Alptraum wakes with a bizarre sensation, as if his skin were crawling. As he sits up in bed, it even looks like the fur and skin on his arm is rippling as he tries to focus his eyes in the weak morning light, but once his vision clears everything looks normal. The Yodhblakat next to him snorts and twists a bit, wrapped up in all the blankets that she managed to 'steal' from Alptraum's side of the bed.

"Burgh," Alptraum says with the utmost intelligence that he can muster this early in the morning. He continues blinking slowly and tiredly even after his vision seems to have cleared up. The bat then yawns and stretches out his arms and legs, murmuring to himself, "That beer must have had something in it … or Roogi's blood did. Wow, what a night." His lips even curl back momentarily as he looks over at the other sleeping Eeee and he whispers to himself, "And who would have thought a Yodhblakat would be so good. Painful … but good." He rubs his hands simultaneously over each of his arms and then shifts so his feet slide off the bed. "May as well get up. At least I might have a chance at a drink before the others wake… "

Roogi grumbles something and immediately moves to take over as much of the vacated bed space as possible – all while still asleep! As he moves, Alptraum notices that all the little aches and pains and itches (from Roogi's claw scratches) are gone now.

"Hey, that's handy," Alptraum remarks as he feels over spots that were sore earlier "Whatever they drink must speed up healing." He even holds up his hands and wiggles his fingers playfully before his face.

For just a moment, his claws seem to turn black and lengthen – but are normal when he stops wiggling them. Maybe there was something else in that drink…

Alptraum draws back a bit as he looks at his hands. "Okay, so … hallucinations! Right. Probably just like the time Hexen's homemade booze went bad and we all thought we were mushrooms," he tells himself. There's another shrug and the bat gathers up his clothing and goes about dressing himself. "Need to find a mirror," he mutters, "I'm sure I have a horrible case of bed head."

Such a fine, five-star establishment as the Gormless Inn should normally be flush with high quality mirrors – until a certain dragon probably had them all confiscated so he could sleep on them. The sounds of morning are already reaching Alptraum's ears though; the breakfast crowd is gathering in the room below.

Alptraum grumbles and tries to comb through his hair as best he can using only his claws so that he at least wouldn't look like too much of a disaster. He momentarily thinks about waking up Roogi … but then decides that she might consider that stealing her sleep, so he just leaves her be. "I'll go get Lilith up instead. She's safer," he tells himself as he exits the room and heads for hers.

"Who is it?" Lilith calls in response to the knock on her door. She doesn't sound sleepy or hungover, but then probably has some sort of secret partying technique to avoid it.

"Just Alptraum," Alptraum says. "Are you decent? Dagh, even if you're not, can I come in?" he teases through the door.

The door opens a crack, and a glowing blue eye peeks out to check that Alptraum is wearing clothes, then it opens the rest of the way. Lilith is already dressed and groomed it seems. "I wasn't expecting you to be awake yet," she notes.

"Why not? Because I spent it with Roogi?" Alptraum asks and grins widely. "Jealous?" he then adds in a tease. "I actually feel pretty good, even though my memory is a bit fuzzy. Did I do anything strange at the party?"

"Jealous?" Lilith echoes, arching an eyebrow. "I'm not at all attracted to Roogi, I'll have you know. As for strange… well, I didn't realize you were such a good dancer. I was about to get some breakfast, and… what is that in your fur, oil?" she asks, and reaches out to brush through Alptraum's fur with her claws.

"No, jealous you weren't with me." he teases and grins. The question, though, raises an eyebrow. "Oil? What are you talking about?" Alptraum asks as he takes a step back to try and avoid Lilith getting her hands all oily in case he does have something on him. He now tries running his claws through his own fur.

Now that he looks, his fur does seem a bit more… lustrous… than usual. As if he just bathed in fancy bath oils. "Huh, it's dry," Lilith comments. "You used the same stuff in your hair too, I see. It looks wet without being wet."

