Laska felt content as she closed her eyes and allowed herself to float in the shallow end of her pond, like she had done many times before. The sun warmed her skin as she supported herself on the edge of the pool with both outstretched arms, keeping her head above the water, but leaving her thick braid to float in the water below her.

Today, the pleasant smell of newly installed flora added to the serenity. Inhaling deeply, she could smell the scent of the fresh lemon-trees placed in big pots all over the room, mixed with the smell of purple bougainvillea. Opening her eyes, her gaze drifted towards the opposite side of the room, where the druids had installed an entire wall of hanging pots, all containing various species of orchids, their sweet scent now spreading through-out the room.

Revelling in her new-found elven nature, she closed her eyes for a few moments, enjoying the rare feelings of pure bliss. Until... she found herself shoved underwater. Raising herself to the surface, she emerged from the water, a look of pure murder crossing her elven features, until she noticed the culprit...

Her lover Rose lay on her tummy at the side of the pool, chuckling slightly. Immediately, the swimming elf turned to the shore and faced her, supporting her arms on the side. Rose responded by placing her hands on the side of Laska's head and kissed her forehead. Knowing how much the elf enjoyed it, she kept rubbing the back of Laska's delicately pointed ears.

"I love it looking at you during one of your dips," Rose smiled. "Plus, it's one of the rare moments when I can sneak up on you..."

"How nice," Laska chuckled.

"You forgot, didn't you?" Rose smiled.

"What?" Laska said, the gears in her brain grinding despite the grit caught between them. "I don't recall... The place is empty today. Minsc and Dynaheir went to see a play, Korgan went to a wrestling-match, Lasalla took the kids out to the circus, Jan and Lissa are out, Keldorn is reporting to the Order, Mazzy I haven't seen for days and Viconia's in her room and... HEY! We have the place all to ourselves!" Laska smirked. "How about... you join me in the pool, huh?"

"We were going to have lunch, remember?" Rose smiled. "I took my shift behind the bar off this morning for it..."

A blank look crossed Laska's tattooed elven features. "Dammit, I forgot..." she finally admitted.

"I figured as such..." Rose smiled. "That's why I came early... Now, get dried and dressed up, so we can leave..."

"Are you sure?" Laska smiled. "We could have a lot more fun in the pool?" she suggested.

"We'll have to eat first," Rose said. "Neither of us has eaten anything since last night."

"But..." Laska started to say, but suddenly found the tip of her ear caught gently between Rose's curled index and middle finger.

"We are going for lunch," Rose smiled gently, intending her 'punishment' to be a playful one. Instead, she was confronted with a slightly panicked elf.

"Dontpulldontpulldontpulldontpull!" Laska spoke fearfully.

Rose blinked. "So... it's true what they say about grabbing an elf by the tips of their ears?"

"Yesyesyesyesyesyesyes, leggo!" Laska exclaimed. Immediately, a startled Rose released Laska's ear, the tip of which turning red instantly.

"I... I'm so sorry," the half-elf replied. "I... I hope I didn't hurt you."

"No," Laska smiled, calming down. "But if you would have pulled it would have hurt like hell. Just... only touch my ears when you mean it," she added, gently placing back Rose's hand behind her ear so she could resume the gentle rubbing.

"I'll keep that in mind," Rose smiled briefly. "Shall we go, then?"

Viconia sat on the couch in the main room of their estate, carefully focused on her book. Laska and Rose had left just a few minutes earlier, leaving the Drow, and the house, alone. Finally having some peace and quiet, the Drow was in the process of memorizing today's tale. The new smell that was hanging in the room was quite pleasant, but Viconia was currently enjoying a love/hate relationship with these horrible new additions to the household.

The problem was that Laska never did anything small. In the main room, she had the druids place large parlor palms, rubber-plants and weeping figs. And these were large specimens. Some were placed in such a position that they partially obscured statues and paintings she had been carefully placing for maximum esthetic value for over two months, and now that the light-patterns in the main room were altered because of the mini-tree's canopies, Viconia would have to start all over again.

