It wasn't easy, but Alptraum managed to get Rosalind and Phlagaea both ready in time to get to the restaurant early (meaning before his parents). The head waiter recognizes him and leads the trio over to their window table.

Rosalind is wearing a long black flying skirt (with pant legs that are pleated and billowy enough to look like a dress when standing or sitting) and a traditional Sylvanian white blouse and corset-vest. The vest is black velvet with red satin inlays that mimic the filigreed lace look common to Sylvanian design. Phlagaea is wearing a green full dress, which is neither too billowy or two flat. It nearly hugs her throat, while of course being open in back for her wings. For a belt, however, she has taken one of her bauble-strewn bandages and wrapped it around her hips.

"Now a few words of warning," Alptraum says as he goes to pull out a chair for Rosalind, then one for Phlagaea. "My mother can be a bit over-protective and extremely nosy. She will try to find out what you both do at the castle. Leave it extremely vague. No titles or anything like that. My father, well … he's a bit of a flirt, even in his older years. His hand might wander. All I ask is that you don't kill him… "

"So, he's a college professor?" Rose asks with a smirk. Phlagaea just looks a bit… over-awed? "This is a very unusual temple," she comments. "And every group gets their own personal altar like this?"

"It is just a place to eat at, it isn't a temple," Alptraum explains quickly to Phlagaea. As for Rose's comment, he says, "I wouldn't know, I've never been to a University! He's easy-going at least. Not as likely a person to decide someone isn't good enough for me… "

"And there won't be an issue with me being the older one?" Rose asks, just to make sure.

"You don't look much older. Are you planning to tell them your actual age?" Alptraum asks, grinning. "And if they do ask, I'll just tell them I'm your boy toy or something… "

"You will not!" Rose says, aghast. Just then, Alptraum hears the sounds of his mother's voice. "This is the place," Sabine says just outside the door. "Stop fidgeting!"

"You don't consider it true?" Alptraum teases quickly before he switches his attention back to the door. "And there they are. I hear my mother. Hm. Sounds like father is a bit nervous. Or … she made him dress nicely."

Dimitris Reisender was forced into dressing nicely. His shirt has an actual collar, and his vest has only three colors and acceptably sized buttons. His pants are patch free (and also clearly procured when he was a younger man). Like Phlagaea, however, he does have a defiantly gypsy belt-sash, with lavender fabric and shiny sequins. Steering him with a firm grip on one arm is Sabine, looking comfortable in a dark dress that may have been altered down from something more gaudy. She spots Alptraum and smiles, dragging his father over.

Alptraum smiles and waves to his two parents and quickly goes around to pull out a chair for each of them as well. "I'm glad you could make it. May I introduce my dear friend from Babel, Phlagaea," he says as his parents approach and gestures with a wave of his currently normal-looking (save the faux-jewelry to hide the orb) towards the green-dressed Eeee. "And of course, the woman who you have heard so much about, Rose. The woman who stole my heart. She keeps it in a little box under her pillow," he says as he then gestures towards Rosalind. With a wave towards his parents to introduce them to the two women, he says, "And may I present to you, Sabine and Dimitri Reisender. The unfortunate souls who had to endure raising me." He does wink at the end of that claim at least.

"It's so wonderful to meet you!" Sabine says, reaching across the table to take Rose's hands in her own. "I was always afraid our little boy would never find someone!"

"Babel?" Dimitris asks, raising an eyebrow at Phlagaea. "I hear they get up to… all sorts of things in Babel… "

"Well, he is a shy and sensitive man," Rose agrees, nodding and pursing her lips. "But I think I can get him to come out of his shell and be a great man."

"Our towers can be very high, yes," Phlagaea notes with a smile.

And for some reason Alptraum has a mental flash of every woman he has been intimate with and oh, Roogi too. "Oh, if they only knew," he thinks. He quickly says for Phlagaea's benefit, "They do, but Phlagaea was fortunate to be sheltered from the more, ah, carnal moments."

"Oh, you mean that stuff?" Phlagaea realizes, and laughs. "Oh wow, nobody would ever think of me in relation to that! I was poison!"

"Ah, poor dear, I know what it is like to be considered an outcast," Dimitris says sympathetically, and reaches for Phlagaea's hand until Sabine reaches over to smack it without even looking.

Rose smiles more, and says, "I look forward to sharing the same sort of bond you have with your husband with Alptraum… and that he will keep his good looks as he matures, as your Demitris has, Sabine."

Alptraum also looks a bit confused about being called shy and sensitive. But … it is better not to argue two two pregnant women and your mother. Such things have toppled nations. So … he sits down. "Their bond, though, sometimes involves her elbowing him for doing something she believes he shouldn't be doing… " he notes.

