Prime Minister's Quarters
Rank has its privileges, and the Prime Minister of the Coalition has a very generous house atop the Tower, overlooking the rooftop plaza and gardens. It isn't a stately mansion or palace, in accordance with the Coalition's new vision of Babel as being less of a playground for the nobility and more a city of 'attainable wealth' and meritocracy. Still, it has several suites, a small ballroom and many amenities.

Since going through the whole business of sneaking out just to sneak back again later, Alptraum took Thath up an offer to stay the night (which is daytime in Babel) at the Prime Minister's Residence. He was also assured that the staff could be trusted with him being himself - they generally didn't ask questions about people just showing up or vanishing and the reappearing later. He was given one of the guestrooms, and told to pull the service bell if he needed anything.

The guest room isn't much larger than some of the other places Alptraum has stayed at, and compared to the rooms in the Mages Tower it seems understated. There's no grand theme, or overly ornate decorations: this isn't some old noble's converted residence after all, but a fairly recent addition to Coalition Tower. It does sport a window and balcony (although the balcony itself is covered with a nicely carved ironwood grating to prevent anyone from just flying in or out) and a private bathroom - although the later lacks actual bathing facilities. There's a small café style table and two chairs, a bed large enough to accommodate a non-Eeee couple and a selection of hanging perches - and one roosting perch closer to the floor. The rug is colorful but otherwise not very noteworthy.

The narrow wardrobe contains a selection of lounge robes, similar to the sort that Dr. Twig would wear, just for a wider assortment of body types. The furnishings are a lot more modern than the usual sort of things one finds in Babel. None of it probably more than a decade old.

Alptraum is summarily naked, and trying on different clothing from the wardrobe. Unfortunately, it also means he's making up silly accents to go with each one based on whatever they represent (in his little mind). So currently he's robing up in something that looks like it's out of Abu Dhabi ... so of course he's posing in front of the mirror while adopting a very bad Khattan accent. "Oh my yes, it doesn't make my butt look to large at all," he drawls as he wiggles his butt at the available mirror.

At least he's fairly certain that he isn't being spied on. There is thistlebark in the walls, but while it can prevent active spirits from penetrating, it still lets his aura senses through, if a bit pixelated. If someone were close enough to be using a peephole, he'd sense something.

"Eh, too colorful for me," Alptraum comments after a few more ridiculous comments. He hangs up that robe ... then grabs one that looks a bit like an executioner's robe. On it goes, and he hunches over. "Arr, I be coming for ye souls," he drawls and claws at the mirror a couple times.

"You need to sound more gravelly, like Vorg," Kaira notes in Alptraum's head. Apparently she's still maintaining a minimal presence for some reason. Maybe she's worried about him being alone?

"Why are you spying on me?" Alptraum asks as he swaps again, this time something gauzy, and probably intended for a woman. So ... he prances and sashays about the room. He must be bored. Or crazy. Or both, given he's considering if he should give himself boobs so the robe fits better.

"Because you're all alone in a place that probably has assassins peeping in through the windows all the time," Kaira claims. The curtain to the balcony door are closed though. No need to let daylight in to ruin peoples sleep. "I don't know if you're behaving normally. I probably would try on all the clothes as well."

Boobs it is, for a couple minutes as he checks the fit. Then away the robe goes and he goes digging through the robes again; boobs still in place. This means one hand is often, well, fondling them. "I don't really have anything else to do," Alptraum points out. "And these are really distracting."

"The robes are?" Kaira asks. "If it's the boobs than you should probably should see what else is on offer here. It's not an evil dictator's castle.. but.. it probably still has neat stuff in it."

"Eh, stalking around and snooping doesn't seem like a great guest thing to do," Alptraum comments, then gets rid of the breasts before they start leaking, or something. He finally grabs a robe that looks relatively normal, and he can't think of an appropriately silly accent for it.

"Sneaking? Ask for a tour! You're a guest after all," Kaira points out. "And everyone knows Death can't be kept out of places."

"Says the immortal," Alptraum comments, then flicks his own wrist. "Well, I'm not tired yet, so I suppose that's something to do."

"Immortal doesn't mean death-proof," Kaira claims. "Anything can be killed."

"Not the same," Alptraum points out. Now robed, he goes to the door and peeks out.

A uniformed Savanite woman is standing nearby. She notices the door open and tilts her head to look at Alptraum. Her hair is in a tight bun, and she mimes pulling down on something with her hand.

Alptraum rolls his eyes and closes the door. He stalks over to the bell-pull and pulls it.

The maid stands there primly, giving Alptraum an expectant look. She is not demure at all.

"Oh look, where have I seen you before?" Alptraum gasps and clasps his hands together. "Are you my aid?"

The woman doesn't roll her eyes, but does raise her eyebrows slightly. Then she cocks her head slightly, ears forward, as if prompting for a request.

Alptraum bows. "Would you deign to show me about the place?" he asks, and signs. "And I do know sign, so you can communicate with me directly," he adds.

The maid nods, and gestures for Alptraum to follow her into the rather bare hallway. Aside from lamps, the only paintings are of Babel, including the old royal palace. No gallery of portraits like a noble might have.

Alptraum follows. "So, you already hate me," he comments. "Must have known Rikat."

She keeps her tail down and motionless, seeming to be very prim. She does look back at Alptraum and shake her head in the negative though. The short hallway ends, and they're crossing the main hall towards an archway.

"Ah, so you hate me for me. I suppose that's something," Alptraum muses absently as he looks around. "At least I make people hate me honestly."

The woman lets out a small squeak, but maintains her posture. There's activity ahead, as the archway leads to a copula that splits into two other archways. To the left, there's what seems to be a small gymnasium that someone is actually using, and the arch to the right has closed curtains behind, but the scents of soap probably mean it's the bath.

Alptraum leans around the archway to peer into the gymnasium to see who is using it.

The high circular windows are letting the daylight into the gym. There's a padding over the floor, and some bars that aren't for perching. There's also a combat form - basically a padded barrel with stubby appendages - and a punching bag. The bag is being engaged by the figure that is hanging from a pole by her hands and punching it with her feet. Tall and lean.. it's probably Toothpick. Hard to tell without the mask.

The woman drops down to her feet. She's wearing a black leotard, and blinks at Alptraum. "Has anyone told you that you resemble the Barsunala?" she asks. Not 'who are you' or 'why are you here'.

"Fancy that. I happen to be the Barsunala, so it's helpful to look like him," Alptraum comments. "Though I did once lose a lookalike contest in a bar. That was a bit of an ego killer."

"I was wondering about the hand," the woman says, "but I didn't want to seem rude by asking."

"Stick your hand in the gelatinous monster of destruction and you too can have one," Alptraum quips. "I assume you're a guard; I don't think a companion would be punching things."

"I perform errands," the woman claims. "Sometimes that could be guarding things or people."

"And your name is ...?" Alptraum prods. "I'm Alptraum. The Barsunala is a title."

"I probably shouldn't distract you. I'm currently making the staff hate me," Alptraum admits. "It's a special talent of mine."

"Hate you?" Reed asks, and looks to the maid. "It takes a lot to get under Cold Shoulder's skin, so what did you do?"

"I'm being me, which means informal, a little sarcastic, and irreverent. But ... can you really be irreverent if you're technically a demi-god?" Alptraum asks. "A question for the ages, that."

"I suppose you can be whatever you want at that point," Reed notes, and grins. "I'm guessing you aren't here to kill Thath though. He'd have made such an appointment in advance, not have you waiting about. I'm about done with my workout anyway."

"Ah, no. Thath and I are allies and friends. Sort of," Alptraum claims and shrugs a little. "We're just discussing some matters going on in the city and outlying territories."

"Damn, you have to deal with politics too?" Reed says, and heads for the archway. "I need to clean up. How about you? Do you even get sweaty?"

"I don't deal directly with politics. I deal with the supernatural threats," Alptraum comments. "And yes, I do get sweaty. Odd question, that."

"What's odd about it?" Reed asks, walking past the maid on her way to the curtained area. "I mean, if I were a demi-god, I would be disappointed if I sweated. Unless I were the demi-god of gym-funk."

"You just change form into something that doesn't sweat. Eeee sweat," Alptraum points out as he follows a bit (and drags the maid along). To her he signs, "Are you okay?"

