{Edited} A Merchant's Odyssey - Chapter 26 (Patreon)

AN: Edited chapters do not count toward monthly quota's

Chapter 26: Manners / Manners Maketh Man

“You want to break into a what?” Roman asked incredulously.

"A prison." Sebastian set a bottle of Firewhiskey on the bar and poured them both a drink.

Roman eyed the amber liquid, gave it an experimental sniff, then nodded in approval.

"Alright then." Roman easily accepted. "In or out?"

“In.” Sebastian sat beside him. “To get someone out.”

“Hm.” Roman lit a cigar. “What kind of prison?”

Sebastian twirled the ice in his glass. “Maximum security.”

“Oh, those are fun.” Roman pointed his cigar at Sebastian. “Alright, the first thing you gotta know is how to identify…”

Neo sat off to the side a few seats down the bar, leaning her chin on her palm and half-listening to her lover get tips from her foster father on how to piss off authority figures.

She amused herself by playing with her new power over sound, making Roman think there was a mosquito by his ear.

“Should I ask?” Junior placed a cocktail before her and jutted his chin at the duo.

Neo smirked and gently shook her head in the negative as she took the bright pink drink. She brought the glass to her lips with a happy hum, internally laughing at how Roman kept swatting at his ear with a frown.

“Probably the smart answer.” Junior crossed his arms as he gave Neo a considering look. “Roman said you vanished on him mid-job.”

Neo recalled exactly how she vanished and silently giggled.

“Yeah, that’s about what I expected.” Junior shook his head. “I’ll have you know I had to listen to him rant for hours about how he lost his favorite hat.”

Neo mock gasped at the audacity.

“Don’t you start too.” Junior deadpanned. “I don’t need two clowns giving me a headache in my own club.”

Neo pointed to herself as if to say, 'Who me?'

“Mhm.” Junior picked a cloth and went to wipe down another section of the bar. “Don’t burn anything down the second I turn away.”

Neo shot him a thumbs up with a twinkle in her eyes as she played the sound of a leaky drop of water in his ears.

“A leak?” Junior's head shot up in a panic as he ran into the kitchen to chase the sound.

‘Junior never changes.’ Neo grinned and sipped her drink, swinging her eyes around the club as members of Junior’s gang walked around and got things ready. ‘This place never changes.’

Neo tapped the bar with a finger and thought about her life.

For years after the fiasco with her parents, Roman, and the mistress of her school who worked for the spider of Mistral, her life hadn’t changed.

It had been nothing but her, Roman, Junior, and the twins.

That was her family; that was her whole world.

Follow Roman on jobs, stab the random grunt, hang out at the club, enjoy the profits as she pleases, and rinse and repeat.

‘When did that become my normal?’ Neo couldn’t help but wonder as she realized the years had blended together.

Her life was nothing but lies and chains until she literally tore apart her childhood home and watched the rubble shatter the chain her parents held on her.

‘When did I think this was the best life could offer?’

Neo loved to fight, screw with people, frolic in chaos, and eat ice cream. Which of the four came first was a fun game to play each day, and it filled her with satisfaction for years.

‘Sebastian’s lucky I grew out of my spending money on every little thing for no reason at all phase.’ Neo smirked at the memory of the pain she caused her shitty father and schoolmistress when they saw the credit charges.

But the thought of Sebastian was enough to turn her thoughts to the man currently taking physical notes as Roman expounded his misbegotten wisdom.

‘Is he wearing glasses?’ Neo blinked at the fake glasses Sebastian slipped on for some odd reason. ‘He’s such a dork sometimes.’

A smile split her lips. ‘But he’s mine.’

One day, Sebastian literally fell into her life, and it was like a new color was added to a canvas she thought was full.

‘I’m glad I didn’t stab him back then.’

He was speaking half-nonsense the first time she met him. She still remembered being a half-inch away from stabbing him for his heresy of spilling her ice cream.

Still, for some Brothers-forsaken reason, she had listened to him speak and found herself entertained.

