It's a dreary, overcast day, cold drizzle occasionally leaking over portions of the city, then dying off only to begin again elsewhere. Despite the gloomy weather, a number of very happy and excited-looking Vykarins bound down the gangplank, causing it to vibrate violently and threaten to snap.

Quick-footed dock workers dodge the wagging armored tails, though some of the slower ones are not so lucky. A few crates are knocked down here and there, and at least one poodle shouts curses and threats in the wake of the Vykarins' passage.

Fenter clings to the back of one of the disembarking Vykarins. One hand grips his pointed hat while the other hand clutches a potted plant in his lap. "Steady now lad… I'd rather not get killed. Wouldn't do for a Sky God after all."

Several Savanites are led off of the ship, wearing tabards that identify them as property of the Collegia Esoterica. Some Rhians lead them away from the ship, to their new home away from Nagai.

The Vykarin carrying the Rath'ani pauses, his ears drooping, looking properly penitent. He pop-click-wurfs something in reply.

A small Eeee loops in a wide circle around the Last Chants. Wrapped in a brilliant yellow raincoat, she's fairly easy to spot – even through the fog that twines about the docks.

The potted flower bobs a bit, its head swaying to and fro, the petals turning slowly to face this way, then that.

The raccoon pats his trusty steed's side. "Think nothing of it, lad. Now then… I've been away for so long." He looks around, trying to gain his bearings. "First I should really get a spot of food for myself, then greet Grampy. I'm sure he'll be quite pleased to hear that I've become a Sky God."

One Savanite walks down the gangplank, separate from the others. He has a bookish appearance, emphasized by the pair of spectacles he wears, and the heavy robes not befitting any Savanite who would be set to manual labor. He nonetheless hauls a heavy bag, the sharp angles suggesting a few books or boxes being stuffed inside. He reaches the bottom of the gangplank, then looks around, finally setting his gaze upon a small group of magenta-caparisoned Drokars waiting past the chaos of the unloading of the ship's cargo.

The Vykarin carrying the Rath'ani makes a quiet, confused whine, but obediently just stands there, awaiting further instructions from the exalted deity on his back.

The bookish Savanite, Ibis, spots Fenter, and walks up, bowing his head. He signs, "Pleasant journeys. I hope you never disappoint your followers." His ears wiggle as he smiles.

Brishen rubs her nose, pushing a lock of soggy hair from her eyes as she looks about for a clear spot to land. Her wings cast off sheets of water as she flap-flap-flaps over the loose line of Vykarin. "Hmf. This is the last time I – aaah – AAAAH – AAH! *snk*" She covers her nose with a hand, "Mf. Circle the flags on a day like this."

Several Vykarin look up at the incoming Eeee, and start barking and howling.

The Vykarin carrying Fenter lets out a sharp growl-snap-click.

"Likewise," Fenter replies to Ibis. "And I hope you enjoy watching the expressions on everyone's faces when you tell them about what happened in Nagai. I had a jolly good time watching Tekki hyperventilate after I realized that we weren't going to get eaten."

Ibis smiles and nods to Fenter … but takes a few steps back at Fenter's mount's snapping noises.

Fenter grabs his hat again and looks nervously upwards. "Hey you!" he shouts at Brishen. "Are you another one of those unpleasant Babelite fellows? You're scaring my worshipers!"

A couple of Magenta Lancers – white-armored, magenta-caped feline warrioresses – approach Ibis, though keeping a collective wary eye on the agitated Vykarins and their "Sky God".

Fenter tips his hat to the two felines and smiles. His eyes change from fiery blue to a bright crimson red.

Brishen looks down at the Rath'ani as she swoops past, landing somewhere behind the line in a flutter of very damp wings. She pushes her hat up as she looks around, her face framed in locks of totally drenched hair. "Babelite? I'm just delivering a package." She pats her satchel, and smiles.

Brishen ughs, brushing one of the aforementioned locks from her eyes as she looks back at the ship. "You wouldn't know where I might find – Uhm. Fenter? I have a package for him from the College."

