"Oi, Oi, Oi, watch the material, midget." Kenny hissed as he read the newspaper and watched Levi cut away at the cloth. Levi spared him one lour before he returned to his work. "That one is for Doctor Jäger's wife, Dina Jäger, you must be careful while you handle that dress." Kenny put his papers down and took out two glasses of whisky and began to count at the money, his nephew and him had made for the day. Levi inspected his uncle with his azure eyes whilst he slashed at the mint charmeuse silk. His plan of design was a strap dress with a gold embroidery made of rubies and sapphires to create the Marleyan flag across the breast of the dress. Black feathers at her shoulders to tail outwards and down her straps and a ink bowler hat with pearl earrings and a pearl necklace for the final touch. Dina Jäger was a posh beauty and Levi sensed that fact would approve of his powerful design. "Ah... Levi! Have a look at this! Can you believe it?!" Kenny raised the newspaper high above his head so that his preoccupied nephew would see. "What a beauty!" Levi almost choked as his eyes preformed cobalt. A woman was imprinted onto the back cover of the newspaper, as for the title, it read, 'Hanji Zöe'. "Moblit Berner's wife-to-be! He's that squeaky-clean farmer boy, isn't he?! Well... his father's death has left him with quite the sum and all of those acres... imagine the currency..." Kenny groaned and lazily eyed the display of stacked coins on his desk which he had yet to count. Levi snatched the paper out of the older man's hands without warning. "Oi! Can't expect good manners from a midget like yourself..." Kenny insulted and returned to his task as accountant. "Old man... you're starting to become forgetful... I wasn't raised by myself." Levi owned the newspaper as he sauntered away indulged in the photograph. "What a beautiful woman..." Levi took his seat and smoke escaped his fresh cigar. "Oh... you better not say what you feel out there... she's a woman about to be married." Kenny smirked in a smug way. "You'll get shot either by her father or that Berner fellow." Kenny chuckled in grim. "Her nose is hooked, yet it brings out the vivacity kept hidden in those orbs, and her hair is silky although somewhat broken, allows her smile to capture..." Levi thought hard to reason but could not conclude an answer. "Get some rest, alright, I don't want you to ruin the material I bought from Rome." Kenny grumbled and murmured numbers under his breath as he counted. Levi had to glunch at his uncle before he reclaimed his position in front of his fabric to proceed to incise it into the shape he desired. His mind dreamt of a chance to meet Hanji Zöe, the woman in the newspaper, in reality although the probability was low. Their tailor shop, 'Ackerman Designare' was not a sought-after place and especially not by the rich folk. Levi had began this business with his childhood friend, Furlan. Their business was of great success with rich folk interested enough to come and admire his designs but Furlan had to leave to take care of his sick mother in Scotland and Levi was left to partner up with his uncle Kenny who had left prison. Kenny only thought of money, Levi didn't dislike wealth but wasn't as insatiable as his uncle. Levi finalised the shapes of material with a few final cuts, the doorbell rang, a customer had arrived but the shop was to close. "My apologises, sir, we close at this time, I'll take your name, for an appointment at a better time." Levi contended. A figure with a black bucket hat and long grey coat had entered, they wore dark trousers and a vest over their milk shirt with a red tie to support their look. "Yes, sir?" Levi inquired at the tiny reception. "Could I have some fruit tea?" Levi was befuddled and realised the customer's eyes were latched onto his abandoned half-drunk cup of cold fruit tea atop his reception desk. "We don't sell, unfortunately, sir." Levi could not help but grumble. "But you do have some, don't you?" The customer's bronze eyes compelled Levi through the foggy glasses. "Please, your glasses might be covered in shit- my apologises, filth, I meant to say." Levi took out a silk napkin from the inside of his verdant velvet jacket and apologised for his bluntness. The pause of silence had Levi understand that it was a grave offence