In Lilith's continuing quest to make Alptraum feel like Nicora, the spy has brought her transformed friend straight from the hair salon to this hidden nook. They are greeted at the door by a slender human woman with long, straight black hair, blue eyes and pale skin (but not so pale as Snow's). She and Lilith exchange 'air kisses' and the woman is introduced to Nicora as Vyktoria.

Though confused by it, Nicora attempts to imitate the 'air kiss' greeting with the human Vyktoria. "I am a visitor to these lands," the Eeee explains, "And due to various reasons could not travel with much in the way of attire. So, I need to start a small wardrobe so that I do not have to borrow from my friends all the time." That last bit has Nicora looking sidelong at Lilith. "I need, well, everything from undergarments, to travel and formal attire."

"I do not sell clozing," the woman says, talking through her nose a bit. "I sell … power."

"Do you now?" Nicora asks, one of her brows arching a bit at that. "What kind of power?"

"The best kind," the woman says, leading the pair of bats into her parlor. "Now, remove your clozing so I can measure you," she notes, producing a measuring strip from… somewhere. Maybe it was up her sleeve?

"I will be the judge of that," Nicora says as she draws to a stop in the parlor. Once more she goes about undressing, briefly marveling about the fact she has removed her clothing more in one day than in a week as a male. Her shirt is first, as always, and that she neatly folds up and sets in a pile. Her skirt-pants follows and joins her shirt in the neat pile. The belt-sash, though, stays. She's not about to expose her tail to some … stranger. That would be wrong!

"Arms up!" Vyktoria commands, snapping her measuring strip. She doesn't seem concerned about the belt-sash yet.

Nicora raises her arms. It's then she's reminded of the new weight on her chest because, well, they lift up a little too when her arms go up. "I wish they would quit tingling so much," the Eeee thinks, "All of the new … parts. It's just … rrft."

Vyktoria wields her tape quickly and furiously, as if attacking Nicora's torso. "Arms out to sides!" she commands next.

And so Nicora sticks her arms straight out from her sides. At least that lessens the tugging on her chest. "This woman is … insane," she thinks, "Like a if a Yodhinala was fused with a Yodhblakat… "

More measurements are taken, including several for Nicora's arms. There are some sensitive spots that are measured as well… although why they need measuring are beyond her. Then the human is putting her into different awkward poses, as if trying to measure exactly how her body stretches. "What is sash for?" she asks, when she runs out of other thinks to measure and is about to tackle Nicora's waist and hips.

"She would have to touch there," Nicora thinks and nearly visibly twitches, "It only makes things worse." At the reprieve of all the touching and posing, she lets out a breath she didn't even realize she was holding and answers, "A cover for a curse that I am seeking the cure for. A mutant tail." She reaches down and lifts the sash up so that Vyktoria can measure her hips and waist reasonably well.

"I need to see it!" Vyktoria demands. "Remove sash-belt."

Nicora's ears twitch and she glares at Lilith. The cinches on the belt-sash are removed and she slides her serpent-tail free. Of course the act of withdrawing it feels good. "I can't believe I let Melusine do this to me," she thinks once the 'tingles' coming from her butt-appendage subside.

The tail is grabbed… and stretched to its full length as Vyktoria measures it, along with Nicora's hips and waist. "Yes, I can work wiz zis!" she declares. "You are shy, which shows lack of confidence! I will fix zat! Wait here." And with that, the woman vanishes into the next room.

"She's very good at what she does," Lilith notes, hiding a grin.

The experience of having her tail stretched is an odd mix of enjoyable and painful, therefore, her left ear splays out to the side while her right vibrates in place. Once the crazy-woman is gone, Nicora looks down at her tail … and her tail looks back up at her … then licks its lips. She shakes her head, then says to Lilith, "This is some sort of revenge, isn't it?"

"Revenge for what?" Lilith asks innocently. "I'm trying to make you feel pretty, Nicora."

"For all the tea … sing" Nicora blurts and has to pause mid-sentence to swat her tail away from licking her new tingly bits. "Ahem, for teasing you so much."

