One hand washes the other. (Keara Aithne)

[Alexandrea]

Alexandrea pulled out the black and blood red velvet top hat, it had a cameo of a skull pinned to the black silk scarf that decorated the rim and black lace inside that could be tucked up inside or worn puled down over the face. She placed it in front of Keara as she thought about how to explain her reply.

"The gloves, I did not make in the beginning, no... I embroidered them with the webs, and added the rings is all. I have made some pairs of gloves but it was not time or cost efficient to do so. Besides, I enjoy adding the decorations more that making the clothing. I can and sometimes do still, at least when it is a custom job but when you would rather be painting, why waste time making the canvas before you start to create the art?"

The Elder handed back the gloves and Alexandrea added them to the pile she was setting aside of items she planned to let Keara take with her when she left that night.

As she waited for the other vampiress to inspect the hat, Alex nodded thoughtfully at the idea of testing herself with this new found talent of animal friendship.

"Well, that is food for thought. Can't think of what kind of ways I could test my limits off the top of my head but I will consider the options and do exactly that."

Alex smiled at Keara with gratitude, the idea of testing her skills really had not dawned on her and she now started to picture scenarios of such encounters as trying to give a bear hug to a real bear or giving a mountain lion a belly rub.

"I'm not really worried about getting hurt but the results might be amusing if I fail and it would be nice to have a witness if I succeed. Would you have any interest in observing my experiments?"

[Keara Aithne]

Once more she took what was offered to her and looked it over. The workmanship was good, the colours complimentary, the design interesting and oddly fitting for what it was. She tried to imagine where she could place something like this in her shop, and as she did so, she could almost imagine a range of them, all slightly different in colour and design from the last.

Alex phrased her explanation perfectly. Keara understood exactly what she meant as she certainly wouldn't have wasted so much time to mix the paints in the past had she been able to buy the variety of colours available on the market today. Though still, every true artist knew you had to mix colours at times regardless, else you wouldn't be able to achieve the perfect finish. Not that Alex had spoken of paints exactly, she had spoken of the canvas but the idea was similar.

"While appreciate the offer I do." She reacted first to the idea of following Alex's experiment. "Fear that my presence counterproductive would be, as different animals to me differently do react and most my presence will not tolerate. Interested though I would be for the results to know...if be so kind you would for that to share."

She turned the hat over in her hands once more, taking a look at it from every angle before running her fingertips along the brim. Velvet was almost fun to feel, at least she thought it was and the corner of her mouth crinkled ever so slightly in amusement.

"Like this I do. Think you a range of these could produce. Much like the gloves. Different colours. Designs. Similar concept though. Think perhaps I do that understand you do what looking for I am."

[Alexandrea]

"Sure, Keara. I'd be happy to let you know how it goes. Maybe I'll ask someone to record my attempts and make a video. I have a friend who video blogs. But I wouldn't ask him, he's a human and even if he was in a tree, I'd be worried for his safety. He might loan me his camera though..."

Alexandrea's voice and thoughts drifted off as she watched the elder clearly pleased with the hat. Her grin grew to epic proportions when the woman said she liked the work and asked about Alex's making more of them in various styles. Nothing could be so flattering to her as the Elder's appreciation of her work. If someone who had lived for hundreds of years liked your style? You had to be doing something right. Right?

Maybe she had that backwards somehow... but Keara's unique and modern Gothic style was a very popular fashion choice these days. She obliviously had good taste. At least Alexandrea thought so.

"I'm already one step ahead of you!" Alex said with a chuckle and then pulled some boxes from behind the counter. They were not all top hats nor were they all velvet. But some of them were very close to the hat that the other vampiress still held.

"We're still working on the shop and Odin plans to help me finish it soon. All of these and more will be hanging on hooks all over the shop, once time permits. And it's not just hats I am experimenting with. Please would tell me, Keara? What do you think of some of these shoes?"

Alexandrea had stepped over to the corner that the shoe rack stood in and waved the Elder over. The rack was about eight feet long and five feet high. And it was loaded with sandals, boots, high heels and sneakers. Some looked more like the Gothic style Keara wanted than others but there was a large selection to look over.

"There's one more pair of men's sandals I have almost done..." Alex went back to her work bench and retrieved the pair with the blood red soles with black, red and gold tops, one of with already had the finishing touch of a Celtic cross embroidered onto it's top.

[Keara Aithne]

Keara listened and nodded as Alex spoke of having someone film her exploits. It was a sound idea and if she had another vampire with her they could compare the reaction the same animal had to them both. Keara wasn't all that keen on cameras herself but they were a necessary evil it seemed in this day and age.

When Alex began to produce boxes of items from behind the counter, the corner of Keara's lip curled slightly as she was impressed by how organised the young woman was. It seemed coming to Alexandrea had been a very good idea indeed and since she hadn’t expected for her to have anything ready for her, the fact that she already had some perfect pieces made it seem as if Nox herself had a hand in bringing them together.

It wasn't long before her attention was commanded elsewhere and she followed to take a better look at the shoes Alex had displayed. Keara wasn't sure but it seemed to her that perhaps shoes were where Alex's true passion lay; an assumption she made as the female had been busy with a pair of shoes when she came in and now she wanted her general opinion on the shoes she had available, as opposed to just picking out one pair for Keara to appraise.

