Mave's Paradise
The Temple of Mave has much in common with the Temple of Inala, except that all of the depictions of the Goddess have been replaced with depictions of Mave. Children run and flap about, playing games on the marble floor and building pillow forts. The inner area of the temple is separated by gauzy curtains draping down between the stone columns, which also depict Mave engaged in various activities appropriate to the High Priestess of Inala.

Cerise likely feels a bit out of place here as a black Skreek amidst lightly colored Eeee. Most of the children smile at her though, at least.

"Your mother through there?" Cerise tries to ask one of the children and gestures towards the curtains.

"All of 'em through there!" the batling squeaks, then tries to grab Cerise's tail.

Cerise flicks her tail up and out of grabbing range. She's good at lifting her tail, after all. The rat then saunters towards the curtains. Were she making the dream, she would have done something to creep Mave out ... because. Mave needs it from time to time.

Beyond the curtains is the realm of the adults. All about the floor are circular pads, on each one is a couple (or a triplet or foursome) of Eeee engaged in all manner of carnal activity. At the center of it is a stepped dais, where Mave presides. She's young, and pregnant, and her throne is a Yodhinala on hands and knees, with a barinala sitting on her back. Mave sits in the barinala's lap.. and is also being penetrated by him. She smiles and waves to the Skreek.

Cerise rolls her eyes. "Nice dream," she remarks dryly. "I have a question for you, it may lead to other questions," the rat says, "Name, Pi, Barinala. Do you know him? Are you related to him? What can you tell me about him?"

Cerise looks suspicious, but comes up there anyway. The skreek is minorly jealous of Mave being pregnant, the various female forms all tend to remember how it felt to be pregnant as a rat and Eeee, after all.

Mave gestures, and several Eeee fly over. A barinala lefts up Cerise from behind, and she soon finds herself on another throne like Mave's, penetration included. Although three other Eeee are involved as well - two to nurse on her breasts and a third kneeling down to add her tongue to the seating arrangement. "Now, isn't that more comfortable?" Mave asks.

This causes Cerise to squeak and then squirm! "It's distracting!" the rat claims as she tries to keep her mind on the questions at hand. Not easy given she is as she claims to be, a bit of a dirty rat, and thus rather likes being penetrated, nursed on, and well, also being licked. "So, Pi. Do you know him?" she asks.

"That name is not familiar.. and not really in keeping with the traditions of the Yodhinala, either," Mave notes, reclining a bit. "Can you describe him?"

And so Cerise proceeds to describe him and his mannerisms, right down to his control of release. She's also rocking a bit, because, well, rat and sex. Cannot be helped.

Mave taps her chin, looking lost in thought. "And how do you know him?" she asks.

"He came by to check out his competition," Cerise says as she pets one of the Todhinala heads, "Or so he claims. It felt a bit rather like an interview. He was testing my reaction to, well, pain."

"So he is.. or claims to be.. another of the Graytown prostitutes?" Mave asks. "Did he give you a story about how he ended up there?"

"Yes. He claimed to be working there because he was away from the Temple when it was attacked on a 'job' and had nothing to return to," Cerise explains ... while still rocking in her 'chair'. Her lap and inner things are a bit wet now.

The two nursing on the rat also bite slightly and tug every so often.. and her chair helps out by holding onto her hips and starting to bob her up and down a bit.

"I suspect it may be Laxus," Mave says at length. "He was a trainer, not a full barinala. Infertile.. a bit too much inbreeding on that one. Barinalas have to be fertile, you see. A trainer is just someone who breaks in Yodhinala when they are of age, are teaches them for specific patrons or situations. As for him being out 'on a job'... that might be true. He could have been hired out to train someone's wife or daughter."

"He may now be working for this new 'dark pit' and his visit to me was an interview for a role in, well, the torture games," Cerise remarks rather darkly. "Which brings up another question ... how involved were you with them when they were at the temple? And how bad can I expect it to get for me?"

"As High Priestess I had to approve any events, and consider all special requests," Mave replies. "Obviously, not ever request was.. acceptable. Those chosen to serve in the pit were either past their prime, or had some defect. The 'pretty' ones could only end up there as punishment for a serious violation of the Temple rules."

"This new one is likely catering to those special requests that the Temple would not condone," Mave adds. "Which means it could have been operating before the fall of the Temple, but that would have been quite a risk."

"and given that I am a rat, I'm prime meat for it, eh?" Cerise asks with a bit of a snide tone. She rubs her forehead a bit. "What sort of requests would you not condone?" the skreek asks.

"Cannibalism, children, mutilation," Mave lists off. "We did perform executions, depending on the crime. Torture as appropriate. And of course murder, so long as the patron was closely monitored and the methods approved beforehand."

"So, I will be at risk of mutilation?" Cerise asks, "Or being eaten? Lovely. Tell me, are you actually worried about my safety?"

"Rationally, no," Mave says. "There isn't likely any mere mortal you couldn't deal with, or any situation you couldn't escape if you needed to. Emotionally, however.. yes, of course I am worried. I don't know how long you'll need to be in place before there's a large enough gathering of participants to make the raid effective."

"I predict anywhere from a week to a month," Cerise notes. "And while, yes, I am powerful, I cannot risk my cover unless there is no alternative. This means I'm likely to have to endure a lot. I cannot say I'm not worried either. I can really only drop my cover if I'm on the verge of death. Anything less and I'll have to cope. That's ... horrifying. I'm going to be leaning a lot on what Gorphat has taught me to suffer through."

Mave raises an eyebrow at the mention of Gorphat. "Speaking of which.. you could 'infect' any that ravage you with something, couldn't you?" she asks.

"Plus, I needed to know if you cared," Cerise admits. "We don't always get along, I recognize that. But I needed to know if when it comes really down to the important moments, we do."

"Only if I collected some appropriate diseases beforehand. Then yes, yes I could be a plague rat," Cerise admits.

"Hmm, can you collect some now, before you're recruited?" Mave asks. "It's a camp of prostitutes, after all.."

"Possibly. I don't know how long I will have before I am recruited," Cerise admits. "And what are you thinking, a way to identify those who will have abused me later? Or punish them?"

"And wouldn't they give me a medical exam to make sure I'm clean enough for them?" Cerise asks.

"An exam? I suppose they might have a physician to keep their actors healthy enough to suffer," Mave notes, apparently not liking the notion. "If they have to be picky and can only gather a few victims.. yes, they might check. However, if you 'absorb' the ailments like the Shrine Maiden does, you don't have to actually suffer them past the point of acquiring them, do you? And some way to mark them would be very handy.. especially in tracking things back to those in charge.."

"Suffering them makes them easier to transmit. But then I can control when I suffer them, I suppose, and take it on only during, ah, ceremonies," Cerise admits and shrugs. "Any ailments you would recommend?"

"That isn't really my bailiwick," Mave notes with a smirk. "If there's something that could make them produce a distinctive odor that is too subtle to be picked up easily by Eeee might work best. Tulani claims that her dragon-nose is very sensitive."

