All that Glitters... {Zodiac}

[Alexandrea]

"The Eye of Ra." Alexandrea grinned as right on que, an earsplitting howl of full feline fury distracted her from furthur comment on the four legged freaks. Odin would have kittens if those cats got loose in the mall and brought their choas with them. "Be right back."

The blonde didn't bother going to her own stairway, going out into the mall through the second floor entrance, the Allurist slide down the handrail of the escalator and went into her shop's downstairs from the front. Just as two dark fuzzballs we about to make an escape. The blonde gave Ginny a look that screamed; "I know you know better...." And grabbed up Penny Valentine like a small sack of flour, heading back up the stairs inside the store.

Once inside her office again, Penny was put on her leach and got being sulking right away as Alexandrea went right back to fitting the vest to Zodiac without missing a beat as if nothing had ever happened. As Alex had suspected, the Mama kitty, with no bad influences, had joined them again and was nosing around the Mystic's ankles.

"Well I know my gal sure can be a handfull. If I didn't seem to have a knack for dealing with animals, I'm sure I'd have ripped my hair out by now."

The outfit almost complete, Alex took up the shawl and held it out to her friend. "This can be worn anyway you like, not just around the waist like I had it downstairs. And the 'pocket' is removable. The flower applique hide buttons."

[Zodiac]

"Actually, I was thinking Bast myself," she started to reply when the yowling began below. Zodiac started to follow Alex but felt several pins remind her that her current state of dress was dubious at best for the moment. A couple twists and turns trying to catch the cats and she'd be naked for the masses. So as she waited, she took a couple of 'selfies' to get an idea how the outfit looked on her so far. She was impressed. A bit more than normal, but that was the beauty of this creation. One could add, subtract or substitute items and get multiple effects with the same base to work from.

When Alex returned with Miss Penny in hand, she smirked a bit. "Ha, ha, you got busted." she laughed as the rambunctious feline got hooked by the collar. She looked down at Ginny, who had decided to grace them with her presence finally and shook her head.

"A kitten brings out the kitten in all cats, I guess." she shrugged her shoulders in a 'what can you do?' type of surrender as Alex grabbed her pins again. "And oh, trust me! I was so glad when you guys all showed up to claim them. Another couple weeks and they would have begun to destroy my apartment. " she laughed as her friend finished adjusting the vest. Yes, she could see this with or without a corset if she chose to.

Zodiac sat her phone on the desk to use as a mirror as she tried the shawl out. Around the waist, over the shoulders, midway down her back over her arms. Yes, she liked it. "Only one thing missing, dear." the mystic tapped the top of her head. "I know you got to have some killer headscarves to set this all off somewhere around here."

[Alexandrea]

The Mystic had caught Alex with the last remark and the blonde giggled, a blush crossing her cheeks. "You know I didn't think about your head at all when I was doing this? Now don't take that the wrong way, Zoey. You know I love you for your mind."

Alexandrea still had a ton of fabric left over and some of it plus some fancy trim were in the office. The blonde held up a piece of the shimmery blue violet that made the under dress and some gold fringe that was made up of tiny stars that dangled dainty from a thin band. Alex tossed the fabric over her hair and then held the trim over her forehead.

"Something like this maybe?"

[Zodiac]

"Not interested in my head? Well, that's a good thing. I think." her laughter exploding now as she considered the ways such a statement could be taken. "See how you are? I try to behave and you drag out the perv in me."

As Alex did a impromptu scarf arrangement for a quick visual, she snapped a couple selfies to see, then leaned close and caught them both. "There ya go, that's the stuff." she grinned. The scarf alone would go with some of her own creations. That was the blessing such attire had. As long as the tones harmonized, parts could be interchanged like crazy. There was perhaps one of two traditional outfits she had made she could not do such a thing with in her closet, but the rest could be a free for all of mix and match.

"Okay, I'm sold." she nodded. Zodiac took a step back and slipped the shawl off and laid it carefully back on the desk. "So what inspired you to try and do something like this? Is not a 'look' for everyone, so I'm not sure how many of these you will sell. Oh dear, now there is a thought. Everyone walking around looking like me. We can't have that."

"So how long do you think it would take you to finish adjusting this? I am in no rush and don't expect you to make this a priority at all." She eased out of the vest now. "I also do not expect you to do this all for free, so start talking dollars, babe."

[Alexandrea]

Alexandrea chuckled along with the Mystic, feeling at ease and enjoying the easy banter the two seemed to share. The woman taking several 'selfies' further amused the blonde and she was in high spirits as one by one pieces of the outfit were removed and set aside. Alex was grinning ear to ear as she stood beside the desk where the clothes were beginning to pile up, and the Mystic agreed to wear the Allurist's creation and asked what had given Alex the idea.

