[Unusual, Protect]
“I think it’s ready Rose, it’s started to glow.”
“Great work Opal, before we go back, I need to explain something real quick okay.”
“OK, Rose.”
“When we get back, it’s going to seem like our friends and family are cross with us. They're not really, it’s just, they’ve been very worried about us and when we get back they’ll want us to promise to not get into a bind like we were in. Some may be angry, some may be crying and hugging us too tight. Relief is a weird emotion, it’s like you’ve been worried for days and that emotion just keeps building and building honey. Then relief just bursts the dam of all that worry, people aren’t used to having all that emotion flood to the surface, they may react strangely. They just need to get all that emotion out. Do you understand honey? Just nod your head and agree with whatever they say and we’ll talk it all out later. All right sweetie?”
“I understand Rose.”
“Good, let’s go home.”
A while later we fell into the bookstore. It was dark, I used the wand Sparky had given me. Lu was on the floor with a rough looking blanket covering her. Sparky was asleep on his stool at the counter.
“Opal, are you alright honey.”
“Yes Rose, I’m fine.”
I gently shook Lu’s shoulder. She jumped up hugging me fiercely
“Don’t ever do that to me again, Rose. Sparky, wouldn’t let me jump in.”
“No, I would not, Junior Apprentice report.”
“Let me hug and kiss my girlfriend, then I’ll be happy to.”
Ruby came barreling out of the backroom, scooping up Opal in a bear-hug.
Ruby practically screamed.“Are you alright, I was so worried about you. You are in so much trouble, Opal.”
I looked over and smiled at Opal, she smiled back. Then Lu was kissing me and I was kissing her. I’d missed her so much.
“Excuse me, I’d like to hear a report from my Apprentices. Senior Apprentice please report. Why didn’t you draw what I asked?”
“I’m sorry Sparky, I know you said to draw the bookstore, and I did start to draw the bookstore, but somehow the outside of the store reminded me of my house when my mommy and daddy and baby brother were alive. I know that Rose can pull living people from a book. I thought if my picture was good enough I’d be able to pull my mommy, daddy and baby brother into the tower with Ruby, Lu, Rose and McCracken. But when the picture started to glow and I tried to reach in and pull them out, somehow I fell in. I felt sad because the house was empty and I couldn't draw mommy and daddy and my baby brother because I don’t remember their faces anymore. I was sad but I wasn’t scared because I knew that Rose would come and bring me back and she did.”
“Very well, and you’ve learned that when I ask you to draw something specific it’s for a purpose and from now on that’s exactly what you’ll draw?”
“Yes, I’m sorry Sparky.”
“Yes, well you are forgiven, you probably just learned this unruly behavior from your junior apprentice and as long as you keep your promise, nothing more needs to be said about it. Alright?”
“Yes, Sparky.”
“Junior apprentice report please.”
“Sparky, it was just as we suspected, after falling in and locating Opal I tried to jump us out. I tried a variety of spots to jump to, here, the tower, our cottage, Tranquility, Juliet’s World. None of them worked as you already know. I then attempted to summon a portal demon but nothing happened. We eventually ate the portal muffins after the donuts ran out. They are quite tasty, I understand why the portal demons are obsessed with them. Anyways after we learned that jumping and portals wouldn’t work. The senior apprentice got right to work drawing a way home for us. I was never worried or scared because I knew if Opal could get us to the house I had no doubt that she’d get us home. It was always daylight there so we have no idea how much time has passed.”
“Two days, it’s Samhain in a few hours, I expect you’ll want to get some sleep. Don’t you all have a play to put on in about fourteen or fifteen hours?”
“Yes, Sparky. Come on Lu. I need a bath.”
Lu said, “Sounds good Rose.”
“Ruby, I want to take a bath too.”
“OK, Opal, let's get you home.”
***
The tower, Rose and Lu’s bathroom.
“Fill tub steaming, are you getting in with me, or do you not want to bathe with a dirty woman who hasn’t bathed in three days. Seriously, I thought you’d want to talk and I could apologize in comfort.”
“Go ahead, get in, I’ll be right along, I’m just looking for my hat.”
“Auuuuu, are we having makeup sex before I even get to apologize. No wonder I love you so much, Lu.”
***
Knock, Knock.
“Who’s there?”
“McCracken”
“McCracken who?”
“McCrackening up over her, lots to do it’s Samhain, can’t have my stars sleeping all day. Opal’s having breakfast, we need to get costumes for everyone except Lu and I. Come on, you're the transport.”
“I’m up and if you ever start my day with a knock, knock joke again, I'm turning you into a woodpecker.”
“It’s great to have you home mon chéri.”
***
“McCracken, for the ghosts we need three robes, red, green and black, right?”
