Defensive Magic Chapter 18: Shopping Trip

FALL TERM - November 26th

I hadn't suspected anything of it when Marblebrook called into her office just before the end of term. Given the timing, I'd figured it to be about plans for the coming break, but when I stepped into her office, Noodle was there, sitting opposite her desk. He was dressed in a wintry Fair Isle sweater, his blond tail wagging.

"Is this a coven eting?" I asked. Aries hadn't ntioned anything about Marblebrook and I'd only just seen him.

"No," she said. She sat down at her desk, straight-backed and gritting her teeth as though fending off a migraine. "This is about the Masquerade, Zephyr. I got word from our mask-maker, Valhn, that neither of you have seen him about your masks. The ball is two days away."

"Oh," I said. Noodle's tail drooped.

She rubbed at her temple with one hand, eyes hidden behind the deep pink lenses of her glasses. "You have ti. It's why I've called you here. Kelyn always says there'll be one every year, but two." She waved us off. "At least you can collect the rest of the things you need together. Please at least tell you have sothing to wear."

"Yes," I said, just as Noodle mumbled out, "Not really."

I elaborated first. "I have a suit and cloak to pick up from Count Lyle's." It was a significantly larger expense than the mask. And now that I was needing to budget myself for the first ti in my life, I'd gone ahead and placed the order early. There was still no word on whether I'd be getting more funds in from my parents any ti soon and I had enough personal sha not to ask Marblebrook about it. Aisling had tagged along to help pick the fabric.

"Great," Marblebrook said. "Then you can take Noodle to Miss Patty's on your way to pick it up. Miss Patty's is at least relatively budget-friendly, but given the ti crunch, ask for Lena. Tell her, Elandria sent you. She'll tack on an extra fifteen percent, but you'll have sothing suitable to wear in ti for the ball."

Noodle cocked his head, one ear slightly perked.

"As for your masks," Marblebrook went on, "I always let our mask-maker know just how many masks to prepare a few months in advance. He has a few details I've provided him with to start. It's more the fine details that really take ti. It should still be fine if you can get there before evening. I'll write him to let him know to expect you."

Marblebrook quickly jotted sothing down on a narrow slip of paper before rising again to open the window. She raised her head to the opening and whistled. Waiting there, she turned back to us, "Do either of you know how to dance?"

Noodle laughed lightly, but it occurred to quicker that she wanted a real answer. I tentatively raised my hand. "Lots of dancing at the Stag's Court."

"Least the vampires gave you sothing useful," Marblebrook said, still waiting by the window. "It's not just a party, the Masquerade is a ball. You'll all be expected to be seen dancing on behalf of the coven. Zephyr, it'll be on you then to teach Mr. de la Fel and Noodle."

Noodle's tongue lolled out from the side of his muzzle.

"You can get started," Marblebrook added. She gestured vaguely to a curio cabinet across the room. Its doors parted and a gramophone switched on. I realized then she ans now.

I rose to my feet. Extended a hand to Noodle. He only stared up at , confused. "Just take my hand," I said.

Noodle looked at as though he had no clue what was happening. He put his paw in my hand and let pull him to his feet. I led us a few paces back.

"Do you know anything about dancing?"

"Not a thing." Noodle grinned, a little pleased that this just made my job all the harder.

"I'll lead then."

I had started walking Noodle through the basics of a box step, a slow, easy waltz playing to set the asure, when a gray pigeon fluttered in through Marblebrook's open window. I know my steps faltered because Noodle stepped on my foot.

"Oh, sorry!"

I held myself a little straighter, forcing Noodle to move as I moved, hoping his feet would eventually figure out how to follow. Half my attention was still caught on Marblebrook and the pigeon on her desk. She stroked its little bubble head with her finger. Did she know that bird?

It was hard to imagine Marblebrook as the kind of mage who would have kept a pet, harder still to imagine that might be her familiar. It was so soft.

The fat gray bird cooed at her and lifted a foot to her so she might tie a little scroll to its scrawny ankle.

"Is this even right?" Noodle asked. We were still working on the most basic of steps. I didn't have to look at him to know it was wrong. He stepped on my foot again, not following my lead.

Marblebrook sent the pigeon off out the open window and sat back down behind her desk to watch us, half-smirking. Watching teach Noodle how to dance was funny to her... Though, to be fair, had I been an outsider to this, I probably would have found it funny too.

"I think maybe we practice more later tonight," I said. To Marblebrook. Noodle was only watching at his feet.

"Alright, go on then. Shadow step to town! Valhn will be expecting you by 6."

It took Noodle and about ten minutes to find each other after we shadowstepped into town. Apparently neither of us ever had reason to visit Miss Patty's before this and it took ti to locate it, even traveling through shadow. Upon seeing it, it beca imdiately clear why I'd never been inside. It was the kind of place that gave an uncomfortable feeling I couldn't exactly put a na to. It was a small shop with a bright blue awning, every window was lighted, and beyond the glass I could already see half a dozen people poking around.

