Cryptopher holds a chair out for Nicora at the table where Mave, Kaira and Vorgulremik are all seated.. putting her right across from the Steel Dragon. The satyr gives her a kiss on the cheek, and says, "I have to see to the servers, but I hope you'll save a dance for me later?"
"Oh, of course," Nicora tells the satyr, though her tone does sound a bit distracted. She's also eying the steel dragon through narrowed eyes and her expression isn't exactly one that's friendly. "I will see you later, Cryptopher."
The satyr leaves, heading back to the bar. As usual, there is a buzz of conversation about the guests, but people (and creatures) are polite enough to wait for now before approaching them. Mave has an amused smirk on her face, while Kaira.. does not look amused. Vorgulremik, for what it's worth, looks downright jovial. "My my," he rumbles. "Such a wonderful night.. full of surprises!"
"We only exist to amuse you, after all," Nicora remarks in a downright acidic tone. Her eyes flick to Kaira as she then asks, "What brings both of you here?"
"Apparently this was the a place you dreamt about when Vorgulremik was able to.. sneak past my guard a while back to talk to you," Kaira notes. "That left a back-door, which activated when the magic of this place impinged on the dagger. I came along as well, naturally."
"Can't you, well, take him back," Nicora asks Kaira and waves to the chain between them. "His freedom was only to the echo of his world."
"This place isn't very different from the dagger-world," Kaira notes with a sigh. "When morning comes, the spell will be broken. We aren't, technically, outside of the dagger. It's complicated. Once you take the dagger away from here in the morning everything will be fine again though."
"Or you could just leave it here, and rid yourself of the burden," Vorg suggests with a toothy smile. "A delicate flower such as yourself should not have to carry such a heavy chore; it may give you wrinkles."
"Well, having him here does sour the evening," Nicora notes as she once again eyes Vorgulremik. "And what, leave you without torment an anguish? I could never deprive you of that."
"It was worth asking," Vorgulremik notes. Servers start to circulate, bearing platters of food and drink as the feast begins. "At least, perhaps, I will get to meet the patron goddess of this place tonight."
"If you can think of a way to distract him, I'm willing to listen," Kaira notes to Nicora.
"Not if I have any say in the matter," Nicora says as she crosses her arms over her chest. Kaira's comment ears the blue dragon another look and Nicora asks, "Are you asking me to be his chaperone tonight?" She nods towards the chain between them.
"No, just help me keep him out of trouble," Kaira says. "He ignores me, mostly. And being in a humanoid form no doubt is giving him all sorts of ideas."
"Oh, I'm sure he's having all sorts of ideas, yes. I'm also sure he will share them at the most awkward and inopportune time, too," Nicora remarks.
Nicora's skin feels like it wants to crawl.. and given her current shadow-infused state, that could very well become a literal occurrence. Instead of goose-pimples, however, she's starting to break out in scales, starting at her fingers and toes and spreading along the limbs.
Nicora's ears splay out to the side, her eyes bunch up, and lips draw back as she starts to twitch. "Not now," she practically hisses at herself. "Not infront of him!" And of course the scale growth it starts to itch; she's an expert on itching as of late.
Silent pleas have no effect, as the shadow reacts to the presence of its ancient enemy and sire. Black scales replace Nicora's fur, nails become talons, and her tail thickens and lengthens. She can even feel horns sprouting through her hair. She's turning into a dragon - a female one. A female Steel dragon, the 'solid' form of a Shadow Dragon.
The types of cursing that goes through her mind is not the sort a lady would have. But then she's not exactly lady-like at the moment, she's becoming a female steel dragon and so isn't feeling like being very proper! "Maybe I should retire for the night, it is not as if the dinner will provide me any sustenance," she practically rumbles in a raspy, yet somehow feminine voice. It's about then her eyes burn as silver iris stretch up and down, forming slits.
"If you insist," Vorgulremik says. "We can retire to your quarters. I understand there is no pain in this place, and I find myself curious to test that.."
"Don't flatter yourself," Nicora rumbles to Vorgulremik. You will not enter my bedroom..."