The days, weeks, and months that followed only compounded her gratitude for her choice.

For the static world she had known for years was shattered by a single man.

A man who wormed his way past her walls and into her heart without even trying to.

A man whose sheer madness touched her own and drew her in like a moth to a flame.

A man who touched her soul and allowed her into his with open arms.

Neo just stared at him as he took notes, taking in all his little details, from the mismatched eyes of red and blue she loved staring into like a mirror to the cut of his rugged jawline, the way his blond hair split and framed his face, and the vicious scars going up his neck, adding a hint of wildness to his charm.

He wasn’t the most handsome man to exist, but he was a prize she’d happily claim.

Neo's smile widened as she saw Sebastian twitch and look her way. His glowing eyes pierced the illusion covering her, making it seem like she was sleeping against the bar, and locked onto her real eyes.

‘It’s so sexy how he does that.’ Neo winked and silently laughed as he winked back before returning to whatever Roman was saying. ‘He just gets me.’

Oh, Sebastian had no idea how much he meant to her.

Their adventure in the cultivation world might not have been a romantic date, but Neo would take it over a candlelit dinner any day. 

The challenge of pushing her Semblance like never before, the specter of death hanging around every corner, the sheer rush of adrenaline that pumped through her veins as they took on the odds and won, and the feel of having him at her back while a storm of monsters came at them from every direction, knowing deep in her heart that he’d have her back as she had his.

The feel of his arms around her and the intimate hours with his length inside her sent pleasant shivers down her spine at the thought alone, and she couldn’t help but lick her lips.

‘I really should thank that Nym girl one day.’

Neo had to appreciate the sheer level of skill Sebastian developed in the bedroom thanks to his experience with his ex.

A frown crossed her lips at the thought of said ex.

Not so much because of her relationship with Sebastian; Neo had no fear of envy, as she had the absolute confidence of seeing into Sebastian's soul. No, it was of the woman's current fate.

If there were two things Neo hated above all else, it was a lie and a chain.

Sebastian's ex was currently suffering from both those things without a single idea of their existence.

‘No one deserves that.’ Neo was all for helping Nym out of her situation. ‘Maybe then Sebastian would finally rest easy.’

Neo wasn't blind to his pain. She didn't think anyone understood how much pain he was in more than she did.

Every smile on his face, every joke he told, every laugh he sounded out hid the pain he had been hiding deep inside since the day he found out about what the Unspeakables had done to him and his ex.

She had known something was wrong for months, but only when he finally told her what had happened did she understand why.

‘He still loves her. He can’t help it. It’s just who he is.’

Neo knew it and accepted it.

When one looks into the other's soul as deeply as she has, they see all of the other person. Every aspect of what makes them, them.

‘Sebastian doesn’t love easily, but when he does, he gives a piece of himself.’ She smiled lovingly as she watched him. ‘Even if they leave him, even if they cause him pain, he’ll never stop trying to support them as long as his love remains.’

It was his greatest strength and worst flaw.

His loyalty.

‘That’s why I have to protect him.’ Neo promised herself. ‘Even if it’s from himself, I won’t let him live a hollow life.’ 

If that meant this Nym would be more involved in his life, so be it.

‘The least I can do is not judge her until I meet her.’

Whether she would accept Nym or not would come later down the road.

‘Plus, it would make Andromeda happy.’

The thought of the woman she had just met sent a warm feeling through her chest. ‘I wonder what life would have been like if my mother was more like her?’

In her youth, she craved that love from her parents.

‘Or maybe her sister, Bellatrix.' Neo was enthralled by the stories of the woman and saddened to hear of her fate. ‘She sounds like so much fun.’

The club doors opening broke her train of thought as Neo looked over to see the twins coming in, tired as usual from their late nights at work.

“Oh, look, Mil.” Melanie lowered her sunglasses and shot a smirk at Sebastian’s back. “The furry is back.”

“Woman.” Sebastian bent his neck back and stared her down, upside down. “I will end you, and they won’t find the body.”

