Darkness fell well before evening, as Alptraum ran into the storm. Wind and rain and thunder forced him to approach on foot, which was not an easy trek, especially after already having traveled for days. He was soaked through to the skin by the time he crossed the bridge into the relative shelter of the small inner courtyard. The heavy doors of the castle are bound in iron, and stone gargoyles divert the water into gruesome fountains overhead. There is a knocker on the door – a familiar looking upside-down Eeee with a cartoon smile.

"Aha!" Alptraum declares and points at the knocker. "Those must be cursed! Every time I'm near one of these dagh things, it rains on me!" Well, at least one good thing can be said about the storm; he's too annoyed about being went to really be too frightened of the castle itself (though, frankly, any sane person would be).

A flash of lightning right overhead – it MUST have hit the castle – makes the knocker momentarily sinister looking. And the thunderclap hits and Alptraum feels like he's trapped inside of a giant bell.

"Gah!" Alptraum yelps and yanks his ears down for a bit as he wobbles around from the noise.

"On second thought, I hate this place," he mutters. Ready to be out of the torture chamber (a-la entryway), he takes a grip of the stone knocker and bangs it loudly against the door.

It takes several soggy, cold minutes before the door opens, revealing a Skreek woman. Her face and head are black, with curly hair and surprisingly violet eyes, which look at Alptraum while she clutches closed the front of a thin cotton bathrobe. "Hello? Are you a lost traveler seeking shelter from the storm?" she asks in a pleasant voice.

Alptraum blinks. This is definitely not what he expected. "Where is Igor?" he wonders.

"Ah, hello," the bat actually stammers, "I'm looking for Castle Sturmandrang and its owner, A Doctor Twig. I require both his help, and am to fetch an object he borrowed form … well, an unpleasant someone."

"Oh, you're here to actually see the Doctor?" the Skreek asks in surprise, and then steps aside. "Please come in."

"Er, yes? I'm Alptraum Reisender, I doubt you've heard of me. You are, Miss?" Alptraum prompts as he steps inside the castle. "I apologize now for dripping on your floor."

The entry is quite bare and dark, until the Skreek goes about lighting more candles from the one she carries. Now it's brightly lit and dark, somehow. The candelabras all have cobwebs, there is a small stone bench to one side… and a drain in the center of the floor.

"I am Dr. Twig's assistant, Rina," the woman (or girl?) explains, and closes the door. The walls of the castle are thick enough to muffle the sound of the storm, and the only indication of thunder is the occasional bit of grit or dust that is knocked loose. "It's very important to be dry in most of areas of the castle, so please wait right here for a moment!"

Noting the drain, Alptraum stakes a bit to try and get off some of the water that coats him. "I don't suppose there is a place where I can dry off?" he asks.

Alptraum catches the girl lightly by the arm before she leaves. "A pleasure to meet you, Rina," he says, then lifts her hand and kisses the back of it, then lets her scurry away.

The girl then scurries off down the hall, the light from her candle bobbing as she goes.

Alptraum stays in the foyer, but down walk slowly around its interior. His eyes look this way and that … but his ears also swivel about, trying to sound out the surroundings. He half expects to find an old college portrait with the infamous gang, the Countess, Bunny, and Twig.

Oddly, there aren't any portraits on the walls. Every other foyer Alptraum's been in has had something at least, even if just a hanging rug. Rina returns though soon enough, carrying the candle-holder with her tail since her arms are full with two nested, tightly-woven wicker baskets, the top one filled with… fluffy white towels.

The Skreek lets the lower basket drop while still holding on to the upper one, and pushes it towards Alptraum with her foot. "Please but all of your wet clothes in that," she tells him.

"This place is rather sparse, isn't it?" Alptraum asks as he continues looking around. "Not a single portrait." The bat then blinks and glances towards the Skreek. "Ah, you want me to disrobe in front of you?" he clarifies.

"It would make things easier," the Skreek says with a whisker-raising smile. "Is there something I can do to make it more comfortable for you?"