"I think it's a reaction to whatever the Yodhblakat drink," Alptraum explains and shrugs, "I do have a vague memory of biting her during the rougher moments." He spins around for Lilith to see, then asks, "So, you're telling me I look really good?"

"You look… cleaned up," Lilith says, not willing to apply a more subjective opinion. "A little too clean," she then adds with a giggle.

Alptraum thinks for a moment. "This actually isn't a come-on, though it may sound like one," he says and actually looks serious for the moment. "Mind giving me a full body check? I can't exactly check my back easy and there are no mirrors here. I'll come in so I won't stand in the hall naked."

"What's wrong with your back?" Lilith asks, closing the door behind Alptraum and then crossing her arms.

"Nothing that I know of, I just want you to check. Hey, if it's shiny, at least I know I look good all over," Alptraum insists as he goes about removing his shirt. "I promise you I'm not making a pass this time, I just want a check."

"All the men who ask to model nude for me say that," Lilith notes with a smirk. "Go ahead, show me what you have."

"I think you're beautiful and yes I wouldn't mind bedding you," Alptraum admits, "But I am serious! This isn't an attempt." And so, Alptraum strips down all the way to just fur and wing-skin.

"So what should I be looking for?" Lilith asks as she steps closer. "Your butt is shiny too, if that's what you were wondering. And… hmm." She grabs some of Alptraum's long hair and tosses it up. She hmmms again, and repeats this two more times.

Alptraum actually reaches around and feels his own butt while Lilith plays with his hair. "I don't know," he says, "Anything that seems really odd, I guess. I mean, if I'm just shiny, well, hey. Makeover while I slept, nothing wrong with that!"

"Your hair is… alive," Lilith pronounces. "No matter how I toss it, it always lays down in a sexy fashion."

"Have a mirror? I want to see," Alptraum claims.

"I just have a pocket mirror," Lilith notes. "You'd need two mirrors to see your back. And you can trust me… but I want to know what you put into your hair!"

"So do I!" Alptraum pronounces. The Eeee then gets an idea and throws his hair back to clear away the left side of his neck. "Bite me and drink. Maybe you'll get whatever it was Roogi had in her blood that I got from her," he suggests.

"What??" Lilith says, stepping back. "I'm not biting a sexy naked guy in my room! I've never seen a Yohdblakat with good hair, so I doubt it's anything to do with what they drank last night."

"Oh come on, I can't be that bad to bite, can I?" Alptraum asks and turns around, frowning.

So, Alptraum goes about getting dressed. He does make sure to check that everything is still where it should be in the department … downstairs.

It looks okay, if… did it get bigger? It's odd to see things being shiny.

Alptraum just shakes his head and finishes dressing. "shall we go downstairs, then?" he asks Lilith. "And I am actually hurt you wouldn't even bite me."

"I don't normally bite people," Lilith notes, blushing through the white fur of her cheeks. "That's… foreplay stuff," she explains, opening the door once Alptraum is dressed.

"And I'm not good enough for that," Alptraum says with a loud sniff. He does flash a small grin, though, just to make sure she knows he's teasing as he heads out of the room.

"You're terrible, Alptraum," Lilith complains, but still walks next to him down to the tavern. It's crowded with Yodhblakat and others, and the aromas of cooking food are making Alptraum's stomach rumble. He's getting an odd craving for bacon.

"But I could be so much more terrible with you," Alptraum actually whispers in Lilith's ear as they descend the stairs. He even lightly swats her behind. The reaction to the food once downstairs makes Alptraum blink. "Wow, I don't remember cooked food ever smelling good before."

"I'm getting some mateh," Lilith says, heading for the kitchen counter. For whatever reason, it's being tended by a naked human girl with snow-white skin and hair, covered with just an apron that says 'Lick The Cook' on it.

