Tulani rejoins the Eeee (who have plugged their ears again with wax) and brandishes a fist-full of printed pasteboard tickets. "What should we hit first?" she asks excitedly. "The Roaring Dragon? The Spinning Lotus? Battle Boats? The Tunnel of Bosch? Or get a bite at one of the Deep Fried Things stands?"
"I'm not hungry right now. I'll wait for my meal to wear out first," Nicora claims and gives Tulani a rather predatory smile in the process. "Hm, maybe something simple to start?" she suggests as she now taps her chin. "Aside from being extremely bizarre, the Tunnel is a boat ride, right?"
"Yes!" Tulani notes. "It's like the Tunnel of Love up on Rephidim, only with more monsters." Lowering her voice, she leans and says, "Supposedly real monsters. Well, stuffed real monsters."
"Stuffed real monsters don't scare me," Nicora claims and even puffs her chest out ... and ends up looking silly. "But a tunnel of love? None of us have anyone we're in love with in this journey. It won't be as fun without that. But ... still, monsters! Why not? It's an easy lead in before the really dangerous rides..."
"This would seem a ride for children though," Mave notes, but follows along as the Sphynx plows on ahead through the crowds, holding her wad of tickets overhead as if bearing a torch.
Nicora slips her arm around Mave's as they follow Tulani. "You'll be my date since she isn't here," she claims, grinning. "And what's the point of growing up if you can't act childish now and then?"
The line for the Tunnel of Bosch begins with a sign, in several languages, saying 'No Children Allowed' and 'No Weapons' and 'Keep Limbs Inside Boat At All Times - We Mean It!' The line isn't too long, so they get to see others coming out, looking.. shocked. Two Khattas with frizzed out fur cling to one another and have to be almost dragged out by an attendant, while others can't wait to jump ship. The boats themselves are pretty flat looking, with three 2-person benches apiece.
There also must be a rule that couples must be mixed, since anyone who doesn't have an opposite-sex partner is paired up with one from either somewhere else in the line or from a handy 'pool' of partners kept in a nearby pen.
"I am a monster, so how bad can it be?" Nicora has to wonder, dismissing all the people around her as easily spooked city-folk. Why, the vermites that invaded her wagon as a child were as big as dromodon! Well, they sure seemed that big when she 'borrowed' some of her father's cider as a kid, anyway. "Wait, why must couples be mixed?" she actually asks out loud, hoping an attendant will answer.
"For protection," the ticket-taker says in accented Standard.
"Pish, it can't be that bad," Nicora counters.
"At least give me a really cute guy if it is required," Nicora relents after a thought.
Nonetheless, Nicora is seated next to a young Cervani buck who is a head taller even while sitting down. Tulani gets a Jupani, and Mave a robust looking human. "Joss," the deer introduces himself.
"A pleasure, Joss," Nicora says as she slips her arm under, then around, his, "I'm Nicora. You're quite the handsome fellow, so ... maybe having an escort isn't so bad." She ends that with a smile.
The buck returns the smile, and then gets a sudden look of terror when the gate opens to let the boat move forward. The entrance to the tunnel itself is sculpted to look like a human face.. sort of. One half is done up like a mime, in black and white paint, while the other side is.. twisted and snaggle-toothed and evil looking.
"It's not as gross as Verminus," Nicora thinks to herself at the twisted expression on the off entrance. Still, since she should keep up appearances she hugs onto the buck's arm a little tighter. Men do like to feel like they're the strong, in control, one after all. Mave taught her that lesson.
Things get dark very quickly once the boat passes into the tunnel. But not quiet. The rattling of chains is omnipresent, and a then a lantern is unshuttered to reveal a monster hanging down from the ceiling. It's like a giant grabbit, but with a human face in its belly and limbs that end in chitin scythes. It gibbers and gnashes its teeth, but the chains holding back it's limbs and body limit it's motion. An armored Cervani can be seen next to the lantern, holding a repeating crossbow and never taking his eyes off the creature.
"Ooookay, so they are real monsters. Freaky!" Nicora thinks as she does slink down a little bit. The Cervani is taller anyway, so it would get his head first. "So ... no vacations in Bosch. Nasty. Worse than the two I met in the wild."
The buck squeaks, and Tulani hisses behind Nicora. The Jupani growls and.. nothing is really heard from Mave and her partner. The lantern is shuttered, and the monster goes quiet, quickly being left behind as the boat rounds a curve. Up ahead is a cell on one side of the tunnel, lit yellow and with sturdy bars. Inside.. is what appears to be a large, stuffed toy of some sort. It' covered in purple fluff, and has stunted limbs with no apparent joints, fingers or toes. The oversized head has button eyes and a visible seam running down the middle, across the white muzzle. A red felt tongue dangles from one side to give it a goofy expression.
"That looks like one of the prizes from the arcade," Tulani comments.
"My experience has been the scarier it looks, the less dangerous it is ... so that stuffed thing must be horrible," Nicora tries to whisper to the buck at her side. Subconciously, she starts stroking his arm for comfort, then interlaces her fingers with is. "It probably eats babies," she remarks to Tulani.
"I'm sure it's nothing to be.." Joss starts to say, then screams as the toy's head splits open along the seam to become a ghastly red mouth full of serrated (if snaggled) fangs. A long ropy tongue studded with barbs launches out and flails wildly around the cell in search of prey - and then abruptly retracts and then the head seals back up as if nothing had happened.
