Mage Albiarro is washing his underwear when Alptraum stops in to see him at the Mages Guild tower. Quite a bit of laundry is hanging to dry on lines hung between the Eeee perches in his room. The poodle looks up from his washboard with surprise. "You've come back!" he says. Without his robe he doesn't look at all like a mage. There are also a few small puddle hazards on the stone floor.

"Maybe I never left? Maybe I have been here the entire time. Watching. You," Alptraum remarks from the doorway.

"In that case.. uh.. I'm sorry for being boring?" the gray poodle says nervously. He then looks around at the drying laundry and notes, "They will do my laundry here, but I have to pay for every service that isn't just the cafeteria, and I haven't gotten any work yet. Well, any paying work.."

"You could start a 'punch the poodle' booth. I imagine it would bring in a crowd. Also, bruises," Alptraum quips. "Are you still interested in helping to try and identify the information leak?"

"Yes!" Albiarro says, getting up off of his knees and wiping his hands on his pants. "It'll help me get work, probably. What do you need me to do?"

"Be a girl," Alptraum says flatly, looking at the mage. "Or rather, a waitress to snoop."

"Will I get tips?" is the poodles first question. "And.. uh.. could you explain further please?"

"You might have to flirt. And sleep with men," Alptraum adds, probably not terribly helpful.

"What.. in a dorm? I just got my own room!" the poodle notes, waving to the glory that is a private room where one can do their own laundry. "I've waited tables before though.. uh.. wait, who am I supposed to be flirting with? I've never flirted!"

"You are freaking out far less than I expected. You haven't even asked how you would be female, or things like that," Alptraum remarks, sounding disappointed. "You're worrying about mundane stuff. Actually, what we need is for someone to mingle with the ships crew, and see if you can sense if any of them carry any of those sensing devices, or have any sort of tell-tale marks of being a mage or magic user. In a seedy sailor bar."

"Seedy? Female?" the poodle asks. "I.. could borrow a dress.. maybe," he mutters, looking at his not particularly adequate wardrobe. "But wouldn't being a Gallee sort of spoil any mingling, what with the likely being pelted with furniture aspect.."

"Now, who said you would be Gallee?" Alptraum asks and smiles rather evilly. "Species is such a fluid thing, around me. Gender too, for that matter."

"There are fluids involved?" the still-confused Mage asks. "I tried the whole shave-the-fur-short thing, but I didn't look anything like a Jupani with that. Are you talking about some sort of shadow-based illusion?"

"No, I'm talking about making you a fully functional Eeee girl," Alptraum remarks and waves his right hand a bit. "Or maybe a Fnerf."

The mage cocks his head to one side, making one ear dangle a bit. Then he cocks it the other way, and fans the first ear a bit. "Sorry.. I think there's something wrong with my ears," he says. "You're.. setting me up with a girl?"

Alptraum laughs. "No, silly boy. I'll turn you into a girl," Alptraum explains. "You know, you'd have boobs, a womb, and so on..."

"Wait.. surgically?" the mage asks, shrinking down a bit and putting his hands over his crotch. "That's.. I'd have to change my name, and buy all new clothes that I can't afford.."

"No, not surgically, I would just alter what you have. For a day or two," Alptraum notes. "It's within my abilities."

"So.. I'll change back?" the poodle asks, looking less frightened. "And.. an Eeee? Is that safe? What types are the sailors?"

"Some are very well endowed. "And yes, you would change back; which is odd. Or I could change you back, which is less odd," Alptraum explains. "Unless you get pregnant; then you'll just have to stay a girl..."

"No," Alptraum remarks. "And while yes, I am teasing you, I am serious. I can completely change you. But, you don't have to do this at all. I'm not here to force anything."

"So what exactly would you need me to do?" the poodle asks, deciding to focus on that.

"Mingle, serve drinks, try and see if you can sense one of those detector wands, or if anyone is carrying those coins. Also, possibly get invited onto the ships to check each out. I'm sure I can get the captains to invite you on," Alptraum notes. "And no, you don't have to sleep with people, that was just to see how you'd react."

"I've never.. uh.. you know," Albiarro admits. "But these sailors will be Eeee then, mostly? Are they big tippers? Do I need armored underpants?"

"All sorts. Eeee, Jupani, Vartan, and so on," Alptraum notes, "And tips depend on how well you do your part. Iron underpants would probably disappoint them, but that is your choice."