Alptraum heads towards the counter behind Lilith. "Hey, who is the sexy human?" Alptraum asks as he leads to the side to get a better look. "She reminds me of you only … shaved and with a shorter face," he tells Lilith.

Lilith only shrugs, but signals the girl. "I'd like a mateh please, with… umm… butter in it!" The human nods and turns to Alptraum, showing pink eyes. "And what would you like, sir?"

"I'd like to lick the cook," Alptraum jokes, "But I will settle for a cup of mateh. Plain."

The girl turns to a sideboard where the pots are, wiggling her butt a bit in a teasing way as she prepares the drinks. Another waitress comes by to pick up a plate heaped with ham, bacon and sausage for another customer. The smell of the meat makes Alptraum's stomach growl again.

Alptraum tries to snatch a piece of meat as the plate goes by. He can at least lick it, maybe that will settle his stomach. Of course he keeps one eye on that pale behind; something about it is really alluring and familiar in a way he can't quite place.

He manages to capture a thick slice of bacon without being noticed. But as soon as he licks it, the urge to eat it is almost overpowering.

In spite of knowing he'll likely vomit within a few minutes, Alptraum can't stop himself and stuffs the whole piece of bacon in his mouth and then swallows. Something feels very, very wrong all of a sudden. Solid food never made him feel hungry before, not like this.

Even stranger is that he doesn't feel sick. He feels… energized! Not only is he less hungry, but it seems like the sausage is already diffusing its energy directly into his cells, spreading out from his stomach like a warm glow.

Alptraum closes his eyes as the soft warmth flows through him. "Wow, that felt good," he murmurs softly. He even reaches under his shift and feels over his stomach as if encouraging the sensation.

His stomach feels empty again already, and grumbles about it. "Here are your drinks," the pale serving wench says. And also places a big plate of food in front of Alptraum, unbidden. There's toast and jam, biscuits, ham, bacon, sausage and what looks like a steak at the bottom, along with potatoes and cheese. It looks downright unhealthy and delicious. "Are you actually going to eat that?" Lilith asks in shock.

"I want to," Alptraum admits as he stares at the plate. "Lilith, something is wrong with me," he admits. Try as he might to stop, he finds himself reaching for another sausage and stuffs that into his mouth, devouring it. Alptraum's eyes now shift to the pale human, since she put that food before him. "What did you do to me?" he asks.

"I gave you breakfast," the girl says with a smile. "You sounded hungry." The sausage goes the way of the bacon, making Alptraum feel like he should be glowing.

"I'm a vampire," Alptraum asserts, "I shouldn't be able to eat this." He reaches up to clutch the sides of his head for a moment and then brings his hands down to stare at them and see if they actually are glowing.

They're shiny and clean looking, but still black all the same.

Alptraum looks down his shirt, where the warmth always seems to originate from.

As warm as his stomach feels, nothing is glowing through his clothes. But his stomach is already complaining again.

Alptraum ends up sitting down at the bar and digs into the plate of food, devouring every last morsel to try and quell his complaining stomach. How good it all feels urges him onward until the plate is clean.

It's quite a high, literally leaving him with a warm buzz. It's powerful enough that he didn't even notice Lilith leaving… or the rest of the tavern clearing out. How long was he eating? Did that girl just keep bringing him food? "Would you like some more?" she asks, being the only person around.

Alptraum pulls himself away from the plate to look at himself once more. The hazy memory of his arm looking like it was squirming coming to the forefront of his mind all of a sudden.

Did it just squirm again, or is it just a trick of the bacon-flavored haze that seems to surround everything now?

Alptraum holds up his arm before himself now. "Show me," he actually asks his own arm. "Please."

A white hand strokes the upheld arm. "Are you talking to me?" the girl asks, leaning over the counter now. "Your fur is nice and soft."

"Thanks," Alptraum asks, distracted for a moment and smiles to the human. "Your skin feels smooth and soft too," he tells her. "Who are you?" he asks, "I keep feeling like we've met before."