"Well, that is the foundation of a solid relationship," Rose notes, getting Sabine to giggle a little. The waiter shows up (male, as requested) and presents the menus, asking, "Would you like some wine to whet your appetites?"

"We would," Alptraum agrees as he also nods. "What are your recommended dinner choices? Something preferably red," he adds.

The waiter lists several names and vintages, which the gypsies and Phlagaea nod along too without possibly knowing what they might mean as far as quality. Rose nods along too, but a gives Alptraum's knee a squeeze when the selection she approves of is mentioned.

Alptraum selects the particular vintage Rosalind approved of and then dips his head politely. "Is there anything the either of you would like to go with the wine?" he asks his parents. "Some fruits? Cheeses? Given my dietary limitations, well, I have a hard time picking something… "

"We do have a house specialty: a bread bowl full of melted cheese with vegetables for dipping," the waiter offers.

"Even you will eat vegetables covered in cheese, won't you?" Sabine asks Demitris, who tugs at his collar.

"Perfect. I think they would like that. Phlagaea may as well," Alptraum agrees as he continues to smile. "I'm not sure it would be very polite to request any blood-dipping appetizers, unless the rest of you do not mind?"

Both of Alptraum's parent seem to freeze for a moment. After having kept his vampirism a secret for so many years, it's almost a reflex. Demitris breaks the spell first, saying, "It wouldn't be right if we couldn't all have a gnosh, would it?"

The waiter nods, saying, "One house special and two dippers, coming right up!"

"It would be fine," Alptraum says. "There are not secrets among us, is there? They're both well aware of my dietary needs. Rose shares the same need."

"Huh?" Phlagaea asks at the question about secrets, while the waiter heads for the kitchen. The Babelite holds up her menu and whispers, "What do I do with this?"

"So what is it you do at the castle, Rose?" Sabine asks cheerfully.

Alptraum switches to Babelite so as to not embarrass Phlagaea and proceeds to explaint hat a menu is a list of food you can order and that she has to decide on a dish she would like to eat tonight from that list. Then she just has to place the order with the wiater and he'll bring it… The question about Rose's job then causes Alptraum to twitch.

"This and that," Alptraum tries to answer quickly for Rosalind. "Whatever is needed."

"Oh, do you get to work with the Countess at all?" Sabine asks, trying not to sound disappointed at the lack of detail.

"The Countess is extremely busy. We have met her in passing, but I can't claim that we work with her on any regular basis. Is there something you wanted to know about her?" Alptraum tries to explain, then asks.

"Is she really so scary looking that she has to wear that helmet in public?" Demitris asks, leaning onto the table in a 'just between you and me' pose.

"She is rather terrifying, yes," Alptraum admits and nods his head. "But it isn't how she looks it is her presence. Very … dominating. She is not someone you ever take lightly. Understandable, given the weight on her shoulders."

Both Rose and Phlagaea give Alptraum their full attention during this explanation. Sabine remembers the other woman just then, and turns her eyes on Phlagaea. "Do you also work in the castle… Phlagaea?" she asks, after chewing the odd name around in her mouth for flavor.

"She is also … reasonable and fair. At least she was in the brief time I spoke with her when we were asked about our experiences in her County," Alptraum adds, "It didn't make me any less terrified of her, though. She was in charge."

Alptraum now looks to Phlagaea to see if she has an answer for what she does, or expects Alptraum to answer for her.

"I work with providing health care for soldiers," Phlagaea says proudly. "Although if called on to smite the enemy with… ahem," she also says, petering out at the end.

"Ah, that would explain the bandage," Demitris says. "A badge of rank, eh?"

"I suppose," Phlagaea replies.

"She has a fair amount of medical training," Alptraum clarifies, "So she helps out in the matter of wounds and disease treatment."

"It's so wonderful that you've come all this way and found a profession that helps so many," Sabine says, smiling at the young bat.

"And before you ask … truth be told," Alptraum says and grins, "Out of all three of us, I'm the least important person. My travel experience has been useful and I've gained a reasonable understanding of how to deal with supernatural problems. So … I help out here and there in small ways."

"You aren't… loitering about in graveyards or anything, are you?" Sabine asks, looking mortified. "You can catch diseases from angry spirits."

At the mention of diseases, of course, the water returns with the cheese-and-veggie platter and the dippers – which include a selection of dipable tidbits and a separate spittoon. "The wine will be served in a moment. Are you ready to order your main courses yet?"

"If I visit a graveyard, it isn't for loitering, no," Alptraum says. "Basically I … research Sylvanian history and how it affects … " Alptraum stops there to look to the others and ask, "Are all of you ready? Being a vampire, my selection is rather easy."

"I haven't even looked," Rose admits, finally noticing the menu. Like Phlagaea, she isn't used to eating out and having choices.

