It's taken time to get used to the leeches. There just isn't any way to maintain a dignified gate with them - the bowlegged 'loaded diaper' waddle is the only option, and it doesn't help that Otto is always following her with a bucket for draining the leech once it's full. Nicora still hasn't figured out where the rat takes all the blood and bits that get collected.
The maggots are another matter. It's nearly impossible to get used to them. Her skin is rather sensitive in that area, thanks to Gorphat, and having a carpet of little squirmy things moving around is incredibly distracting - especially with the constant swarm of flies below the belt. New maggot eggs have to be laid every day, and they mature incredibly fast on their special diet. This may be due to the supposed regenerative effects of the effluence, but they go from eggs to maggots to pupae over the course of a day, and Nicora doesn't know what happens once the pupae fall off, but it's safe to assume that some of the flies tending to her today were probably laid on her just a day or two previous.
The leeches at least make it possible to sleep (despite the occasional dream jaunt), although Otto still has to change them out on her during the night. But the only alternative is slipping in her own goo or staying put and being rutted all day and night. It has also given her more time to practice controlling the glowing tendrils that have sprouted from her head, although so far she hasn't managed to properly grab anything with them.
"Ugh, I want to diiiie," Nicora whines as she waddles about. It's a distraction from the constant squirming. This is one blessing that may, in fact, be too much for her. She feels trapped, frustrated, and useless. All she can do is pull at those tendrils on her head.
"You shouldn't say stuff like that," Otto whispers behind her, clutching his fresh bucket. "What if Sunala is listening?"
Nicora waves her hand. "I know her son," she grumbles, sounding snapish. "I'm fine."
"I'm sorry you aren't feeling well," Otto says softly. "I know what that's like, feeling.. captive.. in your own body."
Nicora looks over her shoulder to Otto. "But, you aren't anymore. You could go anywhere you want," she points out.
"I'd rather be were I'm needed," the Skreek claims, and smiles to Nicora. "Don't you need me?"
"Yes, but you aren't my slave," Nicora points out. "There are happier places than here."
"Are there?" Otto asks, and scratches his cheek. "Are you sure?"
"Of course. This place is about challenge," Nicora says, then resumes pacing again because, well, she needs the distraction from all the distractions.
It's an odd sort of pacing, to be sure, since she has to be careful not to squish the leech when turning. "But you are here, and the bunny-fairy, and all the nice people," Otto says. "Everyone comes here sad and leaves better."
"Except us," Nicora points out. "I just get ... worse."
"Why?" Otto asks, sitting at the foot of the bed to watch Nicora pace. "How do you get worse?"
Nicora points at her crotch. The leech throbs and squirms all about. "Do I need to explain?" she asks.
"Yes?" the rat replies, looking confused.
"Healthy and normal people do not have this," Nicora says and gestures again.
"But you aren't normal," Otto points out. "You're the High Priestess. You're better."
Nicora arches her brow. Better?" Nicora asks. "This is better?"
"You're shiny and glowy and have extra boobies and pictures on you," Otto points out. "And you are fun to milk and have sex with."
"Ahhh, you mean I am fun for others," Nicora points out, then starts back to pacing again (as well as feeling full on both ends). "You forgot that I also give birth to insects."
"Do you not enjoy doing that?" Otto asks. "You do it a lot."
"I haven't done it in a while," Nicora points out. "Unless you mean the flies." Right on cue, they squirm even more and she goes up on her toes ... and those head tendrils stick straight up.
"Uh.. can I do anything to make you feel better?" Otto asks, looking worried.
"I don't know," Nicora says, squirming around. "It'll pass, I'm sure."
"Do I serve you well, High Priestess?" the Skreek asks nervously. "Do you.. like.. having me here?"
"Of course you do. And of course I do," Nicora says as things seem to settle down a bit. "Why do you ask?"
"Just all that talk about me finding a better place, I guess," Otto says, then rattles his bucket. "Time to change leeches!" he announces with a big smile.
This is both a relief, and a worry! It has the pleasantry of a good visit to the restroom, and then a good lay ... and all the unpleasantry of bussing bugs! But, at least it isn't the lapi, right? Her stomach then gurgles ominously ... and wow does her backside feel full. At least that part vaguely reminds her of being the rat and visiting Rugharo! Ack, now she's even more turned on!
It isn't the first time Scourge has visited the Nest, but it's the first time it has noticed that it can't detect anyone from outside - even though Mave is always there, supposedly. It isn't until the odd not-quite-fungus dragon is in the hidden stairwell that it can pick up Mave's blue-green aura. Her mind must be very calm at the moment.
