Nicora isn't the most comfortable at the moment. Mordecai didn't leave her with any special instructions regarding her new jewelry, and the numbing effect of his saliva has worn off, making the push-up corset and tight bodice problematical. Tulani seems less effected, but then she just had her scar detailed - all she's done different is tug the bodice a bit lower to show it off better.
"There they are!" someone notes loudly, and lots of people wave to the pair as they enter, as if expecting them. Quite a few of the arcade crowd are present, even if they aren't really drinking yet.
"Where, where?!" Nicora asks and looks around as if there should be more important people with them, ending the mock surprise with a short laugh. "She's for sale," the Eeee adds and thumbs towards Tulani, grinning, "Give give me a fair price." The grin fades a little when she has to tug on her corset a bit to relieve some pressure, but still ... a few drinks and she won't be feeling anything.
Tulani plows through to the bar, clearing a path for Nicora as well, and waves to the bartender. "Two of your girliest drinks please!" she orders. Many ears point their way, trying to figure just what it is the strangers enjoy, perhaps. At least in here there's a good mix of male and female.
"You're so pushy," Nicora quips as she slides up to the bar, then up onto one of the available stools. she's also sure to cross her legs properly, to prevent any accidental exposure. "And huh, a sailor and you're not getting something that eats the mug? I'm disappointed."
"I'm getting something I've never had before," Tulani replies, turning to lean against the side of the bar. "Besides, it sets the precedent for when others buy us drinks!"
"Buys me drinks, you mean, oh' common feline," Nicora teases with her usual bemused smile on her lips. she spins her chair a bit to look through the crowd, trying to see who looks both brave enough and curious enough to approach them.
The drinks, when they arrive, have pieces of unfamiliar fruit stuck to one side of the glasses. There are straws, and crushed ice, and pink and green swirls.. and a Kujaku feather, for some reason. "Enjoy, ladies," the bartender says, smiling a Khatta smile.
"Oh, I will," Nicora says, flashing her smile back to the khatta as she takes the drink. She swirls it for a bit, making the swirls ... swirl even more. She sniffs it curiously and her ears spread from the almost pungent smell of fruit. She can barely smell any alcohol on top of that. Still, it's a drink and she's sore. It may help! She takes a testing, delicate, sip, then remarks to Tulani, "Very fruity."
The Sphynx squints one eye and develops a facial tick after her first sip. "I didn't know there were so many different shades of sweet," she notes. "I'm cutting the next one with cream."
"You could cut it with some hard booze, too," Nicora notes and takes another sip. "It is a bit much, but it's not horrible. I've had worse."
"You have? Where?" Tulani demands.
"Some small armpit of a town in Sylvania that I forget the name of. It was some drink called scrumble, only it had started growing mold. It tasted like sucking on a cheese and foot-filled sock," Nicora remarks as she gestures with her drink. "Hexen had three pints because he wanted to prove he was a better drinker. I've never seen someone puke ten feet before..."
There's a snicker from behind, at one of the tables probably. Someone with good ears?
Nicora tilts her head to the side so she can peer over her shoulder and locate owner of the laugh.
"That must have been his greatest achievement in life so far," Tulani comments out of the side of her mouth that doesn't have the straw in it.
"I think he would claim that would be the Cervelli twins," Nicora quips. "I never had the heart to tell him they were brother and sister."
There are two likely candidates, both at the same table; a white-furred, black haired young Eeee.. or the similarly colored Lapi buck next to him. Also at the table is a canine girl of uncertain breed, but also white with black hair. She blushes as she's caught looking at Nicora and Tulani.
"Oh my," Tulani says, nearly snorting. "I wonder how he's doing? I hope I didn't scare him too badly.."
Nicora lifts her glass politely to the blushing girl and even smiles slightly. Her attention returning to Tulani, she says, "Well, knowing him ... he's probably fine and doing his life's goal of loafing about. He's a good guy, really. Just a little ... enthusiastic."
"He needs a girlfriend to reign him in," Tulani notes, and follows Nicora's gaze to the table. "Wow, triplets?" she wonders with a grin. "We should go sit with them."
"You feel brave enough to invade their table? And oh, he has a girlfriend now. A nice Eeee named Kizzy. She keeps him tied up at night," Nicora remarks with difficulty; she's giggling a lot.
