A week has passed since Piper's meeting with the Temple investigator, and no further word has been heard from her. Work has been good for the Gallah, however. The Creen troubles that "Eeeat Up!" had prior to his extermination work there have not recurred, pleasing the store manager so much that she not only gave him the agreed upon "success bonus" but has regaled all and sundry with tales (often, apparently, much exaggerated) of his prowess.

Returning home now after a small job at a different Bazaar shop, he notices a handful of patrons in the main room: three chattering Kavis who also stay in the common room, a pair of unfamiliar Skreeks who can't seem to help looking shady as they sit silently over drinks, and a bored-looking female Khatta with smooth, silvery-white fur and long hair draped over one shoulder, seated by herself at the bar.

Piper instinctively raises his head and sniffs at the air, testing the new scents and remembering the older and more familiar ones. He licks his nose and yawns, sidling up to a barstool and pulling his quiver from his shoulder. "A nice little day. I hope they're serving dinner by now… "

The feline's ears perk as Piper's speaks, and she uncurls from her bored, slumped posture on the bar stool with a little "mew," opening half-closed eyes to focus on the mutt. "Oh!" she exclaims, looking him up and down appraisingly. "Do tell me your name is Piper," she murmurs with a throaty purr over his name, leaning forward.

The Gallah blinks several times and glances over his shoulder to make sure the Khatta isn't addressing someone else. His cheeks blush under the freckles on his white fur. "Yes Mam'selle, I am Piper the exterminator. May I be of service to you?"

The innkeeper's daughter, April, emerges from the kitchen bearing a tray laden with steaming bowls of stew and two loaves of freshly-baked bread. The stew smells unusually good this evening as the young Rath'ani sets the dishes down before the Kavis, whose conversation barely slows as they break up the bread and start scooping out stew with it.

Piper's mouth waters at the smell of the stew and he waves to April. He gestures to the Kavis with a thumb and then places a tenner in front of him in a sort of "I'll have what they're having" gesture.

The dog's blush only seems to heighten the feline's interest in him, and she braces her hands against the seat of the stool between them as she leans towards him. She wears snugly fitted black pants and a black leather corset, overa white peasant top with off-shoulder sleeves. The combination of posture and corset provides Piper with an excellent view of cleavage should he choose to take it, while the female purrs, "Oh, you already have helped me!" Her tail swishes from side to side as she wriggles her shoulders delightedly.

April wrinkles her nose at the feline's display, then smiles at Piper, scooping up his coin. She glances to the Khatta for a moment, her mouth opening and then closing, before she heads back to the kitchen with a "be right back" gesture to the Gallah.

The Gallah's cheeks turn bright scarlet and he forgets to breathe for a moment. "Ngh… " He lets his breath out explosively and sneezes into his hands. He finally recovers somewhat, his hands fumbling with his belt. "I… er… have, Mam'selle? Well, *ahem*, I'm happy to have been of service! Did I clear your house of vermites at some time?"

"My name's Cynthia!" the feline volunteers, lifting her right hand from the empty bar stool to offer it to the Gallah. "I'm a … mmmm … " the feline arches her neck and tilts her head slightly as she considers her words, "… an associate of Torn-Ear's." She wriggles her shoulders again, in a consciously sensual manner, tail curling around one leg. "You did him a favor, and that's a favor to me." Her last word is almost a meow, and she looks pleased with herself as she finishes.

Piper takes the feline's hand and clumsily shakes it in the manner that he'd use to seal a deal in the Bazaar. "Torn-Ear! I've not heard from him in awhile. I hope he's well." He considers her wording. "Oh! I understand! You're his wife." He smiles.

Her fingers linger against Piper's wrist after he shakes her hand, and she licks the tip of one of her teeth as she listens to him, then bursts into giggles. "Wife?" She makes a little face, wrinkling her nose at him cutely. "You're just as adorable as Torn-Ear said." Her smile widens, then she controls it down to a smaller one. "No, I'm not his wife, just a friend." She purrs out the last word. "And he's doing just fine, Piper. You don't mind if I call you Piper, do you, sugar?"

