Fnerfcora adjusts her laced-together bodice for the fifth time in the past half hour. Despite Tulani's best efforts at design, it has a tendency to slip down the black Fnerf's torso. She should have added shoulder straps! A familiar group of Skreeks and Eeee pass in the distance, heading for the dance floor where a band is setting up - and with them is the bulky form of Temis the navigator.
"Stupid bouncing blobs of flesh," Vicoria (aka Vikky) mutters as she pushes up her chest for what seems like the hundredth time. She tried to go without, but that was uncomfortable! So .. she's stuck with the bodice. She also still has issues walking; it's odd to have two left feet! But, somehow she manages. And ... now wondering what the crew is up to, she now makes her way towards the group in the distance! "I feel huge," she mutters to herself. "Almost dragon-huge. My butt sure feels huge..."
She soon discovers she's not the only female Fnerf about, either! The crewmen have paused at a beer booth to load up on drink, but off by the dancefloor is a long line of females, including a single golden-furred Fnerf. They aren't dressed like prostitutes, but still look professional - maybe they're just there to dance?
Vikky's ears splay when she spots the other fnerfs! She hadn't expected that. Not a problem, though; it's not she has any particular goal. Still, she makes her way towards that gathering while wondering why they are there and lined up.
Several of the crew, along with others from various ships, begin flooding the dance area - some of them holding two mugs apiece. Most of them go right for the girls, and appear to be.. asking them to dance.
"Huh, it is just a dance," Vikky mutters. so, she takes a moment to look for a sign that announces just what the event is.
A banner near the entrance to the relatively open area announces the time that the dance begins - and also a price list for 'renting' a dance partner. The rates are low, at least.
Vikky huhs and tries to figure out if she can put herself up for 'sale' so to speak. She's not one to ever pass up some extra cash! And given she has no idea how ot dance in this body, well, she would be ... cheap.
There are a few couples arriving on the dancefloor as well - and certainly aren't pausing to 'check in' anywhere. Still, there appears to be an older Gallah woman with the look of a proctor hovering about at the fringes, carrying a basket full of pasteboard cards.
Vikky tries to make her way through those gathered to get to that Gallah. "Excuse me?" she calls to the woman with the basket. "I don't understand what is going on here or how to participate?"
"Oh, hello deary," the woman says. Despite her poodle-style cut, she's clearly a Gallah. "If you wish to dance, you need to pay an entry fee, unless you'd like to take a dance-card instead," she explains, holding up one of the cards. It's got a lot of odd markings on it. "Then you can get in without paying, but you need to have your card punched after each dance. Once you've gotten six punches, that covers your entry fee - but if it's less, you have to pay a Shekel for each missed dance. Since you don't work here normally, you can't ask for the rental rate - and we're very strict about that! You can dance, but you can't take any money or tips, do you understand?"
"That is ... very confusing," Vikky admits, "How much is the entrance fee?" This dance is becoming a bit worrisome, really. Given she's not sure she can dance in this body, it's highly unlikely she would ever fill a card.
"It's only ten Shekels, honey," the matron replies, smiling and seeming to recognize the look on Vicoria's face. "You haven't danced much, I take it?" she asks.
"Not much at all," Vikky admits as her ears splay out to the sides. "And my clothing isn't really behaving today, so maybe this is a bad idea."
"Well, Fnerf dances aren't all that complicated," the woman says reassuringly, and points to the golden-brown Fnerf, who is being approached by an unfamiliar gray-furred foxtaur in a fancy jacket. "Just watch Mercedes there. Sitting outside and watching is free, after all."
"Okay, and I guess with a card the fee is only six if I completely flop and look like an idiot," Vikky admits, though she's still frowning. So, she watches the other fnerf for now.
The band begins playing, and it's a slow dance piece called a waltz. It becomes clear why the 'professional' partners get paid: they actually have to teach the sailors how to do the steps most of the time. The two dancing Fnerf's know what they're doing though, but their version of the dance is very different: instead of being face-to-face, they are side-to-side, and move around in a circle. Since the male is on the right, and they're moving counter-clockwise, he must be 'leading' the dance. There's a lot of hand-holding - and shifting the grip to shoulders and such - and sweeping the floofy tails along the floor. At one point, the pair reverses, back-to-front, and hold on to one another's tails!
"Seems complicated, aye?" a familiar voice asks, as Temis sits down next to Vikky, and even offers her a mug of ale. "Fun to watch, at least."
