The Radovah wagon, dark and brooding, is adjacent to the brightly painted stage, currently occupied by brightly-dressed Radovah daughters spinning and dancing to jaunty music before a decent sized crowd. At the edge of this crowd are a pair of Eeee – one white and voluptuous, wearing a bikini of gauzy veils and quite a bit of jewelry, and a tall, dark man with white hair.

Alptraum has dressed, well, down a bit for now since he's visiting old friends and family. He doesn't want to be criticized for enjoying 'finer things', like clothes without holes or patches! So, he's wearing one of his older travel shirts that has become a bit thread worn along with basic trousers. His right hand and forearm, though, is covered with a stylized leather bracer with dragon scroll work. Sticking up from its center is a metallic-looking sheath with a dagger inserted into it. The glistening white orb embedded in the back of his hand near his wrist is also covered slightly. It has been made up to look like an erstwhile 'slave bracelet', a bracelet around his wrist with a series of chitin 'chains' that lead from it, wrap the orb as if it is part of the bracelet, then connect to a simple ring on his middle finger. He still wears all his earrings, of course; he's almost never without them. "When money is a-foot, they're always on the prowl," he remarks as he waves towards the Radovah girls.

"They could do better," Mave notes, watching the dance with a critical eye. "They have the crowd's interest, but not their hearts. Or perhaps that performance is left for the evening, hmm? Their mother over in the shadows of the wagon is watching the crowd, also."

"She isn't just watching to watch," Alptraum remarks and shrugs. "She's watching for likely marks to 'borrow' coin from. There will be scouts in the crowds waiting for signals. Well, if they're keeping to their usual tricks at least. It has been several years since I've been part of it all."

"Pick-pockets?" Mave asks, one eyebrow arched slightly. "I have seen that you are fast with your hands, so were you once one of the crowd-scouts?"

Alptraum holds up a bit of jewelry Mave had dangling from her waist only a few minutes ago. "Maybe," he remarks, grinning. "You're an easy mark when you're watching something intently."

"Hmmm," the priestess remarks as she takes back the bauble. "Only the Yodhblakat dare to steal from Inala," she points out. "You can imagine what one of my Lady's curses could involve."

"I was making a point, not stealing," Alptraum counters. "Watch yourself in crowds, there are many light fingers."

"Clearly, I should go naked then to curb temptation," Mave threatens, just as the crowd shifts enough for Alptraum to notice a booth set up next to the stage. There's flicker of black that resolves into Hexen… selling lemonade.

"That's new, Hexen is selling lemonade. Seems oddly suspicious," Alptraum comments as he peers at the black fox and then points him out to Mave. He wishes he had Tulani's eyes right now, he's trying to see if he's still got the earring Kizzy … placed.

"The rare black fox," Mave says, and starts towards the booth, parting the crowd easily.

Alptraum follows after Mave. He realizes he'll likely have to keep her out of trouble … and protect both sides from each other. He feels a headache coming.

The booth looks a bit less sturdy up close. There are glass pitchers of differently colored drinks, and serving them up are Hexen and Kizzy, both wearing matching tie-dyed aprons. What might have been a shiny parasitic wart on the fox's ear resolves to be an onyx bracelet charm in the shape of a bat. "Lemonade! Melonade! Hard or soft or smooth, as you like it!" Hexen hawks, until he spots Alptraum and points at him. "You! You bast-" the outburst is cut off when the fox gets an eyeful (and then both eyes full) of Mave.

Alptraum points at himself. "Bastard? Me? What did I ever do other than introduce you to the wonders of an Eeee lover?" he asks, practically grinning from ear-to-ear.

"And … since you never believed me, allow me to present Yodhinala Mave, formerly of Babel," Alptraum says as he presents Mave with a bow.

Mave leans over the counter, which causes Hexen's eyes to drop and Kizzy to let out a squeak of alarm. "You do not believe in Inala, young man?" she asks in her five-second-seduction voice. Hexen panics, and nods, then shakes his head, then whimpers and says quietly, "I believe… "

"Hello Kizzy," Alptraum says cheerfully to the tie-dyed Eeee. "How have you been? Keeping Hexen busy and out of trouble?"

