Unsurprisingly, the Avatar of Sunala does not keep any masculine attire in her rooms, which made for some difficulty for Snowcora, who wanted to talk to Daughter-of-Shadows (a.k.a. Pouncer Zoltan) as Alptraum. Tulani's suggestion of just going naked didn't go over very well with Sunala, either, who suggested that Snowcora just get something from one of the barsunala guards.
Snowcora remains cloaked for the moment as she slips about the place like a ghost. HEr goal, to find a lone guard she can get to lend her his clothing. Preferably without having to do anything too drastic. "Come out, come out, leetle guard" she thinks as she stalks a man.
The main problem she encounters is that the guards she finds are all actually on duty.. and under orders not to turn around to look into the corridor they are guarding. Of course, there must be a barracks for them somewhere.
And Snowcora knows how to find them. Under her cloack she reaches down and very lightly taps the orb sticking out of her skin just below her navel to 'prime' Inala's gift. It makes it easier to find people, after all.
It also has some side effects. While the aura lets her sense where people are, it also makes her a bit aroused. But just as when it first happened in the Temple of Inala in Zannara, the odd psychic fog picks out a concentration of men not too far away.
Snowcora then actually reaches up and tugs her nose ring just enough to make it slightly hurt in an effort to distract herself from felling too amorous. "/Ah, there. Time to go robe raid," she thinks as she slinks off through the corridors towards that concentration in the distance.
The barracks is located down a narrow stone stairway, and there isn't a door or anything else to provide privacy or security. The passage just ends in the room, which has a few air-vents high up but barely any other light. Despite the dimness, Snowcora is acutely aware of the positions of each the half-dozen Eeee in the room, and their various physical states. For instance, four of them are asleep, hanging upside down from perches, while the other two are getting up from their seats. "You should not be in here," one of them squeaks in Babelite.
"I won't be here long, do not worry," Snowcora murmurs in a sultry tone in Babelite in return. She even lets her cloak fall open to reveal her tattooed, bare, skin beneath. "I have come to ask if either of you would be so kind and loan me a robe. My master, Alptraum, needs a loner of clothing while he visits. His require cleaning and repair," she says; her head tilting slightly as she smiles and flutters her eyelashes. "Surely you could spare one for a few hours...?"
The two awake barsunala seem confused. "Alptraum? But he left..." the first one says. "Maybe he's back?" the second asks. "Why is your lower abdomen glowing? It.. it's making me feel funny.."
Snowcora licks her lips and saunters towards the two; her hips rolling gracefully as she walks. "I'm a special servant of all the Temples," she claims. "Inala's beauty, Sunala's ears for the spirits, Repath's justice," she coos. "You feel their presence, of course."
"I feel.." the closer guard starts to say, and then reaches out and pulls Snowcora towards him .. and kisses her!
"Not quite what I intended, but if it gets me a robe!" Snowcora thinks as she's kissed by the bat ... and actually kisses him back; introducing him to her tongue stud in the process. "I'm not supposed to be here," she reminds the two guards when the one finally lets her go. "Please loan me a robe and I'll be on my way..."
"You'll.. be back though, right?" the guard asks.
"What, you want me to stay?" Snowcora coos at the guard and rubs his chest through his robe. "There are only two of you, so at least neither would be ignored if I stayed a bit," she teases softly and even flutters her eyes towards the other guard. "But I don't want to get either of you in trouble..."
"We don't start our rounds for another few hours," the second one notes. "You.. you have to bring back the robes though.."
"Here, take mine!" the first notes, stripping out of his clothes and offering them to the Shrine Maiden.
"Of course I would bring the robe back. Few can go naked as I usually do," Snowcora practically purrs at the two guards as she accepts the robe. "I will return it as fast as I can. What do you wish of me when I return...?"
"Well... I.. You're the one who healed the disease ward, aren't you?" the now-naked guard asks. "Maybe you could cure me of my affliction?"
Snowcora's head tilts. "Oh? What ails you?" she asks of him ... then just has to run her delicate fingers down his now bare chest.
"Virginity?" the man replies with a more pronounced squeak than usual.
Snowcora's fingers curl around the man's affliction. "I could in several ways," she teases the guard. "But should you not remain chaste?"
