Today, the Eeee population is much less than Francisco's last visit to the Clock Tower. "Little Babel" has moved elsewhere – and, given the Kitsune's experiences with that cluster of shops, it's probably just as well.

The Kitsune wanders through the aisles of the Bazaar again, it almost becoming a daily routine for him. This time, he vows to steer clear of any food stalls run by Eeee.

In an empty lot near the clock tower's base, a brown bat in garb of black with blue trim plays on a flute-like instrument, accompanied by a very enthusiastic Vykarin drummer. She smiles faintly, still playing, as the Kitsune walks by, but her kind is still a rarity on this block. So far, no Eeee food vendors are in sight.

Francisco pauses briefly to listen to the flute player, not staying long as other people are putting money for her into a hat, yet he has none to offer.

There's a sizzling sound and a smell of cooking meat. With a louder pop and sizzle, a big wolf slaps a slab of meat – most certainly NOT of insectile origin – on a grill, then turns around and pulverizes ("tenderizes") another slab of meat with a big hammer. As customers watch, he slams the hunk of meat around, smashes it into a floury mixture, then crashes it onto the grill as well, and goes into a flurry of other motions. He has to be the noisiest, most violent cook in these parts, but apparently he's got a good-sized clientele … either for the food or for entertainment value.

Two exceptionally large Rhians can be seen approaching, towering over the smaller denizens of the Bazaar. As they draw closer it becomes apparent that they're the bodyguards of a Unicorn mare, the Lady Ophelia. She wanders about vaguely, looking left and right, but not really stopping at any of the stalls…

A well-to-do-looking poodle youth walks along, accompanied by a troupe of young poodles who seem to hang on every "witty" thing he says, and giggle frequently. He stops in front of the large wolf's booth, and starts talking to his friends, mentioning the terms "Titanian", "primitive" and "brute" frequently.

With the scent of the meat catching his nostrils, the Kitsune starts to head over to the stall to watch. Noticing the group of poodles, however, he pauses as he sees his 'Nemesis' amongst them.

*CRASH* *SLAP* *THUD* In a flurry of unnecessarily loud activity, a heavy wooden plate is set up with a slab of meat, some beans, and some sort of shredded green vegetable to the side, with a thick wooden mug of grog. The timid-looking Skreek, cringing at every loud noise, relaxes at the lull once his food is prepared, pays the Titanian, then shuffles over to a nearby "table" consisting of a large crate with some "chairs" consisting of barrels cut in half, up-ended.

The Titanian, during this lull, is about to return to his work, but then he notices the fox. He barks loudly, then bellows, "SISKO! HUNGRY?"

Ophelia, attracted by the commotion, and the attendant prospect of amusement, wanders over to see what's happening. She stops at the outer fringe of the crowd, a large, silent Rhian on either hand. A slight yet definite bubble of unoccupied space exists around the trio.

At a nearby booth where hand-crafted dolls are being sold, the lioness proprietor points at Francisco and says to a doubtful customer, "See? I TOLD you there is such a thing as a five-tailed Fox! Hmph! See how authentic it is? Note how even the shirt is of a similar pattern, and with just as bright of colors!"

Several Bazaar-goers are now looking at the multi-tailed fox. Several vendors smile and wave at the Kitsune.

The fox's ears perk at his name and the Titanian looking at him, his hearing also picking up other conversations about him starting. In the back of his mind, he notices the stall with the dolls of his likeness and wonders what they are for?

One of the Bazaar-goers does not smile, though. Eustace do Varr, a well-to-do poodle, openly sneers as he sees the Kitsune. However, he looks around and notices Ophelia, and his smile returns. He starts to stride toward her (and her guards), his party of poodles following and jabbering amongst themselves, some of them laughing and pointing at the five-tailed fox as they pass.

Ophelia notices Francisco, and wishes that Laika were here to see him as well. "Why, it's that five-tailed Zerda – the one of whom they make the effigies!" she exclaims to herself.

Eustace stands a safe distance away, on account of the imposing presence of the Rhians, but bows to Ophelia. "Good day, Countess Ophelia! It is good to see you again!"