One thing becomes clear: being in this form provides some immunity from Vorgulremik's aura. Unlike with Melusine, Nicora doesn't feel the overwhelming presence of the other dragon - but it's still there, to a degree. And when he rumbles her own body rumbles back in echo. Then the food arrives to distract everyone, including a whole roast Bromthen hog, the smell of which triggers a deeper draconic instinct: hunger!
The food comes none-too-soon as there had been a growing anger in her that Vorgulremik showed up to ruin her night in Worms. Instead of sinking her claws into him, she goes for the hog and gets a rather large part of it! She does at least place it on her plate, but she doesn't spare much in the way of manners as she begins to eat. She even eats the bones, which crunch loudly between her jaws. It's both disturbing and somehow calming; something to vent the building frustration on.
It also tastes wonderful - like all food in Worms. Here, even eating is a sensual act, and Nicora even finds herself purring a bit as the warmth spreads from her belly. A glance shows Vorg also eating a haunch... seductively. Kaira and Mave uses actual utensils and cuts of meat, as opposed to just devouring things. Even Nicora's tail-head (now larger and sporting teeth) curls around to tear off bites from the hog every so often.
"Don't even start thinking it," Nicora hisses in her own mind when she watches Vorgulremik eat. She tries, really tries to focus on her meal and continues to eat until she feels that she satiated the almost overwhelming huger of earlier. He takes a very deep breath and tries to calm herself down, then spares another look to Kaira, only this one is somehow apologetic and pleading at the same time. Or at least she thinks it is, it's hard to tell since she can't see her own face right now. That's also when curiosity hits her and she does finally reach up and feel along her own face, then up her head to just see how ... horrific it actually is.
It isn't quite as horrific as Vorgulremik's. Even Melusine had a feminine look to her face. And really, are Steel Dragons all that repulsive? Kaira looks.. soft and bland in comparison. No horns or frills at all. Of course, there is also a bit of stickiness from the hog-juice around her lips. Vorg leans over and licks some of it clean though. That's when Kaira raises a hand and calls, "Waiter! A bucket of ice-water please.."
Nicora actually growls at Vorgulremik, though its exact meaning is uncertain. Her ears do catch Kaira's request and her head swivels towards her. "That is unnecessary," she tells the blue dragon. "I am quite capable of self control, you know."
Kaira raises an eyeridge at this. "Including turning into a dragon?" she asks.
"She does make a handsome dragon though," Mave offers with a grin. "She didn't even tear her gown."
"That is an unfair comparison. I am still me in here," Nicora tells Kaira and taps the side of her head with a claw.
"She is only jealous," Vorgulremik tells Nicora. "After all, she is just a lesser dragon, from mortal stock. She doesn't know what we can experience.."
"And you," Nicora says as she turns on Vorguulremik and pokes him square in the chest with her claw tip, "Can quit trying to encourage this body! It's bad enough that it is trying to convince me that you are handsome without you encouraging it."
It probably doesn't help that Vorgulremik takes the poking hand and kisses the back of it. "Now now.. my, we haven't even been properly introduced. Do you still go by Alptraum, or have you taken on a new identity to go with the form?"
"Nicora," Nicora answers rather stiffly and sits upright when the back of her hand is kissed. "And I am traveling is disguise, obviously."
Vorg lets her hand go, and rolls out the name on his tongue. "Nicorrra, how fitting. Such a dark name," he says. "And does your.. tail.. have a name as well?" The tail is, at the moment, guzzling from a goblet of wine.
"No, it does not," Nicora answers rather quickly, then lifts her tail out of the goblet. She then briefly eyes Kaira, secretly suspecting she is trying to not laugh at the absurdity of it all!
The blue 'lesser' dragoness is looking peeved. "Thank you so much for not speaking up for me after that insult," she says. "I think that body is affecting you more than you think."
"I didn't agree with him," Nicora points out as she feels anger starting to rise again. she starts to say something else, then just grabs her own snout to stifle it. "I think we all need to calm down," she says once she feels safe enough to release her own jaws.
"Can you try to change into something else?" Kaira urges.
"I don't know," Nicora admits as she flops her head, chin down, on the table. "It is at least distracting him?" she offers weakly.
"Well.. but it's distracting you too I think," Kaira notes. "You seem to be reacting to ... whatever your shadow feels a need to react to. And.. here," she says, picking up her napkin to wipe the rest of the moisture from Nicora's scaly chin and lips.
