Alptraum makes it to the rendezvous tower before Cricket, which gives him time to set up a surprise for the Yodhbarada. When the somewhat out-of-breath girl flaps her way through the broken wall, he's ready for her.
No one seems to be around yet. It's quiet, calm, and feeling rather dull really. Minutes tick by, until the Yodhbarada either starts to fidget, or get bored. Once that seems to happen, the shadows come to life and pounce on Cricket. Within mere seconds, she's engulfed in some sort of alien black blob! And worse, it has tentacles ... and those are exploring her. In her ears, up one nostril, in her pants, going inside within her pants, to even squeezing her small chest.
The girl squeaks, but it sounds odd because of the sinus blockage! And of course she tries to squirm free.. at first. Once the initial shock passes though, she must realize who is behind it!
The blob is also misbehaving, because as it is messing with her chest ... her breasts are growing! She's soon at a shape that most Yodhinala would envy before the growing stops. Whether she notices that or not all depends on how she's reacting to the tentacle filling her down below. Oops, the two tentacles filling both passages down below, that is.
"Glugh!" Cricket gasps, especially when she starts bursting out of her top! She tries to grab onto the tendrils going up her nose, if she can move her arms even that much in the dark mass.
And as quickly as it started, it recedes! Her nostril is free, as is every other orifice! She still has a well-defined chest, though. It's about then bat-giggles can be heard in the shadows as they recede.
"Blug!" Cricket snorts as she tries to clear her sinuses. She's on her knees, and once she's breathing normally, she notices her chest and grabs it. "Glu.. do I get to keep these?" she finally asks.
"Well, they'll last for a while. But like your eye, they're not permanent," Alptraum notes from the rock he's lounging on as the shadow recedes to reveal him.
Cricket keeps playing with them for a bit. "They're so squishy.." she notes. "And.. oh.. I found out some more stuff for you!" she says, finally remembering why she's here.
"If you get the nipples pierced with some sturdy bars or rings, they'll be really sensitive too," Alptraum suggests. He reaches out with one of his legs and starts fondling one of her augments with his foot. "What did you find out?" he asks.
"Ooooo..." Cricket says, and bites her lip. "Hmm? Oh.. right.. uh.. the money! The merchants get the fake coins from an old casino, The Money Pit. It was a big deal before Inala's Paradise started up. And the strongboxes are combination-locked ones from a craftsman named Skavio, up at Cenesta Plaza, in one of the shadow markets.." She squirms a bit more, then says, "The real money is sorted and wrapped in bundles of paper, too. The paper comes from Phizcarro Paper - they get a lot of it from Rephidim, through a Lapi named Butterscotch. The strongboxes are supposed to be identical, too."
Alptraum pulls Cricket closer and strips her nude. Soon at least his pants are off too, and she's pulled onto his lap, and ... well ... impaled on part of him (in a nice way!). "Okay, that explains how Butterscotch is somewhat involved. She was captured by pirates once and brutally treated," he notes as if all of this is perfectly normal. Same for when he lick-suckles each new breast and things start to leak.
Cricket is squirming and squeaking like mad now, and has to cover her mouth to avoid giving away their position. "Oh.. there's.. m-more.." she moans.
Alptraum holds Cricket still so that she remains, well, fully impaled, but unable to move enough to stimulate herself. He plays with her nipples using his clawtips next. "What else?" he asks as he lounges.
"What? Aren't you gonna finish?" Cricket asks, and bites her own fingers. "Umm.. I had some of the crew of the Pineapple Express followed. They were buying a bunch of small strongboxes and chests. And measuring weights.."
"Well, that may just be to make sure they all weigh the same. That doesn't mean they're in on the scheme going on," Alptraum points out, then bucks the girl, hard, as a reward for that information. "But it still does seem a little odd," he concedes.
Cricket chirps, and has to hold her mouth closed again after that. She also jiggles now from the enlargement. "C'p'ns m'tin' t'night," she says without letting go her grip.
"Captain's meeting?" Alptraum asks to clarify ... while fondling her jiggly enhancements. He even nurses on one for a few seconds as he rolls his hips a few more times.
The girl's head bobs up and down rapidly in reply, and her ears flap a bit as well.
Alptraum draws to a stop again. "What else?" he asks as he holds things frustratingly still.
"It's at Paradise," Cricket gasps. "Th-that's everything I could find out in a day."
