Day Off Drama

[Talia Idris]

Talia rolled her eyes at Shade's back as he wandered off to do some more flirting. She was surprised the man was still alive with the amount of womanizing that he seemed to do although she was even more surprised that women would fall for a shifter, this was Marn after all. But then there were varying degrees of loyalty and perhaps some of them didn't even know he was a werewolf, what was he going to say, 'Hi, my name is Shade and I am a shifter. Wanna share my bed tonight?' Talia snickered at the thought as she browsed through the dresses.

The prices of some scared her but she continued looking. It wasn't as if she hadn't built up her own fair share of saving. With business at the bakery going so well and never having to pay accommodations she deserved to splurge. Plus the way the shopkeeper was drooling over Shade perhaps they would be able to get a discount.

Eventually Talia blocked out all thoughts of the man with her as she tried on several dress. Some were just too much poof and frills while others felt like there was nothing there. Eventually she settled on a few options, changed back into her clothes and headed to the till.

"What do you think?" Talia asked as she held the dresses up for inspection. "I thought I would get your opinion on which on I get." Her personal favorite was a pale pink dress. The v-neck dipped a little low for her liking but the rest was fairly innocent. The second one was made of gauzy purple material. It reminded her of the dress that she had worn on her adventures with Drayel on her last day off, although it wasn't nearly as risque as that one had been. The last dress she showed she had almost not chosen, but it had fit her form perfectly and she did like how the red dress sparkled in the light, although the cut up the side scared her a bit.

[Shade]

Shade eyed the trio of dresses like a critic, his lip twitching as he tried to picture the little baker woman in each. Immediately the red one went out the window. Way too obvious and probably stating something not close to right. He doubted she wanted a quick roll in the hay after all. So instead, he turned his eyes to the purple and pink.

"Try them on." Shade suggested as he nudged her gently towards the back. He grinned as he leaned in closer to her ear and pointed to the farthest corner. "The change room is that way. Put 'em on and strut for me, then we'll find out which one suits you best. Till then, I wanna have a look too."

With that Shade sent her off with a hum, turning his attention immediately to the racks. He sauntered down the isle, humming lowly as his eyes trailed across the colored fabrics. Blue, red, purple, black and even the distant yellow. He snorted at that one. She'd look like a giant ball of sunlight. Yet... the one beside it. A soft green that matched almost exactly the color of spring grass. He pulled it out with a curious frown, eyeing it up and down as he tried again to picture Mrs Talia.

"Well, the kid said she liked plants." Shade grunted despite the smirk that crawled across his face. "Anyway, she outta look good in this. Shows a bit of skin but still enough innocence to attract the right kind of attention. Not that she isn't a good lookin' woman, but I don't think she's had much experience with men. No, starting off slower for her would definitely benefit her in the long run."

He nodded in agreement with himself before turning and sliding back to the counter, placing the dress gently on the surface before reaching back and sliding his hand for his money pouch. A devilish glint took his eye as he peered at her from beneath his eyelashes.

"So, how much must I pay, my dearest of ladies...?"

[Talia Idris]

Talia practically pranced out of the store holding her bag. "I don't know what you did, and I don't know if I want to," she grinned up at Shade, "But you sure got us a discount on this dress! I even think my ruby will match with it." She stopped short as she said that. No one really knew that she even had a jewel around her neck because who would believe that it came from her family and not something that was stolen?

It took a moment but she regained her composure and turning her sweetest smile onto Shade she laughed. "So where to next my handsome tour guide?" She questioned as she placed a hand on his arm and fluttered her eyelashes. She had taken this challenge but she was certain that if she was to win and prove that she wasn't as innocent as everyone thought her to be, the best proof would be if she could convince Shade personally. The thought made her stomach turn yet her heart to flutter at the same time. Perhaps that's how most women felt around him. He was a shifter but he was quiet the handsome one at that.

