It hasn't been easy, but the old Tizhan villa is finally in shape for the planned Grand Opening on Ring Day – just a few days away! Once the lease arrangements had been made with Aisha, she and Anisa discovered that their renovation estimates – while correct for a residence – were far too low for a health club.

Unlike many other areas of the city, the Nobles' Quarter actually has regulations and standards that the business would have to meet. The need for separate locker rooms with built-in shower facilities for men and women meant that the bedrooms had to be torn out, expanded and equipped with the necessary plumbing. The kitchen also had to be converted into a nurse's station, and the remaining bedroom broken up into a small office and a small room for Meg Cooper to set up her massage chair.

A permanent wall was added in between the two Olympian baths, and a second entrance added. The villa grounds had been stripped down to the topsoil and replanted, along with the central garden. The fountain was such a challenge to repair that Royce started having nightmares about it.

As part of the lease agreement, Aisha was responsible for half of the renovation costs – but her available funds simply weren't up to the task. If not for the Women's Entrepreneurial League and her parent's influence, Anisa probably wouldn't have gotten a business loan from the Merchants' Association (of which she was now a member). Even so, the renovation work had taken from Candlemass to 10 Ring Day to be completed. The paperwork involved was a monumental task in its own right.

Luckily, Anisa wasn't entirely on her own. With Calligenia's natural negotiating skills and Aisha's remarkable organizational abilities, along with the contacts provided by friends and family, Anisa had been exposed to and absorbed an amazing amount of business experience. All that was left to do now was promote the grand opening, and find a staff nurse to deal with injuries and first aid – although eventually she would need to hire an accountant to replace Aisha, who was sitting at the opposite desk working up a table of printing costs for flyers.

The white doe sits at her own desk, pouring over yet another piece of paperwork that seems to be downright mountainous as of late. Chewing on her ear in thought, she gives a sigh of exasperation as she leans back in her chair. "I feel like my eyes are about to fall out," she says, rubbing said optical organs with thumb and forefinger. "How goes the flyers?"

"Well, there's good news and bad news," Aisha says, pushing back from her own desk to turn towards Anisa. "The good news is that we can get a good rate if we buy five-hundred or more flyers," the Himaatian relates. "The bad news is that they wouldn't be ready in time for the opening."

Anisa frowns. "Looks like that's not an option then, unless we can cut some sort of deal with the printers." The rabbit takes a pencil from her desk, and taps it against her lips. "Maybe we can have them print part of the order as Opening flyers, and the rest as just advertisements for later. That way, we can use however many they can print before the opening for that, and the rest later." The doe cocks her ears sideways, "or is that even possible?"

"Oh it's possible, but it would cost more," Aisha notes, and grabs up her notes. "Finkle Brothers can do two-hundred short-use flyers in four days for 75 shekels," she reads. "Those are on cheap paper though that wouldn't survive posting, but could probably be handed out during the Ring Day parade."

"That might work," Anisa says, leaning back in her rickety chair. "We don't really need them to last that long, since we don't have much time anyways. I could also hand them out at the Tavern – put them on the tables or something. A lot of people usually eat there on Ring Day." The Lapi props her feet up on the desk, and puts her hands behind her head with a grin. "Say, maybe we should get Meg's husband to hand out the flyers; he's a big beefy guy."

Aisha twitches her nose and lets her ears droop at the suggestion. "Are you sure people will want to be handed things by a guy with a wheelbarrow full of manure though? I like the tavern idea better – I've seen some paper napkins that they've done with logos and such on them. During parades, the pretzel vendors usually have advertisements on them too."

Anisa laughs at the other Lapine. "It was just a suggestion in passing - besides, we'd leave the manure at home." She sits forward again, then idly spins around in her chair slowly. "We sometimes do placement specials at the tavern for food specials or for other businesses or the like. All we'd have to do is set them on the tables, and let people take them if they want. That way, it'd be like posting them, but they wouldn't be out in the elements." The doe stops spinning, although her eyes attempt to keep going. "Maybe we could even place the flyers in other shops, like some of the Women's League places."

