Disclaimer: The characters of Jarlaxle, Entreri, the Underdark, Faerûn, the drow, and other aspects of Forgotten Realms are the creations of R.A. Salvatore. I seek not to steal from his creation but only to humbly expand. The character of Jarian however is my creation.

Pour, drink, sigh, pour, drink, sigh. . .a drow had reduced Artemis Entreri to drinking. This particular drow's name was Jarian.

It wasn't that Entreri was becoming a drunk. No. . .the bitter, yet sweet liquid made him less stressful. He was an assassin known for his composure, his unshakable ability to remain emotionless. It seemed that Jarian was the antithesis to breaking all that.

I will not let him get to me, Entreri thought. I am Artemis Entreri, the sound of my name strikes fear into the hearts of my enemies. He paused in his thoughts, I don't want to know what Jarian thinks when he says my name. . .

He shook his head and drained another mug.

Jarlaxle walked into Entreri's room without knocking. He raised an eyebrow; due to the fact the door was already unlocked. "Entreri, how many drinks have you had?"

Entreri turned around to look at Jarlaxle, narrowed his eyes slightly, and then motioned to a row of empty bottles. "I lost count after six."

"Oh please, you've probably kept a running count in your head of how many sips you've taken," Jarlaxle retorted. "Is Jarian really that bad?"

"You like the clothing he makes for you," Entreri replied. "You're biased."

"That is because he is a hidden genius of fashion."

Entreri rolled his eyes. "My point exactly."

"Now Entreri, it would not do if you were drunk around Jarian. His feelings may get hurt," Jarlaxle said.

Entreri fixed a look on him.

Pausing, "all right, so he may take advantage of you."

"I'm fine," Entreri said. He went to stand, but after a moment he sat back down as the words seemed to sink in. "Take. . .advantage. . .of. . .me?"

"Don't be coy," Jarlaxle smirked. "Would you like me to go into detail?"

"No," Entreri said, with a hint of swiftness. "That's quite all right."

"Anyway, I came here for a reason," Jarlaxle said. "Jarian needs to measure you."

Entreri paused in his drinking. "Measure me?"

"Yes, measure you. He is rather the perfectionist when it comes to making outfits."

"Hasn't he already measured me while I've slept?" Entreri asked the question with his voice heavily laced with sarcasm, but his eyes widened slightly when Jarlaxle didn't reply right away. "Jarlaxle?"

Jarlaxle blinked. "Oh, my apologies, I couldn't get over the fact that you used sarcasm without hiding it. But, you will have to be measured. I believe that Jarian is waiting."

"I have to be measured now?"

"Yes, and it would be nice if you were sober," Jarlaxle trailed off and handed a vial of liquid to him.

"What is it?"

"It will give you quite the headache, but you shall have all your faculties about you."

Entreri took the vial from Jarlaxle's hand and stared at it for a long moment. "There are no other side effects I should know about?"

"No, now drink up, Jarian awaits."

Entreri took a breath and drank from the vial. Its crystalline content made its way down his throat and he could feel the beginning of a headache, yet he could also feel the heaviness of his previous drinking fade away. Taking another breath he followed Jarlaxle.

Jarian practically danced in his tailoring room. . .all right, he was technically dancing, but he was levitating in the air while doing so. Ideas about Entreri's outfit whirled in his head, along with matching accessories. He had made quite a few sketches of his ideas and consulted his various tomes (that he wrote) about form fitting outfits. Of course he had to make sure that Entreri's outfit would not overwhelm Jarlaxle's. After all, his leader, next to himself, was to possess the best fashion sense in the Underdark, if not all of Faerûn.

His attention turned to the door as Jarlaxle entered, his attention then did a back flip of joy as he saw Entreri. While it has not yet been proven that a drow's attention is capable of back flips, it has been suggested that Jarian's attention is capable of such, for after all he is Jarian.

"Welcome to my chamber!" Jarian extended his arms and showed off the brightly decorated tailoring room.

Jarlaxle nudged Entreri for a reaction. Entreri was momentarily blinded by the colors of the room, but he recovered quickly. "Thanks, now can we please get this over with?"

With a grin, Jarian nodded enthusiastically. His hand went to a coiled length of measuring cord. It rested like a whip at his side and when Jarian unfurled it, actually snapping it at his side. . .Entreri felt the urge to run out of the room. There were several things that stopped him from doing the aforementioned, a) he had to get through this ordeal to gain a certain amount of privacy, b) Jarian might get excited and give chase, and c) Jarlaxle's hand was on his shoulder to prevent him from doing such a thing.

Jarlaxle patted Entreri's shoulder and moved toward the door. "I have some business to attend to and I shall return once it is finished. Jarian, I trust that you are capable of gaining the measurements you require. Do not do anything to provoke Entreri. And Entreri, you are to do what Jarian says within reason. . .and I will know what is within reason, so do make your decisions wisely."

