Re: Fuzzy Bracelets

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

Poor Leo. It was probably for the best that he could not hear what was being said behind the curtain? And maybe a good thing that Gwen did not realize that if one screamed it would still come out being muffled. Not that she thought that the women would hurt her. They were just doing their job, right, and if their job was something more sinister, she well she would be okay.

A smile touched her lips as she glanced back to Miss Emily, drawing her attention away from the sheets, in the direction that Leo was sitting on the outside of. “Oh! But is that not only if someone has something to hide?” She thought questions were healthy ways of getting to know someone. “ One can ask all the questions they desire tis up to the answerer what information they would give out.” There were many ways of answering a question without giving up information one did not wish to give out. Gwen just often slipped up and gave out the wrong information. That sounded a bit odd and she picked up the words. “He doesn’t bring the girl he is courting here?” Now that would of made sense, a clothing shop, to perhaps use a dress or a trinket here or there upon the woman. Maybe she didn’t like those things? Curiosity was getting the better of her. When Miss Emily freed Gwen of her feet, her feet would lift upwards carefully one at a time as to not trip. Leaving her in the matching white lace undies. She was a good learner, at some things, as long as she didn’t mix things up.

When Miss Emily asked Gwen to raise her arms she did so without to much hesitation. The only hesitation was making sure she did not accidentally hit anyone or anything. Sometimes the girl was a klutz, sometimes. They were at full height and out at her sides. The child in Gwen wanted to flap her arms like a bird about to take flight, but the more mature side of her stopped such an action, from leaving her thoughts. Her waist was rather small around, though Gwen did not ever have it measured before. A startled glance was given to Miss Emily, her eyes were not so bright blue they had recessed to a more of a baby blue, with a hint of gray. That was due to the thoughts running about in her head, she had no control over the color of her eyes. He would have to be a tricky man to have a courtship with someone and to bring Gwen to his place of business! What if the other woman had walked into his office earlier!! She smiled to Miss Emily. Tricky man or not he was still her hero, and she gave a nod of her head. “He’s a good man.” He was, she knew that, deep down he was a good man, even without knowing the details of his other side. It was the nudge to the inside of her legs, that had a puzzled look before she realized that she wanted her to well spread her legs, she could do that, even if she was looking down curiously now. Inseam’s were funny creatures when one didn’t know about them.

Now her baby blue with gray hints looked over to her arms which were still out like she had been told to do. Landing upon the ring, she spoke rather softly. “The only way this ring is coming off my thumb is if Mr. Leo asks for it back.” Where the Mr. came in front of his name she didn’t know but it popped right out. That or if someone somehow snatched her finger and the ring, but that would be a daunting task for anyone that tried. She might not be to much of a scrapper, but then again her back had not been put against the wall yet.

[Leo]

Now Emily was on the side of slight confusion when the Lady Gwen questioned on if Leo brought the one he was courting to the shop. "He has not brought her here until today, my Lady." Her own voice telling of the confusion that was there.

Emily stretched out the tape to measure Gwen from finger tip to fingertip and made markings where her wrists and shoulders and either side of her neck were. "Does my Lady think that there is another woman, besides herself, that he is in relations with?" Emily was sure that Leo had not brought another to the shop with that title graced upon her. There had been others, like: The Lady Britinoa and The Lady Talyn, but those were women of wealth and title, never referred to as his lady at all. The Lady and My Lady made all of the difference.

"A difficult man he may be but I do not think that he is one of many loves." Giving a small laugh the woman than shook her head. "But who is to know the minds of men."

When she was done with the measuring of the arms Emily moved the tape to around Gwen's bust. The bra she was wearing came in handy as it already gave lift. "Sometimes, my Lady, you may find that people find the simplest things they are asked to be rude or offensive. Odd creatures that they are. There we go." The tape begun to be wound about her fingers so she could place it neatly in her pocket.

"I'll dress you and then we can let down the curtain. Master Mînguez must be terribly stirred by now."

