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Kathrin's Specialty Outfitters: part 4

• Quinn Auer http://www.furaffinity.net/user/quinnauer/

Kathrin enjoyed focusing on repairing Sythe's coat. She liked her job, and while there were occasionally modifications to dresses or suits; most of it was making new articles from scratch. She liked doing that quite a lot, but fixing something presented a problem to solve, something that was always a new and different challenge. It also helped with her mood, because she was upset that she hadn't gotten an invitation to the ball. She'd come to terms with the fact it had upset her, and that it was ok for her to be upset by that, and then she had started to calm down and move on from it.

Right now, she was planning what to do instead. With some of her friends off having fun, some alone time wouldn't be a good idea, even if it was an indulgent bit of alone time. She lacked a complete list of who wasn't going though, and couldn't preempt things by inviting them to a conflicting gathering. Clovis had always declined any invitations to social events with her, and would certainly figure something out for herself, so she didn't feel too constrained in leaving her alone. The obvious solution was Trace and Flora. They were too busy with the baby to go visit anyone else and babysitting for them a few times had significantly smoothed over her once slightly rocky relationship with Flora. In fact, the baby was probably why they weren't going to the ball, so visiting them would make for a very nice evening.

By the time she was putting the final few stitches into Sythe's coat, Kathrin had decided she would write to the Legacy's that evening and invite them to meet up, or if they could find a babysitter, then to a dinner together. The first they would almost certainly offer to host themselves since the two of them were, by comparison to her, very wealthy. If they preferred the latter then Trace was too much of a gentleman to let her pay for dinner even if she had invited them. It still felt like she was exploiting them sometimes, when they would just immediately offer to pay for anything, but they'd been insistent enough the last few times that she was getting over it.

Kathrin tied off the last excess of thread, cut it off with her scissors, and looked up at where Zen was standing in front of her. Then did a double take because she'd had no idea he was there. <Zen!> she exclaimed in surprise and excitement as her heart fluttered a little.

<Hay Kat, long time no see.> He said with a wry grin as though he hadn't been standing there watching her for, well, possibly quite a while.

Working as a courier kept Zen on the road most of the time which had strained their relationship somewhat. He still took every moment to be with her that he could though, and in truth, the travel gave him plenty of opportunity. He wouldn't usually go too long without a message to deliver somewhere in the city. If not letters though, the Basitin garrison was nearby and his link to Natani allowed for instant communication to Keith, who as the diplomatic general was in command of the expeditionary force.

<I know, it's been more than a week.> She quipped back while standing up. They both leaned forwards over the table to give each other a quick kiss. <How did you manage to sneak in without me noticing anyway?> She asked as he pulled back.

<Through the front door.> He said with a mischievous grin, pointing at it with his thumb over his shoulder as though Kat didn't know where it was. <Clovis held the bell for me. It was so cute. He had to get the stepladder to reach.>

Kathrin glanced away from him to check that she could still see the door from where she was sitting. She could still see it. It was right in front of her, if at the other end of the store. She deliberately kept the middle of the shop clear so she could see who came in from where she worked. She must have been more wrapped up in her work than she thought. <How long have you been standing there then?>

<Only a few minutes. I would have surprised you, but you looked like you were nearly done.>

Reminded that she hadn't cleared away her work, Kathrin went about folding up Sythe's coat. She had it fully folded before she remembered that Clovis had to reactivate the spells on it before she could give it back, so went and unfolded it again. <Yes, I told Sythe I'd have this done this evening so he wouldn't have to make another trip back here.>

<You wouldn't have known he'd been stabbed.> Zen observed, glancing over it.

Well, part of Zen's job was to collect all the latest rumours and stories going around on Nora's behalf so she shouldn't be too surprised he'd heard about that. <So, what brings you here by way of booking an appointment with me?> She asked, changing the subject and wondering why her boyfriend had bothered to book an appointment with her.

Zen set down a basket he was carrying on the table. Inside it were his fine clothes, the ones Clovis had given him years ago for a mission of some sort. <Well, I was wondering if there was anything you could do to touch these up? They're good, but looking a little old and worn.> He asked, picking up an arm and holding it out for her to inspect. It was of fine construction, she knew that because she'd done a few simple repair tasks on them before, but was also showing a bit too much wear in the ruffles.

