The day is coming to a close and Mave's business deals with the Amazonians have concluded. When they returned to the spa each of her friends declared they wanted to go rest and went their separate ways. It's apparent enough to Mave why Nicora wanted to go rest; her gait betrayed her current 'condition' well enough, she's come to recognize when Nicora isn't 'feeling good' as it were.

Still, a few hours later and once night has fallen Mave receives a note through the servants. It's from Nicora. It requests her presence in one of the many spa bowers on the estate. It even includes a rough map and a request that she comes alone. Since Nicora can often be a source of mild amusement for Mave off she goes to see just what the other Eeee wants

The Bower of Peaceful Meditation
A gazebo-like bower somewhere in the garden, accessed by an ornately carved stone bridge over a stream. The walls are translucent fabric that hands like gauze, providing privacy. With the way it folds and apparently with what it is made of, little sound is able to penetrates it, save for muffled tones. It may even be enchanted, but only a mage could say for certain. Several lounging couches are arranged in a circle, allowing its occupants to converse. In the center is an ornate marble table upon which a decanter of wine and several glasses sit.

One of the gauzy walls is pulled back and Nicora is inside, reclining on one of the lounge-chairs. She's dressed in her 'spa' garb, meaning just her waist-skirt and upper-body jewelry. The darker Eeee is holding a statue Mave recognizes well enough, the voluptuous 'idol' that Mave had loaned her when she was first transformed. Nicora is staring at it with an oddly curious expression on her face as she traces a claw over its very 'pregnant' belly. She hasn't shown that she's noticed Mave yet should Mave decide to surprise the more serious Eeee.

"I thought you might still be sore," Mave comments as she breezes in through the open side, dressed much the same as Nicora is. The Yodhinala sits at the end of the lounge chair.

"I didn't request that you come here for that," Nicora remarks, her smirk rather amused. She leans over and sets the idol on the table, then collects her half-full glass of wine and takes a sip from it. "Feel free," she offers and waves her hand towards the decanter and empty glasses. "I wanted to talk to you about a serious topic," she notes, swirling her glass of wine. "As hard as that is to believe."

One brow rises on the white Eeee's forehead, as she takes the other glass and sips. "What could be so serious that you'd need to speak with me alone about it?"

"I want to talk to you about children ... and Tulani," Nicora notes and takes a sip from her own glass. "She's a hybrid; khatta/vartan. They're often sterile, you know. She confessed to me once she wanted to have children, though. Since you're the /expert/ on children, I wanted to talk to you about it. I also want to understand why ... because doesn't it /hurt/ to have children?"

"It only hurts while actually delivering them, but the memory of that is washed away in the euphoria that follows," Mave notes, sipping and looking at Nicora over the rim of the wineglass. "And after your success with Phlagaea and Rosalind, are you think you can do the same with Tulani now?"

"Oh, no. I don't think she would want that. She should be able to find a nice normal male; I'm neither. Especially right now," Nicora notes with a bemused smirk. She takes another sip from her glass and relaxes. "Tell me about how it feels to have a child. I want to understand what Rosalind and Phlagaea will be going through," she requests. "Then we'll get back to what could be done for Tulani."

"Hmmm, it is.. hard to describe," Mave notes. "It is perhaps the only thing where every nerve and muscle and breath come together to accomplish a single goal. The first time is very painful and stressful as well, and puts a huge demand on the body. It is also incredibly messy of course."

"Is it ... uncomfortable to be all .. swollen?" Nicora asks and pantomimes over her own stomach to further clarify. "Tell me ... why do women usually desire it, even if it is painful and stressful."

Mave smiles, and explains, "Nature demands it, and so nature compensates. There are many rewards to balance the discomfort. And Eeee do not become so swollen until the latter stages."

"Hmmm," Mave starts. "Inala blesses you with a certain strength and beauty, and feelings of contentment.. when your mood is not going through rapid shifts, anyway. Sex is better, as you are more sensitive. All of your senses improve."

At that Nicora, actually laughs. "Now you make me want to experience it," she teases, then winks to Mave. "But as that would be impossible, I will settle for helping Tulani find a way if possible. Can Inala help Tulani at all?"

