Nox is not alone for long in the operating room. Number Three - the door guard from her former cell - is sent in to watch her, possibly because he's good at just standing in place for a long time. He also looks uncomfortable about it, trying not to actually look at the bound and (effectively) gagged Skreek. The scent of antiseptics and worse still hangs in the air as well.
Nox lifts her head as much as she can ... which isn't much. The rat then growls at this man ... while trying to sense his aura.
The Eeee jerks a bit at the growl. His aura is.. conflicted.. if Nox is reading it right. He's scared, certainly, which seems to be the dominant emotional state right now. "I.." he starts to say, almost defensively, but never gets past the pronoun.
Nox ears perk forward as if encouraging him to continue. She also continues looking at him for as long as her neck can handle it. Her side still hurts horribly, and she's having to resist using the shadow to ease the pain and heal it.
"Sorry," the man claims. "I'm not allowed to help.."
Nox snorts and lays her head back. "Easy excuse. You could try to help. But by not helping, you're just dooming yourself in the end," the rat thinks as she stares up at the ceiling. Her wrists twitch and she feels the bars that go through them tug. It's an uneasy feeling, but not painful, not anymore.
After a few minutes, the Eeee asks, "Does it hurt?"
Nox looks up again and gives the Eeee a look. Grumbling, she ends up nodding and then laying her head back.
The guard comes closer, still looking nervous. "If I take the bit out of your mouth.. you won't try to bite yourself will you?" he asks.
Nox arches her brow a little. The rat nods again as if agreeing she won't.
Number Three carefully removes the chunk of leather, looking like he's about to jam it back in if Nox tries to bite her tongue.
"Thanks," Nox says and lays her head back to resume staring at the ceiling. "I'm surprised you haven't tried to rape me again. You all sure enjoyed doing that when I was in the cell."
"I was ordered to," the man claims. "I never had to do that before. Did it hurt?"
"Some did, some didn't," Nox remarks and shrugs a little on the table. "The inserting of these permanent restraint rings in my wrists and ankles hurt more."
"Do they still hurt?" Number Three asks. His tone suggests a rather personal interest in the answer.
"No. I'm used to them now. Sort of feel part of me," Nox replies before tilting her head to look at the Eeee. "Why do you ask?"
The man rubs his own wrists subconsciously. "It's just.. it disturbs me," he claims, but his aura spikes a bit in the fear range.
"And turns you on," Nox remarks dryly. She moves her left arm a little to cause the bar in it to twist a bit and bulge the skin some.
"No!" the Eeee claims, and turns away, grabbing his mouth like he's going to be sick. His aura reports this as a genuine feeling, too.
"Well, they're there now. Just the strapping and the sex spreaders were removed since all this was added," Nox remarks. "And if this bothers you, why do you stay?"
"You think I have a choice?" the man asks. "I'm.. new.. because the last guard.. did something. They showed him to me as a warning. I.. don't know even know what he did."
"What did they do to him?" Nox asks.
Rubbing his wrists again, the man says, "He had those bolts through his wrists and feet, and he was put on this big wooden 'X' and.. uh.. skinned alive. At least, they tell me he was alive.."
"Ah, something the Yodhrephath used to do to people," Nox thinks. To the man she remarks, "Sounds like Yodhrephath work. He could have very well been alive."
The Eeee looks sick again. "I can't.." he stammers. "I can't go through that. I'm sorry. I won't disobey the doctor."
"There are worse things, but I understand," Nox replies.
"Worse things?" the man asks, eyes-wide. And then the door starts to open, and in a panic he tries to force the leather bit back into Nox's mouth.
Nox lets the muzzle go back on. She doesn't want the man to actually get into trouble. He has generally been the kindest here.
The door swings fully open and the doctor slithers in, going straight for the stitched up wound. She pokes it, which hurts, and watches to see if Nox twitches.
Nox winces from the prod and shifts to the side a little, trying to get away from the poking.
"It ssSeems to be sssealed," the doctor says. She then looks to Number Three, and hisses, "Ssstress-test the rat. I need to see if the wound reopenss."
"Stress test? Stress test how?" Nox has to wonder. She guesses, well, sex.
The Eeee freezes. "I don't understand," he admits. "Am I supposed to tickle her?"
"Rape her," the doctor notes, sounding clinical about it. She also doesn't move - she wants to examine things close up.
"I can't.." the man starts to say, then gets a panicked look, like he wants to bolt, as soon as the words are out.
"You are a mammal," the doctor claims. "An Eeee. You are easy to arouse."
"Yep, what I thought," Nox thinks as she prepares herself. She hasn't enjoyed any sex really since she has been here and ... her thoughts pause as she looks at the man.
"I'm.." the Eeee seems about to protest, then just sort of goes blank. Even though he's glowing with fear now, he starts to disrobe. All the way - not just pulling down his pants like the others. He then approaches the table from the right side, opposite the doctor, and looks uncertainly at Nox.
