Amongst the stalls, Francisco the kitsune weaves his way through them. He got a free lunch here a few days ago, and he's wondering if that might be possible again.

Taking the thin sliver of wood he has been gnawing on for the last half an hour out of his mouth. An Eeee tosses it to the ground where he has beenstanding and walks out into the crowd of the Bazaar. He seems a little bored as his head sweeps around, looking at the passers by. He proceeds from the base of the clocktower towards the far end of the open plaza.

Here and there, pasted to walls and occasionally rooftops, can be seen copies of the same flyer – a poster that solicits donations for a fund to restore the clock tower, put on by the Bazaar Merchants' Guild. At the base of the tower, near another such poster, a few cubs with wooden cups badger passersby, occasionally earning a quarter- or half-shekel to put into the pot. (Of course, a couple of enterprising Kavis try to slip in and take 'donations' for personal gain, but are quickly shooed away by the merchants.)

For a brief moment … the clock tells the correct time. It is midday now, with the sun almost directly overhead.

The kitsune is a little too preoccupied in finding either that mouse trader who he saw before, or really anyone else with free food to offer, to pay attention to the flyers. He has no money anyway, and a debt to the temple still to pay off.

At the base of the tower, there's a tent set up, with an Eeee proprietor. "Dali's Delicacies", a banner proclaims in several languages, with the translations in Rephidim Standard and Eeee being in the most prominent script.

Shading his eyes from the bright sun. The Eeee continues to make his way through the crowds, sliding closer to the stalls, where the crowd is not quite so dense. Because most lunch guests have already found their seats.

A shift in breeze brings a spicy smell of fresh-cooked food blowing down the street … and, probably not coincidentally, it brings the booth a few more customers. The bat proprietor, perhaps Dali himself, notices the five-tailed fox. "Francisco!" he squeaks, and flaps a wing in greeting. "Good fortune that you walk past my booth! Perhaps you would care to try a sample?"

"Little Babel" seems to have migrated to the base of the clock tower today, as fate would have it, and therefore the Eeee population of the Bazaar is mostly concentrated here at this particular moment.

The fox's ears swivel, locating the voice and with a shrug he heads over to the tent. "Sure, ok – thanks."

Francisco looks over the selection, wondering if he can have any of what's on offer.

The treat in question at Dali's shack would seem to be some sort of stuffed pastry, not unlike a sandwich, but very floppy. As the new … whatever-they-ares … are cooked, they are put up by the cook on wooden poles, arranged under signs, ranging from "Wimpy", "Mild", "Regular" and "Hot" all the way up to "Waashu".

Dali smiles. "Fresh and as hot or as mild as you please! What's your pleasure?" He taps at each of the holding poles, while a smaller bat reaches past him, exchanging one of the floppy stacks with a customer in exchange for a small-denomination shekel. They're selling as fast as hotcakes.

The kitsune points to the sign that says 'Waashu', asking, "That one okay?"

Arriving to the Eeee shack is Skrill, the same Eeee that came all the way from the clocktower. He picks up some change in one hand as he asks Dali "What's the treats for today?" in broken Rephidim.

"Hotter would be fine for me, thanks," says Francisco with a grin.

Dali's eyebrows raise. "Waashu? Well, certainly! A brave one, I see!" Several of the Eeee stop talking with each other, and look in awe at Francisco. "Coming right up!" Dali squeaks, and he grabs a wooden stick, deftly flipping the floppy pastry off of a pole, and onto a piece of wax-paper, then very quickly wrapping it up and handing it to Francisco. "It's on me!"

Dali notices Skrill, and shifts back to Eeee, going over his offerings, and the varied "temperatures" of spice available. Most of the Eeee seem to be ordering on the hotter side of the range … though very few opt for the "Waashu" special.

Carefully stepping out of the way of Francisco, Skrill picks a not quite as spicy meal for himself and pays the owner. Keeping one cautious eye on the fox next to him.

Dali shifts back to Francisco and says, "And, if anyone asks you where you got it – Dali's! The only place to get the ORIGINAL Dali-Pastry!"

Taking it from the bat, Francisco notices he has a little bit of an audience. Before taking a bite, he winks at the bat next to him and bites into the pastry.

Overhead, there is a flash of color, as an Eeee in Temple robes circles around the clock tower, then lowers to the street. He has a logo on his robes which looks like the Star and Anchor, but is slightly altered, whereas the points of the star look instead like wrenches.

Fire alarms go off in Francisco's mouth! This isn't just hot – It's a MELTDOWN!

