As soon as Tori spoke those three words, Greer's whole body deflated from the breath she had been holding. He believed her. That was one step closer to making sure she didn't get kicked out. She smiled genuinely at him when he spoke about how much he cared about her. Tori had always been like an older brother to her, and she was glad he was willing to come to her about this first. but then he said that had to go talk to Madame.<br/><br/>"Oh, no! Tori, can't we just keep this between us?" She pleaded, eyes wide with fright at the idea of going to the Madame. "She won't believe me. You know how she is about drugs. She will see this pouch and won't have eyes for anything else! She'll throw me out in a heartbeat! I can't go live on the streets. I just can't. I would never jeopardize my place here by doing crap like that, but..." Tears were welling up in her eyes at the thought of having to leave. Worse, of having Madame Talamh think she was doing drugs in the house.<br/><br/>"She won't believe that it was Paedar," she murmured, looking down at the bane on the desk. Paedar was one of Greer's regulars. He visited at least once a week. Paedar was nothing but polite to everyone who worked at Madame Talamh's. He was a wealthy firecrafter, a widower. In private, he had told Madame that Greer reminded him of his late wife.<br/><br/>~<br/><br/>Mae smirked at the younger girl's antics, but encouraged her to lower her voice. She giggled along with Kitty's phrasing, pulling her coat tighter to herself as a gust of wind ripped through the street. They soon found themselves at Ailene's. Mae took Kitty's hand a pulled her along inside.<br/><br/>"Now, be careful touching things in here," she warned as they passed the threshold. "Some of the fabrics are very expensive. Madame would have both our hides if Miss Ailene charged her for something we ruined."<br/><br/>Ailene's dress and fabric shop was in it's usual chaotic order. Rising twelve feet in the hair, the shelves were stacked with rolls of different fabrics. The shelving lined two walls. The room held multiple displays of dresses handmade by the shop owner. Most were done in silks and satins, showing off the best work Ailene could do. As the two ladies entered, a short and squat woman passed through a doorway that must have led to a workroom. Strings stuck to the woman's skirts from her work. A pair of scissors on a ribbon hung from around her neck and a measuring line wrapped around her like a scarf. "Oh! Look who's come to visit!" She squealed in her mousey tone, a wrinkled grin covering her face.