Shade had seemingly just brushed of her questioned and she had tagged alongside him until they entered the next shop."Where have you taken me?" Talia demanded. "I don't care what you think but I am not cutting my hair!" She resisted the urge to grab her braid possessively and instead started backing towards the door as she viewed various women getting their hair cut, curled and even coloured. "It took me a long time to grow my hair this long and it is not something I will changed just to please you Mister!"

[Shade]

"Easy, easy!" Shade chuckled as he picked her up firmly by the waist and held her high in suspense. Around them the women gasped but he ignored them, leaning in so his face rested easily beside her shoulder. "Now, who said cutting? We wouldn't dream of it dear. No, just a thorough cleaning and a simple flip or two. No cuts, no damage, just more like a hair massage."

He wasn't really surprised that she reacted so negatively to the thought of her hair being cut. Most women were like that. That little stunt she pulled earlier though, that caught him off guard. He didn't stop the grin that spread wide across his face. No, she was definately a pretty woman and with a trick or two she could have any man that called he'd bet. Good thing he'd had his experience or he'd of blushed like a bloody school boy.

"Now, you've trusted your 'handsome tour guide' this far, so why not a little longer?" Shade chided. "In fact, if you're hair gets cut I'll allow you to put a fancy bow around my neck and I'll prance around the streets with it for an entire day. Wolf or human of course, and whatever color you choose. Trust me, yeah?"

He smiled as he gently put her back on her feet and loosened his hold.

"See? You're choice. Besides, putting your hair in a braid is bad for your hair. Strains it, and gives it little splitties."

[Talia Idris]

Talia looked at Shade suspiciously before slowly responding. "I never said I trusted you...I don't know if I ever will. I hear you are quiet the womanizer and personal those types of men aren't to be trusted." She quickly added, hoping that he didn't think that she had meant she didn't trust him because of his other half. "Now, if you will be so kind to let me down." With a 'humph' and a flip of her braid she turned around and strutted to a chair before sitting down and shooting him a glare. The nerve of the man to lift her up like she was a child.

"And I don't know what you think amuses me but seeing you in a bow doesn't do much. And I feel like you would enjoy it too much, even if it was pink." She grinned slyly. "No, if things don't go my way I will find my own sort of enjoyable punishment for you. Now scoot along. I am going to get my hair done. I am sure they have a room here I can change. I noticed a shoe shop just a door or two down. We can meet there. And if you really need something to do in my absence perhaps you can pick up a little something to slip in my new hair do." With a cheeky grin and a wink she swiveled around in her chair and closed her eyes as a woman rushed over and started unraveling her long braid.

[Shade]

Shade was a smart man. He held in his roaring laughter just long enough to get outside before his head went back and he howled at the sky. Around him people gawked but he couldn't care less. Mrs Talia? Shy and polite Mrs Talia giving him orders like the dog he was. He growled with amusement.

"Something for hair." He cackled as he took to wandering the store fronts. "Shouldn't be hard to find. Something to match the dress then. Heh... Bwahahahaha!" He forced his heavy snickers down again at the odd and slightly frightened expressions the passing people were giving him. He didn't care much but somebody else might. "Alright then, the hunt for hair accessories begins!"

[Talia Idris]

Talia sashayed around the shoe store. She loved the way the dress's silky fabric fitted closely around her hips and then flared out around her legs. She liked most of her clothes but she had never had anything of this caliber in her closet before and it was intoxicating. It would be hard for her to go back to her normal skirts and dresses after this.

Talia tucked a curl behind her ear. The hairdresser had gone all out and had given her a cascaded pile of curls, it had costed her a pretty bishan but she had also gotten a discount again. Apparently several of the girls working there were on fairly friendly terms with Shade (for the time being) and when they heard that she wasn't going out with him, merely rising up to a challenge, they were more then willing to put in a bit of extra effort for less the cost.

Talia sat down and tried on several different shoes. She normally wore simple flats and as nice as the ones that were here, she had a feeling they weren't exactly what was needed for this occasion. Instead she dried on different forms of heels. She was so focused on trying to fasten a pair of tall strappy heels that she didn't notice Shade waltz in in his usual fashion.