Francisco's eyes widen at the hotness of the spice. After swallowing it, then taking a few deep breaths, he gets his voice back: "Wow… that's *pant* pretty hot indeed."

Several Eeee watch Francisco for his reaction. One jokes to the other, "I wonder if he will breathe fire like the Sabaoth's dragon?" The other doesn't laugh at this joke, though, and just frowns, losing all mirth.

Francisco asks of the bat who served him, "Anything to wash this down with?"

"Of course!" squeaks the bat merchant, and he snaps his fingers. Immediately, a smaller bat hands him a wooden cup, which he sets out on a counter in front of Francisco. It has some milk in it.

Picking it up, Francisco just takes a small swig from it, and then takes another bite of the pastry.

Another Eeee comments, "Amazing he can still talk… "

One of Skrill's ears turn to observe the conversation on the other side of the fox next to him. As a thin smile is seen at his lips and he says "Schiienta." under his breath – the Eeee word for 'foreigner' – then taking a bite of his own food.

The kitsune's tongue has been numbed enough that the shock from the spice isn't quite as noticeable this time through. Unfortunately, this also dulls the taste as well, but at least there's still some texture to it. The pastry has a good body to it, and just enough moisture to it, with a bit of steam rising from it in the brisk, cool air of the Bazaar. The stuffing is saucy and crunchy.

Francisco continues to work through eating it at his own pace, occasionally taking another sip from the cup of milk.

The Technopriest bat lands near Francisco, and licks his lips. "My my my! I do believe that smells positively WONDERFUL!" He looks to Dali and asks, "What kind of bug do you stuff those pastries with, good sir?"

Licking some of the meat from his teeth Skrill turns to the kitsune next to him and says "I have not seen your likes around too much." in his broken Rephidim, then he adds with a friendly smile "Not at all actually." Just keeping a wary eye on the Technopriest.

The kitsune coughs up his current mouthful unceremoniously. "B… Bug?" he gasps. "There are… bugs in this?"

Dali smiles. "Of course! I pride myself in only using FRESH bugs, of the highest quality! No fillers or artificial flavorings!"

Francisco seems to pale slightly through his fur, a most unwell expression on his face.

The Technopriest looks at Francisco. "Oh! You've got a leg on the corner of your mouth right … here!" He reaches forward to brush aside the offending "crumb".

Turning to the fox next to him Skrill asks "Is something the matter. Does the scarabs not taste right?"

Dali looks positively crestfallen. "Oh! Is that one not properly prepared? I will get you another, at once!"

The Technopriest says, "You know, really, perhaps it's because you cook them so thoroughly. I really think it's best if you only add the bugs AFTER cooking, so that they're still wiggling. It improves the texture greatly."

Waving his hand in a 'no-thank-you' way at the vendor, Francisco turns a little away from the tent, looking for a way to leave, feeling quite sick to his stomach at the moment.

The Technopriest STARES at the kitsune's tails as soon as he turns around. "Oh my!" He pauses a moment, counting on his fingers. "FIVE!"

Skrill chuckles and says "Like those Guy Fox puppets I have seen around. How strange."

Francisco doesn't hear the comments about him. He's more concerned to find a little corner to curl up and throw up in right now.

The Technopriest absently nods, then claps his hands together with a look of revelation. "Why … and gray fur and the loudest, most tasteless shirt I've ever seen! You're RIGHT!"

Scratching his neck, Skrill asks the Technopriest, "Excuse me for asking, sir. Is there some connection?"

The Technopriest points at the fox. "Can't you see? Grey fur, a wild-colored shirt, and five tails. Obviously … this must be the one and only GUY FOX!"

This particular 'Guy Fox' is not listening to them at all, and manages to slip through some of the 'audience' that was gathered around him.

Skrill turns to the Technopriest and says "Well, the tails look a little too attached to be Guy Fox, don't you think?"

The Technopriest, quite oblivious, nods. "Hmm … Quite … uhm … What do you mean by that, sir?"

"Oh! Wait! He's GETTING AWAY!" the Technopriest cries out … and immediately takes to the air.

The other Eeee continues, "Well, Guy Fox blew himself up, right? Some while ago as well. This can hardly be THE Guy Fox, can it?" sounding a little irritated, hurrying after the kitsune and Technopriest.

The kitsune hurries along the streets of the bazaar, trying to find a small corner where no-one is likely to notice him hakidasu.

The Technopriest seems too caught up in pursuing the nauseous fox to hearthe other Eeee's rational argument. "Wait! WAIT!" he squeaks, fluttering back and forth in his pursuit.

