Sleep is sporadic for Nicora, as she has to get up several times during the night to change her pads and underwear. This puts her in a less than wonderful mood when dawn arrives, and Rosalind wakes up looking refreshed and glowing. "Good morning!" she chimes. Snow is still passed out, but Nicora can't hide from the cheer so easily.

"If you call feeling like being beaten with a spiked club a good morning," Nicora grumbles as her right hand flails for a pillow, finds one, then pulls it over her head as if to block out the world.

"What sort of attitude is that for my consort?" Rosalind chides, and tugs at the pillow. "You are supposed to be cheering me in my dreary, duty-bound existence, after all! So get up and overcome your challenge of female misery."

"I'll overcome you with a pillow!" Nicora all but barks as she jerks upright and thwacks Rosalind with the pillow! She sits there brandishing the pillow for a few seconds before actually laughing a bit right along with wincing. "This would be funnier if I didn't feel like I was kicked in the gut. My own fault for challenging the Goddesses."

"Challenging?" Rose asks, pushing the pillow down so she can see over it. "What did you do, Alp… Nicora?" she asks, a bit more seriously.

"Gorphat baited me, and I bit. So she decided to make it extra challenging," Nicora admits. "I think she's trying to beat the male ego out of me, since she claimed that's why I so easily took her baiting."

"Well… she does have a point I suppose," Rose says, not unkindly, and rubs the side of Nicora's face. "But that doesn't mean you can't cheat. You can absorb flesh with your shadow, after all… so can't you fashion some shadow-panties to at least take care of the hygienic issues?"

Nicora blinks. "You're telling me to devour my own … sloughing?" she asks, looking ill, "That's gross. And … I might taste it." Her ears splay and she sighs, sounding defeated, "I guess I can try."

"You can taste what the shadow devours now?" Rose asks. "And… it's blood. Mostly. You know what that tastes like! You'll also need to eat more often to compensate for the losses."

"Yes, I can," Nicora admits as she discards her pillow and slides out of bed to go deal with the likely mess and then try to craft the suggested undergarments. "As for eating, I guess that won't be a problem here. I'll go to the kitchen … or grab a guard."

"I prided myself – back in college – on never having to pay for or hunt a meal," Rose notes, sitting up and hugging the pillow to her belly. "They always came willingly to me. The vampire allure, and all that."

"But here people would always give themselves to you since you're the ruler," Nicora points out as she disappears into the bathroom. "The same people here think I'm a demon you summoned!"

"Well… I encourage that rumor," Rose admits with a grin. "You do have demonic powers, after all, and it should send a message to any would-be suitors of my expectations."

There's an ugh followed by a groan as Nicora deals with morning mess and washing up. "Your guard, Dar, is scared of me," she remarks once the unpleasant noises subside. "And you don't need any more suitors, you have me. You're not planning to replace me, are you?"

"I'm not, but at least with you being a demon it'll scare off the usual ones who keep plying their suit," Rosaland notes, and stretches her legs, as if about to get out of bed… but then lying back and eye Snow's neck speculatively.

"Do you still get letters from suitors?" Nicora asks as she peers around the doorframe.

"Letters? Of course not," Rose notes, sliding across the bed to snuggle up against the sleeping human. "They do so in person. A letter would be… cowardly," she notes, as she idly caresses the sleeping girl to make her pinken up a bit.

Nicora's head disappears and a minute passes. She returns 'wearing' shiny underwear (and a bra) that looks like something that would be sold in the 'goth' stores of Draco County. "Will you let me scare them away?" Nicora asks as grins all too evilly at the thought (the skull-pattered hair doesn't help mqake her look any friendlier).

"Ooo, that would be fun to see," Rose notes, as Snow begins to squirm and waken under the stroking. "How is your appetite this morning?"

"Hungry," Nicora admits. Her brow arches a bit as she watches Rosalind continue to stroke Snow … then has to comment, "I find it odd that you doing that doesn't excite me quite the same way any more."

"Hmmm, not even a little?" Rose asks, surprised. Granted, Little Alptraum is watching raptly and licking its lips.

"Not in the same way, I didn't say not at all," Nicora notes with a mildly amused smile on her face. Her ears flick, and the snake-tail finds itself blindfolded with a small shadow blindfold.

Snow yawns and stretches, as she's coaxed from sleep. "Mmmm… morning already?" she mumbles.

"Unfortunately," Nicora says as she heads over and sits on the edge of the bed. "I feel like total crap!" she says in an all too chipper voice, "How are you feeling?"

"Sleepy?" the human mutters, blinking pink eyes at the sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains. "Too early… "

"You'll get to sleep more in a moment, Snow," Rose says. "We just need a little morning snack, then you lie here and recover as long as you want."

"Well, I think the Countess wants her royal food to be awake a bit so she can eat," Nicora remarks a bit dryly, echoing Rosalind's comment in a different way.

With a slight grown, Snow manages to sit upright, then rolls her shoulders and brushes her hair back from her neck. "Sleep makes a difference?" she asks.

"Slows your heart rate and makes it more difficult," Nicora notes.

"Oh yes! It's better to have excited or frightened prey," Rosalind notes, cupping and squeezing at Snow's chest until the girl perks up further. "The adrenaline is really important. Especially in the morning."

