Dinner with the crew was quite a bit different from the Captain's dinner. Aside from there being more people, the cook also joined them. There was quite a bit more variety as well, with plenty of different vegetables and meats to appeal to the omnivorous tastes of the mostly Skreek crew (although the two attending Eeee, Gar and Gill, had no qualms about potatoes and carrots) with several types of sauces. The beverage was beer, rather than fancy wine, and the conversation was a bit more raucous and ribald.

Nikky had a ball, even getting up on the table and doing a striptease once it was cleared off. This led to just about everyone following her back to her nest and a replay (with some substitutions) of her initial job interview. And Nicorina was no lightweight when it came to beer; despite the buzz, she never actually felt drunk.

Morning seemed to arrive too early, but the Skreekette wasn't hungover or fatigued. The Shadowdrake had all hands on duty for landing, as Little Rephidim West spread out on the ocean ahead of them, it's many docks and warehouses radiating from a central puck-shaped ceramic structure. Captain Soldano flew ahead to arrange things, and by noon the black airship was moored.

The crew still had plenty to do, however. Ruggles had his team crawling through the envelope and checking the helium cells, while Orca send people scurrying through the rigging and picking over the hull. Temis and the cook left to resupply from the sprawling markets of the paquebot as well.

"Yer bringin' Mave? Why woul' you do dat? She doesn' seem de type t' want to go drinkin'," Nikky points out to Tulani. "Or .. mebbe we auctioning 'er off?" The last bit comes with a grin.

"Well, she wanted to get off the ship, mostly," the Sphynx admits with a grin. "And it's a place of some significance, too."

"Ooooh! Dis is where you went all wolf-snoggy," Nikky teases more as she grins even wider. "An wow, dat seems a lifetime ago."

"Hey now, I never snogged Arky," Tulani claims, holding her chin up. "He was too old for me."

"Not that much older," the feline claims. "Not 'you could be my dad' older, anyway."

"No unless I was a really weird kid, no," Nikky notes. "Well, much weirder dan I was, dat is. So, why de urge t' go to de bar? Reminisce? I kinna wish I could go as de real me, but ... y'know. Can't risk the Guardians spotting me."

"Well, you could go as Nicora," Tulani points out. "Two Yodh traveling together.. well, okay, that'd be suspicious too.."

"It no de same. I kinda miss going wit' you as de real me. Sure I kin have fun like dis too, but no as much wit' you," Nikky comments and shrugs. "Oh well, can' stres on it too much. Just gotta have fun wit what I gots."

"Well, you've got other disguises too," Tulani points out. "Like the Lapi. He was cute."

"Yah, true. I mebbe change to dat if I get a chance. Fer now, dis is prolly de safest form," Nikky admits, "So ... lead on, ol saucy sphynx wench!"

Shaking her head, Tulani fetches Mave, and the trio venture into Little Rephidim West. Like it's sky-island namesake, there is a huge variety of people doing business, passing through, and in some cases passing out. The Temple livery is noticeable on the Jupani and Zelak guardsmen that patrol the place, and there are even glimpses of the rare wrenches-and-anchor of the Technopriesthood. The noise of the crowd dies down considerably once Tulani takes them into one of the warehouses, which also serves as a sort of museum, with plaques and sketches on the walls describing the time the paquebot was wiped clean of life by sea monsters. Finally, a new-looking wall and door lead to..

The Blowhole Tavern
Like many dockside taverns, the main room of the Blowhole is windowless and dimly lit, smelling strongly of sweat and sea-salt. Aircrew and sailors jostle about, gamble at the Airships tables, pack around the bar and vie for the attentions of the rather used-looking housegirls. A set of narrow stairs lead up to a second level where the guestrooms are, and a large circular opening in the middle of the room opens onto the water below, with only a thin guardrail to keep people from staggering into it.

"That's the table," Tulani says, all but dragging her companions to seats near the water. "Raneah was playing there, getting lots of attention," she points out.

"Y'really miss em, don't you?" Nikky asks as she slinks over to the table and peers at it, then over into the water. She can honestly imagine them sitting here. It isn't only Tulani that seems to be thinking of times past now. Many adventures long done ... and there aren't even any remnants left to remind them they were ever here. Life is like that; quickly forgotten.

"It seems.." Mave begins to say, then just looks around. "Well-scrubbed," she finishes. "It is unusually clean for a dockside tavern."

"Well, it probably does get ptera-bombed now and then," Nikky notes, forcing herself to grin again.

"I guess it's sort of a touristy place, so it pays to keep it cleaned," Tulani notes. "They have a spicy fish stew, too - got chunks of kyootcumber just floating in it. Want to try some?"

"Spicier than you," Tulani claims with a wink. "I might see about getting a room for the night too, rather than sleep on the ship again. Too bad it's not a holiday though, so Dunky can wake up and have some wine."

