"This is crazy. I know it's crazy. You know it is crazy. Why are we doing this?" Nicora babbles at Tulani as they make their way through the streets towards that strange club that has seemingly taken them as 'new members', given how often they seem to be going back there. "Sure, it's a creepy place and no one will come looking for us there, but I just know I'll get myself into trouble!" she continues. "And you, you you you you! You encourage it. I think you're amused by watching me squirm, or be weird! Don't think I haven't forgotten the leather store in Draco County. I, I, well, okay, it will at least be a distraction from the other things I could be worrying about. I just hope you'll keep me from getting killed or worse..."
"When did you become so chatty, anyway?" Tulani asks as they arrive. The Vartan bouncer bows to Nicora, and holds the door open for them.
"I'm nervous," Nicora claims as she passes by the bouncer and does not look him in the eyes. "Maybe I could get you in trouble this time instead of me."
"I usually stay out of trouble, you know," they Sphynx claims as they enter the smoky club. "You're the wild one!"
"I'm also the pretty once," Nicora adds to that and even hip-bumps Tulani as they walk. "So, all we really need is a nice quiet room or rooms for a couple days. That should be easy and hopefully not cost us much." the Eeee then waves to a few of the laconic club guests. Daytime is simply not their time, it seems. "Lets find Mordecai, or someone else in charge."
"I can't imagine someone being in charge of this bunch," Tulani sniffs, then covers her nose. "Back room again?" she suggests.
"Right, back room," Nicora agrees and heads towards the back door. Once she reaches it, she knocks once, then opens it and peers inside. "Hello?"
The 'throne room' is empty at the moment, but the stairs leading to the lower level are nearby.
"Empty," Nicora says as she opens the door the rest of the way. "But, stairs going down ... so down we go," she insists. The Eee takes Tulani's arm, in case the sphynx was planning to flee, and guides her towards, then down, the stairs.
A few candle-lit sconces light the way, mounted on brick pillars that support the floor above. Wood (and sometimes scrap) is used to partition the basement into rooms. From around a corner, a feline voice asks, "Has the Night Queen returned?"
"Ha ha," Nicora says. "Tulani and I wanted to ask about staying here a couple of days. It's ... more comfortable than our hotel is, as hard to believe as that is," she adds as she goes around the corner to see if it is the strange khatta from before.
The leather-clad Khatta is leaning against a wall, her eyes and cheeks decorated with black powder to make her look gaunt. It isn't clear if her fur is naturally white or if it's more artifice. "Oooo, you brought a playmate?" the feline purrs, looking at Tulani and licking her lips.
"Bodyguard," Tulani claims, patting the sheathed saber at her side (even though the Light of Nala probably couldn't be used to hurt someone).
"I believe the body part," the Khatta says with a purr, then sashays down the hall, using her tail to gesture in a 'follow me' manner.
"She'll decide if she wants to play with anyone," Nicora claims, "And she plays rough." Quietly, to Tulani, she notes as they follow the feline, "She's cute, is a scary, disturbing, sort of way."
"I'll never be girly enough to walk like that," Tulani whispers back... and the twists her head around to check out her own butt, all the same.
"I think you're sexy without being that girly," Nicora notes quietly, "Always have. I do wonder if I could walk like that, though..." And so, Nicora actually tries to sashay.
It's not hard to mimic.. but it also causes her chains to rub in disturbing ways. The leather-cat brings them to.. a blank wall? She plucks one of the candle-plates from a nearby sconce, and it turns out the wall isn't entirely wall - there's a hidden door. And beyond that, stone stairs leading further down. The Khatta goes first, lighting the way with the candle.
"How deep does this place go?" Tulani asks.
"All the way, honey," miss leather replies.
Nicora's ears splay very oddly as she sashays ... but she doesn't exactly stop. She's apparently trying to decide if she likes it or not. "I think pretty far down, to old catacombs," Nicora says, "If I had to guess."
"What is your name, by the way?" Nicora asks the khatta ahead of them.
"Mistress Hortense," the Khatta purrs, leading them down and down, until the stairs end at another door. This one looks smooth and ceramic, and has a wheel in the middle. "Hold my candle?" Hortense asks, offering the light without really turning around.
Nicora reaches around the khatta and takes the candle. "Yes, Mistress," she says and tries to keep from giggling as she does so. The look she gives Tulani makes it very apparent she wants to laugh, though!
Her hands free now, the Khatta uses both of them to turn the wheel, and then push open the apparently heavy door. The corridor beyond is well let, and also looks smooth and modern - although very, very old as well, with cracks and crumbled patches. Hortense walks out and looks both ways before gesturing for the others to follow.
