The short strawberry blonde haired woman reluctantly laces up her brown Doc Martens boots, and looks into the mirror one last time.
"Come on Y/N/N. you'll have fun. i guarantee it." Her best friend says as she pulls the black velvet cape around her shoulders, then notices the somewhat reluctant look on her friend's face. "Please Y/N? Help me out."
The young woman sighs. "Alright Mani. I'll help."
"Oh, thank you. I know you're going to have a great time." She heads for the door. "Okay, lets go."
The drive down to the fairgrounds is pleasant. Having left the confines of the hustle and bustle of the city is a relief for Normani. As soon as they reach past the city limits, she rolls down the window to breathe in the freash pine scented air.
The young blonde shakes her head at her childhood friend and laughs. Ever since they were kids, Normani has always enjoyed the outdoors. The two of them used to spend all of their summer nights out in the yard sleeping under the stars, or in Normani's tent.
Normani parks the red Jeep Cherokee in the grassy field following the entrance sign of the fairgrounds. They walk through the field of vehicles all parked in neat double rows. "Okay, now I have an extra cape at the booth you can wear. You'll need to keep it on since you're in jeans."
"And what's wrong with my jeans?" the small woman states.
"Humor me, will ya? You know everyone here aside from the customers are in costume."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Don't these people have regular lives by the way?"
"Y/N/N, what's wrong with you? I'm normal --- wait, don't answer that. Look everyone has a regular life and job. This event only happens once a year. We all look forward to it. It's our opportunity to travel back in time and have fun with it." Normani shows her pass at the front gate to a large bellied gray bearded man wearing charcoal jodhpurs with black boots and a loose white drawstring shirt.
"Ah good morning Normani. And good morning to you young lady." He dips his head in a courtly manner.
"Morning Walt." Normani states.
Y/N chimes in with, "Morning."
They walk through the dirt covered roads, past chickens and goats, and little wooden shops just beginning to open.
"I can't believe I'm at a renaissance fair." Y/N comments and follows her best friend into the booth that has been designated as Normani's Shoppe of Crystals, Tarot, & Magic. She helps unlock the shutters and begins setting out the glass case of gemstone wands. "I do love these wands you've created over the year. You're handiwork is marvelous, and you've done so well in picking out just the right color of stones for each one. Ya know, I still need to get one of these for myself."
"Well how about this. Since you have been so gracious to accompany me today, you can choose one of those wands for yourself --- as a token of my thanks." Normani comments as she sets a black crushed velvet cloth on a small round wooden table.
In the middle she lays her deck of tarot cards. "Plus your palm reading skills are going to be great use in the shop today, and I appreciate it." She walks to the blonde and placing a hand on her shoulder, she says, "Thanks again."
Y/N/N gives her a lopsided grin. "What are friends for? Come on let's finish cause I'd like to take a walk around this place before the grounds open."
The windows and door of the Leather & Weapons Shoppe open, letting in the bright morning sun. The tall figure sets out a few of the long broadswords on wooden holders. Leather satchels hang near the doorway, battle-axes adorn the walls and daggers are lined up in a glass case below the counter. The blonde-haired beauty breathes in the cool early morning air as she runs long fingers through blonde locks cascading past her shoulders.
"Good morning Aunt Dinah." A young teenage Goth girl says as she stands in the doorway. Her black velvet dress and heeled boots compliment her black fingernails and lipstick. The small ring in her nose matches the one in her eyebrow. A silver stud protrudes from below her bottom lip. Blonde hair equals that of the older woman. The only physical difference between the two would be in height. The teenager happens to be five inches shorter than her relative is.
Dinah turns to the young girl. Dark chocolate eyes look at her discerningly from a chiseled face. "Morning Ally. Ready to work?"
"Sure am. And may I say you are looking debonair this morning. That outfit is the best one yet."
Dinah sports black leather breeches tucked into black suede calf boots. The boots have a purple Celtic design running up the outer side of it. She has a white highwayman's shirt and a black and deep purple striped suede hamlet doublet. A musketeer hat and black hooded cape, which complete the ensemble, hang on a peg behind the counter. (outfit below) "Thank you. And you're looking good in your usual."
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"Do you mind if I go pick up something to eat, before the place gets crowded with screaming kids and ogling customers? I didn't have breakfast."
Dinah smiles. "Sure."
"Thanks. I'll be back in ten minutes." She skips off down the dirt pathway.
The tall woman picks up a short sword and attaches it to her hip belt, and a dagger is inserted into the sheath of her right boot.She takes a seat on the wooden bench just outside the doorway and watches as the other merchants finish opening up their shops. Across the way she takes notice of the crystals, tarot, and magic shop.
