Holly grimaced. "That will indeed take longer. I have never seen him dressed up. We never had reason to. I'm not sure what he likes. I would suggest something that had baggy sleeves, so he could hide his...claws. He does not appreciate them. He likes to keep them hidden." Holly glanced around the shop, to see if they had a male section. "Se smart dress robes, should do."

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"The colors maroon and black would look good on him...come! This way." she grabbed Holly's hand and dragged her to a men's shop. "Black baggy sleeves...maroon vest...and...goodness! Half white half black mask! Look at this Holly!" Mariel exclaimed as she pulled an outfit from the back.

Holly nodded in agreement. "He would look so handsome. She toyed with a fitting white shirt. If only she could find a black overcoat, with the same wide arms. "If he's going to wear a black and white mask, shouldn't his outfit match?" she wondered.

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"It will. The shirt is black, dear." Mariel shook her head slightly. "Your mask is white, but your dress is black. It creates intrigue." she laughed.

Holly blushed slightly. Fashion had never been her forte. "Oh, I see," she giggled nervously. "Off course. I can see that now," she brushed her nerves off and collected the clothes. Mariel was indeed right. Morohtar would look handsome in these clothes. He was handsome regardless, off course. Holly grinned brightly, as excitement settled in her bones. They all needed this. Things were certainly beginning to look brighter.

Morohtar, after having left Lairiel seething for long enough, returned and knocked on her door. "Lairiel? Forgive me. I do not wish to bother you, but I could use your help if you could spare it. I have never danced before and therefore haven't the first clue how to. I would really like to surprise and impress Holly this evening. I was wondering if you could to teach me a thing or two."

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Mariel was beaming. "Mayhap a bite to eat before we go back?" she nodded towards the vendors selling their street food. "There are some choice dishes you may take an interest in." she winked.

Lairiel snorted. "I can try." she shoved her pipe between her teeth and stood. "There will most likely be lots of slow dances Holly will like you to join." she hesitated, then stepped towards him. She took his hands, setting one awkwardly on her hip and the other she placed her own in. "You'll take the lead on this one, but follow me for now. Remember, don't step on my toes." she warned. She began to step, sway, and lead him in the timeless dance. She knew it by heart, unfortunately. "This one ain't hard, all you gotta do is remember to not step on her toes and to not bump into the other couples there." She said gruffly.

Holly nodded, her brows raising in interest. She swapped the bags onto her left arm as she looked over the various stalls. There was food there, that she had never heard of let alone tried. In truth she was spoilt for choice. The food looked wonderfully delicious. "What do you recommend?" Holly asked warmly, looking to Mariel for support.

Morohtar grimaced deeply, biting his tongue in concentration. He realised his hands were beginning to sweat. "Step, step, step," he said over and over again. "I really don't want to embarrass her," he frowned.

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"There's a wonderful soup...made with shrimp and curry. And this bread..." she pointed. "Is more like a pastry than anything!" she grinned. "And we're getting hot cocoa."

"You won't embarrass her. You're doing fine." Lairiel showed him more of the lead steps. "When you hear the music, it'll most likely come naturally."

Holly tasted some of the soup and bread, her eyes widening with delight. "Well those are just simply delicious. But I can't go filling up on food, I shall be to sluggish to dance!" Holly followed Mariel to the cocoa stand. "I cannot say no to this though," she grinned.

"War, work, fleeing cross country I can do, but dancing..." Morohtor jumped slightly, narrowly avoiding Lairiel's feet. "Sorry," he grimaced. "It's not as if I can hold her...delicately. These things will cut right into her..." His grimace turned into a deep frown. "Even if I could dance, these would still embarrass her."

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Mariel smiled and ordered two cups of the steaming treat. "I still say you should eat something. It is still hours yet before the dance!"

Lairiel rolled her eyes. "No. She's not. In fact, I believe she won't even be thinking about them."

"You're right. I certainly don't want to go fainting," she chuckled faintly as she accepted the soup from Mariel. "It is too delicious to pass up on too," she giggled again. She peered around the courtyard and crossed over to a vacant table. "Thank you for this Mariel," she smiled brightly, looking up to the woman who was for all intensive purposes her mother.

Morohtar sighed heavily. "Maybe you're right..." He drew Lairiel in closer, in attempt to take lead in the dancing. "Let me know if I am doing it wrong..." he murmured nervously as his hold on her grip tightened slightly. He stepped to the side, back, back to the side and forward. He cast his eyes to the ground, careful not to stand on her toes.

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"No need to thank me! I've enjoyed it too." Mariel grinned and sat down with her own soup. "It has been a day I have much needed." she spooned some of the soup into her mouth and looked around. "So. You'll allow me to help with the wedding plans, right?" she winked.

Lairiel raised an eyebrow. "You're doing fine. You catch on quick." she hated dancing. Hated it. But she would allow it this one time.

"I'm glad you are having as good a time as me, Mariel. I do not believe I have laughed this much in ages!" Holly picked at her soup, taking in the neighbouring stalls. She had to stop herself from spitting out her mouthful at Mariel's next question. She swallowed heavily. "What wedding? I think Morohtar is far from that..." she chuckled nervously.

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( Pressed the wrong button. Sorry)

Morohtar ventured a glance up at Lairiel. "You really think so? You dance amazingly yourself." His smile turned into a grimace as he lost his footing and landed on his back, Lairiel tumbling ontop of him. "Sorry," he murmured awkwardly, gazing into Lairiel's eyes.

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She chuckled. "It'll happen. Don't worry." she patted Holly's hand with a knowing smile. "Eventually." she winked again, enjoying the time away from stress, namely, Lairiel. She smiled as she finished her soup and cocoa. "Where would you like to go next?"

The breath was knocked out of Lairiel. She winced, then blinked, staring down at him. She scrambled to her feet. "It's fine. It happens." she brushed herself off awkwardly.

"We're so young though...Well i'm so young. I can only begin to imagine what rumors would spread should we do such a thing as get married." Holly played with her soup, laying her head in her hand. "Still...It would be really wonderful if it happened. I cannot imagine anyone I would rather spend the rest of my life with than him." She sat up slightly. "I think I need to start telling him these things. I have been so awful to him lately. So much has happened lately...We seem to have grown apart slightly."

Morohtar drew himself up into a sitting position. "I am so sorry...I don't know what happened..." he folded his arms around his legs. "I'm terrible at this kind of thing...I'm certainly not a romantic...I am sort of blind to that sort of stuff...This is just not my forte."

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