The Technopriest lands on a balcony right above Francisco's hiding spot, and puts his hand over his eyes, looking back and forth, apparently with no idea of the close proximity of his "prey". "Now … where could he have gotten off to… ?"

Coughing, hacking, and other choice noises can be heard from roughly where the fox is hiding.

The Technopriest's ears twitch. "By the First Ones! What an … unpleasant sound." He peers over the balcony. "Oh! THERE you are!"

Trying to look for the fleeing fox himself, Skrill takes to the air, provided he gets enough room to use his wings, trying to spot Francisco, making his way to what sounds like a sick fox.

The Technopriest, grinning with a self-pleased expression, flutters down from the balcony to land behind Francisco, looking somewhat … oblivious, as per usual. He adjusts his thick spectacles. "Now then! I am MOST curious about what you've been up to all this time. And, I must say, I'm rather impressed that you're all in one piece! Simply marvelous. Amazing, even!"

Francisco looks up to see the bat looking down at him. "UUuuhhh?" he asks, groggily.

Figuring that the Technopriest has found the fleeing kitsune, Skrill setsdown close to them after a very short flight. He walks over and around the Technopriest, not looking straight at Francisco.

The Technopriest's smile still stays plastered in place on his off-white face. "Greetings! I am Calibrator Nehemiah, of the Technopriesthood of Rephidim Temple. I have been called upon to examine the Clock Tower to … Oh! I forgot all about it!"

Reaching into his vest Skrill pulls out a hankerchief and hands it toFrancisco, using it with only two fingers and with an air of distain about himself.

Smiling a little, Francisco takes the handkerchief, "Thanks… Oh, the Temple? Sorry about the mess… " His voice trails off a little.

Nehemiah cheerily squeaks, "So, Brother Guy Fox, what brings you to the Bazaar on this fine and glorious day? Perhaps you're going to blow something up? Can I watch? I've always been curious about how demolitions can be performed safely and efficiently."

"Guy fox? Blow something up?" asks the kitsune, coughing a little. "I don't follow you."

"Of course not!" says the Technopriest. "I followed you!"

The other Eeee turns and stares at the must-be-confused Technopriest, hisjaw dropping. He thinks, 'This guy actually wants to learn how to blow things up from someone who is famous for blowing himself up, by mistake, many years ago,' and really reconsiders his thought about the priesthood.

Francisco says, "I think you've got me confused. My name is not 'Guy Fox', it's Francisco."

Francisco adds, "That's as in 'San'."

Nehemiah says, "Ohhhhh!" and nods, then lowers his head conspiratorially. "Of course, 'San'." He winks and nudges the fox with an elbow. "Francisco San. Got it." He winks again. "Aha!"

Francisco hrms? "You don't believe me? If you say you're from the Temple, go check. I have to check in there every day."

Trying to make a discreet handsign, Skrill makes the common, "He'snuts." by turning a finger pointed at his head.

Nehemiah shakes his head. "I'm quite sure that there is no Guy Fox checking into the Temple on a daily basis. I'm sure I would have heard about it. I hear all sorts of things, you see. All the time. Comes with working on the ventilation and lighting systems all the time."

"Then go check, then. I am not this 'Guy fox'," says Francisco.

"Well, I'll certainly keep that in mind," the Technopriest bat says, nodding his head. "So, if you are not Guy Fox, what ARE you doing in the Bazaar? Surely there's nothing worthwhile to blow up here, after all."

Skrill says, "Hmm, perhaps we should discuss this over a drink or two. It is getting quite hot really. And I believe Francisco San here needs something to wash his mouth with."

Nehemiah nods. "Ah yes! I know a booth not far from here that serves absolutely WONDERFUL Betelguese Brandy."

"I told you my name," the fox says indignantly. "'Francisco'. And I was in the Bazaar looking for a meal. I'd quite like to forget the meal I did get now."

"Forget?" The Technopriest at last frowns. "Now, what an awful thing to say! I dare say, it seems those pastries are quite popular."

Francisco hmphs. "If you like bugs, perhaps," says the kitsune with a hint of distaste.

"Now then … What say we talk over a good cup of Betelguese, over at Skeegee's Squeeze-It-Yourself Booth?" the Technopriest says, regaining his smile. "And I DO wonder how you managed to get five tails?"

Pulling a little smile, the fox replies, "Wasn't easy, and it took me a few hundred years."