"And of course she's taking the opportunity to feel you up in front of me when I won't enjoy it as much," Nicora grumbles. Still, she decides to 'help' Rosalind out by placing her tail in one of Snow's tender areas … and then dissolves the blindfold.

Little Alptraum quickly causes Snow to squeak! She flushes brightly, and Rose bites into her neck while gesturing for Nicora to join in.

While the snake tail gets itself into trouble, Nicora leans in and bites the other side of Snow's neck. This leaves the poor human between two women while being molested by a 'demonic' tail of a sorts. Nicora has a vague memory of reading something like this in one of Doctor Pike's books…

Rose was right, though – 'excited' blood is really refreshing in the morning, and seems to blow away some of Nicora's remaining cobwebs, and even makes the cramping a little more bearable.

Maybe Nicora wasn't entirely honest about not being excited by what Rosalind was doing, because by the time her jaws are releasing from the human, she's reached around and has been caressing Rosalind. It's best not to mention what the snake tail has gotten up to.

Snow is pale once more, her flush having been drained away (quite literally). She's already falling back to the bed, asleep! Little Alptraum has moved on though, and all that remains is to heal the albino's bite wounds.

And so Nicora places her hands over the bite wounds and tries to use extrusion of shadow along with gentle flow of 'life' magic to get the punctures to close.

It's somehow easier now that she's female – or because of just having fed or the menstruation, maybe. The flow of energy just seems more natural.

"Or it is because in impersonating a witch, I get some of her natural affinity," Nicora thinks to herself as she gently gets the punctures to heal over before withdrawing her hands. "How are you feeling?" she finally asks Rosalind, "I'll be leaving soon; perhaps in a week. I hope you won't be too worried."

"I'm feeling… happy," Rose notes, shaking her head as if that seems unbelievable. "Maybe it's the hormones kicking in, but I feel cheerful. I'll worry while you're away… but I know you'll be coming back."

"Unless I'm killed," Nicora, ever the dreary Yodhsunala, points out. "But … that should be rather unlikely. I have a disguise that no one would mistake for my old body … and I have a few allies in Babel I think I can rely on if needed."

"And you'll be in Mave and Tulani's care," Rose adds. "Mave is the most dangerous person you're likely to meet, so… you should always have the upper hand."

"No, my father is the most dangerous person I will meet," Nicora points out, "Started a war, killed thousands, that sort of thing. As sneaky as Mave is, he's moreso."

"But he's unlikely to kill or kidnap you," Rose notes.

"He locked me up for a month," Nicora notes, "During his solidification of power. I almost killed myself during that. But, no, he's not likely to do anything bad to me. I'm all he has left in terms of family."

"Well, hopefully he's had time to soften a bit," Rose says, resting her hands in her lap. "A small bit. Strong leadership is a good trait to pass on."

"He … cares. He protected me as much as he could, looking back on it. He had the chance to tell me several times and never did, probably because he knew it would put me at even more risk," Nicora says, "Children of anyone in power are targets. It's probably why he kept me locked up for a month in the end. I'm really not sure how to deal with him, though. Whether to accept him as my father and try to repair the relationship there, or just … as a small footnote in the story of my life."

"You will do what you can to bond, but make it clear it is his last chance," Rose suggests. "You've thrived here in safe 'exile', after all, and are starting a family. Two families, I suppose, if you count Phlagaea. I don't know how he'd take one of your mates being a Yodhgorphat though, as I imagine he had to have had a hand in the attacks on the Yodh by Rephidim's knights."

"Well, he blames them for the loss of his wife, though not quite as much as he does the former Sabbaoth," Nicora notes and shrugs. "I do want to spare Phlagaea from having to deal with the political fallout of that, though, so I intend to keep her secret if I can."

"I can respect that," Rose says, and then does get out of bed. "And I have work to do. Will you be alright? Do you need me to summon Phlagaea of Lilith?"

"No, I'll to bother Lilith in a bit, once my stomach quits feeling like it was kicked so much," Nicora says as she slips back out of the bed too. "Maybe she'll know of a way to feel less crappy even in the throes of the apex of crappy. And I guess I need to get dressed too. I'm not quite sure how your guards would react to a naked demon walking through the halls."

"Well, you' have shadow-panties!" Rose notes with a grin as she selects some clothes for the day. "I've walked around in just my shadow before."

"You seem to be enjoying this terribly," Nicora says with a bemused smirk. "You really told them I was a summoned demon? They must wonder about your mating practices."

"I didn't say that was the case, I just didn't deny it," Rosalind claims, slipping into a dress and checking in the mirror that it still fits properly.

Nicora slinks up to stand behind Rosalind and peer over her shoulder. "It looks better on me now than it does you," she teases.

"Hmmph, you don't have to remind me of that," Rosalind points out. "When I'm pudgy and hormonal, you'll look back on these days of abdominal distress and bloody ichor with fondness as a relaxing break from torment."

"Since I'll have your imprint, you could practically order me to endure this torment at your leisure as payback,. I'm sure you've realized that by now," Nicora notes as she now gingerly massages her own cramping abdomen. "Or send me to Melusine so she can do who-knows-what."

"Oh, I suspect you enjoy your time with Melusine," Draco sniffs. "When I'm all fat and saggy, you'll run to her to satisfy all of your perverse sexual urges… that she probably gave you in the first place."