“Ohh~, scary.” Melanie haughtily threw her hair over her shoulder and entered the bar. “Like I didn’t hear that for bedtime stories when I was six.”

"Hey, Neo." Miltia sent her a wave, and Neo’s illusion returned it with amusement. "And to be fair, Sebastian, we really did hear that for bedtime stories."

"Mother of the Year award goes to your family." Sebastian snorted and swiped the Firewhiskey bottle off the bar half a second before Melanie closed in on it. "Hands off, this is a bribe."

“A damn good one at that.” Roman threw in and blew smoke out of his nose. "Where the hell do you get this stuff?"

“That’s for me to know, and your Dust crystals to pay for." Sebastian idly waved away Melanie's attempts to grab at it. "Back off, you bloody alcoholic fiend."

“Not until you let me try it, furry!" Melanie growled like a disgruntled cat. "Every time you show up, you wave that damn bottle in front of my face. Gimme!"

“I’ll give it to you the second you say my name.” Sebastian challenged. “Say it.”

“Furry.” Melanie spat out.

“Wrong answer, try again, miss sloppy mascara.”

“How dare you!”

"Ugh, so much noise in the morning." Miltia rubbed her head and half-ignored Melanie, who was practically mounting the bar to attempt to choke Sebastian out. "Mel, watch your bra."

"I'm not wearing one!" Melanie shouted back, only to pause when she looked down and saw her girls halfway out of her top. "Don't look."

“I’m a gentleman.” Sebastian scoffed and stared directly at the exposed flesh. “I’ve seen better.”

Roman did a spit-take and laughed as he coughed roughly.

"Excuse me?!" Melanie reared with a hiss as her Aura flared, and Neo chose that moment to whisper in her ear in a foreign male voice.

“Skank.”

Melanie froze before her Aura roared out.

“Who said that?!” She whirled around, staring out at the club in rising fury.

“Who said what?” Miltia raised a brow and started mixing a fruit smoothie. “I didn’t hear anything.”

“Someone called me a skank.” Melanie unsheathed her claw blades. “And someone’s getting stabbed for it.”

Neo hid a smirk as Sebastian slowly looked her way, then rolled his eyes and went back to his conversation with Roman.

‘Eenie, meenie, I choose you.’ Neo found a random poor soul in the crowd of Junior’s minions and spoke up from behind his head.

“I’ve been saying for years she’s got a screw loose.”

"Excuse me?!" Melanie launched out of the bar at the perplexed man.

“Does he have a death wish or something?” Miltia was just as confused, having heard it that time.

Neo silently giggled at the mayhem and added fuel to the fire.

“Her sister isn’t much better. At least Melanie has boobs.”

A crack rang out as Miltia shattered the mixer’s glass.

“Someone wants to die.” She unsheathed her blades and leaped over the bar to join her sister in the chaos. “Who the fuck said that?!”

The Mad Hatter himself would clap at the grin on Neo’s face as she enjoyed herself.

“What the hell are those two doing now?” Junior came out from the kitchen with a frown. “Do they know how much those damages are going to cost?”

Just as he was getting ready to intervene, the sound of a leaky drop of water echoed in his ear, and he whirled around. "Where is that coming from?! This is expensive wood; I will not stand for water damage!"

He stormed right back into the kitchens and ignored his poor henchmen.

Neo had to double up her illusion to hide herself as she nearly fell off her chair laughing. ‘Oh, this is too much fun.’

She wiped away a tear, brushed herself off, took her drink, and walked over to the only calm oasis in the chaos she had caused.

"Step twenty-seven." Roman lectured to a studiously note-taking Sebastian, taking far too much enjoyment from the process. "If you see a female security guard, make sure to always-.”

Neo stared at her foster father from above Sebastian’s head and made the man quickly change tunes.

“Always steer clear, because those bitches be crazy.” Roman nervously finished his drink and stood up. “Oh, look, flat boobs is using a wrestling move.”