"That would make things easier," Aisha agrees. "But we still need to figure out what to actually put on them. Aaron says we should make them coupons good for a free one-day membership or something. That seems his answer to everything about marketing, though: give something away or use someone cute to hand it out."

The white doe gives a small chuckle. "I think it's because he enjoys it more than his customers do." She taps the pencil to her nose, "It might be an idea though, sort of a trial membership. But do you think that many people coming in for free might cause damage to the equipment?" She twirls the pencil in her paw, then shrugs. "Then again, I'm getting ahead of myself – who knows if people will even come?"

"That's another issue altogether," Aisha says. "I mean, this is a fairly upscale place now, so maybe being a bit selective about who we advertise to is a good idea." She suddenly perks her ears, and says, "I think someone just came through the gate." Sure enough, Anisa's own sensitive ears pick up the sound of a somewhat timid knock at the door to the gymnasium wing.

Quickly swiveling, Anisa bounds from her chair, landing at the room's door. "I'll go see who it is; might be another applicant." The doe bounds out of the room, full of enthusiastic energy from how well things have been going lately. Arriving at the gym door, she swings it open. "Yes?"

A well dressed Rath'ani girl steps back from the doorway, looking a bit surprised that anyone heard her knocking. "Oh! I … I came about the nursing position?" she says, almost apologetically.

"Well, I dunno," Anisa says, looking skeptical. "It is a bit late to be entertaining applicants… " She scratches her ears as though deep in thought, then grins playfully at the raccoon. "But what the hey, come on in!" Stepping aside, Anisa motions for the Rath'ani to enter.

The girl hurries inside, and blinks curiously at all of the equipment. "Oh my, look at all this stuff. It's like a torture chamber," she says quietly.

The doe closes the door behind the girl. "Only if you're out of shape, and after a while on those, you won't be for long. Have a seat!" The rabbit motions to the benches, with herself taking a seat on one of the weight machines. "So, first things first – what's your name?"

"I'm Naomi," the girl introduces herself, and sits on a bench near Anisa. Like most Rath'ani, she leans towards the plump side, but otherwise looks fit. "Naomi Nuttenboltschen, ma'am. I studied under Doctor Roho at the free clinic."

"Oh really? So you have plenty of experience with various types of injuries, like the kind we'd see here?" Anisa draws her feet up onto the bench, sitting cross-legged. "I imagine you saw a lot of work at the clinic."

"Oh yes, I'm used to looking after all sorts of injuries," Naomi says, sounding a bit more confident. "Bruises, cuts, knife-wounds, broken bones, burns and once I had to help extract a rubber ball from a Jupani's stomach."

The doe arches a brow at this last statement. "Well, I don't think we'll have too many knife-wounds or, er, swallowed toys," the doe scratches her head, "but I expect us to have plenty of cuts and bruises. So tell me," the doe rests her chin in her palm, "why do you want this job? Seems like a gym nurse is a step down from practicing in a clinic."

Looking nervous again, Naomi says, "Well … the clinic is run on donations, you see. I'm twenty years old now, and I was hoping to find a job that might actually pay me. I really don't want to live with my family forever."

At this comment, one of Anisa's ears perks upright. "They don't pay you at the clinic?" She sits back on the bench. "Why do you do it then?"

Smoothing out her skirts, Naomi admits, "Well … my family thought it would be good for me to learn the medical arts. It wasn't my first choice, but I've grown pretty good at it over the years. I haven't accidentally poisoned anyone in … well, in a long while."

The doe pauses at this. Clearly, this girl hasn't interviewed before. "I … see. Tell me, what was your first choice, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Well, as a girl I really wanted to become a bard," Naomi says with a sparkle in her eye. "I used to practice all the time, and even memorized medicine recipes as poems or songs. But I never really developed much talent at singing, unfortunately."

