Cerise wakes slowly. She isn't certain when she went to bed last night, but being spooned by a big purring feline must have helped her sleep well. The spell of numbness on her butt is starting to wear off though. She can hear Wretch stirring in his nest next to the bed, probably due to the smell of food. Someone has wheeled in a breakfast cart. Abel rouses when Cerise does, and slips out of the bed to prepare the breakfast table.
"Blugh," the rat remarks as she wakes up, blinking her eyes slowly. She also pokes a bit at her wrists to see how they are doing after she rolls to her side to spare her behind. "Don' wanna wake up yet," she grumbles.
Her wrists are still a bit sore, and if she holds them up before a light she can still see through the tunnels in them. They seem more wrinkled on the inside though - without the bars through them, they're starting to lose their shape.
"You need to eat something," Abel signs to the groggy Skreek. "You are having your butt fixed today. Soon you will be able to use the toilet again."
It's slow, but Cerise manages to sit upright and favor her undamaged side. She should eat, given how long it has been, so even though she doesn't want to, she knows she has to. "Yay, me," the rat signs to Abel, then yawns widely.
Wretch drags Swix over one shoulder as he approaches the table. There's already a covered basket-bowl laid out, which is shaking slightly from the live contents. Another bowl is full of fruits, and there's a basket of bread. A steaming pot on the tray is being tended to by Abel, who stirs the contents and adds ingredients, including milk.
"I'll have whatever is in the pot," Cerise says after stifling another wide yawn. "What time is it, anyway?" she asks.
"Breakfast time!" Wretch says, sounding cheerful. He even smiles widely at Cerise, showing a mouthful of muffins.
"Morning," Abel signs in reply, and soon sets a shallow bowl in front of Cerise. It's filled with some sort of thin porridge, but the plainness is disturbed by a nested brown spiral of what is probably maple or cinnamon and a golden spiral of honey. It's certainly easier to eat when missing a lot of teeth.
Cerise rolls her eyes a little. Wretch needs manners, bigtime, but it's cute. The rat then focuses on the porridge. Liquids sit better in her stomach as it is, given her vampiric bent. "When do I go see the magical butt-fondler?" she signs to Abel while she eats.
"They will be coming here," Abel says, and lifts the lid off of a basket of fat, colorful beetles for Swix.. who just sticks his entire head into the basket to gulp down the bugs. "Soon," the Savanite adds.
"Here? Why here? This room isn't exactly built for magic," Cerise signs, "And don't look at me like that, I've been around enough to know a few things!" Back to eating for a bit she goes, brow furrowed in thought.
"Security," Abel signs.
"And not because you find me irresistible?" Cerise jokes.
"It would be more convenient to seduce you while you are recovering, yes," Abel signs back with only a slight smirk. "They will also be tending to the other two, I imagine."
And to counter that, Cerise reaches over and tries to grab him between his legs. She does this while still eating with her other hand, no less.
Abel doesn't try to escape, and even stands still once grabbed. Well, mostly still.. he does return the grope by squeezing there nearer of Cerise's breasts.
"Touche," the rat remarks and lets go. Not quite the reaction she expected, admittedly. "What about thunder-thighs? Will she be present?" Cerise inquires.
"I assume so," Abel signs. "She seems protective of you three, so would likely want to oversee any procedures."
"Going to make a pass at her?" Cerise signs this time and waggles her brow at Abel.
"Do you wish me to distract her?" Abel replies with a raised eyebrow and flick of his ears. "Do you know if she likes Savanites?"
"You don't have to distract her, I'm just trying to get her in trouble. And I hear she does, some weird one with all sorts of body decoration," Cerise signs and shrugs, "Street stories. Hard not to notice."
"Did you sleep well?" Abel signs while eating a muffin of his own. "I hope you did not mind my presence."
"Best sleep in thirty days or so," Cerise signs, "And of course I didn't mind. Why would I?"