And so Scourge tries to sneak down the stairs. He can ambush Mave with a tentacle attack...
There's no sign of Tulani, but then she's usually out doing something. Mave is deeper in the bunker, near the ritual area.
Scourge keeps low and in the shadows as the squish-monster slinks along, heading towards the ritual area.
The white-furred Eeee comes into view. She's sitting cross-legged on a cushion, with her hands in her lap. She looks freshly washed as well, with no arcane blue markings on her this time. To all appearances, she's asleep sitting up.
And Scourge attacks! Well, if the attack consists of engulfing the woman in tongue and tail tentacles to be tickled mercilessly.
"Meep!" the bat squeals as she's taken by surprise.. but then she's got some of the tentacles in hand soon enough! She sucks on one of the tongue tendrils.. and sits on the tail one.
"I have you now!" Scourge slurs around the tongue ... while it tries to continue to tickle Mave ... as well as get his tail out from under her butt! It will even introduce one of the parts of its tails in her rump if she won't move.
Mave is very good and wrestling tentacles.. which probably isn't too big of a surprise. She just keeps grabbing more and grinning. She gets a second tongue-fork into her mouth!
Fine, then! Scourge tries to invade the Eeee's body with the tail tentacles; one for each lower passage! It also tries to flop on top of her with a squish.
This backfires slightly, as Mave helps things slide into place. And she wiggles against Scourge as well. Just because the creature is sexless, doesn't mean it isn't sensitive. It feels good, if not on par with actual genital stimulation.
And Scourge just keeps it up! And up! And then they're both engulfed in shadow! One, to distract Mave, and two, to shift back to Alptraum since he does have to go to Sunala more or less normal. This does mean once the shadow recedes, Mave is left empty. Poor Mave.
"Oh, hello," Mave says when Alptraum appears. "You've only got the one tentacle, but should do.." she notes with a grin.
"Yes, but I have work to do, so you'll just have to imagine it," Alptraum says as he starts getting up. Ooooo, mean.
"Are you sure?" Mave asks.. and licks her lips. She's not putting her full whammy on Alptraum at least - he remembers the first time that happened.
"Yes, I'm sure," Alptraum counters, "Maybe some other time when you're more willing to be beaten..."
Mave hmmphs. "Well, I guess I'll just have to relieve my frustrations with.. hmm.. Tulani," she claims, returning to her cushion.
"Hah! She wouldn't," Alptraum points out as he goes to collect the basket with the wine traps. "What were you doing, anyway?" he asks.
"Meditating," Mave replies. "You should try it sometime. Clear your mind and emotions."
"I just become someone else when I need to change my mind," Alptraum claims when he returns carrying the basket and a change of clothes. "You should try that sometime..."
"I can be any woman you want," Mave claims. "I've even got a private tutor costume."
"Nicora," Alptraum jokes. "Can you be her?"
"I said I could be any woman you'd want," Mave points out.
"Who says I wouldn't want that?" Alptraum says, grinning toothily.
"Are you saying you would?" Mave asks. "I'm sure something could be arranged.. I know there is a new Yodhgorphat after all.. even if she isn't quite ripened yet."
"Ah, but then that wouldn't be you now would it?" Alptraum points out and even taps Mave on her nose. He waggles his brow.
"I can be nasty, don't worry," Mave claims proudly. "It just may take some time and effort."
Alptraum sets down the basket, clothes, then spins around and leaps, tackling Mave into a pile of cushions! "Vampire attack!" he declares, right before biting her on the neck! There's also some impaling soon thereafter, but it isn't the vampire that just got staked.
Mave laughs and shows that she remembers where all of Alptraum's secret buttons are (some of which she installed). Her blood also makes Alptraum wonder just what she's been eating, since it has an odd spiciness to it.
But for now his mouth is busy, as are other parts! So, he can't ask. He can claw, and tickle, and poke, and ... even use the shadow to make things interesting.
That gets a surprised reaction of Mave. It's something new to the woman who's done everything (within a certain range of activities). "Did you just come up with that?" she asks breathlessly.
Shadow makes for good and interesting tentacles. They can change size ... while inside! Also tickle, act like fingers, and so many other things. He's also still not talking; probably to be a little bit frustrating.
If only the shadow appendages has a greater sense of touch - like when kenning. But it's still fun to play with Mave with them, all the same! And she's not rushing things along - Alptraum knows Mave has 'muscle tricks' that can bring things to a quick conclusion if she wanted.
