Gingy eyed her appearance in the mirror. It had taken some fast talking, a good deal of pleading, and finally a promise, to get her into Tulani's door. Now, in order to actually receive her purchase, she would have to make good on her promise. She'd been given two weeks, but gods knew that negotiations could take FOREVER. Gingy wasn't happy about it, but she would do whatever it took to get her hands on that gorgeous work Tulani had designed.
She had practiced, and practiced, and practiced. She had formulated a response to whatever argument could come up. Uncle Toppa had taught her, that the best way to get what you wanted was to argue without emotion. To bring an attacker down, bit by bit with your sheer will. She would do this, oh yes. She would make this work. She slapped her hairbrush down on her vanity.
Since the argument the other day, her mother had just outright avoided her. Her mother's favorite revenge tactic was ignoring your existence. This was just fine, as Gingy wouldn't get her Tulani original any other way. She knew that her mother found Tulani's existence to be an offense. Not that she knew why, or particularly cared. It was completely ridiculous that she should be cut out of the latest trend over some petty grievance.
Making her way outside, she had an idea of where she could find her target, so she headed in that direction first. Well, if she had to play nice, she would. Unlike her mother, she was willing to lower herself, just to get what she wanted. Besides, it wasn't as if breeding meant anything anymore. Not since Elunara's family came to town. Even the most well to do families were turning to Elunara and her family for just about everything. From family portraits, to frilly dresses.
She could practically feel that soft fabric against her skin, the soft sway of the skirts... she sighed dreamily.
Out of nowhere, arms grabbed her and yanked her into the alleyway. She screamed, but a hand clasped over her mouth. "Hush now, little girl, and I won't kill you... yet." He laughed into her ear. "No, I like em fresh. I've been watching you for awhile. It's always the snotty ones that taste the best when you break them."
Lydia frowned. She knew she heard a scream. Deep in her mind, she knew she needed to find a guard, but what if she was too late? She had to help whoever screamed. Maybe it was just a lost child... No. That was blood curdling. Turning down an alley, she recognized the frilly dress. She did not recognize the dirty arms clinging to the girl. Yanking her staff loose of its holder she growled. "Let her GO!"
"Oh looky, another little one." He pulled a knife out of his pocket. "Go away, girly. I was coming for you another day. The strong ones are always second best to break." He licked his lips.
"Really? You're pathetic." Lydia snorted. "You'll never beat me. I've trained with the best. You're just worthless scum."
"How about I just cut you up right now?" He growled. He shoved Gingy to the ground and lunged at Lydia.
She dodged him and whacked him in the back.
"You little bitch!" He spit, as he lunged again.
"Gravy!" Lydia sighed. "I've seen better in the kid's division!" She cracked him in the head several times before he collapsed. "That wasn't even a work out." Lydia ran her fingers through her hair.
Gingy threw herself at Lydia. "You saved me! Even after I was SO mean to you!" she began to cry.
"Uh, well... what kind of person would I be, if I let him get by with that?" Lydia shrugged. "Come on; help me drag him out of the alley so we can get a guard.
"Yes! Yes, of course! Anything for you!"
Elunara opened the door and blinked.
"Miss Elunara? I have a slight problem."
"You got a little someone stuck to your arm."
"Yeah... I kind of saved her."
"Come on in."
Susan blinked in amazement. "What?"
"So, yeah... I kind of saved her from a maniac in an alley, and now she refuses to let go of my arm."
"Happens to me all the time." Elunara sighed.
"Figured you'd know how to dislodge her."
"You saved me, you saved me!" Gingy wiped her nose on Lydia's sleeve. "Even though I didn't deserve to be saved, you did!"
"Gingy!" Elunara clapped her hands. "There's hero worship, and then there's undignified blabbering. Which one do you fall into?"
Gingy blinked and jerked to attention. "Forgive me." She straightened her dress. Frowning, she began to cry. "HE TORE IT!" Gingy sat in the floor and wailed.
Elunara slapped a hand to her face. "Elune, save me."
Lydia stuck her fingers in her ears. "I liked the blabbering better."
Soon Lulu joined in the wailing.
Tulani opened her door. "What in the WORLD?"
"HE TORE MY DRESS!" Gingy cried.
"Who?"
Lydia sighed. "Some maniac in an alley grabbed her... I knocked him out, and she's been clinging to me ever since, until she noticed her dress."
Tulani sighed. "Come on then, let's repair it."
Gingy scrambled up and ran into Tulani's studio.
"Gods, you'd think that dress was more important than her life." Lydia sighed.
"To girls like her? It is." Elunara shrugged and rocked Lulu. "Come on; tell me the rest of it."
"Not much to tell." Lydia took her staff off and sat down. "I heard a scream, followed it to Gingy. The guy came at me with a knife, but I just smacked him a few times and he clunked over. I've seen better fighting on the kids." She snorted.
"Eh, bastards like that prey on those that can't fight back." Elunara shrugged. "That's my girl, though."
Lydia grinned. "Like you taught me."
"Is... she your daughter?" Susan blinked.
"She might as well be." Elunara snorted.
Lydia blushed and fiddled with her staff. "Miss Elunara fixed my legs. Then she taught me how to run, and now she teaches me how to fight. She's done everything for me."
"You're so kind..." Susan marveled.
"Who is this?" Lydia asked.
"Grogek's girlfriend."
Lydia dropped her staff and stared. "Wha...?"
Susan blushed. "Why does everyone HAVE that reaction?"
"Because his devotion is legendary." Elunara scooped up both Lulu and Tina. "I'll get these two laid down." She made her way up the stairs.
"But you CAN'T!" Lydia blurted. "Grogek belongs to Elunara! You can't just..." She stood up. Grabbing her staff, she ran out of the house.
Elunara came out of the baby's room, looked over the banister, and blinked. "What just happened?" She leapt over the banister. "Watch the babies." She took off after Lydia.
Susan sat there in complete shock.
Grogek blinked and stared down at Lydia, who was currently kicking his leg. "What is the matter with you, little she pup?"
"YOU CAN'T!"
"I can't what?"
"You just CAN'T!" She tried to punch him, but he didn't even flinch. "You belong to Elunara! You can't cheat on her! That's just wrong!"
He sighed and rolled his eyes. "This again?"
Elunara wrapped her arms around Lydia and dragged her off of Grogek. "Listen here, you little twit." She growled. "It's not cheating if I TOLD him to DO it."
"You..." Lydia stared.
"For the love of all things fuzzy, I have two husbands, and a WIFE, how is Grogek exempt from my weirdness?"
"I..."
"Listen to me." Elunara stooped down. "First of all, you're making a nasty scene, over something I told you. You didn't hear it as rumor; you didn't come across it by accident. I freaking told you. I'm not mad, I'm not even upset. In fact, I find it completely adorable and have been HELPING this along. Look at me, do I look betrayed?"
"No..." She said slowly.
"I'm touched, I really am, that you care enough to be offended. But, I'm not. So, you shouldn't be."
