Welcome to Gaia! ::

Noel pulled the strap to tighten the bags around Haute Couture's midsection, tucked just behind his tiny wings. She had roped her son into helping her this afternoon, as she had a very large job to do needed the extra help and legs to carry everything she needed with her. Normally Negative would help but he was off with Lovely, Pepper, and Bee and she didn't want to bother Ink, who had his own business to run.

"Zere," she said, after tucking the end of the strap through the buckle. "Iz zat too tightening? Flap vous wingz, zee 'ow much movement vous are hazing." As her son tested his wings, she frowned at the last few things she needed to take. Her bags were already beyond max capacity and to load down Haute anymore would be rending him unable to walk, much less fly.

Outside the window of her shop, she spied Footnote passing by. Perfect.

"Alors..Footnote!" she called, pushing the window opening and beckoning to him with her hoof. "Doez vouz 'ave ze time to 'elp moi wiz an job?"

Noel smiled kindly at Footnote and vanishes for a moment, opening the door to her shop. "Moi iz to be needing 'elp taking zome zings to a job and moi only 'az a few more zings to carry. You look ztrong zo moi iz to be zinking vous can 'elp moi." She holds the door open for Footnote. "Moi will pay vous ze azzizant'z zalary for ze day."

Footnote stiffened slightly at the mention of him being a strong pony. That flattery fell short as the foal knew that he could never be as fast or as strong as the other foals who were often running around on four perfect hooves.

Trotting in warily, Footnote was quick to wave aside the offer of pay. “That’s not necessary ma’am. I earn enough from my part time job. I help proofread sentences,” said Footnote by way of an explanation. “But I will be glad to help if I can,”

It was then that Footnote noticed the other colt within the shop and the colt was trying his hardest not to stare. Footnote hated that. The furtive glances, the failed attempts trying not to judge him...

“W-What are you looking at?” said Footnote before he could stop himself. Immediately regretting his actions, the young phony lowered his head and said “Sorry.”

Footnote had some sharp eyes - Fab hadn't peeked more than twice. He really had been trying hard - he knew what being gawked at was like. The sharp mouth and dark eyes he had inherited from his Papa tended to draw a lot of attention.

Before he could apologize, his Maman shuffled them out the door and into a pair of customers' misplaced scarves. He'd ended up with the hideous brown and orange one again - he kept trying to get rid of it, but it always turned up again sooner or later. He groaned when she told him they weren't flying, too - he had nothing against walking, but flying was much more fun! It looked like he was going to spend a long, slow walk looking absolutely terrible. The things he did for family!

As they set off, he finally did peek around his Maman and mutter, "Sorry," to Footnote.

The snow started slowly as they walked.

"Ze outzide iz non ze important part of ze phony, zese iz true. Ze two of vous muzt keep zis in mind when we are to be getting to where we are going." Her voice had gone stern again, this time with no nice undertones.

Their destination loomed ahead. Phony City Hospital. The automatic doors opened up and warm air blew onto the trio. They paused for a moment while Noel shook the snow off of her wings and every phony wiped their hooves.

The nurse at the front desk smiled at Noel and greeted her, also cooed at Haute and Footnote. She told Noel she would call ahead and let the floor know she had arrived. Noel thanked her and guided the boys down a hall way and to a elevator bank. Elder phony in wheel chairs smiled at the foals, a phony with an IV stared drearily ahead, a new magazine in his mouth. They all stepped into the first elevator that opened up, and Noel hit the 5 button. The elevator quietly lifted, then stopped several times, letting the other phony off to their respective floors. As the climbing light neared the 5, Noel gave both a stern look and repeated her warning; "Remembering, be'ave!"