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Integra stares at the mirror and the strip of defiant red silk that was draped uselessly around her neck. Why was this so difficult?! She had watched that smug vampire tie his cravat before, his fingers almost a blur and not a single fold out of place when he was done. Maybe she should have just gone with a simple tie, but the thing looked so...goofy. She clenches her teeth and reaches up once again to try and tame the unruly piece of cloth. No one was ever going to take her serious in a skirt and a suit without a tie was just unprofessional in her opinion so this had to be done. Not to mention she kind of liked not having to fear a sudden hard breeze was going to have her skirt flung over her head.
A moment later all she had was a mess of a knot and her patience completely shattered. Jerking the knot out with a growl she kicks out toward the mirror that was silently mocking her progress or lack there of. Her foot never connected with the fragile glass, though. She blinks as she looks down at her lower leg cradled in the living shadows. Anger gave way to embarrassment as the shadows eased her foot back to the floor before slithering to the side to form into her servant.
"What has upset my little master this morning?"
She had forgotten that any time her emotions spiked the vampire would know it thanks to that bond the seals created between them. She hated it, "None of your business, vampire!"
His look of concern turns more to amusement as he gazes down at the twelve year old, "But seeing to your wellbeing is my business. Now what did the mirror do that was so offensive?"
She hated his tone. Hated the way he made her feel like nothing more than a stupid little girl.
"Then stop acting like one."
The sternness in his voice shocked her as much as knowing he was reading her mind, "How dare you! I'm the master here!"
"A master that is acting like a spoiled child at the moment." He waves a hand toward her, "Do you think changing your clothes is going to gain you any respect when you lash out in anger over the silliest of things?"
The string of insults she had prepared to launch at him died on her lips. She looks at him for a long moment before turning her attention back to the mirror. She hated it when he was right. With a sigh she looks back at the vampire as she reaches up to tug slightly on the red ribbon, "I can't get it right."
Alucard smiles slightly and kneels down so the girl isn't having to crane her neck to look up at him. He unties his cravat then slowly reforms the knot.
Integra huffs as she watches those deft fingers weave the silk into a perfectly formed knot. He made it look so easy, it was infuriating! The insult that started to form in her head was quickly brushed aside as his previous words rung in her ears. She turns back to the mirror and tries to mimic his movements and without much success.
"Slow down and take your time."
She nods slightly and pulls out the crooked knot then tries again. It took a few tries before she finally got it right. It wasn't the perfectly neat knot he managed but at least it looked right. She couldn't help but grin as Alucard reached out to cinch the knot tighter with a satisfied hum. His approval shouldn't matter since he was the servant and she the master, but still, anytime she got something right that the ancient vampire approved of she felt a surge of pride.
"I have a meeting and you will be accompanying me."
"But it's daylight!"
"Well, you said yourself that sunlight can't harm you."
"That doesn't mean I like it."
Integra smirks as she pins the small silver cross to her cravat, "Now who's acting like a spoiled child?"
An annoyed growl was the only answer she recieved.