Once again, Pierce and Tulani escort a cloaked Lapi through the back alleys to Cenesta Plaza, only this time she's conscious and able to walk on her own. Butterscotch is quiet during the journey, despite Tulani explaining who would be coming to pick her up.
The nest room is given over to Pierce and Butterscotch, while Tulani goes up front to talk to Helse and wait for Damo Phizcarro to show up. Sephia is also watching curiously from the doorway, her reptilian face inscrutable.
Pierce leans over ... then licks Butterscotch's left ear just to surprise her (and hopefully cheer her up a bit). "She worries too much," the savanite thinks.
Since the Lapi had been watching the Naga, she squeaks and then blushes from the lick. "Now I have to lick you back," she warns with a grin. Sephia slithers in then, and drapes herself over Pierce's shoulders from behind. "Helsssse has a sssurprise for you," she hisses into the cheetah's ear, tickling the inside with her forked tongue.
Pierce sticks out his tongue at Butterscotch in rebuttal to her threat of licking him. This lasts or all of a few seconds until Sephia startles him by draping herself on his shoulders, and worse, whispering scary things in his ear! Said ear flicks several times from the tickling, then he sign to the Naga, "Should I be worried?"
"Of courssse you should," Sephia replies playfully. A moment later, Helse appears, puffing on her pipe and covered in colorful creens today. Butterscotch's nose twitching speeds up as well.
"Ah, I hope you are relaxed," the Eeee says, and places a box on the floor as she kneels down and reaches under Pierce's flap to undo his chain.
Pierce waves to Helse from beneath the naga-wrap and around Butterscotch. He even smiles, even if it's a rather nervous one. It's also rather evil to tell someone to be relaxed, because they'll be anything but! He's at least 'well trained' enough that he holds still so the Eeee can unlock the chain. He looks to the box in effort to distract himself.
Once the chain and loincloth are removed, Helse picks up the box and opens the lid to show Pierce the contents: three small.. studs? They are like bumps on tiny flat plates instead of spheres, and are coated in gold. "Do you like them?" the Eeee asks. Behind her, Butterscotch casually leans over to get a look as well.
Pierce's eyes go wide. Gold is ... well, still rare and expensive. Not to mention that his shadow-dragon aspect has quite the desire for gold. Their design, though, is a little worrying ... because he suspects they get implanted like Helse's studs are. And ... he has no idea where she intends them to go. Still, the savanite slowly nods his head yes.
"Perfect," the Eeee says, setting the box down and then leaving the room. "We'll be right back.."
"What are they?" the Lapi asks. "Buttons?"
"Ssstuds, for under the ssskin," Sephia explains, massaging Pierce's shoulders now.
Pierce taps his earrings for emphasis and explanation. With Helse out of the room, he signs to the Naga the obvious question, "Where?" He also reaches over to carefully pick one up and examine it.
"That'ss the ssurrpise," the serpent says, as two others slither into the room bearing supplies. There's the big bottle of alcohol disinfectant, and a tray of what appear to be surgical tools.. including very sharp and small ceramic scalpels. "Is there anything I can do to help?" the bunny asks.
Pierce puts the stud back in the box and now eyes the supplies being brought in by the other naga. He chews his lower lip, then eyes the door ... breifly pondering if he could make a run for it...
"Are you afraid of blood?" Sephia asks the bunny. The other two serpents seem to sense the cheetah's anxiety, and begin to stroke his legs.
"Not anymore," Butterscotch claims. Sephia goes over to whisper into the doe's ears. The bunny's eyes get wider and wider as the whispering goes on.
Pierce gets the distinctive feeling he doesn't have a whole lot of choice at the moment. He can't help himself as he eyes the instruments brought in. "Why do I attract these crazy people?" he thinks to himself. "I know, Tulani will save me from this!"
The Sphynx pokes her head around the corner of the doorway, and says, "I'm going to get some Mateh. I should be back before you're done. Don't cut off anything important, now!" And then Tulani is gone again.
And that makes Pierce's ears flatten out and he actually whimpers.
Butterscotch is shedding her cloak.. and the pullover sundress she had on underneath it. "Do you want ssssomething to calm you?" Sephia asks Pierce.
"Like what?" Pierce signs to the Naga. He then has to look towards the doe and wonder just what is going on!
"Kissssesss," Sephia claims, a predatory look on her face.
