Today is like any other day in the bazaar, with crowded streets and loud merchants, and the lively confusion of wild commerce – with one exception. Today, royalty has descended amongst the masses to see what splendors are for sale. The entourage surrounds her, clearing a patch and keeping grubby hands out of reach. Two Rhians proceed, and two follow the Aeonian noble who is accompanied by a Cervani confidant.

Ophelia wanders through the marketplace, amongst the stalls, looking somehow as though she's not really a part of what's happening here. She pauses occasionally to look at this or that merchant's wares, or to point out some amusing item to the well-dressed doe who accompanies her.

An old brownish shiga in tattered robes and a weathered cloak wanders about the bazaar with a thin cord of branches, about six feet long. and a mug. "Firewood… firewood for sale… who will help a poor old lizard?"

Laika, the doe maid, follows close behind Ophelia, looking for something unusual with which to stir the interest of her mistress. She fans herself and the Aeonian with a plumed fan of many colors.

The Cervani tugs at the Aeonian's sleeve, and says something to her, too softly to be heard by passersby. They change their course slightly to examine a table filled with blown glass animals.

The Aeonian's guards seem a little frustrated at her sudden dashing to and fro. It makes their job more difficult, and they take it out the people in the Bazaar. At each booth or stall, Ahrn, Tursk, Vysl and Dankha ask people to move back. They don't have to ask twice.

Aaron walks past, ignoring the lizard as he nibbles on a salad-sandwich and examining the occasional booth. He seems to favor one leg slightly.

High above the Bazaar, a brightly coloured courier tests his flying skills in a tight slalom through the rooftops, gables, and lines set out for washing. Reico whips around the corner and collides with another courier coming the other way.

Ophelia settles on a pair of matched cobalt-blue Eeps. She directs one of the guards to pay, not bothering to haggle over the price. She admires the tiny glass birds for a minute, then hands them to Laika for safekeeping.

"How fascinating," the Cervani doe, Laika, exclaims as she holds up a fanciful sculpture of some winged, horned lady holding some sort of lyre with delicate strings of thin-stretched glass. "Do you really think there could be such a thing, milady Ophelia? Oh, and these are so pretty… " She accepts the glass birds and holds them.

The shabby firewood peddler bows deeply to a kind soul who drops a half shekel into his mug. He pauses in his weak, raspy pleas to peer out from beneath his hood, dull eyes narrowing and sharpening for a split second. He momentarily watches Aaron, and shuffles into the crowd, lost to sight.

Ahrn slams the shekels down on the table, making all the other glass figurines jump, and a few topple. "Here." None break, fortunately. The Skeek proprietor of the booth scrambles, hastily setting the figures upright.

Big brown eyes grow wide as a colorfully-attired bat tumbles through the air, before righting herself. "Hey, watch I – "

Aaron notices the Aeonian and her entourage, and pauses to watch. No telling what foreigners could be up to…

Brishen grins, rubbing her hands together as she looks around. "I'm gonna get you, Reico!"

Reico tumbles out of the near-collision and rights himself, "Oh hey, sorry Bree." He hovers, not noticing a letter that has slipped from his pouch, and flutters down… to land next to an Aeonian hoof.

Ophelia admires the glass musician. "I'm sure I couldn't tell you, Laika. It's a lovely piece, though." She speaks up a bit. "Ahrn, we'll be having this one as well for Laika. And be a bit more careful if you please."

Aaron hmms at the 'accidentally' dropped letter. A secret message?

Strong wings catch the air as Brishen dips down low over a vendor's stall, tracing a loop in the air before landing with a muffled thump near Ophelia. Maybe if she's quick, she'll snatch the letter before anyone notices.

Laika looks down at the letter. "Why, you have an admirer, milady!" the Cervani exclaims.

{And dropped by an Eee no less. The Aeonian must be a spy!} Aaron decides to get a little closer, so he can eavesdrop better.

The other courier glides down, to land beside Brishen.

The Cervani lady in waiting flaps her fan and looks skyward, as if trying to catch sight of the handsome winged messenger who must have dropped this missive of amour.

Ahrn grunts, "Yes Countess." He turns. He focuses on Reico and Brishen.