“You wanna say that again, old man?!” Miltia raised a goon over her head and threw him over.

"And that's my cue.” Roman twisted his hat and dodged. “Have fun, kids."

He shot off his grapple cane and exited stage left.

“He was actually being helpful, you know.” Sebastian scribbled in his notepad while talking to the hovering Neo. “When you cut out all his theatrics, the man knows what he’s talking about.”

“I know.” Neo whispered in his ear and draped herself over him like a happy cat. “He’s a good teacher when he tries.”

“Just have to encourage him to want to do it.” Sebastian finished for her and reached up, running his hand along her scalp. “I know the type.”

Neo's eyes melted in bliss before she grabbed his chin and forced his head back so she could steal his lips.

“Did you get turned on from causing chaos?” Sebastian spoke against her lips, his eyes in her cleavage, and she knew he could feel her wide smile at calling her out. "You're a menace with a voice, and it's hot."

Neo couldn’t help but tighten her arms around his neck with desire.

Sebastian chuckled and tucked his notebook away. “Want to get out of here?”

Neo didn't even have to answer; she felt him stand, taking her along for the ride as she didn't let go.

If she hadn't been hanging from his back, she would have caught the glint in his eyes as he glanced toward a shadowed corner.

He tapped her thigh. “Just give me a few minutes first.”

Neo frowned and dropped down, pouting.

“You can finish your drink; I just need to make a quick call." Sebastian winked at her. "And then I'm all yours."

Neo's frown vanished under his warm smile. She held up three fingers and plopped into a bar chair.

“Three minutes is fine.” Sebastian pinched her chin, and Neo felt her toes curl as he stole her lips. "I'll make it quick."

Neo nodded with a flush and watched him walk off toward the doors. ‘I know that look, idiot.’

Sebastian really should get it through his thick skull that she could read him just as well as he could her.

However, just because she knew something was up didn’t mean she had to stick her nose in it.

‘If it’s important, he’ll tell me.’ She eyed up her cocktail. ‘And I did want to finish my drink.’

She relaxed and watched the chaos as the twins double-teamed her foster father, who thought he was slick enough to escape in the chaos. ‘Maybe it’s not so bad if some things never change.’

000

Sebastian's smile faded as he stepped out into the chilly streets of Vale.

He went only two blocks and found a secluded alleyway to walk into, throwing up a compulsion ward to keep curious eyes away.

“You know.” Sebastian spoke out loud. “A few months ago, I saw an interesting bird follow me around on a bit of an excursion and thought nothing special of it at the time.”

The flutter of wings echoed through the alleyway, and Sebastian didn't bother looking at it as he continued.

“You see, I’m a man with my own set of morals. If I intentionally do something rude, I don’t really mind how it’s taken because I knew what I was doing and didn’t care.” He seemingly spoke to himself as he reached into his coat. “However, being intentionally rude is one thing, while doing it by accident is another. If I do something rude by accident, I find it proper to apologize."

He pulled out a wooden box and set it on the lid of a trash can.

“Consider this my apology to your owner.” Sebastian turned and locked eyes with a particular crow staring back at him twenty feet away. "Please send him my compliments for his ingenious ward scheme.”

With that, Sebastian walked out, waving over his shoulder. 'A crow as a familiar is quite tacky, but who am I to judge?'

He shook his head with a chuckle and approached the club just as Neo stepped out.

"Shall we, my lady?" He bowed, then was taken aback when she gave an elegant curtsy fit for a ball before jumping up and clinging to him. "Now that I think about it, I never asked what kind of school you attended."

Neo silently laughed and kicked his sides like a horse.

“Oh, that’s how you want to play it?”

The two tussled, flirted, and joked their way into the distance on their way to Neo’s apartment.

Meanwhile, back in the alleyway, Qrow stood confused as he eyeballed the box's contents. “I guess we found our guy, but why the fuck does he want to give Oz cigars?”

0000

“This should be it.” Sebastian looked up at the damn-near-ancient-looking building with a hand-crafted sign.