"I.. should I?" the man asks in confusion, and looks to his fellow barsunala.. who just shrugs.
"Do you mind if your friend joins in?" Snowcora asks the very nervous guard.
"I don't mind," the other guard says. The first just blinks and says, "I.. have no idea. I don't know how these things work.."
"Then if there is time I'll ... teach you," Snowcora teases as she lets go and steps back. "Thank you for the robe. I'll try to have it back in a couple hours."
"What do we call you?" the first guard asks as Snowcora begins to leave.
"Snowcora. Or just Shrine Maiden, if you like. It is my title," Snowcora answers. "Well, that was easy," she thinks. "Kind of like bug killing with a titanian hammer."
Back in Sunala's chambers, Tulani seems surprised to see Snowcora back so soon. "I thought you'd be.. a while.." the Sphynx notes with a smirk.
"I will observe the transformation," Sunala notes.
"You thought I would induce an orgy in the guard chambers? All I had to do was ask nicely for a robe. They gave me one freely," Snowcora claims as she sets the robe aside, then sheds off her outer robe and its zolk lining.
"Need a boost, or are you pretty charged still?" Tulani asks. "And are you gonna try it yourself or have Kaira do it?"
Snowcora drops down to her hands and knees since growing wings will off-balance her for a bit. "I'm good for now and I think I'll try to change myself this time. If I need help, Kaira will assist," the human insists as she closes her eyes. Extruding the shadow is fairly easy now; it's just a matter of breathing, calming her mind, and pushing a bit on the presence that ripples beneath her skin to force it to ooze out and cover her body in oily goo.
It helps that the body Snowcora tries for is one of the 'defaults', even if it's currently more effort than the Nicora form. There's also the challenge of focusing through the gender-switching sensations, which are much more disturbing than growing wings. It takes longer than if Kaira did it, of course, and the new stud-implants make for some strange effects as well. But eventually, Alptraum feels.. Alptraumy again. "Do you need Barsunala integration, or are you not really going to be using any masculine reactions for this?" Kaira asks in Alptraum's head.
Turning inside out is always disturbing ... and having solid bits moving around now is even worse. Still, he manages the shift by slowly shaping and overlaying his body pattern back onto his body. "Go ahead and help me integrate the Barsunala," Alptraum thinks, "I need to be completely me, I think. It'll be too weird to have a male body and a female mind."
"You got it then," Kaira notes. Nothing feels different, however. But then it never really did, until something really caused it to click.
Alptraum does a few checks over his body to make sure everything is in the right place. He doesn't want to explain a hand growing out of his forehead, for example. Once he's satisfied everything is intact, he breathes in ... and draws the shadow back in, in the process. He doesn't even try to mask his right hand, either.
"I didn't expect males to be so.. decorated," Sunala notes. "Your hand glows nicely."
"The jewelry? It exists in all my forms," Alptraum remarks as he sits back and stretches. The shift of weight in his nose then reminds him. He reaches up and pulls the ring open a bit, then eases it out of his nose, then tosses it to Tulani. "I don't need this in this body," he says with a smirk as he grabs the robe.
"I didn't bring the plug," Tulani notes. "So.. don't breath too hard or it might whistle or something.."
"And get used to how it feels because you'll be sporting one some day," Alptraum remarks with a smirk as he slips the robe on. Now that he's clothed, he heads back over and kneels before Sunala, then offers his right hand to her should she wish to inspect it.
The Avatar seems hesitant to actually touch it, but does sort of hover her fingers over it.. as if feeling some outer, invisible layer. "It is full of death.. and life. Appropriate," she says, rendering her verdict.
"Taking it was not easy, or pleasant," Alptraum notes as he draws his hand back, but remains kneeling. "So, I have not displeased you?"
"You worry me a bit," Sunala claims. "But there is a purpose to it. So long as you do not let it consume you, for I sense a battle being waged between this power and the Barsunala itself."
"I worry me. But you worry that something will happen?" Alptraum asks, ears flicking a bit at that.
"It means there is a taint of undeath clinging to this Shadow," Sunala claims. "It was the Enemy's creature, and some of that past remains in the power that remains."
