Timeless Treasures

"Ooohhh! D'Hayv! Treasure! See!" Kea exclaimed pointing out the trucks window and bouncing excitedly in her cushioned seat.

Dave smiled, seeing her excitement was contagious, and nodded as he began making the turn off by the big sign done up like a treasure chest. "Yup. Dave see! I think this must be the place." He smiled looking at the old storefront building.

Timeless Treasures was written on the sign out front with an "& Tailoring" added below as as if an afterthought. The same someone had gone to a lot of creative effort to paint the sign depicting a treasure chest overflowing with baubles but someone had also creatively painted the outside. The exterior of the building was covered with fun, quirky paintings of all sorts from kinghts and princesses to pirates to cowboys and girls to 1920's gangsters and flappers and many other hand painted colorful characters in a sprawling mural that covered the building. Combined with the old-fashioned storefront it gave the building a very eclectic and distinctly quirky look. Getting out of the truck in the vaccant parking lot and heading towards the building they passed an old wooden cigar store Indian and heard music playing from within. Dave smiled as he recognized the Beach Boys "Wouldn't It Be Nice" wrapping up and then John Denver started playing "Take Me Home, Country Roads".

"Well someone's got eclectic tastes," he said.

"Wot Ek-lek-tik?" Kea asked looking up at him.

"Hmm..." Dave hummed in thought on how to explain as they stepped into the store.

The interior was warmly lit by a variety of different lamps in a dozen different styles and colors. Racks of clothes in every kind of style and from every period in a riot of colors were in the center making it look like a costume or set department gone wild. On the sides and in the back were all kinds of furniture from antique Victorian to postmodernism and more. Everywhere the walls were covered in art, pictures, vintage posters, clocks and various bric-a-brac. It was a wildly chaotic mish-mash collection that was obviously well cared for.

He smiled and waved his hand. "Eclectic."

Kea nodded grinning. "Eklektik," she said understanding. She liked what she saw though. It was truly a very exotic treasure hoard someone had collected. She approved!

"One moment, dears!" Called out a feminine voice with a slight British accent. The proprietor appeared through a beaded curtain. An attractive woman in round frame glasses with an abundance of wild frizzy hair barely contained by a multicolored scarf appeared wearing a get up that was somewhere between gypsy and hippy and one hundred percent bohemian in style. "Hello and welcome!" She said smiling. "Feel free to look around... and... oh," she paused seeing Kea her eyes going almost comically wide behind her glasses.

Kea with the memory of her recent experiences started to shyly step closer to Dave squeezing his hand, a bit worried... until the woman clapped with delight and did a happy little dance. "Oh my! Aren't you an attractive couple! Are you one of those "Monster Girls", I've heard about, dear?"

"Uhmmm... yes," Kea said hesitantly. "Kea is goblin."

"Wonderful!" The woman exclaimed excitedly clapping and smiling warmly. "You're my very first customer from another world! Simply marvelous! Please, do come in make yourselves at home! Oh, and feel free to try on anything that catches your eye and ask me any questions you have! And if you're looking for something in particular or something doesn't fit let me know. I might be able to make alterations."

Kea blinked, it was hard to keep up with the excitable woman who was talking so much and so quickly, but she smiled at the obviously friendly and welcoming attitude. She liked this hooman already, she had goblin like vibes, and grinned. "Thank you!" She said extending her hand. "Kea pleased to meat you!

The woman grinned happily taking her hand. "You're very welcome, Kea! Oh! Forgive me! I haven't introduced myself yet! I'm Sybil but all my friends call me Billie so please call me that?"

"Ok, Billie!" Kea said shaking her hand.

"And I'm Dave," David said shaking her hand next. "Thank you for the warm welcome Billie. The Sheriff recommended we come check out your shop. You see we uh... "got turned away" from another store that didn't want our business. That's how we met the Sheriff and he recommended that we try coming here."

Billie shook her head catching on but smiled. "Well that's unfortunate you two had to go through that! I'm so sorry to hear about your troubles. But their loss, is my gain! And Chase is such a dear fellow!"

Billie went into a long rambling story about getting pulled over that ended with her and Sheriff Chase surprisingly dating in the end as she helped Kea try on a variety of different things... and recommended more. As they were the only current customers they got her full attention. A lot of things were either too big or too small for Kea as is but she insisted that she could make alterations for most of them... and at minimal cost.

Dave and Kea tried telling her that wasn't necessary but she waved it off. "Things have their own spirit darlings and clothes want to be worn! They're happy to be worn by you and I'm happy to be a part of that!"

Apparently she amassed her vast collection of things from all over. Thrift and tag sales, estate sales and auctions, closing or defunct costuming departments from stage, films and television productions, etcetera. She had fun dressing Kea up in whatever she could find that would fit... and surprisingly she found a lot! From simple sundresses to elaborate and fancy costumes... and Dave thought Kea looked great. Especially her smile as she made a new friend!

And Dave didn't get away either. The ladies had fun insisting he try on somethings as well!

"Perfect," Sybil said.

"Fun!" Kea said still wearing a princess like tiara Billie had had her try on.