Caraceni.

It didn't need to say anything else, for its name alone was world-renowned in both the magical and Muggle worlds.

It took an absurd amount of gold, and even that wouldn't have been enough, as he had to lean on his reputation with Gringotts through Forkfucker to get what he wanted.

"You'd think asking Goblins to find the best Italian tailor shop for me would have been simple. Who knew there were so many hoops I had to jump through to get a bloody suit?" Sebastian sighed in exhaustion as the search took its toll. "This was way too much effort."

Neo silently laughed at his suffering, happily munching on her eighth gelato cone of the day.

“Don’t make me knock that over.” Sebastian threatened the multi-colored woman with scissor fingers. “This wouldn’t have taken so long if you didn’t drag me to every single gelato stand you could find.”

Neo hissed like a cat and hid her prize from him. It wasn't nearly as good as real ice cream, but once she learned about the cultural dessert, she was determined to try every kind she could find.

The romantic walk around the city was just a plus point to her.

“You’re too cute to pick on.” Sebastian huffed at her sticking her tongue out, and used a mini-Banishing Charm to tap her opposite shoulder, taking advantage of the moment she turned to steal a bite of the cold treat. "But I never said I was a good guy."

Neo was shocked at his audacity, but before she could rectify his mistake, the handsome bastard stole her lips, and her mock wrath evaporated.

"Unfair." She whispered in his ear, and he just winked.

“What’s yours is mine.” He cracked his back with a groan of relief. "And what's mine is mine; now come on."

Neo narrowed her eyes in challenge and cast a subtle illusion as Sebastian reached for the door. Her gaze gleamed in satisfaction as he walked right into a closed door he thought he had opened.

She hmphed cockily and pulled the door open while Sebastian rubbed his nose.

“I deserved that.” Sebastian chuckled and followed her in.

The interior was both modern and ancient in the best of ways.

Marble floors, modern lighting, centuries-old chandeliers and paintings, and rich wooden walls carved in artistic patterns.

Rows of suits, shoes, and rolls of cloth lined the hall on both sides. A red carpet ran down the middle, leading to a simple counter with a pair of employees looking at them oddly.

"Sir." The middle-aged man of the duo stood up, his Italian translating through Sebastian's artifact into English. "Are you perhaps lost?"

The look the man gave Sebastian told him exactly what he thought of him. Sebastian's robes might have been stylish, comfortable, and fit him well, but he must have looked like a hobo to the well-groomed, well-dressed man.

“I believe the sign said this was Caraceni?” Sebastian channeled his English drawl and kept his feelings in check as he approached. “I was referred to your location.”

“Yes, well, this is a VIP business.” The man politely sneered.

“I was referred by Stapletooth.” Sebastian pulled the letter he grossly overpaid the Goblins for from his coat and flicked it at the man. “Of Gringotts.”

“Stapletooth?” The man’s eyes widened as he took in the stamp. “Well, that changes things.”

“How so?” Sebastian raised a brow with faux arrogance.

"You may browse our collection." The man shamelessly waved toward the rows of suits, as if he hadn't insulted Sebastian a second earlier. “These by the counter are the most exclusive, and we move down in price as you head to the door.”

"Charmed." Sebastian responded dryly to the dig, trying to keep his patience in check. "And if I want something custom-made?"

“Oh.” The man looked like he was biting his cheek. “I’m afraid that’s a bit more of a VIP service.”

"Is that so?" Sebastian reached into his coat and calmly pulled out a jingling pouch, then tossed it on the counter, where it spilled raw gold pieces over their books. “How about now?”

"Sir, we don't…" The man started to speak, but Sebastian tossed a second pouch on top.

“And now?”

“Sir…”

Sebastian tossed a third and stepped up to the sweating man, releasing a trace of his Mana as gravitational pressure.

“You were saying?” Sebastian asked calmly.

The man swallowed hard as Sebastian seemed to tower over him, but his assistant chose that moment to show some common sense and stood.