"It is the only name I go by, Mam'selle. Gallahs do not normally have last names unless they claim to have noble lineages, I believe." He licks his nose again and clasps his wrist in his hand. "Son ami is mon ami, Mam'selle. I am honored to meet you. Did Torn-Ear send you down to meet me?"

"Ooooooh, you speak Gallisian," the feline purrs with pleasure. "What a gorgeous language." She arches her back in feline fashion, head tilted back so she can look up at Piper as she leans closer over the bar stool between them. "As a matter of fact," she purrs, "He sent me here to thank you or doing such a gooood job when he asked you to help that little bug market with their Creen problem." Cynthia mreows contentedly, letting her lids half-close over her light blue eyes. Her eyelashes are a gray a few shades darker than the surrounding fur, and surprisingly long.

The dog swallows noisily. "I was born in Gallis, Mam'selle. Er… and you really have no need to thank me, I was most grateful for the job."

The raccoon girl returns, setting the stew and bread before the Gallah, along with a stein full of milk. She pauses before the pair at the bar, giving a disgusted look to Cynthia. "Here you are, Piper! How'd your job today go?" she interjects abruptly, turning from feline to canine, and giving the mutt a smile.

"Oh! Just fine, Dame April. I am getting a steady flow of work from Little Babel. I just hope I've practiced enough on killing bugs; they're a bit different than vermites and Creens." Piper's voice cracks and he dips his muzzle in his mug, lapping away furiously to moisten his throat that appears to have suddenly gone dry. He licks a bit of white froth from his nose and gestures to the Khatta. "Mam'selle Cynthia, this is the innkeeper's daughter, Dame April, who is also a very good friend of mine."

The feline turns her head to look at the interrupting servant with barely controlled annoyance. She reins it in a little more at Piper's introduction. "How nice to meet you, April. Be a dear and get me a glass of wine, would you, honey?" she says with saccharine sweetness. Her tail untwines from her leg to tap the nearly empty goblet on the bar beside her for emphasis.

April bristles and an almost inaudible growl forms in the back of her throat. "Good to meet you, too, Cynthia," she replies, unable to match the feline's pseudo-friendly tone. She lingers a moment longer, until the cat taps her tail on the glass again. The raccoon makes a face. "Sure thing, miss. Comin' right up."

The Gallah's eyes follow the movement of Cynthia's tail and then fall to look at the leg it was curled around, the raccoon completely forgotten in his mind for now. "Please give Torn-Ear my thanks, belle femme." He manages to wrench his gaze away to dip his nose in his mug again and re-moisten his throat, which has mysteriously gone dry a second time.

As the raccoon fetches a bottle down from the shelves behind the bar, the feline returns her focus to Piper. "Now … where were we?" She does her shoulder wriggle, looking at Piper's face. "Ahhhh, Torn-Ear! And I wasn't done thanking you yet." She flicks her ears coquettishly.

Planting a glass of wine so firmly on the bar that some of the contents slosh over the edge, April announces, "Your drink, Cynthia!"

Piper wipes his mouth with a sleeve. "I assure you that no thanks are necessary. I am extremely grateful for the work. It is I who should thank you, mon ami!"

Cynthia straightens at the clink on the bar, but doesn't even look at the raccoon girl, returning to her arched-back posture with even more pronounced flair, her arms squeezing together and pushing her chest further at Piper's "mon ami". "Awwwww, you really are too sweet," she purrs coyly. "Anyway… " Her tail slinks about her calf again.

The Gallah's eyes look absolutely forced to remain on the Khatta's face instead of wandering downwards. "Any… way… ?" His voice breaks into a questioning squeak.

The feline lifts her right hand to her face, curling one finger towards her teeth to nip at one clawtip thoughtfully, her rapt gaze fixed on the mongrel as she apparently tries to recall her mission. "Oh!" She says at last. "I wanted to invite you to my party!" She purrs with pleasure. "Torn-Ear's … um … business is doing so well that I'm going to have a party to celebrate, and I want to make sure that everyone who's contributed to our … success is there." She slinks to her feet and slips around the intervening bar stool, dropping her right hand to rest lightly against the mongrel's thigh as she leans close to him. "You will come, won't you?" she whispers huskily.

