It's a fine day in Rephidim. A bit chilly, yes, but with only scattered clouds, and not a bit of precipitation, and fairly light traffic in the streets at this time of day.

Aaron goes about one of his weekly tasks: removing expired notices from the Jobs Board. The warmth of the teapot also helps to keep in this area of the shop.

The tiny bell hung from the door tinkles, announcing a new arrival. A largish equine opens the door, holding it as he steps aside to allow the Lady Ophelia to enter. She pauses on the threshold, looking about the shop.

Aaron pauses in his work to greet his guests, recognizing the pretty unicorn from the Bazaar. He bows deeply and says, "Welcome to Lightfoot's Apothecary, my good Lady. How may I be of service to you?"

Ophelia smiles, and curtsies slightly. Her bodyguard closes the door behind her, remaining outside, visible through the glass. "Good day, shopkeeper. I seek the services of a mage – I'm told that you are the preferred supplier of most of the city's better mages. I was hoping you might assist me in selecting someone."

Outside, a group of Savanites can be seen walking down the street, bearing some poles and canvas, perhaps en route to the Bazaar to set up a booth.

The Lapi steps away from the Jobs Board, towards the tea service. "Of course Madame! Many mages advertise their services on this board. Is there a particular service you had in mind, and would you care for some tea?"

There's a bit of a clatter outside, and some commotion … but it looks like it's just the street cleaning crew. That foppish Fox is among their number this time… It shouldn't take too long to clean up the mess and clear the street again.

Ophelia wrinkles her nose slightly at the scent of the hot tea. "Some tea would be most welcome, yes." She smiles again at the Lapi, and steps over to where the teapot steams on the counter. "There's a particular, indeed, I fear rather unusual service that I desire, yes… "

Aaron removes a nice porcelain cup and saucer from a drawer, and pours some tea. "Well, I'm sure there is someone who can accomplish what you seek, Milady."

Aaron manages to find a silk napkin as well, and offers the Aeonian some tea cakes. "What sort of service did you require?"

Ophelia accepts her tea, and sips cautiously, as she stands gazing about the shop at the various arcane wares on display. "I wish to engage the service of a mage – a firemage, I would think. At any rate, I wish one who is capable of causing a person to become blown up, like a firework. With, of course, no lasting damage." She selects a tea cake, and holds it for a second, poised below her mouth. "Would you know of such a mage?"

A distant rap-tap-tap can be heard just down the street, the sound of mallets pounding wooden pegs into holes – the usual sort of noise associated with minor construction, noticeable, but not overly intrusive.

Ophelia nibbles at the edge of the tea cake.

Aaron's black ear droops a bit, and he quickly brushes it back. "A Fire Mage you say?" Maybe this is his chance to get back into Kelsey's good graces… if she has any. "I do know of a Fire Mage with… exceptional control. She might be able to do what you need."

There is a small jingle as the door opens, and the bell above it rings in response. A Jupani in mage robes strides in muttering something about "… exile foxes causing accidents. I hope I don't have one of those squibbits stuck on me… " She pauses long enough to examine the hem of her robes then goes straight for the job board. Something about her attitude and bearing suggest she isn't a wolf, and once she is no longer backlit in the doorway, it can be seen she is actually a poodle with a unique furstyle.

Aaron's eyes go wide momentarily. "Ah… speak of the… err… what a fortuitous happenstance!" He turns to the Aeonian, and says, "Allow me to introduce you to the very Mage I had mentioned, Milady… um… I'm afraid I didn't catch your name?"

The hammering outside dies off, as do various sounds associated with the temporary traffic jam in the street. It seems that things are pretty much back to normal, and relatively quiet outside.

Several Savanites, though, can be seen, diligently working up at cleaning up lots of squishy-looking things from the street. At first, they look like some sort of grayish vegetable … except that the little 'vegetables' seem to be crawling, albeit at a very very slow pace.

Kelsey is studiously examining the job board, and pretending to do it in a casual disinterested way. It takes her a moment to realize Aaron is talking about her, at which point she looks over at him sharply.

The Unicorn steps toward the Poodle, smiling. "Lady Ophelia, Countess of the Northern Shore. This is a most opportune meeting."

Aaron averts his gaze from the window so that he can still maintain his polite smile for the Aeonian noblewoman.

Kelsey turns her attention to the Aeonian with an ingratiating smile. "What an unexpected pleasure! I am Mage Kelsey Van Kabril, of the Collegia Esoterica, and it is my delight to meet you Countess."

Aaron steps back and pulls out the chairs from one of the small two-person tables near the window, so that the two women can sit down and talk at their leisure.

The mage follows up her introduction with a small bow.