[Shade]

Shade came in with a low hum, winking for not the last time today at the nearest woman. She tutted at him despite the smile, he rolled his eyes and blew a kiss before spotting his lady friend wrestling with shoes. He hummed in amusement as he came to her side with a decent swagger.

"May I help you, my lady?" he purred as he slipped past her and kneeled, taking her foot gently in his hand and propping it on his knee. He slipped the heel on with ease, keeping his eyes on hers as he gave her a purring smile. "You're hair looks lovely, I must say. The ladies didn't treat you badly I presume?"

He doubted they did. More than one of them been his bed partner. Actually, now that he was actually shopping around for actual items he noticed a lot of bed partners. Hm.... He paused as he frowned way up at Talia with an almost dry expression. "Now, this just came to me and correct me if I'm wrong but.... I believe myself to be quite a lover to women."

[Talia Idris]

Talia remained silent as Shade helped her slip on the pair of shoes. Her cheeks turned a rosy pink as he assisted her. Sure it was a fairly innocent and kind gesture but it was her ankle after all and it action felt a bit personal for someone she didn't really know much about besides the rumors. But of course nothing could go really wrong in his presences, right? After all Drayel trusted him enough to watch over her for the few days he was gone.

Talia looked up at shade and realized that he was staring at her with a peculiar look across his face. His remark about being a lover to the ladies confused her. What did he expect her to do with that fact? She kinda knew that fact about him anyways and his saying it only confirmed it. Perhaps it was just part of the challenge? If that was the case she knew how she should respond to both figure out what he meant and to show, once again, she was a woman and not just a girl.

Taking a slow deep breath she leaned forward, laying her chin in her hand which rested on her knee. The action caused her to accentuate the little bit of cleavage that she possessed. Cocking her head to the side she glanced at him with her lips slightly apart. "And what could possibly make you think that?" She couldn't help the friendly sarcasm in her voice but she was able to resist rolling her eyes. If the man was just coming to this conclusion he must just be all looks and not much brains.

[Shade]

Shade cocked an eyebrow at her sudden closeness. He'd nearly missed that accent of cleavage she granted him, the parting lips almost teasingly close as they flowed to make words. A beauty of a woman, though the sarcasm was a bit of a frown for him. Still, he kept himself in character by giving her a blink and pout.

"I am the one getting you discounts." Shade pointed out with a huff, leaning back to sit on his haunches. "If ladies didn't like me, they'd charge you extra for bringing an old bag like me around in the first place. Besides, I've my fair share of lovers if that isn't enough to tell."

He mused himself for a moment by wondering just how many he'd taken. Far more than two hands over the years, possibly in the mid twenties. He wasn't really sure. Perhaps that was something he should've remembered. Hmm. Still, he pushed the thought back to glance almost curiously at her.

"So, you like these shoes do you? They look good." Shade nodded as he glanced almost curiously at the footwear. "I would wear them if I was a woman. Well, if I was a good looking woman with nice feet. It would be awful if I was a woman with ugly feet and saggy breasts. I'd never get a man and we'd be crones chatting about good old days."

Shade tisked. A sad thought indeed.

[Talia Idris]

Talia leaned back and laughed at the thought of Shade as a fat old woman. Twas a funny and scary thought indeed. Quickly switching to mock seriousness though she looked into Shades eyes. "Now If I didn't know you better I would think you just called me crone. That wasn't very nice of you." Of course Talia couldn't keep her stern face for long as she jumped up and twirled around in her new outfit.

"Well what do you think?" She stopped spinning and struck a pose. In a get up like this she could pass as some hoity toity maiden and perhaps even find a man to match. She giggled again. "Well perhaps we should go someplace and get a drink, calm my nerves and all that. We can discuss our plans for the rest of the day and get into all sorts of mischief with Drayel out of the way."

Talia really didn't know where this side of her was coming from but she was rather enjoying it. And she was even feeling in a good enough mood to venture into new territory. Drinks in the middle of the afternoon felt just like this temporary new her!

