The Fox's Den

[FurryFury]

"No, I've put my faith in you now Garret. You are my one hope and the light in my darkness." Madeleine said standing with him. She fixed her clothes back in place looking a bit shy again after her declaration. She looked up when she was done, into his eyes asking without words if she looked alright now.

 

[DrStein]

Garret smiled lightly, and they were off. The journey seemed to take longer than usual this time. Neither Garret not Madeleine really wanted to finish it. But they both knew they didn't have any real choice. They had to keep up appearances to the rest of the world for now.

When he had safely returned Madeleine to her home, Garret set off into the city. He made up his mind on the way back to the city, and there were things that needed to be done before tomorrow night.

 

[FurryFury]

Madeleine was surprised early the next morning when message came in from a friend of her father's. He had heard about Madeline's age and wanted to see about the possibility of arranging a marriage with his son.

His son was a solicitor and would be traveling to their area within the month. Madeleine's father, a banker was pleased with the prospect. Madeleine was worried about it.

She fought down the dread in her heart as she carried about her day trying to see normal and do the task Garret had given her. She couldn't wait to see Garret again and find out what he had planned.

 

[DrStein]

That night, Garret returned, once again using the window to enter. His satchel was once more at his hip, but it seemed to be full with something this time. "Are you ready?"

 

[FurryFury]

"For you, always." She said softly. A bright hope and eagerness showed in her eyes. She smiled at him seeming more eager to please than ever and perhaps, a bit on edge.

 

[DrStein]

"Good." Garret hopped into the room and reached into his satchel. "Before we take a look at what you plundered, I want you to put these on." He pulled out a neat bundle of clothes. It a simple pair of trousers, a shirt with a laced V-neck, and soft mocassins.

"Where we're going tonight, you'll have to travel incognito."

 

[FurryFury]

"Am I to be your boy tonight, then?" She asked. A quiet laugh accompanied her question. The mischief was there again, in her eyes and on her lips. She promised herself she would not think about her potential suitor or being sold like a cow by her father. She promised herself she would enjoy every moment with Garret and be thankful for them.

 

[DrStein]

"You still have much to learn," Garret said with a smile. "Not all women in this city where fine dresses. Some of them dress as men out of necessity.

"With that in mind, tonight you will be my apprentice."

 

[FurryFury]

She dimpled at Garret.

"Oh your apprentice? Goody! Do you think you'd like me as a boy?" She winked at him trying to be light hearted and flirt a little. There was much she did not wish to dwell on right now.

She began to undo the dozen tiny buttons on her dress. Her eyes watched him to see if he would stare or look away. A small smile turned the corners of her mouth up.

 

[DrStein]

"I doubt you would like quite as stunning as a boy," Garret replied. He unabashedly stared at her as she changed her clothes. "But tonight it's better to help you pass unnoticed."

 

[FurryFury]

"I doubt you would like quite as stunning as a boy," Garret replied. He unabashedly stared at her as she changed her clothes. "But tonight it's better to help you pass unnoticed."

She turned quite pink watching him watch her change her clothes. She smiled and she tried to act confident but it was an act because her body was a very private thing, she'd always be told so. She was trying to be brave and let Garret feel she was changing. She would change too, she was determined but sometimes, like now, it wasn't easy.

 

[DrStein]

OOC: Sorry for the long hiatus. Personal matters needed taking care of.

Garret smiled and held out his hand to Madeleine. "You're about to take another step into a larger world. Trust me... and you won't regret it."

 

[FurryFury]

"Oh I do trust you Garret, with all my heart." She said putting her hand in his with a bashful but eager smile. "You make my world bright and full of hope!"

 

[DrStein]

"Then hang onto my back and hold on tight." Garret kneeled down slightly to allow her to climb up onto his back before heading to the window.

OOC: Sorry for the long absence. A mixture of finals and family crises tangled up my life.

 

[FurryFury]

She felt awkward and far to big to be climbing on his back but she wouldn't let herself hesitate. Madeleine needed Garret to feel how much she trusted him and how willing she was to change. In her mind this was her one hope, her one chance for adventure and really, life.

