Nicora woke up sore that morning - and not just from Gorphat's curse. She was vaguely aware that Mave returned sometime last evening, but Gamal had kept her preoccupied. Now Tulani was nearly finished dressing for the day in the room they shared. "I'm surprised Gamal brought you back here," the Sphynx says.
"Mrgpth," Nicora complains as she rolls herself upright and rubs her eyes to clear them. "I think he had things he had to do with his mother," she remarks as she stifles a yawn. She stretches her arms upward and ends up wincing a bit as muscles complain. "I just hope it wasn't ... well. They had better not have been intimate. That is just gross."
"I imagine it was more to do with saying goodbye to his sister," Tulani speculates. "Mave went to collect her remains yesterday, after all."
"I hope so. I am still surprised she didn't want my help, but ... " Nicora ends up shrugging. She stands up from the bed and walks over to get her clothing. Her walk is a bit ... off; probably due do a fair amount of muscle stiffness ... and a bit of discomfort in other areas. "Where are you off to, today?" she asks
"I've no plans, really," Tulani notes. "There are few places near the airfield I might check for news. Otherwise, I thought I'd watch you mutilate yourself down in Hayfa's piercing parlor." She gives a big feline grin when she says that.
"If you come, you have to get something," Nicora teases, "And it is hardly mutilation, I can heal myself with the shadow, you know."
"What do you mean I'd have to get something?" Tulani asks. "I've already doubled the amount of jewelry I'd owned before we left on this trip!"
"You don't escape the needle, that's what I mean. This trip is about doing new things as well as getting things done," Nicora teases, "I think you should get that navel ring."
"Oh no, I don't want anything like that," Tulani claims, protecting her belly with her hands. "What if someone tried to steal it, and ripped it right out? Yowch!"
"That is hard to do, you know. C'mon, be a little adventurous," Nicora teases. "I'm brave enough."
"And itchy. Thanks, Gorphat," Nicora thinks to herself.
"You're crazy, though," the Sphynx points out. "I've seen people nearly lose their ears from rings getting caught in rigging, or having stuff cut or ripped free while they were passed out drunk."
"I am hardly crazy," Nicora says and even pouts.
"Mave encourages you to be crazy then," Tulani amends. "Did you have fun with Gamal?"
"He's ... insatiable," Nicora notes, "And has amazing energy. It was surprisingly satisfying. He also tastes good." What tasted good, though, she doesn't elaborate on. "I think you would have a lot of fun with him."
"And you wouldn't be jealous if I did?" Tulani teases in a sweet voice. "I can't believe you've slept with a mother AND her child. You didn't do anything with Pleione too did you?"
"What is to be jealous about, I know I'm better than you are," Nicora teases right back and grins. "And no, I didn't do anything with Pleione."
"Ah, so it's more to do with Gamal's aggression than with yours in this case," Tulani says. "I suppose I can give him another chance to seduce me while you're off getting poked full of holes..."
"Just realize he'll want to try, well, everything. And I do mean everything," Nicora notes, grinning. "It's also up to you if you want to come ... or go scare and surprise Gamal."
"I can do without watching a needle in action that doesn't involve sewing," Tulani says. "Mave will probably ask me to go secure transport for our next destination too."
"Kiss before I go?" Nicora teases and even flutters her eyelashes at Tulani.
The Sphynx turns and bends over, then pats the left cheek next to her tail. "Feel free!" she laughs.
And so Nicora swats Tulani's backside and when she comes up, kisses her nose! "Some day, some say," she says, grinning toothily. She waves her fingers, then slinks out the door!
There's no sign of Gamal or Mave as Nicora makes her way through the villa, but the fancy coaches are still on the grounds, so Lord Kazuhiko likely hasn't left yet. She takes her time making her way to the Dancer's Market, taking in the sights and sounds of the city, and perhaps wondering what some of the locals taste like. Once at The Clip Joint, she makes her way to the back room, where she finds the Eeee, Hayfa, working on a Lapi buck. His pants are down, his buckness is on the table in a sort of wooden cradle, and a heavy leather strap is clamped in his jaw. He blinks a bit at Nicora's arrival.
"Be right with you," Hayfa mutters in Khattan, as she stretches the bit to be pierced and straps it into place, then dabs some alcohol on it.