"Awww, don't swat it," Lilith says, coming over to cradle the tail's head against her chest and pet it. "Is Nicky-wicky being bad to you, Little Nicora?" she coos to it.

And so the tail promptly tries to take part of Lilith's chest into its mouth! "You never did that before," Nicora says accusingly. Her toe-claws start to tap on the floor, though, since while she can't feel it completely, the petting still feels good. "If I didn't swat it, it might try to go in," she then whispers and her ears fold backwards in horror.

"Does it wiggle?" Lilith asks, as the door to the back room flies open, and Vyktoria appears with an armful of red lace and giant wicker basket being dragged behind her.

"It constantly wiggles," Nicora notes while the tail wiggles about in Lilith's hands. The sight of the basket and lace derail Nicora's thoughts, though, leaving the bat blinking. "I'm going to be … lacy," she things in terror. The weird feelings of delight that follow only add to the horror of the slow transformation of her very mind.

"Stand very still," Vyktoria says, through the pins held in her teeth. She takes swatches of lace and begins draping and pinning them in place, including dropping a piece over the tail.

Nicora stands perfectly still, keeping her arms and wings slightly spread so the fabric drapes. "Maybe I died and this is punishment for a life of debauchery," the bat begins to wonder.

The lace is light, and loose. It doesn't seem very practical at all. Nicora can see a spool of trimming, but no thread or even scissors. Vyktoria is just using bone pins to connect pieces together.

"This isn't going to stay together very well, is it?" Nicora finally asks the strange human. Still, it could have been worse that some lace and pins.

"Pah, it will fit and flex perfectly," Vyktoria says after the last piece is loosely in place. "Why do you think I take all those measurements; just to embarrass you?" She then opens the top of the wicker basket… and a dozen giant hairy spider creatures swarm out of it and climb all over Nicora. "Remember, stand still, or you get pinched!"

Nicora is about to answer that question with a definitive yes, only to be silenced by the spiders! "Oh Gods, this is punishment!" the Eeee thinks as she clinches her eyes shut. That doesn't stop the sensation, though … which, in her hormone amplified state, makes her feel tingly all over soon enough! If she could think, surely she would be plotting Lilith's demise right now!

Grabbits aren't really spiders. They do produce silk, and are doing so now. And each limb ends in tiny clawed hands that can snip and sew remarkably fast. It's the weird, big-eyed faces that creep out most people. Nicora can feel the slack being pulled in, and bits suddenly getting support. Even her tail is being Grabbit-handled.

"Aaaugh, they just found my nipples!" Nicora thinks as her toes start violently tapping on the floor, her claws making loud clicking, the only outlet she has, saving a scream and running. She also really, really, wishes she wasn't enjoying the touch on that terrible tail, but ripples of enjoyment just keep rolling up her spine.

Okay, maybe there was a reason for Vyktoria to have measured those, since padding is being sewn in place there and other areas. At least they haven't gotten into her hair yet.

"It feels like two hands holding my chest up," Nicora thinks as the padding and stitch work turn into real support for the weight. Feeling a little brave, she opens one eye, hoping they aren't intending to swarm on her head.

The Grabbits are in retreat now. The pins are gone, and the loose-fitting lace is now trimmed and bound with fresh silk and ruffled trim. Nicora now sports a criss-cross bodice that doesn't get in the way of her wings and doesn't let anything jiggle. Below that is a pair of hip-hugging panties, including a little red bow in the front. Her calves and forearms have little lace sleeves bound at both ends by ribbon, and a matching sleeve wraps her tail. There's a big bow on the tail's head as well.

"Oh … my … gods," Nicora says in a whisper tinted in near-horror. She holds her arms out in front of herself, rolling her wrists and flexing the lacy arm-sleeves. Her eyes only grow wider as she looks down as the grabbits retreat. It seems to just get worse when she spots the little red bow … then the large bow on her tail. In the end, she turns around and around as she tries to look at all over herself. When she stops, she's looking right at Lilith, her jaws agape in an attempt at finding the right words. "This, this," she stammers … and her ears start twitching furiously.

