Piti says, "Step right up folks and see the wonders of ther show, don't be shy now!"

Crowds of Bazaar-goers mill about, some of them turning to look curiously in the direction of the sideshow.

"Ihzza CIRCUS!" pipes up a kitten, tugging at the sleeve of a reluctant parent.

Envoy stays hidden behind the curtains. She's had enough of being looked at in a sideshow before.

Piti says, "Spare shekels weighing down your pockets, being nothing but a burden? Then step on over and see Piti Tavernum's Wonderous Acrobat show! Starring the ammmmmazing Chipper!!"

Piti makes extravagant and wild gestures, motioning the passing populace to the attraction.

Murmurs of "Chipper" run through the crowd, and a few more curiosity-seekers join the growing audience at the mention of the now-familiar name.

Chiaroscuro, plus a host of bright-costumed Kavis, mill behind the curtain, awaiting their cue…

Piti flings his arms open and upwards "That's right! The Amazing Chipper! Only to be seen here!! Step riiight up!"

Wynona hops up and down, trying to peek over somewhat taller Bazaar-goers. She's evidently been in the confines of the College Esoterica for too long. It only finally occurs to her that she can easily solve this problem … and she does so by fluttering up and out of the milling crowd and finding a perch up on a broken gargoyle jutting out from one of the nearby buildings.

Envoy drinks a glass of water. Impersonating a calliope will dry out her throat fairly quickly once things start.

The Kavis tumble out, one by one, until a whole cavalcade of whirling paint and fur and cloth are on stage, dancing and twisting for the crowd.

Envoy provides the music and sound effects, using her dulcimer sparingly and her voices expansively.

The crowd greets the entertainers with applause, hoots, cat-calls and wolf-whistles. (After all, what do you expect, with so many cats and wolves in the crowd? It's nothing personal.)

The 'Kavi' known as Chipper bursts into the midst of this with a backflip, covered from head to toe in a silvery outfit which shines dazzlingly in the sun's light.

And the show begins! The dancing Kavis perform their routines of tumbles, flips, somersaults, and more motion than can be described in a hundred books. A grin seems set on each one's face, as they give a tremendous show for the audience.

The feats are greeted by several "ooo"s and "ahh"s from the crowd … and a couple of "Aw, that's nothing"s from the token hard-to-please types.

Envoy starts to turn blue backstage, and pauses to take another deep breath…

The Kavis shift to a sort of war-dance routine, with loud foot-stomps and hand-claps. No fancy acrobatics, but tight choreography and quick steps for this segment.

The dance builds in speed and power, and then with one loud jump, the Kavis all *stomp* on the stage together with four paws, then break into acrobatic routines again.

Envoy picks up the pace of the music once again, to match the frenetic activity of the performers.

A kitten giggles at the display and begins to clap rapidly. This spurs an echo of claps amongst the onlookers in the kitten's vicinity .

The Kavis' tumbling gets comic, with a series of pratfalls, yet keeps the dazzling intensity. Some Kavis springboard off the shoulders of others into twisting dives… timing the routines to the claps of the crowd.

A bit more dancing… a bit more tumbling… and then, they stop, posing for just one moment…

Envoy uses the brief pause to drink more water.

Piti waves attention to himself, and upon his face is a huge grin, "And now friends and folks, for your eye-popping viewing excitement, the act that made this very show famous! Chipper's Death Defying Dive down a positively large living Pyramid! Watch and be amazed!"

The brightly-colored Kavis form their pyramid, as they have in many shows before, and 'Chipper' climbs to the top. From out of the pockets of his silvery-glittery outfit, he pulls two scarves…

*gasp!* "oh my!" "… must be done with mirrors… "

Chipper ties one tightly around his eyes, to act as blindfold… then, a Vartan who's been sitting stageside flies up in front of him for a few moments, blocking the crowd's view.

As the Vartan flaps back down, the Kavi raises his front paws… tied together!

More gasps emit from the crowd. "He must be insane!"

"Silence, please, my friends!" Chipper calls out, voice calm but insistent. "I must have silence… " His muzzle shows tension and focus, and the other Kavis sshhhhh down the audience, staying stock-stilll otherwise.

A snake in the audience starts going, "La la lalala la la – *OOF*!" *THUD* Now he's quiet.

The Kavi star tenses his body… readying… and jumps, hurling his body high into the air in a fluid motion…

He hurtles downward, in a crazily fast end-over-end spin, falling towards the hard, hard stage…

*WHAM!* And Chipper lands perfectly on both feet, hands lowered… then raised, still tied together, in triumph!

Envoy calliopes triumphantly backstage.

The crowd goes wild!

*applause* (whistle) "Wow!" *Hurrah!*

One of the other Kavis unties Chipper, and together, the cast of the show take a large bow, then backflip once, twice, and off the stage.