"Mother, Father?" Alptraum asks the older Eeee. "Pick anything you like, don't worry about the cost."

The Reisenders also realize they've ignored their menus. Sabine even lets Demitris look over it himself. The waiter notices this and says, "I will return in a few moments, please take your time and enjoy your appetizers."

"I fear we are going to drive the poor man crazy," Alptraum admits as he looks at his menu too.

Further distraction arrives in the form of the sommelier, who wears a special uniform and cradles the bottle of wine like a baby. His assistant sets down a platter of glasses, as the wine captain pops the corks and pours a tiny bit into a glass which is presented to Alptraum for approval.

Alptraum accepts the glass, swirls it, then takes a sniff. His ears twitch slightly at the scent just before he drinks it. Not only is he checking the flavor … he's aware that Rosalind could be a target so better he get poisoned than her if it is a trap. "This is fine," he tells the sommelier when he doesn't fall over and spew green slime.

The other glasses are poured, and Alptraum notices one thing unusual about the wine; it has almost no tingle to it. So likely has a very low alcohol content (although enough to still be considered wine).

Alptraum realizes this is probably for two reasons, pregnant women and wine don't mix well, and it keeps anyone from getting too tipsy and saying something they shouldn't.

Nobody at the table complains about the lack of buzz, however. Especially Phlagaea, who uses it to wash down a cheese-laden cauliflower sprig.

"So, do you feel better now that you've met my love and friends?" Alptraum asks his parents as he samples one of the blood-dip items and chews on it thoughtfully.

"I was never worried, son," Demitris says, wiping away some cheese. "I knew you'd find your fortune when you chased after that spotty girl."

"I'm just happy that you're happy, dear," Sabine says with a semi-sad smile. "And that hopefully I will soon be able to call Rose my daughter. Hint hint."

Alptraum looks to Rose to see how she reacts to that. "Have you always wanted daughters?" Alptraum asks Sabine while still looking at Rose.

Rose smiles and dabs some blood from her lip, and tells Sabine, "I know your son will make me happy, and has committed to me. In that way, you are already my mother."

"Why did you never tell me about melted cheese before Alptraum!" Phlagaea adds in.

Alptraum suddenly finds his appetizer very interesting and stares at it instead of anyone else. "Er, because I can't eat it, so I didn't think of it," he admits to Phlagaea. "I have no idea what it tastes like."

"I also do not read Sylvanian very well," Phlagaea whispers in Babelite. "I don't think there are bugs on this menu. Is it rude to ask for whatever Rose does?"

Sabine looks like she's working up to a teary-eyed moment… and Rose is showing similar symptoms!

"Rose will ask for something bloody," Alptraum whispers back to Phlagaea, "Would you prefer I try to order for you. You like the cheese, yes?"

"And have the rest of you selected something?" Alptraum says louder to interrupt the moment before the women start to scare him by being all teary.

"Oh… it is tasty," Phlagaea notes, suddenly realizing her error in seeking culinary advice from vampires. Seeing Sabine tied up, she whispers to Alptraum, "Perhaps your father instead?"

"Pork chops and gravy," Demitris declares out loud, thus making it harder for his wife to deny him. Sabine is too busy trying not to be weepy to challenge him as well.

"He would be safe. I was going to suggest one of the noodle dishes. They're covered in cheese and are a bit spicy. It will look like worms but it is not; it is pasta. I know Hexen liked similar dishes," Alptraum whispers.

"Is that a proper Sylvanian dish?" Phlagaea asks Demitris. "I wish to have something like that." The older Eeee scoots his chair closer to the woman's and starts discussing the merits of various menu items with her, and what sort of food she normally eats (and other details he might be able to get out of her).

"I will be having the spiced goulash with fried bread," Sabine finally says, after just a few sniffles.

"Oh, yes," Rose says a moment later, glancing at the menu. "The fat soup looks good."

Alptraum rubs his forehead and worries Phlagaea might let some information slip that she shouldn't. Still, he can't stop them from talking so has to trust her to keep secrets. Alptraum selects a spiced-blood soup for himself. Something relatively simple. "Will you be in town long?" he asks his parents as he closes his menu.

"Oh, that depends on so many things," Sabine notes, keeping one eye on her husband. "You know how it is. If the tribe decides to move on tomorrow, we move on tomorrow. Avralie, such is the price of living free."

"It is safer near the town though," Alptraum points out, "And forgive me, but neither of you are so young any more. The roads grow more dangerous every day and I fear they might take you. I was hoping that you would live long enough to perhaps see grandchildren some day."

Sabine holds her hands to her chest and gasps happily at the suggestion… well, the grandchildren part anyway. "Towns are expensive," Demitris points out.

"I would help where I could," Alptraum counters.