"Hm. I imagine there are some rat ailments that would work for that. One that makes us stink to other rats, but not to most other species," Cerise says and rubs her chin. "That question I can ask of Gorphat directly. But, good suggestion."

"Have you talked to the other prostitutes yet, other than this Pi?" Mave asks next. "I'm sure they love to gossip."

"I have not, I've just been on the job a day and on my back for most of it," Cerise admits. "And on that note, I have to apologize to you. The job is enjoyable. I could have done this for real." And she punctuates that with some bucking of her hips and a shiver.

"Well, I doubt you'll find others doing it for fun," Mave says. "Not in Graytown, anyway. Maybe you could ask Pi to introduce you to the other girls. See if he actually knows them.."

Cerise nods. "A place to start, I suppose," the rat agrees, then has to stop talking because, well, the rat peaks ... and squeaks. A lot."That's all the questions I had at this time," the rat claims once she collects herself.

"You should visit more often," Mave says, grinning. "I'm sure I can make things more entertaining for you.."

"Will you visit Gorphat's Temple in exchange?" Cerise counters, grinning right back. "I can teach you other pleasures..."

"I may be too old to learn new tricks," Mave claims. "And I lack your ability to enter the dreams of others."

Cerise frowns. "You're also making me miss being pregnant," the rat complains and gestures at Mave.

Amelia says, "Oh?" Mave notes. "They are of real pregnancies and births.. which are a bit different from what you've gone through.""

"Fair," Cerise agrees and well, tries to detangle herself from her chair and get up.

This move seems to make the chair think she just wants to be bent over, so the Eeee rearrange themselves so that now the Skreek is being bent over the back of one of the Yodh, while the barinala pounds her from behind.

"I really need to get back to work!" Cerise squeaks! This was not what she had planned. She needs to wake up.

The pounding seems to go on and on.. until Cerise realizes that she is awake. She's lying down on her belly.. but Pi is on her back and inside her, pumping away.

"You don't give up, do you?" Cerise remarks as she looks over her shoulder at the Eeee. "Just what do you want? That's gonna cost ya!"

"Just.. a little wake-up warm-up," Pi says with a smile. "Do you want me to stop?"

"Iffin you don't pay, I'll have to ask you to," Cerise counters. She can't be a good whore if she gives it away for free.

"Fine," Cerise agrees and shifts so that her rump is in a better position and her chin rests comfortably on her forearms. She also bears down, giving him quite the squeeze!

Seeing the squeeze as encouragement, the Eeee picks up the pace.. and the force, since there's much more padding available now to absorb the shocks. He also digs his claws a bit into the rat's rump.

Cerise hisses and stretches out, and she holds that clench to 'encourage' him more; making it seem like the pain 'works' for the skreek. Her bare tail lashes about too, sometimes smacking the Eeee.

It becomes a game.. can Pi catch Cerise's tail in his mouth? It takes quite a few tries, but he does eventually bite it. Then he times the pressure of his bite to the thrust of his hips.

That seems to work because the rat is very wet down below at this point, drippingly so. The faded smell of rat and sex are once more quite strong within Cerise's tent as Pi works her over from behind. "Y'would find my favorite position," Cerise mock-growls at him between squeaks.

"This?" Pi mumbles around the Skreek's tail. "I figur'd y' for th' table 'r barrel type.."

"Heh, any that puts me on m' belly and my tail up," Cerise counters as she pushes backwards against the Eeee. More seriously, though, she can't let this guy monopolize her if she's going to make any money. So, either he'd best be the mark, or she'll have to politely push him aside at some point to continue seeing other clients!

Pi actually finishes soon.. possibly. "Oh.. I forgot about my mid-morning guy," he says, sounding embarrassed. "This is his day! Usually don't get anyone during day shift, but he's not with the construction crew."

And Cerise finishes soon thereafter in a flurry of chirping and extremely tight squeezing! "Oh?" she says once she has a few minutes to collect her breath. "So, y'like serving men? Does he like rats? What's his name?" she manages out between breaths.

"I like being paid," Pi replies, pulling out slowly. "As for rats.. well, he's a Naga. Not sure if Nagas and Skreeks get along?"

"Oh, some do quite well," Cerise replies as she looks over her shoulder. "Been with a couple m'self. They can be a ride." she also uses her tail to entrap his waist and pull him right back, and into her!

"H-hey!" Pi says, surprised by how strong that tail is. "Are you holding me prisoner now? You have to pay me for that, you know!"

Cerise smirks, squeezes that tail tight then lets go. "Maybe you can introduce me to some of your clients if you ever need a break from them, eh?" the rat offers, grinning widely.

"Oh, looking for the high payers already, hmm?" Pi asks, raising an eyebrow. "I'll keep you in mind if they ask about a threesome or similar though. I think the reptiles like watching other species mix it up. Some of them certainly seem to prefer mammals to their own kind when it comes to sex."

"I'm looking for money," Cerise says, unashamed. "I want to get enough together to get passage out as quickly as I can." The skreek then rolls over and tides herself up a little down below. With her tongue.

"I didn't know Skreeks were that flexible," Pi says, and seems about to ask her to tidy him up.. but hurries instead to his money pouch. He fishes out two shekels for Cerise, then heads for the flap. "I wonder if he'll be able to smell you on me? No time for a bath. I'll see you later!" he calls as he leaves.

Cerise takes the coin. "Well, that was odd. And unless the snake has a good sense, probably not," she thinks as she flops back for a second. Seh almost tries to contact Gorphat about nudging this body into permanent heat, but realizes she can do that any time, so best to wait until necessary. So, she gets up to her feet, brushes her fur out, then grabs her belpy pouch and heads out the flap to find work!

It's early enough to catch some of the workers leaving the food vendor area, often still eating their breakfast as they hurry along. One of the Skreeks (Hazel or Fazel) waves to her and hurries over, carrying.. a three-legged stool. "Hi! I brought you a stool!" he says, holding out the clearly recently handmade bit of furniture. "In case you want to sit down!"

Cerise grins. "That was nice of you," she says as she accepts the stool. "S'ppose I could give you a 'free ride' sometime in trade?"

"Wow, really?" the young Skreek says, genuinely surprised. "I'm Fazel! Don't let Hazel try to trick you into thinking he's me, alright?" He smiles toothily before dashing off back into the line of workers.

Cerise stashes the stool into her tent. Had he stayed around, she would have used it right there and then to nurse the guy off before his shift. Granted it would be in front of everyone, but she has no shame and the Nikky aspect of herself would embarrass someone. The skreek then stretches a bit and looks about, seeing who is who and who may be watching her.

The workers going on shift seem focused elsewhere, but there a few Eeee and Naga coming off the less-populated night shift. The Naga almost all head towards the baths, probably for a hot-water soak to re-energize themselves. The Eeee head for the food stalls. Most of the people still around are the ones in the service jobs, and after the breakfast rush it's probably a bit quiet.