The maid signs, "Stone Will. Not Cold Shoulder." She doesn't try to stop Alptraum from following Reed though. The bath is.. not opulent. There are multiple claw-footed tubs, and a water heating system. Also a long padded table off to one side. Stone Will eventually gets ahead of Alptraum so she can start up the heater.

"Massage table?" Alptraum has to ask and gesture towards the table. He also signs to the savanite, "Beautiful Spots, if I had to choose you a name."

That does get a reaction out of the maid, as she flicks her ears before folding them to hide her blush. "Yeah, sometimes you need a massage after a good workout," Reed says, and strips out of her leotard.. which she then sniffs.

Alptraum peers, to make sure Reed actually is a female. "Why are you sniffing that?" he has to ask, one ear flicking sideways.

With the leotard off, it's clear that Reed is female. It possible that she wears clothes that compress her.. or else just can't find female clothing to fit her. "You can tell a lot from sweat odor," Reed notes. "It helps me track certain things, since my body is a bit odd."

It smells like.. Eeee. Maybe it takes special training, or a female nose. "I have an odd mix of hormones, so certain cycles are less cyclical and more random or based on what I had for dinner a week ago," Reed explains. She taps the cloth in Alptraum's hand, and notes, "Slightly higher masculine hormones right now, but that's normal after a workout. But the lowered female pheremones mean I'm in a low feminine state, which is good for some things. Eventually it'll swing the other way though. I'm never quiet in equilibrium."

"Have you ever pursued fixing it? Would you want to?" Alptraum asks, sniffs one more them, then ends up shrugging a little. "Do you actually change when things wing?"

"Mostly just affects the size of my breasts and when I ovulate," Reed notes, and leans against the wall while the water begins to heat. "Which can be handy when it comes to disguise. It's not a common condition, but it's not like I'm unique, just a bit more at the extremes. Doesn't bother me any."

"I've never heard of it," Alptraum has to admit and shrugs a little. "I imagine there are things you could take when you want to force one or the other too."

"There are certain foods, supposedly, but I honestly haven't really seriously tested it," Reed notes. "I'd have to keep track of everything I eat, and also of my swings, and then try to line them up or something. I don't want to have to learn accounting."

There's a hiss, and slight whistling noise from the water heater, and then Stone Will swings a ceramic pipe over one of the tubs. Some herbs and other things are tossed into the tub first, then the water is poured in.

Alptraum chuckles. "Do you think of yourself as more male, or more female, then?" he asks.

"Oh, I'm always female," Reed says, and bends over to swirl the water a bit. "Nice mix for the bath this time. Just sometimes I feel less female than others. Hormones have a huge effect on a person, both physically and mentally. Or are you asking because a strange girl just got naked in front of you without a second thought?"

"Mostly the latter," Alptraum admits and shrugs a little. "I can go if you wish for more privacy."

"Doesn't bother me," Reed claims. "And you followed me in, so I figured it didn't bother you either. And you're just wearing a robe too, so.. were you already going to take a bath?"

"Nah, I was trying on different robes because I was bored. But, I could bathe, I suppose," Alptraum admits, then checks if there's more than one tub free!

There are three tubs, with only one being claimed by Reed. Stone Will looks to Alptraum and cocks her head again, before remembering she can just sign. "Do you want hot water?"

"Please," Alptraum signs. Then he can't resist and comments to Reed, "Of course if you see me naked, you'll have to die..."

"Well, I can say the same about anyone else seeing me naked," Reed notes and grins as she sits in the tub and starts to scrub out her fur. "All mortals are going to die eventually after all! Unless you mean I'll drop dead immediately!"

After prepping the next tub over, Stone Will does cover her eyes with her left hand (since in Formal you sign with your right hand).

"Of course not," Alptraum comments and sheds his robe. He stretches, then climbs into the tub and sinks down to his neck. "Ahhhhhh, waaarm," he comments.

Assured that she won't drop dead, Stone Will drops her hand and fetches a bucket of bathing supplies.

"Not bad!" Reed says approvingly. "Do you ever get to use it? Or is that fatal too?"

Stone Will does not add her own critique as she stands ready with the bucket, until Alptraum turns his attention back to her.

Setting it down, the feline crouches and begins to bring things out for inspection. There's a back scrubber, a wing-cloth, several bottle full of colored fluid, and a rubber squeaky Chibix toy. She even squeezes it to make it squeak a few times.

This makes Alptraum laugh. "So, do I bathe myself or do you do it?" he has to ask. She didn't offer to bathe Reed, but then she doesn't seem to like Reed.

Stone Will holds the brush in her hand and waggles it at Alptraum. "Which do you prefer?" she signs.

"Well, being bathed by a beautiful lady is always welcome," Alptraum comments and grins toothily. "Or by two ... but I think Reed is too busy relaxing."

The Savanite nods, and begins to disrobe. She folds everything carefully and sets it on a stool well away from the tubs, the she selects the blue bottle from the bucket before climbing into the tub with Alptraum.

"Well, hello kitty," Alptraum comments to the Savanite when she joins him. He also pets her side briefly. "Want to join?" he asks Reed too.

"You, if you know how," Reed says, and winks. "Otherwise I suppose I'd have to teach you first."

Stone Will purr-hums.. at least it would count as humming a tune in another species. She opens the bottle and pours some of the thick fluid into her palm, then brings her hands together to work up a lather.

"I know a little" Alptraum claims, "But learning is always good, mmm?" His attention has to return to the savanite. "So, do I need to turn? Or ... just hold still?" he asks her.

Since her hands are all lathery, the Savanite can't easily sign an answer, but does hold one finger up in a 'please wait' gesture before she starts to lather up her own breasts.

Alptraum splays one ear to the side. "Ah, so it's tease the Eeee, I see how it is," he comments, amused.

Apparently not, since Stone Will then uses them like big sponges to lather up Alptraum's chest with, working her way up his exposed front.

"Yeaaah, tease the Eeee. this is not a standard way to wash someone!" Alptraum squeaks, ears going straight up! His finger swiggle as he resists the urge to feel up the cat.

She also starts to wash his face.. Savanite-style, using her tongue. Which means she'll probably use it on his ears as well.

Alptraum has to close his eyes! This isn't so bad, really. He just has to think about lots of other things so Mr' Happy doesn't become a problem!

She really swirls things around.. and not just her tongue. She even licks between his eyes, which means his nose is being tickled by her throat fur.

"It's a shame I can't sing," Reed says from the other tub. "I've heard that singing in the bath is supposed to be good for you."

Alptraum greats, now he wants to bite her. Teasing a vampire with a throat! For shame! His reply to Reed is just sort of, "Mmmghtpthth."

Now the hands and claws start to work on Alptraum's upper arms and shoulders, giving them a squeeze before the maid actually kisses him on the lips.

Alptraum's ears do a semaphore of surprise! For a moment, he can't actually react ... then he's trying to kiss her back, with tongue. Yet he's still trying to keep his hands to himself, which is hard!

She actually tries to bite his tongue.. gently. She's still rubbing against him, but using more of her body now and is moving her hands up towards his cheeks.

Alptraum mmmmph! He's still managing to control himself, mostly ... but boy is he twitching.

Finally the maid breaks the kiss, but gives Alptraum's nose a quick lick. By then she's got a good grip on his cheeks, and sits up a bit to lather up his face with her breasts next. Still humm-purring some random tune.

"Don't try to hold your breath," the other Eeee advises. Then there's a squeak. She must have reached over to the bucket to the rubber chibix.

Savanite's aren't big, but they are nice. His ears splay out and he hums to himself now. And he also gives up, reaches around, and grabs the cat's butt.

There's a chirp from Stone, and nips one of Alptraum's ears before she starts to tongue-groom it.

Alptraum starts kneading her butt, and massaging around her tail. He can't se,e but he can feel. And does.

Squeak-squeak-squeak. Splash-splash-splash. "I think she likes you," Reed comments. "Or how you taste."

Alptraum ... decides to try and get some revenge. He tries to tap into the 'lust' aura of Snow .. and focus it on Reed, just for making those comments! Enough to make her feel bothered, anyway .. if he can manage it. Sort of having an itch you can't scratch, a slow, maddening one.

Stone is also wiggling a bit more, now that Alptraum has a grip on her. She still hasn't moved her tail much though, but she legs go his cheeks so she can use her hands to help control her 'bathing sponges' a bit more. She probably isn't going to fall over, not with the bat holding onto her finally.