With another friendly smile, Skrill says, "What a good idea, Sir." He says to Francisco, "I believe this will help you get over this experience. And there we can talk as well."

The bespectacled bat says, "Oh, REALLY? That's quite impressive!" He nods to Skrill. "I'll lead the way!" Immediately, he takes to the air again, flapping over the ground-bound crowd, heading back toward the clock tower, and just around the corner.

Francisco mms? and turns to the other bat. "Are you going to show me where this is? Some of us can't fly, y'know."

Skrill nods to Francisco, still smiling, and says, "Yes, follow me, Mister San."

Nodding, the kitsune gets to his feet and follows. "Oh, that's just Francisco. No 'San'."

The Eeee continues to make his way towards the place Nehemiah told about, keeping an eye on Francisco to make sure he does not try to sneak away.

Nehemiah is already waiting at "Skeegee's Squeeze-It-Yourself", smiling and looking at who-knows-what that has caught his attention for the moment. A few little Eeee kids take flight into the air, giggling, and clutching some fist-sized, wriggling bugs. A nondescript bat walks by, in fancy attire, noticing Francisco, and says to a lady beside him, "I do say, that looks like that fellow Eustace do Varr was bragging about… "

Francisco, following the other bat, pricks his ears up? Did he hear who he thought he did?

"Ah! There you are! Thought I'd lost you," Nehemiah says with a smile, looking at Francisco. He notices Francisco's ear-pricking, and looks both ways. "Eh?"

"Hmm?" Francisco says, looking back to Nehemiah. "Oh – nothing."

With a smile, Skrill says, "This way, sir." To Francisco, he says, "Our friend the priest is over there, by the table," walking over to the Technopriest.

The expensively-attired bat walks up to the booth, ordering a cup for himself and the lady at his side. The two of them go sit at a small, portable table set up alongside the street. The male bat sips at his drink, and looks over the rim at Francisco, stealing a glance every few moments.

Francisco follows the bat over to the Technopriest, sitting down. Aware of being watched, he glances back at the other bats every so often as well.

The priest smiles and waves. "I took the liberty of ordering a drink each for all three of us. My treat. I don't get out much. Now then, but it'll be your choice of what you want to add to it. Ah! They have a fresh Gishbeetle Dispenser!" He reaches for a football-sized beetle-like "dispenser" … No, it's a real beetle! He picks it up and holds it over his cup, squeezing the beetle. A greenish goo shoots into the cup. The Technopriest puts the beetle back on its stand, then stirs his cup with a wooden stir rod.

The kitsune squirms, starting to look quite ill again.

The two fancily-attired bats start giggling audibly, perhaps at the fox's discomfort.

"Um, I'll pass on the drink offer, if you don't mind," says Francisco.

Turning, first an eye, and then completely towards the five tailed fox next to him, Skrill asks, "What is the trouble?" as he grabs his drink with one hand.

The Technopriest frowns. "Oh well! Can't let it go to waste. Hmm. Well, maybe I CAN. I don't have enough arms to carry that many mugs and keep a hand free… "

Francisco shrugs to the bat, "I… have a slight aversion to bugs of the insectoid variety."

The fancily-attired bat remarks to the lady beside him, "I can hardly believe that a Fox like this would have the GUTS to try accosting Master do Varr in public!" This prompts a giggle from his ladyfriend.

"Oh… " says the Technopriest, nodding before thinking. "Of the insectoid variety? Oh dear. Well, you DO look a bit thin, I suppose."

The fox's ears perk up again, and he flashes the fancily-attired bat a vicious look.

The Technopriest staggers a bit, almost spilling his drink. "Oh my! I didn't mean that as an INSULT! By the First Ones! Please accept my apologies."

The Technopriest, apparently mistaking the glare as being met for him, scratches at one ear – which is blushing furiously, as is the other one.

"Anyway," says Skrill, "What was it you said you worked with at the Temple?" to the Technopriest.

Francisco says, "Oh, it's okay. You weren't to know about that when you ordered the drinks."

With a smile Skrill says, "You should watch out with foreign food. It might not be good for you."

The Technopriest looks back and forth between Francisco and Skrill. "Well … terribly sorry. Ahem. Yes. Well, I said that I work with the ventilation systems and lighting, primarily. We've had quite a chore of it lately. Some of the wiring has been misbehaving rather badly lately in my sector, and I just CANNOT figure out why. But I still found time to come here, since I also happen to know a little bit about clockwork. I dabble a bit here and there, you know."

The fox nods, "Perhaps here, I ought to, yes. Where I come from, most foreign foods I've sampled don't have… bugs in them."