Nicora blinks herself when she steps through. "Well, now doesn't he look like a delicious little bunny," she actually teases. "Just what is he having done today, hmm?" She finds herself a place to lean on the wall and actually watches. "If he's getting done what I think he is ... ow! And why?" she has to wonder. She checks to make sure he's not a slave by looking for a collar.
There's no collar.. but his ears have tattooed patterns in them. He doesn't answer Nicora, since he's got his mouth full. "Oh, just a little something for the does," the bat says, as she swabs down a long bone needle.. and then jabs it down and through. It's as if every muscle in the Lapi's body went tense at once. Even his eyes bug out!
"Does that actually improve things?" Nicora asks Hayfa. She also can't help herself and has to wince, knowing how much that had to hurt. She hasn't completely forgotten what it was like to be male.
"I've done a few things to my boyfriend," Hayfa notes, then flashes Nicora a grin just before she inserts a stud-and-pin. She must know what she's doing, given the amazing lack of blood spurting out. "He just has to keep it clean and avoid sex for a week. The real trick is getting around the plumbing - don't want to pierce any important tubes.."
"Has he done anything to you?" Nicora inquires, ears perked. While Hayfa works she now approaches and walks behind the buck. There she rubs his shoulders lightly, trying to get him to relax and maybe not focus on how much that had to hurt.
The Eeee disinfects the area again, then attaches a lower stud to hold it all in place. "All sorts of things!" Hayfa laughs. "Oh, you mean decoratively? No, not yet. He's a tattooist."
"Have you done anything to yourself?" Nicora asks next as she continues to kneed the buck's shoulders, then leans in to gently lick-groom one of his ears.
The buck doesn't really relax much, and the licking doesn't help. Hayfa notices, and says, "Keep that up, it'll help me check for leaks. As for me.. well, about half of my stuff I did myself - the other half was my teacher."
"You both do good work," Nicora states as she draws herself up until she's pressed against the lapi's back. There she lightly lick-nibbles along his ears. She's an expert with large ears, after all.
The buck bites down on his leather, and whimpers - but despite his excitement, he doesn't pop any seams. "Okay, I think you're good to go, Mr. Hoppy!" Hayfa declares. "Just remember that there are no sanitary orifices, so keep it out of any for at least a week until it's healed up, and rub this ointment on it every day." She holds up a small, unmarked green bottle with a cork stopper.
"And try not to think too much about what you're missing," Nicora whispers rather evilly in his ear before she lets him go and steps back.
The man's ears waggle, as he removes the (nearly bitten through) leather strap from his mouth, pulls up his pants and exchanges several coins for the bottle without saying a word. He bows to both women, then sort of limps out into the main shop.
"Sorry for teasing your customer," Nicora says after the buck leaves. "I have a bit of an impish streak in me, I can't resist tormenting someone a little."
"I can understand," Hayfa says, as she cleans her equipment with alcohol. "Especially with the bunnies. They can be so docile. Anyway, I've gotten some new pieces in from my supplier, but haven't looked at them yet. You still want Naga-styled rings, right?"
"I'm interested, yes. I'm traveling to Babel, so I'd like to get something that wouldn't make me stand out there," Nicora says, "So lets see what you have and discuss some ideas on work you could do for me."
After the odd 'cradle' with straps is cleaned and set aside, Hayfa fetches a wooden case. It opens up to reveal three rows of shelves, each holding several different styles of rings and other decorations. The middle one is full of metal, bone, wood and chitin rings, all intricately carved to resemble Nagas or Naga-like creatures, except for one that is more of a spiraling, continuous serpent.
Nicora holds her right hand over the metal-looking rings, checking for iron. "What would you recommend for me?" she asks, "I'm wanting the wing decorations, but is there anything that you have found in your experience that just look and work well for Eeee?"
The metalwork seems to be gold-plate (or at least metallic paint) over something else, with no feeling of iron. "Well, what sort of attention do you want?" Hayfa asks.
"I want to be ... exotic. Perhaps a little scary so that people will not think I am an easy target," Nicora suggests as she picks up one of the naga-rings and holds it up to examine it. She even curls one of her wings around and holds it up against the wing membrane to see how it would look.
The gold flecks certainly catch the light. In flight it would be a very noticeable effect.
"Pretty," Nicora says. She tries a few of the others and comes to realization that single-rings will be safer for her wings than any of the spirals.
