It was a busy afternoon for Lady Willow Embermane, special envoy for Draco County in Sylvania. First there was the spy business to deal with; making certain that Cricket and Tulani watched for likely stalker ships and checked into their registry. Tulani also recharged Lady Willow from the Light of Nala. Even Mave helped by offering a travel trunk with a built in makeup kit and jewelry. And if the jewelry didn't catch the eyes of pirates, most of the rest was sparkly lingerie with built-in jewelry. There were a few practical items of clothing as well, since the unicorn couldn't be expected to wear the same outfit all the time.
"I'll be following at extreme range and height," Tulani tells Willow as she carries the trunk for her. The Cloud Treader looks ready for takeoff, with just a few mooring lines straining now. A harbor tow-team of Rhaktors are also harnessed and waiting to pull the ship into the main airstream.
"I hope this goes all right. It can't go any worse than the last one, at least," the Unicorn says quietly as she walks along. "If anything goes seriously wrong, I will have to abort and revert to a more defensive form than this. I feel like art on display like this. Has Cricket learned anything new I should know?"
"Not yet," Tulani says. "It's tricky to get information on when ships come and go, since that's the sort of information pirates would like." She carries the chest in front of her with both hands as they reach the dock. "It shouldn't be more than two days before you're in the ambush zone."
"That might be a long two days," Willow admits and sighs. "Or one that leaves me tender in various ways. I know all about you sailor types," she teases. "And of course Mave wasted no time in making sure I had the right slutty attire."
"It's high-class slutty attire though," Tulani says with a grin. "At lease she had things in your size. Given you're somewhere between a Cervani and a Rhian, that's impressive. And here we are." They've reached the gangplank and Lilitu waves down to them from the deck. "I'll fetch the captain!" the petite Eeee calls down.
"It's Mave. She probably had clothing for a Rhugrhat. Sexy clothing, at that," Willow grumbles at Tulani. The chirp from the Eeee above gets her to look up and she waves at Lilitu. Aside to Tulani, she whispers, "Watch out for that one, she's a freak."
"She looks younger than me," Tulani notes, and sets the chest down. "There, the captain can carry your chest, instead of trying to carry you now!"
"In age, perhaps, but she could out swear you," Willow claims to Tulani. "And I'm sure he'll have his hands all over my chest during this trip."
The hands-on captain in question appears and comes down the ramp, his heavy steps making vibrate a bit. "Ah, our esteemed VIP!" Janik greets. "And her..?" he starts to ask, glancing from Willow to Tulani.
"Teamster!" Tulani says. "The unicorn and the chest are yours from this point on, have a safe flight!" she bids, then turns and sashays back down the dock.
"This is Tulani; she's also from Syl ... " Willow starts to explain, then smiles and shrugs a little. She waves to the departing Tulani, then feels her stomach sink. Nothing quite like being the roast on the spit, so to speak, for a bunch of jerks.
"Heh, dock-workers not big on chit-chat I see," Janik says, and picks up the chest. "Come with me, I get you settled," he says, and starts back up the gangplank.
Willow has to lift up the hem of her dress, then follows after the captain gingerly. IT took her hours or practice to learn how to walk on hooves without looking like a total idiot. It's worse than high-heeled shoes!
She still has the shin-wraps that make it look a bit like she's wearing boots. The gangplank has lot of convenient ridges to keep her hooves from slipping at least. Once on deck.. nobody seems to pay attention to her. There are glances, but everyone is busy with the rigging, preparing to swing out the masts with the bound-up sails as soon as they're free of the harbor. "Pull up the gangplank and signal our escorts!" Janik bellows to the crew that are not up in the rigging, including Lilitu.
"I do hope this will not be a problem for you," Willow notes quietly to Janik as she takes a moment to let her dress back down. "I know I am also helping your ship out by being, ah, the liaison for someone, but I do hope I do not get in the way or cause problems."
"I'll arrange things so you have the cabin to yourself most of the time," Janik says, kicking open the door to the captain's quarters. Inside.. well, it's just like the one the Pineapple Express really. The two ships must come from the same shipwright. "If you want top bunk, Lili usually sleeps on her perch," he offers.
"That would be most kind, thank you," Willow replies and curtsies to the captain. Now she hopes she won't be bored! Maybe she'll practice braiding her mane.
The captain secures the trunk with a strap, so it won't go sliding around to spill in rough weather. "We'll be out in the main commerce lane before full sunset," he notes. "Once we're rigged and catching the night winds, it'll be safe for you to look around the ship if you want. You're.. uh.. vegetarian right? I don't know if Aeonians are like Cervani or Rhians in that sense."
"I am, yes," Willow says and bobs her head. "I hope that will not complicate things with the galley? Meat won't repulse me or anything, but I cannot eat it."
"We've got plenty of veggies, don't worry," Janik says, stretching a bit. "They keep better, even if they mostly end up in stew. Is there anything you'd like while you wait things out? I can open the windows if you want to watch."
"Please," Willow requests and gestures to the window. "Air travel is limited in Sylvania. Bad storms all the time."
Some of the rear and side windows are opened, letting in the air of Babel. Janik promises to check in on her as soon as he can, and then leaves. The big money-chest is chained down in the center of the room, with presumably new chains, and the squawks of the Rahktors hint that they're finally being linked up to the hull. The view is away from Babel at the moment, since the ship will be turned around once airborne. There's a shouted command, and the floor shifts as the mooring lines are released and the Cloud Treader begins to rise.
Willow rests her arms on frame of the window and leans forward ... then catches her horn right on the upper frame. "Geh, I have to remember I have that," she mutters as she ducks her head a bit and looks out. "I also cannot believe I am doing this, no turning back now. At least it can't be as bad as the pit was," she mutters quietly to herself. She is tapping her fingers on the frame nervously, though.
