The amount of time needed to comfort the vaguely-ill and erratic dragon was mercifully short, as Kaira complained of a sour stomach after drinking some wine and ended up regurgitating most of the Karnoran that was made from the tongue of Nidhogg. While by no means pleasant, at least Ysnor was fast with a bucket and the smell didn't cause permanent damage to the mucous membranes. It also reduced Kaira's (and by extension, everyone else's) misery down to just a few minutes before the dragon was able to return to the spirit dagger.

The crystal heart was returned to its carrying pouch, which Snow offered to carry if Alptraum was still worried about being in contact with the item.

"You had better carry it," Alptraum tells Snow, "Just in case. I'm concerned if bits get too attracted to it and try to grab it. Both for it, and my, safety." The bat continues to rub at his nose, though, as the smell still wants to linger in a rather unpleasant way in his sinuses.

"I've never been to the capital," the Shrine Maiden notes. "Does the sun shine there?" she asks.

"No, it's overcast in the Draco County seat as well," Alptraum answers. "It's a reasonably big town with plenty of people. The castle has a full staff and most of them are quite nice. They are protective as you can imagine, but I don't see why they would have any concerns over you."

"Alright… I just don't want to get burned or blinded, is all," Snow explains.

"Why would you have either happen?" Alptraum asks. "You're hardly hideous enough to warrant a mob with pitchforks and torches!"

"What? No, that's what sunlight will do to me," Snow notes.

"Only if you're exposed to it. We've been traveling at night as it is. Anyway, no, it's overcast there too. Your cloak and glasses should be plenty," Alptraum says.

"Is there anything more you'll be needing?" Azrael asks, while Ysnor waves a censer around to dry and dispel the odor of sick dragon.

"I don't think so," Alptraum says after he gives it some thought. "The crystal is fixed. Unless you can provide me some way to ensure Melusine won't kill me after she gets it, I'm not sure what else there is."

"Ah, you're on your own in that regard, I'm afraid," the old Khatta says, and then hands Alptraum a sealed envelope. "For the Countess, then."

"What is it?" Alptraum asks and turns the envelope over in his hand. "A report on me?"

"A bill," Azrael says flatly, "for my services. I live in a swamp, you know. Have to buy food and all."

"You could have asked me for various forms of payment, you know," Alptraum points out.

"Oh, you owe me a bottle of wine too then," the demon notes, with a sly grin. "To replace what your dragon drank."

"And you owe me for the honor of using a real dragon in a ritual. An experiment, no less," Alptraum counters and smirks. "How often is that possible?"

"Not often, which is why I don't have any rituals that depend on it," Azrael says. "But she doesn't count as a material component since she volunteered, right?"

"She didn't volunteer. It cost," Alptraum remarks and waves his hand. "But fine, I'll see what I can have sent back."

"Tell Mort to bring everything," the old Reaper advises. "It will frighten and annoy him greatly." He then gives Alptraum a fatherly pat on the shoulder. "You did well. The first to actually come back alive. Well, the first to be sent at all, since this isn't exactly stuff I need very often."

Alptraum's head tilts a bit as he gives the pat a brief, but suspicious, glance. "Well, thank you. I do try to do things well, even if my approach is a bit unusual," he says, unsure quite how to take the compliment. He's unsure if it is a compliment, for that matter.

Azrael sniffs, causing his droopy whiskers to undulate a bit. "Come back when you're ready for… uh… becoming a proper Reaper, which I strongly advise you not becoming, as it is a terrible, terrible career that leads to sociopathy at the very least." He then makes shooing motions with is hands. "Now go; bring the fair damsel her new heart, letting love flow or some such poetic nonsense. Say hello to the old blob for me, too."

"I thought I was considered a proper reaper of a sort," Alptraum remarks, then ends up just shrugging. He's used to not quite fitting in anywhere by now. "I'll also be sure to send Melusine your love," he adds and laughs. "Come on, Snow, we've got a long flight ahead and may more cold nights on the road before we reach the castle," the Eeee adds. He waves once more to Azrael and Ysnor, rhen heads down the stairway towards the exit.

The royal landing balcony is well lit at night – at least it is when the Countess is expecting someone to arrive, and she tends to have the beacon burning when Alptraum is away. The guards snap to attention when Alptraum and Snow set down, and then relax when they recognize the Countess's consort and let them pass.

A runner is sent to locate the Countess, so the suites are fairly quiet. Even Phlagaea is off somewhere, apparently. Snow admires the view, and asks Alptraum, "Is your Sphynx friend here?"

