[color=a0410d][i][h1]Onyx Bright[/h1][/i][/color][hr]
Onyx was [i]just[/i] about to walk through the city gate, when a woman’s voice caught her attention. Kirara watched the Courier carefully as she handed Onyx a letter and then turned to leave just as quickly as she’d appeared. As soon as Onyx saw the seal on the envelope, she groaned. She almost tried to call the Courier woman back to tell her to give the letter back to the woman who had sent it. She wanted [i]nothing[/i] to do with [i]anything[/i] that woman wanted.

The two shared an almost pained look as Onyx opened the letter. [i][color=a0410d]So what’s keeping us away from home now?[/color][/i] She pursed her lips as she read, wanting to throw the letter on the ground as soon as she was done. A small part of her almost did. Another part wanted to chase down the Courier woman and claim that the letter wasn’t for her. The queen hadn’t bothered to write her name on it, after all. 

color=f9ad81]"What does it say Big Sister?"[/color] Kirara sat, looking up at Onyx as he watched her emotions play across her face. Onyx sighed, and pulled the “plus one” invite out of its pouch, handing it to Kirara as she spoke. [color=a0410d]"Well, it starts out with ‘Hello Healer’ and ends with the both of us being invited to the queen’s ball tomorrow. That’s for you."[/color] Kirara took the piece of paper from her, putting it on the ground in front of him so he could see it. He couldn’t read very well yet- Onyx had been trying to teach him for almost a year now and well…

He’s a Scelt. Can you really blame him for not wanting to sit still long enough to read through a poem? Still though, he recognized a few of the letters and decided that was good enough. He put a paw over the scrap as he looked back up at Onyx, head tilted to the side as he spoke. [color=f9ad81]"So, are we still going home right now?"[/color] Before she could really respond he stood up and began wagging his tail. Guess he could sense her whole attitude about that or something. [color=f9ad81]"A Party should be fun! We can sing, or you can anyway, and we’ll dance together. It’ll be great!"[/color]

Onyx smiled, only slightly sarcastically. [color=a0410d]"Oh yeah, Dancing and Singing in public. Don’t really get to do that every day."[/color] Kirara’s tail stopped wagging and he tilted his head at her, and now her smile was genuine. [color=a0410d]"Okay, I’m kidding. But it could be fun, if that’s all we need to do. Are you done with your invite now?"[/color] She knelt to pick the paper up, putting it back in the little pouch it came from as she did. Kirara began to dance around her in circles, his tail wagging as he grabbed the hem of Onyx’s dress and began to spin her until she was facing the city once again.

[color=a0410d]"Woah, what? What are we doing now Little Brother?"[/color] Onyx looked at him in confusion before he began to walk back the way they’d just come. [color=f9ad81]"We can’t go home until we can."[/color] Onyx began following the Scelt, not understanding what he meant at all. [color=a0410d]"But… We could go home right now? We don’t need to do anything else here- we can just come back tomorrow for the ball."[/color]

Kirara paused, looking back at her as she caught up to him. [color=f9ad81]"Are you sure?"[/color] [color=a0410d]"Yeah."[/color] [color=f9ad81]"Really? What about-"[/color] [color=a0410d]"Hey look, a squirrel!"[/color] Kirara’s ears perked all the way up as his eyes scanned the area wildly. Onyx smiled to herself as she watched. She kind of hated this little trick, distracting Kirara like that, but it was one of the only ways to get her way in an argument. Kirara froze as he spotted what he [i]thought[/i] was his quarry. Oonyx narrowed her eyes at this however, because obviously, there wouldn’t be any squirrels in the city, right?

And then he took off running. Onyx watched, stunned for a moment at his sudden departure, before realizing he was actually chasing something. [color=a0410d]"Oh. Shoot."[/color] And with that she took off after him. She followed the little grey fluffball through the crowd, almost all the way back to the inn from before. When she finally caught up to him again, sure enough, he had a squirrel pinned down against the cobblestones. [color=a0410d]"Wow. Didn’t think there was actually a squirrel there."[/color]

Kirara let the poor creature go as Onyx spoke. [color=f9ad81]"What do you mean? You saw it first!"[/color] He bowed playfully, yipping at Onyx as she sighed at him. Glancing around, she noted were they were and shook her head. They were right back where they started. [i]Great[/i]. She reached up to brush her hair out of her face, but paused halfway through and began to visibly panic. Kirara stood back up normally and tilted his head at her. [color=f9ad81]"What’s wrong Big Sister?"[/color]

[color=a0410d]"The letter! While I was following you- I-"[/color] She began to look around at the ground around them, sighing in relief as she spotted the envelope sitting on the cobblestone not too far away. She went to pick up the paper, brushing it off as she did and checking it to make sure it was okay. The golden wax that had been the seal caught the sunlight and glimmered as she did this- like she was holding a little fairy in her hands.