Cerise does try to entice some of them over anyway through calls and a few lewdish displays anyway. She then smirks to herself and just shakes her head. The rat waves to her fellow whores and shrugs.

With the workers gone, the other oldest-professionals start heading for the food vendors themselves. Girls have to eat!

Most of the carts, unsurprisingly, sell bugs. Each one just prepares them differently - including deep fried and stuffed with kyootcumber salsa. A few carts offer up vegetables and baked goods, but there's nothing that would satisfy a Naga by way of live animals, and the one fruit vendor is already sold out. The prostitutes get their food separately, but then congregate at a few of the tables that set out for public use.

Cerise just gets a couple rolls from the baked goods cart (there goes some of her earned coin!). With those in hand she makes her way over to the tables for the prostitutes and settles down. If for nothing else, to get a look at her competition. She believe's she's the only skreek right now. Certainly one that smells of sex anyway.

One of the Eeee women scoots over to make some space on the bench, and pats it for Cerise.

"Thanks!" Cerise chirps and plots her ample backside onto the bench. "Cerise," she says, introducing herself to the Eeee.

"Dahlia," the Eeee woman replies with a smile. She's missing a few of her teeth, it looks like.. and is probably at the higher end of the age range for this line of work. But then Cerise knows there are older men that probably appreciate women close to their own age.

"Nice to meet you," Cerise says. "Work being good for you? I've had luck with the skreeks this morning, but looks like I'm the only skreek here."

"You must be the new girl then," another of the women says - a relatively pretty tan girl that must still be in her mid-teens. "Skreeks never stick around long, always seem to be just passing through. You looking for a husband?"

"Nah," Cerise says and waves a roll. "Just enough money for passage out of the city. You?"

"Wouldn't mind one," the girl says with a grin. "Least this way I can try before I buy, heh? I'm Tabyathe."

"Mm, something to be said for that," Cerise agrees, grinning, "I mean, you don't want to get stuck with a guy who doesn't know how to stick it, eh?"

There's a chuckle from some of them at that. "Easier to find them young, and teach 'em what you like," Dahlia claims.

"Only if they listen," Cerise laments. "Had a gew that just don't know how to take any direction, they just grunt and go. Bleh. At least the money makes up for it."

"And the gifts," Tabyathe claims. "Old Sam brought me a bunch of cured bacon the other day. We just sat and ate it all together for an hour!"

"Old Sam is trustworthy, but don't you go taking food or drink from any new clients," Dahlia warns. "Unless they're young and stupid. The older ones you have to watch for, 'specially if they smell like money."

"Someone just brought me a stool. It was cute," Cerise notes. Her head then tilts and she asks, "That reminds me, Dahlia, do you know a guy who works around here called Pi? He dropped by my tent earlier, claimed to be one of us. But ... I haven't seen other guys about."

"Not much call for men.. and what call there is, Pi can handle by himself I guess," Dahlia says. "I think we've all had Pi drop by our tents. He gets a craving for a taste of female after a day of dealing with guys, after all!" Dahlia laughs at her own joke, and most of the others laugh along. If there's a pecking order, Dahlia is probably at or near the top - the 'house mother' to the flock.

"Okay, good, he wasn't some weirdo looking for a free time," Cerise says as her head bobs. She has to be quiet there for a bit as she takes a bite of her roll. This is because she has to use the shadow internally to deal with it and not send her into heaves.

"He likes the Skreeks though," Tabyathe says, and makes a show of jiggling her (imaginary) large breasts. "Small in stature, but meaty, eh! And rare. Had a Khatta girl for awhile too, but she moved on."

"He sure seemed to like me," Cerise laughs, "Occupied me for hours, but ... hah, I wore him out!" The last bit was rather croon-y.

This causes more giggles. Then Dahlia says, "Yeah, being the only Skreek here, you'll get plenty of attention. The Skreeks workin' the project don't come to us much at all, but they'll dote on any of their own that sets up a tent! We started out here with three. One got married, other got pregnant, and the third up and vanished one night. Guess she didn't want be the lone girl for all those guys."

"Vanished? That's odd. How long was she here before she vanished? She have any regulars I should watch out for?" Cerise asks before taking another bite of her roll.

"The twins are nice," Tabyathe says. "They'll give you a free bath, and play games and stuff."

"Oh yah, met em. The bath was fun," Cerise says to Tabyathe and grins. "Actually everyone has been nice so far. I was worried it would be dangerous down 'ere, but I guess all the stories about the monsters and the Barsunala are keeping everyone on good behavior."

"I think a lot of the first batch o' Skreek fellas got moved to other areas. 'Up the ladder' as they say, to the topsite job sites. There's some turnover in all of 'em though. I think Moggie was the one got knocked up - she was very popular. She took off though, caused a real shake-up. I guess the fellas figured she'd stay and settle down with the daddy, whoever he was. Not long after that Barley got married. Guy sweet on her didn't want to risk her leaving too! Jupa was the last one. I think she started feeling the pressure though, took off.. a month, maybe.. after Moggie."

"Well, wherever she is, hope she's doing well," Cerise says. "It's kinda rough for us. Skreeks that is. Lors of places treat us like dirt."

"Most guys are fine," Tabyathe claims. "If any are having a bender and get outta-line.. well.. the other guys make sure he doesn't come 'round any more."

"Well, most of us know what it's like being dirt," Dahlia says. "Back then it was always us or them, you or me, y'know? Now it just seems like something that binds us together. Weird how things change, once you ain't starving! You look like you grew up eating well though, Cerise. How'd you end up here?"

"Not many women that ain't able to get it for free down here," Tabyathe notes. "Good enough looking, you can always get a night in Paradise on some guy's coin. Or woman's! You just gotta have a nice dress."

"Heh, that lot is happy to pay to get us out of the gutter, but not really keen on 'sociating with us yet," Dahlia says.

"Stranded," Cerise remarks, "Came in on a ship ... that ended up impounded by those .... Yodhrephath? Claimed some crew were smugglers or somesuch. Left me and a few other passengers without a way out of town. Or well, anything since all the cargo and possessions were impounded too." The rat pauses there and purses her lips. "But, I'm makin' do. Skreeks are survivors."

"That's harsh," Tabyathe says to Cerise. "I mean, probably from someplace nice an' civilized and stuff, right?"

"Chronotopia," Cerise answers, then switches to Chronotopian specifically, "Couldn't you tell by the accent?" She grins and switches right back, noting, "And it could have been worse. I was told later that normally the whole ship would have been executed, 'cept some guy titled the Barsunala looks down on that and they're ... respecting his requests. Or something. I don't know much about who is what, just hear names."

"Yeah, rumor is he got Rephath Herself to make them go after pirates and stuff instead of just patrolling the Wound," Dahlia says.

"I ain't never seen the Wound," Tabyathe notes. A lot of the others chime in in agreement. "You just didn't go near that place down below."

