Thar Shaddin

Talia bite her lip and tried not to laugh at Jackal's obvious impression at what only could be Drayel. Shade most likely had already uncovered most of the secrets of women.

It didn't take long before he was done undoing her buttons and with a nod from herself, Jackal trotted off to check on Shade. Talia wiggled out of her dress and held the new one up, inspecting it again. It really was a gorgeous dress, and if it wasn't an exact fit it would be awfully close. She didn't realize that Drayel had paid that close attention to her, or perhaps being very observant just came with the territory of being a guard.

Talia undid a few buttons and shrugged into the dress. It was a harder to get into it without undoing all the buttons but then she would be able to do it up without having to ask for help again which could be awkward or embarrassing. Which was one of the reasons she choose to avoid clothes with too many buttons or at least ones with them at the back.

Looking down at herself Talia found herself quiet happy with the dress, it was a little loose around the waist but it wasn't noticeable enough for it to appear too big for her or make her look fat either. Twirling around she giggled before reaching her hands up to her hair, she could have to do a bit of work to fix all the curls and such. There was a bathroom with better lighting and a mirror, hopefully Shade was finished in there by now.

Skipping down the steps she quickly checked to make sure the gnomes were still alive. They were, and snoring away soundly, they probably wouldn't be awake for quite a while now! Which didn't bother Talia, it meant that they could leave and be back before they woke up in a strange place without any explaination.

If Shade was sober, he would have argued with Jackal over the dressings. A good shirt with a leather vest and a smart pair of pants. Even his shoes had to be changed for something more 'fashionable'. Shade growled in distaste, glaring daggers at the young fellow as if it was all his fault a wedding demanded more than casual wear.


The clothes were a bit large on him though, immediately giving him the impression that these belonged to Drayel. He grimaced. No, he'd have to stay out of the mud for this one. Though... he wasn't suppose to be home till later right? Enough time to go clean it worse came to worse, or even maybe sew some naughty picture into the inside jacket. That would be hilarious. Shade grinned darkly.

After he finished washing his face Shade wandered back into the kitchen, humming lowly as he glided his fingers through his hair in a sad attempt to slick the wild tangles back. It worked, mostly. Hair still fell near his eyes but at least now it looked semi-decent. Deciding to take a seat in a nearby chair, he hummed lowly a nameless melody as he awaited the woman he knew hid just out of sight.

Talia heard Shade finish up in the washroom and waited a few minutes before she skipped towards the room. Staring at her face in the mirror she puckered up her lips and furrowed her brow as she tried to decide what to do with herself. Raising both hands to her head she gentle probed around for pins that she could remove without causing too much damage and then use to pin up some of the not so attractive tendrils that threatened to ruin the whole look.

The first three pins came out with little to no change in the hair style. The fourth one had different ideas though. As she pulled it out half the hair style seemed to suddenly collapse. Sticking it back in nothing and attempting to take other pins out to reposition only made matters worse. Eventually Talia gave up, resting her face in her hands as she groaned.

Taking a deep breathe she straightened up and with a determined look on her face she set about pulling wildly at all the pins, throwing them on the floor as the went. The last several pins she stuck in her mouth. it only took a few moments of tugging and pulling before she had successfully braided a ring around her head fastening the end with the pins from her mouth and leaving half of her hair to fall in soft waves down past her hips.

Finally satisfied with her look she bit her lips to add a bit of colour to them and with a final twirl she headed out the door to the if the boys were ready yet. She stopped as the entered the kitchen, her eyes widening at the sight of Shade all dressed up. Thankfully she managed to keep her jaw from dropping. She always knew that Shade had some kind of rugged quality that some girls found attractive but she didn't expect him to clean up this well!

Talia heard Shade finish up in the washroom and waited a few minutes before she skipped towards the room. Staring at her face in the mirror she puckered up her lips and furrowed her brow as she tried to decide what to do with herself. Raising both hands to her head she gentle probed around for pins that she could remove without causing too much damage and then use to pin up some of the not so attractive tendrils that threatened to ruin the whole look.

The first three pins came out with little to no change in the hair style. The fourth one had different ideas though. As she pulled it out half the hair style seemed to suddenly collapse. Sticking it back in nothing and attempting to take other pins out to reposition only made matters worse. Eventually Talia gave up, resting her face in her hands as she groaned.

Taking a deep breathe she straightened up and with a determined look on her face she set about pulling wildly at all the pins, throwing them on the floor as the went. The last several pins she stuck in her mouth. it only took a few moments of tugging and pulling before she had successfully braided a ring around her head fastening the end with the pins from her mouth and leaving half of her hair to fall in soft waves down past her hips.

