The day before the grand opening and it was official. 'The Scent After the Rain' painted the final flourish on the shop sign and the whole team stepped back to admire it, before stepping quickly forwards again as a carriage passed.
"Flach and Chriek," Lily said with a broad smile, "ready for business...almost."
Otto strode across the road with the Pictsie and a tripod. He set up a timer, "Alright everyvun, little bit closer togezzer...stop, leave a space for me!" then he returned across the now quiet street to join them, "Five, four, zree, two, vun."
They posed, smiling, then after a beat Otto dashed back for the Pictsie. This was Ankh-Morpork after all and nothing lasted long if left unattended. Going inside again, Otto went to enlarge the print in the store's dark room whilst Lily ran through tomorrow's special offers with Mr Dulling. The goblins looked after themselves, Lily found. She only had to explain something once and they got it and then improved it. Also there was no longer a rat problem.
"So, buy one then buy another one on these then?" Mr Dulling asked regarding the tripods in the window.
"Well, I suppose so being that they're not on offer." Dulling had a slightly different way of viewing the world, but that fitted perfectly well with the rest of them.
Just then, the door opened and looking up, Lily found an unwanted visitor.
"Sorry Sir, but we're not open until tomorrow." Dulling told the man.
"New pet is it Lilith?" Neville Flach sneered making no attempt to leave the store. Dulling seemed to shrink at the derision.
"Please leave Neville," she answered wearily, "you've already caused enough disruption but as you can see, we'll be going ahead with the opening as planned."
"You can't honestly think this...scheme...is going to work? Running away to Ankh-Morpork to play shop when you have responsibilities?" he laughed mirthlessly, "I've come to take you home Lilith. Come along, chop-chop!"
"This is my home Neville and I have responsibilities here. I'm a grown adult." She wasn't going to be bullied; she'd had to put up with it for quite long enough.
"Your fiancé might have something to say about that," her brother countered.
Lily spluttered with a combination of incredulity and rage, "Fiancé?! Don't be so bloody ridiculous! Trying to marry me off to your chauvinistic best friend just to keep hold of my half of the inheritance hardly counts as a fiancé!" she almost growled, "Larry Prosper is as bigoted and unpleasant as you are. He expects women to 'know their place.'" Emboldened she stood up to her big brother, not just bigger in age but in size. He was one of those hulking types, appearing to be made of muscle but in fact was merely well-shaped fat. "Well, let me tell you, my place is here and I shall not be moved."
It was at this point that Otto nonchalantly came out from the dark room. He had heard every word and was not impressed. Of all the people to unimpress, however reformed they may be, a vampire was definitely a poor choice.
"Is zere a problem?" he asked innocently, "I'm afraid ve don't open until tomorrow so alzough ve understand your enzusiasm, you vill haff to be goink now."
Neville began to laugh, "What is this Lilith? Oh I know you always had a thing about Überwald, but a vampire? What next? Werewolves? Goblins?"
As if on cue, 'The Scent After the Rain' and family, all six of them, lined up on the counter. "We does not like this one Mistress. Shall we be doings it in?" he spoke into her left ear, hopping from foot to foot impatiently.
"No need," she said gratefully, "although very tempting." Returning her attention to Neville, "This is my business partner," and linking her arm with Otto's, "and close friend, Otto Chriek."
Otto was decidedly touched by the gesture, "And zat," he indicated behind Mr Flach, "is zer door zat you vill be leavink by."
'The Scent After the Rain' hopped off the counter and obligingly opened said door, "Bye Mister, see you, not wanting to be you."
"This won't work," Neville smirked, "if I go now you're just putting off the inevitable."
"Lily, vould you mind checkink on zer prints in zer dark room?" Otto asked and giving his hand a squeeze she duly stepped out of the room, "You too Mr Dullink."
"Oh um...yes." he followed on behind. The goblins stayed where they were and Otto did not feel the need to dismiss them.
Without saying another word, Otto simply smiled. It was not a pleasant smile, but the smile of someone with sharp pointy teeth making it known that yes indeed they had very sharp and very pointy teeth and right now they were pointed in Neville's direction.
"No-one's frightened of vampires any more Mr Chriek," Lily's brother said entirely unconvincingly, "everyone knows that they've taken the oath. You're a black ribboner."
Otto plucked the black ribbon from his waistcoat and let it flutter to the floor, "Oops..."
"You wouldn't." Neville continued, although he took a step back.
"Best you don't stay to find out..." Then he made a play leap forward which resulted in a little yelp from Neville who then as they say, 'legged it'. 'The Scent After the Rain' gleefully chuckled as he closed the door behind him. "Oh Mister Otto, that was fun!"
"He's gone!" Otto called to the pair out the back, bending down to retrieve his ribbon. As they re-entered the shop floor, "Alzhough I haff a feelink it's not zer last time ve'll see him."
"You're probably right," Lily sighed, "he is the proverbial bad penny. With extra change."
She stood next to him, leaning in for a hug and placed the now enlarged developed photo onto the counter, "Look at that though eh?" Lily smiled at them all as they gathered round, "What a team!"
"Go team Pictsie!" the goblins cheered, which made them all grin.
###
The hour was late but finally everything was ready. Mr Dulling had left for his lodgings and the goblins were wherever it was they went when they weren't needed. The light of the street lamps shone yellow through the windows into the store and it was just Lily and Otto, who was also getting ready to go to his lodgings. They stood at the doorway.
"Thank you," she tiptoed to kiss his pale cheek.
Otto flushed an infinitesimal amount, "You don't need to zank me."
"Yes, I do Otto. Without you I'd be halfway back to the Flach Estate by now." she gave a little shiver at the thought.
Thinking of Neville, "Are you sure you and your bruzzer are even related? I don't see zer family resemblance."
Lily laughed, "He's not much like any of the family to be honest. Daddy and I used to call him the Changeling. Not that Neville knew." sighing, "I do miss Daddy."
"I zink he vould be proud of you," Otto offered, "I know I am."
"You're a good friend, Otto."
"Close friend," he corrected, repeating her sentiment from earlier, then leaned in for a kiss. Lily didn't protest. "See you tomorrow zen...partner."
"Bright and early," she answered as he stepped out into the night. "Be careful out there, won't you?" She watched him go with a dreamy smile then locked up.
Otto looked back at the shop before heading off and unseen gave a small fist pump of victory, "Still got it!" Grinning and light on his feet he practically floated home. Tomorrow was going to be a great day.