The two armored felines keep a little more berth between themselves and the Rath'ani, and finally intercept Ibis. One of them purrs, "Come. I won't let Rose make me play nursemaid if you catch cold in this weather."

Ibis bows his head to the felines, and accompanies them, as they depart for the waiting Drokars.

The Vykarins start to reluctantly settle down, as no attack seems imminent.

Instead, several approach Brishen and start sniffing at her satchel.

"Oh… a package. That's all right then." The raccoon gives his steed a pat on the head. "You don't have to eat this one." He brightens at the mention of a package. "A delivery? For me? Ohhhh! That's me, Fenter of the College Esoterica… Sky God and defender of the world at your service."

"Never. Never again," mutters the courier as she spreads her wings, trying to dry them off. Since it's raining, this doesn't really help at all. She blinks as she's surrounded by Vykarin. "Eep?"

Fenter leans forward, holding his plant out to catch some of the moisture. "Do you want me to ask some of my followers to fan you off or something? They're quite good at licking people clean."

A few of the Vykarins start licking vigorously at Brishen's satchel, whining as they try to fight past each other to reach the Eeee.

"Eep!" Bree's wings flutter as she hugs her satchel protectively. "I – I don't think that'll be necessary."

The raccoon's eyes change from red to yellow. "Ah, well… what's the package? Something good to eat I hope? I've been eating nothing but yiffles and hay for the past few months. Not a good diet for a Sky God really."

The Vykarins whine at Brishen piteously. They look like they're begging.

Brishen brushes a lock of hair from her eyes, a flustered squeak escaping as she looks at the Vykarin. "Do you mind?" She pushes her hat up a little, brown eyes flashing as she fusses with her satchel. "I don't think it's food – Not unless someone made a mistake and didn't tell me."

Fenter pop-click-growfs something to the Vykarins.

The Vykarins lower their heads and tails, looking chastised.

*whine*

Brishen steps carefully out from the circle of Vykarin, flicking an ear to free it of a few tenacious drops of water. "I usually don't deliver food anyway." She splashes up to the Rath'ani, then starts fussing with her satchel again.

Some of the Vykarins turn their attentions elsewhere … beginning to sniff at some of the crates stacked up on the dock, awaiting movement. A few wary dock-workers are making their way over to shoo away the large pests.

Fenter wrings out his hat, letting some of the droplets fall into the potted plant resting in his lap.

Brishen frees enough of the buckles on her satchel to let her tug out a small package, which she glances at before handing to Fenter. "This looks like the one."

The potted plant perks up noticeably. Its flowery face almost seems to form a smile.

The package is addressed to Fenter, and is sealed with a cracked wax stamp of the Collegia Esoterica, and the rune of Chaos.

The raccoon ooooohs and snatches up the package. He starts shredding away at the wrappings. "Oh, by the way… you wouldn't happen to know the way to the Temple from here, would you? I need to report in to… somebody."

"I'm sure that my… boss… would be happy to reimburse you for your trouble." Fenter quickly adds.

Brishen shivers faintly, casting a sheet of water from her wings, then flicks an ear. Did that plant just – ? No, it couldn't have. She looks up at Fenter, "Sure, I know the way."

The package opens up to reveal … a new robe! There is also a letter.

"OOOOOOOOO!!" the raccoon almost squeals, hugging the robe to his chest. "They want me to wear this to a banquet… probably so I won't get any of my regular clothes dirty." He starts to read the letter.

The Vykarins start howling in unison.

Brishen scrunches down a little, stuffing her hands into her ears. "Ow!" I hope they don't do this a lot –

The letter, written in a spidery script, loosely paraphrased, congratulates Fenter on his achievements, and upon his ascension to the status of Alumnus of the Collegia Esoterica, and indicates that this new robe is being presented to him as a token of his new standing. It also, of course, welcomes him back to Rephidim and hopes that he may soon find fruitful employment.