"It would require a Miracle, certainly," Mave notes. "And Tulani would have to decide which half of her heritage to be fertile. But a great service to Inala could gain such a great reward," she says, a bit cagily.

Nicora's brow arches slightly at that. "What sort of great service?" she asks warily.

"That is.. between Tulani and Inala," Mave notes, and sips her wine. "I can speak to her about it, of course."

"I'm not sure about that," Nicora admits and shakes her head. "Tulani might come kill me because I talked to you about it."

"She need not know you were involved," Mave says. "I need not even mention fertility, only ask what she might want of the Kindly One if she had a choice."

"Mm," Nicora considers and sips from her own glass. "That may be fine, then. I wish I could help her somehow, but ... I'm her friend. And not that sort of friend. That much I am very aware of. Besides, I have Phlagaea and Rosalind; and dealing with them scares me enough." She grins.

"So, you would help her serve Inala in order to gain her boon?" Mave asks, one eyebrow raised again.

"I don't serve and honor Her enough already? Her blessing drives me to all sorts of carnal acts," Nicora claims.

"Ah, but that does not serve her directly, but helps you to accept the form you wear instead," Mave points out. "Of course, you could also ask for a substantial boon."

Nicroa takes a sip from her glass. "Ever tell this to anyone and I'll deny it, but I enjoy and am honored to bear Inala's blessing. It has opened my eyes to may things and pleasures I could have never imagined," she admits. She then shrugs and sets her empty glass down. "I'm not sure what I would ask Inala for as a boon, truth be told. There is nothing I find myself needing."

"I'm sure there is something, which you may not be consciously aware of," Mave says. "But this is all just... conjecture, yes?"

"What do you mean by that? Consciously aware of?" Nicora asks, her brow arching slightly. "And no, it isn't necessarily. I want to find a way to help Tulani. She's my friend."

"I still probably owe you several favors by now," Nicora says, the gestures towards the idol. "From loaning me this, to just being a general pain ... which is surprisingly helpful at times." She winks.

"Oh, I'm sure you'll be able to repay me," Mave claims, with a glitter in her eyes. "When the time comes, I will ask a favor of you."

"Oh, I know you will; Inala told me to expect it the last time She and I ... talked," Nicora notes, then shudders. That was back in worms, where the horrible nightmare of being with Vorg happened ... it still gives her full-body shudders.

Mave has reply to that comment, and just sips her wine. "Are you looking forward to returning to Babel?" she asks.

"Truthfully, no," Nicora admits. The question causes her to lean over and pour a fresh glass of wine. After a sip, she continues. "I fear facing many things there. I have to take something of Phlagaea's to the Temple of Gorphat, and that place is terrifying, to going to Mount Sunala, to even an audience with the current government." She shrugs and adds, "At least looking as I do ... no one will accost me. No one dares touch a Yodhsunala."

"Not while the Avatar sits within the Temple, at least," Mave notes. "You must be wary of the real Yodhsunala though."

"Of some I do, that is very true," Nicora agrees and nods. "And I must return to my 'natural' form there too. I'm still not quite sure what to say or do. I feel very lost in everything; but this must be done. Rosalind made that very clear."

"An audience with your father should not be difficult to arrange," Mave suggests. "You merely need to say that it is regarding Alptraum."

"Oh, that I don't expect will be difficult to arrange. It's more about what to say," Nicora notes, then shrugs. "I have a hundred ideas and it's never coherent."

"You can always just go and let your father ask the questions, instead of speaking first," Mave notes. "Or simply tell him that he is going to be a grandfather."

"No, I really can't. There are things I need to say," Nicora says before drinking down half a glass of wine. "I still have time to think on it, at least. There are still ports to pass through." She ponders something, then asks, "Will I be a guest at your Temple while we are there? If not, I can manage my own lodgings."

"It may have been rebuilt in your absence," Nicora notes, then shrugs. "But at least this means I do not have to fear you trying to convince me to become a Yodhinala." She grins impishly.

Mave hmmphs. "The Temple will see new life again," she insists, and finishes her glass of wine.