"Just clarifying that it wouldn't offend you," Alptraum notes with an amused grin, "I guess you've seen a naked bat before." The bat bows, then goes about shedding his wet clothing and dropping it into basket. He doesn't drag it our, nor does he do it in an embarrassed hurry. Well, one thing can be said when Alptraum is wet … the fact he's sturdy Eeee is rather apparent since his fur is slicked down and glossy-black. "You have unusual eyes," he comments in small-talk, "I haven't seen violet eyes before. But then I've had people say similar about my silvery ones."

"Really? I'm told they're my best feature above the neck," Rina says, and watches Alptraum closely. "I do have a lot of experience with Eeees, yes. You're a big one… but I think I can still dry you in under two minutes."

"Best feature above the neck? That's an unusual comment. I hope the person was not trying to be cruel with that," Alptraum remarks as he stretches a moment. "Any wager you can dry me in under two minutes?" the bat jokes and waggles his brow. "And be careful with my right hand, the towel might snag."

Stepping closer with a towel in hand, Rina says, "Please spread your arms and legs and wings… my, that is an interesting graft. Did Dr. Wendigo give you that?"

Alptraum spreads his arms, legs, and wings. "It's not a graft. And who is Doctor Wendigo?" he asks.

"Oh, he's the one who does grafts and prosthetics," Rina says, before attacking Alptraum in white fluffy flurry, starting with his head. It's like being attacked by a flock of bunnies. "Is it a mutation then, or perhaps you've spent a lot of time with the Nohbakim?" she asks.

"Ah … injury sustained destroying some old necromancy, actually," Alptraum offers as a vague explanation. "All in all, I got off lightly. It could have been a lot worse."

The spent towel flies away, and Rina has a fresh one as she attacks Alptraum's chest. His hair feels… fluffy. "Oh? The Doctor will be interested in hearing about that," she notes, then winks up at him. "So would I!"

"I survived the curse of the Black Heart. It's not a pleasant experience to watch your own hand decay," Alptraum comments in a rather sober tone. "And it's on something related that I'm here. I'm hoping the doctor can help remove some contamination from a relic I recovered at that time."

"A BLACK HEART?" Rina asks, and grabs Alptraum in a sensitive place in her surprise.

"Erk! Let go … slowly, please," Alptraum squeaks. "And yes, a black heart. I guess that means you've heard of it."

"Oh, sorry!" Rina says, and goes back to fluffing… which probably doesn't help. The Eeee is pretty sure he's being felt up in high speed. "That's… I've never heard of any living person rejecting a black heart before… "

"Well, I'm special. I have resistance to influences like that," Alptraum says with a fangy grin. He offers his right hand to Rina, even, offers, "Want to see? Perfectly fine."

Out of nowhere, Rina produces a shammy cloth and goes to work on the gauntlet. "Is the jewel part of it?" she asks.

"Yes. It's all part of me," Alptraum says and nods. He even moves his fingers and wrist, demonstrating the articulation. "The only downside is lack of feeling."

"Really? Maybe we can fix that," Rina notes, and then she's working on Alptraum's legs.

"Wait, what? Fix that?" Alptraum asks, "Just what do you do here?"

"And, ah, if you fluff me any more around the waist, I am not responsible for what happens," the Eeee warns.

"Oh… this and that," Rina notes with a grin, and then changes towels and goes around to Alptraum's back to finish up. She has strong hands.

"So … are you also a scientist like Doctor Twig? One of the Prometheans?" Alptraum inquires and looks over his shoulder at the Skreek.

Fluff-fluff-fluff go the towels over Alptraum's wings. "Oh, I'm just the doctor's assistant," the Skreek claims. "I keep things tidy, take care of feeding him, that sort of thing… "

"Company on cold, lonely, nights?" Alptraum inquires and winks at the Skreek.

"The nights are always cold here," Rina notes, and then slaps Alptraum lightly on the butt with the towel. "Okay, all dry," she notes.

"You're rather flirty with Eeee," Alptraum jokes. "So, where are dry clothes to put on?"