The Vykarins, noticing that Fenter has not continued the howl, eventually quiet down, exchanging confused looks with each other.

"Alumnus? Hmph… I wonder if that's as good as being an Arch Nemesis." He folds up his new robe and places it underneath the plant then looks to Brishen. "I would be most grateful if you could lead me to the Temple. I've been away for so long that I've forgotten the route, and I'd ask for directions but I'm quite horrible with them."

Brishen whews, removing her hands from her ears, then smiles brightly. "That'll be ten shekels." She holds her hand out, brown eyes glittering.

"Ehrm… " Fenter mumbles and pats himself. "I'm afraid that I've been away for so long that I've not any cash on me at the moment. Although if you'll accompany me to the Temple I'm sure that my… boss… will be happy to reimburse you, plus tip."

Brishen raises a brow, but smiles understandingly. "Okay. Do you think your friends will be able to keep up with me?" She grins, spreading her wings.

The little plant's petals stretch out a bit, and it almost seems to smile back to Brishen.

The Rath'ani makes some pop-clicking noises to the Vykarins and points to the Eeee.

The Vykarins make several enthusiastic barks, clicks, pops and howls … and charge toward Brishen, one of them bouncing Fenter along on his back!

A poodle, who was off to the side, berating a Vykarin on the fringes, yelps and is knocked into a crate of fresh produce by the sudden Vykarin charge.

Brishen takes a few cautious steps back, wrinkling her nose a little. "O – eeep!" She throws herself into the air, just barely clearing the charging Vykarin. "Hey!"

Fenter AIEEEEEEESSSS and clings tightly to his steed's back.

The Vykarin start hopping up and down, trying to reach Brishen, still enthusiastically barking.

Of course, they don't stand a chance.

But does that stop them? Nawwwww!

"Well, go already!" Fenter yells, trying to keep his balance.

The flower bobs up and down, still "smiling", its petals wiggling.

Brishen cups her wings, flap-flap-flapping as she glares down at the Vykarin. "Well, if it's a chase they want… " She grins, pushing her hat down a little, and darts off towards the Temple.

A stampede of hooves warns pedestrians of the oncoming rush of Vykarins, as they loudly pursue the Eeee courier through the streets.

Brishen giggles, fluttering just under the rooftops so the Vykarin can see her.

Much galloping, clomping, stomping, and general heart-arresting madness later … the Vykarins follow Brishen to the steps of the Temple. They come to a screeching halt at the sight of the building, the ones in front stopping first, and the ones behind plowing into them, resulting in several furry-shelled bowling balls rolling about before the whole group comes to a pause.

Several of the Vykarins pop-click-growl in awe.

Fenter creaks an eye open. "Are we there yet?"

Brishen loops about overhead, giggling wildly. "Did you see that one Gallee? The fat one – Oh, wires, was he mad!" She wraps her arms around herself, laughing.

The raccoon exhales sharply and hops down, cradling the plant and the box of clothing in his arms. He points around to the Vykarins and makes some more pop-growf noises.

A Jupani guard walks up to Fenter. By the look in his eye, he recognizes the raccoon, though he's startled by something. "All right. What's the meaning of this?"

The Vykarin begin closing around Fenter, despite the Jupani's protests. He backs up, making a loud sigh and grunt. "All right. So you're hiding in there. That's fine. I'll just wait right here, or you can shuffle along."

"Just a moment. I need to make myself presentable," Fenter says, followed by some rustling noises and a few angry mutterings about big shoes.

Brishen cups her wings, almost furling them as she lands nearby. Her eyes glitter brightly as she keeps the Vykarin between herself and the Jupani.

A Creen, attracted by all the brightly-colored shells, circles and then alights upon the ears of one of the Vykarins. It chirrups cheerfully, but quickly takes alight with a cry of alarm as the startled Vykarin tries to snap at it.

