"And then there was this thing with a thousand legs but little egg-shaped body and a few arms and a head with a very pointed chin and it chased me, but it got scared off by a big bumbling Vartan woman so I ran up a tree," Reeka describes her latest adventure in the woods.
"The woman's Vasha, one of the other mes. You can think of them like my siblings, but they were created from me," Tasha explains. She then considers, for a moment, the matter of Vasha. This is Vasha first party, and her first victory. Should she really be leaving that party? What message will this send to Vasha, and will they both regret it, down the line? It could lead to resentment, or worse, a split and resentment. Vasha already seems to like challenging her, if Vasha thinks she doesn't care and doesn't approve of her, it could be much worse. She knows herself, after all, and Vasha is some of the strongest and weakest parts of her.
And so Tasha decides she can't leave things as they are. "Reeka, I could use your help with something before we return. keep a look out for.. " And so Tasha describes various vines, flowers, soft woods, and more. She then goes on to describe how to make flower crowns, although she does this herself and lets Reeka watch. Roughly identical flowers-and-vines crowns are made for Sasha and Sharon, Vasha gets a more intimidating soft wood and thorny (outward) vine and rose-like flower crown, and the last one is the longest to make and most complex, a tiara-like flower crown made of soft wood and intertwined flowers, for Whisper.
"It's been a long time since I made these," Tasha admits.
"I never knew you could do stuff like this with plant nonnies," Reeka says, biting through a vine. "Never seen so many sorts.. or forget. Titanians aren't big on plant nonnies."
"It surprises me, too, how much you can do with any little thing, in this reality or any other. Unless that reality doesn't let you, of course." Tasha stacks up the crown for easy carrying, having just finished Whisper's, by far the most complex. "There, we should hurry back. Why don't you wear that one, to celebrate your first fairy world adventure?"
"On my head?" the Kavi asks, to be certain. She tries to get it to stay put while also at a rakish angle. "Princess Reeka, Ruler of the Scary Woods!" she declares.
Tasha laughs at that. "You better be careful, Princess Whisper might consider that a challenge!" And then she tries to tickle Reeka because she suddenly has the urge to find out of Kavis are ticklish.
They are ticklish, and when they squirm it is hilarious. It looks like a hose hooked up to a pressure tank flailing around, just with teeth at the flailing end.
Tasha decides this is great fun and wastes far more time on it than she expected to. By the end of it she's a bit chewed up, but also carrying Reeka. She's just glad she had the presence of mind to put the crowns aside before Reeka really got bitey. "Cooome on, lets get back before there's no food or people left to celebrate with." Holding Reeka is a lot like holding a giant limp noodle, so she carries the crowns on her free hand like a set of bracelets.
"New people!" Reeka chirps while hanging over Tasha's shoulder. "With cool shiny stuff to.. keep safe."
"Ha, steal from dragons at your own risk! I will tell them you're not to be eaten, at least." And so Tasha spreads her wings and, slower than she had been flying but faster than walking by far, she heads back to the party.
There aren't any fireworks, but plenty of lights, along with the glow of the roasting pit. Apparently bandersnatch is cooked in layers due to their size. "Whoa, lizards with clothes!" Reeka declares on seeing the half-dragons and Kobolds. "So do you have sex with your other selves?" she then asks.
"Uh, we haven't yet, nooo," goes Tasha, who hopes no one heard that question, especially not Sasha, Sharon and Vasha. "The 'lizards with clothes' are kobolds, which are like dragon-people. The three big dragon-people are actually dragons in an alternate form. The big thing on the spit was caught by Vasha -- the bumbling Vartan woman -- so be sure to thank her for the food!"
"Seems like a waste!" Reeka claims. "I'd be at it all the time! Which one is Sasha?"
"Well, we'll see." Tasha makes no promises; she has no idea how the future would will go with her otehr selves, afetr all. And for all she knows they're wondering the same thing; they probably are, given they're her. "Sasha's that one," she points. They're still approaching so she's not sure Reeka can even see him as well as she can, "The Karnor man with the fluffy tail." Fluffy everything, if she were being honest. Sasha's almost as cute as Sharon is, and certainly more fluffy.
There's music now. It isn't much, just one of the greater Kobolds with a lute. Nobody is dancing or anything though. Food is the predominant focus still.