"Are we in actual danger down here?" Nicora asks after watching the khatta look in both directions. Again she looks back to Tulani, nodding her head just so to try and tell the khatta to keep a look out with her sharper eyes. Nicora's ears swivel about now as she tries to pay more attention to the sounds down here and what may be going on.
The corridor is amazingly straight, and strange glass spheres high on the walls provide light. "The Darksiders don't use them often, but you can never be to sure," Hortense notes. "And every year or so the Temple does a patrol." She turns left and heads down the corridor, away from where the cemetery would be. "It isn't far."
"If it is dangerous, then why do you stay down here? And where exactly are we going?" Nicora asks Hortense. She's really beginning to wonder if staying here is any safer...
"These don't look like the sewers," Tulani notes.
"This is where Mordecai lives," Hortense claims, turning a corner. The new corridor ends in another hatch-like door, which she knocks on. "Mordecai? You have guests. The Night Queen and her fluffy bodyguard."
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," Nicora admits when she hears this is where the strange Eeee actually lives. She draws to a stop a few feet behind Hortense and waits quietly. "I'm really glad you're here," she whispers back to Tulani.
There are some sounds of movement that make it through the door, and then there's a KA-CHUNK sound as if a bolt were being thrown, followed by the sight of the wheel turning and the door opening inwards onto darkness. "I am expecting them," the deep, hollow voice of Mordecai says from within.
"That makes one of us," Tulani whispers back, before focusing her attention on the opening door.
"Are you coming in with us, or are we on our own?" Nicora asks Hortense as she approaches the door, then offers the candle back to the khatta.
"He's expecting you, not me," the Khatta notes with a grin. "I have customers coming soon, so I need to prepare."
"I'm hurt. Here I was hoping to get to know you better," Nicora teases the khatta as she takes back the candle. "Come along, Tulani, it seems we're expected," she adds and steps through the doorway into the darker chamber beyond.
The door closes behind them, and the bolt is thrown, sending confusing echoes through the chamber. Only then is a match struck and set to wick, as Mordecai lights an oil lamp. "I was wondering if you would be returning or not, after last night," the pale, painted bat notes, his eyes glowing in the dim light.
"Well, we find we're in need of a place to stay for a couple of days that would be safe," Nicora explains, trying to sound completely calm about it all ... even though even she is feeling vaguely creeped out right now. "We thought the club may be a relatively safe place, as only select people visit it. And well ... ah." She pauses there and scratches her cheek, "I don't have much money we could offer you, but ... I can offer myself to you as payment for the few days. I have a few unique abilities, as you have seen."
"Did I miss something?" Tulani whispers to Nicora.
"I went flying last night and found him meditating in one of Vorgulremik's old lairs. My shadow ate the remaining essense and some strange things happened. It's probably better that you missed it...", Nicora explains to Tulani quietly.
"You are welcome to stay with me as long as you like, of course," Mordecai offers, then grins. "I may not want you to leave though. You are a woman of dark secrets, and I would be left wanting if I did not learn them all."
"We're supposed to be careful about.. things," Tulani reminds Nicora. "Did you drain your power?"
"I am not nearly as impressive as I may have seemed," Nicora claims, "I can manipulate shadows ... and shape change into a few different bodies. But neither of those are safe to do unless you have a way to block the detection of the magic used."
"I was careful! The shadow reacted and I couldn't stop it," Nicora whispers, "And it had to have been there for years ... so magic there was not unknown to the city. I hope..."
"Ah, there are places where magic cannot penetrate," Mordecai notes. "They have been used by those who wish to not be scryed upon, or to practice forbidden rituals."
"Using my abilities there would be safe enough, then," Nicora says as she approaches the strange Eeee. "But ... anyway, where will Tulani and I say? Do you have a room that she and I can share?"
The Eeee spreads his arms and gestures around. Now that everyone is adjusted to the dim light, it's easy to see that the room is a large circular chamber, with a few partitions added to section it off. Several areas are full of cushions, one sporting a hookah pipe. Another has hanging Eeee-style perches, while another includes an old style standing bathtub. Another area contains a small library. And at the very center is another wheeled hatch in the floor. "My abode is meager, but comfortable. Alas, I have no food here for Tulani, but there is running water."
"Ah. Well. Thank you for being so generous in letting us stay without asking for any payment," Nicora says as she steps away from the albino Eeee. "We can go get Tulani some food this afternoon," she adds as she heads towards the hatch in the floor and peers at it.
It's not very wide, but wide enough. "That leads to the underworld of Rephidim," Mordecai explains. "A series of caves and tunnels. There are underground routes that will take you almost anywhere in the city if you wish to remain unseen."
"That may be useful, but I don't think we'll need it," Nicora says. She looks up and back over to Tulani. "Will you be comfortable staying here? If not, we could look for another place," she says.
