There was plenty of massaging and grooming in the pool, but eventually people needed to retire for the night. Soulin was going to be staying over in one of the guest rooms that were part of Bara's suite. Nikky was offered one of the regular guest rooms, although Fluffer offered to let her share his (and Jan's) room and bed.

Nikky opted for the private room, despite flirting at Soulin about joining him in his. So the now clean and fluffed rat finds herself in her own room, which has a bed and a dressing table and washbasin, along with an Eeee perch suspended from the ceiling. A little aura sensing lets her know who is still awake and who is asleep in the building, and finding Bara and Soulin's 'cool' auras isn't difficult - it helps that they're close together, so unlikely to be mistaken for Nagas.

"Right, so, time to talk to Bara about the Day of Blakat, I think," Nikky muses as she plops her butt down on the bed and swings her feet playfully. It's several deep breaths to calm herself down so that she can focus and let herself slip into shadow so the rat can disappear and the bat can return. So, she counts to three, then on the exhale the shadow flows and she disappears into its cool embrace to try and find Alptraum.

It's not exactly difficult at this point. The shadow may be becoming more efficient with use, even. But when Alptraum emerges, it doesn't completely retreat, draping itself around him like a shroud. It will certainly be needed for sneaking around after all.

"Time go be spooky," Alptraum mutters to himself as he rises. He heads to the door, listens and senses first, then only opens the door when it seems clear. Now it's just a matter of going back towards the baths where the two Eeee once were ... and perhaps the shadow can help muffle any sound he may make.

It's eerie, especially for an Eeee, just how much the shadow muffles things like sight and sound. If not for aura and Wraith-vision, Alptraum would have trouble navigating himself. But once back at the pool, it's easier to recall which way the siblings left by. It also helps already knowing where they are, since it makes choosing a path easier.

Soon Alptraum is outside the suite of rooms that the Mistress of Paradise calls home.

Alptraum takes it slow; there's no reason to rush. A few steps, more sensing and identifying where everyone may be, then moving onward. Hopefully he won't enter in on them doing something ... weird. If they are related, the two being intimate would be ... eef. But then again Babel is known for weird.

The central sitting area is dark, and Alptraum can tell that Soulin is asleep in one of the rooms. The other, similar aura of Bara is in a different room, but still awake.

"Pity, I was going to mess with Soulin," Alptraum thinks, amused and perhaps slightly disappointed. Still, Bara is awake and he does want to talk with her briefly. So ... he glides up to her door and raps his knuckles upon it. The shadow flows such that it's hopefully occluding the sound of that knocking to all except that room.

The door is answered in short order by Bara, still wearing nothing but holding a hairbrush in her hand. "You are not my brother," she notes to Alptraum, with a bit of surprise.

Bara's Room
For a former Yodhinala, Bara has a very sedate sense of decoration. There's a full-length dressing mirror and two standing wardrobes, a modest bed, a dressing table with another mirror, some lamps and a large roll-top desk. The only visible sign of decadence is the ivory grooming kit on the table, an ornate jewelry box and comfortable antique chairs. There's no personal shrine, statuary, tapestries or anything else that looks like it came from the Temple of Inala.

"No, I am not. Would you prefer I go get him?" Alptraum inquires as his white brow arches up slightly. "Or should I get you a robe? You are naked?"

"I just had a bath," Bara claims, and turns to return to the seat at her dressing table, where she goes back to brushing out her long hair while watching Alptraum. "I'd think you were used to people being naked. Or do the spirits of the dead wear clothes? I hope they don't. It would cause some sort of fashion crisis. Am I about to die?"

Alptraum follows, then reaches over Bara's shoulder and plucks the comb from her fingers. Then without asking he starts combing her hair instead. "People appear as they saw themselves in life," he notes, "People are the sum of their memories, after all. And no, you are not about to die. Unless you want to."

"This.. is odd," the woman notes as her hair is brushed. "What did you want to see me about then? What could I possibly do for you?"

"Would you prefer that I cut your hair instead? Or braid it?" Alptraum inquires. "As for why I am here, I understand that you have concerns about the upcoming Day of Blakat. I wished to discuss such with you."

The woman stiffens slightly. "I will open my doors to those who seek sanctuary," she says. "Is that a problem?"