Nicora resists the obvious come-back about being with a blob and instead just hugs Rosalind from behind. "Don't be silly; you're my top choice for all my perverse sexual urges," she claims, "Which means before I leave we'll at least once see what it's like with both of us like this."

"Oh? Sure you want to risk that?" Rose coos. "What if you turn out to be better like this?"

"Then you'll have a wife instead of a husband," Nicora teases right back. Her grin is short lived when a cramp hits her full force and earns another groan from her. "II think I'll go see Lilith now. Surely she knows how to ease this."

"Good luck," Rose says, giving Nicora a kiss on the cheek. "You'll need it… "

Nicora is not having a good day so far. While using the shadow cloak has taken care of one of her problems, the rest are unaffected. Flying is uncomfortable. Standing still is uncomfortable. Sounds and smells are downright irritating, and she does not feel pretty. Lilith immediately dragged her off to this out of the way place, where well-groomed males silently pampered her.

"Now, isn't this nice?" Lilith asks, sipping from a cup of tea while Nicora reclines on a padded lounge where two shirtless Khatta men work on the claws of her hands and toes. Chamber music comes from a nearby quartet of musicians, while soothing incense and the purring of the attendants make for a calming atmosphere.

As try as she might, Nicora is finding it difficult to be grouchy in what is effectively a shadow-skin bathing suit, on a soft and comfortable lounge, and with, she must admit, two well-build Khattas working over her claws. The tendency to look still seems to remain with her as it did before the change … and her eyes keep going back to trace over the felines. "Hm? What? Oh, this is a little better, I suppose," she grudgingly admits.

The manicurist blows on Nicora's fingers after applying the transparent polish, purring contentedly. "Well, this place is all about overcoming the grouchiness and other side effects," Lilith notes, even as another cramp reminds Nicora of why she's grouchy.

The pain causes Nicora once again to question why she did this to herself and will it ever be worth it. "Well, if they have a way to stop the cramps I would be a lot less grouchy," the dark Eeee admits. "And you're probably just loving this; seeing me uncomfortable."

"Why would I want you to be uncomfortable?" Lilith asks, teacup hovering. "And Gerda will help with the cramps a bit, once you're more relaxed. Fancy any colored polish for the claws?"

"Mm, blood red or silver," Nicora notes after she takes a moment to peer at those disturbingly feminine hands she now has. "As for why … well revenge for all the times I teased you."

"But… you were just teasing me out of friendship, right?" the pale Eeee woman asks. "It was all banter and such, wasn't it?" From somewhere under the lounge, the manicurist produces jars of red and silver polish, and holds them up for inspection. The pedicurist has moved on to massaging Nicora's feet until the selection is made.

Deciding to be different and less monochrome, Nicora says, "Red." Her head rolls a bit so that she's then looking at Lilith as she says, "Well, yes. But who knows what goes on in your devious little mind." She even sticks out her tongue.

The silver polish is secreted back away, and brushes appear and dip into the red. And somehow, the Khattas manage to do it sensuously.

"Well, Uncle Vorg never found out," Lilith says, a bit smugly.

Nicora, without actually realizing it, ends up caressing her free toes over the pedicurist's chest for a few seconds. When she realizes she's doing it, she does stop herself at least. "'Uncle Vorg' is still around. I could let you visit him," she remarks dryly to Lilith. "Maybe you miss him… "

"Oh… I really just don't have the time for a proper visit with him, nowadays," Lilith says quickly. "Now then… did you have a proper breakfast this morning?"

"I'm sure you can make the time. He's lonely," Nicora presses a little. Why should she be the only one with a dragon tormenter? "I had a snack off Snow, same as the Countess. Nothing since then. Haven't exactly felt hungry. More … kicked in the gut-y."

"Hmmm, isn't she… well… synced up with you now as well?" Lilith asks. "She'll need some steak, probably. But we'll have to get you something more substantial later."

"Snow is, sort of, I think. I don't really know. I'm knew at this," Nicora admits. Her feet start to misbehave again, but this time she stops them quickly.

The Khatta waits for Nicora's toes to settle down before continuing to paint the claws. This ends with yet more warm kitty-breath to help the polish dry.

Nicora leans her head back and gives a rather pained look to the ceiling. "This is going to drive me crazy," she mutters.

"Well, that does look fetching," Lilac notes, setting aside her cup and saucer. "The massage is next. Gerda is very… talented."

"The boys aren't bad, either," Nicora notes as she lifts her feet and wiggles her toes to get a better look at the color. "It's nice to be the one being papered for a chance, instead of being, well … on the other side."

Lilith stands up, and makes a lifting gesture to the Khattas… who then pick up Nicora, so that they're on each side of her with their clasped arms making a chair of sorts. "To the Vivarium!" Lilith declares, and off they go.

"Are you two for sale?" Nicora teases the two Khattas. Her ears splay a second later when she realizes how bad she's being. Still a flirt; she'll have to watch that.

The Vivarium is a glass-walled room facing the garden, and fairly bare aside from a few stuffed chairs, a table covered in folded towels and many colorful bottles… and a rubber hose? Next to this is an adjustable massage table. The two boys just smile in reply to Nicora, as they gently set her down on the padded table.

Lilith takes one of the chairs, crossing her legs and setting her hands in her lap.