The squeaking from the other tub stops, but the water sounds a bit more agitated now.

After getting the other ear, Stone eases off on the tongue grooming, and rinses off Alptraum by arching her chest and belly away from him before pushing them against him again, make the water sluice upwards.

Alptraum sputters and shakes! "Acpth, wet!" he complains. "Wouldn't it be easier if I just dunked down...?"

Apparently agreeing, the Savanite scoots back towards the foot of the tub, so that Alptraum has room to dunk.

Alptraum dunks down, flly submersing himself in the water for a bit. He comes up and then snaps his wings to roll some of the wayer off. Then he wipes his eyes and looks over ar Reed.

He doesn't have to look far, since she's left her tub her face is only a few inches away when he opens his eyes.

The woman hasn't blinked yet since Alptraum opened his eyes. "You can't be fully bathed if you don't stand up," Reed insists.

Alptraum ... finishes standing up fully and giving Reed a very odd look. "You're acting oddly," he notes.

The tall girl stands up when Alptraum does, and then steps into the tub with him. She's literally nose to nose now, showing that's she's certainly taller than the typical female Eeee. Then she reaches around to grab his butt, and snogs him!

Alptraum's eyes go wide! He didn't go that overboard with the aura! Good Gods! It takes him a moment to process that she's snogging him, then another to actually reach around and grab her butt right back and then snog her in return. With tongue. No snog is a proper snog without tongue.

An Eeee tongue-snog can be like an arm-wrestling match, given the lengths involved. Reed seems to play to win. And butt is just soft enough to prove she's not all muscle. She also tries to make Alptraum squeak like the rubber chibix with the way she squeezes!

Alptraum doesn't squeak, though! He is trying to sense her aura now, to see just what she's feeling. When she squeezes too hard, he just tightens up his muscles to make himself less squishy!

She's definitely got an aggressive color going to her aura. That shifts things more from 'lust' to 'carnal desire' - something usually seen in men's auras. The extra testosterone may be having that effect on her. So when Alptraum tightens up a bit, she bites his tongue a bit instead.

Alptraum mmerp! And his ears splay out! His response is to use his claws on her butt! Two can play at that game!

Rather than escalate the squeezing, Reed uses one hand to grope Alptraum more directly. The tongue battle however is still engaged in with full effort.

Alptraum has a different way he can wrestle ... given his hands are touching. Where his fingers touch, shadow pools, and then sinks into her body. Inside, it ... explores. Not quite a ken, but enough to be felt and hopefully feel good to her. It feels good to him!

This certain surprises Reed, causing her tongue to slip and grip to tighten and tug. She probably means to ask what that was, but she's not giving up the wrestling match just yet.

The shadow snakes about, and coils forward ... as it infiltrates her reproductive organs, and starts to massage-squirm her from the inside. He's also looking into her eyes, while maintaining that snog, and his eyebrows waggle.

Her own eyebrows rise up, and she starts to brush with her fingertips now. Probably doing a little exploring of the odd shapes she finds. She also tries to slip a finger of her own into Alptraum, trying to not be outdone (well, at least showing that she's trying to keep up anyway). And.. Stone Will is still around, as she starts brushing out Alptraum's long hair from behind him.

Alptraum mmmphs at the invading finger! The fingertip stroking makes him squirm a bit, but he figures out a way to soften it! He shadow-coveres Mr. Bumpy to deaden sensations. He doesn't play fair.

Reed mmphs again, and finally pulls back from the kiss. "You're cheating with god powers aren't you?" she accuses.

Alptraum grins toothily. "Of course I am," he comments, then makes the shadow come out of Reed from the front of her gate, and curl up to rub at Inala's orb. "Complaining?"

The lanky Eeee grits her teeth. "Can't handle me without them then?" she taunts.

"Of course I can, but I don't want to be like anyone you've been with before," Alptraum points out, as the shadow spreads things playfully. "Surely you find this ... interesting?"

"Depends on what tricks you know, doesn't it?" Alptraum asks as shadow slithers out of Inala's gate and coils up Reed's body, where they wrap around her chest and 'suckle' on her nipples.

"Fffirst.. you have to stop with the god stuff for.. a few minutes," she manages to say, eyes closed. "And that includes resisting me too. That's.. only fair."

"I suppose," Alptraum concedes, and withdraws the shadow slowly .. pulling it back out the way it went through. Slowly. Once it's out, he removes his hands from her backside and wiggles his fingers. "I'll behave for a bit."

After a few deep breaths, Reed says, "Now.. close your eyes, and cross your arms behind your back."

Alptraum arches his brow, but then does but his hands behind his back and grips his wrists. He looks into her eyes for a moment, then closes his eyes as per her request.

The squeezing grip is gone, replaced by some single-finger caresses along his ribs. Reed has long fingers as well as long everything else, and slowly sweeps them along the curves of Alptraum's chest from his sides to the center of his chest, then repeats. Each hand is slightly offset in timing, so one is always in contact. It isn't exactly arousing, but it is sensual, and focusing on an area that generally isn't used to that sort of touch.

Alptraum stands still, save for his ears which flick, twist, and move about. No one really massages up to his scar after all. The feeling is quite different and unusual, and sort of makes the fur stand on end. "That's ... interesting," he murmurs.

"You wanted me to teach you massage," Reed claims. "Getting you to focus on specific areas helps your body awareness. There are different kinds of arousal, you see." She then moves her hands to his stomach. This touch is much odder though, as she brings her palms in from opposite sides across the front so that pass one another, with her forearms following until they're one over the other. Then she presses into the stomach and starts to separate them, one going up and the other down, as if they were rolling pins and his belly was dough. "This usually works better if you're on your back," Reed admits.

"Oh, in that case, if you're coming willingly.. please head over and lie down," Reed asks sweetly.

Alptraum smirks and steps the rest of the way out of the tub and heads over to the table. He lies down on it, on his back, with his hair hanging over the back so Stone Will can keep brushing if she wants. As doe his hands, he just grabs the sides of the table instead.

Now Reed tries again with rolling-pin maneuver, this time coming from one direction since it's easier. In this case she slides her palms over from the left side to the right, then spreads her forearms afterwards. She only does this a half-dozen times though. Stone Will does keep brushing Alptraum's hair, but now he can hear her purring a lot closer while she kneels at the head of the table, working close.

"That feels really odd," Alptraum admits. It would feel even odder if he were as Scourge, which is really squishy! It's not so odd as making him want to squirm, at least!

"Now it's time for the special oil," Reed claims, and goes to a nearby cabinet. While her back is turned, Stone licks one of Alptraum's ears again.

"What do you mean, special oil?" Alptraum has to ask in the middle of his ear flicking against kittysnoot.

"It's my own blend," Reed claims, as she opens a cabinet and has to unlocked a combination safe. There seem to be a lot of locked boxes in this place. "I plan to sell it someday, once I work out a few kinks."

"Those don't involve gags and whips, right?" Alptraum has to ask. "And are you Thath's daughter? You have a lot of access in his home."

"More of a bodyguard sort," Reed says, as she retrieves a dark, squat bottle from the safe. "He does not do a lot of entertaining here. And he certainly doesn't take massages. Which makes it hard to test certain things."

This makes the thin woman laugh. "No.. I was an interrogator in me previous job," she notes. "Didn't get to keep the gags and whips from that though."

"Actually, it was more an apprenticeship," Reed adds, thinking that could quell any misgivings.

"Mmmmhmmmm. Suuuuure," Alptruam muses and lays his head back down. Mostly he's batting the kitty with his ears while he tries to feel out how Reed is feeling.

The aura of the bat is actually rather calm, which doesn't really help in reading her. But her body-language seems more 'playful' - that changes when she unstoppers the bottle and gives it a sniff. Her aura pinkens with a bit of excitement then. Stone Will goes back to playing with Alptraum's hair for now, but seems content and amused.

Given her previous job, excited could be a bad thing! But, all Alptraum does is wiggle a toe. "So, I guess it doesn't smell like feet, at least?" he asks.

"That's how I met Thath, back when my father was head interrogator for the Saboath, and then the High Prince and Princess," Reed explains, and dabs some of the oil on her fingertips. She actually blows on them to dry it a bit, then offers them up for Alptraum. "Have a sniff, tell me what you think!"

