*Dashes into the tavern looking pale and dismayed*

[Anaris]

*takes a deep breath and collapses on a chair*

Fab....Fabi........Fabiana!  Please!  Water!   NOW!


*her Personae Fabiana fetches her a glass of water*


I think...............I think I shall die!  I shall die this very evening!


*sips her water, then puts her hand to her forehead in misery*


I cannot believe this has happened!   I shall DIE A THOUSAND DEATHS!!!


*feigns faint*

[Alirrin]

The Flutterfeet look up from a table where they are playing some sort of game involving colorful tiles.

After a hurried whisper, they do "rock, paper, scissors" twice, then Henrieta pipes up.  "I win!"

She trots over to the elf, changes her grin to a look of total concern, and asks, "Oh my, dearie! Whatever has happened?  Do you need anything?"

[Anaris]

*looks up at Henrietta, in utter misery and suffering*

I.......I......... 

*sighs*


*then squints her eyes and sits up*


YOU!     YOU did it!!!  You with your Gypsie Magic!   I should've known!!!!!


*stands up and goes over to the Flutterfeet table*


OK!  Which one of you DID IT?!!  Which one of you stole my portrait, painted by one of the most talented and famous artists of Queen Antonia's Court!!??  Surely it had to be one of you!  Where is my portrait?!!!


*shakes her head and adjusts her tiara*


Oh, but of course you don't know where it is!  You SOLD it, didn't you?!!!  Oh, I bet you've made millions and trillions of platinum off my beautiful countenance on canvass!  Oh!  If I knew how to, I'd turn you all into frogs!  All of you!!!


*huffs and puffs*


I am calling the guards!

[Henderson]

Henderson takes a long sip of his ale, then smiles sweetly at Anaris.

"Well, let's say for a moment that we do know where your portrait is ... and how to get it back ... what might that be worth to you?  Hypothetically speaking?"

[Missa]

*looks up as Anaris enters the room and sighs with hero-worship*

Greetings, Anaris!

*suddenly realizing her role model is distressed, she jumps up to assist, while noting down the exact nuances of her faint for later practice in front of her mirror at home*

Ana!  Whatever can be the matter?

*fanning the air above Anaris' face, she glances around for help and spots the Flutterfoots*

*hearing the exchange between Anaris and Henderson, she looks helplessly from one to the other*

Whatever do you mean, Hendy?  You must give it back, at once!  Oh Ana!  I'm sure they didn't mean anything by it!  They really are sweet ... once you get to know them!

[Henderson]

"Now, take a step back, Missa. I did not say that I, or any member of my family, was in any way involved in the disappearance of this portrait.  I merely suggested that we might possibly be able to ascertain its location and recover it ... depending on what said effort might be worth."

Nodding, he hands his empty mug to Quince.  "Another round, 'cuz?  And maybe something for our esteemed Koada'dal ... I'm sure you know what she likes."

[Anaris]

*looks up at the ridiculously pretty Missa, and even though she decided to hate her forever for being so pretty, feels at ease that Missa showed her kindness*


Oh, Missa darling!  Thank Marr you are here!  I was beginning to feel abandoned with this.....this band of gypsie portrait thieves!


*looks at Henderson*


Now, you look here, mister!  That portrait is worth........um.......


*tries to calculate platinum, then realizes her mathematical handicap*


It's priceless!  Yes, priceless!  Not only am I the subject at hand, it was also painted by the great Erudite grandmaster Ophir, premier artist of Queen Antonia's Court!   So, you may have a bargaining chip with it, but I assure you, no one can truly afford it!  No one!


*looks to Missa*


Oh, darling, next time you are around me, please do not do your hair that way...  It attracts attention from me to you, and we cannot have that.... 


*smiles at Missa, still feeling a hint of jealousy*

[Missa]

*beams her biggest dimpled smile back at Anaris, happy to see her more like her old self*

You have a portrait of yourself?  Oh my!  How wonderful!  I wonder if I could find someone to paint my picture?

*blushes to think of who she might give such a portrait to; casting her eyes demurely down, her long lashes brush her dusky cheeks*

Oh!  My hair?  You don't like it?  But I have to wear it up like this ... you see, it brushes the back of my knees and I keep getting it caught when it is down. 

*self-conciously pats the gleaming black interwoven braids curled at the back of her head, the light reflecting coppery red highlights*

What would you suggest, Anaris?

*gazes at her idol with rapt adoration*

[Alirrin]

Quince goes to the bar, fills three mugs with some sort of dark beer, then pours two glasses of fine elven wine.  Bringing them over, the Flutterfeet all take the beers, and he sets the wine glasses down by Ana and Missa.

"Like Hendy said, we don't know anything about it, but our services might be hired.  We're good at getting around and talking to people.  Who knows what we might find, if we were properly motivated."