The two Rahktors appear to either side as they tow the ship backwards as it continues to rise. It may be the first time the dark traveler has moved ass-backwards into danger. Babel still continues below the ship, but it seems to mostly be stockyards and warehouses with sliding roofs to take cargo in and out directly to airships. It smells interesting, certainly. Aside from the animal smells, there's one like someone is burning soap, so no telling what that comes from.
"Ah, city smells, always vile," Willow muses. Still, it's nothing like Gorphat's smells. Burning soap is a luxury! She takes a few deep breaths and remind herself she can always just shift back to normal and jump off the ship. She always has an out.
The city finally falls away, aside from some glowing spots beneath the evening fog. One of the Rhaktor's veers off back the way they came, and the ship begins to turn. This eventually gives Willow a nice view of Babel without any mountains in the way. Since most of the city is just waking up (days start at dusk in Babel) it's pretty well lit. There are silhouettes of other airships, dark despite the lanterns since the giant canopies can't have lamps hung on them. The Rhaktors and their riders head back finally, and the Treader leans from side to side slightly as the masts are extended. Things smell a lot fresher and the air is getting cooler.
Willow closes her eyes and breathes slowly and softly. She is doing this because she's reaching out with aura sense to see just how far she can feel from this ship. She also feels slightly more relaxed, and reminds herself she has a few days before things probably get ugly. "It'll be okay," she murmurs.
The other airships are quite far off, from what she can sense. It might be the main air-route, but airships aren't exactly close enough to bump into one another. She does detect something fast coming up behind them though, almost certainly a Ptera with a Yodhrephath rider (she's gotten good at recognizing the different types of Yodh by how their auras differ). It's unlikely the pair will get close enough for the Ptera to get nervous from Willow's own aura if she doesn't keep it under control.
Willow draws the sense back and opens her eyes. She's glad she remembered she needs to keep the draconic sensations from leaking too much or it may cause ship problems. She also wonders which Yodhrephath is tailing them, and if she'll come for dinner. Soon she shakes that idea out of her head, though, and goes to check the bunk ... and to make sure she'll have enough clearance from that horn, lest she get stuck in the ceiling.
The bunks are both Vartan-sized, and while Willow is tall, lean and leggy, she shouldn't have any trouble if she's careful. Getting up and down the ladder in a hurry could be an issue - hooves, even cleft ones, aren't the greatest for feeling out rungs in the dark. She also hasn't been shown where the bathroom is. The Shadowdrake had a private one for the captain.
Someone knocks at the door.. and then opens it anyway without waiting for a reply. Janik returns, and says, "We underway, night-shift take over soon. You want supper here or with the crew?"
Willow looks up. "Oh, hm. What do you recommend? Will I cause crew problems?" she asks politely and smiles.
"Problems?" the man asks, and seems to think about it. "They all pretty distracted by Lili's boobs still. Your skirts could be a problem below-decks. You gots trousers, or just those ruffly underpants that go to knees?"
"I do. I suppose I could change into them. As long as I don't cause problems, I can eat with the crew. Unless you'd rather eat here with me?" she asks.
"Maybe, if you not care for the galley," Janik says and Vartan-grins. "I gots surprise for you later though," he promises. "I go talk to Cookie about your meal, if you want to change now."
Gift? Hmm, that's worrying? She doesn't say that, at least. "All right, that sounds fine. I will see you in a few, then," Willow says and curtsies. Trousers make her look a bit like a dominatrix, but some people like that. Crazy people.
Janik leaves again, but Lili pops in almost immediately after. "Hi! Willow right? You want the top bunk?" she asks.
Willow was just about to take her dress off, too. "Yes, I would appreciate that. That way if I wake up and sit up, I do not lance some poor person in the backside," she notes, then taps her horn for emphasis. "The Barsunala told me that's not the kind of piercing you like."
"He knows about my.. ahem," Lilitu says, hiding a blush. "Are you changing clothes? Do you need any help? That dress has a lot of laces. Wait, that's the corset right? Or is it a bodice? I know what skirts are.."
"Corset. You can help if you wish. I just need to loosen it to get the dress part off, and switch to trousers," Willow explains and turns her back to Lilitu.
"This.. shouldn't be too hard!" Lilitu claims. "It's not airship rigging after all!" Still, Willow can tell the Eeee is using her teeth to help pull the cords.
Willow rolls her eyes a little and helps by tugging on the front to loosen it up as the laces loosen. After a bit, she says, "There, that should be enough. Then she's shimming her backside out of the dress, giving Lilitu a view of her significant butt. When she turns around, her other assets are visible now, and wow, yeah, unicorns are built to be with larger creatures that's certain. It also exposes she wasn't wearing any underwear. That she fishes out from her luggage, along with some dark velvet trousers. On go the basic silk underthings, followed by trousers.
"You have such fancy clothes," Lili says enviously. "My dresses are all at home.. and probably wouldn't fit now."
"They are also very high maintenance; so much work to keep them looking nice," Willow notes kindly. "And most guys I suspect would be glad if your dresses do not fit so that your aspects hang out, so to speak." She sighs and notes, "I also admit to being a little nervous on this trip."
"A little nervous?" Lili asks in surprise. "I wouldn't wear underpants either because I'd be soiling them all time. "I just hope everything works, and we get our boys back."
"I'm supposed to be protected, I hope it works," Willow admits and shrugs a little. "If it doesn't, well ... it's unlikely those that were taken will ever be saved."
"Don't say that!" the first mate implores, and tugs on her ears. "They'll ransom 'em or use them as leverage."
"Sorry, just being realistic," Willow notes as she makes sure her trousers are snug, then has to reach behind herself to re-tighten her corset some. "I'll do all I can, though."
"Well, if you're gonna eat with us.. don't let 'em know that you know about our problems," Lilitu advises. "No need to make the suspicious.. and upset with me or the captain for telling you."