In that assumption Emily was correct. He did have work to do but he wanted to spend the time that he could with his Gaitto and Lady. The papers that he had been given and currently looking over confirmed to him that soon he would have to get to a certain task. Not to mention his want to know what was being said behind that curtain.

Trying to focus on his work Leo stood from the chair and turned away from the curtain. Calling over one of the other workers - had Gwen noticed that all the workers here were young ladies?- to have her take a message for him.

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

Now, the look that crossed Gwen’s face might even be priceless, if one knew the way of her thoughts. Her voice would drop as she looked to Emily. “Miss Emily…she’s not here now is she?” Oh how she did not want to see the lady that Leo was courting! Especially not after well she just did not want to see her.

She was standing still, this was probably the longest she had ever stood still, but then no one had ever asked her to do such before. Who would of thought she could be still like that. Did she think there was another lady. “Are you not speaking of another lady?” Of course, if Miss Emily was speaking of her, then that would clarify a few things in her mind. There was a good chance that she would not ask Leo about that fact, but then she might, in a weird or blurted out way. Or even a, hey so I was curious sort of way. Once more Miss Emily’s words had her breathing a bit easier about things.

While she was still being measured she laughed. “Oh dear! I am sure that I must offend many people.” She felt a blush creep over her features. “How can one know the answers if they don’t ask the questions. Surely it is better to ask someone a question instead of whisper behind their backs?” She frowned a moment before it went away rather quickly a smile slipping back in place.

So when Miss Emily spoke of Leo, that smile softened, without a thought or a notice that it did. Terribly stirred. “Is that a bad thing?” She had never heard of such a word, except for when one was stirring a glass of lemonade, and she might think Leo was a yummy drink, but not of lemonade. Sweet and sour. Hmm.

When Miss Emily went to dress Gwen back into her clothing, she would find that Gwen was once more very easy to work with, moving in the ways that Miss Emily would direct and not in ways that she was not directed. It was still new to her, but she was good at following orders when she was in such a mood.

Oh she had noticed that all the workers were females. A part of her wondered if that’s what he meant about the change in the relationship. That she was going to have to work at the shop, and the measuring was to make her work uniform. Oh she did hope that was not what he meant. Talk about a let down.

[Leo]

Emily was slightly confused at Gwen's question on if she were talking about another lady or not and she thought on it as the clothes were fitted back. 

"Does my Lady think that there is another female that I am talking about besides herself?" Emily asked with a curious lift of her brows. "Maybe you are unfamiliar with the Courtship term and the words associated with it." This is what she would think caused the confusion or maybe it was that Leo had not formally asked her and as such she didn't know. Yet and still what else would Emily think that the relationship between this woman and Master Mînquez was if not that with the way he had her addressed and that she was wearing his ring. "You are her."

She could always be wrong. 

"Sometimes we offend people without meaning to and the person may never say if they are offended or not." Brushing off Gwen's shoulders and settling her hair Emily went on with a bit of advice. "It is for us to know what questions to ask, when to ask them, and when to stay quiet and observe." How was she to know this? It was learned. "It is what you learn on your own." The occasional hint could be given here and there but every situation did not work for everyone. It was from person to person. 

She was done with Gwen and so she moved from her and to the white curtain wall and gave a tug. The women who were holding it knew that to be the cue to let the curtain down. In near unison they did just that, arms lowered and the cloth was being folded. Emily did not answer the question about Leo and stirring but chose to let Gwen see for herself. 

Leo had had his back to the curtain and was talking in lowered tones to a pretty young lady of olive skin. If bits of his words were being overheard they were not in the common tongue but rather Catalan. 

He had heard the curtain part but finished what he was saying to the female first. When he was done he gave her a pat on the shoulder for dismissal and she held the paper to her, curtsied and left. 