She didn't take the clothes as he seemed to be offering to her, instead holding her chin and thinking about it. <Hmmm, yeah there's probably some things I can do to spruce these up. What do you need them for anyway?> She asked, thinking about her time schedule with the masquerade coming up. <Well, actually, when do you need them by? I'm about to have a busy few weeks.>

<Oh for Nora's Masquerade.> He said nonchalantly. <They were good enough the last time I went, so they should do for this one with a bit of tidying up.>

Kathrin let her arms and ears crumple under the weight of gravity as she listened. She'd just finally gotten over that and now Zen? <You're going to the Dragon Masquerade?> She choked up as she spoke as tears began to form in the corners of her eyes.

<Well I hope so.> Zen reached into the basket and pulled out an envelope that was tucked underneath the coat's breast. It seemed to be coated in gold leaf, sparkling with a speckled metallic shine. He showed her the front of the letter, where there were two embossed silver dragons down the sides and between them, in the middle, was her name. <It's going to be really awkward if you take someone else with you.>

Kathrin almost missed the cheek in his voice as he dropped the letter into her hesitant and outstretched arms. She brought it close to read it again, checking if it really did have her name on it. It did. She flipped it over excitedly, but before she could open it the wax seal on the back pulsed with magical energy and broke in half. The top flap opened upwards gently on its own and the letter inside even slid itself outwards an inch so she could better take hold of it. Hesitantly, Kathrin pulled it free from the envelope, which she immediately forgot about and let fall to the table. Opening the letter, she read from the top.

Dear Kathrin,

It is my pleasure and privilege to invite you to attend my upcoming Dragon Masquerade...

Kathrin dropped the letter, grabbed Zen by his lapels, pulled him over the desk and kissed him.

<Oh! Thank you so much Zen!> She panted with exhaustion and exhilaration when they finally let go of each other. <I've spent all day hearing about how everyone else I know seems to be going and regretting that I hadn't been invited.>

<Well don't thank me just yet, I didn't invite you, I left getting it to you until last.> Zen grinned as he stretched and straightened himself out. He was taller than Kathrin, and she had a wide workbench. He'd done most of the stretching over the desk.

<Well you've still made my day.> Kathrin reached out to him again because she wasn't quite done holding him. She wanted to be stroking through his chest fur, but that was under several layers of warm and waterproof clothes. For now she made do with the thick wool jumper he wore under the waterproof cloak.

Zen gave a roguish chuckle to compliment his dangerously handsome grin. That was the one he wore when he'd done something dashing or sentimentally romantic, and Kathrin was starting to suspect he had something else up his sleeve. <If you think that's made your day then you should keep reading that letter.>

That got a raised eyebrow out of Kathrin. She picked the letter back up and gave it another read, from the top again, wondering what else he'd snuck in here.

Dear Kathrin,

It is my pleasure and privilege to invite you to attend my upcoming Dragon Masquerade along with a guest of your choice. If it also so pleases you, I would like to offer you the honour of wearing this year's dragon façade as my guest of honour...

Kathrin dropped the letter, grabbed Zen by his lapels, pulled him over the desk and kissed him again.

<Now that I may have had something to do with.> Zen had to mumble through the kiss because Kathrin wouldn't let him go this time.

That was probably the sign to let him breathe some, but she still held onto him for a while before letting go. Even then, the first thing she did was step around her desk and walk straight into a hug. She held onto Zen tight and nuzzled lovingly under his chin. Ordinarily she'd have jumped into his arms and hug over his shoulder, but she didn't have the space for a run up in the back of her shop. <Thank you Zen. I'm so excited and happy about this, but I'm also just so relieved to be going; I've spent all day finding out that everyone else seemed to have been invited. Nora even invited Clovis and they fight at every opportunity.>

Zen, who had up until now been returning a gentle hug, let go with a surprised exclaim of <Oh!>. Kathrin was forced to let go of him as he pulled his messenger bag off his back and began searching in it. <Where is he right now?> He asked as he finally looked up with another letter in hand that looked just like her own. <I've got another invite for him since, apparently, his one was destroyed before being opened.>

<Just put it in the fireplace with the other one.> Clovis sounded as though she'd been hiding out of sight only two shelves over, and was far from impressed about receiving a second invitation.

Zen swung his head around and caught sight of the golden wolf. <Ahh there you are.> he said, waiving the invite around for her to see. For the most part, Kathrin had shelving that she and Clovis could reach easily, which meant they were never much more than eye height. Being several hands taller than either of them, Zen could presumably see over the top of whatever one Clovis was hiding behind.