"Some Skreeks do not care for felines," Abel notes. There's a knock at the door then, which opens before the cheetah can respond. Tulani enters, back-end-first as she carries a small but heavy-looking trunk. "You're setting up in the bathroom, right?" she says to someone still outside the door.
"Hark, do I hear the dulcet tones of Thunder-Thighs?" Cerise remarks and looks up from her meal. "And wow, even more junk in the trunk today."
"I could ask them to give you a bit more padding too," Tulani retorts. The three Life Mages look into the room, noses and whiskers a-wiggle. "Yes, near the tub please," the doe tells Tulani.
"You wouldn't want the competition," Cerise counters with ease. "Why the bathroom?" then she asks.
"The bathtub makes it easier to wash away the blood and pus," the doe says cheerfully. The Skreek and Skeek mages gravitate to the breakfast table.
"I don't think I'm hungry any more," Cerise remarks and pushes the bowl away. As far as she knows, there is no pus, but .... meh.
"Don't worry, I'll dull your senses so you won't smell or feel anything," the doe remarks, and follows Tulani into the bathroom.
"So you say!" Cerise retorts. They may dull some senses, but she has several they don't even know about!
The other two Mages check over Wretch and Swix - without using magic, apparently. The Skreek has an apple in his mouth, while the Skeek's cheeks are puffed out from being stuffed. They also don't get in the way of their Naga and Skreek patients own mouth-stuffing activities.
Tulani soon returns, and frowns a bit as she looks over the breakfast layout. "No sausage or coffee?" she laments.
"Their digestive systems should not be shocked," the Skeek woman notes. "They have to get used to real food first, and replenish their vitamin levels. They are both a bit anemic."
This leaves Cerise to cause problems, so she ends up playing with the skreek and skeek tails. One in each hand, in fact. "Aha, I get it. I have found the tell-tail signs of trouble," the rat jokes, holding up the respective tails.
Both Mages give Cerise an odd look.. then her bowl. "Please don't dip them in anything?" the Skeek asks. "Woofio just broke his tail-sucking habit.." The Skreek Mage looks like he's about to choke on his apple at the comment.
"You can suck on my tail if you want, Cerise," Wretch volunteers. Even Swix raises up the tip of his own tail.
"I ... hm. I think I shall not say what I could due to polite company," Cerise observes, and therefore instead uses the tails as if they were short swords and duels with herself for a few seconds instead.
The Mages don't seem to mind this 'indignity' at all.. which suggests that they might be more used to dealing with children than with the severely injured. Woofie even makes cooing sounds and tickles Swix to get him to open his mouth wide enough for the Skreek to get a better look at his gums.
Cerise sticks a couple biscuits on the end of Woofie's tail. The rat then goes back to eating so she can finish up her meal.
Wretch's teeth also get examined - he's got several missing and broken ones on the sides of his mouth, just like Cerise, and likely for the same reasons. "Your friend Moggie is going to be fine," the Skeek tells Wretch. "She needs some more special care is all. You can come visit her in a few more days."
"Can't you fix his teeth?" Cerise inquires of the mage. Alptraum could using the shadow to reshape him a bit, after all.
"Well.. I can't but a good prosthodontist could," the Skeek replies. "He needs to get his iron levels higher, and deal with.. uh.. I think it's called 'scurvy'.. But once he's in good health he should be able get some implants to replace the missing teeth. You'll want to look into that yourself, Miss Cerise. But for you the issue is.. well.. the carving they did." The mouse's whiskers droop considerably as the topic comes up.
"Yes, I'm well aware I was the butt of their jokes," Cerise remarks a bit dryly. "You said yesterday you could fix that. Has that changed?"
"Mage Candifloss will be handling that," the Skeek says, and tilts her head towards the bathroom. "She's the trauma and soft-tissue specialist."
Meanwhile, Tulani is quietly mollified by a shoulder-rub from Abel. Which probably will have the opposite effect that a cup of Mateh would.