The room was large, but there was not enough room for both plants and art. Unless... Viconia got a wonderful idea. All the plants were placed roughly at the walls of the room, but if she could convince Laska to place a few of them in the middle of the room, and she would hang a few paintings a bit higher on the walls, this room might even end up being reasonably presentable...

A knock on the door interrupted her musings. Immediately, the door opened, and in stepped a lost lamb, being trailed by a saddled dog.

"Ah, we were wondering when you'd show up," Viconia chuckled.

Mazzy ignored the Drow and walked right past her, into Laska's bedroom.

Viconia chuckled inwardly. Mazzy was lucky the elf wasn't at home, otherwise she'd have been subjected to full rounds of verbal abuse already. Entering each other's private bedrooms unannounced just wasn't done in their house.

Coming out again, Mazzy strolled past her and ran upstairs... Again finding nothing, the halfling gave her attention to the reading Drow.

"Where is Laska?" Mazzy asked disdainfully.

Viconia said nothing. Instead, she continued reading.

"Answer me, Drow," the halfling pressed.

"Or what?" Viconia snickered. "You'll tickle me to death?"

Mazzy did not look amused.

"Oh, just giving you a piece of your own medicine," Viconia snickered. "She's out, you just missed her."

"Dammit," Mazzy sighed.

"Looks like you'll have to deal with me," Viconia said, still not looking up from her book.

"Right, well," Mazzy said. "I've been staying with Samuel Thunderburp and..."

"Hmmm, you seem to have forgotten your dead lover quickly," Viconia pressed.

"Be silent, foul creature!" Mazzy shouted. "I could never forget Patrick! Samuel is just a friend."

"Hmmmmm..."

"Anyway, after some thinking," Mazzy said. "I have decided to give your party a chance..."

"You have decided to give us a chance?" Viconia snickered. "Don't make me laugh..."

"You are a chaotic, unorganized band! If not for the efforts of the noble sir Keldorn, you would have descended upon each other long ago!" Mazzy told her resolutely.

"We did well enough before Keldorn joined us," Viconia said. "So don't presume to judge..."

"And that she let an evil creature such as you in our mids," Mazzy half-snarled. "Does not speak well of our leader..."

"Oh, here we go again," Viconia chuckled. "After my position, are you? I have proven my measure and worth, halfling... You have not..."

"I warn you, Drow, I will..."

This time, Viconia put down her book and stared Mazzy right in the eyes. "You..." she spoke dreadfully malicious, "will do... what, exactly?"

"I... I will SLAY you, of course!" Mazzy pressed.

Now, Viconia rose to her full height. She was one of the shorter members of Laska's group, but still she dwarfed Mazzy. "Don't make me laugh!" Viconia chuckled. "I need only step on you..."

"Try it, Drow, and I swear you will end up with a sword stabbed through your foot!" Mazzy snarled.

"Hah!" Viconia shook her head. "I don't have time for this..." she said and headed for the door.

"Wait!" Mazzy shouted from the couch. "Sir Keldorn... what is he like?"

Viconia raised her eyebrow, snorted and walked out the door.

"Viconia is here! It's Viconia!" little Lisette shouted to her friends as the warmly smiling Drow entered.

"Hello, children," Viconia greeted as she entered the orphanage's sleeping chambers. Immediately, ten young children swarmed the Drow as she sat down.

"Hey!" Lisette yelled out as one young boy pushed between two other girls.

"Loviar," Viconia scowled. "What did I tell you about respecting females?"

"To... to be nice," Loviar said and sat at the back of the row.

"That's more like it," Viconia smiled. "Today's story is from faraway Kara-Tur..."

"Oooooh," all children smiled and prepared for the story.

'They are happy to see me,' Viconia smiled inwardly.

"Oh, Viconia?" Sister Lara spoke from the back of the room. "Might I have a few words with you before you leave later?"

Meanwhile, Laska and Rose were walking arm in arm towards the 'Green Latern', a classy eatery near the government district, passing through a lane of equally classy boutiques and shops. Unlike Waukeen's Promenade, this was a calm and quiet area, void of tourists and casual shoppers.