With a chuckle Alex picked the shawl back up and removed the pocket. Then she swung it around her own hips, the colourful fabric standing out in an eye catching contrast to the jet black of Alexandrea's silk slacks. The blonde gave a small spin, her hair fanning out as the fringe of the shawl's edges did.

"Simple. I didn't have the guts to ask if I could borrow some of your clothes. Just one piece makes this simple slacks and blouse into an awesome outfit. Sure, only a few will put together a complete 'Zodiac'. Most will just collect a few pieces here and there to create new looks of their own. And don't worry about copy cats running around town, Zoey. I created the patterns of the fabrics I used for your outfit myself, you'll always stay one of a kind."

Alexandrea took the shawl off and folded it carefully after replacing the pocket. She nodded at the Gypsy's next words before placing the garment into some tissue paper and then a QCC shopping bag. "You can take the shawl with you right now. That's a one size fits all. The rest of the pieces I can have altered and ready for a final fitting by next weekend." The blonde handed her friend the bag and had just turned to leave and give the Mystic some privacy so the rest of the clothes could come off when the last thing Zodiac said stunk in.

"I also do not expect you to do this all for free, so start talking dollars, babe."

Blinking her eyes, Alexandrea was glad her friend couldn't see her face. Alex was crappy at poker. Why would Zo think Alex expected to be paid? She struggled with her confusion for a minute before turning back around just as her hand found the door knob.

"It was made to be a gift, freely given. No strings. Whether or not you agree that the line can be named after you. It pleased me to make it for you, that's all. If you want to pay me back for it, then pay it forward. Do something nice for someone else that they aren't expecting. Just anything, to make them smile."

Alexandrea grinned then, and winked at Zoey. "I'll be right outside after you've changed."

[Zodiac]

"Raid my closet?" she laughed. "Ask my childers, it's a nightmare in there to find anything, but if there is anything that would actually fit you, I would have had no issues provided you let me know you borrowed something. I go crazy when I can't find something I know should be there."

She had to admit, the simple wrap of cloth threw a whole new dimension into what Alex was wearing. It was the secret of her work wardrobe. Combinations could be as simple or flamboyant as the imagination could conceive. "I am not worried about 'copy cats'. Too many have asked me how can I wear all of this so often. Just used to it I guess. To me, it's more a way of life and it's what people expect to see when they walk in my shops. The gypsy witch, so I doubt I will see fashion clones of me all over town. Besides, you dress like this, you got to have the attitude as well as the hips to pull it off."

When she saw the look Alex gave her and heard the reply, she rolled her eyes as the door closed. The last thing she wanted to do was insult the woman. "Good job," she cursed herself as she wiggled back into her jeans. "Gonna have to teach Alex how to think like a Syzgany." The offer of money was meant as a complement. Free is free but if one offers to pay for it as well, it means you appreciate the value and quality of the gift and if the stereotypical mindset of the Romany is true that they were thieves and con artists, offering money was a major complement. "Ah well."

Fully dressed again, save for her purgatory of boots, she grabbed her purse and laid the boots in the bag with the wrap. In an after thought, she let Penny loose from her arrangement, then opened the door. She stepped out and found Alex. "If you are looking for inspiration in clothes making, you should come over one evening. I have one remaining ensemble my Nana made for me, which I don't wear much anymore. She had her own ideas on 'the look'. That and, for lack of better terms, my ceremonial robe, which I do wear when I do the bindings, is all I have left of her seamstress skills. Now, my dear. How about showing me these Quartermaine/Dharma creations of yours. Be nice to have something more comfortable to walk in the rest of the night."

[Alexandrea]

Closing the door behind her, Alexandrea chuckled. When the Gypsy had claimed to have the hips to pull of her unconventional wardrobe, Alex had half expected to see a demonstration of just how much. She already knew Zoey could dance from the ritual in the woods last summer but her friend was such a character it wouldn't have been at all a surprise to see Zodiac launch into a full belly dancing routine.

The Allurist kept herself busy during the few minutes it took the Mystic to change back into her street clothes, and smiled brightly when her friend came back out of the office.

"I'd really like that, maybe we can have a girl's night with movies and I could bring by the clothes at the same time. Finish up any alterations right then and there. How do you feel about Musicals?"

The mention of boots, reminded Alex of what she had been doing as Zo got dressed and she help up her smart phone to show the other woman the page she was looking at. "These. These would be perfect. But I haven't got anything like that in stock yet. I'll be in seeing what I can do to fix that tomorrow."