"Working for the Sabbaoth is not exactly a good thing," Alptraum notes. He lifts his head o sniff those fingertips ... then before she pulls away, he licks the backs of her fingers for good measure! "He was a lapbat of Amenlichli, alas."

The scent is.. well, of an aroused female Eeee. Possibly one in heat to boot! The backs of Reed's fingers just taste like Eeee though, but the move does make her squeak. "It was a hereditary position," she notes. "So, Thath offered me another job once my old one became obsolete before I could even take over for my father. He.. uh.. was in the Royal Palace when.. well.."

"Right. So do you protect Thath's family now. Did he ever have one?" Alptraum inquires. "Also, why does the oil smell like a really amorous Eeee?"

"I had to work really hard to get that scent," Reed claims. "I didn't have the whole recipe. And no, Thath doesn't have any real family. Just us leftovers he collected. Stone Will's another."

"No children? Ever?" Alptraum has to ask. "And it's a nice scent, it's just, well ... it encourages certain things!"

"That's what it's for," Reed claims. "It was originally used for a specific sort of torture though. And.. I don't know if Thath has any children out there. I know he was married, and that his wife died before I was born." She pours a more generous dose of the oil onto her palm and rubs her hands together.

"I know of her, and what happened. It's not a pleasant story. I won't repeat it; it's the sort of thing he should talk about if he wants someone to know," Alptraum admits.

"Now this should.. well, it should do something," Reed says, as she starts to massage Alptraum's tender bits. "I doubt it can give you a heart attack or anything. I just need to figure out the right concentration before it'll be suitable for old men who need a little help." It does tingle.. and with her warm hands, his anatomy is easily fooled into thinking it's time to perform.

"I thought this was a massage!" Alptraum squeaks in a bit of surprise and starts to wiggle about on the table. One leg is kicking out into space too!

"It is, but you can't expect me not to take advantage of having a demigod to test things on," Reed says as the kneading has to turn more into stroking. "I know it works on women, but I need it to work on older people."

"You could have warned me," Alptraum squeaks as his back arches up! "I am not some laboratory experiment!" His bits aren't complaining at this point; they're quite, ah, excited!

"But if you were expecting it your reaction might be different," Reed says. "And clearly I'm not the most arousing sort of body. But this works on you regardless of your preferences! Which is why it was used as a torture originally." She also pours a bit directly onto his plums, which makes things feel.. fizzy.

"There's nothing wrong with your body!" Alptraum whimpers, and kicks his left leg up and out several times. "Aaaaaugh!"

"Tell me if it hurts or burns," Reed says, still working things down below. "Now, it may make you erupt.. like.. a couple of times. Don't be alarmed by that, I know when it's about to go too far. I'll be sure to stop when stuff looks wrong. Of course, you aren't tied down, and there's no need to get to the begging-to-have-it-chopped-off point. That was what it was originally for though. But like all New Babel things, I'm certain this too can be made into something positive!"

"Not helping! Not helping!" Alptraum grumbles and he continues to squirm, a lot. Well, lots of him is starting to squirm, really; he's extruded some shadow tendrils that flail around like mad!

"Wow, that.. that is new," Reed says, and does slow down a bit. "They never did that before. It's not your soul leaking out or anything? Are they.. what are they? Will I die if they touch me?"

They answer by grabbing her and squeezing like a naga! "No, they're just one of my abilities," he says as he calms down a ... little.

"So.. I should keep going then?" she asks, and then starts up again. "This stuff doesn't affect Savanites I've found. I tried it on Abel, and it didn't work out."

"What did it do? I think Abel mostly likes guys, anyway," Alptraum admits as he has to forcefully stop squeezing Reed even if she is continuing to torment him!

"Well, he pinned me to the floor and had his way with me," Reed explains, and tries to get free of the tentacle-grip. "But only one time. So.. I figure that was a failure."

"I don't think that was a failure," Alptraum points out as he finally forces the shadow stuff to behave. Granted, that's because it wraps backwards now and grabs Stone Will!

This makes the cheetah squeak.. and accidentally yank on Alptraum's hair in the process. "I'm pretty sure Abel is her son," Reed comments. Maybe she says it because she really thinks it.. or maybe she's trying to turn Alptraum's attention (and tendrils) away from herself.

Alptraum fights again with the shadow, and being arched from the hair pill, and gets it to let the cat go next! "So, is Abel your special bed-friend when you're here, then?" he puts Reed on the spot with.

"Special? It's hard to get him to stand still long enough, honestly," Reed says, her one free hand still stroking Alptraum. "So, do you like Savanites?" she asks, once Stone Will isn't been squeezed anymore.

"I'm fond of them, yes. Why do you ask?" Alptraum admits, then jerks hard and squirms a lot all of a sudden as a surprise, well, eruption hits! Was it because he was thinking about Savanites? Abel? It's confusing!

"That's one! Things should start to feel a bit more intense now," Reed explains.. especially as she accidentally spills more the oil when Alptraum's leg spasms again. Now his thigh somehow feels like it's inside another Eeee.

"Why are you doing this?!" Alptraum squeaks! "This is not relaxing!" He grabs onto the table to keep from vibrating off it.

"Well, I'm still recovering from being squeezed," Reed squeaks, and then tries rub off the oil from Alptraum's thigh, which.. feels like she's rubbing something else as a result. "We never tried it on other parts," she claims.

"It's just as bad there too!" Alptraum squeaks ... and then erupts again! From rubbing his thigh, of all things! That's ... don't let Mave get a hold of this!

"Who?" Reed asks, starting to panic a bit. She stops rubbing, and climbs on top of Alptraum. "Sorry.. got too much on me.." she says, as she slides down and takes Alptraum into her. This.. just makes things seem to be doubly intense though, once the girl starts moving. "This should burn through it all faster."

"You said it would only happen twice!" Alptraum exclaims after the girl takes hold without her hands! "That is ... augh!" he complains, and though he's barely able to think, tries to get his revenge by kenning her, since that tends to be an overwhelming sensation for the recepient too.

"Yipe, don't eat me!" Reed squeaks once she feels things penetrate a bit deeper than she's used to! "And.. just said.. I'd stop before things got bad.." The kenning process does bring her mostly to a stop though at least.

Which means the next thing Reed feels is being licked form the inside out, with a tongue quite a bit larger than an Eeee's tongue! She can even feel it in the inside tips of her ears.

Her voice goes up into the higher registers of Eeee vocalization, and Alptraum can even feel them from the reflections off the walls. Stone Will, however, isn't affected, and gathers up the bottle before it can be spilled again.

Tendrils also come out and grab Stone Will! "You aren't going anywhere, spotty," he growls. The inner tongue inside Reed spins, and then withdraws back until things are mostly normal-feeling again, except for the bumpiness.

Reed just sort of slumps forward onto Alptraum at that point, being very quivery. The oil probably caused her to have a bit more intense reaction than most.

Still gripping the bottle, Stone Will barks once at Alptraum and tries to twist free.

And Alptraum isn't done, so his hips start moving now too! He also bites onto her shoulder! The tendrils continue to try and hold onto the cat, too!

That rouses Reed, who goes a bit wide-eyed. "The.. the third one can be.. well.." she stammers, since that's what Alptraum seems to be building up to.

Alptraum just growls around that bite, and keeps on going, and going, and ... well, quite soon he's rather gone! Both in mind, and inside the bat!

"Ow," is Reed's only comment from the bite. But this followed up with, "Did I die?"

Alptraum goes limp, and his jaws let go. "No, you're not dead," he mumbles ... and the tendrils finally let go of Stone Will too.

The Savanite seems a bit ruffled by it all. But she does then rub Alptraum's 'sensitive' thigh. Retaliation? Curiosity? Or just a hidden perverse side? Maybe she is Abel's mother.

Alptraum whines from that and glares at Stone Will. That's about all he can muster.

Alptraum glares ... and then Stone Will gets a threatening tendril-tap someplace intimate. Not inside ... but probably a small warning!

"Are you done moving?" Reed asks Alptraum, in a mixed tone of exhaustion and maybe a bit of disappointment. "Four times is usually when the pain starts.."

"Best to just lie here and try to think relaxing thoughts," Reed says. She doesn't see Stone Will doing a rather slow belly-dance behind her though.