A black ear flicks slightly as Brishen glances at Reico. She bats her eyelashes at the taller Eeee surreptitiously.

Ophelia giggles a bit, and stoops gracefully to retrieve the letter. "Isn't that odd? I wonder where it came from?"

Laika ohs! "Excuse me, milady." She stoops to try and pick the letter up so that Ophelia won't have to visibly do hard work in front of others, and then presents the letter to her mistress.

Aaron pretends to be interested in some Bromthen ivory at the next booth. Obviously, the Aeonian is putting on an act for the benefit of onlookers… such as himself.

Reico grins at Brishen's raised eyebrow, but it fades as he hears the command "Step back from the countess." The Rhian giving it approaches the two Eees.

Ophelia smiles, and thanks Laika, but seems momentarily at a loss nonetheless. "I must confess that I've not found myself in such a situation as to be responsible for another's mail before. I wonder what one ought to do?"

Brishen flutters back a little, looking up, up, up at the Rhian. "Eep!"

Ophelia confers with Laika, ignoring the activities of her guards.

The doe leans forward as she slips the letter into Ophelia's hands. "It seems to have been dropped by that bat. What a dreadfully common-looking fellow!" She giggles nevertheless. There are after all, all sorts of stories about dalliances between nobility and the less-well-off of society. Even some about romances with pirates! Only the most swashbuckling, of course. She whispers, "Oh, you mustn't read it now, of course. Only when we get somewhere private."

"Uh, hey, I just… " Reico points at the countess, or perhaps the letter. He takes a step backward as the Rhian takes another forward.

Brishen thinks: {Wonderful! I could have gotten the letter back if this brick with legs didn't intervene.} She smiles at the guard. "I believe my colleague here dropped a letter." She looks at the Rhian, then back towards Ophelia.

The peddler watches the entourage from a portion of the crowd held at bay by Ophelia's Rhian guards. His begging is half-hearted now, his attention to it diverted. ( Now here's a pretty picture. A noble lady. A rarity in a Bazaar full of rarities. Perhaps my task can wait a bit… )

Aaron nibbles on his sandwich and watches the confrontation. For the moment, he forgets how much he abhors coming to the Bazaar.

Ophelia turns to look surreptitiously at the Bat in question, and looks wide-eyed at her friend. "Do you mean that you think he meant it for me ?" This is obviously an idea which hadn't occurred to her.

Vysl replies "No." to the lumber peddler. Rhian's are, whatever anyone else might say about them, very easy to understand.

Not even glancing at the letter, Laika says breathlessly, "It dropped right at your feet, didn't it? And look how he's trying to avoid meeting your eyes, milady. He must be stricken by your beauty! Wordless before his betters. Oh, you can't possibly read it in front of him, it would embarrass him so terribly." She hides her face and Ophelia's behind her fan, sharing a giggle.

The Eee in question seems stricken by something, most likely a healthy fear for his life and his job. Reico hops, half launching into the air under Tursk's gaze. "The letter… her Highness." He points again.

The beggar hisses, "Ah, no firewood today? Isss best quality, lights fast, burns long… no, still no? Ahh, my grandchildren must go hungry tonight." He bows and backs away, melting into the bazaar's dizzying buzz of activity again.

Aaron hmms at the Noblewomen. At least they're cute, and not a pair of pudgy poodles…

Ophelia huddles with her lady in waiting, giggling herself as she becomes caught up in Laika's infectious merriment. She begins to hand the letter to the doe, then pauses and instead slips it, unexamined, into the long sleeve of her gown.

Brishen rubs her forehead with one hand, while the other reaches over to grab Reico's shoulder, or belt, or something. Anything to keep him from fluttering away. Though, looking at Tursk – Eeep. She takes a step back involuntarily, and clears her throat a little, trying to get the attention of Ophelia without making her guards more likely to pull her wings off or something.

Reico settles down at Brishen takes a hold of him. He tries to lend her his confidence and bravery as she faces the Tursk. "Yeh Bree" He squeaks, likely high enough that the horse doesn't hear, "You tell him."