"That I hope to remove. It is better that she be without this power," Alptraum claims and then has to run his hands through his hair. "And besides, I have Tulani here to destroy me if something bad happens, right? Or you could do it just as easily, I imagine."
"I would not so easily destroy you," Sunala says, and places a hand on Alptraum's cheek. "Family is family, even to one such as me."
Alptraum ... in hoesntly not sure how react to that. After several false starts he does finally manage to say, "Thank you." He chews his lip for a moment before saying, "I still remember when we met in dreams and when we rescued you from the Mages. You say 'one such as me', but you are important. You matter. To me, and to your friend Daughter-of-Shadows. And I think not because of what you are, but simply because you are you. I would still defend you with all I have."
"Be gentle with Daughter-of-Shadows, for she is like a sister to me," Sunala says, then clarifies: "A mortal sister, not a Sister sister if you know what I mean."
"I wish her no harm. I am just another ear, should she wish to use it. I've known a few that have had to deal with 'family expectations' and how that can make one feel, after all," Alptraum says. "All I would ever want for her is a chance to live without fear of what she could become."
"She has her faith to give her strength," Sunala notes. "But she does worry about keeping her heritage secret from the public."
"With good reason. I know what some would do to her if they knew. Sins of the Mothers bear down on the daughter," Alptraum says and nods. "If I ever think of a solution to that, I will be sure to tell you and her."
"And before I see her ... what does she like? Music? It's easier to talk to someone if you start with something they like," Alptraum asks.
"She enjoys music, and dancing, and reading.. I think she writes poetry, but has not shared any of it yet," Sunala says. "Basically all of the things a girl her age would normally be interested in, even though the Temple is not a very good place to find them."
Alptraum nods as he rises. "Well, today I'll try to bring her at least one. Thank you for letting me speak with her," he says.
"It's up to her to speak with you, you know," Sunala notes, and gestures to the door to the attendant's chamber.
"But I still need your permission first," Alptraum notes. He then looks over his shoulder towards Tulani. "Hey, cat. Can you fetch me a stick? Straight as you can find, at least an inch thick and about a foot or so long?" he asks.
"Do I look like a Gallah?" Tulani asks, then asks Sunala, "Is that even something you'd have lying around?"
"The kitchen burns wood, and the hospital uses them for splints," Sunala notes.
"Do you want an honest answer?" Alptraum asks with an impish grin on his smug face.
"Okay, I'll try," Tulani says. "They probably remember me better at the hospital tents, so I'll try there."
"Right. Try not to get roped into chamber pot duty," Alptraum says as he nods sagely.
To Sunala, Alptraum says, "Sorry. We've been together too long. We try to give each other grief."
"Insults as a form of endearment?" Sunala asks.
"Between close friends, they are," Alptraum admits and hangs his head.
The Sphynx pauses at the door, and says, "It's when he stops using them that you have to worry!" And then Tulani is gone, off to look for a stick.
"It's also more common with guys. It's hard for us to tell someone they mean a lot," Alptraum admits. "Well, except for you. I can't imagine myself suggesting chamber pot duty to you."
"I would hope not," Sunala says, crossing her arms. "I do not 'banter' like that with Daughter-of-Shadows or others. And the Sisters generally mean the insults when they use them."
"I can mean it, but I don't with my friends. May I speak with her now while Tulani is looking for the stick?" Alptraum asks of the young Eeee.
"I don't see why not," Sunala says. "Knock first though."
Alptraum bows to Sunala ... then quickly kisses her forehead! "I will," he tells the blind Eeee as he steps back, then heads for the attendant's chambers. He draws a deep breath, then reaches up and knocks lightly on the door.
The door opens a crack and a brown eye looks out. "Yes, who is it?" Daughter-of-Shadows asks quietly.
Alptraum waves with his fingers. "Hello. I'm Alptraum," he says and smiles. "You may not remember me, but I was here a couple years ago. I just want to talk. May I come in?"
There's some hesitation, and then the door is opened the rest of the way. "Okay," the girl says.
The spotted girl sits at her desk stool, with her hands in her lap. She's got her hood back, but still looks nervous.