That or he'd also spotted her tail flicking about in irritation out the side of the display. <Nora mentioned you'd ignored her invitations before, but her exact words were: "I want Clovis to actually turn up this time." So I am going to insist.>

Kathrin went through the mental list of all the things she could bribe Clovis with before Nora went and used a stick. It was a decently sized list, though her old standby of a few days as a man wasn't going to be quite as effective right now. She had gotten as far as considering the holiday Clovis had suggested a few months back, but then she had a flash of realisation as she connected two dots. <Wait, you lied to me Clovis!> She tried to sound surprised by the accusation, but didn't do a very good job of it. <You told Sythe and me that your invite didn't include a guest, but you didn't even open it!>

The half fox let out a long sigh of defeat and hesitated for several seconds before responding. <Scarlet made me swear to keep your invitation a secret. That was the best I could think of once you figured out I'd gotten one.> She sounded dejected at being caught, she certainly wasn't upset about lying.

Kat meanwhile bubbled over with joy. <Awww Clovis. You lied for good!> She almost let out a short squeak of excitement because Clovis could easily have said something mean instead. A year ago she probably would have, but instead she'd kept Zen's surprise.

<Thank you, I'm very good at it.> She responded dryly.

Kathrin went back to that list of bribes and skipped straight to the end of it. <You're going.> She responded using the calm yet insistent voice she'd learnt for days where she needed to put her foot down with Clovis. <And you're taking Brutus with you.>

Clovis stuck her very irritated face around the side of the shelves so the two of them could see exactly how she felt about the matter. With an almost growling voice of disgust she challenged that assertion. <Make me.>

Kathrin wasn't going to make Clovis go, she'd learnt long ago that didn't work. If pushed she would simply dig her feet in harder as a matter of pride. You didn't push Clovis, you pulled her along with the right payment. Because for whatever you wanted from her, there was a price she'd do it for, and Kathrin had spent the last year learning exactly what that price was for just about anything. <I'll let you skip your fall heat as a man if you go.>

Clovis disappeared back around the corner before Kathrin could see the look of anguish on her face. It was fine though, she knew how much she'd bid and her apprentice wasn't going to walk away from it. She was going to grip her hair in frustration (Kathrin could see her elbows over the top of the shelves) and stifle a scream of anguish through clenched teeth, but she was also going to take the deal. <Fine!> She yelled back finally after a good minute of deliberation. <But only if I get to go as a man!>

<We'll measure you and Brutus for suits tomorrow afternoon.> Kathrin said back with a happy smile. She tried not to celebrate another victory over Clovis' grumpiness too hard, but it was a victory. And it was also another big chip taken out of the harsh and prickly exterior she presented to everyone around her, not to mention the good it would do to have her go and be sociable where Raine and Sythe and everyone else that would be there could see.

For now though Clovis chose to skulk off to the front of the shop where she was as far from Zen and Kathrin as possible, mumbling and grumbling to herself.

Zen politely waited for her to be out of earshot before he observed. <But it's Nora's party. He won't make it through the front door as a man.> He held out a paw palm side up in bemusement.

She wagged her finger at him in response and whispered back. <Don't undermine the moment. I'll figure out the details tomorrow, but for now the important thing is that she agreed to go at all.>

<Oh Nora thought of that.> Zen said nonchalantly while setting Clovis' invitation down on the table. He went back into his back and quickly found another invite that he presented for her to see. It was addressed to Brutus. <Made in anticipation of Clovis refusing again.>

<Ohh!> Kathrin clutched her chest in surprise. Even she'd never been so manipulative as to go through Brutus to get Clovis to do something. <That is so devious of her. Clovis wouldn't say no to Brutus once you'd gotten him all excited for the masquerade.>

Zen chuckled lightly, wagging his eyebrows. He had more than something to do with that idea, Kathrin was sure of it, but didn't get the feeling he was going to tell. Probably because he could neither deny all involvement or claim sole credit. <So should I leave this with you as a contingency?>

Kat put a paw to her chin and thought about that. <No probably best not, Brutus would tell her I gave it to him and then I'm implicated as well. Nora can take the rap for this one.>

That got a sensible chuckle out of Zen. <Ohh don't worry.> He said as he put the envelope back away in his bag. <I'll be getting blamed for it as well.>

Kathrin had run out of things to say on the matter, so leaned into Zen and went back to hugging him gently. <So.> She asked after a minute of soft contemplation. <What can I do for you today?>

Zen grinned back down at her while he held his leather coat open as a gesture to his attire. <Well, you could help me get out of my work clothes for a start.> He had a weatherproofed black cloak with hood that was currently hanging down his back out of the way, but underneath that he wore a sturdy (and armoured) leather jacket and a rugged pair of pants, with warm undergarments under both.

Kathrin looked up at him and cocked both an eyebrow and a grin. She'd made most of what he was wearing and it had been designed so he wouldn't need help getting in and out of it.