"Bet y' could wake him wit de light," Nikky points out as she plots down in a chair. "An sure, de stew could be an adventure. So would be gettin' a room off-ship."

"Oh, I hadn't thought of trying that!" Tulani notes as she gets up. "Something to try! I kinda miss the old weirdo." She swishes her tail as she heads for the counter. The rest of the tavern is lightly occupied, given the time of day, although there are a few people loitering at the bar, probably waiting for take-out orders.

"Well, y' should try in a room, no in public," Nikky points out, "Or we might get mobbed by peoples ... or cause a riot when people flee from de ghost!" The skreek then shakes her head to Mave and asks Tulani, "Where did ya find de map, anyway?"

The Sphynx pauses mid-turn, sees the line waiting at the counter, and then decides to sit back down for now. "Well, I was serving on Spring's Bounty then, and we got storm-stranded on a little sky island within spitting distance of Aeztepa," she tells. "I was scouting it for food and water, when I came across the remains of a Gigi in a cave. Found the map and a magic amulet on him. I know now he was part of an Amena Cult."

Nikky twitches. "I had a run-in wit some of those cultists once. They tried to sell me into slavery," she comments rather dryly. "Dey prolly dead now cuz a Yodhsunala interrogated dem about it all."

"Given who they were.. death may not keep them out of trouble," Tulani claims, trying to sound ominous. "Didn't know what was what until we got here, and I was showing Arkold the map on New Year's Eve when it started talking."

"Well, one was in it cuz it was de cool rebellious t'ing to do, from what I 'eard," Nikky notes and then shrugs. "An I be kinna surprised if mah makeshift bathroom paper started talkin' too!"

Tulani snurks at bathroom paper comparison. "Nobody uses leather parchment for that.. least not on airships," she points out. "Anyway.. well, Dunky sort of kinda laid a quest on me. But he explained how the corpse got onto the island - that cave was actually an old temple to Amena. His airship got shot down by Nala worshippers."

"Y'know, I would have liked to see dat temple," Nikky admits. "An are there actual Nala worshippers still around?"

"The beach-cats are the Chosen of Nala, although their oral traditions are a bit corrupted," Mave notes.

"Cuz dey be drunk most of de time," Nikky points out with emphasis! "'sides, now it seem dat Tulani an I are."

"I feel like more of a delivery person," Tulani jokes. "You two are actually able to use the Light for healing and other stuff."

"Y'want de whole gig? I kin probably ask Nala to transfer dat duty t' you," Nikky offers.

"No thanks!" the Sphynx says, holding her hands up. "I'm not one to meddle in the plans of goddesses."

"New Year's Day is when Inala told me to travel to Sylvania," Mave says, as if reporting the weather.

"No one ever tol' me t' go anywhere or gave me great weapons. I just sort of .. wandered," Nikky admits and shrugs. "I sort of a sad adventurer."

"Huh, you did surprise Dack," Tulani recalls. "It seems like various deities have been stirring the pot all along. Dagh was messing with us in Abu Dhabi, and now it sounds like Inala reacted to Dunky waking up, somehow."

"Or we jus' attributing random events t' supernatural powers!" Nikky points out with odd glee. "I really don' know. I jus' do what seems de t'ing t' do at de time."

"It is possible that Sunala subtly maneuvered Alptraum into crossing your path," Mave notes. "I knew that I needed to bring Phlagaea along, which led me to Barba's Slakash.."

"You sayin' de didn't actually capture you, den?" Nikky teases Mave. "Dat you were always in charge?"

"I honestly liked Barba an Roogi. Both were fun fer different reasons. I coul' actually have a good conversation wit' Barba," Nikky muses.

"I can be subtle," Mave claims, neither denying or admitting to anything. "I was.. somewhat misguided - at the time - as to the ultimate goal, I admit. Gathering the elements of Sunala, Inala and Gorphat together appears to have been the actual goal."

"Hmm. Y'know with Phlagaea gone, mebbe Tulani shoul' take over the role as representin' Gorphat," Nikky suggests. "She might look good green!"

"Green?" Tulani asks, looking deliberately thoughtful. "I'm sure I could pull it off." Then she raises a hand skyward and proclaims, "Behold, Tulani the Emerald Sphynx! Scourge of Heaven!"

"She would still need to be an Eeee," Mave claims. "Or at the very least: infectious."

"My smile is infectious, isn't it?" Tulani asks, making a big-eyed smiley kitty-face.

"I sure something can be arranged for either of those. Or both!" Nikky proclaims.