"Oh, I just started," the girl says, then turns and hangs up her apron before coming around to sit in Lilith's old seat. "So, want to get to know me better?" she asks playfully.

"Would you run screaming if I say yes?" Alptraum asks and grins, lowering his arm and the earlier worries fading for now.

The girl leans forward, and then glances over Alptraum's shoulder. "No, but… could you dismiss the bodyguard?" she asks. "He's a little creepy."

"Bodyguard?" Alptraum asks, brow arching up. "What bodyguard?" he asks as he slowly turns around to see just what the human is talking about.

The Wraith stands behind Alptraum, it's arms crossed and covered in chitin armor. Shredded wings rustle in an unfelt breeze, and the blank, blind eyes stare forward unnervingly.

Alptraum blinks repeatedly. "What do you want?" he asks the wraith with a hint of worry in his voice. "Shouldn't … shouldn't you be me?"

The apparition doesn't respond. It just continues to stand there. "Can't you dismiss him or something?" the girl asks. "I mean… we can't really get to know each other intimately with him… watching."

Alptraum tries placing his hand on the Wraith's crossed arm. "Can you allow me some privacy for a bit?" he asks the fearsome creature nervously. A dim memory comes to the front and he tries to 'dismiss' the wraith like he did after the battle with the wizard, to go back to the pace within where it waits until needed.

The fearsome creature frowns, then turns and walks away, fading out as it goes. "Oh goody!" the girl says, as Alptraum finds her suddenly in his lap. "Now you're all mine!"

Alptraum's brow arches, though he grins anyway and drapes his arms around the human. "And just what are you going to do with me, hmm?" he teases.

The girl smiles, and her teeth seem… a little bigger. Her eyes have also gone from pink to gold, and developed vertical slits. "Oh, I'm going to eat you up!" she says with a deeper voice, and laughs while her skin folds and starts turning into darker, metallic scales.

Alptraum screams as he shoves the 'girl' out of his lap and with a flap of his wings, hops up onto the counter behind him. "Dagh's festering butt you are," he yells at the creature, then looks for something to throw.

"Try this," someone says from behind the counter, as a blue-scaled arm holds up a flower pot.

Alptraum grabs the flower pot and heaves it at the mutating human! "Eat petunia of death, monster!" he yells.

The pot bursts against the creature's now-horned head, and its scales start to bubble and melt from the water! "Ahhhhrgh!" it hisses.

"Pssst, it's safe down here!" comes the voice from behind the counter.

"Haha!" Alptraum crows. "Okay, uhm, Wraith, you can come back now!" he says and then focuses on the feeling of the wraith coming to him, becoming him, as he hops down behind the counter.

It turns out there isn't any floor back there, just a dark hole. Alptraum falls through it and then…

The mattresses bounces as the Eeee lands on it, nearly scratching his leg with the chitinous gauntlet fused to his right forearm. "You have really weird dreams sometimes, Alptraum," Kaira says from the other half of the bed, once she's settled from the bounce.

"Ack!" goes Alptraum as he lands and bounces on the bed. Growling, he actually tries to pull the chitin back to expose his arm underneath in frustration. "It's this blasted thing," he complains, "It's still doing stuff to me."

"Oh, is it?" the dragon asks. "It's nice to see you're still alive, after it looked like all of your energy got sucked out of you when you had me slotted up last. Care to fill me in?"

"Some old dryad drained a lot of blood and spirit energy out of me as a 'gift' to it for giving me part of the remains of another dragon," Alptraum explains. "Almost killed me. After that my hand has started to act stranger." He then goes into explaining how he has begun developing feelings from the shadow extrusions now, in both taste and touch, where the actual Eeee flesh of his hand has remained in its mostly-numb state. "I think I'm becoming more and more shadow flesh," he admits. An undercurrent of worry is evident in his voice.