"He's been very troublesome, Alptraum," Kizzy tells the other bat. "You hinted that he would be devoted, but his eyes and hands continue to wander."

"Really? That's not good. Maybe Mave here could give you some advice that would keep his interest completely on you," Alptraum offers. He gives Hexen a bit of a frown as he says, "You're not being faithful to the Eeee who adores you?"

"She's always biting me, and hanging me upside down, and feeding me bugs," Hexen whispers, while not taking his eyes off of Mave. "She'll want my blood next." To avoid seeming ungrateful in front of the priestess, Hexen says this in Romani.

"I want your blood," Mave tells Hexen.

The fox just nods and smiles. "Sure… how much?"

"She's not a vampire. And all of that is how Eeee show affection; she's trying to make you more Eeee-like. It's an honor," Alptraum replies to Hexen in Romani as well. "Are you trying to tell me the sex with her isn't amazing?"

"It is incomparable," Hexen admits. "Because she will not let me at other women to find out how she compares."

"Comparisons or not, do you enjoy it?" Alptraum asks.

Alptraum considers what Hexen just said. He looks at Kizzy and asks her, "Have you put him in a chastity belt?" He's trying very hard not to laugh.

"I have a special harness that suspends him from the ceiling," the Saskanar Eeee says.

"So … you lock him up at night?" Alptraum clarifies.

"There is more to enjoyment of sex than… sex," Hexen claims. "She gets what she's always wanted, but I get… her… "

"His tether length is very generous!" Kizzy claims.

"Well, what do you want?" Alptraum asks Hexen. "Have you discussed that with her?" The bat then blinks and looks at Kizzy, "Tether?"

"A leather leash," Hexen notes. "So that I can relieve myself away from the wagon but not escape. And you know what I want, Traum!" The fox then jerks his hand away, accidentally lodging it in Mave's cleavage. "This! This is… eeep!" He pulls his hand away and bows in shame. "Forgive me, Goddess! Would you like some free melonade?"

"A leash? Where does she, uh, attach it?" Alptraum asks, brow arched a bit. "And you do realize this was for your own good. Nyeve has other plans for her daughters; she wishes them to wed weathly men, or at least be kept by them… "

"She attaches it to a collar around my neck," Hexen mutters.

Alptraum peers in close to see if Hexen is wearing said collar right now. "Is that really necessary, Kizzy?" he asks the Eeee, "You could do a lot better than him… "

Mave seems amused, even if she can't follow the conversation she can probably read expressions and moods well enough. She says to Kizzy, "You will bring your fox to the castle tonight, and ask to be brought to Yodhinala Mave at the gate. Do you understand, young woman?"

"But I want him… " the bat starts to say, then blinks when Mave addresses her. "Oh… of course, ma'am. I'll bring him with bells on if you like. I have some nice black ones."

"What are you planning for them?" Alptraum now asks Mave in Babelite so that the two gypsies can't understand them.

"And why do you want him? Alptraum asks Kizzy, "He's a jerk. I should know!"

"The boy has something I want: fox's blood," Mave replies. "So they will come, you will transform the girl into a copy of me and the boy will get what he desires."

"He's cute! I always wanted a pet," Kizzy tells Alptraum.

"But that's only temporary," Alptraum points out to Mave. "I can't make it permanent."

"So? By the time she changes back, the lad will be bound to her," Mave claims.

Alptraum rubs his forehead. "Kizzy," he addresses the other Eeee again, "I've learned a bit of magic in my travels. Would you be okay with being made to look like her for a while?" He points his thumb towards Mave.

"What if Kizzy could look like her for a while? Would that make you happier?" Alptraum also asks Hexen and points towards Mave.

"What? Look like… " Hexen asks, before his jaw drops a bit. "You're trying to prank me again! I see this game; you'll pull a switch, so that I'm really with Mave and… and… hmmm. Sure, I'll go along with this!"

"Right," Alptraum says and nods. "You know me. And you can be honest with me, you like how Kizzy treats you a little, don't you? It's better than having pots thrown at you… "

Kizzy looks uncertain. "Magic? But… the Yodhinala are said to be all powerful when it comes to matters of beauty and love. If it will make Hexen happy, then… I'm willing."

Alptraum pats Kizzy's shoulder, "It'll be fine. It'll feel good, too."

