It's a few days after Candlemass and Senior Investigator Kani has returned to the Temple to find a note waiting for him: a tear-streaked parchment note from Maza, addressed to one Rilikin, expressing her hope that Rilikin was only so busy with work on Candlemass that he forgot the day, and hasn't forgotten a small, shy golden vixen… Enclosed in the letter were three sun-dried violets.

A carriage pulls up near the building's front, and a vulpine figure alights from it, paying the driver. It's Rilikin, handsomely dressed in fine gray and wine silks, yet another ornate jeweled (metal!) neckpiece gleaming half-hidden in his neatly-brushed chestruff, matching the belt that secures his tunic. He pads up to the building's stairway, a bunch of flowers and several boxes under his arm, the aforementioned note clutched carefully in his paw.

Rilikin pauses at the bottom of the stairs, gives the note a soft sniff, then smiles faintly and heads up the stairs to gently knock on Maza's door.

Something tickles Rilikin's memory. As he was being driven up in the carriage, he noticed an inn on the other side of this row; in fact it would adjoin with the stairway and hall in which he now stands. A notorious den of iniquity, though not so dangerous as the Missing Shekel… The Three Thieves. But why should he remember a detail like that now?

"Oh!" calls a female voice from inside. "Who's there?" The door opens an inch to show a disheveled looking golden vixen wearing a bedrobe of linen. Amber eyes stare incredulously up at Rilikin.

Maza says, "Rilly! I'm not dressed – I didn't know you were – give me a few minutes please!" The door shuts again.

Rilikin smiles warmly as he looks back, just watching for a moment… then remembering the flowers and starting to hold them up. Unfortunately the door closes just then. "Oh… that's… er… quite alright, no need to trouble… "

Some loud banging noises come from inside. However, it seems that Maza's ritual for getting dressed will take a little more than a few minutes, leaving Rilikin nothing to do but stare at a number on the door that appears distressingly familiar.

Rilikin peers quietly at the number, puzzling over it. And regarding the bunch of flowers blankly.

Number Six… Three Thieves Inn… First Ones! This might be the address that Nimiss gave Senior Investigator Kani a long time ago, supposedly the address of some confederate of Moffat's. But can this really be the right place? How is it that Maza lives here?

Rilikin stares… at the number. {That can't be… no.} Still, he resolves to… hint to Maza about what could be, to see if it is true. Though he closes his eyes as he hopes that it is not.

It sounds like something is going *swoosh* inside. A few times actually.

Rilikin tilts his head a bit to bring his ear closer to the door. Subtly.

Just as Rilikin does so, the door opens and Rilikin finds himself listening to the heartbeat of a gorgeously dressed golden vixen resplendent in pale golden silks, a long dress that settles to just over her ankles and ripples on the wind to expose them. She's manged to find the time to do her hair up in an elaborate braid which she brings up to form a classically styled coiffure. "Oh! Rilikin, I'm sorry, did I keep you waiting too long?" Maza exclaims.

Rilikin lifts his muzzle quickly and looks at Maza, then smiles widely. "Oh… no, not at all… You're gorgeous. Though you were before as well, minutes ago. Such attire can only increase your beauty." He holds out the flowers and speaks softly. "I… regret having been away at Candlemass. Circumstances were beyond my control, I was not able to return to Rephidim in time. I missed you, a great deal… "

Maza flicks her tail and smiles, muzzle down but looking up at Rilikin. "Oh! Dearest Rilly, you always know just what to say to keep me from being upset with you." She takes the flowers from the exquisitely foppish fox's hands and plunges her nose into them, her cheekruffs and eyes peeking out amidst the blooms as if she were part of the bouquet.

Rilikin's ears splay out as Maza peeks out of the flowers. "You're more beautiful than any flower… " He smiles again and brings the two delicately-wrapped boxes out from under his arm, one smaller and one larger. "I… since I wasn't able to be with you, tried… to find a few tokens I believed you might appreciate… " His tail swishes slowly back and forth as he watches the golden vixen, trying to keep his mind… objective.