Envoy lets the music fade out, and rubs her throat while reaching for the jug of fruit juice that always awaits the performers at the end of the show.

Shekels rain down on the stage! *clatter bounce clatter*

Chiaroscuro bypasses the juice, moving quickly into the tent. Some of the other Kavis look a bit surprised – he rarely does that.

The stage begins to tilt backwards, all the money slipping down behind the curtain where the performers can help gather and sort it while enjoying their drinks.

Wynona, perched on the gargoyle, is still clapping and whistling. (It's such a high-pitched whistle, though, that most can't even hear it.)

The crowd slowly begins breaking up, curiosity satisfied … and many other ways to blow hard-earned shekels are to be found just down the street or around the corner.

Envoy takes an extra cup of juice, and heads for Chia's tent. "Are you thirsty, Chipper?" she asks through the flap.

Chiaroscuro calls out, "I'll be just a few minutes, Envoy… " He can be heard talking to Piti, "News? What news?"

Piti says, "Why, we're gettin off this burg m'boy! Round-the-world, point-to-point tour! And you're the main attraction!"

Piti flings an arm around the mongoose "Just think of it, all you'll see, all the money you'll make, it'll be beautiful!"

Chiaroscuro looks up at Piti. "What? The show's leaving Rephidim?" He pauses for a bit. "Ah… for how long?"

Piti thinks a bit "Well, I'd say for a long extended time, but that's no bother! It'll expand your horizons! We'll hit all the areas; Babel, Himaar, might even go for the Savan!"

Chiaroscuro shakes his head. "I can't, boss. I need to stay here, in Rephidim."

Piti removes his arm from around Chia's shoulder, and sticks a finger in his ear, as though trying to clean out some clog. He chuckles, "I must be losing my hearing! I thought you said you couldn't go!"

Chiaroscuro sighs, and nods to Piti. "I did. I need to stay here… important matters, boss. I can't leave the city, not yet. Maybe in another month or two… "

Piti's mouth drops, aghast! "But… but you're passing up the chance of a lifetime! Chipper, bubala, baby, sweetheart! We need you! You got real talent, and that's rare! You could make me… er… us rich! Besides, I've already booked the next show!"

Piti flings his arm back over the mongoose's shoulder, "So whaddya say, pally? I'll make ya famous!"

Chiaroscuro pauses a moment, then shakes his head. "Would if I could, Piti. You've been a great boss, but I need to stay here. It's… " he pauses, wondering how to put 'Because I need to keep undergoing magical observation to reduce the background noise of the retconnic ether' in simple terms. "… a medical condition."

Piti makes one last final try, "You're sure about this? You'll be missing alot… "

Chiaroscuro says, "Besides, Ju'ton can do my act, he knows it backwards and forwards. Maybe not blindfolded, but… Yeah, Piti, I have to."

Chiaroscuro grins up at Piti. "The show'll go on fine without me. And you'll get a bigger take of the profits, you know."

The Kavi sighs, "Well, if that's how you feel, then I guess that's how it is." He shakes Chiaroscuro's paw. "It was nice knowin ya kid." Piti walks off, muttering under his breath, "Ju'ton, huh, that one'll probably break his own neck… "

Envoy blinks at the muttering Kavi that leaves the tent…

Chiaroscuro heads out of the tent, after changing to his 'street clothes' – simple black shirt and pants. He smiles to Envoy. "Save any redfruit juice for me?"

Envoy nods, and hands over the cup of juice.

Envoy says, "I overheard your conversation."

Chiaroscuro takes a sip of the juice, and nods to Envoy. "Wish I could go with the show… these are good folk, Piti especially. But I need to stay here until Haskalah and I are done."

Envoy nods, and asks, "Will you keep performing on your own?"

Chiaroscuro shrugs. "Possibly. I have earned enough money here, I do not need to worry just yet… but I'll need something, sooner or later." He drains the rest of the juice. "No worries. Rik' will blaze the path, I will follow."

Envoy nods. "I'll be leaving the city soon. I don't know when I'll be back."

Chiaroscuro frowns a bit, "You are? Where to, friend Envoy?"

Envoy averts her eyes, "I can't say, really. It's something I'm doing for a friend."

Envoy says, "But I will be returning before too long, I'm sure."

Chiaroscuro's muzzle curls up at the edges in a smile. "I hope you shall be, Lady Envoy. I am so rarely around others more curious than myself these days." His tail swishes a little. "Rik's blessings on your journey."

Envoy smiles, and gives the mongoose a peck on the cheek. "It was a lot of fun performing with you, Chiaroscuro. I hope your buzz gets taken care of by the time I return."

"As do I, Envoy, as do I," Chiaroscuro says, rubbing his temple a bit with a paw. "But things happen as they shall." He reaches up to press Envoy's shoulder with a paw. "For new friends such as you, I am glad to stay in this world, skull-buzzing or no."

Envoy smiles.