Vikky can't help but laugh a little at that, up to the point she's spoken to and starts! Tail frizzing out in every direction. "Yes, well, a little," she admits as she tries to recover her decorum before taking the offered mug. "Going to ask her to dance?" she asks Temis.
"And embarrass meself in front of everyone?" Temis barks, then shakes his head. "I've only just started drinking. Will take awhile before I'm drunk enough for that!" His gaze wanders to Vikky's chest when she laughs, and he almost looks alarmed at the fragile state of her modesty.
"Are they falling out again?" Vikky asks when she finally notices where Temis is looking. This triggers a frantic attempt to stuff them back in ... when they were still somewhat secured! "Sorry, but to be honest these are a lot of trouble," she admits to Temis. "always in the way or bouncing around..."
"Well, I could hold them for you," Temis jokes. "Sorry, don't mean to be forward - but you seem familiar to me for some reason. I'm Temis, by the way, of the Shadowdrake." He offers his non-beer-holding hand.
"Vicoria, but most just call me Vikky," Vikky introduces herself and takes his hand into hers. "And you're just in port, then? Probably glad to be off-ship. As for being familiar; not sure why. First time I've ever met you."
"Heh, I had a dream the other night.. err, so, are you passing through too then? Crew or passenger?" the bigger foxtaur asks.
"Passenger. I don't have a clue how anything works on a ship," Vikky claims. "And a dream? Was it a good dream? For a pickup line that wasn't too bad." She even grins finally and takes a drink from the mug Temis gave her earlier.
The ale isn't too bad, if the slightest bit stale. But then, everything gets shipped in by air or sea here.
"It was a very, very good dream," Temis says. "So what brings you out tonight, Vikky? Looking for a bit of adventure?"
"Is this where you are going to offer me adventure?" Vikky teases, "I'm just out to see what there is to do. It beats sitting in a room and reading all the time," she claims.
"Are you a scholar then?" Temis asks. "Or maybe.. a librarian?" He actually waggles his eyebrows.
"Hey, what do you mean by that?" Vikky asks as her brow arches just slightly. Still, she looks amused. "I'm ... inbetween jobs right now, actually," she admits.
"Oh, it's just that librarians are sexy," Temis claims, then takes a swig of beer. "Ah, that why yer travelin' then?"
"More or less. I'm sure I'll find work somewhere. It was either that or let my family find someone to marry me off to and have kids," Vikky claims, "Be honest, do I look like I'm built to have kids?"
"You look built.. ah, I'm sure you'd be a fine mother," Temis says, and swats Vikky's tail with his own. "Tried making any?"
"Oh once or twice," Vikky admits and takes another drink from her mug. "But I've usually kept to rhians to avoid kids," she adds as she swats his tail back with her own. "Why are you coming through? Merchant ship?"
"Small cargo ship, on our way to Zannara," Temis claims. "We're fast, so can avoid pirates. And you oughta try your own kind sometime - others just ain't built to really reach all the fun places at once."
"But I'm also not going to get stuck for a while with a different species like I do with my own," Vikky teases and reaches over to tickle under Temis' chin with her free hand. "Not that it's a bad thing with the right guy. You're going to Zannara? Mainly food transport?"
"Nah, we aren't big enough for that to be profitable," Temis says, resting his free hand on the 'crease' where Nikky's torso and spine meet. He even gives the spot a little scratch - which feels pretty nice, actually. "We carry stuff that's harder to get."
"Like a fnerf lady out traveling all by herself?" Vikky teases and smiles. The ripple that seems to flow down her upper, then lower, back makes it obvious enough she's rather liking that scratch.
"Well, I don't know that I could carry you," Temis jokes. "But I bet you haven't had a proper Fnerf backs-rub if you're on your own."
"No, but I could probably carry you, so to speak," Vikky teases; perhaps that ale has calmed her down a bit. "And no, I haven't. No one really appreciates the complications of how we're built. Ships rarely make enough accommodations."
"Not hardly any room to stretch out, I bet," Temis says, and looks towards the garden area. "Must be someplace soft to lie down around here.."
"So you really don't want to dance?" Vikky asks and motions towards the floor. "Not even with the pretty fnerf?"
"Well, I don't think I could impress you with my footwork," Temis notes. "I've got my sea-legs and my air-legs, but dance-legs are a bit more complicated."