"They'll be too busy staring at your chest to even notice me," Willow notes with a polite, if impish, smile. "But, do you recommend I do not eat with the crew?"
"If you eat with them, they won't be gossiping about you," Lili says, and brings her wings in a bit. Since she has to wear a tunic that's open on the sides, she can't exactly hide her endowments easily.
"People always gossip about me. My kind cannot help but attract attention," Willow notes, "So, when is dinner, then?"
"Well, soon.. but if you're ready we can go get a good spot," Lilitu claims.
"Whenever you are. By the way, why did you come to see me? Is there anything you wished to ask me?" Willow inquires a little anf flicks her leonine tail.
"Oh.. I wanted to see where you were going to sleep," Lilitu says. "I have some things stashed in the upper bunk that I need to move before you sleep there."
"Oh, just what do you have stashed, hmm? Toys to keep you company on lonely nights?" Willow teases.
"Trashy romance books," Lili admits, but grins. "I get them for the covers. The stories are so-so."
"Hey, leave me a few! I might need them to keep me company," Willow says. "Us unicorns rarely know romance, after all."
"I thought you were sweet on the captain?" Willow asks, as she gets the door open. "I'll get my rom-rags later then!"
"I like him, but we can't spend every moment together; he has a ship to run," Willow points out. She bows this time and says, "Thank you," before slipping out of the door.
The air is a bit chillier outside the cabin, but the crew on deck duty at least wave hello as the head for the hatch. The layout is familiar, and this time there's no danger of being smooshed under a falling Fnerf-butt. The bunks are filled with dozing men, and beyond them is the galley. The tables haven't been folded down yet. "Do you want to be in the middle?" Lili asks.
Willow mms a moment. "Yes, so people cal talk to me easier," she says, "It's less restricting than being in a corner."
Lili pats a spot on the bench, and says, "Wait here," before she heads into the kitchen. The moment she's gone a few more crewmen show up. They're a Rath'ani (good with knots) and two Skreek (good at getting into tight places). They all pause when they see Willow, as if uncertain how to proceed.
Willow settles her rump onto the bench and places her hands in her lap, folded together. She hmms softly to herself and then smiles to the men that arrive.
"Hullo," the Rath'ani says, looking like he'd be clutching his hat in his hands at that point if he had a hat. "Yer the passenger, aight? I'm Marbon, and these are the Scrofulous brothers.. Scroff and Louse." The two Skreek (which look nothing alike) sort of.. curtsey.. in confusion.
"Willow Embermane, nice to meet you," the Unicorn introduces herself and even bows her head a little. "It is a pleasure to meet all of you. No need to be nervous. I do not bite."
"Do you poke?" Scroff asks, and gets elbowed by his brother almost immediately. "She might be here to get us a better gig," he hiss-whispers into Scroff's ear. Marbon does at least approach and offer his hand, saying, "Welcome aboard, Lady Embermane. It's sailor superstition that says Aeonians are good luck, so I hope to be a believer."
"Poke?" Willow has to ask for an explanation. "I am here on behalf of Draco County. We are looking for new trading partners," she explains with a smile, then shakes the offered hand. "It is a pleasure to be on board."
"With your poker," Scroff explains, followed by a yelp as Louse stamps on his foot.
"They're just putting on a show," Marbon explains. "They're the crew clowns. They do really good pratfalls."
Willow laughs, covering her mouth delicately with a small hand. "So I see," she agrees, leonine tail flicking. "The crew must be always happy."
"We try to keep things cheery," the raccoon notes with a hint of despair. Lili returns, and says, "Mar! You here to help with setup?" To which Marbon nods. "I and my crack team of experts are at your disposal, First Mate Lickable! Er.. Lilitu!"
"You used that one two days ago," Lilitu points out. "And I thought you were a poet! But.. you know what to do.. so.. get to it!"
"Gasp, here in front of our guest?" Louse says, and pretends to swoon. Then the trio is setting up the tables.
As an officer, Lili is free to sit next to Willow and delegate.
Willow laughs softly. "Lickable?" she has to ask Lilitu. "Does the crew like you regularly then?" She also watches the others set up the tables.
"Oh, they've been trying to come up with jokes about my breasts since I got them," Lilitu says. "It'll be worse after my little slip up today too. My clothes aren't really built for this.. uh.. build."
"Well, they could have called you Milkable. Miss Moo. The Bouyant one ..." Willow ticks off, "But really, you are smaller than I am. Do you not like them?"
"Of course I like them!" Lili says, puffing up her chest proudly. "Er.. once the milk starts it stops eventually right?" she then asks quietly.
"Mount Lili and Tu," Scroff suggests as he unfolds a table in front of the pair. "I like First Mate Milkable better," Marbon says. "Having fresh milk on tap would be nice. We could make yoghurt."
"Well, it depends on why they're milkable in the first place. Are you pregnant?" Willow inquires, curious. "If so, then it'll be like that for months."
"Pretty sure I'm not pregnant," Lili says. "But.. uh.. they're sorta magic boobs, I think."
"That's it, that's the one," Louse proclaims. "First Mate Magicboobs!"
Willow covers her mouth again and laughs. "Poor dear," she says, then pats Lilitu's shoulder.
The pat makes things jiggle a bit. More people are arriving now, and while some make excuses to squeeze past Willow and Lili, some of the Kavi take the more direct route of going over the tables - on their hands. "Cookie said feet on the tables is unsanitary," one of the acrobatic ferretoids explains in passing.
"Your hands are not much better," Willow points out politely, but otherwise doesn't stop them. "Your crew is crazy," she notes to Lilitu
"You don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps," Lilitu recites as if it were the company motto. "We have to make our own entertainment. Especially with just the one girl in the crew."
From inside the kitchen comes a somewhat feminine shouts of, "I heard that Lili! No pudding for you tonight!"