Nox looks at him and shrugs a little, as if it is okay. She even fumbles her bound legs some to spread them to try and give him easier access.
"It can be in.. stages.. right?" he asks the doctor. "I mean.. escalating?"
Nox also gets an idea, she tries to use the Shrine Maiden's lust lure to help arouse the man. A little, anyway. Not sure if it will even work.
"I do not care how you go about it," the doctor says.
Licking his lips first, the guard looks down at Nox again. The 'nudge' may have added an extra bit of color, but it's still fear that dominates. The Eeee reaches down and starts massaging Nox's breasts first. Not even hard. Just getting to the point of rubbing her nipples with his thumbs takes a few minutes. Maybe he's hoping the doctor will get bored first.
Nox lets her eyes droop closed as she just enjoys what aspects might feel a little good to her. She also continues to try and push him a bit with the lust aura, to help him get over his fear. Why is she helping? Because the guy seems trapped here too.
The push does make him bolder.. but not to the point of just jumping on the rat. First he moves one hand down between her legs to manipulate things a bit, while using his other to continue massaging one breast, and dipping down to nuzzle and lick at the other. He is growing aroused though.
The doctor doesn't seem to pay attention to what the Eeee is actually doing - she just focuses on the sutured incision.
And this is making Nox squirm some. It makes her side hurt, but parts also feel good, especially with his hand manipulating her some below the waist. She ends up gasping a little around the muzzle.
This reaction also seems to relieve the Eeee. Enough that he moves down to end of the table. He bends over the edge instead of climbing up though, in what can't be a particularly comfortable position - but it lets him use both hands on the Skreek's breasts now while employing his mouth and tongue between her legs. Orgasms apply stress, after all, so that may be his goal.. even if he's hoping Nox's stitches will pop before he has to go further.
This makes Nox gasp! Okay, she has a fondness for Eeee tongue and it's actually arousing her and feeling good. A mix of sensations here; here sire is in a lot of pain, but still feels dry ... and everything between her legs feels rather good.
Number Three continues to push this method, waiting for Nox to either burst, cry out in pain, or shudder in pleasure. His fear is dropping though.. and lust is rising. It may be that's he's reaching a point where he's switched to hoping the Skreek can take it without popping anything.
Before it goes much further, though, Nox is biting down on the leather as a peak rushes through her body, causing everything to tense up and her side to hurt! It's been so long since she's had much of a peak that his more gentle work actually gave her one!
"Hmm," the doctor muses, checking the wound. "Holding. Escalate your efforts," she instructs the Eeee.
This time, the man does climb up onto the table, and penetrates Nox with a moan. He uses his arms to keep himself from laying on her though, and starts to gyrate his hips.
Nox is ... really squirming at this point. Her side hurts, but Inala's blessing is making it hard for her to resist the penetration. Something about having a male inside her can be intoxicating at times. Soon, her hips are trying to roll in spite of the stabbing pain it causes in her side.
This just encourages Number Three. He lowers himself so he can rest on Nox - although he doesn't weigh that much, despite being taller than the Skreek. He begins to nuzzle at her face and neck, and massage her breasts again as he pumps more vigorously. The doctor flicks her tongue out, but doesn't show much more reaction to the display.
And so Nox keeps at it, in spite of the pain in her side. In fact, she has several more peaks during this, complete with bit-biting and a lot of hissing. Maybe she was 'pent up'? With how well her muscles grip and massage internally, the Eeee should be getting quite a ride.
The ride is indeed intense for the bat, and his aura has lost almost all of its fear now - which means the one anxiety preventing him from really peaking is gone. So he peaks as well, with a moan.
And Nox bears down on him; her blessing trying ti 'milk' the male for as much as he'll release into her. She even arches a little, which makes her side hurt, badly. But, it still feels dry to her.
During the ensuing 'lull', the doctor prods the incision a bit more. "Keep it up," she instructs. "It may be accelerating the healing processss."
The Eeee blinks. "I'll try?" he responds.
Once the doctor slithers out and closes the door, the Eeee immediately removes the bite-guard from Nox's mouth.
And Nox encourages this by keeping her hips working! She also tries something here, while this is going on she actually allows the shadow to go to her incision site and start repairing the muscle walls. The outer skin she'll leave as it is, but no reason to not heal the internal damage. Without the bite guard she gasps!
"I'm sorry if that hurt," the guard apologizes. "I didn't think it would get this far.."
"It's fine. Some of it felt nice," Nox claims, "You can stop if you want, though. I'm pretty tired."
"The doctor said to keep going," the man notes, a bit of fear creeping back into his aura. He's not exactly capable at the moment though. He does slide out and down.. but pauses to suckle at the rat's teats.. to relax her?