"You two don't talk much, do you? It's rather unnerving," Nicora notes as she settles down onto the table. Her ears flick around first as they take in her surroundings, then her eyes follow. She does look rather relaxed, right up to spotting the hose. That little instrument earns Lilith a rather odd look. Still, nothing bad has happened here; so it's probably for washing hair and a scalp massage. She takes a moment to stretch out arms, legs, and wings, then lies back. "If I start snoring, poke me," she remarks.

The two kitties make their exit, their silence made all the more apparent by the clop-clop-clop of hooves on tiles that approach from outside. "Oh, they men here are very well trained," Lilith says, "to be… seen but not heard."

"I would have gotten in trouble here had I came here a few weeks ago," Nicora notes and grins. "You know I never shut up." The grin is short lived, though, a cramp sees to that.

"You are crampving, yah?" asks a deep, but still feminine voice with a Chronotopian accent, as the clopping stops. Standing at the head of the massage table is a chestnut Rhian woman, wearing a rubber smock and carrying a bucket.

"That is an understatement," Nicora notes as she sits up a bit to get a look at this scary, oddly garbed, woman. All sorts of really unpleasant thoughts are going through her mind right now about what this person does.

The massive woman cracks her knuckles, causing the muscles of her arms to bulge. "Remove pantz," Gerda says in a voice that does not invite questions.

Since Nicora is clothed only in shadow at the moment, removing it is rather simple; it melts away back into her fur, leaving her naked, and visibly so with the swelling she's had to endure thanks to Gorphat. The look she gives Lilith is very much the type of: 'If I die, I'm haunting you forever.'

Lilith has a practiced aura of innocence. "Magic pantz… fancy," the Rhian notes, and starts feeling around Nicora's abdomen. "Very tender. Squishy. Poor muscle tone… you not do exercises?"

"Not much, no. Ow," Nicora answers as the prodding only causes her to hurt more.

"This hurt small bit," Gerda claims, before starting to kneed and squeeze Nicora's tender abdomen like bread dough. Every sore bit flares up… but it soon becomes apparent that she's working every muscle that has gotten sore and tight from the fighting the cramps.

Nicora leans back, closes her eyes, and grits her teeth. As much as she tries, she can't stop hissing out in pain now and then when a particular muscle really hurts. Her poor fingers and tows splay and twitch as an outlet from the discomfort.

With a final squeeze… everything seems to let go! The muscles snap and relax, and… it becomes clear why the bucket was set where it was.

Nicora seems to deflate when all the tension is suddenly gone. It's the most relaxed she's looked since the cramping started. The look of contentment on her face is short lived, though, when she realizes just how wet she feels in a certain area, and the very noticeable sensation of something thick and oozy draining out from places that … well, in her experience shouldn't feel that way. Her eyes open and she sits up a little … almost worried she'll see shadow oozing out of her. If she thought it felt like having a wound before … it sure does now.

A strong hand pushes against Nicora's chest. "No sit up, cause spasm," Gerda insists, before turning to the table. Bottles clinks and it sounds like something is pumped, and then the hose comes out along with some very flowery smelling oils to begin the cleanup.

"It's a good thing I'm a vampire, or that would have traumatized me," Lilith notes.

"You're not going to put that in me, are you?" Nicora finally asks as she eyes the hose. To Lilith she says, "I am a vampire and it traumatized me."

"No, hygiene bath is Anya," Gerda claims.

There is still a lot of washing going on down there… but it does make feel Nicora feel… fresh?

"Is that planned too?" Nicora asks Lilith. She dare not move too much while she is cleaned up. She feels … empty, more than anything else. Less bloated. That's something, really, since it makes her very aware of how bloated she was now that it is out.

"There are many options," Lilith notes. "Depending on what you want to do next. Are you hungry yet?"

"Not yet. I mainly feel … damp," Nicora admits, "And I smell rather floral."

"Well, we could go to the pillow room if you want," Lilith suggests.

"The pillow room? That sounds … comfortable?" Nicora says hesitantly. "Let Gerda finish up making me less disgusting and we'll go."

After some patting down with towels (no rubbing though), Gerda announces that Nicora is presentable. "Okay for magic pantz," is how she expresses it.

There's a moment of concentration and out oozes the shadow-cloak to garb the Eeee in presentable, if tight, clothing. She sits up carefully now, ready to stop of anything starts cramping again.

Lilith is there to help, since Nicora's legs and hips feel rubbery. She guides her through a hall to another room. This one is round, and filled with pillows. Big pillows, some the size of featherbeds. There is also an attendant; a loincloth-clad Lapi with extra-fluffy looking fur. He bows deeply to the two women.

Nicora dips her head to the Lapi. "Good day," she says to the attendant, "What is your job in this room?" She then looks to the pillows, because, well, with how limp she feels, laying down would be really nice right now!

"I'm fluffy," the buck whispers.

That earns Lilith a questioning look. "Is he for cuddling, then?" Nicora asks.

"Yes," Lilith says. "If that's what you want." The buck has already turned and bent over to fluff up some pillows for Nicora.

"He does more?" Nicora asks as she looks at the bent over Lapi. "Their tails look like little hearts." she finds herself thinking.

"Soft hands, good for massage," Lilith notes. "Probably has some flavoring applied, in case your appetite kicks in. Have you ever had Lapi?"