Nicora actually squeaks at that and her nails dig into Joss' arm. "I told you so!" she blurts out.
"Owwww!" the buck complains.
"Sorry!" Nicora says and quickly relaxes her grip.
The next scene of horror is.. well, disturbing. An entangled, gyrating mass of headless bodies and limbs apparently engaged in an orgy - but a second glance shows that it's all a single monster. The human-looking hands have mouths in their palms, and the various breasts sport pink eyes. The thing grunts and sweats and makes other appropriate noises to add to the illusion.
"Is that supposed to be scary, erotic, or just gross?" Nicora has to ask, "I wager on gross." Still, she does have to wonder if Melusine ever made anything nasty like this. Knowing her? Probably.
The boat next passes between two creatures shackled to the walls of the tunnel. On the side where the men sit, it appears to be a voluptuous, naked human woman. She gyrates and thrusts her hips out.. revealing teeth where there should not be teeth. "Feed me," she hisses. On the female side of the tunnel, a more traditional looking demonic figure is shackled, with flayed looking skin, black horns and a Rughrat's head. It thrusts as well, reaching out with disturbing, slime-covered tentacles where its genitals should be. A guard stands ready with a torch, and there are places where burned away tentacles haven't quite regenerated yet. One of them suddenly stretches out farther than should be possible and manages to lick Nicora and Tulani's cheeks before the torch is brought to bear, causing the monster to laugh in pleasure.
"Oh ew!" Nicora complains and actually tries to grab the tentacle with her claws before the torch is brought in. "What is wrong with you!?" she demands of the demon, never mind that it is a demon. She hasn't noticed the teeth, thankfully. It took her long enough to get used her her modified body and seeing that would ... give her nightmares, really.
The next few exhibits are much more tame: dioramas of the Citadel at the center of Bosch, surrounded by flames and capering silhouettes. A carving of what the Overlord's face might look like (which if accurate, is very unsettling) and other hellish views, including an animated attack on a village.
"Is Bosch really this bad?" Nicora actually asks Joss as she draws in close to him again. "No place could be this bad..."
"It is madness made flesh," the buck says with a bit of a tremble. The scenes of carnage are very realistic - possibly 'drawn from life' as it where. Finally though, the horrific scenes give way to statues of armored Landsknechts, protecting the passage back into the light of day.
Nicora peers up at the cervani. Instead of saying anything, though, she just lightly strokes his arm in hopes it will help him feel better. The knights also earn a glance, figuring they're just statues ... but the real things would be a terror if they were also chasing you.
The boat leaves the tunnel, and is stopped by a gate and pulled to dock by the attendants. Mave is first out, looking.. well, the same as when she entered. Her partner however is flushed and sweaty and needs a bit of help to stand up. Tulani's Jupani is clutching at his arm, where the Sphynx probably scratched him inadvertently. Joss pats his pants, as if reassuring himself that they're dry before trying to get to his feet. "Real monsters," he mutters, and shudders. "They'd never get this far into civilized lands on their own though, right?" he asks nervously.
Tulani is still scrubbing at her cheek, saying, "I want to visit a washroom soon."
"It was amusing, but needs to last longer," Mave comments on the ride. "At least another five minutes."
Nicora looks at her right arm briefly, then shakes her head. "Of course not," she reassures the cervani as she leans against him lightly one more time, then steps away from the boat herself. She rubs her own cheek now, after Tulani's statement, feeling for any residue left behind from the demon-thing.
The skin covering Nicora's right hand squirms a bit when it comes in contact with some of the residual goo, and she can feel the shadow ooze out to devour the substance, leaving her cheek clean, at least.
Nicora blinks, not expecting that ... and feeling rather creeped out by it! Worried, she quickly holds her hand up to see if there is any glow to her own eyes after that!
There must not have been enough of the stuff to cause that sort of reaction, although Tulani is giving her an odd look now. "Why are you staring into your palm?" she asks.
"The goo made it feel funny," Nicora admits and shakes her hand a bit. "Bleh. I doubt I can show you if I touched your cheek since it just felt weird," she babbles.
"It just feels sticky to me," Tulani notes, and hurries towards a restroom stall nearby. "Let's do something less icky next!" she calls back.
Nicora follows after Tulani. "May I touch your cheek?" she asks quietly when they're away from the others.
"Okay, but no pinching," Tulani warns, crossing her arms in front of her chest.
So .. Nicora reaches over and places her right hand lightly against Tulani's gooey cheek. "You really are impossible some days," she complains.
Once more the skin on the bat's hand writhes, feeling a bit like it's turning inside-out to expose the shadow side as it wicks away the goo from Tulani's fur. "Oooo," the Sphynx says in surprise. "As weird as that was.. it wasn't bad. Like being groomed which hundreds of little tongues.." This must make her think of tentacles though, as she gets a brief sour expression.
"It is like watching two sisters who share a boyfriend," Mave comments as she looks on.
Nicora draws her hand back to see if she can see what happened to the skin before it returns to normal. "I'm not like that demon," she mutters quietly, "You know me better than that!"