"Alright, why don't you go and get some food? I'm sure you're starving after being lost in the woods for.." Tasha doesn't actually know; like Batty Reeka could be anywhere at any time and in any state of danger, the problem that comes with going unnoticed and hidden all the time. "Well, a while. I'll hand out these crowns."
Reeka bounds off and vanishes under a table. "There you are!" Vasha calls to Tasha. "They brought a keg of 'ale' w' them! Drinking contest time!"
Tasha makes a split second decision. "YES IT IS, COME HERE." Tasha walks over, motions for Vasha to lower her head, and then removes one crown from the tangle. "I made this for you in honor of your achievement, don't think I'm not proud of you. Wear it with pride, in happiness." She then tries to put Vasha's crown on Vasha's head.
"Has it got shine on me?" the Vartan asks, striking poses.
"It's as shiny as the wood, flowers, and vines I found could be," Tasha assures Vasha, then she reaches up and fuzzes up her cheeks. "I'm sorry I was grumpy. I had been discussing something that put me in a dark mood, but I'm over it now."
"You think too much," Vasha claims. "You gonna turn into Aaron if you keep dat up!" She reaches over returns the cheek-fluffing.
Tasha doesn't mind her cheeks getting fluffed, it makes her tail wag. "Well one of us has to, do you want the thinking job? I don't recommend it!"
"Pff, let Sharon or Sasha do that," Vasha suggests. "Sharon only good for thinkin', since her head won't overheat. Sasha can do the worrying!"
"Aww, but they have enough problems. Lets leave them to sort themselves out for a little while. They have it harder than you and I do," Tasha insists. She lets her hands fall, then holds up her arm full of wrist-crowns. "I need to hand these out to the other successfuls, then I'll come join you for the drinking party."
"If you too slow, we start w'out you!" Vasha claims.
"I know how drinking games worrrk!" Tasha flails her free hand in a hand dimissive waggle at Vasha, then she hurries along. Since she just took care of Vasha, who she was going to save for last, she looks for Sharon, Whisper, and Sasha, which she expects will be quick.
And then because drinking is involved, she keeps an eye out for Hakeber too. And then she has an idea: She tries to spot Katherine as well Katherine Vesuvius deserves to be dragged in to her simple pleasures and games, it could help her mellow out more, and relate.
Whisper is next to the Bard, and sort of spinning around. Sharon looks fretful, like she's worried the girl with fall over from making herself dizzy.
And so Tasha sneaks up on Sharon and plops the crown on her head. "Hello Sharon!" Tasha drops down to sit beside her, putting an arm around her shoulders while the Human recovers from the surprise. "In honor of your big achievement, a crown of flowers. I'm proud of you."
"Augh!" the human startles at first, probably thinking a monstrous bug has landed on her. "Oh, Tasha! Yes me.. uh.. what big achievement is this?" she asks, while feeling the crown with her fingers in surprise. Humans really like feeling things with their fingers.
Tasha remembers feeling things with those fingers. She reaches up and helps Sharon adjust her crown. "It's a flower crown, it smells nice and it looks pretty. We made them when I was little. It seemed like the right thing for a celebration like this. And your achievement back in the battle, and your struggles, and that you're here. It's my way of telling you I'm proud of you and glad you're here." And then she gets a hug, followed by an affectionate fox-nuzzle, an endearing move she learned from the kitsune priestess.
"Oh! You're really soft," Sharon responds, hugging back and running her fingers through Tasha's fringe. "I need more hugs."
If that's the case, Tasha decides to just flop her upper torso in Sharon's lap and hug her legs. "Sasha called me soft, but as you can see, it's not such a bad thing. And you should ask! Or hug me. Or hug Sasha. You can hug him all day and he won't complain. Or Hakeber, she loves appreciation. Have you seen Hake, Katie, or Sasha? Oh, and Whisper gets a crown -- unless you want to give it to her? I'm not sure she likes me."
"She's brand new, you have to let her get to know you," Sharon says. "Sasha, Hakeber and Katie were together last I saw. Eating." She pets Tasha's head.
Tasha's tail wags, then it pats Sharon's hand. "Part of me wants to just stay here and get petted, but I promised Vasha I'd join the drinking contest and I need to deliver these crowns." And so she sits up, stretches, and stands. "Here I go, hopefully I don't get turned in to a dog or something." She removes Whisper's crown and heads over.