"Of course it is a problem," Alptraum continues as the brushing continues. "There should be no need for more sanctuaries. That's just treating a symptom instead of the problem. What I would like to do is ... change the event. I think it would be better as some sort of athletic event, where people can compete to join. That way they get better ... recruits. Once that want to join, not onces that were forced to because their family lacked money or sufficient guards."

"Ah.. so like Blakatball then?" Bara asks. "Or some sort of fighting competition?"

"Mmm, probably a mix," Alptraum notes. "As those that would want to join them would ideally like fighting." The Eeee shrugs a little and keeps brushing in smooth and even strokes. "And we will need a venue. I thought you may have some opinions on such."

"A.. venue?" Bara asks. "If not a stadium, then I assume you mean here? There would need to be rules in place. A referee at the very least, and absolutely no maiming or killing. Have you already discussed this with the Yodhblakat?"

"I would prefer not here. You have contacts and people are more open with you than ... well ... people would do whatever I asked because they fear me. I would rather in this case someone would offer because they agree it is the right thing to do," Alptraum notes. "And no, I have not discussed it with them yet. But, they owe me some favors, and barring that, I can be more terrifying than they can. Not a route I want to go, but I have it available to me."

Bara quietly thinks things over. "I would not want this to be a public spectacle," she finally says quietly. "That would be improper. I can ask around about suitable private venues. Unless the Yodhblakat insist on something public. I suppose that I would need to pursue both options. Do you really think anyone would be crazy enough to want to join the Yodhblakat though?"

"Yes, actually, I do. Youth is rife with folly and stupid choices," Alptraum notes, then starts actually braiding Bara's hair. "And this way those that do end up joining cannot blame others for their situation as they chose it. Anyway, I feel this is at least something to attempt to avoid street brawls and worse."

"You are attempting to civilize the Yodhblakat," Bara accuses with a wry grin and flick of her ears. "I do not know what their current situation is, other than that they are playing host to a refugee camp. If anyone is left in the Streets Below now, they are likely to be criminals or gangs unwilling to give up their territory. They might be interested in joining the Yodhblakat, if they have any surviving women. Then again, you could be suggesting this because the Yodhblakat are in no condition to enforce their will on others after they were decimated in the aftermath of the war."

"It is more me trying to civilize than anything else. It's either this, or eventual extinction. Change and survive, cling and die," Alptraum notes and shrugs a bit. "I'm trying to work with people, not force matters. I didn't have to discuss any of this with you; I did because you have tried to help and you care what happens to people."

"But not necessarily what happens to Yodh," Bara admits. "Still, I will pursue the two options for you. The Yodhblakat do not need to know of my involvement, however. I'd rather not have girls being in fear of their fate due to a tradition whose time has passed."

"I've known Yodh that deserved to be saved," Alptraum notes as he ties off the braid he finished with a bit of his white hair used as a ribbon. "Like most, there are some good, some bad. I'm willing to let people demonstrate which side they fall on instead of enacting a wholesale cleansing. But then I do tend to have a somewhat unique perspective."

Bara turns her head to look at the braid in the mirror, and asks, "Where did you learn to braid hair? It does not seem the sort of skill a demigod would normally acquire."

"I grew up a poor circus performer," Alptraum admits and shrugs. "I've lived a very normal life for much of it; until I was needed here."

"That is.. surprising," Bara admits, looking Alptraum again. "So your humility isn't feigned?"

"I've had my wing broken by an angry father; I've been beaten, mugged, imprisoned, and the Cult of Amena tried to make a slave of me," Alptraum adds. "I've known the worst many have to suffer in life, first hand. But I also think it helps me understand people, and gives me a willingness to give people a chance to change."

"Well, more experience and sympathy than I have," Bara says. "I was born a prostitute and told it was a privilege. I don't have such illusions anymore. The Kindly Ones don't guide our fates, it's up to us to do it for ourselves and to help others do the same. That's the only pleasure I have anymore."

"The only person that controls whether you are happy or not is you," Alptraum notes, "You should try allowing yourself a full life sometime. As for the Kindly Ones ... well, they are a reflection of the people, not the other way around. You guide them, and their acts are a reflection of the will of the people in the end." He pauses there, then adds, "And I also recommend that you find someone to love. That does more to help cope with things than nearly anything else. There was a time I would have burned the world, then I found someone who opened my heart."

