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“I'm... I'm so sorry!” Mirabelle was aghast when she saw the new interior of Ghost's room. From the way she reacted and her facial expressions, this was not what she had in mind, “That little!”

“You asked her to decorate. Why?”

“You two seem friendly and she has some fashion sense I assume and... I'm so, so sorry! I'll get these removed right away!” She scrambled to the posters, only to find them plastered to the wall.

“Tried that. You really shouldn't give Miel freedom like that. She's a pervert. You know that, right?”

Mirabelle sighed, “I do now.” The dignified dragon was beyond embarrassed, “I will make this up to you somehow. Come, I will purchase something to cover this... vulgarity.” Ghost was still mostly asleep, “Hurry now. The sooner we deal with this issue the better.” Mirabelle was too impatient for Ghost to fully wake up, so he did the best he could and stumbled after her.

She was especially aware of her posture and surroundings, almost as though she believed everyone else knew about the posters and would blame her, “Calm down. It's too early for this.” He kept up with her to the elevator and leaned against the wall, half asleep, “The wall isn't going anywhere.”

The door opened and even early in the morning the shopping floors were full. Ghost begrudgingly followed the dragon on a mission and walked through and past many stores. Mirabelle was after something specific, but wouldn't let him in on it, “Ah, here.”

An art shop that dealt in everything from posters to masterpieces. The owner was an older dragon and was lost in his newstablet. He looked up once, nodded, and returned to his article, “Mirabelle, what am I buying now...”

“I am buying something to cover up that... atrocity. There. Nature themes are said to lift moods. Sir? I will purchase both of those posters and an appropriate framework.” The old man shouted something unintelligible and a younger man walked onto the floor. He was in awe, “Young man, can you help us?”

“Of course! I mean, yes, Grand Inquisitor! Right away! Where should I deliver these!?” He was way too excited for a teenager. Mirabelle gave him the instructions and paid, “Right away, ma'am! I'll have your items delivered shortly!”

Mirabelle turned to Ghost, “I believe you need some clothing as well. That robe isn't enough. I know where to go.” Ghost shrugged and followed.

Miel was on duty and waved with her goofy grin, but that faded fast into a look of terror after Mirabelle made eye contact. The two continued walking and eventually made their way to the top floor and into a high-end clothing shop. A 'boutique' Ghost would later learn, “Ah, my dear Mirabelle! Such a pleasure!” The man in charge was wearing something out of a Victorian-era painting, “Ah, and this must be the famous human. Welcome to my humble boutique.”

“Germain, I would ask that you find a suitable wardrobe for my friend. Unfortunately all he has is that robe.”

Germain pulled out a string tape, “Shouldn't be a problem! Come here, come here, I need some measurements.” Ghost was led to a small step and quickly measured. Germain no doubt had done this thousands of times before, from catering to the rich or even the not so rich that wanted a good dressy shirt, “Ah ha, thought so...” With mechanical precision, he scribbled some notes, “Now, I won't need you for most of what I see you in, so luckily you can get on with your day.”

Ghost was left out of the decision making, but he did see some reddish vests and slacks in a pile presented to Mirabelle, “Am I a pet? Seriously... maybe I am.”

“Alright, these will be altered and delivered shortly. Let us go back and wait. No sense spending more money.” A long hike and a short elevator ride later and Ghost found the young man waiting at his door with two wrapped and framed pieces of art, “Ah, good. You can leave them there. We'll take care of them.” She tossed a few coins his way as he ran off.

“He even gave us the fasteners. How thoughtful.”

The two got the pieces inside and before Ghost could finish unwrapping one Mirabelle was already pinning the other to the wall over the nude poster. Ghost followed suit, exhaustion and a poor diet were draining his ability to fight, “There, much better. So much better. Don't you think?” She was finally acting friendly and not at all embarrassed.

“It's fine. Now the walls have color. We good here?”

She put a finger to her lips and looked around, “Not quite. I don't think this place is enough of a home yet. I wish I knew what I could get...”

“Please stop...” He put a hand on her shoulder, “This was more than I could handle this morning. Don't I have work to do?”

“Oh, it's our day off.”

Ghost felt his soul sink deeper down, “So... what am I supposed to do?”

Mirabelle shrugged. Normally this wouldn't be odd, but Mirabelle was a warrior. She didn't shrug, “I suppose we should hang out, be friends, right?”

