Once the frenzy of activity from launching Shadowdrake had died down, half of the crew returned below deck to sleep until their shift. The pteras were pulling the ship steadily towards the Stygian Sea, while a pair of Skreeks worked the ballast pumps - filling the air bladders within the envelope to decrease altitude by displacing the helium cells and adding weight. Captain Soldano, First Mate Orca and Navigator Temis where busy on the raised pilot deck, while Tulani watched the Ballast Master work various valves and consult levels as he worked to balance the envelope. Of Gotrekis the Guardian there was no sign, nor of Mave (who was preparing a blessing ritual).
"Good t'ing I don't sing or I might go dancin' across the bow singin' about floatin' in de wind," the deranged skreek remarks as she paces about on deck and watches the goings-on. She's trying to stay out of the way along with trying to determine which of the crew belongs to the Guardians and which do not by looking for the tell-tale shoulder marking. "And I also wonder if I could change fast enough if I jumped off to be able to fly and not go splat," she ponders. figuring having an escape route is always a good idea.
From what's visible, at least two of the three Eeees on deck have the mark exposed. None of the Skreeks appear to display it, however - and the one Eeee not marked is the Captain himself, and Nicorina has already had a chance to examine him in detail.
Trying to seem like a chatty crew member, Nicorina saunters towards the railing near one of the Eeee. "Ey," she says, "Been meaning to ask yas. What is de shoulder shave t'ingy for? It be nifty; but then I be fond o' fun body things." She accentuates the question by sticking out her studded tongue as an example.
"Just a.. gang marking," the Eeee claims, as he checks the knots on what looks like a buoy of some kind. "Why do you ask?"
"Cuz I'm curious?" Nicorina asks and then shrugs. "Seems a bandana would be easier, but ey! Dat shows more dedication." She leans against the rail and peers over.
The view below is.. blue, eventually. The ship is just leaving the shadow of the sky island, and slowly sinking towards the water. "You aren't gonna ask what gang I'm with?" the bat asks, a bit confused about the bandana comment.
"Didn't t'ink it was dat important, just wanted to know what it was," Nicorina remarks as if it really doesn't matter to her. "But, since yas mention it, w'at gang?"
"Guardians of the Tower," the Eeee says, pulling on ropes. "Means I'm loyal to the traditions of Babel."
Nicorina scratches her cheek idly as she thinks about that. "You mean like all de old religions and such dat caused such a stir a few years ago?" the skreek asks. "Don't de still follow all dat? I don't quite keep up with Babel."
"There are people that want to change it all, make us just another.. surface nation," the bat claims, a bit uncertainly. "Take away our strength, you know? Keep us down.."
"Oh? Who want to change it all? And what d'ya mean by being kept down?" Nicorina asks, turning sideways so she can lean on the rail and look at the Eeee.
"Tools of Rephidim that in power for the moment, like Thath," the man claims, looking over the rail himself now to judge altitude. "The Boomer didn't stop us, the mages didn't stop us.. so they got one of our own to stop us. Rephidim doesn't want us to get back on our feet, because we're a threat to them."
"Ah! That! Dat is a name I 'eard of before! Old advisor to de ruler, wasn't he?" Nicorina asks, "De one dat snuffed de river back a few years ago."
"Yeah.. I think," the Eeee says, finishing his task and really looking at Nicorina now. "He advised the High Princess, and probably the Sabaoth before her. And the prince too.. don't remember his name." Public education is apparently not a priority in Babel. "Anyway, it's like.. we'll be sitting on top when the General takes it all back and the Kindly Ones make everything better again. Who are you, anyway?"
"Bit o' advice from de streets. Take or leave it as ya want; but be wary of anyone promising ya dat you'll be sitting on top o' anything. Dat's what people often say t' those who de gonna sacrifice for dere ends. Seen it in the slums enough wit de gang leaders," Nicorina remarks and shrugs. "As for me, I be Nikky. Took an honest job on dis ship bein' de Tail. Safer than being a scrounger for loose pockets in de city, if ya get my meaning."
"What's that?" the Eeee asks. He does look a bit young and inexperienced. "A tail? I don't know that part of the ship. I tie knots. I'm good with knots. I'm Gil. I gotta longer name but it's hard to 'member."
Nicorina laughs and gives Gil a look. "My job is to make sure de crew guys and girls have a stress outlet on de ship an companionship in bed" she explains. "Or simply, I paid t' lift me tail."
This seems to confuse the Eeee further. "I don't have a bed," he notes. "I hang from a pole." He also studies the Skreek's bare tail, wondering at what magical properties it must have.
Nicorina arches her brow. "I be de ship's whore," she says flatly.
"Oh!" the bat says, eyes going wide in comprehension. "So, you sew up the rips in the envelope, right?"
Nicora rubs her forehead and laughs. "No," she says. "Yer silly ... and so naive!"