A minute later and the raccoon makes a few more pop-click noises. He shuffles out from his ring of followers, dressed in his new mage's robe. He seems to be having some difficulty walking though. "There, all presemtable now. I'm here to see Gr-… er… Mister Verdigris."

The Jupani looks down at Fenter's feet. "What," he asks, "are THOSE?"

"Shoes I think… they LOOK like shoes." Fenter replies, holding up one foot which now has a strange contraption strapped to it. "It's vaguely foot-shaped after all."

"I see," says the Jupani. "Well, whatever. Let's go." He starts up the steps.

Seeing the Jupani lead the way … the Vykarins start moving forward, bowling the Eeee and Rath'ani along with them!

Brishen adjusts her hat, and coughs quietly. "Th – Eep!"

Brishen furls her wings tightly as she's carried along by the Vykarin. "Hey! Ow!"

Fenter yaieeees! Although this manner of transportation is probably the best, considering that he seems to be having a hard time walking right now.

The Jupani marches along into the Temple, leading the Vykarin "pilgrims" through the main corridor and off to the side, soon reaching an area that looks decidedly less kept in tip-top repair. Eventually, the corridor opens into a much larger, high-ceilinged chamber.

Brishen clambers onto one of the Vykarin and holds on. Her hair frizzes out crazily from under her hat, as she mutters, "Beats being stepped on."

Fenter brushes himself off as the caravan stops and tries to gracefully stride forward. He falls flat on his face.

A ringed tail can be seen protruding from a tangle of cables and plasteel supports above. The bark-clicks of the Vykarin as they enter the chamber reverberate, creating a loud cacophony that prompts the owner of the suspended ringed tail to cry out in alarm, and drop a very large wrench, which makes a loud crash as it hits the floor.

The Vykarins, overwhelming themselves with all the noise, hunker down and at last quiet down, looking about in awe. The Jupani takes a bit longer for his ears to stop ringing before he says, "High Technopriest Verdigris? You have … a visitor."

Brishen keeps her hands over her ears, wincing. "Ow… ow… ow… "

Grumbling to himself, Fenter yanks off his 'shoes' and tosses them at one of the Vykarins to chew on. "Those must be the most uncomfortable bits of footwear I have ever worn in my entire life!" He pulls himself up and brushes off his robe… which has already managed to see a great deal or grime and wear for being worn for such a small amount of time.

A raccoon's head, much touched by age, and sporting some sort of mechanical scope over one eye, pops out from the "cage" above. He groans as he spies Fenter.

Brishen eeps as the Vykarin she was riding sits down, fluttering her wings to keep her balance.

One of the Vykarins stomps forward, and begins to bark-click-snap-pop off a long "speech". He then bows to Fenter.

Fenter smiles and waves at the other raccoon. "Hullo! I'm back." He pauses to ogle at his robe before looking back to the Technopriest. "I met Uncle Agnes while I was out… He was the one with the tentacles, right?"

Brishen looks around cautiously, her hands held firmly over her ears. Twenty shekels – no. Thirty.

"Uncle Agnes with tentacles? Whatever are you jabbering about? Have you been drinking?" the elevated raccoon Technopriest asks.

The Jupani says, "Since everything is under control … I shall … move along." He quickly exits the chamber.

Meanwhile, a couple of Vykarins engage in a tug-of-war over Fenter's discarded "footwear".

Fenter straightens himself up proudly at the Vykarin's noises… as if everyone understood them. "Drinking? Me? You know I never touch the horrid stuff! I've been dry for months now… You'd think they'd have things like bars on newly created sky islands… but there were only the plants and Uncle Agnes."

Brishen glances at Fenter. Has he been drinking? "Oh, bugs," she whispers.

"Oh," replies the Technopriest. "Then you've simply gone and lost your mind? Well, that explains it. Now that you're out of the College Esoterica, perhaps I'll simply have to convince you to go visit Moz Ezley."

"I was thinking of graduate school myself," Fenter muses. "Oh! That reminds me!" He covers up his face with his hands. "What color are my eyes?"