"Ah, so that's what your dream was about," Kaira says with a nod. "It doesn't sound like the new sensation is anything to worry about though. You're still learning what your shadow can do, so of course you'll discover new things as you practice with it… "

"So you don't think it's taking over more of me?" Alptraum asks and looks up. He holds up his right hand and the oily-slick of shadow-flesh oozes from the skin and between the plates.

Kaira leans forward and licks the shadow, which of course Alptraum can feel… and taste. "I think it may be the reverse; you're taking over more of the shadow."

"What does that mean?" Alptraum asks. "Eeees can's extrude their flesh like water."

"It's a part of you," Kaira notes. "One you weren't born with, though. It takes time to master a new limb, but the more you work with it the more you will develop a feedback system to handle it."

"And the more the Barsunala spirit will 'accept' it?" Alptraum asks, "The doctor said the flesh of my hand looked healthier."

"Hmmm, I doubt the Barsunala is going to be more accepting," Kaira muses. "This dream of yours seems delve into what things would be like if the Barsunala were of less or little influence versus the Shadow. And it also points up a weakness: unlike the Barsunala, the Shadow does not protect your spirit."

Alptraum frowns. "That's dangerous," he says, "I need protection to be able to help you. I have to find a way for the Barsunala and the Shadow to co-exist with each other or … if one kills off the other there will be serious problems for you."

"Well… hmmm," Kaira ponders, rolling onto her back and tapping her chin with the tip of her tail. "I don't foresee the issue arising, but with a more fully integrated shadow it is likely that Melusine can 'harden' and protect your spirit."

"Making me more like an immortal?" Alptraum asks, "With a protective true name? Would you trust her to actually do that?"

"Not out of the goodness of her heart, no," Kaira says, but then grins. "Of course, you'll be the one giving her that heart, if all goes well. You can ask her for an unconditional favor in return."

"Or would I end up with a crystal heart, like her? A container to protect my spirit?" Alptraum asks and rubs his neck with his hands. "When did my life get so complicated? Oh, right, this room when the black heart assaulted me."

"Well, when you were born really," Kaira suggests. "I like to think of myself as helping you to simplify things!"

"I don't even know what I am anymore," Alptraum says, "I don't quite feel like an Eeee. I find enjoyment in shadow things."

"For example, I could bind you with shadow and do all sorts of probably illegal acts in many countries to you and enjoy every moment," Alptraum jokes.

"Well, that's more of a dragon thing than a shadow thing," Kaira notes with a grin. "Have you been practicing that with your Shrine Maiden?"

"Not yet," Alptraum says, "So, what you're telling me is I'm becoming more dragon?"

"Not necessarily," Kaira points out, raising a finger. "You could just be becoming more Eeee too – giving into your Babelite desires!" She almost says it in a teasing voice.

"Oh, so I can forget that old dragon form I made for you, then … if you think I'm just more Eeee," Alptraum retorts and even sticks out his tongue.

"Only if you make me come up with an Eeee form," Kaira counters. "That would be tricky."

"So you like me as a dragon," Alptraum accuses, "But only as long as you're in control of that dragon, hmm?" The tone is accusatory, but his expression is more of amusement.

"I like you no matter what you look like," Kaira claims. "You like me that way right? Even when I'm a natural dragon shape, I'm still sexy?"

"Well, I'm going to answer that probably in a very shadow way," Alptraum admits. "The shapes you wear are just ways to explore the person beneath. Each offers insight into aspects of that person." He also winks and adds, "And yes, I do like your natural, four legged, dragon shape too."

"Of course you do!" Kaira notes, tilting her chin. "It is awe-inspiring, after all. I've probably ruined you for other dragons. At least, for other dragons that have skeletons… "

"Oh, probably. And speaking of that, you should help me design a natural-looking dragon form," Alptraum offers with a grin. "I actually wish I could assume these outside of dream and dagger, but I can't seem to shadow-shape myself much outside at all. But … I can shadow shape others! I turned a Skreek into an Eeee! It was hard."