The finely dressed Cervani, dressed in a pale imitation of her mistress's gowns, peeks over her fan at Reico and Brishen and then murmurs, "Perhaps that cafe beyond the lane, milady? I happen to know they serve a most excellent Creen dumpling, made with slivers of xocholatl. We could enjoy one while you read your… " She lowers her voice. "Letter of adoration from afar… "

There's a rustle behind Aaron, and a reptilian hand falls on the Lapi's left shoulder. A voice hisses, "Good afternoon, shopkeeper… "

Aaron jumps and makes a squeaking noise before turning around.

A pair of slitted eyes look back at the shopkeeper from beneath a tattered hood, a strange grin on the reptile's face. "Would you care to buy some firewood, my young friend? I think you'll find none better elsewhere."

The Aeonian mare looks toward the cafe in question, and nods. "Yes, a bite to eat would be most welcome about now. Let's do that, then. Lead on Laika!" She strides off toward the cafe, with Laika at her arm. The guards scurry to keep up, looking momentarily more silly than imposing.

Aaron blinks at the reptile, "What? Firewood? Do I know you?"

Brishen slumps against Reico once Tursk's attention is directed somewhere else, legs trembling a little. Maybe she was just pinned in place with fear.

"Hey, you okay?" He asks, holding her up. "That was like, really brave you know? You need a bug or something?"

The peddler nods, his strange smile still in place. "Oh, I don't think so. But I know you. Wouldn't a cheery fire take the chill out after a night in… a graveyard?"

Brishen squeaks quietly. "I hope that letter's imporrrtant, Rei." Her expression brightens a little at the idea of lunch. "A bug would be nice."

Aaron blinks and takes another step back from the lizard… "Wha… I don't know what you mean, sir."

The robed lizard advances to keep pace with Aaron. "Oh, come now, my friend. Surely that limp must remind you of such a harrowing night. I saw you leap upon a gravestone to shout sacrilege at the Sixth Kadam. Not to worry, though, I'm not with them. Quite the opposite, in fact. I need you help."

Reico starts going through his pouch. He almost sticks his head into the bag as he flips the packages around, checking addresses. "I don't know Bree, they're all important. I can't afford to lose… hhm. Oh Turbulent! Oh bugs!"

"That was the letter I was going to give you." The Eee decides, after searching what remains.

Brishen looks into Reico's pouch. "How many times have I told you to buy a real satchel, hon?" She blinks, "What?"

Aaron looks around quickly to see who might be watching, then hisses to the lizard, "Shhhh!! Don't talk about that out loud… "

"It's my lucky bag Bree, I can't give it up." Reico shrugs his shoulder, settling the pouch. "You remember when we were putting up posters? There was a letter in my stack, I figured it was one of yours or something that got in there."

The beggar's scaly face splits into an even wider grin. "Ahh, I was sure your memory could be jogged. Come, come… you must take us someplace safe. I have something to show you. Several things, in fact."

Aaron narrows his eyes and pulls the lizard off to the side of a booth. "What do you want, exactly? And who are you?"

Aaron glances out at the two Eee still near the booth.

"I think I would have noticed if I'd lost a letter. Especially by now." Brishen hrmfs, crossing her arms. "You know, I never did get paid for that job." She sticks her hands out. "And look! – The glue still hasn't worn off my fingers!"

Reico looks, and nods. "Oh snakes. I used a pair of gloves, wrecked them but kept my hands clean." He holds them out to demonstrate. "Well, maybe we were supposed to read it, like it was instructions on where to get paid."

Bambridge hisses, "You may call me the Wooden Shekel, young shopkeeper. Ah, ah, ah! Don't look too closely at me." In the darkness of the alley by the booth, the lizard wags an index finger at Aaron. "Your studies would be far more useful in other ways. And less dangerous. Tell me if you recognize this interesting item?" Bambridge looses the ties on his cord of wood enough to give Aaron a glimpse at a staff with an enormous green crystal at the head.

Brishen sticks her lower lip out a little, and looks up at Reico, expecting sympathy.

Aaron's eyes go wide, and his left ear flops down over his face. "That's the wand that crazy rack-head was using!"

The Eee bounces on the balls of her feet. "Maybe!" Her eyes glitter as Brishen glances towards the cafe. "Well, we're going to have to get it back, I guess."