Brishen squeaks, helpfully, "Yellow?"

"Yes, she's right. Your eyes are most certainly yellow." The Technopriest pauses. "What HAVE you been doing?"

Fenter removes his hands. "What color are they now?"

Brishen squints at Fenter. "Still yellow?" It's obvious she's guessing.

"PURPLE?!?" the Technopriest exclaims. "So, is THAT what you've learned after all those years at the Collegia Esoterica? If you expect me to be impressed, you're bound to be greatly disappointed."

"Oh that's nothing… " the raccoon pshaws. "I'm also a Sky God now!"

"Ha!" exclaims the Technopriest. "So am I!"

Brishen raises a brow, then shrugs. It's not like she can tell any difference – but they did look kind of like her raincoat for a moment. A Sky God? He has been drinking.

Fenter folds his arms. "Where's your necklace?"

"Around my neck, where it always is, young whippersnapper! Just because you've gone and gotten forgetful on occasion doesn't mean you should project your failings upon me! Hmph! And it's not a NECKLACE. It's a badge of office. I'm not into baubles and trinkets for the sake of looking pretty," the Technopriest grumbles.

Brishen looks down at the Vykarin she's perched upon, and pats its head carefully.

The Vykarin's tail wags … whacking a couple of Vykarin behind it, prompting them to growl in response.

Brishen eeps, giggling as she glances back at the other Vykarin. "Sorry."

His bubble duly popped, Fenter tries one more thing. "Would you like to meet Junior? Uncle Agnes gave him to me."

"WHAT?!?" cries out the Technopriest, as he peers over his perch again. "Why, of all the confounded, First-Ones-accursed, rusty, broken-jointed… "

The flower's "face" turns upward toward the Technopriest. Its petals seem to wave in an unfelt breeze. And, once again, it seems to smile. Its petals turn color constantly, matching the hue of Fenter's eyes at any given moment.

"Here here! You'll make him wilt with talk like that!" Fenter holds out the little potted plant. "Say hello to Grampy, Junior."

"That's it!" cries out the Technopriest. "What did I tell you NEVER to call – URGH! If I still had my wrench, mind you, I'd drop it on your noggin right now! Might knock some sense into you!"

Several wheezing and seething noises can be heard from above. The Technopriest croaks, "Assistant!"

This is just too odd. Brishen watches, fascinated.

Fenter continues holding the plant out… His smile though looks to be melting right off his face.

The plant's 'face' slowly swivels to face Fenter's.

From one of the "balconies" high above, a squeaking young Eeee takes flight and shoots across the room. "Coming! I've got your medication, Oh Lustrious Keeper of the Inner Mysteries, sir!"

A couple of the Vykarin notice Fenter's countenance and whine sympathetically to him.

"He's having a bad day, really," Fenter confides to his plant. "He usually only acts like this when I ask for money. Oh that reminds me!" He looks to Brishen, "He's the one that'll pay you, although it'd probably be best if you wait until he's taken a couple of his pills."

Brishen's eyes get wider as she watches the plant turn around. Nothing else is quite as interesting, or creepy. She stares at it, not quite hearing Fenter. "Oh, that's all right."

A few gasping and sputtering noises can be heard, and then the little Eeee assistant shoots away, returning to his own "perch". The Rath'ani Technopriest peers back over the edge of the "cage" again, and says, "Moz Ezley. They can help people like you, Fenter! And I hear that it's a beautiful place. You'll love it, I'm sure."

"I've been there once already. A wolf sat on my foot," the raccoon in chaos-mage robes replies. "Um… by the way, did I tell you that I got to meet the Emperor-Potentate in the Naga Empire? He squished me."

"You've … been … there … already?" the Technopriest boggles. In a loud whisper, he mutters, "Should've known… " Then he peers back over. "Oh. The Emperor-Potentate? Well, I'm sure you two would have hit it off quite well. I understand that he's flipped his lid."