The Technopriest shakes his head sadly. "What a pity!"

"Clockwork wiring?" Francisco asks, curious.

Skrill is about to butt in, but closes his mouth and waits for a better opportunity.

"Uhm … no, I don't believe there should be any wiring I'll be dealing with in the clock tower," the Technopriest says, with a shake of his head.

Francisco nods, "Okay – I was a little confused."

Nehemiah smiles and nods. "Understandable, what with being in that explosion and all."

With a glance at Francisco's tail, Skrill asks, "You have to excuse me, but I have not seen your likes around. Where are you from, really?"

"What is it about this explosion thing?" Francisco asks of Nehemiah.

Francisco turns to answer the other bat. "Maybe because I'm not from around here," he says, with a little smile.

Nehemiah snickers. "Well, it was such a big deal they made a HOLIDAY out of it, of course! Oh yes. I MUST ask … Do you get royalties from all the Guy Foxes they sell? I must say, you must be terribly well-to-do by now!"

Shaking his head, the fox asks, "Royalties?"

With a silent sigh Skrill says, "Well, I am afraid poor Guy Fox has lost his memory after the explosion. He might not remember it, actually."

Francisco says, "I honestly don't know who you are talking about."

Nehemiah laughs. "Honestly! Just look!" He stoops over, and picks up a partially charred and mutilated paper mache "Guy Fox" from the gutter … one of gray coloration and with three of its original five tails still intact. "You see these all OVER the place! I must say, if you insist upon this charade, you need a more convincing disguise."

Leaning over, Skrill tries to whisper to Francisco, "He thinks you are someone. If you just pretend you lost your memory I can get you a meal without bugs in it later," when the other Eeee is busy with the puppet.

The fancily-attired bat sitting at the table nearby seethes, looking as if someone is scratching fingernails across a chalkboard … or whatever would cause equivalent distress in a bat. Finally, he explodes, "HE'S NOT GUY FOX, YOU IMBECILE! HE'S JUST A FOX-FLUSHEE EXILE!"

The Technopriest recoils a bit from the outburst. "By the First Ones!" He puts his hands to his ears. "That was most certainly NOT necessary."

Francisco sighs. "Perhaps not like that, but essentially, it's correct."

"What, being an Exile? Well, EVERYONE knows that all Foxes are Exiles. Except for Zerdas, that is, but they aren't really Foxes, anyway. And you haven't the ears to be a Zerda," the Technopriest says, adjusting his robes.

"Zerdas?" asks Francisco. "Oh! You must mean the fennecs."

Francisco says, "At least, they kinda look like fennecs to me."

The Technopriest says, "Zerdas. Like Eeees, only without wings. And a few other things different. Oh, before I forget … What is a Fox Flushee?"

The kitsune looks straight at Nehemiah. "Someone who didn't know that poodles are a load of untrustworthy… whatevers."

The Technopriest blinks. "My… That seems rather … cryptic."

Francisco doesn't look like he really wants to elaborate on the subject.

Glaring sharply, and smiling, showing his sharp fangs, Skrill says to the fancily-dressed Eeee, "That is perhaps something the Inquisition would like to hear repeated. Or, on the other hand, perhaps you would not like to tell them," in Eeee tongue.

The fancily-dressed Eeee hmphs, and says back, using plain and clear Rephidim Standard, "I am hardly threatened. Considering that Eustace do Varr is the son of an ARCH-INQUISITOR… and I personally have nothing to do with it!" He snorts disdainfully, and starts to get up from his table.

Blinking at Skrill, Francisco asks of him, "What was that about? And what's he got to do with… the person he mentioned."

Skrill pats the Technopriest and the many tailed fox on their shoulders and suggests, "Perhaps we should go elsewhere. I do not like the … clientele … of this place." He turns to Francisco and says, "Well, I think we have some parts to tell each other, but let us leave first."

The Technopriest looks confused. "Person who mentioned? By the First Ones, what IS going on here?"

The other Eeee answers the Technopriest, "I suggest we go somewhere else – where the likes of HIM do not bother us. That is all."

"I have had… dealings… with that person. Particular that flushing that was mentioned," the kitsune says, clearly holding his temper back. "He also owes me a considerable amount of money as well."

With an ahh, Skrill says, "Well, do you know who you are talking about?" to Francisco.

Francisco nods, "Yes. A liar and a cheat."

The Technopriest finishes up his cup, and gets up. "Well! There are plenty of those."