"Okay?" Pierce agrees, though he's a bit confused how kissing can be so ... predatory!
It becomes clearer when Sephia and the other two Nagas unhinge their jaws and flare out their fangs, which sink in Pierce at various points! The pain is brief, like a vampire's bite.. but a cool numbness spreads out from the bitten areas. Of course, some Nagai have venom! And it's putting Pierce's limbs to sleep, even though his heart seems to race.
Savanites can make some really strange sounds when they're started and scared! It's a mix of a garbled chirp and yelp, and it's loud! And now he knows if he wanted to run, he can't! He's completely at their mercy and ... it's rather terrifying. Memories come back of being held in Melusine's shadow and while she worked, he could do nothing.
Sephia lowers Pierce backwards to the cushioned floor of the nest, then goes to join the other two in their preparations. Now it's Butterscotch's turn to 'help', which involves crawling on top of the cheetah and.. rubbing against him with her body. Her ears are blushing, but it doesn't stop her from kissing Pierce on the lips.
Pierce finds it very disconcerting that he can't really move and there's a doe sitting on him, making it impossible to see what is going on. Even moreso that her kiss is nice. It doesn't quite help that he's terrified now; it's truly helpless. But ... at least the kiss keeps him quiet.
He finds that he's not completely paralyzed and numb. His body responds to the doe, and she actively encourages it.. until a cool, scaled hand takes over, and.. straps it to a splint! The straps are tight, too..
The poor Savanite's eyes go wide again when he feels quite a bit of tight discomfort in a particular area! So now he knows where they're 'working' ... and they had sharp knives. "Oh Gods! How did I get into this? I should have said no. I should have ran!" he thinks in a hurried panic.
Then he's being smothered in Lapi flesh, which is a handy way to muffle his cries! There's a sharp pain.. and then numbness! Sephia injected venom into the operating area, apparently. There's no telling what's happening down there now..
"I can't believe you're helping them!" Pierce thinks of the doe who is sitting on him and making it impossible to cry out. It only gets worse when everything goes numb down there as he has no idea what they are doing! "This is why I told Melusine I wanted to feel it, so I knew what she was up to! As bad as that was, this is worse! he thinks.
Of course, the venom effect is temporary. Pierce's limbs begin to tingle, and he can start feeling things down below as well - like the stitches going in.
"Ow ow ow," Pierce thinks and winces as his limbs tingle ... and he can feel the prick of a needle and the glide of silk thread. "I'm going to get revenge, somehow!"
"Are you done yet?" comes the familiar voice of Tulani, followed by a loud sipping sound. "Very nearly," Sephia hisses. "He will need time to heal.." "Don't worry about that, I have it covered," the Sphynx interrupts.
Pierce nearly growls at the sound of Tulani's voice. It's good that he doesn't, otherwise his status as her slave might be questioned. Still, she's taking this a bit far...
Things are feeling pretty swollen and bruised and ugly (although Butterscotch still blocks his view) by the time the 'splint' and straps are removed. Tulani shoos the serpents out, and says, "Now, neither one of you move, or this could be.. by the First Ones that looks nasty! Ugh! Hold on.." And then the familiar touch of the Light of Nala is felt, wiping away the ache and who knows what else.. but also infusing the area with a bit of energy.
One think you NEVER want to hear is that very sensitive areas look nasty. Poor Pierce actually whimpers a bit at that, in fact. "What did you let them do to me?!?" he thinks; his own thoughts sounding practically plaintive to himself. At least the pain is easing quickly, but...
"Do I.. let him up now?" Butterscotch asks, still hugging the cheetah to her chest.
"Sure," Tulani replies. "I'll be out front!"
The bunny slowly slides to one side. "Are you okay, Pierce?" she asks.
Pierce sits up slowly and signs, "I don't know yet." even if she may not understand it. Right now he's worried about what they did, so his eyes and hands go to check out where he felt they 'worked'.
Nothing breaks through the skin, but there's.. a ridge of bumps where there wasn't one before. It's nearly the same as Mordecai's!
Pierce blinks repeatedly, then pokes a bump, then another. His ears lick and twitch afer each one as he thinks, "That feels really odd." It's not immediately noticable, not unless you look for it ... but there it is.
A caramel-colored finger also reaches over to brush over them. "That is interesting," Butterscotch admits.