"Mmm, I love these flowers," the golden vixen murmurs, eyes closed. Behind her, Kani can see that the apartment is a bit bare, but what parts of it are decorated don't match each other; a lovely woven Abu Dhabi rug competes for floorspace with a cheap straw mat, and various outfits are hung over different objects, one such appearing to be a hatrack carved into the form of numerous creatures, winged, raising their arms to hold up (at the moment) a few blouses.

Maza peeks out of the bouquet to see the boxes. "Oh my! And you brought gifts? Oh, this is better than any Candlemass I've ever had before, dearest Rilly!" She sets the bouquet aside on a handy table and takes the boxes in slender violet-gloved hands.

Rilikin's tail swishes more. "I'm glad… " He glances past her at her apartment and smiles. "Very nice, Maza. Very eclectic, minimalist with a feel of both the common and the rare about it… "

"Oh, this? I should ask you if you could do a little something with it," Maza says as she flutters her eyelashes up at Rilikin and leans up against him. She takes his arm and leads him into the apartment. "Perhaps something in old Empire style? I've always admired the way they make everything so intricate, so… rich!"

While the golden vixen speaks, her fingers run nimbly over the packages, first the larger one.

The larger package contains, under the paper, a longish box… and within it, wrapped in paper… a gift from the Naga Empire. A silken brocade robe of midnight black interwoven with golden patterns and swirls, golden edges, along with… of course… embroidered images of coiled Nagai. It is, however, tailored for someone of Maza's form, with a proper tail-slit… and is so light as to have almost no weight.

Rilikin smiles, splaying his ears a bit. "I… ah… hope you like that. I wanted to get something one would be unable to find here… "

Maza gasps and holds the robe up. "Oh! It's beautiful! It'd feel as if I were wearing nothing!" She holds it to her shoulders, modeling for Rilikin.

Rilikin's ears somehow splay even more. "Wearing noth… " His eyes seem to glaze over slightly at something, then he shakes his head as if to clear it of a mental image and grins happily at the vixen, tail waving. "I'm glad you like it. I think it'd look wonderful on you, yes. It matches your colors."

Maza beams and then hangs the robe up onto the hat rack, over the arm of a saluki whose wings are swept forward to see like feathery robe-sleeves. "Maybe I'll model it for you tonight, after we get back," she murmurs, looking at Rilikin slyly. She starts working on the other box, fingers surprisingly dextrous.

Rilikin's eyes widen a bit, and he's forced to shake his head a little to clear it again. "Perhaps." He smiles even wider and watches her open the other package… which is, as she gets its paper off, a box of xocholatl confections, delicately and exquisitely formed truffles in an ornamented enclosure, each with a beautiful pattern of sugared lines about its surface.

"Oh! Oh my," Maza says, appearing to swoon into Rilikin's arms. "You've found out my secret addiction! These aren't good for us foxes, everyone says, but I can never resist one now and then."

Rilikin quickly brings his arms up to catch the vixen, himself melting quite a bit. If his ears were to splay any more, they'd most likely meet under his muzzle. He appears to struggle for composure momentarily, then looks happily down at Maza, making eye contact. "Indeed. I guessed correctly then, it seems." He grins playfully. "And addiction is quite the right word. They are… hard to resist. As are you, might I add." He smiles warmly.

Maza looks up dreamily to Rilikin. "You are so sweet, dearest Rilly… If you aren't careful, I might never let you leave here." She takes one of the chocolates out, a bit of chocolate formed by pressing against the waxed underside of a leaf so that it takes the shape and the minty flavor of that leaf, and bites it in half, then offers the other half to the interior decorator.

Rilikin rrs softly, still smiling. "And I would have need to regret such imprisonment? Gazing upon your beauty is hardly the image of punishment… " He tilts his head and softly accepts the other half of the chocolate, biting quietly on it and closing his eyes. "Very nice, they are… " He breathes mintily at Maza and smiles.