"And you wouldn't want to risk once dance with me?" Vikky teases and takes another drink. "If not, then that offered back rub had better be very good." She doesn't mention that she fears dancing would make things fall out, anyway!
"I may be a little rusty, but it'll come back to me," Temis promises, and points off towards the garden. "Should be a good spot on the other side there, away from the bustle here."
Vikky pushes her hind-legs so that she's standing again then wraps her hand around the crease of Temis' back. "Come on then; I can't have you going all rusty; then I would have to lubricate you," she teases. Her ale mug is in her left hand and by now mostly empty.
The other side of the garden is just far enough for privacy, while still near enough to hear the music. There are flat benches fixed in place near the railings for those who want to watch the ocean, and the nearest lamp is far enough away that the arch of the Procession is unspoiled by extraneous light. Temis pats one of the benches, saying, "This should do."
"Straddle the bench?" Vikky asks as she goes over and does just that, making sure her four legs are positioned around the bench before she lowers her weight down onto the bench. It feels weird, but not as weird as the time she was a naga, at least.
"Are you comfortable?" Temis asks, going around to make sure there's enough room left on the bench for Vikky's torso to rest on as well.
Vikky has to scoot back a bit before she can lower her front until it rests on the bench too. The sensation is one of feeling very long. "Yes, I think so," she tells him.
Temis downs the rest of his beer and sets the leather mug aside, before trotting back to the rear-end of Vikky. Once there, he drapes her tail over his shoulder, and starts scratching at her half-dangling haunches (since the bench isn't all that high).
"Oooooh," Vikky murmurs as the sensations (and shivers) run up both of her backs. "That feels very nice."
The big sweeping strokes continue, eventually converging at the base of the Fnerfette's tail where Temis really digs in with the scratching, making Nikky's rump rise up in reflex.
Funny little sounds come from Vikky each time Temis' scratching reaches its end point. She doesn't even realize at first how her backside rises at the end of each. "This is much better than dancing," she murmurs encouragingly, and probably giving Temis a ... 'view' each time her haunches raise.
"Well, dancing comes later," Temis promises, and works his way up along Vikky's back and sides by inches. She barely notices his weight as his taur half covers half her back after awhile, at least not until he reaches her second back and starts unlacing the awkward bodice.
It's about then she realizes how vulnerable of a position she's in. But ... since she already knows Temis, she isn't worried. Still, she has to say something when she feels strands undo. "You didn't ask, but the answer is yes, you can remove it," she teases, ears flicking.
"Well, the point is to be comfortable, and you certainly didn't seem so wearing this," the todd-taur claims as he further exposes Vikky's back. Things are in familiar territory here, as far as anatomy goes. Although, there are enough differences to make it interesting - clusters of muscles in the back and shoulders that get a bit of extra attention. "How're you feeling so far?" Temis asks.
"Extremely relaxed," Vikky answers in a sighing voice. "You're very very good." She really is relaxed, too; she feels like a puddle.
"Good!" Temis says. "Time to roll over then!"
"Roll over? On the bench?" Vikky asks. She isn't quite sure how to do that!
"I'll help you," Temis notes, climbing off of Nikky's back and moving back to grab her rear ankles. "Just start at your shoulders and go slow," he says. Fnerfs do have very flexible spines, despite their size.
The next couple of minutes involves some awkward wiggling and shifting along with Temis lifting her legs so they don't catch on the bench. After a few near-falls, Vikky is finally on her back with her legs curled down and tucked to her torso and her hands resting on her abdomen. This triggers an odd memory, the time Melusine turned her into the six-legged creature. She shivers, trying to forget that memory!
Temis starts in again.. this time with Vikky's various limbs, starting from the back again. He stretches them out and rubs the joints, along with the scratching and stroking, before laying them back down.
"Can I keep you?" Vikky murmurs, her head laid back and eyes closed. "This feels sooooo good after spending so much time on a ship," she admits.
"My contract is pretty ironclad I'm afraid," Temis claims, rubbing Nikky's belly now.
"Can you keep me?" Vikky now teases instead. She uses her tail to tickle his stomach now that it's in range.
"Well.. we haven't danced yet!" Temis notes, sliding forward to work on the female's upper torso next. He uses his mouth for this, as well as his hands, and there's a lot more actual kneading and licking involved.
Given Vikky's ... condition, the licking and kneading cause her to think about nursing. It's .... an oddly warm thought; probably the hormones. Her lower legs come up and hug around Temis' own lower torso as he works. She might have tried to say something, but it ends up coming out mumbled garble.