"At least you didn't call in the Yodhgorphat for this," Cerise has to say, "I've heard stories." She shifts again to ease the soreness in her backside. "Who is paying for this? None of us have any money."
The Skeek Mage blinks. "The Coalition is paying for everything right now," she explains. "I think they plan to recoup the costs from the estates of the accused, if they are found guilty."
"Pity you can't do a butt transplant," Cerise notes, "But then you'd also have to remove their sticks."
This causes Woofio to snort. The Skeek, however, says, "I don't think Candifloss uses sticks in her grafts.."
"The skeek doesn't get out much, does she?" Cerise asks the skreek.
"Sally mostly deals with children," Woofio explains. "That's the only thing that will get her out of the Guild tower."
Cerise ahhs. "She needs to get out more, then," she says.
"Now that she has Moggie there, it seems unlikely," Woofio claims.
Sally hmmphs, and pats Wretch. "Pre-natal magic is very demanding work," she squeaks. "I don't have time to be.. out.. doing whatever it is people do outside of work."
"Pity, there are children outside of the tower," Cerise notes and shrugs. She glances towards the bathroom now.
There is an ominous glow coming the bathroom.. but at least it isn't green. It's pink. The barely-above-a-whisper chanting of the Lapi mage can be heard with a bit of effort.
"Once there is a proper clinic.." Sally mutters, and checks Wretch's ears.
Cerise goes back to eating now and leaves the mages to their work.
"Children will never be a problem for me," Cerise remarks idly in a pause. "I'm sterile."
"There are plenty of children available for adoption," Sally pipes up. "Or you could become a teacher.."
"Hah!" Cerise barks.
The mages go about their work, sometimes casting simple cantrips to elicit some sort of response that only they can understand. Once everyone is finished eating, Abel cleans things up, and Cerise become more aware of her injured backside as the numbing spell continues to wear off.
The chanting from the bathroom finally ends, and a long-eared head pokes out to announce, "I'm ready for her now."
"Do I need an apple in my mouth again?" Cerise asks the lapi dryly.
"An.. apple?" the does asks in confusion.
"Need me to carry you?" Tulani asks Cerise.
Cerise gets up and balances on one leg. The rat seems determined to try to hop by herself if she can. "You know, for the platter presentation," the rat explains.
"I'm afraid I don't understand the reference," Mage Candifloss says apologetically. "I'm a herbivore, so.."
"Probably for the best," Cerise admits as she uses the wall as balance as she tries to hobble-hop to the bathroom.
The Skreek still needs help with the sunken tub. There's a cushion set in place at the end opposite the drain and plumbing, and the doe helps Cerise to lie down onto her belly, with the cushion for her head. "I'm going to give you something that might make you feel a bit woozy," the mage explains. "You may fall asleep, or lose chunks of time.. but it isn't like you'll really be missing anything."
"I better not be missing anything else when I wake up," Cerise warns as she eases down into the tub with help, then lies down on her stomach, head propped up on the pillow.
"I do have to remove the scar tissue," the doe notes, and then puts some sort of charm on Cerise's forehead, where it magically sticks to her fur. Everything seems to dim a bit, even in the brightly lit bathroom. It's like a Shadow Privacy spell, but applied to her body instead of an area.
"Here's a sensation I know. I hope she doesn't detect the shadow that's part of me," the rat thinks a bit in this sort of odd twilight state of mind. As long as there is no danger to her, the shadow shouldn't try to defend her at least. "After a bitter battle, the rat gets a better butter," she remarks oddly.
"Well, not better," Tulani claims. This is followed by a muted sense of warmth and wetness, along with the sounds of running water. The shower-hose is being used. This is followed by a mild.. scraping sensation.. around the injured area.
The rat has had worse things done to her butt. Outside of the cutting, that one guard used it extensively for his own jollies. She figures they're having to shave it to see the real damage.