Alexandrea put the phone away and picked up a shoebox, opening it up and taking out a small pair of soft leather boots. "In the meanwhile, we can't have you barefooted. See if these might do for now? It's just the second attempt I've made."

[Zodiac]

"Girl's night?" The idea was appealing. It had been awhile since she had allowed herself to just hang out for fun and laughs with others. "Yeah, that could work. We'd need someone to be on the receiving ends of the jokes though. Straight women." she blinked then laughed. "Like straight men in a joke I mean."

Zodiac looked at the web page and nodded. "Yep, I have sent that lady a lot of money so far. For the quality, I don't complain, but the shipping from overseas is a *****."

She cooed as the pair of purple boots came into view and took a seat to try them on. "Me and heels never did see eye to eye. Unlike other girls, first time I wore and owned a pair was when I settled in Harper Rock. They have their uses, of course, but you can ask Temperance. Anytime I have shown up at the Met for a function and I arrive in heels? Within two dances, miraculously, they fall off my feet and live under the table till its time to go home. Amazing how that happens. I should have those boots I wore in here broken in by now, but I hardly wear them."

She slipped them onto her feet and saw how close they were to actual Dharma's in style and feel as she laced them up. They were a touch large in the toe, but the rest fit like a glove. Zodiac stood up and bounced a bit, then took a few steps and spun around to see how they gripped the floor. "Ah, that is SO much better, love." she smiled. "My feet thank you, love."

[Alexandrea]

Having been freed by the hand of her Mama’s pet human, Penny had kept out of sight of her own pet and lay in wait with the tip of her nose and tip both a twitch as the feline watch the laces of Zodiac’s boots. The hunches of the small cat bunched up as she got ready to spring at the long colourful worms that danced in the Mystic's hands as fingers laced up the boots.

Meanwhile, Alexandrea nodded after laughing at Zoey's remark about a straight woman. "I knew what you meant but of course you know my mind 'went there'." The blonde giggled for a second and then paused to think. "Madison is my first pick. She's someone we both adore and already spend a lot of time with. I'll give her a poking later and see if she'll be free anytime soon."

The blonde gathered up the shoe box and stuck Zodiac’s other boots inside before putting in into the bag she had for her friend and commented back about the shipping costs. “I know, right? I wish I could become at least a Canadian Distributor, if not North American. Who knows, if I order enough boots often enough maybe she’ll let me be her first overseas wholesaler. I ghoul can dream…”

The twirl of the Gypsy after Zodiac had finished tying her boots on and spun around was more than Penny Valentine could resist and the small cat darted out of where she had been lurking and dive bombed the dark haired woman’s feet. Acting quickly, Alex grabbed the furry bundle of energy and managed to get her off the Mystic’s boots before any teeth or claws could mark the leather. Alexandrea held the almost exact copy of Ginny but smaller in a tight grip close to her chest as the young cat struggled to be free to kill the evil shoelaces, with a look at Zo that asked; ‘Did you have anything to do with this thing getting loose?’

[Zodiac]

"Oh yes, Madison." the girl cackled a bit. "I do like her. Love teasing the hell out of her too. 'Is only a matter of time till you give in' and then she gets that scrunched up face going with the eyes and all. I suppose I should stop it, but she is so easy to wind up sometimes I can't help it."

She sighed a bit. "Thing is, if I didn't think she was okay, I would not waste the effort teasing her at all. How weird, right? Maybe one day she'll figure it out."

She listened to Alex's idea and hope of becoming a distributor of their beloved Dharma's and nodded in agreement. "If it becomes a matter of how many shops and territory covered, count me into it. Between you and I we should hold a large enough graphic to convince them a large number of people would be buying them. And if not, oh well. We will be in Dharma's for the rest of our unnatural lives. It's a win/win! All styles and colors!" she clapped her hands and bounced in place.

When she spun to get the feel of the new boots, she laughed as Penny pounced on her feet. Alex saved the moment with a skilled hand and Zo continued to laugh till she saw the look Alex gave her.

"What? She is one of Ginny's kids. Trust me. Give her time and she'll be picking locks and doing break ins for you. Of course, all she is gonna steal is tuna and cat toys, but hey." she gave her best 'Who? Me/" look in reply to the accusation unspoken. "Or maybe Ginny felt sorry for her? Hell, even I would not believe that one." she shrugged her shoulders apologetically. "I thought you just wanted her out of the way for the fitting. Sorry."

The mystic took a seat again while still flexing her toes to get a good feel into the boots.