"No changing me into an Eeee," Tulani says. "Or I'll bite you." She checks that the line at the counter has gone down a bit, then says, "And now I'm going to see about our lunch and a room! Stay out of.. I mean, try to stay out of trouble!" She almost swats Nikky with her tail this time when she sashays off towards the lunch line.

"Wha wrong wit' bein an Eeee? It great bein' an Eeee," Nikky asks, sounding a little hurt and making a swat for Tulani's retreating backside. When she's gone, Nikky sighs and mutters, "I miss bein' me."

"Well, if Tulani procures a room here, will you be spending some time as your old self again?" Mave asks, one eyebrow raised.

"Well, the Captain was nice last night," the Yodhinala admits, "but hardly worshipful."

"You've been properly trained in that regard," Mave points out. "Or was I not a good enough teacher and you have forgotten it all?"

"Ahhhh, you like that I know specifically what you like," Nikky laughs, "Some of dat I can do in any body, you know."

"But you miss your natural one," Mave points out. At the counter, Tulani places her various orders.

"True, dat," Nikky agrees as she reclines her chair a bit and looks aorund those gathered with curiosity. "I also miss bein de human, and I want to go fnerfy a bit sometimes."

"Sort of. I t'ink it be interestin' t' trot around on four legs," Nikky claims. "Haven't you ever wanted t' be something else?"

"I am quite happy with what I am," Mave non-answers. "I do recall my Fnerf training though. The key is making a fist.."

Nikky giggles and shakes her head. "Ey, I satisfied a fnerf without using me hands. Y' should be learning from me!" she claims.

"Are you talking about me behind my back?" Tulani asks as she returns, carrying a platter with three bowls of stew and a loaf of bread. "They don't have any fresh milk to cut the heat of the kyootcumbers, but I can get us some Paquebot Ale.."

Passing a bowl to Nikky (which looks like a massacre at sea, with bits of fish floating in a bright red broth) and Mave, Tulani warns, "You should start by dipping the bread, to work your way up to things. I'll get the Ale. It also doubles as dessert!"

"Bet ya can't eat all of it," Nikky challenges Mave and wiggles her bewhiskered nose.

"I think she enjoys fish entirely too much," Mave notes, tearing off a chunk of bread first.

"Isn't dere anything you enjoy entirely too much?" Nikky asks as she tears off a chunk of bread too, dips it, then eats it without hesitation.

"I enjoy everything to the perfect degree," Mave claims, just before her eyes start to water from her first bite. The fish flavor, if it's there, is almost completely washed out by the peppery heat of the kyootcumber. Whatever makes it red is lost as well.

Nikky's toes curl, as does her tail, then her whiskers. "Smooth," she claims before breaking out into a fit of coughing!

"Puts a real curl to your whiskers, don't it?" Tulani comments as she returns, setting down three large glasses of dark brew - with spoons in them. The Sphynx doesn't bother with bread or spoon herself; she drinks right from the bowl.

Nikky spares no time in getting a drink from her ... sludge to calm some of the burn!

It's thick, and leaves a bit of sediment on the tongue which combines the throb from the pepper with a tingle of alcohol and.. hickory or possibly caramel flavor.

Nikky tries to not look too repulsed by the taste. Tulani is enjoying it, it might hurt her feelings if her friends don't. So ... she suffers in burning silence while she eats the stew using the bread and goopy-beer.

Eventually, a certain numbness to the kyootcumber sets in, and more actual flavor comes through. Of course, by then the Sphynx is happily spooning out the bottom sediment from her glass. Aside from watery eyes, Mave doesn't betray any other distress.. but neither does she talk.

"I think Mave wants another bowl," Nikky claims after she has recovered enough to talk again ... just to see if Mave refuses it!

"Why? It be somet'ing you like, would have been rude t' refuse," Nikky notes. "And you should remember dat de next time we eat with vampires..."

"Well, I hated this stuff the first time I had it," Tulani notes. "Crew initiation! But after days and days of bland rations, it really wakes up your tongue. Stuff should taste more intense for a few days now."

"Well, then maybe we should hit the market and introduce you to some more of them," Tulani suggests with a big kitty-grin and waggling ears.

"Food or cute guys?" Nikky counters and grins right back. "Anyway, lead on! Y'know where stuff is more den me."

"Hah, got that right!" the Sphynx crows. "I also got us a room tonight - won't be available until evening though."

"Ooo, so plenty 'o time t' get into some trouble. Orca wuz going to get a tattoo," Nikky giggles. She slides her char back, stands, and stretches!

"I know where he'll be going then," Tulani claims. "I've shipped with Skreeks before, after all." She dabs at the edges of her mouth with a napkin, then stands up.

Mave downs the rest of her ale in one long gulp, as if to fortify herself for lay ahead, and then rises to join the other two. "How do you know that I do not already have some?" she asks Nicorina.