Rina pauses as she grabs the basket of wet things. "Oh… I was going to dry these clothes for you? Do you want a towel until then?" she asks.

"So … you're keeping me naked until my clothing is dry? Well, let me get a couple things before you go," Alptraum remarks. He carefully extracts the old heart-stone with his left hand and his dagger with his right. "Go ahead and dry those; I'll be fine naked. I also don't mind being admired by a pretty lady," he says with a playful grin.

The girl's whiskers twitch, and she scoops up the candle-holder with her tail once more. "Follow me," she says, and sashays down the hall.

"It seems you approve, then," Alptraum quips as he follows along, naked, behind the Skreek. "Does the castle get many guests?"

"Oh, hardly ever, unless one of Dr. Twig's associates or suppliers is visiting," Rina explains. "I don't think most people care for the frequent storms here." She leads Alptraum into a Great Room, and again there is a bit of deja-vu: Stuffed monsters, piles of books and rugs scattered about randomly. Instead of cages full of live animals lining the walls there are racks of giant clay jars sealed with wax – some as tall as three feet. There's a blazing fire, and some sort of sideways cylindrical basket on a raised frame.

"What's in the jars?" Alptraum has to ask, "And I must say, this reminds me of Floribunda Pike's home. Well, minus the pink."

"The jars? Just lightning," Rina says, and dumps the wet clothing into the cylinder basket. "The doctor is in the canning room at the top of the castle filling more tonight." She rolls the basket frame in front of the fire, and hooks two wires from a nearby jar into a ceramic puck at one end of the frame. There's a whining noise, and the basket starts to rotate slowly.

"What? You can't jar lightning. That's silly," Alptraum remarks as he goes to examine one of the clay jars up close. "And … forgive me. I hope you don't mind me asking, but, where are you from?"

"Oh… you mean what town?" Rina asks, and then pulls up a chair closer to the fire. "You can sit here if you want. Is there anything you'd like to eat or drink? Dr. Twig is a vampire, but I have my own food. I'm quite fond of a good sausage every so often, even."

"I'm a vampire too," Alptraum notes and even taps one of his fangs. "And yes, what town? I've traveled quite a bit, yet I can't place your appearance."

"Wrathshire," Rina notes. "Well, are you hungry? I can give you what I give Dr. Twig… "

The Eeee then takes the offer of the chair and heads towards the fireplace. His wings fold in lightly and he settles down into the chair. "Mm, very nice," he murmurs. "I'm a little hungry. What do you give Doctor Twig?"

Standing between Alptraum and the fire, Rina opens and removes her robe. The black fur extends down her back, but below her neck she's pure white in front. "That depends. Do you prefer neck, breast or thigh?" she asks.

Alptraum's eyes go wide "Ah … I'm not sure that is a good idea," he stammers, "I mean … your Doctor Twig's assistant. He might take offense if another vampire was, uhm, suckling on you."

"Don't all vampires feed like this though?" she asks, suddenly sitting in Alptraum's lap. "It's been a day since I fed the doctor, so I'm all recharged now. You do mate while feeding, don't you?" she asks, with a coy smile.

"Well, I have before, yes," Alptraum admits, "But … I don't feel right doing that without the Doctor's approval." He looks upward to try and not be tempted any further than he already is. "And it's not because I don't want to. You're, ah, quite striking … and I can't say I know what it's like with a Skreek."

"Well, you could go ask the doctor, but he's told me to show guests all hospitality if he's busy," Rina notes, and picks up Alptraum's right hand to examine a bit closer, turning it this way and that. She even licks the palm.

"Sorry that my hand is a bit cold," Alptraum remarks, momentarily distracted. "Uhm, have you shown other guests this kind of hospitality before?" he asks nervously.

Flup-Flup-Flup go Alptraum's clothes as they tumble in the drying basket. "Well, of course I have… although there was never another vampire before," Rina admits, fascinated by the hand. "So… the heart was in the hand, or is this scar on your chest where it was? Usually they are in the neck you know."

"My palm. If you feel along the center, you'll feel slight ridges where the skin healed back together. I had to cut it out," Alptraum explains. "How come you know so much about the black hearts?"

