Just inside the open window, a dark brown bat, attired in an outfit of deep maroon trimmed with black, sits on the sill and plays a double flute, letting its lilting melody be borne out upon the chill wind that wafts across the rooftops.

Envoy raps on the door, and calls, "Vielanika, are you in?"

Vielanika starts from her reverie, the melodic strains ending in an abrupt "HOOT!" She sets the flute aside and stands up, smoothing down her cape and her raven-black hair, though it doesn't really need the attention, and then approaches the door … pushing a couple of boxes out of the way so that she can open the less-oft-used access to the small excuse for a domicile. "Yes! Ah, Envoy! Please, do come in!"

The white and gold Exile steps in carefully, and barely manages to contain her curiosity over all of the knickknacks in the room. "I wanted to come and thank you for taking care of things while I was stuck in the Temple. I'm sorry if it caused you anymore trouble… "

"Trouble?" Vielanika smiles weakly. "Well, everyone has had trouble as of late." She softly closes the door, and leaves the boxes where she's moved them. "It comes with being a bard. And, right now, being an Eeee, too, sometimes."

"Is the war causing problems for you because you're an Eeee?" Envoy asks quietly.

Vielanika nods. "Yes. Not directly, of course – I mean, there are plenty of Eeee in Rephidim, even in the Temple. But still … something goes wrong, someone gets hurt for no apparent reason, and if there's a single Eeee involved, it must be a Babelite plot. And if there isn't … well, look around for any Eeee nearby who look suspicious… " She trails off with a sigh.

Envoy frowns, "That's not very fair. Does that mean you can only play for Eeee audiences now?"

"No!" says Vielanika – a little too loudly. "No," she repeats, more quietly. "Actually, I'm trying NOT to be around too many Eeee exclusively. I mean … if you seem to prefer hanging around just other Eeee, then people might think you don't really LIKE being on Rephidim, after all… " She sighs again, then suddenly pipes up, "And all these vermites! You know, my favorite perfume, 'Coruscant Fiero,' just DOUBLED in price?"

Envoy blinks, wondering what vermites have to do with the price of perfume in Rephidim. "Vermites? Are you having financial problems too?"

"Oh, it's some silly excuse the merchants have come up with," the Eeee says, shaking her head. "They've concocted this absurd story about VERMITES making off with soap and perfume and – well, just about everything else except food – and are using it as an excuse to hike up prices."

The Aeolun rubs the side of her muzzle, then asks, "But you're doing alright otherwise?"

Vielanika giggles. "Otherwise? Doing just fine. But you know me – I love to have SOMETHING to gripe about!" She winks conspiratorially.

Envoy smiles at the little joke… at least, she assumes it was a joke. "Oh, that's good to hear. I don't suppose you know of any high-paying singing jobs available? I need to raise some money to pay off an old debt and charter an airship."

"Charter an airship?" Vielanika blinks. "Now, that would take quite a job! Or a long time saving. Just where are you intending to fly? Obviously too far to do it the old-fashioned way." She flaps her wings lightly.

Envoy says, "I have to return to Shkarkin Hive, and eventually on to the Savan… "

Vielanika shivers. "Oh! Yes … that Zelak business with … what's his name? Ben?"

"Bem," Envoy corrects. "It's short for Bug Eyed Monster."

Vielanika starts at this, then breaks out in a fit of giggles, covering her mouth with one hand delicately. "You never fail to surprise me, Envoy!"

Envoy smiles and wags her tail. "That's good, right?"

Vielanika hmms, striking a thoughtful pose as she looks out of the corners of her eyes toward the window. "Hmmm. Well, THIS time, at least. But, in general, yes."

"I estimate that I'll only need 30,000 shekels to cover all of the expenses, including the 20,000 that I owe Aski Medes," the Exile says. "Does that sound like the right amount to you?"

Vielanika's jaw drops. "Well … three gold coins should get you a long way. Of course, as with everything, 'it all depends.' But it's certainly an ambitious goal." She furrows her brow in thought. "There's no quick way about it. If there were, I'd have used it myself." She slips in a wink at this again. "But you have to at least start somewhere. Hmm. Tell you what. There's an audition going on at Alysin's Auction House. I would have tried it out myself … but I've gotten the word that Eeee need not apply. However, you're still eligible."

Envoy says, "You mean I should auction myself??"

"Uhm … Nonono, not … not EXACTLY. Though, in a way, I suppose that's almost true. Ahem. Nevermind that. Alysin's Auction House used to be an opera, you see, and, on occasion, it's used for that purpose again," Vielanika explains.

"Ohh," Envoy says. "So I would be auditioning for the singing roles?"

"Correct. It's largely because of the eccentricities of a Kujaku named Avi Kromo that you'll have the chance. He seems to have taken the notion that Rephidim needs a little more 'culture' as he's seen it elsewhere. Opera, as you might know, has been a bit out of vogue in recent years. But as long as someone's footing the bill… " Vielanika shrugs. "Hey, it pays!"

Envoy says, "I remember Avi Kromo's party."

Vielanika rolls her eyes. "Yes, he DOES have a knack for being … memorable. But nevermind that. The important thing is that he's RICH – and that you can sing like no one else can! Presumably you can PROJECT, too, though, right? That's the important part. Eeee aren't really renowned for having the lungs for that – not unless the audience is also composed of Eeee. The late Abednego bar Abbas is a notable exception. And vampire Eeee tend to have somewhat deeper, more resonant voices, too."

Envoy says, "What was he late for? And yes, I can project well if I combine both voices, usually."

"Late … ah … When you refer to 'the Late So-and-So,' it tends to imply that So-and-So has passed away. Is deceased. Is no more. It's a figure of speech, kind of an honorary way of noting that So-and-So isn't alive anymore, without pausing to just bluntly say, 'But he's dead now'," Vielanika asides.

