Today, Francisco has managed to have an easier time of temple work- organizing, collating, and delivering apparently blank sheets of different types of paper from one Temple office to another.

The kitsune is currently sitting underneath a canopy at one of the stalls, where he's been offered a drink of something (bug free) – not free this time, but at a substantial discount. He is not drinking much, just slumped tiredly over a table shaking his head every so often.

Francisco thinks, {Kitsunes were never meant to do this kind of work… }

Three Jupani stroll by, one talking excitedly to the other… "… and then the Kavi bites this tentacle! you should have seen… "

At the table, the five-tailed fox continues to grumble into his drink, pretty much oblivious to the activity in the Bazaar today.

A well-dressed young Lapine maid, slender and graceful, makes her way through the crowd. Her pink nose twitches ceaselessly at the rich and varied scents, and her toast-brown ears flick this way and that, seeming to hear everything. She spots the kitsune where he sits, and alters her course towards him.

The young rabbit stops behind the fox, and stares at his five-tailed butt for a moment. Then she approaches him from the side, standing with her paws clasped until she is noticed…

Francisco senses being watched, and looks up from his drink. "Er… can I help you?" he asks the maid.

She clears her throat, and speaks in a clear voice. "Have I the honour of addressing Francisco, the Kitsune?"

Two Kavi whack at each other with sticks, playing Lancers, until a Skeeek merchant shoos them off.

The fox pauses for a moment, then shrugs. "I guess, though I don't feel like I have much honor at the moment."

Francisco takes a small sip from the pitcher on his table.

The rabbit continues. "I bring you greetings, then, from her worship the Lady Ophelia, Countess of the Northern Shore, in token of which she sends you this seal… " The bunny girl fumbles in a little satin pouch for a moment and produces a sort of glazed ceramic disk with a picture of Ophelia on one side, and a waxen seal on the other. She gives this to the kitsune. "She desires the pleasure of your presence at your soonest convenience, upon a matter of mutual interest."

The kitsune's ears prick up a bit. "Oh?" He picks up the mug and drinks down the rest of … whatever it was he was having. "Well, is now a good a time as any?"

The rabbit says, "Certainly, good sir! She'll be most pleased, I assure you. If you'll accompany me?"

Francisco pushes himself up from the table, and gets ready to follow. { Not as pleased as I am, } thinks the fox, seeing his chance to get out of the 'menial labor' trap he's in right now.

The Kavi children turn up behind Francisco suddenly, whacking him on the tails with sticks and then running off!

The rabbit girl eeps in alarm at the antics of the ruffians!

The kitsune is both tired from his day's work and anxious as to what is to come that he doesn't really notice the Kavis.

And the Lapi and Kitsune walk off, too…

Ophelia's Manor
The Lady Ophelia's drawing room is brightly and evenly lit by the several large frosted skylights let into the grained ceiling. The quality of the light is such as one might expect of a studio, or perhaps a botanical conservatory. The impression is aided by the several potted trees which dominate the room, the bright green of their leaves striking against the pale yellow of the walls and tile. The furnishings are lightly built, and graceful of form, looking more like lawn furniture than anything. A cheerful, meadow-like room, wholly suited for a Unicorn…

Ophelia greets the kitsune at the door of the largish chamber to which the bunny girl has delivered him. She's dressed casually, in a comfortable-looking, although probably expensive, blue caftan. The hood, lying down her back, has a little button-up opening to accommodate her horn. "Francisco! How kind of you to come! Do come inside… "

Francisco smiles back, having managed to find some energy on his way here, and follows inside.

Ophelia indicates a tea service on a side table, complete with a young, very mannerly-looking Kavi standing ready to pour. "Will you have some tea?"

The kitsune nods gently, "Thank you." He considers something for a moment. "Er, if I may – I'm not sure how I should address you?" he asks.

Ophelia gives a nod to her Kavi, who begins to pour tea for both. "'Your Grace' will be fine." The Kavi carries the tray over to a small table, and places it alongside a plate of fruit and cookies. He gives a practiced bow and exits quietly. Ophelia leads her guest over to the table, and shows him to a seat…

Taking his seat, the fox says, "I was actually starting to wonder if you were serious about that offer you made me in the Bazaar all those weeks ago. I hadn't heard anything else about it. Then again, just of late, I've not been around there much."

Ophelia lowers her ears slightly, giving an unmistakable impression of contrition. "I'm dreadfully sorry about that – the whole thing's taken longer than I'd have liked."

"Yeah," Francisco agrees, splaying his ears a little. "So much so, that the Temple have drafted me in for labor duties."

Ophelia ahs! "You must be very pleased, to be called to assist the Temple."

"Not particularly," says the Kitsune plainly.

Ophelia says, "Ah. Well… At any rate, we've a different job for you now – assuming that your Temple duties won't prevent you from carrying through with our plans? "

Francisco says, "From what I've been led to understand, all I need is a different job and I can drop all of those duties."

Ophelia sips at her tea, testing it. She spoons the leaves out onto the saucer as she speaks. "Excellent. I've arranged for a supply of exploding Foxes, Fox pinatas, and sundry other novelties to be delivered at your request. I've also contracted a firm of carpenters to build you a stall for the marketplace. Starting a business is such fun, don't you think?"

The fox cocks his head to one side. "You want me to tend a stall in the Bazaar now? I thought I was going to be making various … 'appearances'?" he asks.

Ophelia flicks her ears. "Well, that too, certainly. You needn't fear - there'll be plenty of opportunity for you to advertise. We can put some of the servants to tending the stall if it comes to that."

Francisco ohs quietly and nods. "Okay… But you really think this is going to work? It's been a while since this so called… Fox Day?"

Ophelia says, "I'm sure we'll manage – after all, you're the original five-tailed Zerda, you know. An acquaintance of mine was recommending a mage of whom he has heard great things too – it seems that he may be able to cause you to be blown up – wouldn't that get attention, now?"

Francisco hrms. "Maybe – though I'm a little reluctant to be party to illusions that I myself don't create. Also, I'm a Kitsune, not a Zerda."

Ophelia says, "Ah – Kitsune, then, although I'm sure most won't know the difference. It's perfectly harmless, and most spectacular, I'm assured. I do hope you'll consent to try the illusion… "

"I'll consider it," Francisco says, taking a sip of the tea.

Ophelia beams. "Most gratifying! Now there's the matter of the contract, and your retainer fee… " She produces a rolled up parchment from her sleeve, and follows it with a small, weighty leather pouch. She hands the parchment to Francisco. "If you'd assure yourself that it's to your liking?"

Ophelia sets the pouch down on the table. It sounds heavy…

Heavy, at this moment in time, sounds good to the fox, and he briefly looks over the document. "Sure, you have yourself a deal," Francisco says, thinking at the same time that anything is better than what he's in at the moment.

Ophelia says, "Very good then – we'll sign it and take it to be sealed after we've finished our tea. About the retainer fee, now… Will 100 shekels advanced against your earnings be suitable? "

Doubting that he could manage to get a full gold piece out of the unicorn noble, the Kitsune nods in agreement.

Ophelia slides the little bag across the table. "You'll make more than that the first time you're blown up, I'm sure." She sips at her tea some more, and takes a small, square cookie from the plate.

Francisco smiles back, and just hopes that what is planned is safe.