"The hole? Saw it from above when the ship came in. S'bout it," Cerise comments. "And I guess I owe that guy my life. He some noble or something?"

"Oh, he's a god," Dahlia says. "One of the minor ones, I think. Used to be lots of them, but maybe he's all that's left. Supposed to be the guy that takes you to Sunala's realm when you die, but I think he got bored or something and just showed up after all the mess and convinced the Kindly Ones to start helping out. Oh, and he kills people that try to bring back the old way of doing stuff."

"I bet he got the new rich guys to help out in exchange for not coming for them, or telling them when they're gonna die or something," Tabyathe confides.

"Huh. Y'sure he's a god? That seems a bit hard to believe," Cerise remarks, then gnaws a bit on a roll. "But whomever he is, I guess he saved my life. Now I just have to use what assets I've got left and get passage home."

"Eh, pretty sure," Dahlia says. "Why would the Kindly Ones listen to someone who wasn't a god? Important thing is, he's on our side. How much does it cost to get back to Chronotopia? Or do you just need to get to Zannara?"

"Depends on how nice you want to travel," Cerise notes, "But usually one gold will cover transport in comfort. So ... a lot," the rat admits, her ears sagging a bit. "Best to assume at least have that, so two thousand-ish to have safe passage."

"Right now? Two shekels for basic stuff, and five more more involved things," Cerise says. "Skreeks are ... considered pretty low in this city so I started low to see what I can get. May adjust over time."

"Well.. a thousand lays wouldn't be too hard to see with Skreeks," Dahlia claims. "How much did you pull in your first day?"

"Eh, about forty? Gotta consider food and such too, so it's more like two thousand lays to save and cover just living," Cerise says and shrugs. "I'll make do. I want t' get home ... but honestly the job's been fun so far and everyone has been nice to me." She smiles at that. "So, if I'm here a while, that's okay."

"Well.. if you keep that up every day you're bound to get pregnant though," Tabyathe points out.

"You would think that," Cerise says and grins widely, "But I have a secret for preventing that."

"Oh.. did you stick a thingy up in there?" Dahlia asks. "I know where you can get Naga crap if you need it.."

"Nope, I just know of a mixture of stuff that when eaten keeps us skreeks from getting knocked up," Cerise remarks vaguely, "Has some small side effects, but hey, some like those."

"What sort of side effects?" Dahlia asks curiously. The others perk their ears and lean in a bit as well, as if expecting a whispered secret.

Cerise holds up a finger. Then she cups her left breast. While massaging, she holds her right hand underneath the nipple. After a bit of encouragement some milk dribbles out. "I'm well, lets just say they do more than just look big," the skreek whispers with a grin. "Some guys really get off on that too."

"So.. is it the herbs that cause the milk which prevents pregnancy, or the herbs prevent pregnancy but make you give milk?" Dahlia asks.

"The latter. I think it tricks a skreek's body in think it's already pregnant," Cerise says, shrugs, and goes back to eating her second roll. "But it works, and I can sleep with whatever and not get knocked up."

"Wow, Chronotopia must have the best whores in the world," Tabyathe notes, suitably impressed.

"Shhh," Dahlia suddenly whispers.. and everyone at the table suddenly becomes very interested in their meals as a something makes a rattling noise nearby.

"Hardly any, actually," Cerise remarks. "This isn't what I used to do there, but hey, I seek to take to it pretty quickly."

The rattling happens again, a little closer. From Camp Prostitute, a Naga emerges. He's a big one, with a diamond-pattern on his back. He also has a rattle at the end of his tail, which he shakes at random as if to announce himself. He glides past the food carts, giving them passing glances, and even looks to the table of women, flicking his tongue a few times. He then just passes right on out of the area, back towards central Graytown. Some of the vendors visibly let out held breaths once he's gone.

Cerise watches this serpent. She's both scared and, well, a little turned on! Scary creatures excite Nikky, after all. "Who was that?" she whispers to the table.

The muttered replies are varied, as if everyone has their own nickname for the man. "Diamondback Jim" "Rattles" "Mr. Creep" and a few others. "He's one of Pi's patrons," Dahlia says quietly. "Even bought him a bigger tent, I think. He smells like money and fear to me though. I guess he pays well for whatever it uses Pi for.. but don't except to him come out of his tent anytime soon."

"Shouldn't someone check on Pi?" Cerise asks, sounding worried as she looks back towards the Camp.

"There's a code of privacy here," Dahlia explains. "Unless he calls for help.. we don't interfere. He always acts fine when he finally comes out. I think the snake bites him, and it takes time for the venom to wear off."

"I still feel like I should check," Cerise remarks, looking worried and fidgeting a bit. She sighs and stuffs the remainder of her roll in her mouth instead.

"He might get upset," Dahlia says. "We aren't all exactly proud of what we do to survive, you know? And.. we don't want the rattler coming to one of us if Pi falls out of disfavor. Pi doesn't talk about it, so we think maybe he's not allowed to. Secrecy pays well, but only if the secret is kept."

Cerise rubs her forehead, then nods. "All right," she says after finishing her roll. "Well, I best get back to work."

"When the builders are at work, best bet is the folks here," Dahlia says. "Sawan is shy around us, maybe not you though."

Cerise nods. "All right then, thanks for the tip!" she says, smiling. "If you need anything, my tent is at the far end of camp. Feel free to drop in any time the flap's open." The skreek wiggles her fingers and heads out of the eating section and makes her way towards the baths. "So, is it Pi? Someone else?" she wonders now.

At the moment, the baths are in cleaning mode. The tubs are empty and being scrubbed out by children.. possibly the children of the women running the laundry next door. The Eeee that checked Cerise and the twins in last night is still at the front, chewing on a pencil and looking through receipts.

"Sawan?" Cerise inquires as she slinks up to the Eeee, tilts her head, then looks up at him.

"Yes?" the man asks, looking up.. and then staring. Cerise is still naked after all. "Uh.." he says, "We're closed right now.. for cleaning.."

"Not why I'm here. The other girls sent me," Cerise says, all grins, "Said you might want some company."

"Oh.. is that what they said?" the man asks, sounding nervous. "You're the new girl, started last night right? Put on a real show.."

Cerise slinks up to the man until she's practically touching him. "Yes? All part of the job," she skreek claims, then reaches out and runs fingertips along his chest.

Sawan swallows, and says, "Well.. I have to finish recording these.. in my ledger." But then he seems to relax slightly from the touching. "I can.. maybe come by afterwards?"

"Or I could drop to my knees and suck on you while you finish your ledger," Cerise offers a bit evilly. "Your call."

"But you could be," Cerise claims, leans in, and licks his cheek. "Until later, then," she adds, steps back, wiggles her fingers, then starts back towards her tent.

At least there's a stool to sit on now! Most of the other women have stools too.. and pipes. So they sit out and enjoy the meager sunlight that gets through the towers (although someone has begun to hang mirrors on the sides higher up, to bounce more light down into the canyon) and smoke their long-necked, small-bowled pipes. A few others do exercises.

