Sleep should not be so exhausting – but Alptraum's brief nap was more of a workout anyway, what with bringing Tulani into the dagger for her dragon lessons. He wakes up feeling oddly short of breath, until he realizes Phlagaea is lying across his chest. He can feel another body next to him as well: Mave. It's a good thing the guest suites have big beds.

Alptraum had thought he wouldn't still be hurting after being, well, killed in the mock battle. Boy, was he wrong. His wings still throb with phantom pains at the points where they 'snapped'. Hr curls an arm lightly over Phlagaea when he realizes she's laying on him … but he did not expect Mave to have joined him in bed. "Maybe she is trying to keep close to me for some reason," he thinks. "Hey," he rasps a bit, throat dry, "Sorry to do this, but I need to get up."

"Mmfff?" Phlagaea complains, rolling off Alptraum and onto her side, then yawning hugely. Mave just blinks to show she's awake, since she tends to sleep with her eyes open and staring.

Now free, Alptraum sits up and stretches out. He winces as his body complains a bit and then proceeds to idly scratch his shoulder through the light robe he's wearing (he apparently laid down just after the bath while still in just his robe). "When did you two come in?" he asks and tries to keep from yawning himself. Nothing spreads faster from a disease priestess than yawn.

"I came in after your pet dragon left," Phlagaea says while stretching. Mave replies, "I entered after Phlagaea did, when I did not hear any talking."

"Well, I'm not complaining. It was pleasant to wake up to. For a moment, I felt like the owner of a harem," Alptraum says with a teasing grin, "More pleasant than the training session with Tulani was, certainly." He blinks a few times to wake himself up a bit more, then says, "And I'm glad you're both here. I need some advice about tonight. I am to dine with the Countess … and admittedly, I'm not sure what I should wear or what the protocols usually are with dining with someone of power."

Mave props herself upright, and asks Alptraum, "What impression do you wish to project? And I am surprised you didn't comment on Phlagaea and I being together while you slept."

"Well, I was wondering about you and Phlagaea being together," Alptraum admits, "But I wasn't sure how to tactfully ask. I thought you and her didn't get along."

"We… uh… came to an understanding," Phlagaea says. It's hard to tell if she's embarrassed though, with half of her face covered in bandages. Mave just grins, and says, "We managed to entertain ourselves while you were in your trance."

"As for what impression do I want to project? Well… ", Alptraum muses and rubs his chin. Of course his thoughts derail at that comment. "So … you and her gave blessings to Inala?" he has to ask. Yes, Alptraum looks rather stunned.

"And to Gorphat," Phlagaea quickly says. "It wasn't just one-sided."

"And you couldn't have waited until I wasn't in a trance? I would have, well … I wouldn't have minded seeing that," Alptraum says, still grinning and now shaking his head.

"You were off having fun with your dragon though," Phlagaea notes, crossing her arms. "Who knows what you get up to in your private little world. It can't always be miniature goof, or whatever that game was."

"Actually, it wasn't fun. I was helping battle-train Tulani," Alptraum says as the memories of that comes back to him … and does the twinges of pain for further reminder. "If you want to know, I was distracting a steel dragon off of her so she had a chance to strike back. Only her strike back hit me too. I can now describe in detail what it feels like to have your wings ripped off." Behind him, his wing twitches a bit in protest.

Phlagaea hugs Alptraum consolingly. "Ouch, do they still hurt?" she asks. "Truly, it is a blessing from Gorphat!"

"They still hurt, yes," Alptraum says with a short nod and hugs the priestess back. He sighs and grins, "I don't know what it is about you two. When I'm around both of you, I act positively Babelite. If I'm not careful, you two might unite and make me your slave or something."

"We wouldn't tell you if we did that though," Mave promises. "Out of respect."

Alptraum reaches over and lightly takes a hold of Mave's nose. "I'm still waiting for that nose ring," he jokes, then lets go. "Okay, now, I have to focus. I want to appear respectable tonight; dignified at some level and still approachable. I'd like to feel like I'm her equal, but … Well, Babel has sort of ingrained in me to be submissive to women. So, that will be hard to push away mentally."

"What is wrong with being submissive to her?" Mave asks. "You looked dignified in Babel. Do you have any ceremonial robes?" Phlagaea asks.

"Well, I don't know if there is anything wrong with being submissive to her, to be honest. I certainly don't mind being submissive to you two now and then," Alptraum admits. "And no, I don't have any ceremonial robes. I have the nice suit we got earlier and some more general travel clothing. Do you think a robe would be more appropriate?"

"A robe would signify your standing as a religious figure," Mave points out. "The Countess herself holds a similar standing among her subjects. It is one area you could be considered equals."

"True, enough. But would it make me less approachable? What did Barinala wear if they had to meet with important people?" Alptraum asks as he sits back and thinks. For all of a minute or two before he rolls over and lays his head in Phlagaea's lap.

"They wore what the worshippers asked them to wear, of course," Mave explains.

"Which was probably wide and varied," Alptraum says, then remembers something and sits up. "Actually, I think I do have a robe still. Let me see." He goes and digs through one of their bags of supplies and pulls out the old Sylvanian Priestess robe. "The only problem is, it's made for a woman."

"I am certain it can be tailored to you by someone in the castle," Phlagaea says. "Try it on! Let's see if it looks odd or not."