and mistake he had made towards his customer. "Please-" Levi adjured the napkin once more but was interrupted by a creepy and quiet giggle. "Hehehehehe...." The sound came from his customer. "Sir?" Levi made a face, "Hahahaha!!!" Their laughter filled not the room alone but the entire building and Levi wondered if his uncle had heard them. "It is late in the day, soften your tone, sir." Levi directed unable to predict the person. "You are quite blunt, not many are so honest as yourself," They smiled and Levi picked up on the chestnut of their pupils once more. "Sir, I can give you these times for tomorrow, 2:30 or 3:30, what time will be alright for you?" Levi held a navy pen in his hand and waited for a response. "Will I have my tea or...?" They leaned over the reception desk as if their tea were somewhere atop it already prepared for them. Levi's forehead had clashed with theirs for he had peered up to look at them. They wailed back in pain with their hand to their forehead alike Levi who groaned instead. "I'll get your tea, alright, just tell me what time!" Levi barked with impatience at them. The customer removed their hat and loosened the red tie. Silk, brindle piles of hair had pooled down at her shoulders with perfection like his custom-made dresses. Their eyes like claret wine had intoxicated him enough to remember the woman in the photograph on the newspaper he had saw from before. "Hanji Zöe?" Levi's tone was in feathers, "Hanji Zöe... I've been bursting with excitement!" She startled him after she affirmed her name with vivid eyes. "Huh?" Levi expressed disorientation. "Your designs! They're so beautiful and skilfully made! I had to come and see for myself!" Hanji exclaimed with whimsical arm movements. "You want to see the dresses I've made..?" Levi found it difficult to believe. "Could you?! That be wonderful if you could!" Hanji slammed both her hands on the desk with a big smile. "What's all this noise for, Levi?!" Kenny opposed the loudness. The older man's eyebrows flinched and his eyes grew, he shook as he pointed his finger at Hanji. "H-Hanji Zöe!" He was perplexed it had seemed, "Levi, this must be a sign for you to elope with the woman—" Kenny elbowed his nephew in his side and whispered so that Hanji wouldn't be able to hear. "What'd you want, a wedding dress, mam?" Kenny seized Hanji's shoulder and bought her into a side-hug with the toothiest grin. "Levi, my nephew, he'll make you the most beautiful wedding dress, thanks to all that I've taught him, right, Levi?!" Kenny lied and Levi shoved off his hand on his shoulder. "You taught me to sew?" Levi scoffed at his uncle with sarcasm. Levi had his concentration on Hanji and both became lost in each other. "Miss Zöe, you'll have to come back, tomorrow, at an earlier time. It is late in the night, now." Levi apprised. Hanji was stunned along with Kenny. "What'd you mean, Levi?! She's come all this way and you're just gonna send our guest back!" Kenny bickered. Levi glared at his uncle before moving his eyes back up at her. "I understand. 3:30 as for the time. I'll see you, then, it was a pleasure to meet you and..." Hanji shook Levi's hand in acceptance but trailed, "About that fruit tea?" Her innocent looks had bewildered Levi and he had forgotten all about her request from before. "Right... away..." Levi ambled into the back of the shop where the kitchen was after he heaved his eyes off her pureness. "Hmph, my nephew ain't so bad looking, ay? Hanji, mam, if there is any hesitation with your vows..." Kenny was about to propose something but Levi made his way into the room because he had already made the fruit tea. Hanji finished her tea and gave the empty cup back to Levi, their hands touched. Hanji looked away from his mighty gaze on her. "3:30." Levi made certain after he opened up the door for her to go. They studied each other once more, "3:30." Hanji comprehended and left his shop. "Levi... control yourself... I feel awkward with my nephew all Romeo like that... not the way I raised you... brainwash the rich woman, not be brainwashed, Ugh!" Kenny walked back inside with pocketed hands and a false nauseated expression. Levi observed his uncle as he exited the room, he had a small smile on his face. "Hanji Zöe... a tea-length, column dress... the colour, red." Levi planned.