"Emily did not take advantage of you, did she my Gaitto?" It was a teasing question that was said as he approached to take Gwen's hands. Emily stood off to the side. "Only the basics. We will get started right away." And she started towards the back of the shop. 

"Gracias Emily." 

Leo was at the stage to help Gwen get down from the stage. "What color do you favor?"

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

While Miss Emily was putting the clothes back onto Gwen, she would move in whatever direction that was needed. For not having a dressing lady of her own, she still knew how to help but not help with getting in the way.

When Miss Emily started to speak again, she would listen, which was always a dangerous thing. The way that the words went into her ear and twisted into something odd randomly. But sometimes it wasn’t so bad. In fact when Miss Emily spoke Gwen blinked a moment. “Oh! You think he and I are courting?” She had not known the word, but with her upbringing it was not really a surprise. It would make sense to one that had more worldly knowledge indeed. Her gaze looked down at the ring, that was upon her thumb and then back to Miss Emily. Who may or may not be correct in her assumptions.

Her head gave a small bob of listening. That made a lot of sense, because people wouldn’t always say what they were feeling, a lot of people were good at hiding things. She wasn’t one of them. Listening to her, she felt a smile tugging upon her lips, as she spoke before the curtain fell of course. “Thank you Miss Emily.” The thanks was for the words, and the help, and well she thought it was the right thing to do. She tried to practice her manners and usually such happened without much thought.

When the sheet was lowered and Miss Emily was done speaking, her gaze would land upon Leo’s back. Really where else did one think her gaze would go. Not thinking a thing of Leo speaking to the pretty lady with the olive skin.

Soft smile formed when he turned and asked if Emily took advantage of her, she heard the tease in his voice, she was getting better at those cues. A smile to Miss Emily before she spoke to Leo and slipped away. She did not think it was wrong to speak even if Emily was retreating. “Miss Emily is very nice.” She thought it and she spoke it, and sure it was probably the woman’s job, but when one could make another feel like they were not just doing something because they had to, it was a good gift.

When Leo helped her down from the stage, her hand would squeeze his, in a silent thanks, perhaps. When he asked her what color did she favor she paused, thinking. At that very moment, because what gets one favor changed, she spoke before changing her mind. “Dark Green.” Though she wasn’t sure for sure what the color was for.

She glanced around the shop, before looking back to Leo, her voice was that of a mere whisper, but loud enough for him to hear it, perhaps no one else though. “When you said that a change was brought to our relationship, did you mean that I am going to have to work for you?” She was curious about the measuring because he was having her a work uniform made!

[Leo]

Dark green. He would keep that color in mind and pass it on. That was the color of the fabric she was looking at earlier, wasn't it? If that was the case then it was no wonder that Emily headed off without having the answer. Of course, it could have been asked behind the curtain as Leo would have no way of knowing.

As he held her hand his thumb caressed it and he felt that warmth once again and it made him smile. What made him smile more was the question that he was asked on if she were to work for him. Though this smile was more considering than his normal smile. "Do you want to work for me?" The answer to the question was something that she should consider as anything besides a 'no' or it's relevant equivalent could easily be seen as a reason why she couldn't. For instance, not knowing what to do; none of the women did until they were taught. Leo has heard many reasons as to why a person could not do something whether it was related to this or something else.

"That was not the change I had meant." Adding that in would help her with answering the question, yes? He gave a nod down to the ring on her finger as he held that hand so it could be seen. "After what went on in the back room I was under the impression that this was now more than a romantic friendship." For him this was so and unless she said differently this is what it would be.

He looked after to where Emily went and to where the other young lady was whom he had been dictating to before he focused his attention back on to Gwen. "La Señora Emily is good at what she does." Did not mean that she was not nice as his Gaitto said but it was important to know that she was good at her job.

"My Lady Gaitto there are things to which I must attend but I am un-wanting to send you off without a kiss if there is more to be done." He was not getting rid of her if she wanted to stay around.