Taking the hint, Temis slides up further - and the dance begins, even if it's using all the limbs at once, along with the throat and ears and tail. It's a miracle that the bench both holds out, and they don't end up on the decking by falling off.
It's already too late by the time Vikky murmurs, "Someone might come by." It's not like it actually stops her from doing anything, though. It's all so ... unique. And without the fear of waking up and being discovered changed, well, it's a lot more enjoyable this time! This body is definitely one of the most 'alien' in feel. Almost as odd as being a human albino.
They don't stick to the bench, and if anyone sees them.. well, they aren't making a fuss about it. There's even a wonderful view of the Procession reflected in the water while Vikky is leaned over the railing, with Temis on her back and hugging her with both arms and forelegs.
"You can stay right where you are," Vikky murmurs over her shoulder. Her own arms come up to lightly hold his while her forelimbs balance her on the rail. "And you were right; my own kind is much better," she adds. It still feels so alien and yet ... so, so, good. Her body's instincts react very favorably to his body weight on her back. "And here you claimed you weren't a good dancer."
"Not on the dancefloor, no," Temis says, catching his breath. He clings to Vikky, even after the dancing ends - at least for the moment - and nuzzles cheek to cheek by leaning his head over her shoulder. And, as promised before.. he holds up her front more comfortably than the laced-together bodice did.
"It's been a while for you, hasn't it?" Vikky asks as her head leans to the side so that she can rub against his cheek. "Your body has relaxed a lot now."
"Well, it's only fair that we both be relaxed, aye?" Temis says, giving Vikky's face a lick. "And yeah.. been.. maybe half a year since I spent time with another Fnerf."
"Well, then I've got a lot to make up for you tonight, don't I?" Vikky asks as she strokes the back of his cupping hands. "I hope that even if you haven't been around another fnerf that you found outlets. I know it can be frustrating sometimes."
"You get frustrated?" Temis asks. "It just gets lonely sometimes. My crew has someone who.. helps out.. though."
"Sometimes," Vikky admits and leans her head to the side to lick his ear. "Well, I hope that someone is good and treats you well," she adds.
"That she treats me at all is a miracle," Temis laughs. "She's just a Skreek! I feel like if I move, I'll break her."
"A skreek? Wow, she must be impressive if she can manage big fellow like you!" Vikky declares as she looks out at the procession. "I've heard skreeks are pretty strange and like really weird stuff. You better be careful around her; who knows what she might ask you to do."
"Well, I can probably survive," Temis claims. "We'll be in port at Zannara within a week."
"But will the rest of the crew?" Vikky asks. "Probably good she's leaving at the next port. If you've got any skreeks on board she'll probably leave the ship with ... one in the oven. I hear they bear children easily. Not like lapi easy, but easier than most."
"I imagine it'd be the First Mate's then," Temis says with a chuckle.
"He'll be the sorriest to leave her behind.. if you know what I mean!" he jokes.
"Oh? Spends a lot of time with her, does he?" Vikky asks, laughing. "Maybe he'll try to marry her while you're in port. Who knows?"
"I dunno, she doesn't seem the settling-on-one-guy sort," Temis replies, and play-bites Vikky's shoulder.
Vikky hisses and her heck arches, lowering her chin and exposing the back of her neck out of instinct. "Careful. You keep doing that and we'll be here a while," she murmurs. After another breath, she asks, "Where are you going after Zannara?"
"Can't say," Temis remarks, and bites at the scruff of Vikky's neck. The music starts up again in the distance, and so Temis starts up again as well. "Never know if pirates are listening!" he claims.
Vikky's forelimbs brace herself on the rail and that bite on her neck seems to 'shut off' a lot of any real thought. All that matters at the moment is what is happening and what she feels inside. "Then don't speak," she murmurs finally, "And don't stop."
By the time Vikky returns to the Blowhole, the clientele is too wasted to note a disheveled Fnerf holding her bustier closed with both hands heading up the stairs - which creak ominously under her tread. Once in the room, it's a bit of a tight squeeze, as well. "Tulani went to check on some airship in dock," Mave notes, hanging upside down and waking at Vikky's entrance.
Once inside, Vikky sheds her bodice and stretches a bit. She looks at the upside down Mave a bit oddly, then pads her way over. She's careful about it, but does cup Mave's head with her hands and kisses the upside-down Eeee for a moment. "I'm going to turn back to my normal form as Nicora," she says once the kiss releases. "And I would like to talk with you for a little bit if that's okay?"