"Ut oh" the rat thinks. If he gets any of the milk, he'll start going at her hard!
Of course the milk starts to flow.. and Number Three responds by.. going down on the rat again, a bit more enthusiastically. He may have trouble talking afterwards though.
This makes the rat squeal! SO much for getting any rest! She's going to be riding the peak roller-coaster for a while! But, at least she might be able to heal up some of her wound by the time he's done?
It's easier to focus on the healing when the Eeee is actually just nursing.. which is about a third of cycle. It's hardest when he's actually riding her, since her body has to move more itself. But as time passes, the pain lessens - at least internally. The sliced muscle reconnects, while the skin remains bound to normal healing speed.
And Nox gets rather messy down below! But, she's mostly used to that; as a rat she tends to smell of sex anyway. So, she tries to enjoy it as much as she can, and use the nursing periods for repair. Granted, this just means she'll be ready sooner for her next appointment, whatever horror that may be.
Eventually Number Three reaches his limit (or rather, reached it long ago and has only been driven on by the milk). He'll likely be pretty sore once the effects wear off, but for now it's enough that he can stand up a bit. "Do you think that was enough?" he asks blearily.
"Oh yeah," the rat says blearily. Okay, so part of the day was horrible, and the other part was actually pleasurable. She feels, well, somewhat satisfied down below!
Number Three struggles into his clothes, since standing guard naked apparently doesn't make sense to him. Then he returns and kisses Nox. "I don't know what comes next," he apologizes.
"That makes two of us. All I can guess is it will be horrible," Nox remarks a bit dryly. "I'm just pleasure livestock, after all."
"Complete with the livestock ring," she adds and flares her nostrils around the embedded d-ring.
"Pleasure?" the Eeee asks. "I didn't think any of this was about pleasure.."
"Not for me, but some of those freaks enjoy hurting me," Nox notes.
"I don't much about the other guards," Number Three admits. "They just give me the worst jobs since I'm lowest in the hierarchy."
"I'll trade," Nox remarks with a smirk. "Trust me, it could be worse. What is your name, anyway?"
"Number.. uh.." the man says, and looks confused. "Three," he concludes. "That's.. that's my name?" He seems rather uncertain now.
This causes Nox' brow to arch. Does this man really not remember his actual name? Or is he just not saying it? She just shrugs a bit and lays her head back, closing her eyes too. "You should put the muzzle back on," she notes as she decides to rest.
The leather is replaced, while Number Three continues to look confused. "Uh, sleep well," he offers.
Nox mumbles something in the gag and then lets sleep take her.
Sleep is a refreshing break from.. everything, really. When Nox is roused again, she has no idea how long she was asleep. And the doctor is not the best face to wake up to.. especially when Rattlebone is looming over her shoulder. "Time to wash up," the red Naga states.
"Oh yay, another bath from the inhospitality army," Nox thinks as she blearily blinks and opens her eyes.
"/And that damn naga behind her, he enjoys this too much," the rat thinks grimly.
The doctor uses a mirror to shine light in Nox's eyes, checking her pupil response. Then she steps aside so that Rattlebone can loom at the Skreek. And then the injections begin.. in her arms, but curiously not her legs this time.
"Gagh's buttocks?! Why are they numbing my arms?!" Nox thinks as the painful bites come! The numbness is already spreading, the kind that removes muscle movement, but leaves her feeling everything.
After the venom has taken effect, Nox is unhooked from the table and slung over the rattler's shoulder, while he keeps a firm grip on her legs. Then the Skreek is finally taken out of the operating room and brought to a new chamber, which has bathtub in it.. a rather fragrant one. It smells a bit like a flower shop in here, and moreso when the rat is lowered into the water.
Still gagged, all Nox can do is growl at the naga as she's lowered into the vat! Her arms flop around like limp noodles, which is terribly uncomfortable. It also makes all her implants jingle around. "/Flowers? What are they intending for me next? These don't seem the flowers types," the rat thinks. This actually makes her worry more!
The diamondback Naga starts scrubbing away at the Skreek, even dunking her head a few times.. and being thorough with her lower body. The fragrance goes go to Nox's head a bit. It's like they don't want her to smell like a Skreek at all.
"Ugh," Nox thinks, her head swimming a bit from the scent onslaught. It makes her feel a bit bleary! "What is next? What requires such a scent?" the rat gas to wonder in-between sputters from being dunked and the occasional growl of a threat to the abusive Naga that is trying to bathe her.
Next comes.. a bladder. It's stuck up into Nox to wash out her fun tunnel, and feels a bit stronger than flower-water.
"Mrprrpth," complains Nox as the skeek looks cross-eyed. "Guh. Thorough," she thinks uncomfortably.