The skin reverts too quickly, other than momentarily looking shiny and wet. "I would not put it past you to employ tentacles," Mave notes. "You've already experimented with such using your shadow.."
"Only if asked," Nicora complains and crosses her arms. "And it isn't like you have anything to do with me anymore. You won't touch me," she adds and pokes Mave in the stomach. "Anyway, onto the next ride. No point in arguing. So .. Roaring Dragon?"
"Yes!" Tulani declares, the horror of being slimed by a demon put behind her now. She heads off towards the giant wooden roller-coaster! "It's supposed to be like flying, but scary!"
Nicora sticks her tongue out at Mave, then follows after Tulani!
"Hmmph," Mave hmmphs, pouting a little. But the Yodhinala follows along. Given how the trio are dressed (and the relative rarity of having Eeee and a Sphynx visiting) they do get many looks and a few whistles. Tulani doesn't help when she blows kisses to some of the whistlers. One of them even clutches his heart and staggers back, pretending to swoon.
"You can make it up to me later," Nicora claims to Mave. At the whistles, Nicora's ears perk. She follows Tulani's lead. Many get a friendly wave back, a few get a kiss blown, and even a couple get a playful ear-waggle.
"They're all too young for you," Tulani notes when she catches Nicora flirting back with people. "I'm the youngest and prettiest, after all! You should focus on the single fathers and distinguished older gentlemen," the Sphynx teases with a grin.
That earns Tulani a playful swat on the ear. "A woman can be with anyone she chooses and age only makes us more distinguished and enjoyable to be with," she claims.
Nicora Claims
"If you say so," Tulani says, turning and walking backwards so she can give a little bow. "I bow to the wisdom of my elders!" she says, then dances back to get out of swatting range. The line to the Roaring Dragon begins just up ahead though, so Tulani literally butts into a stag at the rear of it, causing him to glare back over his shoulder. His girlfriend (a smaller doe) just grins though and tries not to laugh.
"She just ... ooo," Nicora complains to Mave. Though Tulani backing into the cervani does much to calm Nicora down and get her to grin again. She also can't help herself and mutters to herself, "And your brother never complained..."
Tulani swats at Nicora with her tail as she turns to apologize. Mave just grins and whispers to Nicora, "Are you going to try and steal away any boy that catches her fancy now?"
"I might ... or be the boy that catches her fancy, only to deny her," Nicora whispers back to Mave. "I do have that savanite pattern I could become for a while. Get her to like me, then just ... deny her satisfaction! It would serve her right."
"Oh, and you'd really deny her if you were male again?" Mave whispers teasingly as the line moves ahead. "Wouldn't that leave you unsatisfied as well?"
"That's what I have you for," Nicora claims in whisper and lightly elbows Mave. "I could be your savanite, perhaps." She takes a few steps forward with the line.
"If you wish," Mave replies. "Although if you really wish to play with Tulani, you could always turn Snow male again and let him loose on her.."
Nicora laughs softly. "If she were here," she points out, "But if I do go that route ... I'll need your help on how to be a proper savanite, I think. Maybe." She shakes her head, amused.
As they approach the ticket taker, a human attendant steps up and asks, "Would you three ladies mind stepping this way for a moment before enjoying the ride?" He hardly has any accent at all.
"Am I really horrible to touch now?" Nicora asks Mave in whisper. The human's question causes her to blink, but she then nods to the human. "Sure? Have we done something wrong?" she asks as she steps out of the line and towards the human.
"Ah, no, there are merely some extra safety precautions that need to be taken with winged folk," the man says, still smiling. "We need to bind your wings, to prevent any flight reflexes that could end up injuring you or pulling you out of the cars."
"Bind ... my ... wings?" Nicora asks, brow arched as if the concept is not a pleasant one at all. She rubs her forehead for the moment, then says, "Okay. It's safe, right? The machine that is. I shouldn't need to fly..."
"There are many steep runs and fast banks," the man explains. "We have had incidents in the past, so please understand. It will not be uncomfortable."
Nicora looks unconvinced, but collapses her wings as flatly as she can manage. "Go ahead," she relents, ears twitching.
The process is quick and painless. Some wide strips of cloth are just wrapped around each wing to keep them from opening, and held in place with chitin clips.
It's more the thought of having her wings bound that is unsettling; she still remembers watching the Yodhsunala try to commit suicide this way, after all. She tries to make herself feel better by just imagining it's some of Phlagaea's bandages. It helps a little, at least. "Sorry," she tells the human, "It's just ... an uncomfortable thought. Like being blindfolded, perhaps."
"You did not complain about being tied down to a bed," Mave notes, causing Tulani to almost lose it and the attendant to blush.
"That is very different," Nicora points out. "Would you complain if you were tied to a bed?" she asks the attendant.
"Well.. ah.. who would be doing the tying?" the man asks in confusion.
"One of us," Nicora suggests, now amused herself.
"Well, I get off at 8 O'clock.." the man starts to say, then just clears his throat and says, "You're all safe now; please enjoy your ride!"
Tulani elbows Nicora, and whispers, "Weren't you the one who used to hate being teased by girls as a boy?"
Nicora laughs and pats the man's shoulder. "You're a good sport," she tells him. She takes Tulani and Mave's arms and guides them back to the line. "Come on you two troublemakers," she remarks. "And I'm not a boy anymore, am I?" she comments to Tulani and elbows her right back. "And I'm enjoying it..."