[Shade]

Shade grinned as he jutted out his arm, offering it to her as he gave his tongue a little wag. Taking her by the arm he led the now giggly and rather excited woman towards a nicer end of town. After all, a run down bar like the Drunken Rat wasn't what a woman went to. No, he'd take her expensive and nice. He growled in amusement.

"So, what do you think? Trust me yet?" Shade mused as he gave a nearby male the stink eye. he'd seen that gleam and as long as Talia was with him, those men best keep those gleams out of their eye and their pants done up. He wasn't going to put up with that much excitement for Talia. Oh no, he'd get shot dead by Drayel. "I told you I'd help!"

"So, do you drink often? And in the afternoon Mrs Idris! Tut tut! What if the neighbours found you flounting with a flirt and then drinking? You're reputation Drayel fought so hard to keep you with will be deceased! Gone! You'll be the talk of the town even!"

[Talia Idris]

Talia couldn't help but smile as she walked arm-in-arm with Shade, she hadn't had this much fun in a long time. Laughing once again she shook her head at the man. "Oh pish posh!" she said, using a phrase she heard some of the more uppity ladies use "Like anyone would recognize me in this get up! I can barely recognize myself as it is. I will just be a young lady who is traveling through town and you offered up your services. I don't think anyone would doubt that little lie."

She decided to ignore the question about trust for now, she wasn't quite sure about him yet. He had given her no reason not to trust him but they had only spent part of the day together so far and it had already been confirmed that he was a bit of a lady killer. "As for drinking? I have only had a few drink in my past. When you are trying to save money and you are a young lady on your own, you tend not to go drinking often." She said matter of factly before grinning defiantly up at Shade.

"As for Drayel, is her my father or brother? I think not! Therefore my repuation is my own, I have no neighbors since I live at work and we have already stated I am in disguise. I will even let you give me a fake name as long as it isn't to silly or ugly. So what will it be? Who will I be for the remainder of the day? Or holiday if we decide to take it that far."

[Shade]

The second Shade heard the 'pish posh', he'd begun to second guess himself. The more she talked, the worst a growing dread crept into his stomach. Drayel was going to kill him. It was suppose to be a joke, something that got her wound up but not like this! She acted as though she seduced people every day and no doubt that was his influence.

Drinking at noon? Forgetting reputation? Screw everybody else's opinion? That was definitely some of his traits shining on her. Oh dammit, now what? Wasn't he suppose to be coming home soon? He groaned. Oh this was bad. Perhaps... Perhaps make a little stop at the drink place then quietly steer her back towards being a lady? Show her how to flirt that way?

He smiled at the plan. Yes, it would work. It had to! He'd make her back into a lady long before Drayel came home. In fact, why not let her o for today and fix her up tomorrow? That would work! Loving his new plan he eagerly picked up the stride and let loose a slow purr. "This way, my lady."

[Talia Idris]

Shade's step had faltered for a moment although it had quickly regained its confidence. Talia looked around and wondered what could have made such a man appear to loose his nerve for a moment like that. Seeing nothing out of place around her she simply shrugged it off, who knew when on in that man-shifters, mind. Her mind was wandering to what she was going to do in this get up. Perhaps she could crash a wedding like she had done with Drayel that one time. That many people she should have no trouble picking up a man. Although he would probably be drunk and Shade wouldn't count it.

She was glad they were going for a drink either way. She was putting on a good front, or so she felt, but honestly she had no clue how she was going to pick up a guy, much less what she was supposed to do after. A drink would calm her down and keep her from shaking when the time came for her to work her magic. Well not literal magic but use her womanly charms, if they even existed.

Alright! She thought to herself. Time to stop fretting and just chill. Shade will have some plot up his sleeve. Drayel trusts him for some reason so I should do the same. That shifter can't leave me alone anyways, if what he was saying earlier was the truth so if I need help I can just run back to him. No problem. See? Everything will be just fine. Giving herself a little pep talk seemed to help, she loosened the formerly tight grip she had on Shade's arm and went back to her cheeky grin.