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The sun had just gone down; she figured twilight was a safe enough time to come out. Unwrapping the scarf around her face and the shawl from her arms, she moved along the streets with a graceful, gliding stride. She checked the count of hours she kept in her head by necessity and rote; she had until around six o’ clock in the morning before she needed to take shelter, but that was hours from now. Even the appointment wasn’t for another hour or two. Despite all the stories and stereotypes, the old wolf always did think ahead, and frequently for the sake of others. She decided she’d do some window-shopping on the way to the meeting place. Displays of dresses and shoes passed by her, some receiving a second glance, most only grudgingly given a single look. A particular shop window caught her eye. On display was a beautiful gown of embroidered black silk, dark lace at every seam, with pearls sewn into the hem and neckline. She paused a moment, conflicted between looking the part for her appointment and the storeowner’s reaction should she be….No. She refused to think about that. She would buy the dress regardless, and if the clerk panicked, she would simply leave with as little fuss as possible. She walked into the boutique, the chiming of small bells on the door waking up the clerk asleep at the counter. She smiled; she supposed the store received very little business this late. She looked around the store as the clerk wiped the sleep from his eyes. Dresses and gowns of nearly every kind were displayed on the racks, but she only had eyes for the dress in the storefront.
“Hullo there, miss. Anything I can get you t’night? Store’s ‘bout to close.”
She jumped. “Oh. The dress in the front display, if it’s not too much trouble.”
He gave a tired smile. “That one? Gonna make a lotta girls disappointed, takin’ that off our hands.” She smiled back. “Just a sec, miss. I’ll get it for you.”
He walked up to the front display and removed the gown, bringing it to the front counter. “Would y’like to try it on, or buy it as is?”
“I’d like to see how it fits first, if that’s alright.”
“As you wish, miss. Fitting room’s in the back.”
Taking the gown from the clerk, she walked between the racks towards the back of the store. Opening the fitting room door and closing it behind her, she proceeded to strip to her undergarments, and carefully put on the gown. She looked in the mirror; red eyes in a near deathly fair face stared back at her, framed by wavy black hair that fell below the neckline of the gown. She looked away quickly, and proceeded to stuff her street clothes into the shopping bag. Walking back to the counter, she heard the clerk give a long whistle.
“Fits you like a glove, miss.”
“I’ll take it. I’d like to wear it on the way out, if you don’t mind. No need for a bag.”
The clerk gave another grin; she tried not to meet his eyes. “Whatever pleases you, miss.”
Handing the clerk the money, she picked up the bag with her clothes and headed out the door. She’d killed enough time, she supposed; it would be a good idea to head towards their meeting place. It would be interesting to see his reaction to the dress, whatever it happened to be.
 Tezke · Mon Jun 08, 2009 @ 08:37pm · 0 Comments |
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