"It's not that different from the hold of an airship," Tulani claims, then comes over and pokes Nicora with a finger. "Besides, I need to keep an eye on you or you'll get into trouble!"
"You wouldn't get me into trouble, right?" Nicora asks and looks over to Mordecai.
"I keep a very low profile," Mordecai says. "And I could tie you up to keep you out of trouble as well."
Nicora's brow arches. "Would you really tie me up?" she asks.
"I have Lapi-fur lined restraints if you'd like to see them.." the albino offers, grinning.
"Hmm, that might be the safest option," Tulani notes, nodding.
"I actually world ... but then I couldn't show you the human albino form I can wear," Nicora teases right back, then flicks her ears.
"I would very much like to see that," Mordecai says, looking interested. "Would that require a magic-shielded chamber?"
"Oh yes, it would. I would also have to remain naked afterward as clothing tends to irritate that body," Nicora explains, "Which I suppose will be a problem too."
"I have appropriate clothing," the naked man claims.
"You do? Such as?" Nicora asks.
From a chest, Mordecai produces fur-lined pants, vests and cloaks. The fur is somewhat patchwork, but since it's all on the inside it hardly matters. "I have fur-lined galoshes as well."
"Hm, those would be fine, I think. We have a few hours before we need to go back to the city for a bit ... so would you like to see the body?" Nicora asks. The Eeee then looks to Tulani and adds, "Only if you are also okay with it, of course."
"I've never seen it before.. and I wouldn't mind stretching out a bit if I'm able," the Sphynx says.
Nicora sashays back over to Mordecai, mimicking the walk Hortense used earlier. "Well, it looks like you're going to be a lucky Eeee and get to have a little albino slave human for a bit," she teases and runs a fingertip under his chin. "As long as there is a chamber we can use safely, anyway."
"Mmmmmm," Mordecai purrs, and licks at Nicora's finger with a long tongue. "You'll want to wear boots.." he advises.
Nicora collects the boots then. "Going to go all scaley, are we?" she asks Tulani when she's close to the sphynx again and winks. "It is such a good feeling, isn't it?"
"Very relaxing.. so long as I'm not too hungry," Tulani says, winking back.
"Then lets go be bad for a bit," Nicora adds in whisper. Turning back to Mordecai, she says, "Lead on and you'll get a few new surprises."
Once Mordecai has finished dressing, and bundled up the cloaks, he turns the wheel on the floor hatch, and swings it up. There's a ladder leading down through a raw stone-sided tube, with some faint light at the bottom.
"Stay close," the albino says, and descends first.
"Into the depths of danger and fear we go," Nicora remarks a bit dryly to Tulani ... then follows the albino down the hatch.
The climb down isn't too long, depositing them in a natural tunnel, lit by outcroppings of glowing crystal (both Sifran and the more common 'rainbow' variety). This slopes up and down and twists, forks and spirals. Mordecai assures the girls that he knows the way, and has made extensive maps. This is his backyard, after all, since he never went out during the daylight to the surface. It also comes out that as a result, Mordecai doesn't know how to fly.
"I should teach you how t fly. All Eeee should know the joy of flying, otherwise why have the wings?" Nicora tells him as they walk through the mazy corridors.
"I am afraid of heights," Mordecai admits, and points out side passages as they pass. "That leads to underside. This other connects to the sewers under the Crafters Quarter," he narrates. Up ahead, the light seems to be brighter.
Nicora wants to say more about such an odd fear, but decides against it. "I ... also might wish to get a few more pieces of jewelry before we leave," she admits as they walk towards the brighter light. "Would you be amenable to that?"
"I would do my best, in hopes of making you incrementally more beautiful," Mordecai says, as he leads them into a giant, inverted bowl of a cavern. There's something like a natural raised dais in the center, and the ceiling is crowded with veins and branches of Sifran crystal that fan out from the center like the roots of a giant tree. "And here we are, the Cathedral," he says. "The crystal blocks magic, you know."
"After kissing you I was thinking a few studs in my tongue might be ... " Nicora starts to explain, then fades off as she peers up at the majestic crystal formations above them. "Oh ... wow," she says in awe. "Those are beautiful." She moves slowly towards the center as she takes in the sight with wide eyes.
A crystal stalactite hanging from the central mass above serves as a sort of chandelier. Mordecai climbs onto the dais, and calls it 'the giant's tea-table'. "It is said that if you sleep here, you will go mad.. but it never had that effect on me," he notes.
"It's so.. shiny," Tulani purrs in a trancelike tone, staring at the central crystal.
"Riiight," Nicora thinks to herself as she fishes out her dagger. She has to let her hand 'rot' back to the metallic exoskeleton and shadow flesh ... which always feels odd and makes her ears twitch, then she slides the blade of the dagger deep into her arm through its dagger-sheath. "Kaira, you there? I need some shift help..." she thinks.