Anisa smiles, perking her ears forwards. "A singer? That's interesting. We used to have bards at my parents' tavern when I was little, but it's been a while. Anyway, back to the interview." The rabbit flicks her ears back with a paw. "When we open, we expect a fairly big crowd at times, and if I know my meatheads, a lot of them will be egomaniacs – although you didn't hear that from me." She winks. "How good are you at being patient towards difficult people? I imagine you have experience with this from the clinic, but I'm still curious. Can you keep your cool under pressure?"

"Oh yes," Naomi insists, nodding vigorously. "I never got confused when I was running medicines to different riot victims, and I didn't even panic when I was stuck in a really scary place once."

"How about macho guys who are full of themselves," asks the Lapi, "can you handle them too?"

Naomi leans forwards to whisper, "All the ones I've met are big babies when they get hurt. You just have to know how to talk to them."

A huge grin spreads onto the rabbit's face, and she bursts out in laughter, almost falling off the bench. "Okay, you obviously know the answer to that, so I believe you." She giggles a bit more, then calms herself down. "Now, for the last question… " Hopping down from the exerciser, she walks to the corner of the room. Bending down, she picks up a small box, and walks back over to the raccoon as she opens it. As she hands it to Naomi, the raccoon can see that it contains a roll of gauze and other assorted first aid items.

"Are these fresh?" Naomi asks as she sniffs at a jar of cream.

"Just bought them the other day," Anisa replies as she kneels down to the floor. "Now, here's your task… " Raising her arm back, her paw in a fist, the doe punches at the floor, scraping the back of her paw and wrist fairly deep as she winces in pain. "Fix this," she says, offering the damaged hand to the raccoon.

Naomi eeps at the display, and grabs for Anisa's wrist. "Oh my! Do you have a sink I can wash this out with first?"

The rabbit gives a pained grin. "In the locker room through the door over there." The doe motions with her good paw.

Clamping down hard below Anisa's wrist, Naomi keeps the wounded hand elevated and nearly drags the doe along. "Come along then, now. We don't want you to get all sticky and get the carnivores antsy," she says, in an almost motherly tone of voice.

Anisa is a bit surprised at the Rath'ani's sudden burst of initiative, but not displeased. "Er, yes, ma'am." The doe has to quicken her step to keep up with the girl.

Once in the ladies' locker room, Naomi runs some cold water into the sink and holds Anisa's hand under it. Her other hand feels through the first aid kit while she talks. "This might sting a little, but not for too long," she says as she pulls out a little bottle, having apparently found it by touch. As she sets it next to the sink, she uses her now freed hand to start brushing the fur away from the scrapes. "Feeling numb yet from the water?"

"Feeling crisp and cold, yeah." Anisa wiggles her fingers a bit, although not much in their current state. "What's that you're putting on it?"

"Iodine," the Rath'ani says, making it sound as if she's saying "candy." She removes the bottle cap, which has a little glass dropper attached, then takes Anisa's paw out of the water and starts applying the iodine. It really really stings, despite the numbness from the cold water.

The doe sets her ears back, and winces from the sting. Nevertheless, she cracks a grin whenever the raccoon looks away. "How bad is it?"

Naomi is peering close at the deepest scrape, and even gives the area a little pinch to see if it starts bleeding again. "Well, you won't need stitches, and it looks clean. I think it'll be okay to bandage it without having to shave the fur off, but you'll need to keep an eye on it when you change the bandage." She reaches out and grabs the gauze without looking, thumbs off the holding clip, starts to wrap the still wet paw. "It'll loosen a bit as it dries," she says.

Anisa straightens out her paw, letting the Rath'ani do her job. Not too tight, and amazingly fast – this brings a smile to the rabbit's lips. "What else needs to be done?"