Finally satisfied with her look she bit her lips to add a bit of colour to them and with a final twirl she headed out the door to the if the boys were ready yet. She stopped as the entered the kitchen, her eyes widening at the sight of Shade all dressed up. Thankfully she managed to keep her jaw from dropping. She always knew that Shade had some kind of rugged quality that some girls found attractive but she didn't expect him to clean up this well!

When Shade heard her coming down the stairs, he expected her to show up in a semi-plain dress yet look fairly similiar to what she'd worn before. Seeing her come around the corner however, he stared back at her in obvious surprise and pleasure. A wide grin spread across his face as he stood (though a little tilted) to eye her up. He huffed in amusement.

"Well then Mrs. Idris, you seem to be quite good looking in that dress. Makes you look.... hm. Well, I can't think of a good word for it. You've stunned my mind too far to comprehend your beauty." Ah, there goes the lines. He meant what he said, true but he hadn't meant for it to come out as a pick up line. Nor as cheesy either. Oh well. "So, this is the dress Drayel picked out for you is it? I wondered how it'd look on you."

He clicked his tongue in amusement as he gave a thorough look over. It gave her figure... well it definately made her figure easy to look at and with such daring hair.... He purred lowly as a slow grin pulled its way across his face. He moved forward, reaching out to gently glide his fingers across her cheek. His body settled, his eyes darkening with delight as his lips curled into his trade mark smirk. He was about to lean in, to breath in her scent when-

"Hey! You stop that or I'll smack you with a skillet!" Jackal barked as he gave Shade a good whack on the arm. Starlted Shade stepped back and glared at the glowering child. "I know what you were trying to do. Jeez, turn of the lady thing for a while yeah?"

Shade growled as he stepped away from Talia and shoved his hands in his pockets, snorting darkly in irritation. "Yeah, whatever you say boy."

Talia eyebrows had raised and her grin had turned into a chuckle. Shade was actually using pick up lines on her! She wasn't sure if he was being sarcastic or actually meant what he said, but either way she found it amusing.

"So, this is the dress Drayel picked out for you is it? I wondered how it'd look on you."

Talia had looked down at the dress to give it another look. She thought that Drayel had done a wonderful job at picking out a dress for her. A bit of pink creeped into he cheeks as she thought about how he must have had to size her up in order to find one to fit her. She looked up to question Shade about why Drayel why he would get her a dress but then she froze.

He was moving closer to her, an almost hungry look in his eyes. She tried to take a set back, put some distance between them, but she was frozen to the spot torn between wanting to run as far a way from the womanizing wolf and wanting to find out what would happen next.

His fingers caressed her cheek sending shivers down her spine, her lips parted as her breathing all but stopped. The blood rushed to her cheeks and she couldn't look Shade in the eyes anymore, instead the focused on his lips that were inching closer.

"Hey! You stop that or I'll smack you with a skillet!"

Talia jumped out of her dazed state and jumped back a bit relieved that the boy had come back when he did. "Maybe you should bring it with you tonight." She joked, her face still burning a bright red. "We are going to be going to a wedding after all. Those poor bridesmaids and single ladies won't have a chance."

Shade scoffed at the both of them, sticking his hands in his pockets as he gave them both a dirty expression. He didn't enjoy being frowned at after all. Grumbling again he glared warily at the gnomes, debating on kicking them out in case of Drayel's early return. Yet, if he'd seen how Shade was spoiling Talia and giving birthday presents early, then he was dead already anyway. Oh well.

"Alright, no need for threats. I'll do what I can." Shade grunted with a roll of his eyes. "I like my nose unbroken after all. Shall we go then? Or do you have anything else you'd like to add to your pretty face Talia? I think you're quite lovely myself but I know women tend to need a bit of a touch here or there where a man sees only perfection."

Shade chuckled warmly again, his eyes glinting in mischief. Another swat from Jackal quickly changed that into annoyance.

"Damn boy...."

Talia couldn't help the giggle that bubbled at at Shade pouting although it quickly disappeared into a bit of a pout. It seemed like the alcohol was still coursing through her and making her a bit emotional...well more emotional then usual.

She tossed her hair and headed towards the door. "I like to think my face is pretty without any makeup. The little it I have one just enhances it. As for the perfection...you can't stop using your little lines one me Shadesie, you should know it takes more then that to catch me." She tossed a wink at him before turning to Jackal

"Jackal, would you do me the honour of accompanying me to this wedding? I think we would make quite a handsome team strutting into that party all dressed up."