"It's just that Eeee don't really have a lot to pinch.. I think," the mage says, looking uncertain. "And.. uh.. is it hard to learn how to fly?"

"Not that hard. And as for pinchability, well I would overlay Yodhinala as part of it to make you more appealing," Alptraum notes and shrugs.

"And you'll be there with me the whole time, right?" the poodle asks, then looks thoughtful at the Fnerf idea. "I might knock things over until I got used to the extra big tail," he admits. "Fnerfs fit on airships though, right?"

"Yes, you would, and yes they do," Alptraum confirms and bobs his head. "As for me, I don't see why you would need me there?"

The man's eyes go wide. "Well.. for protection.. and so that if I do detect something, I can let you know right away," he says.

"Protection? A fnerf weighs three times what an Eeee does," Alptraum points out. "And if I'm in a bar, people will be nervous. Most are afraid of me after all."

"Do sailors flirt with Fnerfs?" the mage asks. "Can't you.. be in disguise too?"

"Sailors flirt with anything," Alptraum says, "And well, yes, I could. I'm not sure as what, though."

"You could ride on my back," the poodle offers. "We could carry a lot more drinks that way."

That makes Alptraum laugh. "So, you won't do this alone," he notes. "I suppose I could come up with something."

"Thank you!" Albiarro says. "I've never flirted, and.. pretty sure I've never been flirted at either. I don't know how I'll deal with it. What if a big Fnerf is really grabby? I know drunks can get like that."

"Then enjoy the ride? Fnerfs are rather impressively endowed. And they get ... stuck together," Alptraum comments, possibly not helpfully.

"But... won't that interfere?" the poodle asks. Then his eyes go wide again, as he realizes, "This.. is going to be more than one day, isn't it?"

"A couple, most likely. Two ships, large crew," Alptraum says and nods. "And again, you don't have to do any of this."

"Well.. if I'm not me doing it then.. I don't have to worry about being targeted for revenge by pirates, right?" the poodle reasons out. "So.. I'll do it! I'll need something wear though. How do waitresses dress? And.. uh.. getting in as a new hire won't be difficult, will it? I'm not good with interviews."

"Dress skanky," Alptraum suggests, "As for getting in, I can have that arranged ahead of time through my contacts. I'm sure certain groups of spies already have hooks into pub staff."

"So.. the others will be spying too?" the poodle asks, and looks reassured by that. "How would a Fnerf dress.. uh.. skanky? Like.. a big scarf.." he says, then makes a wrapping-around-his-chest gesture.

"That shows off cleavage, a lot. And keep the tail up to show off other bits," Alptraum explains. "I could also ensure you were, ah, in heat and smelling right..."

"Wouldn't that be distracting to me too?" the mage asks. "I mean.. I do need to concentrate to sense Light Magic.. which is another reason I would like someone else with me. You could explain to people that I'm slow or hard of hearing or something when I have to focus. But.. I guess I won't need to steel a tablecloth to make into a dress then?"

"Well, you can't be obvious you're checking, but yes, it might be too distracting," Alptraum concedes. "And can you be away from the this building for those days? I am sure you could sleep at the pub, or well, get taken home every night by a different sailor."

"I'm not sure they notice that I'm here as it is, so being away is not an issue, so long as I don't get killed," the poodle claims. "Getting killed is severely frowned upon. And.. uh.. you'll still watch out for me outside of the pub, won't you?"

"Are you really that worried about your safety outside of these walls?" Alptraum asks.

"I've heard that Babel still has 'rough' areas, and the docks are one of them, because of all the foreigners coming through," Albiarro says. "And that some sailors are criminals fleeing justice. Or willing to do things others would not because they'll be gone before there are consequences. And also which ones have the best contraband."

"All true," Alptraum has to concede and finally sit down on the edge of, well, something. "You'll be fine; I have plenty of contacts and allies, and they will keep watch. The only one that will ever be in any danger is me."

That really gets the poodles puffs to poof. "Wait.. there're people that are a threat to you?" he whispers.

"Why is this a surprise? You know who Amenlichli is, do you not? Or Amena?" Alptraum asks.

"She's forbidden!" the poodle gasps. "Only Spirit Mages talk about her. She's here then? In Babel?"

