The meeting with Inaya went as well as could be expected. Once the two left the rented cabin, Bravil made his farewells and headed back towards the gypsy camp. Olivia now finds herself strolling through town with not a whole lot to do today. Whether that makes Olivia suspect doom is lurking somewhere … well only she knows.

Olivia pauses to look in a few shop windows before turning back towards the Weavers' compound. She takes her time, since there's no real need for her to rush right now, anyway.

There's a sound of running feet from behind the Skreek. In a blur, Liliana goes zipping by the Skeek. The Eee nearly does a double-take and skids herself to a halt, creating a small cloud of dust. One of those worrying grins creeps across the Eee's face and then the bat exclaims, "Olivia! Vell, dis is perfect. Glad t' run into ya! Vou're no busy, no? Course' not! Good."

Olivia starts looking around to see what could be possibly chasing the Eee. "Well, I'm not busy right at the moment," she admits. "What's going on? Is someone after you, or did you just feel like running a race against yourself today?"

"Vhy voul' somet'ing be going on?" Liliana asks, then grins widely. "I vould never do anyt'ing to make someone vant to chase me. But … jus ' in case, I been vith vou all day, right? Righ'?"

NOW the Skeek begins to worry. "Oh yeah, of course you wouldn't," Olivia says dryly, eyeing her friend with some apprehension. "All right, what did you do?"

Liliana puts her hand over her heart and sticks out her lower lip in a pout. "Vhy, I hurt. Vou cut me deep. Vou, vou don't trust me," she laments.

Olivia pokes the Eee repeatedly in the sides to get her to smile again. "Lili, this is me you're talking to, remember? The one who traveled with you to the capitol not so long ago? During which time you tried to jump on me from a tree, pounce on me from behind a wagon, and leap at me from behind countless bushes trying to get me to snog you! So whyever would I trust you?" she teases.

"Oh sure, bring facts into the argument! Vou make a lousy gypsy, vou know," Liliana counters and sticks her tongue out. "Nyeh!"

"I guess that's why I'm only an honorary gypsy," Olivia counters good-naturedly. "So let's try this again… what did you just do to make someone chase you?"

In the distance Olivia can just make out … Djivan? Well, at least it looks like Djivan, except for the fact his fur is sticking out in every possible direction and he seems to have piles of feathers stuck to him. Mostly stuck, anyway, they tend to leave a little trail in his wake as he stomps down the street.

"Oh, I jus' heard dat Djivan had an … accident wit a pillow. I bet he gonna blame it on me," Liliana says and grins widely again. "I voul' never do anything like cover him in feathers, nope!"

Olivia stares at the approaching Skreek for a minute, then looks back at Liliana and sighs. "You're hopeless, you know that?" she groans, clapping one hand to her forehead. "All right, do you want me to try and distract him while you make your getaway?"

"Nope! I needs ya t' come wit' me. Gots some work for yas, I do. Best t' just let him calm down. He migh' be feelin a bit light-headed wit' all dose feathers," Liliana says as she takes ahold of Olivia's hand. "C'mon, ve need t' find Miranda too. I needs ya both."

Olivia takes a final look back at Djivan before letting herself be dragged away by the Eee. "What for?"

Djivan looks really annoyed and seems to be muttering a lot. As the two quickly leave town, Olivia can just make out the lip movements of 'winged annoyance'.

"A job! I needs both vour help fer a bit," Liliana says as the two make their way towards the bunny ranch. "I even pay. Vell, somehow."

Olivia grins at the gypsy. "Lili, as long as the work is interesting, I don't mind doing a favor for a friend. You can just do a favor for me sometime later, if I need one. How's that sound?"

"Kin I pick da favor?" Liliana asks and waggles her brow at Olivia. The two are quickly approaching the bunny ranch where Miranda spends most of her daylight hours at. The Lapi can be seen there, puttering about.

Bunny ranch
Just past the Chalk pastures where Rughrats are set loose to graze, is a wide, fenced in area with several rows of medium sized wooden structures situated within. The small animal forms of Sylvanian bunnies roam around nibbling on the grass, but most are secured within the sturdy confines of the hutches which smell strongly of sawdust and rabbit.

The gray Lapi girl in fact appears to be skipping rope by herself at the moment just outside of the fence penning off the area of the rabbit hutches.

Looking down near her feet at the moment and counting as she jumps, Miranda doesn't really notice the approaching Eee and Skeek at first.

Olivia rolls her eyes heavenward and says, "No, if you're doing a favor for me, then I get to pick the favor. That's how it works, sheesh, Lili!" Then she turns from her friend in mock annoyance to wave at Miranda. "Hello there!"