Maza mmms. "Oh, I could just do this all day," she murmurs, savoring the tiny bit of chocolate. In her present boneless-seeming state, the elaborately dressed and coiffured vixen seems more cat than fox as she leans against Rilikin.

Rilikin, for his part, is seemingly content to hold the vixen all day. He closes his eyes dreamily and sways just a little to each side as Maza savors her chocolate, almost a faint hint of a romantic, dancelike movement. "It seems I chose well indeed… ", he whispers. "Though as for doing this all day… there is the matter of where you wish to go later, entirely your choice… I intend to fully make up for my abscence, in any way that you desire."

"Mmmm, why don't we take a walk in the Bazaar?" Maza suggests. "We can buy little treats from the venders and look at the jewelry, and perhaps you'll be inspired with a new design for some lucky client's home… "

Rilikin opens his eyes a bit. "That sounds like an excellent idea to me… Perhaps you might see some other treasure you deserve, and shall have? And yes… The Bazaar often inspires me. Beauty has… that effect." He lowers his eyes to glance over Maza again, his gaze and smile warm. "Shall we go, then?"

Maza beams, as brightly as a rising sun. "Gladly, dearest Rilly!"

Through the aisles of the Bazaar wanders a truly lovely couple, a red fox dressed elaborately, a flash of metal at his neck, with a golden vixen dressed in amber on his arm. While nibbling on whole game hens roasted on a stick and covered in a honey glaze with dabs of sesame seeds, they have been stopping by every booth to oooh and aah over the trinkets there, and occasionally to make a purchase. Now they have arrived by one of the newer shops, one that is owned by a certain Vykarin, who sells beads…

Maza looks curiously into the shop. "Oh! Oh my, how quaint," she exclaims as she looks over the rows and rows of cunningly carved beads and bits of shellwork.

Rasha looks up from behind the table that serves as a divider between her work area and the customer area; at the moment, she's just finishing work on some sort of pendant. "Herro! Wercome to my humburr shop of craft. May I assist you?"

Rilikin glances over the trinkets himself. "Quite." He smiles. "Rugged, with hints of the natural delicacy of nature. I seem to recall you had a fondness for Vykarin bracelets, Maza… do you see anything you like?" He nods politelty to Rasha. "Good day, miss. The lady perhaps wishes to view your wares, fine indeed they are."

Rasha smiles. "Prease inspect whatever you wish and ask whatever questions occur." She motions to the various goods on display, which include a thin decorative spiral, a set of Airship Dice, and what looks like a shed 'visor', unshaped. "Everything you see made from sherr is for sare."

Maza seems quite surprised to see the crustacean-like wolf. "Do you know, I've never met a Vykarin shopkeeper before. You speak Rephidim standard very well!"

Rasha bows her head, tail wagging. "Thank you for the compriment."

Rilikin nods as well. "Indeed. Impressive, miss." He tilts his head a bit, watching her. Vykarin tend to unnerve him slightly due to the fact that he can't see where they're looking through their 'visor', but this one certainly seems harmless and friendly enough. He smiles at Maza. "One learns every day."

Maza hastens to add, "Well, it's not that they didn't speak Rephidim standard well, they were just… Thick-tongued," she suggests. "But then, they weren't merchants, they were fighters, so I suppose that they didn't need to practice as you do." The golden vixen appears cutely flustered, then cranes her head to look curiously at the pendant that Rasha is working on.

Rilikin chuckles softly at Maza and gives her paw a gentle squeeze. "You must travel more, such things will soon cease to surprise you." He peers down at the pendant as well. "Very nice work… "

A robed Sphinx, carrying some carefully-folded fabric and neatly-bundled wood slats, walks down the street. It's Buran, returning from procuring more supplies for her airship-model hobby. She waits politely just inside the shop's entrance, checking the wood to make sure it wasn't damaged since purchase.

The pendant is made of cord, with a number of curiously-shaped bits of shell and spacers along its lower portion; in the middle of the bits, a circle of shell holds an amber stone.

Maza looks fascinated. "How much is that pendant?" she asks. "It's beautiful! And it would match my fur perfectly."