Bambridge's head turns to cast a casual glance out at the bazaar. He freezes when he spots Brishen off a ways. He hurriedly looks back at the Lapp, lowering his hood even more. "Ahh, yes, good. So you recognize it. Can you tell me anything about the staff itself? Perhaps deduce its purpose from the materials and such?"

"I bet tea will take that right off. Yeh, we should. C'mon." Waving for her to follow, Reico jumps up, and glides along just above the crowd, following after the vanished Aeonian. Her four Rhian guards shouldn't be hard to spot, and they aren't a moment later.

Aaron blinks. "Hey, you must have been the one that commanded those… err… spirits… with it. I assumed you'd know what it was for."

Brishen kicks up a cloud of dust as she darts after Reico. {Tea?}

Bambridge's shoulders shake with suppressed sniggering. "Yes, actually, that was I. I surmised roughly that the staff might have some effect on those spirits… but it was a ruse. I'm not a mage by any stretch of the word, merely a charlatan… ahh, but this isn't a very comfortable place to talk of these things. I'm a might bit peckish, and could really use a tea-cake and cup of chamomile… "

Laika sits with Ophelia at a table in the Abu Dhabian-style cafe, recognizable by the particular style of geometric patterns which decorate the front of its low fence, hardly a barrier by Bazaar standards but enough to establish a sense of 'private space'. A plate of the dumplings sits between them as does a teapot and two ceramic teacups, each brimming with a golden liquid.

Brishen nudges Reico a little as she lands alongside him, and whispers. "Do you think we'll be able to get in?"

Ophelia sips at her tea, the letter removed from her sleeve for ease of dining. It lies face down on the table, forgotten for at least the present, held against stray breezes by one of the blue glass Eeps.

The other Eee courier nods, "I think so, it's just a Cafe. We can get a table near them." He looks at her guards, "Well, not too near. Theres good." Pointing, he indicates a table for two at the corner of the patio.

"I hope so," Brishen whispers as she furls her wings and follows Reico into the cafe, sitting down opposite him. She tilts her head a little, then tries to sneak a glance at the letter. "Was there any address on the letter? I really don't remember losing anything. Customers usually yell if you do."

Laika chatters on, her finger absentmindedly brushing the winged Aeonian glass statue, "And do you know, they were selling five-tailed foxes in the Bazaar the other night? They said it was of some sort of local hero. Fascinating! I had no idea foxes could have so many tails. Do you suppose it's magic at work?… "

Brishen giggles faintly, smiling at Reico. "I still don't believe five-tailed foxes exist."

Ophelia yaks away merrily with Laika, enjoying the doe's natural fizziness. This, after all, is what she keeps her for. "Wasn't that the most bizarre spectacle? Who'd ever have dreamt of such a thing? And all the children, blowing up their papier-mache Foxes like little pyromaniacs… "

The doe flicks her ears. "Oh yes, milady. I wonder if they'll grow up to be fire mages!" She hides her giggle with her hand demurely and lets her mistress lead the conversation.

Brishen sneaks a glance at the letter again, assuming a guard hasn't placed itself cleverly in the way. There's gotta be a way to distract then long enough to take the letter, or maybe even get it back honestly. {Rrrrgh! If I could just walk up to her, I'd be able to explain what happened.}

Reico grins at Brishen, "I tell you, it is true." He then looks at the table with her, "Do you think we could pretend to be a waiter, or get one to grab it for us?"

Brishen rests her chin on a hand, and hfs squeakily. "I doubt it." Her voice is, of course, high and quiet enough that anyone but Reico or another Eeee would have a very hard time hearing what she's saying, "I mean, even Kavi have to be smart enough not to just take a letter from a noble! Even if we did offer money for it."

Ophelia chats merrily away on issues of no consequence, pausing now and again to pay some attention to her meal. The pauses grow more and more frequent…

Brishen whispers. "Bugs!" She squeaks frustratedly as she looks at the guards again, checking to see where they're placed.

The Aeonian's guards sit one to a table, with Ophelia stationed between them. They have each been ordered a sandwich, that sits untouched before them, and they watch the passing crowd, rooftops, and other patrons carefully.

