A well-dressed Lapi servant opens the door of Lady Ophelia's chamber. He swings it wide with a grand gesture, announcing 'Francisco the Kitsune.' From across the room, Ophelia rises from the bent wood chair where she has been waiting. "Francisco, do come in. Would you care for some tea?"

Francisco enters, and nods with a smile. "Er, yes. Thank you, Countess," he says, heading over to where the seating is, carrying a small book with him.

Ophelia offers a chair. She removes the head from a ceramic Skunk which is sitting on the table, revealing it to be a tea container. With a pair of miniature bamboo tongs, she deftly loads two brightly coloured glass tea-balls with tea, and offers one to Francisco, along with a cup. "Water's in the other Skunk.", she remarks, indicating the vessel in question with a tip of her horn. The second Skunk is gently steaming from its mouth… "You seem to have made quite a saleszerda, Francisco. I was sure that you would."

Taking the cup, Francisco pours the water from the skunk into it, then sits down. "Well, thank you, Countess. As I think I mentioned to you before, it's not something I ever did before coming here."

The mare looks curious. "Tell me, Francisco, what did you do before coming here? I'm not sure we ever really went into that… "

Francisco plays with his tea-ball a little. "Not much that seems to be considered 'productive' here. When you're partially living in both a spirit world and physical world, it's not really that much of an issue," he says.

Ophelia dips her tea ball, nostrils flaring slightly at the scent of the tea. She makes a non-committal sound, apparently feeling that the topic is unlikely to go anywhere productive. "At any rate, I'm sure you're anxious to get to the settling of the account. Now that you're a citizen and all, you'll be anxious to pay taxes on your earnings to help support the Temple, I'm sure."

"Sure," Francisco says, though completely without enthusiasm. "That's why I'm here, really. To sort out what gets taxed, how much, and what amount of money should go where."

Francisco continues, "Up to now, I was just returning the takings to you en mass via one of your, er, couriers. Though the way things got explained to me was that I have to do the working out myself."

Lady Ophelia sips cautiously at her tea, then sets it back down again, and gives the tea ball a few more swishes. She opens an elegantly bound ledger book which has been waiting beside the tea service. "Sadly, the enterprise, while ultimately profitable, did cost rather more than I'd anticipated… "

The kitsune cocks his head in an expression that infers 'Oh?'

Ophelia turns her book around so that Francisco can see the entries, pointing to them as she speaks. "We had to build the stall, to begin with. Built it twice, actually – there was that little problem initially… Then of course the rental fee to the Temple for the place in the bazaar each day… Cost of the dolls… Cost of the Fire Mage – she was more expensive than I'd really expected, but on the other hoof, I was sure you'd not want a cut-rate mage, under the circumstances… "

"You had to pay for it twice? I would have thought that because of the shoddy workmanship, you could have gotten them to do it properly," says the Kitsune, remembering the events just after that.

The Unicorn hmms. "Well, I ought perhaps to have driven a harder bargain with them, but you know how that goes. At any rate, we also have medical care for you (more costs from that stand – I'll hire a different builder next time), and of course your citizenship fee… Here's the bill from the Temple for rescue services when they pulled you out of the sewers… And the sundry sustenance loans, so you could eat. It all adds up… "

The kitsune blinks. They charged him for helping him out of those sewers??

The mare concludes, "As you can see, though, the expenses associated with the enterprise were substantial. When all is said and done, I calculate your portion of the profits as 487 shekels."

(Just 487?) wonders the Kitsune. "Um, if I might ask, what percentage was your take?"

Ophelia sips at her tea. "I'm keeping half of the net, dear, the same as you."

Francisco nods. "Ah, okay. But now we have this tax thing to factor in from now on, yes? I'm not that familiar with it, so would you know how much it would be?" he asks.

Ophelia looks apologetic. "I'm afraid I can't help there, dear. I'm Sylvanian, you know, rather than Rephidian, so my funds aren't taxed by the Temple. I'm sure if you asked at the Temple they'll be happy to help you calculate how much you ought to pay."

Francisco chuckles a little to himself. (Wherever you go, there's always someone who's got a good way to get out of being taxed) he muses. "The Temple? Yeah, I bet they would be delighted."

The fox looks at the book he brought in with him. "In which case, I don't know if there's much more that's related to the business that you would be able to tell me."

Ophelia raises an eyebrow. "If you've further questions, I'd certainly be willing to try answering them, at any rate."

"Sure," Francisco says, nodding. "Er, one more thing. How much was it to hire a mage? What did she charge for something like that?"

Ophelia's muzzle and ears pinken slightly. "Well, to be honest, I sort of leave those matters to the accountants. They prepared the book for me, you know, and calculated your part of the profits – I've never been especially good at that sort of thing. If you really were set on knowing, I'm sure it could be found out."

Francisco uh-huhs. "I don't suppose I should entertain getting one of them to do my books for me? I imagine that would end up costing me more."

"But anyway, I just asked because it's a slight matter of interest to me," the Kitsune adds.

The mare perks her ears politely. "If you'd care to rent one of my accountants, I'm sure we could work something out."