Once strapped in to their chairs (which actually have headrests), the ride begins with a gentle downward slope towards the base of a very steep looking rise, where the moving chain grabs onto the cars and begins hoisting them up into the sky. For the non-flyers, it's a bit nerve-wracking (at least, from the comments overheard). For Nicora, it takes on a new dimension now that she knows she can actually fall if something happens!
Nicora's entire body goes tense. Her tows splay, and her claws dig into the hand rail. "If I survive this, I may kill you, Tulani!" she complains in a rather high-pitched voice. "This isn't like flying at all"
"It will be soon!" Tulani cackles happily, as they reach the top of the rise. Then the cars come to a stop, hanging at the edge of the precipice for several moments before finally dropping! For the next 30 seconds, everything is a bone-rattling blur of speed and gravity and centripetal forces. And screaming, lots and lots of screaming.
And Nicora is one of those screaming! This isn't like her aerial stunts at all, those she had control of! This ... like being strapped to a monster and whipped around! "Gonna die, gonna die! is all she seemingly thinks as the cart flings around like mad!
The thing really does ROAR too! Possibly like a dragon, if the dragon was on fire and also falling from a great height. The brakes kick in and the ride rattles to a stop, and the attendants are there to help people out of the cars and offer buckets and even hold the hair back of those who need them. It takes another minute before Nicora's stomach catches up to her body.
"Whooo!" Tulani whoops, having rode with her arms up in the air since the initial drop. "That was great!" she enthuses. Mave seems.. murderous might be a polite term.. in the way she glares at the Sphynx.
"The wax shook loose from my ears," the Yodh notes in clipped tones.
"Mrghpth," goes Nicora as she has to painfully pry her hands from the grip-bar, then stand and shakily step out. While her stomach does somersaults, she still brushes aside the bucket offer. "If I'm to hurl, I'm aiming for her" she claims and thumbs towards Tulani. Apparently she's in close agreement with Mave. She gives Mave a look, mouths 'savanite', then nods towards Tulani. "We'll have to get more wax," she agrees.
A different friendly attendant is there to unbind their wings as they leave, with Tulani being just annoyingly bounce about it all. "Talk about getting the blood pumping! Is anyone else hungry yet?" she bubbles.
"My stomach is not happy," Nicora notes, "But if you want food, we can go get you something now. Are you hungry, Mave?"
"I may never eat again," Mave answers, having difficulty in maintaining her dignity.
Nicora offers her arm to Mave in case she wants to lean on her for support.
And so the group moves on, Tulani skipping ahead and trailed by her two apparently drunk aunts..
"And maybe you shouldn't have eaten that man in the boat ride," Nicora comments wryly to Mave as they go.
Deep Fried Things couldn't be clearer. The carts are all over the park, and look like a buffet: you get a wooden dowel, and impale what you want from a selection of bins. Fruit, fish, meat and even cakes and breads. Once your stack is finished, the vendor weighs it to see how much to charge, then dips it into the batter of your choice and holds it in a vat of boiling oil until it crisps. The ground around the carts are invariably covered in splotches and drips of congealed grease that's dripped off the treats.
"That looks rather disgusting," Nicora remarks to Mave from where they stand a few feet away. She gestures to the be-gooed sticks and adds, "How does anyone eat that and not feel sick?"
Tulani builds something frightening, involving fish, cake, marshmallows and fruit, first dipped in chocolate and then batter. She bites into it with crunchy relish right in front of the two bats, making happy sounds. Too happy. She must really like fried food.
"I saw a fried ice-cream stand," Mave notes to Nicora.
"What's wrong with ice cream unfried?" Nicora asks, "It's supposed to creamy, not ... crunchy."
"It squirts out when you coat it in fried batter though," Tulani claims, licking her whiskers. "I bet you'd like cream-filled chocolates. I here vampires like to puncture them with their fangs and then suck out the goo."
She then proceeds to make a sucking-slurping sound that's a bit like a reverse raspberry in execution.
"Maybe," Nicora offers and waves her hand a bit. "So, what's next? The Spinning Lotus The ... she really thinks she's more attractive than us?" she starts to ask, then looks at Mave when the sucking begins.
"Is she did that while looking at your crotch, would you not be curious?" Mave notes. "What physical torments will the Spinning Lotus inflict on us?"
"Hm. Galand did rather enjoy when I did th ... " Nicora remarks, then stops herself before she says anything too implicating. "I have no idea, but how dangerous can a flower be?"
The Spinning Lotus is a vaguely flower-shaped ride, with smaller 'flowers' on the ends of giant petals. The passengers ride in the smaller flowers, sitting together in a large bowl. Then the lotus begins to turn, with each satellite flower turning as well, until the entire thing is spinning around while each sub-flower spins as well. There is much screaming.
"Hm. Maybe not. My stomach hasn't recovered from the last one," Nicora admits. "The battle boats? Is there anything that won't kill us?"
Battle Boats are pedal powered contraptions about the size of rowboats, but only accommodating two people. One person pedals the paddle-wheels and steers, while the other operates a hand pump to spray a jet of water at the other boats. There doesn't seem to be any 'winner' for each bout, as everyone ends up getting soaking wet. "If only we weren't dressed nice," Tulani laments. As a feline, she's quite averse to being sprayed with water.