Alptraum says, "Not sure if that is considered super high or not"
The rat is then lifted out of the tub assaulted with a towel. Rattlebone is very thorough again, to the point where the fur is a bit poofy. Then comes the challenging test: he lets go of Nox to see if she can stand up on her own or not.
When Nox is let go she wobbles! She wasn't expecting this! With her arms completely limp she has to struggle and stumble a bit to find her balance. Once she does, she glares at the naga, and growls.
"Behave," Rattlebone warns. "You can't run like that, you'll just fall over. If you do anything aggressive I'll bite you again, this time in the neck so you can't even move your eyes. Do you understand?"
Nox growls, but she nods. She doesn't look like she's going to attack, just that she is annoyed.
The rattler's tail thumps on the door, which opens to admit a red Naga - but not the doctor. It's the son. He's carrying a basket and seems happy to see the Skreek as he quickly slithers over to her.
Nox eyes the son warily. "He isn't cruel to be cruel. He's ... simple," the skreek thinks. It is this alone that makes her cease her growling and just stand still as she watches the serpent. The rat also wonders what in the world the serpent is carrying.
The boy puts down the basket.. and retrieves a brush and comb from it. Which he then puts to use, gently brushing down the poofiness of Nox's fur. He humms.. well, the Naga equivalent anyway.. as he works. It's actually pretty soothing.
"Oh, he's just ... helping," Nox thinks and lets her eyes droop a bit as the serpent brushes her out. It does feel nice most of the time. When the brush rolls over her back and moves the long bars around a bit under her skin, that feels strange and makes her twitch a little.
Brushed out, her black fur takes on an extra bit of lustre from whatever was in the water. The red hair is combed out (both on her head and down below), and then curled with an odd tool. There are points where the boy seems distressed though - he apparently doesn't like the clamps in Nox's ears.
Nox doesn't like them either, but with how they were attached they're more or less permanent. Like her collar, they are firmly pegged. She does have to look at herself now and then and wonder why they're curling her red hair. That looks odd, and far too poodle-y for her liking.
Finally the red serpent pulls out a hand mirror, and holds it up with a sense of pride to show Nox the results. Her head hair doesn't look Gallisian so much as.. moppet-ish. Curls hang down instead of piling up on top. And her black fur really does look shiny and clean now.
This causes a rather odd look to cross Nox's face. she's ... not sure what they're intending. She looks kind of like a young child, save for her, well, height and and obvious development with her chest and such. "Is the next group a bunch of child-loving perverts?" the rat has to wonder. If so, at least better her than an actual child.
Rattlebone shoos the doctor's son out of the room then. "Yess yesss, you made her pretty.. now Sssscoot," he says. There's someone waiting outside, who pours into the room once the boy has left. Nox recognizes him instantly, having been made rather familiar with his insides the night she was abducted. The massive Naga is carrying a pole that has several cross-arms attached to it and different intervals, and hands it to Rattlebone.
Nox takes a step back and eyes the polls. It makes her think of her various rings embedded all over her body. "What, am I to be put on display?" she wonders. Now she's feeling nervous. As innocuous as it all seems to be, she's certain something far sinister is ahead.
"On her stomach," Rattlebones notes, and the bigger Naga grabs up Nox before she can retreat further. "I'd prefer in my stomach," the big Naga says, gaping his mouth in a Naga laugh as he pushes the Skreek to the floor, yanking her arms up past her head.
The sudden jerk causes Nox to grunt loudly! The wrenching of her arms above her head hurts, and she is in no position to argue. So, the rat is soon on her stomach with her arms uncomfortably above her head. "Har har, in your stomach. Keep laughing you bastard, you'll get yours," the skreek thinks darkly ... just before she coughs on him as best she can.
The pole is pressed against Nox's back, and Rattlebone starts to thread the Skreek's various rings onto the side-arms, including the ones on her back and neck along with her hands and feet. Even her tail is pulled up along the back and secured. A leather strap is used to tie her nose-ring to the shaft as well, forcing her to look 'forward' along the pole towards her hands.
"Ugh," grunts the rat. That nose ring is incredibly controlling, her head has to follow it and she's stuck looking along the pole uncomfortably. The fiddling with her various rings are also very uncomfortable, but she is in no position to fight. And right now she can't even move. Those rings really enforce the fact she is a thing to them.
The two Nagas each take one end of the pole, and lift Nox up to hang between them. The serpents take her through a hallway, and up more stairs, until they emerge into a large, well-lit room. There's an actual chandelier providing light, along with braziers in the corners. Just off center is a long banquet table, laid out with rather expensive looking settings and with a row of very ornate chairs along one side. Opposite is an unlit fireplace, with two raised forks at either end.. onto which the Naga's deposit Nox. It's the sort of setup one might use for slow-roasting a hog!