"It's you!" Lilith declares, clapping her hands.

"It is?" Nicora asks, looking too dumbfounded to say much more.

"Doesn't it feel comfortable?" Lilith asks.

"It is empowering and bold!" Vyktoria claims. "To wear this, you cannot be afraid of anything! It forces you to stand straight, chest out, ready to take on world!"

Nicora has to think about that. She flexes a bit, rolls up on her toes, then cants her hips to the side and rests one of her hands on them. "Well, yes, it is. I feel supported yet … light," she admits. Comment about standing straight makes her wonder, though, so she tries to slouch to see what happens.

It isn't easy. It's uncomfortable as things get squashed and pulled at the same time.

"Mmph," Nicora remarks as she returns to standing upright. She does marvel at how much more … 'hip-y' the bodice makes her look too. "I can see what Mave meant about good child-bearing hips," she finds herself thinking. "I … assume these are just undergarments?" she finally asks Vyktoria. "I fear walking in public like this may draw may lustful stares."

"It is a crime to cover such art," Vyktoria bemoans, raising her chin proudly. "But it would be wise to wear clozing over it, yes."

"So … do you have anything I can wear over it?" Nicora asks, "Or should I make due with what I wore in… ?" She begins realizing the worst part about what she's wearing … she is feeling pretty in it. Urges hard to describe; a desire to be coy, perhaps? To tease and yet remain out of reach.

"I don't sell outer clozing," Vyktoria notes with a sniff, and gestures to Lilith. "She should have thought of that."

Nicora picks up the clothes she wore in and tests if she can wear them over the … lingerie. "We will make due, I am certain," she says.

It's a bit tighter fit, but they make do. Perhaps this is why Rose used her shadow-cloak for clothing so often.

Nicora is now even more aware of her new body with everything feeling more … snug. "Thank you, Vyktoria. I have to admit … it is very pretty and comfortable," she admits as the insides of her ears feel a bit warm. "I may visit you again in the future."

"The Grabbits like you," the human says, setting the lid back on their whicker basket home. "They say you are nice and squishy."

"What do they mean by that?" Nicora asks, ears tilted in confusion.

"They are Grabbits, I do not know what they mean by that," Vyktoria admits. "Perhaps you are easy to crawl over."

Nicora gives Lilith a look of, 'don't you dare laugh'. "Is there anything further you believe you can do for me?" Nicora asks Vyktoria, "Or shall we leave you to your work?"

"When you are ready, come to me and I will make you somezing… sexy," Vyktoria promises.

"This isn't considered sexy?" Nicora asks, sounding a bit surprised by that.

"It is empowering, to make you feel confident!" Vyktoria reiterates. "Sexy is a very different thing, don't you know? You are too old to be a virgin."

"My life has not allowed me to indulge in pleasures of the flesh," Nicora lies, "And who would wish to be with someone cursed with such a terrible thing?" The last bit has her motioning towards he bowed tail.

"A man and his girlfriend together perhaps," Vyktoria suggests, giving a flick of her hair. "You Eeee are like that, I hear."

Nicora's brow goes up, but she says nothing. "Please send the bill to the castle," she finally says. To Lilith, she adds, "Shall we depart?"

"Sure, are you feeling pretty now?" Lilith asks, holding the door open for Nicora.

"Yes," Nicora admits in a weak voice.

"Now, for clothes… hmmm," Lilith says, heading down the stairs to the street. "You'll need something sturdy to travel in, like Mave has."

Nicora follows along, her posture actually is a lot better with the bodice cinching her upright. "Yes, clothing," she agrees, "And perhaps a few earrings to swap around what I'm wearing so it matches my clothing better." Nicora just mentioned accessorising properly and doesn't even realize it.

"You want to bring earrings along too, other than your normal ones?" Lilith asks. "I suppose we need to go to Salon-Vee then."

"Well, they need to match what I wear," Nicora offers, "So I will need a few styles, I think. Salon-Vee won't be like that last place, I hope. That was … embarrassing."