"Oh! I know what will help explain it! I be like de Eeee sharing a cabin attached to mine. Dat Yodhinala person, only not religious," the skreek adds.
"Hey!" calls out the other marked Eeee, who was checking things on the opposite side of the deck. He comes over, and says, "You best not be teasing my brother, wench, just because he's stupid."
"Inala is the favorite Kindly One," Gil notes. "I don't think she has a tail though? Oh.. hello Gar.." He seems to shrink a bit in the presence of the older brother.
"Ey, he no stupid. Just inexperienced," Nicorina says and waggles her finger at the older Eeee. "He also nice an' polite."
"Well.. I gotta watch out for him," the other Eeee says defensively. He does look similar, but there's no other indication of fraternal relation beyond his claim. "He got hit on the head when half our home went poof in the Boomer. So I gotta watch him! I'm Ger. I.. tie knots."
"Nikky. Ship's tail," Nicorina answers. "He was tellin' me a little about wanting to help Babel be strong again and dats why he joined some Guardian's gang. I was jus' telling him t' be careful; all gangs will tell yas stuff they t'ink ya wanna hear to get de people."
"Hey, they took us in after our folks got eaten by the Boomer," Ger says, which causes Gil to sniffle. "We wouldn't have nothing without the Guardians. They take in lots of orphans like us."
"Well, w'at do dey ask from yas in return?" Nicorina asks.
"Uh.. we help.." Gar says, shrugging a bit. "We do stuff for the General. Like.. tie knots."
"Who is de General? Dat big bat dat came on with de two priestesses?" Nicorina asks.
"The General is here?" Gil asks, looking around wide-eyed.
"I dunno! Dat why I asked!" Nicorina points out.
"The General is.. the General," Gar claims. "The one chosen by the Kindly Ones to restore Babel! The.. mess.. messy.. messy-eye?" He then taps Gil on the shoulder and shakes his head. "The General ain't here, she's talking about the Goat."
"De Goat?" Nicorina asks, looking very confused now. "Dat sound vaguely insulting."
"It just short for Gotrekis," Gar claims. "And because.. uh.. he does stuff for the General. Like.. important stuff. Like a goat does, right? I.. I don't know what a goat is actually.." he admits.
"Oh! Hm. If he here, does dat mean he on some mission?" Nicorina asks. Her nose twitches, then she adds, "Never mind, I prolly don' wanna know. Better t'not know secret stuffs involving dangerous people. Prolly better he jus' tell me about himself iffin I meet him, dan risk makin' him mad or getting you two in trouble by saying something you shouldn't. Or ... wa'ever."
"Trouble?" both bats say together, then share a look. "Whatever it is, we're sorry," Gil claims. "We'll do whatever you want if you just don't tell the Captain!"
"No no! No trouble! I jus' don't want to cause it by bein' too nosy," Nicorina notes and even taps her nose.
"An besides, it be my job to do what you want. Dat what dey pay me for," Nikky adds.
The bats both rub their noses together as well. "We can teach you how to tie knots," Gar offers. "Can you make us beetle stew?" Gil requests.
"Learnin' knots might be useful ... no so good at cookin' stew. An one more question iffin you don't mind; is yer gang big? Will I porlly meet lots of yas?" Nicorina asks.
"There's just us and Wiggles on the ship," Gar claims. "But there are like, lots in the secret Guardian's base."
"Augh! You said secret base," Nicorina complains, "I prolly shouldn't know about dat. At least ya didn't tell me where it was!"
"No stew?" Gil asks, looking disappointed. "Can you mind my trousers then? I got a hole from where I was scratching too much.."
"I can probably mend your trousers, yes," Nikky agrees.
"Well, everyone knows it's in the.. oh, right.." Gar says, winking.
Nicorina sticks her tongue out at Gar for that.
"When can I bring them to you?" Gil asks. "An' where do you stay? Are you in the bunks with the rest of us?"
"I have a room next to the Prietsesses," Nicorina explains and points towards the rear of the ship. "But I have a nest down in de hold for tending t' crew needs." She thumbs downward for that one. "Jus' drop dem off downstairs when yer ready for me to try and fix em."
"Okay!" Gil says and grins. "It was nice to meet you, Nikky Tail!"
"Nicroina cants her hips just so, tilts her head, then gives the Eeee a half-lidded look. "Oh, I can make it even nicer later, ya know," she teases. "An it was nice t' meet you too!"
"C'mon, we gotta check the spare anchors," Gar tells Gil, and leads him off to another box mounted to the deck, with more buoys in it.
And Nikky pinches Gar's butt as they depart, then cackles. "Nice guys," she remarks as she resumes sauntering across the deck, looking for anything that seems out of place or people she knows.
She does get Orca's attention, as the Skreek waves to her from the pilot deck. Another Skreek's tail is vanishing up into the envelope, while Tulani watches from below. "How's it going Nic.. keee.." the Sphynx asks, nearly using the wrong name.