Rasha says, "This is a commissioned work for a customer. I fear I cannot serr it to you, though I word gradly make another."

Maza's ears droop. "But… " She looks up to Rilikin.

A white-furred and winged Exile gets in line behind the Sphinx, but is paying more attention to the crowds outside than inside the shop.

Rilikin looks back down at Maza. He starts to say something, but stops. His eyes soften at her gaze. "Ah… What… would be the price of another, miss?"

Envoy glances down at Buran's bundle, and whispers to the Technopriest, "Are you about to make another tiny airship?"

Rasha says, "Werr, it is a custom work, designed just for the individuar. I am afraid I must charge accordingry. Say… two coppers. And that word be without the stone, which was provided to me by the customer."

"But it's such a perfect stone," Maza says softly. She reaches out to stroke the small bit of amber with a violet-gloved fingertip.

Rilikin sighs softly, inwardly wincing at the price, but… "Are you sure, miss? That this particular piece could not be sold for… a far greater value than was originally offered?"

Rising up on her toes, Envoy tries to see what the vulpines are so interested in.

Rasha's ears set back. "Sir, I am quite sure. I entered into an agreement with the customer, and I wirr not break such an agreement rightry. Especiarry since, if I am not mistaken, my customer is standing behind you at this very moment."

"Perceptive," the Sphinx answers, "and correct. It'll take me a few weeks, I expect, but it's time well spent. I enjoy building them." The bits of wood seem just the right size and color to become the planks of an airship's hull, and the fabric looks remarkably similar to that used on the Intimidator.

Rilikin holds up a paw. "Very well, I must admire integrity of such fortitude." He blinks, looks at Maza, and turns around to see who this 'buyer' might be.

Maza looks woebegone, then takes Rilikin's hands. "Maybe… " She looks at the winged creature. "She would be willing to sell it?" she murmurs very quietly into the reddish fox's ears. "It can't be very expensive… "

Rasha's ears stand upright once more. "As I said, however, I word gradry create one just for you."

Envoy is still talking with Buran, and doesn't notice the glances aimed at her. "Do you invent the ships yourself, or do you copy existing ones?"

Although Buran can hear the nearby conversation, she pays no mind to it. Instead, she explains to the Exile that this particular model will be based on a real vessel, though not all of her constructs are. It depends on what she's in the mood to build and whether any impressive or interesting ships have visited the docks recently. Two outstretched arms indicate the expected size of the new model (about two and a half feet long.)

Rilikin's eyes widen slightly as he sees who the 'buyer' is, but shows no other reaction. He gives Maza's hands another gentle squeeze. "Perhaps indeed. I shall ask." He looks back at Rasha for a moment. "Perhaps, miss. The lady desires the perfect stone, I'm afraid… I shall speak to the customer, and if nothing comes of it, shall see whether you might have a stone of similar quality?" With that, he turns and pads towards Envoy, keeping his motions as formal and… well… 'upper class' as possible. "Miss? Might I have a word with you?" He stops a distance away from her… downwind, not upwind.

Maza ohs! "You're so sweet, Rilly!" She clasps his hand and follows, her tail swishing back and forth.

Rasha nods thoughtfully, settling back to wait for someone to approach the table, inspecting the pendant for any last-minute flaws.

Envoy blinks and turns to the fox. "Of course, sir. Uhmm… which word did you want?"

Rilikin clears his throat. "How droll. Yes, the pendant you've comissioned from the Vykarin behind me. Would you be willing to part with it in exchange for ample remuneration including and beyond your payment to the merchant?"

The alien blinks three times, then stares at the fox. "You want my necklace?"

Buran's bright blue eyes track Envoy, then glance toward Rilikin and Maza. She shrugs slightly, then quietly approaches the table. Fully aware of the detrimental effects of startling a craftsman at work, she merely folds her hands over her packages and waits.

Rilikin nods. "That would be my request, yes. Rather… " He indicates Maza and smiles at her. "She desires it. It would look rather attractive on her, I believe."