Pierce twitches a bit from the touch, then looks at Butterscotch. "Feels funny," he signs. "You actually like?"
"Do you like me?" the bunny asks, leaning in.
Pierce nods once, making the ring in his nose bounce a bit. "Nice lapi" he signs to her.
And then.. Pierce has a Lapi in his lap again, kissing him.
Pierce squeaks around that kiss again in shock, but eventually he does end up kissing the doe back gently. Probably far more gently than she has experienced in a long time. "Does she actually want to try these?" he suddenly wonders.
In the dream, she did say she wanted to do something nice for Pierce, after all. And after writhing on him for half an hour during the surgery, she's probably a little worked up herself.
Still, given what the doe has gone through he's a bit reluctant to do anything fast. So, he's gentle; a lot of kissing and a fair amount of tongue-bathing of the lapi are in order. It's only when the doe actually asks, either in movement or word, that the odd pair join up; the first test of the savanite's 'enhancement'.
It's certainly different. The stretched skin is actually a bit more sensitive.. and the bunny certainly seems to approve of the modifications! But then, Snowcora knows what it must feel like.
Pierce has to admit to himself given how good it feels as Snowcora, that most women will probably rather enjoy it too. The real test will be Rosalind, of course! And also finding out how it will work in female bodies; that could be a bit scary. Gold tends to make dragon forms ... lusty.
Maybe that's why Tulani approved the implants? Butterscotch is so happy to feel good again that she's making noises - which are certain to carry to the front area of the shop.
Pierce knows that the last of the bumps rubs a particularly sensitive spot, that's for sure. And so the doe gets a slow and enjoyable time; perhaps the first, or at least the first in a long time; before the rush of the finalie overtakes them both. Still leaves the two in the nest, recovering and breathing deeply for a bit.
There's a smattering of applause from the doorway, where Helse and the Sephia are watching. "It seems to have been successful," the Eeee says proudly. "And now you'll always remember me for giving you the gift."
Pierce's head jerks up at the applause! He eyes the two standing there and rubs over his face. "Surprised you didn't try to buy me," he signs and smiles a bit lopsidely. Probably joking because right now he feels very embarrassed.
"My plan is to have you escape and come back to me seeking sanctuary, of course," Helse says, leaning in the doorway and puffing her pipe.
Pierce snorts lightly at that, amused. "And risk further torment of my body?" he asks in sign, though the way his ears wiggle it's likely joking.
"I still expect you to work off the cost of the procedure," Helse notes with a grin.
"In what way? Shop servant? Advertisement by being naked outside?" Pierce jokes in sign. He also winks towards Sephia.
"Hmm, advertising..." Helse considers. Sephia slinks into the room and just sort of flops onto Pierce. "I need to check for pulled ssstitches.." she claims.
Pierce wraps his arms around the Naga, then licks along her smooth scales. Part of his really likes scales. He blames it on the shadow-dragon.
"Come with me, Butterscotch," Helse says to the bunny. "You probably want to clean up a bit." The Lapi blushes and gathers up her clothes before following, turning to look back and smile at Pierce.
Sephia conducts her follow-up exam with her sensitive tongue. "Any sorenessss or numbnesss?" she asks.
Alptraum waves his fingers at Butterscotch as the doe departs. He smiles to her too.
Pierce shakes his head. "It just feels weird. I can feel small weights under the skin, kind of. It's not that noticable, but it is there," he signs to the naga. "Not as bad as the first time I was chain-fitted."
"Good," Sephia says. "I am very excellent at these implants," she notes. "You should thank me."
"Thank you how?"Pierce signs and even smiles rather coyly. He then licks her nose, dragging his tongue stud along it.
"I leave it to you," the serpent replies, catching the nose-ring in her tongue.
And that only encourages Pierce to kiss the naga. Since he was just with the doe, he may not be able to thank the naga one way, but he can another' he's pretty certain. It'll just be a lesson in naga natomy as taught by his tongue.
There aren't any interruptions for quite some time, giving the cheetah time to recharge - and thanks to the touch of the Light early, that isn't very long. By the time the two are finished (for the moment) there is some commotion out front, mainly a male Eeee voice gasping, "Butterscotch! You're okay! Your mother will be so relieved, the poor woman."