"It's… maybe a little too much attention," Hexen says, lowering his voice. "She's so jealous."

"Well, if you weren't always trying to escape… " Alptraum points out.

"Alptraum finds me attractive, and says I can do better than you, Hexen," the leaf-nosed bat claims. "Wouldn't you be jealous if I took him to my wagon right now and let him have his way with me?"

Alptraum blinks at that. "Er?" he asks.

"Hah! You could do that thing to him with the feathers and the Zolk sling for all I care," the fox claims.

"Why do you want fox blood," Alptraum asks Mave and tries to ignore the suggestions about him.

"Oh? What about… the candle, hmmm?" Kizzy counters. This actually makes Hexen look uncertain for a moment. "N-not the same one you use on me though, right?" he asks.

"I really didn't need to hear that," Alptraum mutters to Mave. "She's weirder in bed than you are, it sounds like."

"Foxes are rare, and black foxes very rare," Mave says. "His blood will have special properties in rituals."

"I know I'm going to regret asking this, but … what candle?" Alptraum asks Hexen and Kizzy.

The Yodhinala gives Alptraum a stern look. "Weird? I am weird in bed?" she asks with a bit of a growl.

"It doesn't matter because it's not going to happen," Hexen points out. "Alptraum is taken."

"Diverse. You're diverse, Kizzy seems to be … perverse," Alptraum clarifies to Mave.

"Celibacy is the only perversion in the eyes of Inala," Mave points out, standing straight again.

"Would you use feathers, a zolk sling, candles, and a collar?" Alptraum asks Mave.

"The Congress of the Injured Creen is well known prayer," Mave claims.

"I stand corrected, then," Alptraum concedes. To Hexen and Kizzy Alptraum does admit, "Yes, I'm taken."

"We will be there tonight, Yodhinala!" Kizzy promises, bowing to Mave.

"You also want to see how effectively I can change someone, don't you?" Alptraum asks Mave.

"Of course," Mave says.

"What is your opinion of those two as a couple?" Alptraum asks Mave and thumbs towards Hexen and Kizzy. "It is my fault. Somewhat."

"They argue so there is affection," Mave claims. "The boy could leave if he really wanted to, but does not wish to hurt the girl. It is more that he is resentful of being tricked into it, perhaps?"

"Well … he tried to set me up and get me in trouble. It simply backfired on him," Alptraum notes and shrugs, "Plus he was pursuing girls he could not have, which would have ended worse eventually."

"I had heard the gypsy people were very free with their affection though," Mave notes.

"Some are, some are not. You saw the dancers, yes? He pursued them. Their mother however, has other plans. she wants them to have lives of comfort off the road," Alptraum explains to Mave. "Which is what the list is for that you collected for me."

"And their mother is, well, a witch. She knows how to curse someone," Alptraum adds. "Imagine if his head shrunk to the size of a potato and his feet swelled to the size of melons… "

"I knew some men in Babel would find that condition attractive," Mave claims. "To go after that which cannot be obtained is a natural drive in both genders. Should we see the witch then, and deliver the list?"

"Yes, but I have one more bit of mischief to do," Alptraum says and winks. He turns back to the couple behind the stand and speaks in Romani lout enough for them both to hear. "Oh, Kizzy?" Alptraum says to the other Eeee, "Just something to think about: Yodhinala Mave once suggested a nose ring works better for a leash… "

"Really?" Kizzy asks, while Hexen covers his nose with his hands and gives Alptraum an evil glare. "I don't know how yet, but I will get back at you somehow, Alptraum!"

Alptraum walks around the stand and grins at Hexen. He even extends his right hand out to the fox in a handshake gesture.

After checking for joy-buzzers, Hexen relents and takes Alptraum's hand. "Brothers?" he asks.

Alptraum actually pulls Hexen into a brief hug. "After everything I've been through, it is good to have something that has remained," he says quietly to his friend, "A good friend to get into trouble with. I've missed you." Alptraum then releases the fox and steps back. "Now, I expect you two to behave. Mostly, anyway," he teases. "I'll see you both at the castle later."

"It better be worth it," Hexen warns, melonade ladle in hand.

"Hey, have I ever steered you wrong?" Alptraum asks and puts his hand to his chest.