Envoy nods, "Thank you for explaining. Is performing in an opera dangerous?"

"Not normally, no," Vielanika says. "But Abednego was murdered during one. Still, from what I hear, he was asking for it anyway. Of course, there are the rumors that he was a Babelite spy. But then, there are rumors that I'M a Babelite spy, too. Next, it seems he was fooling around with wives of powerful men, making life miserable for powerful others, and generally being a nuisance."

Envoy blinks, "Was that all part of the opera? It sounds like some of the ones in the Guild Library. I guess I should try for the role of someone that isn't going to die then."

Vielanika nods. "Well, in opera, death scenes DO often have memorable singing numbers … unlike real life. But you just try for whatever you're comfortable with. Now then … no sense tarrying. Shall we be off?"

"Alright!" The Aeolun looks for some room to spread her wings, but supposes one just jumps out of the window first.

Vielanika shows the way by popping out the sill, and scrabbling a couple of steps out onto the rooftop to spread her wings. Then, with a snap, her brown leathery wings are out, and she flaps up into the air. "Let's get you EMPLOYED!" she cries out gleefully, as she soars over a chimney top to catch a light updraft.

Envoy follows along after climbing onto the roof herself.

Some time later, the bat and alien reach Alysin's Auction House, a monument to faded glory – and pale attempts to breathe life back into such dreams that built the venerable establishment in the first place.

Inside, they find that the waiting line is fairly short … and there ARE a few Eeee, which Vielanika does not volunteer comment upon.

To make conversation, Envoy asks the bat about her flute. "Where did you get it from?"

Vielanika looks to Envoy. "My flute? I made it myself, act – Well, not REALLY. I commissioned, it rather." She sighs wistfully. "There was once this very handsome Eeee, with fur of a peculiar shade of black that highlighted purple if the sun shone on it just the right way. He was a very fine craftsman… " She shakes herself out of the thought. "In any case. Old news. But I'm still very fond of the flute."

Envoy watches the line, and wonders if she should design her own instrument too. If she knew how. "I wouldn't know how to commission an instrument. You must know a lot about acoustics."

Eventually, Envoy makes it far enough forward into the line that she is handed a script by a golden vixen at the doorway to the main auditorium. She hands one to Vielanika, but is waved off. "No, no, I'm not auditioning. I'm an assistant to Madame Envoy here." She gestures to the Aeolun.

Envoy blinks at Vielanika calling herself an assistant. She always thought of the bat as a mentor.

The alien thanks the vixen and begins to read the script.

Vielanika lightly elbows "Madame" Envoy. "Remember, Envoy, you're here to show them that you can act as well as sing."

The script is a fairly sappy romance, taking place against a backdrop of some ancient war. A quick perusal of the script would reveal that all the villain roles call for Eeee.

Envoy whispers back, "Like at a tea party? Play pretend?"

"Well," offers Vielanika, "sort of. Except that you're being given a role to play. You don't just make it up as you go."

Envoy says, "That should be much easier then. I'm not good at making things up."

Flipping through the pages, Envoy memorizes the script without worrying about what the dialogue is supposed to mean.

A Cervani doe looks up from her desk at Envoy. "Oh! Hello there. You must be a half-Vartan? Perfect. We'll see how you do for the role of Chi Maria. Flip to page 2, just after the introduction, and note … here … to here … " She points out the lines. "And, be prepared to sing some lines from your favorite song. You only have to speak the script lines, but we want to be sure you can sing."

Envoy nods to the doe, deciding it wouldn't be worthwhile to explain her origins.

At last, it's Envoy's turn on stage. Vielanika strains to be assistant rather than nagging mentor, as the Aeolun is directed to stand in place. A Skeek pianist plays, as an elderly Rath'ani cues Envoy to read her lines…

Spreading her arms out, Envoy says, "Though we stand across the Procession, yet still will the love of our hearts build a bridge 'tween us of fallen Swords… " The arms come in and her hands press together as if in prayer against her chest, "… and transcending the war-torn land… " Wings now half-spread into an angelic pose, "we will to one another stride, say you'll be with me forever!"

In the darkened balcony, someone claps lightly. "Very good presentation. Treven, I'd like to hear her sing, now." The mystery voice isn't all that hard for the Aeolun to place, though. It sounds distinctly Kujaku-like.

The Rath'ani looks up to the balcony, then, adjusting his spectacles, looks back to Envoy. "Yes. Please sing a few bars of a melody you enjoy."

Envoy turns to the Rath'ani, and asks, "What voice should I sing in; soprano, tenor, or baritone?"

The Rath'ani says, "Take your pick." He glances up to the balcony, then looks back to Envoy. "We've got the time. You can do all three if you please."

Envoy chooses a song that makes use of both of her voices and a wide range… unfortunately, it is in a completely alien language. It does have a nice, surreal quality however, a mix between a lullaby and a dance.

Envoy's audience is, without an exception, impressed. Well, Vielanika doesn't look terribly surprised, but just smugly satisfied with the performance. A Kujaku voice calls out from the balcony, "Bravo! Bravo! Treven, we have Maria!"

Vielanika gasps, covering her mouth to try vainly to hide a pleased smile.

Envoy turns to Vielanika and smiles wide enough for both of them.

The golden vixen walks up to Envoy. "Well! We might as well take you to costuming… We're on a tight schedule, you see… "

Envoy smiles, "I get to wear a costume too!?"

"Of course!" says the golden vixen, with a mischievous smile, and a *BING* of bells in her voluminous tail. "Now, if you'll just come along with me… "

The Exile follows along, beginning to enjoy herself. This should be a very interesting experience…