"Ah, so more ... infiltrating at Paradise would be in order," Alptraum says ... and then starts to lift Cricket off him as if everything were done.
"What.. wait!" the Yodhbarada squeaks, and tries to grab onto Alptraum's shoulders. "You can't stop now!"
Alptraum tilts his head and arches his brow. "I can't? Why not?" he asks.
"Because.. because.. you aren't that cruel?" Cricket suggests, and makes a sad bat face at him.
"I am extremely cruel. I made you top-heavy, didn't I?" Alptraum points out ... then lets go so that Cricket lands right back into his lap. He leans up and then bites down on the side of her neck, and starts enjoying a meal while his hips go back to rolling.
"Oooo! Yesss.. I mean.. I can't fly like thisss.." Cricket coos. Maybe she's hoping he'll carry her off somewhere.
Alptraum can't really talk while he has dinner ... but he is rather good at movements, caressing, and making what might be painful given the age differences actually reasonably enjoyable. Cricket is mostly an adult by now, at least.
She certainly responds like an adult, trying to wiggle as much as she can while being held. But she's also a bit light-headed for sure from the feeding.
Alptraum keeps things going; his movements definitely designed to try to push her to her peak. When the meal stops, he just shifts to sucking on other things. Namely, her breasts. One gets nursed and the other massaged ... and he switches between them at intervals. The shadow also comes into play again when a tentacle glides right back up her backside, then undulates by enlarging and reducing in time with his thrusts.
Cricket still retains enough mindfulness to put her hands over her mouth as she starts to make all sorts of noises as a result. Her wings also try to wrap around the two of them, but can't seem to coordinate properly, and her legs have become like quivering noodles. She's clearly peaking.. and continuing to do so for so long as Alptraum wants to keep her going.
Apparently a long time. He's learned enough from Mave to really draw things out for his partners until they turn into quivering and pleading masses ... and it's only near that point does he adjust his pace and angle so that soon he finds his peak! And Cricket ends up with some of 'Little death' inside her. Only then does he finally stop, withdraw the shadow, and let Cricket rest.
Cricket just slumps against Alptraum as if all the strength and tension has drained out of her. "So.. I'm your personal Yodhbarada for real now, right?" she asks quietly.
"Nah, I'm going to sell you to a BArblakat for a pair of used Yodhblakat underwear," Alptraum jokes and pats her head.
"That's.. silly," Cricket claims. "They don't have underwear."
"Of course you would know that. I also noticed that neither do you," Alptraum points out.
"Underwear never really caught on in Babel," Cricket says defensively.
Alptraum just grins toothily. "Or you were making sure I could smell your feminine wiles when we talked," he teases. "Don't think I didn't notice your scent changes when you were around me."
Cricket's ears blush. "That.. that's involuntary.." she claims. "But you must like me! Right? You're pleased with my report?" she asks, trying to look pouty.. while also crossing her arms to push her newly impressive breasts up more.
"I wouldn't torment you so if I didn't like you," Alptraum claims and bucks his hips in emphasis. "I didn't even switch so that I was buried in your backside instead when I peaked, now did I?"
"It was very warm.. and you already had something up there.." Cricket says. "Is that an Inala technique, or your own special one? Nobody else gets that, do they?" she asks, looking hopeful.
Alptraum grins toothily and adds, "Bear in mind I've also slept with Gorphat. And enjoyed it. But no, I've not used the shadow like that with anyone else."
"So.. am I as good as a goddess then?" Cricket leans in to whisper, her ears twitching just in case any of the goddesses are listening.
"No one quite compares to a Goddess," Alptraum says diplomatically. "Even Gorphat is mindblowing ... if you can survive Her."
"I suppose I have a lot to learn yet then," Cricket says with a sigh. She also asks, "When do these stop leaking, anyway?"
"Oh, in an hour or so, unless you want it made permanent. The Yodhgorphat can help with that," Alptraum says.
At the mention of Yodhgorphat, Cricket squeaks in alarm. "I.. uh.. I'd need permission from Barada for that! What do you want me to look into next though?" she says, trying to change the subject.
"Well, have you examined the docks any for suspicious workers? Or gotten a list of all the workers that have helped load the ships that were targeted?" Alptraum asks.
"All of them?" the girl squeaks. "I know they change the people who bring the loaded money boxes. But.. I can find out who unloads the fruit shipments. They only take on supplies but no cargo before they leave.."