Entreri watched Jarlaxle leave and inwardly moved him up in his mental 'to kill' list.

Jarian waved goodbye to his leader, then turned his gaze to Entreri. "So now we are alone. . .and in one of my chambers." He seductively thrust his hair over his shoulder.

Entreri just stared at him. "Don't you have some measuring to do?"

"Right, of course," Jarian said, smoothing his hair to its normal position. It appeared he would have to work a little harder to make Entreri fall for him. His usual tactics would have to be refined. "Come over here and take your clothes off."

"Excuse me?" Entreri fought to keep his voice steady and not rise into a high-pitched squeak. High-pitched squeaks are not befitting of an assassin. "Taking my clothes off is hardly 'within reason' as Jarlaxle so aptly put."

"A drow can dream," Jarian said with a wistful sigh. This elicited a subtle twitch from Entreri that went unnoticed. "But you will have to remove your weapons, your boots, and your shirt."

"My weapons?" Entreri shook his head. He should be more worried about removing his shirt. Regardless of his protesting mind he placed his weapons on a table at the side. Jarian watched in awe as Entreri pulled out weapons from pockets he didn't even know existed. . .it got him excited. Entreri removed his boots and then after a brief pause removed his shirt.

Jarian stared at a vision of perfection. His immaculately sculpted chest rippled with each breath the assassin took. A small amount of sweat glistened as faerie fire reflected off of the small droplets, creating rainbows in his eyes. His-

"Ahem. . ."

Jarian blinked, it seemed his train of thought was running away from him. "Oh yes, the task at hand."

Entreri shifted and stood rigidly as Jarian bade him to sit down. He watched as Jarian proceeded to measure his foot.

Jarian lightly touched each of Entreri's toes and experimentally tickled the bottom of his feet with a feather. When he got no response he almost seemed to pout.

"I'm not ticklish," Entreri said.

"Everyone is ticklish," Jarian easily replied. "It's all a matter of finding that special spot." His fingers started to walk up Entreri's ankle.

Entreri quickly stood and Jarian took that opportunity to measure his arms and height. Jarian chuckled when he measured Entreri's hips, so close yet so far away. His eyes widened slightly as he asked, "Entreri have you removed all of your hidden weapons?"

"Yes, why?"

"No reason." He walked around Entreri, "lift your arms straight out to your sides please." He grinned when Entreri obliged and proceeded to wrap his arms about Entreri's waist, with the measuring cord in hand.

Entreri was as rigid as a statue.

"You're so tense Artemis," Jarian said as he got the measurement. He decided to linger in his current position, resting his chin on Entreri's shoulder. "Do relax, for both our sakes."

Entreri shook his shoulders in reply, clamping Jarian's mouth shut and pushing his away from his position. "Don't call me Artemis."

With a chuckle Jarian measured Entreri's chest from behind, taking his time and inching closer as his hands explored.

It was at this time that Jarlaxle walked into the room. "Well, I'm glad to see that you two are getting along so well."

Entreri pulled away from Jarian abruptly and Jarian nearly fell forward. "Am I finished here?"

"Well, you see-" Jarlaxle gave Jarian a look. "Yes, you are finished Artemis. I have all the measurements I require, for the moment."

"Good," Entreri said. He put his shirt back on, then his boots, and then proceeded to place his weapons back in their appropriate places. "I'm going to retire to my chamber."

Jarlaxle let Entreri leave the room and folded his arms looking to Jarian. In an amused tone, "you actually got him to remove his shirt?"

"It was necessary for the measuring," Jarian replied. He then sighed, "if only his pants were looser, then I could have gotten him to remove those."

"I'll leave you to your tailoring," Jarlaxle said. "Contact me when your masterpiece for Entreri is created."

"Of course my Captain."

Jarlaxle left the tailoring room and chuckled. He did look forward to seeing what Jarian would come up with for the assassin. He was relieved when his sobering vial worked on Entreri. While it did make him sober, it also made him more willing to suggestion. Without the latter, the measuring could have taken a different turn. Then again it could have taken a different turn entirely if Jarian found out or if Entreri wasn't as strong willed.

"The drow tailor versus the human assassin," Jarlaxle mused aloud. "Who will win?" He twirled the feather on his hat and answered his own question. "The drow mercenary leader will win of course."

Author's Note: Now that the measuring is done, that means one thing. . .next chapter the outfit will be revealed. Please review! ::bows to all reviewers:: Thank you for your previous ones!

::Jarian pouts:: "I want to reveal my masterpiece now!!"

::authoress looks to him:: "Jarian you have to wait."

::Entreri breathes a sigh of relief:: "Thank goodness." ::he pauses:: "By the abyss. . .you mean I actually have to wear the outfit in the next chapter?!"

::Authoress and Jarlaxle answer at the same time:: "Yes."

::Entreri looks for a drink and mutters:: "By the abyss. . ."

::Jarian levitates himself on top of the review button and languidly lies down, motioning to the button::