"Right, so ... no flower spin of sickness and no battle boats," Nicora remarks and places her hands on her hips. "So, what does that leave us with? We still have tickets, right? There's always the tunnel again, but we might get slimed. Bleh."
"There is the big, slow moving wheel," Mave notes, pointing to the high wheel with carriages suspended from the spokes. "There are performances too," Tulani adds.
"The wheel could be fun, but I suspect it's more fun when you have someone with you that you're in love with," Nicora observes and rubs her chin in thought. "Still, might be worth it for the view of the city. And performances could be fun too. What is playing?"
"Side shows," Tulani says. "Jugglers and acrobats and magicians and probably some dancers."
"Oh, do they allow audience participation? I can juggle," Nicora says, perking up. "What would you like to do, Tulani?"
"I can sit and watch performers for awhile," Tulani notes with a grin. "There's also the arcade.. but they don't take tickets."
"What do they take?" Nicora asks and gestures for Tulani to lead them to one of the shows. "Can we sell them you for being such a pain in the rear today?" She grins.
"They prefer coins, I think," Tulani says drolly, and leads the way. The road leads between the games on one side and the performances on the other, both competing for attention. "Fire eaters! See them defy disfigurement!" "Try your luck! Get the ring on a bottle and win a prize" "Nagisa the snake dancer! Watch her tame the serpent!"
"Okay, I want to see the snake dancer," Nicora admits as her ears perk and flick towards that particular hawker. "Then maybe the ring toss. Fire ... well, being furred makes fire worrisome. I don't need disfigurement." That reminds her of a comment a certain Goddess once made about disfigurement being one of her favorites and she can't help herself and shudders.
"Okay, but I only see men lining up to see Nagisa," Tulani points out. The line for the fire eaters is mostly made up of women, in contrast. Still, the inside of the tent is roomy, with plenty of benches so that one has a good view of the stage from any vantage.
"And you have complains about being surrounded by men?" Nicora asks, grinning. "I might learn a new dance or two. But if you really want to see the fire, I'll ... go."
"We can see both," Mave points out, and leads the way into the tent, commandeering some seats right up front.
Nicora settles herself down on the bench next to Mave and folds her hands into her lap. Her interest really is possibly learning new movement and how it can entice others.
Tulani sits next to Nicora, and the tent fills up. The flaps are closed, and the musicians take their places - carrying instruments familiar to Nicora: drums, tambourines, bells and polished wooden clackers. The lanterns are dimmed, and a spotlight shines down on the stage, where two large whicker baskets (although they look more like cauldrons) set. An announcer speaks up, narrating: "From the forbidden depths of the Sea of Sand, she comes! Riding upon the backs of tamed Shriken, spoken of in hushed tones by the mysterious Nohbakim: NAGISA! Exotic enchantress of the desert!" The drums rolls, and the tambourines jingle, the sticks clack... and the lid of the leftmost cauldron begins to rise, as a human woman unfolds like a snake. She's dusky of skin and eye, with glossy black hair bound multiple times in a long tail that reaches to her waist. She's dressed in a bikini made of golden scales, with bells strung around her hips and wrists. Black Korv feathers are attached as accents, draping over her shoulder
over her shoulders, while translucent gauze harem pants cover her legs. She's human, and foreign - and Nicora knows a Gypsy when she sees one.
Nicora's brow arches up in surprise. She's ... surprised on some level to meet another of the road and the attire ... and taxes her brain if she has ever heard of or seen this human before under a different name. But for now she says nothing and watches studiously. Her head tilts this way and that as she watches for familiar movements that the dancers of her own 'family' used. "Who are you? Where are you from?" she wonders.
Nagisa's dance certainly follows the southern style of Abu Dhabi, using hands and arms and hips, yet also with some of the foot and legwork of the Sylvanian style, but at a much slower pace. The scales of her costume seem to sparkle and shimmer like liquid with every movement, and Nicora can tell that Tulani is mesmerized by the shear shininess of it all. The solo dance continues for some time, before Nagisa shakes her fanny at the audience as she bends down to lift the lid from the second basket. The music changes tempo, becoming deeper and more percussive, as a black cobra Naga slowly emerges, as if a demon being summoned from the netherworld. The reptile is painted in swirling patterns of bright red, giving the impression of flames, with starbursts around his eyes and other lines used to highlight the muscles of his chest and abdomen.
"Foreign. She has learned from the gypsies of this land but is not one of them," Nicora decides as she watches each movement, particularly the modified footwork. Every now and then she even nods when something stands out to her as known. The rise of the naga causes her to sit up a bit straighter and shift a bit. The presence of her own serpentine tail beneath her dress is brought more to her mind as she sees another emerge from the basket. "She is good," Nicora whispers to Mave. "A mix of styles."
"Quite sensuous," Mave agrees.
"I wish I could dance so well," Nicora remarks softly in reply.
The serpent coils about Nagisa, but instead of confining her, he manages to move with the woman's undulations. He looms up behind her, hands on her ribs and hood fanning out, until he almost becomes an extension of her costume. Nagisa switches to a different dance style, which uses more high-steps and spins, with her arms spread out for balance. Her partner matches each move, adhering to her like a cloak without actually wrapping around, save for his hands (which act like a bra). It looks like she's sweeping the stage with the cobra's tail.