"Bah, if that won't make it look like you're robbing the cradle then I won't know what would!" Shade laughed in amusement as he clapped his hand on the back of his neck, itching it dully as he looked almost bemused. " I mean, isn't he a bit young[/Ito have such a wonder on his arm? He'd hardly know how to fight off the other boys! Then what? We'd have you off in the arms of a scandal with no way of saving you. Why, the mere thought of it makes me displeased!"

"You're a scandal." Jackal pointed out dryly.

"Exactly. I know exactly what one would do when he grabbed hold of her. At least I have the threat of dismemberment hanging over my head. I can keep myself in check!" Shade snorted with a roll of his eyes. "Of course, I know our young baker is quite the feisty fighter but I cannot allow such thoughts. I will be there glowering nearby either way...Krm. I mean, glancing nearby. I would never glower."

Talia rolled her eyes at Shade's little spiel. "Why my dear Shade! Are you jealous...of a boy?" She pretended to be shocked before tossing her head at him. "Anyways, he invited us and I don't think there is anything wrong with him being a gentleman, unlike some people, and escorting me there. Although why he invited you is beyond me. With out luck you will have run off with the bride by the nights end. Not to mention you do glower. You have two faces, your glare and your smirk." She said grinning at hime before becoming serious again.

"And your are right, I am a fighter I can handle myself thank-you very much." She added drily, heading for the door on her own. She did not enjoy it when men thought that just because she was a woman that she needed them to protect her and keep her safe. They were going to be a wedding after all, not some back alley.

Shade pouted at her whilst Jackal roared in amusement. Either way they followed her out the door with their own grumbles and chuckles. Jackal offered her an arm after sending a cheeky grin at Shade. They locked eyes and Shade growled, allowing his eyes to brighten a bit in order to spook the boy into looking away again. After all, drunk Shade was a womanizer Shade, and womanizers didn't tend to like any other males.

"So, which place is this wedding at?"

"In the center town. It's quite pretty actually." Jackal answered with a shrug. " I guess they're all goo-goo over it 'cause that's where they first met. Some dick dumped the woman 'n she bawled under the tree. He found her, got her all happy again and they fell in love. At least, that's what I understand."

"...Huh."

Talia laughed at Jackal's cheeky grin as she took his arm. she decided to ignore Shade for now. He was confusing her enough as it was not to mention he was amusing when trying to get attention

"That is a sweet story." Talia said thoughtfully. "Who would have thought someone could find love so soon after a heart break like that. Maybe I should go cry under a tree and see if I can't find myself a man." She joked.

Shade wasn't sure why, but the longer they walked the more a nagging feeling in the back of his skull grew. What was he suppose to do? Why was this unsettled pull keep nagging on his brain? What the hell was so worrisome about that tree? He paused mentally as he pictured it. Long, whispering branches with a thick trunk and wispy leaves. No, he was imagining things. He couldn't remember what it was so it didn't matter.

At least, he'd thought that until they arrived at the wedding, the boring ceremony done with and the dancing and food already going. Eyes traveling around the group until he located the happy couple. The groom beamed at everybody, his handsome face twisting in a cheesy grin as helaughed and nodded at some lame joke. The bride had her back turned to them.

"I think that's them." Shade grunted pointing at the snuggled duo. "Hey Jackal, how'd you kno- Where the hell did the boy go?"

Talia had loved the ceremony, dabbing her moistening eyes a few times with her handkerchief to keep from crying. After the party had gotten started she didn't hesitate to grab a glass of something alcoholic, giving Shade a glare as she did so in case he thought to question her choices.

In all honestly, while she was happy for the newly wedded couple, part of her was irritated that they were younger then her while she was still single. Shade had finally spoken and she looked around the room for the boy.

"He probably went to go play with some boys his age. I believe I saw a few when I entered." She said waving him off. "Just so long as he doesn't take after you and start flirting with the desperate single ladies." She was half joking and half serious, as well as pretending that she wasn't classifying herself as desperate or single.

"Come Shade. We should go congratulate the happy couple before the night gets much further and they disappear." She finished her drink and set it down, tugging Shade as she headed in the direction of the couple.

"Alright, alright" Shade chuckled in amusement as he walked quietly beside her. His lip twitched in amusement at her not so hidden frown at something in her own thoughts. Not that he'd ever ask her what was wrong unless absolutely nessicary. No, that would not end well with her being partially drunk and emotional already. So, he allowed himself tugged on.

"Happy wedding and merry lucks to the happy couple." Shade stated rather loudly as he approached the two from behind. "I'm glad to see such a wonderful couple is-"

His words died on his lips as he stared in shock at the startled bride, their eyes meeting and their mouths dropping in unison as the pointed dumbly at each other. Neither moved for a moment, then two before finally the shock wore off and they just gasped at each other.

"S-Shade?"

"Alexia?!"