"They cannot be serious?!?" Nox thinks, panic starting to well up! "They're going to cook me?!?!" Her heart starts to pound and she can feel under her skin the shadow starts to squirm. If they start to light that fire ... the rat will likely have to blow her cover and defend herself. But, for now she has to force herself to wait and to still the shadow panic within her.
The doctor arrives next, and looks over the Skreek. She removes the gag.. and replaces it with a wooden apple, forcing Nox's jaws to open to their limit. "Fetch the preparation table," she informs Rattlebone. "The guests will be arriving sssoon."
This hurts, a lot. With as far back as her head is, the apple nearly dislocates her jaw! Her fingers roll, and her heart continues to pound. "Control, control, control," the skreek thinks as she's literally fighting with herself, her shadow self, from lashing out and defending herself. "What is with these freaks? Child sacrifice with a proxy child?"
Several minutes later, and Rattlebone returns pushing a linen-covered (and obviously wheeled) table. There are covered bowls and dishes on it, and a small coal-heated concave stone skillet. Also on the table is the doctor's medical bag.
Nox's arms don't move, but her legs do, and she starts squirming on the pole, trying to get her body free!
The doctor reaches underneath and pulls out a chef's apron, and even a puffy hat (held on with a strap). There is commotion from the other end of the banquet room, and a door is opened by a liveried Eeee, who stands aside as more bats begin to flow into the room. They're laughing, joking and chatting with one another, all wearing ornate masks that cover their cheeks and upper faces, and dressed in outlandish outfits, the more garish the better. One of the women appears to be wearing nothing but creen feathers. Rattlebone begins to poor the wine, while only a few of the guests go to their seats. The others come over to inspect Nox. "My, this one is really meaty!" one of the men comments, and squeezes Nox's rump. Others feel her legs, or belly or give her breasts a squeeze. "A proper cow," one notes.
This makes Nox growl! "I am not a cow, you monster," the skreek thinks as she squirms even more, making her large breasts sway about. Granted, they do look udder-like in this position, but still not as udder-like as Nicora often looks. She cannot cough, either, not with that apple in her jaws.
"Lively too," one man notes at the growl, which brings a chorus of high-pitched Eeee laughter with it. "Should really enhance the flavor, anger instead of fear."
There's a muffled comment from the bound skreek. It was probably rather vulgar and directed at the Eeee.
They group around Nox do eventually take their seats, after a few more pinches and gropes. The doctor then pushes the table over to be between Nox and the guests, and she opens a bottle of wine, which she uses to fill a goblet. This is set next to a platter - all in view of Nox, of course. The serpent then opens the medical bag, and removes the black bladed scalpel. The room is quiet, with everyone's attention on the doctor now.
Nox's eyes are wide and as much on that knife as they can be. "Control, control, control," the rat thinks as a mantra, keeping the knotted roiling shadow within her instead of lashing out in defense. "This is insane!"
The sharpness of the blade makes for very little pain, but Nox can still feel what's happen. The incision is shallow, just enough to part the skin as the doctor slices across the left buttock, almost from the tail to the hip, then changes to move downward along the leg, to past the middle of the thigh. A small cross cut is made there, but it's enough - the doctor can peal up the skin as a single flap to expose the muscle.
Nox jerks on the 'spit'. Her toes splay and what muscles she has control of tense up tightly. "Don't do it, don't do it," she thinks, forcing the shadow under control, but barely. This horrible event is trying to bring out all her defenses and she has to stop them.
The goblet of wine is then brought and poured across the exposed flesh. The muscles contract painfully in response, and there's no stopping Nox's eyes from watering as a result. The struggle to keep the shadow from reacting is made all the more difficult. Then the cutting begins. At first it can barely be felt, until Nox sees a foot-long, nearly transparently thing strip of flesh deposited onto the platter.
The pain makes the rat cry and bite down hard on the wooden apple; enough she might damage what teeth she has left. "They are doing it. Dear Gods, I don't believe this. And I'm letting them do it! I could stop this right now, become avenging death and destroy them all," the rat thinks, and it's so very, very, tempting. How can anyone, especially a doctor, do this to someone?
The problem is.. is this all of the patrons? There are only eight attending, and some of them are certainly couples. More wine is used to wash away the blood, and then the next thin strip is carved. The doctor's hands are very steady, and she is incredibly accurate. There are major blood vessels in the area, after all, and even nerves.. but she doesn't so much as nick anything critical. It takes some time, but after shaving what must have been an inch-deep in total, the plate is full. She sets aside her tool, and takes the platter down the table towards the skillet, and begins to uncover the dishes full of seasonings, sauces and other things, such as beetle pate and other sides and garnishes. It's Rattlebone that comes to pull the skin flap back over the exposed flesh of the Skreek.