"And you realize … that if you want mating, well, feeding would have to be done using your neck," Alptraum explains, "Ah … just noting that, of course."

"The Prometheans all have different specialties," Rina notes. "Dr. Twig's is reanimation. Non-necromantic reanimation. The black hearts were always something that fascinated him, since they seemed alive. He never managed to get one to study though… they don't survive outside of a host."

Rina smirks at Alptraum. "What, you don't bite other places for foreplay?" she asks.

"It didn't survive long outside of me," Alptraum confirms, "And well, if you want me to feed during foreplay … the inner thigh can be quite, ah … fun." The bat then smirks and adds, "Though … I think you like me because of my hand. Even if it's not reanimated, I mean. It's not like it completely died!"

"Hmmm, it still might have some trace of the black heart though, right?" Rina asks. "You don't mind letting us run some test on you, do you?" She keeps leaning in closer with each request, until she's nose-to-nose with Alptraum.

"No … I don't mind," Alptraum remarks and swallows. She's … ah, very persuasive. "I'll let you in on a little secret … I can alter the way my hand looks with effort… "

This causes the pucker on Rina's lips to purse, as she draws back to ask, "Really? How do you do that? Wouldn't it take a lot of energy?"

"It does … but, ah, the orb on the back lets be store magic to do it," Alptraum explains vaguely. "Any requests on appearance?" he offers as he leans forward, following that nose of hers.

"It looks pretty neat as it is… or is this just how you want it to look?" she asks, and the reaches up to push Alptraum's head lower, so that he's nuzzling her throat. "And I have a little secret too," she whispers. "I usually just leave the towels and a bathrobe for visitors and wait for them here… "

"So you don't show this hospitality to them?" Alptraum asks, mid-nuzzle. "As for the look, the scaling I did … it looks better than the, ah, default state."

"Can you make it… pink?" Rina asks, running pink finger along the inside of Alptraum's ear, and tapping each of the earrings in turn.

"The scales?" Alptraum clarifies. He sounds very … distracted. He also can't help himself as his fangs briefly brush against the base of her neck.

"Or should you be less tired when you do that?" the rat asks, baring her throat. "You could just feed, after all, if you're worried about the rest."

"I can shape it while I feed," Alptraum murmurs, "Do you want scales, or skin? The skin might end up a bit leathery, but I think I can make it pink… "

"I don't mind leathery, so long as it's warm," Rina churrs, wiggling against the bat now while the clothes drier continues its tumbling.

"Hold still, then," Alptraum murmurs and then his jaws close firmly on her neck, the twin fangs sinking into her flesh. He holds still for a moment, then reaches up and takes her hand in his right. As he slowly drinks, he focuses his mind on her hand in his … and mentally tries to reshape the palm and forearm to match hers in color, even if the best texture he can get with skin is the old-leathery-flesh. While he may only feel pressure … it's very likely Rina can feel the flesh squirm as it reshapes itself slowly … in a hopeful semi-match to hers.

The Skreek make a happy sound, and her tail actually coils around Alptraum's wrist to encourage the shifting hand to rub her back.

The drinking continues … and in spite of himself, does lead to something else. Without Kaira's help, the reshaping is slow, particularly since it is a new appearance for it. Bu the time dinner and, ah, dessert has finished, the squirming of the flesh of his hand can't be felt by Rina anymore. "Shall we see if it worked?" the bat whispers in her ear.

"Mmm, oh, yes," Rina says, a bit light-headedly. It takes a moment to focus her eyes on the hand, which she puts her own fingers to. "It's wiggly!" she says with a giggle.

Alptraum draws that hand up and takes a look at the result of his attempt after his own vision clears.

It's a bit wrinkly and loose, but the skin is definitely pink and furless like a Skreek's hand. The fingers aren't quite the same proportion of course, but from a few feet away nobody would be able to tell it wasn't a Skreek hand grafted onto an Eeee, with a chitin gauntlet attached.