The Eeee makes a wry face and says, "You better not say that out loud. He is very powerful. So do not say such things about him. You know of the Inquisition, right?" to Francisco.

Shaking his head, it would appear that the kitsune does not.

Nehemiah says, "Oh! Unthinkable. Why, a Fox who doesn't know about the INQUISITION? Surely you were Processed, were you not?"

With a nod Skrill continues, "Well, he can take you in for questioning like this," and he snaps his fingers. "And the question is sometimes, 'Would you like to die?' and the answer is 'Yes'. Get my drift?"

"No, not really," Nehemiah says.

Francisco hmphs, "He's still a cheat. He owes me the money I need to pay off my 'processing fee' to the Temple."

Skrill sneers to Nehemiah and says, "I was not talking to you. Oh, pardon me reverend one, but I was just telling Mister San here about the Inqusition."

"Ohhhhh!" says the Technopriest. "Well, then, go right ahead! Always good to educate the Exiles. When you're done, I DO want to find out about this 'Fox Flush' business. Now that I think about it, I do think I recall some young men talking quite excitedly about it one time."

With a look around the young Eeee continues, "Very well, but you do not say such things to a cheat that can have your fingers crushed just because hewants some entertainment to his afternoon tea," then he puts his fingers to his mouth and says, "And I never said that."

The kitsune just sighs in quiet contemplation.

With another look around, Skrill says, "Now that that's settled, why do you not tell me about this encounter with him? And perhaps we shall avoid the colourful language as well."

"Encounter with WHOM?" the Technopriest persists, his voice rising an octave. "I do say, you needn't be so SECRETIVE! I am quite trustworthy. I am a Technopriest, you know."

Skrill closes his eyes and thinks, ( You are also vomiting mad, ) and says, "With Eustance do Varr of course. And why he is a Fox-flushee."

Francisco nods to the younger of the two Eeee.

"Oh! Eustace do Varr! Yes, quite. Such a strange lad. I don't think I've ever seen him ALONE. He always has so many young friends about him. Oh, except once. One time, he was hanging around the Temple Morgue, standing right outside the door. I thought that a terribly curious place to wait for friends, since, of course, any friends you might have in the Morgue wouldn't make for very lively conversation. That's in my sector, you know. I was working on the wiring at the time. What a mess! If I didn't know better, I'd guess someone were deliberately trying to make work for me." The Technopriest shakes his head, sighing loudly.

Inhaling between clenched teeth, Skill regains his smile and asks Francisco, "Perhaps if you told me about this meeting with the young gentleman, I would be able to help you to get your money back."

"Young friends about him? Oh, you mean his bodyguards against all the people he's ripped off?" says the fox. "Anyhow, he approached me once in the Bazaar, offering me a job. Get through this 'maze' in good time, and get money. Little did I know the 'maze' was the city sewers. Hardly a maze at all, and I'm lucky to have gotten out alive."

Asking, "So, it was sort of a bet?" Skrill tries to find out more about this.

"City sewers?" The Technopriest shakes his head, tut-tutting. "You really shouldn't play in the sewers. Quite dangerous."

Francisco hmphs. "You think I knew I was going down there? Given a choice, I would not be anywhere near them."

"… and smelly … " the Technopriest adds, wrinkling his nose and gazing off into space.

"I have bathed since then, I assure you," the kitsune insists.

Nehemiah sniffs in Francisco's direction, then nods. "Oh yes. You don't smell ANYTHING like the sewer. And … my … is that shirt made of ZOLK? Most impressive. I never knew anyone would color zolk quite like that."

Grinning, Francisco nods. "Uh-huh, it sure is. Actually, it was a gift – for services rendered."

"Oh?" The Technopriest bat brightens. "So, what did you blow up to get a shirt like that?"

Rubbing his forehead, Skrill again tries to get the conversation on the track he likes, saying, "Then what happened, when you came out of the sewers? Because I do not believe you have told us about the well known harassment yet."

"… perhaps a paint shop? … " the Technopriest muses idly, rubbing his chin.

"Well," continues to fox, "That is related to the shirt, but no I did not blow anything up for that. I got out of the sewers in not the most nicest part of town, and interrupted some kind of ceremony thing, where the daughter of the tailor responsible for this shirt was the sacrifice. After freeing her, we got back to the better parts of town."

The Technopriest blinks. "That sounds like a terribly odd thing to be happening in the uptown."

"Was she being sacrificed as punishment for her father making that shirt?" the Technopriest asks, looking confused.

The fox replies initially with a pained look, "No. As it happens, I'm not sure why she was there."