Amelia says, "Exotic isn't difficult," Hayfa notes, and asks, "Would you be wearing typical Babelite fashion?""
"Sometimes I will be, yes. Others in robes," Nicora says.
"Toe rings might be eye-catching then - yet hidden by robes at other times," Hayfa says, and lifts one of her own feet to rest on the table. The toes each have several rings, linked by a chain running from the outermost one through eyelets attached to the others, and connecting into a loop around the ankle.
"Finger and toe protectors also make a statement," Hayfa notes.
"Oh, you're suggesting that I should get feet-adornment instead of wing rings?" Nicora asks as she leans in to examine chaining, "I rather like those, actually." She even lifts up one of her feet and sets it next to Hayfa's for comparison.
"Well, both would be best," Hayfa notes, wiggling her toes. "My, you have sturdy looking feet, if you don't mind my saying so. Are you from Sylvania?"
"Yes, I am. I guess my muscle development gives that away," Nicora says, "And how do those rings stay positioned so well on each toe?"
"They're bound tightly, instead of being slipped on. They can't move past the knuckles. There's some shaving involved as well," is the reply, hinting strongly that the rings are pretty much permanent.
"Can they be removed if I really needed to?" Nicora asks. "They're very pretty and I'm tempted..."
"Ah.. they wouldn't be full rings in that case, but bracelets with a gap," Hayfa explains. "Usually with tiny hooks for tensioning threads."
"But they would generally look the same?" Nicora asks. She's fighting with her own inner demons of desire on this one. They're pretty.
"More or less," Hayfa notes, lowering her foot. "The bands would be wider, which would make them more expensive. An 8-band set for one foot would cost about 400 Shekels."
Nicora rubs her chin. "I can do ... certain kinds of magic, if there is any other way I can pay you for your services. I have to monitor my travel funds," she admits. "And what do the wing tip rings cost?"
"10 Shekels per installation, plus the cost of the rings you choose," Hayfa notes. "I really can't take services in exchange though - the margins on my work are very slim, and I make almost nothing on the rings themselves, since I have to cover their costs."
"Then lets just do the wing rings for now," Nicora relents, feeling a bit disappointed she can't splurge for more. "And I understand that you cannot barter on them."
"Well, there are other decorations as well," Hayfa notes, tapping some of the rings in her eyebrows, two of which have small colored glass gems in them. And there's the chain that hangs from her left ear and connects to a ring through her left nostril. And who knows what she might have beneath her clothing.
Nicora actually finds herself thinking about having something done that would actually keep her libido in check for a while. "Would any of those work in Babel?" Nicora asks and motions to Hayfa's brow and nose.
Even the rings in her own wings have variation - there are actual eyelets that they run through, rather than simple holes in the membrane. "Well, I wouldn't want to be near a Yodhblakat wearing any of this, of course, and I don't see many Babelites who aren't ex-patriots, so I can't promise they would work there."
"I suppose with the rings at least, you can always attach streamers!" Hayfa notes.
Nicora rubs her neck lightly as she struggles with the decision. "I really want to have the wing rings done," she admits. "But I'm not sure I can risk anything else visible." She pauses there, then asks, "You don't have any based on the Seven Sisters, do you?"
"Oh no.. not here in Abu Dhabi anyway," Hayfa notes. "I don't know if they'd be considered sacrilegious in Babel."
"It would depend on the Sister," Nicora claims as she looks through the collection of wing-rings. "How many do you recommend for my wings?" she asks.
Nicora spreads her wings so Hayfa can examine them.
The vendor feels the thickness of the membrane near the tips of the wing-fingers. "You could have as many as three per wing - you generally don't do it for the outer finger. Two per wing, leaving one finger empty between them, is also good, perhaps with a thumb-band or protector."
"Show me a thumb band or protector?" Nicora requests.
Hayfa brings her own wings forward. Her left one has a pair of metal bands around the last segments of the thumb, matching the ones on her foot and linked by a chain. Her right features something like a finger protector - an articulated bit of chitin armor - that runs from the claw to where the thumb connects to the wing-palm. It's held on with clips under each segment.
"Two rings in each wing, thumb protector on both," Nicora requests. For the rings she selects a series of four identical naga-styled rings ... that happen to be styled like a certain back naga she came to know intimately. "What am I looking at in cost?"