"Oh no, it is an actual store," Lilith notes, "for well-to-do vampires."

Nicora can't help herself and glances around to see if anyone out on the streets is watching her as the pair walk down the road. "How come you didn't get anything while we were at Vyktoria's? Or was it … mainly to torture me?"

"I already have underwear," Lilith notes. "Remember? I like the Babel fashions more." The streets aren't that crowded, although a few heads do glance their way as they walk. Nicora realizes that the underpants also seem most comfortable when she rolls her hips.

So … Nicora's gait subtly changes as the pair walks, her hips taking on more of a roll than she used to. Even though she knew about rolling her hips, she's only doing it more now because her undergarments dictate that she should. "I may have to try Babel fashion sometime," she finally admits, "To see if it is as comfortable."

"Well, you are going there, and if you need to blend in it would be wise," Lilith admits. "And you can probably get away with just some bandages, like Phlagaea. Do Yohdsunala wear special underwear?"

"Most Yodhsunala clothing is designed to be uncomfortable and restraining," Nicora notes, "As we are bound to our Mother."

"I'm sure we can find you some of that then," Lilith remarks, turning a corner onto a different street. "What about the guys? Did they wear tight pants?"

"The men in general? Many did, yes. Or as little clothing as possible," Nicora notes. she also finds herself feeling mildly disturbed when she thinks back on men she saw in Babel … and the tingle returns. That memory is quickly pushed away! "Some Yodhsunala would even ritually mutilate themselves to show devotion, but that, thankfully, was rare."

"Glad I only have to be young and cute to be a Yodhbarada," Lilith notes. "Even if only a watered-down, other-side-of-the-world version."

"You could also manage Yodhinala fairly well, as well as Yodhzakaro," Nicora teases as she hip-bumps her Eeee friend. "The only aspect of you that creeps me out a little is, well, your color pattern is identical to Prime Minister Thath."

"I'd have to be all covered in drawings to pass for Yodhzakaro," Lilith notes, bumping back. "And I could never be dour and cruel looking like a Yodhsunala! I'd get wrinkles from all the scowling… "

"I'm sure you could find a volunteer to paint you all up," Nicora continues to tease. "It might start a new fashion trend here! And I do not scowl … I disapprove."

"But the Yodhzakaro run around naked," Lilith points out. "I don't see that catching on. And try not frown a lot or you will get wrinkles. I'm sure Mave has never frowned."

"I don't plan on staying a woman forever. So wrinkles aren't that much of a concern," Nicora notes in an Eeee whisper.

"Well, but now you might start worrying about Rose getting them," Lilith notes, then points to a building with lots of windows, and actual models in them showing off apparel. Live models at that, and all Eeee.

Nicora blinks. "That store looks extremely expensive … to have living models," she says. "I … I'm sure we can have Melusine fix wrinkles if necessary," she says with halts in her voice. She shakes her head, adding, "I've never been in such an expensive place before."

"It's cheaper than the places we just were," Lilith notes. "It just looks fancier." She marches through the doors, without even glances at the leather-pants-clad man posing suggestively in the alcove next to them.

Nicora also walks past … but can't help and sniff the air as she goes by. The fact everything smells so much stronger now is still quite novel.

The man smells… manly. Once past, though, the air is more flowery from incense burners spaced around the store. For a moment it seems like there isn't any stock, and a lot of well dressed customers… except the 'customers' have tags on their clothes. Everything is worn by models!

"This is silly," Nicora whispers to Lilith as she nods towards a tag, "You really believe we'll find Yodhsunala appropriate clothing here?"

"Of course not; we're looking for travel-wear and stuff to make you feel pretty," Lilith notes.

"You want me to remain female, don't you," Nicora accuses Lilith, then hip-bumps her again. She shrugs and decides to browase then, heading towards the female models.

The models pose and spin, each trying to outdo the other to get a customer's attention (they must work on commission). "This would looks just perfect on you!" "Feel this blouse; it's guaranteed blood-stain resistant." "Your butt would look great in my pants!"

