Mordecai was very pleased with his 'victory' over The Grim Fandango, in whatever little battle of influence there was between it an the Morgue. Once back in his lair, he gleefully showed Snowcora what could be done with the chains he'd wrapped her in, using them like the strings of a harp to play the girl's body - at least until he was ready to jump in and make it a duet. But he did, at least, disconnect the web of chitin chains so Snowcora could sleep.
Sleep wasn't easily coming, however, so Snowcora went a little bit deeper into her own head, and found herself standing in a familiar garden - although still in her human form, naked and tattooed; but at least the sun didn't burn. And over on the picnic blanket was.. Alptraum. The Eeee was intimately entangled with a dark elf girl.
"Oh for ... can you control yourself? Are you always involved in some carnal adventure," Snowcora complains as her male aspect that is currently making one of the dark elves sing her own sort of tune with bites and claws and ... other things.
This causes the Eeee to look up.. and lick his lips at the sight of Snowcora. "I didn't think you'd run into him," Kaira notes as she lands next to the woman. "He doesn't have much of a mind right now, but I have to keep him occupied when you're transformed and female. Nice tattoos, by the way. Make you look.. tasty."
Snowcora reaches over and swats Kaira on her butt! "You" she accuses. "Why did you ... make the unicorn body ... argh! I was milked! Milked."
"Isn't that what you wanted?" Kaira asks, moving out of swatting range. "You seemed to enjoy it."
"My body wanted it. I ... argh! Do you know how hard it is to manage all the hormones I have?" Snowcora complains as she flails her arms and makes certain aspects of herself bounce in time. "And now I'm all tattooed! I have Inala's brand practically on my genitals!"
"It's a nice shade of blue at least," Kaira notes. "And it's hardly on your genitals, it just traces the path of your birth canal and uterus.."
"Something I hope will never be used for that purpose! Can you imagine me all /swollen?" Snowcora asks as she holds her lower stomach.
"It wouldn't be so bad if you knew how to lay an egg," Kaira suggests, with a grin.
"And I suppose you could teach me that?" Snowcora asks and crosses her arms.
"Don't be silly, I don't lay eggs," the dragon says huffily.
"What scares me at this point is I like having a uterus and birth canal, as you call it," Snowcora grumbles, "I'm ... liking being female. I'm ... just following whatever desires the bodies I wear have."
"And you aren't alarmed about coming here, and still being transformed and separate from your other half?" Kaira asks. "I suppose it's because you've been using that particular form often recently."
"And I like having jewelry in them too," Snowcora adds and even tugs on one of the rings the human body has for emphasis. She pauses there and blinks. "Why should I be alarmed?" she asks.
"Well.. it's unusual," Kaira notes, then shrugs. "How are you otherwise?" she asks. "You aren't in some sex-dungeon are you?"
"Well, I sort of am. I've ... become the property of an Eeee named Mordecai. He's the one who tattoed me after he had some does restrain me," Snowcora admits. She shrugs and grins a bit, "On the plus side, it has been ... a lot of fun. I could get used to it..."
"Property? That doesn't sound right," Kaira says, hand on hip. "I shall help you escape!" she declares.
"Not that serious!" Snowcora says and waves her hands. "It's more like a game. I just ... serve him in fun ways while I stay there. I can leave any time. It, well ... I've got some allies now who may be quite helpful. Enslaved by the almighty uterus!"
"And do you really think the tattoos are pretty?" Snowcora asks, "I'm ... not sure what to think. Well, other than I can't get rid of them."
"They make you look like candy," the dragon claims. "You sound as if you have a reason to need allies on Rephidim?"
"Yes. My ... clone, Rikat, is there. I may have to help him escape," Snowcora notes as she starts pacing back and forth. "I need to keep him out of the Avatar of Dipthath's claws and fangs."
"Maybe you should catch me up," Kaira notes, sitting down. "I've been avoiding the urge to eavesdrop when the dagger is inserted - partly because it was getting a bit embarrassing, but mostly because I had to keep your other half entertained and go about my own business. Assume I don't know anything."