Whisper does hear her name (those pointy ears aren't just for show) despite being next to the Bard. So she's right there when Tasha turns towards her, looking at her with big golden eyes.
Tasha is momentarily taken aback, but she recovers quickly. Being suddenly confronted my supernatural beings is her every day. "HI WHISPER. Every princess should have a crown, so I made one for you." She lowers herself down a bit, then awkwardly knees -- which is hard for a jack-legged being to do, and uncomfortable -- and slides Whisper's crown off her wrist. "I'd like to put this on your head in honor of you joining us. Consider it your warm coronation. I want you to know we're happy you're here. Welcome." And then she tries to put it on the girl's head.
It fits easily, since her head isn't flat or elongated. The roses certainly add color. And the vines.. seems to grow and entwine further. The girl then leans forward and sniffs Tasha like an animal. "Tasha," Whisper says softly. "I like your smell. It is honest."
"That might be Reeka, but I don't doubt you, and Reeka is rarely honest." Tasha lowers herself to sit so she's a little shorter than Whisper, then she decides to try sniffing Whisper back. "You can pet me if you want. Sharon says I'm soft."
Whisper.. grabs Tasha's ears first and feels them, then pets her. "You've got wolves inside, don't you?" she asks. "The Big Bad Wolf!"
Tasha lets Whisper manhandle her, deciding chastisement isn't the right way, and she's been manhandled by larger people with far more self control -- such as the big bad wolf. "Well I'm a lot of things, but yes! The Big Bad Wolf."
But something catches Tasha, she rethinks what Whisper said. "Inside.. You mean me? I'm made of wolf?"
"The Big Bad Wolf is hiding in your head," Whisper says. She's been smiling the whole time, despite sounding a bit serious. "The End Wolf? Is that the right name? I can see things like that in people. Because of Samael."
Tasha lets out a huge internal breath, she had suspected Whisper meant she was pregnant. Aside from all the other changes that would mean, it'd have also ruined her drinking party membership. "Oh! Yes. The End Wolf. The sad me, that broke off when I was soul-hurt. And the bird, an.. old friend who died." She then raises her brows. "Samael showed you how to look within?"
"I think so, yes," Whisper says. "It's important to know these things," she claims, as if imparting a secret. "Not many have things like that inside."
"I agree. I too can look inside, but not as well as you can. I simply see colors, through my third eye." She touches her forehead. Then something else occurs to Tasha. "Do you want a hug?"
"I want to dance!" Whisper says. "Hug after! Show me how to dance! Dancing is important."
Tasha's ears cant back. "I've been told I'm a bad dancer and I step on people's toes, but I can try. Just watch your toes!" Tasha reaches out to take Whisper's hands. "Depending on the type of dancing, you can have some who leads and someone who follows, dance alone, or both dancers dance independently. Lets go over here. Once you understand, you should dance with Sharon! Oh and give her a hug if she looks sad."
"Dancing is about magic," Whisper claims. "Tia says everything is a song, but if you can't sing you dance." She holds onto Tasha's hands and pulls back as far she she can. Then looks expectantly at her.
Tasha is, by far, one of the least qualified dance teachers here, but she does her best. She extends her wings for balance and begins swaying back and forth, then up and down with shoulder motions, feet moving. It's a style Gabriel showed her, something from Earth and popular with the more liberal fringe of Abaddon.
The Bard helps by altering his rhythm to match. Whisper rocks her shoulders and laughs.
It's a very energetic but simple dance. Tasha had meant to use it when she and Katherine got to the dance floor, but that never happened because life got complicated. Her tail does wag too, but that's a very Karnor variation to the dance. "Having fun?"
"Yes!" Whisper laughs. There are little lights that go off when her bare feet hit the ground.
Tasha can match that. She disrupts her dance pattern enough to clack her hooves against small pebbles, which create sparks, and then her hooves are on fire. They leave sparks and little marks wheer she steps. She then mixes it up and begins two dance in to a circle with Whisper, so their lights become motion, and her's leave patterns.
"See!" Whisper declares. "Feel it? Magic!"
Tasha laughs at that. "I guess so!" She tries to spin Whisper, which is a move she doesn't have a lot of practice with, but she thinks Whisper can handle it. The girl is far more than just a Human girl with long ears and funny eyes.