After glancing over at the Rhian bodyguard, Aaron decides he's probably not the tea-drinking type…

Ophelia curtsies slightly, maintaining the equilibrium of her tea cup with the ease born of practice. She leads the mage over to the proffered table.

The door swings open, shutting with a clatter of bells as a young bat hops inside. "Oh, gross – Hello, Aaron! There are squibbits everywhere! Don't go outside!" Brishen grins, tucking a lock of hair under a shockingly blue beret. "And there's a – "

Brishen ohs, blinking at Ophelia. "Um… "

Aaron nearly jumps at the sound of the bells, but waits until Ophelia sits so he can scoot the chair for her. "Oh, hello Brishen," he smiles at the Eeee.

Ophelia looks surprised for a second. "Ah, the messenger from the bazaar. Good day to you."

The Lapi quickly rounds the table to help Kelsey with her chair as well. (Stuck up poodle will want me to do this all the time now probably… )

Kelsey follows Ophelia to the seats, attempting pleasant small talk as she does, "I had never expected to meet a Noble from the Northern Shore of the Himar here. You must have been attracted by the quality of Aaron's merchandise. Are you in Rephidim long?"

Music faintly drifts in from outside, coming from just down the street and out of sight. It is heavy on percussion, with a bit of a 'tribal' sound to it, hinting at Vykarin influences.

"Hello, Countess Ophelia!" Brishen grins, doffing the aforementioned beret. It doesn't really go well with her long, fluttery, and very red scarf. Or her bright zolk blouse, which is better off not described.

Aaron quickly prepares another cup of tea as soon as Kelsey is seated. He finds another nice cup… but not as nice as the one the Countess is using… for the Fire Mage.

The poodle frowns and glances out the window, "You'd think Savanites would be a little quieter."

After quietly serving Kelsey her tea (with that extra bit of nutmeg that seems to calm her down), Aaron heads over to Brishen and smiles.

Kelsey takes up the tea and sips it, then lowers her cup without setting it down. Her manner suggests that the countess is fascinating enough to cause such minor social faux paux. She does remember to keep her pinkie finger extended, forgetting that would be unforgivable.

Ophelia sips at her tea, and considers Kelsey's question. "I'll perhaps be here for some time, as it develops. I can assure you that it's rather nicer here than at home."

Aaron whispers to Brishen, "That's a very nice scarf you're wearing today. Any news or mail? Would you like some tea?"

Brishen grins at the Lapi, "Got a bunch of mail for you." She sticks the tip of her tongue out as she fusses with her satchel. "Mail, mail, mail – Oops. That one's a priority. I'll have to swoop, soon. Here it is!" She hands Aaron a stack of envelopes, and a small package.

Brishen looks down at her scarf. "Thank you!" She smiles, tucking an errant lock of hair under her beret. "Just bought it from a very nice merchant in the Bazaar. He said it matched my eyes."

Aaron sets the mail and package down on the counter. It wouldn't do to go through it all when there are customers and guests in the shop. "Your eyes?" he blinks. "Oh yes… very… bright!"

Ophelia flicks her ears, and poses a bit for Kelsey. She's not above playing on the impressionability of others. "Are you familiar with those fireworks they sell in the bazaar – the ones in the shape of a five-tailed Zerda?"

"Oh, of course. I'm sure Rephidim has many sights to entertain foreign dignitaries. My mother would never forgive me if I didn't invite you to one of her functions," the poodle takes another sip of her tea, "and I'm not sure you could forgive me if I did. Please consider this an open invitation to visit the Van Kabril Estates, though don't inconvenience yourself."

Aaron leans over the counter to pull out a small basket of candied insects he keeps for Eeees and others (but mostly for Brishen) and offers it to the courier. "I hope it's not too chilly out for you. What's going on out in the street?"

The little courier flashes a brilliant smile at Aaron, a nimble hand darting out to snatch a few bugs. "Oh, I think they're setting a stage up." She glances outside. "Musicians, from the sound of it."

Kelsey smiles in a way that suggests she is familiar with the Zerda fivetail dolls that explode at least. "The Guy Fox ones? Yes, I've seen them around. Their quality could be better."

Brishen pops a candied beetle into her mouth. Crunch, crunch, crunch.

Aaron smiles himself now! "Really? They're going to be putting on a show right outside?" He brings the Eeee a plainer (but larger) chitin mug of tea with extra sugar.

Ophelia ahs. "You're very kind to invite me, I'm sure. The hospitality of your city never fails to impress me. Those are the dolls of which I speak, yes. I'm currently engaged in an undertaking to sell that very type of pyrotechnic – ours shall be of a better than usual quality, of course. I had been wondering whether, in order to promote interest in the dolls, it might be possible to duplicate the explosion with a real Fox?"

