"Hello", said a men's soft voice. "Is this the correct place to check in for the move?"
"Yes, it is", Tamara replied. She knew what was to come when she noticed the ponytail, the outfit and the earring of the newcomer.
She was right. Eternia turned around - and freezed. "Wow! You're cute!"
"Oh. Err... thanks?" The young man seemed just as sheepish about the compliment as he was surprised.
"My name is Natsume. Noel and I want to check in for box 2."
"Noel? Oh! Is your friend as good looking as you?"
"Err, actually..."
"Do you always go barefooted?" Tamara deadpan interjected to decelerate Eternia a bit.
Natsume blinked. "On carpet whenever possible", he said dignified.
Tamara showed a small smile. "Well, well. And do you own bulky items or accessoires that we have to store for you?"
"Oh, yes, I'm afraid I have a whole bunch of things. Just a moment." Natsume had to go several times before he had brought everything.
"Wow, you're a musician?" Eternia was hooked on Natsume's instrument. And reliefed that he brought shoes.
"Yes, that I am. I play in the orchestra of the local theatre as well as sometimes for Ama's Band", the man explained. A dark shadow crossed his face when he mentioned the musical arch rival of Arion's Band Dark Delight.
Tamara raised her brows in approval. "All of those items are yours? Even the windcheater? And the chair?"
"Err... yes? Is something wrong with that? Is it too much luggage?"
"No, no", Tamara quickly assured him, "You have my respect. I'm sure you made a great impression on the boss then."
"She looked not unhappy about my arrival, that's right."
The unagitated, laid back behaviour of the man struck Tamara as very pleasant. In her opinion he seemed too sensitive to make a good match for her feisty friend.
Eternia grinned from ear to ear. "Natsume, your presence is an enrichment for Dolltopia!"
"... for the costume and prop pool, you mean." Only those who knew her very well could hear the amusement in Tamara's voice.
"Hello!" said a delicate voice and a ballerina in a snow white dress joined them.
"Ah, Noel!" Natsume was overjoyed and took her by the hand.
Both of them exchanged a shy gaze. It was obvious they liked each other a lot, but were they truly a couple?
"You're late. Does that mean he's not coming with us?" Natsume inquired cautiously.
Noel shook her head. "That's right. He said he still has business to do prior to the travel."
"What?! That's Noel?! I thought she was a man, too!" Eternia chuntered and eyed Noel with scrutiny. The ballerina was outworldly pretty and her movements were as gracile as a swan's.
"Not just isn't she a man, Natsume also only has eyes for her." When Tamara saw Eternia sulk she couldn't resist a giggle. "Aw, don't be sad, Eternia. I'm sure that stripper is still strolling around somewhere. He can certainly comfort you."
"He said he isn't a stripper but a superstar!" Eternia corrected her and had to grin again when remembering Raiki's scene a few days ago.
"Do you carry any items that need storage, Noel?" Tamara asked while inconspiciously wiping off a tear from laughing.
"No, everything I own, I wear right now."
"Aren't the barettes unwieldy?"
"No, it's okay. But thank you for caring. You really give your best to make the move easier for us." Noel ended her amicable comment with a delicate little curtsy.
"Aw, Eternia, she's also friendly and has manners. That looks bad for you!"
"Pf!" Eternia looked at the ballerina in discontent and mumbled: "No accessoires. If Natsume is an enrichment for Dolltopia she's the exact opposite."
"Excuse me? I'm afraid I didn't get that." Something about Noels stance hinted that she heard Eternia's comment very well but her smile didn't budge.
Tamara eyed the yound woman. "Don't think bad of the old maid for being jealous of a young swan", she said with a wink.
Eternia, who was actually not much older than Noel, snorted. "Who is an old maid?!"
"Oh, I'm not sure. Who was it who came in back in the day, expectantly wearing a wedding dress, and who's still solo? Was that me? Ah, no! It was you!"
"Mon dieu! A wedding dress! I hope one day you can use it!" the ballerina exclaimed enraptured.
Eternia, who felt a nerve throbbing on her brow, handed both a roll of foil each and planned to go looking for a nice, blunt sword.
Moving - Shinku and Elizabeth <-- # --> Moving - Yuki and Sanada