Pierce sits up. Well, as much as he can since a Naga is entwined around his body (and between his legs!), so he can listen. "Sounds like the doe is being picked up finally. Good. She can put this nightmware behind her," he thinks.
"I'll be happy to go home after the trade deal has been brokered," the doe replies, sounding more confident than she has in the past two days. "My father believed in it, and taught me everything about it. I can do it, Mr. Phizcarro. I have to, for my father.."
"Good for her. Maybe her talk with me, the real me, helped her. I have to wonder, though, if she just figures it was a strange dream," Pierce has to wonder as he listens in silence. "An I wonder if I can somehow help her further."
There are some enthusiastic thank-you and promise pledges from Phizcarro, and then the door. Tulani enters the room shortly after, and eyes the Naga. "A bit of privacy, Sephia?" she requests.
Sephia stirs and hisses, but slowly untwines from Pierce and slithers out.
Pierce playfully grabs the end of Sephia's tail as she slithers out, then waggles it briefly before releasing. He then fully sits up an looks at Tulani. "That really hurt," he signs to her, "Why did you allow that?"
"You don't like it? I suppose we can have it reversed," Tulani notes, sitting down across from the cheetah. "Met Cricket," she signs.
Pierce shakes his head! "One day of pain is enough; though now I'll be constantly reminded of Mordecai," he adds in sign. The mention of Cricket makes him pause, though. "How did that meeting go?"
"Productive," Tulani signs. "Passed on description bunny gave us. Most likely Councilman Khanti. Power-broker, links to criminal groups - supposed to be bringing them around to work legitimately."
"Do we know where he lives? And ... has anything been mentioned of me? Well, of Alptraum? What with the rumors in the streets, I have to wonder if I'm now being hunted," Pierce signs.
"Rumors are wild," the Sphynx replies. "Nobody has the same story or theory. Khanti is in the Coalition Tower most of the time. Nobody has come out and mentioned Barsunala yet - with the Yodhrephath moving into the valley to guard trade, most assume they moved against Velkarno."
"/I suppose that is good for me. Though I am not sure I should walk out in the streets quite yet," Pierce signs and smirks. "/And as for Khanti, we either need a way to discredit him and let the government deal with him, or I have to hunt him down I suppose./"
"Cricket thinks the Coalition is already watching him, since he's been moved to the Tower," Tulani notes. "Also, she thinks several of the rumors are disinformation from government agents to reinforce the idea that the Yodhrephath are the ones solely responsible."
"So are they deliberately trying to shield me?" Pierce signs.
"That could be one possibility," Tulani admits. "It could be a delaying tactic until THEY know what's going on. I didn't hear anything that would suggest they know you were there. Damo didn't talk to anyone but his wife, and she was very cagey about what she knew."
"Part of me wants them to know I was there," Pierce admits in sign. "Maybe to see how my Father would react. It would tell me if it was worth trying to see him again, maybe? I don't know exactly why, to be honest. I'm trying to justify a desire."
"You do need to see him eventually," Tulani signs, looking thoughtful. "If he wishes to see you in secret, it would suggest that he is still trying to protect you. If he wants to see you in public, in the Tower for instance.. well, it could mean anything."
"/Well, there is political gain for him potentially,/" Pierce signs as he sighs. "I have to see him, if for nothing else, than to deliver the letter from Draco county. I can do that using the guise of one of raco's guards, at last./"
"There is that. How he responds can dictate our next step regarding him," Tulani signs in agreement. "There hasn't been anything about a Sphynx either in the rumors, just so you know."
"Well, of course not. You're dull," Pierce signs and waggles his ears. "Or it means there were no other witnesses."
"I did try to be thorough on the cleanup," Tulani signs, looking smug. "What do you think our next move should be? Or do you plan on seeking out Barada or Zakaro next?"
"/It depends. Barada might be useful if we need information on Khanti, such as who is ill-repute contacts are so we can isolate him,/" Pierce signs. "/Alternatively I could deliver the letter and judge my Father's reaction. Or even more alternatively, go warn Sunala about who the General really is."
"Got a preference for Dad or Mom then?" Tulani signs with a grin. "Sunala must know that something is up, after that visit from Snowcora."
"They both terrify me," Pierce admits in sign. "And scary as it is, Sunala is probably easier than Thath to visit. Maybe we should just go on an extended vacation on some distand island.."
"The question remains of how to approach her," Tulani notes, and pauses in thought. "Perhaps Snowcora again?"