“Friends... alright... what do friends do?” Ghost wasn't entirely sure himself. Being homeless taught him to avoid friends. All they wanted was your possessions. Or your life. Both equally valuable, “Well? I'm waiting.”

“Oh!” Mirabelle wasn't sure how to respond, and her jump was just further proof. She didn't have friends either, and even after last night there was no doubt she had no idea how to proceed, “Well... right! You should see my home. It may inspire you.”

“Inspire me? How?”

Mirabelle was already leaving, “Decorations maybe? It's better than doing nothing I suppose.”

She had him there, “Alright. I'm following.” The boring walk and elevator ride left them up high, among the noble houses. Only right that a Grand Inquisitor would hold a top spot. Mirabelle took a breath and opened her door.

The inside felt warm, with tan walls and wooden floors. A few pieces of furniture were scattered about, yet somehow in perfect order with everything else. A bookshelf was loaded with books, and upon closer inspection was gathering dust. Simple art and lamps hung from the walls. At a glance, no matter how much she put into it, the items were cheap and a display rather than desired, “Well, this is my home. Try not to think too poorly of me.”

“I lived under tarps and concrete for the past year. You have a roof over your head and disposable income. Be happy.”

“Never thought of it that way. Things could be much worse I suppose.”

Ghost was becoming irritated. Even though she was forced into a horrible marriage with a horrible person, she never considered her independent life was impressive, “You're spoiled, aren't you?”

Mirabelle turned away, “I suppose I was. It took someone like you to help me realize it.” She began to fidget.

“Uh...” Ghost took a few steps back into a wall, “Not saying that having a lot is bad, but not realizing it is. Just understand that you have more opportunities than most, alright?”

“Yes, yes I know. Opportunities can be earned, and they can come knocking.”

“Well shit... look at the time.” He had no way of telling the time, but he wasn't in the mood right now for anything but food, “I forgot to eat. Better go and find some food.”

“I'll come with you! I haven't eaten either.” She was all too happy to follow Ghost, while he was just happy he could eat. Social situations weren't his forte, and attraction was certainly nothing he had fond memories to fall back on, “So, where to? I could go for anything.”

The restaurants were all pretty simple, and so far Ghost only went to one or two on occasion with Miel, who happened to know every shop owner in the tower. One place sold simple foods, like rice and eggs, at all hours of the day. Easy was good, “I know a spot.”

They found a table quickly and placed orders. The service was always quick, another reason to like the place. Not to mention they didn't judge anyone for being drunk at 3 in the morning, something Miel and, to a lesser extent, Ghost, did often, “I've never been inside this establishment before.”

She was wearing her casual armor, and while her height alone would have drawn a crowd, it was her status that drew stares, “It's easy food. Nothing more.”

“You had better cheer up soon. The new clothes will help.”

“Psychological facts aside, why do you think I'm not cheerful today?”

“You don't often seem happy, but today I would assume the, uh, lewd posters permanently glued to your wall are the culprit.”

Not even close, “I'm upset primarily because I wasn't allowed to sleep all night, last night's events didn't feel like they had closure, and I've walked more this morning than I have in weeks.”

Mirabelle looked down, “I'm sorry, I was just so excited to have a real friend like you.”

Ghost looked around, and while Mirabelle was still getting the occasional stare, nobody was in earshot, “Friends don't do what happened last night, Mirabelle.”

“Oh, I knew that. But, you know, I just got carried away in the moment is all. I'm sorry, please don't be mad.”

Ghost grumbled and rested his face in his hand, “I'm not mad.” Even he didn't know how he felt about it, but he sure wasn't going to let her know, “Let's just eat when the food gets here. Over thinking anything is bad.”

Mirabelle looked out of the window and into the mall area, “It's amazing, isn't it?”

“That's a fast change in topic.”

“How many people live here all their lives, never struggling with anything serious. A few bills pile up here and there, but that's about it. You've been educated and tossed aside, something these people will never comprehend, and you've survived. My life hasn't been difficult like yours.”

“Do go on.” The food arrived and Ghost started to eat.

“Well, I was almost groomed for this position. I tried hard too, but I knew from the start what I was going to do with my life. In terms of my career I mean.”

Ghost swallowed, “Lucky you. Most don't even get that far.”

“I know I may have asked, but what do you plan on doing with your life now?”

Good question, one Ghost didn't have a complete answer to, “I don't know, keep working with you, make it up as I go.”

“Just work with me? Nothing else?”

“Nothing planned.”

“Planned... I can work with that.”

Ghost took another bite, “What did I just say...”