Nicora takes a deep breath, then sits back up. "Then it is something I should learn to deal with in case it ever happens again," she says, sounding at least calmer about the whole situation. "At least here it is ... safe. I'm also sorry you were drug into this, Kaira."
"Well, I suppose it is nice to get out once in a while," Kaira admits, just as something brushes against Nicora's legs under the table. Servers are clearing the table, although there seems to be more food on the way.
Nicora extends her own leg to find out what is brushing up against her. "And what is the worst that can happen? Me looking or acting like a complete idiot, I suppose," she adds with a rather draconic smirk.
The brusher becomes a twiner - it's clearly another dragon's tail for it to curl around her calf like that. It isn't clear which though.
Nicora uses her other foot to feel for a spine ridge that might indicate which of the two it actually is. She doesn't want to just look, as either dragon might get mad ... and that would get even messier. "And ... you aren't lesser ... you are just ... smoother," Nicora finds herself telling Kaira. "Which is far more gentle on your clothing than ... this." She gestures at her spiny, horny, body.
The gown, being magical, doesn't seem to be affected. "More to nibble on," Vorgulremik claims. So far.. it feels like a rough tail. But then, her own tail seems to moving around down there too.
Nicora's toes check for a ... head on the end of the tail entwining her leg. "I thought your kind were not gentle when mating," she remarks to Vorgulremik and arches her brow ridge.
"Well, I'm not in my right body at the moment," Vorg notes. "This one seems to... have a different sense of how to do things." There's no head on the tail around her leg. Kaira is squirming a bit in her seat, however.
"So you do not have a desire to force yourself upon me? What was the comment about testing pain all about, then?" Nicora asks with a smirk. She does reach over to lightly pat the back of Kaira's hand for some reason, though.
More food begins arriving - cakes, pies and frozen treats. Even what seem to be candied pieces of meat - along with bowls and heated pots full of cheese and chocolate and cream for dipping.
"Oh, of course I want to take you," Vorgulremik says. "Right here on the table.. or perhaps the stage? I am merely exercising patience."
"And what makes you think you are good enough for me?" Nicora actually challenges.
Vorg forms what might be described as a cocky grin. He plucks a strawberry (actually impales it on the tip of a claw) then dips it into the chocolate before offering it to Nicora.
Nicora isn't one to pass up food and bites down on Vorgulremik's finger (perhaps a bit hard!). Still when she draws back he retains his finger, but no strawberry. "I am quite certain that Kaira is better than you when it comes to physical pleasure; she has had a great teacher," the new-dragoness notes.
Mave also prepares some treats.. and offers them to Kaira, who accepts them as well.
"Ah, but can she show you anything truly new then?" Vorgulremik asks.
"Perhaps I have already experienced the best and have no need for new?" Nicora claims. Again she looks over to Kaira.
"Mmmf?" Kaira asks, her mouth full. She swallows, and says, "Yes! I already showed Nicora what a proper male dragon is like."
"A steel dragon body, at that," Nicora adds.
"Oh, so you are already familiar with mating with my kind in this form," Vorgulremik says with a smile. "A woman with experience. And were you also as you are now for these trysts?"
"No, I was Eeee," Nicora notes as her head tilts a bit and eyes the state. Her lips draw back in a devious sort of smile. "You mentioned the stage, did you not?" she asks Vorgulremik and turns her gaze fully on him. "I have an idea that may be of interest to you."
EDIT: eyes the stage ...
"Everything interests me tonight," Vorgulremik notes. "What do you suggest?"
"Kaira transfers the chain to my wrist and we go to that stage," Nicora begins to explain and even nods towards the platform. "And we fight. Dragon against dragon until one submits or is obviously defeated. The victor can decide the fate of the defeated, within limits. The limits being that no choice can ultimately harm the fallen or be something that leaves this place. For example, should you win; I will submit to your attentions if that is your choice, as it does no true harm. I cannot, however, be asked to free you as that will cause harm. If I win, well, I have ideas of my own."
"Do I get a say?" Kaira asks, just as Vorgulremik laughs and says, "I accept! Although transferring the chain is unlikely, but not really a problem."
"What do you wish to say? Or are you asking if you get a say in what happens?" Nicora asks Kaira.
