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 and a few other originals however are my creation.
It's been 5 hours. . .what could they possibly be 'discussing?' Artemis Entreri posed the question in his mind, yet he did not wish to answer it or even acknowledge that he thought it. He knew what they were doing, but his mind refused to even contend with the torrid mental images that the drow were trying to inflict on him. There are five drow in that room, five! How is that even possible?
"Stop that," he said, silencing his own thoughts.
"Are you talking to yourself Entreri?" Jarlaxle nonchalantly entered the room and fixed his disheveled vest, a rakish smile on his lips. "That's not conducive to good health you know, I think you are in need of a break after this Display is over. Then again, you are in need of many things, most of which you refuse to accept from my amorous connections."
"Amorous connections? Is that what you're calling them now?"
The drow chuckled. "It makes them sound professional."
Raelos stumbled out of the discussion room, interrupting an Entreri eye roll. A wide smile was on his lips as he proffered a bow to the room's occupants. "Thank you for your fine hospitality Master Jarlaxle," turning to Entreri, "and you Master Artemis, thank you for your constant vigilance. I do hope that next time you join us for our discussions, you would be able to watch things so much better."
When the moon elf left the room Jarlaxle couldn't resist, "are you secretly a voyeur Entreri?"
"Only if you're secretly celibate Jarlaxle."
The drow laughed at the absurd notions, noting the gleam of amusement in the human's eyes.
-----
A new day dawned as night left the cutting board, unfurling rays of light like fabric from a bolt. Grooming commenced in all areas of the suite as Day Two of the Fashion Display promised an early start. Entreri carefully scraped any semblance of a whisker from his face, smoothing his razor on a towel after each precise stroke.
Splashing soapy water onto his face he barely winced at the stinging soap that leaked between his eyelids, knowing full well that his eyes would have more to worry about with the ensuing runway performances. He left the washroom, chewing on a piece of dried meat as he went through a weapons check.
Jarlaxle watched the assassin over his morning drink, slowly sipping the sweet liquid as the steam slightly obscured his vision. Why the assassin refused to dine with him to instead eat the rations of the Bregan D'aerthe guards puzzled him so, but he had to admire the fact that Entreri considered himself as an equal with the drow, not accepting any offer of dining superiority that might come his way. Well, unless Jarlaxle ordered him to of course.
Communal grooming occurred in Jarian's room, the noises alternating between subdued and boisterous. The tailor and his servants bounded out of the room, smelling of bath foam and lotion. Bubbles from a newly drained bathtub followed them as they ravenously dined, looking as if they had worked up quite the appetite.
Entreri paused in his weapons check to watch a stray bubble, containing a certain tailor's mouse familiar, float towards the door. Tazolg groomed himself in the bubble, glowing a rather rosy pink as he saw Entreri. The assassin sighed and popped the bubble, catching the mouse in his hand.
Squeak squeak. It fluttered the water out of its fairie wings and flew over to the table to nibble on some leftovers.
"You're welcome," Entreri murmured.
A choked sputter at the end of the table drew the attention of the room over to Jarlaxle.
"Are you all right?" Jarian asked between mouthfuls of fruit. Fruit which was dripping down his chin and was being cleaned by Shytolin who was wiping away the juice with his ton-
"Yes, I'm fine," Jarlaxle said with a smile. "The last remnants of a fine drink are always strong." He looked over to Entreri as if saying, I saw you being nice to the mouse.
Entreri dutifully ignored the table's occupants.
"We should depart for Costumer's Hall," Entreri said, standing pointedly near the door. He was growing ever more disturbed by Jarian and his servants' eating habits.
"Indeed," Jarlaxle said. "I have to deliver the staging information to Alurra…I mean, Lady Tarbrossen."
Raising an eyebrow Entreri asked, "you know her on a first name basis."
"Oh he knows her more than that I'm sure," Jarian said, slyly giggling.
Dryly, "then why didn't you deliver it the other night?"
"We were busy doing other things," Jarlaxle said.
Entreri closed his eyes for a moment, thwarting a twitch and opened them once again. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it and left the room.
Kaifas cackled in delight. "Master Jarlaxle reduced the assassin to speechlessness!"
"The assassin is always quiet," Maskah said, "but speechlessness indeed is an amusing phenomenon."