Nikky waves to Orca, blows him a kiss, then swishes her tail suggestively. "It goes ... all floaty!" the skreek claims in her reply to Tulani. "You's the Tulcat, right? Tul-ah-nee?"
With a smirk, Tulani nods. "Yeah, that's me." She points up into the envelope and says, "If you're looking for the Ballast Master, he's up there."
"Who dat?" Nicorina asks as she heads over to one of the rope sets and looks upward at the envelope. "Prolly older den de kids dey have on the anchors, right?"
"Yeah, he's pretty old," Tulani admits. "Cusses a lot too, but he knows everything about how the ship works."
Nicorina cackles. "Sounds like a hoot. Am I allowed up dere?" she asks. Of course climbing up ropes would give the crew a show...
Tulani shrugs. "You could go up and ask?" she suggests.
"If I get in trouble I expect you t' make it up to me!" Nikky threatens Tulani and waggles her brow at the sphynx. And naturally, she climbs up a set of the ropes (her hands and feet are good for that!). For anyone who looks up ... yep, the skreek isn't wearing underwear ... again.
There are few whistles, before Nikky is inside the envelope. Guide ropes are the only way to get around in the darkness, due to the black envelope. Nets hold in large, sometimes pulsating bladders while cloth tubes snake around. And somewhere in there, someone says, "Dagh-sucking pus-filled Skedat crap of a seal!"
"Such language!" Nicorina calls in the direction of the voice then ends up giggling. "Jus' thought I say hello! I be Nikky de Tail."
Through the bulging gasbags, Nikky finds a middle-aged Skreek stripped down his shorts and a toolbelt, trying to apply some sort of goo to a ring-joint where a tube connects to one of the bags. "Come here," he demands. "Hold this ring tight as a Kavi's.. oh, pardon me, miss. Thought you wuz one of the crew.." he then says, apologetically.
Nicorina clambers her way over and takes a firmgrip on the soon to be gooed ring joint. "I am part of de crew. Hired fer de trip by the captain," the female skreek comments. "I'm de ship's Tail."
"Really?" the older Skreek asks, as he starts applying the goo around the edge of the rings. "Haven't had one of those in.. a time," he notes, choosing his words carefully. "I'm Ruggles, the Ballast Master."
"Really. I've been hired as de professional tail-lifter," Nicorina cackles as she continues to hold the ring steady. "Pleasure t' meetcha Ruggles. So, bein' a ballast master, does dat mean you like rings?" Oh ... how the skreek grins at her own private joke.
"I hate 'em; always slipping and leaking when they shouldn't be the.. darned.. things," Ruggles claims, and blows on the goo to dry it. "Bad seal, and we'll all be sounding like the bats from helium.."
Nikky grins at that. "I dunno, I find de bats funny t' talk to," she claims.
Ruggles finishes up, and hands Nikky a rag to wipe away the bits of goo that stuck to her fingers. "So, what are your duty hours?" the man asks.
"Flexible," Nicorina replies as she wipes off her hands. "If I out and about, I on duty. If II be in my cabin, I off duty."
"Oh?" the man says.. and tugs down Nikky's top for a better look. "Ever done it in the rigging?" he asks, apparently liking what he sees.
"Nope, never done it in de rigging," Nicorina claims as she helps him by pulling her top further down to show off her jewelry.
"You've got some interesting rigging there yerself," Ruggles notes, and starts to show Nikky that you have to be pretty careful about keeping your movements to a minimum around the gas bags. Of course, with age comes.. not-quickness.
And Ruggles quickly learns why she was asking him about rings ... and maybe he changes his opinion of them after he spends some time with her. She's certain to make sure he's more than able with how she tends to him through encouraging fingers, nibbles, and licking. She also demonstrates how well toned other muscles are, because she uses them to help keep bodily movement to a minimum.
The man nearly collapses afterwards, and takes a moment to catch his breath. "Well.. nuthin' wrong with your O-Rings," he admits.
"Nothin' leaks out of me," Nikky claims proudly and even puffs up her chest. She lets the man relax a bit before pulling away and fixing up her disheveled clothing. "Another satisfied customer!"
"Be careful with the ropes.." the man mutters, trying to get his own shorts back on.
"I be fine. I guess I should get back t' touring de ship and seeing who has need o' me," Nicorina claims. She leans over and even gives the older skreek a peck on the cheek. "See yas around. If ya want anything later, I have a place in the hold, or I be around on deck. Jus' come find me!"
"And oh yeah! I learned dat some of de bats are part of a gang. Seems nice and safe enough. Hope it won't cause us problems," she adds.
"The bats are fine," Ruggles claims. "They don't like to play cards though.."
"Why no?" Nicorina asks.
"How should I know? They probably think all Skreeks cheat at cards," the old rat claims.