"Darn!" Liliana says with a teasing grin to Olivia. Her attention shifts to the skipping Lapi and she waves. "Hey dere!" she calls out, "'ows my Lapi girl?"

Miranda looks up quickly from where she had started hopping on one foot as she turned her rope. "Oh, hi Olivia, Lili!" she calls, smiling, then lets the weighted rope fall to a stop. "Oh, I'm doing fine, how're you?"

"Oh, I'm all right, but Liliana apparently needs the both of us to do a job for her," Olivia says, glancing at the Eee. "So, when are you gonna tell us what this job is?"

Taking a moment to step away from Olivia, Liliana makes her way to Miranda. The Eee gives the Lapi a light hug, then leans in and gives her a kiss as well. "Good ta see ya again," she says as she briefly trails her fingers along the Lapi's cheekbone. The Eee then steps away and clasps her hands together. "An dat's right, I gots a job for both of ya."

Olivia blinks a few times in amazed silence as Liliana gives the Lapi girl a kiss. Then she scratches behind one ear and looks down at the ground, muttering, "I may be the only girl in Stonebarrow she hasn't snogged by now… "

Returning the hugs and smiling a little at the kiss, Miranda echoes back curiously, "A job? What kind of job?" She also goes about coiling up her skip-rope.

"Not true!" Liliana tells Olivia. Eee ears hear a lot, you know. "I really only kiss 'er around here. She appreciates me. Dat's why she m' Lapi girl!" The Eee hops up to sit on the top of one of the hutches and swings her legs slowly. "Vell, I need vou design skills, Olivia, an vour music ones, Miranda. I be a dancer as vou both know. Vou may or may no' know it be hard vork, too. Gots to keep the show interesting. An to complicate it more, different species find differen' t'ings interesting."

Miranda scratches the back of her head slightly at this bit of news. "I thould probably go get my my violin then if you need muthical help. What do you want to do? create a new danthe?"

"Lili's a good kithher too," the Lapi adds with a blush, covering a slight giggle with her hand.

"See?" Liliana says and makes an exaggerated motion towards Miranda. "Vou are missin' out!"

Olivia merely shakes her head and with a small smile, she says, "Can we get back to the subject at hand, please? So how do you need my skills, then – to create new costumes or something like that for your dancers?"

"You gots it," Liliana says with an overly dramatic wave of her hand, then points to Olivia. "Y'see, I'm lackin' in a few types o' jewelry, the shiny glassy stuffs in lotsa colors. Vartans jus' love dat stuff."

Olivia briefly ponders where she might get the materials to make such jewelry, then smiles broadly and snaps her fingers. "Hmmm, I think I know just the place to get what I'll need to make something like that!"

"Perfect! Vou'll have ta help make it fer all da dancers, no just me," Liliana says. Her attention shifts back to Miranda and she asks, "How long voul' it take you t' get vour violin? An vou don' mind helpin' righ?"

Miranda smiles and nods as the Skeek comes up with where to get the needed stuff. Olivia is, after all, the person to ask about things like that. "It thouldn't take me too long. And no, I don't mind at all Lili! I wath jutht waithting time anywayth. Thith would be more uethful."

"Okay, ve kin vait here for yas," Liliana says with a smile. "And hey, I finally gets ya t' spend more time in me camp, too. Ve don' bite, really! Vell, unless vou vant your ears pierced, den I bite."

"I just think you're looking for an excuse to nibble on her ears," Olivia teases with a grin.

The Lapi flicks her ears back at the suggestion of a piercing, as though hiding them for a moment, "Um… Thath ok Lili, Maybe another time. I'll be right back!" and so saying she scampers off in the direction of the Chalk warren.

"Vell, dere are fringe benefits," Liliana says, grinning as the Lapi scampers off. Turning her attention back to Olivia, she asks, "So, t'ink vou kin make stuff for Lapi, Rath'ani and Skreeks?"

"If it's jewelry you need, I think I can handle that for a few different types of people, sure," Olivia says. "It might take a few 'fittings' to get everything to lie correctly and hang at the right lengths, but this won't be nearly as hard as making clothes for everyone!"

"Vell, dat be phase two, possibly," Liliana says with a sly smile. "So, vhat kinds of jewelry kin vou make?"

This bit of information gives Olivia pause. "Well, if it's full costumes you need, too, that may take more time. And I won't be able to get to that for a little while, since I have some things to do for Natasha first. But at least I can start on it the designs for both things! As to jewelry – well, bracelets and necklaces are easy enough. Rings you'd need a metalsmith for, and someone who works in the precious metals, too. Anklets would probably also be easy, though. Does that help?"