<I probably need more help getting into the fancy stuff though.> He relented when she refused to take his teasing bait, and finished his point.

<Hmmmm, yes.> She made a mock pose of holding her hand to her chin and thinking very hard. <I probably should go over you again with it on to check if I need to make any alterations.>

<Well, there's that.> He said, and Kathrin knew he was up to something immediately because he had that smug grin on his face again. <But they're also my best clothes, and Ophelia's won't let me walk in wearing my travel clothes, or naked.>

Kathrin recoiled backwards in both surprise and excitement. Ophelia's was the best seafood restaurant in the city, and while they had made a roaring trade from the new influx of middle classed Keidran they had also maintained their dress standards. <You managed to get us a table at Ophelia's?>

Zen was still grinning. <A balcony table with a sea view at Ophelia's.>

That frankly turned Kathrin's surprise into more genuine confusion. <But how?> She asked incredulously. <The last time I tried to book there, they didn't have anything at all for a week.>

<Well you see.> Zen explained slowly, drawing it out. <The waiter that was at the front door earlier was very, very nice. To Raine.> His grin didn't waiver until the very last moment.

Kathrin chuckled as he finally admitted his secrets. She stood up on her toes and gave his muzzle a lick. <Gave her a recommendation did we?>

Zen gave her an innocent look and a shrug. <Well it is the best place to eat if you ask me, and she did. It's nice having friends in high places sometimes.> Kathrin interrupted him with another kiss. <She booked both of the tables on the balcony by the way, but I don't think Red wants to make it a double date.>

<That's fine, I'll just keep you all to myself then.> Red would probably appreciate the privacy and she didn't mind that. She wondered if Zen had even noticed he was currently a woman, but then even if he had, he wouldn't have said anything. Zen had more experience than any of them in knowing people whose gender didn't match their body.

Kathrin turned back towards the clothes in the basket, wondering if there was anything she could do with them tonight before they needed to leave. <So when do we need to leave? I think there's some work I should do on these, though they'll probably be fine for tonight.> At the very least there was some stitchwork she could do with touching up, and the frilled lace cuffs were going to need removing: they were out of fashion and showing a bit too much wear. It would still be very helpful to go over it with Zen wearing it though, she'd be able to spot anything that needed altering immediately.

<Soon actually, we're booked for 5:30.> Zen said, glancing around to try and find where Kathrin kept her clock. <Raine didn't want to stay in town late so they could get back before dark.>

Kathrin took a few steps to look around the corner into the back room where she had a magic powered clock hanging high up on a wall. It was something Clovis had made for them early on to save a few drakes and while it functioned perfectly, it had been made from whatever they had laying around at the time and wasn't presentable enough to keep in the main shop. It was showing 4:45.

<Ohh, I need to get dressed then.> She exclaimed, putting aside any notion of inspecting Zen's clothes. Ophelia's was a good quarter of an hour's walk away at least so they needed to get going soon. <And you need to get changed. And I need to close up the shop!> Kathrin picked up the basket of clothes with the intention of shuffling Zen into the back room to get changed while she closed up, but then right behind it was Sythe's coat. She'd only been working on it a few minutes ago and now she'd forgotten all about it. <Ohh, and Sythe's going to be back later this evening to pick up his coat! I told him I'd be around all evening.>

She couldn't let Sythe down like that when he had stayed in town waiting for her, but she also couldn't let Zen down when he'd gotten them a table at their favourite restaurant. There was one obvious solution to the problem of course, and probably only the one. It just came with a price. <Clovis....> She raised her voice for her apprentice to hear from wherever she may still be sulking at the front of the shop.

<What's that you said?> Clovis replied, immediately, and much more cheerfully than she had been earlier. <I can have tomorrow afternoon off as soon as Brutus gets in?>

Kathrin let out a quiet sigh. Clovis could probably have pushed her for more and surely had to know. <Yes Clovis, after we've fitted the two of you for suits.> That would give her an opportunity to bring up the masquerade tomorrow and, well, bring up the issue that Nora probably wasn't going to let her attend as a man.

Zen seemed unimpressed though. <Sometimes you let him get away with far too much.> he whispered to her quietly.

Kathrin jabbed him in the chest with her finger hard enough to elicit a less than earnest 'ow' from Zen. <I'm not letting Clovis get away with anything.> She insisted quietly, but firmly. Because she wasn't going to let any notions like that gain traction. <I'm giving her agency when she does nice things for people.> Punish bad behaviour, reward good behaviour. It was simple, and Clovis knew exactly what she was doing, but it was also working no matter how much fuss she kicked up. Or in this case, very little fuss. Kathrin actually wondered if Clovis had lowballed her offer because she knew how busy they were going to be soon and was being nice?