"They made eye contact, that's as good as an invitation," Tulani says, quoting whatever bar etiquette she subscribes too. "Besides, we need to show off our scar-art to someone," she adds, and heads for the table.
"I'm not flashing my chest," Nicora quips as she slides off her stool. "So, show we join them?" she gestures towards their table, then walks right towards it.
The two boys stand up when Nicora and Tulani arrive, and hold out chairs for them like gentlemen (albeit very nervous, young looking gentlemen). "Hel.. hello," the Eeee stutters out, making the Gallah girl hide a giggle.
Tulani sits right down, saying, "Thank you! I'm Tulani, and this is my chaperone, Nicora."
Nicora actually curtsies, court-style, to the Eeee. "Hello," she replies in kind. "We thought we would join you and declare this table as the sovereign realm of the monochrome. And ... I see lessons in manners have once more been forgotten. Tsk."
"I'm Henry," the Lapi introduces himself after pushing in Tulani's seat. "These are Jackie and Phil," he adds, gesturing to the girl and Eeee. "Are you students.." he starts to ask Tulani, then realizes Nicora is in her mid-twenties at least and finishes with, ".. or instructors?"
"I am Nicora and this is Tulani," Nicora answers with a smile. "And we are neither, we're travelers."
"Oh? I couldn't help but overhear you'd been to Sylvania," Phil says, finding his voice. "Is that were you got your clothes?" Jackie asks, tail wagging. "I've never seen that style before!"
The sugar is kicking in now, making for an odd sort of mixed buzz for Nicora and Tulani.
"Actually, these are from Chronotopia. Sylvanian clothing would be .. more covered in muck," Nicora says, pausing to take a sip from her glass. "Well, unless you talk about some of the few remaining noble families in Sylvania. Those tend to be mostly velvet and ruffles."
"I've got an uncle in Draco County," Phil says. "He makes lamps."
"Really? what is his name? Where does he live?" Nicora inquires. "Do you write to him much?"
"Chronotopia!" Jackie all but barks, then blushes and sips at her glass of white wine. "We'd never get away with wearing stuff like that on campus.."
"If this would get you in trouble, what I wear under it would get you expelled," Nicora actually teases, feeling a bit giddy from the odd sugar-alcohol buzz.
"Oh, there aren't any rules against underwear," Henry notes. "Only stuff that'd be distracting in class. I had one professor who insisted I keep my ears down during lecture."
"That's what you get for having a silly major," Phil teases, and pokes his friend in the shoulder.
"Your ears are distracting?" Nicora asks. "Mm, seems a bit strange. Distractions are a part of living. You have to get used to ignoring them for more important things. And what is each of you studying, anyway?"
"Archaeology," Phil says proudly, and pushes his glasses back up his muzzle. "Estate Management," Jackie notes, a bit less proudly, while Henry puts his ears down and mutters, "Exile Studies" while rubbing his poked shoulder.
"I recognize one of those fields," Tulani notes, and looks to Nicora.
"Archaeology? Oh, there are some places I could show you that would make your head explode," Nicora says. She looks to Tulani and comments, "It is the study of ancient civilizations and ruins. Something we have been doing ... without any professional training. And don't look at me like that, it's a field mentioned in some books Dr. Pike had. You know, the ones with the, er, and the ... nevermind."
"I know what Archaeology is!" Tulani insists. "I never heard of the other ones."
"And he studies weird people," Nicora explains and points to Henry.
"They aren't very glamorous," Jackie admits with a sigh. "I'll end up working for my family."
Henry's ears go up again when he's singled out. "I don't study all weird people, just aliens," he points out, nose twitching indignantly. "It's very interesting, and I'd be working for the Temple when I graduate."
"They are all better than what I do," Nicora admits and shrugs. "Glamorous is relative."
"Sorting documents," Phil adds with a snicker.
"But you're a traveler," Jackie says, then licks her nose pad and asks, "What is that, exactly?"
"My actual profession is the elimination or capture of supernatural threats or monsters," Nicora claims. "Which tends to send me all over the world. The pay is poor and it's dangerous. On the plus side, I meet interesting people."
"You're a mage?" Henry asks, looking shocked.
"Who often try to kill me," she adds with a sigh. She returns to her drink.
"A mage? Me? Oh no," Nicora says as she waves her hand.
"Except for the ones she brings home as pets," Tulani adds with a grin. "I'm.. well, an adventurer!"