“Yes Rose, so get the black for yourself if you get the same size for all three they should be fine on Lily and Ruby. Then you need suits for Juliet, Opal, and Salome and a dress not too fancy for Paula. She's playing Mrs Cratchit who’s very poor, so don’t come back with a ball gown.”
“Gods, director, you're worse than Sparky with the micro-managing.”
“So what I’m hearing, Rose, is that you think I’m a wizard of a director.”
“McCracken. Do you really have to be so bloody charming, so early in the morning.”
“Did you hear that Lu, she called me bloody charming. I’ve come a long way from the first night here and she threatened to turn me into a bug.”
“Yeah, just this morning I threatened to turn you into a woodpecker and they eat bugs.”
“Rose, can I come with you, my suit pants just need to be taken in a little bit.”
“Sure Lu, I didn’t really want to let you out of my sight today anyway.”
“Argh, Opal, all this lovely dovey stuff from these two is disgusting isn’t” said McCracken.
Opal giggled. “No, I think it’s sweet they missed each other.”
“Thank you honey, let’s say I jump you and Lu over to the tailors, then I’ll jump back for Salome. Are you both ready?”
“Yep”
“Yes, Rose”
***
Now that I knew where the shop was I jumped just outside of town close to Elijah’s shop. We walked the rest of the way and were soon inside.
“Good morning Elijah, this is my girlfriend Lu and my best girl Opal. They’ll tell you exactly what they need, I need to get a few more of my friends and I’ll be back. Almost forgot, this is for today's work, I’m sorry to be springing this on you so late. These are all costumes for a play and the performance is tonight.”
I gave him a bag with a hundred gold coins. Which he stared at wide eyed.
“Good morning Rose, Lu and Opal. How can I help you, today?”
“Well these pants could be taken…”
I left the store and jumped to the bakery. Suddenly I was surrounded by Salome, Lily and Paula and received a giant group hug. The store was packed with Samhain customers.
“When did you get out? Are you all right? Can we do anything?”
“I’m great as you can see, I know you’re super busy, just let me grab Salome real quick for her costume, I’ll bring her back quick and grab Paula for hers. Lily, I’m getting three robes for us ghosts so they won’t need to be fitted. We can talk tonight at the cast party. OK, is it alright if I jump Salome now?”
“Sure you can, Salome take your time hon. We got this.”
***
I really shouldn’t have put off getting the costumes till so late, but all I can do is learn from my mistakes. We jumped just out of sight of town, close to the tailor.
“Salome I’m really sorry, I know how busy you guys are today.”
“Rose, no one cares about any of that, we’re all just so relieved to see you. We thought Paula, McCracken and Lu were going to get into a fistfight. Lu was insistent that she go in after you. Sparky told her that would cause more harm than good, you had a very limited amount of food. She was frantic ready to jump in anyways, Paula told her no, McCracken told her no. Finally Sparky said if they didn’t stop they’d all be forced out of the store, Lu included. Nobody is mad at Lu, they understand. We were all really worried, but Sparky told us exactly what was happening and that it’d take Opal a few days to draw a way out. But you were smart enough to bring plenty of paper and pencils. All we had to do was wait. He got Lu to swear that she wouldn’t touch the paper and she could stay in the store twenty four hours a day till you emerged. You wouldn’t know it the way Sparky talks to you, but he has tremendous respect for your power but more for your intelligence.”
“Gods, I find that hard to believe.”
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“It’s true, he said you figured out that she was in the drawing and insisted on going in right away and then just before going in you had already worked out how to get both of you out. He told Lu in no uncertain terms, that she needed to have as much faith in Rose as he did. That calmed Lu down fast, that’s when she apologized to McCracken and Paula.”
“So are they all friends again. I’m so sorry this is all my fault.”
“Yes of course they’re friends, they would never hold that against Lu, she was just trying to help you. She just didn’t realize that the best way to help in this instance was to do nothing. That’s not easy for someone as physical as Lu.”
“Thanks for telling me all this Salome, I had a long talk with Lu last night, but she didn’t mention any arguments. She was probably just trying to spare my feelings. If Opal is done getting her suit can she jump back with you to the bakery and help you guys or Ruby. I still need to get Paula and Juliet and get three robes, red, green and black. I shouldn’t have waited till the last minute to do this.”
“Sure she can, we’ll be happy to have her and her sister will be really happy as well, I don’t think she wanted to open the tea shop today. But she knows I ran it alone the last two days and I’d be busy inside today. Is this the place?”
“Yep, this is it, come on in and meet Elijah.”
Inside the shop. Lu looked better in the much more form fitting pants and Opal looked so cute in her suit and tiny top hat. I introduced Salome to Elijah. Told Opal she was going to help out in the bakery, gave Lu a quick kiss and dragged her out the door.