"She and I are ... sparring," Alptraum comments a bit grimly. "Some of her agents are here, yes. I am probably the greatest threat to her currently in this world. So, one of her 'most want to get rid of' people."

"Because.. oh, Sunala," the mage says in hushed tones. "The Yodhsunala always destroy the undead.. one way or another. But if her.. uh.. agents.. are mortal then I suppose the Guild at least can't move against them."

"Can't really say her agents are all that mortal anymore. She has at least one undead vampire working for her," Alptraum notes and shrugs just a little. "She and I have had a few ... talks. She at least has not tried to recruit me. I also know where she got some of her abilities from; a dead city a shortish distance from Babel."

"Undead in Babel," the mage mutters, and starts pacing. "Sigrid's Null Detector? I'd need tar for that.. and a hollowed out Rhaktor egg.."

"She actually infiltrated exploding undead-ish Eeee corpses that could drive all around them insane," Alptraum notes, "But I dealt with that."

"Is that.. to do with the walking tree on Mt. Sunala?" the mage asks. "Would it be possible to get a clipping from it?"

"It does have everything to do with that, and possibly. I would have to ask its caretaker," Alptraum notes. "While yes, I could probably just take it, I do not wish to be rude or make more enemies."

"There might residual resonances, you see," the mage says, and.. starts gesticulating. He's a hand-talker, just not in the silent-sign sense. "Maybe I could convince the Guild to set up ritual reflector beacons for triangulating.. uh.. things," he winds down. "That would probably be too expensive, especially if they couldn't locate the vampire anyway.."

"The vampire is probably in the forbidden zone right now anyway," Alptraum notes, "But, perhaps you should speak with Mage Cyprian on the matter as he is working on some specific defenses to counter the effects those weapons could cause."

"The big ritual I hear the senior mages whisper about?" the poodle asks. "I just got here so.. they haven't really taken me into their confidence yet."

"Likely that one, yes," Alptraum agrees. "Cyprian is an ally of mine. He may look scary, but he isn't."

"He sure seems scary to me," the Journeyman admits. "Mind Mages always creep me out a little. And since I'm a Light Mage, there's always the fear that I'm a plant from Caroban to keep an eye on them, since what we mostly do in my Sphere is light things up and handle secure long-distance communication."

"Am I scary to you?" Alptraum asks as he pushes himself up and walks over, then plants his right hand right in the center of the poodle's chest.

"Terrifying," the canine says and shivers. "You're tall and dark and shadowy.. you don't become a Light Mage because you're fond of darkness. And you're a Life Mage too.. maybe the most powerful one there is if you can change someone's species.. and change them back again."

Alptraum's brow just raises; and where his hand sits feels funky. Like, squirmy, and something going through the skin. And if that were bad enough, it gets weirder in that the canine starts growing, well, breasts. To the point that an would be considered nice on an Eeee, anyway, then it stops and the sensations stop. "Still scary?" he asks.

"Yessss... but for different reasons," the poodle admit. The drooping ears hide any blushing, but his posture doesn't. "Girls are scary."

Alptraum pokes one of the pert bits. "You're going to be one for a few days. If this bothers you, then maybe we shouldn't do it," he notes.

"Oh, it'd be different being one, it's.. not being one but dealing with.. uh.. parts.." the poodle flounders. Either female Mages are very scary, or Mages in general tend to be socially stunted. Especially young ones with large debts who do their own laundry to save a few coins.

Alptraum takes the poodle's hands and puts them on the poodle's newly made chest. "Better?" he inquires. "And I should probably warn that, well, sex is better being female too; things ... last longer."

Now that his hands have been.. forced.. Albiarro does feel things a bit. "So.. I'll be a pretty Fnerf? Or.. does it even matter?" he asks.

"Well, I assume pretty. I don't know how to judge fnerfs," Alptraum admits. "When do you want to, well, experience the whole change? Do you want afew days practice of being a fnerf before actually having to work?"

"Practice.. yes," the poodle says, dropping his hands. "I don't want to accidentally kill anyone. But.. are there any other Mages you've altered who could give me some pointers?"

"Your naga spirit mage, Rostre. She was a fnerf for a while," Alptraum says after taking a moment to remember the naga's name.

"But you don't live in the same building," the poodle points out. "I'll go talk to her, get an idea of what to expect.. err.. but she's a Naga, which is about as far from a male Gallee as you can get, so it might not help. Maybe I should just get it over with?"