"Late shift or graveyard shift?" the dragon-spell replies in Nicora's head.
"Albino-shift. I want to take on Snow's body. Another albino would like to see it," Nicora explains in thought as she climbs up onto the dias to join Mordecai. "And Tulani, focus!" she calls over to the entranced Sphynx.
The Sphynx blinks and comes over, joining the others on the dais. "Right, right.. power time," she says, and draws the Light from it scabbard. For a moment, all of the crystal in the cavern glows gold instead of the usual mix of whites, blues, greens and purples. "That's interesting," Tulani notes.
"Very," Nicora admits as she pauses to eye the crystal. "I hope that isn't dangerous ... or won't attract attention."
"You'd better strip first," Kaira reminds Nicora. "Sensitive skin, remember?"
"Oh, right," Nicora mutters to herself. The clothing is pretty, but it is complicated to put on and take off. Minutes pass as Nicora undoes the cinches, buckles, and buttons of her corset, bodice, and dress. Each is folded up and then the corset is wrapped around the set of clothing and cinched closed to hold it together as one tight bundle. The Eeee then shivers, feeling naked and in a weird place ... and her jewelry movement is also all the more noticeable. She takes a breath, then sits down on the dias and crosses her legs. "This won't look very impressive," she explains, "But the end result will be ... interesting."
"I am already impressed," Mordecai says, his eyes also wandering to look past Nicora's shoulder to watch Tulani disrobing as well. "Your exotic arm will remain, won't it?"
"I can try to keep it," Nicora says, then thinks, "Kaira, can you keep my right hand looking, well, like it normally does, all tendrils and skeletal?"
"That's easy.. covering it up is the challenge, after all," the dragon replies.. and then the shadowy tendrils extend from the arm and begin to wrap and twine around Nicora. A little more dramatic than the usual oily oozy spread.. but Kaira is probably showing off.
"I'll be at your mercy after this," Nicora tells Mordecai, "So ... I hope you'll be ... gentle." She winks to the Albino and closes her eyes. It's now that she takes the time to relish the feel of the shadow 'consuming' her body as Kaira spreads it out. "Why do dangerous thinks have to feel so ... good," she wonders.
"Nobody would do them otherwise," Kaira points out in the darkness. When it fades back to the light, Snowcora finds herself on a spread-out fur cloak, with Mordecai staring at her. "So.. lovely. What art I could create on your skin," he murmurs, then asks (in typically vampiric fashion), "Do you taste the same? I've never tasted a human.."
Nicora lays there, breathing slowly as the rush of the sensitive skin hits her. Her current decoration is now very noticeable, though thankfully not as overwhelming as it is on her steel-dragon form. She tries to sit up now, feeling a little groggy after the change. "I'm not sure what I taste like," Snowcora admits. "But if you want to find out..."
Suddenly, something large, wet and cold runs up along the human's back. "Mmmmmm," Tulani-dragon rumbles from behind. "Salty.."
"Eeeee!" goes Snowcora and she leans forward! "Tulani! Behave yourself!" the human squeaks and shivers. "That was cold!"
The silver-scaled dragon just grins. "Tasty though. I see why dragons like to eat princesses," she claims.
"I'm not a princess though," Snowcora says and pouts ... rather princesslike. "Sooo ... " she says to Mordecai, "Do you want to bite? Pick any place you want..."
Mordecai's tongue is not cold, and his vampire saliva makes for an interesting sensation on Nicora's bare skin. He also has a taste, biting her.. well, in the same place Alptraum first bit Snow. Of course she didn't have a barbell inserted there, which Mordecai can't help but twist with his tongue while he drinks.
Snowcora's expression must be priceless. It's a mis of a burst of pain and surprise, then a soft relaxing, then one of actual enjoyment. Her hands come up and she cups the Eeee's head, cradling him as he drinks. "I wonder if this is what it feels like to nurse," she wonders for a moment. The barbell thankfully distracts that line of thought or the human might find herself longing to be pregnant!
"I expect to be entertained," Tulani claims. "If I'm bored, I get hungry, and may have to nibble."
"What would entertain you?" Snowcora asks, though she sounds extremely distracted. The way her head arches back only helps indicate that she is very distracted.
"Hmmm," the dragon goes, tapping her chin. "The acoustics in here are probably very good. How about some singing? I'm sure Mordecai can make you sing, can't he? If you do well, I'll make it snow in here. I bet Mordecai has never seen snow.."
Even though Nicora is still sore she finds herself whispering to the tattooed Eeee, "Please unlock and claim your human." This is followed up by a lick along the ear-ridge of his furless ear. And if Mordecai takes the offer, she'll be singing ... one way or another. Either from the pain or from the enjoyment ... and she knows from experience that an observing dragon would enjoy either type.