Nightly Lessons Book I: The Book of Beginnings

[Peeker]

"I was wondering, Lucy... Would you have time to join us for dinner tonight, love?"

Aleksandr spoke up almost immediately - the tension was not great, but it was there, in his voice.

Lucy lifted the box lightly. "That depends on what the damage is on this little number. What say you come into the back with me, and we'll see what we can do here, alright, Miss Alice?"

Aleksandr nodded thankfully. "I'll see you in a moment, alright, Alice?" He smiled, not unkindly - his voice was lighter. Relieved.

Lucy's backroom was spacious - a large table with a seamstress' many tools dominated the room, and covered the rim of the surface. The box was opened, and the dress unfolded. Lucy nodded, saying nothing.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Sure, no problem...umm, Aleks," Alic elifted Klo and held him out to Aleks. "Could you hold him for a bit?"

She secretly wanted Aleks to have company while she talked to Lucy alone, something which was easier without a squirming puppy in hand.

"I'm really sorry Lucy. Razziel just... got me pretty upset with what he did to Janus. I mean... I've seen animals whom were kinder towards their young then that."

She looked over at the grown curiously.

"Can you fix it?" She noted Lucy's nod and sigh in relief. "Good... I like that one too...... um Lucy? I'm really curious about it, but I don't want to hurt Aleks by asking but... who is or was Sara?"

[Peeker]

"I think Aleksandr invited me to dinner because he'd like us to talk of her over food... perhaps some wine will loosen our tongues."

She studied the tear, nodded, and reached for a spool of thread. "It isn't a bad tear. No problem, dear... It could have been far worse." She deftly threaded a needle, but did not begin to sew - she lowered the tool, and instead started measuring at the tear with her hands.

"Sara... is complicated. She and Aleksandr were once very young, and very much in love... she... they are very much tied up in each other, even now - their social circles are similar, their alliances born from the same interests.... it is only they, themselves, that cannot meet... It has to do with..."

"With a great many things." Aleksandr said softly from the door. "Would you be so good as to stay out here with me, Alice, and wait while Lucy finishes?"

The woman smiled softly, and turned back to her work.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Sure, Aleks," Alice smiled at him as Klo tried to convince the man to play with him. "I'm sure Lucy doesn't want me looking over her shoulders anyway. Klo stop that."

The puppy didn't stop until Alice sat down and lifted him, tucke dhim to her chest and rested her head against Aleks' shoulder.

"we still need to get him a collar and leash you know." She poked Aleks in a ticklish spot be acciendt and grinnied. "I could run down to the mall really fast a get him one."

She continued to poke, finding her new discovery very amusing.

[Peeker]

"Well...." Aleksandr sighed. The poking had to stop, and he really had wanted Lucy to just get the work over with so he could go home and have a stiff drink. "You can go, but Klo has to stay with me. You've been cuddling him long enough to know just how big he is, and whoever's at the store can help you with the rest..."

Aleksandr looked dimly at Alice. "I know I don't need to say it, but you behave yourself, Miss Harker." He smiled, softly, to let her know he meant it in good fun.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"you're no fun," She grinned as she grabbed his keys. "I need to get my wallet."

She hopped outside and scanned the car, knowing it was most likely in there somewhere and hit herself on the head. She had left it at home, too conscerned with Klo to grab it.

"I'll jus tpay Aleks back," She took a few bills out of his wallet, not a lot, but more then what was needed for a collar and leash, before locking the door. "I'm sure he won't mind as long as I pay him back..."

Hopping inside again, Alice tossed him the keys back.

"Thankies! I'm off," She gave all three of them a way. "i'll be back in a bit, Klo be good."

With that she turned and left.

Klo sat horror struct. Sure he had been left alone before but this was the first time he had been left by his mistress in an unknown place with just her master. Wit the same reaction a toddler has to their mother leaving, Klo hopped over the the door and scratched it, letting out a series of whines. When he realized Alice wasn't returning he sat down and let out a series of bone chilling howls, which to blood hounds was a normal cry.

[Peeker]

Aleksandr, of course, was left with the blasted mutt, making sure it didn't break anything - he held it by the nape of its neck, as that was the only way to avoid becoming it new chewtoy or scratching post. Nothing, however, would stop its infernal racket....

Aleksandr knew. He'd tried bouncing, petting, scratching, and talking to it. The only thing left was singing to it and giving it a bottle, and that wasn't happening, so...

The howls continued, much to Lucy's amusement. She'd missed hellhounds. They were one of her favorite memories of House Dornell...

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

Alice was practicly skipping her way down to the mall. Ignorring the strange looks she got from by passers or the cat calls she got from boys. She quickly ran into the pet shop and got Klo a strong red leather collar with a tag for him and a chain leash to hold him wiith and a blue bouncing ball to play fetch with him.

"Right and since I have a little exstra time... HOT TOPIC!" She gave a small cheer and ran to the store, knowing she didn't want ot waist any time. After all she was really only suppose to go to the pet store. "Hmmm... arm socks, wrist bands, underwear, pants, Ts and oooooh that dress."

A small the boys that followed her out of the store calling to her to get her attention. They disbanded though when she ignorred them completely and bought herself a cup of dippy dots icecream to enough on the way back.She quickly hopped about, getting herself a good two large bangs of stuff before making her way back. When she did reach Lucy's store again, having used a good hours time, she tossed the clothing into the trunk and grabbed the collar out of the bag.

"Klon's going to love... what in the..." Alice blinked when she heard Klo's cries. Opening hte door, Alice glared at Alkes. "Aleks what the hell are you doing to Klo? Did you step on him or something?"

[Peeker]

In truth, the dog had simply worn itself out. It lay on the floor whimpering, exhausted.....

...until Alice came in. The creature dashed over to its mistress' side.

Aleksandr had a nearly empty cup of tea in his hand. Lucy was sitting next to him at a small table. The dress' box was lying on a third chair. "Buying a leash does not take an hour, young lady...."

The worry that had been creasing Aleksandr's face, however, had vanished, Lucy noted. She decided that before anyone could say anything dumb, they should move towards dinner. "Aleks has promised me I can drive." She smiled. "Lets head back to the manor and eat, you two. I'm famished."

Alek gave Lucy a slight look. He was getting tired of the woman overridding other people's ideas... but let it go. She was right - he was hungry as well.

[Kira_Wolf_Cub]

"Yeah, I got a little side tracked," Alice bent down to put the collar around Klo's neck. "there don't you look smart now.... Lucy's driving?!?"

Alice clapped her hands together as if to say 'thank you God' before looking at Lucy. "Tell you you don't drive fast like Aleks... please."

Klo however was suddenly very hyper. he started to run around Alice yipping loudly as if to tell her what happened after she left. He was happy she was back just as he was for the collar, although he had no idea what it was.

*Bark! Bark! Bark!* And then it happened, Klo ran over to Lucy's dresses and started threading threw them.

"Klo! Heel!" Alice realized in horror the puppy was over stimulated and made a mad dash for him. She
ran after him, knocking some of the gowns down her wake and grabbed the puppy just before it managed to get one of Lucy's favorite dresses in his mouth. "Got you!"

The room was in shanbles as Alice smiled nervously at A horror struct Lucy and annoyed Aleks.

"At lest he didn't *RIP!* rip?" She turned to see that He had torn a bit of lace off one of the dresses. It wasn't back, bu tit was noticable. "Oh... shit. Bad dog!"