1.37 – Vibration

No content warning needed, probably

Maple sat on the bed and flipped through all the drawings, once more. Full body. Bent over, focused on her cleavage. Bent over, focused on her ass. Weird pose. Wet spot. Wet spot II: even wetter.

She couldn't. Every mental simulation abruptly ended with her face on fire. How could she sell these? The idea had been a terrible one, and she shouldn't have acted on it to begin with. But Bailey deserved compensation for the materials, if not also his time.

"Are you sure you don't mind if I sell these?"

Emma had been watching for the past 20 minutes and gave her such a pointed look in response. As if she didn't know her better than that by now. She stared and brought her blue face just inches from Maple's.

"Okay, jeez. Of course you wouldn't mind. I just don't know if I can do this."

Emma nodded, tapping her forehead to Maple's. Correct. She was her usual bubbly self, but turned serious.

You know you don't have to?

"Yeah, I know. It's just..."

Why did she want to? Because it would be an easy income if it worked? Finding a job hadn't worked out, and this wouldn't be a job, but her own personal endeavor. Her own business. One that would mesh with the classes she already had. The idea had synergy. It was agile. She just needed to drill down into the pain point here, and...

If she kept trying for long enough, she probably could find a normal job. She knew that. This wasn't her only option, or anything. It was just one option. So then, why?

"I don't know, it might be fun. Right?"

Emma nodded. She understood, and would support Maple in this. She barely held back her smirk while she wrote.

You know what they'll use those pictures for, right?

"Aahh, stop. I don't wanna think about that."

Emma silently laughed and kissed her Human's red face. Always so bashful and easy to tease. She was helping, though. Really.

You'd have to get used to that.

"Yeah...I mean, I know that. I think I could, maybe."

Being attractive enough for it to work would be nice. Not that she thought she was particularly unattractive. It'd be validation, was all. But validation at the expense of strangers touching—

She cut the thought off and fell onto her back, covering her face with her arms. That wasn't something she wanted to imagine. Yet she had to admit, even that wasn't entirely unappealing. Emma patted her a couple times and then lay on top of her, purring. There, there, my silly Human.

"I don't know what to do. That tickles."

Emma increased her vibration. The sound was a mix between shaking jello, and a purr. Maple laughed and tried to roll away, but Emma was heavy when she wanted to be. There had to be at least 20 gallons of slime, and she often diluted herself further with water.

Maple couldn't move with Emma pressing down on her and...vibrating. She was laughing, but it was starting to feel good. Emma noticed and vibrated even harder. The sound got also grew louder.

"Haha, stop that, silly. We have to leave soon—mmh."

She relented a little, and the vibrations became more like a purr again. How interesting. If she could do that...

"No really, wait. Wait. Jeez."

She stopped completely and Maple caught her breath. Emma waited.

"Pervert. But have you ever tried speaking using that? It might work, if you can vibrate just your throat enough. That's all speech is, you know?"

Emma shook her head, she didn't know, and tried it. Her throat wobbled and sploshed, but the sound was nothing close to a hum.

"So, all sound is just vibration, if you didn't know that. The vibrations just travel through the air. And talking works by the vocal cords vibrating. Um, feel?"

Maple hummed and put Emma's hand on her throat. Her arm melted and wrapped around it for a better feel. The pressure was gentle, not constricting. Though she wouldn't have minded if Emma did squeeze, a little.

"See how when I talk it vibrates? Maybe if you do similar and also like harden the area? I don't know if it needs air somehow too, or not."

Emma nodded in understanding, and Maple watched the vibrations shrink to a tighter area in her throat. The waves still leaked into the rest of her, but the sound was—

There actually was a faint humming sound now. She changed how she was doing it, and it went away or become louder. The pitch was on the low end.

"That seems close? I guess you don't have like, organs?"

Difficult. No organs. Would help if I knew what the thing looked like.