“You didn’t tell me you almost got into a fight with McCracken and Paula.”
“No, I wasn’t trying to keep it from you, I just thought you’d gone through enough over the past few days you didn’t need to hear that your girlfriend almost got into a fight with our guest and a close friend.”
“You’re right, and none of that would have happened if I didn’t jump into that drawing. I’ll apologize to them both. This was all my fault.”
“No it really wasn’t, Sparky knew what was best for you and thank Fortuna I finally listened to him, really listened. If you jump in there you’re putting both their lives at risk. Rose is the best person to handle this. The only person Opal trusts more than Rose is Ruby and Ruby doesn’t have Rose’s skills. If Rose isn't out by the fifth day, we’ll load you up with food and send you in and I’ll take the drawing to the capital and find a more powerful fey witch to draw you all out.”
“Sparky and I got in a terrible fight too. Lu. After I searched the entire store and hadn't noticed the glowing drawing, I was just kneeling on the floor sobbing, I’d given up. Sparky said to me to either get up and start the search again from the beginning or to get out of the store and tower. I got so mad at him I stopped crying and started the search again. He knew just what I needed to hear and said it. Even if I hated him for it.”
“You should tell him Rose, he deserves to hear that.”
“Your, right of course, I will after we get everyone a costume. Let’s try and find Juliet.”
We jumped to Juliet’s world and I did a locate spell.
Locate:Juliet
Juliet was in the barn. Lu and I walked in.
“Juliet gods not again.”
Juliet smirked. “Oh Rose and you brought Lu, what’s this? Rose is so bold, a foursome and we haven’t even tried a threesome yet.”
“Hello ma’am, looking forward to the play tonight.” Ivy smiled happily.
“Thanks Ivy, Lu and I will be waiting outside, Juliet.”
A few minutes later Juliet with some straw in her hair walked out of the barn.
“Why, are you two blushing, I’m the one who was naked. I don’t blush when I imagine you werewolf style.”
“JULIET.”
“Alright but you two are just so fun to tease. What are you even doing here?”
“Your costume, I’m jumping you to the tailor. Juliet.”
“Rose, I was just going to wear one of my father’s suits. Bob’s poor, he wouldn't have money for a fine suit.”
“I realize that but I’m not dressing Opal in rags. She's getting a suit and a little top hat. You should really match and it’s already paid for but if you don’t want it, I’ll get another for Lu.”
“No, I didn’t say I would not get it, are those the suit pants Lu?”
“Yes, Elijah the tailor, he altered them for me.”
“Very Nice, Rose, can I get a suit for Ivy to wear tonight?”
“Sure if he can get all the costumes done too.”
“Great, let me get Ivy and we can all jump.”
Juliet went back into the barn.
“Lu, I’m sorry about her. She can be a bit much sometimes.”
“It’s alright Rose I don’t mind and we are easy to blush. Plus you look so beautiful when you blush it’s worth getting teased myself just to see it.”
Juliet came back out with Ivy in tow.
“Rose, you and Lu are blushing again, did you just see more naked people?”
“No we did not, we’re just blushing because of how ill mannered you are. Now link hands and we’ll jump.”
We jumped to the Tranquility 2 staging area I’d used previously and made our way to Elijah’s tailor shop.
“Hi, Elijah, do you robes my size? I need three: one red, one green, one black.”
“Yes Rose I have robes in your size in red and green but no black.”
“That’s fine I’d like two red and one green then, also do you sell women's dresses?”
“No, I’m sorry Rose. Oh that’s fine Elijah. These are my friends Juliet and Ivy. They'd each like a suit. I think that’s all for today, did I give you enough money?”
“Oh yes, too much ma’am, I’ll put it on your account.”
“No, no, we’ve taken up your whole day, put it toward your wedding if you’re still thinking about getting married.”
“We are Rose, I asked her two days ago, and she said yes. Made me the happiest man in the world.”
“Congratulations Elijah I’m very happy for you. Thanks for everything today. Juliet, Ivy I’ll see you tonight.”
When we made it to the jump site I’d been using I quickly authored one of the red robes black.
“Rose, if you could just author the color, couldn't you just author all the stuff you bought today?”
“Yes I could have but Elijah is suit guy.”
“The guy who hated women is getting married, wow. I can’t believe it. So you could have authored everything but you’re trying to help the guy. That’s one of the things I love about you.”
“Oh Lu, I love you. Would you mind covering for Paula at the bakery, for maybe an hour, we just need to get her a dress as a costume.”
“Sure Rose, it'll be fun.”
We jumped to the bakery. I ran outside to talk to Ruby. Where Ruby and Salome were waiting on a completely full tea house.
“Ruby honey, I got your Robe for tonight. I’ll put it in the kitchen with Lily’s”
“Thanks, Rose,” Ruby yelled.
