ACROSS 8. (ARE BASALT)* = ALABASTER 9. "ALTER" = ALTAR 11. T + OKAY = TOKAY 12. RATIONALE = RATION ALE 13. [-f]LEE = LEE 14. A FIC[-t]ION ←SODA← = AFICIONADOS 17. ←(.l)AV ART SO(m.)← = OSTRAVA 18. FAVOUR outsiide L_ = FLAVOUR 20. STREET-SMART = SETTERS* MAR _T_ 22. ←PI'S← = SIP 23. LIVER SPOT = (.e)LIVERS POT(a.) 25. S PIKE = SPIKE 26. AN outside PRO = APRON 27. NINES inside LOOS = LOONINESS DOWN 1. PANT + A LOON'S = PANTALOONS 2. BACK (DATE'S)* + RIVER = BACKSEAT DRIVER 3. CAP + (←ARAB← after Y) = CAPYBARA 4. P MARTINS* outside GA = PTARMIGANS 5. FRAT = F ←TAR← 6. LAGOON = (LA GOON) 7. CREE = CREE[-d] 10. ←ROOD PART← SP IDE R = TRAP-DOOR SPIDER 15. INFRACTION = IN FRACTION 16. STRIPTEASE = TAPESTRIES* 19. SITAR* TIC = ARTISTIC 21. ERRANT = ←RE← _R_ ANT 23. LOAF 24. PALE = "PAIL"