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.

"A disguise," Artemis Entreri said to the mirror before him. He gripped the washstand and stared at his image, attempting to receive some semblance of inspiration.

A squeak to his immediate right diverted his attention. "You again."

Squeak, Squeak.

Tazolg, Jarian's familiar, fluttered before Entreri. It's mousey nose furrowed happily and its fairy wings quickened in excitement.

"What do you want?"

Tazolg somersaulted in the air and settled itself on Entreri's shoulder, lightly nibbling his ear.

Entreri cursed and tried batting the creature off his shoulder. The flying mouse squeaked in alarm and flew around the room in terror, especially when Entreri drew his sabre. It ended up flying into a container of powder, sufficiently covering a corner of the washroom. With a sneeze it flew across the room and tried to shake the powder off frantically, as if the white powder was not as pristine as its already white coat of fur.

Sheathing his sabre, the assassin regarded the small creature with a raised eyebrow. It really was pitiful.

He walked over to the mouse and scooped it into his hand. Holding his hand before him he gently brushed the powder off of the creature.

Squeak?

"No, I'm not going to hurt you," Entreri said. "I just don't want you making a mess. You have the annoying tendency of appearing when I want privacy, just like your Master."

Squeak!

"Your name is Tazolg correct?"

Squeak! Squeak!

"I'll take that as a yes," Entreri mumbled. He noticed that the edges of the mouse's fur went from a bright pink to a silvery blue. "I'm going to bathe now Tazolg and I am going to place you in a shaving box. When I am done you may fly free. If I find out that you're watching me for your Master, I will not hesitate to clip your wings and cook you into a fine feast for an alley cat."

Tazolg nervously squeaked and flew into the shaving box.

As Entreri prepared to bathe he mumbled, "I just had a conversation with a flying mouse, the gods are a cruel lot indeed."

Time passed and the dark elves waited in the other room to see Entreri's disguise. Of course, they had to look like they weren't waiting. Jarlaxle sat at a small desk, weighing various colored gems on a scale. Jarian was trying his best not to poke Shytolin as he sewed a hem onto his garment. Maskah and Kaifas watched their master work, stealing glances at the washroom door.

Jarian sighed dramatically. "Jarlaxle, he's been in there for a while now. May I go and fetch him? He may be in trouble and need my assistance."

Jarlaxle suppressed a smile, if I let that happen Artemis would not think twice about leaping from the window. "If I am not mistaken Jarian, you take thrice as long in the washroom to prepare when you are not going out in a disguise."

"Refined beauty takes time," Jarian said, justifying his prolonged use of a washroom.

"You are a pinnacle of beauty without need of refinement," Shytolin said to Jarian.

"Indeed," Maskah said, "but the refinement exhibits Master Jarian's precision and his meticulous nature regarding the subject of appearance."

Jarian smiled proudly at his servants, but assumed a humble appearance.

Kaifas chuckled. "Just because one is in the bathroom for a while does not mean one is always tending to their own appearance."

Jarian gasped in 'shock'. "I know not of what you are implying. You have a dirty mind that requires cleansing later, Kaifas."

"I'll meet you in the washroom," Kaifas said with a sly smile.

Maskah shook his head. "Your tongue is always getting you in trouble."

"Among other things," Shytolin added.

Jarlaxle shook his head in amusement at his desk. He was far to used to this kind of talk by now. A creak of the washroom door opening drew his attention to another area of the room. He looked up in a bored manner and looked back down. His mind processed what he saw and he looked back up to stare.

Jarian gasped for real. "Artemis!"

Maskah, Kaifas, and Shytolin stared. . .so, that's what their master saw in the assassin.

Tazolg flew out of the washroom and settled on Jarian's shoulder, squeaking happily.

Artemis Entreri no longer looked like a scruffy, hard-edged assassin. Instead, he looked like a smooth, well-dressed gentleman killer. His normally slicked back hair was actually brushed back in layers and was neatly trimmed. He was mildly surprised at the drows' stares and absently shifted, causing his hair to sway slightly. Entreri's usual unshaven face was smooth and had a slight sheen. Eyebrows were cut to perfection and scars had mysteriously disappeared.

His fingernails were filed and cleaned, almost as if he had a manicure. A clean white shirt, laced up the front rested about his shoulders. Black lizard-hide pants clad his legs, along with sleek boots that were polished to a shine. His sabre rested comfortably at his left hip and a black cape draped from his right shoulder, casually thrown over his left shoulder.

"Artemis. . .you have. . .style," Jarian said in awe.

"Which is why I do not require yours," Entreri said.

"Well, someone cleans up nicely," Jarlaxle said, walking over to Entreri. He circled the assassin and leaned in close to sniff at him. "It is a miracle what a long bath and a good scrubbing can accomplish. You actually smell appealing."

Entreri glared at him. "I did bathe in the Underdark."

"Of course you did," Jarlaxle said. "But you never used the sweet smelling oils I provided."

"That's because I saw one of your soldiers mobbed by your harem girls after he boasted about using them.

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Yes, he wasn't seen for days," Entreri said, "and he was not able to do his duty."

Jarlaxle mumbled, "Oh he was doing something all right."

Entreri visibly ignored Jarlaxle, but he momentarily forgot about Jarian, who was at his side and was now stroking his smooth cheek. "Jarian, cease your activity or lose your fingers."

Jarian stepped back and regarded the assassin thoughtfully. "All right," he walked away.

"That's it?" Entreri blinked. That was too easy.

Jarian just hummed to himself as he went back to Shytolin's hem. The servants exchanged confused looks.

Entreri ignored him. "Is the disguise sufficient Jarlaxle?"

"Yes, it is sufficient," Jarlaxle said, "especially since you've reduced Jarian to near speechlessness."