"Oh, I have many that I love," Bara claims. "My family here in Paradise. And I know that they love me as well. I rescued some of then, but they still chose to stay with me instead of moving on. They enjoy what they do here. That feels more genuine to me than anything I experienced in Inala's Temple. I don't have to fake anything anymore."

"But you still stand separate from them," Alptraum notes, "At least from what I have observed."

"I'm the Mistress," Bara says, looking solemn for a moment. "I have to watch over them and protect them. But I do get into my role at times," she says with a grin. "Someone has to teach them as well. I've been with all of them.. yes, even the Fnerfs."

This makes Alptraum laugh. "You're almost as bad at the rat who comes here now and then. That one is ... vexing," he remarks and then shrugs. "And one more thing ... you might be wondering why I would watch you, or talk to you, when I could do that with well, anyone. I know many, but I only trust few. Even ... Mave, who now serves me in many aspects, I do not completely trust. She thought she could control, enslave, or kill me. Didn't quite work out for her. I suppose that's a round-about way of saying you are an Eeee in this city I believe I can trust that wants to actually help people. I don't have to make you fear me, and I do not want to. I prefer people who help willingly. It's the only way any real change can happen."

"I'll help you," Bara says. "My reasons may be my own, or part of a larger effort, but I will do what I can to find safe venues for.. the Blakat Games? Naming is important, it can determine whose interest you catch. Of course, I will still open my doors in any case, just to be safe."

"I expect no less," Alptraum says. "As far as names, Blakat Herself likes ... silly names. Remind me to tell you about her gold quest she took me on once. It was ... theater of the absurd. Anyway, I should keep you no longer. I doubt you want to be seduced by a monster such as I."

"Death has always been seductive, and the Little Death.." Bara says, but then smiles and apologizes, noting, "I doubt you enjoy being called that. But out of curiosity, how would you seduce me?"

"Generally people use that name to tease me," Alptraum notes. "As for how, well, that varies by person. Generally I find learning about that person and giving them things they've rarely had tends to work best. For you ... it would be showing you kindness and gentle pleasures with no requirement or expectation for you to respond in kind. Given for the sake of giving, not because I wanted some high-skill prostitute. Real kindness, real pleasures, not some faked moment. So, I would seduce you by actually caring about you and your feelings; you wishes, and your hopes, with no strings attached."

"My wishes and hopes, you say?" Bara asks, raising her chin. "I haven't really spoken of such in personal terms though. You know my larger hopes, certainly, but they don't really apply to me. So, what do you think my personal wishes and hopes are?"

"To feel safe and to protect your family. And to be with people you don't have to always keep a guard up," Alptraum says, "If I had to guess. And more generically, to control your own future and your own path, instead of having others always trying to define it."

"The latter came true," Bara claims. "I do control my path." She gestures to her rather plain room. "This is what I wanted. It may not seem like anything very ambitions, but I grew up in a lavish prison cell. This makes me comfortable though. The room my brother is using is far more fancy, but he probably thinks it over-done anyway. And I imagine you've had far more cramped accommodations yourself on the road. Feeling safe.. that's something else. I don't feel safe, and probably never will, fully. I don't even know what it would be like."

"Your surroundings don't define happiness. A cell is still just a cell, no matter how gilded it is," Alptraum agrees. "As for feeling safe ... it is peaceful. Soft. The outside world disappears and it is a moment you wish could stretch to eternity. It is a feeling I have only known a few times. It's also what I gave up to come save Babel."

"I remember the Yodhblakat rampaging through the Temple," Bara says, and fingers her scar. "It is hard to feel safe knowing things like that can happen. But.. it gained me a new life, a new name."

"I could fix the physical scar, but I doubt you want that," Alptraum notes. "Anyway, that is my answer to your question. Thank you for your help in this city, and I only hope you can forgive me that these changes did not happen sooner."

"They aren't your responsibility," Bara says. "You claim that the will of the people defines the gods. In that case Babel did it all to itself. But really, it was the Sabaoth and the High Princess. And the people let them do it. You aren't a god, you can only change things by changing us in the right way."

"Actually, most of it was due to a being called Amenlichli corrupting the Sabbaoth and the High Princess, and encouraging all the worst in people," Alptraum notes. "It's ... complicated, and goes back a very long time."