"Aw, I'm disappointed. Here I was expecting you to try and claim I would make a good one," Nicora teases and sticks out her tongue. Okay, so she might be a little tipsy.

"Really? Do tell," Nicora prompts as she rolls and spins herself until she has her head in Mave's lap and she's looking up at the white Eeee.

"Well, in your current form you would simply not do," Mave ticks off on her fingers. "Your normal form is adequate, should you keep your arm disguised. Otherwise, the ability to change forms would make you highly desired in general, so long as you kept to young, beautiful Eeee bodies. The tail might be an issue.."

"Aw, but some people like weird appendages," Nicora teases, then sticks out her tongue. "And it has lots of uses; the Rath'ani liked it a lot. You really make me feel like I could fit in anywhere, you know. Hmph. Gorphat's temple would probably accept me but ... they're scary and the things they go through..." She shudders.

"The Yodhinala are understandably picky about appearances," Mave points out. "Not all of my own children qualified for Temple service."

"I'll probably never see mine. I don't expect to survive Babel," Nicora admits in a moment of tipsy honesty.

"Lets see," Nicora ticks off on her fingers. "Enemies of father might try to kill me. father might as well. Certain Yodhsunala might, the wraith of the Barsunala wants to, which is why I can't become male again or it tries to take over, whatever horrors remain in Gorphat's temple may," she goes through. "Even you might, if it served your purposes. I have no friends there."

"You don't consider me a friend?" Mave asks, pouting. "You have Tulani, surely?"

"Answer this truthfully: If the choice restore your temple was sacrificing my life, would you do it?" Nicora asks.

"Only if you let me," Mave replies. "But I know Inala will not ask that of you."

"Inala likes me, or at least seems to. She keeps showing me new ways of pleasure. If you had seen what happened with that naga," Nicora remarks as she sits upright and next to Mave. "But she has also confused me."

"It is not easy to understand the Kindly Ones," Mave notes. "They can have many aspects while maintaining the same face, depending on local belief."

"Everything she has done to me has made me question if I want to return to as I was," Nicora admits. She reaches out, grabs her empty glass, then cowls at it because it is empty. "Even I have had thoughts about what it would be like to bear a child," she admits and splays her ears out. "This whole trip has been confusing. Yet, I wouldn't change the decision I made to wear this form if I had know ahead of time."

"You can always use your dagger to change back, and experience things as a male again," Mave notes. "Of course, you are also not fully accustomed to the hormones and moods of the female body, having not undergone puberty as a woman."

"I'm a little worried about changing at all what with what happened last time," Nicora admits, shrugs, and gives up on her empty glass. "You asked me earlier if I considered you a friend. Do you think of me as a friend? Someone you care about?" she asks.

"Yodhinala relationships are complex," Mave notes. This isn't surprising, given that this is a woman how has sold her own daughter into slavery. "I trust you, and feel I can depend on you, and enjoy your company. I do care about your welfare."

Nicora leans over, curls her right hand around the back of Mave's neck, then kisses her. "Then I consider you a friend," she says once she lets go.

"Someone to break all manner of rules on morality and perversion with, of course," Nicora counters with her own smirk.

"Ah, an older woman in other words?" Mave asks with a grin. "Do you respect me, fear me or hold me in awe?"

"Ah, that is good then," Mave says, and taps Nicora on the nose with a finger. "It means you do not take me for granted."

"Of course not. I also consider you my guide on how to be a woman. That is valuable too," Nicora claims and tries to lick Mave's finger.

Mave twirls her finger in an attempt to capture Nicora's tongue. "I am the epitome of womanhood, so that is reasonable," she claims.

"And I just remembered, I wanted to ask you what you bought from the merchant earlier. Anything you can share?" Nicora asks before she lets Mave catch her tongue. Her head leans in and she clamps her mouth down lightly on Mave's finger, then sucks on it once playfully and flaps her ears.

"Rare herbs needed for the Milk of Inala," Mave notes. "Those of the greatest purity grow only on the mountains of the Seven Sisters and in Amazonia."