"Hey, not swatting!" the Sphynx complains. "People will think you're a pickpocket.."

"Y'gots nothing in yer back pocket, I already checked," Nikky remarks with a rather smug grin. "'sides, I know where ya keep your coinage anyway iffin I need to borrow any!"

Little Rephidim West's markets are diverse but rather specific, depending on location. Fresh fruit and produce is unsurprisingly sold near the landing platforms of airships from Saskanar, and hawked in the high-pitched voices of the specific breed of wing-armed Eeee that hail from there. Dry goods seem to be dominated by merchants from Zannara, while cured, jerked, smoked and salted meats have their own specific suppliers. There are docks covered in spices, and barges full of live, edible insects and animals. Most everything is fresh and raw, however, with the exception of hard-tack and other rations. More space is given for rope, pulleys and sailcloth along with other materials needed for airship (and sea-ship) maintenance. There doesn't appear to be any of the long-distance ocean-going ships in port at the moment, though.

An eager, leaf-nosed Saskanar Eeee holds out a purple squash with pink polka-dots for the group's inspection. "Best price! Fresh Fresh Fresh!" she squeaks.

"Erm, it be very purple an spotty?" Nikky offers as her appraisal of the odd fruit. "An' y'sure it be fresh?"

"Picked just yesterday!" the vendor says smiling wide. "No bugs! No melon-lice! Guaranteed non-poisonous to mammals! Sweet-sour-bitter all at once! Prevents dander! Makes your breath smell like flowers! Cleans blood stains!"

"Saves de world, babysits yer kids, and oils your wagon wheels too!" Nikky croons on top of the Eeee's claims. "We did jus get off de boat, but we didn' fall off it!"

Tulani tugs on Nikky's ear just then. "Hey, is that our navi?" she whispers to the Skreek, and indicates a Fnerf on the other side of the market, with a lot of baskets on his back. But the Skreek next to him sure looks like the ship's cook from behind - how many could have that exact shaped bite missing from their ear?

"Yah, sure looks like 'im! I recognize dat bu ... er ear from anywhere!" Nikky claims. "I do remember dat dey would be food shoppin'."

"Dat she is looking into rumors about ghosts on de paquebot?" Nikky suggests. "I do happen t'know they had some once."

"Given that everyone was murdered that one time, there could be lots of ghosts," Tulani agrees. "Should we tell them about the purple-pink miracle squash?"

"I coul' also just distract Temis by becomin' all fnerfy," Nikky also offers. "As for de fruit? I dunno. Looks kinna weird t' me ... and 'e was all too eager to sell it."

"Not sure you'd want to distract him now," Tulani says. "He's carrying everyone's groceries."

"There are other Fnerfs around though... and I don't think your little top would hold if you're talking Lucy-sized miracle melons," the Sphynx notes.

"I coul' go topless," Nikky teases, grinning. "But eh, after we see if Orca is off mutilating 'imself and such!"

"Don look at me! Dere anything fun t' look at here other dan fruits?" Nikky asks.

"Well.. there's a dance club somewhere," Tulani notes. "The sort where you watch girls dance, not where you get to dance. I once came through and there was a circus, but they were just there until they could move on, I'm sure. And there's the bazaar, for all the non-food and supplies stuff. Geegaws, trinkets, shell necklaces, souvenir surfboards.. that sort of stuff."

"Well, what woul' you two like t' do? I could go to de dance club, wander, bazaar, anyt'ing. I have no real needs at de moment," Nikky admits. "I jus glad to be off de ship."

"We could go.. shopping," Tulani suggests. "There's a clothing market. They even have Gigi sarongs and stuff.."

"A Fnerf-sized blouse could be useful," Mave notes by way of agreement. "I would like to see the spices. They may have herbs for my pipe."

"Ooo, but, hm. Hard t' buy a lot of clothing. Dis isn't me normal form," Nikky pouts. "No sure much dat fit it will fit normal."

"Well, you hardly need clothes for Nikky," Tulani points out, rolling her eyes. "But you might see something for one of your other forms. They've also go jewelry I imagine.."

"Well, I think it's mostly necklaces and wearable stuff, not.. attached," Tulani notes with a smirk.

"Darn," Nikky pouts. The skreek quickly shrugs and says, "Well, lead on to de other parts den! May as well be all touristy."

After picking up a few herbs to replenish Mave's stocks, the women head for the less busy bazaar area, where travelers and tourists tend to gather. It's not horribly crowded, since there's no cruise ship docked today, and a lot of the buyers come with porters and wheeled carts, no doubt looking for stuff to 'import' and resell for a profit in mainland markets. Most of what's on display that isn't cheap and touristy is sturdier stuff for sailors and seasoned travelers; heavy canvas, oilskin and leather clothing. Those vendors don't call out for attention, unlike the largely Gigi salesforce hawking colorful fabrics and hand-made trinkets.