"You could call her up here to be with you after the change and help you cope," Alptraum suggests, "But ultimately, your decision. I don't know how you will react."

"If I don't panic after the first few minutes, I'll call for her," Albiarro promises. "She.. probably has clothes right?"

"This is Rostre. I'd say it's fifty percent chance she has clothing. But, you'll be fluffy so not too much will show," Alptraum says and gestures to the floor. "And you had best sit down for this."

First the poodle moves the washbucket to one side, and eyes the damp spots before deciding they aren't that big of an issue. So he sits on the floor. "Do you need a magic circle or anything?" he asks.

"No," Alptraum says, then actually does wonder for a moment if mages would envy him for that. "I just need you to close your eyes and relax. If you fight, it'll hurt. If you give into it, it'll feel better than anything else in the world," he says as he places his rather unpleasant-looking right hand on the mage's forehead.

"R-relax," the man repeats. "Meditation.." he says, and as he repeats something under his breath, he does begin to relax, without getting sleepy.

And when the poodle doesn't seem like he's going to wet himself that's when Alptraum lets the shadow flow ... and ooze out like some sort of demonic slime that is consuming the poodle. Resisting the urge to turn the poodle into a hog, instead he finds the form of the fnerf he knows, and lets it slowly overlay the image of the poodle that forms in his mind once the kenning has finished. He also has to shift around because doing this usually turns him on too. But ... he also knows the amount of energy this will take to cope for the mass increase is going to leave hurting pretty badly.

It does take a lot of energy, even after being topped off before coming here. With Rostre there wasn't much difference in mass to begin with, but even for a poodle Albiarro is runty. But after some time has passed, the form of Lucy the Fnerf has replaced the original.

"Geh, I can't do that too often," Alptraum mutters as he wobbles. The shadow slips away and Alptraum stumbles backward, then sits down heavily on the floor. He leans forward, plans resting on the floor, and the fur from his right elbow up to his shoulder and part of his chest, has turned a bit, well, gray.

"Are you alright?" the transformed Mage asks. She's still on the floor, apparently not ready to stand just yet. And the first thing she does.. is feel her ears. "Erect.." she mutters, and tries turning them this way and that.

"When there is a large weight difference, it's hard to do that," Alptraum admits. Even his wings are dropping. "The power to do it comes from me. I don't draw it from the environment like you mages do; so it has a real physical cost at times. I will recover when I can get a source of life or spirit energy to absorb."

"Oh my, you should have said.." the Fnerf says, and marvels at the sound of her own voice for a moment. "Just.. let me call a page.." she says, and very slowly rises up onto her legs.. first the front, then the back. "So tall now," she mutters and staggers a bit towards the door. She opens it and calls out, and an Acolyte shows up. "You look different," he notes. "Nevermind that," Albiarro says. "I need you to fetch Mage Rostre and.. uh.. tell her to bring any charged-up Spirit batteries please. It's very important."

Alptraum waves his left hand. "I cannot pay for such things. I have my own sources I can use. I'll be fine," he claims.

After the acolyte hurries off, the Fnerf shuffles back towards Alptraum. "You look as if you would have a hard time standing up, much less flying. Is there anything I can do to help? Something to eat or drink?"

Alptraum looks up. "I'm a vampire, just not the undead kind," he says. "Not many places in Babel can accommodate that."

"Oh.. so you need blood.." the Fnerf says, then looks around a bit. "I only have what's in me," she notes, and offers her left arm.

"Are you sure? Your kind usually tries to kill us vampiric lines," Alptraum notes grimly.

"Mages don't kill vampires.. oh, Gallee you mean?" the Fnerf asks, as if it just occurred to her. "Well, I'm not a Gallee at the moment, so it should be fine," she says with a grin.

"Roslind Draco's husband. He was killed by Gallis. So was her father," Alptraum explains, "And she is dear to me." He takes a few deep breaths, then waves his hand. He accepts the offered arm eventually, then gently bites into it.

"Well, then you should want to bite Gallees I'd think," the Fnerf notes before wincing at the bite all the same. Her tail rises up and knocks down several clotheslines.

Alptraum can't really reply to that; he's just drinking slowly. The pain from the bite should ease quickly at least and while there isn't much energy in the blood, it should help some.