"The crew doesn't attack or molest you, do they?" Willow inquires, knowing already that it is highly unlikely.
"They cheat at cards when they think I won't notice," Lili claims, wincing at the shout from the kitchen. "But that's about the worst of it. Although now they like to try and peep on me."
"Pepper juice in the eyes will stop that pretty quickly," Willow notes.
"Just show us and we won't be curious no more," one of the Kavi says. "Den we'll just wanna know how they feel," the one next to him adds with a stupid grin.
"It's honestly like being surrounded by a dozen kid brothers with the teasing," Lili admits.
"Don't listen to them, men never lose interest, and get worse the more they're given," Willow points out. "You should show better manners," she tells them.
"I left them in my other pants," Scroff notes, causing chuckles. "It's funny 'cuz he always wears the same pair of pants," one of the other crewmen explains to Willow.
"They can tease, because I know it won't go farther than that," Lilitu says. "Especially when I can put them on punishment detail with Cookie."
"I heard that too!" comes another shout from the kitchen.
"I would just turn them into toads," Willow claims.
"You can do that?" Lili asks. "Like a witch?" "What other tricks can you do?" someone asks, and Willow is then the center of attention.
"Do you really want to risk it?" Willow asks politely. "It's impolite to pressure a lady."
"But we're bored and you're new and interesting," an Eeee points out. "And you've got a shiny horn. Aeonians are magical, aren't they?"
"We are what were are. Nothing more. Nothing less," Willow says simply and waves a hand. "I am not a circus animal to perform upon command."
"But... have you met any witches?" Marbon asks. "Sylvania is supposed to be full of them, fighting the poodles and monsters and such!" Clearly, Marbon is also a fan of pulp novels, probably featuring scantily-clad witches instead of hunky vampires.
"I know Countess Draco. Probably the most powerful witch in Sylvania," Willow notes. "Truly the most terrifying Eeee in the world, when she wishes to be."
"She's scary?" the previous Eeee asks. "What does she do to her enemies?" "Wow, more powerful than the High Princess was I bet." "Does she write books?" is another odd question.
"She usually turns her enemies into hogs, that she feeds to her pet dragon," Willow complains. "And her consort is just about as scary."
"She has a pet dragon?" the odd kitchen voice asks, and Cookie emerges in a cloud of steam. She's a Lapi, but must be in her fifties.. or at least hasn't aged very well. "What sort of dragon? Does it eat th' hogs raw or seasoned and fried? Maybe battered?" She stirring something in a bowl with the biggest wooden spoon Willow has seen. It probably serves as a weapon sometimes.
"It is a mass of shadow with a glowing crystal at its heart, and it eats its victims raw, soul and all," Willow explains. "Ancient and incredibly powerful. Not a person to be trifled with."
"Mass of shadow?" the cook asks, looking disappointed. Then confused. "So.. if it's in the dark, you can't see it.. but if it's in the light, it vanishes?" she asks.
"No, it's living darkness. Lilitu, you've met the Barsunala; you have seen his powers, yes? They are like that, only even stronger and scarier," Willow tries to explain.
"So the dragon can make your boobs grow too?" Lili asks, and.. unsubtly eyes Willow's chest.
"The dragon can rearrange your body until you're a monster, or fuse you together with others. Or take you apart, bit by bit," Willow tries to explain. "And no, it has not touched me."
"Forget that, the Countess can turn people into hogs!" one of the Kavi points out. "That trumps boobs!"
"She also turned a platoon of Galisian nobles into vampires, and were creatures, to be hunted as they hunted others," Willow notes.
There is a murmur of agreement that yes, turning people into hogs is far more impressive. And it's clear that everyone is thinking of who they'd turn into hogs. But it's Cookie that notes, "Ah, if I could do that, it'd be chops and spare-ribs every meal!" They aren't as familiar with vampires and were-creatures though.. or with nobles, but they're all pretty sure they probably deserved it.
"Wait.. Gallisians hunt vampires?" someone asks. "Like.. vampire Eeee?"
"And all of that pales in comparison to the one thing she did that no one else ever had," Willow comments. "And yes, they do. They kill them, calling them abominations."
"That's.. how stupid are they in Gallis?" the Eeee that brought it up asks. "Eeee can see and fly in the dark! Poodles are.. noisy, ground-bound, night-blind and afraid to use magic, aren't they?"
"What did she do that's more impressive than changing people into monsters and livestock?" Lilitu asks.
"They believe they are right. They lured the Count of Draco County, who was vampiric, into a trap and beheaded him and taunted the Countess with it," Willow notes, sadly. "It's when the Countess began to show them no mercy."
"That's downright Babelite.. except for the taunting," the Eeee claims. "Do the poodles fare any better against the regular witches and ghosts and monsters?"
"She saved the heart of the Barsunala, Lilitu. The man you met, is different from the man she first met. When she met him, he was ready to burn the world, including all of Babel. He was walking rage back then. She touched his heart, and showed him how to love, and how to understand people a bit better. He came back to save Babel because of the Countess, so that he could reconcile his extended ... family, and teach them what she taught him."
"They do fare better against basic witches and undead, yes," Willow confirms.
"That's why the Barsunala is in Babel?" "The Yodh didn't conjure him up then?" "He's married?" That last question makes Lilitu's ears blush.
"No, he came back to save, and change, the Yodh and the Goddesses," Willow explains, "At least from what little I know. As for married, no, not exactly."
"No wonder all the poodles we meet claim to be from anywhere but Gallis," another crewman says. Cookie vanishes back into the kitchen, muttering about poodle-chops. For a Lapi she sure seems to fixate on meat a lot.
"Anyway, enough on that. Dinner would be good, then I would like to retire to sleep," Willow notes, quietly.