"I can spare some sleeping time," the white bat notes, releasing the grip of her toes to drop and flip - landing on Vikky's shoulders.
And Vikky reaches up, lifts Mave off, and sets her on the cot. "Give me a bit, then," Vikky says, then concentrates to contact Kaira. "Okay, I want to go back to being Nicora for a bit, please," she thinks. "It's hard for me to transform to that body, so, uhm, please help me?"
"Sure thing.. and thanks for saying 'please' too," Kaira replies. The blackness seems a bit larger than usual, and Vikky almost gets a sense of shrinking this time. When Nicora emerges from the darkness, she nearly feels off balance having just two feet on the ground - and her tail is no longer glorious, but stunted and.. bitey.
Nicora wobbles for a bit, then has to swat her tail for being so bitey. "Calm down, you," she complains. Once the tail seems to be better behaved, she fetches the small sack she put all her body jewelry in. The Eeee then goes and sits on the floor in front of Mave; her posture oddly ... submissive to the older Eeee for some reason. "Help refit my earrings?" she asks just before she starts fitting her more ... intimate ones. One advantage for being 'always ready' is that things do slide in easier.
"Of course," Mave says, and works from behind Nicora - and apparently remembers the proper places for each earring. She even does the wing-rings for Nicora. "Did you enjoy your outing?"
"I did. I ... " Nicora pauses, seeming conflicted. "I wanted to thank you. For encouraging me to explore and enjoy my body. I know I tend to tease you a lot, but I wanted you to know I'm grateful to you." There's another long pause as shivers run through her after fitting the ring through the orb of Inala. "Ahem," she says once the tremors subside. "There are times I feel like I'm your acolyte."
"I'd never treat you like an Acolyte," Mave promises, and starts combing Nicora's hair as well. "I would not be so cruel."
"Cruel? What would you do if I was your acolyte?" Nicora asks and leans back a moment to look up at Mave.
"You would have to be broken of course, but it is also a moot question, for one does not join the Yodhinala," Mave notes as she works the brush. "You are born into it. Although very beautiful Eeee may serve as sacrifices."
Nicora's brow arches. "Broken?" she inquires.
"Your will," Mave explains. "Your ego must be broken down, so that you will unquestioningly perform the tasks assigned by the head priestess."
"I find that I will do much anything you ask of me," Nicora admits, "I may tease you, but I still do it." She shrugs a bit at that. "I guess I am sort of looking to you as my mentor and guide while I an female. And truth be told, even with everything that has happened it has been worth it."
"I am glad that you follow me - of your own will," Mave says. "You came to me, and knew Inala through me, I think. Do you trust me now?"
"Yes, I think so," Nicora admits, given how Dunky reacted to her and things Kaira said, Mave may be trustworthy. "So, if I survive Babel, do you think I should return to how I was before all this ... or remain as I am?"
"I don't think you'll have to choose one or the other," Mave says. "I won't be able to advise you on that."
"You would still allow me to worship Inala through you no matter what, yes?" Nicora asks.
"For so long as I am a suitable altar, yes," Mave says, leaning down to kiss Nicora on the cheek from behind.
Nicora leans back, cups her hand behind Mave's neck, and kisses her again. "You have a long time yet to be suitable," she claims. "And before you go back to sleep, I wish to worship Inala through you," she says with a grin. "That blessing is very distracting and ... I desire to share the distraction with you. Will you permit it?"
"Of course," Mave says, and then smirks. "Does this have anything to do with what I did to Tulani earlier?"
"A little, yes," Nicora says and sticks out her tongue, showing off the metal stud in it. "I really want to make you squirm tonight and enjoy the blessings of pleasure."
"All in Inala's name," Mave says, putting down the brush. For whatever reason, this makes Nicora flash back to the last visit to Worms, where Inala claimed that Mave was going to betray her, that Alptraum needed to help her do it..
And Nicora spins on her backside so that she's now facing Mave. "I think I know what you intend," she thinks, "I just hope it does not go as badly as I fear it may. You're a messed up person, Mave, but you have shown signs of being a good friend." She flashes a smile, trying to hide the inner worries. "Now, if I can do this better, just guide me," she asks of Mave, then leans in to truly worship at Inala's altar. Hortense and the does did teach her a few things too that she intends to demonstrate. Hopefully they'll get some sleep eventually!