"Only de good ones," Nikky claims with a toothy grin! "Ta! I see yas later!" And off she goes to carefulyl make her way out of the bag and back down.
Tulani is still on the deck when Nikky returns. "So, find out which gas this boat uses?" she asks.
"Helium," Nikky says as she hops down to the deck at the last couple feet of rope. "It it leak, we gets all squeaky. But dat also mean less boomy, right?"
"It mainly means this was a military airship," Tulani confides in a whisper. "They're the only ones that use helium - it's too expensive for civilian craft."
"Dat was pretty apparent from the armament and hull structure below," Nicorina remarks quietly to Tulani. "Dis is a tough ship. I alo hope we don' have to test how tough."
"Never been on one pulled by pteras before," Tulani admits, and nods towards the buoy Gil was tending to earlier. "Pretty sure those are drag-anchors. We've been losing altitude pretty smoothly, so I suspect we'll be just above the water by night. They drop those into the ocean and let the current carry us. We'd be practically invisible from above."
"We be dat close to de surface? Hm. That menas we're being really sneaky about coming in. And for de record, Gotrekis is kind of de General's right-hand guy. He's dangerous," Nicorina notes and rubs her chin. "I met de pteras earlier, by the way. Dey scared of me."
"Scared? Was it your breath?" Tulani asks, looking.. well, at least half-serious.
"Actually, my right hand," Nicorina whispers. "Dey sense the shadow."
"That's weird," Tulani says. "I should go see them too, when they're brought in for the night.."
"I should go with you in case dey act up," Nicorina notes. "Just come get me when yas want to see em."
"An oh, dey is named Barblacky and Bargorph," the skreek adds.
"Okay.." Tulani says, raising her brows at the names. "Their wrangler is the old bat named Twist - I found that much out. What's your impression of the crew so far? Seem to be mostly regular sailors to me."
"They're named after their colors. As for the crew ... pretty ordinary guys. I haven't met Twist yet, but I hope to," Nicorina explains softly, letting her accent slide for the moment, "Even the other Guardians seem just like decent fellows. Gar and Gil; they're brothers. They handle the anchors and ropes. There's only one other besides Gotrekis. and oh! Gotrekis' nickname is Goat, though I wouldn't call him that."
"He doesn't seem the sort for nicknames," Tulani agrees. "How are you planning to get into his good graces?"
"You better believe it! I hope to see what he'll let slide in random conversation. I want to know how attached he is to the general," Nicorina says.
"Good luck," Tulani says. "Mave didn't get much out of him.. she thinks maybe he's not into females."
"Then he's into guys?" Nicorina asks, brow arched. "I should go ask Mave about 'im more, I guess."
"Well, you know Mave.. if anyone doesn't fall to her feet, she suspects they don't like women," Tulani says with a roll of her eyes. "He's a soldier. He's probably used to a particular type of woman and Mave is just too high-class for him."
Nicorina laughs and nods at that. "Oh, fair point, that. Now ... are you implying I'm the right type for him?" she asks, brow arched.
"No, but you'll need to find out," Tulani says. "He's from Babel after all.. he could be into anything.."
"Good thing I'll do anything, eh?" Nicorina asks ... then kisses Tulani! "Like that!" she gloats afterward.
"Ack, not in front of the crew!" the Sphynx complains, looking around to see if anyone saw.
"I'll go see Mave now ... and stalk you later," Nicorina teases Tulani and winks. "Ta!"
"Woo-hoo," Orca says as he saunters over. Apparently the officer's confab has ended. "If you two want to spend some time together.. I'd be happy to supervise!"
"Nah, I greedy! I would want you too!" Nikky teases Orca. "'Sides, I just teasing de passenger. It made her tail twitch."
Putting an arm around Nikky's shoulders, Orca asks, "So, you settlin' in okay? Heard you got a nest made up in the aft cargo hold?"
"Yah, settlin' in jus fine. I got my office below and me small cabin for when I off duty and need rest," Nicorina agrees. "Tryin' to make sure you can find me?"
"Oh yeah! You hungry yet?" the bigger Skreek asks.
"Hungry fer what?" Nikky inquires, grinning.
"Lunch o' course," Orca claims.
"Mm, sure. I could have something light. Too much food will make me want t' sleep," Nikky claims.
"I'll surprise you then," Orca promises. "Wait for me in yer nest, eh? It'll be like a picnic!"
"Sure! I promise I won't eat yas," Nikky says with a toothy grin. She spins on her heels and heads for the latter to go below decks and to where Kaira said the nest was made.
It's hidden, somewhat, behind a wall of crates for privacy - at least, until those crates are needed. There's a bed of hay covered with a blanket, likely all borrowed from the ptera stable, along with an actual rectangular hay bale for.. well, something to use as a table or chair or whatever, probably. Dragons aren't exactly known for their interior decorating skills.