"That's just for separating out the tourists from the regulars," Tulani claims. "And because it's first-come, first-serve for space. I think these people have to rent their spaces or something.."

"We coul' rent out Mave for some extra cash to buy stuff," Nikky suggests as she heads towards the sturdier clothing. They don't need stuff that will fall apart during rougher times.

Mave does not seem very impressed by the practical clothing - after all, her practical travel clothing is still very expensive looking and tailored. Tulani dives right in, though, looking at gloves and boots. "Hey, they've got thick rubber soles on this set.." she points out, purring.

There are hoods, cloaks, ponchos and hats. Gloves, bracers and sleeves. Wrap-arounds, lace-ups and button-downs. It's quite a selection.

"Y'can't look like yer going to a ball all de time," Nikky notes to Mave as she also sorts through the collection of clothing. Her attention is mainly on a clouse that would fit someone Lucy-sized, and for a had similar to the old one Alptruam once had. It doesn't have to be pristine; that sort of ruins it. It needs to be a real traveler's hat. And of course those are there, but it's a bit hard to guess the size now! "Ey, any of these have some adjustment room?" she asks the vendor and waves a wide-brimmerd hat made out of some sort of leather and canvas.

"The laced stuff is adjustable," the Eeee vendor says, pointing out alternate eyelets that can be used to make a garment tighter or looser. "Hats.. well, there are fitting bands you can put inside. But generally they are tailored by head and ear type. If you don't see one that matches, I can search through the stock in storage.."

"I need something fer an Eeee guy about so high," Nikky tries to explain and holds her hand about Alptraum-height. "Average head, I think. Never measured it."

"Most Eeee have similar-sized heads," the Eeee claims. "Wide brimmed? And what sort of crown would you like; flat, cleft, domed or pointed?"

"Nope! Human girl," Nikky chirps. "It would need to be lapi-fur lined. She's sensitive.

"Fur lined? I don't think we have that," the bat notes. "However someone else in the market can probably add a fur liner."

"We can always get it later, too. Won' see 'er for a long time," Nikky notes. "If ever again," she thinks a bit grimly.

A few minutes later, Nikky is presented with two wide-brimmed leather-and-canvas hats, in snow-white and coal-black. "Would you like some adjustment belts for tightening them?" the Eeee asks next.

"Yah, prolly a good idea," Nikky agrees. "Even if someone I know has called im a fat-head before," she adds and eyes Tulani.

The matching belts are produced, and the Eeee asks if Nikky would be interested in matching boots as well.

Nikky takes the sack and notes to Mave, "Pay de fine fellow!" She then grins widely.

Up ahead, Nicorina can see the jewelry stands - and a shop with a hanging sign showing an inkwell and a needle. There's also a very skinny, desperate-looking Rath'ani hawking some 'miracle clothing system' from atop a crate. Whatever he's saying grabs Tulani's attention, as the Sphynx goes over to talk to him.

Nicorina, now mostly alone for the moment, leans over to the Eeee at the study clothier and asks, "Ey, ya gots any strong collars dat would fit a skreek guy?" She waggles her brow for good measure. Mave also gets swatted by a thick rat-tail for her rather rude comment, too!

"We have belts," the bat notes, guiding Nicorina over to where an assortment hangs. Most are leather, but some are braided cloth. "I can make one to the desired length, and there various buckles. Did you have something particular in mind?"

"Oh, something sturdy I kin hold onto!" Nikky cackles and rubs her hands together. "Cut one down about the circumference o' me neck plus two inches," she suggests, and put a clasp onnit that has a ring fer like hanging a rope..."

After some measuring, cutting, punching and clasping, Nikky has a sturdy leather collar. Aside from dark wooden buckle, there's a D-ring for tying a leash. It's only then that the vendor asks, "Is this for a sailor by any chance?"

"Well, it's usual that the get harnesses instead," the Eeee explains. "For safety. At least.. that's what I always assumed they were for.."

"Oh ... hm. "Gots any of those? Mebbe one dat fits me too?" Nikky asks and waggles her brow.

"I was wondering if you were going to get a matching one," Mave whispers to Nikky.

The harnesses that the Eeee shows them.. are clearly safety harnesses for non-flyers who work in airships. There's nothing restrictive about them, and the rings are placed at sturdy intersections for attaching lines. "I have some for Skreeks," he says proudly. Come to think of it.. they aren't that different from Hortense's suspension harness..

And Nikky's reply to that is to lean over ... and kiss Mave. On the lips. When she pulls away from Mave, she tells the other Eeee, "Ah, dat will be jus fine. Now, I t'ink that's all I need, cept mebbe some simple boriing clothing." What she proceeds to select is an assortment of shirts and pants for various builds and species. Gifts, she claims; but the assortment suspiciously looks like it's for lapi, khatta, and even human. Eventually her mania ends, at least, and Mave is stuck with the bill.