And Cerise ... stretches mostly! Also just watches lazily. Well, in movement and appearance, but she's alert on those who come and go and does occasionally glance towards Pi's tent. "I wish I had a pipe," she thinks glumly.

Eventually Sawan approaches, still looking nervous. "I.. how much?" he asks awkwardly.

"Depends on what you want. Two is basic service, three for oral, four for back door," Cerise offers, smiling. "And anything else you like is negotiable too. What is your pleasure?"

"Uhh.. I don't know any of those?" the man says. He looks to be in his thirties though.

Cerise stands and takes the man's hand. "Two and I'll introduce you to all of them," the rat says, then tries to pull him into the tent!

Two shekels are produced as Sawan nearly falls over into the tent. "I.. I've never done anything before," he admits. "I'm broken."

"No, you're not," Cerise says as she puts the money away and kneels down right before him. The rat goes about undoing his pants. "So, just relax and enjoy it."

Sawan seems anything but relaxed! And once the pants come down, Cerise flashes back to when Nikky first met Otto. It doesn't look like the work of cruelty though, but some sort of birth defect. Sawan was probably born in the Streets Below, and there was a reason the Yodhgorphat regularly purged areas to control disease. His genitals are misshapen and don't look completely developed. "See.." he says, his voice dropping. "I can leave if you want now."

"Oh hush. You're fine," the skreek says. With Gorphat service, she has done and seen far worse. The buck in fact is worse, and Nicora has possibly the worst genitals of any Eeee alive and are virtually nonfunctional now and just a source of constant pain. So this ... this is nothing. She leans in and licks them gently. Lovingly, in fact. Deformed or not, she fully intends to show them the same care and pleasuring she shows everyone else.

The man seems to hold his breath.. but nothing terrible happens. It soon becomes clear that he is enjoying it though.. even it things don't really react physically. "This is.. nice. Thank you," he says quietly.

Cerise realizes she may not be able to do much more than this, but that's okay. She keeps it up, trying to caress and encourage the man anyway through lips and tongue. "What happened to him, Gorphat?" she wonders, and perhaps Gorphat may even respond to her. It doesn't hurt to ask in prayer.

Moans accompany the licks. And while Gorphat doesn't reply directly.. Cerise imagines a parasite being involved. Either passed from the mother or acquired soon after birth. It didn't kill him, or damage anything vital inside.. just this part. And Nicora's efforts get rewarded by a twitch and a gasp from Sawan. There's no fluid produced.. but then these are effectively the genitals of a child stuck on an adult. Which means that in theory Cerise could just keep him peaking over and over again, since there's no need for a refractory period.

And Cerise does keep it up. She also pauses at one point to lick a finger ... which then gets inserted behind the Eeee so that he gets massaged from the inside as well as from the outside through her tongue and lips. She also thinks she shall have to look the parasite up ... or if possible, collect a sample of it from this man now, if Gorphat will permit her the use of Nicora's gifts to take afflictions while not wearing that skin.

The chances of the parasite still being there are slim.. but there might still be something to identify it. And adding the finger makes a bit difference - Sawan's prostate is still sensitive, even if inactive. He moans and twitches again, and actually puts his hands on Cerise's head now - the first time he's actually tried to touch her.

Cerise continues her slow and loving work while she tries to tap into Nicora, just a bit, to try and find something to identify what afflicted this man. It is something Nicora may need to deal with in the future. OR somehow afflict on one of her forms to learn about it. So, finger and tongue continue their work, trying to give the man something he has never had.

Something seems familiar. Maybe it's the old scar tissue.. but it would probably require a shadow examination to get deep into things. After her lesson in parasites with Penance, it might be the same one that causes the glowing scars.

Cerise ... tries to subtly use the shadow to explore the damage, just a little, hidden by her slow licking. Her head is angled and her lips pursed, to try and hide its activity.

Cerise, having learned a little, stops with the shadow and just goes back to licking and gentle working. And she's going to keep it up, too, until Sawan actually asks her to stop.

It's not like Sawan is looking at anything anyway, with his head back and eyes closed in a blissful expression. The gently shadow probing probably enhances things as well - and also reveals very familiar internal scar patterns. It's the parasite that Nicora used on herself and Penance - manageable if put under the skin, but if ingested or introduced deeper in the body, especially in someone with a unformed or weakened immune system, it could become like a tapeworm and cause damage. And some scar tissue in the right places could certainly stunt the growth of genitals.

Cerise files this away for having Nicora send for him later. She can do nothing now but provide him enjoyment to the best she can with the damage he has.

Sawan does eventually seem to edge into discomfort, and asks Cerise to stop. "That was.. amazing," he gasps. "I didn't think I could.. I didn't think I could."

Cerise withdraws her finger and sits back. She grabs a towel to clean off her hand and smiles up at the man. "Glad I could provide you some pleasure," she says, "See? You're not broken at all. It just requires some skill." Once her hands are clean she's helping him pull his pants up and cinches them back in place.

"Thank you," Sawan says genuinely. "I always though the others would just.. laugh or send me away."

Cerise pats his hip, then rises. "It was my pleasure. Feel free to come back any time," she tells him, then leans in and kisses his cheek. "Now, off with you. You and your ledger!"

"Yes, thank you again.." Sawan gushes before leaving. He seems to stand a little straighter too.

Cerise grins and ushers the man off, then goes back out and settles back on her stool, feeling pleased by that. There are some good parts of this job!

Further into the camp, at the largest tent, someone else emerges and stretches: Pi. He doesn't look any worse for wear.

"What? Why wouldn't I?" the Eeee calls back, then makes his way to the food vendors.

"For dealing with that huge serpent, of course!" Cerise calls, then stretches her legs out and relaxes for a bit. She has some time, so may as well idly nap and rest up.

The nap helps, since the evening came in waves. The first of which was Fazel, who apparently ran all the way from the construction site and had to take a moment to catch his breath. The stool he made proved sturdy enough to support both him and Cerise as well while she gave the rat a lap-dance. Of course, that led to nursing.. which led to wild rutting on the floor of the tent. But without a chance to rest up first after his shift, Fazel wore out quickly enough that he didn't take up too much of Cerise's time - but it also made it difficult to get him back on his feet, into his pants, and outside to were he could stagger back to his own accommodations.

There was also a 'cordial' visit from Tomin, who just wanted to see how she was settling in and if she needed anything. "I'd offer more towards your travel funds, but I gotta save up myself," he notes with a sigh. "Can't afford to indulge every night."

Cerise waves her hand. "Eh, I wouldn't ask you to. You gotta take care of yourself first," she claims and even shrugs a little. "I'll make due. S'long as nothing gets dangerous staying a while is no problem."

"Well, if you're worried about being alone, you can always come to the other side," Tomin offers, and gestures back over his shoulder to the workers camp. "I'm sure you'll get some coin tonight though, now that word's gotten 'round. May not be Skreeks is all, if you don't mind Eeee."