Ignoring the group of poodles, Francisco heads towards the stall to the offer of yet more free (bug-free) food.

The Titanian makes a wide grin at Francisco's approach, then bark-bellows, "HOW MUCH YOU WANT?" He indicates a big hock of meat, possibly Dromodon, or some other beefy creature.

Ophelia, startled by the unexpected greeting, recovers quickly and flashes the Poodle a bright smile, while trying frantically to recall his name. "Good Day! Imagine meeting you here! What a pleasant surprise." She starts toward the Poodle, bodyguards in tow.

"Oh, I'm not sure," replies the fox. "Perhaps a little less than you just served the… " Unsure of the rat's race name, Francisco thinks how to phrase it. "Than you gave your last customer there."

The Titanian nods, shaking his shaggy mane, then grabs what looks like a great … battleaxe? … partially imbedded in a thick wooden table. He rips it free, then brings it swinging down in a quick arc. *SHMACK* It slices through the meat, causing a few of those in the audience to jump back. He doesn't pause a bit, swinging the double-headed ax back to imbed it in the badly-scarred table, but then proceeds to pummel the meat with a rough-surfaced warhammer.

Eustace jolts at the sounds, then regains his grin, trying his best to look unaffected. "I was rather concerned with you, what with those horrible allegations. But obviously none of them stuck."

Francisco blinks, a little surprised at the sheer force that was used to cut the meat himself, but continues to watch.

Ophelia looks a trifle pained, but only for a second. "As was I, I may assure you. Tell me, did you see the five-tailed chap over there? He's the perfect image of those little effigies the children were blowing up on Guy Fox day, you know."

With great action and violence, the meat eventually is slammed onto the battered grill. The grill itself is surely a rarity, for it seems that the surface is actually made from thick wire – wire that is covered with a thick layer of ash, but wire nonetheless. The wolf must get an awful lot of business if he can afford that, yet apparently can't manage a restaurant. He smiles toothily at Francisco. "COOK NOW!" he bellows.

Eustace giggles in a most ungentlemanly manner at Ophelia's observation. "Oh yes! I'm sure it would be quite amusing to see how the REAL Francisco would act if his tails were set alight. Ahem. Anyway, his name is Francisco. He's an Exile. A Fox, you see, and a deformed one at that. Not too bright, either."

Francisco smiles back at the wolf. "Mmm – Medium, if you please," he says to him.

Ophelia says, "Ah, he truly is a Fox, then? I'd heard him described as a Zerda. Not much difference on the whole, though, I suppose. Does he license his image to the toymakers, hmm? I'm sure that he must make quite a bit on royalties if he does."

*SMASH* *CRASH* *SLICE* … and various other loud noises in all capitals come from the large wolf's shack. In short order, another very thick (and well-worn) wooden platter is set with a slab of meat and side fixings for a much smaller (but still by no means truly small) Jupani Temple Guard. The Guard pauses to put on some spices from a shaker, then heads off with his mug of grog to a larger crate table where several other Guards are already waiting on their break, while a Zelak watches impassively.

The Kitsune watches his food cook, slightly picking out Eustace's voice through the others in the surrounding crowd, but not really hearing much of what he is saying, but is sure it's about him.

Eustace says, "No, I don't believe so. I don't really know how he gets by. Near as I can tell, he hasn't any means of employment, but the vendors apparently pity him so much that they treat him as some sort of pet, feeding him for free – like that Titanian is doing over there. Tsk, tsk. Absolutely pathetic."

There's more sizzling and cooking, and the wolf throws something into the grill that causes the flames to flare up to near-catastrophic blazes for just a second, but they quickly go back to a more regular burn. He throws some spices onto the battered slab of meat, flips it a few more times, and starts a few more orders. At last, with a move that sends customers ducking and scurrying for cover, he smashes the meat onto another plate, and just as violently adds the sides and slides the plate over to Francisco. "DONE! MEDIUM! FOR SISKO! NO CHARGE FOR SAMPLE!"