Nicora finds herself looking at her own backside a few times when comments like that come. She can't believe she is actually considering how it would look. "I just need something long-wearing, not too exposing, and pretty," she finally tells the models. "I have a long trip ahead."

"Oh, over here!" calls out a tan bat, wearing… a tan shirt with pockets, and tan knee-shorts with pockets, and a tan bowl-shaped helmet-hat.

Nicora goes over, looks her up and down, then says, "A bit too tan." "I need some color … I am monochrome enough… "

"What colors would you like? We have matching scarves and kerchiefs and belts as well," the perky salesgirl… perks.

"Red, black, or dark brown would be fine. Or perhaps dark green," Nicora offers. The next ten minutes or so are spent going through various clothing styles with the perky salesbat … and during which Nicora learns her actual measurements. Vyktoria failed to tell her, after all.

The salesgirl eventually put together something Nicora likes: a dark red blouse and neck-sash, along with dark brown pants and a leather belt. "Would you like a jacket as well, or a cloak?" she asks, holding the hat out to see if Nicora will take that as well.

Nicora looks to Lilith. "Cloak or jacket?" she asks her expert on fashion.

"Are you going to be wearing a back-pack?" Lilith asks, to narrow things down.

"Probably belt-pack. I will be flying a lot," Nicora explains.

"A jacket then, since you have to carry your robes and such as baggage, unless you plan to wear them over your traveling clothes," Lilith suggests.

Nicora nods once. "Jacket, please," she tells the salesbat. "Matching my pants in color. That way the blouse contrasts well."

The girl shows several styles of jacket – some with no sleeves, one with long ones, one with a fur trim and one that's lightweight, and variations with interior and exterior pockets.

Nicora ends up selecting one with long sleeves, since it helps conceal her arms, no fur trim, and a variety of pockets, though most are on the outside. For some reason women's jackets have a decided lack of pockets on the inside in most cases.

"Will that be all, ma'am?" the salesgirl asks, looking… young. Her eyes have a pink glow to them as well.

"Oh, yes, some plain underwear," Nicora says and taps her cheek. Wow, she didn't flinch at being called ma'am. "Dark color, because, well, it's that time," she says knowingly.

"Oh… do you want the disposable padding as well?" the girls asks perkily, as if talking about flowers or butterflies.

Nicora tries not to blink at that. "Please," she agrees.

The girl leads Nicora back into a different section of the store, full of boxes on shelves. She picks out a box and opens it to reveal… several pairs plain black underpants with tie-strings around the waist. "Will these do?" she asks.

Nicora picks one up and peers at it. She still feels uneasy looking at them since the front is less cloth than she's used to and very reminding on what she lost. After suppressing a shudder, she says, "These are fine. Simple and will not show stains."

"We have the padding over here," the girl says next, tucking the box under her arm. "Do you need light, medium or heavy?"

"Some of each. It … varies for me," Nicora lies, "Getting older, well … things change."

The girl doesn't bat an eye at that, picks out what look like cotton pillows from another bin, which he puts into a bag. "We have a nice selection of matching journals if you want to keep a record of your travels," she notes.

"Oh, sure," Nicora says, looking bewildered by it all. "It's very complicated being female. Male was so much easier," she thinks.

Next comes a leather journal, dyed to match the blouse, which contains a compartment in the binding to store the ink and quill, along with a charcoal pencil. It has nice parchment paper and a strap that can be used to bind it closed or to loop over a wrist or shoulder for quick access.

Nicora actually looks impressed by the journal. "This is really nice," she admits, "I am not used to such luxury."

"All women who travel need a journal," the salesgirl claims. "We have some other styles of hats too. You never know when you'll need a good sturdy had… and you can wrap another scarf around it."

"And they will fit my ears," Nicora muses, "Okay, why not? I haven't had a hat in years." She actually smiles, too. "And don't think I know you're working for a higher commission," the faux-Yodhsunala notes and taps the salesgirl's nose.

"Well, I'd be remiss if I didn't make sure you left here completely satisfied and equipped," the girl notes, rubbing her nose.

