Nicora is fashionably late arriving, as she had to change bodies and get into her Yodhsunala robes. Mave is already seated and wearing her own formal robes. To her right at the small round table sits Captain Soldano bar Drelickus looking dapper in his best clothes, and on her left is the mysterious Chaos Mage, who at least looks clean, even his long purple hair is done up in two ponytails. He smiles to Nicora, watching her with one brown eye and one blue one. The cut of his robes are in the Babelite tradition, and rank him as a Master of his Sphere.
Nicora never smiles. In fact she looks rather dour and disapproving, as if woken up at the crack of dawn. She's dressed in her formal robing as well and she walks in such a way as to appear to glide. Her hands are crossed before her, each hand tucked into the sleeve of the other. The greeting of a smile earns the mage a slight nod of her head in recognition of the act, but nothing further. Upon reaching the table, her legs fold beneath her and she lowers down onto one of the cushions around the table. It's now that she finally speaks, in a soft, yet firm, tone, "Morning."
"Yodhsunala Nicora," Captain Soldano says with a bow of his head. "Allow me to introduce Mage Fuchsia of Babel, who will be guiding us through the unpredictable turbulence at the edge of the Forbidden Zone, ensuring we get to our destination without notice by raiders."
The pigtailed Mage bobs his head at the introduction.
"I see. Flying along the edge of a forbidden zone is extremely dangerous. Is it truly necessary to take on such risk? Have raiders become that bold in my absence?" Nicora inquires. Following that, her head tilts and she looks at the mage. "While I am certain a mage of the Master rank is adequately trained to minimize the danger, I question the need of it." She looks over the make again, looking for any, well, possible bite marks, signs of infection, or small bulges on the mage's neck.
The mage wears a purple cravat, which hides his neck. However there aren't any telling tingles from the shadow - which is fairly close, since the mage is to Nicora's right. "Not all raiders are burbery.. err.. barbarians, honorable Yodh," Fuchsia says, his voice a bit squeaky even for an Eeee. "The route also hides us from the scrying of Light Mages or others with such a talent."
Nicora eyes the mage out of her right eye, along with an arch of the brow of the same eye. "Is it common for ships approaching Babel to by scryed now? If so, by whom? What factions have become so brazen?" she asks.
"One can never underestimatch.. mate.. what the usurper Thath might resort to in order to maintain his tenuowus.. wise?.. his not-at-all-firm grip on power," the Chaos Mage notes. "He has access to the secrets of the Tower after all.. possibly."
"Is that so? Rumors tell of when the tower was raided that all the weapons in its depths were destroyed," Nicora notes. "And, pray tell, what has Thath done thus far to maintain his control? I do not know the current state of affairs in Babel, outside of that I must return.""
"Well.. various nobles have been arrested and detained without.. in.. the Coalition Tower, under claims of 'protective custard' and other obvious euphemisms," Fuchsia says, trying to lower his voice and failing. Then he blinks and blurts, "CUSTODY! I meant custody.. not pudding.."
Nicora eyes the mage again, then turns her gaze to the Captain. "You are wiling to put your life in the hands of a man who compares custody to pudding?" she asks rather dryly.
"I am bound by my contract, Sister," Soldano notes, with a bit of a wry grin. "This is our navigator. It is to be expected that those of the Sphere of Chaos can be a bit.. eccentric.."
"I'm much better now that I've changed my name," Fuchsia claims, then gets distracted as Cinnamon arrives with the tea service.
"Eccentric, perhaps. but, it puts into question his competence. He may wear the robes of a Master, but what if he forgets an important part of a ritual. We may end up bathing in pudding instead of safely skirting the edge of the zone," Nicora notes matter-of-factly. Cinnamon gets a small head nod of recognition when she approaches the table. Looking back to the mage, she asks, "Can you demonstrate your competence?"