"I'm just glad they want fruit again," another man says. Then Janik steps out of the kitchen, wearing a stained apron. "Well, we ain't having fruit tonight," he claims. "It's pies." He steps aside as another Skreek emerges with a tray of.. well, they look more like small rounds of bread than pies, but everyone is eager to grab one. "I've got a special one for you, Miss Embermane," the captain says.
Willow's head tilts a little. "A special pie?" she asks, sounding a little confused. "What is special about it?"
"These are full of stew, but your is just vegetables," the Vartan says. There's more stuff being passed around, including bowls of gravy (for dipping most likely) and mugs of something similar to beer.
"It's pretty weak, if you want to try some," Lilitu notes to Willow. "Cookie basically uses beer to 'purify' the water."
"I would, thank you," Willow tells Lilitu. As for the captain, she smiles to him and says, "Oh, that is lovely. Thank you so much for that. I hope it was not a bother to do so."
"Not at all, just had chop stuff for Cookie," Janik notes. "She makes them for herself after all."
And Cookie enters with two plates (with actual utensils and linen napkins). She passes one down to Willow, which has a large 'pie' on it.. but really it seems more like a vegetable fritter. The other plate stays with her as she takes a seat. Janik sits at the head of the table and raises his much larger mug up. "Here's to a safe journey."
The unicorn takes the offered pie and bows her head. "Again, thank you so much," she says and smiles. The pie is then set down, and she picks up a fork and a knife. From there, it is a surprising amount of delicate cutting and gentle nibbling of the pie contents.
The others raise their mugs to the toast.
Willow raises a mug too. "And good friends," she says, softly.
The pie turns out to be rather spicy. The old rabbit has probably lost some of her sense of taste over the years.
The first part of Willow's surprise was a glass of peach brandy from Saskanar, served by Captain Janik in his quarters. "It isn't vintage," he admits. "But it's good. My father got me a case when I made captain," he explains, and demonstrates how a Vartan can sip.. which apparently involves using his long sharp-tipped tongue as a kind of straw. Unless he's just showing off what he can do with his tongue.
"I feel bad that you are wasting such a gift upon me," Willow remarks as she swirls the glass and sniffs it lightly. Her head bobs, then she takes a small sip.
It does taste nice, as brandies go. Not as good as the stuff Dr. Twig keeps in his study though. "It's not wasted," Janik claims. "It's good for keeping you warm!"
"Mmm, true enough," Willow concedes before taking another sip. "It's illusion of warmth, alas, but still better than feeling cold."
"Illusion is sometimes all you can get on an airship," the captain notes. "But the bath is real! Cookie is making hot water for it. Well, warm-to-hot water, anyway." Maybe all captains get to have private bathtubs.
"Ah, that sounds delightful. Planning to bathe, then?" Willow inquires innocently.
"You are my guest, so get first bath," Janik says. "I gots curry brushes," he then adds. Since Vartans are half equine, that would make sense.
"Ah, I see your cunning plan, you intend to bathe me," Willow teases a little and tries to tickle him under his beak.
The man leans into the tickle. His feathers poof a bit as a result. "Well, I can brush you down afters. But will be there with the bucket when you need it. Lilitu has trouble holding it up high enough."
Willow giggles a little at that. "You have her bathe you? Do you make her wear a maid's dress?" she teases.
"Apron," the Vartan claims. "Water flies a bit, after all." Just how do Vartan's bathe, anyway?
This causes equine brow to arch. She turns her back to the man, then looks over her shoulder and inquires softly, "Undress me?"
Since the unicorn is wearing trousers instead of a dress, this is a bit less complicated than it might otherwise be. At least for the pants. Janik is momentarily flummoxed by a shirt that isn't open in the back. There aren't any ties! So he asks, "Do I pull it over your head, or unbutton from the front?"
"Oh, I want to see how you do it," Willow teases as she steps out of her trousers one hoof at a time. Pulling a shirt off over the head of one with a horn would be a trick!
So Janik turns her around a few times, and finally just goes for the (shiny) buttons in front. Buttons are not a Vartan's friend, apparently.. at least, not small ones. Janik has big hands with big talons.. which he soon gives up on and uses his beak and tongue to undo them with.
Willow tries to not giggle too much, or lean forward too much, accidentally boob-hatting the vartan while he works more than oh, twice.
With the buttons out of the way, Janik pushes the blouse off of Willow's shoulders and down her back, pulling her arms back in the process.. and goes slow from there, keeping them pinned as long as possible.
"You seem better skilled at this than you let on," Willow murmurs, then smiles slightly as she wiggles alllll about. "And oh, do you have a cork?"
"A cork?" the Vartan asks, and glances down between the mare's thighs before realizing.. "Oh! For your horn! Hold on!" he says, and goes to the cabinet the brandy came out of. After some searching, he finds a nearly-empty bottle of something, pulls the cork with his beak, then guzzles down whatever was left of the bottle before presenting Willow with the requested item.
"Yes, so I do not accidentally stab something," Willow notes. She takes the cork once offered and peers a bit at it. She rolls it between two thicker fingers, then lifts her arm and sticks it on the end of her horn. It probably looks a bit silly, but it makes her less stabby. "Thank you."
Janik then proceeds to pull on one of the secured cabinets that make up the walls, only for the entire thing to swing open like a door. Because it is a door. There's just no point in wasting the back of it apparently, when space is dear. On the other side, a small lantern lights up the private bath, where Lilitu is grunting a bit as she tips another bucket of water into the.. bath? It looks more like a wide, shallow bowl, and there's a curtain that goes all the way around.. less for modesty than to avoid splashes, probably.
It looks like a giant wooden bird-bath, really, without the pedestal.
Willow slinks her way into that room, and accidentally swats Lilitu on the butt with her leonine tail. "A bit shallow, but it is nice," she observes. "Not as nice as a hot spring in a cavern, but ... we are quite far from a cavern right now."