Nicora is entranced by the dance. This woman is amazing, even Nyneve could learn some tricks from her. Wow. And the naga ... the Eee can't help herself, she begins to find him and his movements very alluring. There are moments when her mind slips and imagines that she is in his coiled embrace. Maybe it reminds her of her own shadow-dragon silent partner that embraces her. Or maybe she's just finding him really attractive. "Wow," she murmurs.
The transition is so smooth, that it takes a moment to really notice; Nagisa's feet leave the stage completely, as she is lifted aloft by the serpent. This is where the dance becomes completely new to Nicora, since traditionally some part of the dancer has to be in contact with the floor. With the dark curtains and the selective lighting, the Naga practically vanishes, marked only by the scale-paintings as Nagisa seems to float free.
Nicora leans forward, silvery eyes wide as she watches, impressed.
Part of Nicora's mind now thinks of ... Melusine, when she is lifted and cradled by that shadow dragon. She never knew it could look so ... amazing.
The dance becomes something more akin to ballet, as Nagisa is spun and twirled by her partner, even rolling across his shoulders as she swings around him. The lights brighten, so the Naga is clearer, and Nagisa is now embracing him with her legs and one arm, as the performance takes a decidedly more erotic tone - assuming that's how a Naga and a human would actually mate. Almost unnoticed, the serpent's tail slides up and into one of the baskets, slowly drawing him back into it. Still locked in embrace, and even sharing a kiss, the pair of dancers sink into the wicker cauldron, with only Nagisa's swaying arms remaining in view - right until the music stops with a loud clacking of wood and the arms vanish from sight!
The lights come up, and the announcer says, "Nagisa the Serpent Charmer, Ladies and Gentleman!" The crowd bursts into applause as the house lights come back up and the curtains draw closed on the stage.
"Wow, do I envy her," Nicora whispers to Mave before she breaks into applause! "That was beautiful! Amazing," she thinks, smiling, "Such grace and coordination. They must practice together often. I suspect they are a couple."
"Nagas are powerful lovers once you get past the coldness," Mave says. "Why, just riding one, and feeling the muscles flex beneath you, is quite the experience."
"Not something I will likely experience," Nicora admits quietly and suddenly finds herself feeling oddly envious of Mave for a moment. She shakes her head.
"So shiny," Tulani murmurs. "And some of those steps looked familiar too," she notes, looking to Nicora. "Gypsy dancing?"
"The stepping in the beginning was Sylvanian. A variant I've seen before with the Radovah girls," Nicora agrees and nods once. "The other parts may be Abu Dhabian. I'm not as certain. And the last bit with that handsome naga was ... nothing like I've ever seen."
"Left me a little tingly too," Tulani admits. "Maybe I should get swirling red fur-paint like that someday! The fire-eaters will probably help us cool down at least."
Nicora speaks up a bit in case the two dancers can hear her, "That was simply amazing. A magnificent blend of the styles of this land and others. There are many dancers I know who could learn much from you. Thank you for sharing it with us. Maybe I will see you again some day." She then nods to Tulani, feeling a bit ... tingly herself. She has to wonder if Inala did make her a little more lusty but ... it's hard to get upset because, well, it is enjoyable ... up until the punishment starts. Anyway, yes, perhaps fire will help!
The setup for the fire eaters is much the same, but with the crowd being mostly female this time. Getting seats close to the stage is thus a bit harder, since Mave can't simply charm some women into.. oh wait, she apparently can do that. Once again, the trio get front-row seating.
"Some days I really hate you," Nicora grumbles to Mave as they sit down. It's not fair how good Mave is at that!
"But not the days when you benefit from my company, I assume," Mave notes with a grin. The lights aren't dimmed quite as much, and stage hands begin setting out buckets of water, unlabelled bottles and lit torches. A female announcer intones, "On an unnamed tropical island in the Sea of the Pale, north from dragon-ruled Jadai and west of haunted Lamu live a tribe of humans who worship.. FIRE!" Two men roll onto stage just then, grab up torches, and blow streams of fire from them over the crowd! They are human, wearing loincloths and feathered anklets and bracelets. The fire glistens off of oiled, muscular physiques covered in exotic, tribal looking tattoos. Their hair is long and dark and wild, and they stomp their feet on the stage like a drum roll. "Here are two high priests, here to perform the rite of appeasement to their Fire Goddess, Kali!" the announcer concludes.
Mave and Tulani both perk up, eyes wide. Along with just about every other woman in the crowd.
"Find me a naga and I might forgive you," Nicora teases right back, only to be cut short bythe start and sudden gouts of fire above her heads. Soon she has joined Tulani and Mave is staring at the oiled men in rapt appreciation. "Look at the curves and strength and ... Okay, calm down! Calm," she thinks to herself.
"I don't think this will help lessen feeling ... tingly," Nicora whimpers to Tulani.
Torches begin to fly about as the two men juggle them back and forth, all the while keeping up their foot-stomping rhythm. "Maybe that's what the buckets of water are for; to cool off the audience!" Tulani whispers back.
The juggling pauses, as the men throw their head back and swallow the burning head of a torch, only to pull it out, relight it with the other torch, and then swallow that one. It's done so rapidly that the fire leaves trails in the air.