I went back inside and Lu was already behind the counter, helping customers. I went back into the kitchen Lily was pulling pans from the ovens.
“Lily, I’m taking Paula for her costume. Here are yours and Ruby's. Lu agreed to help while we’re gone”
“Thanks Rose, you should have had a day to rest, not bounce all over everywhere getting people’s costumes.”
“I would have if I hadn’t procrastinated till the last minute, but I am really looking forward to the play and the cast party.”
“Are you still having a cast party?”
“I was planning on it, the tower does all the work, provides the food and drink besides I think a party is just the thing we need.”
“Do you think we should skip it?”
“Not if you’re up for it, I love a good excuse to go to the tower and drink wine.”
“Right me too, besides after the play I’d be too keyed up to go home and go to sleep, I should have a quick word with Lu to see if she still wants to do it.”
I went back out into the store and whispered to Lu. “After your customer could you come to the kitchen for just a minute”
A couple minutes later, Lu came into the kitchen.
“What’s up, is anything wrong? Rose.”
“No I just want to make sure you still wanted to do a cast party after the play at the tower?”
“I do if you do, Rose, but if you’re too tired, we can cancel.”
“No, no, Lu, I don’t want to cancel, I just wanted to check with you and make sure that’s all. It’s been a hard few days but I could do with a glass of wine and a bunch of friends around. I want to properly meet Henry and Martha. I hear they’re in the play now as the Portly Gentleman. I’d also like to get to know Lottie a little better, I heard there has been a date.”
Lily blushed. “I need to get back out front. See you tonight.”
“Lu would you please ask Paula to come to the kitchen when she gets a break, she’s the last costume we need to get.”
“Sure, I’ll go replace her right now. I’m looking forward to the play and the party.”
“Me to Lu, love you and thanks for today.”
A few minutes later Paula came into the kitchen.
“Where are we going for the costume?”
“Well, I got orders from McCracken not to get you a ball gown because Mrs Cratchit is poor. But I talked Juliet your ‘husband’ into an expensive suit. What if we jump into Sherlock’s London, buy you a really nice dress then damage it, get it dirty so you can’t tell it’s that nice. Then after the play go back to the tower, put the dress on a dresser and two minutes later you have a nice dress. Does that sound alright to you?”
“What’s our backup?”
“Well we could jump to Ju…”
“Wait, wait. Rose I just love your intricate plans and I just had to know if you had a backup and of course you did. Let’s go to Sherlock’s London.”
We jumped to Bond St in Sherlock’s London, I authored British pounds in my pocket and we went window shopping.
“So Paula, just pick out something you think Eldara will like you in.”
“She likes layers because she enjoys taking them off.”
“Well then you should do all your shopping in Victorian London then.”
“Yeah Rose, you're right I never thought of that.”
“I’m sorry if I caused a fight between you and Lu and McCracken, I hope I didn’t ruin your relationship.”
“Rose not at all, neither myself nor McCracken took it personally. She was desperate with worry. We’d be pretty crappy friends if we held something like that against her. She didn’t care if it endangered herself, she stopped fighting when Sparky told her she’d do my harm then good. Then he gave her a solid plan. If you and Opal weren't out in five days. He’d load Lu up with food and send her in personally.”
“Good Paula, I hate it when friends fight but I’d feel even worse if I were the cause of it.”
“You were not, I promise you McCracken and I still love Lu and you too. Plus I just found my dress. Look at that hunter green dress in the window, I want that and all the underthings that go with it. I just hope it fits.”
“Just buy it and all the accessories, then I’ll author that it fits perfectly and it will.”
Then we jumped back to the bakery. I picked up Lu and my costume and we started to walk home.
“Lu would you mind if I run in and talk to Sparky for a minute, I need to thank him and apologize to him.”
“Sure Rose, I’ll be waiting in the lane for you, take your time, we have plenty of time, Lily gave me a portal muffin to portal to the library. So we just need to change and get dressed. Please tell Sparky, I want to thank him for keeping you safe and me under control.”
I went into the book store.
“Hi Sparky, I came to say thank you and to apologize. When I broke down, after not finding Opal on that first pass. I felt defeated. Then having you taunt me made me so so angry. That anger allowed me to get back on my feet just to prove you wrong. I want to apologize if I said anything to you, I know I thought some horrible things, so I apologize for anything said or thought.”
“Rose, I’m really hard on you, because you are the best student I’ve ever had, ever will have. Don’t take it all too much to heart. Also when I was teaching you about fields the other day did I not tell you, you are not your thoughts. Now go and have a good time at your play tonight and unlike Scrooge I don’t mind giving employees a day off, so I’ll see you the day after tomorrow before the first bell, along with the senior apprentice if she’s up to it. Understood?”
“Understood.”