"Vhat about belts an charms and things dat go tinkle?" Liliana asks after Olivia's explanation. "And dere is no rush on it, so dat no big deal. But … vhat up wit' Natasha?"

It takes a little while, but eventually Miranda comes trotting back up the path with her violin in hand just in time to catch the tail end of Lili's question, "Natathha. Thee's tha leader of your tribe, right Lili?" Miranda asks, only having met the woman once really. She wanted to make sure she had it right.

"Yup, dat be her," Liliana says with a nod to Miranda. She pats the nearby hutch as if to indicate to the Lapi to come sit by her.

Olivia nods and looks relieved. "Good, I'm glad I'll have more time to work on this! Belts and dangly charms should be no problem, either, I'm used to working with leather and ribbons." Then she scratches her ear again. "Well… Natasha asked me to arrange a few things for her in town. I'd tell you more about it but I think she wants to keep it to herself just now. Once everything's over, though, I'll bet she'd talk to you about it."

Liliana peers at Olivia with her odd, pupilless red eyes. "Kin vou tell me if it be something bad, at least?" the bat eventually asks. "Vho does she have t' arrange t'ings in town vith?"

Smiling, the Lapi hops lightly up to sit on the hutch next to the Eee. She blinks a little, canting an ear at the mention of the gypsy leader arranging private business in town.

Olivia shifts uncomfortably underneath the Eee's stare. "I think it is a good thing, anyway," she says cryptically. "I'm sorry that I can't be more specific, Lili."

"Anywayth what do you need in tha way of help with muthic Lili? Do you jutht need me to help make a new piece? Or change thomething?" Miranda pipes up after a moment in an attempt to shift the conversation when the Skeek begins to look uncomfortable.

Liliana rolls her jaw slowly as she thinks. That look doesn't ever leave Olivia, though. "I expect t' hear all about it after it ends, den," she finally says and relaxes. Turning her attention back to Miranda, she says, "So, gonna play fer us? What sortsa styles do vou know how t'play? I vaguely remember a few t'ings vhen ve … , er, visited vour friend, but no much else."

"Umm… I don't often play for people Lili, but I know thome lullabieth and thome thlower muthic, thome of it kinda thomber. I can play fathter muthic too, and I know how to fiddle," Miranda replies thoughtfully, looking to the Eee to see if that helps.

"Slow and somber is fine! Y'kin tailor any dance t' the music. Sometimes slow is much better den fast. Particularly iffin vou are trying t' seduce," Lili says and wiggles her large ears. The many earrings jingle playfully. Looking to Olivia, she asks, "Vhat is vour favorite music style?"

Olivia hmmms. "Well, I like songs that are softer and calmer for when I'm working. It helps me to relax and concentrate. I don't know if those would be the best kind for dancing, though!"

"Well, whatever you need, I'll try to help Lili. I know you have other players in your camp. are you going to need me to accompany other inthtrumentth?" the Lapi queries.

"Vell, I vasn' sure if vou vanted t' play vith us, or jus help work out de new dance an music," Liliana notes as she reaches over to tap Miranda's nose. "If vou intend t' play, I also expect yas t' learn th' dance." She grins.

To Olivia, the Eee hmmms. "Vell, aside from dat explainin' vhy vou hide from m' affections, vou are probably righ. Calm music is no good fer dancin'."

Miranda meeps quietly and rubs the end of her nose. "I don't know about that Lili… I don't think I'd be comfortable in front of a lot of people… " She stop to think about learning to dance for a moment.

"Oh, dat's easy t'get over," Liliana says. "Vou jus' imagine dem all dressed like clowns. It no scary anymore. Vhy you afraid, anyvay, vou gots a nice form."

"Like… Clownth?" the Lapi mimics, blinking before pulling her ears down in embarrassment mumbling, "I'm just not uthed to having people look at me… It thoundth better when you thay it, Lili."

"Ey, I only say vhat is true," Liliana says as she reaches over to gently lift the Lapi's hands away from her ears. Then with a glance to Olivia, she comments, "An no comments outta you on dat I don't!"

"Better you than me, Miranda," Olivia chimes in with a smile. "Lili tried to teach me to dance but I wasn't very good at it. At least you have form!"

Miranda looks even more embarrassed to have Olivia agreeing with the Eee… but conceeds, "Well… If you both think tho maybe I'll try at it."

"I t'ink I gots clothin' vou coul' vear. Ve haf other Lapi dancers so I sure we kin' find something. Besides, it get ya t' show off the dye patterns," Liliana says happily as she lightly elbows the Lapi. "So, either of vou haf a favorite song we kin use as a start?"