Alptraum lets out a tired, long, breath and runs his claws through his hair as he looks around the suites. It feels like he has been gone forever; and briefly he wonders if he was missed. Still, she had the beacon lit, so she was showing the way home for him. "Tulani? No. She has her own quarters down lower," Alptraum finally answers, "But she may be off doing some sort of training mission with Lilith. I rarely see her these days."

"Alright," Snow says, holding the bag with the crystal in her hands. "I didn't want to cause any problems by accidentally running into her."

"Why would it cause problems if you ran into her?" Alptraum asks, arching his brow slightly. "You only passingly look like her. I couldn't exactly replicate her form on you."

"But I'm still a Sphynx, and they are uncommon, aren't they?" she asks. "I was just uncertain of her reaction. May I use the bathroom?"

"You make a really good sphynx. You could keep that form, but I won't pressure. And of course you can use the bathroom. It's right this way," Alptraum explains and waves for Snow to follow him.

The girl follows along, saying, "I'd miss my regular body I think, in time. Although the flying is nice, it is also very tiring."

"Well, I'll always have the imprint if you want the sphynx body back," Alptraum offers. When he reaches the bathroom door, he pauses and looks at Snow. "Are you feeling okay? You seem rather quiet tonight."

"I'm a bit overwhelmed," Snow admits, sounding nervous. "Old ruins in swamps and remote castles where strange experiments are conducted… those are normal. Being in the bedchambers of a head of state is frightening."

"I felt the same. Still feel the same, I think," Alptraum says and looks around the room. "Every time I look around I feel like the poor kid playing dress-up and pretending to be something he's not. Some days I wonder what they see in me," he notes as he spreads his hands. "Still, life has a tendency to put all of us in unusual situations. All we can do is the best we can with what we have. Why don't you go ahead and use the restroom. I'll wait out here. That way you shouldn't feel too alone in a strange place."

Snow smiles and goes into the bathroom, closing the door behind her (which probably means she's not going to take a bath or shower). Of course, it's then that Alptraum hears the main doors of the suite being opened, and Rosalind's voice calling for him. "Alptraum? You're still here aren't you?"

"I'm here. Just showing a guest Shrine Maiden where the bathroom is. She's had a long flight and needed to freshen up and calm down her nerves," Alptraum calls out. To the bathroom doors Alptraum says, "I'll be right back." He steps away from the bathroom door to make himself more visible should Rosalind come looking. "I hope I haven't come back at a bad time? You weren't interrupted from something important, I hope?" he calls out.

Rose is standing at the foot of her bed, holding the bag with the crystal heart in her hands. "Oh!" she says in surprise, putting the bag down and going over to embrace Alptraum. "I saw the bag and… I wasn't sure if you'd just dropped it off and then left," she says. "I was just spending some time in the library with Phlagaea."

Alptraum curls his arms around Rosalind and hugs her back, even to the point of briefly burying his face against her cheek. "Why would I just drop the crystal and leave?" he asks when he finally relinquishes his grip. His brow furrows as he further asks, "Are you worried I am leaving you? Has something happened?"

"You just seem… uncertain sometimes," the woman says, with a slight laugh as if to dismiss the notion. "It isn't like you're out leading a second life. It's just that I'm used to you being around now, and… it's noticeable when you're absent." She takes his hand and rubs her thumbs and fingers over it, before blinking in realization that it's his right hand. "What… " she starts ask, noting the Khatta fur and fingers.

"Uncertain about what? The only think I worry about is when you're going to kick me out or grow tired of me," Alptraum counters and even manages a small grin. It takes him a minute to realize she's asking about his right hand and he looks down. "Oh, uh … I had a small problem while traveling," he admits, "I started using the shadow more extensively. I, er, even have managed to mimic your ability to completely reshape someone. It did have a small side effect, the gauntlet shed, save the sheath and orb. I'm currently sort of wearing Tulani's hand, believe it or not. IT's less creepy that how it looks normally now."

"So you aren't planning on leaving me?" Draco asks, and continues to stroke the shadow-hand. "You do want to stay and raise a family?"

Alptraum blinks at that. "Has someone been telling you I was planning to leave you?" he asks Rosalind as his ears skew, confused. "Of course I want to stay and raise a family. What is going on?"

"Nobody's said anything, I… guess I just worry foolishly," Rose says. "I'm pregnant. It messes with my moods, you know. And spending time with Phlagaea probably doubles the effect since she has the same issue." She looks at the modified hand again, and asks, "Can you make it into an Eeee hand? It's a little odd, being touched by you but… it not feeling like you… "

"I can make it into anything I know the pattern for," Alptraum explains and decides to let it shift to its default form for now. "The Eeee hand patterns I have are for Mave and Twig. So you get weird scientist, or groping Eeee," he jokes as he feels the shadow-fur 'melt'. "You do remember that I left to fix that crystal heart to ensure we could have a long life together, right? If you lost your shadow link forever I would have to watch you grow old when I did not. I wanted us both to have lifetimes together."