"What does an adventurer do?" Phil asks.
"Like her," Nicora quips and thumbs towards Tulani. "I caught this one when she was terrorizing the vitrue of half a village."
"Travel, find treasure, fight monsters, meet interesting people.." Tulani rattles off.
"I thought only men were adventurers?" Jackie asks.
"Do you have a particular era of Archeology you focus on?" Nicora asks Phil. "Sylvania is a trove of undiscovered ruins and mysteries."
"I'm a woman, so I'm better than a man," the Sphynx claims.
"Unless it is shiny, then you get distracted," Nicora quips.
"Well, that sort of is what I'd like to do - recover relatively recent ruins lost to disasters," Phil notes. "I mean.. it just seems like it would have more impact than digging up some ancient First Ones site, that nobody will ever know about. But finding stuff that could be tracked to living descendants and stuff, that is what I want to do. Genealogy is my hobby."
Tulani sticks her tongue out at Nicora, which has a green swirl on it from the drink.
"Well, are you here in Rephidim to research something?" Jackie asks. "I hope not to steal some artifact!" she jokes trying to laugh but hiccuping in the middle.
"I've been tracking the origins of some ... weapons that were created for the Necromancer Wars," Nicora notes. "The collection in Blackshire was informative, but didn't have the detail I needed. And steal? Oh, no. We're just passing through."
"That's one thing I don't want to dig up," Phil says, and shudders. "Anything that will start moving again!"
"You're such a scaredy-bat," Jackie claims.
"Then never go to Sylvania," Nicora quips, grinning, "And now I know not to show you my collection."
"Those catacombs were kinda scary," Henry points out to Jackie.
"Souvenirs from.. monsters?" Phil asks Nicora, wide-eyed.
"Nicora collects lots of different things," Tulani notes.
"Not quite," Nicora says as she holds up her side-purse, then shows the hilt of the old dagger, "Aelfin dagger, crafted to deal with spirits." the dagger disappears back into her side-purse. "And yes, I do collect a lot of things," she agrees, grinning.
"We tried to find the chamber where it's rumored the Avatar of Sunala was held here in Rephidim," Jackie notes. "But we didn't get very far."
Nicora's brow goes up. "Really?" she asks, "Now that is a place I would like to see."
"We could have gotten into a lot of trouble if we were caught," Henry claims, only to have Phil poke him again, saying, "It was your idea in the first place!"
"So, I suppose asking you to take me there is out of the question?" Nicora asks, grinning a bit impishly. She takes a sip from her drink. Fruity.
"It probably doesn't exist," Jackie admits. "The island has like a network of catacombs and caves and tunnels, and supposedly there was an Avatar of Sunala here on Rephidim during that Babel mess - at least according to Henry's friend of a friend of a Spirit Mage. But they're also used by criminals and.. and who knows what else."
"Hey, I had corroboration," Henry claims. "At least.. uh.. unofficial corroboration, anyway," the buck adds, with a bit less confidence and more ear-droop.
"There was an Avatar here; that I can confirm. It's my job, per se, to keep track of such things," Nicora notes as she swirls her drink. "Rumor has it she was 'rescued' and taken somewhere in Babel."
"I heard that.. well, she was just let go," Henry says. "They were all set to perform an exorcism and then.. they just changed their minds in exchange for her leaving Rephidim or something."
"I don't think that is entirely true," Nicora notes, "Still, it's all in the past now, right? That War is long over."
"Yeah, and nothing interesting has really happened since then," Phil complains. "I guess that's why you two are getting so much attention. You look exotic, and.." The bat blinks, squints and then leans forward toward Tulani's chest. "Is Sutaranakh on your chest?"
"Well, the problem with interesting is that it's also usually terrifying," Nicora quips. She also shakes her head, laughing. "Do your friends often stare women's chests?" she asks Jackie.
"Not blatantly, except for Henry sometimes," Jackie says, casting a jealous glance at Tulani. "I could have a kyootcumber growing out my head and not get that sort of attention."
"For what it is worth, having the attention isn't all that great, either. You always get it from those you don't want it from ... and never from those you do," Nicora tells Jackie.
"Yes, it's a scar from an amulet with the moon goddess embossed on it," Tulani says.
"Looks like someone branded you with it," Henry notes, leaning across the table as well and twitching his nose like mad.