"But, the same supply staff could be the spies. We still don't know if it's ships' crew, or someone outside. The transport company profits from the deliveries, even if they get raided, guaranteed payments, so they're still suspect," Alptraum notes.
"And hmm, what do you think pirates would do to a female Aeonian?" Alptraum asks.
"A unicorn?" Cricket asks, sitting cross-legged now as she thinks. "There are fake medicines that are said to be made from Aeonian blood and horn, but there's no market for the real thing that I know of. Aeonians are usually thought of as nobles or very wealthy because of their age, or else able to use magic. Pirates ransom nobles and rich people.. if they're rich enough, and not just well-off merchants. They're still a bit old-fashioned. But a female Aeonian they'd probably think was worth a high ransom."
"Would they harm her?" Alptraum inquires as he rubs his chin.
"In the past they've treated noble hostages.. fairly well," Cricket explains. "Otherwise they run the risk of having mercenaries, soldiers or worse sent after them afterwards. There's a Babelite tradition of ransom, you see, between the noble houses. It was almost a business agreement of sorts. Pirates need to honor that, or risk making enemies nastier than they are. And the old Babelite nobles were really nasty. The Slakash were always kept busy by them."
"So, no idea really on how one would be treated. It could be fine to horrible," Alptraum muses. "Well, I know how they treat lapis, and that was bad."
"Eh, I could also see some demented noble trying to sell or ceep a unicorn as a slave, sadly," Alptraum admits.
"Lapis aren't nobility," Cricket notes. "Just semi-exotic in Babel. Merchants are only worth the money or goods they're carrying to pirates. They just haven't caught up to the new age of merchant guilds and cooperative groups that pool resources."
"Either way, no idea what they would do, blah," Alptraum mutters. "What time is the meeting at? I assume it's a closed meeting, yes?"
"It's a dinner meeting, so.. the real meeting will be after that," Cricket notes. "In one of the private rooms. The walls are all soundproofed so people can't eavesdrop."
"So ... we won't likely be getting any information from that," Alptraum complains.
"Well, that depends," Cricket says with a grin. "Bara isn't going to trust that her staff aren't being abused - she'll have a way to listen in."
"Will staff even be in the private meeting room?" Alptraum points out. "And I know Bara, but I don't know if she trusts me that well to tell me if she does have such."
"Even if there aren't any staff at the meeting, the means to listen should still be there.. unless it's actually something she uses to monitor the staff themselves," Cricket says. "She's a former Yodhinala, and that place was built to her design."
"And she wants nothing more to do with Inala, so may not have used anything she learned from her time," Alptraum points out and shrugs a bit. "But, I suppose I can ask her."
"And if she tells you.. will you tell me?" Cricket asks, trying to look cute again.
"Depends on if she swears me not to reveal it," Alptraum notes. "I won't betray her."
"Ahh.. she's sure to do that, too," Cricket complains.
"Would you want me revealing Barada's secrets?" Alptraum asks.
"Of course not, that's my job," Cricket says, looking shocked. But she's a Yodh after all. The same rules don't really apply to her as to everyone else.. at least, in the mind of a Yodhbarada.
"Well, I have to respect the wishes of all or I will not maintain my allies long," Alptraum points out. "And Bara is the one who trusts me the least as it is. She only tolerates me most of the time."
"She has a grudge against the Kindly Ones," Cricket says as she nods. "But her goals must be similar to yours."
"I cannot blame her for that," Alptraum says, "But it also means I have to be careful with her. So, no giving away anything she entrusts in me."
"I understand," Cricket says. She then cups her breasts, and says, "Someday I'll get in there though!"
"But not today, and your real ones will never be that big," Alptraum points out. "Not unless I make it so."
"What.. never?" Cricket asks. "So unfair!"
"You're bigger than the largest Yodhinala right now," Alptraum points out. "But if you're nice to me, I could arrage that to remain."
"Would I be taller too then, to match?" Cricket asks, then reconsiders her current size. "Maybe not this big though.."
Alptraum grabs her chest and things feel funny. Funny because they shrink down to high B-cup instead of high C-cup so that she'll be less flight-impaired. "I have no idea how tall you will get; you're already an adult now more or less," he points out.
"I'll get bigger, I bet," Cricket says, and bounces up and down a bit to see if the new size is less awkward. "If I'm going to be older, I might as well be the tallest Yodhbarada ever."