The Rath'ani digs into a pocket of her skirt, and produces a sugar-stick which she offers to Anisa. "Good girls get a treat," she begins to say, then blinks and realizes where she is once more. "Oh! Umm… sorry, habit! I mostly deal with scrapes like this on children.,"

Holding out her good paw expectantly, Anisa grins. "They won't be children, but they'll appreciate the gesture anyways. By the way, you said you wanted to be a singer? Have you ever written any of your own music?"

Handing over the candy, Naomi says, "Well, no. Nothing I was ever able to finish and didn't sound like it was written by a fox. And … I really can't treat people in the locker rooms you know! I mean, not the men at least. The notice I read at the apothecary said there'd be an actual nurse's station."

"Oh, we have one of those," replies the rabbit, "this was just closer. Besides, I wanted to see what you could do with what you had on hand. Follow me!" Gnawing on the stick, the Lapi makes her way out of the locker room, and down the hall to the Nurse's Station. "How about jingles? You said you used to make up songs to remember medicines?"

"Oh yes," Naomi admits, carrying the first aid supplies. "It was really tricky trying to find rhymes for things like staggerwort or creensbreath though."

Once in the converted kitchen, Naomi inspects the surfaces and lighting before nodding in satisfaction.

"That's good," Anisa says, sitting down on one of the first-aid cots, "because when you start, we may have another job for you as well." The doe smiles.

The Rath'ani blink and smiles wide. "Does that mean I'm hired? And what would this other job be?"

"You're patient, kind, quick, and skilled," Anisa replies, "way more so than our other applicants. Plus, you didn't freak out at my little test. You should have seen some of the reactions I got from that – this one gal ran out of here screaming." The rabbit crosses her legs, resting her paws on her knees. "I'm amazed you haven't been snatched up by someone else yet, to be honest. As for the other job … " The doe pulls out her brush, and combs the fur on her bandaged hand to match the gauze better. "We need ways to advertise our opening, and a catchy jingle would be great!"

"That is," Anisa adds, "if you're interested."

"A … jingle?" Naomi asks, her fingers playing with the ruffles of her blouse while she thinks. "What sort of message do you want to get across and … umm … what is this place called?" she asks, slightly embarrassed.

"Something to identify us – a place for fitness and good health. We might use it in the Ring Day parade or – wait, I know! We could use it as a rhyme on the flyers!" Anisa momentarily forgets herself in thought, then snaps back to reality. "As for the name… that's a good question." The doe scratches her ear, then looks to the raccoon. "Which sounds better: Snowshoe's Gymnasium, or Anisa's Gym?"

"Well, the latter is certainly easier to spell, and a bit more … distinctive?" Naomi suggests. "Want to get fit? Want to get trim? Do it now, at Anisa's Gym," she rhymes.

Hopping up from the cot, Anisa gives Naomi a strong hug. "I knew there was a reason I hired you!" She lets the Rath'ani go, and walks to the door. "You start tomorrow, seven in the morning sharp. Care to come to my office and sign a few papers to make it official?"

The nurse wheezes for a moment after the hug, then gasps, "Sure … be right there."

Grinning, the Lapi waits at the door. "If you wanna take a look around first, feel free. As an employee, you get a free membership and access to all the equipment. I recommend the sauna – I gave it a test run myself this morning."

"You don't look like you've been sawed on," Naomi says, getting her wind back and following Anisa. "And I should know."

Anisa laughs, leading the way to the office. "First item of business tomorrow: terminology. Here we are." Opening the door to the office, the doe steps aside to let the raccoon in. "Aisha, meet our new nurse, Naomi."

The golden Lapi doe looks up from where she was doodling on some scrap paper, and gets up to bow to Naomi. "I was starting to get worried when I didn't hear any screams," she says, then reaches for some forms. "You'll need to fill these out, and if your wrist isn't totally cramped afterwards I'm sure you'll fit right in."

Naomi smiles back to the doe, and says, "I'm really looking forward to this. It'll be so nice to be working on my way to independence!"