"While you and the cat torment me? You two are rather brave to be taunting me," Alptraum grumbles, and looks right up at the ceiling.

"I'm not taunting," Reed claims. "What's happening? I can't turn my head yet. And because of the spill this whole test is ruined. I'll have to dilute what's left a bit more though I think."

Alptraum's hips start moving even though he doesn't want them to! "She's dancing! At least she stopped licking me."

"I didn't know she could dance," Reed says apologetically. "I thought she was just the Sabaoth's slave trainer. What kind of dance is it?"

"Lots of belly. Lots and lots of belly," Alptraum complains, while his hips seem to have decided to go for number four!

"Nooo," Reed begs. "It's just a belly. That's not sexy." Of course that's when Stone Will starts to run her hands up and down herself as well. Definitely not part of traditional belly dance. And one of them is still holding the bottle.

"I think she's threatening me with the bottle too," Alptraum admits, "And she's fondling herself now." And to make matters worse, the shadow is corcsrewing inside Reed again.

"She must hate me," Reed complains, and can't help but wriggle a bit from the shadow. She just wriggles with her entire body pressed against Alptraum. The cheetah runs a finger around the rim of the bottle stopper, and raises an eyebrow at Alptraum.

"Noooooo," Alptraum tells Stone Will! As for Reed, he has to ask, "But, you wanted me to go again! My body just seems to agree with you!" That last bit comes with the shadow expanding inside her a bit, making her feel almost Rhain-full.

"I'm gonna explode though!" Reed moans from that sensation. Stone Will smiles and gives a little nod to Alptraum, and keeps up her teasing while apparently looking him over for a good spot to use the oil on.

It only gets weirder when it pulsates like an evil, demented, balloon monster. Alptraum just closes his eyes and goes with it at this point; he knows when he's beaten.

So it shouldn't be a complete shock when he feels some drops fall onto the tip of his right ear. This is followed by the kneading from a thumb and forefinger to work it in.. and then the nibbling.

"God, why are all women in Babel evil?" Alptraum actually asks the room ... and digs claws into the padded bed he's laying on. It also makes his hips much a lot more, and making it really a Rhian riding experience for Reed.

"Don't launch me across the room!" Reed pleeds. Of course, it's not hard to think of why a Savanite would want to exert a bit of control over someone. But then, Alptraum isn't tied up, and can defend himself if he really wants to. That doesn't really feel like an option when the cheetah moves from nibbling to sucking on the sensitized tip. The blood flow to that ear definitely feels elevated.

The shadow gets revenge, though, because it quietly goes between, then quickly up and into Strong Will, right through Inala's Gate. Maybe that counts as defense?" As for Reed, those comments aren't of someone enjoying themselves, so things change up to feeling more like a thousand naga licking her from the inside instead!

The latter just leads to incoherent babbling from the Eeee girl (who maybe doesn't have a lot of experience at this stuff), and a bark from Stone Will.. who probably does, if she's Abel's mother (since he claimed the two girls in the bath were his sisters).

And this goes on until he gets Reed to climax and squeeze .. then he lets the shadow frelax there so that he gets stimulated that way again ... and there comes the fourth explosion! And yes, pain! As for Stone Will, it's just a little tormenting, but he's not as mean to her, because ... he just can't bring himself to really doing anything hard to her. Cheetah soft spot and all.

The Savanite does relent once Alptraum winces in pain though. She actually goes to the cistern to start heating more water. Another bath probably is needed, or at least a wipe down.

And the Shadow leaves Stone Will alone now. One of Alptraum's hands hands limp off the table, where it signs an apology to the savanite. Whether she sees it or not ... well, he had to sign it anyway.

Stone Will cleans herself up first, since she still had some soap from the bath sticking to her. Then she returns to the table and pokes Reed to see if she's passed out, and gets a grunt in response, which seems to be the correct response since the cheetah stops poking her. "Are you alright resting for a bit?" she signs to Alptraum.

Alptraum signs, "I will be fine, and I welcome resting for a bit. This was not what I had intended, at all. I'm sorry."

"I'm sure you will recover soon," Strong Will signs. "You are young, and nothing fell off." She then goes about draining the tubs while fresh water heats up. It does involve her bending over a lot though as she wipes away any soap scum from the sides.

"Not that young," Alptraum signs. The bending over doesn't help either, but things are too sore and worn out to really react thankfully.

"And I am not that old, but you are younger," is the signed reply. Stone Will checks that Reed is still alive again by poking her some more. "My daughters are not so easily overwhelmed," she signs. "I will have to work on this one more. Master expects me to raise her."

"Your employer you mean. You're no slave," Alptraum signs as he looks at her tiredly. "And what do you mean, raise her? She's already an adult."

"She lives here, she has no family," the cheetah signs. "Master is a distant parent figure. Master is easier to sign."

"She also isn't Savanite," Alptraum points out, "Being Eeee has its own complications and difficulties. Along with plenty of hate from many other groups, most of it earned."

"More stamina," Stone signs. "Better at going unnoticed. She is not broken of her former restrictions."

"Former restrictions?" Alptraum signs, and then smirks, adding, "I could turn her into a Savanite."

Stone Will spreads her fingers and covers her face with them, mimicking a mask. "Her family could not show their faces outside of their quarters," she then signs. "If you turn her into a Savanite, then I could marry her to my son."

"She cannot keep him under control as she is," Stone Will claims. "Abel needs children, so that he will be less reckless. Both of them work too hard."

"They are not," Stone Will signs, and shakes her head. "Abel is exposed to many people, and prefers those he can tease. Reed swings between desire and apathy."

"Then I'm sorry to hear that. More species need to intermingle. But then my own experiences with a Sanavite didn't end well either, for various reasons," Alptraum admits in sign.

"Both of these children need children of their own to bond with," Stone Will signs. "Or they may end up like Master. Made of stone."

"/What is your opinion of Thath?/" Alptraum asks, "/Be honest, don't sign something just because you think I wanted to hear that

"He is sad and filled with grief," Stone Will claims. "He is driven by it, I believe. It has become his strength."

"What saddens him? He is the most powerful person in Babel," Alptraum signs, curious as to the answer.

"I do not know, but that is what I feel," Stone Will signs. "Power is just something he is experienced with wielding."

"I take care of him," Stone Will signs. "He is not cruel to me or mine. But I feel that he freed me because it galls the nobles. He does good things, but not always for good reasons."

"That sounds like a normal person to me," Alptraum admits. "Forgive me for prying, I'll let you get back to your work."

Stone Will pokes Reed a few more times, and actually pushes a bit. There's a groan, but Reed eventually does start to move and try to climb off of Alptraum without falling over. "Sex is too dangerous," she moans.

"Oh it is not," Alptraum remarks. "And just think you'll have five, maybe six kids because you bedded me." The last bit is even said with a straight face.

"All at once?" Reed gasps. "That can't be right! You should have used up all your good juice before you got to me! I don't have the hips for childbirth!"

"Oh, well, for you it would be seven at once I think," Alptraum comments, "You'll have the hips afterward..."

"Nooo, I'm not even at my hormone peak," Reed wails. "Is that because you're a demigod? You.. you should have warned me!"

There's a warm wet cloth that's then applied to Alptraum's exposed demigodness, as Stone beings to wipe off any residual bits of oil.

"What did you think would happen, bedding a demigod?" Alptraum asks, somehow still managing a straight face.

"I wasn't thinking of that, it just happened because of the spill," Reed points out. "Are they going to be demigods too? Are they going to kill me?"

Stone gives Alptraum a little squeeze while washing him as he keeps teasing Reed.

"I'm joking, you won't have any children from me," Alptraum finally relents. "And surely you've had experience in this."

"Not with an Eeee," Reed admits, and puts a hand over her heart and takes deep breaths.

"Most of my experience is with destroying genitals, not using them," she mutters.

"You have black wiggly things that licked me from the inside," Reed timidly offers.

Reed doesn't have a quick answer to that one. "They do not," Stone Will signs, and shakes her head to Reed.

This time Stone shakes her head in warning to Alptraum. "Not what it sounds like," she signs.

"Probably not," Alptraum admits, and shrugs. "And I've taken too much of your time as it is. You have better things to do I'm sure than be annoyed by me."

"I need to prepare you for dinner," Stone Will signs to Alptraum. "Back into the bath. Do you want me to scrub you again?"