"Thank you," Alptraum says as he steps through the doorway and looks about for a second. Not sure where to sit, and figuring it'll be less intimidating if he were lower, the Eeee sits down on the floor and crosses his legs. "And thank you again for looking after her," he adds and nods in the direction he came. "I owe her my life."
"You do?" the girl asks, ears perking. "I never really asked her too much about you, when it looked you were leaving. But you're back now. Just visiting or for some other purpose?"
Alptraum rubs the back of his neck. "The Avatar of Amena is outside the city. To the north, in the forbidden zone," he answers honestly. "She's a threat to the city, its people, and Sunala. I'm here to stop the Avatar." He looks up at the young girl and adds, "And I know you're a descendant; it's unfortunately etched into your features. I've seen paintings of your ancestors. Of the last Avatar, in fact, in a castle back in Sylvania. And please ... don't be afraid that I know that? You can't help who you're related to and I hold no blame for their actions on you." He even offers a weak smile, hoping the girl doesn't panic.
"The last Avatar wasn't the one in Sylvania," the girl notes. "She was my mother, on Paradys. I don't remember much of my early childhood though, or even what my name was then. I'm Pouncer now." She says the last part proudly, despite starting off in a melancholy tone. "I won't become her though."
"No. You won't. Not as long as I live," Alptraum agrees and even bobs his head. "I won't let her take you. I've already weakened her by depriving her of one of her weapons." He even holds up his right hand and wiggles his fingers.
"What is that?" Pouncer asks, leaning away with worry.
"The shadow," Alptraum explains and lowers her hand. "Well, what is left of it anyway. I took it, because ... well ... I needed it to help the woman I love," he admits. "Rosalind Draco. She was forced to take her father's place as ruler of Draco County ... and it cost her several things. I was able to give her one of them back."
"You're in love?" Pouncer asks, looking amazed. "You're the son of Sunala though."
"And I'm not allowed to love?" Alptraum asks and even grins a bit at that. "I grew up a nothing, poor in Sylvania and always on the road. I know what it means to cherish people."
"I also know how to lace someone's pants with kyootecumber juice," Alptraum adds to that, "But it's not a terribly useful skill."
"Why would you know that?" Pouncer asks, and giggles. "It's just.. I expected being the Barsunala would sort of squash your hopes for stuff."
"Because I had a friend that I had the obligation to sabotage all his dates, of course. Let me tell you people can really dance once that juice soaks in," Alptraum says proudly. "As for being the Barsunala ... it almost did. Except with Rosalind; it turned out to be what she needed. She needed someone who was compatible with binding and could move spirits. It also showed me that while it was what I am, it was still my choice on how I chose to exercise it." He then grins and points at Pouncer, adding, "Same as you, if you think about it. You are the daughter of the Avatar, but you choose to be Pouncer. A much better choice, too, if I say so myself."
"It's.. not a matter of choice," Pouncer notes, looking down and tugging at her robes. "When a girl in the bloodline comes of age, she's just taken over and replaced by Amenlichtli. The person is dead, or undead, or whatever at that point. But the family line stops with me. The others on Paradys are all dead, so I'm the last one."
"There is always choice, Pouncer," Alptraum says gently. "Always. I said it before that you would not become her; and that by no way means you'll die either to prevent it. There are other options and other paths that I know of. I also have a few cards up my sleeve to play too. Never play cards with a gypsy, by the by, we cheat."
"I don't play cards," the girl admits. Just then there's a knock at the door, and she looks to Alptraum. "Were you expecting someone?"
"You should. It's fun," Alptraum says, "And yes, I am. I'm expecting a stick."
The girl gets up and opens the door and ends up looking at Tulani, who is holding a stick as predicted - and a small knife. "You need to carve this into a stake," the Sphynx advises. "Only way to kill a vampire, you know."
"Don't listen to her; she specializes in being a pain in the butt," Alptraum insists as he rises to go fetch the stick and the small knife.
Pouncer stands back, but smiles at Tulani. "My younger sister is a Sphynx," she notes.
"Gimme, gallah," Alptraum teases and holds his hands out for the stick and the knife. He also grins widely.
Tulani almost throws the items at Alptraum, but Pouncer's comment seems to restrain her and she hands them over. "I'm sure she's very sweet," she tells Pouncer.
"She's a handful," Pouncer admits with a grin.