Several minutes into the feeding, and the door bursts open as Rostre slithers in, nearly causing Albiarro to jump. The Naga is naked, which normally wouldn't be an issue, but Rostre still has a prominent pair of dragon-breasts. "I knew it!" she declares. "You've come back!" She also holds up a glowing jar. "And I have this! I've managed to preserve the original sample, to see how much charge it could hold, and.. uh.. you're looking a bit pale."

Alptraum holds up a hand to request a moment ... then eventually he detaches his jaws from the arm and uses just enough more shadow to close the bitemarks, but not fully heal them. It's then that he gives the serpent a look. "You kept that? And ... you still have breasts. That's ... interesting. It usually isn't permanent."

"I've learned some things," Rostre claims, and waggles the jar again. "You can maintain changes you make by applying Spirit energy to them. Even your sample is still viable.. I think. I've been seeing what it's upper storage limit is.."

"That is ... really gross," Alptraum has to concede, "And this coming from me." He shakes his head slowly. "As for your chest, you've found a way to just keep them, then? Heh. You must enjoy them."

"But it shows that Life and Spirit are tightly bound within you," the Naga says proudly. "Oh.. did you need the energy? And yes, it's nice having something to distract men with! They have to actually treat me like a lady. Oh.. I was supposed to put on my poncho.. eh, doesn't matter now." She offers the jar to Alptraum. "If you drain it all I'll probably need a fresh sample to experiment with some more.."

"Do you have an extra poncho?" Albiarro asks. "Uh, I'm not really a Fnerf.." she explains.

"That is not something I particularly want to drain," Alptraum admits, but he accepts the jaw anyway with his right hand. And there he focuses, trying to take as much as he can without, well, taking it all and killing the goop. "The fnerf was the poodle-mage," Alptraum notes absently. "She is helping with with an investigation." And then he helpfully reaches under the fnerf's tail to rub, and show the recently changed her bits feel, well, different.

That does make Albiarro hop up and squeak. And after landing other parts are still bouncing a bit, which distracts her.

There's a decent charge on the jar, enough to keep the 'hunger pangs' at bay at least, but nowhere near what a whole live hog could provide.

"She liked it, and scared everyone else in the tower," Alptraum notes. He leaves just a little bit left in the jar, and then offers it back to the naga. "That's a little better," he admits.

"That sssounds fun!" Rostre admits. "I bet you'll get a lot of free drinksss if you sstay naked the whole time." She then turns her attention back on Alptraum, giving him a more thorough looking over. "I never did ask if you could turn into a Naga, did I?" she asks, and reaches out to feel the faded fur on his right elbow.

"I can," Alptraum admits and looks up. He wiggles his fingers on his right hand a bit and notes, "It all still works, it's just a little drained is all."

"It didn't do that before," Rostre points out. "You ssshould have called me before using yourssself up! And isss it a big black and sssilver hooded viper, maybe?" she asks, her head swaying back and forth a bit.

"It's very large and black," Alptraum claims, "No silver hood, though. Well, I could probably make it silver. I haven't tried."

"I was hoping you could help me figure out a few.. ah.. things about this body, Mage Rostre," the Fnerf says. "Like.. how do I.. I mean, do I sort of back up to the.. will I need a tub for.. pooping?"

"You will alssso need a curry brush for grooming," the Naga points out. "It is very relaxing though."

"Milking? None of the girls on Caroban mentioned anything like that!" the new Fnerf notes, and grabs her milk jugs.

"I'm teasing. Unless you're pregnant or if I induce it, it won't happen," Alptraum relents.

"I am amazed that mammalss are not constantly lactating," Rostre notes. Then looks down and squeezes her own pair as if in contemplation.

"It's only useful when breeding. Otherwise those are just to entice males," Alptraum notes as he pushes himself up to his feed and wobbles a little. "And I should probably get going; I am wasting your valuable time."

"So far this is.. nice," Albiarro admits. "I'm tall. I've never been tall before. And I'm still.. sort of.. canine. So that's familiar. And my ears aren't droopy.. and nothing is curly."

"When will you come back to collect me?" the Fnerf asks. "And.. will you look like yourself or be in disguise?"

"Well, I best show up as me otherwise I won't be let in," Alptraum points out. He then glances at Rostre and dares to ask, "And I assume you want me as a naga to visit sometime as well?"