While Mave pays, Nikky hears a chuckle from behind, where Tulani is approaching carrying a heavy-looking leather satchel.

The Sphynx shakes her satchel, and says, "Because I just picked up something that couldn't be sold to anyone but one of us."

"What so special about it?" Nikky asks as she leans over to examine this satchel.

"Imagination," Tulani claims, and opens the satchel to reveal.. lots of disconnected bits of leather, in various shapes and sizes but with reinforced eyelets all around the edges, and several bundles of cord.

"Oh hey, you could make all sorts of weird clothes outa dat," Nikky declares. "Sexy ones, too!"

"And big ones," Tulani points out. "Even for dragons! Well.. for our stand-up ones anyway."

"Oh yeah, an fnerfs too. What a great idea," Nikky agrees. She eyes Tulani, smirks, then adds, "Scale addict."

"You are both silly," Mave claims as she rejoins them, handing over the sack of Nikky's purchases.

"A little," Tulani admits, and then points towards tattoo parlor. "That's probably the place your boyfriend will head for."

"Yah, prolly. Any good jewelry at de stand over dere?" Nikky asks and thumbs towards the jewelry stand. She then leans in and whispers to Tulani, "An I kinda miss bein' dragony .. and believe it or no, humany too."

"I never really looked at the jewelry myself," Tulani admits, and starts heading towards the displays to see what's there.

"C'mon sexy," Nikky remarks to Mave, then sashays her way over to the jewelry stand.

There's a wide assortment, but little order: Babelite designs mix with Gigi, Imperial and others, categorized apparently by ... shininess. Which isn't a big surprise, given that the vendor is a Vartan woman.

"Ey, Mave, is dere a good Babelite design for when I'm back t' bein normal?" Nikky whispers to Mave. She actually isn't that familiar with Babelite designs. "I lookin' for a good bit o jewelry fer my skreeky sweety sailor," the skreek says louder to the vartan. "Something study. Mebbe a tail band?"

"Tail! Yah!" the bird chirps a bit too enthusiastically. She rummages through a box of rings, and comes up with a few that are wider and have a gap for flexing. "Rosewood!" she says, holding out a highly polished red one. "Got stone ones! No flexy on those, gotta push tight!"

"Flexible prolly be a good idea fer a shippy guy," Nikky decides. So, she takes the ring and flexes it a bit and peers at it. "Looks good, 'ow much?" she asks the vartan

"Uh.. 20 Shekels!" the bird squawks, which is probably too high a price - at least, if this were the Bazaar on Rephidim it would be, from the look on Tulani's face.

"Leeetle high fer me. Now iffin it were ten, ya would have a sale. I no made o' money," Nikky claims as she offers the band back to the vartan.

"Best spit!" the Vartan promises. "Shine up real good! No smell like snakeskin!" Then she pauses, and asks, "You want snakeskin band?"

"Dey any good?" Nikky asks. "An I take de rosewood band fer 12 shekels, no polish..."

"Okay, Genoh," the Vartan says, and offers her hand to shake on it. "Scaly leather very good, very pretty. Gots a favorite color?"

The tail-band goes into a little bag, and Mave hands over the cash. Then the bird is digging through a trunk, and comes up with a nearly translucent section of shed Naga (or possibly Shiga or some other reptile) skin. It's dark blue, but because it's thin it seems lighter. "Can be shined up, you put over leather. Waterproof!" she claims.

Nikky considers that for a moment. "Mmm, nah! I think I just stick to de band I gots," the skreek decides. She can, after all, wear scales for real anyway. "I t'ink dat enough shoppin for de moment. I curious t' see if me ratty is bein tortured yet."

"Wa's dis about torture?" asks a familiar ratty voice from behind. Orca appears to be just passing by, looking nonchalant as he tries to get Nikky's attention.

"Well, ya did say you were gonna get some ink," Nikky cackles as she makes a swat for Orca's butt. "I was thinkin' about joining ya. Mebbe something on me tail."

"Oh, for me hand," the rat says, raising his left hand up and wiggling the fingers. "You gonna pose for it?" he asks, then bows to Mave and Tulani. He can't help but whisper to Nikky, "Aha, you been learning stuff from the Yodh, I bet."

"Sure, I pose fer it iffin you help me pick something fer me tail," Nikky agrees as she siddles up to the other skreek and gives him a peck on the cheek. "An well, mebbe a little," she claims as her answer to the question about Mave.

"Oh, something to wear on it?" Orca asks, getting his mind out of the gutter. "Like a big bow?"