"Ewww," Tulani says as the skin is exposed. "You can fix the skin too, right?" she asks the bunny. "Don't worry about it," the mage replies. "Just hold the sprayer. I'm going to make the incision and there will be stuff coming out that you need to wash away." This is followed by a cold pressure on the bruised area, and a sense of parting and pressure release.
Cerise is thinking all too much about Nicora in this weird state thanks to their commentary. Except Nicora is usually proud when she's oozing something; this situation is nothing to be proud of. It also dawns on her that Tulani is here as a witness; she has to report on this.
"How could they.." Tulani says, and then the spray wavers for a moment. "Hold it steady please," the unflustered Lapi instructs. Cerise isn't technically paralyzed this time, and even though things are dulled (or at least seem distant) having her skin pulled away isn't that different from the first time it was done. She feels the exposure of the wound now. "Cerise," the doe says in that calm bunny voice, "I'm going to remove the scar and other damaged tissue now. It will probably remind you of what you went through before, so please try not to move or clench your muscles."
"Mrpghplth," Cerise replies, at least acknowledging the request. So, she focuses inward, trying to not think about what is going on back there or what she is feeling right now. One way to focus is to just count backwards from one thousand, in every language she knows ... so each number in each language, before moving to the next.
There is chanting, as the Lapi casts cantrips while she works. From the feel, she's also using an obsidian scalpel - possibly from the same maker as the ones the doctor used. Things tingle where the cutting is happening, probably from whatever magic is being used. It isn't the numbing sort however - but not unlike having a limb fall asleep from having the blood flow restricted. There are also wet sounds as bits are dropped into a pan. Tulani's aura is definitely on the sickly green side now.
"Well, at least Tulani now knows in detail what I've been through," Cerise thinks. It's a bit grim, but this is probably putting perspective in on how bad it really got. She half-expects Gorphat is somehow watching this too, but doesn't dwell on that long. It's back to counting backwards.
The cutting stops, and a new odor intrudes as the sound of a ceramic lid being unscrewed from something is heard. "That smell," Tulani says. "I know I've smelled that before.."
"Oh dear Gods, they're using maggots," Cerise realizes. HER maggots. There's a disturbing irony here.
Something cold and wet is laid into Cerise's exposed 'trench', reaching all the way from the butt end to the back of the thigh. "You're from Chronotopia?" the mage asks. There is a wiggling sensation, certainly, along with the heavier, wetter one.
"Border town.. technically Sylvanian.." Tulani mutters.
The squirming is.. different. It really does feel like maggots are involved, but.. they aren't nibbling, exactly.
Great, now the rat is wondering what's on her butt, but she cannot look.
"You may have smelled this before then," Candifloss says. "Sylvanian Ichor. Nothing better for preserving donor tissue for grafting."
"And the.. are they maggots?" Tulani asks, sounding queasy.
"Donor tissue? Donor from who," Cerise now has to wonder. She doesn't need someone else's butt!
"Not.. exactly," the Lapi replies. "They're modified. See how they cluster at the ends like that? They'll latch on to the ends of the muscle strands and.. connect them up with their bodies. Ancient Babel stuff, from the Tower."
Cerise doesn't like the sound of this. Ancient tech being used on her?!?
Another layer of 'donor tissue' is laid in, followed by more squirming.
And Cerise is really fighting the urge to complain, a lot.
"How do you get the bugs back out?" Tulani asks.
"You don't, they just sort of dissolve in the bonding process," the Lapi notes. "It's really more complicated than that - they work with the ichor somehow to prevent tissue rejection. I don't know exactly what's going on, but I suspect that the ichor 'washes out' the bits that say 'this tissue came from person A' and the bugs sort of transfer the 'person B' bits into it... so that it really becomes the same as the rest of the muscle around it. It's Igor stuff. Not widely used, but really handy for dealing with major injuries."
"You studied under an Igor?" Tulani asks in surprise.