Hayfa produces and abacus, and starts flicking beads around. "120 for the rings," she says. "60 for the protectors if you go with chitin, and not-too-rare color like black, brown or green. Red and gold chitin is expensive."
"Green then," Nicora decides on the color. A total of 240 ... that's much better than the foot rings.
Hayfa shows Nicora how the rings clasp and unclasp, and shows her several green protectors - all identical except for style; some are organic and chitinous, others smooth and polished, and some with ornate patterns etched into them or inlaid with glass gems.
Nicora ends up picking the more organic and chitinous-looking protectors. Perhaps it's because of the natural state of her own right hand that draws her to that particular look. "I'm sorry for being such a problematic, indecisive, customer," she admits.
"It is refreshing to have a customer take such an interest," Hayfa says. "Most are just girls who want the latest thing that they've seen a fine lady wearing. Now, would you like eyelets? They prevent both tearing and closing of the holes, and strengthen them considerably. No one will tear a ring free if you have eyelets."
"And can those be removed if at some point I do need to let the hole heal?" Nicora asks.
"Hmmm, no," Hayfa says. "They cause the tissue to heal around the hole instead, so that the hole will not close on its own."
"Mm, then I will have to forego the eyelet. I have to plan for the future and thus consider anything that may be permanent," Nicora admits.
"As you wish," Hayfa says. "It is not difficult to reopen the holes if needed." She then produces a punching device. It has two 'teeth' on one arm, which is hinged to another that has matching holes for the teeth. Each half has a groove for the finger-bone, and an adjustment piece to ensure every puncture is at the right distance from the fingertip.
Nicora hops up to sit on the table and extends her wings wide. "Will I need a leather strip to bite on?" she asks, sounding a bit nervous now. She can't believe she's going to do this. Well, she can, but ...
"You'll only feel a pinch," Hayfa assures her, as she applies alcohol to both sides of Nicora's wing for the first puncture. "Not many nerves or blood vessels out at the edges," she notes, and sets the first finger into one half of the device, makes adjustments, and then closes it. Sure enough there are two sharp pinches and that's all.
Nicora doesn't even twitch. She's felt things far worse than that. Even being bitten can hurt more. "Wow, that wasn't so bad at all," she admits. "I've had worse injuries on the road."
The first ring is inserted, and the rest go without issue. "They should be silent unless you attach bells or chimes," Hayfa chats. "You probably won't notice them at all in flight."
"And ah, if you don't mind, I would like to see all your piercings before I leave," Nicora requests, "If you don't mind, that is." She holds still through the ring fitting, then wiggles it slightly to test. "You're right, I barely feel it. It's like a very slight weight."
Hayfa shows Nicora how to attach the thumb protectors, and then makes sure the curtain leading to the little room is secured. It only takes a moment for the Eeee to strip down, displaying studs and loops in unexpected places. It reminds Nicora slightly of the stick-on gems Gamal applied to NiKaira. Chains connect nipples to.. other areas. Hayfa's boyfriend must be very brave to face so much metal in such sensitive areas. She also sticks out her tongue, showing a long, smooth stud in the center.
Nicora's brow arches at that, impressed. "You must have extensive pain tolerance to have had all that done," she admits, surprised at how extensive the work is.
"Oh, you really learn to enjoy the pain after awhile," the Eeee replies with a wicked look on her face, before she begins to dress again.
Nicora raises a finger. "Would one more on me cost much more?" she asks, a devious look in her eye.
"Another ring? And I'm guessing it wouldn't be through your wing then?" Hayfa asks.
"Ah, no, lower down. Like what you had, only minus the chain going to it. A little surprise for those who are ... adventurous with me," Nicora says. She's also thinking the heal time will help keep her in check.
"Just one? You'll need to show me exactly where you want it," Hayfa explains.
"Well, is it better to have more than one?" Nicora asks.
"Depends on what element you want pierced," the other bat explains. "For example, with mine, I can use them to keep things spread out or closed up tight. And of course having one through Inala's Orb can have quite an effect on stimulation."
"Closed up? That must be popular in some harems, then," Nicora remarks, feeling ... really odd to be discussing this!
"There are tiny padlocks you can use, to make things more challenging," Hayfa says, without so much as a flinch. "Now, this is a much more complicated piercing, as the area is very sensitive and rich in blood vessels. The rings are smaller and simpler, and usually need to be gold for hygiene reasons. If you remove the ring, it is unlikely you will be able to reinsert it yourself."
