Myiri fiddled with her hair, turning her head this way and that, testing the style on her reflection. Her flaxen hair didn't want to cooperate with her today! Huffing sullenly, she resigned herself to tying the mess of loose curls up at the back of her head... Just as she did every other day for the last month. She stood from her vanity and turned to her wardrobe where a few humble outfits made their home. The nineteen year old paused, fiddling habitually with the moonstone at her throat. Her landlady, Adelaide Baker, had asked her to help sort out some of the old record books for the inn. Myiri didn't mind, the older woman had been kind enough to give her food and shelter in exchange for a bit of light work. However... The archives were high up on the shelves in the cellar, which would involve using a ladder. Her long, pale fingers stretched automatically for her trousers, reasoning that skirts and ladders were surely a poor combination. She pulled the rest of her<a class="postlink" href="http://www.polyvore.com/typical_day_for_myiri_leighton/set?id=55903613">clothes</a>on, a white ruffled shirt beneath her usual vest. She shoved a stubborn strand of hair out of her startling amber eyes and headed down into the reception area, where Adelaide was waiting with tea and cookies.<br/>"Good morning, Myiri, dear," she said quietly. By now, the appearance of the young girl in trousers instead of skirts was normal and didn't shock the older woman.<br/>The younger girl bobbed her head in greeting, "Good morning, Lady Baker."<br/>The landlady chuckled, "Really, dear, by now you should be fine with calling me by name. Or just Addie, if you like."<br/>Myiri produced a strained smile, still unused to being so familiar with strangers. She supposed it came with spending the entirety of your life with only your family, running with a pack of the same wolves every full moon. She shook herself from her thoughts and turned to her landlady, "You said you needed some help getting to the older archives?"<br/>Adelaide nodded, "Yes, my bones are too fragile to be climbing up such a rickety ladder. But be careful, Myiri!"<br/>The werewolf chuckled, "I'll be fine Lady... Adelaide. Don't worry." She climbed up easily, pulling a few dusty tomes against her chest before heading back to her companion.<br/>"Thank you, my dear. This makes things much easier for me," the landlady sat down, opening one of the books just as the welcoming bell rang. A heavy sigh escaped the older woman, "Oh, botheration," she muttered, making to stand. Myiri was ahead of her, "I'll get it!"<br/><br/>"Good morning, sir," She bobbed on her heels in lieu of a proper curtsy, "Can I interest you in a room?"<br/>"Nay, lass," The man spoke gruffly, but his tone was soft, almost secretive. He leaned in closer to the desk, "Yer the one askin' questions about the dark?"<br/>Myiri sighed. Vampires. She'd been wanting to meet one for ages now. That was why she'd left her home in the first place. Find a vampire and befriend them, proving her father wrong. Surely they couldn't all be as bad as he said. She nodded mutely to the man, unsure as to where this was going.<br/>He chuckled at her hesitation, "Well, I think I may have found somethin' to interest ye," he handed over a flier, and was gone before she could say a word. Curious, Myiri glanced down at the paper in her hands. Her heightened hearing told her that Adelaide was now standing behind her, reading the flier over her shoulder.<br/><br/>"Come one, come all, welcome to the Grand Ball... Where the strong run for cover and the weak stand tall. If you're not afraid, welcome to the Masquerade," Adelaide read aloud, "Good heavens what is all this about?"<br/>Myiri shrugged, "I'm not sure, he just gave it to me."<br/>"Who did."<br/>"A man. In a coat and hat. I couldn't see much of his face, but," She smiled slowly.<br/>"Myiri! Surely you're not thinking of attending this? There's not even a proper address..." Her protests fell on deaf ears, for Myiri was notoriously stubborn.<br/>"I'm not thinking of going, Adelaide. I am<span style="font-style: italic">most definitely</span>going. How could I pass something like this up?"<br/>"But my dear... It could be very dangerous to go to such a thing. Particularly without an escort."<br/>"I'll be fine. It'll be an adventure! I'd better find a dress though... And a corset too, I suppose. Addie, would you help me get ready?"<br/>The woman nodded, but grumbled under her breath. Something about quiet girls and heart disease. Myiri chuckled and headed out onto the streets in search of a suitable dress. People here in this small village had grown used to the contrary girl with her disdain for propriety. This was not the first time she'd emerged from her building with no corset, no skirt, no hat, and no escort. Some of the more strict women still clicked their tongues and shook their heads, and the crotchety old men married to them were still grumbling about women in trousers. It all escaped Myiri's attention today, as she practically skipped down the quaint streets. Finally. An adventure worth buying a corset for!