<Huh, I didn't think of it like that.> Zen said while Kathrin began dragging him to the back room. As usual, Zen didn't have anything like the urgency for getting out of the door that she did. <And Clovis thought he could manipulate people.>

<Luckily for both of you, I only use my powers for good.> She was understating how difficult it had been to learn though, she'd spent a year figuring out how to slowly prod, poke and bait Clovis into being a better person.

<So who else is going to the masquerade?> Kathrin asked before Zen could reply. She'd spent almost all day trying not to think about the masquerade, but now she was going she was curious about it. Her boyfriend meanwhile probably delivered half the invitations and would know most of the rest of them, so she was going to poke every detail out of him that she could.

<Ohh everyone's going I think, Nora's using it as an excuse for a big reunion.> Zen perked up at the change of topic and, now that he was distracted, actually started to move from her pulling him along by his hand.

<Ohh that sounds lovely!> Kat's tail wagged about happily as she thought of all the friends she hadn't seen in so long. Running her shop had been a dream come true, but it also kept her from travelling. Eric had visited, as well as Mike when he could. Zen of course visited often and Raine and Sythe were semi-regular customers, but she hadn't seen Natani and Keith in months. She hadn't seen Nora in a year either somehow, despite the fact that Trace and Flora lived... <Hang on,> she said without stopping in her quest to drag Zen off to get him changed. <Raine told me that Trace and Flora weren't going?>

<Ohh they're going, they just don't know it yet.> Zen said with a huge grin across his face. <But I know better than to interrupt Nora when she's up to something.>

Kathrin's Specialty Outfitters: part 5

The Masquerade became a big reunion amongst friends, besides its usual function as a diplomatic gathering, and a fantastic party all round.

Having been tipped off about the Masquerade, and expecting Nora to pull something, Trace and Flora had been preparing to attend. However, Nora managed to feed them the wrong starting time and they arrived unexpectedly while still in the middle of getting dressed.

Clovis agreed to go on the condition that Kathrin make her a suit in the same style as Raine's. She also wore chest wrappings because Zen was correct and she barely made it through the front door as a man. She then guilted Nora with all of Kathrin's hard work into not making her change into a dress. She almost got away without anyone noticing until Nora introduced her during the address as Princess Clovis. Both of them considered the evening a draw, leaving their score at 11-3 in Nora's favour with 2 draws.

Zen reminded everyone that he had two left feet and couldn't dance to save his life. Natani made sure everyone knew his leg injury had nothing to do with it. Kathrin didn't mind at all.

Brutus stole the show by out dancing everyone else at the masquerade. For the end of the couple's dance he tossed Clovis clear over his head and caught him again all in the middle of a spin. Then they kissed while everyone was watching.

Scarlet spent half the evening being hit on by single men, mostly wolves. Raine's plan worked though, and no one ever again spread rumours that he was the secret mastermind behind the templar.

Raine's suit and coat was the talk of the evening and started a new fashion trend as Clovis had predicted. It helped to bridge the gap between the two species, exactly as she had hoped. It also drew the attention of the tiger tribes with several matriarchs choosing to emulate the style themselves. Many of them went straight to the source and ordered from Kathrin, who managed to tip Raine off about its popularity. Her coat ended up seeing far more use than the single outing she had envisioned when ordering it.

Sythe evidently made up with the wolf who had previously dueled with him. They were found telling tall tales to each other toward the end of the evening while thoroughly drunk, though no one could say they'd seen the moment of reconciliation. Privately, neither of them remembered it either, but were too embarrassed to admit as such when everyone thought they'd made peace.

Kathrin's reveal as the guest of honour and wearer of the dragon façade was every bit the bombshell Nora had hoped it would be. She proved to be both a symbol of the evils of slavery, and also the new way of the Human Empire. She could speak with authority about the evils of slavery, and the new world of emancipation in which she had been able to make a new life for herself. She helped bridge a gap between the long separated Keidran and Human worlds as someone that was not quite of either world, but a little of all. When she wasn't talking about her freedom, she was talking about her business, and how half the VIP's in the room were wearing something she had made. She made for herself a stunning and detailed purple dress to match the dragon façade; it shone and sparkled, and when the light hit it just right would even change hue to show all the colours of the rainbow. It grabbed as much attention as her mask and did wonders for her business.

Nibbly managed to sneak into the masquerade without anyone noticing, especially Nora. She snacked on the buffet table, got drunk off the punch and didn't kill anyone.