Another layer is applied in silence. "More.. dated one.." the doe admits. "To someone in my field.. they look really fascinating.."
"Good lord, this mage is crazy. Completely crazy," Cerise thinks, "To date an Igor. Now I wonder how this will react to shadow shifting."
"So..." Tulani says hesitantly. "Just out of curiosity.." she leads. The mage must reply with a gesture, because she doesn't say anything.. but Tulani gasps, and then giggles. "Oh my.. I know the Igorina's are popular, but never guessed.."
"I can't believe they're talking about this now," Cerise thinks. Back to counting she goes for the distraction.
More layers of new tissue get added. "I can't do anything about the missing fat," Candifloss notes. "That'll have to fill back in on its own. She just needs to get the new stuff stimulated. Massage, walking around, and so forth, so the nerves will grow. She'll still have a dent though until the layer of fat rebuilds. She'll still have a limp for a bit too. The new muscle needs to be worked out."
"I could have just fixed this with the shadow," Cerise grumbles in thought, but no, she has to pretend to be normal.
Even now, there's some pins-and-needles sensation where the first layers were added in. And a more literal pin-and-needle when the skin is folded back over and begins to be stitched closed. "I'll give you a cream that needs to be rubbed on to help with the skin bruising," the doe notes.
"Greeeaaaat, regular butt massages," Cerise thinks. Blugh.
"Anything else?" Tulani asks. "Does she need to avoid sitting down?"
"Oh no, she needs to use her butt as much as she can," the doe notes, before more warm water washes over the now bare skin. "Blood circulation is key. So massages, stretches and vigorous sex."
"That last one will actually help?" Tulani asks skeptically.
"Hah, right, sex with who?" Cerise thinks. She's still quite the mess. "Typical lapi!"
"It should help stimulate her appetite too, and release endorphins and other chemicals that will improve her mood," the Lapi claims. "Mood is very important for recovery."
"Still doesn't answer as to who. Might as well just have one of those Yodhinala toys to occupy myself with," the rat thinks.
Tulani is quiet for a moment, then says, "You may be asked to testify at the trial, since.. we can't show Cerise's butt as evidence."
"That won't be a problem," the mage says. "You can towel her dry now, while I put my supplies away. Then I'll show you how to use the cream."
Cerise has no problems with mooning a court of law, oddly enough.
The charm is finally removed from Cerise's forehead.. and she feels sore. Just a different kind of sore than before. She also can't feel the new tissue as being her yet, so it's like an odd, foreign mass in her rear.
"I heard all of that," Cerise remarks as she blinks several times. "I want to moon the court. I never get to have any fun."
"I'll let the prosecutor know," Tulani says, and helps the Skreek to her feet so she can be dried with a towel.
Cerise staggers to her feet and balances on her one good leg for the moment. "I also felt most of it. You stuck weird things in my butt," she accuses the lapi.
"The weird thing was Skreek muscle tissue," Candifloss claims. "It is no weirder than what was removed. And having weird things stuck into your butt is something everyone should experience at some point."
"I prefer a more traditional insertion," Cerise claims and crosses her arms over her chest. "Where did you get it from, anyway?"
"No idea," the mage admits. "That jar was sealed for.. uh.. a few decades I think."
"And it is still good? Are you crazy?" Cerise has to ask.
"Of course it's still good," the doe says, crossing her own arms. "It's likely from an Igor or Igorina."
"I'm well-familiar with them. They're all crazy," Cerise counters.
"So, just means you've gone from half-assed to crazy-assed," Tulani says with a grin, and offers an elbow so Cerise isn't hopping on one leg. "Nobody will notice!"
"Eh, fine, I deserved that," Cerise concedes as she accepts the offered elbow. To the lapi she does say, "Thank you. Hopefully that was some of the worst you've seen."
"Not even close," the Lapi claims. To Tulani she says, "Go bend her over the side of the bed, and I'll be right out."