"Haven't I told you about Rikat before? He was an orphan that the Yodhsunala .... changed to look like me. He was put in my place in Babel while I was secreted out when I was just a baby," Snowcora begins to explain, "He's also a jerk, mean and .... well, in trouble. The general kidnapped him in a raid and intends to use him as a political pawn. The General also happens to claim to be the Avatar of Dipthath, a rather evil Goddess. More evil than the others, believe it or not! Anyway, the General tried to make him her slave with a black heart. I happened to remove it a few days ago."
"How can this General infect a person with a black heart?" Kaira asks.
"She bit him. Dipthath is ... the patron of undead vampires," Snowcora tries to explain and gestures with her hands. "What I suspect is ... well, she's a servant of Amena. The same demon-spawn that enslaved Muravian."
"Ah, that one, the demon-goddess of undeath," Kaira says, nodding. "Sounds more like Vorg's type. I suppose you intend to defeat this ... creature?"
"And now that Nala has declared me to be her next champion, I think I'm expected to face and defeat the General," Snowcora continues. "Which I more or less have to, unless you want Babel to become the next undead city and army of Sinai."
"I suppose that wouldn't be an improvement, no.." the dragon admits, tapping her chin. "I don't know much about how powerful an undead vampire is on this world. They seem to come in so many different varieties.."
"I have no idea, either. Are you worried I won't be able to face her? I do have the Shadow in my employ," Snowcora points out. "And I doubt she can seduce me."
"Your control over the Shadow is still.. well, limited due to the Barsunala spirit blocking it," Kaira notes. "On the other hand.. the Barsunala spirit is handy when dealing with the undead." She holds her hands palms up, moving them up and down like the scales of a balance. "Insufficient data one what you'd be up against."
"So, are you suggesting then that I should infiltrate her army and learn about her?" Snowcora asks. "Pretend to be an evil minion?"
"I'm not suggesting anything yet," Kaira notes. "As a dragon, I prefer to have a lot of knowledge before engaging an enemy. There won't be an opportunity for that until you arrive in Babel, realistically. I consider it too soon to plan. Is Mave or Tulani with Rikat now, gathering information?"
"Mave is with them, but it is hard to spend much time alone with Rikat. The guards keep careful watch on him," Snocora says as she spins and eyes her other half curiously. "And the boat we'll be traveling on docks tomorrow. I'll need use of Rina's body for a bit tomorrow to 'scout' it out without looking out of place."
"Naked?" Kaira asks. "Do you have clothes that would fit the Skreek?"
"Easily obtained. I'm sure I could convince Hortense to loan me some," Snowcora explains. "Plus I could just borrow Tulani's clothes..."
"Igorina is a bit shorter than Tulani," Kaira points out. "But.. you have access to Lapi clothes, don't you? If your dominatrix doesn't have Skreek-friendly apparel on hand, that is."
"Yes, I should have access to lapi clothing. Plus I'm sure I can convince Hortense to loan me some by either somehow defeating her, or al east entertaining her some more," Snowcora claims. She pauses in her pacing to concentrate and see if she can turn herself into Rina in here, even if she can't outside."
In the dagger, it isn't very difficult at all. Of course, there's no transitional limbo - she feels every change as it happens, until Snowcora becomes Nicorina, the hooded rat. Some of the tattoo shows through the thinner white fur of her chest and belly, even.
The sounds Snowcora makes as her body changes are ... interesting to say the least. Some have the edge of enjoyment in feeling her flesh squirm. Others are tinted with pain when bones re-arrange themselves. To the others present, it's like watching a were-rat change slowly and enjoy it all too much. "Eeeeheehehehe," Nicorina cackles on all-fours just before pushing herself all the way back to her feet. She wiggles her bared fingers as she adds, "Ah, how I like this body!"
"You aren't the only one.." Kaira warns, before an elven squeak of protest is heard. "Incoming bat.."