"Not bad," Alptraum admits and wiggles that hand, loose skin and all. "So, do you plan to keep me occupied all night … or were there experiments you wanted to perform on my hand, hmm?" he teases.

"The storm should be dying down enough that Dr. Twig will be finished soon," Rina notes. "Do you want me to introduce you to him before retiring for the evening?"

"I assume he world prefer me dressed?" Alptraum asks with a grin, "And yes, I would like to be introduced."

Rina extracts herself from Alptraum, showing a spinal limberness that is a bit scary. She stops the drying basket, and starts pulling out the Eeee's warm, dry clothing. "Yes… at least pants anyway."

"Not the shirt too? He has an interest in ugly scars?" Alptraum jokes after he takes a moment to admire the limberness of Rina. In short order he's pulling on his pants.

"Well, the shirt too," Rina remarks, holding it out for Alptraum. She hasn't grabbed up her own robe yet, since her hands are full.

Alptraum takes the shirt and pulls that on too, then tucks the excess into his pants. The pants are then cinched closed with his belt. "Are you related to the Wrathbones, by chance?" he asks.

The Skreek's ears perk as she slips back into her robe-nightgown. "They are a very prominent family in Wrathshire," she notes. "Have you been there before?"

"No, I've just met a few," Alptraum admits. He flashes a rakish grin as he adds, "And you know … you look better without the robe." The bat then taps his chin, thinking.

"I'm very proud of my body," Rina admits, as she picks up her candle holder and relights it. "I hope you aren't too tired to a deal with some stairs?"

"No, but give me a moment," Alptraum says as he reaches up and puts that pink hand against Rina's neck, right where he bit her. His brow furrows deep as he concentrates, remembering Mave's lesson on magic … and Kaira's on healing. So the bat tries to flow just enough 'life' into those small punctures he left to close them.

"If I had that body I would be proud of it too," he adds, though in a very distracted tone.

The Skreek blinks, and says, "That tickles! Are you a mage then? And thank you, but it wasn't necessary. I'm bit all the time, so I heal quickly." She then swats Alptraum on the behind with her tail, and starts leading the way to a side passage. "The doctor doesn't know any Life Mages," she notes.

"I'm not exactly a mage, I'm the Barsunala," Alptraum remarks as he follows after Rina.

A clay jar is set on a stand, and wires are running through the top of it to a mostly-metal box covered in dials and gauges that the thick roof-cables are connected to. An Eeee is hunched over this device, dressed in a rubber apron, gloves and boots worn over what appears to be formal evening wear. "BWAHAHA!" bellows Dr. Twig, causing a rubber-wrapped lizard to jump down from the table and scurry between Alptraum's legs. "Success!"

Alptraum makes a quick grab for that lizard with his right hand! "Success?" Alptraum asks, "Success in what? Rubber fashions? Collecting a bunch of metal? A disturbing act of magic?"

The lizard squirms in Alptraum's clutches, and then emits a tiny lightning bolt from a metal stud in its forehead, which gives the Eeee a shock felt in his elbow. "Why, success at hawnessing the waw powah of… hello?" Dr. Twig says, turning to notice Alptraum now. Standing up, the brown is even taller than Alptraum, but much leaner, and his eyes glow red.

"Master, this is Alptraum Reisender," Rina explains. "He's come to see you about… something. But he's been exposed to a black heart and survived, doctor… "

After quickly dropping the lizard and hopping around like a fool in pain … Alptraum executes a rather impressive bow, he's apparently been learning at castle Draco how to recover quickly and try to look respectable. "Good evening, Doctor Twig. Your servant, Rina, has been an excellent host while you were occupied. And if I may say so, it is an honor to meet one of the famous Prometheans. I have had the honor to meet a few others in my time and all have impressed me. Well, except for perhaps Bunny Pike, she was a little odd," he says as he rises and smiles.

"Oh my, Bunny does get up to some stwange things," Twig says with a smile and a nod. "And I am glad to heaw that Igowina has kept you entewtained while I've been busy. Now, what's this about a black hawt, and what did you wish to see me about, young man?"