"Oh yessss," Rostre says. "I'm the only one here at the moment.. I think. I haven't checked. We could dance."

"I can confirm there are. There's one at the Paradise club, in fact," Alptraum agrees. "I'm not sure when we'll have time, but we could try. I should warn, though, I make a terrible naga. No grace at all."

"Does that mean you think I am graceful?" Rostre asks, as the Fnerf accidentally knocks over a lamp. "Oops.." she says. While Fnerf's can be graceful, Albiarro will have to work at it a bit.

"More than I am as a naga. You're used to being so ... long and ... thick," Alptraum states.

"I remember racing through the hedge maze, asss fast as I could!" Rostre laughs. Then she collects the jar, and says, "I will return to my lab and begin the charging ritual, then return to give you Fnerf lesssons," she tells the clumsier mage.

"And I will leave before I am accused of corrupting the guild," Alptraum says. Plus, he can go get more energy back in the nest anyway. "Have fun having a huge butt, and being capable of being with vartan males. If you get the chance, take it. It'll open your eyes." Then he winks to the converted mage.

Alptraum says, "I'm fine with either. The Cricket bit does set up the next phase."

Babel Docks
Facing the valley that formed a break between the surrounding mountains, the airship docks are stacked in several horseshoe-shaped layers suspended by multiple towers to form a sheltered zone. Frameworks, cranes and other support structures jut out into the air from each level, while brightly-dressed Eeee serve as dock-guides for incoming ships.

The back of a food truck seems an odd place to meet, given the front is pretty active since today it's selling pork sandwiches, but it isn't the sort of place people would likely suspect a Yodhbarada and the Barsunala to be meeting, and the noise is a good cover too.

"I know the owner of The Potted Ptera," Cricket insists. "Lots of people meet there to exchange.. things worth exchanging."

Alptraum subconsciously flexes his right hand slowly. "Good. Are you on good terms with them? I will need to ... insert two waitresses sometime for an investigation I am assisting with," he tells the young Eeee. "With no questions asked on what sort of investigation from them. I don't want to risk tipping anyone off."

"So long as the place isn't going to be raided, I can set that up," Cricket claims with a big smile. "I'll just need names and descriptions."

"No raids. Just being quietly nosy with some sailors," Alptraum claims. "One will be a Fnerf. Name, hmmm ... Flewf. That name seems to fit," he says after a bit of pondering. What else would fir got a poodle-boy anyway? "The other ... hasn't been decided yet. It depends on who I decide to be."

"You're going in yourself?" Cricket asks, wide-eyed. "Need me there too, maybe?" she asks coyly. She's never gotten to directly work with Alptraum before, after all.

"I've been in a LOT of places that you've never known about," Alptraum says and pats her cheek. "And I suppose you could, if you want. It won't be that interesting, and might make you disappointed in me, though."

"How could I be disappointed?" Cricket asks. "Just tell me what to be watching for, or what the signal is for me to follow someone."

"Because I am an excellent actor. I could play a slut that would make a Yodhinala blush, for instance," Alptraum claims. "Do you really want to see that?"

"Yodhbarada aren't always out in the open," Cricket notes. "That's just to make people think we don't hide. But we can act too. A lot of the old nobles liked young girls after all."

"Yes, but ... you respect me. I am concerned that you may lose some of that if you see how deep I can go in personality crafting," Alptraum admits. "But, if you don't think it will bother you, then you are welcome. This is all related to the investigations on the ships, we are looking for anyone of the crew that may be using either a magic artifact, or has mage abilities."

"Ah.. I suppose if one of the crew did have something like that, they wouldn't risk leaving it behind on the ship," Cricket notes. "I don't get to work on sailors much - Tulani is way better at that, since she knows all the jargon and can drink a lot before getting drunk. We Yodhbarada don't have a lot of.. well, real-world skills. It's only recently we've even started dealing with the working classes."

Alptraum rests his arm on top of Cricket's head. "But, you do get to work with me, so that helps some?" he offers. "I've grown fond of you, Cricket. As a friend and ally."

"And sometimes lover?" Cricket prompts, biting her lip and widening her eyes. "I've learned that nowadays you can't tell who might be important down the line. Wealth and power aren't hereditary anymore, and just about anyone could turn into someone with power and influence. Even victims have power now."