"Uh, thanks. But I don't think so. There's a couple of things that I'm now trying to get together which I could do saving money for, and maybe trying to raise some as well," replies Francisco.

Ophelia pricks her ears. "Indeed? A good accountant can help in reducing your expenses, you know. They pay for themselves several times over."

Shaking his head again, the Kitsune says, "For now, I'll try to manage, though I'll keep it in mind."

Ophelia takes another sip of her tea, and is quiet for a moment. "I'll have one of my Rhians carry your money to you. Where would you like it delivered?"

Francisco says, "Could I not just take it now? You said my share was something like four hundred and eighty seven? That's, if I remember rightly, just under five coppers?"

The mare blinks and makes a surprised snerf noise, looking for a second as though she may have found a bug in her tea. She looks at the Fox for a second… "My dear, I'm afraid I don't keep money around the house. Too many chances for mishaps, you know. I really doubt we could even extract that much from the household help on short notice." She smiles warmly, "I'm quite good for the sum, you know. I've a substantial account with the Temple Bank."

"Oh, well of course," says Francisco. "Perhaps they could bring it via the stall at some point?"

Ophelia says, "Yes, certainly. Wherever you prefer. Are you going to keep the stall, then? Planning to go into business for yourself?"

"I had kind of figured that you would still want me on the stall," Francisco says. "However, I am looking to get involved in a different kind of business."

Francisco shrugs a little. "Maybe it could have been of benefit to you for that advertising stunt," he adds.

Ophelia steeples her fingers, looking curious. "Indeed? What sort of business are you proposing?"

The kitsune fiddles a little on his chair, trying to make himself more comfortable. "One that requires some training, but that I've had experience in already. The training I would need because this 'skill' differs a bit here from where I come from."

The countess makes a 'listening' noise, and waits…

Francisco continues, "Unfortunately, to get in, I would be required to go to an interview, of sorts, which is not cheap."

Ophelia mms.

"I imagine that you've heard of this Esoteric college place?" the five-tailed fox asks.

The mare brightens in sudden comprehension. "Yes, they train fire mages!" She pauses, and looks a bit puzzled. " You're going to make a career of being blown up, then?"

Francisco uhs, "Fire's not really my specialty. I used to be more of an illusionist. I bet that whole 'blowing up' thing could have been done as an illusion rather than use real fire and explosives."

Ophelia looks dubious. "But then there wouldn't really be an explosion, would there? Doesn't that sort of miss the point?"

Francisco grins. "Who's to say there wouldn't? You could have the illusion of an explosion."

Ophelia seems to be having a bit of difficulty with the concept, but soon returns to the main idea. "Well, you're going to make a career of seeming to be blown up, then?"

The kitsune holds up a paw, shaking his head. "No, no, no. I'm looking to make a career out of doing what I used to do best; Making pretty real-seeming illusions. Though here, I understand it goes under the term of a 'practicing mage'."

Ophelia ahs, enlightened. "And that's why you want to buy the booth, then! I'll admit I was confused for a bit." She smiles brightly, and works on her tea some more.

Francisco blinks. "Buy? Did I say I was going to buy the booth?" he asks, a little confused.

Ophelia pauses, cup part-way to her lips. "Then what, dear? You did say you'd be starting in business as a mage."

"That's my plan… but I've not seen any mages operate out of booths in the Bazaar," Francisco notes.

Ophelia plows on with regained confidence. "All the better, then. People go shopping in the bazaar all the time – I've done it myself. You'll sell more, um, magery if you're where your customers can find you. It's a basic principle of business."

Francisco nods. "Okay, I take the point. But still, running a stall full time is not something I would be able to do in the interim. The initial outlaw for the interview process is what most concerns me at the moment. Once in, I've been told that it's possible to pay for the tuition by apprenticeships."

Ophelia ahs quietly. "You wish a subsidy?"

A small grin flickers across the fox's face. Realizing quickly that he just did that, Francisco dismisses it and does his best to look impassive. "If you were to offer me one, Countess, I would certainly not say no. In fact, should you do so, I would offer you my services when I have completed the tuition there."

Ophelia steeples her fingers once more, her tea forgotten. "Indeed?" She tilts her head to one side. "I think I've heard it said of you that you're a long-lived species?"

Francisco personally doesn't recall mentioning that. "Longer than the average here, I'd say," he notes.

Ophelia hmms. "That's a plus, then. I'd not wish to invest in you if you weren't going to last for a reasonable time." She pushes her now-tepid tea off to one side. "How much would this cost?"

The fox tries to remember. "I think I was told it was something to the price of five coppers," he says.

Ophelia hmms. "That's not out of the question. And you'd serve me then?"

"Not exclusively," the Kitsune says, "but you would certainly get preference."

Ophelia says, "I would consider it, in that case. I'd have to speak to my lawyers and advisers, you understand."

Nodding, Francisco says, "Of course."

Ophelia says, "There might be some utility in having a mage, however… "

The Kitsune smiles – hoping that Ophelia might see it that way.

Ophelia says, "I'll have your 487 shekels sent around in the morning, then. Will you have some more tea?"

Sipping a little of the tea he has left, Francisco grimaces slightly, then nods. "Please. With all the talking, mine's gotten cold."