Shytolin, busy cleaning rogue juice-drips, chuckled into Jarian's neck.
"Come along my ebony lovelies," Jarian said rising, "Artemis is waiting and we do have much to prepare for this day."
Entreri leaned against the corridor wall and waited for the drow, once they finally appeared he started to lead them.
"Are you excited about today, Artemis?"
"I don't get excited."
"How sad!"
The assassin stopped and turned to give Shytolin a long, hard glare at his outburst.
Jarian shivered at the intensity of the glare directed toward his slightly oblivious servant. The tailor was more excited than intimidated by the glare and promptly decided that he would have to have excitement enough for his Artemis.
Entreri navigated them through the growing crowd, recalling that today the general public was allowed to view the event.
"Look! A tailor and their models!"
Hand went to sabre in the blink of an eye and Entreri glared as the eyes of the crowd shifted in their direction.
Jarian waved and posed, "oh my, we have admirers!"
"No time," Entreri said grabbing Jarian's arm. An act which made Jarian nearly melt on the spot, now was probably not the appropriate time to mention to the assassin that Jarian had a fantasy about being a shameless captive and this was how it started. "You can preen to the public after the day is done. We have no time for this mob."
Maskah, Kaifas, and Shytolin stopped waving to the approaching crowd, pouting slightly, but brightened as they watched Entreri pull Jarian along. . .unlike Entreri, they knew about the fantasy. . .in detail.
"My hero," Jarian murmured as he nuzzled his head against Entreri's arm.
Two glares, one shove, and three pouts later Entreri had managed to get the drow into the mobile tailoring room to prepare for the runway.
-----
Jarlaxle jovially entered Costumer's Hall and delivered the relevant stage information for the cultural portion of the day. Just as he was about to flirt with some models, an elegant hand was placed on his shoulder.
"You've already done enough sullying since your arrival," a haughty voice intoned.
"Narfindal." Jarlaxle inwardly groaned and turned to grin at the Gold elf. "Are you the personal caretaker of all the females here? Their elf in shining armor? You do make a rather dashing knight of fashion."
"You disgust me," Narfindal said.
"You sound like someone I know," Jarlaxle chuckled.
"Regardless of any ill mannered views I harbor over your dark elven breed I have a degree of respect for you and your tailor," Narfindal begrudgingly admitted.
Jarlaxle noted the elf absently fingering a quarter moon pendant, indicative of the deity Corellon, creator of the elven race. Hmm, I don't think he's going to like what Jarian has planned for the stage. "Likewise, but I do not need a deity to remind me of such. We've grown proud in our 'old age' Narfindal, but pride can go a long way in the bedroom."
Narfindal winced, cursing his clerics for making him face the drow. "Is that all you think about?"
"Perhaps," Jarlaxle chuckled. A foul smell accosted his nose and he watched Narfindal pale and press a handkerchief to his nose.
"What is that foul odor?"
"The stench of a noble," Jarlaxle muttered.
Lord Phinagon coughed as he ordered Brak to continue spraying the cologne onto his form. He appeared to be in the process of wooing, a process that was failing miserably since creatures of both genders were avoiding the overpowering stench.
"Humans are such strange creatures," Narfindal commented.
"Strange, but intriguing," Jarlaxle said.
The Gold elf looked curiously to the drow. "And you are not?"
Jarlaxle smiled mysteriously and proceeded to his special booth.
Narfindal looked to the ceiling and sighed, wanting to be out of the abominable human city and back in Evermeet. Straightening his poise he lifted his chin and walked to his private viewing area to view the Display.
-----
Alurra Tarbrossen smoothed her hair and readied the stage notes before her. She not only had to introduce each of the participants, but also had to explain the cultural significance behind the outfits. Taking out a slender wand she tapped its burgundy tip against the parchments and closed her eyes as the words lifted from the page and into her mind, indigo calligraphy reflecting in her eyes until the knowledge settled.
After a few moments, she was ready for the stage.
-----
"The show is starting soon, where's Jarian?"
Entreri shifted his attention from a crowd of many to a moon elf of one. "He's readying his models for the stage."
"How do they look?"
Entreri shrugged. "My attention was elsewhere." He wouldn't let me see the outfits anyway.
"I'm sure it was."
"Raelos!"
The moon elf turned and smiled. "There you are Jarian! We must hurry or we shall lose our seats."