“It seems we just had an opening in our VIP list, Sir.” The well-dressed woman shot him a dazzling smile, completely ignoring the standoff. “Shall I send word to the tailor?”

“Y-yes.” The male employee found his balance and tugged at his necktie. “Yes, I’ll go inform him right away.”

He rushed off into the back.

“Wonderful.” Sebastian nodded proudly and ignored the highly amused look Neo was sending him. She had greatly enjoyed the show. “Something to say, dear?”

Neo just smiled wider and silently pushed the tip of her blade back into her umbrella.

“Shall I take your base measurements?” The female employee stepped forward with a tape measure and a rocks glass of top-shelf Italian malt whiskey.

Sebastian took the glass in confusion before the woman dropped to her knees before him, wrapping the tape around his legs. “I’m a large.”

"That's not how things work around here." The woman giggled flirtatiously, and Sebastian decided now was the best time to study the fantastic Renaissance-era craftsmanship of the chandelier, as he felt the violent Aura leaking from Neo. "Things are a bit tighter in this business.”

“I hope it's worth the money.” Sebastian muttered, but the woman seemed to hear it.

“Oh, it always is." She brushed against him and stood, smoothed out her tight skirt, and smiled at him. "Will that be all?"

“If you could take my lady’s measurements as well.” Sebastian waved to the brightly smiling Neo. “We will both be ordering today.”

“No need.” The woman smirked haughtily at Neo's stature. "She can browse our youth catalog and pick out something she likes.”

The employee turned, hips swaying, as she stepped into the back.

Sebastian coughed and sipped the whiskey, not even feeling the burn down his throat as he turned to admire the shoes on display. "Don't kill her."

Neo made no promises as she vanished under an illusion.

0000

“Marvelous!” The Italian tailor was an old man with greying hair, barely five feet four inches, fingers that had faced a thousand pins, eye wrinkles from years of smiles, and an excited gleam in his eyes as he gazed at the duo. “Your eyes are magnificent, oh, my dears, the ideas running through my mind right now.”

The short old man introduced himself as Antonio before he was struck with inspiration at the sight of them and threw the two up on display stands.

Sebastian was getting dizzy from the older man’s rapid movement. “As long as it fits my needs, I think I'll trust your judgment."

"It honors me to hear you say so." Antonio brightly smiled with olive, sun-kissed skin. "What is the purpose of your event?"

“A business meeting.” Sebastian simplified. “With the DeLuca family.”

Antonio's fingers momentarily froze.

“I see.” The man’s face hardened. “In that case, I must put in my best work.”

Sebastian blinked at his reaction. “That bad?”

“In a manner of speaking.” Antonio answered neutrally with a focused expression. “Rocco DeLuca is a man who doesn’t stand for sloppy appearances.”

“Sounds fun.” Sebastian deadpanned and looked over at Neo. “I guess you’re getting your wish of matching suits.”

Neo’s eyes lit up with genuine sparkles as she clapped.

“Now that, I can assist with.” Antonio gleefully rubbed his hands together, matching Neo's energy. “I always love a challenge.”

“Joy.” Sebastian decided to let Neo express enough enjoyment for the two of them. ‘This better be worth the effort.’

000

“Two custom suits with our premier packages, including everything one needs for the proper refined establishment."

The male clerk was all friendly smiles as he handed Sebastian the receipt for their purchase. “Will that be all for you today?”

“Yes." Sebastian took it with tired eyes after playing pin-up for Antonio for the last few hours. "Do we come back for the suits?"

"Of course." The clerk nodded. "Master Antonio has decided to personally take on your orders and will have them ready in three days. Feel free to stop by any time after noon." 

Sebastian nodded and gestured to the door. “Anything else, or can we leave?”

“Ah, we usually send out customers with a customary drink.” The male clerk frowned and looked around. “Where has Arianna gone? I do apologize."

“Don’t worry about it.” Sebastian waved it away with a straight face. “Ready to go, Neo.”