Nox is breathing deep through her nose as much as she can. Her leg hurts, and it hurts bad. So far she has kept the shadow under control, but it is a continual struggle. She has lost a lot of flesh from that leg and buttock from what she can see on that plate. It's horrifying. Her heart is pounding and she can hear it. How much more are they going to take? Dear Gods, there's still the other side.
The meat is barely cooked - being so thin, it would probably turn to a blackened crisp if placed directly into the skillet. The sauces are mixed into the hot depression instead, along with other seasonings. The strips of flesh are then whisked through the mix before being placed onto small plates. After the meat preparation, the garnishes are added, and Rattlebone begins taking the finished plates to the dining table.
And Nox has to watch this, and feel sick. They're actually going to eat part of a sentient person! Granted she's normally a vampire and has to live off blood, but it's nothing like this. Her toes continue to splay, then contract, her nose quivers like mad.
Once the plates have been distributed, the doctor returns to her medical bag to get the suture needle, thread and 'meat glue' to seal up the wound. The pain at least distracts from the smell - because the food does smell tasty. The guests take their time and savor each bite for a full minute, chasing them down with sips of fine wine. They certainly seem to be enjoying it, and it's clearly for more than just the flavor.
Nox is glad for the distraction of the stitching; it's managing to keep her from getting sick to the point of wanting to vomit. Instead, all she is thinking on is all the horrible things she may do to these people later if she gets a chance. And of course keeping the shadow in check as thinking about such things tends to excite it some. "These people are ... yes, monsters. I cannot believe such still exist!" the rat thinks.
The doctor is methodical as ever, but just leaves Nox hanging on her spit for the duration of the meal. Nobody bothers to wipe up the spilled blood and wine beneath her, either. After the main course there's some sort of soup for dessert, and the Eeee chat amongst themselves as if it were just another dinner party. The one difference is that they never mention any names - either their own or anyone else's. It makes for rather meaningless gossip to anyone listening, since there's little clue to who is being talked about.
Nox, a bit calmer, tries to use her aura sense to learn more about these people. If this is what events are going to be like here, she isn't going to last too long without using the shadow after each 'event', and at some point it's going to get suspicious. She makes a mental note that she'll need to be able to contact Tulani during hopeful moments of rest and tell her when to send people. But ... there are so many people involved. How many more are there? She cannot let them escape, and must endure. Always endure. Somehow survive long enough to feel that she has identified enough and spring the final trap. A tight rope to walk, to be sure. This is a dangerous 'game', and she needs to time playing her hand before she actually does die.
Eventually the dinner cart and plates are cleared, and dessert is brought in. Something is also done with Nox: the big Naga begins attaching cords to the Skreek's rings, and Rattlebone bites her some more - and now that it won't affect the 'meat' he also bites her in the legs, ensuring that she's completely floppy. Only then does the big one (which Nox thinks Rattlebone called 'Ashad' at some point) begins to remove her from the spit.
Nox is in too much of shock to react immediately to being bitten again. And hardly a surprise, really. The attachment of ropes makes her blink, then she realizes what might be going on. "Oh you cannot be serious," the rat thinks, in quite a bit of pain, "I am not a puppet, you discharge of Dagh's rectum."
While the big serpent adjusts the cords, Rattlebone returns with a tambourine. And then removes the wooden apple from the Skreek's mouth.
And the first thing Nox does, is say something extremely vulgar about the naga ... in Chronotopian. "Oh, I do so hope I get some time alone with you when I'm back to normal," she thinks.
The sore jaw may slur things a bit, but it's enough to get a laugh from the audience. Rattlebone starts shaking and thumping the tambourine.. and using his own rattle as well, and Ashad starts to puppet the Skreek, making her curtsy to the guests.
Nox's body may move, but her expression is a mix of pain and extreme annoyance. She also has a few moments of coughing ... somehow appropriately aimed at the audience. "Okay, Naga are even bigger freaks than Eeee," the rat thinks as her body flops about, "And crueler."
All of the 'extra' control points on her back, neck and nose let Ashad move her fairly well, even controlling where her head points. Almost all of her weight is being supported by her back rings though, since her feet aren't touching the ground. She's made to 'dance' and 'fly' and kick very high. Even on the table, letting her get pretty close. Especially when she's made to 'bob' her breasts in someone's face, present her rear or have her legs thrown over someone's shoulder.
The leg movement /hurts/, and the wincing and occasional tears are real enough from that pain. There's coughing when she gets close, usually following a barrage of insults, conveniently in Chronotopian. Either about their parentage, or insults to their ability to keep time and the like; there are a /lot/ of Chronotopian time insults, after all. The bars in her back feel /very prominent through this. They don't /hurt/, but it is uncomfortable and a lot of disturbing pulling. "/What do you think of the cow now?/" she even thinks at one point where her breasts are waved right at the Eeee that made the earlier comment. Granted, with that collar she still wears, she rather does look the part of being livestock.