She certainly is light and sure on her feet, and has no trouble keeping up with Tasha's lead. Her long hair fans out and sometimes the white of the strands breaks into all the other colors, as if some can't keep up and lag behind. Her laugh echoes through the air as well, but nobody else seems to really notice. The dragons aren't anywhere near, nor Tia, Samael or Kai. Just the Bard.
Tasha suspects this girl may outstrip her quickly indeed, and grow in knowledge and wisdom far faster than she grows in size. However she may grow, she's glad she had the opportunity to spend some time with her. She'd keep dancing, but Sasha needs his crown -- and more importantly to not be left out -- and Vasha is expecting her.
And so Tasha dances towards Sharon, then looses a hand to try and rope her in. "Come on Sharon, you're lighter on your feet than I am and you know this dance, too!"
"I really wish I'd gotten a primer on Human stuff!" Sharon notes as she's swept into it, but she does have an easier time keeping up with the elf.
And so Tasha keeps the dance going for a while until feels she better go or Vasha will fly in and yell at her, and that could cause inadvertent problems. She connects Sharon's hand to Whisper's, then steps back with a bow. "Have fun you two! And Whisper, remember, I'm one of your guardians! Call on me if you ever feel in danger or need to talk about something important!"
"You're my Big Bad Wolf!" Whisper calls to Tasha.
According to Sharon, the three Karnors were off together eating. So maybe they're closer to (and maybe hidden by) the roasting pit.
"Haha, yes I am! Woof woof!" Tasha wags her tail, then tries to howl and forgets she actually can't howl because she's not that kind of wolf, so she roar-barks instead. It's a surprisingly bassy lion-roar mixed with a canine woof.
From the outside, there aren't any magical colors in Whisper and Sharon's dancing. Maybe you need to be the actual dance partner to see them.
Tasha decides she will remember that and hopes Whisper and Sharon can become friends, and she's glad that she and Whisper seem to be becoming friends, too. It's a huge load off her mind and she resolves to spend more time with the girl when she doesn't have prior obligations. And maybe she'll bring her things from her travels, perhaps she'll like art?
Next off is finding Sasha, Hakeber, and Katherine, who are supposed to be together. She heads as Sharon directed, having only one crown left which is a little worse for wear with all the dancing and hugs, so she makes an effort to fix it as she looks around.
On the other side of the bandersnatch are the three Karnors, with Sasha definitely looking out of place compared to Hakeber and Katherine. They're sitting on the ground in a circle, with a platter of meat at the center.
Tasha arcs around to come in and sit beside Sasha. She leans in to peer at him until he's done chewing, then plops the crown on his head and gives him a nuzzle in the same ways he gave Sharon one. "I made you a crown to show how proud of you I am and to celebrate your victory and that you are here. I'm glad you're here, Sasha."
The Karnor's tail wags but his ears blush. "I just followed Kai," he says, embarrassed. "It was a lot of fun though to fly again, even if just for a little while."
"It's still scary and you could have stayed back or opted not to fight like Lacci did. So I'm still proud of you. Maybe we can get you some wings, some day." And then he gets a big hug before getting leaned against. Hakeber and Katie get a finger wave. "I have plans for you two, too!"
"Plans?" Katie asks. "Do we get flower hats too? Those would be atrociously expensive back on Abbadon."
"No hats for you, they're for Sasha, Sharon, Vasha and Whisper to honor their hard work and their joining us. You two have been around since the beginning and I expect you to work hard!" Tasha then headbutt-nuzzles Sasha's arm before she breaks off and scoots over to the two women. "For you two.. a drinking contest!"
"Uh.. so should I be the judge?" Hakeber asks. "I've downed entire bottles of wine before," Katie brags. "What're we drinking?"
"No, you're all in. And I am, too! We're drinking whatever Vasha pulled with the others. Maybe some dragon-wines? Who knows! Anyone who wants to join can, but I want to drag you, Katie, especially in to this because we've never had a chance to explore my old way of living." Tasha scoots over more and sits between the women. "Let me know when you're ready to go, or else Vasha will storm over here and glare at me."
"Wow, are you sure you can handle it now that you're.. petite?" Hakeber ribs Tasha.