Maza blinks her cute amber eyes at Envoy. "Oh please, say yes! It's such a beautiful stone… " She drapes over Rilikin's shoulder, her tailtip coming into view now and then as it rhythmically swishes.

Envoy blinks again, "Is it supposed to look attractive?"

Rasha looks up at Buran. "Ah, herro! I have your hairpiece ready."

Rasha searches through a small chest under the table, then produces the item in question. It's a simple but sturdy-looking curve of green shell, polished to a glossy sheen and shaped to fit Buran's head perfectly.

Paper rustles as the blue-robed Templar sets her packages down – carefully – on an empty area of the display table. "May I?" She reaches for the piece. "It looks wonderful!"

Rilikin moves a little each time Maza's tail vanishes, most likely because it's probably brushing his. His tail becomes visible as it curls back around to brush hers. He looks puzzled. "Why… yes, I would think so. And it most certainly is. As is the lady, and it matches her most perfectly… I would be willing to recompense the cost, plus quite a bit extra… "

Rasha hands the barette over. "I am preased you think so."

Envoy's confusion doesn't seem to abate much. "But it's the only thing I've bought for myself. It… comforts me. They took it away from me when I was held prisoner before."

Maza straightens a little, surprised. "Held prisoner?"

Rilikin ahhs. "An ex-criminal, then. Surely you are in need of monetary funds, not simple trinkets that you do not appreciate the beauty of?"

Nodding, Envoy meets Maza's eyes. "Yes. In the Temple. They gave it back to me though when they let me out."

Envoy looks at the pendant where it rests on Rasha's worktable, and chews her lip. "Yes, I need money, but… "

"But… But why did they hold you prisoner? Did you do something wrong?" Maza trembles a little.

Buran clips the barette into her long black hair so that it prevents much of it from blowing in the wind and thereby getting into her face, or in whatever she's working on. Below the barette, though, it still flows down the Sphynx's back and between her wings. "I believe we agreed upon one hundred shekels?"

Envoy says, "No, but they thought I did. They found out later that I wasn't at fault, but they didn't apologize for the torture." She's still looking at the pendant.

Rasha nods. "Correct. Arr on derivery."

Maza gasps. "Torture! Oh, Rilly… " She holds onto the reddish-orange fox's arm, as if about to swoon.

Rilikin tsk tsks and waves a paw dismissively. "Torture? By our temple? The idea… " He slips his other arm protectively around Maza. "Now stop that, you're upsetting the lady with those tales. I simply wish to purchase that attractive necklace of yours for a substantial sum. Surely you could use a tidy bit of funds, hm? Especially for one disliked by the Temple, life tends to not come cheaply, or so I've heard spoken about."

Envoy finally just shakes her head. "I'm sorry, sir, but I can't sell it to you. It represents a special bond to me." Smiling, she suggests, "But there were other, smaller pieces in the Shiny Shoppe."

Maza looks a bit disturbed. "It's all right," she says, patting down Rilikin's arm. "I don't want it anymore. I'd think about… " She shudders.

Buran offers a single shekel coin to Rasha. It shines with the dull sheen of copper. "As agreed. One hundred. Thank you again."

The golden vixen looks up to her Keiltyn companion and murmurs, "I'd rather have a stone that reminds us of each other… Or maybe two, so we could each have one? A matching set… "

Rasha takes the coin, placing it in her marsupial pouch, and dips her head, tail wagging. "Prease return at any time."

Rilikin looks down his muzzle at Envoy. "I see. Very well, it seems your tale has frightened the lady. Smaller… No thank you." He turns back to Maza, tilts his head and smiles warmly. "I would be most pleased with that, yes… " His eyes soften as they gaze into hers. "Of each other… Yes. What would you like… such to be set in?"

Maza lowers her eyes to her hands where they fit neatly into Rilikin's, fingers clasped. "Well… You decide, Rilly?"

Ignoring the vulpines (or at least appearing to, it's actually difficult for her to ignore things) Envoy steps up to Rasha's table and smiles. "Your craftmanship seems to be very popular now," she click-pops.