"Think I do that you quite talented are," she began as she was offered the sandals. "And...hmm...while like I do the design, suit my customers these perhaps would not. Small selection of footwear we have. Mainly boots. These a little too...open are...perhaps." Even as she was saying that she was running her hands over the stitching, as Alex did fine work, of that there was no doubt. "Wondering I am if select some samples I should for you tomorrow to see. For here in your shop to sell. Perhaps more varied a selection for you I could make in week or so, as right now colour palette limited is in what I most often make."

[Alexandrea]

The compliment from the elder made Alexandrea beam. With a huge grin on her face she chuckled and would have blushed if it was possible. "Thank you, Keara. I appreciate you saying so. It's so nice when people appreciate my art."

Nodding as the woman explained how the sandals wouldn't the right type of thing for her own store, Alex still kept grinning for even as Keara was turning down the shoes, her hands were still exploring Alex's workmanship. And for some reason that was even more flattering than being told that the elder felt Alex was talented.

"Yes, I'd like that." She replied to Keara's offer of bring by some things for Alexandrea to put up in Quartermaine Custom Creations. "Or I could just come by, if you like? I would like to see your shop. And who knows? I might even buy myself something."

"I'm so glad you thought of this opportunity for us, Keara. I think it will be good for both of our businesses and I must admit getting to know you better is an added bonus."

[Keara Aithne]

Keara nodded and gave Alexandrea her quirky half smile. "Quite happy I would be for you the shop to visit, though work in progress it still is. Much have I still to learn in business. This day and age a little different is to one that I knew for such things. Many, many forms filled in must be. Thankful I am for people such as advisers and accountants, else quite lost I would be."

She wasn't ashamed to admit that she needed help with such things, as most likely a lot of new businesses needed support from somewhere. The only difficult part for Keara had been booking appointments late enough in the day that she could attend, as she had to wait for the sun's rays to have dissipated before she even awoke.

"Thank you for your time Alexandrea. Glad I am that I by did come. Most interesting it has been to see what capable of you are. Think I do that beneficial for us both this shall be."

She gave another polite nod and pulled her hands back to wrap them about herself. This was more a gesture of restraint than of comfort, at least when Keara did it, as there were so many tactile sensations to be had in the shop that she could have let her hands explore for hours. Readying herself to leave, she stepped towards the door.

[Alexandrea]

She laughed and nodded in agreement. "I understand what you mean, paperwork can be such a drag. This isn't the first time I have had my own business but it's the first time I was really in charge of making sure all on my own that all the i's are dotted and that all the t's get crossed."

The first time Alexandrea had had her own company, her late husband had seen to the details. It had just been a hobby for her, something to keep the much younger woman occupied and out of his thinning hair.

"Thank goodness for having good help. I am very happy with my staff. They all do such good jobs and allow me to do what I do best, create beautiful things."

It soon became apparent that the Elder was ready to leave, so Alexandrea finished packing up the items that Keara had liked and held the bags out to the woman. "If you prefer, I can have these delivered to you? Just write down the address before you leave."

Alex was sorry to see Keara go, she found she really enjoyed the Elder's company. But their business was concluded and the other woman was certain to have many other things to do, having a business and a rather large (Compared to the Quartermaines) family to run.

[Keara Aithne]

"Oh yes. My address...E-mail that to you I shall."

Keara wasn't entirely sure she knew the address by heart yet, so being able to go home and check it was definitely the best idea.

"That my next task is. For capable staff to find. Mind I do not those that there are. But sure I am that I changes shall have to make. Think on that first I shall though. And with my family speak. Thank you again for your time. See you soon I likely shall."

With that she moved to the door and took her leave. With a new zest for the challenge of tackling her new business, she decided that her time would probably best spent visiting the store so that she could look things over once more and decide how much space she could realistically set aside for Alexandrea's stuff.

[Alexandrea]

"That sounds just fine, I'll be keeping an eye out for your message." Alexandrea said with a nod, and put down the packages. She would have Nimmy take them over later. Everyone liked Nimrod, he was as sweet and as harmless as they came.

"And if you let me know what sort of staff opening you still have available, I can send anyone fitting that I come across your way. I look forward to seeing you again soon, Keara."

With that, the Elder was gone, and Alex felt a bit let down. The other woman had an odd manner of speaking but for some reason, despite all the differences between the two on the surface? Alexandrea felt as if somehow the two were almost kindred spirits. She hoped to have more opportunities to get to know the Elder better.

With a small smile at the turn of events, Alex got busy clearing off a clothing rack and a few shelves for new stock that would be soon to come and then got back to her work table to finish the sandals she had started before her unexpected but very welcome visitor had arrived.

As she bent over her work, she began to hum. Very pleased at the turn of events and confident that her feelings of her shop having been 'missing something' would be a worry of the past. Alex took a moment to close her eyes and give thanks to Nox. It seemed like whenever she was willing to just let go and trust in the Goddess that everything always seemed to fall right into place.