"And did we struggle against this corruption?" Bara asks, clearly thinking the answer will be no. "But.. what do you wish for, Barsunala? To be done with this place, and go back to your home and happiness?"

"Some did, some didn't. The land I grew up in bears even more scars than Babel does from that creature's tampering," Alptraum notes and shrugs a bit. "As for what I wish? That's irrelevant."

"The wishes of an individual are never irrelevant," Bara says. "They can drive us, or inhibit us, or affect us in many ways. Your wishes are not irrelevant."

"Ah, but even you have pointed out I am not quite an individual in the sense of most," Alptraum points out.

"Are you saying that you are subject to the beliefs of the people?" Bara asks.

"Actually no, I decide what I do. But I cannot turn my back on my people. I would never know peace if I had, because I have the power to do something. It would weigh upon me if innocents suffered because I didn't act," Alptraum answers.

"I think that it weighing upon you is very relevant," Bara claims, and smiles. "It speaks to who you are. But you also seem lonely, and uncertain. Very refreshing things to see, in all honesty."

"Lonely ... in a sense. I have a different perspective than most. There are few that can completely relate to me," Alptraum says. "I also know how my story ends."

"I know the past, and I know what I face," Alptraum answers. "But I have to face it. For the sake of my people, those I love ... and to give my children a world where they can know happiness."

"War," Bara says. "A real one. One that matters, and isn't just leaders playing games. I'll be there too."

"Along those lines, yes," Alptraum says. "And I really have taken far too much of your time. I should be going."

"I'm not sure having me around would make your guests terribly comfortable," Alptraum notes. "I'm told I am creepy."

"It's my club, I can invite whomever I like," Bara insists. "My staff give very good footrubs as well."

"I trained my staff," Bara says, and wiggles her fingers. "I give good everything."

"I imagine you would be too," Alptraum counters, and briefly imitates being a tentacle monster using the shadow. Which means lots of wiggling pseudopods. "And ah, one more small thing. I'm going to scare your Brother on the way out."

Bara blinks at this, especially after the tentacle display. "Soulin?" she asks. "Why?"

"Because he thought I wouldn't know him," Alptraum says with a small smile. "I make it a point to know everyone when I can. I was aware of his presence at the recent events. And ... I heard what he was telling that weirdo skreek."

"I can enter people's dreams, Bara. Not that I do very often. Mostly I overheard it while I waited to speak to you in private," Alptraum claims. "I don't generally eavesdrop on anyone. That would be rude."

"How long have you been waiting to catch me in private?" Bara asks, a bit coyly.

"You are beautiful, there is no need to fret over your vanity. Even your scar is attractive," Alptraum comments. "Far nicer looking than my own, to be sure. And no, I intended to wake him."

"I would appreciate it if you didn't scare him too badly," Bara says. "Otherwise I will have to summon Honey to comfort him, and she deserves her sleep."

Alptraum chuckles. He actually does walk over, cups Bara's chin, then kisses her. Of course this kiss also comes with a brief moment of kenning her, just to give her a 'taste' of how that feels. Then he draws back as if nothing happened at all.

Alptraum laughs. "Maybe after this Day of Blakat mess is sorted, I will visit again," Alptraum says as he heads to the door.

Bara doesn't stop him, but does silently point to the door of her brother's room.

"You are truly his sister, I see," Alptraum whispers, amused. He closes Bara's door, then goes to Soulin's door. This time he doesn't knock, but instead tries to open it quietly instead.

There's no lock.. and of course the hinges are silent. No Eeee would tolerate squeaky hinges! The guest room is a bit fancier than Bara's in that it includes rugs, tapestries and other artwork of an erotic nature, though almost certainly reproductions of what once adorned the Temple. Soulin hangs upside down from a suspended perch, wrapped in his wings in typical Eeee fashion. He's still asleep.

Alptraum sneaks up to the hanging Eeee. He peers at him curiously, and is a bit bothered he finds him handsome. He's been in Babel too long and it's started to affect him ... probably. So ... he ponders just how to startle the Eeee. He decides on simple. He just leans in and kisses Soulin. Right on the lips.

"My name isn't Tula," Alptraum whispers to Soulin. "I just wanted you to know that yes, I do know who you are." He then licks the Eeee's ear.