"Sure, I would not mind it," Alptraum admits as he slides off the table and wobble-walks back to the tub. Wincing from discomfort, he steps back into the basin. "Am I disappointing?" he asks Reed.

"I don't think so," Reed says. "You're the Son of Death. So.. not as scary as Sunala. More personable. That thing you do was.. pretty intense."

This time there's a bit less scrubbing and more grooming from Stone Will.. including getting his hair shampooed. Although the Savanite does uses her breasts to protect his eyes from any soapy runoff.

"I try not to be scary," Alptraum comments when he can, "But I can be quite terrifying if I wish, or need, to be. This time he more enjoys the bath because he can't really be so turned on at the moment. He's worn out in that regard.

And Stone Will doesn't go out of her way to tease him. This is a serious bath, and she makes sure he's got all of the oil residue (and any lingering odors from it) washed out. Then there's just some relaxed soaking while she works on his hair from behind. Reed also takes a fresh bath for similar reasons. Her hair doesn't need any helping hands to deal with though.

"At least Abel wasn't here to join in the 'fun'," Alptraum thinks as he relaxes to almost limp as his hair is washed. "That would have been really embarrassing."

After the bathing came grooming, which involved a brush with rather stiff bristles for Alptraum's fur (but it did look glossier), His hair is slicked back and held together by a few inches of braiding at the tips to keep it from wandering and he's dressed up in what he thinks of as a 'smoking jacket' thanks to Dr. Twig and a pair of comfortable trousers that probably wouldn't survive more than a few minutes outdoors. Both items of clothing are decorated in muted shades of purple and red, with Eeee figures woven into the zolk itself, but barely visible unless the light catches them just right.

The cravat was less fancy, and more fluffy and soft. It was also dark red. None of the cuffs had frills or lace on them either, thankfully, and the only jewelry was an alabaster broach for the center of the cravat. Oddly, it had Sunala's symbol engraved into it.

Once the ensemble is completed, Stone-Will gives Alptraum a final, critical looking over.

"I feel like a fop. Only, less ... poodle," Alptraum admits as he lifts each arm and looks at it and how the coat seems to drape. "Also, you are incredibly skilled, you managed to make me look respectable. You must have some sort of magic..."

"I dressed the Sabaoth's courtesans for a short while," Stone signs. "It was not a task that rewarded mistakes." Which implies that Alptraum is now dressed up to impress the old Sabaoth though. Must have been what non-noble courtiers were expected to look like. Or else it's just what Thath had available.

"By the way, you don't have to act like a servant around me," Alptraum signs, "It kind of makes me uncomfortable; I have never thought of Savanites as beneath Eeee. I feel like I should be doing something for you in payment for all your effort."

"I do get paid," Stone signs. "By the household. While you are part of it, I will see that you at least look comfortable. Is it common where you are from for guests to fend for themselves?"

"Where I grew up? Yes. Every day was special if you made it through in one piece and there wasn't much to share," Alptraum signs. "I'm probably the most non-Babelite Eeee you've ever met. The irony is I am technically Babelite. I was born here, I just didn't grow up here."

"I was born here and do not consider myself Babelite," Stone signs, and then adjusts the jacket sash a bit. "It is an identity that has little to do with location. You do not seem Babelite."

"No Babelite would claim or admit to being an idiot, for instance," Stone-Will notes with an ear-flick. "All true Babelites are stubbornly proud of their city, even if they openly hate living in it or dealing with other Babelites."

"There's little to be proud of," Alptraum notes in sign. "On another topic ... did you know Thath's wife at all?"

"I only knew that he had been married before I met him," Stone-Will signs, and watches Alptraum's face. "She was not spoken of in presence. The master is very private, and I have not intruded on that privacy."

"Ah. I had hoped to know more of her," Alptraum signs, expression help more neutral than usual. "Without prying in ways that would be ... improper."

"If she is dead, can't you just find her?" the cheetah asks, and glances at the light coming through the slit in the room's balcony curtains.

"Yes, but that would be improper," Alptraum notes. "I rarely use much of what I could do; and doing that just to satisfy my curiosity seems wrong on several levels."

Alptraum looks at Stone-Will for a while. "I know this is a bit rude ... but why do you think I am?" he asks.

"You want to know why the master is the way he is," Stone-Will signs. "He is very powerful, but does not enjoy his power. If he has another purpose, you want to find out what it might be, and that requires knowing his motivations and history."

"Only in part," Alptraum signs, "I have other reasons as well, but they aren't as important."

"You are here to learn if he is a risk to Babel, are you not?" Stone-Will then signs, tilting her head slightly and widening her eyes in curiosity.

"He is not. Not anymore. I am here to help him find peace with the past," Alptraum signs, "And perhaps actually have a future."

"I never realized the 'bridge between life and death' aspect of the Barsunala covered things like that," Stone-Will signs. "I assumed the pantheon was more shallow."

"Why are you concerned about why I am here?" Alptraum signs, now tilting his head in mimic of her own. "Are you worried I was here to reap him?"

"It had occurred to me," Stone admits. "He does seem very old, and does not usually have gods over. You are not used to luxury either it seems, so perhaps it was all to give you an enjoyable day off. But I'm sure there is some reason I could not fathom as part of a long-term plan."

"I'm not, to settle that concern," Alptraum signs. "This is purely a social visit, for both of us."

This gives Stone-Will a pause. "You are his friend?" she signs, with an shaky emphasis on 'friend' as if she is surprised by it.

"I don't know if friend is quite the right word," Alptraum admits. "It's hard to explain."

"I do not think he has ever had a friend," Stone signs, looking hopefully at Alptraum. "You should be his friend."

"He's better with complicated than he is with simple," the cheetah signs. "It is nearly time for the meal. Do you want to wait for him in the library?"

"Are you in love with him? You worry a great deal about him," Alptraum signs, "And yes the library is fine."

"I take care of him," the woman signs, and gestures for Alptraum to follow her. Even though he's been there before, on the way to the hidden office.

"That doesn't answer my question," Alptraum says, since she's now in front of him and can't see him sign.

"I am not in love with him," Stone-Will signs over her shoulder. "I do love him though in a non-romantic way. He saved me and my children."

"Possibly because he felt he couldn't save his own," Alptraum notes. "He is ... very family oriented."

"That feels true to me," Stone-Will signs as the reach the door to the library. It has the usual overstuffed chairs, although tall and narrow to better accommodate Eeee. The spot over the fireplace where a painting would normally hang is blank, and Stone-Will goes about starting a fire.

"What used to be over the fireplace?" Alptraum asks as he peers at the void in its place. "One thing I am here to tell him is that some of his family did survive. It is news I think he will welcome."

"Nothing has every hung over the fireplace," Stone-Will replies once the fire is going and her hands are free. "He has no paintings of his own, only those that came with the household."

"What family does he have?" the woman then asks. "He is a vampire. Are they in haunted-forest?"

"I doubt that's true," Alptraum notes. "As for what family, that I must keep just for him, to protect them and him."

"Would you like something to drink while you wait?" the woman signs, rather than try to refute her assertion about paintings.

"I am not," Stone-Will signs, and otherwise doesn't blink at the question. Maybe that's a typical request! Or she's messing with Alptraum. "We do have some cream however."

"Ehhh, it's not as nice as getting it from the source," Alptraum jokes. "Or more seriously, anything is fine. Thank you."

"I will return shortly," she promises, and leaves Alptraum to himself for the time being, but doesn't close the door.

Alptraum returns to staring at the blank spot and pondering great mysteries. Like ... why do people put up with him? Probably because they're afraid not to.

Stone-Will doesn't return. But Reed shows up, carrying two tall glasses with narrow stems. "You look respectable," she notes. "Is it uncomfortable?"

"What are you doing here? I was expecting Stone Will to return," Alptraum admits. "I feel very out of place, honestly. It's not uncomfortable at all physically. Now ... emotionally a little."

"Ah, anxious?" Reed asks, and offers Alptraum one of the flutes of amber-and-brown swirled liquid. "This should help, it's one of my specialties," she claims.

"Just like your special oil? Maybe I'll pass," Alptraum admits as he takes the glass anyway and peers at it.

"This isn't like that, it's just something I find comforting from childhood," Reed says. "I call it frog-juice. It's tricky to make." She then takes a sip, and doesn't burst into spasms or have a brain seizure.