The Sphynx snickers a bit at that suggestion. "You'd look good in a bow. A pink one," she tells Nikky.

"Oe mebbe a tattoo around de base or somethin'," Nikky suggests and shrugs. "I dunno!" As ofr the big pink bow .... that ears Tulani a whip from that leathery appendage!

"Oh, something dec'rative!" Orca says, and grabs Nikky's tail to fondle it a bit. "Like, 'nibble here' or something?"

Nikky giggles, "Mebbe something like that! Or just styleyy an pretty!" She looks to Mave and Tulani, asking them, "Wan' t' come? Or gots stuff t' do?"

Tulani seems uncertain. "Wellll, only to watch," she says. "And suggest a rose vine - with thorns - for your tail."

"An we can get you somethin' too!" Nikky suggests to Mave with a devious grin on her face.

"I like my body as it is," Mave says simply. She doesn't rise to teasing like a younger woman might.

The inside of the parlor is dark, until the lamps are turned up. "Customers!" the short tattooist says by way of welcome. Stripped to the waist is a squat, hairy human, his arms and chest covered in colorful ink. "Welcome to Dinky Ink!"

Nikky's brow does a little dance of amusement. "Dinky Ink?" she manages to ask without laughing ... well, too much. "Me tail lifter here is wantin' a tattoo on 'is hand," she tells the human and gestures to Orca. "An I might wan' one on me tail."

"Well, what're you hoping for, gent?" 'Dinky' asks Orca. "Got a special on hearts! New batch of red ink in this morning - fresh squeezed!"

"Oi, I was hoping for a drawing of.. her," Orca notes, pointing out Nikky. "For when I'm on my lonesome, ye get me?"

"Squids of course!" Dinky claims. "But we neutralize the toxins, don't worry," he adds.. and then does a bit of a twitch.

"Well, mebbe you want me in robes," Nikky teases, "And not looking over me shoulder wit' me tail arches and held just so t' show you everyt'ing..."

"Well.. mebbe up against that wall, so you're easier to see.." Orca suggests. Dinky goes about setting up more lamps, since there'll be a live reference.

And ... Nikky starts stripping, right there, unashamed. She at least has time to fold up her clothes as she goes and then smooth out her fur so that all her body jewelry stands out enough to be seen. And then just to mess with him, Nikky saunters over to Orca, drapes her arms around his neck, and kisses him. In a break in the kiss, she murmurs to him, "I honored."

"Ooo, I inspired," Orca claims, and helps get Nikky into position - he spreads her hands and legs, has her tail up to hook her elbow, and asks her to pucker up and "maybe lick yer lips a bit.."

"Which ones?" Nikky teases Orca and cackles like a loon. She knows what he meant, though and does lick over her lips. She also tosses her head 'just so' that she's presenting a sidelong look towards Orca. Her eyes are half-closed and her chin tilted so so, as if inviting him to 'come here' ...

"We could sell tickets," Tulani notes.. as the third person to pass by the open door stops to ogle.

"Dat's it! That's the expression!" Orca says, and hurries to the stool where Dinky is setting things up. The human grins, notes that blank ink at least is easy, and then straps down Orca's hand to a board to immobilize it. "This will be incredibly painful," the tattooist warns.. and puts a bottle of booze in the Skreek's free hand.

"I don't remember tattooing to be so painful as to need booze," Nikky thinks. Of course she was rather distracted the entire time.

It isn't easy holding the pose for so long - especially as more people (sailors, naturally) begin to loiter outside to watch. Orca downs the whole bottle in the meantime, his face screwed up in pain as Dinky works the needle.

"Aw, it can't be that bad!" Nikky thinks again. But then again she never had her palm tattooed, so who knows how painful that is.

It seems like an hour passes, before Dinky says, "Done!" This is followed by Orca screaming when alcohol is used to wash over the tattoo to prevent infection. "You should be able to make her wiggle a bit by flexing your fingers," he points out, and prepares a bandage.

So naturally Nikky wiggles, flexes, bends herself in half, and practically turns her torso around. My she's a flexible skreek.

"When you're done stretching," Tulani says over the applause. "Do you want your clothes back?"

"Wha' about the tail thorn-vine-thing?" Nikky asks mid-stretch. The call for Tulani naturally causes the skreek to cackle!

"Well, you don't need to be naked for something like that," Dinky says, after wrapping Orca's hand. "But ya gotta sit in my lap for it!" the First Mate claims.

And probably to Orca's disappointment, Nikky does collect her clothes from Tulani and get dressed. She doesn't need too many distractions while her tail is being done. Once dressed, she slinks her way back to Orca and slides into his lap so that she's nose to nose with him, her legs straddle his lap, and her back is to Dinky. "Like dis?" she asks him.