Entreri sighed. "He's up to something isn't he?"

Jarlaxle shrugged. "I am but a simple mercenary captain, I know not of such things."

"That means yes," Entreri said. "Nothing about you is simple."

"Your words are so very true," Jarlaxle said with a grin. Entreri could detect the subtle nuances of his personality and it amused Jarlaxle to no end, this assassin would go far. "But, let us move on to other matters. The Fashion Display is a three-day event. However, only the most worthy are requested to continue onto the third day."

Jarian finished his sewing and listened to Jarlaxle, determined to make it to that third day.

"The first day will consist of cutting edge formal wear, both male and female styles," Jarlaxle continued. "First impressions are key in these types of Displays. However, I have from a very reliable source that the second day will be even more important."

Entreri noticed a small shine in Jarlaxle's eyes when he said, 'very reliable source'. This usually meant one of three things. He interrogated someone, killed someone, or slept with someone. Entreri's bets were on the latter.

"While the first day is a chance to catch the audience's eyes, the second day will prove that the outfits are also functional. The first half of the second day will display the Cultural outfits of the tailor's origins, whilst the second half will display practical outfits that are functional in everyday life."

"I see," Jarian said, mentally reviewing his outfits and supplies. "And what of the third day?"

"The third day is a combination of cutting edge style, practicality and originality, conducive to the tailor and their patron." Jarlaxle looked to his tailor. "With your talent I have the utmost confidence that we will make our mark in the Fashion world."

"These Surface Dwellers will be in for quite the display," Jarian said with a devious smile.

"The tailors and their models are allowed to tour Costumer's Hall in order to see the runway setup," Jarlaxle said. "Entreri, kindly escort these four to the Hall. Once you are finished return to the Inn."

Entreri bowed his head to Jarlaxle. "The Display is not starting this evening?"

"Today is merely registration, mingling, and setting up," Jarlaxle said. "I have registered Bregan D'aerthe, so now you may familiarize yourselves with the area."

"Oh splendid!" Jarian clapped excitedly and faced his servants. "A day in town with Artemis! How exciting!"

A day in town, with these four and all the obsessive Fashion Fans, Entreri thought. I knew I should have leapt out of the washroom window.

Author's Note: Okay, I battled a barrage of migraines to write this chapter and when I finally managed to scare them away for a bit. . .the chapter was written. Hmm, perhaps working a lot had something to do with it as well. I also had to research schematics of fashion shows. :random: I just can't help but find Tazolg adorable, lol.

There probably won't be an immediate update (I'm heading to an anime convention this weekend, Otakon! But mayhap I shall receive some inspiration). With luck maybe another update will come next week, it'd be a nice birthday gift to myself, lol.

Next chapter, we'll get a feel for Costumer's Hall and there will be some action (minds out of the gutters folks. . .though, remember. . .Jarian is up to something. Then again, he's always up to something).

Entreri: "You'll be 21 years old next week on the 24th, you can finally buy me alcohol so I can drink Jarian away."

Authoress: "I'm not going on a beer run for you!"

Jarlaxle: "I always saw Entreri as a wine man, much like myself."

Authoress: "I'm NOT getting alcohol for you two!"

:Jarian and his servants slip into their birthday suits:

Authoress: "On second thought, you guys give me money for a strawberry daiquiri. . .I'll get you both your alcohol."

(Authoress does not endorse drinking. In fact she detests drinking alcohol just to get drunk/plastered and finds it deplorable. However, there are those nights when you just need a drink. . .)

Reviewer Mailbag:

(Arigato:bows:)

Spider: Yeah, yeah. . .end of August, lol. Don't let Jarlaxle hear that your happy Entreri got a hit on him.

Katherine: Hmm, Jarian having that ring and surprising Entreri. . .I think our dear assassin would skewer the tailor despite Jarlaxle's presence. However, Jarian DOES have a surprise for Entreri in store…

Becky: The muses are indeed smiling down on me. Wounding Jarlaxle makes you feel better huh:chuckles as Jarlaxle huffs:

Lord Onisyr: Thanks! I'm glad that you liked the fight scene and my portrayal of Jarlaxle. I'm so relieved that it went over well.

Tiggermyk: Yeah, Arty gets kind of pissy when you laugh at him. :giggles: He also gets moody now when I call him Arty. However, at least he can come up with a decent disguise. See? I can be nice to the assassin. . .sometimes.

Lessiehanamoray: My main focus for the last chapter was to keep Jarlaxle in character for the fight. Even I was impressed when Entreri hit Jarlaxle!

Oracle: If you steal Entreri's disguise. . .then he'll be wearing nothing. . . :Jarian encourages the nice reviewer:Entreri readies his sabre:

Psycho101: Your hopes are answered, Entreri's disguise got the Jarlaxle Stamp-of-Approval.

Lena Silverwing: I prefer Entreri as a man too. However, is it bad that as I wrote the chapter I was singing 'To Be a Man' from the Disney movie Mulan? Yay for roses and candies!

Arsinoe Selene: The part about the voice makes me giggle even now.

:Jarlaxle now has fun calling Entreri 'Artie' as he protects the reviewer:

Beware Artie's, I mean Entreri's wrath. . .he sneaks up on you when you least expect it.

Iceheart Firesoul: Welcome! I was very happy to see all your reviews. Jarian's servants are currently nursing him back to health. . .you don't want to know what that involves. :grumbles about 'damn drow playing doctor':

Drow discovering Valentine's Day…hmm…this has potential. "It would make enough chaos to sate even Lloth." - I agree with you tenfold, lol.

"You have Jarlaxle and Jarian on your back, eh? And what are they doing THERE? smirk" – They're my muses. . .it's um. . .part of their job! Yeah, that's it!