As she held the envelope, the tailor of the nosey needle did what she did best. She became nosey. She had seen the letter hit the ground and seeing the very well known golden glimmer she poked her head out of the door. Her head tilted as she watched Onyx for a moment and then she spoke up. [b]”Hey.”[/b] She gestured for Onyx to go to her, because talking about anything involving the queen too loudly was not the best idea.

Onyx looked up at the woman, walking over as she was beckoned. [color=a0410d]"Hello..? Did you need me for something?"[/color] Kirara followed Onyx, staying silent for now. For all either of them knew, this could be a Healer thing- people aren’t usually very vocal about needing help when they need it. 

The tailor rolled her eyes and as soon as Onyx was close enough she plucked the letter from her hands and scanned just the last sentence. She gave a nod then handed it back and put her hands on her hips. [b]”Looks like you're in luck. I just happen to be the best tailor here. Now… In you go!”[/b] She opened the door to the shop and clearly she was not taking no for an answer.

[color=a0410d]"Uhh, okay?"[/color] Onyx shrugged and walked through the door. The letter had said something about getting a new formal outfit… but [color=a0410d]"I don’t really need a new dress, miss."[/color] She paused and turned to face the woman, an apologetic look on her face. [color=a0410d]"I had a dress at home in mind."[/color]

The woman simply looked at Onyx as she slowly crossed her arms. [b]”Hon...you may [i]think[/i] you do not need a new dress, but I can tell you, you are going to need a new dress.”[/b] She shook her head and then gently pushed Onyx into a chair that sat across the table from where the sketching supplies were. The 4 foot tall woman made her way to that side and appeared to be sitting on a rather tall stool as she was now at eye level. [b]”Now...tell me about this dress you have in mind”[/b] Apparently she is completely ignoring the implied no from Onyx. 

Onyx sat, not really sure whether she should try to leave or not just yet. As the Tailor took her seat, Onyx sighed. May as well humor her. [color=a0410d]"Well.. It’s black, and blue.. The skirt flares out kind of like… hmm."[/color] She shook her head as Kirara hopped up on the chair next to Onyx, putting his head on her lap as she spoke. [color=a0410d]"It, would be a lot easier to draw it for you."[/color]

The tailor clasped her hands together and rested her chin upon the tops of them. Icy blue eyes studying the woman in front of her with amusement. She stayed quiet and at the statement of drawing being easier, lightly pushed the sketch pad over along with a pencil. She gestured at it. [b]”Be my guest. Though I will recommend velvet to be somewhere on it. Being that you are going to the castle… it will be cold.”[/b] 

[color=a0410d]"Cold? It’s the middle of summer.."[/color] Onyx took the pencil and within 5 minutes had a rough sketch of the dress she’d been thinking of. Though, as she drew it began to morph away from the reality of the little blue-and-black thing that hung in her closet, and ten minutes later she handed the sketchpad back to the Tailor. It was strange but, the more time she spent actually thinking about this, the more she wanted to see the vision in her mind come to life.[hider= The sketch should look something like this: ][img]https://pre00.deviantart.net/ecf4/th/pre/i/2015/207/5/9/design_adopt_7_closed_by_mentaldysfunction-d92h39r.jpg[/img]

[Hider= And the Cape is this: ]
[img]https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a2/00/14/a20014d33a8d8443cca6de1f28a161bc.jpg[/img][/hider][/hider]
[color=a0410d]"That, should work with velvet, right?"[/color] She Waited a second and then pulled the sketchpad back, adding another thing. [color=a0410d]"and, a two-layer cape. With the under layer as dark blue velvet and then the top would have little stars? Like the night sky?"[/color] She put the pencil down now, having to force herself not to draw anymore.

The tailor simply nodded and then became entirely focused on the sketch appearing on the pad. Blue eyes following each line as she clearly thought of how to make the image come to life. [b]”Yes that certainly would.”[/b] She chuckled as the sketch pad was taken back and a large happy smile appeared on her face at the idea of a two layer cape. She nodded. [b]”My dear, I would [i]love[/i] to make that for you.”[/b] She lightly pulled the sketch pad to her and began writing notes on the side and putting faint lines to label certain areas. Once satisfied she hopped off the stool and went to stand next to Onyx. She paused before placing a hand on her own forehead. [b]”My apologies I completely forgot to introduce myself. My name is Deja. Now...let's get you measured and I will have that dress ready for you before the event.”[/b] She beamed. [b]”It's what I am known for after all!”[/b]

Onyx smiled back at Deja before standing as well. [color=a0410d]"Alright. I’m Onyx, and this is Kirara, by the way."[/color] As Onyx stood Kirara stayed lying on the chair, head resting on his paws, just watching the two women now. [color=f9ad81]"Hello Deja-person."[/color] He was quiet, knowing that it wasn’t really any help for him to be loud or hyper right now. Onyx glanced down at him for a second, and even though she knew he was fine, seeing him calm like this always ended up making her think he was sad. 

