Delphina stepped out of the cab and took a deep breath of fresh air.  Instantly she regretted it.  She had thought the cab smelt bad, but damn this place reeked.  

Gagging and trying not to vomit all over the place she rushed to open her purse and pull out her handkerchief.  She lifted it to her nose and covered her mouth to try and keep the foul smell from assaulting her.  It helped... a bit.  Keeping her nosed pinched she trapped her purse against her body with her elbow and worked to fish out a couple of dollars to pay for the fare.  Handing it over to the short, fat little man she asked him, "What in the Sam hills is that stench?" 

The man took the greenback and shrugged his shoulders.  "I don't know what to tell you miss,"  he shrugged.  "It has been that way around here now for a couple of months."  He pocketed the money and drove off leaving her in the middle of the street.

Keeping the handkerchief in place she looked both ways for traffic and when seeing none, made her way to the side walk.  Looking up she studied the various shops signage and when she had found the one she was looking for she quickly made her way inside.

A bell above the door chimed when she opened it and again when she closed it behind herself.  Hesitatingly she tested the air for the offensive odor and was glad that it was mostly blocked out here.  Sighing she dropped her hand in relief.

"Good Morning Miss,"  the shop keep approached her with his stained white apron spread across his large stomach.  Delphina smiled at the middle-age, brown-haired man.  Her mother had always told her that you could trust a fat baker. 

"Good Morning to you, as well.  My name is Delphina and I called yesterday about catering an event I was planning to throw here in a few week."

"Ah yes, Mistress Delphina.  It is a pleasure to meet you!"  He offered her his hand and she shook it firmly.  "You said you were wanting to throw a street party?"

Delphina frowned, "Well that had been my plan before I came hear and smelled the air."  I was going to throw a little community event, but I am afraid that crappy smell might keep everyone away."

The baker frown solemnly and nodded.  "Yes Mistress.  It is a said thing indeed.  Some of us have been trying anything we could think to solve the situation, but I am afraid that it is just impossible.  No matter what we do the smell remains.  We have complained to city hall, but they seem helpless as we are to clean the air.  The crap is quite literally piling up out there and it is stinking up the whole damn place."  The man cringed and then blushed, "Sorry mistress for my language.  I am just so frustrated is all.  My anger just seems to get the best of me sometimes.  This whole mess is killing my business."

Delphinia looks out the store-front window as if answers might could be found out there.  "Has anyone asked the old man if he can do anything about.  

"The old man, mistress?" The man looked shocked and quickly looked out onto the street as if he thought he might actually see someone out there.  "I don't know anything about that mistress."  He used the corner of his apron to wipe his forehead and looked back at the young woman.  "I am just a simple banker, yes I am.  I just keep to my shop and pay my taxes, you know."  Quickly changing the subject he walked back to the counter. "I have some menus here of me offerins.  Have a gander and see if me Mistress finds anything to her liking.

Delphina looked over the menu and asked a few questions about options and pricing.  Then she placed her order and gave the baker a deposit of 50% up front to pay for the ingredients and other things necessary in the preparation of the catering event.  The other 50% would be paid at the delivery of the requested items.  Smiling at the man, she shook his hand once more and thanked him before heading back out onto the streets. Quickly she lifted her handkerchief back up to her nose and took a deep breath before going out the door.  She, unfortunately, would not be able to hold her breath the entire time she was outside; but a few more seconds would be a blessing at least.

Once she was back outside she again looked up at the signage on each storefront.  One of them made her smile when she read it and she quickly made her way across the street to the perfumer chemist.  Such a man might have another blessing available.  She had seen them before in some of the more exotic locales she had had the good fortunate to visit.  

Walking into the store was the very definition of haven itself.  The wonderful smells were sharply contrasted, by what she had just left behind.  Had it actually gotten worse?  Surely not.  It was just her imagination at play. 

Instead of being greeted by a man, she was instead greeted by a middle-age woman.  "Welcome to The Perfume Emporium.  How may I help you?"

"Oh I do hope so!  I once saw a scent box necklace in India.  I don't suppose that you would happen to have one of those do you?"

The woman chuckled, "New around here are you?  Well eventually you will grow accustomed to the smell.  The body has a defense mechanism that actually will filter out so that you won't smell it, or at least you won't smell it as bad.  However, until then I actually do have a few necklaces and boxes you can choose from.  I use to never sell these around here, but lately I can't stop them from flying off my shelves.  

The perfumer lead her over to a counter that had several displays of necklaces and ornamental little boxes and charms.  "If you don't want an actual box we can also use some of these hollowed out charms.  They work too.  Some women also like the idea of wearing the diffuser on an arm bracelet, but I think they are much more effective the closer they are to the nose.  Do you find anything that you would like to take a closer look at?"

Zeb sniffs his pits.

Nope, not me for once.

I wouldn't rule out Rowley soiling himself again though.  poor old sod.

Zeb takes Rowley by the arm and helps him up.

I'm most relieved old boy.  you don't even smell like a cats litterbox, you really have been looking after yourself.

Brandy?