The women start putting things on Nox's collar - usually just bits of frosting or sticky pastry pieces. It might be a sort of 'tip' - except there's no way for the rat to get to them, so probably more of a tease. After being bounced in one man's lap for a moment, the Skreek finds herself grabbed and pushed back onto the table (which hurts her leg) and also has her limbs jerked a bit before Ashad can compensate. Her breasts are squeezed painfully as the man proceeds to rape her, while the others laugh, tease or cheer him on. The woman next to him makes a joke that he must feel lost in there!
"Ow, dammmit, screw you all!" Nox thinks as pain lances through her leg as she's jerked back onto the table. At this point being raped is hardly new to her! But, she does have one way she can fight back, she still has strong pelvic muscles, so tries to bear down so much it might get painful for the Eeee! Well, she'll try anyway, Inala's blessing may not actually allow that.
"Ah, she's got me!" the man declares at the clenching, causing everyone to laugh. "Does she have teeth?" the woman with him asks with a grin. "She's got something!" he claims. It does bring the man to a conclusion faster.. but now the others are curious, so the other men try too.. and the women grope and tickle as well.
"Well ... that backfired," Nox think glumly. So, she tries to relax things down there as much as possible. And at one point, she actually tries to urinate on one of the guests! Her left eye twitches, and she's trying to just bear the pain and to not make things too enjoyable.
Trying to urinate hurts, since Nox hasn't had any food or water since coming up from the dungeon. The Eeee don't notice, and one of the women claims that she wants the Skreek's pelt, which causes a slight argument among the women. "Hah, it'll be torn up anyway by Beyard," one claims, and the first woman says it might survive. The first man to have raped Nox laughs, and offers, "Well, she might make it through that, she's tough! But then Glass gets her.. so probably won't see the pelt after that. Or if you do.. you won't want it!"
"Who is Beyard? Who is Glass?" Nox thinks while she endures this indignity. But, it is at least giving her more information, from the fact they like having the pelts of people, to what may be coming. Both will be useful in the future, especially in identifying them and sending them to trial.
"Well.. I want to see the outcome with Beyard then," the first woman states.. so of course the others agree to come for that as well. "Maybe we'll get the full group?" one muses. "Hah, it'd take Glass to get everyone to come. Beyard is.. predictable."
"Who is Beyard?" Nox finally asks, proving she can speak their language.
"It talks," one of the women gasps in a very overly exaggerated fashion. One of the other women pats Nox's cheek, and says, "Oh, he's the stuff dreams are made of."
Nox tries to bite her! "Not an answer!" she growls.
The woman yanks her hand back, and Rattlebone stops the tambourine long enough to punch Nox square in the jaw.
This causes Nox to yelp!
"A souvenir," one of them says, offering up a bloody tooth to the woman Nox snapped at. "Wipe off the blood first," she comments.
"It's become a bit boorish," one of them says, and Rattlebone sticks a leather bit back into Nox's mouth to keep her from talking. Ashad yanks her strings then, making her dance a little jig in the center of the table.
Nox spits some blood on Rattlebone for that! Then back to being gagged for her, sigh! "I really hate these people," the rat thinks.
It takes some help from Rattlebone, but the 'finale' is Nox bent double and sticking her own nose into herself. On any other Skreek, this would probably result in a broken spine.. but Nox is particularly flexible! "One of these days I want to see one go up its own ass," one of the men comments, bringing more laughter. The Skreek is then 'danced' out of the chamber. Once in the hall, Ashad begins to unclip the cords and Rattlebone carries her back towards the operating room.
"Huh, so that's what I smell like," Nox ends up thinking when her nose is buried in her own gate. It's better to occupy her mind than to listen to those jerks! She's grateful when it ends, though, but not so much being draped like a limp rag over the serpent's shoulder. "I really, really, want to bite him," she thinks.
When Nox is hooked back onto the table, it's stomach down this time to keep her latest suture job exposed. She can't see it, since the collar keeps her from moving her head enough, but has to wonder what the dent must look like.
She knows what it feels like and it really hurts. The collar is also getting to her, it really does feel permanent at this point, instead of just the thought being in the back of her mind. Being on her stomahc otherwise isn't so bad, lying on her back rings gets uncomfortable sometime. "Well, at least that mess is over. I guess I get to rest for a bit. And ... worry who Beyard and Glass are," she thinks
A few minutes after Nox is hooked into the table, the doctor comes in and checks her jaw. "Swelling, not broken," she notes. "It's good that you still have sssome defiance. They will enjoy it more if you ssstruggle, unfortunately. You will not be fed or watered though from thisss point, if you haven't figured that out already. You may wish to ssave your spit."
Nox growls at this and eyes the naga. The rat then has to wonder why they are going to withhold food or water.
The doctor moves to the side of the table then, and pokes and prods the new stitches for leaks. Ashad also enters the room, and settles in front of Nox, so he can stare down at her.