Rilikin's gaze drifts down to his and Maza's interlinked paws as well. He swallows hard, then looks up into her eyes. "I… rf… rings?"

Rasha wags her tail a bit. "Yes, business has been good. I'm quite happy." She holds the pendant up. "It is done; I hope it pleases you. The necklace reads: 'Teller of tales, singer of songs'."

Maza looks up with a look of wonderment in her eyes. "Oh! Dearest Rilly, I would never have thought you'd say that. You're so darling!" She leans up and gives the interior decorator a resounding kiss, one leg kicked up as she hugs him tightly.

Envoy's eyes light up, the gold irises looking a bit like amber themselves. "It's lovely!" The Aeolun opens her purse and begins to count out two-hundred shekels… mostly in small coins.

Meanwhile, Buran carefully gathers her packages together and carefully makes her way out of the shop. She pauses briefly to politely wish a good day to the two vulpines before continuing on her way back to the Temple.

Rasha smiles at Envoy, holding the pendant out for her.

Rilikin's eyes widen and his ears splay surprisedly at the kiss, and then he holds her tightly in return, returning the kiss… Unfortunately, he's rather too… involved to even notice Buran at the moment. He'd probably not even notice if they removed the bazaar around him and rebuilt it differently.

Envoy ties the necklace around her neck, and presses both hands over the amber centerpiece for a moment.

Maza's kiss with Rilikin appears to go on for hours… Fox-time, of course. In reality, it is several minutes later that Maza breaks off and says to the Keiltyn excitedly, "Oh, let's go look for some pretty stones! I'm sure there're two out there that will be just perfect for us. And then we can talk about how to set them, and… And… " Her tail flicks happily as she thinks of all the details to arrange.

Rasha smiles, indicating a piece at the left side (from Envoy's perspective) of the necklace. "Be sure this piece is always to the left. Unless, of course, you wish to be called a tonedeaf mangled-mouth." She grins, wagging her tail a bit.

Envoy giggles suddenly at Rasha's comment, and hopes the two foxes won't think she's laughing at them. "I will be very carefull, thank you!"

Rilikin looked dazed for a moment, then meets Maza's gaze again, smiling warmly. "Two stones, each with a perfect blend of gold and red?"

The golden vixen nods! "And every time you wear it, you can think of me," she murmurs into Rilikin's left ear, taking his arm proprietarily. She leads him out of the stall.

Rasha looks a little disappointed that the two foxes didn't buy anything, but there's always another time and another customer.

Envoy asks, "Do you know many of the other local Vykarins? I would be interested in learning your songs and stories sometime, if you gather socially."

Rasha smiles. "Yes, I know some of them. I cannot promise anything, but I will see what I can do."

"I look forward to it!" the Exile whurfs.

As the two foxes return to the apartment, Maza giddy over the excitement of having picked out stones and some rings that would seem ideal, something seems wrong…

The door to the apartment stands slightly ajar. The golden vixen stops short.

Rilikin stops too, his eyes narrowing. One paw slips beneath the edge of his belt, and he palms something. "Wait… " he whispers…

Maza looks frightened as she tries to see inside the door, but does not make any further moves.

Rilikin crouches slightly, ears perked and listening, nose and whiskers quivering. He moves silently in a smooth motion to the side of the door frame, not exposing himself, just listening quietly to whatever's within.

There don't seem to be any sounds from inside… Not even breathing.

Rilikin gestures for Maza to watch the stairs from the street level, then very, very cautiously… peers around the edge of the partially ajar door into the apartment.

Maza whispers, "But, Rilly… " She looks down at the streets, as if expecting that there might be a gang ready to steal her away.

The apartment looks like a mess inside, the slice of it that Rilikin can see.

Rilikin holds a finger up to his muzzle, gestures for Maza to move closer… then slowly… quietly pushes the door open, ready to jump back at a moment's notice.