Piper's tail begins thumping furiously against his own stool. "A party?" He tugs at his collar. "I would be honored, Mam'selle! But… I do not have much in the way of formal clothing… " He swallows, and idly wonders in the back of his mind why his entire leg has suddenly gone numb.

The Skreeks call out, "Hey, girl! Need some refills here!" Unnoticed beside the feline and canine pair, April turns and, with a grim nod to the rats, stomps off to the kitchen.

"Awwww, that's just fine, sugar," Cynthia murmurs, touching Piper's cheek with her left hand. "We're not a formal lot, y'know? You just come as you are, Piper." She smiles enticingly at the mongrel, touching the tip of her tongue to her teeth. "As long as you come. It's gonna be a week from today. In our place, at the corner of Shadows Run and Wolf Road. You know where that is, sweetie?"

The Gallah's ears droop blissfully. "Yes I do, Mam'selle. I hope you have guards there; even with the dragon gone, Darkside can be a bit dangerous… especially when word gets out that someone's having a nice little celebration." The Khatta's touch wipes away the rest of his concern. "I'll be there, Mam'selle. Thank you for inviting me."

"So sweet of you to be concerned about li'l me. We'll be just fine, though, don't you worry," the feline purrs. She gives a little shiver of delight, her tail swishing to brush against Piper's leg. "I'll look forward to seeing you there, Piper," she purrs, her tone appreciative.

"I look forward to seeing me there … er … I mean, seeing you there too, Mam'selle." He snaps out of his blissful gaze for a moment. "And I look forward to seeing Misseur Torn-Ear again as well!"

The feline is about to reply when April sweeps past the pair, on her way to the Skreeks, bearing a tray with two mugs at such an awkward angle that it nearly collides with the Khatta. "Mew!" Cynthia emits, and the lithe dodge which lets her avoid the girl presses her into Piper's lap, causing his stool to half-spin about.

"Gnkx!" the Gallah grunts out, wrapping his arms around Cynthia as he flails to regain his balance. He's downright blushing crimson now. "Belle dame, are you all right?"

The cat's body melts limply against Piper's. She starts to say something, glancing at April, then stops and shakes her head, looking down at Piper. "Oh, I'm so sorry," she purrs, although she doesn't seem to be in a rush to vacate his lap. "Such a clumsy thing I am. But I'm just fine, sugar… Thank you for catching me." She runs her fingers through his fur, as if to straighten out ruffles made by her collision.

Piper's eyes roll back into his head and a happy little moan oozes from his throat. "It was… no problem at all Mam'selle." He slowly pulls his hands from the feline's waist.

Cynthia smoothes down the collar of the mongrel's shirt, while the serving girl heads grimly back towards them, bearing the now-empty tray. The feline glances towards her again, then back to Piper. "Guess I'd better get going now," she purrs with sweet reluctance, sliding slowly out of the Gallah's lap.

"Going?" The dog's eyes un-glaze a bit. "Oh! Going! You mean as in leaving. Of course." He fusses with his shirt, messing up a bit of the smoothing down he received under the cat's attentions. "You must be very busy if you're a partner with Misseur Torn-Ear. Will I … see you are the party?"

With gentle fingers, Cynthia straightens his shirt again. "Oh, you betcha, Piper." She gives him a languid wink and wriggles her shoulders. "I can't wait." She pats the mongrel's cheek. "Take care 'til then, sugar. I'll give your regards to Torn-Ear."

Piper's toes happily kick at his stool while his tail furiously swats at the air. "One week from today then, j'attends avec interet de vous revoir, beau chat."

With a little shiver at the mongrel's Gallisian, and another coy "mew", Cynthia turns to walk towards the door, her hips swaying with each lithe step. At the exit, she pauses to give a small wave and another wink, then vanishes onto the street.

The dog reluctantly turns his attentions to his stew, dreamily staring off into space as he breaks off a chunk of bread and swirls it around in the bowl. "Un ange du ciel." He smiles and munches on the bread, although by his distant look he could probably be eating mud and not notice at the moment.