Nicorina does a slight bit of rearranging to make places a bit more comfortable. She doesn't disrobe, though, as she doesn't quite know what Orca will be bringing. Once she's satisfied, she lounges on that bail left for a chair or table on her side, with her tail lightly draped over her hips as she waits for the other skreek.
Orca returns, carrying a half-loaf of fresh bread, a wedge of cheese, bottle of rum and a jar of.. jam? "Ain't you a sight fer.. stirring the appetite!" the First Mate claims.
"An other t'ings depending on how I be posin," Nikky claims as she slides herself back upright. "An I t'ink a certain skreeky is getting a little fond o' me," she teases.
"Tish!" Orca claims, and sets the food down next to Nikky on the bale.. and then starts removing her top.
"Aww, you didn't say please," Nikky teases, though lets Orca do it anyway. Because, well, she uses her tail tip to tickle his legs while he works.
"Dat's what the jam is for," Orca claims, and uses the spoon to spread some on Nikky's barbells. "Dragonberry Jam, from ol' Faraon's gardens," he explains, before starting to lick it off.
"Oooooh, dessert before lunch I see," Nicorina croons as she uses her arms to balance herself as well as thrust her chest forward for the skreek. Her tail curls around his ankle this time.
The skirt comes off next, and more jam is applied. Eventually, Nikky is bent over the bale.. and Orca helps her work up an appetite.
The jam itself and what Orca does, does a good job in getting her into a particular sort of appetite. Soon she's living up to her job as the Tail as she rests on her stomach on the bale and her tail is being held in Orca's mouth. The roughness only eggs the skreek's body on and she returns the force as much as she can using her hands and knees to push with. No words are spoken, but there does end up a lot of squeaks and hissing as she tends to him ... and to her own 'needs'. Time will tell if he'll satisfy her too, or if he'll finish before she does!
This time, Orca doesn't leave Nikky hanging, even though he does finish first. He just picks her up and sets her into his lap as he sits on the bale of hay, and starts feeding her bites of bread and cheese while wiggling his hips. "Eh, you like ol' Orca too I bet," he says.
"Oh, you'll be my top customer, I bet," Nikky teases as she snatches some cheese from between Orca's fingers. "You an Temis, I suspect!" She cackles.
"You'll make dis a pleasant voyage at least," Orca claims, taking a swig of rum. "'Specially with Gotrekis around. He's such a bore."
"Is he? I intended to offer me services to him. Don' t'ink he'll accept em?" Nikky asks as she leans forward to rest her chin on Orca's shoulder.
The big Skreek plays with the rings along Nikky's back as he replies, "He a stick in the mud. Prolly won't come out of the Captain's cabin again, like last time. Seems dour."
"Well, I gonna try anyway. Mebbe it'll loosen him up," Nikky claims as she dips her head down and plays with Orca's own ring with her tongue. She also discovers how weird and unique it feels to have someone play with the former wing-rings now embedded in her back.
Setting the bottle aside, Orca pulls Nikky down into the straw-bed and plays with her a bit longer.
And Nikky forgets about asking anymore questions. Right now her body is telling her there is a fine skreek with her and to enjoy him! So she does, in several ways before her body decided that it is satiated for now. She also doesn't feel that hungry now, thanks to the cheese and bread he fed her during the meal! It also helped that she used a bit of the jam on him in creative ways! That she files away as a mental note to try with Rosalind some day.
As Orca gets his pants back on, he says, "I doubt the Goat will come down here to you, so if you want to see him, you'll need to go to the Captain's cabin. Be careful though: those Eeee can be weird in their tastes!"
"Weird how?" Nikky asks as she starts getting dressed herself and licking the remains of the jam from her lips.
"They not too cuddly, y'know?" Orca says with a wink. "They can be rough. And not in the good way!"
"I a tough girl," Nikky claims and thumps her chest lightly. "Plus it be my job to see to everyone on the ship. T'anks for the warning, though!"
"I gotta watch over my crew, yah?" Orca says with another wink, and heads out of the nest - leaving the bottle of rum and leftover food behind, including the jam.
Nicorina decides the food should't go to waste, so she bundles it up and takes it with her as she heads back to the main deck. "Better go ask Mave about Gotrekis before I go in there. She might have learned at least something about him, like if he has a scar on his neck," she thinks as she heads back towards her cabin.
Mave is working when Nicorina arrives: there's a circle drawn on the floor in chalk, with various symbols besides the Flower that takes up the center, where a small bowl (possibly a teacup) sits. The Yodhinala looks up from her work, and her eyes drift to the bottle Nikky carries. "It's not ready yet.. but pass the bottle please."
Nicorina offers the bottle to Mave, then goes to store the rest of the food. "How much longer, do you think?" she asks as the food is secured. "And do you mind if I ask you about Gotrekis? I'll help you work while we talk."