"T'cha, you must save your money for your own family," Sabine points out. "Working for the Court may not last forever. You must save all that you can."

"You are family too," Alptraum points out. "I've always found ways to survive… "

"Perhaps when you have children," Sabine puts out as bait. "Then, it would be appropriate for us to live near to help in their upbringing."

"Avralie, fair enough," Alptraum relents. "Just … don't expect a dozen grandchildren… "

"Oh, but… what else would you do with all of the free time you will have from my babysitting?" Sabine notes, with a twinkle in her eye and the practically makes Rose snort through her nose.

"Save the world," Alptraum claims and even waggles his brow.

"The world needs babies too," Sabine shoots back.

"Just not all from me," Alptraum retorts.

"I can help," Phlagaea offers.

Alptraum looks at Phlagaea, then his mother. "Do you want multiple daughters?" he challenges.

"I can help watch the babies," Phlagaea clarifies, hiding her blushing ears. "And I will have the meal with meat and… cheese potatoes?" she says to Demitris, just to make certain she has it right.

"I'm sure you will not be disappointed on the number of grandchildren," Rose claims with a grin.

"And hopefully they will be all Eeee," Alptraum thinks to himself and his strange 'relationship' with Melusine. He then rubs his hands together and says, "It sounds like we are ready to order finally… "

The waiter fortuitously shows up just then, and takes their orders and asks if everything is to their liking.

"I find it excellent, thank you," Alptraum tells the waiter. He lets the others state their opinions without interruption.

Everyone else is content as well, and once Demitris is dragged back away from Phlagaea's side the chitchat takes a less personal aspect now that the essentials have been hammered out. "We'd love to visit you in the castle someday," Sabine comments. "But you probably aren't allowed guests in… do you stay in some sort of dormitory, Alptraum?"

"There is a guest suite wing people who are visiting can stay in. I've often stayed there when I'm not on the road," Alptraum explains. "I'm not sure if you could be easily invited or not. I would have to ask the Captain of the guard on such matters. Security in the castle is very important. There are, unfortunately, many who would seek to harm the Countess. So they have to be over-protective. Speaking of harm … have you heard any interesting rumors or stories on the road? Whispers about the County?"

"There was three-headed Rughrat born in Stukey," Demitris says, warming up to his favorite have-people-buy-me-drinks pastime. "They thought it was only two heads, until they rolled it over… "

"Rose, do you know how difficult it is to get a guest invite into the Castle?" Alptraum asks Rosalind. "How I did was … unusual to say the least." And when it appears his father isn't going to stop with the talk about a three headed critter, Alptraum pours him another glass of wine in hopes of quieting him…

"There was a plague of frog by Phlegm… smeg… that town with the really stinky cheese," Demitris goes on. Phlagaea perks up at the mention of plague, but gets confused and asks, "Frog? Don't you mean frogs?"

"It was a really BIG frog," the gypsy elaborates after drinking the wine.

"I'm sure there is a form for it," Rose notes. "It should not be difficult to process such a request."

"He may actually mean frog. There are … that," Alptraum says and sighs. "And that's enough of the street gossip I think. You're going to scare Rose and Phlagaea into thinking I'm related to a weird person… "

"Dear, if they don't find you weird… I mean, do you still have that little issue when you try to sleep upside down and your nose bleeds?" Sabine asks, then immediately relates how Alptraum would wet the bed as a child if he didn't have a particular stuffed pet in reach.

And so Alptraum groans and starts lightly beating his forehead on the table before him. He knew these sorts of stories would come up. Maybe the fates will smile on him and smite him down right here…

The food arrives about then. The Lapi maid is helping, and manages not to spill anything (although leaning across the table to give Phlagaea her dish nearly causes her to spill out of her bodice). "I like this place," Demitris declares. "Such generous portions!"

And so Alptraum kicks his Father's shin under the table for that comment. He also Eeee-whispers, "You didn't order melon. Remember that… " And then he's quickly back to smiling as the food is handed out. The Eeee finally unfolds his napkin and does something positively ungypsy-like; he lays it in his lap like a gentleman.

This does not deter his father from stuffing one end of his napkin into his collar… and his mother does nothing to correct him. But then, Alptraum knows how his father eats.

"This has really been an enjoyable evening," Rose says with a sound of relief, while Phlagaea professes her newfound love of potatoes.

"It has," Alptraum agrees. He looks far more relaxed that he had been during the planning of all of this. "I hope we can all get together again soon. It has been far too long that all of us have been without family comfort," he adds as he even raises his glass to offer in toast, "To family, past and present … and to family yet to come. To the ties that bind … even the ones in bed. To the cuffs and feathers … " Oh well, the toast fines a rather inglorious end when his mother, Rose, and Phlagaea all kick him in the shin for where he was going with that little toast! Some gypsy traits never change!