"Not that I remember," Nicora admits as she slides down onto the fluffy bed. Her head tilts a bit to the side, letting her hair fall just so that it covers about half of her face. She extends her right hand out and motions with her index finger for the Lapi to join her on the pillow.

Fluffy lies next to Nicora… and cuddles her warmly! "Are you sore or tender anywhere?" he whispers.

"The place I'm sore isn't a place I should ask you to massage," Nicora admits as she leans over to sniff the Lapi, curious if he is … flavored.

Strawberries. And chocolate, on the other side. "I have a very delicate touch," the buck assures.

"Lower abdomen and, ah … lower," Nicora admits as she nuzzles the chocolate scented side. It's about then her stomach does rumble … and without asking Nicora bites gently into his shoulder and lower neck.

The buck doesn't make a sound… but does rub Nicora's belly while she drinks from him. And he really does taste… delicious. Maybe it's just that she tastes things more intensely now, or that Lapis are pure vegetarian, or that he's excited enough to spice up the blood. Or, perhaps, some deep-down, predator and prey instinct. Then again, it could just be that Lapis are tasty.

Nicora finds herself lingering a long time on the buck, her draw of blood slow as she can make it so as to enjoy it as long as possible. So, after about fifteen minutes her jaws finally release her prey. She looks over his shoulder and remarks to Lilith. "I need one of these, he's very tasty," she says, grinning.

He also seems very woozy, and passes out cutely against Nicora's chest. But he's still warm and cuddly. "You'd have to share with Mave, at the very least," Lilith notes. "The does have a different texture to their blood, and tend to tremble when you bite them, which… helps."

Nicora pets along the now asleep buck. "I wouldn't share, he's too … nice to give to Mave," she notes, "Plus, I bet they're all eunuchs. They would have to be in a place like this."

"Oh no, that sort of thing isn't allowed," Lilith notes, and pulls on a hanging cord near the door. Soon after, another buck shows up; this one is black with a white chest. Not quite as fluffy, but a bit more… cut. He also bows, and then joins Nicora on the pillows.

"Ah, hello?" Nicora says to the new buck. "And what is your job?" she asks him as she gently eases her passed out Lapi to the pillow next to her instead of on her.

"Fluffing, if you like," the buck whispers. "Are you sore or tender in any places?"

Nicora pretends to think about that, then says, "Oh, just all over." She even sprawls out to give the Lapi near complete access to her body. "I just expect you to make me feel good," she says after twinges of cramping return to remind her that she is still in the throes of menstruation.

"Oh, I have a special technique for that," the buck explains, before he starts. Lilith sits near the door and eyes the pull-cord, since… well, she's doesn't have a bunny of her own!

"Then I expect you to use it," Nicora says not unkindly, "And maybe I'll make sure you feel good too." Pain sure does strange things to people, as does hormones, as Nicora is finding out. If she was told two weeks ago she would be willingly in bed with a buck, well … she would have laughed. Now, though, she's rather enjoying having a bunny of her very own…

The buck's technique is very soothing, if occasionally frustrating as it sometimes feels too good. Nicora is on the verge of loosing control, until the Lapi discovers that squeezing her tail turns into a momentarily stunned, twitching mass. The sensation isn't as intense as what Mave caused, but it does release the tension. "Are you alright, miss?" the attendant asks after the paroxysm passes.

"I'm not entirely sure," Nicora murmurs from her rather undignified position on her stomach since the buck has been massaging her back. "Are you for sale?" The poor Eeee's muscles feel completely limp at this point and the hormonal fluctuations, well, make her feel just strange.

"I doubt it," the buck says apologetically. "Perhaps you are ready for heat therapy, however."

"Will it involve kissing?" Nicora asks just before her mind clears enough that she realizes what she just asked. Having dark skin is a blessing at this point. She rolls to her side and slowly pushes herself upright.

Lilith covers her muzzle to avoid giggling, but the buck doesn't react. "Actually, it involves hot towels," he assures.

"Ah, well, that is good," Nicora says. She eyes the giggling Lilith for a few seconds, then throws a pillow at her.

FIX: almost-giggling

The spy is too slow to duck, and gets a cushion to her head, which actually tips her back off her stool into more pillows. Then she starts giggling!

And with Lilith distracted, Nicora kisses the buck firmly, then releases him as if nothing happened. Her wings flex a few times, then she asks, "Where is the heat therapy done?"

"Just a few paces from this room," the surprised buck says. "Would you like me to carry you there?"

Nicora considers. "Yes," she decides. "I feel too limp to walk steadily."

The man nods, and gently scoops up Nicora in his arms, even managing to gather her wings. He can't be any taller than the Eeee woman, but still manages, carrying her out of the chamber and taking her further down a hall, into what might have once been (or still doubles as) a laundry room. There are wooden casks full of steaming water set on stone hearths, and racks of white towels. Nicora is brought to a padded, bed-sized table and laid out, with her wings spread a bit to reach the edges. The only person in attendance is apparently the buck's twin sister; a loincloth-clad black Lapi doe with a white chest.

Lilith follows as far as the room's doorway, but doesn't venture into the steamy air – she's still dressed, after all, and her clothing might get wrinkled!