"Demonstrate my codpiece?" Mage Fuchsia squeaks, quickly looking away from the Lapi doe and tapping his forefingers together. "Well.. I mean.. uh.."
"I do not need to see demonstrations of your phallic prowess. I leave such matters to the Yodhinala," Nicora remarks and removes her left hand from her right sleeve and waves it towards Mave for emphasis.
"Only at the Main Temple," Mave notes.
"But you asked.. oh!" Fuchsia goes, and closes just his blue eye. "Ah, ah.. okay, much better. Could you ask the question again, Honored Sister?"
"Are you deaf?" Nicora asks the odd mage.
"Ah, no, it's just that one side of my brain is easily confused at times," the mage claims, looking at Nicora with just his brown eye. "It works out well for certain magics, of course, but sometimes I forget that it can confuse conversations.."
"I asked you if you could demonstrate your competence. Your inability to converse without great difficulty increases my concern of whether or not you could manage to keep a ship safe," Nicora says flatly. "And I do not have all the necessary implements with me to perform the proper rituals of departure for an entire crew to send them to my Mistress."
"Well, Madame, what would you like me to do to demonstrate my competence - in the absence of a Forbidden Zone?" the mage asks. "It is often difficult for a non-Mage to tell if a Chaos Mage has accomplished something or not, after all."
"Convenient," Nicora says and waves her left hand. She eyes Cinnamon for a moment, then tells the Mage, "Touch your nose with alternating hands ten times, without counting out loud, while the doe is bent over and serving you tea. It will be telling of your capabilities of concentration."
"That sounds.. ridicu-" the mage starts to say, then opens his other eye and smiles. "I once had to perform a spell while spinning plates," he says, sounding squeaky again. Cinnamon has a cup of tea in her hands, and looks to Nicora. "Bend over? Forward or backward, Mistress?" she asks.
"Forward," Nicora tells the doe as she slips her left hand back into her right sleeve.
The doe bends over, which is rather revealing since she's wearing a robe. Still, Fuchsia taps his nose five times with each hand.. and even goes down the fingers, starting with the pinky and ending with the thumb on each, all while staring down Cinnamon's robe. "Do you have honey?" he asks.
"Impressive," Nicora affords as a slight compliment, "Of course you may prefer men, but I will not ask the Captain to do anything revealing to test you."
"My lady, as a Chaos Mage I have put myself above the distractions of the flesh," Fuchsia claims, then whispers to Cinnamon, "But sometimes I can be on the bottom too..."
"A-hem," Nicora clears her throat. "Do you worship any of the Kindly Ones, Mage?"
"Well.. worship is a strong word," Fuchsia notes, taking his tea and sipping it. "Revere and appease, certainly, to be quite honest. Other than Inala and Sunala, of course. They I can admit to worshipping - if not necessarily consistently."
"Which do you prefer, the Glorious Sunala, or the Decadent Inala?" Nicora asks next.
Cinnamon quietly serves the others.. making sure to bend over for each, of course.
"Decadent?" Mave asks with a raised eyebrow.
"She epitomizes all things of pleasure. Is that not Decadent?" Nicora asks of Mave.
"Ah.. I can't tell if you're asking me a trick question or not," Fuchsia notes, waggling a pinky at Nicora. "So I will answer honestly: I prefer Inala, of course. I'm still young.. ish. Not past my prime. I know full well my favor will turn towards Sunala in time, but at the moment I do not seek the attention of Death."
Nicora smiles at that, but it's thin-lipped and dangerous. "An honest answer. While I cannot agree with the choice, the fact that you are honest with me speaks well. Most would tell me Sunala, for fear I might strike them down for any other answer," she says. "Now, since you are being honest, do you hold or serve any others above the Kindly Ones?"
"I serve the General of course, who pays me well for my services," the Mage claims, although his blue rolls a bit when he mentions the General.
"Above the Kindly Ones?" Nicora asks, brow arched.