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

It was indeed the color of the fabric that she was looking at earlier. She had thought the color very lovely, so when he spoke of colors it was the first and foremost upon her mind. The color had not come up behind the curtain but it would not of taken much for one to see the way she looked at it.

The warmth from her hand was the same as it had been before, no changes in that, but the fact his thumb rubbed against her hand in their clasp, had her smiling again. It was the question, that he would see the look on her features turn into a very thoughtful turn. Did she want to work for Leo? The first reply that came to mind had her parting her lips but they shut before a word was uttered. It wasn’t that she was terribly shy but blurting that she did not wish to work for him, because she couldn’t kiss him anymore, wasn’t the wisest. Not everyone had the same thought process as her. So it would have to be the second thought that came into her mind. “I don’t think I would wish to work here.” A shake of her head, as her gaze left Leo and went to linger upon the bolts of fabric, before looking back to Leo, her thumb was doing what his had done earlier. “I do not think I would be much help, because I would not be able to keep my hands off of the fabrics.” It wasn’t that she didn’t think she couldn’t be taught, it was the fact that the temptation of the fabric, where she had trouble thinking it was a good fit. She held it in check as best as she could.

She looked around a moment, because now that the fabric had gotten back, well, she drew her attention back to Leo when he spoke. She let out a small breath because that was good that she hopefully had not offended him. She wouldn’t of thought about things being offensive or watching what one said except for the words behind the curtain. A nod of her head was given at his words, she had not wanted to assume anything, because she wouldn’t of known what to assume. A warm smile was given to Leo, at the same time, “I like that.” Meaning she was in agreement and happy with it. Once Leo kissed her she wouldn't of went running to ask anyone else to do the same.

She thought that the visit had gone rather well, better then a girl could hope, and she looked down at his ring upon her finger before looking back up. A sweet smile upon her face. She had not even realized the amount of time that had passed, not that she was complaining, but she actually had things she was suppose to do. “I would like to be sent off with a kiss.” She would and she wasn’t going to hide that, not when he said what he did! She did not feel like he was trying to get rid of her. Even if he was, she wouldn’t of held it against him, she came without him knowing when, and took up quite a bit of his time, while he was at work.

[Leo]

The response she had given over if she wanted to work for him or not had not been a no. instead it was a reason as to why she couldn't and he had heard many reasons why people couldn't do a number of things. Not thinking she would want to work there because she wouldn't be able to do the job was a reason but there were solutions to that reason. There were some things that Leo needed clear yes or no answer to or otherwise he carried on with his thought process. Such as right now and therefore: "I will talk to Emily about getting you a job with the fabrics." He remembered how she was touching the fabrics earlier.

Surely she could still say that she didn't want the job.

At least there was no confusion over the status of their relationship and hearing that she was in agreement with it he held her close to him once again. He didn't care that they were in the public eye at the shop because though the workers liked to talk amongst themselves they wouldn't let any of it interfere with their duties. His arms rested about her waist and one hand stroked down her back while the other had gone up and had the fingers moving lightly across the back of her neck. "Only a kiss? Tsk, task." He was teasing again and his expression was a mix of mock sadness and of playfulness as he looked at her. Leo would be the first to admit that sometimes it was hard to tell things about him, if he was meaning the actions he did and words he said as some behaviors were all considered to be part of the job. Not everything he did was work related.

To relax and be more of himself around his Gaitto was what he strived for and even as he finished with his words Leo kissed her passionately right there in the store.

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

She had said she didn't think she would like too. And in her mind that meant no, but this wasn't her mind this was, actual and in that it was something completely different. If she worked with the fabrics she would get lost in them, literally, lost. And her eyes widened a bit as she looked to Leo, her voice was softly spoken, but something else was there too. “Oh….I would rather you didn’t Leo.” A shake of her head, “I would not like a job right now.” She had other things she had going on, and she had the comforts of such choice, at the moment. Unless Leo….well she would watch him. She could and did say she didn’t want said job but she was still worried about hurt feelings, though why it would hurt his feelings she wouldn’t know.