"The lover aspect is ... risky. You're young and I feel like I'm abusing my position," Alptraum admits. "I'm not Babelite traditional, so ..." The other part has to make him laugh and note, "I use that specifically to my advantage. I've played the victim at times to get into the inner circle of ... problem groups, before exposing and destroying them."

"See? Pretty soon the only ones left will be those that don't abuse their power," Cricket says. "And it's not risky. You just don't want to admit that you fell for my charms," the girl claims. "Brains and cuteness and courage, I mean."

"I've been impressed you've embraced how things have changed, and you're one of a few Yodh I do not have to be formal with that often. Just because I can do things doesn't mean I want to; I prefer to work with others from a position equality, at least in the feel," Alptraum notes. "I don't have to show overpowering strength to keep you in check, unlike Yodhblakat, for example."

"Well.. you've put me in my place before, all the same," Cricket notes. "Oh.. I have more information on the crews too, if it helps you figure out your undercover persona. The officers are Eeee and Vartan for each ship, with just a few flyers in the crews. Vartans for some muscle and as lookouts, Eeee for lighter stuff. The bulk of the men are Skreeks and Kavi though. Kavi mostly handle the rigging, Skreeks the sails and medium-strength work. Cargo ships like these like smaller crewmen because they can have more of them in less space - wings are expensive when it comes to space. The ones that get taken in the raids have mostly been Kavi, with one Skreek in the mix."

"They've also got one Fnerf per ship," Cricket adds. "Recent, and I suspect for handling heavy crossbows as well as cargo loading."

"If I had to wager on who a plant would be, it would be kavi or skreek. Especially the ones taken," Alptraum admits, "Though, I could be wrong about that too. With this ... waitress insertion, I can't use a persona I've used a lot of, it might stand out too much. Lapi won't fit ... a skreek, maybe. Basing off a Yodhinala form would be problematic. Hm. Naga? They're common at the docks, but not sure if that would be intimidating."

"Nagas are common enough that it wouldn't stand out," Cricket says. "Same for Skreeks and Eeee of course. Kavi are rare in Babel, but not Saskanar. If you want, I can arrange for you to meet one of the regular waitresses to imitate."

"That might even be the best. Two new waitresses might be suspicious. But one? Less likely," Alptraum agrees. "I could even imitate you, you know."

"A Vartan would get some attention too, not many waiting tables," Cricket says, and grins at the suggestion of copying her. "Tell me what you want as far as options go. Behavior, willingness to go with a sailor, and so on."

"Well, willingness to go with a sailor, sure. Maybe a little ditzy, just because people are less on guard around that," Alptraum notes. "And hah, if I did a male Vartan, Tulani would swoon. But then, hm, would male or female be better?"

"Females get the most attention from sailors, statistically," Cricket notes. "They don't go for strange men generally, will tend to stick to their own crew if it comes to that. Economics at work too - easier to share a girl, they don't tire out as fast."

"The girls get ... shared?" Alptraum has to ask. "They would get pretty ... messy."

"It's a Skreek thing mostly," Cricket notes. "A bunch can chip in, girl makes out with a lot more cash than one guy will pay. I hear Khatta girls can be into that too, but they're also pretty rare."

"Fnerfs are definitely one-on-one sorts though," the girl claims. "Size matters, after all."

"I think too exotic would be suspicious," Alptraum says, "And I already have a Fnerf in play, so need something different. I could use ... Nikky, but Gad, she's well known."

"And sailors will still go for Nagas, too," Cricket says. "They may be less concerned about gender. It's more a.. tongue thing. But shiny colors matter still. And of course Eeee are pretty universal."

"Until thinks come out, it's rather hard to tell naga gender," Alptraum notes. "Anyway, do you have a recommendation on one you feel would go over pretty well and not be that suspicious?"

The Yodh grins, and says, "I can line up one of each probably, based on ditziness and popularity. Wouldn't want someone that too popular, or you might be expected to recognize regulars or something. I can find out who hasn't been invited back by these crews to make things less complicated."

Alptraum nods. "That sounds a good a plan as any," he agrees. "Thank you. And I probably shouldn't keep you. Much to do, and not that much time to do it in."

Alptraum considers something, then says, "Eh, you can serve me in another way for a little bit." The Eeee then sweeps her up into his arms and says, "Going to find a private spot and ... give you some divine inspiration, as well as insertion. And plot other things to do to you .... over time."