"Oh, you've mastered the reverse-kenning then?" Kaira asks with a grin. "You'll be able to turn your enemies into pigs then!"

"I prefer nubile women," Alptraum remarks. "I can't seem to make it permanent yet; it reverts after a while."

"The important thing is that you can mimic the Countess' ability to transform people," the dragon claims. "You will be taking over for her when that becomes necessary."

"I will? Just during her pregnancy or as a permanent role?" Alptraum asks.

"And wouldn't I need to well, look like her?" Alptraum adds

"For as long as she is disconnected from Melusine but needs to exhibit the powers," Kaira points out. "And as for looking like her… she always wears that dragon armor in public. Who outside the castle knows what she looks like?"

"I can probably fit in the armor," Alptraum admits, "And maybe Melusine could 'adjust' me if needed now and then if necessary. Voice and all that."

"Well, hopefully nobody will invade or be captured while Rose is laid up," Kaira offers with a grin. "Have you been learning any tricks from the Shrine Maiden?"

"There are worse fates than ending up looking like Rose for a bit, really. I sacrificed my hand for her, after all. I'll do whatever she needs of me," Alptraum replies. "Now, as for the Maiden … my aura works best when I don't force anything. Being earnest about what I want seems to work well," Alptraum says, "Particularly when trying to be seductive. Though … I have also found I generate the domination sensation a dragon like Vorgulremik had too. I got Snow to kneel at my feet."

"I've never had to use that myself," Kaira notes. "But for Vorg it worked well. You may want to practice it, since I believe Rose uses the same effect at times."

Alptraum actually tries, without telling Kaira, to get her to have the urge to 'submit' to him by bowing before him, chin to the mattress … just to see if it works.

"It doesn't work on other dragons you know," the blue dragoness comments with a grin. "It's just a sort of body language with us. Which is why it's been working best for you when you aren't thinking about it."

"Ah, but you felt it," Alptraum points out and grins right back. "And you know you want to wear a little harem outfit for me and be at my call when I tug on a little chain attached to you… "

Kaira arches an eyeridge at this. "Now that you mention it… you would look cute in something like that," she coos.

Alptraum leans forward. "Help me design a natural dragon form and you might get to see that," he teases right back.

"Well, kenning doesn't work in here," Kaira notes. "So I guess I can try to mold you… " she teases, waggling her eyeridges.

"Do you need me to sort of go completely shadow for that? All … flexible?" Alptraum replies and he leans even closer. "I don't mind … "

"Oh, I don't want you completely blobby," Kaira says, flicking her tongue out to lick Alptraum's nose. "No softer than I am in places… "

"Then show me what you can do," Alptraum teases, voice a whisper just before he leans forward and actually kisses Kaira. "It's not like you have much draconic company … particularly one that would let you be the top dragon… "

"Mmpph?" Snow says, and pulls back a bit from Alptraum. "Top dragon? You say the strangest things in your sleep, Alptraum," the human notes.

Alptraum blinks a few times and realizes he must have just woken up. "Sorry, weird dream," the Eeee mutters as he rolls over and sits up. He stretches out a bit and looks to his gloved and bandaged right hand, ever amused by how it always looks like he had some horrific injury recently, when it's more to keep him from having one while he sleeps.

Snow sits up as well. Both are laying atop her cloak, on the guest room bed. "I was trying to sleep so I could be more awake during the day," the Shrine Maiden notes. "But you were muttering and stuff in your sleep. And then you kissed me. Is that normal?"

"No, I was having a strange dream. You tried to eat me," Alptraum half-explains, then shrugs.

"Where you made out of cake?" Snow asks curiously, and grinning in the darkness. "I like cake."

"No, I was … completely shadow," Alptraum says, "You know, something better and more powerful than some Eeee thing that I really am."