The white doe hops into her own chair, spinning it in the process. "She handled it like a pro, and I also think we have someone to be your marketing apprentice for the time being."

Aisha cants her ears at a querying angle towards Anisa, and gets Naomi started on the forms. "Let me guess. Naomi's family owns a printing business?" she asks.

"Even better," Anisa says, "she can rhyme. I was thinking she could help us come up with a jingle, or a catch phrase or something. Something we can put on the flyers to stick in people's minds." The doe leans forward on her desk. "Your family doesn't also happen to own a press, does it?"

Naomi looks up from the paperwork, and responds, "Err, no, sorry. They're sort of retired."

"Ah well, it was worth asking." The white Lapine looks to Aisha. "What's your opinion? Think it'll help business any?"

"Oh, good!" Aisha says, and grabs the doodle she was working on and holds it out to Anisa. "I've been working on a logo!" she says, and points to a somewhat cartoonish drawing of a smiling Lapi lifting a barbell with its ears. "Don't you think this would look cute on shirts and things?"

Anisa takes the doodle, and laughs upon looking at it. "That's great! Although it may be a bit premature to be thinking about shirts and things. Or then again, maybe not… " She hands the doodle back to Aisha, and scratches her chin. "I knew of this one restaurant that had shirts for sale on the first day it opened, and they ended up making more money off of those than off of food. Maybe we could have some of those made, and pass them out during the Parade?"

"Or have people wear them for us," Aisha suggests. Although the doe probably wouldn't wear one herself – her tastes in clothes are a bit more elegant.

Anisa nods. "That may work too." She scratches her ear with a frown. "The only problem I see is that it might turn off some of the carnivores, seeing a Lapi. They may be annoying, but I have a feeling they'd be our biggest customer base. Think you could doodle a companion piece? Maybe a Khatta or a Jupani or something?"

"I think we'd need a real artist for that," Aisha says, looking at her own simple doodle. "Maybe we could have different types on the front and back, or together?"

"There are artists in the Bazaar," Naomi offers while scribbling away at her forms. "I saw one draw funny pictures of people in only a few minutes."

"What do you mean 'real artist'? That looks great!" The white doe grins. "I was thinking of putting them together on the front, side by side. That way, it appeals to everyone." She sets her ears sideways. "I suppose a polished picture would be great, but you should plot it out, Aisha - it was your idea."

Aisha smiles proudly at the responsibility, since most of her talents so far have been in office administration. "Okay, I'll try to come up with a group pose. Maybe in silhouette so it's easier."

Anisa laughs, winking at the other doe. "I think you missed your calling in life. So, Naomi, how goes the paperwork? Everything to your liking?"

"I think so," Naomi says, sounding hopeful. "It's my first job application, but I think I have all the answers."

"I'm sure you do. I know what it's like to be stuck with your parents. Just be glad you don't have six brothers and an extended family living at your house." The doe grins. "Planning on getting your own place soon?"

"Six! I only have two to worry about," Naomi says, then gets a serious look on her face as she thinks about the second question. "I don't know about that. I mean, I don't want to rush things like that. Do you have your own place, Miss Snowshoe?"

"Not yet," replies Anisa, leaning back in her chair, "unless you count this place. I want to get my own place soon, though, when I can afford it. It's tricky for Lapis, though."

"Tricky?" Naomi asks curiously.

"You could move in with a friend, Naomi," Aisha suggests. "I've been staying with a friend here in Rephidim, and wehardly ever get on each others' nerves anymore."

Anisa smirks at Aisha's comment. "We tend to stick close with our families until we're married, or that's the tradition at least." She sets her feet on the desk. "I don't really consider myself traditional, though."

"Neither of us are," Aisha adds in.

"Oh, I was beginning to wonder," Naomi admits. "I mean, I didn't expect to find just women running everything."