Alptraum laughs. "Possibly. And on that note ... you should dress ... and I should go see Bara," Alptraum says.
Cricket makes sure to wiggle and show of her 'nearly adult' body as much as possible as she gets dressed. Then she blows Alptraum a kiss before heading for the open wall. "I'll see what I can learn at the docks," she promises before flapping off.
"I'm going to regret that," Alptraum mutters to himself as he pulls his pants on. At least he was smart enough to use the shadow to keep himself from well, fertilizing Cricket with that little bit by using it to well, keep his peak from really entering her. Now, dealing with Bara ... that will be tricky. Bara always seems to borderline hate him.
In the tower at the center of the club is the owner's roost, where she entertains special guests. At the moment she's alone aside from her Fnerf attendant and sometimes couch as she overlooks her empire with a glass of wine in one hand.
Billowy 'smoke' blows in through the main doors, then swirls up the roost, spiraling up and along it until it flows over the top. It rises into an impassive 'tower' of darkness. From those depths of shadow, Alptraum steps forth. "I do hope I am not interrupting," he says as he sits down on one of the pillows. He is clad, as usual, in flowing robes of shadow.
There's a lot of commotion down below, and several Eeee fly up to the roost to check on things. "It's fine," Bara tells them, and waves her hand in dismissal. This seems to settle things a bit down below - it's isn't a surprise that Bara would deal with the Barsunala, after all! "Do you drink wine?" she asks, half turning to face Alptraum, while the Fnerf stands frozen with her fur and tail poofed out in shock.
"Now and then," Alptraum remarks from where he relaxes, looking unconcerned about the commotion he just caused. "Normally I would be less ... to the point in both appearance and reason, but time is not with me at the moment. Am I wrong in understanding that you know about everything said or done within these walls?" he asks, tone polite.
Using her free hand, Bara signs, "That depends on why you are asking?" She keeps her winged couched so that only Alptraum can see her signs.
Alptraum does something a bit better and envelopes the entire roost in a shell of shadow. "There is to be a meeting tonight amongst some ship captains, here," he signs. "I am trying to track down the culprits that are raiding their line, and it may be in the crew, or even the Captains themselves. I would like to, if possible, know what they discuss at their meeting to see if it is either suspicious, or clears them of suspicion." he signs anyway, to be doubly safe about communicating.
"The men you ask about are not from Babel," Bara signs back. "How is it that their business warrants your attention?"
"It involves trade between Babel and its neighbors, which can have long-lasting effect on Babel itself. Damage the trade routes enough and few will wish to trade with us," Alptraum points out.
"Surely the Yodhrephath.." Bara starts to sign, then shakes her hand in a 'never mind' gesture. "I do not interfere with the Yodh, and they do not interfere with me. Follow me," she signs, and sets down her glass of wine before heading for the stairs that spiral down through the raised tower.
"I won't argue outside of the point I know at least one Yodhrephath worth respecting," Alptraum signs as he rises and dismisses the sphere of shadow so that Bara can descend the stairs. He follows behind her.
At the bottom of the stair is the door leading onto the floor of the club, which Bara ignores. She goes behind the stair and opens a hidden trap-door, revealing another set of stairs. "After you," she offers to Alptraum.
Alptraum arches a brow and looks at Bara, then descends down the hidden staircase.
It's dark of course, especially when Bara closes the hatch behind them. That isn't much of an issue for an Eeee though. The stairs spiral down at least another level before ending at a door. Bara produces a key and unlocks it after squeezing past Alptraum.
"I'm also not that horrible, believe it or not," Alptraum notes as Bara squeezes past.
"Did I claim that you were?" Bara asks as she opens the door. Sonar is momentarily obscured by steam and machine noises, before Bara steps out into the next chamber.
"Not in words, but body language says other things," Alptraum points out, "And I can sense what others feel."
"An unfair advantage," Bara claims, and leads Alptraum into a maze of ceramic pipes of varying thickness. This must be the level where the heating, water and gas is managed. There are a few others down here - Alptraum can sense Nagas, which would be right at home in this environment, probably stoking the furnaces. Bara isn't moving towards them, however, but deeper into the maze.
"Effective use of nagas in this environment," Alptraum comments, even though they cannot be seen, to perhaps prove what he just said. "It's an unfair advantage to know the truth of what people really feel, in spite of all the masks they may wear?" he asks. "I'm not your enemy, I've never wished you harm, and I respect all that you have done for others, for what that is worth."