Entreri sighed and jogged to keep up with the excited pair.
-----
Alurra took the stage as the lights dimmed and the crowd cheered in frenzied anticipation. Hours of waiting in line and clamoring for seats had made them anxious.
"Hello everyone and welcome to Day Two of the Waterdeep Fashion Display!" Uproarious applause met her ears and she smiled to the crowd. "Day One was filled with stunning outfits that truly showed the innovations of tailors and the patrons that support them. Competition for the coveted slots of the third day will certainly be fierce, so we can all expect the first half of this second day to be filled with splendor. In a few moments, models will showcase outfits that represent their cultural heritage, showcasing their race, history, traditions, and beliefs. We at Costumer's Hall ask that you respect all that traverse this stage, setting aside grudges new and old, for the sake of fashion. Now, let us truly enjoy the diversity that is Faerûn! "
She snapped both her fingers and fluorescent orbs were emitted from the sides of the stage, bursting above the crowd in a spectrum of color that twinkled and lingered before settling to the ground.
Jarian and Raelos cheered with the crowd, blending their native tongues (in more ways than one) with those of the other races that surrounded them. Entreri continued to sit as the crowd rose around him, clapping, cheering, and hooting for the models to go onstage. He could almost sense 'a look' from Jarlaxle for his lack of participation so he clapped half-heartedly to be polite.
-----
The lighting dimmed to candlelight as musicians played a melody that flowed like the ocean's waves. The stage became basked in light blue and Alurra motioned to the main stage from her platform at the side.
"Behold the wonders of the aquatic elves, paying homage to their patron deity Deep Sashelas, god of creation, beauty, magic, and knowledge."
Mist on the stage formed a dolphin that dissipated as the models entered the stage, gauging a positive reaction from the crowd.
"The dolphin is the symbol of the 'knowledgeable one' and the models wear modernized versions of the clothing that adorns their clerics. The soft clothing and hard mail signify that of a pacifistic warrior."
Fluid moving elves modeled sea green vestments that were layered by seashell mail. They posed for the crowd and then receded backstage as if they were the tide.
-----
"A fine display," Raelos commented, nodding appreciatively.
"Indeed," Jarian agreed, "it is a fine start to this day."
Entreri tried to pay attention as best as he could, but after a while he began to see a pattern…while many of the models exhibited the dress of their people, it was basically a way to give homage to their deities, almost as if the Display was an offering to them.
His attention was drawn back to the Display when Jarian poked him and whispered, "Now there's an idea."
"What?"
"The clothing that the halflings are wearing is edible!"
The assassin was surprised that the clothing even made it onstage, knowing the voracious eating habits of the halflings. "Who would actually wear edible clothing?"
"You." Jarian grinned at him. "After all, some parts of the outfits I made for you are edible."
"I…what!"
With a grin, Jarian turned his attention back to the stage causing Raelos to lick his lips.
Entreri was too horrified to form words.
"Oh glee, I am next!" Raelos clapped happily.
"For our next display, we have outfits made by the moon elf Raelos that represent each aspect of Angharradh, the consort of Corellon."
"First we have Hanali, a goddess of love and beauty that is worshipped by fountains and springs." A moon elf dressed in gold entered the stage, fabric billowing behind him as he walked, though one could not tell that this was a 'he'. Light poured from the stage as if in fact a fountain was exhibiting the model.
"Second we have Aerdrie Faenya, goddess of air, birds, and weather. Worship services to her are held on hilltops and feathers are sacrificed annually." Another moon elf entered the stage and the model stretched, showcasing the feathers that draped from his arms. The model seemed to walk on air as he posed.
"Third we have Sehanine Moonbow, she is a Lady of Dreams and serenity surrounds like a mantle of moon dust." As if on cue magical specks of moon dust penetrated the air and gathered around the female model that walked onstage.
The crowd cheered when the models posed and even after they left the stage.
-----
"That was amazing Raelos," Jarian said giving him a congratulatory kiss on each cheek.
Raelos blushed. "Come now, I am sure that your models will rival mine."
Entreri slowly blinked as the moon elves left the stage. Two of those models were male and I couldn't tell…
-----
"And going with a similar theme, we have the Gold elves of Evermeet, escorted to our city by Master Narfindal they embody the spirit of Corellon, in all his glory."