Nicora has her arms draped around the buck's neck as she carries her into the next chamber. There is a bit of reluctance of her releasing him as she is laid down on the padded bed, but it hopefully wasn't too noticeable. She lets out a contented sigh as her wings are spread out and she gets comfortable. She's also mildly impressed the bed is big enough to contain her wings, but then they must get a lot of Eeee patronage. She reaches up and wiggles her fingers at the doe. "Hello," she says, "If this one is your brother, well, he has been quite attentive and enjoyable. He is a credit to your business."

"Tips are appreciated," the doe says, a bit shyly. She dips an oar into one of the wooden cauldrons, and stirs it a bit before bringing up a soaking, steaming towel. She takes one end of it, and her brother the other, as they wring it out over the vat. The buck then brings it over, draped over one arm. With his other, he spreads Nicora's legs wide… so that he can wrap the warm, damp towel around her tail first.

If Nicora could blush, she would be right now. She desperately tries not to think about the strapping male spreading her legs by looking up at the ceiling and trying to pretend nothing at all odd is going on. This last for all of the few seconds it is before the warm down curls around her tail! Her jaw immediately grits tight and she makes a sad little, "EeeeEeee" squeaking sort of sound. The feeling is … enjoyable to say the least.

More towels follow. They are spread over her wings next, then wrapped around her arms and legs as the rabbits work together. A final large towel is draped over Nicora's torso, and the doe applies smaller towels to her forehead and throat. Then the doe kneels down at the head of the bed, and raises the Eeee's head to rest back on the natural pillows of her chest, and slides her hands under Nicora to massage the tendons connecting neck and shoulder. The buck, meanwhile, has straddled Nicora's hips, although without putting any weight on her, so that he can begin to massage her chest through the towel, making sure the heat really seeps in.

The towel wrapping is rather enjoyable as she can continue to feel tension fade from her muscles. Some of that tension, though, returns when she feels her head lifted and realizes what it is resting on. It's even worse when she sees the male straddling her hips and starts massaging. While she, like Rose, isn't large up top, the heat, followed by the buck's hands, sure make her feel augmentation Melusine did, and the heat makes it feel that much more tingly, at that. "This feels really good," she finally murmurs, trying to mask that it feels good in several ways, and some of them arousing. She has her eyes closed now, though, so at least she doesn't have to see the buck as it might make certain feelings worse.

"It is meant to feel good, so we are pleased you find it so," the doe whispers, as she continues to knead flight muscles with her fingers and press on Nicora's collarbone with her thumbs to keep her place. The buck keeps up his kneading, making sure the heat from the towel gets past the fur and skin and into the underlying tissue. "Is there anything special we can do for you?" he asks, just as quietly.

"I'm not sure you are allowed to do the things I am thinking of right now," Nicora admits quietly. "But perhaps you would permit me to ken both of you. I have not kenned a Lapi yet and it would be interesting. For me as well as for you. It is magic, of a sort. A way to better understand your kind."

"What is involved?" the doe asks.

"From each of you? Nothing more than being relaxed. I could ken him first, then you, so that you may see what the process is," Nicora says, "It is quite enjoyable, I promise, even if it seems a bit strange."

"If that is what you wish," the buck says, and then Nicora feels his weight as he lies on top of her. He muzzle is close enough that she can practically taste his breath. It causes an urge not too different from when Alptraum was first exposed to Snow's monster lure – that prey was offering itself up to be devoured, among other possibilities.

Nicora feels … actual fear. She wants this Lapi, in two very distinct ways. To both ken and … join with in intimate ways. The latter she tries to force from her mind as she focuses on kenning him. Sill, she finds herself unable to resist one thing, she kisses the buck right as the process of kenning him begins. Her right arm comes up and her hand presses squarely into the center of his back. Shadow flows out from her hand, slowly encasing him in its slick and near rubbery darkness. It doesn't take long for him to be engulfed and soon it is sinking into his body. She tells herself that he is enjoying this as much as she is as the sensations and understanding of a Lapi buck begin to flow into her as the shadow 'tastes' the buck from the inside out.

It's different this time – maybe because of her mood, or just because even the sensations of kenning seem enhanced with her new body. It's far more intimate feeling, and satisfying – to be the one in control, taking from the male what she wants. There might even be… a little bit of feedback? Is she exposing herself somehow while doing this? But it feels good, and that's the main thing.

Nicora holds the ken for as long as she dares, then draws the shadow back into herself and releasing her hold upon the male atop her. Her lips also release his and she starts stroking his back. "How was that?" she asks him.

In reply, the buck nuzzles at her throat, and starts pulling away the towels. His sister just blinks but doesn't interfere – at least, until she's certain of his intentions and then helps remove the rest of the towels.

Nicora feels really good after kenning the buck. So much so there is no complaint when towels start to slide away and the doe is even helping. Everything feels so warm and comfortable. She feels so powerful with this Lapi, this prey, in her arms. And it only seems to get warmer as the fog of enjoyment clouds her senses. There's a crescendo of warm that seems to flow through her and that's when her senses start to return to normal. She's still holding the buck in her arms and her legs have somehow come up to curl around him as well. And that's when it hits her just what may have happened given what she's feeling. "Oh my god," the Eeee finds herself thinking. "We didn't, we didn't… "

Well, not yet, at least. There's still that leather loincloth, but Nicora can tell it's not going to stay secured much longer. The buck is more interested in kissing and groping eagerly at her.

"Wait, wait," Nicora squeaks softly to the Lapi in her arms in between his kisses. "Won't you get in trouble?"