Soulin shivers and opens one eye. Of course, it's dark, but he says, "You aren't my pet Grok. Who are you?"

This gets the other eye open. "Did Bara send you to tease me? I do not think the Barsunala goes around saying 'boo' and licking people. Unless you are the Barsunala and I have died in my sleep? I felt fine earlier.." His heartbeat is certainly rising, and his aura isn't as 'cool' as it was before. Maybe Soulin has a fear of assassins?

Alptraum expands his shadow so that numerous 'tentacles' come from it and poke Soulin from different angles, then it actually caresses the Eeee. "No, but she did ask me to not scare you too much as Honey would have to comfort you. So, I figured saying 'boo' was reasonably safe," Alptraum explains, "And no, you aren't dead."

"And Bara isn't dead?" the man asks next, with even more worry than when he thought he might be dead.

No, Bara is fine. I finished my meeting with her just a few minutes ago," Alptraum notes.

"You meet with my sister?" Soulin asks. "I know you did for the big announcement but.. she hasn't said anything to me. Are you really here, or am I dreaming?"

"I wished to discuss her concerns over the Day of Blakat. We have worked out what may help convert it to a more ... productive ritual," Alptraum remarks and waves his hand. "And yes, I am really here. Do I have to kiss you again to prove it?"

"A kiss of death?" Soulin asks, then shakes his head. "Imaginary or not, it is an honor to meet you. Thank you for all you've done for Babel."

"No, not a kiss of death. And, you're welcome," Alptraum replies. "You can touch me if you do not believe I am real."

"Mmm," the Eeee notes as he tries to pull his finger back! "I didn't think they were solid.."

The tentacle holds on, so it just stretches out as Soulin pulls his finger back. "They are as solid as I need them to be," Alptraum notes.

"Well.. you would need to be to walk through walls and such.." Soulin agrees, and tries tugging harder.

The tentacle now engulfs all of Soulin's hand. He can feel his fingers and such just fine; it just feels like they're stuck in very sticky pudding. "You are handling this surprisingly well," Alptraum comments.

"Am I?" Soulin asks, nearly grabbing the tentacle with his free hand to try and pull it off. "It's hard to panic while upside down. Tends to end badly if you do," he notes, and laughs a bit nervously. "And I have been.. uh.. near you before, I suppose.."

"Yes, many people panic, wet themselves, run screaming, beg for favors, and so on and so forth," Alptraum remarks, his shadow still quite holding on to that hand. "Do you wish me to light a lamp? Or is it the darkness that makes me mess creepy?"

"It's mostly the tentacles," Soulin claims. "Otherwise you aren't exactly creepy. Just tall and dark."

"Mmm, just means I will have to try harder I suppose," Alptraum says with a very fangy sort of grin.

"You.. you want to seem creepy?" Soulin asks with a squeak, and tugs at his hand a bit more insistently. "You don't go around collecting hands do you?"

"No, I collect people," Alptraum notes, waves a hand dismissively, and the shadow starts inching up Soulin's arm. "Though, I could use a new hand. I sort of ruined mine," he adds as he holds up his right hand.

Oh.. that doesn't look ruined, really!" the increasingly desperate Eeee claims. "How.. how exactly do you collect people?" His feet are shifting their grip about now in a fidgety manner.

"I could ... show you," Alptraum offers and leans in until his nose is just touching Soulin's nose.

"Would I survive being shown?" Soulin asks, and wrinkles his nose as if trying hard to not sneeze.

"Oh, I suppose. You might even like it," Alptraum says with that dangerous sort of grin again.

"I didn't know that was part of the job for the Barsunala," Soulin admits. "I thought it was more the opposite."

"You're a special case," Alptraum claims ... as the shadow has now engulfed most of his arm.

"Will I be alright hanging for this?" Soulin asks quickly, even if just to offer a reason to delay whatever is about to happen to him.

"You'll be just fiiiiiiiine," Alptraum coos in the sort of tone implying imminent doom. The shadow then lurches and engulfs the rest of Soulin in an instant! Really, as doomy as he made it sound, he's just going to ken him. Most people like being licked from the inside out, right?

Regardless of whether Soulin will like it or not, he's effectively paralyzed by the shadow now.

