The Fox, Red

033 - Slowdown in Town

The first stop is our main stop. Ideally, it shouldn't take us more than half an hour to get me some new clothes but I think I'm going to surprise Anne with a few things for her. It's a good hour's ride into town where Madam Odette's driver drops us off at her approved spot for me to go shopping. It's a decently sized store for the size of the town. They should have everything I'm looking for. A coat that will fit over the custom suit then I know I'll need a few long sleeve shirts. Maybe something thicker for when it really gets cold. An extra coat would be nice as well.

Anne follows me in grabbing a small trolley cart. I don't think I will need one but she just grabbed one. I wonder if Anne has gone shopping with Madam Odette and she just acts on habit as I do. Her job is to serve and work under her so I wouldn't be surprised if she just acts on some things without thinking.

We make it maybe ten feet into the store before a doe, who looks rather important, stops us asking if we need help. She's wearing a very business-professional suit which is oddly uncharacteristic of everyone else I see working here. I say no to her but she continues to follow us around trying to stay out of sight. I keep pinging a short range to keep an eye on them. They don't mean any harm but I have a feeling I know why they are so nosy. Anne and I walk around collecting a fair amount of clothes that look decent, feel comfortable, and should fit. I just have to try them on.

I find the changing rooms and I can still feel eyes on me. "Anne, can you keep the cart right here?" I point to a spot against the wall where she'll have to keep it sideways blocking the aisle. She nods, "Yes, Sir Red." She stands there with her hands together in front of her while I look over what we grabbed. "I need you to stay here for a second." I grab a couple of articles of clothing walking into the changing room. I shut one of the doors after hanging up a few things. I send out a ping and I can see the person is around the corner staying out of sight. Meaning they're trying to listen.

Sound is movement in the air. I can sweep the air away so it doesn't travel in a direction or block it completely to move quietly. "Focus Red." I'm still sore but something small shouldn't be a problem. I step out putting my finger over my lips letting Anne know to be as quiet as she can. She gives me a nod as I walk around her. With quick focus and execution, I create a small bubble around me. It keeps sounds in amplifying it for me but doesn't let it travel outward. I get around the wall dropping the focus. I can see the deer's short tail sticking around the corner as she leans in to try and listen. I can creep up behind her without assistance at this point.

She's not much shorter than I am but enough that I can lean over her and get to her ear without her knowing I'm there. With a quiet whisper, I reveal that I'm there, "Whatcha listening for?" She launches herself forward from around the corner into one of the racks pushing it out of place. She clutches her chest trying to straighten herself up. I give her a chance to recover before I address her. "What's your name, please?" She stutters out "Vanessa" before she finally stands up straight again.

"Vanessa, a pleasure to meet you. My name's Red but I'm guessing you already knew that, don't you?" I have a feeling that Madam Odette's all-reaching hand played into this. "No sir, I was just making sure that you were well taken care of." Her nervous smile is a dead giveaway. I don't want to mess with this poor woman if Madam Odette is pulling some strings with her. Nothing I can do except get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible. "Did Lady Odette set you up for this?"

As her face goes white I already have my answer. "Yea, that's what I thought. What did she ask you to do?"

"Just to make sure you got what you needed..."

She's gotten even more sheepish. She's done nothing wrong. Madam Odette is a rather big player in this town. Everyone learns who she is at this point. I'm almost certain that she could own everything she wanted to. I'd bet with a few words she could destroy a business. Or just buy it to kick out someone she doesn't like. "Well Vanessa, I want you to know something. I am not Lady Odette or by extension any part of her." I start off stern making sure that she understands that I'm not messing around but I quickly change my tone. "So just treat me like anybody else. Same with Anne. We're just customers."