"Dragons probably have good taste in booze, so I'll join in," Katie says.
"Huh, technically.. I've never been drunk," Sasha notes.
"I'll probably get destroyed, but that's the fun and probably what Vasha is hoping for, so she can beat me at something," Tasha explains, tail wagging. "I won't know unless I try, and is that an interest I hear from Sasha?"
"I've eaten enough that I don't think the alcohol will hit too hard," Sasha claims. That probably goes for Hakeber and Katie too: Tasha is the only one who hasn't been gorging on meat.
"I better grab a slice or two before I head over. Oh! I can try my new fire-based cooking, I can cook anything I can touch!" Tasha wiggles her fingers, then grabs a plate and begins cutting. Once slice is placed in her palm, then she stares at it intently, rubbing her thumb across the top until it starts sizzling and to all outward appearance appears to be cooking on its own. "Ah-ha-ha-ha! I hope I'm doing this right. I can feel its structure and heat but I think I'll need more practice if I wnat to do more than cook the whole thing or the surface."
"What's wrong with rare?" Hakeber asks. "Maybe you should start with thinner strips to practice with, just in case. You wouldn't want to ruin a good steak after all."
"I will eat it no matter how badly I cook it." Tasha shakes out the slice to cool it down a bit, then pops it in her mouth. She chews, consigns, and swallows. "Not bad, I'll work on it more when I have more time. Lets all head over to Vasha. She said she won't wait but she'll wait a little." She scoops up her plate and begins heading off, waiting for the others to join her.
There is quite the group now at the table that's been set out for the contest. The barrel of ale is so large it's on its own wheeled cart, and mugs are also large. Gabriel is also joining in, and Aaron stands nearby in case anyone gets sick. Shojo is nearby as well, because Lacci is joining in (Shojo doesn't dare get drunk, given his condition).
Tasha drops down on her seat and gives Gabriel a thumbs up. She then sets her plate down and waves Aaron over so she can whisper to him. Everyone else gets a smile and a wave, and Vasha gets a, "I'm here, like I promised!"
The bunny comes over and makes a show of leaning in so Tasha can whisper to him.
"Unicorn horn's back in the base if anyone looks like they're about to die or something. Just pick it up and bonk them and they should recover from being drunk. If you see anyone hiding it, they're cheating and we get to jump them." The rest of the table gets a big thumbs up as she whispers all this.
"You're sure it's genuine and not some weird sex toy?" the Lapi whispers back. "I'm also here to arm-wrestle Vasha later."
"It held a.. Well it held an immortal for ages, it is real. And good luck." Tasha leans away, then smiles at everyone, tale wagging. She doesn't expect to win but she's not here for that -- not that she won't try to win.
The first course of ales are passed out to the contestants, overseen by one of the actual half-dragons (the real dragons and Tia being elsewhere). "Kobold ale, brewed from the fermented honey of the Dragon Bee," he announces. "Drink!"
"I want to see this Dragon Bee," Tasha declares, then she throws back her mug and has at it. She may be smaller and more petite now, but she's quality DNA, and she remembers how to drink. She also wonders if she'll get so drunk she may accidentally set the alcohol on fire, but decides it's too late to stop now.
The ale is more like a mead, and open flame would definitely by a bad idea around it. Anyone who drinks could breathe fire! And it burns going down as well.
"Dear god in heaven," Katie says, her eyes being squeezed shut. Sasha and Lacci both sit with their mouths open afterwards to air them out. Only Gabriel and Hakeber seem unaffected.
Tasha has had worse. Most of what she drank early in life was, in fact, worse. Bottom quality watered down, or suspiciously dangerous, slightly expired, and worse. She didn't drink anything most would consider good until recently. As such she, too, is unaffected. "Mmm, that real burn-feel." She also feels if anyone should appreciate burning it's her now that she's much more elementally aligned.
The second round is poured and passed around. "Drink!" the ale master commands once more. Half-dragons can have very booming voices.
Tasha responds to the order by roar-barking in confirmation. "If I die, bury me with all my women," she then declares and has a drink.
The second one doesn't burn as much, but carries a bigger punch, since the first round is hitting the brain at the same time. It causes Tasha to immediately loose the ability to focus her eyes clearly.
"Haha, woof." Tasha waves a hand in front of her face. "Ahh, memories.. " She regrets she can't see other people also getting drunk, but that's how these things go.