"Forgive me, Sister.. but the Kindly Ones do not pay off my Student Loans," Fuchsia says, giving an apologetic nod. "They do not provide for mortal needs.. save for Inala and Sunala, who provide for the most mortal of needs, of course."
That causes Nicora's semi-permanent frown to deepen. She finally lifts the tea presented by Cinnamon and sips from the mug. "You ask me to forgive you for placing a mortal above the Kindly Ones," she says, slow and deliberate. "Why should I do that?"
"You asked who I served above them," Fuchsia points out, waggling that pinky again while he holds his tea. "As yet, none of the Kindly Ones have required my services. Not unusual, when Zakaro is the Goddess of Magic.. especially the chaotic variety, it seems."
Nicora turns slightly in her seat and eyes the Mage again as she sets down her tea cup. Without warning she reaches up with both of her hands. Her right actually curls around the back of his neck as she draws him closer, while her left plants her index finger in the center of his forehead, where it quickly traces the sign of the corpse between his eyes. "For being honest, I forgive you for your choices, this time. Sunala is patient and in time perhaps you will turn to her as you claimed you would," she says as she holds the mage. Of course it's also to see if any closer proximity makes her feel anything, but she doesn't say that. Her hands then release and fall back to her lap.
There's something. A faint sensation, like a fading scent. The Mage isn't implanted with anything, apparently - but he's at least been in exposed to something. Maybe the General's aura can leave a trace behind?
Nicora's reaction to this .. is to resume drinking her tea. "You have served well," she notes to Cinnamon, "I will be sure to tell Yodhinala Yuna of your dedication to duty." Of course she's thinking on how much this mage really serves the General or not. He's not tainted, so perhaps it is mostly money driven, with a bit of aura to influence him if he wavers.
"You have very strong fingers," the mage notes, as he readjusts his ascot. Then he looks to his right, and asks, "Does Inala have anything she wants to do to my person as well?"
So, Mave reaches over and pinches the man's ear. "She suggests you change your hair color," she advises.
"Strong hands are necessary to 'guide' those to my Mistress," Nicora notes.
"Green is a very popular hair color among the younger Babelites," Fuchsia claims.. despite having purple hair.
"Your hair is purple, not Green," Nicora notes, "And does that imply that a resurgence of the Temple of Gorphat has begun?"
Captain Soldano eyes Nicora a bit after that remark, then clears his throat. "Ah," he says. "We plan to launch the morning after next."
"That soon? We may or may not be ready in time to depart then. We will, of course, let you know in time if we can join, or will seek an alternate route to Babel," Nicora tells the captain.
"They wear the color 'ironically' or so they claim," Fuchsia says, then blinks. "My hair is purple? I'm sure I changed it when I changed my name from Lavender to Fuchsia though! I should know better than to use herbal shampoo - but that blind peddler woman assured me it would turn my hair green.."
"I am sure the Temple of Gorphat in this city could bestow you with green hair," Nicora says, "Do you want directions?"
"I.. well, if you cannot join us, then I wish you both a safe journey of course," Soldano says, actually looking disappointed. "I imagine Tulani will be going with you, whichever course you choose?"
"Of course. She is my bodyguard," Nicora answers. The Eee pauses for a moment, then eyes the Captain. "Do you fancy my bodyguard?" she asks.
"Ah.. I revere Gorphat, of course, but would rather not become closer to Her," the Mage says quickly.
"I.. that is hardly of consequence, Sister," the Captain says, and drinks his tea.
"Ah. Then I will not consider selling her to you," Nicora remarks.
"Good bodyguards are hard to find," Soldano notes, nodding.
"Is she the one with the wings and playful tail?" Fuchsia asks across the table.
"Indeed," Nicora agrees. "And as I said, the decision is not yet made. There are matters to attend to and I wish to discuss some particulars with Yodhinala Mave later. We will inform you of our decision as soon as it is known."
"So, you just wanted to get to know me after all?" Fuchsia asks the two Yodh.