Alptraum nods. He pauses before he strips down to nothing again, but then reminds himself that both have certainly seen him before … so off goes his loose bathrobe. The Eeee then works at it a bit to pull the priestess robe back on and around his wings. He shakes out his long hair and poses for the two, hands resting against his sides. "Last time I wore this, well, some people did think I was a woman," he admits.

"It is a bit tight about your shoulders and hips," Mave notes. "What if you wore it open over your nice suit?" she suggests.

"As a jacket instead of a robe?" Alptraum asks and undoes the front so it can fall open. "That's not a bad idea," he admits.

"Or just wear it open as you are now," Phlagaea says with a smirk. "The Countess won't notice if it's a woman's cut then."

At that comment, Alptraum covers his eyes. "Yes, but I also think I lose a bit of respect doing that," he mutters.

"I don't know about that," Phlagaea says.

"She has already seen you naked," Mave points out. "Your good suit and the robe as a jacket are my suggestions."

"Well, I think both of you might like me with just an open robe," Alptraum teases, then stops at Mave's comment. "Er, did she say anything to you about that? That had to be a terrible impression."

"You were there with her, and so would have overheard any comment she made," Mave points out.

"I was unconscious," Alptraum points out back. "Anyway. So, suit with robe as a jacket. Both good suggestions. What about jewelry? I will, of course, keep my earrings in since they are symbolic of my dedication to you as friend and companion."

"Hold on," Phlagaea says, and starts counting on her fingers. "Who hasn't seen you naked yet? Tulani or Ravenia?"

"Earrings are fine," Mave notes. "You do not want to appear distracting. Jewelry is often a sign of pride or vanity, also. You should not be trying to impress the Countess in such a manner. Your appearance should be dignified but understated."

Alptraum hmms. "Tulani hasn't. I can't remember if Ravenia has or hasn't, either," he admits.

The green bat glances at Mave over the 'vanity' comment, since her ceremonial costume happens to be bandages decorated with gemstones.

"Right. I was wondering if something was considered traditional or not; a necklace, cuff rings, or something. But if not, that is all the easier," Alptraum says with a nod. "For my hair I was figuring either in a braid or just loose."

"What is considered masculine in Sylvania for long hair?" Mave asks.

"We should ambush Ravenia and Tulani then have Alptraum flash them so they don't feel left out," Phlagaea says.

"Either a Rhiantail or loose," Alptraum answers. "Loose if you're going for the romance novel cover look. Something about hair that goes 'fwoosh'."

"Well, you do not need to be concerned about your hair getting into your food," Mave points out. "So I suppose it is up to you."

"There is that. Though … you really don't know much about how vampires eat, do you?" Alptraum asks.

"You drink your meal," Mave says. "Or are you going to bite me?"

Alptraum smirks. "Do you want me to?" he asks.

"The Countess is a vampire too," Phlagaea says. "When she invited you to dinner, was it made clear that you wouldn't be the meal?"

"Biting requires a donation to the Temple," Mave explains.

"That would go without saying. She has no reason to bite me. We don't make it a habit of biting people, anyway," Alptraum points out.

To Mave, Alptraum continues the tease, "What sort of donation?"

"Monetary, or service in trade," the Yodhinala replies.

"What sort of service?" Alptraum asks next.

"So vampires don't bite one another?" Phlagaea asks. "That is good to know."

"That is for the Temple to determine," Mave notes.

"You are the temple," Alptraum points out. To Phlagaea, he says, "Well, we do, but it's more of a passion or closeness action than one for digestive reasons."

"Oh, so she'll only bite you if she likes you, then?" Phlagaea asks. "Should I bite you?"

"Something like that, yes," Alptraum says and rubs his neck. He peers at Phlagaea and asks, "Do you want to bite me?"

"Did you use flavored soap for your bath?" the Yodhgorphat replies.

"Er, no," Alptraum answers.

"Then I don't want to bite you right now," Phlagaea says.

Chuckling, Alptraum settles down onto the bed. "I hope to work out an arrangement with the Countess for all of us to develop a home in her lands," he says, "A place where all of us could be safe. I also intend to offer my services to her as an ally to fight against monsters and invaders."

"Very admirable, Alptraum," Mave says, without really expressing any approval in her voice.

Alptraum frowns briefly. "What would you ask of me to pursue, then?" he asks the white Eeee.

"We will see what the future holds," Mave replies. "There is much yet to do before making any decisions."

"The future holds what you decide it will. If I am to carry the powers of the Barsunala, I need to start acting like him and do, not wait for the future to come to me," Alptraum counters and gets up to stretch. "I intend to make my future one way or another."

"And ours too?" Phlagaea asks, almost hopefully. "This country is weird. Will I be able to really find a place here?"

"You always have a place at my side, Yodhgorphat Phlagaea. You too, Yodhinala Mave," Alptraum says. "Any future I craft will have a place for both of you in it. I did say it was my duty to look after all of you; I did mean that. Even the Yodhblakat I have tried to find direction for."

"We may have to make you our slave after all, Barsunala," Mave notes with a wry grin. "Before you make us yours."

"There are worse fates than having to give praise to Inala and Gorphat as a servant of their daughters," Alptraum remarks with a smirk equal to Mave's. "Now, I must focus and prepare for dinner. In some ways, I think I would rather be facing the demons of the abyss than have this meal. Facing certain doom is not nearly as terrifying as facing a formidable woman." And with that, the Eeee goes to dress.