There is a very loud belch across from her, but she can't tell if it's from Sasha or Katie. It does make her whiskers want to curl up though once it hits her. A third round is poured. "Drink!" commands the taskmaster.
Tasha is on to such tricks; belching is one way to get other contestants to vomit and she's having none of it. She grew up on a ship filled with poop, overworked Vartans, hay, and worse! Her mother owns a dive! She may be weaker in body but she's stronger in spirit. She has another drink and it's her turn to belch, except she makes it loud and obnoxious, and a bit gross. Being small, it's also higher pitched, which surprises her a little.
It also leaves her light-headed afterward. And taking a deep breath makes her lungs feel fuzzy. She feels her wings droop to the ground now, as they are unreasonably heavy.
Tasha decides to persevere until the end. She didn't expect to win but she's not going to just give up either! She mantles her wings and scoots in a bit for more support from the table. "Mooooore."
There's another round and she manages to get hold of the mug with both hands this time. The command to drink is given, or at least there's a shout of some kind. Tasha is good at responding to shouts. But there isn't much that she remembers past that point. She dreams of being in a forest of white trees, which is somehow terrifying, and then there is The Hangover that drags her back to consciousness.
"Nooot the treeeeees," slurs Tasha as she comes in to wakefulness, on her side or maybe on her belly. Or in a heap. She's not really sure, just as long as she's not next to a white tree. It's all very familiar otherwise, if somewhat distant in memory as she hasn't gotten truly drunk in a while.
She's not alone, as someone is snoring right next to her (possibly Vasha). She's also on top of someone, she feels.
Tasha tries to push herself up, but she ends up slipping and holding herself up entirely by her snout, which is not comfortable in the least. "Owww my nohse." Some fumbling and she's rollover over enough, then she cracks open an eye.
"Ugggh.. no more furry goblin.." the figure beneath moans, sounding like Sasha. Tasha thinks she's in her own bed. Or at least in the bedroom itself. She could be on the floor for all she knows.
For a moment that's all the energy she has, so she just lays there with an eye cracked open, her cheek smushed, her wings at an uncomfortable angle and one arm awkwardly mashed beneath her. "Did we win." It's said so flatly she can't even manage to make it sound like a question.
"I did!" Reeka announces way too squeakily. "Or do you mean your drinking contest?"
Tasha's ears wilt. "Not so louuud Reeka. The contest." She wiggles her arm until it's free and flops that on Sasha's belly, then tries to untangle her wings. "Is Pershepony mad at me."
"Which one is that?" Reeka asks. "Gabriel won the drinking contest. But that's not important! I got with both bunnies, and almost Sasha but he was just too wasted. I tried though!"
"Haha.. furry goblin," Tasha fumbles to try and find Reeka's muzzle and rub it. "How did the other do? In the contest. Not sleeping with.. whoever."
"I felt up the other girl wolves after they passed out," Reeka claims. "And the smaller Vartan girl. Nobody barfed or broke into song or cried though.. so, pretty boring."
"Did I beat anyone?" Tasha gives Reeka a little shake of the muzzle too. "No touching without asking. Be nice."
"Nope," Reeka claims. "Body-mass matters, y'know. You woulda beat me though, if that helps?"
"Pah," goes Tasha. "I knew it'd be bad but.. How can I be so small..?" She just drops down, really out of energy now. "They cheat by being big."
"You have the nicest smelling breath," Reeka offers. "Decent boobs."
"It's something." Tasha suspects Reeka felt her up too, but is smart enough not to say so. "Everyone have fun? Everyone still standing."
"Standing? Noooooo," Reeka says. "The dragons are all big and flying around. Lots in the rock pools that steam. Not sure where all the Humans are. Want me to find out? All the drinkers piled up here. I've hidden your clothes! The 'unicorn horn' doesn't work on hangovers though. You gotta drink a lot of water."
Tasha will just forget about her clothes for now. "I'll start with water. You don't have to find the Humans, let them have fun. Just tell me if an emergency happens." She stretches, takes a moment o gather her wits and her will, and then slowly sits up.
This involves pushing Vasha aside, and untangling her wings from under Hakeber. Even Katie and Lacci are in the pile, but no sign of Gabriel.