With her purchases in a box with the name of the store on it, Nicora and Lilith head out… although Lilith can't help but drag Nicora past the menswear section to look at the models along the way. "So… you mentioned earrings?" Lilith finally asks.

Nicora taps her ears. "Yes. These do not go well with Vyktoria's work and I need something more mood-fitting for a Yodhsunala," she says. "So … I need a few styles. Something skull-like for Yodhsunala, perhaps. And more elegant for evening wear, maybe hoops."

"Evening wear?" Lilith asks with a grin. "Expecting to woo someone?"

"It is not polite to ask a Yodhsunala her plans," Nicora says and holds her head tilted up just so.

"You still have your symbol, but if you want something like in an earring as well… we'll need to go to Gothtown," Lilith notes.

"Well, that sort of place sounds like where I can get uncomfortable-wear too," Nicora admits, "Lead on!"

Gothtown turns out to be less of a town than a single street. And only one side of the street at that. There are several shops offering clothing and jewelry and makeup as well as a tattoo parlor and a barber. The people on the street are all young and… listless. Some carry umbrellas to keep out the… well, it's overcast as usual, so who knows. There is a lot of black lace, leather pants, and cleavage on display (the latter requiring corsets to manage the effect on the Eeee girls). Lilith walks right past the first few to one called Cryptomaniac.

"I'm being good and not laughing," Nicora whispers to Lilith as they head towards Cryptomaniac. "Umbrellas? Really? People are silly, this is nothing like … oo, I'm stopping now. I sound all … catty."

"Didn't you go to the Monsters Ball with people like this?" Lilith whispers back, as they enter the store. Inside… well, there aren't a lot of shades of black, but they're all on display. Along with some dark purple as well. Mostly trinkets, accessories and so on, until they reach the back with the jewelry display. There are a dozen variations on the symbol of Sunala, the Grave – but also some deliberately inverted versions! And plenty of lacquered skulls of small animals, some done up with glass gems and different colors. Necklaces, pendants, piercings, broaches and chokers abound, along with studded collars. "May I help you," the bored-sounding teenager behind the counter says. His hair is oiled and hanging in his face, which appears to have white powder rubbed into it to make him seem paler, except for dark circles around the eyes. He's got a ring through his nose, another through his lip, and a third through an eyebrow.

"First, you can be respectful," Nicora says with an icy edge to her voice. "I may not be in robes, but a Yodhsunala should be respected at all times." She marches right up to the counter and without warning hooks one of her claws through his nosering. "Now, would you like to try that greeting again?" she asks with narrowed eyes. Her finger flexes to tug lightly on that nosering for emphasis.

"H-how may I serve you, my mistress?" the boy says, with tears in his eyes and… a smile on his face? And is that a bulge in the too tight leather pants?

"Better. Not perfect, but better," Nicora says with approval and releases his nose ring. "I desire earrings which honor my Mother," she now says. "A small skull or her sigil, would be adequate."

"Mmm," the boy says, then blinks and opens the case to rummage around. He comes up with a vermite skull, lacquered blood red, with a black Grave symbol on it and a loop for hooking to an earring or necklace. "Does this please you, Mistress?" the boy asks eagerly.

"Mm," Nicora says and waves her hand. "Do you have something smaller?" she asks. "Carved is fine, it does not need to be from a living creature."

"Ummm," the boy mutters as he searches. Apparently being 'visible' is what the style is all about. He comes up with a death's-head ring (the skull carved from stone), some Graves of various sizes and colors and a few small skull charms carved from stones.

Nicora sorts through the stones and selects three which are simple and elegant in red, green, and ivory color. "Can these be fitted to studs or ear-hoops, or body-hoops?" she asks the boy.

"Yes, I can do that, Mistress!" the boy says snappily. And then he stares at Nicora's chest. "And… piercings… "

Nicora's brow arches at that. "I am not pierced, save for my ears," the Eeee notes, "Though I have considered it."

"Do… you want them affixed to studs to fit in your existing piercings, or hoops… ?" the boy asks, looking back up into Nicora's face.