April stands near to the mongrel, her arms folded across her tray as she watches the mongrel eat, a little frown on her face.

A few moments after she left, Cynthia reappears to call out, "Oh! We're starting just after sundown, Piper! Don't be late, now, sugar!" Another wave and she's gone again.

"Mmmph!" is all Piper can respond with. By the time he can twist around in his seat, the Khatta has already left. He swallows his mouthful and shrugs, noticing April for the first time. "Oh! I should have asked … are you all right? I noticed that you slipped twice."

The Rath'ani's ears pinken. "Oh, um, I'm fine, Piper," she says hastily, twisting her fingers together over the tray. She peers at his face with a vaguely distressed look on her own. "'re you okay?"

The Gallah blinks and pats himself. "I didn't black out during the conversation, did I? I'd hate to have made a bad impression… "

April straightens and snorts. "No, you didn't," she says curtly. "And she sure looked like she had a good impression of you to me," she adds, grumbling.

Piper rubs his nose, glancing out the door and then back to the raccoon girl. "Mam'selle, you speak as though this is not a good thing? Is something the matter?"

"I just don't like her attitude, is all." The raccoon sniffs disdainfully. "She was all over you! And you didn't even know her until just now, did you?"

"Well, not technically, no." The Gallah refills his mug and laps at it idly. "I just assumed that Misseur Torn-Ear told her about me and she felt that she knew me already. Or perhaps that is the way it is with cats."

"Well, I think it's disgraceful for anyone, cat or otherwise!" April declaims in irritation, then subsides, smoothing down her hair self-consciously.

Piper droops a bit. "I apologize for behaving disgraceful in your presence, Mam'selle. It was just that … she was… " He sighs and shakes his head. "I have no excuses. Perhaps I am simply not properly educated on how to behave in such instances. I did not know I was doing anything wrong… Perhaps you could show me the proper way to behave when I go to her party next week?"

April smacks her forehead, glares at the door, then Piper. "Oh!" She quivers, speechless. "Oh, look … umm … aw, heck, forget I said anything," she says, floundering in frustration. "Just keep your hands to yourself, I guess. What do I know?" She slumps her shoulders, looking dejected.

"Have I insulted you again? Of course… it is rude of me to ask you to trouble yourself and add to your duties like that. It was wrong of me to propose such a thing." The Gallah sinks down in his stool.

The raccoon rubs her face. "It's not that … aww … don't look like that, Piper. I … aw … nevermind. It's none of my business anyway, I should just keep my big mouth shut. It was her acting all… " She flounders for a word and gives up. "You know. Anyroad, it wasn't you who jumped into her lap."

"Jumped, Mam'selle? I thought she tripped?" Piper munches idly on a chunk of bread.

April only snorts in response. "That's not what it looked like to me. But I suppose my view wasn't as good as yours." She flips her tray onto the bar and folds her arms against it, looking disgruntled.

The mutt scratches his head and looks into his bowl of stew. "I'm becoming a bit confused. Why would someone pretend to look clumsy and slip?"

The raccoon shoots a glance at the mongrel. "Are you kidding me, Piper?"

A handful of people bustle into the room from the street and take a table near the middle of the room. "Hey, April, bring us a round of ale!" one of them calls out.

"It makes no sense. It seems about as silly as me pretending to be bad at my job or something equally silly. Why do something that makes you look clumsy?" The Gallah's ears perk at the new arrivals.

The innkeeper's daughter sighs and grabs up her tray as the new people come in. "Just a sec, Piper, I'll be right back." She does a quick head count and darts behind the bar to start pulling tankards, shaking her head in disbelief.

After delivering the drinks and slapping away an unfamiliar hand, the girl returns to Piper's side. She considers her words. "Look, she was … um … putting the moves on you. You could tell that much, right?"

"Is that what it means when someone pretends to trip? I suppose that's a form of moving, and she fell on me… " The Gallah fishes a chunk of potato from his stew and munches on it thoughtfully.

April studies the mongrel's face intently for any signs of joking or dishonesty. "Um, no, that's not what I meant, Piper." She gropes for words.