"Well, a sweet handful I'd hope!" Tulani says. "Just call me when you're ready to kick this guy out," she tells Pouncer with a wink before closing the door again.
"Ah, friendship," Alptraum remarks with a grin and even nudges Pouncer's shoulder since his hands are full. "And Sunala tells me you like music."
"I used to play in the Temple Scouts Band," Pouncer notes. "Back on Rephidim. There isn't any music here in the Temple, and.. I really can't go into Babel.."
"What did you play?" Alptraum asks as he usurps Pouncer's stool for himself. Once settled, he starts stripping the bark off the stick and trying to straighten it some in the process. "And in case you haven't guessed it, and Tulani told you, I'm a vampire."
"Yeah, there was a vampire Eeee in the Scouts too," Pouncer notes and shrugs. "I played the clarinet, sort of. I wasn't very good. Taliamelle - my sister - had a tambourine. She really liked to bang it around..."
"Well, today you're going to get a recorder. I know how to make them; play one m'self," Alptraum quips as he begins carving out the rough shape and notch points where the final holes will go. "You miss your sister, don't you?" he asks and looks up.
"I keep in touch," Pouncer says, and gestures to her writing supplies. "But I think it's important for me to be here with Srinala."
"It is. The camp at the foot of the mountain exists because of you," Alptraum says. "I owe you for that, too. Maybe there is hope for this city after all."
Pouncer smiles, as susceptible to flattery as any teenager. She even swishes her tail. "So you came back to fight the latest meat-puppet. Are you going to be working with the Coalition?"
"That depends on them. I have to get in and speak to Thath on several matters," Alptraum notes as he works more and more on the recorder. Realizing boring it is going to be a bit complicated ... he tests to see if he can use the shadow as a makeshift drill.
Well, with his hand exposed it's easier to manipulate. He can certainly make one of the talons sharper and narrower at least.
"Does it hurt?" Pouncer asks him, pointing to his right hand and forearm.
Alptraum works on the bore using a scarily long-looking shadow talon. "It did in the beginning. It doesn't anymore," he admits. "And what do you think of the coalition?"
"You can touch my hand if you want," Alptraum offers.
"What's it made of?" Pouncer asks first, before making the attempt.
"Er, the flesh of a shadow dragon," Alptraum admits. "His name was Muravian before Amenlichtli imprisoned him."
"There isn't any of her in it, is there?" the girl asks.
"Shouldn't be, but perhaps we should be safe and you don't touch it," Alptraum says after thinking about it for a second.
The girl seems to consider, and then shakes her head. "I don't think I should touch it," she admits. "Who knows what could happen?"
"Right. So, what do you think of the Coalition and their leader, Thath?" Alptraum inquires as he resumes some work on the recorder.
"I'm an outsider here," Pouncer explains. "I was mostly raised in Rephidim. I think the government should provide for everyone's safety and make sure nobody gets advantage of. Our nobles still have to follow the same laws as everyone else. So I support that part. I don't know about the whole choosing-people-to-represent-you and stuff, but Babel is a lot bigger than Rephidim. And maybe Srinala has told you, but I don't believe in the Kindly Ones and such, so I don't have any issue with the cults not having power anymore."
"I'll let you in on another secret," Alptraum notes as he works, eyes down. "Thath is my father. I was concieved when he was visiting a Srinala possessed by his dead wife. I know, it's disturbing. It puts me in a delicate position with them."
"He's the guy running everything, right?" Pouncer asks. "Is he a good man?"
"He's done some bad things," Alptraum admits, "Even if I understand why; it doesn't make what he did any better. It was him who killed the Sabbaoth, because it was the Sabbaoth who cost him his wife, then me. The end result of that was the war with Rephidim." He looks up from his work. "A lot of people died in that war. Then with the boomer; a lot more. I got to hear their screams in their final moments of life," he adds. The Eeee shakes his head a bit. "I also had the opportunity to kill him; but I didn't. I couldn't. I'm a lot of things; but I have never been someone who could take a life easily. I also realized then if Babel was to really change; it all had to stop. No more family usurpment through death. No more revenge."
"He must suffer terribly from carrying all of that on his conscience," Pouncer says quietly. "But the Sabaoth was evil, I know. Have you forgiven your father?"