"Eh, Eeee are okay. A bit skinny, and rather odd in the sack, but okay," Cerise notes with a bemused grin. "And the money is helpful."

"We may have mentioned your rates too," Tomin says, apologetically. "So they'll probably notice if you raise it on 'em."

"The rates are low because I gotta get established first. Being a cheap lay helps," Cerise laughs, "And I got three holes I can wear out to handle the flow. No big deal. 'sides, everyone expects us rats to be cheap anyway."

"Well.. you really don't belong down here," Tomin claims. "I'm sure you're just honing your skills and such, because a girl like you could work in any of the fancy topside clubs I'm sure, and make more in tips than you'd get here in a day."

"Yeah, but people down here don't tend to be jerks," Cerise points out and flicks her tail. "I'd rather put out for nice people at low price, than a creep for high price. It's more enjoyable for me too that way."

"Hah! First time I ever heard anyone claim us roughnecks were nice!" Tomin says with a cackle. "Well.. I'll leave you to it. Having me hanging 'round chatting can't be good for business."

"Eh, it helps. Never know! It's how you get repeat customers," Cerise points out with a toothy grin. She then swats Tomin on his backside. "Stay dirty, eh? Best kind of skreek," she teases.

"Hey, I bathe once a week," Tomin says, then winks and shakes his behind at Cerise. "First swat is free!" he claims, before sauntering back to the tents.

There's a bit more activity in Camp Prostitute as well, mostly from men who just grabbed something to eat and are making the rounds. But half of them are probably just taking advantage of the free ogling.

Cerise grins to herself. "Nice guy," she mutters under her breath. She also feels a bit bad about the subterfuge going on here, but it's a necessary evil. She'll donate some of the funds to the others when it is all over. As for the men ogling, hey, it's free advertisement too! So, out Cerise goes to display herself, too!

She gets a lot of looks, partly just from being the new girl but also for being 'exotic' to the Eeee. Eventually one approaches her.. and he's a big one. Not taller than average, but certainly thicker - built more like a Sylvanian lumberjack, if Eeee ever became lumberjacks. "Hi," he says, and smiles. He's got a few teeth missing, but not a lot. He looks like he probably has been in a few fights from the way his other facial features look a bit crooked.

"Yo," Cerise replies and waves her hand, then cocks her hips and grins. "Like what ya see?" she teases. "Looking is always free, of course, and more ... is right economical. What is your pleasure?"

The big man actually reaches out and feels the Skreek's upper arm. "Hmm, you got some muscle," he notes. "Not dainty or frail?" he asks.

"Nope, right durable I am," Cerise claims and even flexes. Her arms and her tail flex, in fact!

"A visit to each of yer tourist attractions," the Eeee claims, grinning again. "I don't like having to go to three or four diff'rent girls. Ruins the.." He flounders for a word, rolling a hand. "Momentum!" he finally blurts.

"Oh, all passages, hmm?" Cerise remarks and taps her chin. "Lesse. That would end up about eight shekels to cover the time and ah, usage wear." She grin.

The man counts on his fingers. "That still cheaper than multiples.." he says, and digs through his coin pouch. He actually produces a five-shekel coin and three singles. "Uh.. oh, before we start though I'm supposed to make sure yer alright with.. uh.." He transfers the coins to one hand, and uses the other tug down his trousers. He's not 'ready to go' but he's still bigger than average. At least, enough that an Eeee girl might be reluctant to deal with it.

Cerise grabs it and squeezes. "Bigger is better," the rat claims and grins widely. "I can handle this, no worries." She holds out her free hand for the coin.

Cerise pockets the coin in her pouch. "So, how do you prefer to start?" she inquires as with two hands she can now fondle a lot more effectively. "Sylvanian blood, arencha?" she also asks, "Bigger Eeee there."

"Maybe?" the man says. "Dunno my dad. I'm Yarmin," he expands, both verbally and in Cerise's hands. "Could you.. uh.. stand on this stool first?"

Cerise has to let go, then hops up onto the stool and even manages to spin around. "I'm Cerise. Pleasure to meet you, Yarmin," she adds, grinning.

Yarmin gets out of his clothes, then proceeds to feel the rat. Everywhere! He uses his nose and lips along with his hands, checking where the Skreek is soft, and where she's firm. The ear piercings and studs seem to fascinate him.. and he has to lick each one.

This makes the rat squirm all over and giggle. Twitch, even, and tailflick! "Eeeeheehee," she chitters, amused. The attention on her piercings also, well, feels really nice. They're painful to get, but oh so fun to play with, even the ear grommets, which feel weird when played with. Huge holes through the ear are ... different. She also jiggles for him, and even spreads areas open for his examination.

The Eeee likes to use his tongue to explore holes - and not just those in Cerise's ears. Yarmin especially likes to feel the rat's rear and breasts and tail.. all things that are very different from an Eeee girl. But he does decide on the order of things, and picks up Cerise to lay her out on the bedroll. He has the most surprised look on his face as her mounts her as well, and gasps, "I fit! You feel nice.."

Cerise arches her back and coos when the Eeee finally does mount! Her legs stretch and toes wiggle as she says, "Well, yeah! That's the point!" She then bucks her hips and grinds against him. "We skreeks are built for a lot," she claims.

Yarmin responds eagerly. He is rough, but not because he tries to be. It's just his state of being. He also uses his arms to rise up away from the Skreek, so he can watch her breasts move from the thrusts, which seems to amuse him greatly. Muscles moves like snakes under his pelt, and he breathes very loudly as he builds up steam.

And Cerise rolls beneath him vigorously! She also reaches up and runs hands and claws all over his chest. She even tweaks his nipples playfully! She likes this guy ... but then all female forms seem to like the big boys for some odd reason. She also possibly rocks more than necessary, but it does help the jiggling.

It's easy to see why he wouldn't be popular with the Eeee girls though. After a few minutes they'd be chafing! But Yarmin goes all the way to completion with Cerise.. and then rolls her right over onto her stomach to take her again below the tail. This is definitely something another Eeee would have a hard time with (except maybe for Pi). He lays against Cerise's back for this, pressing her down with his weight.

It's harder for the rat, too! That area isn't built for quite the stretching that the front is, but the rat still likes it. Probably because it's a bit of a perverse act and that gets her going. "Ooooh yeah," she coos out, stretching her arms out before her and looking like she's in bliss. She can roll in this position too and has good muscle control of that area as well.

It takes longer, either because of the extra squeeze or just because Yarmin has to recharge from scratch. He also moves her around a bit, from flat on her belly to up on her knees and even straight out holding her arms back like the handles of a wheelbarrow (which he may just do for his job). By the time he's finished, he needs to catch his breath.

And by the time he finishes, Cerise actually peaks herself ... from that method of entrance, too! She must have had the orb rubbing against the bedroll for that to happen. Still, she's glad for the breather too. She's also evil and bears down on the guy back there, squeezing mercilessly.