"Dis be fine!" Orca notes, wrapping his arms around Nikky while the onlookers begin to move on in disappointment.

"What did you want for your tail?" Dinky ask. "Vines are typical, and some like to have little tentacle details added, or stripes and rainbows.."

Fine by Nikky, because she then just kisses Orca. "Well, vines yah, sounds pretty. No so sure about tentacles. Wh' do you t'ink?" she asks Tulani.

"Vines, with flowers and thorns," Tulani suggests. "What sort of flowers do you like?"

"Well ... mebbe some roses?" Nikky suggests. A tribute to Rosalind, but she doesn't exactly say that.

It's not easy having needles poking and pricking at your tail while it's being stretched out tight (thanks to Tulani's willing assistance). And since the tattoo spirals around, it's often tugged upwards as well. Orca doesn't help, clearly resisting the urge to tickle the Skreek in his lap. "So what you been up to away from the ship so far?" he asks, trying to have a conversation during the torture session.

Poor Nikky sure makes a lot of interesting facial expressions as her tail is stretched, poked, and injected! Some are pained, others comical. "Wha? Oh, what I been doing?" she asks in a rather distracted tone of voice. "Buyin' stuff. I got you stuff." The cackle that follows that does not instill a sense of safety; more of of certain doom...

"What'd you get me?" Orca asks, grinning. "Drink? Cheese? Perfume? Exciting underwear?"

"Mostly de latter," Nikky admits with a erally wide grin. "Figured we shoul' go all out since we may be splittin' ways soon enough. I show you it all back on de ship, but until den, it be a surprise!""

"Oh! Hehehe," the big rat chortles, and gives Nikky's rear a squeeze just as Dinky's needle pricks a sensitive spot. It's a lot more effective than Gorphat's curse, certainly!

Nikky ends up making a rather rodenty squeak at that moment! Whether it was from the squeeze or the needle, who's to say? "Ah, Orcy, I really like yas," she coos to the grabby-skreek. HEr toes, though, are dancing against the floor. "Ow ow ow," she's thinking. She also realizes this is the second bit of 'plantlife' that looks like it's growing from her sensitive areas!

It seems to take forever, and the base of her tail is starting to really throb from the pulling, but finally Dinky is finished. "Here, miss," he says, giving her a chunk of leather to bite on. "You'll want this when I do the swab.."

Nikky takes the hunk of leather. She makes the mistake of sniffing it, then skews up her nose! "Ew," she mutters, yet still stuffs the leather chunk into her mouth and bites down! Skreeks will put anything in their mouths, it seems.

The alcohol is wiped on, making it feel like Nikky's tail is on fire! But it passes rather quickly into a duller pain. "I think she needs a bell attached to the tip," Tulani offers.

Nikky is biting a bit too hard and trying to survive the pain to really refute Tulani's suggestion! She suddenly realizes how much Mordecai did to keep her distracted and not notice how painful tattooing is!

"You don't wanna bell a Skreek," Orca claims. "We squeaky enough when we wanna be! Bells is for cats," he notes, leering at Tulani.

Nikky chortles around her leather 'gag'. Once she's sure the worst is past, she pulls the bit of leather out and offers it back to Dinky. It has a few new holes in it.

"Now, keep yer tail clean for a few days," the human informs Nikky. "Or else it may turn green and fall off."

"I suspect you be lickin' more den dat," Nikky teases, "But I be sure t' return dat favor!" She leans in and kisses Orca again, then slips out of his lap finally.

"So which of you will be settling up?" Dinky asks. Orca responds immediately by taking out his money-pouch. "Both on me," the Skreek says.

"I sure I be payin' him back later, iffin ya get my meaning," Nikky notes to Dinky, grinning like a loon.

"I still gotta do some official stuff and meet the captain," Orca tells Nikky. "No rest for the First Mate, eh! You coming back to the ship later tonight?"

"No sure! Might stay off and enjoy de town a bit," Nikky says. "I let you know wha' I decide later, 'kay?"

"Sure, if'n I'm asleep, just pull my tail," Orca says, and gives Nikky another hug and kiss before heading off. Tulani jumps as the rat pinches her behind along the way.

"Issin' he great?" Nikky asks Tulani. She slips a little closer to Tulani ... and pinches the Sphynx on the butt too!

"Gah, you two are perfect for one another," Tulani says after the second pinch. "Let's go drop our loot off in the room. I want to play with my new build-a-suit system.."

"Sounds good t' me!" Nikky decides as she collects her bags back from Tulani ... then licks Tulani on the cheek. Wetly.

"Ack," the Sphynx complains. "Maybe I'll take a bath too!" she says, poking Nikky in the shoulder.

"I kin give you a bath," Nikky suggests. She then leans in and whispers in Tulani's ear, "As a savanite..."