"No can use a lot of water," Janik says while Lili rubs his butt. The Vartan shoos her out, and removes his own clothes before getting the remaining bucket and a sponge. "You like flowery soap?" he asks.
"It can be quite nice, yes," Willow admits as she gingerly steps into the odd bath-tub. Slowly and carefully, the unicorn sits down into the shallow bowl and sighs out. "It is warm," she murmurs.
Janik can't get in with her, so moves the curtain aside to kneel down behind her, where he dips the sponge and wets down Willow's back and mane.
Willow sits up, and her slender back undulates slowly under that sponge. "So, do you bathe anyone else?" she inquires. "Like Lilitu?"
"Eeee sometimes need help with back, unless they hang and use one foot," Janik notes. "But don't bathe lots. Not big on sweat and such, or do dirtier jobs on ship. Lili probably gets lots of offers for back-scrub now though."
Janik then wrings the sponge out over Willow's head to get things wetter.
This makes Willow giggle. "Because of her new 'udder' beauty, I take it?" she asks as closes her eyes just in time! "A sweaty guy can be quite attractive," she notes, "In the right situations."
"Only my hindquarters get sweaty," Janik admits, and starts lathering up the soap before washing Willow's mane. "You gots to polish your horn? I gots hoof polish."
"I do not have to, but I do at times polish it, yes. And my hooves, but those are quite smaller than yours," Willow notes as she keeps her eyes closed. Having someone else wash your hair can be so very relaxing.
There's a lot of mane to get through. Unicorns tend towards the flowing when it comes to manes. There are a few more rinses before Janik moves the hair aside to actually start on her hide. Vartan hands are pretty rough, so he uses the sponge as much as possible. "You got sensation in horn?" he eventually asks.
"Not much," Willow admits. "Unless magic is involved, contact with it is mostly just pressure-related."
"Ah, so no having it licked like a candy?" the Vartan asks, and reaches around to start lathering up mare's front, getting her throat with one hand and her breasts with the other.
This makes the mare squirm a bit, as that area is rather sensitive! "No, licking it doesn't do much," she says with a giggle, "And it doesn't taste sweet. It's not like liking a male's 'horn' until it pops."
"Not shoot out sparks then?" the man says, 'sneaking' in a few squeezes before bring the sponge to bear for rinsing things off. And maybe polishing her nipples a bit. "You needs to stand up," he tells her.
Willow mmphs, wiggles, and those polished bits firm up quite a bit. "Huh, what?" she asks when her attention returns. "Oh, ah, right, stand up," she says and carefully gets up to try and avoid slipping. Hooves to not grip well when wet.
"Grab my shoulders," Janik advises, since he isn't standing up, but even kneeling he's tall enough to act as a support structure.
Willow does so. She's not exactly heavy comparatively, and it does help steady herself.
Once she's steady, Janik immediately gooses her with the sponge before lathering up her butt. At least she doesn't have a horse-tail to worry about.
No, but she does have a thicker tail that spluts against Janik for that! "Hey now!" she chides, "No pinching!"
"That not a pinch," the now wet-cheeked man claims. "Can't pinch with sponge," he points out, and then pinches Willow's tail before he washes it.
Willow makes a 'hmph'! "You say one thing, but do another!" she insists, but doesn't sound all that upset about it.
There are more squeezes before he gets to her legs, asking her politely to spread them a bit more. There hasn't been a rinse in awhile, so the soapy lather is slowly sliding downward.
Willow doesn't entirely trust the innocence of this, but she shuffles her legs a bit further apart, which means she has to lean more on Janik's shoulders. "Tease," she admonishes."
"What?" Janik asks, raises his head up just enough to brush his head-feathers against Willow's breasts.
Willow hmphs again, but doesn't otherwise say more!
The Vartan washes Willow calves and thighs, and after rinses things with the sponge, he uses it to wash her intimate area.
Willow mmmmmph and wiggles all around when that area is washed. Sensitive area, also fleshy and prominent on the mare. "Having fun?" she asks, sounding rather distracted.
"Getting there," the Vartan says, then starts to stand up.. and lifts Willow up by her thighs as well.
Willow whinnies in shock and surprise! She didn't expect to be picked up!
Soap also makes for a fragrant lubricant, as Janik lowers the mare onto his not-a-sponge-at-all. "Hold ons tight," he warns, before stepping into the tub himself.
"Oh, hello there," Willow gasps out as she feels, ah, quite full suddenly. She wraps her legs and arms about the vartan, and ends up moaning against his head. Perhapes chaste, was really just chased.
Janik then shows off his sense of balance (although having dinner-plate-sized hooves probably helps) as he bounces Willow up and down. Although going down is slower than going up. At least to begin with.
Mare-moaning becomes quite frequent, especially when she slides down and feels like she's being filled to her limit ... slowly. Her fingers dig into his neck-feathers and she buries her face into his neck to hide her embarrassment!
Either Janik's legs get tired (unlikely) or he wants to try a different position (more likely), he lowers himself until he's sitting in the tub with Willow in his lap, and tells her, "You bounce yourself now, yeah?" as he braces himself by holding onto the sides of the shallow tub.
Willow chuckles softly as she leans forward and uses her hands and legs to move herself. It's more of a rolling bounce, her undulating sliding her body firmly around the not-sponge. It also gives her a chance to watch it slide out, then back into her body, and the stretching around that invader it does. Getting to see it makes her shudder and groan, and also clench and squeeze.
"Ooof," Janik goes as the mare takes over. He risks freeing up one hand to squeeze her chest at least, and starts to wiggle and rock a bit himself to keep the water sloshing around.
The mare keeps it up, body movement slow, steady and strong as her body pretends to be a serpent's lair. "You are terrible," she teases, "Trying to corrupt me."
"You are elegant and beyond corruption," Janik claims. "So, cannot be corrupting you! You just making me purer." He then starts pumping his hips up against the mare! For extra purification.