"Well… I know thith thong that'th kind of playful. It kind of thpeedth up and thlowth down, alwayth maketh me think of a couple people chathing and following each other around. But it depenth on what you want in a thong for tha danthe," Miranda suggests.

"I be workin' it de other way around, I'll fit de dance to de song. Dat actually usually be easier," Liliana notes.

"Well, if I want to track down the materials for the jewelry you want, Lili, I'd better get started!" Olivia says. "I'll leave the two of you to sort out the music part. I'll come by the camp later and show you what I've found, okay?"

"Oh, vou leavin'? Sure, t'anks! Y' might vant to check on grumpy-rat too. He prolly still mad," Lili says with an impish grin. "I'll catch up with yas later!"

Miranda smiles and gives Olivia a wave, "Ok, thee you later then Olivia."

Olivia waves back to Miranda and says to the Eee, "I'll do what I can to calm him, but I think you'd better watch your back for a while. All right, see you two later!" And off Olivia goes, back in the direction of town.

Turning to Miranda, Liliana grins. "An now ze little Lapi is alone wit' de big, bad, bat," she teases.

"Eek! oh no! Whatever thall I do?" Miranda exclaims in a slightly silly manner, rolling her eyes.

"Throw vourself in my arms and declare vou to be mine?" Liliana teases, then winks. "Anyvay, haf vou danced before? Any sort of dance? An how limber are yas?"

The gray Lapi giggles and rolls her eyes at Lili's suggestion before sobering a bit, "Um… I don't have much experienthe Lili, I went to a danthe onthe but I didn't actually danthe too much. Limber? Well, I chathe after tha bunnieth all the time. I can… uh… touch my hip with my foot?"

"Dats pretty limber," the Eee says approvingly. "So, vhy vou no dance much de time vou vent?"

"I wath… kinda thcared, and embarrathed… " Miranda mumbles honestly, fidgeting with her hands.

"Vhy?" Liliana asks and leans over, tilting her head. The Eee ends up looking at the Lapi in a rather upside-down manner. "I don see vhat you haf to be scared of."

"I… well… I don't know how to ecthplain very well… Jutht, being around or in front of a lot of people maketh me nervous… " Indeed, the very subject seems to be making the Lapi uncomfortable…

"Vou used t' be nervous around me an vou quickly got over it," Liliana points out, "An vou didn' run screaming vhen vou saw, vell, vhat I am. Being in front o' people can't be vorse den dat."

"Umm… well… You're thpethial Lili!" is all Miranda can think to say for a moment… "But I geuthh you're  right… "

Liliana reaches over to lift up the Lapi's chin a bit. "An vou are not?" she asks. "Everyone has somethin' special about dem. I can't play dat instrument, but vou can." The Eee then gets a sly smile and suggests, "I know a vay t' get vou a little more relaxed. Ve kin go dancin' t'gether at the boathouse sometime."

The Lapi blinks, looking at Liliana wide-eyed for a minute. "You mean, with the otterth?" Miranda asks timidly… "Uhh… only if you promithe to make thure none of them pincheth my butt. You're the only one allowed to do that right now… and maybe Morgan if he'd want to," she adds in with a humorous smile.

"I t'ink dey be too busy starin' t' do anything," Liliana says with a fangy grin. The Eee's ears then perk and she says, "Oh, someones gots dere eye on de witchy squirrel, huh?" She playfully elbows the Lapi.

Miranda blushes brightly in her ears when she realizes what she just implied. "Oh… um… Well, yeth actually I thuppothe. Morgan'th really cute, and thweet and… " she just kind of trail off for a minute, continuing to blush… "And he kithed me Lili… it wath nithe."

Liliana grins impishly. "Vell, good for him! He needs to be a little more assertive sometimes," she says with an approving nod. Legs swinging again, she asks, "So, back t' matters of music, how long yas been playin?"

"Oh, I been playing for a few yearth." The gray Lapi states rather proudly, "I taught mythelf the harder thtuff by practithing alot."

"Do lots of Lapis play in yer warren?" Liliana inquires. "Or is it rare?"

Miranda thinks for just a moment on that… "Well, Bethhy playth the flute, and there are a couple of other instruments. But I don't think anyone elthe in the warren playth the violin other than me n' my mom."

"It be uncommon in Sylvania, an I should know given how much I've traveled," Liliana notes. She hops to her feet and turns so she can look directly at Miranda. "So, why don't vou give me some sample songs an I kin get a few ideas goin'," she says.

"Well, alright… I'll play a few and we'll thee what you like." Miranda says quietly, lifting her violin to her chin and resting her bow along the strings. Softly she begins to play the first of several well practiced songs.