"They actually squeeze frogs in Sylvania and drink the result. It warps your senses," Alptraum comments as he peers at the drink some more ... then sniffs it.

"It doesn't smell dangerous," Alptraum admits after a few more sniffs. Then he throws caution to the wind ... and takes a tiny sip.

It's a bit more savory than it smells. And no crunchy bits. From the texture though, it's clear that there's some cream in it! And very little alcohol. It's like sipping candy, without the stickiness.

"So what does your version of frog-juice taste like?" Reed asks. "My father learned this from a visiting Saskanarian attendant."

"Well, I haven't almost died yet, or felt horrible pain, so I think it must be okay," Alptraum muses and takes another drink. "How come you came back to see me? I figured you'd be grateful to be away from me."

"Thath just got home, and Stone-Will is getting him ready, and I was already making one of these, because you can't let fresh cream go bad and she wasn't making butter out of it anyway so she asked me to bring you some," Reed rattles off. "So it was just one big glass but I split it into two."

"Ah ... you were stuck with entertaining me. It wasn't by choice," Alptraum says with a nod, then takes another sip. "The story of my existence! Never welcome."

"You sure like to jump to weird conclusions," Reed points out. "I don't have meals with Thath, so why would I intrude? You're a VIP after all. You didn't like my special oil either."

"It needs work. I didn't hate it, but ... it's a bit intense," Alptraum admits. "And why don't you have meals with him? You're practically his daughter."

"Well, firstly, we both tend to keep odd hours," Reed notes, punctuating her points with a waggle of her glass. "Secondly, we have very different diets. He usually gulps his meals, while I have to chew. Now that I think about it.. I don't really spend a lot of time with him, overall. He's always busy, unless he has an errand for me."

"You never just talk with him?" Alptraum asks as he peers over the top of his glass for a moment. "You live here, do you not?"

"He's not easily approachable," Reed claims, twirling her glass now. "At first, sure, but that was before the prime minister's residence was built and we were just in some apartments in the tower. He was.. well, a lot angrier back then too. Now he just seems so burdened. I liked him better when he was angry, I think. He's just too busy now."

"Why did you like him better when he was angry? Why was he angry? Did he ever tell you?" Alptraum inquires, curious. "Have you ever just asked him to sit and talk? About anything and nothing?"

"I grew up having to live in secret, pretty much," Reed admits. "I never considered doing things like that. You didn't just expose yourself, or ask someone else to. It was dangerous. But he seemed a lot more alive when he was angry. Oh, it was during the Collapse, when everything was being chaotic and everyone was trying to use it as cover to settle old grudges. I think a lot of people were trying to kill him, and it was interfering with what he was trying to get done."

"I was there during one of the attempts on his life, you know. I could have easily reaped him," Alptraum notes and swirls his own glass. "I was younger, more foolish, and more idealistic then. I spared him out of altruistic hope."

Reed seems to freeze when that anecdote drops. "If you had, then I'd be dead too. And Stone-Will and her family. So.. glad you had second thoughts. Are you here to see if you made the right decision then?"

"No. I already knew I did the right thing," Alptraum notes. "My reasoning was simple; I had to break the Babel cycle. The endless repeat of revenge, death, and usurpment. It had to stop with me. Realize by doing so I was putting my own existence at risk too. I was then his prisoner for a time. He could have erased me from existence if he wanted to. I spared his life, knowing it might cost me my own. It was a leap of faith."

"He kept you prisoner?" Reed asks, and actually looks shocked. "I mean.. well, I can see it, if you'd tried to kill him.. ugh. How long did he hold you for?"

"About a month, give or take. I lost count of time back then. I also almost ended this body a few times too, but always stopped myself," Alptraum says and shrugs a little. "I just couldn't kill him, even if it meant my own death. I hated myself anyway. Still do some days."

"But you're important, otherwise souls would get lost on the way to the Sea of Souls and just.. hang around or cause calamities," Reed claims, clutching her glass in both hands. "Hating yourself isn't good. You should find some people who actually hate you, then laugh at them!"

"I'm also the cause of some calamities," Alptraum notes and swirls his glass slowly. "Part of Babel's current state is directly because me, and how I am intertwined with Thath. I suppose that makes me a true Babelite."

"The Sabaoth and the High Princess broke Babel," Reed says angrily. "Prince Boghaz was.. great!" she claims, as someone who very clearly had a crush on the prince. "He would have fixed everything if his wife hadn't had him killed."

"The Sabbaoth killed Thath's wife, and Thath killed him, effectively, through poisoning him to weakness," Alptraum notes. "The loss of his wife has hung upon his soul ever since, and in many ways I think drove him to all he has done."

"That just proves how bad the Sabaoth was," Reed murmurs, but still seems a bit surprised by the revelation. She must not have known about what became of Thath's wife. There are some obviously loud noises from deeper in the building - the kitchen from the sound of it - that snaps Reed out of her funk. "Oh.. Stone must be getting things ready, which means Thath should be on his way. Did you like the drink?"

"The breaking point was the Sabbaoth was going to take away Thath's only child too. He lost his wife, he wasn't going to lose his only child. So, war, death, and all that followed," Alptraum comments and swirls his drink again, then downs the remainder. "And yes, I did, thank you."

"Well, if you do let me know if you want company," she offers and gives a wink before hustling off with the two glasses.

"Ah yes, I'm the weird magnet. Right," Alptraum mutters to himself. He goes back to looking at the blank spot over the fireplace, going back to his thoughts.

He's soon joined by Thath, who appears to have been dressed by Stone-Will as well, since he's wearing the same thing as Alptraum, just in black to go with his white fur. "Hmm," he goes, seeing how Alptraum is attired. "I didn't know I had those colors."

"Well, truth be told looking like a giant plum probably wouldn't be very flattering," Alptraum admits as he gestured at himself. "Or by now would it be a raisin?" That last bit comes with a half-smile with little real emotion behind it.

"Prune," Thath corrects. "Dried up plums become prunes. Grapes become raisins." The tall Eeee then takes the chair next to Alptraum. "Did you day go well?" he asks.

"You have a household of weirdos," Alptraum notes, "But yes, it went well. Odd, but well. Being here has brought up a lot of emotions I didn't know I still had."

"That I expected to die when you held me prisoner for a time," Alptraum admits. "I spared you; I didn't even know you then and yet I spared you. I wanted to break the legacy of Babel, where the next generation removes the previous. Where older family was just an inconvenience. For all I knew, you would have had me executed for just being there. And still, I just couldn't harm you. I couldn't hate you. I had to believe you were worth saving, because half of me comes from you. And if I wasn't cold hearted, then perhaps you weren't either, and maybe one small act might help you find that again." Alptraum turns his head a little to look over at Thath, adding, "If I was wrong, well ... at least I wouldn't have lived too long to regret it I suppose."

"It was a very bold act," Thath says. "I had to hold you though, there were things I needed to deal with and investigate. I did not think I was going to live much longer myself at the time. But I did. And you did. And here we are. I know you have questions, so.. this is our chance to ask and answer."

"You hung the picture of your wife there once?" Alptraum asks, and gestures to the obviously blank spot above the fireplace. "It is what would normally be there in most homes, anyway."

"None of her portraits survived," Thath says, but does nod. "So that space is for my memory of her. I was very different when we met and fell in love. If people who knew me as I am now saw her portrait, it would leave the wrong impression."

"I'm sorry to hear that. I wish I could have seen what she looked like," Alptraum admits. "And I've always wondered, what did you think when I first arrived in Babel and Rikat caused all that hoohah because I wouldn't swap places with him? You obviously suspected something; the blood was a clever test."

"The possibility of twins crossed my mind, but there were other things that didn't add up," Thath says. "First was Rikat's lack of any resistance to Life Magic. Even his blood. Such resistance is stripped away as part of the 'transference' that the Royal Mages perform, but such had not been done to him yet. I was furious with the Yodhsunala. Furious with Rikat's original parents who gave him up as a sacrifice, furious with the Yodh for accepting him and furious that they deceived me, but less so on the latter count. As for your mother.. Melisandre Ioulias was the daughter of a nobleman and a Yodhinala. He would show her off at court, fishing for suitors it was called. She likely caught the eye of the Sabaoth even then. But she had a strong mind. That seemed to draw her to me, and because I could make her laugh. She had white fur like my own, and red hair, and blue eyes. A rare mix. Her beauty was intimidating."