"What makes it better?" Snow asks, as she leans against Alptraum's shoulder and yawns.

"Better looking, better control," Alptraum explains, "Amazing feelings of pleasure from simple things."

"You mean like… scratching?" Snow asks. "Sneezing? Stuff like that?"

"Eating for one," Alptraum says and drapes an arm and a wing around Snow. "I guess sometimes I still think of myself as a worthless gypsy," he admits and sounds serious about it. "And dream of being … more. Eeee are not exactly well-liked. You were sleep for most of the trip, but that human we saved spent most of the time insulting me and my kind."

"If I said anything nice to her, I was accused of trying to seduce her. If I ignored her I was accused of calling her ugly and plain," Alptraum adds and shrugs. "And then she would tell me how much she hated vampires, and on and on."

"She's just a teenager," Snow says, from the lofty age of… nineteen? "You can't expect peasants to be that bright or unbiased. Star knows my own family was… 'salt of the earth' sorts."

"I'm really not even sure what I am anymore," Alptraum says, "But what she said did bother me. I know I'm odd and Gods know my hand looks terrible, but I've tried to be a good person." He's actually quiet for a bit before he asks, "Was your father a good man?"

"He didn't beat me, or try to… well, he did sort of sell me to the Temple, I suppose," Snow admits. "It was hard for him, having a daughter like me."

"My father killed thousands trying to protect me," Alptraum admits.

"Wow, he must really love you then!" Snow says, sounding impressed.

"Do you know I honestly don't know?" Alptraum says. "I've only spoken with him maybe five times in my entire life."

Snow nods, staying quiet for a moment. Then she asks, "How are you feeling, still tired and listless?"

"A little hungry and a lot less tired," Alptraum says. "So, have you decided if you, uhm, want me to change you for a while to make travel easier?"

"We'll see if the rat can fly first," Snow notes, and leans in closer. "Do you want to bite me then?"

"I wouldn't mind it," Alptraum admits. "I kind of wish I could change myself to just be … different sometimes. But I'll have to be satisfied with just changing others," he remarks oddly, then shrugs. "Where do you want to be bitten?" he asks.

"That depends on what you want to do after biting me," the girl teases. "Your choice, and promise not to try and eat you."

"What do you want to do after being bitten?" Alptraum asks and arches his brow.

"Well, I don't think I'm getting back to sleep," Snow notes, twirling a lock of hair around a finger. "But I'll probably want to clean up. And I have no idea where the bath is in this place… "

"Or I could embrace my draconic side and have my way with you," Alptraum considers, "And this time use my shadow during it all, since I can now feel through it. I think shadow-flesh bindings could be quite interesting, don't you?"

"Oh? Are they solid enough?" Snow asks, curious. "What else can you do with them?"

Alptraum takes some time to unwrap his right hand and pull the glove off. He then takes both of Snow's hands into his … and extrude a pseudopod of shadow to encase her wrists and hands completely. "You tell me," he offers, "See if you can break free."

"And as odd as it sounds, it's like manipulating a very large tongue," Alptraum explains, "Flexible and sort of muscular." He leaves off the 'tastes everything' part.

Snow struggles for a bit, but not very hard. "Okay, seems firm enough," she admits. "Feels… weird. Can you taste me through it?"

"Er, yes," Alptraum admits.

"Hmmm, maybe I could get you into the Temple," Snow says teasingly, "as a replacement tentacle beast… "

Alptraum laughs. "There's another way I can get in," he remarks as he pushes Snow back down onto her cloak.

"Oh?" Snow asks. "You'd have to find it first you know."

"I know a way to be female for a time," Alptraum says and smirks. "But … right now I think I'm just going to devour you." The Eeee the pauses and his ears perk. He laughs quietly, then tells Snow is whisper as he leans into bite her neck, "The other two are still at it. I can hear her squeaks… " It's then that two little pinpoints of pain flare on her neck as Alptraum gently bites down.