and tries to squeeze him. "Ow… I guess I really am out of tone, compared to Parsley… "

Zahnrad oofs! "Like that … yeah," the Kadie agrees when he can breathe again. He stops pedaling and taps the Lapi's nose tip. "You need to quit comparing yourself to Parsley, you know," he says.

"We're twins," Clover says. "I don't want you to like her better just because I don't have the same stamina right now… "

"Who said I liked her better?" Zahnrad asks, grinning. "I get to build stuff for you! That's fun too," he points out.

"But I'm all raggedy," Clover complains. "Skinny and bald! Amy and Parsley are meaty compared to me!"

Zahnrad rubs his eyelids. He taps her nose a few more times, then hooks his hand around her neck and kisses Clover. "You're pretty to me," he tells her when he finally lets go and then runs his hand over her fuzzy scalp. "So … stop beating yourself up! You'll be back to looking like Parsley in no time and you two will be back as the terrible two, seducing the town!"

"You're just saying that," Clover says, grinning. "You really think I'm still soft and fluffy?"

Zahnrad leans over and looks at the door. "Does the door lock?" he asks Clover.

"Well… yes, but… this is a castle. There are always secret passages and spy holes," Clover notes.

"Then when the door is locked … if anyone spies, we'll just have to make the show good," Zahnrad says with a shrug and a grin. "That's how all those weird books get written, isn't it?"

"You think so?" Clover asks. "And I can be really quiet too… "

"Must be how they get written. They always read like someone was watching," Zahnrad rationalizes as he rubs his chin. The Kadie then leans back a bit and supports his weight with his hands. "Are you sure you're up for, well, the Lapi pastime?" he asks.

"I've been cooped up in here forever it seems," Clover says, lying across Zahn's chest now. "And I only feel good when you're close by. Otherwise I hear… things… in my head."

Zahnrad blinks. "Hear things? Like what?" Zahn asks a bit worriedly.

"Singing," Clover says quietly. "It's hard to describe."

"What does it sound like, roughly?" Zahn asks next.

"I can't really remember, which is odd," Clover says, nuzzling at Zahn's throat. "Something about… blood. And stones."

"I wonder if we, ah, well, experiment and if I fall asleep here if I would hear it too," Zahn jokes, grinning.

"So you'll sleep with me tonight?" Clover asks, looking up over Zahn's chin.

"I can send word back to town I'm needed here for the night, if you want," Zahn offers.

The bunny throws her arms around Zahn and hugs him tight! "Thank you!" she says, nearly crying.

Zahnrad oofs again! "You will let me sleep, right?" Zahn asks, just to be sure.

"I don't have Parsley's energy right now," Clover admits. "Or Amy's. I'm surprised you're awake at all."

"Well, I did take a four hour nap before coming over," Zahn says, grinning. "They wore me out!"

"Well, the first time is special," Clover notes. "You shouldn't expect that every time though. They might not let you take naps."

Zahnrad laughs, thinking Clover must be joking. "Let me go lock the door and then I'll finish bathing you. I'll even try out some of the things Parsley tried on me," he says. "I'll chase those singing voices away yet!"