This makes the mare giggle, which makes her movements a bit random for a few seconds or so. Eventually, she calms down and resumes her slow, steady, movement, eyes closed now and just enjoying the, er, pure moment?
So Janik keeps washing what he can reach with one hand, and adding to the sloshing himself. "Needs to dry you off eventually," he notes.
"Eventually, yes," the mare agrees. So, she picks up her pace, as well as her muscular gripping.! No drying off until things pop!
"Ah, you trying to break me?" Janik says, and then gives one of Willow's breasts a squeeze with his beak, before claiming, "I get you first!" Then he actually grabs onto her hips and starts bucking her up and down.
The vartan alas wins that, as after another few minutes the mare is making all manner of odd noises, squirming, and bucking! Also clenching and spasming, because it's hard to control stuff when the ol' brain is having a blast.
Janik lets Willow finish her galloping before lifting her up out of the tub. "Good race!" he says, and starts to towel her dry.
Willow just sort of stands there, twitching. "Mean, hmph!" she claims afterward; apparently a sore loser this one! Still, it's good to get dry, she was starting to get cold.
After the toweling comes the brushes, and Janik makes sure to comb out Willow's mane as well. There's.. cuddling.. during the brushing.
The brushing about puts Willow to sleep; the slow repetition of the brush and circles tends to make her head-bob a bit. "Whoo, now I feel sleepy," the mare murmurs, blinking slowly.
So Janik scoops her up and carries her back into the main cabin, saying, "Lili, clean up in there," before carrying Willow to his bunk and laying her out.
Willow stretches out in that bunk and yawwwwns widely. "I think I need to take a nap, sorry," she murmurs to him, then pets at his cheek. "Thank you for a lovely bath."
"I come wake you up proper after you get some rest," the Vartan says, with a big wink. He then gets his clothes back on before leaving the cabin. Lilitu returns from the bath and mutters that she should at least be given a mop. "Do you sleep with the cork on?" she asks Willow.
"Yes, otherwise if I wake up suddenly someone might get hurt," Willow points out and yawns. "Have fun cleaning the bath," she adds, "It'll give you a workout..."
"Well, get your sleep!" Lilitu says with a grin. "I gotta go supervise the shift change! Sailors can get confused easily about what time it is."
"BEcause they drink too much," Willow claims as her eyes droop, and soon she drifts off into sleepyland.
"Oooo, you must be new!" one of the unicorn mares says to Willow. "We haven't had anyone new in.. uh.. forever! You must be from a different Echo."
"Uhm, how did I get here?" Willow asks as she looks rather dazed and confused. There is also a lot of blinking and tail-flicking.
"Probably through the gateway," the milk-mare says, taking Willow's hand. "They can be a little disorienting I hear," she says, leading the black unicorn to a booth.
Willow follows along, looking a little drunk. She settles down heavily into the booth and there takes several deep breaths to try and clear her mind some. Usually someone brings her to these place,s so to just appear is a bit worrying.
"Fyl and Windlass will take care of you," the mare says, and closes the booth curtain behind Willow. That's when she notices the stallions.. well, that may be stretching the turn. The unicorns are still willowy and fey, almost androgynous except for the obvious exception. "Is that your natural color?" one asks. "You know what they say about black unicorns," the other notes. They're both snow-white of course.
"Of course this is my natural color," Willow says, then eyes narrow and she asks a bit nervously., "And what is it they say about black unicorns?" She also tries to cover herself up!
"I.. don't remember," Fyl notes, and starts nuzzling Willow. "What's your name?" Windlass asks, and strokes Willow's silver hair.
"If you don't remember, then why did you say that?" Willow asks Fyl. As for Windlass, she answers, "Oh, ah, pardon me, I am Willow Ebonmane. Yes, I know my mane is silver, but it's the hide. I swear."
"Well, that's why I was asking," Fyl claims, before ducking his head and.. suckling.
Willow squeaks in shock, which is not terribly demure ... but then suddenly being nursed on does that. "Uhm, er, hehe," she babbles as she tries to compose herself.
"Willow.. like the reed? No.. it was a tree.. wasn't it?" Windlass asks. After an eternity stuck in a dragon's.. spirit-gut(?).. the men seem a little vacuous.
To cover for his ignorance, Windlass starts suckling too. It doesn't take long before the 'ambrosia' is flowing.
If Willow had toes, they would have splayed. Instead she just sort-of mutter giggles and slides down a bit in the booth. It does feel nice to be nursed on. She'd likely be a slave to a milking machine were she not careful.
Eventually she notices the dragon head poking through the curtain. Kaira is quiet though. At least she recognizes the unicorn form, having been the one who gave it to Alptraum in the first place.
"This is your fault, isn't it!" Willow suddenly accuses and points at Kaira! "Why did you summon me?"
"Hmm?" Kaira goes. "Oh! Right.. I was wondering what was going on. You hadn't checked in, so.. I checked you in! Mainly because I was wondering why you were using the unicorn. Twice in only a few days!"
"Oh, I'm a lure for some pirates," Willow says as she sort of pats the other Unicorn's heads. "Exotic and all that. It shouldn't last more than a couple days unless something odd happens."
"Pirates?" the dragon asks. "I hate pirates, I think." She comes the rest of the way in and sits on the table. "They like loot don't they? Why are you a lure?"
"Because I look like I could be a good ransom and thus find out where their base is," Willow notes. "Joke's on them, they're just kidnapping a penniless, worthless, bat in disguise."
"This.. isn't going to be dangerous is it?" Kaira asks, leaning forward and looking suspicious. "Can I help?"
"No more dangerous than what I usually do?" Willow says as she leans back. "And I don't know, can you help? I'm not sure what you could do."
"Well, if you don't need someone who can spy while being invisible.. then no, I probably wouldn't be that helpful.." the dragon notes.