Laska felt her tummy rumble, admittedly, she was getting very hungry. But just as the Green Latern came in sight, Rose suddenly veered off to a boutique, only to end up glued to the display window.

"Just look at that lovely green dress, Laska," Rose smiled at her lover as the elf impatiently waited for her.

"Sure," Laska said. "Say, I'm getting a bit peckish..."

"Cormyrian silk!" Rose smiled wistfully. "I could never afford that when I was still a streetwalker, and I've spent so much time here, simply looking at the dresses... Knowing I could never afford them."

"Well, the inn is making steady profit," Laska offered. "So you can afford everything in the store, now..."

"It's so lovely. I'd look so great in it, don't you think?" the half-elf offered her lover a sly grin.

Laska snaked her arms around Rose's slender waist and pulled her lover against her. "You'd look great in a burlap sack," the elf said while she rubbed her cheek against Rose's strawberry blonde hair.

"Mmmm," Rose smiled blissfully at Laska's closeness. "But," she said, recovering, "how would you like me to wear it for you?"

"You look best with nothing on at all," Laska whispered in her ear.

"It would make a great gift, you know?" Rose pressed.

"Thanks for the offer, but you know I don't wear dresses," the tattooed elf replied.

"Love?" the half-elf asked.

"Yes?"

"If you don't buy me that dress, you are not getting any tonight..."

"Let's get you fitted for that dress..." Laska said, not surprisingly.

"I thought so too," Rose grinned and led her lover into the store.

Immediately, they were greeted by a thin, but friendly smiling man wearing a strange gaudy shirt. "Welcome, welcome!" the man greeted friendly. "Can I offer you a capuchino?"

"Crappawhat?" Laska asked.

"Laska!" Rose admonished and patted her on the arm. "It's a coffee from Calimport... That would be lovely," she told the shopkeeper.

"Oh, honey," the shopkeeper said as he gazed at Laska from head to toe, "you need my help, you're a fashion-victim!"

"What?" Laska all but shouted.

"Vests are SO last year," the man said, and immediately started to tug loose Laska's braid.

"HEY!" the elf protested and yanked her long braid away.

"Oh, honey," the shopkeeper smiled. "You've got a lovely head of hair! Let those long tresses float free in the wind, you'll look wonderful!"

"You think so?" Laska muttered and slowly untied her braid, and shook her head about, shaking loose her long dark hair. Then, the shopkeeper spoke : "There... pretty as a picture... Oh, honey, but we need to get you into some new clothes..."

"Excuse me," Laska said, "but we came her for a dress for Rose."

"Don't tell me," the shopkeeper grinned. "The green one in the window, right?"

Immediately, Rose dove into the changing booth, and when she came out again (in record time), she looked amazing. Laska felt her mouth go dry as she look a long look at Rose's new bodice, which was tight and ornate... and worked to achieve a maximum push-up effect.

"Oh, honey," the shopkeeper smiled and swatted Laska on the bum, "I know what you're thinking, you naughty woman..."

"Did... you... just," Laska replied icily, a scowl prominent on her face.

"Oh, he's harmless," Rose smiled and took her new dress to the mirror. Now... let's help you...

"I feel like an idiot!" Laska snarled as she looked in the mirror. "You can't see any of my tattoos!"

"Be nice!" Rose smiled.

Laska looked in the mirror... and saw a complete dork. The elf was wearing a pink blouse about three sizes too small, so that it was almost a second skin and the buttons were almost bursting. Under the blouse was a black miniskirt, inlaid with little stitched dragons. On her feet were reed sandals, and covering it all was a long, blue kaftan, open in the front.

"Now," the shopkeeper said, while adding some make-up, "we just need a little more eye-liner here..."

"What's the matter with these panties?" Laska stressed as she felt how uncomfortable it was.

"It's a string made from the finest kashmir wool! I know," the shopkeeper smiled, "but no pain, no fashionable gain!"

"Wool?" Laska grimaced. "I feel like there's a sheep bleating right into my ass..."

"You look," Rose said, barely able to contain her laughter, "you look... different..."

"I like the top, though," Laska said.