A bit of rum goes into the cup, and then a bit more goes into Mave. "An hour or so. Once we get to our cruising altitude it should be easier," she notes. "What do you want to know about Gotrekis?"
"Well, do you think he'll respond to me? I hope to learn a little from him about his vaulted General," Nicorina notes as she goes to sit on the edge of the bed and swing her legs slowly. "Also, did you happen to get a look at his neck any?"
"His neck?" Mave asks. "He is a very close-lipped man, I have found."
"His neck. Scars or bite marks," Nicorina notes, "It's how the General controls people by infecting them with a black heart. It's how she was controlling Rikat."
"I didn't notice," Mave admits. "You can sense such things if you're close enough though, can't you?"
"Yes, I can. I just like to know ahead of time if possible," Nicorina remarks, "Tulani said you think he doesn't like women."
"He doesn't appear interested is all," Mave notes, having another drink of rum. "He's a soldier. It's possible he sustained an injury in battle that makes it all moot."
"Sounds like a challenge. If I can succeed where you failed... " Nicorina says, then grins.
"I was hardly trying," Mave notes, raising one eyebrow.
"Mmmmhmm," Nicorina agrees, then looks to the circle. "So ... this blessing. what is it normally used for? Visitors? The Yodhinala themselves? Will it affect me a lot?"
"It will affect you according to Inala's will," Mave claims. "It is a simple blessing, with many uses. You simply need to pray to Her about what you wish the blessing to do."
"I thought you said it was to make me ... permanently aroused?" Nicorina asks.
"Or 'more receptive' I think you said?" she adds.
"Yes, because that is your wish and.. nature," Mave says with a smirk. "But it never hurts to ask directly."
"My nature?" Nicorina asks and arches her brow, smirking right back.
"To please others, of course," Mave claims straight-faced.
"Well, of course it is," Nicorina claims and tries to look regal ... and fails miserably at it. "So, I basically need to pray to Inala while in the circle and you do other partsoutside it?"
"It would certainly help," Mave says. "And leave your clothes behind, of course. I need access to the Mark of Inala on your skin."
So, the skreek gets up and moves to the small cabin to disrobe and store her clothing for when the ritual will begin. Once she has disrobed, Nicorina feels over the fur of her stomach and the mark of the flower buried beneath it. Her fingers feel around to see if it made her skin slightly raised at all, or if it is smooth as it has always been.
There's no way to tell from touch if the skin is any different; there isn't any lingering irritation from the tattooing even.
Nicorina slinks back into Mave and Nicora's room, then sits back on the bed, sans clothing. "What do you need to do to the mark?" she asks.
"Simply anoint it with blessed oil," Mave says, and taps the cup with a claw. "Of course, we don't have olive oil. This is lamp oil. So try to avoid exposing your lower belly to open flame for a while."
"If I get burned ... " Nicorina starts to say, "It'll be my own fault." She sighs and leans back. "And you can remove this blessing if required, correct? And do not mind doing it?"
"Remove it.. well, yes, of course," Mave says. "However, if you become Nicora, the effects may be amplified, given her current condition."
"Right. Well, I don't expect to keep it beyond this trip. It is to help manage the crew," the skreek claims as she leans back against the bunk wall. "Thank you for doing this, by the way. I haven't taken part in many rituals of the Kindly Ones."
"Then this will be good practice for the future," Mave says, and picks up the cup. "Sit in the circle."
Nicorina pushes herself off the bed and slinks over to the circle. She steps into it on her tiptoes to avoid smudging any of the marks. Once she's at the center, she settles down, cross-legged, and tests her hands in her lap. She has that nervous feeling she gets anytime she might be doing something crazy; yet like times before, she's trying to ignore it.
"Now, say your prayer," Mave suggests, stirring the oil with a finger.
Nicorina closes her eyes and begins to pray. "Inala, Goddess of Pleasure, You have guided me during my recent trials and helped teach me the joys of the body I was gifted with on this journey," she both murmurs and prays, "I now find myself in service on a ship to its crew as their outlet for physical pleasures. I come to You to ask for Your help and blessing. I wish that this body can be an altar to You, ready to receive the fluids of life from those who wish to offer it. I ask that You bless this unworthy body to always be at the peak of ready; that Your temple anointed with Your mark be always open and accepting, and always a delight to those that partake of giving to Your altar within me."
The oil is warm as Mave works it into Nicorina's fur, tracing out the Flower tattooed beneath. "I may take some time to begin," she warns.
Nicorina remains there, motionless, eyes closed and head bowed as she waits. Her breathing is slow and steady, but inside she feels a bit nervous, unsure if this was a wise idea or not. If nothing else, is should prove educational.
The oil tingles a bit when it reaches her skin.. but that could just be the rum mixed into it. Mave finishes, and asks, "Are you going to wear your clothes when you see Gotrekis?"
"Of course. It would seem a bit forward to enter his chamber naked. Why?" Nicorina asks.