Brishen slumps. With her luck, even waiters can't get close to the Aeonian. She rests her head in her hands, thinking. "Maybe if I just tell her you dropped the letter, she'll give it back." She squeaks to herself, repeating this a few times.

Brishen smiles at Reico. "Wish me luck."

Brishen stands, crossing her arms so her hands don't shake that much. Her wings tremble a little though as she walks cautiously over to one of the guards. "Ahem – Um." Her voice is very quiet.

The Cervani bites a dumpling and then uses the bitten-into morsel of golden-fried meat and xocholatl to pantomime some lordling who must be known for his big mouth. "Oh, this wine has gone bad," she mocks, giggling with Ophelia. "I should be charging you money for insulting my palate, rather than paying you, innkeeper."

Reico reaches out and pats Brishen's hand, "Good luck Bree."

Brishen coughs quietly. The idea, of course, is to speak loudly enough that Ophelia may hear. She keeps her eyes focused on the Rhian though.

Ophelia snickers at her friend's impression, while half-heartedly shushing her as well. "Laika, you'll offend the poor innkeeper!" The caution carries perhaps less weight than it might were Ophelia not red-muzzled herself from laughter.

The guard in question steadfastly ignores Brishen.

Laika smiles. "Oh, our innkeeper knows we do not mean him, surely, milady." She takes a sip from her glass.

Brishen clears her throat again, since the Rhian seem singularly unresponsive. "Uhm – " She bites her lower lip a little, her wings fluttering slightly. Maybe that'll get the Aeonian's attention. "Milady?"

Brishen tries to keep her hands from clenching into fists as she bristles a little, internally. {Ooooh! Milady, my wings! I'll look down on all of these people someday.} She smiles though, very politely.

Ophelia, her mood broken slightly, tries to present a more dignified appearance than she suspects she has for the past few minutes. She looks around a bit to see if anyone has been scandalized, and finally notices the Eee. She seems a bit startled. "Laika, isn't that the Eee from the market? Or is it another one?… "

Brishen stands out a lot, being rather – er. Brightly attired.

Laika turns about, looking surprised. "Oh! I do believe so, milady. I wonder what she can want?" She leans toward Ophelia and suggests in a low whisper, "Perhaps she's jealous?"

Ophelia mutters under her breath, "Oh dear, I hope not… I'd hate for anyone to think that I'd want her – boyfriend, I suppose he must be… " She thinks a bit, and adds "Although you can't tell what he might look like to another Eee, I suppose."

Brishen's expression brightens a little. Finally, she's not just talking to a brick wall with legs. "Milady – I'm very sorry to disturb you, but my fiance' dropped the letter you recovered." She smiles, glancing back at Reico for an instant. "We're couriers. It's very important that the letter is delivered to his customer."

Reico nods encouragingly as Brishen speaks, squeaking "Go On! Ride it" high enough that only she can hear.

Ophelia looks surprised. She glances at the letter on her table, still weighted by the glass bird. "That letter, do you mean?"

The Cervani maid flutters her eyelashes at Reico, half-hiding her face behind her fan. Is that bat really this bold, gaudily-clothed bat's fiance?

Brishen nods, smiling – both at Reico's encouragement and Ophelia. Well, at the former to be honest. "Yes, it is."

Ophelia picks up the letter, and clutches it briefly in both hands. "And your fiance, who dropped it? He'd be the… distinctively… dressed fellow over there?" She gives Laika a wordless 'told you so' glance.

Brishen nods, giggling a little. "That'd be him."

"Well! Then why didn't he simply ask for it?" Laika asks, looking a bit put-off.

Ophelia holds the envelope out to the Bat. "Well then, I'm pleased to have been able to help you, my dear. I fear I missed your name… " Her voice rises slightly, making this last a question rather than a statement.

The 'fiance' just grins widely at the suggestion. Not really a pleasant sight, unless you're an Eee.

Brishen bows, taking the letter carefully, then beams radiantly. "Oh! I'm Brishen Kara, of Kara Delivery."

Brishen tucks the letter into a pocket on her satchel while she smiles at Ophelia. "I've delivered letters for Lady Esmet, in the past. I believe her residence is not far from your own."