Cerise looks to Tulani. "If you pull out a strap-on, I will kick the crap out of you," she warns the sphynx.
"Now there's a thought," Tulani teases, and helps Cerise to the bed.. and bends her over it as instructed.
Cerise hobbles her way back and goes over easily enough. She looks over her shoulder, brow arched. The rat knows this is about the medicine, but still.
The look back also shows the exposed skin.. which so darkly purple in places that's nearly black. The doe finally comes out with a big white jar, and gestures for Tulani and Abel to come closer. "You'll need to apply this two times a day to the bruised area," she explains, and scoops out a big glop of the stuff which she then slaps right onto the exposed area. "Work it really good," she instructs next, and gets in there with both hands, rubbing and kneading. "Also, once a day, use it on her fingertips. It'll keep the nail-roots from scarring over while she grows new claws."
Well, at least her breasts don't need to be massaged, nor does her vulva. Small mercies. "I feel like I'm on display," she comments as she looks back at the others. "So, how bad was the damage down below?"
Cerise asks.
"Not as bad as a grok attack," Candifloss says. "Nothing torn, since the cuts were clean. And you're not as fragile there as an Eeee." She steps back, and gestures for Abel to try his hand at it. Hands that are much larger and stronger than a Lapi's. "You'll need to stretch things often, along with impact and massage," she instructs. Abel is able to really squeeze things.
"I am very durable," Cerise claims, "A survivor." She still thinks this approach to shutting down that 'club' was probably crazy, but what is done is done.
"Make sure she gets three hours of activity a day, although more is better," the Lapi instructs. Sally and Woofio also have bits of paper for Tulani. "These things need to be introduced to their diets over the next few days. Remind the chef that Wretch will have issues chewing, so everything should be pre-cut and thoroughly tenderized.."
The Sphynx looks at the notes, then looks up. "I have never seen a prescription written for steak before."
"Bring me Malagast from the club and I'll get lots of workout," Cerise thinks, but knows better than to say it. This also means she won't be able to go after that Barinala anytime soon. She might make that jerk her slave at this rate. Or Alptraum's slave. Her head shakes a bit, then she resumes listening to the instructions. "So, I won't see any of you again?" she asks.
"We'll still be checking on your progress," Candifloss says. "Especially if you need more targeted physical therapy."
"I am sure I will be fine," Cerise claims.
"I'll escort the mages back out then, and talk to the chef," Tulani says. "I'll try to check back on you all a little later."
Cerise tailswats Tulani light on her backside. "You better," the rat claims. "And be careful, eh? Lots of nasties in the city."
"Not as many now though," the Sphynx notes with a grin, and leads the mages out.
And Cerise promptly crawls back onto the bed and lies belly-down. "Blugh."
Abel follows, straddling the rat's legs to rub her back while purring loudly. Wretch is on the side of the bed, resting his chin on the covers and looking at Cerise.
Cerise does at least enjoy the back rub. As for Wretch, her head turns a bit to look at him. "Yes?" she inquires, curious as to why he is looking at her.
"Did you ever enjoy being with me, down in the cell?" Wretch asks.
"Yes? Why do you ask?" Cerise inquires.
"I wanna do that some more," the white Skreek says, and smiles hopefully. "I really liked it when it wasn't a chore. You feel really nice inside."
"I'm not in the greatest shape for it, but okay. I won't get pregnant, though," Cerise reminds gently.
"It can just be for feeling good," Wretch says, climbing onto the bed. "It's something that makes me feel.. at home?" he adds, and tries to shoo Abel away.
And Cherise tries to shoo Abel to her front. Why? Well, the cat deserves a reward too and there is at least one she can offer him.
The cheetah moves as directed, a bemused and curious expression on his face.
Cherise grabs the cheetah again lower down and pulls him closer. She undoes his garb enough to expose things, then licks the cat where she grabbed earlier. As for Wretch, it's painful to shift her rump up some and moves her tail, but she gets herself in position for him too.