"I really don't have time to answer that," Hexen replies. "Need to milk this crowd some more!" Switching to Sylvanian again, the fox starts hawking drinks.

Alptraum laughs. "Some on, time to introduce you to your counterpart," he says to Mave and heads towards the Radovah wagon.

Nyneve notes Alptraum's approach, and also gives Mave quite the looking over. "Alptraum," she purrs. "Is this a new dancer you've found?"

"This is Yodhinala Mave, formerly of Babel. She helped collect a certain list you expressed interest in," Alptraum explains as he introduces the white Eeee. "She also wished to meet you."

"You seem young for your age," Mave notes with a smile, which Nyneve returns. Some sort of sexy middle-aged woman dynamic goes into play, and then they both relax and have genuine smiles. "A pleasure to meet you, Priestess of Love," Nyneve ends up purring.

Alptraum finds the byplay rather unnerving and a bit scary. Not unlike watching two dragons ponder how to eat the other one while having tea. "Well, Nyneve is a friend. Sort of. She used to throw things at Hexen and myself when we were younger and hanging around the wagon," he explains nervously.

"Has your aim improved since then?" Mave asks Nyneve, who simply says, "Considerably. Although I imagine the expression on Alptraum's face after waking up next to me still be my greatest accomplishment."

"Though recently, like you, she has been seducing innocent men when they are vulnerable," Alptraum confirms and crosses his arms across his chest.

"Strange, he is usually very comfortable sleeping with older women," Mave notes. "He hardly ever looks frightened anymore." She reaches over pinches Alptraum's cheek.

Alptraum sighs at the pinch. "True, most of my, ah, lovers have been older women," he admits.

"Most?" both women ask in unison.

"Phlagaea," Alptraum points out, "And Snow. Both younger than me."

"You have succumbed to the charms of another daughter of Inala then," Mave notes with an approving nod.

"I hope you have not hurt Rosalind's heart," Nyneve says, a bit sternly. "She is a nice woman and deserves all that you have to give."

"There is no proof that she and I ever did anything, though," Alptraum points out and motions towards Nyneve. "Phlagaea was before Rosalind and Snow was … business. Plus she used magic. As for Rosalind, I'm am utterly committed to her. I have endured quite a few things for her and will be doing even more."

"Speaking of doing things for older women you respect," Nyneve notes, "I believe you were going to be bring me some research material, yes?"

"Yes, the list," Alptraum says as he digs in his shirt and pulls out a piece of paper. "Mave composed this at my request. She even ranked it by performance, wealth, and other such … virtues."

Nyneve looks it over, and nods. She even smiles. "So I should be extending my thanks to you as well, Priestess," she says. "Is there anything I can do to show my appreciation?"

"That is dangerous to offer," Alptraum mutters to himself.

Mave smiles, and then gestures to the stage. "Your daughters are fine dancers, but perhaps the crowd would enjoy a more experienced performance?"

"Ut-oh," Alptraum says. "Are you sure that is … wise? The crowds can get quite … rowdy."

The Khatta's ears fold back in surprise for a moment, but a mischievous grin spreads as well. "I am used to rowdy crowds," Nyneve says, and then hands Alptraum her shawl and peals away embroidered purple girdle she wears in order to expose her belly. "The stage awaits. Mr. Reisender here is surely capable of making sure nobody rushes the stage… "

"Oh great," Alptraum thinks to himself, "Maybe the auras will help me here… " He's about to argue against this foolishness, but in the end realizes he'll never win the argument, so he sighs.

The first dance goes well, with Mave following Nyneve's lead in a traditional gypsy dance. The men in the audience cheer, and eventually the women do too, since having their men ogle women who aren't younger than them gives them hope for the future. It is the second dance, though, where Mave leads. The music is a simple drum beat, and it takes Alptraum a few moments to realize Mave is performing the monster-luring dance…

"Oh Dagh take her!" Alptraum thinks when the realization hits him of just what Mave is up to. With this crowd the effect could be anything; from a full-on riot-orgy to just a bunch of really frisky people who will all retire home after wards. He rubs his forehead, feeling that headache return yet again. The only consolation is, he supposes, that the pick-pockets may have a very lucrative night…