"Well, I might. I don't know yet what to really expect. All of this is just big companies playing games and trying to force out smaller trading companies. Typical greed stuff," Willow explains and shrugs. "It can't be worse than the rat torture time."
"Ooo, industrial espionage?" the dragon asks, her eyes lighting up. "And probably corporate politics as well! Dragons invented that you know."
"This does not surprise me at all," Willow notes and rolls her eyes a little. "Anyway, hopefully nothing too bad will happen. I find the base, I contact Tulani and guide them, they attack, I free their prisoners, and done. Of course now that I've said that, something terrible will happen."
"So.. what if they don't give up their secrets?" Kaira asks. "I could give you interrogation tips!"
Willow's brow arches. "Like...?" she prompts.
"Eating one of them to intimidate the others!" Kaira says. "Or burning off toes. And fingers. And eating cake in front of them."
"I don't think that will quite work," Willow says, eyes wide.
"What about pie then?" Kaira asks, then blinks. "Right.. where would you get baked goods in a pirate lair?"
Willdow doesn't mention about 'cherries' then. "Well, there's grog. And .. grog," she admits. "Usually."
"Grog.. grog.." the dragon muses. "Ah, pour it on one and light him on fire!" Kaira suggests. Fire is popular with her for some reason.
"You assume I'll be in any position to torture anyone. It's likely to be the reverse," Willow says and sighs.
"Well, you could seduce the information out of them I suppose," Kaira says, crossing her arms. "But.. don't discount shrinking one down and putting him in your mouth. That will motivate most people to speak."
"I can shrink people?" Willow has to ask.
"Sure, just.. change them into themselves. Only smaller," Kaira says, holding her palms a few inches apart. "They might sound very squeaky when they talk though. Did you ken any mice? You have.. mice.. right? Not the big kind but the little scurrying sort?"
"No tiny kind," Willow notes, "Sorry. All mice I know are people-sized."
"Well.. something worse then.. hmm..." the dragon muses. "Oh... wait, turning them inside-out wouldn't work. There are pixies, but.. what does Gorphat have that's really scary to be changed into?"
"Er, everything?" Willow notes, "And thank you SO mmuch for reminding me of her. Now I'll dream of maggots." She sticks out her tongue.
"Yes, a giant maggot!" Kaira says, fist-punching.. the air? "A giant maggot to eat their toes.. or turn one into. And make him eat their toes."
"You are very disturbed," Willow points out and eyes Kaira. "Have you been spending time with Gorphat?"
"No, why would I?" Kaira asks. "Dragons and gods don't get along all that well. What with gods having to slay dragons to move up the celestial hierarchy, and dragons hunting gods for.. reasons. But, since at least one in three pirates like women, be sure to ken the ones you're able to seduce. Then you can swap places with them! That never gets old."
"Sowing chaos, eh?" Willow chuckles, "I suppose that would work, sometimes." She rubs her forehead, or tries, and re-discovers she has a horn. At least the cork isn't on it in the dream. "It will likely be a day or two before everything happens at least."
"Chaos is.. oh, yeah, you've got those goddess-powers too don't you?" Kaira asks. "For making people insane and lustful or.. insanely lustful. And give them nightmares. They're pirates so it's alright to mess with them, since.. something. Pirates are villains right?"
"Depends, actually. Some pirates can be considered heroes," Willow counters, "But, I imagine these can safely be called villains at least. And yes, I could cause lust issues, except I'll be a rapeable victim..."
"Well.. use it to lure in the ones you want to mind-control," Kaira says. "You can do that, right?"
"Er, maybe? Kind of? Gorphat-owned forms can kind of do that, but it is weird," Willow notes.
"Hey, traumatizing the person raping you is perfectly fair," Kaira says. "Especially if you involve tentacles. Slimy ones. Those are the most fun."
"Ooo, and if you can have little mouths or eyes in the suckers.." she dragon starts to suggest.
"Er, I don't know how to make those .. and I'm glad," Willow admits. She would lay her head on the table, but she's still being nursed on.
"Well... if you need advice or help or a distraction, be sure to call on me," Kaira says. "And remember that unicorn milk affects non-hooved people in funny ways."
"It affects hooved people in funny ways too," Willow points out and then points down. "But yes, I will keep that in mind. Hopefully I won't be a prisoner that long. Will see, I don't know quite where I'll end up."
"Possibly with your end up, but don't overdo swatting people with your tail," Kaira advises.
"Why not?" Willow asks?
"Tail docking," the dragoness warns. "It's easier with tails like yours."
Willow blinks. "Are you serious? Would someone actually do that?" she asks.
"I could, er, grow it back couldn't I? Not that it wouldn't hurt like hell and not be good to go through," Willow asks.
"Well.. you don't have a tail normally.." Kaira says. "But.. it wouldn't hurt, really. It'd just be gross."
"I mean if I used the unicorn again, I could get the tail back?" Willow asks.
"Since the unicorn isn't based on an actual living form, I suppose it would," Kaira says, rubbing her chin. "I'm not entirely sure about the persistence of qualities like that. But.. Nicora seems to suggest that it does persist between transformations.."
"Well, Nicora is sort of special," Willow points out, then shrugs a little.
Things start to get a little blurry, and Kaira begins to separate into little floating blobs. "Bubble gum carp oil," the dragon says.. possibly. And then there's just the suckling, but it feels lopsided. That's when Willow stirs, back in the bunk.. with Lilitu sleeping on top of her.. and suckling on her left teat. Which could be why the bat is passed out, actually.
"What are you doing? Go suck your own you cow-bat!" Willow complains at the Eee, then just sighs. "Why does everyone want to suck on me?" Then she promptly tries to put a pillow over her face ... only to have it tent on her corked horn. "Oh, right," she grumbles, "Horn."