Occ: I understand. I'm sorry to hear you've had a crisis with your family. I hope things are better now.

 

[DrStein]

As soon as Madeleine was holding securely to his back, he swung out the window and grabbed hold of the gutter, sliding down using only the soles of his boots as breaks. He stopped inches from the ground and hopped down the short distance remaining.

"You've just made your first daring escape," he quipped.

 

[FurryFury]

Madeleine had to work hard at not squealing. Being on Garret's back was exciting all by it's self, just being that close to his body and skin made her think thrilling thoughts, but he took her sliding down the side of her father's house too! Her eye's bugged out in fear.

When they made it safely to the ground she was relieved. She wondered if he would put her down now or continue this body contact. She felt giddy and silly.
Madeleine wanted to hold on to him forever.

"Daring escape? I like that! Thank you for the rescue Sir Garret! She quietly joked. Her eyes now sparkled with excitement. Her lips held a smile and the promise mischief.

 

[DrStein]

Garret kneeled down to let Madeleine off and straightened his shirt. "Alright. Stay close to me and pretend that everything is normal."

With that he swaggered out into the streets as if it were broad daylight and he was just a normal citizen.

 

[FurryFury]

She followed him, trying to figure out how to walk like he did. Of course the way he was walking didn't seem quite right to her. It was like advertising or something.

Still she wanted to try to walk like a guy if she was supposed to look like a guy. As she followed behind him she tried various ways of doing that. She was not going to think about the man coming to meet her, not tonight. Tonight she would throw herself into this adventure with Garret.

 

[DrStein]

The city was always much quieter this late at night. Most of the people out were porstitutes, thieves, and merchants with their bodyguards bringing another cart of goods to their shops and stores. Garret navigated the twisting streets easily, his eyes seeing perfectly in the low light provided by the torches that illuminated the streets and sidewalks. It seemed another world altogether. Aside from the few humans out, the only other life to be seen were the stray dogs and cats who went about their business as if the humans around them were nothing more than annoying distractions to be paid no mind.

At last, Garret took Madeleine to the mouth of an alleyway. There was a small lantern about twenty feet in next to a door. Upon the door was a shingle of a crow in flight. "Here's where my fence is. Stay close and leave the talking to me."

 

[FurryFury]

She nodded in answer to Garret. Each sound, each light, each smell was a wonder for her to behold, though some were more welcome wonders than others. She'd never been out in the city at night, or to a tavern except in her fantasies. This was real and far more exciting than just dreaming of it had been. Madeleine was trying to keep a smile off her face. She was trying to act unaffected but this was fantastic to her.

 

[DrStein]

Past the door was a small tavern, but there were no patrons. All the chairs were placed up on the tables, and several of the lamps had already been extinguished.

"We're closed," muttered a gruff voice from behind the bar.

"This is a special circumstance I'd say," Garret joked.

The corpulent man behind the bar looked up and laughed. "Well, well. Wasn't expecting you for another day or two. Who's your friend there?"

"My apprentice," Garret answered. "We've brought some fresh new goods for you." Garret nudged Madeleine and gestured for her to place the bag on the bar.

 

[FurryFury]

Madeleine liked being called his apprentice but she was disappointed there wasn't much life in the tavern. She'd heard some stories that made her think she would see colorful goings on.

She put the bag on the bar as told, then backed away to stand behind Garret.

 

[DrStein]

The man behind the bar opened the haversack and his eyes immediately widened. He produced a jeweler's lens from his pocket and began carefully inspecting several of the trinkets within. He stepped out from behind the bar and put two chairs on the floor.

"Have yourselves a seat and a mug of my finest ale. This is an occassion."

 

[FurryFury]

Madeleine tried not to smile but she was pleased that the stolen items that her hated step mother loved were going to be appreciated and bring Garret good fortune. It made her happy that from ugliness and pain, something positive might be won.

She looked to Garret for clues to how she should comport herself as a male in this closed pub.