Yarmin squeaks. "Next part might be.. a challenge," he claims. He pulls out (with some effort), and goes to sit awkwardly on the stool.. his legs spread wide. "You may wanna wash it a bit first.."

"Oh, you better believe that," Cerise says as she grabs a cloth, some water, and goes about cleaning the guy up! It also gives her a chance to tease and tickle him mercilessly, all the while giggling like a goofball.

The big man does squirm a bit on his small seat. When relaxation turns more towards arousal again, he stretches his legs out and holds onto the stool with his hands.

And Cerise is onto the use of her jaws! She likes this too, probably because again it's rather kinky. Plus, most guys taste decent enough, too! And she has a good tongue, with studding. Plus it can coil and curl and do all sorts of dancing against what she holds in her jaws while her head bobs.

The stud makes up for a shorter tongue than Eeee has, and it also makes Yarmin's spine go stiff. He's certainly hot and throbbing under the Skreek's tongue! And he makes the typical Eeee noises that Cerise has come to expect.

And so Cerise plays the Eeee like an instrument! As in she tries to get him to squeak out a silly melody with her work! Hey, in this job you have to make your own amusements to deal with being, well, a whore.

Yarmin responds as the Skreek wishes! She can also feel him convulse, even if there's not much more than a taste from it. The Eeee isn't quite fully recharged before he discharges.

So, the skreek is greedy and keeps at it! She'll get more than a taste, dagh take it! It also means her hands get to play and be creative with any bits of him she can reach.

The man is moaning soon, and still convulsing a bit. Each time provides another few drops. It isn't clear if he's still enjoying, in pain.. or in some state that melds and transcends either of the others. His eyes are rolled back, certainly.

Cerise keeps it up a bit longer then relents and sits back. Boy is she grinning. "And there you have it!" she chirps, "Around the skreek!"

Yarmin pants for a bit. But even after clearly being spent, he asks, "What about between yer breasts, maybe?" he asks a bit timidly. "The other girls.. well, they ain't built for it.."

"Sure, after ya recover a bit," Cerise points out and pats his thigh. "You're a bit empty at the moment..."

"I'll be fine!" Yarmin promises.. and gets and starts to do some stretches and exercises in the cramped space of the tent. "Could you.. jump up and down a bit?" he asks.

Cerise laughs, but does as asked. Wow, are parts of her bouncy! It's a bit uncomfortable for her, sure, but not horrifically so.

This encourages Yarmin to take her by the hand.. and dance with her. Awkwardly, to be sure, but it's more fun and goofiness anyway.

And dance around they do ... for quite some time! It's pure silliness, but that's good, it gives him time to recover. Eventually, though, Cerise thinks he's probably recovered enough, so spins him around then sits down on the stool in front of him. Leaning forward, she wraps her chest around the guy's excitable bits, then slowly rubs and bobs while, well, licking all over the protruding bit.

He has to put his hands on the Skreek's shoulders to hold himself steady.. and it isn't long before he's using his hips as well. "I always wanted to try this," he admits. After a few more minutes, it's clear that he has recharged.. at least enough to make a mess.

Cerise keeps it up until she can produce a mess ... and she deliberately doesn't cover the tip so that, well, when the time does come, the skreek's head and chest end up rather sticky. This leaves her giggling and licking at her own face. Hey, it's no worse than a slime worm pool.

Yarmin falls to his knees afterward, and makes a gurgling sound. "That was.. wow.." he mutters.

Now Cerise has to clean herself up. "Different? Fun? Rather messy? All of the above?" she asks, grinning, amused. "Never done that before, but hey, I liked it."

"Never got to do all of it.. and never close to the last one," Yarmin admits. His fur is mussed up, but he's not sticky.. so he can almost painfully put his clothes back on.

Cerise is still cleaning up. "Well, welcome t' being with a skreek, we can, and will, do anything," she claims and winks. "You're welcome back any time." And once she's mostly clean, she tries to help him dress. also grope him more to make it that much harder because she's a bit evil.

"Hey!" he complains at the groping. "I'll remember this for a long time.. and need to pace myself better. But the momentum was great!"

Cerise snickers and swats him on the backside. "I'm just proud I ruined you for other girls," she claims. "Have a good night, eh?"

As Yarmin staggers out, it's clear that there are a few more Eeee loitering outside..

"When are you gonna be.. open.. again?" the nearest Eeee asks. There's another man next to him.. and a female Eeee as well.

"Now, looks like!" Cerise chirps, "So, who's next?" She waggles her brow, too. Why? Rat.

The three Eeee aren't together, it turned out. Both of the men (well, older boys) didn't have any experience at all, and were too embarrassed to see the Eeee prostitutes. They just wanted something simple, with hand-holding. Being with a Skreek didn't embarrass them apparently. The girl just wanted to know what it would be like! In some parts of the world, they have the phrase, "Lapis Don't Count." In Babel, it's Skreeks that don't count. But it at least amused Cerise - she was the one with the power and experience and they were seeking her out for it! It also ate up most of the rest of the night.

"Ahh, the jingle of a full purse," Cerise says as she shakes her jingly purse once the girl leaves! The girl was admittedly fun, and Cerise knows how to make that work even without tools for it, well outside of what is embedded in her tongue. It also strikes her, she has made more money on one night than she ever did as a gypsy fleecing the crowds. Clearly, this is a better job! It also means she'll have to sleep lightly so she doesn't get robbed. This is the lower streets after all and there are predators. So, when she's finally curled on her bedroll, it's around her purse.

Sleep is brief.. someone rattles her tent flap. "Are you asleep?" Pi whispers through the flap.

"I was" Cerise remarks and opens her left eye. She yawns widely, then sits up. "What's up? the skreek asks as she reaches back to rub at her neck.

Pi slinks in, and grins. Even in the very dim light, Cerise can see how bright his teeth are. "Wondered if you'd be up for a quick bit o' bouncing?" the Eeee asks, and produces a coin.

"At this hour?" the skreek inquires, eyebrow arched. She considers this, and even rubs her chin. "Eh, sure! Why not? Money is money and I'm cleaned up from earlier."

The coin is passed over, and Pi doesn't waste a moment. He soon has Cerise on her back with her legs in the air as he starts pounding away. He's got his wings slightly spread, so that they touch the floor of the tent as well. "How was your day?" he asks casually.

"Busy!" Cerise squeaks as she arches up onto her back! IT feels good, she can't deny that. He knows what he's doing and if he was once in Inala's favor, she's probably getting some benefit from her own blessing because of it! "How was yours? Your client go okay?"

"He's picky, but consistent," Pi says, running his hands along the sides of Cerise's face.. and then suddenly grabbing her muzzle and holding it closed! This is immediately followed by a twin sharp pains in her thigh!

The squeak that comes is surprised and muffled! "The hell!?" she thinks in a panic and tries to push him off somehow! So, this guy is behind some of it! And here she was wondering if she had been too judgmental. What just bit her?!