Brishen's ears perk slightly, though her eyes remain fixed on the plant. The Emperor? Hm. I wonder if a certain shiga'll want to know about this…

"Of course. I had to go get Kame Ikata for Mister Bassai. We discovered a new sky island together!" Fenter grins. "Funny… the Emperor didn't look insane to me, although his help did! They all squished each other."

The Rath'ani mage pokes at the cloth on his robes and gives it a good sniffing.

"It's a Nagai … 'thing'," the Technopriest says with a hint of distaste. "In any case … Bassai, you say? Another crazy Naga. I hope you aren't contagious. And Kame Ikata? So THAT'S why he disappeared! Well, no matter, since he's back now. Seems the staff of Moz Ezley misplaced him, and turned him up again while cleaning, or somesuch. I say, the place is probably staffed with former or future 'guests'."

The Technopriest's musings drop off, followed by a long silence from above.

"Crazy? Here now! We're heroes!" Fenter harrumphs. "I single-handedly fought off Babelite invaders from Fetiss Island and got to talk to Uncle Agnes." He holds up his plant. "He looked a little like this, except bigger and he could walk… and he gave me the nicest berries."

A pair of raccoon ears peek out of the cage again, followed by a pair of raccoon eyes. "It can't be. The First Ones must be playing a joke on me. It must be. Oh, by the Primary Reactor!"

Brishen blinks a few times. Fenter certainly seems to know a lot of crazy people. And Kame Ikata – Turbulent!

Fenter hugs his plant back. "Here! I told you not to talk like that around Junior!"

The plant leans against Fenter.

"It can't be! You – YOU – " the Technopriest gasps. "You good-for-nothing, eternally-besotted, slouching, slack-jawed, loose-tongued, irresponsible, duty-shirking, misfit of a … YOU? All those tales were true and YOU are – ACK! ASSISTANT!"

"COMING!" squeaks the little Eeee as he swoops across the chamber. "Medication AGAIN?"

Brishen leans down so she can whisper to 'her' Vykarin. "Does this happen a lot?"

The younger Rath'ani pats Junior's pot. "I'm just eccentric, don't mind him."

There are some gulping noises, a brief moment of silence, and then a loud wail. "The First Ones have gone insane! How can it be? How could he have actually … ACCOMPLISHED something?!?" The Technopriest wails. "My whole world-view is under siege! My very sense of decency! It goes against every value I've ever stood for! The very blueprints of life are blotted!"

The little Eeee assistant, meanwhile, shoots off like a … like a … well, like an Eeee.

"I promise I'll never do it again!" Fenter says. "Unless it'll get me a raise in my allowance… What did I do anyhow?"

"You," the Technopriest sputters, "somehow managed to have a hand in what might be the most Sinai-shaking discovery known in this era, and in the raising of the missing piece of the great machinery of the sky – the last sky island! *koff* *sputter* Do you know what has been happening? The quantometer readings? Do you REALIZE the changes that have been taking place? No, no … that would be too much. Of course not. Augh!" There's a banging sound up above … sort of like a raccoon banging his head against a hard flat surface, multiple times.

The chaos mage looks at Brishen, then back in the direction of Verdigris. "Is that bad?"

"As much as it burns against my very being, against everything I stand for," the Technopriest cries out, "I have no choice in the matter! There is only one thing I can do!" He coughs and gasps.

Brishen covers her mouth with a hand, her eyes wide as she fights off a giggle. She looks back at Fenter.

"Don't recycle me!! PLEEEEESE!" Fenter whines, shrinking down.

Several of the Vykarins look to each other, then Fenter, in confusion. "Rrrr?"

A squeaking noise can be heard … and a platform is lowering from the "cage", bearing a raccoon in oil-splotched robes, with a very weary look on his face.

Brishen blinks, spreading her wings slightly. "Eep?"

The Technopriest steps off the platform, once it reaches the floor, and stoops over to pick up his oversized wrench … large enough that he uses it like a walking cane. He coughs again, then says, "Hear me, all gathered present, to bear witness!" He speaks as though each word pains him greatly.