Nicora pulls her head back and drags her teeth along before she lets go. "Ah, so something I really wouldn't want to have," she concludes and licks her lips.

"The last of my original stock was used up to create the potions needed for Phlagaea and Rosalind," Mave notes. "It has many uses beyond fertility however. It is a core ingredient in many religious rituals."

"Wasn't it also used to induce my first cycle?" Nicora asks. "And I suppose I owe you for those, then. What did ti cost you to buy from the merchant?"

"You are impossible. You make me feel like a leech," Nicora complains. "I haven't contributed anything to this trip."

"I guess," Nicora still grumbles. She waves towards the idol on the table, then asks, "do you mind if I continue to keep that?"

"It is yours," Mave says magnanimously. "A reminder of my generosity, perhaps." She grins wickedly.

"And encouragement to pray to your Mistress, mm? Arousal does seem to draw her," Nicora teases and grins right back.

"It ... first brings me closer to Inala, then to Gorphat," Nicora claims as she reaches over and picks up the statue. "I do desire to be closer to all my Aunts, to try and bring unity to Babel."

"The pain is ... uncomfortable, annoying, and a reminder. It is survivable," she adds.

"I caution you on seeking out the other Sisters," Mave notes in a serious tone. "They are less personable."

"Barada, Zakaro, and Blakat? I assume you also consider Gorphat to be less ... personable," Nocora asks.

"It is too late to ignore Gorphat," Mave notes, "but at least She serves a purpose. The others are selfish, even Rephath - for what is more selfish than vengeance?"

"I am duty-bound to seek out Gorphat, because of her High Priestess Phlagaea and her relationship with me," Nicora admits. "I've spoken with Repath once and you might be surprised, but she showed some signs of being reasonable." The dark Eeee shrugs a bit at that. "As for Gorphat, perhaps she will release me from her gifts once I reach Babel and present to her temple Phlagaea's gift."

"You may have to, to convince Gorphat to release you from them," the Yodhinala points out.

Nicora's lips draw back in a sly smile. "Would you like me to ask Gorphat to help make you stronger?" she teases.

"You are not a Yodh," Mave notes. "The Barsunala may rightly be claimed by several of the Sisters as a servant. Inala, Gorphat, Blakat, Rephath.. even Zakaro and Barada may have functions which demand the transfer of spirits or the application of death."

"You are ... so infuriating," Nicora claims and flaps her arms. She grows quiet for a bit, then asks, "Are you staying with your daughter tonight, or do you have your own room?"

"I will stay with my daughter," Mave notes. "It is unlikely that I will have the chance to visit with her again."

"You never know," Nicora notes. "But that tells me I can't drag you off to my room for the night. Ah well."

"Are you unfulfilled after your trysts on the beach, or do you simply which remind yourself that you are touched by Inala.. and Gorphat?" Mave asks with a grin.

"A little of the latter, and more that I haven't been with an older woman in a long time," Nicora claims, then grins fangily. "But ... I can always take your gift and offer prayer to Inala. I don't want to come between you and your daughter."

"We will next stop in Abu Dhabi," Mave notes. "Perhaps an opportunity will arise there."

Nicora reaches out with her foot and collects the idol. Once it is transferred to her hand, she says, "Thank you for coming to talk. IF you do talk to Tulani about Inala ... please let me know if she wants to try and correct her condition. But, don't pressure her."

"Hmm, she may wish for discretion," Mave notes, standing up. "I will tell you if I can."

"Fair enough," Nicora and agrees as she stands with Mave. "I also expect that you won't tell her I've thought about what it would be like to have a child," she adds, "I blame this body for that."

"I will keep that to myself," Mave assures. "Although it is not an unreasonable thing to be curious about - most women do wonder, after all."

"Maybe some day I'll be asking you to find a way to help me in that, eh?" Nicora asks, then laughs. She leans over and lightly kisses Mave's cheek. "Goodnight, Yodhinala. I will see you in the morning. Now, go to your daughter. Let a depraved mutant Eeee indulge herself in ways she should avoid." And with that, Nicora saunters out of the enclosure, hips swaying in her wake. She even waves the idol over her shoulder in a final goodbye.