"Oh, she is fascinated that I survived a black heart curse. I happen to have strong resistance to spiritual infections, so I was able to remove it in time. It left me damaged a bit, but alive," Alptraum explains and waves his, well, pink hand at the Doctor. "And actually, the creator of the black heart is why I'm here to see you. I have the former heart of the Shadow of Amena and it is contaminated by iron. I was told you could extract the iron… "

"Well, I could cewtainly twy!" Dr. Twig says, and asks, "May I see yowa hand?"

"Certainly. The color is, ah, your servant asked if I could make it pink … so I did. I have some control over its appearance, you see," Alptraum explains as he walks over and holds out his right hand to the Doctor.

"It is malleable?" Twig asks, with a hint of excitement, as he turns the hand over and back. "This is amazing! You must wealize, up until now limited necwo-symbiosis has only been a hypothesis!"

"It can be shaped a bit, if that's what you mean. Make a suggestion and I can try to change it. And, er, what is nec … necro-symbiosys?" Alptraum asks as his ears splay a bit.

"It's the ability of living and undead flesh to coexist in the same body," Twig explains. "Only the black hawts could make is possible, accowding to theowy. We could nevah test it of couwse. Does it have any sensation?"

"Er, my flesh is quite alive," Alptraum asserts with a nervous and defensive tone in his voice, "As for sensation, I can feel pressure and pain … but not much in the way of temperature."

"Oh deaw, you think it's alive?" Twig asks, looking shocked. "I assuwe you, my boy, that it is undead… ow wathaw, a state between life and undeath that is ill defined as yet. Does it have dawk blood? I'd love to get a sample… "

"Yes, it has dark blood," Alptraum answers and his ears splay a bit more. "What kind of sample?"

"Blood, tissue… just a little bit… " the gangly Eeee promises, making a 'tiny bit' gesture with thumb and forefinger. "And… ah, I have no idea why it is so hawd on the back, or what this gem is foaw… "

"Well … that is because of another event where I had to kill a really nasty dragon. My hand was the channel for some magic," Alptraum admits. The bat is quiet and looks skyward, then runs his hand over his forehead. "You're telling me that the black heart won and my hand is … dead?" the bat asks.

"Well, if the black hawt had won you would be a zombie you know," Dr. Twig says with a chuckle. "This… this is something else altogethaw. A living hand couldn't be altewed like you've done to this one. I weally must get a look under the micwoscope… "

"Okay, okay, you can take some samples," Alptraum says, "Small ones."

"I shall pwepawe the labowatowy!" Twig declares, pointing to the ceiling in a dramatic pose. "Aftaw bweakfast," he then adds, ruining the moment. "That would have been much bettaw if the lightning wewe still going. Igowina, show Alptwaum to a woom and see that he is happy and welaxed foaw the night."

"And for the record, having a black heart inside feels … cold. Yet, you can still feel it beating. It isn't painful … it is … odd. And gross," Alptraum offers weakly, as if about to be ill. "I've occasionally had phantom feels like that again, but no evidence of swelling, or, well, a black heart."

Alptraum then blinks. "You're giving me Rina for the night?" the bat asks.

"Weally? I wondaw if I can get the spiwit-scope… hmm?" Twig asks, distracted from his train of thought. "If you wish. She has a vewy welaxing woom." Given the lisp, there's now way to tell if the vampire meant 'room' or 'womb' with that comment.

Alptraum looks at Rina to see what she thinks of being around Alptraum for the night…

The Skreek is grinning, her violet eyes seeming to glow. She hands the rubber-clad lizard back to Dr. Twig, and takes Alptraum's pinkened hand. "Let's see if we can wear out some parts," she cackles.

"Eek?" squeaks Alptraum. "Any time a woman grins like that I know I'm in for trouble. This will invoke a collar and chains, won't it?" the bat babbles, "Don't think I didn't notice how you used your tail … I just, eep." And on the bat goes. He sure makes a lot of noise … but it isn't like he actually tries to pull away from the Skreek, either, as she leads him off to her … woom.