[color=a0410d]"Could.. Could you make something for him too? Like, a bow that matches the dress?"[/color] Onyx’s eyes lit up as she said that, realizing what a cool idea it was. [color=a0410d]"Actually, yeah! A big bow we could tie around his neck, with the same velvet and glittery-star pattern?"[/color] She paused, a bright smile on her face as Kirara’s ears perked up. He didn’t get to dress up very often. 

[color=a0410d]"Of course, he wouldn’t really need the velvet with all that fur. Maybe just the transparent starry-night like the cape has?"[/color] Kirara tilted his head at her while still resting it on his paws, tail wagging slightly as Onyx looked back at Deja, both of them wondering what the tailor thought. 

Deja happily lead Onyx to the pedestal and then tilted her head as Onyx spoke about another idea. She lit up and nodded her head. [b]”Oh yes I can for sure do that.”[/b] She then waved for the scelt to join Onyx. [b]”That means you get to be measured as well little brother”[/b] She beamed at both of them before moving and grabbing the step stool that had been tucked away. In a smooth movement she placed it just behind her and unrolled a rather long tape measurer. [b]”Try not to move too much Onyx”[/b] Then she got to it, she moved quickly, occasionally moving her arms and nodding as she seemed to store the numbers in her head. 

Once she was done with measuring Onyx she quickly moved to the table with the sketch pad and wrote down a series of numbers with notes and then moved back and kneeled in front of the scelt. [b]”Chin up and stay still little brother”[/b] quickly the tape measurer went around his neck and she took in the numbers. She smiled and took it away before straightening and moving doing the same thing of writing in measurements and notes on a separate page. Once fully finished she moved walked back and moved the step ladder out of the way. [b]”Alright all done with that bit. I will have this done for you in time that I can promise. Now you can go exploring and such, but some advice….I would not recommend going too far until after the event”[/b] She gave another smile then went back and sat on her stool.   

Onyx held as still as she could as Deja went about her measuring, watching curiously as the woman didn't bother to write down any of the numbers until they had all been found. Kirara also tried to sit still, but as the Tailor wrapped the tape measure around his neck, he couldn't help but squirm a bit. Onyx smiled as she saw this, and reached down to pat Kirara on the head as Deja went to write down his numbers.

[color=a0410d]"What do you mean exactly by “going too far”? I thought the ball wasn't until tomorrow."[/color] Kirara’s head shook in a small sneeze before he spoke up. [color=f9ad81]"We were going to go home and come back tomorrow. And I have a squirrel out there somewhere that needs to be tracked down again."[/color] Kirara tilted his head at Onyx as she looked back at him quizzically. [color=f9ad81]"What? You’re the one who let him get away Big Sister."[/color] Onyx just sighed, shaking her head as Kirara began to wag his tail. 

Deja continued to write notes as Onyx spoke. She then paused and lightly put down her pencil and looked at her, blue eyes exposing nothing. [b]”Because the queen hates people being late. If your home is not too far and you are confident in your travels… then sure, but I would not recommend leaving.”[/b] She wrote a few more things before pausing again. [b]”Be careful.”[/b] With that she gathered up her supplies and flashed Onyx a small smile before retreating up the flight of stairs where her voice mixed with a few others. Clearly, she did not work alone. 

Onyx sighed to herself as Deja left, listening for a moment to the chorus of voices that popped up soon after. So Deja was just the queen-bee in this. Onyx smiled to herself at the thought. It’s a good thing the woman didn’t have to work alone.

Motioning for Kirara to follow, Onyx left the store. She wasn’t sure just yet about whether or not she would try to go home and just come back for the ball tomorrow, or if she and Kirara should just go get a room at an Inn somewhere. There were downsides to both options it seemed. After a minute of walking, her stomach growled at her and she sighed, looking down at Kirara as she spoke. [color=a0410d]"We should get some food now, for sure. After dinner I’ll decide whether we go home or not."[/color] Kirara wagged his tail and yipped at her in agreement. With that the two started making their way back to the Drunken Unicorn.