A: [Honestly, still have to finish up with one client right now. Closed up to other custors tonight because of it, but I’ll be here!]
A: [Will have to let you in when you get to the door, so send a ssage then. We’ll be done in ti for us to go eat before so spots I know get crowded.]
Special clients probably aren’t that rare for her. There must be what is known as ’divas’ of all kinds. But I’m not sure why she bothered telling all that instead of just *when* I should arrive.
Sothing about how she seems so eager for to arrive, even though she isn’t actually rushing ... felt odd - but I dismissed it. Maybe she said it that way to be polite. In case I was right around the block.
Of course, I’m not and I can’t really just go out looking like this, can I? Dusty clothes and hair. Anise didn’t really see at my ’worst’ that day - I’d already been cleaned up in the spa before I went for clothes - so I don’t really want to make that impression.
C: [Have to shower first, be there when I can.]
A: [No rush. This client usually takes their ti.]
Again, she is making small talk about her work and it seems fine on the surface. But why can’t I shake this feeling?
⧖ ☾ ❄ ☽ ⧖
Changing into a nice set of clothes when I got out of my shower, a pastel blue blouse with a scoop neckline and a pair of distractingly orange shorts. High-waist, denim turn-ups from Second Chance that were completely ’out of season’.
They would absolutely bug the seamstress to no end... and it made love them even more for it. I’m glad I walked back the long way to try and sabotage whatever was going on, as I was able to pick up a bunch of incidental new goods.
Also got Sarah, that old shopkeepers number this ti before I left. My rationale was that I could call ahead and see if sothing I might find and bring her was acceptable, but I’m not sure I’ll ever use it. It still feels nice to have a way to contact the nice people I’ve t.
I stuffed my serviceable black clutch in my jacket - also worn just to irritate her - and headed out. The air was crisp, and the walk to Crystalline Spa gave ti to organize my thoughts further. Well, attempt to organize them.
The place was not that far from the Argent Quarter, yet very few blocks, my mind would drift back to that phone call this morning. To the raw gentleness in Kyrie’s voice. The way I’d hung up like a coward instead of explaining why I was throwing up.
> I could have claid to have been ’hungover’ or sothing... but I didn’t want her to think I’d only sent the picture drunk. Ugh, stop. We should think about dinner with an acquaintance. Think about *anything* else. <
Circling on the slab of Composure at the center of my mindscape, in a pace around my wolf, the black furred spirit sent impressions of tucking tail and running away. I had no coback.
By the ti I reached the spa, the sun had set and most of the foot traffic had thinned. Plenty of cars were on the road, going to evening plans and from places of work. The main entrance was also already locked, with only dim lighting visible through the glass.
But she’d told to let her know, so I pulled out my phone and called Anise’s number. I could use a new talking on the phone to stop stressing about the other ti... and if she was busy, a text might go ignored or forgotten.
"You have perfect timing. Co around to the boutique side entrance on the left - I’ll et you there."
"...Alright."
She hung up quickly. I’m not even sure my agreent was heard. I found the side door she spoke of and waited. When the lock clicked, and Anise appeared, she looked slightly flushed... like she’d just ran over.
"Citra! So glad you could make it. Co in, co in."
She ushered inside quickly, almost urgently, while wearing an expression I could only describe as... mischievous. I caught the scent in the air as soon as the door closed behind - the one that would make Vrika perk up imdiately.
> Crisp snow and subtle iron. Kyrie is here. Or was here? <
"Anise, is soone else still-"
"Oh! Right, yes, I should probably ntion..."
She paused and linked her arm in mine. With that sa knowing smile of soone who loved to tease and ddle on her face.
"My client is *still* finishing up. I didn’t rush her out or tell her I had plans after. So just... be prepared for anything, okay? Really, you couldn’t have planned your timing better if you tried."
Anise murmured the last part almost to herself as she was leading toward the sa main area that I’d let her asure . That slightly too open section that I rember standing naked in. I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck slowly bristle as the scent beca stronger.
"How was the fit?"
Kyrie stood in front of that three-way mirror, with her back to us approaching while in the process of stepping out of what looked like the bottom skirt half of a charcoal gray suit. Her fitted white shirt hung loose as all her attention was on examining her reflection.
I think. My eyes were a little... locked on her bare thighs underneath the shirt hem. She was saying sothing to what she assud was still Anise and only that seamstress. I think.
"If you used the last asuring, the waist is definitely too loose now. I think I’ve lost more weight than I realized these past few weeks..."
She turned as if expecting to hand the garnt to the seamstress - and instead found herself face to face with . Because I’d hurriedly looked up to avoid being caught staring. The skirt dropped from her suddenly slack fingers.
"...Citra."
The Alpha’s nostrils flared as she stood there. Even trying to keep focus on her brown eyes, I could now see through the part where the shirt buttoned up. See that she’d chosen matching charcoal gray undergarnts.
"I... wasn’t expecting..."
She started to try and say sothing then seed to lose track of it. She tried to bend and retrieve the fallen skirt and my brain watched every crinkle and rustle of cloth. Her eyes gained a slight glow of orange and her cheeks flushed in embarrassnt.
> Looking like she’d been caught doing sothing far more scandalous than trying on clothes... when I’m the one who should feel caught. Because... she’s trying on a color other than white? <
Behind , I heard Anise clear her throat delicately. But I couldn’t turn away. Her voice carried that sa barely-contained amusent she’d leveled against each ti we’ve talked about... this woman.
"Well! I have your new waist asurent already, but the alterations might take a while to get exactly right. I just rembered I have a coffee delivery coming that I absolutely must wait for outside. You two probably have things to discuss anyway, ta-ta~."
At this, I finally turned to stare at her with a look of unbelief. No one would fail to recognize the blatant lie for what it was - and even if she really did arrange for a delivery, it was clearly as staged as all of this was!
"The back room I showed you is very private. No caras, completely soundproof for... sensitive matters."
She was already backing toward the sa side entrance we just ca from, practically radiating smugness in her very stride. Soon leaving us alone in the suddenly too-quiet space... that felt both too big and too small.
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