Wretch doesn't approach things like he did in the cell. There aren't any restraints and no threat of punishment for not performing. It's new for the Skreek, so while he still inserts himself, he isn't in a rush to really get started. He nuzzles the back of Cerise's head, nibbles on her ears and neck, and reaches under to massage her breasts before starting to move. Abel is surprised, and purrs louder at the attention. Swix.. is staring intently at a candle flame, finding it much more interesting.
And so while Wretch is finding his way inside her, Abel is as well, only differently. One that involves some teeth, an tongue, and someone with experience at using both in this way. Moving her hindquarters is stiff, sore, and odd, so having the cat to also focus on helps cope with that to a degree. Yes, the rat is still very much a slut; she enjoys it all ways, and by now, even the taste of things. Given her condition, she has to take things slow; but given how trigger-happy men tend to be, that is probably for the best.
Abel was a bit pent up, as it turned out. So was Wretch, but the Skreek knew how to overcome that. It meant getting Cerise on her back though, so that he could nurse on her. The 'cursed' milk gave him the stamina boost he needed. It was important that Cerise get her full three hour workout, after all. And once it was revealed that she gave milk, of course Abel became curious. At the end, Cerise was very sore, everywhere, but it was a more pleasant sort of soreness. The Skreeks bathed before Tulani returned with dinner. This time they got to see the chef: a female Eeee who also wore Thath's sigil around her neck. A precaution to make sure nobody could mess with their food, most likely.
And Cerise already had a nice meal. Or was it an appetizer? To the rat it certainly tasted nice, whatever it could be classified as. By the time the meal arrives, she sits up, grumbling from the soreness. But, at least she can sit straight now for the most part. "Who's the squeak?" Cerise asks of Tulani and gestures to the Eeee.
"Thath's personal chef, Miss Evenrude," Tulani introduces the woman, who begins uncovering hot dishes. As per mage's orders, there's Rughrat meat, in a stew with various vegetables. The small chunks of meat look like they're ready to fall apart on their own. There's also bread and fish. Whole fish, chilled with ice. They're still alive, just torpid from the cold.
"I claim the stew," Cerise claims as she pops her knuckles. "Thank you, Miss," she adds to the chef. The rat starts trying to serve herself.
Some of the stew goes to Wretch, who forgoes using a spoon. Instead he uses chunks of bread to shovel the stew into his mouth. Swix is fascinated by the fish. "Shiny shiny shiny," he coos, before finally gulping one down whole. Abel and Tulani share a fish, the cheetah expertly filleting it first. The stew itself isn't too thick, but is very rich. There's either butter or some other fat added to it to raise the energy content. It isn't as spicy as Babelite stew usually is, but this is likely to spare Wretch any further shock to his untrained palate.
And Cerise eats with a surprising display of manners. She, she may act rough and uneducated, but it becomes a bit more obvious she has some skill in proper etiquette. "When is the trial supposed to be?" she asks of Tulani in a pause in the eating.
"They're doing jury selection right now," Tulani explains. "So if they don't hit any snags or get into a lawyer brawl, things will probably start by late morning tomorrow."
"That quickly?" Cerise says, sounding mildly surprised. "Have the Yodh promised to stay out of it?"
The Sphynx nearly snorts. "Oh.. on the contrary, they're going to be part of the prosecution," Tulani claims with a very cruel grin. "Chief Prosecutor Zerastra is Yodhrephath. Oh, she doesn't wear the robes or symbols or anything.. but you can tell."
Cerise ponders, wondering if she has actually met her. "Is that wise? How will people feel about them being involved?" the rat asks. "And who will be defending them?"
"They've got a bunch of Nagas," Tulani says. "Old 'fixers' for the nobles. They're going to be tried together, but 'staff' is being handled separately. They've got a public defender. None of the nobs sprung for their defense."