"Eheh... I don't think it's for me," Dave said taking off the somewhat silly costume. "I feel like one of The Village People."

"Oh pooh," Billie said disappointed but Kea saw something and tapped her to get her attention and pointed. "D'Hayv good? Like Share-if?"

Billie grinned. "Oh good eye, Kea Darling!" She said taking down the hat and passing it to Dave. "Try this on, please?"

Dave blinked and accepted the hat. "Oh I don't know," he said reluctantly. But seeing both of them looking at him expectantly he sighed and placed the brown pinch front fedora on his head. It surprised him as it fit almost perfectly and he adjusted it's tilt as he turned towards the ladies. "Well?"

"Oh, very dashing!" Said Billie holding up a mirror and nodding. "Like a movie star!"

"Ooooo! Good!" Kea proclaimed clapping. "Kewl! Ah-sum!"

Dave rolled his eyes and started to take it off... then glanced back in the mirror and tipped it back a bit. He nodded. "Ok... sold. I guess I could wear it sometimes for going out and stuff." He looked at the growing pile of stuff they'd gotten for Kea. Some of it would be coming with them and the rest would be getting fitted. Even with Sybil's rock bottom friend prices it was going to be a bit expensive because of the sheer volume but... he smiled watching Kea try on a feather boa Sybil had handed her before announcing it was tea time and she was "putting the kettle on" and insisting that they join her. Kea's happy face made it all worthwhile... "Good thing I have a job lined up for Monday and tomorrow is the Farmers Market!"

Kea had been choosy at first. She didn't want to cause her mate to have to pay too much despite his insisting that she could get whatever she wanted. But Billie showed her so many wonderful treasures!

"Oh! Kea no need. Too much," Kea said trying to explain and even started to take the boa off.

David however shook his head and draped it around her shoulders. "Kea is beautiful. Kea like?" He asked.

She blushed and nodded taking his hand. "Kea like! Kea like Billie. Kea love D'Hayv. Kea no want too much."

Dave shook his head again. Kea was making a new friend. That was priceless. "Dave love Kea too! And I also like, Billie. I have money Kea. Kea like? Then Dave will buy whatever Kea wants. Deal?" He asked shaking her hand.

But Kea shook her head as she hugged him instead. "Deal! Kea work hard! Kea help D'Hayv! D'Hayv-Kea to-get-her!"

Dave smiled and patted her head. "Always. It's a deal."

They heard sniffling and turned to see Sybil blowing her nose loudly. "Oh! You- Oh, my! *Sniff* So beautiful! I'll give you a *Honk* Excuse me! A big discount! The friends discount!"

Over tea they explained their story to Sybil. "Oh you poor dears!" She said their hands. "That Belle is such a vicious little... well you know! People like that you pay them no mind! It's more about their own issues than yours in my experience. Still their loss is my gain! I'm so glad you two came to brighten my day!"

"So are we," Dave said smiling.

"Kea too!" Kea said grinning. She wanted to focus on the positive things. There were good hoomans in this world. That was more important than focusing on the bad. They still scared her... but knowing the good ones were out there and the ones she'd made friends with made it worth facing her fears. And D'Hayv was at the top of that list! He helped her meet good people and make friends. Protected her and stood by and up for her against the bad.

Kea held onto Sybil's hand and gave her a slightly shy but questioning look. "Kea want to ask..." she paused and glanced at David.

David blinked but caught on slowly. "Oh! Uhm "Girl talk"! I got it!" He cleared his throat standing up awkwardly bumping the table in his rush. "Sorry. I uh... I'll leave you two to it then and go browse! Thanks for the tea!" He smiled and patted Kea jerking his thumb towards the furniture a little ways away. "If you need me I'll be right over there. OK?"

She smiled and nodded. "OK!"

Sybil smiled as Dave walked away to give the ladies their privacy. "He's very protective and doting. You're very lucky, Kea. You found a good man who loves you. I can tell."

Kea nodded happily smiling. "Kea know! D'Hayv good. D'Hayv-Kea good-good!" She nodded again clenching her little hand into a determined fist. "Kea want D'Hayv happy! Kea work hard to make happy!" Then her smile turned sly as she gave Sybil a shy look. "But... May-bee Kea need help? Billie help Kea? Make D'Hayv go "Wow"?"

Sybil blinked her eyes behind her glasses owlishly before slowly grinning. "Oh! I see! You want to "wow" him!" She giggled, squeezing Kea's hand and nodding. "Shall we go pick out some sexy things to blow his mind and make him go "wow"?"

Kea nodded enthusiastically, grinning at where D'Hayv was inspecting some old bookshelves none the wiser before turning back to Sybil. "Yes, Please!" She said her eyes brightly shining. "Thank you!"

"You're very welcome Kea!" Sybil said taking her hand and winking. "Now let's start over here! I think we can find some things that will be suitably titillating!"

Kea grinned and nodded puffing out her not inconsiderable chest. "Tits!"

Dave wondered what the ladies were up to as he heard their giggling and laughter but decided to stay out of it. He smiled as the radio played Sublime's "What I got" as he looked at a framed print of dogs playing poker together. "I'm just glad she's having fun and making friends. Can't put a price on that!"