"Of course. If we are to put our lives in the hands of another, it is only expected to get to know that person," Nicora says, "I cannot afford to go to my Mistress before my time. I need to guide others to Her."
"Ah, well you can trust me to guide others safely if chaotically to where they are supposed to be," Fuchsia says, and brushes back one of his pigtails. "I have done this before, after all."
"Hoe many times?" Nicora asks.
"Well.. more than two but less than three, I think," the mage claims, his blue eye wandering a bit. "It's never quite the same route, and sometimes I have a bit of amnesia afterwards, if I really had to exert myself. But it's all pudding in the basket, as they say."
"Of course," Nicora remarks. "He's completely crazy. some sort of split personality," she thinks to herself. "I ... thank you for your honesty," she adds. It sounds like a real strain for the Yodh to say 'thank you'.
"You make it seem like people lie to the Yodh," Fuchsia says, then laughs at his own joke. Or titters, really. It makes Cinnamon fold her ears down.
Nicora looks at Mave for a moment. "You may leave if you wish," she says to Cinnamon when she notices the doe looking uncomfortable.
"Thank you, Mistress," the Lapi notes, and backs out of the gazebo into the garden again.
"Oh, I have been lied to. It only happens once per individual," Nicora comments as she taps her claw against her cup, hard, just once.
"Well, I'm sure none of the lies were about how darkly beautiful you were," the mage says, quite straight-faced.
"Are you making a jest about my appearance?" Nicora asks the mage.
"A.. jest?" the man squeaks, looking both confused and worried now. "I.. was being serious, Sister. Is there not beauty in death?"
"Few people dare risk ... flirting with a Yodhsunala," Nicora notes. "Your comment is ... accepted."
"Flirting?" Fuchsia squeaks, and now his cup is rattling.
Nicora reaches over and stills the cup using only two of her claws. "Calm yourself. I have no intention of harming you, Mage," she says.
"Ah, of course.. uh.." the man says, and then.. becomes calm. "But there is an allure about the dead.." he mutters.
"What draws you to it?" Nicora asks. "If you decide you wish to experience it, I can guide you, of course."
The mage blinks, and looks at Nicora in surprise. "What?" he asks. "Did I wander off again?"
"Yes," Nicora says.
"I didn't step on any toes while I did, did I?" Fuchsia asks earnestly.
"You came close, but no, you did not," Nicora answers.
"Oh, thank goodness," the mage says, relaxing again. "Do you have any of those tiny biscuits? They always go good with tea, you know. You have to treat yourself every so often, even if just to little things."
"I do not know. I shall summon the doe," Nicora says. She turns a bit and whistles once. "Cinnamon," she calls out, "You are required."
After a brief description of what was wanted, the doe vanishes and quickly returns with some shortbread cookies. Since this was a Temple of Inala, they tended toward the phallic.
And Nicora doesn't help matters by drawing the cookies into her mouth with her tongue before chewing them. She does this, of course, while looking grumpy the entire time. Talk about mixed signals.
It also doesn't help that Nicora eyes the Captain a couple times when she eats two cookies. Maybe she just wants to see him squirm.
The captain foregoes the cookies, while Mave smiles as she bites the tips off of them. Fuchsia doesn't seem to mind, and dunks them into his tea until they get soggy, sometimes forgetting to eat them altogether.
Soldano loosens his collar a bit under the scrutiny. "Well, if.. if there isn't anything else, I have much to take care of before we're ready to fly again.."
"I believe the appropriate thing to say at this moment is 'Thank you, it has been an enjoyable tea'," Nicora says as she looks decidedly uncomfortable while saying it; as if the words are foreign to her. "We will remain here for the next couple days. should you require either of our presence, you cay send Tulani to fetch us," she adds.
"It was beautiful tea with lovely company and biscuits," Mage Fuchsia says. "If you would like some luck charms, I can see about enchanting a few! Lucky underwear is my specialty, except for socks. I. Don't. Do. Socks..."