Kaira takes a deep breath, and says, "The chain will extend, and others will pass right through it - it cannot be broken by myself or Vorgulremik, but we are the only ones it affects. I just have concerns about the outcome, after all."
"What are your concerns?" Nicora asks Kaira.
"You are emotionally vulnerable.. maybe," Kaira notes. "So, you may still take something away from this that will cause you problems later. If you think you can be completely.. draconic.. about it though, then I won't protest."
"But I will still have you to help me even outside of this place," Nicora says, "And you did ask me to help keep him occupied." She then leans in and whispers towards Kaira, "And it will be a show. Perhaps one that will keep the patron Goddess from appearing ... or even if she does, he may not notice. I do not wish him to meet Inala, do you?"
Kaira blinks, and then nods. "Go for the feet," she advises.
Nicora nods once and sits back. "It is decided, she says and rises from her seat. To the gathered crowd she announces, "We have a special show for you this night. Dragon against dragon, on the stage, for your enjoyment. The most horrible and evil dragon to ever be born, Vorgulremik, against the most recent to have vanquished him, me. I believe you will find it interesting." She then shakes her leg to dislodge the tail that had curled around it and heads towards the stage.
There are cheers from the crowd as the two dragons take the stage, the silver chain growing as needed. They hardly look like combatants; one in a golden gown and the other in a tuxedo. "Do you propose any ground rules?" Vorgulremik asks.
"First, combat is done naked. I do not wish to damage this gown," Nicora says. "Second, the crowd can not be used as a weapon. No one may be taken hostage to force the other to submit; something I am certain you already thought of. And while I ponder if there should be others, do you have any ground rules?"
The older dragon grins, and says, "We cannot hurt each other here, so I see no reason to hold back. Otherwise I agree to your terms."
Nicora hms. "Can you take on a form closer to your natural one, while remaining the size you are?" she asks, "I can see if I can get the shadow to do the same to me. It seems more fitting for this sort of ... combat."
"Hmm, I don't have control over my form, actually," Vorgulremik admits. "This place dictates how I appear, apparently, because of that dream." He removes his tuxedo slowly, trying not to look amateur about it since he's clearly never actually worn clothing before.
"Hm, then this body will have to do," Nicora decides as she eaches back to undo the strapping of the dress. She is at least experienced with dresses now and also realizes it is better to shimmy out of this one and let it fall to her feet than it is to try and pull it off, given the direction of her scales and horns. She actually makes it look easy and even dislodges it the rest of the way with a seductive hip roll. The dress pools around her feet. She steps out of it, now clad in only steel-gray scales, scutes, and horns. The new-dragoness then picks up her dress and lightly tosses it toward Mave and Kaira for safekeeping.
Now that she can see her form.. it's a little disconcerting. Her underscales are clearly smaller and 'softer' looking than Vorgulremik's.. although her breasts actually have a good bit of armor to them, like a built-in brassiere.
Whistles and more cheers come from the crowd at the striptease.
Nicora has the usual sinking feeling she has done something stupid now that she can see herself. At least the scales seem to offer her some modesty! Or perhaps not when the cheers from the crowd come. She does a quick-check of her other area to see if it too has any armoring to protect her ... well, not that she has much virtue left! But her virtue nevertheless.
She actually has.. white fur there, to match her white mane. Vorgulremik has none, instead having more spines protecting his head and the back of his neck.
"Great," Nicora thinks, "It makes me look like I have a big target between my legs." She rumbles to herself and shakes out her mane. "Go for his legs, Kaira suggested. Perhaps throat. Back of the neck is pointless. I wonder, Can I breathe fire?" the dragoness ponders as she starts pacing back and forth as she sizes up her stripping competitor.
Vorgulremik does manage to get the rest of his clothing off without completely destroying it.. and then puffs up his spines and arches his neck in a way that looks like he's displaying himself for Nicora.
Nicora crouches down, extending her much more sinewy body and using her tail to balance herself, apparently trying to keep her vulnerable underside less reachable. She counters his display by pulling back her teeth and hiss-roaring at him in defiance!
"Ah, you do know how to go about this," Vorgulremik rumbles, and begins to circle towards Nicora, his own tail held high and his body leaning forward.