"Yeah? You wanna see mine? Aaaah—ahah wait, I was kiddfngh—"

Too late. A tongue entered to investigate the existence of this mysterious speech organ. Emma tried humming again, and her vibrating tongue created an erotic tickling sensation.

Or was that only because of her current mood?

Speech wasn't going well, but it sure felt nice. What else might her ability be used for? Maple imagined it, and then realized she was getting dangerously derailed. She cleared her throat.

"Alright, let's go?"

Emma nodded. Yeah, let's go! She made a groping motion with her hands. Maple laughed and got up.

"Not like that."

Emma attempted to hum throughout breakfast. It was cute—to exactly one person. To everyone else the noise ranged from annoying to disgusting. Sasha finally asked.

"What are you doing?"

Speaking.

"Okay..."

Sasha gave her a flat look, and the Slime didn't elaborate. Maple proudly rubbed her head.

"Oh, leave her alone. My little blueberry jam is about to say her first word. Do you think it'll be 'Maple'?"

Emma rolled her eyes and sucked in another breakfast potato.

I'm not even close.

"Can you not bother the other guests while doing it? I've had 3 complaints now."

This fact surprised Emma, and she glared around the room. It was a glare they'd feel, [Detect Gaze] or no. Who? I know where you live, or temporarily reside. She did stop, though.

"Don't worry about it that much, actually. Just be mindful, I guess. You think you'll really be able to talk?"

Doubtful. I don't understand.

"Aw, you were doing good. I hope you don't feel pressured from me, though. It's fine if you can't or don't want to. It just came to mind because you were vibrating so hard."

Maple smiled at the idea of Emma being able to communicate more. Maybe if her Skill upgraded or something?

"Vibrating, huh?"

She realized how that might sound, and avoided the look Sasha gave them. The Succubus continued after a moment.

"Well, I can't say I know it's possible, but I've never heard being mute mentioned when Slime people have come up in stories. There's a famous one, which might be more of a legend, about a Slime [Innkeeper]. They were a Beer Slime. Or Booze Slime, or ten other things; the terminology always differs. But it was said to be a very popular inn with cheap drinks served right from the owner's body. And thanks to their Skills, the drinks were always ice cold and tasted better than you'd find anywhere else."

Emma listened intently, and Sasha looked nervous as she realized something.

And then what happened?

"Sorry, I just remembered it's not a happy story. The [King] or [Lord], again it varies, came by one day. And through his insatiable greed, ate the [Innkeeper] whole. After that, it's said the entire town revolted and then fell to ruin."

Emma's lips slanted and she frowned. Maple took a drink of orange juice, her eyes checking how Emma took the story.

Typical.

"That's, uh, a story alright. You don't know about any other famous Slimes?"

"Not offhand, sorry. My point was, being mute wasn't mentioned, so maybe they could talk. They did own an inn, after all. Assuming it's not just legend."

Emma shrugged, not looking very empowered by the story. For some reason. Sasha eyed the stack of papers next to Maple.

"You haven't chickened out yet?"

"Nope. I have to try it."

Sasha gave her a doubtful look and placed a hand on her hip.

"You know there's going to be a lot of sex there today, right? Don't say I didn't warn you this time."

"Y-yeah, I know. I don't have to do any of that, though. I could even just sell milk like normal and not participate at all, right?"

"I guess? I never worked there, I just know second-hand. And SuQ Corp isn't very good. Don't sign anything from them without reading it over twice. I wouldn't be surprised if they hire an [Artist] for their other girls, if your idea works."

Maple frowned. That was a new reason to be hesitant.

"They would do that?"

"Oh sure. They chase profit anywhere they can find, and run everyone else out of the market in the process. Anyway, looootta sex there today. I warned you. Good luck, I'm gonna get back to work."

Maple nodded thanks, and Emma waved her off. She felt even more apprehensive now, but the ball was already rolling. She wanted to see it through. If it went poorly, she would go back to finding a normal job. Or come up with something else.