"I was just curious," Mave asks with a grin.
"How long should I remain in this circle?" Nicorina asks, "And is there anything more you need to do?"
"Well, you can sit there as long as you want," Mave claims. "The blessing has been given."
Nicorina's right eye opens. "What, no kiss?" she teases.
So of course Mave leans forward and kisses the Skreek. She tastes like rum.
And Nicorina reaches up, cups her hand around Mave's neck, and kisses her right back. Once she releases Mave, she sits in the circle for several more minutes to see if she feels any different or not.
At least the oil isn't very damp now.. although it does make her fur stand up a bit.
Nicorina gets back to her feet and takes a moment to smooth down the fur on her stomach. "Time to get dressed and introduce myself to Gotrekis," she notes to Mave, then heads to her segmented cabin to get dressed again.
There's no sign of Tulani, but Mave watches from the connecting doorway. "What if the Captain is there?" she asks.
"I'll offer to stay with him too if he wants,"Nicorina remarks, then switches back to her 'wench' accent. "I irresistible!" she claims as she saunters to the door to the captain's quarters and raps her knuckles lightly on it.
"Who is it?" asks a voice that isn't the Captain's, hinting that Gotrekis is alone in there.
"Hello. I is Nikky, the ship's Tail," she says through the doorway. "I thought I would introduce meself to one of de passengers. You came on wit de other bats I'm sharing a compartmented room, ya?""
The door opens a crack, and Gotrekis peers out. Then he opens the door the rest of the way. "Tail?" he asks.
"Can I come in?" Nicorina asks. "I paid to tend to the wishes and desires of de crew and passengers. A way for dem to relieve stress and enjoy female companionship," she explains.
"If it is part of your duty, then.." the bat says, and steps aside so Nikky can enter.
Nicorina bows her head politely to Gotrekis, then steps into the room. "It is my duty to fulfill the desires of crew and guests, yes," she agrees, pausing briefly by him in passing to see if she 'feels' anything from him.
Aside from his musk, there aren't any telltale tingles of her hand. The Captain's desk is covered with a disassembled crossbow.
Nicorina does also pause to sniff at Gotrekis' musk, seeing how strong it is, or what hints it may have. "I hope I no bothering you?" she asks politely as she folds her hands in front of herself.
It's just.. male bat musk. "I was about to take my bath," Gotrekis claims. "What exactly will you do to accommodate the crew and guests?"
Nicorina walks back over, then behind Gotrekis slowly. "Well, I will massage your neck right now," she explains as she reaches up and begins to do just that, using those strong rat fingers to kneed his neck muscles. "I will do whatever it is de guest wants of me within reason. That reason being my personal safety, of course. As long as dere is no risk of serious injury, I be open to whatever it is you may wish of me," she explains. "An I be pretty tough too."
The man seems to bristle when his neck is touched, but calms down almost immediately. While tense, there aren't any telltale bite-marks that Nicorina can feel.. and her right hand isn't reacting either. "Is that so?" Gotrekis asks. "Tell me then, do you have a nightgown?"
Nicorina's hand works deftly on Gotrekis' neck as she feels slightly relieved he doesn't show infection signs. "No, I do not; haven't really had need of one yet," she admits. "I maybe could borrow one from de sphynx if you wish me in one. Otherwise, I no mind going naked."
"I do wish you in one then," Gotrekis claims.
"I be right back, den," Nicorina claims as she slips away from the Eeee and heads to the door to let herself out. She figures she;'ll just go back to MAve's quarters and borrow Tulani's ... and just tell Mave to let the sphynx know when she comes back in...
"You don't think she'll mind?" Mave asks as Nicorina goes through Tulani's duffel.
"She might, but it does help further our goal of information gathering," Nicorina claims as she carefully removes her current clothing in preparation for the gown. "Tell her I'll pay to replace it if anything bad happens to it."
The nightshirt is blue cotton fabric, with a yellow duck sewn onto the front. It's all but backless, of course, for Tulani's wings. Otherwise it looks like an oversized child's nightshirt.
"Cute," Nicorina says approvingly as she takes the silly nightshirt and pulls it on over her body, leaving her legs, arms, and back exposed. "Woo, my back feels all open," she giggles, "Now, I go back to Gotrekis. Thank Tulani for me!" And so the skreek heads back out the door and heads back to the captain's cabin. She knocks again, saying, "I be back..."
The Eeee seems surprised to see her back, and then grins approvingly at the shirt. "Follow me," he says, and opens the door to the sleeping section.
Nicorina flashes a toothy smile to Gotrekis, then follows him through the cabin and back to the sleeping section. "It be a bit silly, but I kinda like it," she says of the nightshirt.
"It is perfect," the bat claims, and folds down the lower bunk. There's even a folded blanket for it. "Make yourself comfortable," he says. "Take a nap if you like."