"When I understood why, yes, I did. I know what it means to love someone; and what you would sacrifice for them," Alptraum answers quietly and pauses in his work to look at his own right hand. "When I left last time it may have felt like losing his family twice. I don't know if everything will ever be right between us; but I can't deny him the chance to know his grandchildren."
"You're a dad?" Pouncer asks, looking happy again. "Son or daughter?"
"Don't know yet. Haven't been born. I had to come here while she's pregnant," Alptraum answers and shrugs.
"Oh, I hope you get to be there for the birth then," Pouncer notes. "Dad always dealt with the puppets pretty quick - they can be pretty fragile. I mean, they aren't alive, so.. can't recover. Do you think this one will be any different?"
"This one is the General," Alptraum notes and looks up again, "And has lots of ... allies. I don't expect it will be that easy."
"So.. not just zombies then, but actual soldiers," Pouncer says, and bites her lower lip. "The General hides in the Valley of the Mists too, right? A Forbidden Zone?"
Alptraum nods. "Right. Don't get any ideas about going after her yourself," he adds and waggles the partially completed recorder at her. "I have ideas, they'll just take time to see through."
"I don't leave the Temple," Pouncer points out. "I don't even really talk to anyone other than Srinala. A lot of the Yodh frighten me, to be honest. Even you are pretty scary - even before you had the scary hand."
"You're scared of me? Why?" Alptraum asks. He even sounds hurt.
"You were all broody and dark and big," Pouncer notes. "You were close to Srinala, but also a little distant. I didn't know what you thought - I worried that you'd be unhappy with me."
"And I'm still scary?" Alptraum asks and resumes work. He's almost got the bore done; then it's a matter of holes and tone adjustment. "And I hardly see why I would ever be unhappy with you."
"Because of what I am," Pouncer explains. "If any of the Yodhsunala really knew what my heritage was, it could be really bad for Srinala - and myself. You're still a bit scary, yes, because you're still big and now you can disguise yourself and you have a scary hand that looks like it's got an eye on it.."
"And here I was trying to be as non-scary as possible," Alptraum laments and looks towards the ceiling. "I should have come as the spotty cat. Er, wait, no, that would scare you too." He sighs and grins.
"Lots of things scare me," Pouncer notes. "I feel really vulnerable here, is all."
"Would it helped if I juggled? Made silly faces? Made shadow puppets? Alptraum lists off as he gestures about with the half-finished recorder. "Or ... I should just finish this, show you how to play it, then leave you in peace."
The girl giggles at the list of things. "You're scary, but not frightening," she offers.
"The only truly frightening thing in the world are old socks. Many people don't know this, but socks can learn to walk on their own," Alptraum claims as he doubles-down on the recoder, now cutting the tone holes in the top fully wiht the knife.
"That's silly," Pouncer claims. "I've never even seen a sock."
"Socks have sole," Alptraum counter-claims.
"What about sandals?" Pouncer retorts.
"They do too, but they can't take over the world because they're always in stitches," Alptraum answers simply.
"Stitches?" Pouncer asks, finally not getting the joke.
"As in laughing too much?" Alptraum clarifies. "Explaining a joke sort of ruins it."
"Oh.. I thought sandals just flapped their tongues, not laughed!" Pouncer says.
"Your kind has bad hearing," Alptraum claims and even taps his large ears. "So ... I'm almost done with this. Do you want to learn how to play it? Or ... figure it out on your own?"
"I have enough trouble when I'm taught, so I think I'd need all the help you can give," Pouncer claims, grinning.
"Right. Well, first we'll have to figure out how to hang you from the ceiling by your feet," Alptraum claims as he clears the last hole, then blows a couple test notes. He hmms, then fiddles with the pitch holes a bit more.
"I grew out of doing that," Pouncer claims. "I'm afraid you'll just have to sit.."
"How extremely boring," Alptraum complains. "But I suppose this once I'll just ... sit." It's about then he offers the recorder to the young girl. "The most important thing with music is to play with your heart. Well, not literally since that would be messy. Figuratively. You let it guide your fingers. Well, after your fingers know what tone each position makes. Here ... I'll show you."