The bite is ongoing, and she can feel the venom being pumped into her. It isn't like Sephia's, which leaves the area numb. Cerise can still feel everything just fine, but it's her muscles that are going limp. And that's not even the full dose, because a moment later she's bit again in the other thigh. The paralysis isn't instantaneous.. but it's fast enough that Pi can hold her down long enough for her limbs to be affected.

"The hell are you doing?" Cerise tries to hiss out of her held mouth! She's struggling and trying to unwrap herself and get this jerk off of her. Not really easy to do when your lower half is going limp! Her heart i racing; she's panicking. This is the point of no return once she's taken. She'll either take them down, or die in the attempt in a horrible way.

The pumping of her heart is also her downfall.. the venom spreads faster! It seems to affect all of her major voluntary muscles. "Shhh, just relax.." Pi whispers, keeping his grip on her muzzle. But that doesn't stop from him from humping her the whole time still! The shoulders feel the effects next, and spread to her arms and hands. She's weak enough for Pi's wings to effectively immobilize her arms, and then her neck and jaw feel the effects. That's when a leather strap is produced, probably handed to Pi by his reptilian partner (at least Cerise can smell him now). This is quickly placed into her mouth, then wrapped around to secure it. As her muscles deaden, it's clear to the Skreek that this is to keep her from swallowing her own tongue!

In spite of everything, the rat is still squirming some as the limpness spreads. She's a tough rat, cloned from a line of tough rats. She does not go easily, but she's also not immune to naga poison, so slowly, her body fails her in the fight. Her eyes are furious and at one point she does try to spit on him, but it's more of a dry heave effect given the state of her body. "This bastard is as cold hearted as his lover," she thinks angrily. All she can do is ... glare.

"That's the look..." Pi whispers, and reaches his peak from it. He climbs off and rolls the Skreek off of the bedroll and onto the floor of the tent, belly down. She's stuck staring at the back of the tent, but at least she can still control her eyes! The smell of rattlesnake recedes, and Pi goes about rolling up her bedding, adding whatever other possessions she might have (including her money) into it. Then he returns and further arranges her body: arms tight to her sides and legs straight and pressed together. Even her tail is laid out straight. "You probably want to kill me right now," Pi whispers. "That's what makes it all fun though."

"Oh batty, I won't kill you quickly when the time comes. It'll be slow and horrible," Cerise thinks darkly, her eyes still twitching in anger. She cannot speak, but she can breathe ... and that she uses to make a few small noises of, well, it's probably anger. It would take a lot of it to force anything. She is also now worried about how she is being ... placed. It implies something she'd rather not think about.

Once all but her tent is bundled up, Pi opens the flaps - Cerise can feel the draft. There's a scraping sound, and then something flicks against her tail. Pi returns to lift her legs up.. since the Naga that shows up next can't fit his torso into the tent. He must be as big as, if not bigger than Malagast, since he (or she) doesn't have any trouble swallowing Cerise gulp-by-gulp, with Pi helping to stuff her inside. The reason for being on her belly is just so that she can bend in the proper direction.

"Dagh, I hate it when I'm right," Cerise thinks. If she didn't know they were taking her someplace, well, she would expect to be dead very soon. But, they want her alive .. she presumes. Still, there is the matter of her breathing once she's in there. "Maybe I shouldn't have decided to do this," she thinks worriedly, "No escape now and no saying how long I'm about to be a torture-sex-slave."

The serpent does swallow her completely.. which would make breathing difficult. But then something else comes down the throat: a wooden pipe. It's enough to get air to her, at least. The other difference between this Naga and Malagast is that Malagast doesn't move around so much. But the Naga has to move.. it's smuggling the Skreek out of the area after all. And it isn't hard to tell when the direction is downwards, which it turns to very quickly.

It's dark, it smells horrible in here, she can't move, and she can barely breathe. Yes, this is sort of Dagh's hell. Her heart is still pounding. Even though rationally she knows she could even use the shadow now, probably, and deal with this ... the emotional impact is harsh. She's actually terrified and her eyes are clenched shut. She just keeps thinking to herself that she will be all right. It helps a little with the sensation of movement ... and being a meal.

It's difficult to keep track of the movements, or the passage of time. Ten minutes might feel like an hour! The venom doesn't affect adrenaline production, so Cerise is both barely conscious while also be wired for action. But the horror doesn't last forever. The convulsive motions are familiar when they come, and the Skreek is soon cold and wet as she splops out onto a stone floor.

Ugh, the sensations of being wet and slimy ought to be familiar to her, but ugh, somehow this is far worse than being Nicora. It's degrading on a new level, really. Gorphat tortures but theoretically cares. These folks don't even see her as a person, just meat to be used. Plus being limp and angry is just ... she wants to scream.

She's hauled up by her arms, and carried a short distance with her feet dragging the ground. It's dark, with just a few candles providing light, but her nose tells her more. There are other Skreeks here. The ones carrying her are Eeees. There's straw and sewer odors as well. She can make out a horizontal shape before her, but then she's being put into it. A stock! It closes to hold her neck and wrists, just as she's starting to feel the venom wearing off. One of the jailers holds up her rear, so that all her weight isn't hanging from her neck. "Plump one," one of the jailers finally comments. No move is made to remove the strap from her mouth though.

Since some 'numbness' is fading, she growls. It's feeble, but it's there. She also manages a small jerk, enough to make the stocks creek just a small bit. Sure, it's pathetic, but she isn't so easily broken. The smells down here assault her, she clams to be a dirty rat, but in this place she will literally be one soon enough. "Bastards," the thinks. The strap holds her tongue for safety, but it also now acts as a muzzle.

"She's coming out of it," the rear Eeee says, and keeps testing if Cerise can support her own weight yet. "Black as Sunala's heart, this one. Well fed."

Cerise's legs fumble. No, they can't bear her weight yet. Her tail can flick a little, though, and she tries to whack the Eeee behind her with it. Try being the word, it sort of flops like a limp noodle.

"Heh, and if she doesn't play nice, she will be 'well fed' won't she?" the other comments. He then squats down to be eye to eye with the Skreek. "Don't know where you came from, girl, but it doesn't matter anymore. You're here. The strap doesn't come out until we think you won't bite your tongue off. We got a real good doctor if that happens. A bit of flame'll clear up the bleeding.. and it's not like you'd need your teeth after that. But it can be nice here too. You'll get a chance to serve in a less direct way, see? If that doesn't work, well.. you look like you'd be entertaining."

Cerise's lips draw back a little and she snarls. Still weak, but defiant. She's tough, and she's a survivor, so she will endure what she must to take these bastards down. Doesn't prevent being terrified, though. It sounds like bad things can, and will probably happen to her down here. She also blinks and tries to memorize this Eeee's face. Everyone here will be punished, sooner or later. At least she has to believe that, the alternative is ... best not thought about.