"Oh, well, thank you!" Nicorina says as she climbs into the lower bunk, then stretches out and takes the blanket. This she drapes over herself and for the time being, decides to take a nap. After all, if he is going to go bathe, it sounds like she won't have much to do ... and she can't ask any remotely probing questions yet.
The bunk is comfortable, and Nicorina does actually manage to doze off. She's woken up suddenly though, when Gotrekis returns and rips away the blanket.. and then the nightgown.. before taking the Skreek forcefully. The blessing starts up at the same time though, saving Nikky from what might have been pretty painful. It seems that Gotrekis really does favor a certain type of female: a victim.
it's disturbing to find yourself waking to having her blanket pulled away and gown removed suddenly. It's hard for her to even figure out what is going on at first until being pinned and forcibly taken happens. For a moment she expected pain, only to find herself already 'ready' to receive; the blessing of Inala indeed saving her. Still, the skreek does squeak in surprise and horror as this happens. She even tries to struggle against it and push the Eeee off her! Part of her realizes he might want that, but that's not why she's doing it! It's a defensive reaction!
Still, this is exactly what Gotrekis expects and desires! He laughs, pinning down the Skreek's arms as he takes what he wants. "Delightful!" he says. "And you dressed so innocently.." Of course Gotrekis didn't need to be controlled by the General - he'd follow her willingly..
And Nikky continues to fight with her arms, muscles straining. The way she moves her waist an attempt to dislodge the Eeee from her 'altar'. Without telling her anything directly, though, this is very educational! The Eeee is cruel and concerned with only his wants. "Get out of me," she squeaks at him, testing his reaction to what could be taken as an order ... or begging.
This is what Gotrekis may have been waiting for, as he finds his relief. He releases Nikky's left arm, so that he can make a slashing gesture across her throat with his finger. It's only a gesture, but if he'd had a knife. "You're very convincing," he says to her as he pulls away and sits on the edge of the bunk.
Nikky sits there, wide-eyed and shocked when the Eeee finds his relief, then mock-kills her. "Okay, this man is tremendously evil," she thinks as she lays there breathing. It's a good minute before she starts taking stock of her own body and how the blessing is making her 'feel'. She tries to sound okay as she slowly sits up, commenting, "I glad you satisfied with de Tail." She now sits on the edge of the bunk too and wraps her tail into her lap.
"You can go now, I've no further need of you tonight," Gotrekis says. "You need to work on your fear though. You seemed shocked, but not afraid."
"After what you did, I t'ink anyone would be afraid," Nikky notes as she collects the discarded nightgown and heads for the exit to the cabin on wobbly legs.
Gotrekis doesn't stop her, and the hall is empty at least. Tulani is back in the cabin as well, and looks surprised to see Nicorina. "What happened? My nightie!" the Sphynx exclaims.
"Sorry, didn't expect it to get damaged," Nicorina admits as she sits down heavily on the bunk and starts checking herself over for injuries. "Well, I learned something about Gotrekis. He;'s a murdering rapist," she says softly. "His fantasy was to attack a girl in her sleep, have her, then kill her. Right now I really wish I could knife him."
"What's the plan then?" Tulani asks, sitting next to the Skreek and putting an arm around her shoulder. "Sounds like you need a new approach to get into his head."
"Well, I will see how he reacts around me tomorrow," Nicorina remarks, then pauses to ponder for a bit. "Or ... I could see if I could pull him into a dream and turn the tables on him as a dragon perhaps," she considers and rubs her chin. "Make him the victim and see how he reacts in a dream." She then shifts a bit and looks down. "And Mave's blessing worked, I think. I feel ... well, definitely receptive and eep, a little swollen ... but not overcome with desire. Whew. That saved me from a lot of pain."
"You got that blessing?" Tulani asks. "You are crazy, you realize that don't you? How are you going to get any sleep?"
"What? I'm just ... ready, but I don't feel overcome with desire for anything," Nicorina claims and gives Tulani an odd look. "Permanent lubrication until the blessing is removed. How can that be bad?"
"Well.. I don't know," Tulani says. "But for sure.. I get the top bunk!"
"Why?" Nicorina asks. She pauses, then hmms. "Do I smell musky?" she asks.
"I don't want anything dripping on me," Tulani says, whiskers perked upwards and a grin on her muzzle.
"It can't get that bad, can it?" Nicorina asks, then actually checks to see if she might need to wear, well, some sort of protection like she had to during her first period.
Well, it's not leaking..
"Anyway, I'm sure it'll be fine. Now, I need to think on how to get information from him in a dreamlike world," Nicorina claims, "And yes, you can take the top bunk, sheesh. I'm not that crazy. I feel fine and nothing is oozing. You worry too much. And if you want to help in scaring him, let me know and I'll pull you into the dream." And now the skreek sits back in the bunk and thinks for a bit over how to get revenge for what just happened.