"I'm just full of surprises," Nicora hisses at him as she starts circling him to keep him from getting behind her. She does have the advantage of having watched Tulani fight one of the steel dragons before, after all. That's when she also remembers how the other dragon displayed and does a quick check of Vorgulremik in a certain area. And after seeing it ... she really wants to win now! The way he's built makes the experience of Gorphat's curse almost desirable! Ouch. Her legs spread a bit wider to better her balance as do her wings and arms (and a side benefit of making her hard to grab and just pin, at that. Another challenging hiss-roar comes from the dragoness; but she doesn't strike.
Vorgulremik lunges, snapping his jaws! But it's short, more of a provocative gesture than an attack.
Nicora drops a bit lower and snaps her jaws back, though she too does not move in close enough to make it an attack. Instead, she continues to circle, trying to size up and locate vulnerable points she can go for.
And Vorgulremik actually presents an opportunity to strike by turning side on to Nicora. His shoulder joint isn't protected by spikes our heavy plates.
And Nicora goes for it! Or rather, she feints it and snaps her wings at the last moment to throw herself to the side instead of getting closer to him; to see just how he planned to counter and get her.
The male dragon's jaws close on air, where Nicora's neck would have been if she'd taken the bait... and then his tail is sweeping in towards her knees!
And the tail connects, sending one of Nicora's legs out from under her! Her wings flap and tail shifts rapidly to keep from toppling over, but her stance is precarious at best! The rumbling roar that comes from her is rather unlady-like; in fact it sounds quite angry!
What's worse is that Vorgulremik does.. nothing! Instead of pressing his advantage, he displays himself again - although his smirk is almost mocking.
Nicora's wings snap a few more times as she settles out her balance and gets her leg back underneath her. She snaps her jaws in the air at him and his 'oh-so-smug' expression. She resumes her slow circling and draws in a deep breath, trying to 'feel out' if she is capable of generating the fire she once saw him do. "At least one of your heads is big," she actually taunts him now when his spines splay in display.
There's definitely something in her chest; a ball of energy she can feel building. "Tell me," the drake asks as resumes circling as well, "now that you are female, do you ever think back on that dream you had?"
"Of course I do. When my stomach is feeling off and I need to purge," Nicora replies and her lips settle back into their own smirk. She ties to hip-snap and whip her own tail around at his legs ... though does keep her eyes on the underside of his neck, in case he exposes it while diodging and she can go for it!
The drake doesn't dodge.. but turns into the snap and grabs onto the tail with his claws. Then, of course, he gives a playful squeeze.
This of course angers Nicora. She digs her toe-talons into the stage and tries to use her entire body-weight to pull Vorgulremik off-balance while he has a hold of her tail!
It would probably have worked, if he didn't jump as soon as Nicora yanked. It carries him right next to her, where he bites the back of her neck before hopping back out of range. And the bite felt nice.
The bite triggers something odd, for a spit second, the dragoness had leaned forward and flicked her tail, practically /flashing Vorgulremik in the process! This of course only makes her madder and she spins, her jaws snapping hard at the air! It isn't helping that he really isn't fighting her, it's all just so ... mocking! Which ... only serves to fuel that anger.
"Show me some real passion now, Nicora," Vorgulremik growls. "Some heat.."
Nicora's head arches back as if to satisfy that request! She inhales, causing her chest to expand as if she's about to show him some real fire! Her head quickly surges in, her jaws spreading .. then her right talons dig into the stage again and she spins, trying to slap Vorgulremik's cheek with her tail! She's not about to use up her fire now! She remembers what he had said to Tulani when they fought...
Tail smacks across Vorgulremik's cheek.. and sticks! Or rather, the head on the end of it bites down and hangs on to the bigger dragon's lower jaw. "Thish ish not what I meant," Vorg complains, and tries to pry the jawed appendage off.
Nicora anchors her feet again and jerks her hips, trying to yank Vorgulremik off his feet ... or at least unbalance him!
This time she's more successful, causing the drake to stagger when the tail-head finally lets go. He turns this into a more controlled roll, which he uses to stretch out on his side on the stage floor, his head propped up on one hand and his other stroking his chest. He waggles his horny eyeridges at Nicora. "Now.. care to join me down here?" he asks.