The Gold elves entered the stage in synchrony with a hauntingly beautiful song that echoed in the Hall. The models each wore gossamer robes of the finest azure, silver circlets about their foreheads.
"They wear outfits in homage to their clerics that worship the Creator of all elves, the Protector and Preserver of all life, Corellon Larethian."
The crowd broke out into applause as the models posed within a magical crescent moon.
"And now at the opposite end of the pantheon, we have the dark elves of Bregan D'aerthe, outfits tailored by Jarian under the patronage of Jarlaxle."
The entire Hall darkened to blackness and several people cried out in terror. However, lilting music soothed the crowd and a slender figure twirled onstage. Artificial moonlight lit the stage as Shytolin danced seductively. It appeared as if he was wearing nothing, but after he produced a silver sword of light his outfit was revealed in a flurry of vibrant heat signature colors.
"What you are seeing are the infrared colors of the drow, seeing what they see in the Underdark. This particular model is Eilistraee, whose Surface followers dance nude in the moonlight with a silver sword."
The stage plummeted to darkness again, but light slowly unveiled a materializing shadow that revealed Maskah. A mask of writhing shadow disguised his face and his body was adorned with an infrared outfit that was accentuated by a cloak of similar make.
"Behold Vhaeraun, the Masked Lord, god of male drow, thieves, assassins, and rogues."
The crowd expected the stage to turn black again when Alurra finished, but instead it was lit with an eerie red glow. The figure of a spider manifested from the blood-laden light and Kaifas entered the stage adorned in the outfit of a high priestess, crimson infrared emanating off his form.
"And finally we have a representation of Lloth, queen of the spiders. Enemies are sacrificed on her behalf and her sacred animals are arachnids."
Kaifas, Maskah, and Shytolin posed onstage together and the crowd erupted into a thunderous applause.
-----
"I can't believe you actually went through with it," Raelos said in awe. "Representing those figures in public is dangerous, considering their reputations."
"When fashion is concerned, affiliation to a deity can be merely a decoration," Jarian grinned.
The rest of the participants paled in comparison to the prior displays, especially the models of Lord Phinagon who showcased outfits that looked amazingly similar to the ones he displayed on Day One. When he was confronted by another tailor about this fact the Lord proceeded to throw a tantrum.
Alurra surveyed the crowd and returned to the main stage. "Thank you all for your wonderful enthusiasm and participation. We shall reconvene in six hours for the second portion of today's Display to showcase the practicality of an outfit. Versatility, innovation, and style will be key."
Turning to the hidden curtain where the tailors were situated she continued, "and for our tailors we have an additional challenge. You must find one other model, not of your race and not yourself, to showcase a practical outfit. If you can accomplish this then you will be in definite consideration for the third day."
The models behind the curtain were reduced to subdued murmurs, eyes darting back and forth as this new information was processed. A new model? Not of their race?
Raelos exhaled in relief. "Thank goodness I have a wood elf in my entourage."
Jarian remained silent. . .and thoughtful.
These were two things that did not bode well.
Jarian slowly turned to regard Entreri.
Oh hells no. . .
Author's Note: Whew! Finally! College consumed my soul so apologies for the late update, but (glee) I approach my university graduation. Yes, someone out there is giving me an English degree (the fools…buwhahaha!). I spent hours on this chapter, researching (deity information gained from answers dot com), looking for my notebook with my notes (figures that I'd get sick, misplace the notes and then have to spend hours reconstructing everything), and acting out the various scenes (you should see my 'Jarian-mode', lol). Hmm, this all might explain why it's ten pages in Microsoft Word, lol.
Next chapter, the second half of Day Two approaches and that means practical outfits. But with this new twist of having to add another model of a different race, whatever will the tailors do? Whatever it is…Entreri is NOT going to like it…
Entreri: What do you mean I'm not going to like it?
Authoress: I…erm…it's a surprise?
Entreri: I HATE surprises…especially from you.
Jarian: I adore surprises!
Maskah, Kaifas, and Shytolin: Us too!
Jarlaxle: It's not as bad as you think Entreri.
Entreri: Wait…you're all in on this too! (Twitch)
Okay HUGS to everyone who has stuck with me this far, reads the fic, and reviews (I love reviews, yes I do grin wink nudge)