"You are making the Kindly Ones see reason, from what I have learned," Bara says. "That's fine with me. If they're going to help, I'm all for it. But no more meddling." They reach another chamber where lots of pipes converge, and she opens the door. A rather old looking Naga is stationed within, next to a circular table where lots of pipes feed into some sort of grating, along with a plethora of valves. "Take your break, Knuckle," Bara tells the serpent, who nods and slithers out past the two Eeee.
Alptraum nods politely to the naga when he passes by. "I've done a lot more than that," he notes, quietly, "You know perhaps ten percent of what I have done in this city and endured to try and change its path." He looks to the piping before continuing, "All I want from you is perhaps for you to consider me enough of a friend to ask me for help if you ever need it. Unlike the kindly ones, I never require some sort of payment for anything I do for someone. I've never quite understood asking for tribute like that, if you do something just for a reward, then it lessens the real meaning of the act. You're nothing more than a glorified mercenary at that point." He takes another breath, then adds, "I always feel your wall, Bara. I know you've been hurt in the past. I understand your reluctance to completely trust someone like me. I just hope that some day, perhaps, I can help you with your own walls and pains. You've helped so many others with theirs, you deserve the same."
"My pain gives me strength, and the vigilance to watch over my people," Bara says, and gestures to the strange table. "When they are in any of the private rooms, someone is always monitoring for trouble. There are other rooms like this, which can seal or unlock the doors, sound alarms.. all of them are linked. But my rooms are sound-proof. Nobody with ears can listen in. But there are ways of listening that don't require ears." She goes to a control panel made of tiny valves, and turns several of them in the grid. This causes four flames to appear on the table.
"But it brings you no peace. Do you not think you deserve some solace?" Alptraum asks as he looks down at the table. Some sort of sound transmission setup?
"I find much solace in knowing my children.. and they may as well be my children.. are kept safe," Bara claims, and makes a few adjustments to the table. The flames become steadier, until one flickers.. and in a hissing sort of whisper Alptraum can hear a voice - which he's certain is that of Captain Janik, the Vartan. "And you're sure this man of yours can open the boxes without damaging them?" the flame asks. A different one flickers next, saying, "He's the best we can afford. And it's time to find out once and for all what is giving us away."
Alptraum's brow arches a little. "Well, that may clear at least Janik if he's trying to actually determine how they are being identified," he comments. "Unless that too is a feint."
"We should have plenty of boxes, and the decoy weights," the third flame whispers, sounding like an Eeee. "The timing is critical. We need to open them after we've left port, and make the switch before splitting." "So long as we can close and lock the boxes again it should be fine." The fourth voice is Lilitu's.
"Ah, so they plan to change it again after they leave port. So if it is in port that the leak comes from, it will be useless information," Alptraum notes. "But if it is on ship, that may not be completely effective."
"If it's the money itself, they'll know we've split it between the ships," Janik points out. "So they'll either focus on one as usual, or try to split their forces. But they won't be able to find it all no matter what." "And if it's the paper or the boxes we'll know," the other Vartan voice says. "Unless it's the slugs." All of the flames are quiet for a moment. "We have the weights," Lilitu says then. "We can dump the slugs overboard."
"I can't see quite how it could be the slugs," Alptraum notes, "Other than a sound difference. Or, well, perhaps a poisoned one with a magic tag on it I suppose."
"What about the Zolk?" Janik asks. "I couldn't find out for certain if that old story about it blocking scrying was ptera-crap or not," the unknown Eeee voice replies. "I think mages spread those stories themselves. But what about this Aeonian of yours, Janik?"
Alptraum's brow arches a little at that. "Well, it seems the bait was taken in that respect," he remarks.
"If this gambit works, we might still lose the contract for going against the client's procedure," Janik claims. "Being able to get in on a trade deal with Sylvania will at least get us a broker's fee and counter the hit for breaking Fruitalia's contract. I'm not losing any more crew over this."
"But it'd be a big win for Eschaton and STG if Fruitalia and we both sink over this," the other Vartan warns. "If we make it, it's time to push the other indies into a trade group with us, or we'll all be sunk."
"Easy for you to so Puzo!" Lilitu snaps. "You aren't the one likely to be married off to seal that deal."
"It doesn't seem that at least this part of the crew is in on the theft operation," Alptraum notes to Bara. "Which is promising; I liked Janik and Lilitu." The married off comment marks his ears perk. Married off to who?