"That's close to what happened," Nicora remarks.
"Nicora has one too," Tulani says, and leans forward across the table. She's already finished her girl-drink. "A different one."
"Did you drop the amulet in a fire or something?" Jackie asks, wincing at the thought of being burned that badly.
"Nothing so grand as hers, but yes, I do," Nicora admits regarding her own scar. She then decides to finish off her drink and downs the remainder in one, long, drink.
A slice of something tart goes down as well.. but fruit shouldn't make her sick! At least the irritation is less noticeable now. "Oh, would you like another round?" Phil asks, impressed with Nicora's gulping ability.
"I wouldn't complain," Nicora admits as she leans forward now to show her competing scar. "Mine is from being stabbed. I nearly died from it. Traveling is dangerous."
"Stabbed?" Phil squeaks, torn between alarm and curiosity. "It looks like a dragon - the mythological sort. That must have been a horrible wound though!"
"It wasn't pleasant, no," Nicora admits and shrugs a bit. "Through luck and the fortune of being near someone with some magic skill, I survived. So, a bit of advice. If you ever meet a giant shadowy blob ... run."
"I got bit by a fuf'nar once," Henry mutters, and waves to a waiter. "Another three white wines please, plus.. ah, what would you two like?" he asks Nicora and Tulani.
"Whatever it is you would like to buy us," Nicora answers and smiles to Henry.
"Okay then, one bombed beetle for the lovely lade, and one.. Sunken Warship for the other lovely lady," the buck concludes.
"Ahem," Jackie says, narrowing her eyes at Henry.
"I already ordered more wine," the buck points out to the Gallah.
The female Eeee reaches across the table and even pats Henry's hand. "And for the record, you don't have to be some dashing hero and have a lot of scars. There is a fine line between heroic and dead. So ... don't let our wound-stories make you feel bad or anything. It wasn't pleasant for either of us ... and I think she would like it if you called her a lovely lady too."
"You're lovely too, Jackie, even if we do love you for your mind," Phil covers.
The Lapi blushes, and says, "You know I think you're cute, Jackie."
"Don't mind them, apparently they're idiots," Nicora says with a sigh to Jackie.
Having gotten at least one swift correction and a male blush, Jackie seems satisfied. To Nicora and Tulani, she says, "My dad was a noble here, before he died fighting the Plaguebringers. The way boys treat me you'd think he was still looming over my shoulder and glaring at them."
"Your mom and brother are pretty scary," Henry notes.
"Well, maybe they just feel you're out of their reach. IT is hard to get close to someone in nobility," Nicora notes. "And I am sorry for your loss. That war was pointless."
"Defending the city wasn't pointless," the girl notes, and takes a good swallow of wine. "It's our duty, Jackie! That's why our family was granted this land and title!" she says gruffly, mimicking a masculine voice. "So I'll do my duty, and manage things for mom, while my brother joins one of the knightly orders and hopefully doesn't get killed. Being noble sucks."
"Do they still do arranged marriages?" Tulani asks, sounding sympathetic.
"The fact that you had to defend it at all was the pointless part. There was no reason that either city should have attacked the other. Too many innocent people died," Nicora remarks a bit grimly. "I knew people in Babel and they could tell similar stories."
"Yeah, but that's my brother's problem, not mine," Jackie says. "I'm from the second wife, and only half Gallee, so I'm safe from noble matchmaking."
"Are you from Babel originally?" Phil asks. "I'd really like to visit there someday, when things settle down. The lower parts of the city must be amazing to see."
"I was born there, but did not grow up there. My family was exiled," Nicora claims, then shrugs. "I visited there briefly a few years ago. It was a nightmare."
"Outside of Nagai City, it's the biggest urban area in the world," Phil says, shaking his head. "Well, stuff has to calm down eventually."
"I might detour there and see. I'm not that hopeful," Nicora admits. "The 'democratic' ruler, Thath ... is scary and dangerous beyond words."
Tulani pats Jackie's shoulder sympathetically, and then more drinks arrive. Aside from the wine there are two and half more drinks - one is some sort of yellow ale or beer with a shot glass next to it filled with a thick liqueur. The other is a clear drink with an actual beetle suspended in it.
Nicora's brow arches a bit at the two glasses. "So ... ah, which is mine?" she asks as she eyes the drinks warily.