A hungry-looking Kavi squeaks, "Hey, can I have a sample, too – ?" and gets quickly cut off by a fang-baring snarl from the Titanian. The Kavi, probably lacking for shekels anyway, slinks off elsewhere.

Eustace remarks, "My, but he's WORDY for a Titanian."

Ophelia tsks. "The poor fellow… It speaks well of the merchant's kindness, though. Tell me, you seem to know him – would you be willing to introduce me to him? He attracts my interest, if for no other reason than that large quantities of toys bearing his likeness are sold here."

As for condiments and the like, a wooden cup holds a random assortment of mutilated-looking wooden and chitin utensils, definitely not matched in the least. Enough of them have sharp edges suitable for cutting the well-tenderized meat. There are also wooden cups, and a keg of grog. Only the braver customers seem to dare bothering with the caustic grog. Otherwise, other vendors nearby offer various other drinks.

Eustace squeaks in an almost Eeee-like fashion, then coughs and regains his composure. "INTRODUCE you to him? Ah … of course. Certainly. But I must warn you – He's most uncivilized, and quite threatening. He also is quite deluded. I think he belongs in Moz Ezley. Just ask him about his homeworld sometime, and you'll see what I mean."

Nodding thanks to his 'chef', Francisco picks up the meat and bites into it. It's good, though perhaps a little more on the 'rare' side than he's used to.

The meat is sufficiently tenderized so that Francisco's fangs are easily to the task of tearing the meat without aid of knife or crude sharp implement. It certainly beats eating bugs!

(Unless you're an Eeee.)

The guards at the larger crate-table laugh as they see Francisco tearing into the steak. One of them waves the Kitsune over. "Hey! Five-tails! Over here!" They don't look like anyone Francisco has gotten a chance to know, though surely they've been in the Bazaar before. The Zelak seems totally disinterested.

Ophelia steers the young Poodle along toward where Francisco sits eating, wishing all the while that she could recall his name. Her guards follow along, large and silent, parting the crowd by their presence.

Eustace reluctantly "leads" Ophelia to the fox, his "friends" keeping a safe distance back to observe. Eustace clears his throat, and says, "Ahem. Countess Ophelia, meet Francisco the Exile. Francisco the Exile, meet Countess Ophelia of the Northern Shore of Sylvania."

Francisco raises his head from his meal and looks at the guards questioningly? He does his best to let the bug sitting with them not put him off his meal.

One of the guards smiles and pats a barrel-chair between him and the standing Zelak.

Ophelia gives the Kitsune a warm smile. "Hello, Francisco – don't get up, please. I've heard a great deal about you, and seen your little exploding dolls for sale everywhere, and when I discovered that we had a common friend (she indicates Eustace) I asked him to give me an introduction. I do hope I'm not imposing?"

Turning his head towards the poodle and the unicorn, Francisco smiles politely to the unicorn. "Pleased to meet you, Countess Ophelia," he says, noticeably avoiding looking at Eustace.

Eustace plasters a dumb grin on his features.

Francisco takes another few bites of the meat, swallows then says, "Also, I wouldn't exactly call your friend my friend, as such. More of a… business associate." He also waves a paw to the guards, such that he might be a while should he decide to join them.

The guards wave off Francisco with a mixture of sour grape expressions and grins. One of them pats the Zelak on the side, which prompts no response at all from the gargantuan bug.

"Yes, yes, well … " He looks up at the clock tower. "Oh! Just LOOK at the time! I really must be going now. So nice to meet you, Countess Ophelia! I'll pass your greetings along to my father. Ta ta!"

Ophelia brightens noticeably. "Indeed? It was on a matter of business that I wished to speak with you, if the truth be known. May we have a bit of your time?"

The Kitsune would shrug apologetically to them, but is aware he is being watched by the two nobles.

The young poodle noble scoots quickly off, toward his poodle companions.

Ophelia calls after the departing Poodle. "Wait, please!"

Eustace spins around. "Ah, I'd love to … but, REALLY. So much to do! Have a lovely day!" He wiggles his fingers in a wave, then shuffles off with the other poodles.