So, Alptruam plays along with the Eeee in one of the more normal moments of his life, scary as that is. But as with all things it does need to come to an end; he really does have work to do. So it's up to him to push things to a conclusion. He believes he knows Mave well enough to do that.
"Awww," Mave says after things peak and erupt. "I used to be able to keep your attention all day," she laments. "Am I starting to look my age?"
"No," Alptraum says, "I just have to go catch some spirits. I do have a job so to speak, and I cannot avoid it forever. I need to end the General. The sooner, the better."
"And the General is using spirits now?" Mave asks, in a serious tone. "As if she didn't do enough already to insult Sunala!"
"Well, specifically I'm collecting the old Sabbaoth and the former High Priestess/queen want to be," Alptraum notes as he gets up and starts dressing. "One of those is a conduit that Amenlichli is using, and I want to isolate her from the General even more."
"Isn't she also trying to stop the General though?" Mave asks, and does not bother dressing, remaining on her (slightly damp) cushion. "Just how involved is the Devil Goddess in this?"
"She is the reason Babel is the way it is. So stopping the General can also mean gaining more control here. Not going to happen," Alptraum says. "Even if you are thinking of helping her by betraying me."
"Why would I help her?" Mave asks. "I serve Inala.. and Inala's agenda," she points out.
"I still haven't forgotten your attempt to betray me in the Well," Alptraum points out as he finishes dressing.
"You forgave me for that," Mave says quietly. "And I've changed, haven't I? You still don't trust me?"
"If I didn't trust you, you wouldn't be alive right now," Alptraum says, and winks. "Just reminding you that you aren't always the one in control."
"Nobody is ever in control all the time," Mave points out. "Not even the Gods. And your fly is open.."
"And you didn't just close it," Alptraum counters, "So I do scare you, a little."
"I am quite aware of my own mortality, but I also have a job to do," Mave notes. "Getting killed would be bad for that. Why do you think I've stayed locked away in this bunker, save for making that one appearance?"
"Around me, mortality should be lower on the scale of worries," Alptraum points out as he fixes his fly. "Dying is easy, I can make it much worse." He shrugs a little, grins, and pulls Mave over. "And give me some credit, I have to be spooky and intimidating once in a while; it's my job," he claims.
"Well, you don't need to be so to your friends," Mave notes, licking Alptraum's nose.
"Sure I do, so you know I am taking some things seriously," Alptraum claims.
"You take everything seriously," Mave notes. "Are you saying that you don't think I or Tulani takes things seriously?"
"I don't think you take me seriously," Alptraum notes.
"Why?" Mave asks. "Because I treat you like a man? Or.. when appropriate, a woman?"
"Because at times you treat me like a fool," Alptraum notes. "And not always when I'm deliberately acting like one."
"Sometimes you need to be a fool," Mave claims. "Because fools are better at enjoying life. And if you're going to be putting your life on the line for others, then you'd damned well better take some time to enjoy it."
"Oh, I know," Alptraum says and ruffles up Mave's hair. "I really do need to go, though. I have something serious to tend to and I cannot put things off forever."
"Remember that you can always come here to 'fool' around so that you do not go insane," Mave reminds, and pulls away from the taller bat. She goes to a cabinet and opens it to reveal the 'gift basket' of wine bottles and hard, dry cheese.
Alptraum grabs the basket. "I need to be me more, I hide too much," Alptraum admits. "But everyone likes all me 'characters' more than, well me. The only person that loves me, is a long way away, and probably has forgotten about me."
"I like you," Mave says. "So does Tulani. And from what I hear from her.. just about everyone else in the city does too."
"Ah, they like the idea of me. None of them know me," Alptraum says. "I mean, who really wants to have a drink with the courier of souls?"
"Really?" Mave asks. "Anyone who is afraid of death, that's who."
"What, hoping for some insight on what to expect?" Alptraum has to ask.
Mave grins. "No, hoping that when their time comes, they will be met by a friend," she says.
This causes Alptraum to pause. "Well played," he concedes. "You would have made a good gypsy."
Mave cants her head to one side, and asks, "And which Sister do the Gypsies follow?"
"No one. We follow our own star," Alptraum notes as he heads for the exit, "No rules, just the freedom of living."
"Ah, I see," Mave says. "It takes a much more complicated society to require gods to tell them how to behave, isn't it?"
"Something like that. I'm just a simple person," Alptraum says, winks, and slips out the doorway.