Piper licks his fingers off. "I… er… didn't do anything wrong, did I?"

"She was trying to get you to like her. I mean, not just like her as a friend, but really like her." The raccoon pauses, sensing that this is not the most successful tact for her to take.

"No, or at least you didn't do anything she didn't want you to. She was trying to, y'know, pick you up." Another pause to see if she's getting through to the mongrel.

The Gallah, thankfully, isn't quite that naive. "Well, people do form couples and such. Otherwise you and I wouldn't be here today. Are you saying that she's attracted to me?" He peers down at his soiled work clothes.

April looks relieved and nods. "She was certainly acting like it. And I think it's a little funny that she'd be coming on all hot and heavy like that and she doesn't even know you."

"I suppose." Piper munches on another chunk of bread. "Maybe Torn-Ear is trying to get us together and told her about me? Did she ask or say anything about me before I came in?"

With a small shiver at Torn-Ear's name, the girl nods. "Yes, she asked after you when she got here. I told her you were out an' told her I'd give you a message if she wanted, but she said she'd wait a while for you. She was here maybe twenty minutes before you got back?" April looks thoughtful.

Piper swishes his tail. "I shall have to practice my manners for the party. I wonder who all will be there?"

Looking worried at the mention of the party, April mutters, "Prolly a buncha thugs." She wrinkles her nose. "I'm not so sure about this crowd you're hangin' around with, Piper."

"Why do you say that? Misseur Torn-Ear may look a bitgrizzled, but he seemed concerned about Mam'selle Kassie's health and got me a good job." He sniffs at his stew.

April considers the matter for some moments, then finally shakes her head, giving up. "I dunno, exactly, Piper. They just look … dangerous, to me. Plus she's giving a party in Darkside? That can't be a good sign."

"We cannot all afford nice houses in Rephidim, mon ami. Kassy herself lived in Darkside for a bit as have I before I was lucky enough to find this place. Perhaps they cannot afford better?" The dog whimpers to himself. "Although that would make me wonder why they are having a party to begin with. Perhaps I should bring something to eat… "

A heavy sigh from the raccoon. "Yeah, I suppose that's true. And it probably wouldn't hurt to bring a dish or a bottle of wine or somethin' for the hostess, either," she concedes.

"She seems to like wine… " Piper's voice takes a slightly dreamy tone.

The raccoon glances at the second glass of white wine Cynthia ordered, still untouched on the bar. "Maybe," she says sourly. "Oh, hey," she interjects, perking suddenly. "I just remembered. You ever see a silver Creen, Piper?"

The Gallah shakes his head. "Most of the ones I've seen are multi-colored or one single bright color. I think I saw an albino Creen once but that was as close as I saw to silver. Why do you ask, Mam'selle?

April smiles. "Because I just saw one today, while I was out shopping. It was so pretty. It had silver scales and snowy white wings. But it wasn't an albino. I thought it was neat, and it reminded my of your pet Creen. Was curious if they were common and I'd just never seen one before."

The Gallah perks up. "Oooh! Where did you see it? Perhaps I could get a look at it myself sometime."

She makes a vague gesture towards the northeast. "A few blocks from here, near the Farmer's Market. It was just flying between a couple of buildings."

Piper taps his nose. Such a Creen might make the perfect present for Kassie, or he could tame it and sell it to a breeder, or find the owner for a potential reward, or present it as a gift to the lovely lady Cynthia. The Gallah grins and starts shoveling down the remains of his dinner. "Mmph! Maybe I can find it again!" he yips between bites.

"Maybe. I could prolly get Da to let me off for a half hour to show you where I saw it, if you like, Piper," April volunteers.

"I would love that, Mam'selle! Just let me finish mydinner, feed Kassie's Creen and gather a few supplies. I'll meet you in a little bit?" His tail wags happily in between bites.

The sound of tankards thumping against a table comes from the Kavi's corner, and a few more customers filter in. "I'll check with Da about it … prolly need to wait until the dinner crowd's through anyway. Catcha inna bit, 'kay?"

The Gallah eagerly nods his head and focuses on inhaling the rest of his dinner. ( Please be a tame Creen… please please. )