At least they're all suffering together, and Tasha is glad to see it. And since they're all unconscious and naked, she decides she can feel Katie and hake up, because she has permission. She giggles, it hurts, but it's fine and she up. She then rolls Vasha in to a more comfortable position and tries squeezing her boob just to see if it does anything for her. A little. It's too wierd to deal with now, so she focuses on water. "Where'sa'water."
"There's the toilet, or did you want me to bring you something?" Reeka asks. "I bet the doctor has instant cure pills or something too."
Tasha decides she better find her own water before Reeka poisons her or something. She stands up shakily, then starts walking towards the buffet. The buffet had water. And probably food.
There's certainly ice, and vegetable juice, and.. crumbs. "Aaron brought the juice," Reeka says. "And took away the food." This may be only half-true, since Reeka does have crumbs on her fur. And is also naked for some reason.
Tasha has a solution to this. She grabs handfuls of ice, stuffs them in one of the large mugs, then clicks her thumb and pointer nails together before shoving them in the now full mug. The mug starts to glow form the inside, and the ice starts to melt. As this happens she walks over and starts filling another mug with vegetable juice. Tomato juice drinks taste most like meat and blood, so she goes for them first, and then immediately drinks what she poured. "Ahh.."
"So, need anything more?" Reeka asks. "Because one of the Kobolds was eyeing me up at the feast.."
"Nooo I'm good, go have fun with the kobold." Tasha fails until she find's Reeka's head, then pets it. "I will be here for a bit. Recovering." She test her water mug, finds it sufficiently melted, then starts drinking that, too. One mug then the other, like a workout.
"If you can't find your clothes, I can be bribed to reveal their locations," Reeka says. "Otherwise I've left clues scattered around the tower." Then she bounds out of the room on all fours.
Tasha takes her mugs and also walks out, but slower, and no bounding. She doesn't care she's naked; most people here have seen her naked or will see her naked at some point in the future. She steps out in to the open air with her tomato and ice water combo, wondering how much time has passed.
It looks to be around late morning. There are dragons flying over the lake. Sharon is at the patio table, enjoying a big breakfast while wearing a dressing gown. "Good morning!" she greets cheerfully.
Tasha walks over and joins Sharon, who has not actually sen her naked so much as inherited the sight and feel of her being naked. "Hi Sharon, nice gown." She puts ehr mugs down and rubs her eyes, then leans on the table a bit and eyes the breakfast with canine longing. "I see you're OK, and I saw the sad ruins of the drinking party. How's everyone else?"
Sharon is having pancakes and sausages. She swirls a sausage in the syrup before taking a bite. "Well, Whisper went off somewhere.. I don't know if she lives in the castle now or somewhere on the base. I didn't see how you got here after the drinking contest, so I assume the Kobolds carried you. I don't think anything naughty happened. Did you know the three dragons could grow big?"
"Oh, yes, they're dragons in compact form. Gwyndrael used her compact form when we were together." Tasha sees she's not going to get offered any sausage, and so asks, "Is there more sausage available? I can only drink so much vegetable juice before Wolf shows up and revokes my predatory membership."
"Did you want me to cook you some?" Sharon asks. She's definitely not going to offer any of hers!
"You can cook?!" Tasha loots at Sharon like she's suddenly gained mystical powers, and she has mystical powers. "Yes, please. Save your originator from a sad vegetable death."
"Just sausages or pancakes too?" Sharon asks. "Don't ask for eggs, I'm not ready to try those again yet.
"Both. Please. I love you. I'd hug you but we both know that's a bad diea right now. Also you look pretty today. That's not a bribe. I just think so." Tasha's tail wags.
"I took a shower after the feast," Sharon explains, and picks up her plate before heading back inside. "Back in a jiffy! However long that is."
"Human sayings, right?" Tasha winks at the in joke, then leans back and stretches. She still naked but even sobering up that continues not to bother her. She choses the freedom of nakeness and also the freedom from scavenger hunts. And so she watches the dragons fly around. She isn't quite sure what it is, but having dragons fly around the place really seems to add something to the region. Those dragons are their dragons. Between Whisper, the base, the people,the people-dragons, and her own efforts, it feels like they control the region. They own it. It's their home, now, not some old elf's abandoned lands, not a strange place they're staying at, not one of the long chain of temporary overnight stays.