"Lucky underwear? That sounds Yodhinala Mave's territory, not mine," Nicora notes. As for why he hates socks ... she leaves that alone.
"I don't wear underwear, I'm afraid," Mave points out. This causes the captain to cough for a moment.
"Ah, something we share in common, Yodhinala," Nicora remarks.
"You could always keep them in your pockets.." the Mage suggests, until Soldano gets up and says, "We have work to do, Mage Fuchsia."
"Good day, Mage, Captain," Nicora adds, trying to help the Captain 'close' the meeting.
It takes two tries (because he robe was caught on one of the 'branches' of the chair) but Fuchsia gets up and bows to the Yodh. "I hope we meet again."
"I believe we shall, either in a few days or in Babel itself," Nicora says, "And of course barring that ... we will meet at the feet of my Mistress in some years to come."
"Her feet?" the Mage asks. "I'd think one of her Yodh would at least get to sit in her lap.. Oh look, a bunny!" What was in that tea?
Nicora just shakes her head and rises to her own feet. "I am going for a walk. I will return to my room later," she tells Mave. Now it's her turn to go.
On the way to her room, Nicora passes the temple's Barinala. The man dips his head respectfully as Nicora passes, but doesn't show any hint of recognition or side effects from the previous night.
Nicora dips her head in return. She also can't help but watch his rump as he passes. "He's got a nice butt," she thinks ot herself. "Wish I could remember what we did."
The room has been cleaned up, with fresh linens on the bed-couch and rosewater in bowls for washing up. The curtains are parted enough that Nicora can see the gazebo.
Nicora sighs softly to herself, glad that is over. The mage is confusing. He doesn't seem directly controlled at all; more influenced. As she heads to the curtains to look out, she slowly sheds her robes. May as well clean herself up a little; that is always relaxing and the water is fresh.
Of course, whenever Nicora tries to do anything like that.. Cinnamon shows up. "Do you need help, Mistress?" the doe asks.
"You had best be careful, Cinnamon, or I may take you with me when we leave," Nicora says. "But to answer your question, yes. I would like you to clean me."
"Of course Mistress," the doe says, and starts applying the rosewater with a cloth to the standing bat. "Did you sleep well?" she asks.
"I would also like you to remove each of my bits of jewelry and clean them thoroughly before you re-insert them," Nicora adds just before she gives the doe the code to her chain-lock and holds her arms just out to the side. "I slept fine and had comforting dreams," she says. "Did you sleep well?"
"Quiet well, Mistress," Cinnamon says as she goes about removing the various rings and inserts. She has to push aside the inquisitive tail a few times, however.
Nicora has to look to the ceiling and keep calm as the jewelry is removed. "Are you so attentive to me because you like, or because Yodhinala Yuna asked you to keep a close watch on me?" she asks the doe.
"Can't it be both, Mistress?" Cinnamon asks, as she moves up to the chest adornment. "Are other Yodhsunala like you?"
It really feels odd when the ivory bars are pulled out. "Not many. I am fairly unique," the Eeee answers. "And I am not surprised it was that you were asked to. I promised to cause no problems while I was here, but she does not teust my word."
"Did you want to cause problems, Mistress?" the doe asks, as she begins washing Nicora's feet.
"No, of course not. Why would I?" Nicora asks as she sits down on the edge of the bowl-bed to make it easier for the doe.
"While you are here, do you wish to become pregnant?" the does asks instead of answering. "It is allowed for your order, is it not?"
"I wish I could, but I cannot," Nicora says, "I am sterile." And part of her honestly does wish she could, but that has to be hormones speaking.
Nicora even shrugs, adding, "So I will never experience the joy of pregnancy."
"I suppose you will have to settle for the attempt alone," the doe says, without a trace of sarcasm or innuendo. It doesn't help that she's washing that area of Nicora.. while keeping the tail held in her other hand.