The default state seems to fascinate Rose, who traces over the external 'support' grid with her fingers. "This is better," she says. "Your palm is you. I was about to look in the bag… is that the crystal heart?"

"Yes. It's as good as new. I have to be careful about touching it, though, as I'm not sure how it would react to me. That's why I had Snow help me bring it back," Alptraum explains and glances back towards the bathroom door. "She's terrified to meet you, by the way," he whispers, "She's not used to being around important people." He also tries to ensnare her exploring fingers with shadow tendrils … just because.

"It's reacting to me!" Rose says, a bit gleefully before tugging her fingers free. Then she looks into Alptraum's eyes, and says, "Now that we have a new heart for Melusine… should we just give it to her? I've been talking to her about the process, and it is potentially dangerous. She'll need to be charged up more than before, and I'll need to use the torc with her Name on it."

"That I've been meaning to talk to you about. I don't know. What exactly is the process and how risky is it for me and for you?" Alptraum asks as he sits on the edge of the bed and then tugs Rosalind down into his lap. "I want her to be able to weather periods of long separation, but I don't want her to be a danger to you or the family."

"Well, she's bound to my family – specifically the line of direct descent from my grandfather," Rose says, leaning her head against Alptraum's shoulder. "It's something she can't break, although if she didn't need the bond for her survival she may be less diligent in protecting the line – but she's never really had any influence in that regard. Choosing me as the Countess before I had an heir was not a wise decision, but it was the necessary one. I don't know that she'd want to change anything at all if she had a non-leaking heart. She would still benefit from 'free' spirit energy to sustain herself, after all. But she would not be trapped in her hole to the extent she is now."

"For the safety of the County it would be better if she remained in that hole, though," Alptraum notes, "And there is the matter of this may be a weaker heart than her old one. It may be smaller and less capable of containing energy, so perhaps that would play into our favor there," Alptraum offers … right before his head dips down and he playfully bites Rose's neck. Certainly not enough to draw blood, more enough to get her attention.

"Oooo, I see you've missed me too," Rose purrs. "All alone on your mission. How did you manage you repair the heart? And if it's weaker… hmm, that could weaken me as well. I'm not as worried about Melusine being a little more mobile, either, since it takes a little pressure of off my own traveling."

"Snow helped me on part of the mission, actually," Alptraum explains after nipping Rosalind's ear lightly next. "She had to handle having it purified in a sacred spring since I couldn't touch it, what with being possessed and all," he explains. "I also had to deal with Azrael … who sent you a bill, by the way. A rather unpleasant old demon who makes me itch and brews things that smell worse than the deepest swamp."

Rose pulls back slightly and asks, "How big of a bill?"

"No idea, it was sealed," Alptraum says and digs in one of his pockets to find it. "I don't open letters unless authorized to do so," he claims, "Or at least I don't for letters of people I respect and fear… "

Draco snaps the seal and extracts the paper inside. "Hmmm… bacon," she reads. "20 lbs. of flour. Vinegar. Eggs. Sounds like he wants to make breakfast. Oh… he's asking for Melusine's first born child if she produces any after taking the new heart."

"Uh, no, I don't think we should be giving him a shadow dragon," Alptraum says flatly. "BEsides, she would need a shadow dragon to produce one with."

"I think it's just a joke, given the other things he's asking for," Rose notes. "Does he even know about shadow dragons? I mean… well… hmm. He knew how to fix the heart… "

"He knew the original heart's owner, Muriavan," Alptraum explains and shrugs, "Azrael himself is a demon that's in possession of a Khatta's body. "I expect he knows a lot more, but he's pretty tight lipped."

"Well, we'll let Melusine worry about that part," Rose suggests, and grins after tossing the note aside. "Now then… back to 'catching' up on lost time," she all but purrs before nipping Alptraum's neck.

Alptraum hisses softly at the nip and grins, "I'd love to. We had best see the Shrine Maiden to her own room, though. Otherwise we'll have an observer to our, ah, deeds. Not to mention if she decides to make comments… "

"Hmmm?" Rose goes, then blinks, "Oh… should she be put in the guest suites then, with Tulani and Mave?"