"Some of the staff are probably innocent. They should be examined by mind mages for memory tampering. You saw the guard I was rescued with," Cerise comments between bites. "I imagine I am in for some unpleasant time as a witness. What is going to be done to prevent assassinations inside the courtroom. Are the Yodhsunala not going to accept any, well, contracts?"
"I don't think the Yodhsunala do that anymore," Tulani says. "I think a lot of this is going to be laying out how the Yodh will officially operate with the government from now on. And Cyprian is going to be there, along with a few other mages to ensure nobody is lying or evading."
"Cyprian will be there? I have heard of him. The Avenger? That's going to make me uneasy," Cerise admits. "Not that I'll lie, just the idea of someone messing around in my head, you know?" She gives Tulani a look.
"They aren't going to be messing around or influencing anything," Tulani promises. "Just there as lie detectors. Aaaaand maybe to show cooperation between the Coalition and the Mages Guild. And to drive home the seriousness of the situation, by having a basically unimpeachable hero ensuring fairness."
"What about other people, like this Barsunala bloke the streets talk about? He going to be making an appearance?" Cerise asks. "Or well, no one probably knows, right? I hear he's like a phantom. Heck, maybe he doesn't really exist."
"Unlikely," Tulani says. "At least, not at the trial. The Yodh will be involved, but not in a religious sense, I'm told. Unless there's going to be executions, then the Yodhsunala and Yodhrephath are supposed to officiate and enact any divine punishments."
"Good. Last thing I need is another creepy bat," Cerise remarks, then has to quickly apologize to the chef.
"Would you like any spices for your stew," Evenrude replies to the apology. "It might be a bit bland for experienced tastes."
"I can't say any more.. because I don't know any more," Tulani says. "And as witnesses you shouldn't know any more, either."
"Sure?" Cerise replies to Evenrude. To Tulani, she nods, "Fair enough, that. I will warn ahead of time I might try to strangle one of them on sight."
"Strangling people in court isn't allowed," Tulani says, as the chef adds some spices to Cerise's bowl of stew.
"It should be," Cerise insists and then resumes eating some stew, fully expecting the chef to have made it unbearable.
It isn't too spicy.. fairly mild really. The difference is in the quality of the spices. There are some that Cerise has never had before, which might be based on citrus. Thath's kitchen has access to all that Saskanar can offer though.
"So, what happens to all of us after this? Put back on the streets to fend for ourselves?" Cerise asks next, glancing up.
"Those found guilty will forfeit their estates, which would be liquidated to pay recompense to the victims and their families," Tulani notes. "And also fund some Graytown projects that have already been planned for."
That gives Cerise a pause. "What about any children they may have? Anyone innocent in their estate? Will they suffer because of the choices of their parents, or spared in some way?" the rat asks. "Some children will punish themselves enough over that their parents have done without help."
"I can't comment on the issue of children of the defendants," Tulani notes. "That is something that will be addressed during the prosecution.."
"All right. I just don't want to see a horror compounded in the pursuit of justice," Cerise says quietly.
"Anyway.. tomorrow will be a big day," Tulani says. "I don't know if Wretch will be called on to testify. Mage Sally really doesn't think he could handle it right now, but he will be required to attend."
"I don't think he could handle it at all," Cerise agrees. "Really, just Moggie and myself, and Moggie is suspect on if she could. She will need to be treated gently." The rat then shrugs a little. "It's kind of funny. I want them to be punished for what they did, and yet part doesn't want to kill them. I mean, I don't want to become as horrible inside as they were and not care whether someone lives or dies."
"It isn't up to you or me to punish them," Tulani says. "It's up to the people of Babel and the law. A lot of ugliness is going to be exposed during this trial. Stuff nobody knew about except for the Yodh."
"Yeah, but my faith in people is a bit low," the rat admits and shrugs.
"Babel's faith in itself has always been low," Tulani points out. "At least for the regular folks. This is hopefully going to change that."
Cerise lets out a long breath. "We'll see," she says. "We'll see."