Ophelia says, "Charmed, I'm sure. And I'm Ophelia, Countess of the Northern Shore, and this is my friend Laika. I'm impressed by your devotion to your job. I must admit that I share Laika's curiousity, though. Why didn't your fiance simply come ask for his letter?"

The Cervani maid smiles winsomely.

Brishen giggles a little. "Well, he tried. Your guards do an exceptional job of keeping the common folk away, however."

"Uhn!" Dankha grunts at the compliment.

Ophelia's ears flick involuntarily, and her muzzle pinkens very slightly. "Yes, they're quite good at what they do. It's been a distinct pleasure meeting you, dear. Should I ever require to have something delivered I shall know who to ask for. "

Laika murmurs to Ophelia, eyes sparkling, "But be sure that it is her you get, and not her fiance!"

Ophelia chuckles to herself. "There is that to remember, yes."

{Yes! Yes! I rule!} Big brown eyes glitter cheerily as Brishen smiles, and bows once more. "Thank you, milady." Her wings rustle as she tries very hard to walk back to her table, and not run or faint or anything.

Ophelia returns to her tea. "What a curious incident!" she exclaims to Laika. "And can you imagine spending your entire day running about delivering letters to people? And gathering up the ones your fiance lost?"

Brishen beams at Reico as she sits down, her expression quite radiant. Her voice is somewhere below a whisper as she observes, "They're going to expect us to kiss or something." She leans forward and smooches the other Eeee on the muzzle before either of them have time to think about it.

Laika looks a little disappointed that it wasn't a love letter after all. She laughs to Ophelia. "Oh my! And oh, I do wonder if it was a love letter after all… From him to her! Or her to him." She glances toward the bat couple.

Brishen grins to herself. With her ears, she might as well be sitting at the same table as Laika and Ophelia.

Reico's expression shows that while he wasn't thinking about it during the kiss, he is now that its over. "Oooh, Turbulent! Thanks Bree, you got it back. Quick, open it and see whats inside."

Brishen keeps smiling at Reico, and nods, her expression growing curious as she tugs a small letter opener from her satchel. Whatever it is, she's going to smile like it was a love letter.

Ophelia continues her conversation with Laika, never dreaming that her remarks are being made for public consumption as she glances now and again at the two lovers.

Laika murmurs, "What do you suppose the Eeee give each others for courtship gifts? I've heard they are particularly fond of bugs… " She glances speculatively toward Brishen and Reico; not gifted by bat-like hearing, she has no idea what they are saying to each other.

Ophelia wrinkles her muzzle a bit at the thought. "Bugs? Well, I suppose if that's what one likes. Still, one might hope for something more, well, lasting, at least for the marriage and engagement gifts."

The Cervani maid giggles. "As lasting as I've heard Aeonians are? Is it really true that you'll never grow up – " she corrects herself with a laugh. "Grow old?"

Ophelia giggles at Laika's slip. "Both, perhaps. Really though, I'm sure I must grow older, else I'd still be a child, no?"

Brishen grins, an ear on the noisy nobility, and tugs the letter free of its envelope.

The Cervani doe blushes.

Ophelia smiles at Laika, and gives her arm a squeeze.

Laika squeaks. "You'd better not be seeing how fat I am," she says with a laugh. "But just between you and me… " She leans closer to whisper confidentially. "How old are you really?"

Brishen listens, her attention divided between the Aeonian and the letter. She's always wondered how long unicorns live…

The contents of the letter are a series of addresses, along with two sets of names. Brishen recognizes many of the locations, and can even visualize some of the stores or houses involved. They don't seem to have much in common. As a love letter, this list is quite dry.

Brishen beams at Reico, throwing her arms around him, and hugs him tightly, using the flurry of motion as an excuse to tuck the letter away in a safer part of her satchel. She whispers in Reico's ear, "I have NO idea what the letter's about."

Reico hugs back just as enthusiastically, whispering, "Um… we'll figure something out."

Ophelia looks into Laika's eyes. A momentary flash of sadness shows in her expression. "To be quite honest, Laika, I'm not even sure anymore. I've had a long life already, I know that much."

The Cervani doe falls silent for a moment, trying to envision a world when Ophelia is still young and beautiful, and she… She would be old and feeble. Then shakes her head as if such concerns could be banished by wishing it. "Well, all those nobles who are sniffing around you had better watch out then, because you've had more than enough time to hear every pick-up line under the Procession – and think up come-backs to them!" She giggles.