And Nicorina finds herself right back on all fours with a bat on her back! "Hey! I didn't say you could ooooh," Nicorina complains, only to find herself cut off when the bat finds what he wanted. "Okay, enough of this!" she thinks and tries to shift her 'viewpoint' back to her male aspect!
This.. is tricky. There resistance, since Nicora is still Snowcora out there. It results in a disorienting bouncing back and forth.. which at least causes enough confusion and dizziness to stop what was happening.
"You could try becoming your normal female self," Kaira suggests. "That might make things easier.."
Whatever Nicorina was going to say comes out as gibberish babble split between the two bodies! Still, it seems like she listened because she's trying to shift again, into something Eeee-like.
It's still awkward, but eventually the female half settles into Femtraum form.. and that does make it easier to sort out which half is witch.
After Femtraum extracts herself from her male aspect she looks at Kaira. "Am I ever going to be normal again? Will I ever be male again? Melusine has really screwed me up," she complains.
"I don't think you can lay the blame entirely at Melusine's.. uh.. feet.." Kaira notes, trying to look innocent herself. "Will you be going alone in the morning, or will Tulani be with you? How critical is that you not be recognized later, is what I really mean: the Sphynx is fairly distinctive, without a disguise."
"Oh I perfectly well know you're also at fault ... and that you didn't answer the question. So, great, I'm stuck with this," Femtraum grumbles and gestures at herself. "And I should probably go alone, for the reasons you noted. The only disguise Tulani can wear is a dragon, unless I reshape her ... and I doubt she would agree to that."
"A dragon would be very distracting, don't you think?" Kaira asks, one eyeridge raised. "If you needed a distraction, that is."
"I don't want to draw attention to us. We're supposed to be covertly gathering information, not causing a scene," Femtraum points out.
"There's always drawing attention away though too," the dragon notes. The elfess has vanished, and Alptraum is looking a bit bored.
Femtraum's brow furrows as she tries to shift back to her male aspect.
It's odd, and the first thing Alptraum realizes is that Femtraum is really pretty cute, and.. he didn't get to finish with the elf!
"Dagh, I make one sexy woman," Alptraum remarks as he saunters over and feels up Femtraum! He grins, licks her ear, then rests his chin on the top of Femtraum's head. "So, are you worried yet? About me facing down this new undeath Goddess, among other things?" he asks Kaira.
"I do not think you will make the attempt unless you are certain of victory," Kaira says, giving the pair of Eeee an odd look. "This Diphath is one of the banished Sisters, is she not? The others may therefore aid you in defeating her... if they aren't too wrapped up in their own domains."
Alptraum shrugs a bit at that. "Hard to say until I'm in Babel. I wish I could turn around and go home. I miss Rose. I also bet she's all plump and I'm not even there to poke and tease her," he laments.
"Would you really do that though?" Kaira asks, a bit sternly.
"Only now and then," Alptraum admits and spreads his hands. "You always torment the one you love!"
"That is.." Kaira begins to say, and then just rolls her eyes. "Do you wish me to change you now, or wait until you wake up again?" she asks. "And.. I am uncertain of how the Igorina body will react to Hortense. They seem to share certain proclivities.."
"Shouldn't I be in the crystal chamber before I am changed?" Alptraum asks. "Not that it wouldn't be fun to have Mordecai wake up with a skreek..."
"Oh, you aren't there now?" Kaira asks, looking a bit embarrassed about not being aware of where Alptraum actually was. "You've been changing so much, I didn't think you were bothering with the chamber. I'll wait until you call on me then. Should I keep your male half entertained, then?"
"I'm in Mordecai's home," Alptraum points out, "And I use the chamber to keep from being detected. And yes, I suppose I will permit you the honor of keeping my male aspect entertained..."
