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No, actually, you realized as the man on the bench seemed to look to the sky, but noticed your approach, and squinted at you. A fair, golden-haired man in a cavalry dress uniform, like was common for events here, tanks being descended from cavalry and artillery in Strossvald.
“Who is this lovely creature,” said Karel Van Halm as he rolled his chin down, “Who’s taken Anya Nowicki’s body and dressed her up in something so flattering?”
“Aw, shove it,” you said, standing in front of him and pumping a fist behind your arm. He was a friend, though, and allowed to smartarse. “What are you doin’ up so early? What are you doin’ <span class="mu-i">here</span>?”
Karel Van Halm smiled at you and raised his palms to his shoulders. “I wanted to wish you luck before your big date. Isn’t that what you put on the finery for? Will you finally thank me, when it works its magic?”
You had all the luck you needed. “…Yeah, sure. Deal.” You paused. “Hey. Can you check the laces on my back?”
Karel rose to his feet and walked behind you. “Of course. Do you want them tighter?”
“Don’t smash my ribs,” you snapped as you felt him tug on the laces on your spine. “My arm’s busted enough.”
“You only got out of that sling last week, didn’t you?” Karel sighed, “Your laces are all uneven, you should have just come with them loose and saved yourself the pain.” You felt his fingers work against your back, undoing everything and setting it back.
You stared back down the walkway as he fixed your dress, “Is this really why you’re here?” You asked, “Y’know I told you he’s not even gonna come in ‘til at least noon?”
“There was <span class="mu-i">one</span> thing,” Van Halm said, tying a knot and moving up, “Maybe it’s for the best you dressed so fancily, if you’d oblige me.”
“Spit it out.”
“I’ve been arranged for a date of my own today, on short notice and against my will,” Karel said, “My family wishes to marry me off, and the young high house lady they want to set me up with isn’t much to my tastes. So I’d like to fend her off with a false image of myself. A harmless but dissuading slight against her, if you’d help me build it up with a restaurant visit. I need us to be associated for the morning. I’ll let you ride in my car instead of taking the dispatch, since you’re going into the city anyways.”