Alptraum does make a point to examine him thoroughly, looking for signs of injuries or anything that seems unusual and out of place.

Soulin has clearly not led a hard life, or at least not one that leaves traces. There are certain elements that Alptraum associates with barinala though, and those are present. The man's muscle-tone is deliberate, rather than labor-related and he doesn't seem to have suffered any traumas or scarring. His biggest difference from a noble lies in his diet - it clearly isn't very rich, and closer to what 'normal' upper-city dwellers eat.

Alptraum draws the shadow back and nods. The Eeee is what he seems, which is a good thing. "All done," he claims.

Soulin shivers and nearly loses his grip on the perch. "What.. what was that?" he asks, then pats over himself with his hands.

"That was me, examining you in minute detail. You're definitely a former Barinala, I can tell from the deliberate muscle building, not work related I might add. Your diet is also, hmm ... fairly ordinary, nothing lavish. No signs of any serious injuries ever, at least nothing that scarred," Alptraum comments. "And it wasn't that bad, was it?"

The hanging bat draws his wings a bit closer about him. "I've never had a physical exam feel like that before," Soulin notes with a bit of embarrassment. "I never served as a barinala though. I was born to a Yodhinala for my father. Bara is my twin, but was kept by the Temple since the contract was only for a son."

"I.. don't know?" Soulin admits. "The Yodhinala change their names depending on their ranking, so any name my mother went by at the time would not necessarily be the same anymore."

"I didn't know Yodhinala could do that.. other than through extreme mating.." Soulin admits, but also seems shocked. "Was it to see if you really were the Barsunala then?"

"No, she wanted to kill or enslave me with an ancient artifact. She failed," Alptraum notes a bit grimly.

"I'm sorry?" Soulin says. "My mother was the woman who raised me, the wife of my father. I didn't know I was birthed by a Yodhinala until the Temple fell, and my father told me to come with him to search for my sister."

"Eh, nothing to be sorry about. She now serves me. I spared her life," Alptraum notes and shrugs a bit. "Your sister impresses me, by the way. I've been watching her."

"My parents had been saving up to buy her from the Temple," Soulin says. "That money ended up going into Paradise for her. I didn't realize she was impressive. I always thought she was hiding her pain."

"Well, people tend to react in two ways to pain. One becomes vengeful and angry at everyone, the other uses it as motivation to do something worthwhile. Your sister took the latter path. I don't doubt she is hurting, but she is choosing to do something with the hurt to help others not experience it. That's impressive," Alptraum explains.

"Yes, but it's less common that you'd think," Alptraum says and shrugs a bit. "I've known many that have always just been concerned about themselves. Some change and improve, others don't."

"Well, I know that she's a role model," Soulin says, with a bit of pride in his voice. "It just seemed that that was.. natural for her. What she wanted to be. She never talks about her time in the Temple, only that she didn't leave anything behind."

"I could find out about her time there, but I won't. That would violate her privacy and I don't wish to do that. Now, wile yes I have an impish sense of humor, I'm not going to do something that would really upset someone," Alptraum notes. "She was worried when I said I was going to scare you. She was more worried about that than when I joked I'd seduce you instead."

"Well, I've managed to avoid it so far," Soulin claims. "But I don't see why she'd be worried about that."

"Oh no, it's just.. uh.. I have anxiety about that sort of thing," the young man admits. "I'm not a barinala. I even get nervous around Honey Bunny.. and she's a Lapi. But I do like cuddling with her."

"I.. don't know?" Soulin suggests. "It never seemed like it was a problem. Besides, my talents are more along the numbers and ledgers sort of thing. And inventory. I'm really good with inventory."

"Knowing what some people have, and what others need, and.. making the arrangements between them," the Eeee says, warming up a bit. "I did alright working with my father, but once things starting happening with the Streets Below and Graytown expansion, Bara has me working with her.. friends.. to get supplies and other resources organized and moved."

"Friends?" Alptraum prods. "And what about your father? Do you still work for him too?"

"Oh yes, he's wings-deep into Graytown after all, and there will be more work with the Coalition government soon too," Soulin says, becoming more animated. "And Bara has a lot of.. well, 'patrons' I suppose. I let her know what things are likely to be needed next - I'm good at that - and she tells her friends, and stuff shows up in the warehouse and I take care of keeping track and making sure the distribution goes smoothly."