Nicora nods a bit at that. "And the cost?" she asks. It's probably out of her price range, but she's curious.
"100, because of the precision and materials needed," Hayfa says. "The gentlemen before you paid 200 for his, but the complications are different and it's customary to charge men more."
"So, 100 hundred per? One through Inala's orb for example would be that, then any additional an extra 100?" Nicora clarifies.
"Labial ones are less expensive, but not by much," Hayfa admits. "80 apiece. The price is really mostly the gold."
"Ah, so the gold always has resale value too," Nicora realizes.
"Well, if you wash it well, yes," Hayfa admits.
Nicora laughs at that. "You're happy with them, yes?" she asks.
"Oh yes," Hayfa says. "I call them my little retirement fund!"
Nicora rubs her forehead, torn. She can't believe she's even considering doing this; maybe Tulani is right and she's insane. Still she does seem to decide something. She draws in a breath and leans in to whisper her choice to Hayfa, even though no one could likely hear her. "And lets do it before I lose my nerve," she adds as she draws back.
Midday has begun it's descent towards afternoon when Nicora returns to the villa, only to be grabbed by Gamal as soon as she enters her room. "You're back! Quick, strip naked!" the Eeee tells her. Nicora's dancing costume is laid out on the bed as well.
"What, wait? I can't!" Nicora claims worriedly. "Who do I need to dance for? And why?"
"Lord Kazuhiko has requested your presence," Gamal explains. "That is, the dragon-girl's presence!"
"I just had my wings done ... and other stuff. I'm not sure I can," Nicora frets. She realizes she'll have to heal what she just had done instead of letting it be her deterrent!
"You can't?" Gamal asks, and notices the wing rings and protectors. "Oh, you can just take those off and put them back later though, can't you?"
"Those I can ... but not the other one," Nicora admits as she does remove her clothes to show Gamal just what she means. "I couldn't resist," she admits and looks towards the ceiling, ears burning.
"Well.. but you've got that as the dragon," Gamal says. "I know that for certain! Won't it just stay in place?"
Feeling, well, a bit embarrassed by all this, she also has to concede Gamal is probably right. So, she goes to get her dagger, then slots it into her arm. "Kaira?" she thinks rather timidly...
"Something feels a bit.. different," Kaira replies in the bat's head. "In any case, what can I do for you?"
"/I ... need you to shift my body back into a match of yours. The Lord is requesting my presence," Nicora explains as she carefully removes her claw protectors and then carefully slips out her wing rings for re-insertion later.
"Oh, Mister Cuddly again," the dragon replies. "Well, we're at full charge, so it's not a problem, hold on.." And then the shadow begins to ooze out and wrap Nicora.
"Limbo again. How do I get myself into this? And so much for my purchase being a deterrent. I bet Kaira heals it," Nicora thinks in dismay as she floats in shadow. "And what does the Lord want? Another day and night of nothing but me?" she wonders.
There's an odd glow to limbo this time around, and a sense of warmth. But it's when the shadow recedes that NiKaira feels the impact of Nicora's jewelry choice: it's a lot stronger than the Blessing of Inala. In fact, it's putting her on the verge of ecstasy! "Gold! You put gold there!" Kaira squeals in the dragon's shared brain.
"It was to keep me from indulging in all time. It was supposed to calm me down! Nicora thinks to Kaira, "But ack, it's driving this body crazy! This is ... Nnng, I'll ... manage somehow." She takes several desperate, deep, breaths. "I should dress?" NiKaira asks Gamal and motions towards the bed. "Or ... did he request that I come unadorned?"
"The request didn't have that level of detail," Gamal says, and then tilts his head. "You're pretty perky already too. Do you want me to help you dress?"
NiKaira hisses to herself. "Help me dress," she requests. It's a bit hard to focus extensively like this. She just can't win.
It also doesn't help that the slightest brush against a sensitive area causes her knees to shake. "You're really nervous," Gamal assumes. "I don't think he's going to offer to buy you or anything," he says reassuringly while adjusting the loincloth, which really isn't helping.
"That's good. I'm not sure I could turn him down," NiKaira thinks to herself. She takes several more deep breaths, tries to clear her mind then nods. "I am ready to see the Lord," she claims.