Brishen smiles, sitting down again, and whispers. "I recognize a lot of the addresses. It might be a list of contributors – The shekels for the clocktower need to come from somewhere."

Ophelia smirks at her friend. "You've no idea… "

Brishen shrugs, smiling, then looks at her now-cold cup of tea. "Now, how is this supposed to get glue off of my hands?"

Laika perks up. "Well, I'll be looking forward to every minute of it, milady, you can count on that!" She crunches up the dumpling that she was holding in her hand.

"Oh, just soak your hands in it for a bit." Reico pushes Brishen's fingers into the cup. "The glue should soften in ten minutes. Makes sense." His last comment seems directed at her earlier one – about the list being one of contributors.

Brishen shrugs, wings rustling a little as she pushes her sleeve up slightly so it doesn't get wet. "I hope I don't end up smelling like tea."

Ophelia finishes her cooling tea. "As I shall look forward to having you there, Laika."

"I feel silly," Brishen giggles as she looks down at her tea. "And I never got a chance to drink any."

The other Eee grins, "Oh, I never drink it, I use it on my feet. Its great for blisters."

Brishen giggles. "On your feet? You have to be joking!" She looks down under the table at Reico's feet.

Laika looks a bit appalled as the bats engage in… feeting? She looks over at Ophelia, wondering if the Aeonian has ever seen the like before.

"Yeh, really. Soften them up nice after they get abraded from hard landings." He lifts a foot up for Brishen to see, not above the level of the table, of course. Still, high enough to offend some noble sensibilities.

Ophelia pretends that she hasn't noticed.

Brishen giggles, shaking her head. "And foxes have five tails. I've never thought of soaking my feet in tea before." She giggles, a little loudly as she removes her now-soggy hand from her tea and looks at it. She scrapes at a bit of the glue experimentally.

"Feeting. Really," Laika utters with a slight shudder.

True to Reico's word, the tea has weakend the glue. Perhaps it works as a foot ointment as well.

Laika offers Ophelia the last of the Creen-and-xocholatl dumplings. "The sun's going down, milady," she says almost apologetically. "We should get back before they begin to worry about us."

Brishen squeaks, blinking a few times. Even the nobles are talking about it. She wrinkles her nose a little as she rubs bits of glue from her hand. "Hey, it worked!"

Ophelia chuckles. "There are worse things in the world, you know. And you're right, we really ought to be getting back… "

"Yeh, toldya. Yike! Is it getting dark?" Reico looks up at the sky, "I've got to go Bree, I still have packages! Thanks though, for the help. I'll zoom you soon again. Okay?"

Brishen grins brightly. "Turbulent!" She sticks her other hand in the teacup, humming cheerily.

Laika takes care of the bill, passing a few coins to the innkeeper, and scoops up the tiny glass birds which her mistress will surely prize from the afternoon's jaunt… At least as long as they hold interest. And the winged Aeonian as well.

The other Eee courier drops enough shekels to pay, steps out into the street and takes off. He is soon gone from sight, but the occasional "Hey", and "Watch Out" that Brishen hears lets her know he is still within hearing, if only just.

Brishen tries to dry one hand on a napkin while the other rests in her teacup.

Ophelia leads her little entourage out the door, sparing a curious glance at the remaining Eee as she passes.

Brishen squeaks happily, looking at her glue-free hands. "Tea! I can't believe it."

Brishen blinks, looking up at Ophelia, and smiles while she tries to hide her hands. "Goodnight, milady!"

Laika trails after Ophelia happily. Indeed a pleasant afternoon, and though her mistress was not after all, the target of a secret admirer, there were certain interesting things to compensate. She mutters again, "Feeting?" and then giggles at nothing in particular.

Ophelia waves cheerfully. "A pleasant evening to you, dear."

Ahrn, Tursk, Vysl and Dankha rise and surround Lady Ophelia and Laika, and keep the two safe from the people of the street, and couriers.

Brishen's grin gets just a little predatory after the Aeonian and her entourage has passed. {Girl, you've just earned yourself another customer.}