Okay, that does it! Nicora rears back again and inhales, then her head and jaws surge forward ... only this time she means it as she tries to release that pent-up energy in her chest right at Vorgulremik! He's not even taking this seriously! Conceited, pompous ... oooo!
The fire pours out, and it feels good! Really gets the juices flowing, as it were.. and has absolutely no effect despite splashing all over the prone dragon. "Mmmmm," the drake goes. "That was tingly! You really can't get hurt here," he says. Then gets to his feet, and says, "Stand up straight! I'll show you.."
Now Nicora is even angrier and draws herself upright, crossing her arms across her chest. "I was serious and you aren't even taking this remotely seriously," she growls, eyes narrow, "You pompous, dagh-ridden ... toad."
And then Vorgulremik plays his own flame over Nicora, and it's like.. being wrapped in a hot, tingly tongue.
Nicora remains looking peeved, arms crossed. "Then there is no point in continuing this," she says.
"Do you concede then?" Vorgulremik says, striding forward.
Nicora pointlessly punches Vorgulremik in the snout. "There is no winning or losing, now is there? I'm going back to the deserts," she grumbles and starts towards the stage-steps.
An armored arm reaches around Nicora's waist, and teeth strike sparks as they tease her neck. "What about the show? You don't want to disappoint all these creatures, do you?" the drake hisses.
"You didn't take the show seriously. Nor do you take me seriously," Nicora practically growls, though she hasn't tried to pry off his arm yet.
"You knew we could not hurt each other here," Vorgulremik rumbles. "But you chose the challenge. Or are you just trying to frustrate me.. and yourself? I know you're excited."
"I had expected some effort from you," Nicora remarks after tilting her head back and twisting her neck enough that she can look at him out of sone silvery eye, "To prove that you were worth lifting my tail for."
"Oh, what would I have had to do?" the drake asks. "Pin you down?"
"Along those lines, yes. Actually defeated me," Nicora notes.
"And you really thought you had a chance?" Vorgulremik asks, striking more sparks by nuzzling cheek to cheek, and wrapping his other arm around Nicora. "Did you want to be defeated by me, deep down? Or.. not so deep down? Maybe you don't hate me as much as you think you do."
"I always have a chance," Nicora claims as she holds onto that angry tone, "I did defeat you before. I'm not as weak and pathetic as you seem to think I am."
"You didn't defeat me alone," the drake says with a rumble. "And I only ever said you had more potential than you thought.. and just needed some help drawing it out."
"And now you want to put some of your help inside me," Nicora remarks, though she sounds a little deflated by this point. "For someone who mocks women, you seem to prefer me female..."
"You seem happier this way," Vorgulremik claims. "Although if you were male, I still would not want to fight you. I never wanted to fight you. What is wrong with that?"
"Of course you didn't. You just wanted to kill me and take what power I had," Nicora remarks a bit sarcastically. She looks out towards the watching audience and rolls her jaw a bit, thinking. "As for ... ," she now says in a softer voice so that only he hears, "Kick my legs out and pin me chest down on the floor and I'll concede ... and move my tail. As you say, there is a show to finish."
The drake does just that.. mostly! He manages to get Nicora on her back instead. "This seems more suitable for the form," he purrs to her, and starts nipping along her throat and chest in ways that stimulate her.
"Don't think this changes anything between us just because you won this round," Nicora hisses as she rakes her claws against the side of his neck, throwing sparks as she concedes. Inwardly she's also still feeling vaguely annoyed ... because it feels good! He shouldn't feel good, he's ... evil!
Above the stage, the statue of Inala looms and seems to look down on the two dragons.. and then it winks at Nicora.
Whatever Nicora is about to say is lost by a rather disturbing sound made of guttural hisses and growls as she's impaled by Vorgulremik only a few seconds after the wink. The show changes to a different form of violence as sparks and flames burst about the stage from the coupled dragons. It should hurt, what happens that is, ... but in Worms its all pleasure; Inala's domain. There is a moment in the thoes of it all, she briefly finds herself believing she deserves the punishment Gorphat inflicted on her; to burn in agony after a moment of pleasure. The thoughts, though, are quickly lost in the chaos of it all. Perhaps Nicora was actually defeated in the end; because ... the worst thing possible happens: She ended up enjoying it.