Gamal hasn't bothered will of the jewelry.. it should be enough to have NiKaira basically clothed. He takes the dragon's hand and leads her through the villa to the familiar, guard-flanked doors. She must be expected, because the guards immediately open the door for her. "Good luck," Gamal whispers, and pats her on the butt to get her moving.
"Thank you," NiKaira says as she walks through the doors. HEr focus is all on, well, trying to remain as calm as possible. Her wing rings were not noticeable, this is ... it's almost impossible to ignore. She does her best by trying to focus on the task at hand, she folds her hands together and keeps her head slightly bowed as walks, listening and watching for the Lord.
Kazuhiko is seated at the head of the long, low table, and gestures for NiKaira to sit at his right. He's wearing a full kimono at least, but his scales do look freshly polished.
NiKaira walks slowly, keeping her composure as best she can. One foot in front of the other, she reminds herself. She comes around the table and once on his right, her legs fold up beneath her and she kneels beside him. She doesn't look directly at him, she instead bows where she kneels at the table as her greeting.
There an ornate box on the table. It's wooden, lacquered and inlaid with mother-of-pearl lilies. The lord returns the dragon's bow, and then nudges the box towards her.
NiKaira looks up for a moment, wondering what the Lord is offering. She lifts her right hand and reaches over. Using only that hand she delicately hooks her claws in the seam of the lid and carefully opens the box.
There's a book inside. It's large, a good square foot and nearly two inches thick. And while the style is distinctly Jadaiian, the text on the cover is in Khattan: The Esoteric Pursuit of Carnal Pleasure, an Illustrated Guide, by Lord Kazuhiko of Jadai. First Translation, Abu Dhabi Royal Press. The book even smells brand new. This must be what the Lord's business was in Abu Dhabi!
NiKaira's brow goes up. She lifts the book from the box as if it were priceless. She opens the cover, then turns it slowly, page by page using her claw tiip to avoid smearing any page. "/I ... I'm not sure quite how to take this," she realizes. Still it's better than being offered to be purchased, perhaps. That would be even more awkward.
The print is fluid, and great care was taken in reformatting it to be read from left-to-right. The illustrations are beautifully illuminated and artful - and apparently all done by the Lord himself. The book must cost a fortune to print! But that's secondary right now, because even the (poetically interpreted) section on health benefits includes illustrations that are waking up the Blessing of Inala - on top of the overstimulation from the gold!
Nicora carefully closes the book with shaking hands. "Calm down, calm down. Don't give in. This was supposed to help you control yourself," NiKaira keeps telling herself as all the urges and tingles swell up through her body. "Thank you. I am honored," she says to the Lord in a soft voice, unsure if he would understand. She's worried now about even looking at him.
A green-scaled claw, reaches under and lifts NiKaira's chin, so that she can see the concerned face of the Ki'rin. He probably wasn't expecting this sort of reaction to his gift.
NiKaira looks back at the Ki'rin and swallows. She finds she cannot help herself and her hand comes up and brushes the backs of her fingers along his jaw. A light smile graces her lips as well as she looks upon the Lord, whom right now feels so amazingly handsome to her. "Anything you ask of me is yours," she says in Khattan, hoping he understands. "Anything."
He probably doesn't understand the language, but the Ki'rin recognizes intent.. and certainly know what an aroused dragon smells like by now. He smiles softly and takes NiKaira's hand, urging her up as he stands.
NiKaira rises, though her legs feel wobbly. She shouldn't have even looked at the book, but it would have been disrespectful to not. "You've made yourself worse," she finds the thought fleeting through her mind. Yet ... it's hard to feel bad about it because it feels good. "I understand its name; it is truly linked to you, Inala," she thinks.
As Kazuhiko begins giving NiKaira a personal, hands-on summary of his book, Kaira chirps into NiKaira's head, "I'm sure fatigue and numbness will set in eventually. I do appreciate the gold though! It means you really care about how I feel!"
"When you feel good, I feel good. Sure it hurt to have it done but ... it was so worth it. It's pretty, too," Nicora thinks to herself as she coils up with the Lord. Right now all her urges focus on the Ki'rin in her arms ... and what she will do, well it might end up in the second edition. And just maybe her adornment will, well ... inspire him too.