Nicora shifts herself again as she watches. She knows what she's feeling well by now and silently hopes that maybe the water is for that, but ... it is unlikely. So for now she leans forward again, steadying herself with her elbows on her knees, and watches the two men.
The patterns drawn in the air are mesmerizing. And then the dancers pick up the bottles, and light the lips of them on fire. The juggle the bottles back and forth, along with the torches, and on each pass manage to pour out some of the liquid into their hands - so that soon their fingertips each hold a tiny flame. It might be done with magic - or wax - but in either case it's still impressive as the men literally paint on themselves with burning gel but don't get burned. They even use it on the tips of their tongues, which get waggled at the audience.
Oddly enough, Nicora's ears dance this way and that as they seem to move in time to the juggling. Why? Who knows. Perhaps its her own innate experience with juggling timing the movement. Still, she does find this impressive too! One advantage to no body fur ... flame can be used in art safely. Maybe she could get Snow to learn this ... she would ... hm, no, probably irritate her skin! So, on she watches, enraptured by the flame and movement!
One 'priest' clutches his torch in his teeth, and then somersaults off of the stage to stand before the first row. He holds the torch out over the heads of the women, and begins to walk along the row as his partner stamps out a loud, slow drumbeat on the stage. "And now the High Priest will seek the one who will represent the Goddess Kali!" the announcer claims. And sure enough, the man pauses right in front of Nicora and smiles down at her, then offers his free hand.
Nicora blinks a few times, then points to herself in shock. It's effort to not grin widely at being chosen and show that she feels positively giddy to be 'representing' a Goddess. She sits up and then lifts her right hand up and places her fingers lightly into his palm. "I accept," she says in a steady, polite, tone as she rises to her feet.
The torch goes back in the man's teeth, and his hands (and boy are they big hands) grab her around the waist and lift Nicora into the air. There's a spin, and then she's set down on the stage, where the second dancer guides her back towards the center.
It's hard not to squeak when she's lifted up and spun, but somehow Nicora manages to not. She walks backwards gingerly, taking up her position in the center of the stage. This doesn't bother her at all so far, if for nothing else than she used to perform! Still, the fire is a bit worrisome given that she is flammable, but ... they must do this a lot and there were no warning signs about getting burned. She folds her hands before herself, then tilts her head towards the second dancer and nods once to him.
The men begin to circle around their stand-in Goddess, twirling torches in their hands like batons. And then they start to move faster, eventually spinning their entire bodies and skipping from one foot to the other as the whirl around the Eeee, their torches becoming circles of fire, and then appearing to be the interlocking rings of a chain from the afterimages!
For her part, Nicora stands solemn and straight, her hands folded together and fingers interlocked. Now and then her head dips ever so slightly as if nodding in approval to those dancing about her with rings of fire. "They won't hurt you," she reminds herself, "And this is so flattering! Me, a Goddess!"
Stage hands bring out two props: on one side of the stage, an elaborate red headdress made to look like rising flames, while on the other end is set a bronze-looking chalice. The priests set their torches into the standing holders for them, and step in so they flank Nicora on each side. Each places one hand on each of Nicora's shoulders, and takes her wrists in their other hands. A gentle tug urges Nicora to unlock her fingers. Music is coming from backstage now, to replace the drumming of the dancers' feet.
Nicora's fingers separate easily, the Eeee not offering any resistance to the dancer's insistence. She looks from one to the other, her lips curling up slightly with a coy smile of amusement as if to say, "Yes, you may attend to me." There's a single nod from the Eeee to confirm that they may continue.
The hands on her shoulders stroke along her arms as the priests outstretch them, until her palms face upwards, sandwiched between the hands of the dancers. They then release Nicora, spin and grab up the props. The headdress and chalice are held high as the men parade around Nicora, until one places the crown on her head from behind, while the other drops to one knee and places the chalice at her feet - and slips what appear to be two brown balls from the cup into his hands.
Nicora takes the cues in stride, keeping her arms spread and palms up, having an inkling of an idea of what is coming. When she feels the headdress come up behind her, her ears flick and adjust slightly by feel, making sure that they do not get in the way of the ornate crown. She stands still, looking out into the audience with a firm, almost regal, expression; one she has seen Rose use at times when she expects to be obeyed. "Flaming balls?" she wonders to herself ... and also wonders how they might react if she joined in the juggling in some fashion. Still, no time to dwell on it much now ... let them lead for safety.
Tulani grins madly from the front row, while Mave just smiles enigmatically, as usual. The first priest goes to retrieve the torches, while the second stands in front of Nicora, close enough that she can feel his body heat, and places the balls into her outstretched palms. He winks at her, whispering, "Don't move or worry," before moving off to one side. The first priest then tosses a torch to him, then the second.. and then all four are in the air, spinning before and behind Nicora as the men juggle.
"Worrying is the least of the things on my mind right now," Nicora remarks very softly when the man is before her and blocking the crowd from seeing her speak. As he slips away, her expression returns to stoic. Performance ... this she knows so well. There is no fear or butterflies. The crowds really don't matter, the show does. It's a powerful feeling and combined with the arousal she still feels ... well, she is really enjoying this.