Francisco sighs inwardly to himself, pleased that Eustace has gone, and nods to the unicorn, gesturing to the place opposite him.

Ophelia sniffs to herself, nonplussed. "Really… " she mutters under her breath. She turns her attention back to Francisco, and takes the proffered chair. Her guards loom behind her. "I'd wanted to talk to you about those little dolls that I see everywhere. They're remarkably popular, you know – all of the children seem to delight in blowing them up. I was wondering if you have a hand in making those, or in selling them?"

Waving a paw in the air at nothing-in-particular, the fox replies, "Hardly. I don't know the reason behind people making them. But… blowing them up, you say?"

Ophelia says, "Well, um, yes. I would have thought you knew. There was an entire festival the other night devoted to that activity, you know. Regardless of why people buy them, however, the fact is that they do buy them. There's a great deal of money being made by people selling those little paper mache Zer… uh, Foxes. I was wondering if you would be interested in making some money from the idea yourself?"

"I must have missed that particular event, though it sounds fortunate I did." The fox tilts his head to one side, "As for making money from the idea… did you have any suggestions?"

Ophelia says, "Yes, I have, actually. I'd like to finance some vendors to sell those little figures myself. I think there's money to be made there. Since the most popular dolls are the ones that look like you, I'm hopeful that if you'll help, and lend your name to the effort, and endorse the product, and make personal appearances at the vending stalls, we can gain a substantial portion of the market while it lasts."

The Temple Guards finish up their meal, and leave the wooden plates and mugs on the table as they get up … then have to stop and go back to get the Zelak, too. As they leave, a smaller wolf, looking much like the Titanian (just fuzzier and much shorter) scampers out and gathers up the dishware and utensils, and hauls them back to a tent behind the booth.

Francisco continues to listen, occasionally taking a bite from his meal. "Let me get this right. You want me to help advertise, and endorse, a likeness of me that people… blow up?"

A Kujaku noble, meanwhile, wanders up to the lioness-Khatta's doll booth. "Pardon me, but do you have any gray Kitsune? … "

The mare tries to find a way to make the prospect sound appealing. "Well, all of them don't get blown up, of course… And they're being sold whether you make any money from it or not. It's a fad – it won't last forever. You might as well make something from it while the opportunity is there."

A big, dark green Zelak wanders up to the table the guards vacated. It runs its feelers over one of the barrel-chairs, then over the table, then over a splotch on the ground. It then wanders on down the street silently.

The Kitsune contemplates this over, then nods, not one to pass over an opportunity. "What would I get from this in return?"

The Kujaku twitters in conversation with the lioness-Khatta. " … Oh, that GOLD one looks nice, too! With NINE tails? Oh my! … "

Ophelia relaxes slightly, considering the hard part to be behind her. "Money – I'll split the profits evenly with you. We can sell the 'official' dolls for slightly more than the other vendors can, even if they come from the same workshop, and cost us no more than they do others. That difference is the money that you and I make. Not a lot, but if a lot of dolls are sold it'll add up… " The mare flicks her ears, and grimaces momentarily at the overheard Kujaku…

A few cubs giggle and squeal, running by, chasing each other, dodging between the legs of the taller Bazaar-goers, prompting a few squawks, barks, yowls, squeaks and shouts of alarm.

Perking an ear, Francisco hears what the Kujaku said, and after a brief moment, dismisses it. Turning back to the countess, and even though part of him says that he shouldn't, he gives his reply. "Very well, then."

Ophelia smiles warmly. "Excellent! I shall consult with my lawyers, and have papers drawn up. We should be able to start in a few days – there are a number of workshops making those little dolls, you know. We'll see if we can't make you a household name in Rephidim!"

The mention of papers being drawn up is a comfort to the fox, and he suddenly feels a lot more confident about this particular agreement. Perhaps there are 'nobles' around this place with a sense of decency. Smiling, he nods to the unicorn. "We'll see," he echoes, and takes another bite of his lunch.