"Mmmwha?" the buck asks, looking up from nibbling. His big brown eyes seem a bit glazed. His sister asks, "Do you want him to continue? Isn't this part of the 'kenning' you requested?"

"I do want him to continue," Nicora finds herself admitting in spite of herself. "But this is not part of kenning. This is just … a side effect."

"I see," the doe says, and then… pinches her brother's ear to get his attention. "You cannot do this here, you must take her to the privacy bower, Tori." The buck blinks, then pulls back and nods! "Of course… " he says, as he scoops Nicora up into his arms.

Nicora blinks a few times. "Privacy bower?" she says nervously as she steadies herself with her arms around his neck. "What is that?

"It is where clients may engage in trysts with the staff," the doe explains, as Tori, the buck, carries Nicora off.

"Trysts?!" Nicora squeaks as she squeezes Tori's neck firmly. "I just … you … me … " she says in a quiet voice. Then that feeling of the desire to control a male seems to help her compose herself … and stirs those desires again. She buries her nose in his ear and whispers firmly, "You had better be good."

The trysting room is… tastefully decorated, and a bit dim due to soft lighting. The bed is very soft, so it's almost as if Nicora were being pressed between Tori and… Fluffy, the first one she encountered. There's not telling what Lilith is up to during all of this… but it seems a trivial thought. Surely she can amuse herself for an hour! Soon enough, Nicora just stops thinking altogether, with her final truly coherent one being: if Snow were male, is this what her power would be like?

Nicora found everything awkward at first, being in a reverse role, after all. But … once the enjoyment of it hit, the fear faded to be replaced with the memories of how it felt to be with Mave. Well, up to the point Eeee and Lapi joined; that was completely new. Everything is hazy after that and it's a bit of time before Nicora's faculties return to general normalcy. She finds herself feeling really good … and also really strange. She idly strokes the buck's cheek as she realizes just what she did. "Shadow and hormones," she thinks to herself, "The power of controlling him into serving me." There's a soft sigh that comes from her as she thinks, "What have I become? I just let him … inside … " That sinking feeling comes back in the pit of her stomach. "I need to be careful. I have to be careful."

As Tori nuzzles… and seems to be working up to a second attempt… the door opens and the doe arrives, carrying a tray with a steaming teapot and several other supplies, which look suspiciously of the cleaning sort. "I know my brother's timing," she explains, setting things down on the floor. Looking at all of the towels, hot water and what might be scented oils, Nicora realizes that, given her condition… there's probably a bit of blood to clean up. "Are you ready for me now?" the doe also asks. "I am Tara."

Nicora draws a deep breath, trying to relax for a moment. The thought of blood among other things makes that sinking feeling go deeper. "Your bother is good," she says, trying to sound as if everything is fine, when in fact she feels really messed up inside. She enjoyed it a lot, yet … "Please clean things up first, Tara,," Nicora orders, though her tone is gentle, "Then I will ken you." She pats the buck's cheek, then whispers to him, "Maybe later?"

"Just ask for me by name, m'lady," Tori says, kisses Nicora on the cheek, and then picks up his loincloth and slips out – probably to clean up a bit himself. This leaves Nicora with Tara – who begins cleaning her ladyparts. At least she's careful not to rub too much. "Eeee fur handles this well," she notes, conversationally. "Lapi fur can get very sticky and clumpy when it gets bloody."

Nicora tries to not look while she's being cleaned, though she can feel it. "Our fur does generally clean easily," she agrees, "Which is one small blessing among the many curses my kind bears. Your brother is popular with your patrons, is he not?"

"Oh, with some of them. He seems to appeal to… a particular type," Tara mutters.

"What type is that?" Nicora asks as she looks down to the Lapi. "And why do you sound angry about it?"

"Oh, I don't mean to sound upset," Tara claims. "He… well. Vampires, and some of the bigger Khattas." She pats Nicora's inner thighs dry with a fresh cloth.

"Are you jealous? Do you wish the attention?" Nicora now asks the doe. Once she's dry, Nicora motions for Tara to come up and sit or lay beside her by gently patting the spot.

The doe sits where requested, her ears going down as she suddenly comes across as shy, despite working with naked people all the time and wearing just a loincloth. "Well… a little attention might be nice, I suppose. If I deserve it, I mean. I work with towels, after all. By the time clients get to me, the vampires have already bitten one of the boys."

Nicora reaches up and pats Tara's cheek. "Hush. You deserve it," she tells the doe, "And you are to be kenned as your brother was. Lie with me and I will prepare."

"You mean… you're going to kiss me?" the girl asks, and lies down next to the bat.

"Do you wish me to?" Nicora asks the doe, her brow arching slightly.

"Well… I don't know how it works," Tara admits. "If that's how it's done, then that's how it's done."

"No, that was to distract him from panicking when the real kenning started," Nicora notes as she draws in close to the doe and wraps her arms around her. "Now I need you to relax too," she tells the doe, and perhaps to make her feel better, kisses her just as warmly as she had Tori. Hopefully it is enough of a distraction Tara doesn't panic when an oily, almost rubbery, sensation starts spreading over her back from Nicora's palm.