The work detail of Savanites outside dutifully continues to bag errant squibbits. However, several have halted in their work, looking away, perhaps watching the show, along with a number of passersby. A garter Naga flits his tongue a few times, then darts off in the opposite direction, apparently not keen on drums.

"Explode a real fox!" Kelsey's eyes light up, "Nothing would please me more Countess."

Brishen settles down on her usual perch, a tall stool that lets her sit without brushing her wingtips on the floor, and accepts the mug gratefully. "If I wasn't so busy, I'd see if I could join in."

Ophelia smiles brightly. "Excellent! It is technically feasible, then? No insurmountable problems involved?"

"There's a rather foppish one outside right now that caused the accident, would you like me to practice with him? I'm sure it would be approved for someone of your stature." Kelsey eagerly looks out the window.

Aaron says, "Join in? What sort of show is it? I didn't know you were a performer, Bree."

Turning back to the Countess, the fire mage responds, "It is feasible, though the ceremony would take some time. The results would be difficult to witness for people with fine sensibilities as well."

The aforementioned foppish Fox is busily scrubbing the sidewalk, grumbling, trying to rub off greasy spots where squibbits impacted the pavement hard enough to leave a visible mark.

"It sounds like they're playing music, so I could always sing." Brishen smiles, sipping her hot tea carefully.

"Ah, your enthusiasm is to be commended, but I had a particular one in mind, actually. Our exploding Fox dolls are modeled after a real Fox, who is to be involved in the promotional campaign, and he's the one I'd wish blown up." Ophelia explains.

Aaron smiles at the Eeee, "Really? I'd love to hear you sometime. Were you at that Eeee concert in Freedom Park a few months ago?"

Ophelia wrinkles her brow. "Difficult to witness? Surely an explosion would be difficult to conceal, if anything?"

Brishen giggles quietly. "I keep getting asked that."

"I didn't realize they were based on an actual individual," Kelsey takes another sip of her tea. "Oh, I just meant that the aftermath of the explosion would be rather messy. Worse than the accident outside has caused. There would be little bits of fox everywhere, or at least, a fine charcoal dust."

"About the Park? I was off of Rephidim at the time, but I heard there was a dragon that attacked them, and they fought it off. Perhaps you just seem like the dragon-fighting sort," Aaron grins… then catches some of the conversation at the table. Little bits of… fox?

Brishen crosses her legs at the ankles, sipping her tea before continuing. "Heard about that." She wrinkles her nose a little, "Ended up delivering a bunch of really heavy packages that day, though. I was probably asleep by the time the concert started."

Aaron tears his attention from the Mage and Noble, and says to Brishen, "Well, I'm sure if you were there they would have caught that dragon… "

Brishen smiles brightly. "Oh, I'm so sure."

Ophelia looks a bit disconcerted. "Oh, my, I fear that wouldn't do. I was hoping, actually, for something less permanent – the sort of explosion that leaves the Fox unharmed." She takes another sip of tea.

*SPLOT* Something grayish hits the window, and spreads out into a wide circle to the point of being semi-translucent, slowly sliding down the glass. Another one hits as well, and some more hit the sidewalk, near where the foppish Fox (oblivious to the conversation inside) is still scrubbing. The Fox, however, soon stops, as several angry-looking Savanites rush him. It seems that some sort of excitement is going on outside.

"Oh, you want the fox to survive. Well… that's possible as well, yes." The Fire Mage seems a little disappointed, and distracted by the commotion outside the shop.

Ophelia looks at the window, puzzled, if not yet concerned. "Oh, my… "

Aaron jumps as the squibbits start impacting the window. "Just… just what are they performing out there? What are those Savanites doing!?"

Brishen wrinkles her nose. "Maybe they're juggling squibbits."

The music has stopped, and several passersby duck into stores, or flee entirely. The foppish Fox makes a run for the front door of Aaron's shop, but is snatched up by several Savanites … who bear the squirming vulpine off and promptly dunk him into a barrel of murky water nearby.

Aaron blinks, and lets his mouth hang open for a moment. "Oh… oh dear… it's happening! It's happening NOW! The Savanite Master Plan!!"

Ophelia daubs at her muzzle with her napkin. "Is this sort of disturbance a frequent occurrence?"

Several Savanites are hurling squibbits with wild abandon. At least, there ARE worse things they could be throwing. Squibbits don't make for the most effective of projectiles. Most of the Savanites, however, are breaking off and dashing away in all directions – for good reason, as a Zelak-equipped Guard patrol is already arriving on the scene.

"Well, that was certainly different." Brishen looks down at her tea.

"Aaron, what are you going on about?" The poodle snaps at the Lapi, and then pleasantly answers the Countess's question. "There have been some rumours that were upsetting our house slaves, apparently there is a young green eyed one causing trouble as well."