"Scary and dangerous?" Henry asks. "He seemed.. well, I suppose he'd have to be to get the nobles to agree to any kind of power-sharing, now that I think about it."
"How would you describe a man who lost everyone he ever cared about to war and religion?" Nicora notes to Henry. "He has little to lose, which makes him dangerous."
The Lapi pushes the beetle-drink forward. "It's very popular with Eeees here," he notes. "The beetle soaks up a lot of alcohol, and gives a real surge when eaten." He then thinks a moment, and says, "But any more dangerous than the High Princess was? Thath wants cooperation with Rephidim, and everyone is waiting to see what sort of government he makes and how well it works. Of course, the merchants don't care, so long as he opens the trade routes back up and makes sure they're safe and profitable."
Nicora opens her mouth, then hmms. "There are bits I could tell you about Thath, things I have heard. But ... there is probably not much point. He will hopefully be better for his people than the Priestess was. I just do not agree with the choices and sacrifices he made to get there," she remarks. Even though it has a bug in it, Nicora grabs the glass with the beetle in it and takes a drink.
It's not too strong, and has a bit of an oily texture rather than a bite. But it's definitely buzzy.
"Odd," Nicora concludes as she sets her glass down. She hasn't dared risk the beetle yet. "But not bad."
Tulani picks up the shot glass and drops it into the bigger mug, watching the liqueur mix a bit before taking a deep swig! "Oooo, that's not bad! It could put hair on your beak!"
"But you don't have a beak," Nicora notes. "Maybe it'll put a stud in your tongue," she adds as a tease.
"You girls sure can drink," Phil says, still nursing his first glass of wine, despite another full one having been brought already. Behind him, some performers are setting up instruments - although they look like students, rather than actual bards.
"It's safer than water when you're on the road," Nicora claims, grinning a bit. "Do you have some sort of plan to try and get us drunk, hmm?" she asks and leans over closer to the young Eeee.
"I don't think I have enough money on me for that," Phil notes, smiling nervously.
"Ah, but you thought about it," Nicora says and flutters her eyelashes. "I'm flattered." she sits back up.
"Yeah, besides.. what's the point of getting women drunk in a bar?" Henry adds.
Nicora wisely doesn't answer that.
"And since we all share the same apartment, there's not much point in bringing girls back there either," Jackie notes with a toothy grin. "As if these two would ever need privacy. The last time Phil brought a girl over.. they studied all night and nearly passed out when their hands accidentally brushed!"
Nicora giggles at that. "Oh dear," she remarks. "And sharing the same apartment doesn't mean you can't have companionship ... you just have to include your roommates..."
White fur isn't good at hiding blushes, even on Eeee. "That wasn't a date or anything.. we were supposed to be studying," Phil says defensively.
"Try convincing these two of that," Henry tells Nicora, causing Tulani to nearly do a spit-take.
Nicora reaches over, perhaps because she's a bit buzzed, and puts her hand over Phil's to see if he passes out.
The boy's ears vibrate a bit, but he keeps his cool. "I've been warned about older women," he whispers.
"Do I really seem that dangerous? Just what were you warned about?" Nicora asks.
"That they don't tolerate disobedience," Phil says, with a goofy grin.
"Sooo, are you a Solu, or a Vartan?" Henry asks Tulani.
"And you better believe it," Nicora counters with what sounds like a sultry purr, then draws her hand back. She takes another drink from her glass. "And as an Eeee, it is your duty to get some decoration on those ears."
"Vartan of course," Tulani says. "Solu are more.. delicate," she claims, and raises an eyebrow at Nicora's antics.
"And yes, she's a Vartan. Very thick," Nicora agrees, then thumps Tulani's arm playfully.
Tulani skrawks something in Vartan, then says, "Be careful Phil, she's just had her nips enhanced."
"What?" Jackie asks, blinking out of her own thoughts.
"That's rather personal you know," Nicora remarks dryly.
"I just wanted to warn him, in case he though having three bumps instead of one was normal," Tulani teases, sounding a bit.. competitive?
"She's talking about this," Nicora notes to Phil and uses her claw to hook and pull down her corset just enough to show the two white 'jewels' decorating the left side of her chest briefly. "She's just just she isn't more daring."
just upset
Phil's eyes look like they're going to pop out of their sockets, and Henry complains, "What? I didn't get to see..." Jackie reaches over and pinches his ear then.