"So, you're a quartermaster," Alptraum concludes. "Decent living, usually. Moreso than say, a roaming acrobat."

"Well I live with my parents," Soulin notes. "And I like to think I'm decent. It's a bit of a game too, if you like games with numbers. The trick is guessing really well about how many blankets will be needed, how much food, and for how long and where it'll be needed. The where is the trickiest part, because you have to figure out population turnover and how that affects the non-consumable stuff. But even the non-consumable stuff itself needs consumables to maintain! Like water and soap. Soap is very important."

"Soap isn't that important. That's a luxury. You can survive with far, far, less," Alptraum notes. "I've survived with nothing more than some clothes and my wits."

"Ah, but when you have a lot of people living very close together it becomes a lot more important," Soulin explains. "Not just for health reasons, but because if a person feels clean it makes them feel better in general. A symbol that they aren't living in squalor anymore. So maybe it's a luxury, but if you've never had a luxury it takes on a lot more meaning. So we tend to consider it a 'necessary luxury' for the refugee and worker camps."

"Fair enough. I never stayed in one place for very long," Alptraum notes and waves his hand a bit. "Do you have any questions for me? I probably shouldn't keep you up too much longer."

"Do you give Bara a physical too?" Soulin asks, and shivers pleasantly at the memory.

"I have not. Not to that extent," Alptraum says. "I wish to keep a working relationship with her and with what she has been through, I rather imagine she would be wary of me."

"You're with the Temple of Sunala though," Soulin says. "Everyone trusts Sunala, because we're all equal before Her."

"I wouldn't say everyone trusts Sunala. Everyone fears her, certainly," Alptruam says.

"For a lot of people, She represents the end of struggle and pain. Everyone accepts Her in the end, and She makes life valuable," Soulin says - almost reverently. It's pretty clear which Kindly One he favors. "Sunala, Inala and Gorphat are the only Kindly Ones that represent the natural order. The others are.. just reflections of us, I think. No offense meant!"

Alptraum laughs. "None taken. I'm generally pretty hard to offend in such discussions," he says. "So, you think I am a reflection, hmm?"

"What? No, you're part of Death," Soulin points out. "But you're the.. personal aspect of it. You make Death easier, knowing that we won't really be alone for it. Although I'm sure some people have reason to fear you: like those nasty nobles you took away. Did you really take them to Magog's Hell? What's that even like? I never heard of it before Sunala passed sentence on them."

"Yes, I did, and it's ... well, have you ever been in the lower sewers? Multiply those by a million and you have Magog's hell," Alptraum tries to explain. "It's horrid."

"I.. don't deal with sewers," Soulin admits. "But water is one of the things I work with."

"Well, it's worse than the nastiest water you may have ever seen," Alptraum notes. "Worse than even the High Priestess of Gorphat."

"I guess I've been a bit too sheltered," Soulin admits. "I haven't really been deeper than Graytown."

"You could visit Gorphat's Temple, it's ... different," Alptraum notes. "I've traveled the world. I recommend that you do too sometime."

"When I'm older and things are settled in the city," Soulin says. "Then I'd like to travel a bit."

"Twenty, same as Bara," Soulin claims. "I should be out on my own but.. I've been busy."

"Well, you are an eternal spirit," Soulin points out. "I imagine Death is pretty long in the tooth. Not Sunala of course! She's a cute young thing!"

"Well, even so, this body is closing on three decades," Alptraum points out and shrugs a bit. "And I suppose I should be going."

"So if I ask Bara in the morning if any of this really happened, will she deny it?" Soulin asks with a smirk. "And goodnight, Barsunala."

"I have no idea what Bara might say," Alptraum admits, then tries to wipe that smirk off the Eeee's face by kissing him again. "Goodnight," he says afterward, then slips back to the door.

"Yeah.. like I'm getting any sleep now," Soulin can be heard whispering to himself before Alptraum makes his exit.

"Would you rather I stay?" Alptraum asks ominously and looks over his shoulder.

"Quite so," Alptraum chuckles. "Goodnight, Soulin." The dark Eeee then slips out the door and disappears into the darkness, literally. To where? Who knows? Maybe there's a rat that needs tormenting somewhere...