This time, NiKaira manages to wear out the Ki'rin. She's definitely more aggressive, once things get rolling, and being in charge is as big a charge as the physical aspect - which is mind blowing. It's almost like being with Melusine, feeling something that seems to transcend physical being. And it's so easy. A part of her remembers that once she shifts out of dragon form, it won't have the same effect (although it'll probably still be extra sensitive) but at the moment - well, she feels higher than Inala!
"I love being a woman," is the thought that rolls through NiKaira's mind once the Ki'rin is at rest ... and soon she will be too. She slips from the Lord's bed and collects her clothing so that she can head back to the dressing room and shift back to her normal form. She feels .. all warm and tingly as she walks. "Kaira, ready to change me back?" she thinks.
"I don't know," Kaira says. "I like this gold-buzz. You really should get more, at least for sleeping on."
The guards open the doors, but nobody is waiting to escort NiKaira to her quarters. There might be some real gold leaf in the book though, since it seems to radiate warm energy when she holds it against her chest.
"Get me some money and I know an Eeee that can outfit that entire area with some more bits," Nicora actually thinks. She bows to each of the guards, then heads towards her room. "I almost didn't do this ... but wow."
When she reaches the bedroom, she walks in on.. Tulani and Gamal! The Sphynx squeaks and throws a blanket over NiKaira!
"Right ... back to the dressing room!" NiKaira thinks as she quicklyy leaves the room and closes the door. She takes a few breathes, then shivers. "Calm down. A few more minutes and you'll be back to normal!" Off she goes to the dressing room.
The dressing room is devoid of dancers at this hour - but not devoid of cleaning staff. A sandy-colored Khatta with a mop and bucket blinks up at NiKaira, his eyes going wide. He looks like a mix of lion and something more 'domestic'.
"I would like some privacy," NiKaira asks in Khattan, trying to sound calm and polite. "Please?" She desperately tries to not think what felines are like in this condition or she might jump him!
"Who.. who are you?" the stunned man asks, the flowery politeness shocked right out of him.
"Nicora, a guest that arrived with Mave. I am using magic to maintain this form and I need to shift back," NiKaira explains politely and sits down on the floor. She wraps the blanket she got when Tulani threw it on her about herself.
"Do you need water?" the man asks, coming closer now to get a better look at the dragon.
"No. I just need to focus," NiKaira claims and closes her eyes. "Okay, we really need to change back, this sensation is ... grr. HE's starting to smell good. So ... hurry!" she thinks in a near panic.
"His fur is sort of golden.." Kaira notes, but then relents and extends the shadow once more. When it clears, Nicora is back to her 'normal' self, and the janitor has fled.
Nicora's eyes open up and she lets out a long sigh of relief, grateful that she isn't feeling like an over-excited dragon. After a few minutes of just breathing quietly, she checks herself, wondering if Kaira 'healed' up her addition and the holes in her wings. She probably needs to re-insert the wing rings now.
"I guess ... you approve of my recent foray into exploring new things," Nicora thinks to herself, sure Kaira can hear it since the dagger is still slotted.
The holes are still there! Apparently Kaira's changes just revert to whatever state Nicora was in before.
"I approve the materials," Kaira notes. "As for the placement.. well, that's your own business."
Nicora goes about inserting her wing-rings back through the punctures in her wing membranes. "I did it to help deter me from indulging so much," she thinks to her dragon companion.
"Okay.. good luck with that!" Kaira replies, sounding rather amused for some reason.
"You don't think it will work, do you?" Nicora thinks. Satisfied her wings are properly re-adorned, she now dresses and rubs the bridge of her muzzle.
"Oh, it's just that I think you might have overlooked something. It shouldn't be a problem though!" Kaira insists.
"What have I overlooked?" Nicora thinks.
"Well, that dragons like gold, of course," the dragon points out. "And that you have the head of one at the end of your tail."
"You aren't serious that he will be attracted to that?" Nicora thinks, suddenly feeling her stomach sink. "Why is it everything I do makes my situation worse?"
licklicklick When did her tail curl around like that?
"Aaagh!" goes Nicora and swats her tail for misbehaving! She feels ... stupid and like crap. Once again she gave in to wanting to explore and it backfired. Still, it has healing time, so maybe it will deter her for a bit. And she has a new book ... that she can't read right now. Still, it will be valuable. As she decides to go take a nap somewhere quiet, she also decides this part of her life's adventures, should she survive, never end up in a book!