"Very well!" Kaira says, and snaps her fingers. "I summon you, Ogdru-Massaru of the Hundred Orifices!" There's a black, acrid cloud of smoke, and in the center of it a bulbous thing. It's like a boneless frog, with branching tentacles instead of legs. Each tentacle ends in a suggestive looking organ, while it opens it mouth to reveal a tongue covered in milky-white eyes. "She should be able to keep Alptraum occupied for awhile," the dragon says with satisfaction.
Alptraum stares at the abomination. "You can't be serious," he remarks to Kaira. "That's just gross and I'm an expert on gross after the things I've been through recently!"
"She's a bit blobby, but I thought you liked blobby women?" Kaira asks, looking disappointed. "And she has a lovely singing voice.."
Alptraum considers this. "Eh, I'll give it a try. It can't be worse than what Hortense did to me," he remarks ... and tries to release control of his male aspect and return to Femtraum.
Once back in control, Femtraum realizes she felt herself up earlier. And without any higher thinking, Alptraum doesn't resist the cooing, burbling monstrosity with its myriad of muscular orifices and.. well, they look like giant pustules but could be breasts, you never know..
"And I think I want to wake up before those two get busy," Femtraum remarks and turns away from the horror about to unfold. "And yes, I get it. This is all revenge. You're mad at me."
"Mad? For what?" Kaira asks, smiling.. and then swats Femtraum on the butt with her tail.
"For not paying attention to you. For indulging too much in carnal pleasures. For ... swatting you on the butt earlier," Femtraum complains and then rubs her backside. "I think I'll go back to Mordecai. He treats me well."
"I did rather enjoy the time you spent as a dragon with Tulani," Kaira leans in to purr.. just as everything fades, and flickers.. well, the remaining lit candle in Mordecai's lair flickers, anyway. Snowcora blinks, as she's all there again, with Mordecai's arm across her stomach and his breath warming the back of her neck while the bat spoons her from behind.
Snowcora reaches up and runs her fingers gently along the back of Mordecai's arm, feeling his scars and implants that decorate it. She likes this Eeee, more than she probably should. With a gentle nudge, she moves his hand down until his palm rests lightly on top of the Flower. "Thank you," she tells him, unsure if he's awake or not.
The Eeee shifts a bit, but doesn't waken. As her eyes adjust to the light, Snowcora can see the outlines of white wings in the room; Tulani must have come back and gone to sleep at some point.. unless she was already here when Mordecai and Snowcora arrived, and they were just too preoccupied to notice.
Snowcora waits a bit longer, trying to make out if that actually is Tulani or not. "Hello?" she whispers towards the outlike.
"Mmmm?" The noise is familiar; Tulani always makes that noise when she hears something while sleeping. Snowcora can make out a faint purring as well.
Snowcora nods faintly, feeling relieved it is just Tulani. For a brief moment she was worried Inala decided to visit. So, she relaxes in the arms or Mordecai, laying there peacefully and content for the moment. She also takes a moment to check and see if the Eeee 'secured' her chain while she was asleep as she ponders either waking Tulani to discuss some things ... or surprising Mordecai.
The chain is back in place - the only chain, at the moment. The others are scattered around the room, most likely.
Snowcora rolls slowly until she's face to face with Mordecai. The human smiles slightly, then leans in and kisses the Eeee, then licks along his lips, feeling the studs he wears. Why? Just because. She feels oddly content right now.
Mordecai automatically wraps his arms around the woman, and nibbles at her neck, despite still being asleep.
Snowcora, being the bad woman she is, reaches down and caresses certain things while he nibbles. "Naughty," she whispers in his ear, even though he is asleep.
This wakes the Eeee, as well as rousing him. One glowing-pink eye cracks open. "Ready for more?" he mumbles.
"Maybe," Snowcora says in a teasing tone. "More tattoos, jewelry, or physical indulgence?" she asks.
The bat rolls Snowcora onto her back, and bites her neck.. though in a playful manner instead of a hungry one. "Only one of those can be done in dim light," he notes, working his way down towards the lock and chain.. slowly.