"Her and Mave … oh dear," Alptraum muses. "Is Tulani around right now? The Shrine Maiden is … ah, borrowing aspects of Tulani's form… "

"Hmm? I don't know if Tulani is here our if she's gone to visit her parents yet… OH!" Rose jolts upright, nearly banging her forehead into Alptraum's chin. "Parents! The gypsies have arrived in town… "

"Gah!" goes Alptraum as he topples backward after Rose narrowly misses his chin. He splays out on the bed unceremoniously. "My parents are here? Now? That's terrible timing! I wanted to just spend some time with you before having to introduce you to them … and they decide to interrogate you."

"They haven't come to the castle yet," Rose notes. "I assumed they were waiting for you to go to them."

"They probably are. How long have they been here?" Alptraum asks.

Alptraum also can't help but check if Rosalind is showing since he'll have to explain that to them too. It also means he gets to feel Rosalind's stomach and chest up, but that's just a fringe benefit…

The woman giggles. Sure, she's getting a little bit of a belly – but Eeee generally don't show as strongly as other races since even pregnant ones need to be able to fly. More telling than her belly are her breasts, however, which definitely seem a little bigger to Alptraum (although after being exposed to the endowments of Igorina and Snow his sense of scale may be a little skewed).

"Hmmm. They may notice," Alptraum observes and withdraws his hands, then sits back up. "Anyway, why don't we see Snow to her rooms, then we can catch up on everything that has been missed. Like … my daily inspection if your body to ensure you're healthy," he claims, "It'll have to be in-depth. May take hours… "

"Are you sure you're up to it, after your long flight?" Rose asks, teasingly. "Should I have Phlagaea sent up as well?"

"Dear me, are you suggesting that we all spend time together?" Alptraum asks, brow arched and grinning. "Well, in that case I might want to borrow some help from Mave's laboratory of drinks, mm?"

There's a soft cough – a throat-clearing really – from the direction of the bathroom.

"Yes, Snow?" Alptraum calls out towards the bathroom. "You can come out… "

The cloaked, winged woman comes out of the hall and bows deeply, already flushed pink from embarrassment.

Rose sits up, and smooths down her clothing. "Ah, Shrine Maiden… uh… " She fades off a bit, having forgotten the girl's name already.

"Sister Snow Toadstool, may I present the lovely Countess Rosalind Draco? Rosalind Draco, Sister Snow Toadstool, a former human who has been of great help in repairing the heart as well as helping me better master controlling the shadow and draconic aura," Alptraum offers as introduction.

"Really?" Rose asks, about the aura and 'former' part. She does get up and return Snow's bow, which seems to embarrass the Shrine Maiden even more. "Thank you for helping Alptraum in his mission," she tells Snow. "It is very important for the future of Draco County, and I know how you Shrine Maidens prefer to deal with… smaller issues. You're welcome to be our guest here at the Castle."

"As I tried to explain earlier, Snow helped me improve my control of shadow," Alptraum tries to explain again, "She's normally a human, but by using shadow shaping, I was able to alter her body with some of Tulani's features, to give her the gift of flight, among other abilities for a time. I am not as powerful as Melusine of course, but I can manage basic changes. I also tested one on myself with some help. It was, ah, enlightening."

"I'd like to explore that a bit more, in time," Rose notes with a grin. Back to Snow she says, "I'll have a servant get you a room. There are plenty of empty ones on this level still, if you need access to Alptraum for his training."

"Explore which? Changing myself?" Alptraum asks, looking a bit worried at that.

"Oh, thank you, Countess," Snow says, and starts backing towards the door. "I don't want to impose, and I'm sure you and your consort have many things to catch up on." When she's half-way out of the door, Snow suddenly locks eyes with Alptraum – and he feels the familiar fire of Snow's ability growing. He also realizes now that, as with the bandits on the road that time, she can direct him towards a particular object of desire: in this case, it's Rose.

"Oh, we can explore everything," Rose purrs, once Snow is out of the room.

"Wait, you're at least going to stay for a while at the castle, right?" Alptraum calls after Snow as she hurries out the door. "You're welcome to st … er, ahem, ah," the Eeee babbles and begins to shift a bit uncomfortably as certain urges start to become a bit overwhelming. Overwhelming to the point that Rose quickly finds her hands wrapped in tendrils of shadow-flesh extruded from Alptraum's right hand. Even more quickly she finds herself being pulled down to the bed by them. "Good," the Eeee actually growls as he pins Rosalind unceremoniously to the bed. The tendrils of shadow release as Alptraum leans down and brushes his teeth along the nape of Rosalind's neck. "Twig and his servant Rina enjoyed exploring the possibilities and different … viewpoints," he murmurs, "I think that we would too… "