"Those days are past, Lily," the other Vartan (Puzo, apparently) claims. "We'll just have sell a stake and buy a stake. Or flat out trade 'em. Not like anyone has ready cash."
"This is all as maybe," Janik says. "We aren't the owners. If this doesn't pan out, we'll be looking for new ships, 'cept for Lily and Salas."
"I guess they didn't track down a Quantometer, or whatever it was he called it. The Chronotopian device for measuring magic activity," Alptraum notes. The last comment makes him frown, as he doesn't want to put them out of work.
"Maybe the Aeonian has one," Bara suggests.
"The Aeonian does not," Alptraum notes.
"What about getting a mage to check things?" the other Eeee, Salas, asks. There is some grumbling from the Vartans, and Lily says, "Can't afford it, and don't know if the merchants have been using one or not. If they have one putting a lure or whatever on the real payment, hiring one ourselves may not be a good idea - they all belong to the same guild in Babel. Could be in on it."
"Unlikely. I know the mages at the guild and they do not wish to harm Babel," Alptraum remarks to Bara. "I trust them."
"We'll know if it's something in the cargo, or someone tipping 'em off," Janik claims. "If they go for the ship that real box was delivered to, even after we move stuff around, then it's a tip-off."
"That is all we can hope for at this point," Alptraum remarks to himself and nods.
"Whoever it is, the Yodhrephath will deal with them," Salas claims. "Probably over a prolonged period, too! If we don't get our people back, I'll want a few pieces too." The flames rumble in agreement.
"Dangerous wishes, that," Alptraum remarks grimly.
"Not unlikely ones though," Bara says. "The Yodhrephath are not merciful to pirates."
"Koldesh can be a bit harsh, yes," Alptraum concedes.
"The Yodhrephath can only kill them, at least," Bara says. "Do you need to hear more, or are you satisfied?"
Alptraum considers this. "I am generally satisfied it appears the leaders of the crews are not in on the theft," he concedes, "And further impinging on their privacy is unwarranted."
Bara returns to the control panel, and switches things to a different room. The flames this time are laughing, or moaning in pleasure.
Alptraum chuckles. "Things I do not need to hear," he admits, at the sounds, of well, compulation.
"I'll monitor things until Knuckles returns, if you can find your own way back out," Bara says. "But.. what would you have done if the captains had made you think they were in on.. whatever is happening?"
"Infiltrated their minds and found out where the taken crew were, and arranged for their rescue," Alptraum says, "And turned them over to the Courts of Babel to try."
"I'm sorry that things will be more difficult for you then, since these were not the culprits you seek," Bara says.
"I've been through worse. The only one who will be at any significant risk from here out will be me," Alptraum admits and shrugs slightly.
Bara raises a brow at this. "What does the Son of Death consider a risk? Or am I better off not knowing such a thing?" she asks. "Probably the latter. I have enough things to worry about."
"I endure the pain of others to spare them of it. It won't be the Aeonian harmed if the pirates do anything to her, it will be me," Alptraum explains. "The skreek who survived the pit, survived because of me. Because I was with her, helping her survive. But everything done to her I felt, in all its agony. I will be protecting many on the ships in the same way, so that I can track down who has been betraying them."
"I suppose we aren't so different then, in the lengths we will go to look after our charges," Bara says.
"You're the only one of a select few that knows of that sacrifice I have made for others. I could not be seen actively involved in the legal actions of Babel. I only helped expose their actions, and let the people decide how the city would respond," Alptraum explains. "But I still have nightmares of my own, when remembering how it feels to be eaten alive, bit by bit. Or brutally raped. Or cut open. Or ..." He shakes his head, adding, "You get the idea. I will spare you the details."
"A Kindly One being the willing victim..." Bara says. "I did not think I'd see the day they considered what we go through."
"It does not make up for all that has happened, but it is a start," Alptraum says as he heads for the door out. "Thank you for helping, Bara. It will be remembered."
"Good luck, Barsunala," Bara says. "If you need to rest.. you're welcome here."
"Don't tell your brother that. I think I scared him last time," Alptraum jokes, waves, and heads through the doorway and out.
"Soulin needs to be shaken up now and then," Bara says as Alptraum leaves..
"I'd like to shake him up in several ways," Alptraum claims as his voice fades in the distance. What could he mean by that? And worse, is he actually being serious?