The prodding at her leg makes her hiss and wince in pain. At least she does have the leather to bite on. Small mercies, that. She also tries to glare up at Ashad when she isn't wincing too much.
"Watch her for now," the doctor instructs after she's satisfied with her examination and leaves the chamber, closing the door behind her.
Nox's clamped ears flick back and she glares up at the serpent from the table. Growls a little, too.
Ashad leans in closer, until his massive head fills Nox's vision. Then he unhooks her still-limp wrists from their hooks.
Nox doesn't even flinch as she glares right back at the serpent, showing no fear of this reptile. "Just what is he up do?" she wonders.
The Skreek's arms are pushed down against her sides, and then one talon is used to tilt Nox's chin up. "I hope you can sssstill squirm a little bit," he hisses, before opening his jaws and swallowing the rat down to her wrists - apparently he doesn't want to have those through-the-wrist pieces inside of him.
It's surprisingly dry also.. but she's barely into the Naga's throat.
"Mpppgh!" goes Nox as she disappears into a foul-smelling darkness! She shouldn't really be durprised by this, and she can squirm a little; her back works after all and she can move that. It's also a shame that the collar she wears is smooth to avoid damaging anything around her, or she's be trying to damage his throat as she bangs her head around.
All of this seems to please the reptile - after all, it's the panic and struggle that translate to flavor for the Naga. And given his size, he probably doesn't get much that's large enough to feel.
And Nox keeps up the struggling! She's done this with Malagast before, after all. Except, well, she likes that snake and enjoys doing physical things with him. With this one it's more anger inducing ... and rather hard to breathe.
The collar helps to block the air, but the Naga's tongue is wrapped around Nox's torso, probably to feel her heartbeat, but also to constrict. It's like having the leather bands around her ribs again, keeping her from drawing a full breath.
Okay, the constricting bothers Nox, a lot. She didn't like the banding when she had that, and her side still hurts, and she doesn't like it now, either! This does actually make Nox thrash more, and worry she may soon black out!
The more she thrashes, the less oxygen she has.. and while it's hard to see anything anyway, the blackness obscuring her vision feels more like it's in her brain. She's soon choking.. and Ashad pulls her out so she can gasp in a lung full of air. But then it's right back into the maw again.
Getting a breath of air is not welcome, or helpful, since it means she's going right back in. This makes her thrash even more, though without arms and legs it's more wormlike than anything else! She also cann't bite due to that muzzle. That's frustrating.
The process repeats over and over, with Ashad careful to keep Nox conscious. But once her arms start to twitch, he stops and rehooks her wrists to the table. Then he just closes his jaws around her head - it's almost a kiss, comparatively, since his 'lips' stop at the collar.
Nox trashes her head as much as she can. Given how thick her collar is, she really has rather limited neck movement. "Curse this blasted serpent. Who raised these freaks?!" the rat thinks in actual anger as her slowly resuming arms twitch and pull at the hooks.
The struggling still seems to satisfy Ashad, even if it's not in his mouth. He also seems happy to keep 'suckling' on Nox's head, no matter how fowl the air in his mouth gets.
Nox so wants ot bite this jerk's tongue right now. Bite it clean off!
It doesn't help that the tongue actually rubs across her face. If not for the 'bit' locking her jaws in place she could!
This makes Nox growl! And surprisingly, thrash more!
And so Ashad keeps it up, and also bites down a bit harder. He does have teeth, like the exposed blade of a saw. They're mainly for gripping and making sure the path down the gullet is one-way (save for when it isn't). It's like being pricked by lots of little pins - not enough to break the skin, but very uncomfortable, especially on the underside of the head, where the jaw meets the throat.
Nox, though thoroughly pissed off, tries another tactic. She just goes completely limp. He wants thrashing? Not getting it from her.
Nox, now thoroughly...
The Naga tries tongue-whipping the Skreek's face, and even tugging on her head. But eventually gives up releases her. It's impossible to read a Naga's general non-expression, and the bigger ones are even more inscrutable. But if the tongue movements could be likened to tail thrashing, then Ashad is disappointed.
And this makes Nox just grin around her leather bit. Smug rat.
"You have not been through the worst yet," Ashad hisses. "I could ssspare you that, and eat you now."
Nox snorts at that. She waves her head in almost a dismissive way (as much as she can move her head), then just closes her eyes.
Ashad slinks away.. or to the side, anyway. But not before giving the rat a squeeze on her diminished buttock. "Ssssuit yourssself," he hisses.
"Ow, dammit, leave the butt alone!" the rat thinks when pain lances through it! She can't look over her shoulder, so she can't make a face at the departing naga. "The Yodhblakat are normal compared to these freaks. They make the Kindly ones seem actually kind. I'm going to so love bringing them down."