Sebastian timed his words just as Neo stepped into her illusion and vanished it. She hummed happily and took his hand, then calmly pulled him toward the door.

“Have a safe trip!” The unnamed clerk waved as they left.

“She’s still alive, right?” Sebastian whispered, allowing Neo to wrap his arm around her shoulders. “It would make picking up our order awkward.”

Neo silently giggled and gave him a thumbs up.

"That tells me so much." Sebastian shook his head and looked around. “Want to find another gelato place?”

He didn’t even have to ask.

Meanwhile, back at the store, in a storage room with a very tight broom closet.

A certain female clerk struggled futilely against her bonds as she screamed into her own balled-up thong stuffed in her mouth, eyes wide in terror as she was haunted by illusions that had tormented her the entire time Neo was in the store.

Yet now, that same tormenter was joyfully skipping down the street, snuggled up next to her lover and seeming the height of innocence.

0000

Three days later, Sebastian couldn't help but feel glad the female clerk survived and seemed to be keeping a wide berth from him and Neo.

Whether she spoke up or not went unsaid as they were pulled into a back room to try on their suits.

Clad in the finest blue suit he’d ever worn, the material damn near kissing his skin as it hugged his frame and turned a wandering scholar into an award-winning movie star, Sebastian couldn’t help but have a complicated expression.

He was supremely uncomfortable without his usual clothes, but even he had to admit the suit was comfortable.

No, the complication came from a single question.

“What material is this again?” Sebastian asked Antonio for the second time as the elder made the final adjustments.

“We only use the finest quality sources here.” Antonio proudly answered. “English silk, Scottish cashmere, and Irish linen.”

“Right, that’s what I thought you said." Sebastian nodded externally while internally swearing vengeance on Forkfucker. 'Why the bloody hell did I come all the way to Italy for an English suit?'

Sure, the suit was great, fantastic really, if the way Neo kept using illusions to grab his ass said anything. Still, he hated all of the posturing for a simple brand name.

“Your lady friend is marvelous, is she not?” Antonio smiled proudly over at where Neo was having her suit adjusted by an assistant tailor.

Sticking to her usual color scheme, Neo wore form-fitting white pants, a white vest hugging her torso and pushing up her chest, and a dark brown coat that fell to her knees and was touched up with pink accents here and there.

Her shoulders remained bare, with a supple pair of suspenders wrapping around to keep her coat up.

All in all, she looked a few years older, more mature, and damn sexy in her white heels.

“She’s beautiful.” Sebastian admitted openly, making Neo look over and wink despite her flush at his honest praise. "And I think it's time we go."

“You should be set.” Antonio removed the last pin and looked over his work a final time. “We have lifetime warranties on readjustments, so feel free to return if something feels uncomfortable.”

“I have a feeling your work couldn’t possibly have such an issue.” Sebastian complimented him while internally hoping against his luck that he’d never have to come back.

“Oh, it’s not my work I worry for.” Antonio sent him a farewell wave with a kind smile. “Do remember your manners with your business meeting.”

Sebastian paused at the comment, then took Neo's hand and nodded.

The two left, stepping back into the street as the sun set in the distance, the old European city coming alive with lights.

Sebastian ran a hand through his combed hair and sighed. "You ready to negotiate with the magical mafia?”

By the excited gleam in Neo’s eyes, Sebastian knew she was born ready.

“Yeah, thought so.”

Chapter End.

AN: Hope you enjoyed!

Sebastian goes to the expert for criminal advice.

Neo makes use of her new powers for the good of mankind.

Junior will not stand for no water leaks in his bar.

Neo and Sebastian are adorable. I will fight anyone who says otherwise. Or my beta reader will. Plum, I choose you!

Sebastian sends an apology gift.

Sebastian uses the power of ‘I’m filthy fucking rich, peasant’ on stuck-up employees.

Neo deals with annoying buzzing insects.

And the two get properly outfitted for a meeting with the mafia.

See you next time!

P.S. Which title did you like best?