Inside was worse. There were more people, every inch of wall space housed bolts of fabric, mannequins in bright dresses were shoved beside display mirrors, custors picked through fabric, and half a dozen tailors were working away.

Count Lyle's was more expensive and the only tailor was a particularly stuck up older man, but the shop was quiet, the fabrics were fewer and far between. This all was just a little too much.

"Is it alright if I wait outside?" I started to ask Noodle, who instantly upon seeing step back towards the door flashed his biggest, saddest, puppy-dog eyes, until I relented. Stupid golden retriever boy...

"Just help figure out what I'm ant to wear first," Noodle said, as though that was an easy ask. In a shop like this, we could be here all afternoon.

We were there for most of the afternoon. I managed to slip away after Noodle and I consulted on a simple but tasteful pattern with Lena, a brusk orc woman who was quick to usher Noodle off to be asured in her second floor studio. I had my own garnts to pick up from Count Lyle's a few blocks away.

It might have been overpriced, but the shop was only half lit. When I opened the door, I was t by only the silent stare of the owner, Lyle. I only needed to pass him my ticket without a word and he disappeared into the backroom.

I was looking over a jewelry display before he returned. He didn't ask if there was anything wanted to try on. From our last eting, I'd decided his taste ran a little garish and he probably thought mine was stuffy and old-fashioned. Which, fair enough.

When it ca to this kind of thing, my point of reference was always going to be balls held at the Stag's Court. Vampires weren't known for adopting new fashion trends with any regularity. Lord Hart was an especially known offender, sotis in jackets that likely hadn't been in style for over a century. I couldn't help it if so of the newer styles struck as a little ostentatious.

I probably didn't have to try it on, but given the way our last appointnt had gone, better to confirm I was wearing the outfit we'd agreed he'd make - a black dress coat, a white waistcoat, matching black trousers, and a simple matching cloak lined with silk. I would wear my cravat too because given the event, it was only appropriate.

Lyle hadn't been fond of the pattern, but had convinced to allow him to add a few minor embellishnts to liven up the look a little. I didn't love the implication that it made look dead but let it go.

The embellishnts weren't exactly minor. He'd added silvery embroidery at the jacket sleeves, around the hem, and down the back of the coattails. A few similar little hand-stitched flourishes spread out across the back of the cloak to match. At first glance, I wasn't sure.

"Won't you look dashing," said a feminine voice at my back. I turned. A girl was leaning up against the jewelry display. She was cute, long black hair, dove-white wings.

"I don't know that we've t," I said.

"You're Aisling's friend, Zeph," she said. "She talks about you all the ti, sorry. Forgot we haven't been properly introduced."

"Yinuo." Wings should have given it away. She was Aisling's roommate.

"So, she talks about too," she said. "I shouldn't be surprised."

"All good things." Mostly good things.

She smiled and the wings on her back fluttered. "I hadn't expected you'd turn out a proper gentleman. Would it be too presumptuous for to ask you to save a dance for this weekend?"

I nearly said sure, why not? But I'm pretty sure this is the kind of thing that passes for flirting outside of the Stag's Court. It was still flattering, so I said, "I could, but won't we all be in disguise?"

Yinuo shrugged gently. "I think this is one of those things you can say it's the thought that counts."

She leaned a little deeper into the jewelry counter. I want to say it looked natural, but I was a little more caught up on how it pulled the front of her blouse taut across her chest. I did what I could not to stare.

"Say you'll think of ?" she asked.

She knew I wasn't looking at her eyes. She was definitely flirting. I'm allowed to resent the fact that it was working on . I couldn't even tell you what I'd said, only that I had to eventually tear my eyes away from her to pay Lyle for my new suit and by the ti I'd finished, she was already gone.

I waited outside of Patty's for Noodle. His tailor Lena was still talking to him as he stepped out the door. "You'll have to be back tomorrow, eleven sharp, for a final fitting. It's terribly late but Elandria always knows I'm a sucker for the cute ones," she called out just before running her hand over the top of his head.

So, you too?

But the mont after the door shut, Noodle mussed the fur on his head with his paws. "Why the hell do people just assu they can pet ? I'm not a dog. I don't know you, why the hell would I want your big hand all over my head?"

"She called you cute though," I said.

Noodle sighed. "Like how dogs are cute. Wish sotis they'd pick a different adjective."

"Aisling says you're cute," I said.

Noodle smirked. "Yeah, she also doesn't think I'm a dog. But that doesn't an anything. She calls you cute too." It was true enough, but I didn't think her intentions for saying it really mattered all that much. She gave out complints easily and often. It always felt nice to hear.

"Sothing wrong with that? Am I not cute?"

Noodle barked out a laugh. "You should be asking Aries. Let's just say you're really not my type."