Skrill holds himself from killing the Technopriest here and now by squeezing the cup with both hands, pretending it is said priest's larynx as he says, "How very interesting. Please tell us more."

The Technopriest shakes his head. "By the First Ones! But then, when you crawl out of a sewer, you just never know WHAT to expect that you'll find these days."

Francisco uh-huhs. "Well, that's pretty much what happened."

With a nod Skrill says, "Oh, all right. But what about this talk about you bothering young Mister do Varr?"

Nehemiah, oblivious to Skrill's direction, says, "Oh, I wasn't bothering him at all! He DID appear rather nervous, though."

"Bothering? Oh, you mean me just trying to get what was owed to me," says the kitsune.

A cloaked rabbit pauses nearby to read the various flyers posted at the base of the clock tower.

The younger Eeee lifts the cup and puts it down with a loud thud, asking the Technopriest, "Ah, when he was waiting outside the morgue?" his knuckles whitening.

The Technopriest nods, smiling. "Yes, quite! Unfortunately, one of the fixtures exploded, so I was distracted when he left, and didn't see who he left with. I heard someone else, but didn't notice anyone else arriving. Most curious."

"Of course," says the Technopriest, "what with all the strange things happening in the Temple lately, I couldn't help but entertain fantasies of some sort of conspiracy going on." He chuckles at himself.

Skrill puts the cup down and nods, saying, "Oh, what strange things?"

Aaron's black ear perks up and swivels around at the word 'Conspiracy'.

"Oh, you know, the usual. I mean, the fluctuations in the power grid, the assassinations, the disappearances of artifacts, the suicides, the disappearances of distinguished Inquisitors, the disappearances of distinguished corpses – That sort of thing." The bat nods his head sagely. "Quite strange."

"You think this conspiracy is related to… " Francisco forces himself to use the name, "Eustace?"

Making a couple of strange sounds, Skrill finally succeeds in blowing some air past his lips and saying, "Ah, oh, yes, very well."

Aaron glances in the direction of the Technopriest, and then quickly turns away when he recognizes the deformed fox that the Dagh-ites were trying to sacrifice a few nights ago…

The Technopriest shrugs. "Oh, no, I would never suggest such a thing! Not with him being the son of an Arch-Inquisitor and all. That wouldn't be proper. And, besides, I'm a Technopriest, not an Inquisitor. Not my department. I investigate malfunctions, not … well … general weirdness."

Francisco shrugs, "Conspiracies are well known to often start at a high position."

Aaron hmms, and works his way closer. What else might that fox know about conspiracies?

"Really? Hmm. I guess I don't know much about conspiracies, really. That's not in my department, either," the Technopriest says. "But I AM rather upset about all those troubles with the power grid. I can't help but think that perhaps my failure to keep it working properly might have something to do with the lapse in security that allowed for the theft of that body from the Temple Morgue. An Eeee, you know. That operatic singer fellow. Tragic, positively tragic."

Again Skrill looks around and says, "This place has far too many ears. Perhaps we should let those theories pass."

The Technopriest says, "Oh, tiddly-winks and blocks! Who would be listening in on this in the middle of the Bazaar?" He looks around at all the big-eared Eeee, then back at Skrill, smiling confidently.

Aaron hides his own ears back under his hood.

"What operatic singer?" asks the fox. "His body disappeared from the morgue when Useless was around?"

"What? I am most certainly NOT useless!" squeaks the Technopriest. "That was entirely uncalled for!"

Francisco smiles apologetically. "I did not mean you. I meant the poodle. Useless seems an appropriate name for him."

"Oh? Which poodle? Is he a friend of yours, that you can get away with calling him that?" the Technopriest asks.

Aaron thinks back… was this Eustace one of the people at the sacrifice?

Shrugging, the kitsune replies, "He's no friend of mine, so I'll call him what I want behind his back."

"Oh! Sorry to hear about that. It's always important to have friends," the Technopriest says, nodding his head solemnly.

"I worry about that do Varr boy, though. Not that I was peeking, or anything, but I do think he's been spending entirely too much time visiting Inquisitrix Vindicta. Not to say she's of any poor character, of course, since she IS an Inquisitrix… " the Technopriest adds quickly, "… but I DO wonder about whether she might simply convey the wrong MESSAGE to our youth about proper behavior and all that."

Francisco thinks that he would be worried about anyone with a name like Vindicta. Sounds creepy.

Aaron pulls out his leatherbound notebook and jots down the names.