Grinning at Aisha, the white Lapi nods. "I don't know how it is for Rath'ani, but us two aren't normal Lapi gals." She perks an ear at the raccoon. "Just women? How do you mean?"

"Well," Naomi says, looking away and fidgeting with her hands. "You know. Lapi women are supposed to be surrounded by their children and stuff while their husbands work. Umm, not that I ever really believed that old stereotype. Honest!"

"Well, some of us think we can have that and take care of business," Aisha says, crossing her arms across her chest (which causes the bells on her bracelets to jingle). "We're not all timid."

Smirking, Anisa looks to Aisha, then back to Naomi. "If that's the case, then we're in trouble. It's only me, Aisha, and Calli – all women, all Lapi." She leans back in her chair again. "I don't have any kids just yet – or any that I'm aware of at least, which would be kind of hard to miss. No husband for that matter. Just us rabbit girls and our gym." She grins, "Hope that doesn't give you second thoughts."

Naomi grins, and says, "Oh, not at all. Maybe you'll show me how to be less timid. Well, when I'm not nursing that is. I'm not timid then. But I don't think I'll be moving out my parent's house just yet."

"To each her own," the doe shrugs with a grin. "One more stereotype down the drain. But no, so far, we're all women here – Me, Aisha, Calli, Meg, and now you. I guess Daddy counts since he loaned me some money, but he leaves me be to run the place." Picking her brush up, she tosses it to Aisha. "Here, your fur's standing up."

Aisha looks stricken, and immediately begins combing down her fur. Non-traditional or not, she's still as obsessed with her looks as any teenager.

"Sooo," Naomi says, trying not to giggle. "You aren't opening this place up just to meet really hunky men?"

"Not really," Anisa says with a straight, serious face. "I wanted to prove I could make it on my own, and an opportunity presented itself. Plus, I like to work out." She stays serious for a bit longer to mess with the Raccoon, but then cracks a grin. "The hunks are just a bonus."

Even Aisha pauses her brushing at that thought. "I hadn't actually given much thought to that. All the hunky men where I come from are usually eunuchs."

"Oh well," Naomi says, "it doesn't really matter to me. I've seen a lot of men as a nurse after all. Just… not healthy ones. How different can it be?"

Anisa gives Aisha a strange but amused look. "Er, right… it doesn't work that way up here. And healthy men are a sight different." She winks at Naomi. "The guys coming here will probably be fit, and if they aren't, they will be after we're done with them."

"Well, you'll be the one spending all the time with them, Anisa," Aisha points out. "Don't expect me to go out there and 'spot' them or whatever it is you do."

"I guess I just have to worry about the injured ones," Naomi says, compulsively shuffling the papers of her application form. "And there'll be girls and kids too I imagine."

The white doe shrugs at Aisha. "Just leaves more for me," she grins. "Besides, you ought to try working out, too. I bet you'd like it."

Anisa nods to Naomi. "Girls, yes. Kids, I dunno. We're mostly adult – some of the places here would be off limits to kids, so we don't know if we're letting them in yet or not."

"And for that matter," the doe adds, "we may end up with more women than men, if word of mouth plays out. We'll have to wait and see."

Aisha raises one perfectly formed, golden brow and just looks at Anisa. "I don't see myself sweating, I'm afraid. I've seen Aaron and Fadwa working out, and it is downright swampy."

"I can't say Rath'ani are known for body-building either," Naomi says. "But maybe that's just my family."

"If you say so," Anisa replies, scribbling on some paper-work, "but you two don't know what you're missing. Lapi aren't known for body-building either, but I do it anyways." She smirks. "Its always good to be in good health."

"It's getting late," Anisa says before looking to Naomi. "Tomorrow, we'll give you a tour of the place, and give you a better description of your duties. We won't have much for you to do until we open, so until then, you can help us with our opening strategies. How does that sound?"

"It sounds great!" Naomi enthuses, then asks, "When do I get paid?"