"It isn't that big of a deal. I don't understand why all the fuss," Nicora remarks, shrugging.
"They don't get to see girl bits, normally," Jackie points out. "And I make sure they can't 'accidentally' interrupt my baths either."
"Hey, you came in on me that one time," Henry points out, rubbing his ear.
"You left the door open," the half-poodle shoots back.
"It sounds like you two should give up and go out on a date," Nicora remarks to Henry and Jackie after she stops laughing.
Tulani just giggles. "I was airship crew. You see and show everything in close quarters eventually - it's not a big deal," she claims.
Phil just vibrates in his seat.
"What's wrong?" Nicora asks Phil.
"Nothing!" Phil claims squeakily. "Want to come back to our place for some brandy? We've got a hookah too.."
Nicora giggles at that. "Well, I could," she teases, "But you're warned about older women and all." She swirls her glass and downs the remainder, beetle included. Hopefully that won't be a mistake.
"That's okay, you can seduce me instead," Henry offers with a buck-toothed grin. Jackie just shakes her head slowly. "And you wonder why don't have a girlfriend?" she asks the buck.
"Hmm, I should seek some revenge against bunnydom.." Tulani notes, giving Henry a look-over before taking another swig from her drink.
Nicora rubs her forehead, then laughs. "Wow," she comments to Tulani. She blinks, then looks between Tulani and Henry.
The beetle burns like fire going down, and then heats up Nicora's stomach. And the heat spreads!
And then Nicora blinks again when the beetle hits! "Whooo," she comments and wobbles in her seat. "That has some kick."
"Do you need some help?" Phil asks as Nicora looks wobbly.
"I'm not sure," Nicora admits, still blinking. "So, did you want to go back with them, Tul?" she asks her sphynx friend.
"Sure," Tulani says, downing the rest of her drink.. and then spitting out the shot glass. "It has to be better than the closet we rented. And we can give Jackie some pointers."
"And I can tell her where she can find jewelry like mine," Nicora agrees as she sets her glass down. Her head tilts, then she smiles at Phil in a rather predatory way. "And hm, I wonder, does this make us instructors?"
"It would be an introductory class, if you know what I mean," Jackie claims with a grin and another hiccup-laugh.
"We're both ace students though!" Henry brags.
"Best to catch them early and teach them how to do it right," Nicora claims with a laugh. "So, shall we?" she asks, offering her arm to Phil.
"If there's an oral exam later, then.. I can't believe I just said that!" Phil says, looking completely embarrassed.
"Don't worry," Nicora says, "I'm an expert at administering those." Of course she can't believe she just said that. Alcohol does wonders for turning off the brain to mouth filter.
Phil gets up, bitting his lip to prevent him from saying anything more, and offers a hand to Nicora.
"The band is getting ready to play," Jackie says. "How about some dancing?"
Nicora rises, then leans over to whisper to him, "Don't worry so much." Her attention then shifts to Jackie and she asks, "Dancing?"
A few couples are on the small dance floor already, as the amateur band provides passable dance music. It's more of a waltz than the frenetic, folksy stuff Nicora remembers from Sylvanian towns.
Nicora actually pulls Phil close. "So tell me," she asks the pale Eeee, then even pets his cheek, "Do you know how to dance?"
"Well.. I can fake it!" Phil promises.
Henry is offering his hand to Tulani next, and Jackie.. well, she's already headed for the dance area.
"Well, come on, then," Nicora tells the other Eeee. She slips her arm around his waist and guides him out to the dance floor. "You really haven't had a girlfriend yet?" she asks him as they go.
"There was Katy.. but we were both six years old so I don't think that counts," the pale bat admits.
There's a rabbity squeak from behind, as Tulani gooses Henry (at least, that seems the likeliest explanation). The boys from the arcade earlier look on with jealously.
Nicora laughs at that as she slips her left hand into his and rests her right hand around the small of his back. "Your hand around my hips, just above my backside," she instructs the young Eeee. "And well, that's a shame. Eeee make wonderful lovers and friends."
"We do?" Phil squeaks and looks to see how others are moving and tries to imitate them. Tulani and Henry just sort of sway, the buck's nose right up against the Sphynx's throat. Jackie has commandeered a Khatta boy, and the two of them apparently actually know how this dance is done.