Snowcora licks one of his ears and offers him quietly, "My back, hands and knees, or kneeling in front of you?" Her own hands are working along his back, then sides and chest, feeling his scarred body.
"In that order, for a start," the bat says, as he unlocks Snowcora's treasure and shows that he's had plenty of rest since the last session of ravishing her.
Snowcora makes a small squeak of a sound when she discovers how rested he is. "I could get very used to this and you, you know," she teases Mordecai as her arms wrap around him to hug. "You just do as you wish with me; I like that."
"I know a good thing when it drops into my lap, and I will enjoy you for as long as I can, knowing that you have to leave," the bat grunts. "And maybe Tulani too, a bit," he adds with a wink.
"Ooo, you're going to make me jealous," Snowcora teases as she hooks her legs around his for better leverage. "Thank you for tattooing me," she murmurs to him. "I was scared when you forced it ... but I have come to enjoy being ... marked."
"I am glad that you will never forget me because of them," Mordecai says, before his mouth and studded tongue are distracted for a bit.
"They all but assure I will come back to you now and then," Snowcora murmurs before she can say no more due to the lovely distractions the Eeee provides. "Why, oh why, does this have to feel so good?" she ponders as her own movements become more encouraging and more insistent that the Eeee give her his gift from the fountain to the Flower.
"Don't you ever rest?" Tulani mutters, as the writhing pair collide with her. "Hey!" she complains. "I'm not a bed!"
"We rest now and then ... but we thought you should join us!" Snowcora claims to her sphynx friend! "You take part of him and I'll take the other part..."
"Fine," Tulani says in exasperation. "I'll take the top," she says, and uses her strength to reposition the pair. Now Mordecai is on his back, with Snowcora sitting up in his lap.. and Tulani sitting on the bat's face, essentially, and facing her. "So, heard you went out tonight?" Tulani asks, conversationally.
Snowcora feels very odd like this, but... "We did. Mordecai took me to a club to show off his work," she explains. "Mave was there. The ship arrives tomorrow."
"And tell me, do you think the ink and jewelry looks good on me?" Snowcora asks. "They did at the club, but what about you?"
"We'll need to take a loo-OOOOO-k at that," Tulani says, her eyes going wide as Mordecai finds a sensitive spot with his tongue.
"Ooo, you're going to find out how nice his tongue is, I see," Snowcora teases.
"It looks good on this body - it was so pale and monochromatic before," Tulani notes, and licks her nose.
And that's when Snowcora leans forward, takes Tulani's cheeks in her hands, and kisses her.
"MMmffh?" the cat protests in surprise at finding Snowcora has a tongue stud too.
And Snowcora holds that kiss a good minute before releasing and sticking out her silver-studded tongue. "Mordecai insisted," she explains. "I'll be going to Darkside in Rina's body; it should fit in well."
"Why did you do that?" Tulani asks, sticking her own tongue out. "Want to handle crew interrogation then? They'll head for the first bar they can once they're anchored."
"I think I have to. You can't do that since you'll be a passenger and they would recognize you later. Now if I get in trouble you could cause a rukus so I could escape, of course," Snowcora suggests. "And as for why, to keep you on your toes..."
"It's Underside, you can start a ruckus by dropping a 10-shekel coin," Tulani notes, and bites her lip. She's clearly being affected by Mordecai's ministrations, and the bat is bouncing Snowcora up and down with his hips now.
"Or having a dragon rampage through iiiiit," Snowcora remarks. Her attention is starting to go, though. A little distracted now!
"Well..uh.." Tulani never finishes whatever she was going to say, as Mordecai shifts the dialog into a purely physical one. The points comes where Tulani wants to change places, too.
"It's a good thing the ship is here. I keep getting distracted. Maybe exposure to the true horrors of Babel will snap me back into my right mind!" Snowcora finds herself thinking in the midst of everything. Well, in the middle of changing positions. It's a sad telling of a person's state when horrors are needed to get someone to behave more like their old self!