Nicora smirks a bit as she shifts about. "With who? I do not know the proper ritual sthat would be expected here to even attempt it," she says.
"My husband is very good," Cinnamon claims. "You could spend the night with us."
"A lapi buck can hardly get an Eeee pregnant, correct?" Nicora asks as she shifts about again.
"And what would you do if I occupied your husband?" she adds.
"Well, I would be there too," the doe points out, and leans over to kiss Nicora. "We'd all be occupied.."
"That means I would have to tend to both of you," Nicora answers after the kiss; feeling a little woozy from it (she did kiss back after all!). "Which means I'll need my tongue stud and other jewelry back in before I go. And ... do you want to present me to your husband?"
"Your tail is nice too," the Lapi notes. "You have already met him: he is Yodhinala Yuna's assistant; Riker."
This causes Nicora's brow to arch. "Did Yodhinala Yuna ask you to do this?" she asks as she looks at the doe.
"No," Cinnamon says, looking surprised by the notion. "Do you worry we are trying to seduce you away to Inala's bosom?"
"You may," Nicora points out. "Perhaps you wish me to stay and become one of you."
"We serve Inala, and so serve... all," Cinnamon claims. "You seem so unhappy at times. Though you serve Death, you must experience the pleasures of Life to fully appreciate its absence, do you not?"
"I allowed myself some pleasures through the jewelry I had ... inserted, and even that brought with it some pain in penance," Nicora explains and shrugs a bit, "And now you remind me of things I cannot have; children." The dark Eeee sighs, adding, "I do ... like you, Cinnamon. But that comes with conflicting feeling."
"I do not wish to bring you painful thoughts," the doe says apologetically. "But.. I'm sure you will have children. I sense these things. You may not bear them, but.. I see you with them."
"I have experienced the fountain of life within me before. The feelings it brings are delightful," Nicora admits and if your husband wishes to share it with me, then I should accept such a gracious offer. And perhaps I will even allow Yuna's son to attempt to get me pregnant as well; I have seen him about and he is pleasing to the eyes. Do you know if he is pleasing in other ways?"
"He's the Barinala," Cinnamon says in hushed tones. "For those of us who are pledged to her, he has no equal.."
"So we should invite him as well?" Nicora asks, brow arched.
"Or, well, perhaps after you and your husband and I spend some time. Please, return my jewelry to where it belongs and we'll ... go," Nicora offers.
"If Sunala grants her leave for such a thing, yes," Cinnamon says. "It would be... inappropriate otherwise, I think."
The doe washes each of the rings and barbels before reinserting them gently.
Nicora is quiet for that part; she just looks to the ceiling and lets them go back in. The one through Inala's orb always makes her twitch when it goes back in, though. "Do you think I would make a decent Yodhinala?" she asks, "Am I ... pretty enough?"
"Yes, you are," Cinnamon says.
"That is flattering. I would like to spend some time with you and your husband. My tail or tongue will be yours to make use of when your husband is busy with me," Nicora offers. She also eyes the doe and adds, "And if you will permit; I would like to try, ah, nursing on you. I am curious."
"Of course," Cinnamon says, after inserting the barbels. And then gets Nicora's robes.
"And I imagine you husband may enjoy watching," Nicora says as she rises and holds her arms out to be dressed.
"He may not watch for long," Cinnamon warns.
"We'll find out. It will be ... entertaining," Nicora notes.
Cinnamon helps Nicora dress, and begins to lead her out to the quarters she shares with her family.
Maybe this will help her relax. The tea was ... tense; at least for her. she's still unsure of which route to take, but she has a few days to decide and a few more things she wishes to do during them. But for the next couple hours she's going to just spend some time with the lapi and indulge in the fountain of her husband and the altar of Cinnamon. She's so hopeless sometimes and even she knows it; but it's hard to feel bad about it when she knows the pleasures that await...