"Hoops," Nicora instructs. Her ears flick and then she asks, "Does this place do piercings?"

"Yes, in the back room," the boy says, as he opens a drawer and takes out a box full of hoops. The selection isn't large: thick chitin hoops of various sizes, and a few metal wire ones, possibly brass.

"What kind do you do?" Nicora asks as she uses a claw tip to flick through the hoops. She selects ones that are in total diameter, about an inch, with the thickness of the hoop itself being maybe one sixteenth of an inch, so as to not require too large of a hole or be heavy and painful.

"Oh, ears… lips, nose, eyebrows, navels… and… uh… intimate areas," the boy says, suddenly bashful around the alleged priestess.

"You're probably too sensitive right now for those sorts of piercings," Lilith whispers to Nicora.

"Mm," Nicora says, "I will keep that in mind for the future. Fit the stones to the rings I selected. We will wait." Lilith's comment earns an odd look from Nicora.

The teenager gets to work, using glue and tiny pliers to construct the earrings.

"I wasn't going to get intimate piercings," Nicora whispers to Lilith. "Did you believe I would?"

Lilith grins, and whispers, "I wasn't sure. Your moods are likely to be a bit confused still."

"Think of it this way … who do I have to share them with?" Nicora points out quietly and shrugs. "I am tempted, but there is no point."

"How is this?" the clerk suddenly asks, holding three hoop earrings out, each with a skull affixed to the bottom of the hoop.

Nicora returns and looks at the hoops. About a minute after she started her examination, she says, "They are adequate. You will be spared being a sacrifice as you have demonstrated competence." The faux-Yodhsunala pulls out her shekel-pouch to pay for the hoops.

"Oh… no charge!" the boy says, holding the earrings out. "Just… remember us! To your Sisters!"

Nicora takes the hoops and with a flick of her wrist, she catches the clerk's nose ring again and pulls him close, maybe less than an inch from her face. "I will remember you, boy," she says coldly, "Should I return, I expect your immediate attention." she releases the nose ring with a flick, then heads towards the door.

Lilith hurries to keep up, whispering, "You enjoyed that, didn't you?"

"Watching him squirm? Yes," Nicora notes softly, her lips curling up slightly at the corners.

"Heh, you're really becoming a girl now," Lilith notes. "You feel pretty, confident… and powerful now, don't you?"

Nicora waves her hand a bit. "I suppose I do," she concedes. "At least confident enough to get men to do what I want. A little attention and they'll be at my feet." A few seconds later she blinks when she realizes what she just said.

"Hmm, realizing what the fairer sex has been doing to Nicora all this time now?" Lilith asks, hugging onto Nicora's arm. "It's not fair; you'll know all our secrets once you change back."

Nicora's head tilts a bit as she looks to Lilith. "You do sound as if you want me to stay this way. You've implied it a few times today," she notes, looking amused.

"I want you to take the role seriously," Lilith notes. "I mean, when you met me… did I seem like I was sent there to spy on a dragon, or was a hostage being held against my will?"

"I take anything seriously when it is important to do so," Nicora notes, "And you seemed the hostage at first, not a spy. Which is entirely the point."

"And you need to be a Yodhsunala, under scrutiny by other Yodhsunala, instead of just a few trainers at a hidden temple for Shrine Maidens," Lilith says. "So far you seem to be doing okay. A little more perversion and attitude and everyone will think you were born and bred in Babel."

"I fully intend to be a woman while I am in this body, whatever that entails during the time I have it. I need to be to be taken seriously as either a Yohdsunala, or later as a stand-in for the Countess. I do understand the importance of that," Nicora says, "I joke now because it makes it easier to deal with having my entire identity scrambled … and so I don't become totally lost. This body still feels alien; every movement reminds me it was changed. I'm sure that will ease in time. And as for perversion … we could go back to your place and see if my tail works for you the way Vyktoria implied it might." Whatever else can be said, Nicora does have a rather evil smile when she wants it.

"Hah, now that's the Alptraum I remember," Lilith laughs! And just then, Nicora feels a brief clenching in her gut.

Just like a stomach cramp…