"Ah, it's from the Kara-turan Hentai-girl line," the shopkeeper smiled. "But to be honest, I was merely looking how far you would indulge me. You're a good sport, honey."

"What?!" Laska replied, and Rose took her by the arm, knowing full well that if she had not been here, Laska would have shown the shopkeeper exactly how much of a good sport she was by trashing the store.

"Tell me again why you yanked me out of a private moment with Rose, just as I was to remove her new dress?" Laska muttered as she and Viconia were strolled through the Government district. After lunch, the lovers had returned home where Viconia was waiting for them.

"Are you wearing make-up?" Viconia asked, to which Laska responded by frantically rubbing away eye-liner. "In any case, sister Lara has asked me to commission a work of fine art from Sir Sarles, a renowned sculptor. Apparently, the three main temples are all vying for his attention, and sister Lara wanted me to procure a sculpture before the others did..."

"Ah, gotcha..." Laska said. "I'm the muscle power... The brawn to back you up!"

"Nope," Viconia said. "I can handle everything myself. But after our meeting we should gather about two hundred pound of ore at the ore-merchant in Waukeen's promenade..."

"So," Laska scowled. "You're only bringing me along to haul ore?"

"Basically," Viconia chuckled, "yes..."

"Figures..."

"Well, you're a big strong elf, after all..."

Together, they entered the Jyystev estate where the artist was staying, and the butler led them into his room. He was a rat-faced man who behaved like a spoiled brat. His clothes were gaudy, and his eyes were like saucers. His eyes even grew rounder when he noticed Laska.

"This is an outrage!" Sarles shouted in a squeaky voice. "I ordered a BLONDE courtesan of elvish decent! This is disgusting! Guests are not supposed to be treated as such..." Shouting too loud to hear Laska's growl, he continued. "Hey, hey, hey!" he suddenly said. "Your ears are longer, you are slimmer! You're a proper elf, aren't you? I've never had a proper elf before," he suddenly slurred. "Leave your clothes on the bed, and we'll get started..."

"YOU BLOODY..." Laska started, but suddenly found herself subdued by a hand on her shoulder.

"Sir Sarles," Viconia spoke up. "Get your mind out of Laska's pants for a moment and then we can discuss business. I am to commission a work of art for the temple of Lathander..."

"Oh!" Sir Sarles snarled. "Another one of THOSE... I'll tell them what I'll tell you. Get me two hundred pounds of pure illithium first and you've got your sculpture. Now, get out! I'm expecting company... Out, out, out, OUT!"

And, like that, they were standing outside again.

"What a brat of a male," Viconia said. "I have heard he was an introvert, but this is ridiculous... Spoiled to the end and even procured a bought title. Heh, and I won't even get into the rumors about his interest in goats and other barnyard animals... His sculptures are sight to behold, though..."

"I want to kill him..." Laska growled.

"You'll get your chance... AFTER the sculpture has been made," Viconia said.

"H-hello?" came the meek voice of a tiny, young, blonde half-elven girl in a tight dress walked around the corner. She looked embarrassed and ashamed to wear the clothes. "Is... Is this the Jyystev residence?"

"You here for Sarles?" Laska asked gently, feeling sorry for the girl.

"Y... yes, ma'am..."

"Well, I wouldn't if I were you," Laska chuckled. "He's diseased, you see? Spend some time with a wrong girl and now he has mushrooms growing in his pants, nasty business... You'd best go home..."

"Home," the girl's eyes lit up. "I... I can't. My mother... we're going to be thrown out of our home if I... don't bring in some money. My mother doesn't know I..."

"You haven't done this before, have you?" Laska smiled. "Well, if it's money you need, go to the Mithrest Inn and ask for Rose. Tell her I sent you and tell her what you're about to do. She'll give you a proper job with a reasonable pay."

"R--really?" the girl started to cry. "Thank you!" she said and hugged Laska briefly. "Mother will be so happy!"

"My pleasure," Laska said. "And knowing I've ruined Sarles' day is enough for me..."

"Right," Viconia grinned. "Shall we get some ore, then?"