"… and that other lady friend of his, Kelsey, that Fire Mage … I dare say, that young do Varr seems to have a knack for hanging around, well, very VOLATILE personages, if you take my meaning… " the Technopriest rambles on absently.

There's a loud *snap* as Aaron breaks the tip of his pencil. Kelsey!?

The Technopriest cuts himself off, looking around for the source of the noise.

Aaron produces a new pencil and makes a show of writing down the prices of various insect products.

With a polite *koff*, Skrill says to the Technopriest, "Very good drinks I dare say. But I have to ask you, have you tried the food at The Flying Tower?"

Nehemiah smiles cluelessly, and looks back to the others. "Still, when I was his age, I never had quite so many lady friends. Well, actually, I didn't have any at all. I AM a Technopriest, after all. Very busy, you see. I can't remember if I have a vow or anything like that… I guess it's best that I err on the side of caution, just in case, don't you think? Oh … The Flying Tower? No, I don't think so. I don't get out much, you see… "

"No, but it would depend if they serve anything but bugs or not," says the fox.

Skrill smiles towards Nehemiah and says, "I would like to repay you for those very nice drinks. So what do you say we dine there this evening?" With a glance to Fransicso, he says, "They have food for most cultures, I believe."

Nehemiah says, "Ah yes! Sounds wonderful. Oh! Oh, may the First Ones forgive me, I've forgotten ALL about the whole reason I came here in the first place! If you'll forgive me, I simply MUST see to the Clock Tower."

"Yes, yes of course," Skrill says. "I can meet you here, when?"

Nehemiah smiles, saying, "Oh, I have entirely NO idea. But, very good to meet you, Mister … uhm … Mister … Oh, cogwheels and graphite! I seem to have forgotten your name. Oh yes, and you, too, Mister Guy Fox. I won't tell anyone about you or your latest demolitions projects." He winks conspiratorially.

"My name is Skrill, by the way," the Eeee says. "Eh, can I come and see you at the Temple then?"

Francisco for a moment considers saying he is not this Guy Fox, but decides not to bother.

"Oh! Most certainly. You will probably find me in the ventilation ducts or the access crawltubes near the Temple Morgue and the Crematorium," the bat Technopriest says cheerfully. "I should be busy there for quite some time."

With a nod and an "ahh," not sounding all too positive, Skrill says, "Well, see you around then, Mister Nehemiah."

Nehemiah nods to the kitsune and the Eeee, then takes flight into the air, winging toward the nonfunctional clock tower.

The kitsune raises a paw to wave farewell, but the bat has gone already.

Aaron glances again at the remaining Eeee and the fox.

With a quick movement, Skrill empties his cup, turns to Francisco with a smile and says, "Raving mad you know," and then seems to breathe out and relax a little.

Nodding back gently, Francisco asks, "So what is a Technopriest?"

Skrill leans one elbow to the table and says, "Oh, you are really a fresh Exile, are you not? A Technopriest is a priest, that handles, well, technology," waving one hand in front of himself, sounding not quite sure about what a Technopriest does, himself.

Aaron hmms, so the color-blind fox IS an Exile. He'd had his suspicions…

Francisco uh-huhs, wondering who is more mad – this bat, or the one who's just flown off.

Skrill says "Well, I think they repair things. Mostly in the Temple. Or mechanics, like that clock up there."

Aaron scribbles in his notebook: Conspiracy possibly led from Temple. Can't trust anyone there for now.

"Back where I come from, I think you'd call them mechanics… though I don't know many mechanics who are priests," says Francisco.

"Where do you come from, really?" the other Eeee asks.

Some Temple Guards amble by, accompanied by a single Zelak. They glare at everyone indiscriminately as they pass.

Francisco says, "I come from a place very very different to this. The humans who inhabit that planet call it 'Earth'. It can be kinda dull, but I tried my best when I was there to liven things up and make things interesting."

Aaron hides his notebook quickly. No telling what those guards are looking for.

Putting both hands on the surface of the table Skrill rises and says, "Interesting, Mister San, but I really have to be going. I have been dwelling here far to long. Have a good day."

Aaron hmms. Must be odd folks to name their world after dirt. Nonetheless, he keeps an open ear for the fox's tale.

"Oh? Well, perhaps another time then?" Francisco says, having been ready to tell the bat about his home.

Skrill waves one hand to Francisco and says, "Sure, see you around," and he has a feeling he will, as he leaves for other errands.

Francisco waves a paw back to the departing Eeee, and gets up and heads for his quarters. He could do with a lie down from his earlier… meal.