The juggling goes on for a minute, and then the music changes. The men catch the torches and hold onto them, and then each dips one to light the balls held in Nicora's hands. The left burns green, and the right blue.. and since the flame wicks upwards the lower hemispheres don't get hot at all against her palms. The two dancers, bow, then step forward and pick up the balls in their teeth. Their heads jerk back, and they spit the balls out, arcing them over Nicora's headdress.. and catching them in their teeth again. They continue to juggle them like this, and then start in with the torches as well, causing a roar of applause from the crowd.
And alas, Nicora can't applaud at all. She has to thank the dancers by playing the role. Her expression remains stoic, expecting that these men should be performing for her. Her arms remain spread, palms up and unwavering. Its's through her ears and the corners of her eyes that she can watch the show around her. It's ... well, if being worshipped feels like this it's good to be a Goddess!
Finally, the men catch the balls and suck them back into their mouths, blowing out streams of smoke from their nostrils as they turn to face the audience. The then lunge forward, falling to one knee, and stab their torches head first into the buckets of water to raise up clouds of steam. Then then turn to bow down before the Goddess (and spit the balls into the chalice at her feet). They then stand take her outstretched hands in theirs and turn her palms down so they can kiss the backs of her hands. The music stops, but it's drowned out by the crowd anyway, even as the curtain closes.
Nicora doesn't remain completely passive in the last few moments of the act. After the kisses are placed on the backs of her hands, she rolls her wrists. For a moment she cups each of them under their chins. Her fingers draw up, lightly drawing her claws over their cheeks. They come to stop at each of the men's foreheads, tilting their heads back to look up at her. She says nothing still, but gives her approval through a brief smile, then a nod. Simple, short, and approving. It's there she returns to being still as the crowds cheer and the curtains close.
"I could tell by the way you watched us that you were a juggler yourself," the High Priest says with a grin after the finger stroking.
"How so?" Nicora asks as she draws her hands back then up to lift the headdress from her head. "It is true."
"The expression on your face," the man says, as the other takes the headdress from her. Stage hands arrive to begin cleaning up. "It's difficult to describe. I'm sure you've seen it during your own practice though."
The announcer arrives, smiling. "Wonderful performance as always guys! Now it's sponge-bath time before that emulsion starts to dry out. Thank you for your participation, miss." That last part is directed to Nicora of course.
"I used to perform, but it has been a long time," Nicora admits, "But true, you do often notice those who do similar acts watch the show differently. More on the technique than on the flash I suppose you could say." Her lips curl up again as she adds, "Not that watching both of you didn't have its own pleasures, believe me." Ear ears flick in amusement, then she has to nod the to announcer. "You're most welcome, I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you for letting me take part."
A white-haired feline head pokes through the curtains, with a matching white streak across an otherwise black face. "You coming out, Nicora?" Tulani says, maybe with a hint of jealousy.
"Oh, eventually," Nicora counters, amused. "I was about to help bathe these lovely performers, but ..." She lets out a mock sigh and tells the two, "It appears I have to go look after my friend once more. She is so demanding." She now winks to the pair, then heads for the stage exit.
The men share a laugh, and the second one suggests, "We could invite her along." But it's clearly in jest, as the announcer is already ushering them off the stage.
Outside, Mave and Tulani wait. "Did you enjoy the performance from on the stage?" Mave asks.
"Just don't think about an Eeee's tongue," Nicora remarks to the men as she departs to meet the others. "Oh, quite a bit, even though I could not do much in it. With acts like that there is a defined choreography. Interrupting it can be very dangerous. And you were wrong, Tulani, still tingly." She's at least grinning.
"I don't mind being wrong this time," the Sphynx claims. "But there aren't any Naga rides though. What should we do next?"
Nicora rubs her chin. "Well, there are those rides left, the Lotus and the big wheel. I'm up for the big wheel if you are," she offers. "Or the arcade. One of you could win a prize and give it to me to show me how much you adore me," she claims.
"Alright, a few games along the way to the wheel," Tulani agrees, then whispers, "They're all rigged to be next to impossible to win - but how much do you want to wager Mave will still get a prize each time?"
"Oh I know I'll lose that bet. She'll win. It's not fair. We're both prettier, right?" Nicora whispers back to Tulani.
"And we're younger too," Tulani notes, narrowing her eyes. "Do you really think experience trumps youth and beauty afterall?"
"Well ... there was a lapi named Galand who is an older gentleman. I have to admit his experience sure helped me ... adjust and open up to doing certain things," Nicora admits to Tulani, "So experience does help quite a bit once you actually get your claws on some one. Youth merely makes the getting part easier. What happens afterward, well ... experience wins."
"Hmmm.. just imagine how formidable we'll be when we reach Mave's age then!" Tulani says, then blinks. "Well, me anyway. You'll be a guy again.. succumbing to the charms of women like Mave and me!"
"That is the hope at least It all depends on if Melusine turns me back or leaves me like this," Nicora admits and shrugs her shoulders slightly. "Until then, though, I do fully intend to enjoy my experience like this. I'm having a good time, all things considered!" What she doesn't say, though, revolves around the fact she's also cursed in a fairly unpleasant and frustrating way. Inala's blessing makes sure that she indulges when she can ... and Gorphat's punishes her for it! Still, everything has been worth it, even with pains along the way...