"No. My gut tells me I need to approach her as the real me," Pierce admits, "But that would be quite the stir on the mountain; and if anyone who wants me dead still resides there..."
"There would be no hiding your presence in Babel after that," Tulani points out. "Mount Sunala is full of civilians now."
"So what would you recommend? Go in disguise, then reveal once up there?" Pierce signs.
"To get through the hospital areas, yes," Tulani agrees. "I don't think you can disguise yourself from Sunala herself. She doesn't use normal sight, I understand, being blind."
"No, she woul know me, regardless of the body I wore," Piere signs and even nods. "What if she turns against me? But ... didn't a rumor also say she was acting more like Rinala?"
"No rumor," Tulani signs. "You saw the sick wards. Some of those nurses must have been Yodhrinala too. The actual rumor part involves her Savanite attendant, Daughter-of-Shadows being the one to motivate her in that direction."
"Who knows. Maybe it was the attendant. Everyone knows what a failure I was," Pierce signs, then shakes his head.
"Maybe it took both of you to get through to Sunala," Tulani suggests, then shrugs. "When do you want to visit Sunala?"
Pierce rubs his forehead. "Soon. Honestly after that attack on Velkarno I expect that the General may make a move on Sunala sooner rather than later," he admits. "So, probbaly in a day or so, the sooner the better."
Tulani nods. "Going as Nicora?" she signs.
"That would be tricky. Wouldn't they know I wasn't 'one of them' even in that body?" Pierce signs. "So maybe as Snowcora is a better option after all. Or as one of the other couple Eeee forms I have. I could even go as Nicorina, but that would be odd."
"There's time to plan," Tulani notes. "Snowcora is most likely to get an audience though, after the healing spree. Her or Alptraum."
"You must know a back way to the shrine as well?" the Sphynx signs.
"But as you noted, Alptraum opens up a whole other set of problems," Pierce reminds Tulani. "Nothing is ever easy, is it? And of course I do."
"If we can avoid lots of notice, all the better," Tulani signs, looking a bit relieved at there being a less-traveled way into the temple complex.
"Of course it is a trip through a corpse-layered catacomb," Pierce points out. "Lots of long-dead."
Tulani bristles - a very Sylvanian reaction. "But that's the safest place for the dead here, isn't it?" she signs.
"Yes, it is. Doesn't make it any less spooky," Pierce notes and shrugs. "It's also quiet and musty ... and Eeee can navigate it by sound so we don't have to see it."
"You won't try to ditch me there as revenge for the studs, right?" Tulani signs, looking serious.
"That's not a bad idea," Pierce signs, also looking serious.
"Come on, you wouldn't do that!" Tulani signs insistently. "It's not all my fault you know. Helse carries some of the blame. And the Nagas."
"What woul you do if you were in my position?" Pierce signs. "Or maybe if you volunteer for ... er, no. You and gold is a bad combination."
"I'll give you sexy dragon time," Tulani offers with a smile.
"And that's a reward for me? It would just give you gold contact!" Pierce signs and smirks.
"You don't think it worth it?" Tulani signs, looking hurt. "I thought you enjoyed that with me."
"I just intend to make you work for forgiveness this time!" Pierce claims. "Also, I didn't think you would come to Mount Sunala."
"Rosalind asked you to keep an eye on me, didn't she?" Pierce asks.
"If anything happens to you there, how will I know?" Tulani asks, fingers flying. "I'll still want to wait at a meeting point at least, even if it's not on the mountain."
"I didn't say you couldn't go, just surprised that you want to," Pierce points out. "And I wouldn't play games with you in a dangerous place, even if it is tempting..."
"How much danger would I be in if I come along?" Tulani asks, just to be thorough.
"Not much in reality," Pierce signs. "I did have some authority there, after all. Just stay out of the way of the Yodh."
"I'll be your bodyguard then?" the Sphynx asks.
"Depends on who I go as, but roughly yes,/" Pierce signs. "/I promise I won't tell them you are a sacrifice./"
Tulani laughs, then gives Pierce an 'are you being serious' look. "I think I'll try and find a rabbit-fur cloak then, just in case." she signs.
"Might be hard to find that. Plenty of skimpy zolk clothing, though," Pierce points out. "Oh, you mean for me. And here I was imagining you in a wingkini..."