Nope. It was a good thing that now they were on the same page. Communication was a good key, just with her sometimes things got a bit, confused. But once they were unconfused things worked out better. She smiled as he held her close to him, no protests, if there were they were so tiny and small that they would not be visible. It would not be for her cause either, it would fall back to Leo and his reputation, that’s what she had worried about earlier. When his arms moved to hold and move along her, she was not one that could stand stock still, though her mind had thought about that. How was the proper way to respond? Proper went out the window though, because her arms moved upwards pausing her hands upon his shoulders. At his teasing words, for that was how she took them, a soft laugh bubbled out of her. That was until Leo planted a passionate kiss on her right there in the middle of the store. The kiss would be returned, he was a good teacher after all, and it would wipe whatever thoughts she had going on in her head, like hey your in a public spot, people might think something bad, all from her mind. Her only thought was of the man standing there kissing her, her hero.

[Leo]

That was better. It was decisiveness and something that he always liked. The only answer he would give her to lack of want for the job would come as a murmur given in the kiss they were currently engaged in. She wouldn't have to worry, she had said no and therefore he wouldn't think more on what she could do at his shop. Though it may have been an interesting opportunity to see something of the shop there may be time enough for that later. To him they had time. No need to rush things in this relationship but rather let it go where it would.

She had a small bit of worry about her - he almost thought the he could feel it - and it was the reason why he was slowly letting go of her. His hand upon her neck moving forward along her jaw to have his tips hold at her chin as he pulled from the kiss. "Thank you for coming by today." He meant that too. There was nothing to worry about with his reputation as the workers in the shop would not treat him any differently from what they say then they had before. Perhaps that was the unease he felt as he remembered that she had asked him about his reputation while they were back in the office.

"After the items are done I will have it delivered to you," Leo did not say what the items were but thought that she had an idea that it did have something to do with clothing as she had been measured. "Feel free to come back here whenever you want. Emily will see to you if I am not here." He had told her before but he wanted to be sure that she knew she was welcomed.

That was when he let his hand go from her face with a smile upon his lips and a light look in his eyes.

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

She could be decisive she just worried about hurting feelings. Given time she would learn she could just tell Leo what she thought. But things were new and fresh and those were things that took time. It wasn’t that she would lie to him, of that he wouldn’t have to worry, those feminine wiles were not so wily in her. Besides if she worked there she would be caught day dreaming to much, not only because of all the fabrics she could get her hands on, but she knew they would have to snap her out of her day dreams of Leo. She had enough of those when he wasn’t there, imagine how they would be when he was there. Especially now that she knew how it felt to have his lips upon hers.

With his hand moving her head tilted just so, even as she did not fight to keep the kiss, her hands moved from his neck to shoulders, where they ran along his arms. “Thanks for inviting me.” He didn’t say when, just that she should come by sometimes, and she was unable to hold off on that for long. She had worried about his reputation but not any longer. He had her set and rest assured on that bit.

The smile that slipped over her now vacated lips was warm. “Thank you Leo.” She had a feeling it was clothing of some sort she just didn’t know what. But she thought a surprise from Leo would be good. It might not be, for some but for her, hopefully it would be. Her hands would give a small squeeze on his arms before slowly letting go of his arms. Perhaps her hands lingered just a bit. “I will keep that in mind.”

Leo would not have to worry that she would be the sort that was clingy. Or the sort that came in and brushed through his day of work, causing problems or set backs. That wasn’t her style. “Will you tell Miss Emily bye for me?” For she had already slipped away and Gwen did not want to disturb her any more, for the day. Fingers of her hand would move to play with the silver band upon her thumb, as she spoke, looking from the new weight of the ring, to Leo. If he said he would she would move into a quick hug, and a press of lips to his cheek, before leaving the building to let him get back to work. She had gotten what she came in for, and a bonus, a bonus that made her a very happy girl.

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