The vixen trembles as the scene of destruction is revealed. The robe that Rilikin gave her just that morning has been ripped cruelly, and the chocolates scattered onto the floor. Anything big enough to hide something has been opened and in the case of things that don't open, broken into. "Falling cities," Maza moans. "It'll take me months to find anything nice again… "

Rilikin winces as he looks around… He gives Maza a warm hug, then proceeds to move around, looking for clues… and sniffing quietly to see if he can identify what species at least, was here. "Why?", he asks… "Robbery?"

It smells like perhaps someone of the canine persuasion was here… Obvious nice things, some works of art, even a copper pitcher, were not taken even though they look small enough to have been taken handily. Maza holds onto Rilikin's hand tightly as she looks around, then presses tightly into his side as she sees the bed, a mattress gashed and all its stuffing torn out. "N-n-no," she whispers. "They didn't take anything… They just smashed everything nice!"

Rilikin holds Maza tightly, reassuringing. "But… why?", he whispers. "Who?" He keeps looking around for any clue…

Maza whispers, "I don't know… Stav – Stavros? No, that's crazy, he doesn't like me, he's jealous of me, but he wouldn't… " Her voice breaks off tearily as she buries her face in Rilikin's chestruff.

Rilikin sniffs quietly. "I do smell canine, Maza… I… do not know." He just hugs her quietly, rubbing her back and nosing softly at her ears. "It will be alright, though… I will see that you have new things. And that whoever did this… is taken care of."

"I don't feel safe here," the golden vixen whispers. "Will you take me back to your place tonight?"

Rilikin shakes his head softly. "Here is not safe, no. But neither may be my residence, if we have been seen together. We can go to a nice inn in the Noble's Quarter for tonight, and have… this… investigated tomorrow? I know some within and without the Temple, I shall have it looked into, you will be safe… I promise."

Maza hugs Rilikin tight. She says in a very small voice, "… All right, Rilly… Maybe I should let the apartment go. I couldn't bear to stay in it again."

Rilikin keeps hugging quietly. "If you wish. But you shall be safe, I promise. Let's go, this is… upsetting. Lock the door regardless to keep the Kavi out, I will alert the Guard in the morning. But now… let us go, we'll find a nice inn, have a warm drink, and I'll keep you safe while we rest. Alright?" He looks softly down into her eyes.

"And I'd only gotten to enjoy having my own apartment for three months," the golden vixen says in an even smaller whisper. She leans her cheekruff against Rilikin's throat, then nods at his advice.

Rilikin takes a deep breath at that news. {Three months… She wasn't here! Thank the First Ones… } He sighs deeply again, then soothingly noses at the vixen's ears. "Perhaps… you might not wish to live alone, then, if… " He winces slightly, thinking.

"Oh, Rilly… " Maza kisses the Keiltyn again.

Rilikin returns the kiss for a long, long moment, takes a long, deep breath, his eyes closed… opens his muzzle once to say something, closes it again and just looks down into Maza's eyes before trying to say something again.

Maza's golden eyes look trustingly up at Rilikin. "What is it, dearest Rilly?"

Rilikin thinks hard to himself. {This is going to take a lot of changes and a lot of work… but it's the only way I can think of to protect her and keep her out of trouble… }

Maza looks worried into Rilikin's eyes, her tail flicking slower and slower.

Rilikin calms himself, then finally opens his muzzle again, just looking into her eyes. "Maza, I would like to protect you from… things such as this. And keep you from having to live as you have, you deserve more. If you would have me, would you… "

"Oh, Rilikin! Of course I would!" This is of course, the opening for Maza to pounce the fancily dressed fox into a deep kiss, even if the apartment is in shambles and thus not the most uncomfortable floor onto which to be tumbled.

Rilikin doesn't resist in the least, letting himself be tumbled and returning the kiss just as deeply.

Time turns the late afternoon to night and the setting, from a ruined apartment to the slightly more comfortable Bard's Rest inn, famed for having a licensed bard in every day to keep the richer clientele amused. And time brings two young foxes in love closer together, each bearing secrets, yet secure in the knowledge that at least they may face life together, never alone again.

The Procession glitters overhead, a scimitar fading before a stiletto.