Ophelia's escorts keep a collective, wary eye on the disturbance, but so far the rioters make no move toward the store – other than snatching the foppish Fox, that is.

Aaron shivers, and has to take several deep breaths to calm down. "It's the conspiracy! They place their agents in all of the important households, and in the Temple… then when the signal comes they… they take over!"

Ophelia hmms. "They seem to have soaked the unfortunate Fox out there."

Ophelia speaks soothingly to Aaron. "I'm sure it can't be quite as bad as all that, now. They seem to have contented themselves with throwing that Fox in the rain barrel."

Kelsey blinks at Aaron, then looks down at her tea. Choosing to ignore his ramblings she instead smiles at Ophelia, "Oh, he was a bad fox, I'm sure he deserved it."

Brishen sticks her tongue out, trying to gather the last few drops of tea. Her mug's big enough that this isn't strikingly obvious. "Mf." Her voice is a little muffled as she quips, "Maybe he tried to sing to them. That would make anyone throw squibbits."

Aaron calms down more as he sees the Guards. Maybe they haven't taken over yet afterall. "Probably just a test run, to see how fast the authorities can respond," he mutters.

The foppish Fox climbs out of the barrel, soaking wet, let's out a whine that is almost audible even inside, and – is grabbed by a couple of Guards and hauled away, kicking and yelping.

"Ah yes," Aaron agrees, "I've heard him sing before… "

Ophelia hmms. "A disorderly practice, to be sure, but scarcely a proper start to a revolution."

"He'll be saying that all Creens are secretly mind mages next… " The poodle surreptitiously tells the Countess. After another sip of her tea she speaks in a normal tone. "Really though, for the fox to survive the explosion… hmm… he could be positioned on a box, and drop down inside it. Or maybe over a sewer grate! That would work, and I'm sure it's familiar territory for them."

Ophelia brightens. "How clever! You've done this sort of thing before, then, I take it?"

Aaron tries to affect an air of normalcy once again. How embarrassing! He spits out the eartip he was chewing on reflexively…

Brishen tries to stifle a giggle.

"I haven't no, but I am a mage. We are well paid to be clever." Kelsey responds with a smile.

On the window, the flat, translucent circles slowly congeal back to solid-looking ovals.

Kelsey asks, "Do you have a specific time and location in mind?"

Ophelia finishes her tea. "No, I'm afraid I haven't set a firm date yet. How much advance notice would you need? Is there a place where my messenger might easily reach you?"

The circles of grayish matter start to slowly… blob down the window of Aaron's shop. There's no way it can be described better, they're stickily sliding down, mostly solid, and leaving a faint trail of slime on the glass.

Aaron gives a Brishen a 'I was just kidding, really' look, hoping she falls for it.

Brishen sets her mug down, smiling at Aaron. "Anyway – Do you have any packages you need delivered?" She purposefully avoids looking at the window.

The Jupani-esque poodle puts down her tea cup, and uses her hands as she gets technical. "Well, the ritual would only take a half an hour if you wanted just the appearance of an explosion. An actual one, that could be felt, and that would heat things up and cause a bit of damage would require an hour. I'd need another fifteen minutes or so if you wanted it held for some signal… and as for contact, I can be reached through the Collegia Esoterica, or at the Van Kabril Estates."

The Lapi turns away from the window as well. "Yes, a few prescriptions to deliver," he says, going back around the counter to get the small bundles.

With a squelch, the last lump of gray splats off the window to the ground outside.

Brishen straightens up a bit. "I've got a couple of deliveries to make first, but I should have them, uhm, delivered within an hour." An ear twitches.

Aaron waits with the bundles, "Oh alright. Be careful on the ground… I have a feeling the vermites will be out in force going after the squibbits… "

The mare smiles again at the Poodle. "Excellent. I shall certainly engage your services. How amazed the crowds in the bazaar shall be to see the Fox blown up before their very eyes!"

Brishen hops down from her stool, smiling at Aaron as she gathers the bundles up, then tucks them away in her satchel. "Don't even mention vermites."

Aaron says, "Ah, of course… well… take care Brishen. I'll keep the tea hot if you need to warm up again later."

"You will be overwhelmed by the results, I'm sure. The Sphere of Fire doesn't have as many practical uses as some of the others, so I will want to be double sure that the occasion is remembered." Kelsey says, finishing her last sip of tea.

Brishen beams. "Thanks! Always know there'll be tea and bugs here for me." She waves farewell to Ophelia as she heads out the door, "Oh – and goodbye, Countess Ophelia!" There's a long pause after the door closes behind her, then, "Gross! I am NOT walking through that." Fwup-fwup-fwup –