Fenter tries to hide behind one of the Vykarins.

Several Vykarins perk up their ears, though it's doubtful they've picked up much Rephidim Standard.

"To my shame," the Technopriest says, "my children have been ne'er-do-wells. And their children after them have been ne'er-do-wells as well. I have vowed that none of them would truly be children of mine. I would not suffer any of them to openly carry my name, such a shame they are upon the house of Nuttenboltschen!"

"But, lo and behold, testament to the unfathomable ways of the First Ones," the Technopriest continues, "the most simple-minded, good-for-nothing, bumbling, and embarrassing of the whole lot has broken the mold! He, of all of them, was the first to actually ACCOMPLISH something! No, not merely to be neutral, to simply avoid making too much of a mess, but to actually DO something noteworthy."

The old raccoon stoops over, his body wracked by a sudden coughing fit. The little Eeee assistant wings by, but is waved off by the Technopriest as he straightens himself up again.

Fenter peeks out, blinking like mad.

The Technopriest lowers his voice. "DO come out from there, would you? You're embarrassing me."

"You're not going to recycle me… or stick wires up my nose or anything?" the younger raccoon asks faintly.

"GET OUT FROM BEHIND THAT FURBALL!" shouts the Technopriest.

The little Eeee assistant squeaks in alarm and leaps up onto a tangle of cables.

"Yessir! Right away sir!" Fenter quickly hops out and stumbles over to Verdigris.

Brishen sneezes abruptly, casting an apologetic glance at the Rath'ani as she brushes a lock of hair from where it's been tickling her muzzle.

"Medication?" asks the assistant timidly. The Technopriest shakes his head again at the assistant, waving him off, then turns to look back to Fenter. "Ahem. Now then. As much as it pains me, I simply cannot ignore the facts. Never before in my life have I ever done such a thing, but I simply have no other choice. Never before have I said these words, but they must be said. Therefore, without further ado, I hereby proclaim… "

Fenter squinches his eyes shut.

The Technopriest reaches out a shaking paw toward Fenter's head.

"Good job. You've done well." The Technopriest pats Fenter's head.

The old raccoon promptly shudders as soon as the words have left his mouth.

Brishen reaches her hands up, just in case the Technopriest starts yelling again. As it is, her ears will be ringing for hours.

The Eeee assistant squeaks in alarm, then faints, collapsing amongst the cables.

The younger raccoon cracks an eye open. "Does this mean I can call you Grampy now?"

The Technopriest makes a pained-sounding hiss, as he sucks his breath through his teeth, and his eyes bug out. He grasps the wrench with both hands, clawing into it, to the point where his knuckles would be white if you could see them, but he chokes out, "Yes. Yes, you may," and then breaks into a wheezing fit, as he shakily walks off.

Fenter grins! He spins around and hugs the nearest Vykarin. "Wheeeeeeeee!"

The Vykarin lets out a confused "Wurf?" of alarm.

Fenter's plant seems to just … smile.

Brishen decides, as the Technopriest walks off, that asking for a tip would not be a good idea. She sighs quietly.

The chaos-mage promptly lets go. "Oh… by the way. What did I do anyhow?"

The old Technopriest has, despite his age, already made good time out of the chamber. His Eeee assistant rouses himself, and, with a frightened squeak, flutters into the air, racing after the elder raccoon.

"Uhmmm," Fenter burbles. "Maaaaaaaaybe I'll just ask him after the pills have had time to sink in." He looks back at Brishen. "Er… would you take some berries as payment instead?"

Brishen sniffs, looking at Fenter. "I guess. What kind of berries are they?"

Fenter pats his pockets, then grabs his other robe and starts digging through it. "I'm not sure. Uncle Agnes gave them to me."

Brishen tilts her head a little, still perched atop a Vykarin. "Berries." She giggles, shaking her head in amazement. She'll have some interesting stories to tell…