"Our long tongues make for some interesting times. You mentioned an oral exam, well ... " Nicora teases as she starts to dance, trying to waltz with the Eeee just as Galand had taught her when she went to see him that one night.
The buzziness and stomach butterflies (beetle-flies?) from having solid food in there make it a little awkward, but Nicora isn't full-on tipsy so has control over her balance just fine. Phil leads, but doesn't try spins or dips (which really wouldn't be practical with wings). Eventually, the boy loosens up enough to start enjoying himself. "Where are you going after your stop here?" he asks.
"We're not sure yet. One of my group is going to Babel, so we'll be going to the continent. But, as for what port it hasn't been decided yet," Nicora explains as she lets Phil take the lead and only corrects him now and then. "I'll find out tomorrow where we'll be going. Why do you ask?"
"Just curious about how long you were staying for, I guess," Phil asks. "So.. you aren't married or have a boyfriend or anything?"
"I'm a bit of a free spirit. I have someone I am very close to, but traveling does get lonely," Nicora answers a bit vaguely. "I expect we're going to be here a few days, which means I'll probably get myself into more trouble, so to speak."
"Do you consider me getting into trouble?" Phil asks, actually sounding a little worried.
"You? Oh, no, not at all. I consider visiting the club called the Morgue as getting into trouble," Nicora says. "You're quite safe."
"You know about that place?" Phil asks quietly, and licks his lip. "I hear it's very.. depraved."
"Where do you think I got some of my jewelry done?" Nicora teases, smiling a bit deviously. "And do I detect a hint of curiosity in that question?"
"Some of the students claim to have tried to get in," Phil notes. "But they didn't get past the doorman."
"I could get you in, but you wouldn't leave quite the same as you entered," Nicora says mysteriously.
"I think I can only handle one life-changing event per night, Nicora," Phil admits nervously, and nearly missteps as the music stops and the band discuss what to play next.
Nicora laughs at that. "Nothing life-changing need happen tonight," she notes. "You seem very uncomfortable and that's the last thing you should be before doing anything with someone."
"I'm just nervous," Phil admits, as he brushes his hair back and stands awkwardly while the band reorganizes. This time they start playing something a bit more jaunty - a Himarian Sword Dance! Those who know it start stamping their feet and jumping, usually while laughing.
"I don't know this dance," Nicora admits. This doesn't stop her from trying, though! She looks silly, but she's laughing and must be having fun! She's also discovering having things that dangle from sensitive areas can be quite distracting during such a dance!
Not to mention the upper-body friction! Corsets aren't made for jumping. Tulani sits the dance out completely, for fear of popping right out of her top. Phil.. is hopeless. But then, Eeees practically have hands for feet, and jumping up and down makes some odd slapping noises.
After a bit more awkward and amusing moments, Nicora gives up too and leads Phil off the dance floor. "So, what does your family do?" she asks him.
"My mother teaches, and my father invented a type of medical plaster," Phil says, sitting down next to Nicora. "So if you break a leg and have to wear a cast while you're in Rephidim, it'll probably be made with Frekhazen's Plaster."
"A good, respectable, family. They would likely not approve of you associating with a crazy older woman," Nicora remarks as she properly crosses her legs and rests her hands in her lap.
"My mom is older than my dad," Phil claims with a grin.
"But I doubt full of holes and metal," Nicora quips, grinning right back.
"Holes and metal?" Phil asks, eyebrows raised.
"You saw my chest," Nicora points out. "I have a few others."
"Now you have me curious!" Phil says. "Still want to try some of that brandy?"
"Of course I do," Nicora says, still grinning, "And the hookah."
"Well.. uh.. shall we then?" Phil asks, sounding nervous again. "I think Henry is ready to go too.." he says, nodding to where the Lapi and Tulani are sitting.
"Yes. And don't worry so much, nothing will happen you don't want," Nicora promises as she rises to her feet and offers her arm to Phil.
The other Eeee takes her arm, and waves to Tulani and Henry. "We.. We're going back to the flat now." The Lapi hops up, and offers his arm to Tulani, who takes it and stands as well, a feline smile on her face. "Jackie'll catch up later; she likes that hookah!" the buck claims.
"Later is good, though. It'll give me some time to get you to ... relax," Nicora teases the Eeee, then licks over her lips very slowly and deliberately. She still feels oddly giddy and a little tipsy ... but something about taking charge of this younger male certainly inspires her draconic side!