"Well, then I really don't look like either of you, but hardly surprising given how I was kept alive and such," Alptraum notes and sighs. "Did you hate me when you figured out who I was?"

"I hated that you were cursed," Thath admits. "It seemed that my life and line were equally doomed, but it wasn't really a curse. You were strong, had a chance to grow up with actual parents and had the Kindly Ones looking over you to some degree. More than I could have given you. I couldn't even save Rikat, who I barely even got to see. My life is one of lost opportunities it seems."

"Rikat is still alive," Alptraum notes. "And safe. I left him in capable, if weird, care. If that helps at all. He was more 'your son' in terms of growing up than I."

"It was hard for me to deal with him," Thath says. "I didn't want to be his father, only to see the person I hated most eventually smiling behind his face. I fully intended to spare Rikat that fate if I couldn't kill the Sabaoth in time. Two children lost to that monster, whom I at one time tried my hardest to impress."

"Lost, or just gone for a while?" Alptraum points out, "Here I sit." Then he has to sit quiet for a bit, brow furrowed in thought. "I was thinking about this earlier, before you came in. You've never had the chance to actually be with your whole family, have you? I realized that ... it may still be possible, if but for a short time. I don't know if you would want, or be able to bear, that, though."

"If you are offering what I think you are, then you need to know more first," Thath says, looking old. "When I spoke of two children, I don't mean you and Rikat. I didn't know you existed at the time. I meant my first child. When the Sabaoth's wife at the time produced a daughter.. well, the Sabaoth didn't have daughters, and a woman who had failed to give him a son had failed in her only duty to him. So she conveniently died in childbirth, along with the baby. Then he turned his attention to Melisandre. There was no question of refusing. He annulled our marriage. And she took her own life, because she knew it was forfeit. I was so angry, that.. when I was told it didn't get through to me. I could have swallowed my anger and watched her be with him, but.. not after that. She was pregnant with our child at the time. She knew but hadn't told me. The Yodhinala knew. And knew it was a girl."

"That is when I vowed to destroy the Sabaoth and everything and everyone that supported him," Thath says. "I was clumsy at first, with the poison. He didn't even care. Keeping me in arms reach was my punishment."

Alptraum nods. He sits quietly for a bit, thinking over that he would have had a sister too, had things gone differently. "For good or bad, I am the Barsunala, and your memories of her could help me find Melisandre in the afterlife. I could bring here here for a time, though she would not be ... fully solid. I don't think anyway, that takes a lot of magic to fully manifest someone. But ... I would get a chance to meet her; you would perhaps get some closure, and for a moment, the impossible family would stand in spite of everything and everyone that tried to destroy it," Alptraum offers. "You have been through so much pain and disappointment ... if my burden can help ease some of that, it would perhaps be worth it."

"Do I deserve to see her again?" Thath asks. "That last time.. I hadn't yet fully become a monster. Hadn't begun my larger plan. Hadn't murdered thousands of people. And.. it would not be easy for you, Alptraum. But you deserve to meet her, so I will help you with that."

"I think you deserve to see her again. I wouldn't have offered if I felt otherwise," Alptraum notes. "I want to make tonight not entirely about endings, but also new beginnings. And for that, peace must be made with what was. You're no monster; you're a man who was put in a horrible position. I don't think many would have done anything different ... and here you are building a new and better city. That's one way we're alike, you know. We're both willing to sacrifice ourselves for others, ultimately. It may have begun as revenge, but can you really say you feel no pride and hope in life returning to this city? To know that your family line isn't doomed, but that you will have grand children?" Alptraum looks into the fire for a bit, trying to organize his thoughts. "I'd like tonight to be about a new beginning, for who you want to be, the man before he had to take on the mantle of a monster. Not The Grand Vizier, or the Prime Minister, or whatever titles have come and gone; but a husband, a father, and a grandfather."

"Making Babel prosper without the nobles was my way of burying the very last bit of the Sabaoth," Thath admits, then looks to the empty space above the fireplace. "Alptraum, if we do this, you are going to discover why I tried to have all of the Yodh wiped out."

"I know. I know it won't be easy. But, this is your choice. My wants here do not matter, it is yours that do. You are her anchor, her focus. I cannot find someone I never knew, and if you do not wish it then it will not be," Alptraum points out, gently. "So, the choice is yours, and yours alone. In this I am the conduit."

"Are you certain? Are you absolutely sure?" Alptraum asks, his voice softer and surprisingly more gentle than it usually is. No tones of amusement, sarcasm, or snark. It's genuine concern. "I do not wish more pain upon you."

"My only goal is to ease hers and your pain," Thath says softly, looking into the fire now. "I worry that it might cause more though as well. I doubt there is much more pain that I can feel at this point."

Alptraum reaches over and rests his hand upon Thath's shoulder. "Something to also think on, but you are no so alone as you may feel. Reed cares for you, as does Stone Will. I know you have kept your distance from them, but you are also their family too. They asked me to help you. Stone Will asked me to be your friend, that you needed one. So, you are not the monster that you see yourself as."

"I don't think Reed would forgive some of the things I've done, if she knew of them," Thath says. There's a ringing of a bell from elsewhere. "Dinner is prepared," he notes.

"You'd be surprised what people will forgive," Alptraum notes as he rises up from his seat. "We are all expects at creating our own hells," he adds, "And the fact that you have one at all shows your heart still beats, and still cares. Just, think on that ... and we should probably eat. This will likely be quite taxing on me, magic-wise."

They do not go to the formal dining hall that seats twenty. Despite having gotten 'dressed up', the pair end up sitting at a small wooden table in the kitchen itself. "This is where I usually sup," Thath explains, as Stone-Will brings out warm bowl of spiced blood-soup.

"I'm not surprised," Alptraum admits. "Eating in a grand room, by yourself, just makes you feel even more lonely. Here in the kitchen, real people and life is. It's a better place to be."

"It is also warmer," Thath notes. "I am spry for my age, but still feel the chill." He sips at a spoonful of the soup while Stone-Will watches closely.

Alptraum takes up his own spoon and dares a sip as well. He also wonders if Stone-Will will figure out their connection ... or not.

The Savanite seems mostly concerned that Thath finish the entire bowl. "You remembered to use less yorspice this time," Thath notes to her. "Fewer kyootcumbers as well. Thank you, Stone-Will."

The soup has some bite to it, so hard to imagine it could have had chomp to it as well.

"It's flavorful without putting you under the table," Alptraum concurs after another couple samples. "Do you want to join us, Stone Will?" he asks, he has a real problem having servants, even willing ones.

The woman wrinkles her nose. "Not to my tastes," she signs. Even carnivores have trouble ingesting only blood. It might explain why the soup was too spicy before though, if she's not actually tasting any of it.

"Is there anything you could have instead? I feel odd having you ... stand there," Alptraum admits. He also signs it.

"I will prepare my meal and join," Stone-Will signs. Then turns her back to them and goes back to the stove.

"She cares a great deal for you," Alptraum says in a range that Stone-Will won't be able to hear. "Love, in a way. She worries about you a lot."

"Perhaps you are being like me instead," Thath points out, even pointing with his spoon.

"Then we need to both stop being like this," Alptraum counters, and spoon-duels for a split second.

This stops once Stone=Will returns with a boiled fish on a plate. She sits at the table, and starts picking it apart with her claws.

Alptraum reaches over and ruffles the top of Stone-Will's head. "Good Girl," he jokes, "You didn't even argue!" To Thath he notes, "I think earlier there were a few times she might have wanted to stab me."

"I assume that is normal for all housekeepers," Thath says with a perfectly serious expression. "Do you mean that it is unusual?"

"Mostly with those that try to maintain a stoic demeanor," Alptraum comments, "I can't resist poking at it."

"I do it in a fun way," Alptraum counter-counters. "I like treating them like people, not things to order around."

"They'll never trust you if you do that," Thath claims. "They'll assume you're trying to trick them."

"I do not trust my own children," Stone-Will signs. "I need to work on you some more, then I will trust you."

One of Alptraum's ears splays sideways. "Work on me how, exactly?" he asks. Then ends up snorting a laugh at Thath's comment.

"You still haven't bathed me," Stone-Will signs. "That will need to be worked on."