There's still a taste of fear on the doe's lips. But also… submission. And… something more? The process is much more sedate this time, with the girl seeming to surrender to Nicora instead of trying to resist. But more than her flavor, the Eeee feels… knowledge? She realizes keeping the water in the vats at the right temperature is important, and that the amount of wringing controls the amount of heat they hold, and that that's important depending on the species to be served. Rhians need less heat, but more over time, and Khattas are especially sensitive. Humans can take more heat than Eeee…

Nicora finds herself lingering just as long with Tara as she had Tori before the shadow slides away from the doe's body and back into her forearm. Her lips release Tara's and she asks her the same question as she had Tori, "How was that?"

"Very… lightening," the doe replies, a bit dazed. She's smiling, and seems far more comfortable and relaxed now. "Is that what it's like? I'm a virgin so… I always wondered. It's very nice. Do all vampires do this?"

Nicora reaches back to find her own tail and make sure it is behaving as the warmth and enjoyment linger, but do not overwhelm her as it had with Tori. "No, not all vampires. Only a few can. I'm … special, I suppose," Nicora admits.

"Because of the tail with a face?" the does asks… and of course reaches out to touch it, causing a tingling sensation to ripple up Nicora's back.

"Somewhat. It is … complicated to explain," Nicora admits, sounding rather distracted by the touch.

Tara keeps petting and caressing it, since the tail reacts favorably. "It must be like having a pet that is always with you," she comments. "It seems to like being touched."

"It can be rather distracting because I feel what it feels. I can feel you petting it," Nicora notes as she remains sounding a bit distant. "And I can tell that it likes you. But it likes anyone who treats it nicely."

"Most women who come here seem to just want a little attention when they are feeling uncomfortable," Tara notes. "I'm not the only Lapi doe here. We aren't affected by the cycles of others, like some of the other races are. Except for the boys, for some reason."

"I was feeling terrible and that is why I came here. I still don't feel great, but I feel better," Nicora admits, though part of why she doesn't feel great is because of what just happened with Tori. "As for the boys, I cannot explain them either," she lies. "And I'm impressed they are not scared of a woman who has a tail such as mine."

"Oh, many noble-women have mutations of some sort," the doe notes, and lets the tail rub its head against her belly, which is very… tingly.

Nicora tenses up a bit. "You had best watch my tail, it may try to explore parts of you it shouldn't," she warns the doe, but doesn't herself move to stop the tail. "And really? What kinds of mutations have you seen?"

"I really shouldn't say," the doe notes. "I don't think you'd want me to discuss your tail with any other clients, after all." The then giggles, as the tail flicks it's tongue out against one of the non-fur-covered but sensitive locations on her chest. "It seems very playful, but is it dangerous? It does not seem to have teeth, just… oh!" The squeak comes from the tail biting down possibly trying to suckle. It isn't likely that it can produce much suction though.

"No, it's not dangerous at all … just … pushy," Nicora says after a squeak of surprise of her own. She finally reaches over and gently tries to pull her tail free from what it latched on to. "Sorry," she tells Tara.

"Nobody's ever done that to me," the girl giggles, and can't help but give the appendage a little farewell squeeze as it's pulled free.

"Do you want me to let my tail explore you?" Nicora actually asks after she regains herself from the ripple of sensation that comes from the squeeze.

"Oh… I really shouldn't linger too long," Tara notes, although she sounds tempted. "I have to get back to the vats."

Nicora, feeling evil, drapes the tail on one of Tara's thighs. "You're with a client, though," she says, "Which makes lingering okay, does it not?"

"Well… what would it do?" the doe asks.

"It likes … warm places," Nicora says by way of explanation. Maybe Nicora is trying to prove to herself that just because she bedded Tori that she's still not completely become female by trying to entice the doe.

"Well, a little longer couldn't hurt," Tara says with a smile.

By the time Nicora reunites with Lilith, she's back in her original clothing, her fur groomed and has an overall flowery scent. She's even walking normally again. "You certainly took your time," the white Eeee notes. "I almost never get past the pillow room without falling asleep. But at least the food here is fresh and tasty, and there's a good library. Are you feeling more refreshed now?"

"I feel better physically, but in other ways I feel worse," Nicora admits to Lilith with a small sigh. "The shadow is more dangerous with me like this. Its sensations seem to affect me more, or maybe its because of my condition. I'm not sure. I think I'm ready to leave before anything else happens."

"Want me to hail a carriage then?" Lilith asks, getting up and smoothing down her clothes. "You really seemed to like that Lapi fellow. I know one in town who is very discrete if you'd like to spend some quality time with one." She even winks when she mentions it.

Nicora actually cringes at that. "Hail a carriage," she says. "As for the Lapi … I think it is best I do not spend too much time around them. Their desires can affect me in certain situations. It's a good lesson to learn out of all of this, I guess. But … it makes me feel weird."

"Weird? Well, you're going through a confusing time, I suppose," Lilith says, and heads for the main entry hall. "Imagine what your girlfriend Snow would do around a real Lapi, after having to wear that rabbit-fur against her skin all of the time."

"I think I'll be glad when I get back to normal," Nicora mutters to herself as she follows Lilith out. "All of this has turned my world upside down. I'm actually glad I'll be on the road soon with other things to worry about. And as for Snow … eep. I could send here here, but she might never leave!" Still, even with all the oddness, at least she isn't feeling like she's in agony anymore; it is more a dull ache … and hopefully that will be endurable for the remainder of her time under 'the curse'…